Original subtitles

No, I'm just...

Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?

As you know, Beatrice and Evangeline Elliott sail for England tomorrow aboard

the Laconia.

Now, while I'm happy to wish them bon voyage, I'm not going to say goodbye.

I would much prefer to say au revoir.

The Elliott Collection has been an enormous success with both the press and

public. And as a director of the company, may I say, Sears Roebuck is

be associated with them.

So would you join me in a toast, please, to Beatrice and Evangeline, the house

of Elliot.

Thank

you.

Not only for allowing us to show our designs in America and embark on what

promises to be a successful venture.

but also for all the warmth and hospitality you've shown us.

Evie? Well, we've had a wonderful time, and we're looking forward to our next

visit. Thank you.

So, how are you? Glad to be going home.

In a way, we really had a terrific time here, though.

Yes.

Beatrice looks very happy.

Yes. Donald's been very kind to us both.

This trip has done us the world of good.

Is, um... Is Beatrice fond of Donald?

Yes. Oh, please, Donald. There's so many people I want to say goodbye to. All

right, I'll find us some fruit cups.

I'm not going to spoil the party with business, but tell me something.

Are you now going to consider designing ready -to -wear gowns on a more regular

basis? Oh, I don't know. I think with the season coming up at home, we're

to be pretty tied up with the couture collection.

Oh, of course.

As long as your experience with Sears Roebuck hasn't put you off the whole

Not at all. It's been very interesting to see just how much demand there is for

high -quality gowns in North Doors.

Hasn't put us off anything.

Good.

Oh, excuse me, there's Harry.

He'll want to say goodbye to you as well.

Pretty tied up?

When you've been here six weeks, you're beginning to sound like an American. Oh,

so?

Hi!

I think gone naked is the expression.

No more of that after tomorrow, eh?

No, I suppose not.

Still. We have plenty to look forward to in England.

Can I have the next dance, please?

Oh, come on, it's not even six o 'clock yet. Oh, it nearly makes no difference.

I'm off. Excuse me.

You're back.

How are you today? Fine.

Well, it all looks... Thank you.

Welcome back.

You should have let us know when you were arriving. We could have had someone

meet you. Well, we wanted to surprise you.

I'm telling you, I had no idea. How are you?

How have you been managing?

I'm not sure where to start. Oh, please don't give me the details this minute.

Everything looks well under control.

We're just about managed.

If you want to get off home, then, please do. Oh, thank you, Miss Evie.

My mother -in -law's expecting me straight back.

I'm just going to say hello to Alice and then... What do you mean, ah?

Perhaps we should go through to your office.

It was very difficult.

Well, what was? What's happened to her?

Mrs Burgoyne received a...

A most generous offer from Maison Gilles, Premier Vendors.

That's ridiculous.

Alice wouldn't walk out for a better job.

Well, she walked out of her vows for us.

Mrs. Burgoyne and I, we... It was fine at first, and then we found we... I'm

laying all the blame on her mind. It was just... Perhaps I was a little

overzealous in my duties. I was anxious to make sure everything went smoothly.

I can see that Mrs. Burgoyne might have regarded that as interference.

Did she say as much?

She pointed out that I was a bookkeeper, not a couturier, and, well, she was

quite right.

When did all this happen?

Last week. She didn't even wait to take her wages and left on the Friday.

Well, what about our clients? Who's been attending to them? I've done my best.

Tilly has been most helpful.

I don't know.

Life is peace.

I don't know. You turn your back for five minutes and look what happens.

Thanks, silly.

It wasn't all his fault, though.

We're dead set on going.

Well, I find it hard to imagine Joseph upsetting anyone that much.

Did you see much of what went on?

Some.

Couldn't help it half the time.

She'll have got a voice for that woman when she tries.

There were shouting matches.

Oh, no.

Not in front of the clients.

Never got that bad.

So what actually happened?

Silly things.

Brewers rang. They had water damage in their warehouse.

They'll have to get a new batch of grape in for us. I mean, it was going to be a

couple of days, that's all.

She went mad.

Well, who do you think you are? You can't do this to the House of Elliot.

you're having no more orders of us.

Slamming the telephone down?

And I mean, they've been good to us, brewers.

It's all right now, though. Mr Wink got it all sorted out in the end.

In fact, it wasn't Joseph's fault at all.

No.

Except... Go on.

He came in in a morning suit.

Pardon? Well, after Mrs Burgoyne left, the Duchess of Chilham made an

appointment, and Mr Wimps said he'd better receive her, so... He hired a

suit.

And? She was very gracious.

I mean, she shook hands with him and all that, and said she'd better make an

appointment when you two got back.

And Mr Wint, he bowed.

I laughed at your home.

Smashing cottage pie, Mum. Oh, yeah, I wasn't expecting to come home to a hot

meal. Oh, it's a cold night.

And it's your favourite.

Oh, they call it ground beef in America, and they make it into sort of chorizo

hamburgers. I don't think I fancy that.

Oh, no, they're everything.

We had a lovely cape on for our Christmas, didn't we, Jerry?

A bit too much for just the two of us, but it was ever so nice.

Mum's been a real trooper since you've been away, Madge. Well, that's what I'm

here for.

Oh, by the way, I cleared out the back cupboard for you.

There was all sorts of rubbish in there I wanted to throw in out.

Very good of you.

Oh.

Someone had to hold the fort while he was off gallivanting, didn't they?

How long have we been back in England?

About 12 hours.

Oh, seems like months.

Thank you.

Are you expecting a letter from Jack?

No, why should I be?

There's a lovely telegraph from Donald. I mean, wire.

Oh, yes?

Welcome home. Stop.

America's loss is England's gain. Stop.

In touch soon, Doc.

You made a great impression on Donald Bradley.

Well, I should think so. We brought a lot of prestige to see his robe up.

Is that all?

I obviously failed miserably in how I brought you up. You were far too nosy

your own good.

I know.

Still, I didn't get a telegraph from Franklin. Or Geoffrey, or Arnold K.

Winstanley, Jr.

Well, it's fun, isn't it?

Yes.

Do you know, Miriam asked us if we were considering doing any more ready -to

-wear. Mm -hmm.

Well, do you think we ought to look at the idea more seriously?

Well, all ideas are worth looking at, Bea.

But it's not what we do best, is it?

There, dear, there are...

It's called rayon. Now, everyone wears rayon stockings in America. Well, it

feels like silk.

Now, they don't dine as easy as silk, but then they don't need it so often.

wear ever so well, and you can wash them and everything.

Very kind, I'm sure.

Oh, thanks ever so much, Madge. I'm going to wear them tonight when I see

Oh!

You'll make a start on Miss Hampton. All right.

Here we go.

Charles!

I didn't forget you.

Oh, I say.

Oh, they're from Havana.

Oh.

I've got some for you and some for Mr Wint.

Well, thank you very much, Madge. That's very kind of you.

Madge, will you give me two minutes to make sure everyone's set up and I'll

you what's going on? Yes.

Is she all right?

Well, she took a lot of responsibility when everyone was away, especially

when... Oh, I know, I heard.

She would have enjoyed a trip to America.

Don't worry.

I won't rub her nose in it.

Mrs. Armstrong will be here in 15 minutes. And there'll be no one for the

of the day. And only Miss Hampton tomorrow. I know it's my fault, but I

didn't know what to do.

The ladies wish to see other ladies, and without Mrs. Burgoyne... No one is

blaming you, Joseph.

You obviously managed very well under very trying circumstances. They all said

they'd rebook once you were home.

Well, most of them did. I'm sure they will, Joseph.

So, if you'll excuse me.

I have a good deal of my own work to catch up with. Of course.

Five appointments, all we'd be.

You think Alice just took all her clients with her to Maison Gilles?

I don't know. She certainly didn't bring any with her from the south to us.

Maybe we just underestimated the importance of actually being here

All the accounts are up to date. Everyone seems to be paying their bills.

Uh -huh.

What?

Talk, mate, tell.

Maison Gilles winter collection.

100 glittering evening gowns.

We obviously have a lot of catching up to do.

Hello.

Oh, good morning. I'd like to see the Elliot sisters, please. And I know

back. Look, Miss Keeble, as I said to you last time, Miss Keeble, it would be

much better if you were to make an appointment.

Are they busy now?

They're with a client at this very moment. How long will they be?

I couldn't really say.

Ten minutes?

Half an hour? Possibly.

Then I'll wait.

In here, all right?

It's gorgeous.

I simply adore it.

Oh, I must.

It had turned out awfully well.

Mrs. Burgoyne looked after you, I presume.

Yeah. Turn round, darling.

We were all most surprised when Mrs. Burgoyne decamped to Maison Gilles.

But she seems happy enough there.

Yes, that is charming. Now get changed quickly, darling.

Thank you.

You will both come this evening, won't you?

Too many people dying to talk to you about America.

Oh, yes, of course. It's Jessica's 21st, isn't it?

Yes, the invitation was waiting for us when we got home. We are looking forward

to it.

By the way, I hope I've done the right thing, my dear. I know things have been

awkward between you and Jack, but he and the children have been such chums that

Simon has been trying to telephone him for weeks.

Well, he was in Germany before Christmas.

Oh, well, that's probably it, then.

Simon sent him an invitation.

So if he's there, he's there, and if he's not, he isn't.

Jessie, darling, come on, quickly.

Oh, there's a young lady to see you, Miss Keeble.

A client?

I don't know Miss Elliot. She came a couple of times while you were away, but

she... Hello.

My name's Grace Keeble.

Hello. Miss Keeble.

It's all right. I haven't come to buy anything.

Then come here. We'll help you keep it down. I've come to show you these.

What do you think?

Do you like them?

Well, yes, they're very good.

Would you like to buy them?

I beg your pardon?

I'm a fashion designer like you. Trouble is, I'm like you. I don't have a

fashion house. So I'm trying to sell me designs to someone who does.

I'm afraid the House of Elliot doesn't buy designs.

Why not? Because my sister and I do all the designing ourselves.

It's nothing to do with the quality of the work. No. It's just never been our

policy to employ other designers.

Have you, um, ever had any of these made up at all? I've done this one.

Oh.

Where did you... I mean, who... I made it.

I've done dressmaking and ladies' tailoring at the technical school in

Shoreditch. Did you?

That's not bad.

But not good enough to get you to buy my designs, eh?

If you're seeking employment, Miss Keeble, we occasionally have vacancies

workroom. I've been in workrooms. I've done outwork, and it's not for me.

As I said, I'm a designer, and that's what I'm going to do.

Well, I'm terribly sorry.

I only come to you when you get started from nothing.

Still, another time, eh?

Look, I am sorry if we appear rude.

It's just... Well, no one's ever brought their designs to us before. You'd have

rather take us by surprise.

Your work is good. You've obviously gone to a great deal of trouble.

The designs are very promising.

I can't guarantee that they will ever be sold or even made up, but we would be

prepared to buy a couple of them as drawings.

Depending on the price, of course.

Does five shillings each sound reasonable?

A guinea the pair.

Very well.

I'll get my checkbook. Kath!

I'll, um, go and see Joseph, sir.

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late, Perk. Been waiting long?

Long enough to let me breathe in.

Come on, let's go and get Kath and warm up.

Yeah, all right.

Here, listen.

Have you got any cash on you, girl?

Only on iffy wallet, I see.

Oh, yeah, I've got enough for our dinner.

Good girl.

I'll call you back tonight.

Right, Mr Baker, that's a gross of black cotton, gross of white.

20 yards of the narrow lace trim, 20 yards of the white stuff. Tons of yards,

said. It's up and three farthings on orders less than 50 yards, Mr. Cotter.

up and farthing and I make it 30 yards of each.

And I'll have a bolt of the same interfacing I had last time and a gross

silver gilt buckles.

Dragonfly or pharaoh's head?

Dragonfly, if you please, Mr. Baker. Can't even sell the Egyptian -looking

Manchester any more. Very well.

Miss Elliot, please, come in, come in.

He has to find those buns for me now. Not one kind, but two.

Really?

I'll be with you in a tick, Mr. Cotter.

Now.

This is the tortoise shell you wanted to see. And this one is Indian buffalo

horn. Oh, I like that.

I'll have a dozen for both of those. Of course. I shall be with you directly.

Oh, forgive me for interrupting your business. That's quite all right. No

trouble at all.

It is Miss Elliot's of the House of Elliot, isn't it?

That's right.

Well, now, I'm very pleased to meet you, Larry Cotter.

I've been an admirer of yours for a long time.

How kind.

I remember when you showed those nocturne gowns a couple of years ago.

were clamouring for violet silk for months afterwards.

Really? Oh, yes. Couldn't get enough of it.

And your last collection, even after all the business with Lord... Well,

er... All water under the bridge now.

I'm in the fashion business myself, you know. Not quite in the same circles as

yourself, obviously.

I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting.

That's all right. I'm more in ready to wear.

And, of course, I've been reading great things about your American tour.

Thank you very much. Pleasure. Good day. So nice to talk to you, Miss Ellie. I

do hope we meet again.

Yes, I hope so too.

Oh, let me give you my card.

Show me those buttons again.

You got anything like that in Bakelite?

But, Jess, the whole orchestra are playing real music, but she wouldn't

minute. Come on, Jessica.

Oh, my dear Pendo, the birthday girl.

Thank you.

And the Americans have the most wonderful conmuggles. Really fresh,

colours. Isn't that what they use the place for?

Uh, not anymore, no.

If you have a consignment arriving any day, maybe you would like to drop in.

Yes, I might, when I have a moment.

Darling, check.

If I have to live into one more old, droning on about the dangers of modern

living, I will die.

Happy birthday, dear.

I say, you look frightfully elegant.

That's not a Gilles number, is it? No, it's an Elliot.

Oh, I didn't think of going there.

It's just that everybody went along to the Maison Gilles collection.

And I rather went along with them. And once one's there, it's frightfully hard

to resist, isn't it?

Jessica, happy birthday.

Thank you.

Do you know there were eight mannequins on parade at the same time?

Gown after gown.

And each one more splendid than the last.

I see we shall have to look to our laurels if Maison Jules is going to

such an extravagant collection each season.

Oh, my dear Beatrice.

I'm sure you have no cause for concern.

None at all.

Good. Would you excuse me a moment?

Having fun?

Not really, no.

No? No, Jack's not here after all.

It's just about to be one more. Never mind.

They've extracted promises to visit us from at least a dozen people.

Well done.

Beatrice, Evangeline, the very people.

is driving me to distraction.

It's been going on for weeks.

But when Colonel Stanhope brought the subject up again, her eyes positively

up. And I suddenly thought, you're just the ones to solve the problem.

What exactly is the problem?

Well, Jessica is quite determined to take up some sort of paid employment.

I can't imagine why.

It's not as if she needed money, but there we are.

And I suddenly thought of you.

Well, Jessica could be your new bondeur.

Oh, well, we're certainly very flattered by Jessica's interest. Oh, do say yes.

After all, you do need a new bondeur, and Jessica knows absolutely everyone.

Well, we could certainly talk to her.

Splendid! She'll be great.

And to be quite honest, I don't really mind her doing that sort of thing.

After all, it's not what one would call a real job, is it?

Jessica, darling.

Oh, it's nice to be back in my own bed again.

I'll worry up and get into it like I'm on my feet up.

It's in a minute, love.

Did you miss me while I was away?

Yes, of course I did.

Don't know what I'd have done if my mate hadn't been for good.

That's not what I meant.

Aye?

Oh, never mind.

Mr Cuddle.

One minute, love.

Only I've got to be up early tomorrow morning.

Mr Simmons is down with a bad tummy, so I've got to do all the timetables, as

well as do it at the ticket office.

Go and get some sleep then.

Good morning, Agnes. Let us take you through to the Bondo's office, and we

explain exactly what the job entails. This way.

I must say, it'll be quite novel ordering frocks from one's own daughter.

Ah, Tilly, perhaps Mrs Armstrong would like to see some designs while we talk

Jessica? Of course. This way, Jessica.

Would you like a pair of coffee, Mrs Armstrong?

Obviously, you've seen what a Bondo does on your visits as a client. Oh,

absolutely.

You show them the designs, find out which one they want, and make

Well, it's a little more complicated than that.

You must check with the workroom at each stage of the process, make sure they

can get the work done in time for the fittings, and make sure either Madge or

Tilly are free to attend the fittings.

And ideally, you should make every client feel that she's the most

person you know.

Yes. Mrs. Burgoyne was awfully good at that.

Almost like a best friend, really. You could tell her absolutely...

Everything.

I'm sure I don't have to remind you, Jess, that the fitting room has the same

confidentiality as the priest's confessional. Here?

And instantly forget, Jess.

Gosh, yes.

Another aspect of the job is to woo the client.

Encourage them to visit the house of Elliot as opposed to, say, Maison

for instance.

But can't people go where they like?

Yes, of course they can, but we'd much prefer it if they came here.

Yes, I suppose you would.

Well, that's all right.

Everyone will think it's the most enormous wheeze to come and buy from me.

What about other clients, people you don't actually know? Do you feel you

introduce yourself socially as well as balance the business side of things? Oh,

yes, I'm terribly sociable.

Well, I think that's all for the moment.

Jess, would you care to join your mother in the reception? And Evie and I will

just see if there's anything else we haven't discussed yet. All right.

Triumph or disaster?

Difficult to say. Could be either.

She has all the right connections.

But she must try and cultivate a more professional attitude.

It would only be temporary.

Let's give her a try.

Miss B, a telephone call for you from Barak's picture studio.

I'll just come through.

Oh, Evie, will you finish off the other one? Yes.

Mr Barak, hello. How nice to hear

from you.

I'm fine. How are you?

No, I haven't heard from him.

All I know is Jack was staying in Germany till the film was finished. I

he'd be back by now.

Well, yes, I'll tell him if I see him.

Goodbye.

Will you tell Evie I'll be out over the lunch hour?

Yes, Miss Baker. Thank you.

And we saw Greta Garbo in the Temptress. All those men chasing after her. I

could have missed her.

You'll have to go and see it when it comes here, Mr Charles. It's lovely.

Well, that's the great beauty of the motion picture, isn't it? It takes you

right out of yourself into a whole new world. It's just like being there.

Are you keen on the pictures, then? Loving them, Madge.

Do you know, I saw The Sheik.

Five times. You never. I did.

Yeah, I must say, though, I do envy you your trip to America. That must have

been wonderful.

It was really something, as they say.

I'm getting really brassed off with all this talk about America.

I expect you are too, aren't you, Tilly?

No, not really.

My checks aren't with too much about it.

So, could you start tomorrow?

Ten o 'clock.

8 .30 is when we usually like to get started.

I'm excited.

Calm down, dear.

Now, will Jess be dealing exclusively with your couture clients, or will she

be expected to meet the ready -to -wear people as well?

We've only designed one ready -to -wear collection, and that was in America.

Oh! You sound surprised.

Well, I thought I saw that particular gown

in a shop in Kensington just this morning.

No, it's a... Oh, yes.

It had exactly the same collar.

So distinctive.

It's rather nice, actually.

I mean, one doesn't buy ready -to -wear oneself, but... Which shop was it,

exactly?

Yes.

Who on earth are you?

Good afternoon, madam.

May I help you?

I'm not sure.

I was just looking at this dress in the window.

Would madam care to try it on?

No, I don't.

It's gentle.

I wondered who designed it.

It's not a Paris copy, is it?

It's not a copy at all, madam.

It's a great Keeble original.

Grace Keeble.

I don't think I've ever heard of her.

She trained in Paris with Worth and then with Poirot.

She's also designed for the house of Elliot.

Fred, I haven't got a clue where he is.

I haven't heard from the old son for weeks. I'm starting to get a bit

Tons of letters for him.

Have you heard anything?

No, I haven't.

Forgive me, what are you actually doing here?

Human anatomy at the moment.

The final's coming up in the summer. Jack said I could look after the flat

he was in Germany.

Is he still there?

Well, if he isn't, he hasn't told me.

I see.

I see. You don't mind me being here, do you?

Only Jack did say... We're separated, yes. No, I don't mind you being here.

Did you want to pick up some of your things?

Yes, but not at the moment.

I am just a little concerned as to Jack's whereabouts.

Hello.

You come to tell me you're making up my designs?

I must certainly have not.

I've come to ask you what the devil you think you're playing at.

In what way?

I think we should discuss this indoors, may I come in? No.

If you're going to be rude, you can say what you've got to say out here.

I see.

Very well, Miss Keeble.

I've just come from Miss Pemberton's dress shop in Kensington.

Oh, yeah?

Where your dress, the one whose design you sold to us, was displayed in the

window. So?

You sold that design to us, Miss Keeble. I sold you a couple of drawings.

You made it quite clear you weren't going to make them up. They weren't good

enough for your clientele. You never asked me if I was selling anywhere else.

That is not the way business is done. Not in your world, perhaps, Miss Elliot.

But in my world, you do business any way you can.

Good night.

How dare she march into our office and sell us designs she's already sold to

someone else.

And to actually tell that woman she designed for the house of Elliot.

And to leave me standing on the doorstep.

I've never been so...

I think this is outrageous.

Well, I don't see how it really affects us. We weren't going to make the designs

up anyway. That's not the point we might have done, Bea.

It's the principle.

I think you've just had your nose put out of joint because Mrs Armstrong

they were good enough to be your designs. Oh, I'm so absurd.

Aren't you the least bit interested in this?

Frankly, no, not very. I have other things to think about.

What's happened, Bea?

Nothing. I can't find Jack.

No one can. What?

That telephone call from Abraham Barak this morning.

He's been trying to trace Jack in Germany.

He isn't at the address he said he'd be at. He's not at the studio.

So I went round to the flat and there was a stranger there.

Jack's let the flat to a tenant without even telling me, without... He didn't

know where Jack was either.

What happened to him, Evie?

Let's get home. Have a nice cup of tea, won't you?

Here, here.

You'll be all right soon, won't you?

I beg your pardon?

When you and your fiancé get married, you'll come home to find a nice bar all

ready to eat, won't you?

Supper on the table.

Lippers by the arm. Good cook is she, your fiancé? Yeah, excellent.

What's her name?

Stand back, ladies!

Ain't you got no manners?

Let's get home, won't you, Madge?

Yeah. Tilly, what's the matter?

Miss Armstrong's just asked me to make tea for her and her clients in the

fitting room.

Has she indeed?

What was I supposed to do? I couldn't have let you say no in front of them.

It's not done now, is it? No, it's not.

We'll do it this once and I'll have a word with Miss Armstrong.

All right.

Oh, by the way, then flowers arrived for you about 20 minutes ago. I've just

been running around so much, I didn't have time to tell you. All right, Tilly,

thank you. You're welcome.

All right, I lied.

But what difference does it make?

You'd never have known if that Elliot woman hadn't told you.

You liked the dress, didn't you? It hasn't changed, has it? I do not wish to

discuss the matter any further.

Are you telling me that a dress is worth 30 guineas if it's made by Grace Keeble

of the House of Elliot and nothing if it's not?

Yes.

And now, if you would be so good as to return my money.

Good morning. Good morning.

How are you?

But it's the same colour as the one I tried on at Maison Gilles.

Oh, no, that was a more subtle shade.

Try the black one.

Mummy would have a fit.

She'd think I was in mourning.

Yes, but jolly elegant mourning.

Right on for fun.

Oh, hello.

Miss Elliot, may I present Miss Charlotte Parker.

Good morning. Miss Julia Colbrook. Good morning.

I'll make sure someone brings you an ashtray.

Jessica, may I have a word?

Yes, excuse me.

I've spoken to just about everyone I know, and they've all been terribly

Mrs Fitzwalt is coming in next week sometime, and Mrs Babbage and her

Pamela, you know the one with the red hair?

They've promised to come and visit.

And you met Julia and Charlotte. They tried on absolutely heaps of stuff.

Did they order anything?

Not exactly.

What about the others?

Have they made any definite appointments?

More or less. I mean, they will.

They all seem terribly keen, which is saying something when you think how

besotted everyone is with Mr. Gilles. Jessica, I know you're new, and I

appreciate you helping us out like this, but, well, you must try and cultivate a

more professional attitude.

We need solid orders.

Yes, Miss Elliot.

And no more coffee and cigarettes in the fitting room or the office.

Just think what would happen if something got spilled.

Sorry. I will try and do better, honestly.

It's all right.

Oh, Beatrice.

Yes? Daddy's taking a gun at Ardenlock Castle this weekend.

He wants Mummy and me to go to sort of a house party, so I'd like to take Friday

off.

Mac?

Mac?

Have I done something to upset you?

No, why do you ask?

I've just got it into my head that you're not speaking to me.

Well, what ever made you think that?

I don't know.

It's just that you've been nattering on to everyone else about America and all

that stuff, and you haven't said a single word to me.

I thought we were friends.

You daft daper!

I thought you minded me going.

I thought it seemed like gloating.

I've been dying to tell you. I didn't think you wanted to know.

Me, a daft daper.

Here, come back and have your tea at our house. I can tell you all about

America, and you can tell me all about old Mrs Burgoyne. I can't. because

Norman's on nights tonight and I do want to get back and see him before he goes

to work.

Sunday's tomorrow, though.

I'll make us a lardy cake.

Don't. I've been eating so much.

Of course I remember you, Mr. Cotter.

Well, I'm afraid I'm a bit busy at the moment.

Oh, yeah?

What sort of proposition?

Well, if you hold on, I'll just check my diary.

I'm afraid I'm busy all day.

What are you doing?

7 o 'clock Friday? Yes, I'll be there.

Lydia, who do you think you are?

I beg your pardon. You would?

How dare you?

How dare I?

It's all right for her to come storming round my home asking me what I'm playing

at, and it's not all right me doing the same. I came to see you because I felt

you dealt with us in an underhand manner. Then what did you lose by it?

lose your living?

Did all the ladyships stop coming to the House of Elliot because you was conned

out of one rotten guinea? Miss Keeble, what exactly is your complaint?

Do you know how much that material cost me?

Do you know how long I've been trying to get someone to look at my designs, take

them seriously?

An old flaming year, walking around fashion houses, shops...

begging introductions to women who look down their noses at me because I don't

have the right accent.

That frock was the first one I sold.

Yeah, all right, I'll spun her a bit of a line.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have looked twice at the dress.

I mean, it's not talent that counts in this game, is it?

Do you know what she'd done, Miss Pemberton, after you'd gone and stuck

nose in?

She demanded her money back.

Said she only dealt in exclusive couture designs.

So you have it.

You paid a guinea for the exclusive design. You have the dress.

did you?

What does it take, eh? What do I have to do to get a job?

I thought you of all people would understand.

I mean, I remember hearing you actually knit clients from under durox those when

you first started.

You weren't proud then.

You didn't have Alcibelia policies then.

But you've made it now, haven't you?

You can afford policies.

Yeah, and pulling the ladder up after you's just one of them, I suppose.

There's bigger fish in the sea than you.

I hear Maison Schultz's whole room's full of designers.

Maybe he's grand enough not to be scared of new talent.

Miss Keeble, would you mind waiting in the reception for five minutes? I must

speak with my sister.

What?

Yeah. All right.

Thank you.

No, we...

Absolutely not. Out with the question. Perhaps for a trial period, say for a

season. Purely from our point of view, I can see the benefits of having a

trainee designer. Yes, so can I, but not her. Why not?

Because... Because she's awful.

You said yourself she's very talented.

Perhaps she wouldn't be so awful if she wasn't so frustrated at every turn.

Think about it, Evie. We've seen it for ourselves.

She's overwhelming us with sheer weight of numbers.

Yes, well, she's not exactly going to solve that problem for us, is she? Not

yet, no.

But eventually we're going to have to take on someone if we're to survive.

I'd rather it was someone we trained ourselves.

Perhaps to take on the day wear. Leave you more time for the special evening

gowns.

She's still got a great deal to learn.

Delicious. I thought we were having lardy cake.

You know, I tried making waffles for Jerry and his mother and they wouldn't

try them. Don't know what they're missing.

Mind you, I think I've been expecting I've been a devil for any few three.

That maple syrup.

Take it home with you.

Go on, I've got another jar in the cupboard.

Oh, thank you, mate.

You know, I bet it's funny being all ordinary back here after being so grand

America. How is she both?

Did you get to sit on the captain's table?

No.

Oh, I must show you what I nicked off the boat.

You what?

Oh, it's only a paper napkin and one of them little fancy menu cards.

But it says S .S. Laconia on them in lovely gold letters. Oh, my.

Oh, actually. Hello.

Here, Gerry, have you seen that paper napkin that was in there?

You know, the one off the boat?

Oh, I threw it out. Why?

You did what?

I'm sorry, Madge.

I didn't think it was important.

Anyway, we hardly need to keep paper napkins, do we?

Any chance of a cup of tea?

Beatrice?

Hello.

Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful.

By the end of the day, we'd actually taken on the extraordinary, Miss Keeble.

I think you'll be glad you did. Oh, you haven't met her. No, but I've met people

like her.

Tough.

Hungry, from the wrong side of the tribe.

Yes. They know what's needed in shops, in offices.

What Mrs. General Manager's willing to pay for a cocktail drink.

That hardly applies to the House of Elliot.

The world is changing, Beatrice.

Of course, there'll always be a place for a couture.

But mark my words, it'll be a very bad mistake to underestimate the power of

that woman, and of all the others like her.

I didn't mean to take up our first evening talking business. No, neither

It's so good to see you again.

Do you wish to order now, sir?

Charles, Joseph, ladies, I would like to introduce Miss Grace Keeble, as from

this morning she will be joining us as a trainee designer.

I didn't say anything at the time because you had obviously made all the

arrangements. But in future, we would prefer it if you didn't ask for days off

just like that.

If it's terribly important, then I'm sure we can come to some sort of

arrangement. Yes, I know. I am awfully sorry.

But it was terribly useful.

Really? And I've done it all properly.

Look.

Charlotte Parker at ten.

Julia at eleven.

Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Prescott -White in the afternoon.

And I'd rather said you'll do the fitting for my godmother on Thursday.

That's the Duchess of Chilham.

She said on Saturday she was dying to meet you.

Really? And I've given Madge and Tilly a list of all the appointments for next

week, so there's no confusion.

How many appointments are there?

About nine in all, and half a dozen or so for next week.

Is that all right?

Yes.

Blended.

Well done.

This is Tilly, our specialist in beadwork and embroidery.

I did embroidery at Barrett Street.

How many of these beads per square inch can you use without dragging the fabric?

I'm sure Tilly will be happy to tell you anything you don't know.

Look, what I need to know is cutting. You said yourself... I said we'd train

to design for the House of Elliot.

We'll start with fabric.

Well, I shall be round in about an hour, then.

Right. Good night.

Jack Tennant's going out for the evening, so I'm going to go round and

the rest of my things. Where are you going?

Out to dinner with Larry Cotter, remember?

Not that I'm looking forward to it.

Wouldn't have agreed to go at all if Grace hadn't barged in. I knew you'd

something to blame her for.

You see, our worlds are merging, Mathalia.

Growing together, if you will.

But the aristocracy, they're not quite as well off as they were.

And the people that may do with what they could always get, well, they're

getting paid more so they can get more.

Do you see what I mean?

I think so.

Thank you so much.

Anyway, somewhere in the middle ground is the sort of woman that wants couture

style at, well, not quite high street prices, but, well, bond street prices,

you follow my meaning.

Yes, I follow you. Of course.

Now, this is the area where someone such as yourself might well do business with

someone such as myself.

You, a highly respected couturier, knows one end of the business, and I've sold

a thousand dresses up and down every high street in Britain. Now, where you

silk, I sell cotton, we sell good quality artificial silk.

We've got a lot to learn from each other, Miss Elliot.

That may be so, Mr. Cotter.

But quite frankly, apart from our one American venture, I can't really see the

House of Elliot going into ready -to -wear on such a large scale.

No? You got full order books till 1930, have you? Is Lady Harriet Ponsonby

-Smith still ordering 24 gowns each season?

Well, no, but... What's your annual profit?

Same as last year.

Mine's almost doubled.

How's yours?

Mr Davenport?

What I've got in mind is your artistry, your prestige, coupled with my

manufacturing and retailing experience.

An exclusive label sold in exclusive shops. Sounds like a fascinating idea.

But quite honestly, I don't see my sister and I being willing to compromise

quality of our work merely in order to attract what may prove to be a less

discriminating clientele.

Man -made fabrics are all very well... I knew you'd agree with me there.

I beg your pardon?

I noticed you were wearing rayon stockings the minute you walked in.

Very nice too, if I may say so.

Oh!

No, thank you.

Would you like a coffee, Mr. Cotter?

I'm so sorry, Mr. Davenport. I thought that...