You're looking at the youngest department store owner in London.
Several suppliers are refusing to do business
until outstanding debts have been met.
Have you ever considered that he may be soft on you?
He's gone. It was very quick.
He just fell asleep.
I don't know the first thing about being a mother.
- If I stay any longer, people will talk. - I don't wanna be alone.
- We can't do this. We both have our reputations. - I don't care!
- Do much business with Colleano before he died? - What are you insinuating?
- You think I had something to do with it? - Did you?
Do you really think I'm capable of murder?
My report on the Civic's foreign interests, sir.
Surprising developments in the Far East, tensions in the United States.
Good.
My report on our British interests, Mr Donaghue.
- I completed it early. - Have to be vigilant.
Can't ignore the storm clouds rolling in from America.
Fresh warnings from the Federal Reserve.
Wasn't there cause for concern with Selfridge? Is that company in hand?
We're kept fully apprised of all developments.
I work from there two days a week.
Not much here about his involvement in Whiteleys.
Doesn't interfere with his stewardship of Selfridges.
The man seems to have more hours in his day than the rest of us.
Make sure you're not blindsided, Keen.
Never drop your guard.
Pull!
(GUNSHOT)
A landmark anniversary is coming up at Selfridges.
- 20 years since we opened the doors. - Congratulations.
You must be so proud.
It's been a troubling year. I need to feel proud again.
Pull!
(GUNSHOT)
I can't imagine what you're planning.
A huge public spectacle. We hope to take over all of Oxford Street.
I'm thinking that big.
Now that Whiteleys is on an even keel,
I need to leave it in your hands for a while.
That way I can fully concentrate on the anniversary.
Whatever you need, Harry.
Ah, Mae, I never see you these days,
and the topic has to be Harry Selfridge...
I thought I'd come straight to the top.
It's your reporter, Wynnstay. Oh, he's being a pest.
- Not to you, surely? - Oh, yes, to me, and anyone to do with Harry.
He's trying to undermine Harry's business partner.
He thought that Indian chappie got a bit hot around the collar
at the mention of Colleano.
Mr Dillon was out of town with his mother
the night that Mr Colleano died.
Call your dog off.
I'm not sure I like being told what to do, Mae.
Oh, all right, then, continue,
and, at best, you'll end up looking a fool,
and, at worst, in a courtroom for slander.
You seem to care a lot for Harry Selfridge.
He's my boss.
Ernest, remember you have games this afternoon,
and for lunch, home-baked cold chicken pies, raw carrot and tomato.
Can I have cheese and pickle? Father didn't mind.
We know about vitamins now, Ernest.
- You eat your vegetables, there's an apple for after. - But Father...
You must have been up since the crack of dawn to get all this ready.
Five o'clock.
Right, everyone, shoes polished?
Let's exit in an orderly fashion.
Have a good day, Meryl.
I won't let you down, Roger.
Stock selling is a good thing, surely?
- It's faster than we anticipated. - What are you saying?
There have been miscalculations about the sales forecasts.
Well, we're new to the retail business,
picked up a lot in a very short time.
We haven't balanced sales against the flow of stock.
You know I don't have time to study these figures in detail.
- You should have, because now we're running out of stock. - Right.
- We have no means of purchasing new goods until the suppliers' embargo is lifted. - Yes, and it will be.
We're seeing the chairman of the British Wholesalers' Association today.
- How long before they offer us credit again? - I'll push as hard as I can.
We'll have to close the doors, if we can't restock within three days.
We keep this between ourselves.
You need to tell Mr Selfridge.
You do as I damn well tell you. I can't let Mr Selfridge down.
Leave this with me.
(LIFT DINGS)
(SIGHS) Where is she?
This isn't a very good start, is it?
(SIGHS)
Mrs Towler, isn't your replacement due to start with us this morning?
Miss Blight hasn't arrived.
Oh.
Late on her first day. She needn't bother turning up.
(SIGHS)
So where does this leave me, eh? I should be out of here in days!
- Which colour do you prefer, Madame Rennard? - Definitely the red.
- Much stronger contrast. - Good morning, Mr Selfridge.
- Good morning, Chief. - Morning, sir.
Good morning, sir.
The council has said yes.
Wonderful.
We get our 20th anniversary parade.
I can think of no finer tribute to all of our loyal customers.
Finally, we get to put into place everything we've been planning.
There'll be offers and promotions throughout the store.
Mr Lyons, where are we with the performers?
We've got acrobats, jugglers, dancers, magicians.
- We'll even have floats. - Mr Towler.
Everything starts at Marble Arch.
Traffic will be closed off for the day.
Police manning pavements either side of the road.
Crowds along here and here.
- The parade moves down Oxford Street to the store. - What a spectacle!
- This will be splashed on newspapers across the world. - Mm.
Who's in charge of sunshine? (LAUGHTER)
Madame Rennard.
Right, well, my ladies are currently making thousands of gift rosettes,
bearing the slogan '20 years of Selfridges'.
Your own fine idea.
These celebrations will show the public - dare I say the world? -
how far we've come, and how far we mean to go.
Mr Dillon is here to see how we do things.
- Please welcome him. - Thank you.
I hope to pick up some tips from the world's best store.
So if anything goes wrong, I'll know what to do.
(APPRECIATIVE LAUGHTER)
That's it, folks. From this moment on, we're in full show-time mode.
Thank you all very much.
Madame Rennard.
- It seems that the Head of Fashion has let us down. - Yes.
We'll need to make a plan.
Pretty impressive.
You'll have your work cut out to top that at Whiteleys!
Jimmy Dillon will think of something when the time comes.
A lot to learn before any major Whiteleys anniversaries.
It's more complex than a person might think, this retail business.
No-one could have picked it up as quickly as you.
My father and I really are grateful, Jimmy.
I don't much rate the Swan & Edgar applicant, but...
(SIGHS) ..we'll call her in anyway, I think.
- Why have you been avoiding me, Mae? - I'm not avoiding you.
I'm not blind. Ever since we spent the night together.
- I think it best if we continue like that never happened. - It did.
It meant a lot to me.
I'd hoped you felt the same way.
Is it about Jimmy?
Oh... No.
It's not about Jimmy. I'm going to confirm these applicants.
If it's not Jimmy, then tell me what's bothering you, because I...
Chairman Hardcastle is waiting for you in your office, Mr Selfridge.
Good to see you, Mr Hardcastle. Sorry to keep you waiting.
(SIGHS)
This embargo on Whiteleys is completely unjustified.
The store's under new management.
You must have known about the debts when you purchased the store.
A new slate, Mr Hardcastle. We'll make good on the debts in time.
Of course, we all have nothing but goodwill towards your father.
Is it me you're worried about?
You know I'm not new to the world of business,
and I'm surrounded by the greatest retailers in the country.
No-one doubts that.
But the fact remains
you are an unknown entity in THIS business, Mr Dillon.
He's a man of the future.
He's my partner, and I trust him. So can you.
You're the largest supplier of linen and cotton in the country.
All the wholesalers take their cues from you.
If anyone can persuade them to lift the embargo, you can.
I'll consider my position and consult with fellow members of the association.
That's all we can ask for.
- It'll be a week before I get back to you. - Thank you.
In the next couple of days would be preferable, Mr Hardcastle.
You can see how keen Jimmy is to do business with you. A week will be fine.
So, how is Mrs Hardcastle? The last time we spoke, she...
You can't rush these people, Jimmy. Not how it's done.
Lord Wynnstay.
Anything solid on Harry Selfridge's new business partner?
- I'm still digging. - Mm.
Well, Dillon was with his mother the night Colleano died.
The police closed their investigation.
- It's a dead end. - I'm not convinced.
Unless you've got something rock solid, shut it down.
So the departments are replenished with new stock each day before doors opening.
- You're replenishing every third day, according to the system... - Correct.
That'll see you through until the embargo's lifted.
I'd like to look at the stock control in operation, if that's OK.
I used to work in the loading bay. Come and take a look.
- I'll leave you gentlemen to it. - Thank you.
Fresh stock rolls in every day.
Stacked according to size, customer demand, life duration.
How do you mean?
Soaps, candles - small, but shift fast,
so they're easily accessible on the bottom rows.
The anniversary stock - this was all pre-ordered in bulk,
so it'll go to the back of the bay area.
- Why is that? - Cos it's not needed yet.
It's always like this around sale time, Mr Dillon.
We've barely got enough space for it all.
(DOOR OPENS)
Roger's personal items.
I thought I'd take them to his family this evening.
Are you all right, Mr Crabb?
I miss him.
20 years of devotion to this store,
and he won't be here for the anniversary celebrations.
- He'd be so cross. - (CHUCKLES)
We've lost some good people.
It'll be a real challenge to replace that sort of experience
to carry us through the next 20 years.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I need to speak with you urgently, Mr Crabb.
Please.
I'll be blunt - we're running out of stock at Whiteleys.
There are systems in place to monitor the stock.
- I talked you through them. - There was a lot to take in.
I must have missed the finer details.
All being well, credit will be resumed with the wholesalers in a week.
It'll be too late. We'll have to close within three days, if we can't restock those shelves.
You have stock that won't be used until the anniversary sale.
I need to get that Selfridge stock to Whiteleys.
Out of the question! That's madness.
Mr Selfridge has been working hard to break the embargo at Whiteleys.
This sort of action looks like an attempt to get around the problem.
Which is why Mr Selfridge must keep his hands clean.
But we could do it.
Just a few days, Mr Crabb.
Just enough stock, all to be replaced, before anyone's the wiser.
- It's stealing. - Borrowing.
Think of the alternative - Whiteleys closes.
It could take months to open again, if ever.
While I'm sympathetic to your predicament, I can't help.
Think, Mr Crabb.
Mr Selfridge's failed venture all over the papers,
just as the Selfridge 20th anniversary parade troops down Oxford Street.
What are you going to do?
There's nothing else I can do...
go to Mr Selfridge, let him decide.
Wait.
You're right.
If he agrees to your plan, it would be incredibly damaging to him, if his involvement is discovered.
That's why I came to you, Mr Crabb.
This is an impossible decision.
It's difficult.
But not impossible.
- Freddy! - Hello! Lovely to see you.
Nice to see you too.
- You look ravishing as always, Rita. - You're such a flirt!
No, Ernest, do it again.
So kind of you to bring Roger's things, Arthur.
- I just wondered how you all are. - We're getting by.
- We're keeping busy. - That's the spirit.
Can I look at Father's things, Mr Crabb?
Uh...
One more time over the past pluperfect, please, Ernest.
It's so difficult when they mention Roger.
(SIGHS)
Tell me about the store.
- Take my mind off things. - It's anniversary this and that,
as you can imagine. - Hard work, but fun, yes?
Not all fun.
I've had a difficult decision to make.
I hope I've done the right thing.
Well, it's not like you to question your decisions, Arthur.
This one was particularly tough.
Did Meryl tell you Mrs Towler's replacement didn't turn up?
Yes, I heard. The cheek of it!
Running off to Liberty's without telling people.
It's hard to find people of the right calibre these days.
We need people like you.
You aren't suggesting...
Would it really be so out of the question?
Roger always said you were a company woman.
Yes, but the children need me.
They've just lost their father. Really, Arthur,
what on earth are you thinking? - I'm sorry, Josie, I never...
Yes, well, I shall make you some tea.
I'm surprised you'd even suggest such a thing.
Is everything all right?
I stupidly suggested her coming back to work.
I meant no offence.
Actually, I think it'd do her the world of good.
(CLOCK CHIMES)
- Rosalie? - I've waited.
- Yes? - When are we going to talk about Mae?
I know she stayed here the other night.
- Rosalie... - I need to know - what are your intentions?
(CHUCKLES)
- I don't believe this! - I love her.
Tatiana loves her.
If you mess with her heart...
Mae is the one keeping ME at a distance.
She's probably trying to protect herself.
- From me? - She knows your history.
She can see that I've changed.
She's chosen the wrong men in the past.
She's been hurt.
You need to give her time.
Prove to her that you're the right man.
There, sharp as pins, the pair of you.
I took it from the box Mr Crabb brought. Can I have it?
Yes, of course you can, Ernest.
You shouldn't have to ask.
He doesn't want to upset you, Josie.
None of us do.
But... we need to talk about Father.
We need to grieve.
Oh, my goodness, I'm sorry!
This is precisely what I didn't want to do.
It's all right. I cry in my room every night.
Me too.
Sometimes I do. A bit.
Well, you shouldn't have to do that alone.
I mean, we should all be - I don't know - crying together.
(CHUCKLES)
I tell you what, we'll do more as a family, yes?
Good.
(LIFT DINGS)
I...uh... I have two tickets to a lecture on Byzantine art tomorrow evening.
Do you want to come with me?
I'm not in the habit of accepting invitations someone else has refused.
Miss Grove, Meryl, have I offended you in some way?
I thought we'd come to an understanding.
Then I saw you in the tea rooms with another girl.
Rita Rogers?
Oh, no, she's an old friend, who happens to be
a special friend of The Great Carmo himself.
Carmo's Circus?
That's a huge hit at the Olympia.
I'm booking their performers for our anniversary parade.
You were jealous, weren't you?
Go on, admit it.
The circus.
Tomorrow evening.
Oh, no, it's completely sold out.
Well, if Miss Rogers is such a good friend...
No, you're asking the impossible.
That's five tickets, Freddy, for all the family.
I'd be ever so grateful.
Five?
- What do you think, Mr Crabb? - Obviously I'm not happy,
but disaster at Whiteleys means disaster for Mr Selfridge.
Then this store suffers the consequences too.
I can't let that happen.
Mr Towler...
Will you help me?
Tonight, then. I'll arrange the unmarked vans.
Get me an inventory of the stock that's needed.
Make sure the Whiteleys loading bay is prepared.
Thank you, both of you, from the bottom of my heart.
(LIFT DINGS)
- Straight to Whiteleys. - Yes, Mr Towler.
Come on!
Any problems, come straight back here. All right?
Mr Towler, where is stock going at this hour?
I'm moving the anniversary stock to our Shoreditch warehouse.
- It's taking up too much room here. - Shoreditch?
That's where we kept the provincial stores' stock, isn't it?
But why isn't the loading bay manager in charge?
Moving stock comes under my remit,
as head of security.
- Why unmarked vans? - The Selfridge vans are out...
on deliveries.
Waiting for the mechanic.
Thank you, Mr Towler. I hope I haven't inconvenienced you.
- Good night. - Good night, Mr Keen.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(Connie.)
You go to bed.
Why are you so late? What have you been doing?
It doesn't matter. It's done now.
Come on.
Stiff as a board!
- You shouldn't have waited up. - I'll be fine in the morning.
You're staying in bed tomorrow. I'm going to make you breakfast.
They can do without me for a few hours.
- I have to go to work, George. - I'll report you sick.
- No arguing now. - (LAUGHS)
- It is Selfridge. We should ask. - Quite so.
Are you joining us in the game tonight, Mr Selfridge?
- No. Thank you, though. - Right you are.
I'm sorry. It's late.
I was at the club.
Who could tell (?)
I...
I didn't wanna go home without telling you that I'll wait for you.
I'll give you the time and the space you need.
Which is what you're doing right now?
(CHUCKLES)
Damn if I'm being my usual impatient self.
You don't say.
Mae...
You mean the world to me,
even if you did scare the pants off me the first time I met you.
(LAUGHS)
We have so much history.
People we loved together.
People we hated together.
But there's still us.
Us.
We've both come a long way.
And through it all you've been my friend.
And if I lose you, I lose my friend, and I couldn't bear that.
You'll never lose me.
Trust me.
Good night, Mae.
(DOOR CLOSES)
(LIFT DINGS)
- Meryl, about the circus... - I've told the family, Freddy.
- You wouldn't believe the excitement this morning. - Erm...
I know it was a silly challenge, but it really means so much.
There's no performance this evening, or any other evening.
It's finished. I'm so sorry.
I'll have to telephone ahead, tell them not to come.
Wait!
I have an idea. I will need your help.
- Can I be of any assistance, Mr Keen? - Thank you, Mr Crabb,
but I've found what I was looking for.
Could you clarify something, Mr Crabb?
We did cancel our contract with the Shoreditch warehouse, didn't we?
Indeed we did. Soon as we moved the provincial store stock.
(DOOR CLOSES)
- How did it all go? - Nothing to worry about, Mr Crabb.
Thank goodness.
- Are you sure nobody saw anything? - Mr Keen asked a few questions,
but I fobbed him off. - Mr Keen?
He saw the vans coming out.
I told him we were shifting stock to the Shoreditch warehouse.
Mr Crabb, are you all right? You've gone as white as a sheet.
We have to go to Mr Selfridge immediately.
- Gentlemen, Mr Selfridge is engaged. - Oh, yes, thank you.
What have you done?
I... I didn't see any other way.
Mr Crabb and Mr Towler were just trying to protect your interests.
Stealing is in my interest?!
Mr Towler, Mr Crabb, we'll speak later.
Staff out of control?
Stock shifted to a business that has nothing to do with Selfridges?
- I will handle the situation. - The stock will have to stay there.
We can't risk this getting out.
Gordon, order more replacement stock.
Do what you have to do,
but the fact remains you have misplaced your trust in this man.
And I misplaced my trust in you.
I have no option but to report this to the Civic.
- Harry, I can fix this. - Go home, Jimmy.
- No, I... I'll go to the Civic. - Go home!
Now.
You'd better have a good reason for pursuing this.
I have a story. I know I have.
Dillon storms out of Colleano's club. So what?
He was furious Madame Rennard spent all evening with Colleano,
when she arrived on Dillon's arm.
Club staff told me Colleano was planning an intimate dinner for two the night he died.
Madame Rennard?
You're not suggesting Mae had anything to do with it?
No. But she told you where Dillon was.
I wondered if the police had checked, and they hadn't.
He wasn't with his mother. She spent all evening at a church gathering.
You can prove that?
I spoke with the vicar himself.
(LIFT DINGS)
I just want us to be clear.
None of this was my father's doing.
But it was his business partner's doing.
You know I'm not the enemy.
I've been trying to protect you and your father more than you think.
(LIFT DINGS)
Good evening to you, Mr Gordon.
(LIFT DINGS)
(GROANS)
(WAILS)
(WHIMPERS)
(GROANS)
(WAILS)
(WHIMPERS)
I just wanted you to know,
we don't hold either of you responsible.
My father and I have to take our share of the blame.
We should have kept a closer check on Mr Dillon's management.
- Thank you, Mr Gordon. - (DOOR OPENS)
Mr Towler, you have to get home straight away.
The doctor's been called. Your wife's gone into labour.
I should've stayed with her.
Go. Go!
I'm so sorry. There isn't going to be a performance tonight.
The circus is finished. I've made a complete mess of things.
Oh, well...
Well, that's all right, Meryl.
We can all go to the tea rooms when you finish work instead. Yes?
- It's not the same as the circus, though. - No.
Nothing like. I'm sorry, Ernest.
- Who wants to go to the toy department? - Oh, yes. Good idea.
My treat. Yes? Come along, then.
Oh...
Madame Rennard's autumn collection.
It's Italian silk.
You can tell the quality straight away.
Look at those darts! (GASPS)
That's a sign of good tailoring.
You love being here.
Mr Crabb told me that he asked you to come back.
Now I'm asking.
Yes, but what about the children?
Surely they would think I was abandoning them?
Why don't you ask them?
I'm genuinely sorry, Harry.
I thought I'd pay you the courtesy of showing you first.
This is sheer nonsense.
- I wouldn't print it, if it wasn't solid. - No!
No, it's low, even by your rag's standards.
I didn't have to come here.
I certainly didn't come here to be insulted.
Even if it isn't to get at me, you have Jimmy Dillon all wrong.
He's not a murderer.
There's enough to provoke a proper police inquiry at the very least.
We run with that story first thing in the morning.
Good day.
(DOOR CLOSES)
Where is she?
It's a boy, George.
A beautiful, healthy baby boy.
(CHUCKLES)
- Mr Selfridge to see you, sir. - Harry. I'm sorry.
I'm not here about the stock, Jimmy.
The Herald is running with a story about you tomorrow.
- What kind of story? - Total nonsense.
Accusing you of killing Victor Colleano.
- Now, the good news is we've been forewarned. - Harry...
We can get ahead of this with a press release of our own.
We can make it clear that this is all part of
Wynnstay's ongoing vendetta against me, against people that I work with.
No press release.
We have to fight back hard. If we don't...
I did kill Victor!
No.
Why?
It was an accident.
We argued about Mae.
Mae?
I was jealous.
We fought.
I never meant for him to fall.
Every night, I...
I see it happening over and over again.
Why didn't you come to me?
Because I didn't want to see the look that's in your eyes right now.
I... I put my trust in you!
I thought us buying Whiteleys together,
somehow you could shield me from what I've done.
But even Harry Selfridge can't do that.
I came to look at you as a son.
I am so sorry.
Harry, I'm so sorry for everything.
I'm not a bad man, Harry.
I never meant for Victor to fall.
Everything about you is a lie.
Everything. You killed a man.
And then you think that you can just hide behind me?
- I'll go to the police. - Pay your price.
- Harry... - Pay your price!
I want nothing more to do with you.
(DOOR CLOSES)
I know I've been trying to organise you all rather too much.
Please bear with me while I try and muddle through, won't you?
You're doing a great job, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.
(LAUGHS)
Would any of you be upset if Josie went back to work?
- We could all help out. - Is that what you want, Josie?
Well, no, not if it makes you unhappy, I don't, no.
Will you still read me stories and tuck me in every night?
Yes, of course I will, Ernest.
Father working didn't make us unhappy.
It wouldn't be any different with you.
As long as we're together, that's the main thing.
We'll always be together, Eleanor. We're family now.
Good evening, and welcome!
- This way, please. - (Go on, Ernest. Go on.)
(LIVELY MUSIC STRIKES UP)
(GASPS)
Oh!
Look at the acrobats!
Did you do all this?
It's Freddy's idea.
(GIGGLES)
Harry, what's the matter?
Jimmy killed Victor.
Oh, my God, so it's true.
You knew?
I... I was meant to be having dinner with Victor that night.
Just dinner with a dear friend.
Jimmy had become... far too possessive.
Jealous.
He was trying to own me.
What made you suspect him?
A journalist...
...started asking questions about Victor's death,
and Jimmy acted...
...strangely, so I...
I went to him. I confronted him.
And you didn't think to tell me any of this?
Well, no,
because he...
he denied it, and I... I had no reason to disbelieve him.
- How could you not say anything to me? - Because I had no proof.
And you'd just gone into business with him.
You believed in Jimmy so much.
This may well destroy me and my family.
- Harry... - Now I have to say good night, Mae.
I-I have to take all this in.
I thought I knew you. I thought I knew Jimmy.
I don't know who to trust.
Pop, Jimmy's death is not your fault!
Rosalie, I need to speak to Harry.
Mae called again.
Will he be at work today?
He can't leave you to deal with everything.
I'm being stared at, gossiped about.
It will go ahead, the celebration?
Of course it will.
I would like to see Mr Selfridge's personal accounts.
I trust everything is in order.
Mr Selfridge, you have dragged down the very name of Selfridges.
- I don't trust myself. - I trust you!
You can come back or leave it all up to me. But you need to decide.