(DOOR SLAMS)
Good morning, sir. Nice piece about the store in the paper.
Thank you, Fraser. Coffee, sir?
Yes.
Looks like we finally won the press over.
That's great, Harry.
Looks like you really do have it all now.
Good morning!
Morning. Good morning, Mr Selfridge.
Somebody got out of bed on the wrong side!
Miss Hawkins.
Good morning, Mr Selfridge. Nice headline, Harry. Well done.
Something's going right. You wanted me?
Erm... Mr... Yes, Miss Blenkinsop?
Lady Loxley's in your office. Wouldn't take no for an answer. Says it's important.
Henri... Later will do.
Lady Mae.
So you can spare me a few minutes of your valuable time, then?
You know I have all the time in the world for you, Lady Mae.
Someone rather special wants to visit Selfridge's in private, after hours.
And is this someone a friend of yours?
I think you might say that.
He's a friend of Mrs Keppel and she's a dear friend of mine.
You know I'm not very keen on granting special favours, Lady Mae.
I like to think my customers are all free and equal.
You might change your mind when you find out who my friend is.
(WOMEN SHRIEK WITH LAUGHTER)
Miss Hawkins! Ladies! It is after nine o'clock!
Customers are in the shop. Sorry, Miss Mardle.
What is the reason for this unseemly behaviour?
Show her, Doris!
No, I promised to keep it a secret! She's engaged, Miss Mardle!
Well, that might be an occasion for merriment.
Congratulations, Miss Millar.
And may one ask the name of the lucky man?
No, er, really, I promised not to tell anyone, Miss Mardle.
You'll have to eventually, my dear.
It's only Mr Grove!
(GIGGLES)
Don't be silly, Miss Hawkins. This isn't a joking matter.
That is rather disrespectful to Mr Grove. And to your friend.
I'm not joking. It's true!
I see. Well, erm...
We all have work to do.
We should attend to it.
Miss Hawkins, I'm leaving you in charge.
Mr Selfridge has come up trumps, Mr Grove!
Excuse me, Mr Crabb,
might it be possible to have a word with Mr Grove in private?
Of course, Miss Mardle.
We can talk about capitalising on this later, Mr Grove. Yes, yes.
What's the matter? Oh, nothing, really.
I've just been invited to admire Miss Millar's engagement ring.
I made her promise not to say anything
until I'd had a chance to talk to you.
It's true then.
Josie, I'm so sorry. Nothing else needs to be said.
I only wish you'd had the courage to come to see me first.
Let me come and see you this evening.
Give me a chance to explain myself. Please.
Come if you wish.
I still haven't got used to it, Kitty.
Half the time it's like I can't quite believe it.
Well, you've done it now, Doris, you can't go back, can you?
I don't want to. I've always wanted to be someone's wife.
Roger!
What?
That's his name. Roger.
(SNIGGERS)
He's asked me to call him it in private.
I don't think I shall ever be able to think of him as anything but Mr Grove.
My nan had a dog called Roger. Pekinese he was.
Nasty brute. Take a bite out of you soon as look at you.
Don't be mean, Kitty. I'm just saying.
It's going to be so different.
I don't even know what he likes for his tea.
I'm going to try and be the best wife there ever was, Kitty.
Hasn't he got lovely soft hair?
I think you've got a lovely soft head.
Could we talk about something else, please? All right!
I'm sorry, Doris. It's just...
I'm really going to miss you.
Hello! You're looking very pleased with yourself today.
And why not? It's my birthday.
Really? Yes, really.
If you'd like to pop up to the Palm Court with my present at any time convenient.
It's all right, I'm only kidding.
Maybe I will.
Richard III, Henry VII. Henry VIII had six wives.
Don't you think that was excessive?
Then there was James I, Charles I,
Charles II, James II... How about American presidents?
We don't need to know about them, Grandma. Oh.
It's an English school. Our Island Story. Britannia rules the waves and all that.
Grandma! I'm in the Colts! My!
I could bowl you out any time. You? I'd hit you for six!
Let's see you try! Shush! Children!
Ma! Watch me punish Violette's bowling.
I'll watch from the window. Give me the bat!
Girls can't play cricket!
Those kids are more English every day.
I guess it's only to be expected.
I was thinking they could do with some time back in the States.
It may remind them who they are, where they came from.
Perhaps we could all go.
No, Rose,
I can't see Harry dropping everything just to take you to Chicago.
Why not? I dropped everything to come to London.
What? I had a whole life in Chicago.
I'm just saying Harry should take his responsibilities to this family seriously too.
I know things have been difficult for you lately.
You don't know.
Believe me, I can guess.
But you've got to remember
that deep down Harry knows that he'd be lost without you.
Well, I shall set things in motion.
And he's invited us to the opening night of Tony's new play.
You'll bring Rose, of course. I'd be hugely honoured.
But I don't know if I can get Rose to come.
She has to come, Harry. An offer like this can't be refused.
In any case, it would do you good
to be seen with your wife more often, if you take my meaning.
Lord Loxley in good health?
How should I know? I expect so. He's in the country, of course.
And you're in town.
Well, naturally.
Miss Blenkinsop, get Crabb and Grove into my office.
We have big things to discuss. The King is coming to Selfridge's!
Miss Blenkinsop.
Miss Blenkinsop, I am still waiting for my chance to speak with Mr Selfridge.
I am doing my very best. He is very busy today.
Hello, George! Oh, very smart! Inside man now.
Be running the place next. Those new serviettes?
Yeah, just come in.
Excellent! Give me a hand laying them out if you like.
Mr Perez won't be in till ten.
How's Agnes, she all right? Yeah, she's fine, Victor.
Has she mentioned me at all? No, she hasn't, not lately.
Oh.
I've been wanting to ask you... Yeah.
You know Kitty Hawkins on accessories?
What about her?
Do you think I might have a chance with her?
See, she's a bit high class.
She might think I was beneath her.
I don't think Kitty's high class.
Have a go. If you don't ask, you'll never know.
It's all right for you, Victor, you know how to talk to girls.
I haven't had that much luck lately. How do I go about it?
Take her some violets or something.
Ask her if she wants to go for a walk with you, or to the pictures. Simple.
No good mooning around, being a secret admirer. She might never notice you.
Right.
Right!
So that's how you have to be if you like a girl.
Really determined.
You think?
It's a little radical, even for my taste.
Would His Majesty approve? What do you think, Mr Leclair?
Outrageous! I am shocked to the core.
Excellent!
Please.
I was wondering if I could borrow Miss Towler for a few minutes.
Mr Leclair, I am not a lending library.
You borrow Miss Towler so often
I'm afraid you think she's your personal property.
Oh, no. She's her own woman. Very much so.
I understand that. A few minutes?
Go on then. Bring her back to me as good as new.
Follow me, Miss Towler.
So what do you want me for then?
I wanted you to know.
I've been offered a position in New York
and I've decided to take it.
With Miss Maurel's company?
Yes.
J. Walter Thompson. I am to be the artistic director.
You have to follow your heart, Henri.
You never lied to me about Valerie.
So I wish you all the luck in the world.
Have you told Mr Selfridge?
No. Not yet.
He might not be as sanguine as you.
Thank you, Agnes.
It's been an honour to get to know you.
Goodbye, Henri.
Checking as you go. Excuse me.
George Towler, don't you look smart in your new uniform!
Got anything nice for us today?
Oh, I say!
For me? From you?
And what have I done to deserve these?
It's cos I'm sweet on you, Kitty,
and I was wondering if you're not doing nothing Saturday night,
maybe we could go to the pictures.
Who's paying? Oh, I am Kitty.
Well, I don't mind if I do.
In the thrupennies, mind, I'm not sitting down the front.
Miss Hawkins! Coming.
HARRY: Rose! Rose!
There you are. I've got some great news.
Oh?
The King is coming to our store tomorrow evening.
Strictly confidential, of course.
You must feel very honoured.
Well, I'm just not honoured, we're all honoured.
It's an honour for all of us.
If the King gives us his blessing,
it opens up a whole new chapter for us.
I really need you there, honey.
I guess it really is my duty to be there.
I was hoping you'd want to be there as well.
That's a little too much to ask.
He's also asked us as his guests to a first night.
You don't seem very happy about it.
Ellen Love is in it.
I would never ask you except Lady Mae said you can't refuse a royal's invitation.
You're asking me to go and see your mistress in a play?
I don't see much of a choice, Rose.
This would mean everything to us. To our family.
All right.
I'll go.
Hello there. I haven't seen you all day.
Doris.
You really shouldn't have shown this off to everyone.
We had agreed to keep it secret.
It was Kitty who let it slip. What does it matter?
I'll be giving my notice in soon anyway, aren't I?
I'm going to be a kept woman.
Darling girl, you are so sweet.
But we can't talk like this on the floor, you know that.
I must be off.
I shall see you tomorrow.
I don't know how to explain it, Josie.
Hetty's death affected me
far more than I thought it ever could.
That's only to be expected at first.
Please, let me go on.
I was struck by this terrible sense of my own mortality,
of dying without leaving something of myself behind.
I would gladly have borne you a child.
I always thought you were wedded to your work.
How little you men know what we women really long for.
But now, of course, it's too late for me.
Miss Millar, on the other hand...
She has a true kind heart.
And she wants nothing more in life than to be someone's wife and mother.
And Doris can save me from the terror of dying
without leaving any trace of me behind.
I hope you will be a good husband to her, Roger.
She will never know I loved another far, far more.
And did you, truly?
I did.
I do.
You are the love of my life.
Thank you for saying that.
Whether it's true or not, I shall always remember it.
Oh, Josie.
It needn't end like this, need it?
I don't understand.
We could still have our precious Tuesday evenings together.
Doris wouldn't know. I would never hurt her unnecessarily.
I could tell her I spend one night a week at my club as I always have done.
We needn't lose each other after all.
But it seems so wrong.
But we know it is not wrong in our hearts.
To me, it is.
And I could never do that to Doris. She'd never know.
Yes but I will.
I'd like you to leave now, please, Roger.
If that's how you feel.
Good night, Josie.
All right, ladies. Let me see your curtseys.
After a count of three. One, two, three!
No, no, no, no.
It's more a sort of a...
Well, keep practising. Practice makes perfect.
What about them, Mr Crabb? Oh, yes, I see.
Curtsey doesn't look right in knickerbockers, does it?
You can do a boy's bow. Like this.
(ALL GIGGLE) Yes. All right.
Carry on. I'm sure you'll be fine on the night.
How are the windows coming along?
They're coming along very well. Harry...
Regal but not too ostentatious.
We want them to look splendid
but not like we made a special effort.
I've got it. Harry, I need to tell you something.
What is it?
I truly regret that I must tender my resignation.
(LAUGHS)
I don't believe it.
I've been offered a job in New York. I've decided to take it.
I'm sorry.
Henri, this is our finest moment.
The King himself is visiting our store this very day.
You think that now is a good time to do this?
With something like this, no time is a good time, Harry.
New York. J. Walter Thompson. I can spread my wings there.
I'll double your salary. It's not about the money.
What the hell is it about? Some woman?
One particular woman. And you know her.
And also my need to prove that I can be the best without you, Harry.
You do this to me now!
I'll stay till my replacement arrives. Don't bother.
Just finish the window and go.
What? That's it?
Well, goodbye then.
I wish you all you wish yourself, my friend.
Well, Mr Selfridge,
you have built a palace here.
And one far better furnished than any of mine!
I wouldn't go quite that far, Your Majesty.
Tell me, what was it like for you,
setting out anew, an American in London?
Did you encounter much opposition?
I had some troubles winning round the press at first
but as far as the British public, sir,
they'll always give a man a fair chance to prove himself.
Well, I am glad you share my opinions.
And of course I took my tips from Lady Loxley here.
And tell me, Mrs Selfridge,
are you settling in quite well?
I am. Quite well, Your Majesty.
Well, London has a lot to offer.
As we shall no doubt see later this evening at the theatre.
That's a wonderful wife you have, Mr Selfridge.
Now, speaking of the ladies...
Where might I buy a present for a rather special one?
Buy? Sir, no, we would never... No, no, no, I have brought money!
All part of the experience. I have never been shopping in my life.
(LAUGHTER) This is the way the world is going.
And you have brought that world to London, Mr Selfridge.
We're all on your coat tails.
Oh, what charming assistants! What do you suggest I buy?
Something frothy and delicious.
(HARRY LAUGHS)
What about this brooch shaped like a dog, Your Majesty?
That's excellent! She loves her dogs.
Erm... Will this be enough?
Oh, quite enough, sir. We'll sort things out later with your equerry.
Have you ever seen such a big tummy?
I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
You may now tell your friends
that your king is a man of the people.
I'll have plenty to tell them, Your Majesty.
Why don't you come down to Sandringham this Saturday?
Thank you, Your Majesty. Very kind of you.
I have to congratulate you again, Mr Selfridge,
on your enchanting store.
An impressive achievement.
That's very generous of you, Your Majesty.
Thought you were coming up for a bit of birthday cake.
Am I too late? Palm Court, half an hour.
All right? All right.
Oh, Victor. It's lovely.
Table for one, miss?
Yes, please.
Happy birthday. Better late than never, eh?
Much better.
So, here we are again then.
Yes.
Could I get you a drink, Miss?
Now if I recall,
Miss is partial to a small sherry of an evening?
Thank you. I don't mind if I do.
Delicioso!
Very good!
Remember what we talked about last time?
You told me you were going to get your own restaurant.
Still haven't got it.
And do you know what? I don't mind.
There's more important things than that.
And you said erm...
I was a bit special.
And I still think that.
You are.
And you asked me to dance, and I wouldn't. Too shy.
What would you say if I was to ask you now?
Why don't you find out?
May I have this dance, Miss Towler?
Delighted, Mr Colleano.
Who is it? HARRY: An old friend.
Evening, Selfridge.
Travers! Good luck for tonight.
Frank! Good to see you!
Why don't you join our box to see the show?
Seen it already. Been helping Tony out with a spot of dialogue.
Maybe we can grab a drink soon? Wasn't there something you wanted to discuss?
No. I'm off to Paris in the morning. Won't be back in London for a while.
Oh.
Enjoy the show.
And just bear in mind, Harry, you reap what you sow.
Come on, there's a good chap.
Five minutes, Ellen.
I just wanted to wish you good luck for tonight.
Thank you, Harry.
I would hate it if there was any hard feelings between us.
None on my part.
Harry...
You're not going to like the play, not one bit.
Oh, come on, of course I will! You're in it.
Well, just remember...
It is only a play.
(KNOCK) MAN: Three minutes, Miss Love!
Good luck.
Do you know what it's about, Pa? I can't say that I do.
But I understand it's very modern and updated.
Let's hope Travers writes better than he plays poker.
Are you sure it's suitable for young people, son?
It'll probably go over our heads, let alone Rosalie's.
What does "satirical" mean? It's kind of sarcastic.
Like Violette when she's talking to us.
(BUGLE)
That's the royal seal of approval, Harry.
The entire audience will have caught that nod.
(MUSIC STARTS)
Oh, hello. Hello.
Are you waiting to see Lady Lushington?
Yes, I am.
Sometimes it seems I spend my whole life waiting for Lady Lushington.
(LAUGHTER)
She's my patron, you know. Oh! And what does that entail?
A great deal more than I bargained for!
(LAUGHTER)
Look out, here she comes!
(LAUGHTER)
Ah! Maurice!
A little early to be on the scrounge, isn't it?
And you must be little Jilly Pomfret.
Yes. Hello.
Hmm.
Is Lord Lushington in town?
Lord Lushington is in the country.
He generally is when I'm in town.
And when he's in town, I'm generally in the country.
Secret of a happy marriage.
I recommend it. (LAUGHTER)
How did we get mixed up with these awful people, Maurice?
Oh no, here comes old Horace Spendrich!
Look at me! Used to be dirt poor!
We had nothing, me and my poor old ma!
Pa never came home from the war
but we got by and look at me now.
Richest man in town and they can't get enough of me!
Hello, honey! (SCREAMS)
(LAUGHTER)
He spends his life chasing chorus girls
when all the time his wife is going about with a young painter.
(AUDIENCE GASPS)
Hello, sweetheart! I'm coming after you!
Aw, come on! Who the heck loves me?
(LAUGHTER) Nobody loves you, Horace.
(RAUCOUS LAUGHTER) They just love your money.
(LAUGHTER)
Darling, let's leave it all behind! Oh, yes, let's!
To hell with the rotten world the grown-ups made for us.
Together we can build a new world of our own.
(APPLAUSE)
It's only a silly play, Harry. I dare say we've both survived much worse.
Rosalie!
My dear Mrs Selfridge, please try not to worry.
I shall see to it that this play closes within a week.
Good night.
Good evening, sir, Mrs Selfridge, Madam Selfridge.
Was the play to your taste? Not altogether, Fraser.
But it was an interesting evening.
It's long past our bedtimes. Shall we go up?
I'm not a child any more, Grandma, not after what I've heard and seen tonight.
Why didn't you tell me? Mother?
I'd still have hated you but at least I'd have understood!
I think I'll go to bed now too.
Stay. No, if you don't mind.
I need a little time alone.
Rose, we can get through this.
Like Lady Mae said, it was just a silly play.
But it was the truth.
When I saw Rosalie tonight in the theatre
I just wanted to sink through the floor.
I felt so guilty and ashamed of myself.
You and the children are everything to me.
I'm lost without you.
You always say that, Harry.
So, where does it stand between you and me?
I don't know.
Are you going to leave me?
I have to go into the store tomorrow and face all those people at 9am.
I don't think that I could do it if I didn't know I was coming home to you.
Then why do you need other women? I don't!
I'm just a...
I'm just a damn fool.
That's all and that's the truth.
I'm sorry, Harry.
We're leaving for Chicago.
Mr Selfridge! What you got to say? No comment.
What did you think of the play? Are you going to sue for libel?
Good morning, Mr Selfridge.
I guess you read the papers like everyone else.
I have, Mr Selfridge.
Heavy rain is forecast, so we're bringing forward umbrellas and rainwear.
If I might say, Mr Selfridge...
These things pass, you know.
Thank you, Crabb.
Bye! Bye!
Oh, er, sorry, Mr Selfridge.
George Towler, right?
That's right, Mr Selfridge.
I used to do your job once upon a time.
Remember that.
What, so you mean I could be like you one day?
You don't want to be like me, George.
But you've got everything, Mr Selfridge.
All this. And a lovely family too.
Night, Mr Towler. Keep up the good work.
Home safe, Mr Selfridge.