Original subtitles

Baldrow Square, if you please, the House of Eliott.

Sloane, 8-6-2-9, please.

Oh, thank you, I need that.

Nervous about the Aurora?

Supposing the press think it's dull, passé,

the House of Eliott's unadventurous new venture.

You've been making up headlines all night?

Well it is exactly what they would want to hear,

Maison Gille, Monsieur Duroque.

A-ha, the Duchess of York wants to buy

the entire Aurora Collection.

Sloane, 8-6-2-9.

Joseph?

Where?

We didn't send for them?

It's all right, Mummy will be back in a moment.

No, not at all, you were 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?

Stone and Wilkinson, he passed it on his way to work.

Well how could there be?

I don't know.

I hope he's wrong.

He keeps saying there's no need to be alarmed,

but I can just hear him trying to convince himself.

I shall have to go in.

I'll just get Lucy settled.

There.

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.

Darling, it's a Committee of MPs.

You know, this bill of Tom Patterson?

Yes, I'm sorry, it went completely out of my head.

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 Eliott.

Well, Joseph, I hope you have.

I 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 ours?

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 this 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 hold of Miles' drawing somehow?

Or through Miles, one of his friends maybe?

Ah.

What?

Well, 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 Eliott, I'll be back in a moment.

B.

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.

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 me?

It seems likely they were the copy dresses.

Has anyone spoken to Larry Cotter?

No, I've only just got here.

Right.

Shall I take her for you, Miss Eliott?

Thank you Katya.

Yes, Ambassador 0-9-0-2, please.

What time does Larry's workshop

usually start in the morning?

For the last month, seven o'clock?

Seven?

It was quite a rush at the end, the fire set them back.

It's 25 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,

which was shed for thee.

Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

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,

which was shed for thee.

Drink this in remembrance of him and be thankful.

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.

And he said to her to either get out

or tell Charles Quance to stay away.

Well she can hardly do that, can she,

working alongside him in the same room?

You're not telling me she's left her Jerry

and gone to live with Mr Charles?

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.

They don't 'alf look like they've got the hump though.

Morning, Betty.

Agnes.

Madge not in yet, is she?

No, I don't think I've seen her come in.

Where were the Miss Eliotts and Joseph off to, Charles?

Business appointment.

You're right?

Huh?

About him and Madge, guilt written all over his face.

I don't think he should feel guilty,

I mean, he deserves some happiness.

If you can call living with Madge happiness.

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

Morning, Madge.

Morning.

Crystal?

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.

They've certainly skimped on the pleats.

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

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, Madge.

Morning, Mr Charles.

Is everything all right?

Yeah, everything's fine.

Come on, who was it on the telephone?

Just a buyer from Carlisle and Ross, they...

I want to speak

to one of the Miss Eliotts or Mr Wint.

I am sorry, but I-

I am sorry Sir, but both the Miss Eliotts

and Mr Wint 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 should prefer to see them

as soon as possible, thank you.

I'll wait.

Would you care to take a seat?

Was that Mr Robson, the buyer from Bancrofts?

Yes, how did you know?

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

Sorry I'm late.

Oh Tilly, you're frozen.

Feel those hands.

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

You've got time.

Do take a seat.

Thank you.

It's such a privilege to meet your 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 Crystal 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, as it happens.

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 Crystal Collection.

Grace.

That's right, Grace Keeble.

Does you credit.

What's Patterson like?

Uncompromising, indefatigable.

He sounds intimidating.

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, there's Patterson now.

He's absolutely determined to turn

this campaign into legislation.

Despite a Tory majority?

That's not the only problem.

First we have to convince our trade unions 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 case.

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 many won't, that's why I'm here.

I have been round building site after building site,

factory after factory,

very few employers see the welfare of their workers

as a reason to raise costs.

The only way to achieve progress is through legislation.

George.

You wish with this bill

to press for a national minimum wage?

It would be one of its 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 use it as an excuse

never to raise wages above that minimum.

Here, here.

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, far 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 man should do

in the name of some ideal,

when they've no idea what it's like to be a working man.

Here, here.

Over this past year, we've learnt 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 right,

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 store.

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

they can't have made so many clothes.

How many seamstresses were we employing there?

20.

And they'll have been 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 Foresters', Stone and Wilkinson and Peter Clegg

are selling replicas on the very day we launch.

I apologise Mr Robson, but I do assure you

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

that any waitress can be seen in a cheap imitation?

As far as Bancrofts 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 dealing with you.

I had understood that the House of Eliott

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-

I am sorry Miss.

My main object in coming here was to ensure

that Bancrofts get a complete refund

of the payment we advanced on the collection.

That is utterly unreasonable, we've invested-

I should have expected you to 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 Eliott.

Did you have to give in that easily?

Evie, we are going to be laughed at

and vilified by all our rivals.

Do you want us to be dragged to the courts as well?

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

I don't believe it.

Joseph, Mr Wint, saw some of the garments

in the window of Stone and Wilkinson,

on his way to work this morning.

Who'd do a thing like that, hey?

It'll be something to do with that Larry Cotter,

I'll be bound, I've never been able to stand him.

Just 'cause you don't like him, Madge,

there's no reason to go round accusing him.

Oh, well, who else could it be, you tell me that?

Could just as easily be that young man, Miles.

Well, he done all their Aurora drawings

and he's got a motive, with Miss Evie going off

with that artist friend of his.

Will there be a lot of trouble?

Well if they've got the buyers coming round after them,

and it's not surprised either, is it?

They're not gonna stomach having

clothes in the window that look like cheap stuff.

Oh, that's rubbish, Madge, folks know quality-

It's not rubbish, Betty,

this could ruin the whole lot of us.

I must say, I was a bit thrown to find

so much opposition from our own side.

You've probably persuaded some of them already.

They 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're beholden to no one.

The party needs new blood.

Besides, you're getting quite a reputation.

Well what do the clothes look like?

Like the Aurora, except they've skimped on the fabric

and made minor changes with collars, edgings, fastening.

Well how could they have managed it?

Those seamstresses hardly knew

one end of the needle from t'other.

Well half the time they couldn't even

put a sleeve in properly.

Well, we only know someone managed it.

Maybe Grace helped.

Miss high and mighty lowered herself to stitching?

I don't believe that.

The House of Eliott, Evangeline Eliott speaking.

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

In Manchester?

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 Crystal Collection is on sale there

in Sprig and Harris and Plough Rights.

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

How did they connect Crystal 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 me Miss Evie questions.

She looked that upset.

Poor Miss Evie.

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

It does, yes.

So if any of you knows anything that might be useful,

you're to come to Tilly or me, you understand?

Yes Madge.

You wait for us.

It's Mr Wint, 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?

We've done nearly twice the normal

this last couple of weeks.

Tell me, were you just working on the Aurora Collection

or were you doing some 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 gonna 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, init?

Come on, Miss Eliott.

Excuse me, Miss Eliott?

Bertram Crowther from the Daily Messenger.

I wonder if I might have a word?

It would be preferable if you spoke

to Miss Eliott 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 informed 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 Eliott.

Am I right that you're married

to the campaigner, Jack Maddox?

What's that got to do with it?

Nothing, they're just after dirt these days.

Back to the House of Eliott please.

Hello.

I've come to see Grace.

She's not in I'm afraid.

Do you mind if I see for myself?

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

I don't think you ought to do that.

Why not?

It's hers, it's private.

Don't.

Did you know about this or were you actually party to it?

Party to what?

After all, Miles, you had far more reason

-to hate me than she did. -Evie, I've never hated you!

What's all this about?

The Crystal 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 Eliott

because of you and Daniel?

You think I'm that trivial?

If Grace has want of 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 Beatrice, tell her I won't be in tomorrow.

What?

I'm quitting.

Miles, I said I was sorry.

Oh, and that just wipes everything away, does it?

No, of course it doesn't, it was stupid to-

I really don't want to know.

I'll see you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

Night.

Night, Madge.

Thinks we were born yesterday.

Here, Bet, you know when you was working for Larry Cotter,

did you see anything?

Course not.

No, I'd have gone straight to Miss Eliott.

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.

It's just, 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?

Tongue never stops wagging.

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

Do you think you haven't caused me enough unhappiness

getting my husband put inside?

I'm sorry.

I should hope so.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Tilly?

Hmm?

Don't matter.

Do you never eat a proper tea?

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.

We'll have to give that pantry a good scrub first,

it's a rat's paradise in there.

Ella Cinders is on at the Galmont tonight.

You haven't been listening

to 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?

Are you saying I haven't got the right?

I heard you had company.

Yeah, this is a Madge Althorpe, a colleague of mine.

That's what they call it, is it?

This is-

Dora Quance.

What?

His wife.

Back from the dead?

You're still here?

Yeah, chef said I could wait until you got in.

Ah, that was nice of him.

Shall I take your coat?

I'm cold, Norm.

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 made you some tea.

It's rolled plaice, stuffed with shrimps and lemons,

and a steam pudding for afters.

That's lovely.

Come on, let's get that coat off you.

You should eat it while it's hot.

I 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 gotta be going soon, I'm sorry love.

That's all right, you've got to work.

Are you gonna eat that?

Oh, and don't forget the steam pudding for afters.

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 fancy man.

That's over now.

That doesn't give you the right to come back here

and ruin in 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 out

I'm some sort of money-grabbing 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're calling 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, hasn't she,

for someone who's been run over by a bus?

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 then she went, and proved it was right,

'cause that's how I felt,

like a quarter of a man.

And that same day, I read in the Herald

about this woman who'd been knocked under a bus.

Oh Charles.

Is anything in your life real?

Yeah, you're real, Madge.

I don't feel up to scrubbing out the pantry now.

It's cold in here.

I was looking forward to today.

The thought of so many people wearing our designs.

All to have gotten angrier and angrier inside.

I ended up being horrid to Miles of all 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 the House of Eliott.

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 gonna 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.

It does.

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.

Stop it.

I'm sorry.

I just don't know what to do.

I'm so tired, it's been 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.

Well 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've come to me, I would have understood.

I would've loved to have been a painter,

have all of that freedom,

but life doesn't work out like that.

And just because you can't do exactly as you please,

it is no reason to be deceitful and dishonest.

Is it?

No.

Katya 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, there 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,

all those trade union war horses,

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

Tom 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 Eliott, Evangeline Eliott 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.

Joseph, have you seen the newspapers this morning?

Only the Times, there was a short paragraph.

We'd better get on with this.

What did the paragraph have to say?

The Mail and Express both have advertisements

for the Crystal Collection and this,

"Cut Price Couture: if you want House of Eliott designs

"at a price that doesn't burn a 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 I get these out of the way for you, Miss?

Yes please, Madge, thank you.

This work wasted.

How anyone could stab them in the back like that

just beats me.

I assume Cotter will have a similar agreement

with the retailers to the one we negotiated on the Aurora.

In which case I would imagine they'll be paying the balance

once the garments are sold.

Yes?

Well, he's very unlikely to have omitted

to instruct them where to send the money.

So 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 lower the price.

Down to their level?

No we can't.

No, what we can't do, B, 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 is 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 as the Crystal 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 off the bottom loops

on Miss Harlcastle's ballgown?

I'm not halfway through with this hem yet.

Betty's meant to be working on that.

It may have escaped your notice,

but Betty isn't in yet.

Miss Harlcastle's due at four o'clock,

so if you could just get a 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.

Run 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, something wrong with Betty?

No, I mean how could I know?

Look, nothing's wrong, cross me heart and hope to die.

The contract is perfectly in order.

I imagine it is,

the fact is the garments themselves are copies

and it's a serious embarrassment for us

they should be in the stores.

I appreciate that, Miss Eliott, 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 Crystal Collection.

I have well over a hundred garments in stock.

We'll take them, in exchange.

We have a signed contract from Mr Cotter.

He's provided us with good service in the past,

where our own lines are concerned.

Even if I could break the contract,

I wouldn't wish to deal with him

in such an underhand manner.

You don't class his theft of our designs

as underhand then?

I'm sure there must've been some misunderstanding

about that, Miss Eliott.

You only have to use your eyes,

they are House of Eliott designs.

If you'll forgive me for pointing this out,

the designs have a fair number of differences.

They are simply details.

But it's details that count in our business, isn't it?

That will be something for the law to decide.

We would like to contact Mr Cotter ourselves.

Presumably you must have an address for him.

Waste.

Nevermind, onto the next one.

How did you get on?

Failed 100%.

Mr Miles is upstairs.

Evie, 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.

We cannot afford to lose our heads.

Coming from you.

What does that mean?

The fact is, B, if you bothered

to listen to me in the first place,

we'd have never have 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."

It's easy to say now-

I said it then, B,

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, mix with 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.

No, 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.

You just gonna stand there all day?

Tilly, can I have a word?

What about?

It's private.

Joseph said I'd find you up here.

Yes, I'm a fool.

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

I know sorry is 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 sleeplessness.

Besides, I need the money.

We might not have any.

Do you want some tea?

I worried about it all day yesterday

and I hardly slept a wink last night.

Now she ain't come in, I dunno.

I'm supposed to be her friend.

I don't want to get her in any more trouble.

Betty?

I could 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

'cause she was up to her neck in debts.

Well hang on, let's get this straight,

Betty was supervising the ready-to-wear?

That was Madge's job.

Yeah, that's what she said, and that Madge would be upset

so I wasn't to breathe a word.

She was doing it for Mr Cotter.

So you mean she was working on the copies?

Well, she didn't say that.

Jack Maddox.

Hello Arnold.

An article?

Larry Cotter?

Yes, well the man's a scoundrel,

I wouldn't put anything past him.

Wait, the House of Eliott?

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

Was this one of your reporters?

I see.

No, no, no, I think we should both talk to them.

Goodbye.

Bloomin' liberty, Betty supervising and finishing.

She needs telling every stitch of the way.

You're missing the point, Madge.

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.

Nah, I 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,

'cause the girls there just haven't got the skill.

Hey, have you said anything yet?

No, I wanted to see what you would have said 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.

Are those the Aurora accounts?

House of Eliott, Beatrice Eliott speaking.

Oh Jack, I am so glad to hear your voice.

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

Evie, we are now being accused of running a sweatshop.

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 Betty ends up getting the sack?

Oh good riddance if you ask me.

That's not charitable, Madge.

You know how hard=pressed she is at the moment.

Plenty of people have a hard time,

that doesn't excuse her

double-crossing Miss B and Miss Evie.

I'm only recommending that we wait

until we've heard her side of the story, it's only fair.

And what about being fair to them, hey?

Look, Betty told Agnes she was working there.

Now not even Agnes would that get that wrong,

and if you think about it, why would they want her there

if it wasn't to work on that collection of theirs?

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

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, I'll give her till morning.

You're a good sort, Madge.

"The celebrated London couturiers

"Evangeline and Beatrice Eliott have been using

"sweated labour in order to produce

"their first venture into ready-to-wear clothing.

"Seamstresses in a Bayswater workshop

"had been working 80 hours a week

"in order to meet orders on the Eliotts'

"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 Eliott.

We've been paying for them to work for Grace and Larry.

Not enough, unfortunately.

Let me continue.

"Beatrice Eliott is the wife of Jack Maddox,

also a director of the House of Eliott,

"who has over the past few months,

"vigorously conducted a campaign

"to 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 the House of Eliott.

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 you're going 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?

And 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.

Yes, of course.

I'll make sure the article clarifies your position.

Thank you for warning us, Arnold.

Does 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 jeopardise

everything Evie and I have built up.

Do 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, B.

I was horrid 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

that the House of Eliott has been employing sweated labour.

I don't believe it.

It's true.

Apart from the fact that the sweated labour

was for Mr Cotter and Grace Keeble's collection.

I'd like to scratch those twos' eyes out.

The worst thing of all is that the reporter

got most of his information from one of our staff.

You told us you knew nothing about this, Madge.

We do now, Miss Eliott.

It was Betty Butcher.