Original subtitles

Corner at Square, if you please. How can I help you?

Sloan, 8629, please.

Nose about the Aurora?

Supposing the press think it's dull, passé, the House of Elliot's

new venture.

You've been making up headlines all night. Well, it is exactly what they

want to hear, Maison Gilles, Monsieur de Broglie.

Aha.

The Duchess of York wants to buy the entire Aurora collection.

Sloane 869.

Joseph.

out to them.

All right. Mummy will be back in a moment.

No, not at all. You're right to disturb me. I'll be there as soon as I can.

Something wrong?

Joseph thinks he may have seen some copies of the Aurora collection.

Copies? Where?

Donan Wilkinson. He parked it on his way to work.

But how could that be?

I don't know.

I hope he's wrong. He keeps saying there's no need to be alarmed, but I can

hear him trying to convince himself.

I shall have to go in.

I'll just get Lucy settled.

She always sleeps in the morning anyway.

Henry and I have got this meeting at the house.

Henry won't mind if you put him off. Bernie, it's a committee of MPs. You

this bill of Tom Patterson. Yes, I'm sorry. It went completely out of my

Well, I shall just have to take her with me. Do you mind dropping us there?

No, of course not.

I hope I haven't bothered you unnecessarily, Miss Elliot. Well,

you have. I've checked the books, just in case somehow...

But there's no record of any dealings with Stone and Wilkinson. You said you

thought you saw copies. Well, at first I thought they were the real thing, and

then when I got closer, there seemed to be something not quite right about the

colours. Now, to be absolutely frank, I'm beginning to wonder what I saw.

Do you remember which designs they were?

Just the jersey suit and the wool three -piece. And they were identical to

Atlas? Well, some things seemed to be different. There was no collar on the

three -piece, and I don't think I saw any edging on the jersey.

Was it just in the one store?

I only passed the one store.

Who else has seen these designs?

Nan Bayliss from Style and Beauty?

She's a respected journalist. Well, could someone in her office have got

Miles' drawings somehow?

Or through Miles, one of his friends, maybe?

How?

What? The most likely is someone from the ready -to -wear premises. Do you

remember what Katya said about seeing those dresses?

If only I'd checked. That was my fault.

I can't believe this.

This could just be a coincidence.

Perhaps we should have another word with Katya. I'll go and get her.

Good morning, Miss Elliot.

I'll be back in a moment. Really?

Well, I was hardly going to sit at home, was I?

Is it true? I don't know.

Joseph could have been mistaken. All he's seen is a couple of suits.

Well, where's he gone?

To fetch Katya. She saw some dresses at the ready -to -wear premises. She told

Joseph she thought the fabric was different. And no -one bothered to tell

seems likely they were for copy dresses.

Has anyone spoken to Larry Cotter? No, I've only just got here. Right.

Shall I take her for you, Miss Elliot?

Thank you, Katya.

Yes,

Ambassador 0902, please.

What time does Larry's workshop usually start in the morning? For the last

month, seven o 'clock.

Seven? There was quite a rush at the end. The fire set them back.

Twenty -five past eight.

I think you and I should go and see what is in this window, Evie.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee.

Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

to shed for thee. Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for thee.

Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for thee. Drink this in remembrance of

him and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, shed for thee.

Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ,

And he said to her to either get out or tell Charles Quince to stay away.

Well, she can hardly do that. Can she work alongside him in the same room?

You're not telling me she's left her Jerry and gone to live with him?

Yeah, yeah, I am. She just said, all right, I'll get out then, and she did,

very same night.

What are they up to?

No good from what you've been telling me.

Well, it's like they've got the old man.

Morning, Betty.

Agnes.

Madge's not in yet, is she?

Er, no.

I don't think I've seen her come in.

Yeah, where were the facilities and Joseph off to, Mr. Charles? Business

appointment.

You're right.

About him.

Madge. Guilt all over his face. I don't think he should feel guilty. I mean, he

just wanted some happiness.

If you can call living with Madge happiness.

Anyway, it doesn't excuse a living in sin.

Morning, Madge.

Morning.

Christelle, you didn't mention anything about the price labels.

They weren't there earlier. It's practically half what we're charging. No

wonder. Look at the fabric.

Well, they're certainly skimped on the pleats.

They've been pretty mean with the wrap on the skirt, too.

Oh, look at that. There's no detail at all.

I just want to pinch myself and wake up and find none of this is true.

Morning, Matt.

Morning, Mr Charles.

Is

everything

all right?

Yeah, everything's fine.

Come on, who is it on the telephone?

Just a buyer from Carlisle and Ross.

I'm sorry, but I... I'm sorry, sir, but both the Miss

Elliotts and Mr Winter are out on a business matter.

Excuse me.

Are they likely to be long?

Well, I really couldn't hazard a guess.

Would you like to make an appointment for another day?

I'd prefer to see them as soon as possible, thank you.

I'll wait.

Would you care to take a seat?

Oh, was that Mr Robson, the buyer from Bancroft?

Yes.

How did you know?

Well, he placed a big order for the Aurora collection.

Oh,

dear, you're frozen.

Oh, feel those hands.

Why don't you go and sit by the stove?

You've got time.

Such a privilege to meet you both.

Naturally, I follow you with a great deal of interest.

Now, what can I do for you?

We would like to inquire about the Cristal collection.

It is rather chic, isn't it?

Indeed it is.

We were wondering who supplied it.

Well, one of the manufacturers of our own ready -to -wear lines, if it

What was his name?

Cotter.

Larry Cotter from Bayswater.

You know him.

Naturally, this time he had his own designer.

A young woman.

Of course, you must know her, too. She's a former employee of yours.

Quite a recommendation.

To be honest, it was one of the main factors when we decided to take the

Christel collection.

Grace. That's right.

Grace Keeble.

Does you credit.

One, two, three, four, five.

Uncompromising. Indefatigable.

Sounds intimidating.

No, no, no, not really.

But I wish we had Archie Lovett back in the House. Is he going to run for

Parliament again?

Oh, Newford by -election.

Ah, Nurse Patterson now.

He's absolutely determined to turn this campaign into legislation.

Despite the Tory majority?

No, that's not the only problem.

First we have to convince our trade union friends.

The London County Council has agreed to implement safety precautions on all

their building sites.

They've restricted their working week to 48 hours. Now, I believe this is

something we should now address at a national level.

Mr Morgan.

In principle, I don't disagree with Maddox, but the LCC is a very special

Absolutely. It is not after any profit, and it is labour -run. We're not trying

to prevent people making a profit.

But that's how they will see it. You're talking about employers, people like the

mine owners.

They'll never accept it. Do you really believe they are likely to accept a

measure that seriously threatens their own selfish interest?

I know that many won't. That's why I'm here. I have been around building site

after building site, factory after factory.

Very few employers see the welfare of their workers as a reason to raise

The only way to achieve progress is through legislation.

Jobs. You wish with this bill to press for an actual minimum wage. It would be

one of his major clauses.

That'll kill it from the word go.

It's an essential part.

So long as we have people working for less than a living wage, they will be

forced by poverty into these slave labour hours.

If you start meddling by introducing a minimum wage, the employers will just

it as an excuse never to raise wages above that minimum.

You force factories out of business by raising their costs and you'll end up

putting even more men out of work. I don't think that follows. At present,

too many factories employ one man, where they should be giving jobs to two.

If we can enforce the restriction on working hours, we will actually create

employment. That's absolute rubbish. Factories won't bear the cost.

May I ask, were you put out of work as a consequence of the general strike?

No.

I hardly think that is relevant.

It most certainly is.

There are far too many people in the Labour Party dictating what the working

should do in the name of some ideals, when they've no idea what it's like to

a working man.

Over this past year, we've learned the art of the possible, what we can do.

We're all wasting our time here.

Surely that doesn't mean we shouldn't fight.

It doesn't mean the whole party has to abandon its principles, roll over and

die. The Labour Party stands for fair shares, human dignity.

If you allow expediency to prevent you from even attempting to do what is

you will end up destroying everything that it has ever stood for.

Right under our noses.

What are we going to do?

Find them. Find out exactly what they've done. After all, it could just be the

one storm.

Well, unless they had an entire factory we didn't know about, they can't have

made so many clothes. How many sensors will we employ in there?

Twenty. And they'll be up to their necks getting the Aurora collection ready. So

we were told.

You came to us offering an exclusive ready -to -wear collection.

And now I find that Forrester's, Stone & Wilkinson and Peter Clegg are selling

replicas on the very day we launch. I apologise, Mr Robson, but I do assure

the first we knew about it was this morning.

The clothes are very substandard. I'm quite sure none of your customers would

contemplate buying them.

Do you imagine our customers would buy the Aurora collection once they know

any waitress can be seen in a cheap imitation?

As far as bankruptcy is concerned, you've broken your contract. Not

intentionally.

This is as much of a mystery to us as it is to you.

If you cannot run your business competently, I have no wish to continue

with you.

I had understood that the House of Elliot was a professional firm.

I should have known better than to put my trust in two women. If you are here

simply to throw insults, perhaps... Oh,

I'm sorry, Miss Evelyn.

My main object in coming here was to ensure that Bancrofts get a complete

of the payment we advanced on the collection.

That is utterly unreasonable. We've infected him. I should have expected you

have had the grace not to try and enter into any dispute over this.

However, since that's your attitude... Unless the money is paid in full, by

the end of the week, you will hear from our solicitors.

I shall contact our bank. Your cheque will be with you tomorrow. Good morning,

Mr Robson.

Good day, Miss Henry.

Did you have to give in that easily?

We are going to be laughed at and vilified by all our rivals. Do you want

be dragged to the courts as well?

I'm going to ask Katya to take Lucy home.

I don't believe it.

Mr Wint saw some of the garments in the window of Stoneham Wilkinson on his way

to work this morning.

What do you think I'd have?

It'll be something to do with that Larry Cotter. I'll be bound. I've never been

able to stand him. Just because you don't like him, there's no reason to go

around accusing him. Oh, well, who else could it be? You tell me that.

It'd just as easily be that young man, Miles.

Well, he'd done all the Aurora drawings.

And he's got a motive, with Miss Easy going off with that artist friend of

Yeah, well, there'd be a lot of trouble.

Well, if you've got the buyers coming round after them. And it's not

either, is it? They're not going to stomach having clothes in the windows

look like cheap stuff.

Oh, that's rubbish, Madge. Folks know quality when they... It's not rubbish,

Betty. This could ruin the whole lot of us.

I must say, I was a bit prone to find so much opposition from our own side.

You've probably persuaded some of them already.

We all know you're right.

It's been a hard year.

A lot of ILP members want to keep their heads down.

As for the union -sponsored members like Gordon and Ernest, they really have to

do as they're told.

Have you ever considered standing for Parliament?

Me? Why not?

The party needs men who can still think positively.

And there's bound to be an election in the next couple of years.

No, when they asked if I had lost my job, had my wages cut, they were right.

It's too easy for someone like me to lay down the law. That's precisely why

you'd be so useful.

You'd be holding to no one. The party need new blood.

Besides, you're getting quite a reputation.

Well, what do the clothes look like? Like the Aurora, except they've skimped

the fabric and made minor changes with collars, edgings.

Fastenings. Well, how could they have managed it?

Well, those sentences are only one end of a needle from each other.

Well, half the time they couldn't even put a sleeve in properly. Well, we only

know someone managed it.

Maybe Grace helped.

What, Miss Ironmack? You lowered yourself to stitching?

I don't believe that.

The House of Elliot.

Evangeline Elliot speaking.

What would you like us to go to the girls, Miss?

In Manchester.

Oh, just what we've told you. Thank you. No, the crystal collection was not made

by us, but we'll certainly be looking into it.

No, thank you. We're very grateful for the information.

Goodbye.

That was the Manchester Guardian woman's editor.

The Christel collection is on sale there in Spriggan, Harris and Plowrights.

Larry said we shouldn't risk being seen as provincial.

How did they connect Christel with us? Through style and beauty.

What do they want?

An article for tomorrow.

Who was it? I don't know.

But he was asking Miss Evie questions.

She looked that upset.

It makes you wonder who you can trust, doesn't it?

So if any of you knows anything that might be useful, you're to come to Pilly

me. You understand?

Mr Wink, isn't it?

Yes. Is there no one in the workshop?

No, Miss. Have you come to pay us?

I sent our clerk with your wages yesterday.

Yeah? And what about the extra we was promised?

What?

You haven't seen Mr Cotter today?

Not a sign.

We was all here this morning, but the other girls got fed up and went home.

This extra, was it for extra hours?

He's done nearly twice the normal this last couple of weeks.

Tell me, were you just working on the Aurora Collection, or were you doing

other work as well? More or less the same thing, really.

Just different fabrics.

Did you make a lot in these different fabrics? Oh, yeah.

He said he had orders coming from all over.

That's where the extra money was going to come from.

We will get our money, won't we?

I'm sorry, but we have no knowledge of the extra work you've been doing.

However, we are determined to find Mr. Cotter, and when we do, we'll make sure

you get paid in full.

I'm so sorry.

All right for you to be sorry, innit?

Come on, Miss Elliot.

Excuse me, Miss Elliot.

Bertram Crowther from the Daily Messenger. I wonder if I might have a

would be preferable if you spoke to Miss Elliot in our office.

I'm very sorry I just missed you there.

I just wanted to know if it's true that someone has pinched the designs of your

first ready -to -wear collection.

I'd rather not say anything until I am better and for myself, thank you. I

understand some of your retailers believe you've acted fraudulently.

No, that's not true.

Are they demanding their money back? I suggest you ask them.

In you get, Miss Elliot.

Am I right that you're married to the campaigner, Jack Maddox?

What's he do with it? Nothing. He does half the dirt these days.

Back to the house of Elliot, will you?

I've come to see Gray.

She's not in, I'm afraid. Do you mind if I sit for a moment?

Evie, why should I tell you she's not here if she is?

I don't think you'll consider.

Why not?

It's hers.

Don't!

Did you know about this?

Or were you actually party to it?

After all, Miles, you had far more reason to hate me than she did. Evie,

never hated you.

What's all this about?

The Christel collection, copied from the Aurora, on sale at half the price in

London and, we think, the provinces.

Do you really imagine I'd cheat the House of Elliot because of you and

Do you think I'm that trivial?

If Grace would want any help, she'd have a damn sight more sense than to come to

me.

I'm sorry.

It's been an awful day. Just go!

And when you see Bearded, tell her I won't be in tomorrow.

What? I'm quitting.

Miles, I said I was sorry. Oh, that just wipes everything away. No, of course it

doesn't. I really don't want to know.

I'll see you tomorrow. See you tomorrow.

Madge. Thinks we were born yesterday.

Yeah, Beth.

You know when you was working for Larry Cotter?

Did you see anything?

Of course not.

No, I'd gone straight to Miss Elliot.

Yeah, but you couldn't have done that without her knowing that you was working

there. Oh, it was only Madge I didn't want to upset.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Well, it's just that you don't normally worry about upsetting Madge. That's all.

What are you driving at?

You're a right little troublemaker, aren't you? Time never stops wagging.

it's Madge and Charles, now it's me.

Do you think you haven't caused me enough unhappiness getting my husband

inside? I'm sorry.

I should hope so.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Do you never eat a property?

There's not a lot of point cooking for meself.

I prefer books.

You can't eat books.

I'll get up early tomorrow and go to the market. Well, I'll have to give that

pantry a good scrub first. It's a rat paradise in there.

Ella Cinders is on at the goldmine tonight.

You haven't been listening for a word I've been saying, have you?

Here.

Does your husband know you've come here?

Evening, Charles.

Dora.

What are you doing here?

Can I come in?

What for?

You're saying I haven't got the right?

I heard you had company.

Yeah, this is Mads Althorp, a colleague of mine. That's what they call it, is

it? This is... Dora Quant.

What?

His wife.

Back from the dead?

You're still here?

Yeah. Chef said I could wait till you got in.

Oh, that was nice of him.

Shall I take your coat? I'm cold, Mum.

I've, er... I've got to be going soon, though.

It's the first night on at Drury Lane.

So we're going to be rushed off our feet later.

I'm sorry, I didn't know the time.

I've, erm... I made you some tea.

It's roll place, stuffed with shrimps and lemons and a...

Steamed pudding for afters.

That's lovely.

Come on, let's get that coat off, yeah?

You should eat it while it's hot.

Oh, I've got this for you.

It's all about the new ready -to -wear.

Yeah?

Did you go to church today?

Yeah.

Maybe I should come with you next time.

I've got going soon. I'm sorry, love.

That's all right. You've got to work.

Are you going to eat that?

Oh, and don't forget the steamed pudding for after.

I love you, Tilly.

Madge, I can explain.

Oh, yes, you can explain anything.

Madge, please.

Why have you come here?

Just to cause trouble?

This is my home.

You should have thought about that before you ran off with your fantasy

That's over now.

That doesn't give you the right to come back here and ruin my life.

I'm still your wife.

And if she thinks she can take what's mine... How dare you?

Are you trying to make Adam some sort of money -grubbing fortune hunter?

Well, what else are you doing here?

It's not on his account. I'll be bound.

That's exactly why I'm here.

Liar. You call me a liar? Yes.

And a slut.

Would you please leave?

You heard, didn't you?

I asked you to leave this house. You can't ask me to leave.

I want you to go, Dora.

And leave us alone.

I never want to see you again.

Don't you?

Well, you will.

In court.

It was you who deserted me and you know it.

There's no way you can hurt me now.

Not in law.

Not in life!

Nothing!

You're welcome to him.

Sorry.

Quite a mouth on her, isn't she, for someone who's been run over by a boss?

I didn't want you to know.

I didn't want anyone to know.

She used to tell me I was just half a man.

It was my fault we couldn't have children.

And as she went, that proved it was right.

Because that's how I felt. A quarter of a man.

And that same day, I read in the Herald about this woman who'd been knocked

under the bus.

Yeah. You're real, Match.

Don't feel up to scrubbing out the pantry now.

Colin here.

I was looking forward to today.

The thought of so many people wearing our designs.

All to have got angrier and angrier inside.

I ended up being horrid to Miles.

Poor people.

He'll forgive you.

No, I went too far.

How could she?

How could she do it?

I know we didn't exactly get on, but I tried so hard to help her.

She may not have seen it that way.

What do you mean?

Well, a lot of the ready -to -wear was, after all, hers.

But the credit was all down to her house failure.

So was her salary.

Hello.

Hello.

You didn't eat your tea.

I'll have it tomorrow.

It matters to me too, you know.

Sometimes, when I'm on the tram or at work,

I find myself thinking, and I'm afraid I'm going to cry.

Right there, grown man, in front of all the people.

And my heart just feels huge with the sorrow.

But you have to get on with things.

Living.

I am getting on with living.

Are you?

I followed you again this morning.

I wouldn't mind if it helped.

You don't.

How?

I don't see any sign of it. Tell me how.

When I'm there, he's not lost. Yeah, but he is, Tilly, and you know it.

I'm not asking you to be happy, but you don't talk to me.

Sometimes it feels like it's not just William that's died.

I just don't know what to do.

I'm so tired. I'm really busy at work.

I wasn't after anything.

Nothing like that.

I just wanted some comfort.

She wanted to be a designer.

And all she got was the ready -to -wear.

And the chance to learn.

How long was she expected to go on doing that?

Working on something you can't put your heart into. Are you taking her side?

You asked me to explain.

Why are you so good at understanding everybody else?

I thought that she was my friend.

If she was frustrated with the work she could have come to me, I would have

understood.

I would have loved to have been a painter.

Have all of that freedom, but life doesn't work out like that.

Just because you can't do exactly as you please, it is no reason to be deceitful

and dishonest.

Is it?

Katia should be here by now.

Not to worry, I can hold the fort.

Oh, darling, this is hopeless.

We must get a proper nanny.

I had an agency number somewhere. Calm down, it isn't a problem.

I don't have any meetings today.

Oh, I'm so sorry. I forgot to ask how you got on yesterday.

Well, it was fairly daunting. One of those trade union war horses, but... I

don't know. I don't think I came over too badly.

And Patterson was actually suggesting I stand as an independent Labour candidate

at the next election.

Really?

Really.

Joseph, when did these come back? As I was unlocking, I thought I should get

them out of sight.

Let me give you a hand.

I'll just answer this first.

The House of Elliot, Evangeline Elliot speaking.

Mrs Fitzwalter.

Well, would you like to make an appointment for later?

I see.

Which newspaper was this?

Well, thank you for letting us know.

Good day.

Did you receive anything in the newspaper this morning?

Only the Times. There was a short paragraph.

What's going on with this?

What does the paragraph have to say? The Mail and Express both have

advertisements for the Crisdale collection and this.

Price couture. If you want House of Elliot designs at a price that doesn't

hole in your pocket, you'll find them at... What's this?

It's in over 20 shops.

We're not going to sell anything now.

Shall we get these out of the way for you, miss? Yes, please, Madge. Thank

Thank you.

This is wasted.

If anyone could stab me in the back like that, it just beats me.

I assume...

Cotter will have a similar agreement with the retailers to the one we

on the Aurora, in which case I would imagine they'll be paying the balance

the garments are sold.

Yes.

He's very unlikely to have omitted to instruct them where to send the money,

we may well be able to trace him through the retailers.

Well, I just wish we could find a way to stop them selling his collection.

We could offer them the Aurora instead.

They won't want to pay that sort of price. We know the price.

Down to their level? No, we can't. No, what we can't do, Bea, is let Grace and

Larry win.

We'd stand to lose a lot of money.

We have rails full of clothes in the workroom that no -one wants to buy. That

going to happen whatever we do. I still think we need to consider any such

action with extreme caution.

The better stores might never do business with us again. Joseph, as long

Christel collection is on sale, they won't anyway.

I agree with Evie. I am prepared to risk anything rather than let those two get

away with this.

Agnes!

Can you finish up the button loops on Miss Hardcastle's ball gown?

I'm not halfway through with this, Em, yeah? Betty's meant to be working on

that. It may have escaped your notice, but Betty isn't in yet.

Miss Hardcastle's due at four o 'clock, so if you could just get the move on, if

you please.

Trust Betty not to turn up when we've all this to do. No message, nothing.

Well, perhaps she's not well.

She seemed a bit out of sorts to me yesterday.

Well, she seemed right as rain to me.

Well, perhaps she's had an accident.

Ran over by a bus, I suppose.

I think she's worried about the carry -on and that.

What did you say?

Me?

Nothing. I thought you just said Betty was worried about something.

Did you know she wasn't going to come in today?

No.

What is it, Agnes?

Is something wrong with Betty? No.

I mean, how can I know?

Look, nothing's wrong.

Cross me out and hope to die.

The contract is perfectly in order.

I imagine it is. The fact is the garments themselves are copies.

It's a serious embarrassment for us. They should be in the store.

I appreciate that, Miss Elliot, but I can't really see what I'm expected to do

at this late stage.

We have a proposal.

Would you consider selling the Aurora collection in place of the copies?

I think not.

Your prices are rather beyond the reach of most of our customers.

We'd be willing to lower them.

Our clothes are of far better quality.

Material, finish, everything.

But we've already invested in the Christelle collection.

I have well over a hundred garments in stock.

We'll take them.

In exchange.

We have a signed contract with Mr. Cotter.

He's provided us with good service in the past where our own lines were

concerned.

Even if I could break the contract, I wouldn't wish to deal with him in quite

underhand manner.

You don't class his theft of our designs as underhand, then? I'm sure there must

have been some misunderstanding about that, Miss Elliot. You only have to use

your eyes. They are House of Elliot designs.

If you'll forgive me for pointing this out, the designs have a fair number of

differences. They are simply details. Ah, but it's details that count in our

business, isn't it?

That will be something for the Lord to decide.

We would like to contact Mr. Carter ourselves.

Presumably you must have an address for him.

Thanks.

Never mind. On to the next one.

How did you get on? Failed 100%. Mr. Miles is upstairs.

Edie, he only asked... I only answered. We must keep control of ourselves.

I've been trying to be polite all day to those ghastly retailers. You were so

aggressive. Yes, well, your politeness didn't seem to be getting us very far.

cannot afford to lose our heads. Oh, coming from you.

What does that mean?

The fact is, Bea, if you'd bothered to listen to me in the first place, we'd

have never got into this mess.

You were keen enough to go into ready -to -wear. No.

Donald thought it was a wonderful idea, remember?

Where the future lies, back Cotter's ambition.

Easy to say now. I said it then, Bea. I said you could not trust Larry Cotter.

But, oh, no, he's got good business sense, drive and grace.

The first thing she tries to do is cheat us.

But she is so talented, I have to take her on to prove I'm not afraid of her.

Well, if you had been so suspicious, why didn't you keep more of an eye on her?

I seem to remember you were happy to spend all night at her parties, mixed

her friends.

I haven't had the advantage of being on the spot.

But as far as I can see, there wasn't much point in you being there either.

you've had more important things to do. If this is about Daniel again, please

keep him out of it. Yes, well, I wish you had.

Joseph said I'd find you up here.

Yes.

I'm a fool.

It's the only decent thing that's happened all day.

I know sorry's pointless.

It seems when I need my friends, I do my best to get rid of them.

Miles, I... I really thought you meant it when you said you were leaving.

Oh, I did.

There's nothing like a night's sleep, isn't there?

Besides, you need the money.

We might not have any.

Do you want some tea?

all day yesterday and hardly slept a wink last night.

Now she ain't come in. I don't know.

I'm supposed to be her friend. I don't want to get her in any more trouble.

Betty.

I can see she was tired out, right? I mean, you could hardly take your hat off

without her biting your head off.

So I asked her what the matter was.

Now she said she was doing some extra finishing work and supervising the ready

-to -wear because she was up to her neck in debt.

Well, hang on, let's get this straight. Betty was supervising the ready -to

-wear. That was Madge's job. Oh, yes, that's what she said. And that Madge

be upset, so I wasn't to breathe a word.

But she was doing it for Mr. Cotter.

So you mean she was working on the copies? Well, she didn't say that.

Zach Maddock.

Hello, Arnold.

An article.

Larry Carter.

That's what the man's a scoundrel. I wouldn't put anything past him.

Wait, the House of Elliot?

Come off it, Arnold. They're the most scrupulous of employers.

Is this one of your reporters?

No,

no.

No, I think we should both talk to them.

I mean, Liberty.

Betty's supervising and finishing. She needs telling every stitch of the way.

You're missing the point, Marge. It may not be the point to you, Tilly, but that

was my job. Are you saying that Betty may have been helping on the copies?

Well, I don't know for sure. I'm only going by what Agnes said.

No, I don't believe it.

Agnes must have got it wrong.

Betty wouldn't do that.

I'm not so sure about that.

No, that's what I think.

But then someone had to do the work at that ready -to -wear because the girls,

they just haven't got the skill.

Hey, have you said anything yet?

No. I wanted to see what you had to say first.

I mean, if it isn't true, Betty's got enough on her plate without any of us

making it worse for her.

Where have you been?

Had a cup of tea with Miles.

Oh, there's the Aurora account.

House of Elliot. Beatrice Elliot speaking. Oh, Jack, I'm so glad to hear

voice.

Well, yes, I'll see you here in half an hour.

Evie, we are now being accused of running a threat shop.

I still don't see a reason to keep mum about it. You know what Agnes is like.

You've said it often enough.

Supposing she's got the whole thing back to front and Bessie ends up getting the

sack. Good riddance, if you ask me.

That's not charitable, Madge.

You know how hard pretty is at the moment.

Plenty of people have a hard time. That doesn't excuse a double -crossing Miss B

and Miss Evie. I'm only recommending that we wait until we've heard her side

the story. It's only fair. What about being fair to Demi?

Look, Betty told Agnes she was working there. Now, not even Agnes would get

wrong. And if you think about it, why would they want her there if it wasn't

work on that collection of hers?

And anyway, if she's innocent, why stop at home today?

Well, even if she did do it... What difference does it make to them to wait

until the morning?

What makes you think she'll be here?

All right.

Give her till morning.

You're a good thought, Madge.

The celebrated London couturiers of Angeline and Beatrice Elliot have been

sweated labour in order to produce their first venture into ready -to -wear

clothing.

The seamstresses in a Bayswater workshop had been working 80 hours a week in

order to meet orders on the Elliotts' much -publicised Aurora collection.

That's rubbish.

That reporter, did you send him?

My reporters do their own investigations, just as Jack does.

Yesterday morning, these women arrived at work to find their factory locked.

They were never paid for their long extra hours.

But that's nothing to do with us. We were up to date with every penny. They

weren't working long hours for us. The point is, we own the factory. They were

being paid by the House of Elliot. We've been paying for them to work for Grace

and Larry. Not enough, unfortunately.

Let me continue.

Beatrice Elliot is the wife of Jack Maddox, also a director of the House of

Elliot, who has, over the past few months, vigorously conducted a campaign

improve factory conditions in which he advocates a national reduction in the

working week to 48 hours and the introduction of a minimum wage.

But he's got everything wrong. It's absolutely wrong to blame any of this on

house of Elliot.

Then how is it the seamstress from here was supervising women at the Bayswater

factory premises?

The woman concerned was my reporter's main informant.

That's not possible.

Who was it?

I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to divulge. Oh, for heaven's sake, if

to print lies about us, at least we can know where they came from.

I'm sure inaccuracies can be rectified.

Plainly, you were duped.

But you're going to print it? Of course he is. I'm afraid our ignorance of what

happened is not a defence.

Look, my paper, like your husband, has been a consistent advocate

of improved factory conditions.

We have brought the factories and the owners most guilty of exploiting their

workers to the attention of our readers.

I can't ignore this just because Jack is a friend.

What do you say, Jack?

I agree with Arnold.

I must simply weather it if I can. You will, but what about us? Whose side are

you on?

Wherever my sympathies are. It doesn't alter what I believe in.

I think I'd better go.

I'll make sure the article clarifies your position.

Thank you for warning us, Arnold.

There's nothing matter to you apart from your campaign.

Well, this is hardly going to help my campaign.

But I have to do what is right.

Oh, I see, and it's right to jeopardize everything Evie and I have built up.

You have to take everything so personally.

Yes, because it is personal.

It's our life you're talking about, Jack.

I'll see you at home.

He's meant to love me.

Of course he loves you, Bea.

I was hard to you earlier. It doesn't mean I don't love you.

But you're always on my side, Evie.

Tomorrow, in the Daily Messenger, there's going to be an article claiming

the House of Elliot has been employing sweated labour.

I don't believe it. It's true.

Apart from the fact that the sweated labour was from Mr. Cotter and Grace

Keeble's collection.

I'd like to see it. Crash those two guys out.

The worst thing of all is that the reporter got most of his information

of our staff.

You told us you knew nothing about this, Madge.

We do now, Miss Elliot.

It was Betty Butcher.