Mr Selfridge (2013) s01e02 Episode Script

We are in this together.
The reckless way that you conduct your business frightens me.
No love affairs if they want to keep their jobs.
Mr Selfridge telephoned to say he wouldn't be in this evening.
That's three nights this week.
I'm Ellen Love.
I'm the Spirit of Selfridges! I think you are a bit special, Agnes Towler.
Musker and I are so pleased with what you've done with our store.
Why thank you, Lady Mae.
I think it's just wonderful, Harry.
Ain't it just? All set, Miss Blenkinsop? Yes, Mr Selfridge.
All set, Mr Grove? All set, Chief.
All set, Mr Crabb? Good morning.
Yes, Mr Selfridge.
Good morning.
Good morning, Mr Selfridge.
Ground floor, please.
Yes, sir.
They're coming! - Good morning.
Morning.
- Good morning, Mr Selfridge! Something's missing.
Erm Customers! It is only five minutes past nine, Mr Selfridge.
They should be battering down the doors! They should be swarming all over us.
Let's have some spot reductions on special lines for early birds only.
Nine am to midday.
Work something up for me, will you? Yes, of course.
Good man.
We need more sales, Mr Selfridge.
One begets the other.
We need to put on a show! Mr Grove, could I come and speak to you for five minutes later on? About? Er private matters, Mr Grove.
You can come up at 11:00 if Miss Mardle will release you.
Of course.
Thank you, Mr Grove.
Back to work, Miss Towler.
Good morning, Mr Selfridge.
Good morning.
Morning, sir.
Good morning.
I was hoping we could go over the figures this morning.
Not now, Crabb.
My staff expect to see me.
People, not figures, are the difference between success and failure.
I thought profit had more to do with it.
We're still not breaking even.
We have a little problem, Mr Selfridge.
Hold your nerve, Crabb.
Miss Love.
Harry.
Look at these pictures they've taken of me.
They're just terrible.
I can't allow my public to see me like this.
They're positively Victorian.
Miss Love, I see no problem with these photographs.
They convey exactly the message I was asking for.
Then you must have got the message wrong.
Look at them, Harry.
They're dreary, really, aren't they? This can't be the Spirit of Selfridges.
This is first class work, Mr Selfridge.
But nothing we offer seems to strike her right.
It's your decision.
Do them again and do them better.
If Miss Love isn't satisfied, we're not satisfied.
Thank you, Harry.
You will come back and take me to lunch, won't you? Of course I will.
A bientot.
A bientot.
Miss Towler.
Follow me.
Thank you for seeing me, Mr Grove.
So, I think you should tell me what this is all about.
Erm well, it's about my brother, Mr Grove.
My brother George.
I was hoping you might be able to find a position for him.
I see.
And what has your brother to recommend him? Well, he wouldn't want anything skilled, Mr Grove, but he's ever such a hard worker and eager to please.
I just thought with Mr Selfridge hiring a lot of new staff, there might be something here for him.
And what if I said I have nothing to offer him? Well, I should be very disappointed, Mr Grove.
And that's all.
I don't understand.
Yes, I think you do.
Discretion is something we value at Selfridges.
I like to think that I can count on your discretion, Miss Towler.
Well, yes.
Of Of course.
We all like to keep some things private.
Well, I think I might be able to offer your brother a porter's job in the loading bay, subject to a satisfactory trial period.
Oh, Mr Grove! Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Sorry.
It's all right, Miss Towler.
Time to return to your post.
Let discretion be your watchword.
Yes, Mr Grove.
Oh, Miss Towler? Yes, Mr Grove? I hope you haven't any more brothers at home wanting jobs.
No, Mr Grove.
Thank you Mr Grove.
Hello, hello.
Fancy meeting you.
What are you looking so happy about? Mr Grove's going to give George a job.
Huh.
How did you persuade him to do that, then? Did you have to give him a kiss? Course not! If it was me, I'd have insisted on a kiss at least.
Good job you're not him, then.
Fraser.
There you are.
Oh, Apologies, Ma'am.
I didn't realise you were going out.
Lady Loxley was rather insistent.
Lady Loxley.
Call me Lady Mae.
Everyone else does.
I've called at a bad time, I think.
Are you on your way out? I was, but it's nothing urgent.
Uh Fraser, would you ask Mrs Selfridge to join us? Certainly, ma'am.
A word with you, Victor.
Do you know how you got this position? Well, I am an experienced waiter, sir.
Good references.
And? You're a very attractive young man, Victor.
The ladies like that.
That's going to be a great part of their pleasure in coming here.
And not just the pretty ones, Victor.
The old ones, the fat ones, the neglected ones, the ones with husbands that can't satisfy them.
We want them to come back again and again and to be made happy.
I think I can do that, sir.
I think you can.
Make sure those glasses are spotless.
Yes, Mr Perez.
I just called to see how you were all settling in.
I suppose you must be neglected with Harry - with Mr Selfridge so busy at the store.
Oh, we're used to it, Lady Mae.
And we don't feel neglected.
And have you met Miss Love, the Spirit of Selfridges, as they call her? Yes, at the opening.
I thought she was quite charming.
Yes, yes she does charm people.
Men especially.
One could say that's rather her thing.
It's all terribly exciting, isn't it - this great new store and all the people who are drawn into it? So many exciting possibilities.
New ideas, new friendships.
Perhaps I should go there more often.
Yes, perhaps you should.
But perhaps you were about to go there as I arrived.
Actually, I was thinking of going to the National Gallery.
The National Gallery? My dear, no-one goes there on public days.
It's full of all sorts of riff-raff.
But the paintings are the same, aren't they, whoever's there to look at them? What an original point of view.
I'll get you a cab, Mrs Selfridge.
No, please.
Let me give you a lift.
My motorcar's just outside.
Oh, thank you, but I thought I'd try the underground.
Where to, love? Trafalgar Square.
This is so sweet of you.
I know how busy you are.
Well, you know, I'll always find time for you, Ellen.
Thank you for this morning.
Perhaps I was wrong to make such a fuss, but the Spirit of Selfridges should be something really special, shouldn't it? You've got it, Ellen.
That is my idea exactly.
Selfridges - modernity, the future.
Changing the way people see the world.
The thing is, we have to find more and more new ways of saying that.
But you are pleased with me? Of course I'm pleased with you.
Very pleased with you.
Oh, that means so much to me, Harry.
Because, you know, I'm still a little bit afraid of you.
Afraid of me? And why is that? You're so decisive.
You're such a dynamo of energy.
Hmm.
You don't care about danger.
You just take a leap into the unknown and devil take the consequences.
In your own way, you're as much of a daredevil as that crazy Frenchman who's trying to fly the Channel.
Say that again.
You know, the one they're all talking about.
Blareo or What I had in mind - I've got to go.
What? Mr Perez, get Frank Edwards on the phone.
I'm sorry, I've got to dash.
I'll catch you later.
Not a word to anyone.
It's all very hush-hush.
Mr Grove, I need you to get hold of the Commissioner.
Tell him we need 12 bobbies standing guard - very good for publicity.
Mr Crabb, call the insurance company and tell them to increase liability by 10,000 - it's very valuable.
Should I explain to them what it is we're insuring? No.
Not a word to anyone.
Any more questions? Good.
I'll be gone for the rest of the day.
May I ask, what about the windows? Think birds, Henri! You know he's signed a deal with the Daily Mail? We'll get in on it.
How well do you know Northcliffe? We started out together.
He and I go way back.
Long before he owned the Mail.
That's good.
Anyway, we're not stealing from him.
We're helping him to double his circulation.
If we get it right, he wins, we win, everybody wins! Yes, of course, madam.
Was everything satisfactory, madam? Yes.
Especially the service.
Thank you, madam.
Come here.
This is for you.
Thank you, madam.
You're too generous.
May I know your name? Victor, madam.
Victor.
That's a lovely name.
Victor, I'm thinking of having a little party tomorrow evening at 8:00.
Only a few friends, but it would be nice to have a first class waiter to look after us.
I wonder, do you ever do evening work like that? I am free tomorrow evening, madam.
Oh, good.
Here's my card with the address.
And if you could come just as you are? Of course, madam.
Until then.
It's wonderful, isn't it? One of the best things they have.
What it must be to be able to paint like that.
Yes.
And so unusual in a work of art - to see a man laid low by a woman.
Do I detect an American accent? Yes.
Yes, you do.
Are you in London on holiday? Doing Europe, as they say? Yes.
Yes, I am.
We should We should introduce ourselves.
I'm Roderick Temple.
I'm a painter.
Rosalie Buckingham.
Er look, I hope you don't mind, but erm I was sketching you just now.
Why would you do that? You have this extraordinary quality of stillness about you and I wanted to capture it.
So you're a realist painter? No, no.
More of a romantic, really.
Oh.
This is probably going to sound quite pretentious, but my aim is to capture the inner beauty and the the mystery of life through the human form.
Yes, that does sound pretentious, doesn't it? I'm sorry.
No, no, not at all.
Not to me.
Do you paint yourself? Years ago, before I was Um when I was at college.
Look, I know this sounds quite cheeky, erm .
.
but my studio's just the other side of Charing Cross Road and I'd love to show you some of my work and see what you think of it.
Can I help you, sir? I don't know, my dear.
There are those who say I'm beyond help.
Tell me, what do you think? I'm sure I don't know.
Well, I'll tell you what it is.
I'm looking for something for my best girl for her birthday.
Nothing too dear because I'm not a rich man, but something nice, something dainty.
After all, it's the thought that counts, isn't it? I suppose it is, yes.
Well, how's about you help me choose something, then? I mean, what would you choose if it was to be for you? Something to match those beautiful blue eyes of yours? It's all right, Kitty.
I'll take care of this customer.
What are you doing here? You're not ashamed of me, are you? Agnes, I came here to see you.
Not to cause trouble.
You cause trouble wherever you go.
You've got yourself a lovely situation here, my girl.
Please don't ruin it for me.
Why would I want to go and do a thing like that? Look, Aggie, I know I been at fault in the past .
.
but I'm I'm a changed man.
Look at me.
Aggie, I want to make amends.
I can't talk to you here.
I've got a break in half an hour.
There's a teashop by Duke Street.
That's all I wanted - the chance to make it up to you.
Your sister was very persuasive.
Quite a remarkable young lady.
Oh, she is, sir.
I think the world of her.
I don't know where I'd be without her.
You're a lucky man, then.
Right, here we are.
Quite straightforward.
Unloading the vans coming in, loading the vans going out.
An extra man for you, just starting.
Go easy on him while he's learning.
George Towler's his name.
Hello.
Alf.
Sam.
I'll leave you to it, George.
These men will show you the ropes.
George, is it? That's right.
Come on then, George.
Let's see what you can do.
Just for a while, till I get back on my feet.
You said you were on your feet.
I am.
It's just I don't get paid till the end of the month - Dad, do you remember why we moved out? Why we said we could never live with you again? Of course I do.
There isn't a day goes by where I don't think about that.
It haunt's me.
But I'm a different man.
Look at me.
I'm off the drink, got colour in my cheeks.
Look at that.
Steady as a rock.
I haven't had a drop for two months.
What is this job? Hotel work.
I got good prospects there, girl.
Me and the manager, like that.
I'm his right hand man.
So why doesn't he let you live in? Well, probation.
I will do, end of the month.
I just want a chance to make it up to you and George.
Come on, girl.
You can't deny your old man that.
You are my only daughter.
Want me to beg, I'll get on my knees.
I'll beg.
Here, I'm going to beg.
Dad, stop it! Just till the end of the month.
And if you raise your hand just once to me or to George Never again, as long as I live.
I swear.
All right, then.
You're an angel, girl.
An angel.
Suit yourself.
All right, George.
You ready? I'm ready.
Good boy.
Hold steady now.
Careful, careful.
There we are.
You've got it, son.
Now see if you can walk with it.
Not bad, not bad.
Ah, come on, Alf.
Fair dos.
Oh, he loves it, don't you, George? Careful.
Careful! Oh, dear.
You need to build yourself up, George, if you want to work here.
I nearly done it though, didn't I? Ah, you got to love him, haven't you? Yes, George, you nearly done it.
Come over here.
You're one of us now, George.
Right, what's this? Four thousand silk scarves.
Four thousand silk scarves? Yes.
Tomorrow is going to be a special day.
Everything has to be perfect.
But what's it about, Miss Mardle? Ah.
My lips are sealed.
But it's something quite extraordinary.
Let's get after him! Sorry.
It's stuffy in here.
I suppose they're a bit traditional for your taste.
Not at all.
They're excellent.
Thank you.
God, you're beautiful.
I'm I didn't come here for that.
I'm a married woman, Mr Temple.
Oh.
I'm so sorry.
Erm Look, please forgive me.
I didn't mean to I um should probably go.
No! No, no, no, no.
Please, please don't.
Maybe it was my fault for coming here.
No.
It's my fault entirely.
Can we just forget that just happened and start again? It's out of the question.
Goodbye, Mr Temple.
Victor? For you.
I don't get it.
What's she doing - sending chocolates to the waiter? Let's have a look.
So looking forward to our little party tomorrow.
My chauffeur will call for you at 6:30.
Lillian Worthington.
Haven't you twigged it, Victor? This little party's going to be just for you and the lady.
Oh.
Right.
And you think I should go? Always strive to please the customer, Victor.
That's what you're there for.
When I was your age, I had many such assignations.
Enjoy yourself.
You're only young once.
Thanks, Mr Perez.
Make way! Welcome! Mr Bleriot, a great achievement! Welcome to England.
The first man to fly the Channel.
Who are you, Monsieur? This is Harry Gordon Selfridge.
Selfridges is the greatest store in London and he's going to give you and your aeroplane pride of place in it.
Excuse me, monsieur, step aside.
The people want to take photographs of me, not you.
No, no, I understand.
You think I'm trying to ride your coat tails.
Listen, give me five minutes.
Just five minutes.
That's all I ask.
If I don't convince you, I'll be out of your life forever.
Three minutes.
These people don't know what they're looking at, but we do.
This is the future.
Folk will be popping over the Channel for lunch without thinking anything of it.
All because one man had the courage and the daring to do it first.
Let me ask you something.
What did it feel like to be up there in the clouds all alone? I thought I was going to die, monsieur.
That is what I thought.
How do you say A squall blew up, the clouds came down and for ten minutes, I could see nothing - I was flying blind.
Flying blind.
Go on.
It was strange.
The wind was tossing me about like a leaf.
But you know, I was quite calm.
I was in the hands of fate, monsieur.
And then the clouds cleared and I could see a place to land, and here I am.
That must have been one a hell of a feeling - totally lost in the empty space.
Flying blind.
I know that feeling.
I do.
Flying blind.
We have a deal.
No! I cannot work like this and I will not! Monsieur Leclair.
Always a pleasure.
How are things going? It's over.
I won't work with that man anymore.
Henri, what's the matter? Simply, I've had enough.
I come to you, you are Chief of Staff.
I tender my resignation.
I leave for Paris this evening.
Henri? Henri! Ground floor.
Henri! Please! Henri! Henri Henri, stop.
Tell me what happened.
What happened? This morning, he humiliates me in front of his mistress when he knows I am in the right! And now this exhibition I must build just to make him look good.
Well, you know what? This time he has gone too far.
Let him see how he gets on without me.
He's been rough on everyone today.
You've simply had the worst of it.
He shows no gratitude, no appreciation.
But he does.
You should hear the way he talks about you.
He'll tell anyone you're a genius.
And you are.
He should tell it to me.
I absolutely agree.
He will, I know it, before the end of the day.
No, he will not, because I will not be here.
I will be gone.
Wait, Henri.
Wait.
Wait until you've calmed down a little.
Sleep on it.
Would you do that? For me.
Because I'd hate to lose a brilliant colleague and friend.
All right.
For you.
I will wait until tomorrow.
Now, you've got to pay attention, George, because I'm going to tell you about the special deliveries.
Is this a joke again? No, no, no, no.
This one is deadly serious.
Mostly the goods go in the green vans, but every so often the blue van comes in for the specials.
So if I say to you 'special delivery' or 'special', you put it in the blue van.
Cos it'll be for urgent express delivery, probably for one of the directors or such like.
And they like to keep it private, so we don't tell no-one about the specials.
Understand? I'm trusting you now, George.
I can trust you, can't I? Yeah, you can trust me, Alf.
Good boy.
Well, that's your first day done.
See you tomorrow, eight o'clock sharp.
Carry on, ladies.
Oh, you gave me a fright! How's my best girl, then? Busy.
And I'm not your best girl.
You know we're not supposed to Come on.
I thought we might have a cup of tea together when they let you go.
No, not tonight.
I've got to get home.
What for? Family business.
Private.
All right.
Another night then, eh? Maybe.
Oh, Victor! You shouldn't have.
They must have cost an awful lot.
Well, they would have if I'd paid for them.
You stole them? Perk of the job, you might say.
Shame you'll have to eat them on your own now.
And next time I won't take no for an answer.
Night.
Ladies.
Ooh, Agnes.
I really think he's sweet on you.
I wouldn't let him go if I were you.
He's got lovely big brown eyes.
And lovely long legs.
Bet he's got strong arms, too.
Give you a lovely squeeze, he could.
Come on, Agnes, give us one of your chocs.
Truffles! My favourite.
Kitty, you've got such a cheek! Calais - Dover - Selfridges.
That's the headline.
The Bleriot aeroplane, which flew the Channel yesterday, is on view, free of charge, on our ground floor.
The public is invited to see this wonderful epoch-making machine.
We want it in all the papers.
Go to it.
I was afraid we'd miss our Tuesday night, what with the chief working us so late.
That's good.
I'm still worried about Miss Towler.
I think we can trust her.
Strange little thing, isn't she? You'd think butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, but I reckon she knows the score.
If she keeps her mouth shut, her brother has a nice little job in the loading bay.
If it were to come out, we'd both lose our jobs.
I keep thinking she'll follow you home one day and tell your wife.
Oh, my God, don't say that.
She wouldn't do that.
What could she possibly gain by that? Anyway, let's not allow her to ruin our evening.
This is about you and me.
No-one else.
Oh, Roger, I do live for these precious hours together.
My darling Josie.
Be careful! This machine is worth a fortune.
What a piece of junk.
Piece of junk? This is the work of genius - a French genius - displayed by our very own French genius.
You are being very forthcoming with your compliments.
I presume you have spoken to Mr Grove.
I've come to say sorry.
I have treated you abominably.
Yes, you did.
And you will again, no doubt, if I stay.
No-one can spin straw into gold like you.
You're the best.
That's why I brought you with me from Chicago.
I know this.
And you are the best at what you do.
But one day you will push me too far.
Then you will be sorry.
Now, if you would please leave me to my work.
There's nothing to worry about, George.
He's not like he used to be and it's only for a few days.
You said we'd never have to see him again.
Yes, well Here they are - the workers of the world.
All right, Dad? They make you work late at that place.
Well, we had to.
There's this special exhibition coming off.
I've got a few things in for you, so you can do our tea, Aggie.
Your Mrs Payne was very accommodating.
I think she took quite a fancy to me.
People often do at first.
Georgie Georgie, got yourself a job.
Wonders will never cease, eh? How was it, son? All right.
They said I was a strong lad.
Strong lad, is it? Here we are.
Our little family, all together again.
Who is it? Harry.
Oh, I didn't mean to disturb you.
The day I've had I tell you.
I've got your crazy Frenchman's flying machine at the store.
Do you fancy playing the aviatrix tomorrow? You know I'd do anything for you, Harry.
So does this mean you're taking me flying? We can't do it here now - someone might come in.
I don't give a damn.
Oh! I beg your pardon.
Told you so.
Don't worry.
It's only Nancy.
Who might it be next time? Well, we could always go to yours.
What do you suggest? Good night, Ellen.
Bleriot in Selfridges! Read all about it! Bleriot in Selfridges! Read all about it! Bleriot in Selfridges! Read all about it! Bleriot in Selfridges! Read all about it! Here's you change.
Thank you.
Have a nice time.
Wow! That is so amazing! I'm sorry that you haven't seen much of me the last few days.
Did you see any art? I did.
Yes.
Any good? I thought so, yes.
I don't think you'd have liked it as much as I did.
No? But you enjoyed it, though? Yes, I enjoyed it.
Very much.
Mrs Selfridge.
Mr Selfridge.
So what do you think now, Crabb? A very impressive achievement, Mr Selfridge.
Harrods and the rest of them must be empty.
Because the entire world is at Selfridges.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present, here exclusively at Selfridges, the daredevil pilot, conqueror of the air, the human bird, Monsieur Louis Bleriot! Thank you.
Thank you.
It is a great honour to be here with you Mrs Selfridge? Lady Mae.
Isn't this all quite delightful? Miss Ellen Love! The Spirit of Selfridges is quite the thing.
Doesn't she look ravishing, draped over that contraption? Your husband seems to think so anyway.
I'm sure we all think so, Lady Mae.
Harry, it's a triumph.
Mr Selfridge, you're the talk of the town.
That's what I aim for.
It's so thrilling to be involved in it all.
Do you go boating, Mr Selfridge? You know, the gentleman rows and the lady holds the tiller? It's just a little bit of steering.
Can I have a suit, Mae? Yes, Tony.
You can have a suit.
Harry, I'm sorry, I'm feeling a little tired.
I think I'll just slip away.
What's the matter, Rose? I'm fine.
Don't worry about me.
Then stay.
I need to share this with you.
I'll see you at home.
Rose, don't go.
Hello, Victor.
I thought I'd come and collect you myself.
Do jump in.
I'm sorry, madam, to let you down, but I can't be with you this evening.
I checked with my boss and it's against company policy.
Sorry again.
Good night.
Meet the great man, then, did you? What a saint that man is.
And how fortunate you both are to be wage slaves in his grand emporium! Well, we do think we're quite lucky, don't we, George? Thing is, it's the sort of place where you can get on, get promoted sort of thing.
Whereas the sort of place I work, you're on a pathway to the gutter.
Is that what you mean? No.
You know what I meant.
What about you, George? Are you on a pathway to promotion, too, are you? I'm a good worker, I am.
You're a joke.
You're a snivelling little halfwit.
You can't talk to me like that no more.
Oh, can't I? Really? What are you going to do about it? I'll show you.
Well, come on, then! Stop it! Stop it! Only kidding! Only kidding.
Oh, Nancy, be a dear.
What is it? It's my new home.
St John's Wood.
Oh, that's ever so posh! All I had to do was give a little hint and flutter my eyelashes.
You had to do more than just that.
Well, you know what I mean.
Here's to making history.
How does it feel? Feels good, Frank.
Feels great.
No, that's a lie.
Now it's all done, it feels like 'What was that?' You ever felt like chucking it all in, Frank? Just hurling yourself in front of a train? Can't say I have, old boy.
You all right? Just a passing thought.
Just a passing thought.
In the minds of many, coloured lips are worn by prostitutes.
What would selling this in the doorway say to our customers? Customers want it, we shall give it to them.
You must think me very forward - turning up like this.
You don't know how happy I am that you have.
We're going to do our own in-house perfume and I want you to endorse it.
The Spirit of Selfridges.