Original subtitles

Are we ready, ladies?

Let's create the best-dressed women in Sydney.

What seems to be the problem?

I was lied to. Mrs Charlotte Egan has my dress.

Goode knows we make copies. We have to stop.

Oh.

Amazing. Hidden talents.

I thought you might try on both.

Mr McKenzie and I share a unified vision for fashion at Goode's.

And Magda does not?

Hello, Fay.

I'm married now, happily married.

And he has all these rules. Like, we never go back to his place.

I've usually got a sixth sense for the married ones.

He's completely lost without you.

I have lost the boutique of my dreams,

my marriage may not survive, and I'm demoted to ladies' shoes.

We're gonna conceal to reveal.

That story was Lisa's.

She came up with the bikini wars, you stole her idea.

Mr McKenzie will not be returning to Goode's.

I'm offering you the position of chief buyer.

Young women with jobs and their own money are the future of fashion.

Our valued customers will have to make their way past

working girls to reach model gowns.

And you know how lucrative the racing season is.

Young women want more than to pin dead birds to their head

and watch tiny men whip horses.

At Goode's, we dress the wives of society's leaders,

not their secretaries.

So vibrant and fun.

Made from railway workers' old denim overalls.

And we're calling the range Young Sophisticates.

It's all on consignment.

Magda's Young Sophisticates will stand or fall by the bottom line.

For me?

Delivery for Mrs Janosi.

Oh. We're about to open, Mrs Janosi.

Yes, Mrs Ambrose.

Put this on my account.

Yes. Mrs?

Forsythe of Vaucluse.

Of course, Mrs Forsythe.

Would you like to take it or have it sent?

Have it sent.

Enjoy the races.

You handled that well, Mrs Janosi.

You said to treat everyone like a duchess,

but I have my doubts about Mrs Forsythe.

Well, even real duchesses can be difficult.

Hey, we had lots of middle-aged ladies

giving everything a poke and prod.

Mm.

I mean, these are exactly the clothes women want to wear.

Girls our ages aren't used to shopping at Goode's.

This is true.

What if I wrote an article?

For the student newspaper? Yeah.

Emancipated women and the new fashions.

Mm.

And Angela could illustrate it.

I mean, she does marvellous sketches of clothes.

You should show Magda.

Oh, I don't have any on me right now.

I will ask Mr Ryder to take out an advertisement

offering students a 10% discount.

But you have to promise to tell your friends

it's only available at Goode's.

Please avoid ragtime, swing or honky-tonk.

And I will not abide jazz in any form.

Of course, Mrs Ambrose.

Well, naturally, you know Mozart, Chopin, Beethoven.

Hmm. What about Liszt?

I know Liszt.

That's right, Szombathelyi. It's in the blood.

Excuse me.

What do you guys say we go to the Beat tonight?

Celebrate my new job.

I'm not sure. We'd love to.

OK, so, I will see you there?

Why did you say that?

We can wear our new outfits, at cost.

Yes.

That guy you were just talking to, the piano player,

do you know if he's single?

Oh... I don't...

I'm actually not sure. He's sort of...

You look like Audrey Hepburn.

George won't be able to take his eyes off you.

I am not letting a man complicate my plans.

And definitely not a fly-by-night jazz musician.

Mr Janosi will expect to see this in a vase by your bed.

Rudi isn't much on grand romantic gestures.

He sent you a rose.

Does Mr Ambrose send home flowers?

Mr Ambrose is in London, at Harrods.

I imagine he's still in ladies' underwear.

You're allowed to laugh, Mrs Janosi. It's a joke.

But please keep that entre nous.

We must all be allowed some privacy.

Hmm. Coco Chanel said, "Lipstick is not an accessory...

"..it is an accomplice."

Well, if George doesn't kiss you, I will.

# Kiss me out of the bearded barley

♪ Nightly, beside the green, green grass... ♪

Voila.

♪ Swing, swing, swing the spinning step

♪ You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress, oh

♪ Kiss me beneath the milky twilight

♪ Lead me out on the moonlit floor

♪ Lift your open hand, strike up the band

♪ And make the fireflies dance, silver moon's sparkling

♪ So kiss me

♪ Kiss me beneath the milky twilight

♪ Lead me out on the moonlit floor

♪ Lift your open hand, strike up the band

♪ And make the fireflies dance, silver moon's sparkling

♪ So kiss me. ♪

Why are you creeping around after hours?

I want to ask you something. Well, what?

I want to know if you'll teach me.

How to be a salesman.

You're always talking about customer service and,

well, I mean, you worked at Harrods.

What do you know about Harrods?

It's the most famous department store in the world, and the best.

Huh?

Why does a boy who works in the loading dock know all this?

I want to sell menswear at Goode's.

I look at the magazines, I follow the trends.

I know when to wear serge and when to wear gaberdine.

What's the difference between British and German trousers?

British pleats face inwards and the German ones face out.

I don't like the German ones though.

They make you look like you've got a big belly.

It is not your business to like one or the other,

it is your business to sell the customer what he wants.

Yes, Mrs Ambrose.

To begin with, it's 'ask', not 'arks'.

Putting on an accent is like putting on a set of clothes,

part of the performance.

My father taught me a rhyme.

Ask your mother for sixpence to see the big giraffe.

He's got pimples on his eyebrows and pimples on his ask

your mother for sixpence.

Practise that, I'll speak to Ryder.

Do you want to get a drink? Yes.

Go on.

The Herald is going to report on the article you two wrote.

Hmm. We made quite a splash.

Don't be ridiculous.

Nobody has any interest in your Marxist take

on beach inspectors, all they're looking at is the dirty picture.

Hey. Oh, apologies.

The beautifully crafted art photograph

that's now stuck above every sad single bed

in Saint Paul's College.

Drinks all night, by the way, if you can get me the bird's number

with the classy chassis.

623-015.

My God.

The Bexley Virgin.

I'll have a gin and tonic, please, Clive.

Yes.

Better than a by-line.

I need to sit down.

I am hot.

So, what's the plan, Fay?

Ah! What do you mean?

You know full well what I mean.

With Marlow. Where's this going?

Nowhere. We're just... having fun.

Like the good old days. Hmm?

The good old days when he lied about being single.

The good old days before you were married.

That's not fair.

Marlow always has a plan.

So again, Fay, what's your plan?

I don't know.

I don't know.

I think Rudi is having an affair.

Oh, Fay.

Marlow and I, we haven't... even done anything.

Yet. And I can be myself around Marlow.

I don't have to be anything else.

And I...

...I think he loves me.

Alright.

But who are YOU in love with?

I love Rudi.

But I'm not sure that he still loves me.

Um, Marlow's paid for everything.

I'd almost forgotten how generous you are.

Onto the Marble Bar. Tom will buy the next round.

Of course.

Um, I'm...

...I'm dead on my feet.

I haven't danced this much in years.

It'll be like old times.

Another night, Myra.

I grew up surrounded by dressmaking,

the sound of sewing machines.

And your family?

My mum went to visit her parents in Beirut for three months,

and that was two years ago.

Mm.

Well, at least your father didn't take up with another woman

as soon as the boat left the dock.

Oh, they're very much still together, just in different countries.

You're a romantic? Why?

Because I don't think love is just some outfit

you change with the seasons?

I'm not criticising you.

I think it's enchanting.

Why did she leave Miami? Uh...

The cops and I had a little disagreement about Mary Jane.

Was she your girlfriend?

Uh...

You're an enigma, Angela Mansour.

One minute, worldly and sophisticated,

and then all sweet innocence.

I'm jealous of you girls...

...growing up in Paradise.

Hmm, Australia is alright, but I'm going to Paris some day.

Oh, yeah? It's where the best designers are.

Dior, Saint Laurent, Givenchy.

Yeah. You speak French?

No.

I'll probably end up in Paris one day.

The French are so free. They have this cool attitude to everything.

To music.

To sex.

It's all very instinctive.

Like animals.

Sounds messy.

It's very.

I'm not going to let anything mess up my plans.

OK. Say it.

I won't mess up your plans, Angela.

I won't mess up your plans, Angela.

Fay?

Where is she?

I thought you were working tonight.

Yeah, I was, I was.

I met some of the big shots at Hexham.

Fay, Mrs... Mrs Marlow was there.

Her father owns the business.

She invited us to have dinner with them.

Her, Mr Marlow, the husband, at the Australian Club.

Where the bosses of industry do the deals.

Right. This is it, Fay.

If we land this contract, we can pay back Stefan and Magda.

And then once we sign with a blue-chip company like Hexham,

others will follow.

I'll be captain of industry.

Reffos don't get invited to the Australian Club.

But you, my fine Australian wife, you fit in perfectly.

Rudi, you say these things,

but then you're out all night without a word,

and then you come home smelling of wine and another woman's perfume,

and I just feel like the ground is shifting beneath my feet.

He would start as a stock boy, of course,

but eventually he could move into sales.

Ha! I'm not certain Mr Conroy is, uh, salesman material.

Why not?

He has impeccable manners,

and he knows more about menswear than anyone in this store.

But isn't he a bit... different?

If we support him, no-one will question it.

Mr Conroy is more than capable of presenting himself impeccably

at Goode's regardless of his background or home life.

I'm sure he's not the only man at Goode's who can say that.

Elias! Uh!

What on earth?

I was just cleaning the Christmas display.

I don't wanna leave it to the last minute.

In your undies?

I was kicked out of my boarding house.

Oh.

That's awful.

Weren't you and your mother looking for a new boarder?

Uh, didn't go well.

Maybe this could solve both our problems.

You'd live in the suburbs?

It's a long way from people you know.

Sweetheart, a bit of distance is exactly what I need.

Magda?

Oh, come in, please, Fay.

Have a seat. Thank you.

I've been unfair to you and I wanted to apologise.

You needn't. Yes.

I have blamed you for me being unable to open my shop.

Well, it was my husband who took your money.

And it was mine who gave it away.

Well, Rudi is hoping to land a big contract,

so maybe he'll be able to pay you back soon.

We'll see. But in the meantime, I don't want bad blood between us.

God, it's funny, isn't it?

We women, we take things out on each other

when really it's our men we should be mad at.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Come in.

Lisa.

Oh, if I'm not mistaken, this will help us trap the design thief

and prove to Mr Ryder that I am more valuable

than that stuffy English woman.

Now, show me what you've found.

A lot of women's clothes on Mr Egan's account.

So, the ones in size extra woman delivered to his home address.

But there are also size small, slim woman delivered to his office,

along with lingerie, perfume and shoes.

Well, expensive taste.

And where do we deliver this account?

To the office.

OK.

The secretary's always know.

Mr Egan's office. Sally speaking.

Uh, hello, Sally. This is Goode's calling.

We are promoting the new Young Sophisticates range

and offering our most favourite customers a discount.

Oh.

What sort of discount?

The lemon silk.

I bet you win Fashions On The Field tomorrow.

Thank you.

Hmm.

I bet you 10 quid she says she's changed her mind

and returns it next week for a refund.

Not if she's seen wearing it.

At Harrods, we would go to Ascot on race days.

We'd find our customers and compliment them

on how well they looked.

Garments were never returned.

God. You should work for the government, Mrs Ambrose.

I've had my eye on you, Mrs Janosi.

You understand the meaning of customer service.

Even though you're tired... Oh...

Even though you're tired, your poise has not wavered.

Oh, years of dance training.

Tomorrow is a half day.

So, in the afternoon, you and I will go to the races.

We'll stop our ladies from doing something they might later regret.

Hmm.

I'll get VIP passes. You can bring Mr Janosi.

Oh, yeah, he'd love that.

A perfect complement to your colouring, if I may say so.

Welcome to Goode's. My name is Lisa.

I was told there would be a discount on a new range if I asked for you.

Charlotte Egan's gown is a copy of a Goode's exclusive.

Now, you're not in trouble, Sally,

but we simply need to know, where did you buy this dress?

Ronnie, um, I mean, Mr Egan ordered it from Paris.

So let me guess, Mrs Egan never sees

the itemised Goode's account, does she?

Hmm.

So the only way that Ronnie can buy you nice things

is if Mrs Egan thinks that they're expensive gifts for her, no?

My friend told me about a dressmaker,

one of the Arabs making clothes out of Little Beirut.

Well, the thief is in my sight. What thief?

The thief who's stealing exclusive designs from Goode's.

You know, there's a shop in Redfern,

I don't know which one, but I will find it.

Angela, will you come with me tomorrow afternoon?

You know the area well.

Oh, I can't, I've got cousins visiting from the country.

What about you, Lisa?

You can pretend to be my daughter, uh, looking for a gown.

Sure. Why not? Great.

OK, can you make me a list, Angela,

of all the local places that make and sell clothes.

Sure. Great. Fantastic. Thank you.

Hey, Gigi.

How was your day?

Uh, good, Bobba.

But we can't make any of these until the new catalogue comes out.

Why?

Because they're keeping track of everyone who sees the clothes.

If they catch me, it would come...

Our customers will pay a lot of money for these,

especially if we don't wait.

I know, Farouk.

But, Bobba... Don't worry, habibti, we'll wait.

Thanks, Bobba.

Hi, Mr and Mrs Marlow.

Your table's just over there, sir. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Thank you.

Hi. Mr Marlow.

Mr Janosi. Mrs Marlow.

This is my wife, Fay. Hello.

Mr Marlow. Oh, call him Ken.

And I'm Enid.

No point in standing on formalities, we're not at Goode's now.

Good to see you. Yeah, Fay said that the two of you have met.

Mm.

Well, Enid does spend half our money at Goode's.

And the other half we fritter away.

Sit. Sit, please.

Oh, thank you.

I am sorry I couldn't come the other night, you know.

See, I was tied up trying to seduce a new client.

Don't worry, Ken, your colleagues did a very good job

at making me feel, um, welcome.

Well, if that's code for getting you pissed, I'm glad it worked.

Well, I can assure you, I'm not going to try to keep up tonight.

I'm not sure how you Australians do it.

Years of training, mate.

It's very modern of you to keep working after your marriage.

Oh, I like to work.

And very smart of you to marry a business owner.

Ken and I did it the other way around.

He was a clerk at Daddy's office when he spotted me.

How very modern of you.

Just as Father Joseph started on the Fifth Glorious Mystery -

the crowning of Our Lady Queen of Heaven -

Darren appears in the doorway.

Eight years old, wearing red patent leather stilettos

and his mother's bathrobe, singing...

♪ I'm just a girl who can't say no. ♪

And?

Well, that was the end of the rosary.

Darren got the wooden spoon and I was sent packing.

Oh! But why?

They were my red stilettos.

Oh, I do love amateur theatricals.

I mean, not the performing part, but I did love to make the costumes.

A seamstress?

Oh, no, hardly. More like a home sewer.

Well, Lisa is always so beautifully turned out.

You have a talent.

I should unpack.

He's very charming.

Are you sure he won't be a distraction?

Yes, Mum, very sure.

Well, that's good, because you just failed two subjects,

including English.

You're always so good at studying. What happened?

Uni isn't like high school, Mum.

It's not as much about the academics,

it's about the whole world of uni.

People, the scene.

What would your father say?

He'd probably be at the races.

You know, losing the housekeeping on a filly in race four.

In Model Gowns, the Spring Carnival

is the only topic of conversation.

Everybody who's anybody in Sydney

is going to be in the clubrooms at the Jockey Club.

I don't know much about horses, though.

Horses? I wouldn't know a horse if it kicked me in the head.

It's about seeing and being seen, isn't it, Fay?

Mm. I have been run off my feet this week.

Well, it's decided, Janosi.

I, mean you can't let an exquisite beauty like Fay out on her own.

Mm... yeah. I mean, you know best, Mr Marlow.

Indeed. Yeah, sure.

OK, excellent. I can introduce you to some of the fellas.

We need some fresh blood to go 18 holes with at the Royal, anyway.

That must be why he's pushing our business onto you,

because he needs a new golfing partner.

I stopped playing with him a long time ago.

Ha! Hasn't this been a wonderful evening, my love?

I'll get the ladies' coats.

Madam.

You OK? Yes.

Yeah? Here, let me help you with that.

I'm just a little flushed.

Oh.

I've never wanted you more.

Ken seemed very taken with you.

Well, that's what you wanted, wasn't it?

For me to... charm the pants off him?

Yes, of course.

Mm. You look very pretty tonight.

I'm surprised you noticed.

Fay...

...I'm sorry I've neglected you, yeah?

But once we sign with Hexham, things will be different.

Is that what you want? For things to be different?

For me to be different? For me to... like opera?

No, Fay...

...I like to share the things I love with you

because I think that you would like me to.

I know Magda. She's like a dog with a bone.

I mean, she won't stop until she finds us.

And then Lisa will know... I'm the one.

Don't worry, habibti. We'll close the shop for the afternoon.

Farouk and I will work back here,

hidden from your dog with a bone.

Oh, enough is enough, Dorothy.

You'll ruin your beautiful hand.

If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.

A talented dressmaker like you shouldn't mop floors.

I love sewing, but I'm no better than the next woman.

Well, Goode's can never find enough seamstresses.

Right, Lisa?

Hmm?

It's the rent collector.

Good morning. Morning.

That's four weeks in advance.

I just wish they got to see even a bit of it.

The sooner we pay off the loan sharks, the better.

I could have dropped the money to your office.

How is Magda?

Enjoying the new job.

Making plans to revolutionise Sydney fashion.

Are you OK?

Well, she won't answer my calls.

I can't go home, I can't go to her work.

I know that if I could just speak to her, even for a moment...

...things would be different.

What are you doing here?

Mrs Ambrose put in a word.

I mean, I'm just a stock boy for now,

but... but eventually, I could become a trainee in sales.

This is amazing. I'm so pleased for you.

Are you finished there, Mr Conroy?

She's definitely a super slim woman.

I don't know.

Yeah.

Is this how they're supposed to look?

Lisa, help me.

What is happening? The clothes don't seem to fit right.

No, it's the swing tags.

The smaller one has a tag that says size W, and the big one says SSW.

Someone must have messed up at the factory.

Or someone switched them on purpose.

Someone is trying to undermine you, Magda.

What?

After you. Thank you, Mr Ryder.

Have we ever considered sponsoring

Fashions On The Field for the carnival?

At Harrods, we forged a long... term...

Mr Ryder, thank you for taking such a close interest in the new range.

Oh, it's going well.

Steady throughout the week, but, as you can see,

today, healthy sales.

Young Sophisticates is the most successful range

in Ladies' Cocktail.

Yes. Hmm!

Things are coming together, Fay.

You can feel it too, can't you?

Maybe.

Hello?

Yes. Yeah, yeah.

No, no. It's... it's fine.

Yeah.

OK, sure.

Who was it?

A last-minute shipment needs to go out this afternoon.

No, Rudi, you can't.

Fay.

No, you were the one that said that we have to hobnob

with the high and mighty.

Fay, the shipment's for Hexham. I have to do it.

Yes, but you said it yourself.

These companies are run by private-school boys

who... who do deals over golf and football.

And we finally get invited in, and you're going to leave me alone?

You don't need me.

Ken and Enid adore you.

Of course, you can... be my eyes and ears

while I drive the truck.

That's it.

Every tailor, dressmaker, seamstress and rag trader in Redfern.

Well, we are further from the truth than when we started.

There were places who offered to copy Goode's designs.

The people imitating my model gowns,

their workmanship is equal to the best couture houses.

We've seen nothing like this today.

Stefan, what... Don't be angry with her.

I had to talk to you.

Fine. Talk.

Magda...

...I love you with all my heart.

I have since the moment we met.

I can't go on like this.

I want to come home to you.

I'm not ready to forgive you.

Not ready,

or... will never forgive?

There are practicalities. I can't keep sleeping in my office.

If you're done with me, I'll need to rent a flat.

With what money?

I'm sure I can find a loan shark to give me money.

You're being stupid. I could borrow more.

Pay back YOUR money.

Then you could start again without me

and have your beautiful boutique.

It was never about the money.

If you love me the way you say you do,

you would have told me that you had a son.

I was cut from his life and forgotten.

I'm sorry.

I can't undo what I've done.

I was wrong.

I told you everything.

About who I loved before we met...

...about who I lost.

You've put me in a terrible position.

Oh, it's only down the road.

Magda! I've got to go.

Magda, please.

Magda.

This is Nadia. A pleasure.

They all pass through here eventually.

Oh.

Everyone wants to be seen.

Of course they do.

Yes.

I'll be finished with this one in a minute.

It's such a shame Mr Janosi couldn't join us.

Oh, he would have loved to have been here.

The lemon silk. I sold her that.

Mm. Well, go on.

That's amazing. How about we do that?

Hello.

So, are you entering Fashions In The Field?

Uh, excuse me, but do I...

Oh, I'm from Goode's. You look absolutely gorgeous.

Mm.

That was fun.

There. The dreaded Mrs Forsythe.

My turn.

Mrs Forsythe. Oh.

I just wanted to say what a glorious hat.

Now, you cannot possibly be on your own and dressed like that.

Where's Rudi?

He's delivering an order for you.

Oh, Ken! You can be so inconsiderate.

I was looking forward to showing Rudi the finer points of racing.

Oh, someone in the office must have called him.

I'm off the clock today. Nonsense.

But I choose to forgive you because I love my anniversary gift.

Don't worry...

...I'll look after you.

You know, my fiance Frank is so talented.

He actually makes all my clothes.

Oh, these dresses are wonderful.

That's strange.

I guess they're closed. They're never closed.

I have keys.

Please.

Frank?

Frank? Yes.

We have customers. Hello.

Apologies, we were, um, sitting down.

Oh, it's quite alright.

Um, my daughter is to be a debutante,

and we are in search of a gown.

I was thinking perhaps something, uh, European design.

Um, perhaps, uh, madame might find something of interest in, um, here.

Here are some of our latest garments.

Some fabric options for you.

OK.

Nadia, some tea. Mm, thank you.

Lovely. Very lovely.

These are, um...

...these are from last season.

Perhaps you have something for next season?

Ah, I'm sure madame appreciates

that we only see gowns after they've been released.

Oh, yes, of course.

Well, thank you very much. Yes.

Lisa, are you OK? Yeah, I'm fine.

Just tired.

She's tired of spending my money.

Well, thank you very much for your kindness.

Nice to meet you.

Thank you.

I thought that would be the one.

I actually am tired, Magda.

I think I'll make my way home.

OK, darling. Well, next time, I'll bring Angela.

Good idea.

Get home safe.

Goodbye. Goodnight.

Is that another one? I'll go.

Christina. Oh, Fay.

You seem to have a knack for catching me at my worst.

Is it your trucker boyfriend again?

Blows hot and he blows cold.

He can't see me, and then he calls at the last minute.

Has to be now. I'm at sixes and sevens.

Wish me luck.

Mwah. Mwah.

Mind that. OK.

Can I help you? Is Angela here?

Gigi.

It was you. It was for my family.

Yeah, you've been lying.

The whole time. I haven't.

Please come inside.

That lady is back again.

Could you leave us?

OK, what's going on?

Nothing. Go.

Don't 'nothing' me.

We did make the dress that Mrs Egan wore,

but I copied it before I started working at Goode's.

So, back when you were pretending to shop,

you were really stealing our originals.

Please, what you call Goode's originals

are copies of European designers with a few details changed.

Did you take the look book?

We didn't make any copies.

I swear to you, ever since I started working at Goode's,

I have not stolen a single design.

What about your sketches?

That's what you were doing

when you looked at clothes so closely.

Copying designs so you could re-create them here.

No, I wanted to see how the great designers work.

How they cut, how the fabrics are made.

I'm trying to learn.

Well, you're gonna have to tell Magda.

I'll lose my job.

♪ Whispered something in your ear

♪ It was a perverted thing to say... ♪

Fay?

♪ Made you smile and look away... ♪

♪ Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby

♪ As long as you're with me, you'll be just fine

♪ Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby... ♪

George!

♪ Nothing's gonna take you from my side

♪ Nothing's gonna hurt you, baby

♪ Nothing's gonna take you from my side. ♪

Women who can ask a man out or buy a round of drinks.

Maybe, if I knew any women like that.

They're looking right at her.

Is that what you want? This was an awful mistake.

It should never have started.

Shouldn't be surprised that you're doing Ambrose's dirty work.

Elsie...

Only my friends call me that.

What have you got there, Miss Miles?

Sadie Chalmers is a part of this extravaganza.

What does Mr Ryder say?

I find it better to seek forgiveness than to ask for permission.

How dare you?

You've got ahead of yourself, a long way ahead,

and it has brought Goode's into disrepute.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation