Original subtitles

FAY: Are we ready, ladies?

Let's create the best dressed women in Sydney.

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

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

Need a new headline.

How about girls who dress for sex-cess?

Lisa, girls like you, guys like me are not meant for each other.

I've never wanted you more.

I think Rudi is having an affair.

George! (PANTS)

I came here to say we're done.

KEN: I thought a deal with Rudi would offer something unique.

It appears I thought wrong.

'Mary Jane' is marijuana.

100% I swear to you, I regret it, and it is completely in the past.

You promised you wouldn't copy Goodes designs.

I cannot tolerate thievery, Miss Mansour.

You will not be welcome back through Goodes stores again.

I'm sure you could run Model Gowns one day.

That's what you think of me.

That I can run Model Gowns one day

while you go off and live your big life as a writer in London, is it?

You are not better than me, Lisa!

('BELLE OF THE BALL' PLAYS)

♪ Girl from Spumante she tickled my fancy

♪ I wanted to take her back home ♪ Take her back home

♪ From there va mangiare

♪ Oh, what a party, till she bumped into Fredo from Rome

♪ Fredo from Rome

♪ She whispered to me "Oh, how could this be

♪ "I seem to be belle of the ball"

♪ O va begin, I'm gonna win

♪ Come on, let the winner take all

♪ Ding Ding a round one ♪ Ding Ding round one

♪ Now the bout has begun

♪ Ding Ding a round two ♪ Ding Ding round two

♪ Fredo, I'm a coming for you

♪ Ding Ding a round three

♪ I'm on the ropes, there go my hopes

♪ Ding Ding round four, I'm on the floor, e questa la vita

♪ C'est la vie!

♪ Ding Ding round five, forget this jive

♪ Ha, da da-lap, I'm so alive

♪ What's this I see

♪ Another senorita for me

♪ Oh, e questa la vita ♪ De-be doo wap. ♪

VIRGINIA: As always with the Goodes new season launch,

we have trusted designers, timeless quality, ageless style.

Not to Cheri St Clair's taste,

however, Lillian Australia does not set the buying policy for Goodes.

Mrs Ambrose, I'm more than happy to trust your judgement on this one.

Well, nevertheless, I require your sign off as chief buyer.

Not for long.

My position's already been advertised and, well...

...I won't be applying.

Well, I know we may differ in approach,

but your ideas are always stimulating.

You surprise me.

And I must confess,

I find the younger generation utterly mystifying.

(CHUCKLES)

Ooh. "Girls who Dress for Sex-cess."

By Lisa Miles.

But it is surprisingly well-written, considering the content.

Ha. Well...

...are you planning on showing this to Mr Ryder?

I mean, I'm sure he'll consider it my fault.

Do you agree with her?

The short skirt is the flag of women's freedom.

I could not disagree more.

But I do believe that young women should make mistakes.

They should be foolish and opinionated and... brave.

Yes.

Miss Miles is certainly aiming for all three.

Mrs Ambrose, what a delight.

Mr MacKenzie, you're back at Goodes.

It's time for the new season launch already? Let me have a look.

Exquisite.

Yes, very nice.

It's good to see somebody is upholding the Goodes traditions.

Oh, a salesman, Mr Conroy.

I must say, you look splendid all dolled up.

Mr Khalil, would you kindly assist Mr Conroy in storing the garments?

Delighted, Mrs Ambrose.

What are you doing here?

I came to see a man about a dog, Elsie.

ANGELA: We are never going to get all three dresses finished in time

if she keeps this up.

You need to make a decision.

Well, Gigi, it would be easier if my wedding dress was finished

so I could actually see which suits it best.

Nadia, it is a complicated gown, it takes time.

And Baba is already working on the bridesmaids dresses.

Oh, admit it, you don't even wanna make my wedding dress.

You know what? Farouk's right about you.

You've got no loyalty to this family.

At least I have respect! Respect?!

(BOTH ARGUE)

OK! Both of you.

Enough.

Yalla.

Fine.

This one.

The salmon.

Good. RANIA: Anybody home?

Mama.

I need a qahwa.

I'll do it, Auntie.

(SPEAKS ARABIC)

Thank God you're here. They're about to kill each other.

Mama, she's taking over the house. You have to stop her.

I'm here, aren't I?

Ya rab. Music to my ears.

(ALL CHUCKLE)

Baba and I have everything under control.

I like to bring my own...

Six jars of kabees she tries to sneak in,

Customs confiscated each one.

Seven. You could have been fined

or deported.

Teta made them especially for you, Gigi.

Oh, Teta! And me.

Mama, we'd love to be able to show you Nadia's dress

before the wedding.

Nadia is insisting on a gown from Goodes so exclusive

I could be arrested if they found out.

Dawud, you're dripping it all over the floor.

Nadia, could you?

Farouk from Goodes is gonna come to the wedding.

Oh, you mean now I lost my job Farouk? Thanks for the reminder.

You're the idiot who kept working there.

Please get off my back! Show Nadia more respect.

More?! She lectured me yesterday for an hour

on the best bleaches to use on toilet bowl.

No, no, Nadia stepped in because Angela has been away from home

working for the competition.

Oh, sweetie, a mop would be better.

Where have you been? Where have you been?

I've been working twice as hard for months.

Twice as hard? Yeah, I've been working twice...

(BOTH ARGUE) (SHOUTS IN ARABIC)

I run this household, not Nadia.

Gigi, you're making the dress Nadia wants. End of discussion.

Wake me in three days time.

(GASPS, SPEAKS FOREIGN WORD)

Pity me, Stefan, I must fit into my Pierre Cardin

for the new season launch.

Why do you care?

(LAUGHS)

Because it will be my last hurrah as Goodes chief buyer

and I intend to go out in style.

Prosit.

Pete Marwick have, uh,

offered to buy the business.

I could stay on with them as an employee

or go and work for Rudi.

Have you discussed this with Rudi?

No, but he's always asking.

And with the money he owes.

And to be an employee again, I don't know.

You did it...

...for me. Mm? (CHUCKLES) It's true.

You even sold shoes. (LAUGHS)

Yeah.

I did.

You could have belle reve.

Work with Australian designers. Hmm?

Your beautiful dream. Mm.

When do they want to know?

A month.

They'll probably wait a bit longer if I say I need the time.

George is... Shh, shh, shh.

Don't ruin the moment, Stefan.

...is living in a room above a pub.

My mother always warned me

don't fill your life taking care of other people's children...

My love. ...or you may miss out on your own.

My dar... Stefan! I don't trust him.

I don't know what he wants or why he's here.

And neither do you.

You left the keys in the car.

I needed to walk.

How's the water?

You know what I love about Australia?

This.

The sea.

The stars reflecting off the water. The smell.

Rudi. What are...?

Are these contracts?

Rudi?

Yeah, the Hexham contract.

Fay, Fay, leave it. Let them go.

They won't be signing.

Cancelled trial.

Was it Marlow?

What did he say?

Head of operations called.

I'm a reffo.

They don't do the business with a reffo.

Your mother's just got back from Lebanon

and you're already going out.

My friend Lisa has a new record.

Promised I'd listen with her.

You know, you see a lot of this Lisa.

Where was she when you were getting sacked?

Shh!

You wake them all up.

RICHARD: That's good, I like it. Just save us a table.

We'll be there as soon as we put the final layout to bed.

Done. See you then. See you soon.

Final layout is already done.

I know.

So what exactly are you going to put to bed?

I've been offered a job.

A cadetship at the Herald.

That's incredible. Thank you.

The editor specifically mentioned Bikini Wars

and Girls who Dress for Sex-cess

so I suggested he should think of us as a package deal.

A package?

You and me. He wants you too.

I'm being offered a cadetship?

No, not at first, it'd be an assistant role.

But with two incomes, we can get something nice.

Flat in Chippendale.

I mean, we wouldn't really need two cars unless we do daytrips.

Thinking ahead.

Doors are opening, Lisa. We gotta walk through 'em.

Should we hit the beat? Celebrate?

Why not?

There are two guards on the door now. And Mum is a lot smarter than Nadia.

GEORGE: OK, so then why don't you just get your own place?

You could get an apartment with Lisa.

Are you two still fighting?

Or I could just move into a bedsit up the Cross,

get a job at the Pink Pussycat.

At least I'd get paid for shaming my family for generations.

You've thought this through.

Well, the problem with becoming a stripper is it could lead

to some really terrible things.

Like dating a jazz musician.

Like dating.

Uh!

(GIGGLES)

(CLEARS THROAT) I'm surprised to see you here.

Why? I'm not supposed to be here?

Oh!

(CHUCKLES) Is this bar yours?

No, I didn't mean that.

Missed you.

Do you remember George? Yes.

I haven't forgotten George.

What is that supposed to mean?

I'm surprised you're still with him, to be honest.

He doesn't think I'm a thief, like everyone else at Goodes.

I just assumed after what Fay told you,

you wouldn't be interested in seeing him any longer.

About the marijuana?

About her catching me having sex on the couch with Christina Wells.

Ang, we talked about this.

What?! In the storeroom.

You told me that Fay told you everything.

Oh, clearly she didn't tell me EVERYTHING.

Well, just...

Listen to me, listen to me. Don't touch me!

I was breaking up with her, OK?

I told her it was over.

We just ended up having, like, sort of like, comfort sex.

I swear to God, it didn't mean anything.

Is that supposed to make me feel better?!

You had sex with someone and it meant nothing!

I am so sorry.

Does anything you say, does anything you do mean anything at all?

Get out.

Get... out.

(SOBS)

Is that gin?

Hey...

I'm sorry.

So Fay walked in on them?

She still can't get the stains out of the Danish daybed.

(LAUGH/CRIES)

(GROANS)

When did she tell you?

She didn't.

Christina came to the store

and tried to slam George's fingers in the piano.

Good.

No. Not good.

I wish I'd told you.

I really have missed you.

I missed you, too.

You saved me from making a big mistake.

Another? More gin!

Trying to get sacked?

Tattle tale.

I showed Elias the article.

I'm quite proud of you. It's a rather lovely turn of phrase.

But who's gonna hire a girl who dresses for sex-cess?

The Herald.

They've already offered me a job. Lisa!

A cadetship! Oh, darling, this is wonderful.

I mean, obviously, they're gonna want you to finish

your university degree first.

Well, I'll be an assistant.

An assistant?

Oh, what a waste.

Your scholarship.

All that work that you did to get into university.

What, now you're going to take a job

that your father wanted you to leave school for!

Richard says it's getting a foot in the door.

Richard?! You're not doing this for a boy?

I really thought you were smarter than that.

We'll probably move in together.

That's probably a good idea.

You'll need somewhere to live after I sell the house.

After you what? You can't sell the house.

But where will you live?

I'm gonna repay all our debts

and I'm going to get a nice little unit near the city.

Dorothy. Is this your idea?

These foolish decisions that you are making, Lisa,

are completely out of character.

You're obviously doing it to spite me

so I'm gonna let you make your own mistakes

and perhaps you'll come to your senses before it's too late.

Hello. Are you Mr Mansour?

Correct. May I come in?

Welcome. Come in. Thank you.

Thank you so much for seeing me.

I have a proposal for your family.

My apologies for the intrusion.

I've clearly made a mistake.

No, Magda, please, I can explain. Explain nothing.

You walk into our home after you fired her,

kicked her to the ground like she was a piece of dirt.

Mama, please. For what?

Because she copied to learn.

That is Sadie Chalmers' wedding dress. A Goodes exclusive.

Sadie's is red. This is an ivory pearl.

Madam, please...

...this is what we do. We make clothes.

And like everyone else in Australia, we copy European designs.

The only originals are the improvements my daughter makes.

You are right.

And this is why I'm here.

Because Angela not only improves existing designs,

she also creates originals.

Mrs Marlow, you're early.

My break isn't until 11:00. I need an outfit.

So I thought, why not kill two birds with one stone?

Thank you.

My boutique will nurture Australian fashion designers

making originals here in Sydney.

My originals? Yes.

You are one of the designers I'm talking to in these early stages.

And these designs would be made here by Mansour and Son?

The quality of your work is second to none.

You could be part of revolution in Australian fashion.

What do you say, Gigi?

Worth a try?

Yalla. Let's do it.

Off tomcatting again?

I'm going to Angela's.

Ah, you two are friends again?

Well, we were always friends.

We were just... friends who weren't on speaking terms.

It's for Dorothy.

What?!

Well, Mrs Ambrose suggested that we need a seamstress backstage.

I'm hoping we can make the job permanent.

Congratulations on adopting my mother.

New home, new job, new life.

Grow up, Lisa!

Your mother is more than capable of making her own decisions.

She doesn't need either of us telling her what to do.

Mrs...

(CHUCKLES)

I'm sorry, I can't remember how you say it.

Janosi.

Oh, I suppose it's ethnic for Jones.

Your message said you needed to speak to me about something.

Um... (CLEARS THROAT) ...Mrs Marlow...

Enid.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Your husband is refusing to sign the contract with Rudi unless...

Well, I mean, your father built the business,

so I thought that you should know...

You're the dancer. Should we call it that?

The one he kept in the flat on William Street.

Aren't you?

You know about that?

Yes. Yes, dear. Whatever keeps Kenny happy.

Well, I'm not happy.

Well, you shouldn't have slept with him, then.

That sort of thing generally gives men the idea that you are happy.

It won't be happening anymore. Oh.

Well, that's a shame.

You're a lot more discreet

than the other tarts he took up with in between.

Cheaper too.

Does this come in another colour?

Um, I think you should leave.

You're being short-sighted, dear.

If Ken is happy with this arrangement,

Hexhams gets our goods moved,

Rudi's business grows.

Lay back, think of all the good you're doing, Mrs Janosi.

Mrs Janosi, are you unwell?

No, no, Miss Ambrose, it's just, um...

Uh, the customer, Mrs Marlow...

I see.

Perhaps you might refold the scarves.

Ooh! Oh. Mrs Janosi is serving me.

My apologies, Mrs Marlow. Mrs Janosi is needed elsewhere.

Oh.

Well, perhaps I'll come back.

Oh, but your event is this weekend.

Well, it's just a dinner. Colleagues of my husband's.

Then we can dismiss Celeste.

Wearing something too fine for a suburban dinner party

gives the impression one doesn't have anywhere better to wear it.

Oh. Hmm.

Now, a wife doesn't want to dress too ostentatiously.

You don't want to look desperate for your husband's attention.

No.

Ah.

It's such a relief to reach that age

where it's all about covering the body.

Rather than displaying it.

Thank you, Mrs Ambrose.

There are some customers we just can't please.

Mrs Janosi, you are a wonderful Goodes employee

and you have an excellent eye and rapport with most customers.

That's very kind.

You have a great future ahead of you at Goodes,

if that's what you want.

I'd be very sorry if you left.

I might have to.

Rudi is keen for us to have babies.

And you?

Well, it just seems inevitable.

Would Rudi object if you came back to work

when the children were old enough?

I don't know.

We've never discussed it.

Do you think

that I should tell Rudi...

...what I'm thinking?

I think you should always tell the truth in marriage.

If you build your marriage on a lie,

it will fester and grow until it destroys your family,

your home, everything you hold dear.

You really believe that?

I know it.

Richard is already looking for a place near where we'll work.

Is this the same boy that stole your article and made it his own?

ANGELA: (CHUCKLES) Mum knows all about Richard.

I tell her everything.

There's a tall bodgie at the door asking for Angela.

He's wearing leather and smells like whisky.

Why are you here? I need to speak with you.

There's nothing left to say! No, listen to me.

I come to ask you to forgive me. For what?

There was nothing between us. Yes, there was. Definitely was.

If I wasn't such an idiot, I would have understood the value of that.

I promise you, I'm not gonna make the same mistake again.

You are my mistake and I've learnt from it.

Just give me one more chance. Please, we're done. Just go.

Don't cause any more trouble for me.

Any more trouble for you?

Angela, please.

Angela! (DOOR SLAMS)

Wait, so you're saying this whole time that she said she was with you,

she was actually seeing this George?

Well...

...'seeing' is a bit of an exaggeration.

They maybe kissed once.

Kissed?

(DOOR SLAMS)

After the wedding, you're coming back to Beirut with me.

No! I'm moving in with Lisa.

Rania, you've been here... five minutes.

You're already playing games?

This is her home. Your home.

But this isn't her future, Dawud.

I will not have my daughter living in a drain.

You think your father's family are doing better than we are?

(SCOFFS) Not this again. Yes, this again!

You think they can take care of Gigi better than I can?

And what? You can take better care of her than me.

You stay!

You get here to hear this.

You both have big dreams.

A writer, a designer, and talent. So much talent.

But do you think this is enough?

Do you think your mother lacked dreams, Lisa?

Did I not have talent, Angela?

Do you think the world has changed?

That somehow the world is a gentle place for girls with dreams?

You still have to work twice as hard and be twice as good

for men to take you seriously.

And men still have the power.

This Magda, she's good and brave and generous...

...but can she make any decision that a man can't contradict?

Tell me.

And what are we going to do about this?

Well, I suggest we put an advertisement in the next issue

offering a student discount at Goodes.

VIRGINIA: I agree.

We can't have younger brothers profiting from Miss Miles's

bold and insightful argument.

But if our customers associate Goodes with this... this filth...

This is a university newspaper.

It will be read by exactly the young women

who are currently avoiding Goodes

like it was their grandmother's wardrobe.

But Miss Miles... Miss Szombathelyi,

you should perhaps speak to your friend Cheri St Clair.

Perhaps she could offer a summer internship

for a clever young writer like Lisa. Yes.

Right.

Rudi, will you please come and sit down?

Is it Magda? The money?

Oh, my darling, just tell me, because I've known for days

that something is wrong.

It's not your fault that we lost the Hexham contract.

What do you mean? Of course it is.

Ken Marlow... Yeah.

He's...

Mm.

Do you remember I told you about the businessman from the Trocadero?

Son of a...

Well, he found me at Goodes.

And the next thing I know, he's calling...

Inviting us to the Australian Club?

Offering me a contract?

Mm.

He told me that if I...

(SIGHS)

If we started again...

...that he would...

My... my darling.

OK.

My pearl beyond price.

That you would even consider...

My God. To sacrifice yourself for me?

Did the right thing.

'Cause, hey, I would...

...I would prefer to lose every contract, every truck,

every penny that I've ever made

than to have anything to do with those evil people.

Please, will you...? (SIGHS) No, the...

The name of Marlow.

The word Hexham.

Now frozen chicken will never be mentioned again in this house again.

Rudi, you're not... No! Hey, come here.

Oh.

What a lucky escape we had.

Imagine working with those people.

Yeah, yeah?

Rudi, there's-there's something else.

I need... Please, I just need you to listen for a second.

There is something else.

(SIGHS)

I made a mistake.

I was sure of something and... I was wrong.

And you, you...

...you mean everything to me.

Hey...

...there's nothing that you can say to me

that would make me love you less.

I trust you.

And I hope that you trust me too.

I want to have a baby.

(CHUCKLES)

But I also...

I wanna go back to work.

I want to work when the children are old enough.

Of course, of course.

Ooh.

Gonna make a fool of myself! You'll be a natural.

But the gowns. And... and the models.

I've fitted hundreds of women.

I've seen couture clothes up close.

You're very talented. Mm.

You always have been. Lisa.

I do know things were hard for you.

You've given up a lot.

Well, it never felt like a sacrifice.

Are you really gonna sell the house? I think I have to.

I can't let you pay off your father's debts for years to come.

You've gotta start your life.

What if I'm not ready?

A clever young woman like you,

you have to take charge of your own decisions.

You mean make my own mistakes.

We all get knocked down, sweetheart.

It's how you get back up.

That's what matters.

Babe.

George has been arrested.

Drunk and disorderly.

Offensive language and possession.

Possession of what?

(SIGHS)

His paperwork is a mess.

His visa is not in order.

The police say it would be easier to deport him.

Even if we vouch for him, promise to take him in,

it may not be enough.

If we do nothing...

So you're asking me to choose?

Look, I did not judge you for what happened after the war

and I'm not going to judge you now.

Mm?

You go pick him up.

(DOOR OPENS)

What?

(CHUCKLES)

I'm not gonna take the job at the Herald.

There'll be other jobs.

I wanna finish university.

Sensible. So sensible.

So by the time you finish your cadetship at the Herald,

we can go to London together.

And maybe we can stop off at Beirut on the way.

No, why would we leave Sydney?

With your talent, you can get a job anywhere.

You could be at a woman's magazine

and I'll be a reporter at the Herald.

We'll be on our way.

Is that how you see our future together?

Yes.

Richard, you once said that guys like you and girls like me

aren't meant for each other.

I think you were right.

Tonight, each of our young ladies must be a duchess.

They must pass through that curtain with the certainty and serenity

of a customer leaving Goodes after superlative service.

You know what we are creating.

The best dressed women in Sydney.

Thank you, Mrs Janosi. (CHUCKLES)

Miss Mansour.

Oh, Miss Ambrose. I'm so sorry that we're late.

No time for that.

You know, if Mrs Szombathelyi hadn't insisted on including you,

we wouldn't be having this awkward conversation.

Please see Mr Khalil.

Very nice, Miss Mansour.

Exquisite detailing.

Hear that? Mm-hm.

(DOOR OPENS)

I made coffee.

I don't feel like coffee.

I'll make up his bed.

Forget it. I'll find a hotel.

Sit down.

You too, Stefan. Sit down.

Now.

Stupid men and your stupid pride.

You two are too much alike.

Ah, screw-ups.

Is that what you think of your father? Mm?

Your father has done many foolish things.

But never for selfish reasons.

Every mistake he has made has been from loyalty.

Magda... And you, Stefan.

Look at your son.

What do you see?

George, I...

It has been so long.

I was so sure that you were lost from me... forever.

I must learn...

...how to be your father again.

George, I don't expect it to be easy.

But this...

This is your home

for as long as you want it to be.

(SNIFFS)

Thank you.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Wonderful. Thank you.

You've done a wonderful job. Thank you. Thank you so much.

Perhaps an opportunity?

Have a seat?

Yes. Very nice.

Good to have you with us, Mrs Miles.

The pleasure is all mine, Mrs Ambrose.

Thank you.

Magda's not here yet.

Oh, she must be coming.

I'm sure Mrs Szombathelyi knows what is required of her.

I trust you'll be able to fulfil your roles without her supervision.

Of course, Mrs Ambrose.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

Ah, Magda. Hello.

You look wonderful. So kind.

ANNOUNCER: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

to the Goodes new season, 1962.

(FLOURISHING MUSIC)

Galilee.

Nia Bloom.

Bizenthene.

Langlow.

Look at you, Mum. Already a professional.

Hmm. Alright, off.

Ah, what a mess. (CHUCKLES)

Lydia Songs.

That's so vibrant.

Reinteus.

Lucy Lawrence.

Angela Mansour.

That's my daughter. Mm.

Love you.

LISA: Angela!

(VIBRANT MUSIC) (APPLAUSE)

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen,

for attending the Goodes new season launch 1962.

La habibi albi.

The habibit albi. (CHUCKLES)

Will you post your designs from Beirut

so your dad can show Magda

and then maybe if you come back to Sydney, you could...

I'm going with her.

A talent as towering as my Gigi's must be nurtured.

And Beirut is the Paris of the Levant.

Thanks, Baba.

Took a picture.

Why, thank you. Thank you.

CHERI: It's the women of the moment.

I was just, um...

...praising Mr Ryder on his leadership.

This is a turning point for Goodes. Is it?

Oh, it's the only way forward for Goodes,

presenting the freshness and modernity of the latest designs

while maintaining the Goodes tradition of style and exclusivity.

You, sir, have formed a formidable team.

If Magda considers staying on as chief buyer.

Cheers.

Champagne. French champagne, Elias. French.

It's got to be French.

I won't wait up. (BOTH GIGGLE)

I'll call us a taxi. Of course.

There'll be plenty on Elizabeth Street.

I wish you weren't going.

Dad's right.

My designs have potential but that's not enough.

If I'm gonna make original clothes,

if I'm going to create a whole range of originals,

I gotta learn.

You'll learn by doing it.

Here.

With Goodes.

And if I fail...

...if I'm too ambitious or... arrogant...

...who will give me a second chance?

Would just confirm everything they thought all along.

"A young Arab girl, an ethnic? What did we expect?"

I don't want you to be right. But I am.

It's just the world we live in.

Will you ever come back?

This is home.

The question is, will you still be here?

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah. Where else would I be?

Mmm, London. Maybe New York.

Living your big life as a writer.

(BOTH LAUGH)

To us.

To us.

Captions by Red Bee Media

Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation