Original subtitles

♪ Well, I can wash out 44 pairs of socks

♪ And have 'em hanging on the line

♪ I can starch and iron two dozen shirts

♪ Before you can count from one to nine

♪ I can scoop up a great big dip full of lard from the drippings can

Paper, paper, get your paper!

♪ And be back 'fore it melts in the pan

♪ 'Cause I'm a woman ♪ Woman

♪ I'll say it again now ♪ Say it again

♪ I can rub and scrub this whole house

♪ Until it's shining like a dime

♪ Feed my baby, grease the car

♪ Powder my face at the same time

♪ Get all dressed up

♪ Go out swing till 4am and then

♪ Lay down at five Jump up at six

♪ And start all over again

♪ 'Cause I'm a woman ♪ Woman

♪ I'll say it again now

♪ Say it again

♪ You come to me sickly

♪ And I know I'm going to make you well

♪ If you come to me hexed up

♪ And you know I'm gonna break the spell

♪ You'll know, if you come to me hungry

♪ I'm gonna fill you full of grits

♪ If it's lovin' you're likin'

♪ I'll kiss you and give you the shiverin' fits

♪ 'Cause I'm a woman ♪ Woman

♪ I'll say it again now ♪ Say it again

♪ 'Cause I'm a woman ♪ Woman

♪ I'll say it again ♪ Say it again

♪ 'Cause I'm a woman

♪ I'll say it again I'll say it again

♪ Na-na-na ♪ Woman... ♪

Very easy. Ryder would love it.

I am really gonna miss you.

It's not 'au revoir', it's 'a bientot'.

I just can't believe you're actually going, Magda.

How will we cope without you?

You'll create the best dressed women in Sydney,

as always.

Don't let Mr Ryder see you in that lippy.

Why? Do you think he'll leave his wife for me?

Whoo! Oh, gosh.

Here. Try this.

Ta.

Muchly. Keep it.

So what do we know about the new woman?

Mrs Ambrose is a senior at Harrods,

and she'll be a very welcome addition

to the Goodes family.

Ambrose?

At least it's not another Mrs Unpronounceable.

I don't know why I bother.

All the men in this place are either woolly woofter

or married... or both.

We're not here to find husbands.

It's easy for you to say, you've landed your continental.

Wish I could bear the stink of garlic.

Elsie, it's perfect.

Thank you, Mrs Janosi, I try.

I believe Mrs Ambrose has arrived.

Let's not miss this!

Hmm.

Now,

may I present you your new domain, Mrs Ambrose?

Model Gowns. Hmm.

And this is Magda.

She is placed Goodes at the very pinnacle of Australian fashion.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

We can't have such vulgarity at the entrance to Model Gowns.

"Such vulgarity!"

I've asked Elias to prepare this vase

on the latest issue of Lilian magazine.

This is in Lilian magazine?

Here.

Oh.

Lilian Australia. How curious.

Yes, and the editor has just returned from London.

Move it over there.

Well, let me leave you in Magda's capable hands,

Mrs Ambrose. Thank you, Mr Ryder.

Our model gowns are exclusive to Goodes.

Each frock is the only one in Australia.

The lighting is rather intense.

It's harsh lighting an Australian thing?

We have no secrets here in Model Gowns.

Oh. Australian flowers are so... unruly.

Don't you think? Miss Poulton!

Ah, Magda, I hear you are leaving Goodes.

Let me introduce you to my replacement, Virginia.

Mrs Ambrose, Magda.

Just arrived from Harrods.

Oh, you know it?

People are saying you dress the Duchess of Argyll.

At Harrods, We never discuss our clients, Mrs Poulton.

He can't stop you from joining Honi Soit.

It's the student newspaper.

What could he do?

Lock you in the house?

Dad just worries about me.

Well, me and every flea-ridden beatnik offering

free love and French cinema.

He has to let you grow up eventually.

Sound good? Yeah.

I read it.

And?

Topical. Edgy.

Dare I say... sexy?

And you could take a photo to go with it?

Lisa, Richard White is not going to print an article

by a first-year girl in Honi.

You said you liked it.

The pill is news.

The boys write the articles and take the photos here, Lisa.

Girls get to be editorial assistants and answer the phone.

Put a boy's name on it.

What would be the point of that?

I want to make a name for myself.

You can't publish under your own name anyway.

Everybody will think you're, you know,

having lots of... Petra!

There's one thing that separates

the polite, pretty, husband-hunting debs

from the women who think and create

and build lives and careers.

Rich parents? Sex, Petra.

Sex.

All the interesting women,

the free-thinking, libertarian, emancipated women have sex.

It's the thing that makes us different

from our mother's generation.

Our mothers had sex, Lisa, by definition.

Married sex. Suburban sex.

Meat and three veg with the lights off.

Stop!

How will I ever be a famous writer if I can't write about sex?

The review was right - loaded windbag!

Madeleine, come back. What review?

Madeleine isn't an assistant.

She's up Clive Buchanan.

They make an exception for the girls who put out.

No, Lisa...

I'm not going to have sex with Richard White...

...just so he'll publish my article.

And not for any other reason.

And not for any other reason!

Gentlemen, come on, be bold!

They're killing blacks in South Africa.

We're treating 'em worse in Australia.

The Reds are shooting down Yank spy planes.

And what have we got on offer, huh?

Delays to the union building

and drunkenness at the college informal.

Oh, I'm going to die of boredom.

I'm going to die of boredom.

You stripe girl. Yes, you.

Are you typing up my story in the British nuclear tests?

Uh, no, Richard, that was me. Thank you.

Sodding philistine!

I take it you read my review, Clive.

You have completely missed the point

of the most important playwright of the 20th century!

I have no problem with Genet,

you're just a shit director.

Does anyone else agree

with this self-regarding cretin

who insisted on free tickets?

I think setting Les Bonnes in a brothel was a mistake.

The third character is a madam.

Madame, I don't think he meant it literally.

Solange and Claire's sexual roleplay should be a creation

of their shared imagination

and not the result of professional experience.

Oh, God, you, Bexley virgin, lecturing me on sexual roleplay?

I like it!

Lisa, it's your mum.

I think you'd better talk to her.

Lisa...

I could have worn the dress you made for the funeral.

You don't like it?

That box was at the back of the wardrobe.

Mm.

They're betting slips.

IOUs from bookies.

Mum?

Your husband had no life insurance.

But the letters from AMP...

He allowed the policy to lapse some years ago.

He also sold his stocks and shares,

cashed in an annuity and took out a second mortgage on the house.

I'm sure Fairfax provides a widow's pension.

Half a salary until retirement age.

It'll cover the house payments.

But we'll have nothing to live on.

Oh, I'd advise you to keep up those repayments.

A woman alone won't get another mortgage.

And I'll have to ask you to return Ed's chequebook.

Why? For your own protection.

A bank can hardly leave two women to handle cheques on their own.

I already work Saturdays at Goodes.

What if I went full-time?

You'll meet a better sort of husband at university

than you will as a shop girl.

You could take in a boarder.

Thank you.

You've been very helpful.

You're still a very handsome woman, Miss Miles.

Maybe join a tennis club.

Dad left his finances in a big mess.

Now there's all this paperwork,

and I don't even know where to start with repayments.

I can get Stefan to help you.

Mr Ryder's only giving me two weeks' work during debut season.

Well, then you'll come work for me every Saturday

and on university holidays.

Could I work for you full-time?

Lisa, you must not leave university.

You are destined for a big life

as an intellectual, as a writer.

Yeah? Yeah.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad.

Thank you.

Now, on school days, the debutantes come in waves.

The Strathfield girls get out in time for the 3:15 tram.

The eastern suburb schools, they're on the 3:30.

And the North Shore girls come all together

in a big rush after four.

While the boys are down the St James toilets,

earning two bob from MacKenzie.

Jenny. Speak of the devil.

Gracious, Elsie!

They're meant to be demure and virginal,

not whirling dervishes.

It's debutante ball. The girls want dresses to dance in.

Perhaps where you come from, but here it's about purity.

The frocks should say "marry me",

not "let's try a tumble on the ballroom floor."

It's almost nine. Very well.

Come back after closing...

...and think legs together.

Ladies' Cocktail is not one of your back rooms.

When Miss Cartwright was chief buyer,

she would never have spoken to you that way.

Miss Cartwright's dresses would not have been...

Sugary confections on the wedding cake.

Well, are we ready, ladies?

Let's create the best dressed women in Sydney.

Miss Giles, you have a customer.

I've got a work do,

and I have no idea what's the right thing to wear.

So do you want to impress your boss...

...or impress your boss?

He's a married man. Good on you!

Let someone else house train him.

Come on, I'll sort you out.

Beautiful.

Someone's boss won't know what hit him.

Oh!

I love it so much, I don't want to take it off.

Oh, that neckline is perfect on you.

There's a £10 note missing from my purse.

What are you looking at me for?

I had it before I went into the change rooms.

I saw it when I paid for my tea.

Well, maybe you dropped it in the tea room.

Is there a problem? Uh, this lady is missing £10.

She thinks she lost it in the change room.

Miss Miles, would you be so kind as to take her to the change room

for a thorough look?

Mrs Janosi, please make a report to Mr Ryder.

I assure you, we'll get this sorted immediately.

Goodbye.

I'm gonna have my work cut out for me

providing some leadership to ladieswear.

The head of Model Gowns never supervises other departments.

That explains the casual approach to customer service.

You must be counting down the days until Stefan signs the lease.

14 days and, uh, six hours.

Get out, you old bitch!

I found our thief.

Fetch Mr Ryder.

I didn't steal it.

How could I?

No pockets.

What do you think I did?

Shove it up my clacker?

Explain why you have a £10 note in your locker.

It's not mine. I didn't put it there.

You did!

You planted it there to get me in trouble.

Does anyone seriously believe

I'd go around scattering £10 notes willy nilly?

No, Mrs Ambrose, they don't.

Miss Giles, gather your belongings and come with me.

"Only at Goodes!"

That's 'cause only Goodes would hire a posh bitch

with a put-on Pommy accent to sell model gowns.

No wonder Younger Brothers are kicking your arses.

I'm teaching you. Don't take that tone with me, Rudi.

I said more accelerator, what are you...?

I just don't understand why I need to learn how to drive.

Because I don't want you trapped at home, alone with the babies.

Babies? Yeah. A bored woman is trouble.

Well, how can I be bored when I've got all your work calls

to answer as soon as I get in the door from Goodes.

Darlene, Raylene, Shaylene, Jean...

I did it exactly as you told me.

Clearly you did not. This is the gear shift.

OK. Clutch in. Mm-hm, yeah.

Now move into first. Yeah, yeah.

Release the clutch after shifting.

I never know what you actually mean.

I'm expected to just understand you,

but you're using words that make me feel stupid.

You are not stupid, you just don't believe in yourself.

Good. Good. More accelerator.

Ah, good, good!

Might be easier to believe in myself

if I wasn't taking calls from Darlene all day.

I do have a job, you know.

More accelerator.

"Hi. Is Rudi there? Yeah, I need to leave a message for Rudi."

Fay, Fay, these women work for my clients.

If they don't call me, my business goes bust,

we can't afford a car.

I said... I don't want a bloody car!

Where's my...?

Fay.

Fay!

Fay, darling.

Get back in the car.

Fay, Fay.

I'm sorry. I won't say another word.

Please get back in the car, Fay.

Hey, hey! Here. No, no, no.

You leave the lady alone. No, this is a private matter.

It's OK, it's OK.

Yeah, that'd be right.

A bloody reffo.

My husband and I were just having a slight misunderstanding.

I'm fine, really I am.

How'd a good sort like you end up married to a wog?

My husband is 10 times the man you will ever be,

you ignorant, slack-jawed git.

Now hop it before I accidentally run you over!

Shove over.

I'm driving.

Clutch in.

How many babies?

It's quite a large car.

You plan ahead, Mr Janosi.

Yeah, I do, Mrs Janosi.

♪ But I, I

♪ I'll just keep holding on... ♪

Window or store room?

Store room. Store room.

He's got his eye on you.

Uh, Miss St Claire.

Magda.

Hello. Hello.

Thank you for taking the time.

Oh, I had no choice.

Lilian Australia believes you'll be the most influential woman

in Sydney fashion once you open your boutique.

Well, I'm sure that crown belongs to you...

...and Mrs Virginia Ambrose.

Mrs Ambrose has joined us from Harrods.

Perhaps you two have met in London.

London is quite a bit bigger than Sydney,

Mrs Szombathelyi.

One of my ladies said something quite amusing.

She said she would only read Lilian Australia

to know what to wear for a bunyip hunt.

There is quite some interest in your new venture, Magda.

Ah, yes, Belle Reve.

Competition for Goodes.

Oh, Miss St Claire, Goodes can keep their well-dressed ladies.

I intend to serve working women who dress for themselves,

not to be a trophy on someone's arm.

And the designers you'll carry?

I plan to nurture new talent.

Home-grown designers who create for the modern Australian woman.

Yes, Goodes is not the place for a bold and modern vision.

I'm sure we'll survive the critiques of Lilian Australia.

Your chief buyer chooses designs from London and Paris

a season out of date.

Younger Brothers are beating Goodes on price,

and boutiques like Belle Reve will certainly beat you in quality.

Oh, and there are those rumours that you will be bought out

by a retail chain.

My ladies are more than satisfied with Kevin MacKenzie's oeuvre.

Obviously, you and Goodes are well suited, then.

Shall we?

Yeah.

Cheri St Claire.

From the moment she returned to Australia,

she has been on a campaign against Goodes,

and when she finally deigns to visit the store,

it is to celebrate Magda's departure.

Now, I have always been proud to say "only at Goodes",

but recently I've seen shoplifting,

customer complaints

and even a staff member stealing from a customer.

Now, you've all heard the rumours.

The new Younger Brothers store on Pitt Street is making inroads,

so if we don't turn this around,

Goodes will be sold to some down-market chain

and the best-dressed women in Sydney will go elsewhere.

Ah, yes.

And, um, so to Magda.

You're leaving us.

I'd like to thank you for your many years of service

and to wish you the very best of luck with your new venture.

And the rest of you, I expect you to rally around our new head

of Model Gowns, Mrs Virginia Ambrose.

Yes?

I'll see you tonight for a proper celebration.

I'm making hortobagyi palacsinta.

Mm.

♪ I've never loved... ♪

Oh...

Oh, my darling, my beautiful darling.

I made crepes. Yeah, I can see.

It's for the hortobagyi.

Ah, obviously.

This?

It's like mama used to make.

It's awful, isn't it?

Oh, no. We have half an hour.

Yes.

Do you think that we can fix it?

I promise you, Fay will not be the least offended...

They'll think we're coming for a week.

...of me bringing a few items from the delicatessen.

Don't be mean.

I'm not. She tries hard.

Yes, I know.

Sweet girl.

Ah! Magda, Stefan. Hello. Good evening.

Hi. Come in.

Hi. I'm just going to pop on some lippy.

Yeah, yeah, sure, sure. Oh!

Come in, come in.

Hi. Hello, Rudi.

Hi. Hello.

Oh, how beautiful.

I love you set the table up.

Rudi, my boy...

Tokaji!

I found a wine merchant in Melbourne who ships.

Mm! Yeah?

Yes.

Magda saved the day. And now we eat.

Malika will be conducting Bruckner number seven at Town Hall.

Wonderful. Do you like Bruckner?

I'm not sure that I really understand classical music.

Mm.

Fay. Fay likes songs with words.

Me too.

Mm. I bought the gramophone record so Fay would know the symphony.

Well, I didn't want to embarrass myself.

How could you embarrass yourself listening to music?

Mm, says the man who hums.

I don't hum.

Yes, you do.

Do I hum?

No!

No, no. Huh?

Champagne? Ah!

So extravagant.

Well, tonight we celebrate two blossoming businesses.

Magda, who has found her boutique.

Yeah?

And I have tripled my business for a negligible price.

Oh, well done, Rudi.

Thank you. Thank you.

Darling. I want to make a toast.

OK.

To Magda, Stefan

and the bridging loan from Stefan

that allowed me to buy Smith's transport.

To Magda and Stefan. Yeah.

Prosit. Prosit.

Prosit.

And you'll be happy to know the bank loan is already arranged,

and the money will be returned with interest

by the end of the week.

We sign the lease in two days.

Yeah.

And I will be there with the bank cheque.

Mm-hm.

My love, it's Rudi. His family.

Of course he will pay us back.

Don't you trust Rudi?

That is not the point, and you know it!

The money will be back before I sign the lease.

The money?

Our money.

Yours and mine.

And you lent it without even asking me!

You hate to talk finance.

The boutique is my dream.

I have worked for this moment for years.

Trust me, hmm?

Rudi will pay us the money.

What if we lose the shop?

We won't. I will sign the lease as planned.

You can't.

You can't sign the lease

without getting the money back from Rudi.

Strathfield girls in five minutes.

I'm meeting with Mr Ryder.

Please keep the entrance to Model Gowns free of debutantes.

And pay close attention to Miss Light Fingers.

Same time every day.

Never buys a thing.

I suspect she's the shoplifter Mr Ryder is so upset about.

Oh, she's beautifully dressed.

Exotic women often are.

Right before the wave, Magda would never.

Can I help you?

No, I don't think so.

Those are recently arrived from London.

You don't say.

Excuse me. Oh, I know you.

Lisa.

Very sorry to hear about your father.

Can I help you?

I hope so.

My sister needs a deb dress. I've been sent with the chequebook.

Yeah.

I haven't seen you at the Honi Soit office for a while.

Don't tell me you dropped out.

My Commonwealth scholarship doesn't go very far since...

I've had to concentrate on work and study.

Madness.

I learnt nothing from my lectures and everything from uni life.

You get more intellectual stimulation from one conversation

at The Beat than you do an entire year's worth of tutorials.

The Beat? The Duke of York.

It's where the Push meet.

Intellectuals. Libertarians. Artists. Poets.

Anyone who's going to leave

their mark on the world drinks there.

Did you read my articles?

The ones I left on your desk.

Uh, remind me?

Let's Pretend We're Married, about the pill.

Bikini Wars -

women are getting fined for wearing bikinis on Bondi Beach.

Ah, I don't...

Lisa, could you?

Excuse me a moment. Please.

Have a seat. Stay here.

You all good, Fran? Yeah.

Um, just went outside for a minute. OK.

If you'd like to wait for Mrs Ambrose,

she'll be back in a few minutes.

Oh, I'm fine, just looking.

You can't be in there while Model Gowns is unattended.

I really don't mind.

Lisa, a word?

Did you sell the carmine satin gloves?

No!

Did she?

Oi!

Uh, what does 'oi' mean?

We're missing a pair of satin gloves.

So?

You were at the counter.

Are you accusing me of stealing?

Search me.

Go on.

But if you don't find the gloves,

I expect an apology.

Come to the change room.

Why? I've got nothing to hide.

Go on, then. Search me. Look, I'm sorry.

You should just go.

No, not on your Nellie.

I said I'm sorry. What on earth is happening here?

Well, this assistant is accusing me of shoplifting.

Well, Mrs Ambrose thought she might be...

suspicious.

How dare you!

My family own department stores from Warren to the Victorian border.

Mansours could buy and sell Goodes in an afternoon, miss Miles.

Miss Miles, apologise.

I'm sorry.

Oh...

Miss Mansour, my office is on the eighth floor.

And if you'd be kind enough to wait for me there,

I'd like to apologise more fully.

You know, if you lot worked for my family,

you'd be out on your ears in half an hour.

I found these in the fitting room.

Oh, Fran!

Makes me wish I was making my debut.

You got anything in my size?

..for a break? Be right there.

Oh, Miss Mansour.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Do you still have time for a chat?

Sure. Follow me.

Got time for a drink? Sorry. I'm busy.

So am I. I meant tomorrow.

All booked up!

I know your brothers.

Mick and Joe.

Michael and Joseph Mansour from Warren.

They were at St Ignatius with me.

Never mentioned they had a sister.

Angela. Have a drink with me.

Have a drink with me, and I won't tell your brothers

you've been shopping at the competition.

And I won't tell them you've been hanging out

in Ladies' Cocktail.

Hurry up, Richie, we'll miss the bus.

Coming.

Bye, Angela.

OK. Goodbye.

And that was the agent.

He wants the lease.

You could not sign this.

You are too pessimistic.

You don't know if we'll have the money.

Stefan, we could lose everything.

Well, you can relax.

Rudi is here with the bank cheque.

Hi. Come in, brother.

How are you? You good? Good to see you.

Oh, what do you have there?

Cake? No, it's sachertorte.

And... wonderful news.

I have converted your loan into ownership.

You will now have a share of my business. Yeah?

My success will be your success.

Stefan, do you have plates for this?

I don't want your trucks. I need my money back.

Um...

That I can't do.

The bank refused my loan.

Rudi! Old man Smith was cooking the books.

So he let the business run down.

The trucks are fine, but customers are annoyed,

invoices unpaid, so once I turn it around,

How long?

Oh, Magda...

Six months, year at the most. Six months?!

But you will own 10% of my booming transport company.

This is not what we agreed.

What you agreed, Stefan.

I was not asked.

♪ Am I fool number one

♪ Or am I fool number two?

♪ How many other girls

♪ Have been fooled by you?

♪ I suppose that the number

♪ Is far from being small.

♪ And I guess

♪ That I'm the biggest fool of all. ♪

I'm sorry your boutique hasn't worked out.

Thank you.

But as we brought Mrs Ambrose over from London,

we can hardly dismiss her after only a month.

I understand.

I must be able to find you something else at Goodes.

Ladies' Cocktails lost Miss Giles.

No, I've just hired a replacement.

There's an opening in shoes.

I apologise for taking your time, Mr Ryder.

It won't be long until Fay is in the family way

and Lisa returns to her studies.

Now, I can place you in Ladies' Cocktail part time,

and that can become permanent when Fay leaves.

Ah, thank you.

Lisa.

Can you pour a drink? Welcome. Have a seat.

So the Bexley virgin is your latest protege.

Please don't call me that.

Don't worry.

Clive is also a shire boy.

I'm glad I've run into you, actually.

I was having a thought about what you could do.

Do?

Well, if you convert your Commonwealth scholarship

to a teacher's scholarship, you'd get a living allowance.

And then, once you graduate, you can go straight into a job.

As a teacher.

You're too smart to be a shopgirl.

Shopgirl? Do you get any of the discount?

Uh, Lisa's also a budding journalist.

You've read my articles. You have potential.

But do you have any ideas that might interest men?

Men make up three quarters of the student body,

and we're struggling to get them to read the women's issues.

Think about it. Enjoy.

Hello.

You look beautiful.

How are you? Good.

Right this way.

Coming.

Good evening. Good evening.

We're looking for Stefan Szombathelyi.

Why? What do you want?

Magda, please.

Are you Stefan Szombathelyi?

I am. We're from immigration.

Come with us.

What's happening?

It's OK. This way.

Do you mind telling me what this is about?

Just in the car, please.

Where?

I believe I have a right to know where I'm being taken.

This is a visa matter.

Don't you understand? Five years and then the first years come in

and they think they can...

And there's Mrs MacKenzie.

Even though he's married,

he can't keep his hands off the boys in window dressing.

Shocking.

They all give each other girls' names!

How amusing.

Mm.

There's this new lady, Mrs Ambrose - she's scary.

Oh, you.

I'm going home.

Do you want me to walk you to the train?

Why would I want that?

Or I could get you a taxi.

Taxi?

Plenty of money in country stores, then.

I don't want to leave you here like this.

How about you mind your own business?!

Miles.

There you are. Come here.

I will buy you a drink every time you correct

Clive's French pronunciation, OK?

But you have to get it right. It's gotta be perfect.

Oui, oui! Hey!

What sort of time do you call this?

Is this the after hours number for Janosi Transport?

Uh, yes. Yes. This is Janosi Transport.

May I speak with Rudi? It's Irene from Edgells.

Mr Janosi is on a job right now. Can I take a message?

No, it's alright. I'll talk to him tomorrow.

I see.

Goodnight, Darlene.

It's Irene.

Of course.

Bye.

Oh, my God.

You can't have a big life as a teacher.

A big life in London!

I'll be quiet.

Right here, right here.

Very. Easy. Easy.

Magda.

This is George.

My son.

She's working here? With me?

I want you out of here before I get home from work.

You and your son.

Please, Magda!

We'll be shopping under my account.

Marlow.

Mrs Kenneth Marlow.

Hello, Fay. It's Mrs Janosi now.

There are loan sharks.

You must not, under any circumstances,

allow them to come to your home.

You're 28 years old, Mrs Janosi.

How much longer do you think you have?

Ever since you and Farouk got engaged,

you've been making my life a misery.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation