Episode 7 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.7

Synopsis:  Mr. Selfridge returns to work after a long absence and expresses his desire to make Selfridges an even greater success.  The accident that nearly cut his life short made greater his want to accomplish things in a short time.  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who has agreed to hold a book signing at Selfridges and has been a supporter of the Spiritualist movement, successfully persuades Mr. Selfridge to agree to host a séance at Selfridges.  The séance brought about the ghosts of people’s past including that of Mr. Selfridge.

Episode Summary: Employees of Selfridges fret over the return of their employer, Mr. Selfridge, eager to please the leader absent for a time due to his accident.  Harry Gordon Selfridge returns to his department store, business as usual, but revitalized due to his near fatal accident.  The presence of the famous writer, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who is at Selfridges to promote his new book, The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard, graces his return.Continue reading...

Mr. Selfridge works even harder for the success of his department store and exacts the same from his department heads.  He sets them on to the task of improving their departments and warns them against stagnation.  His narrow escape with death invigorated his belief to seize the day.  The department heads are to think of new product lines and fresh and exciting suppliers.  His demands are not a criticism of his employees’ current performance, but simply a fulfillment of his desire for innovation.  Despite his insatiable attitude, Mr. Selfridge remains appreciative of his employees and he exhibits this with his expression of gratitude to Miss Ravillious.  Mr. Selfridge did not let her work in managing the Suffragette crisis go unnoticed.  Miss Ravillious asks Mr. Selfridge to have Miss Towler join her department for her reward.  Miss Mardle learns of the request and regretfully informs Miss Towler about it for she would very much want to keep her most capable senior assistant.  She leaves the decision to Miss Towler and offers to argue for her if she decides to stay in the Accessories department.  Miss Towler, although grateful for working for Miss Mardle, would like to move to the Fashion department believing that her future is in fashion.  Miss Mardle could not help but become disappointed, but she acquiesces with Miss Towler’s decision nonetheless.  She must now choose between Kitty and Doris for the senior accessories assistant position and she is unhappy with neither of the two who happen to be sucking sweets while on duty.  Miss Ravillious, on the other hand, holds Miss Towler in high regard that she allows the young woman to dress the new mannequins.  Her new task puts her in an enclosed quarter and in close proximity with Mr. Leclair fanning the fire that burns inside her.  Unable to contain her desire, Miss Towler makes her advance and kisses Mr. Leclair.  The ingénue’s forthright action catches the man by surprise, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.  Mr. Leclair and Miss Towler passionately kiss.

Frank Edwards initiates a flirtation with the strawberry blonde shop girl, Kitty Hawkins.  Soon after, Kitty receives a box of heart-shaped chocolates with an unsigned card and suspects Mr. Edwards as its giver.  Later, she and Doris grab something to eat at the Tea Room near Selfridges and find the disgraced Miss Bunting unkempt.  Doris Miller decides to fraternize with Miss Bunting and learns of her hardship given her termination and absence of a reference.  Doris shrewdly gathers that the woman is too embarrassed to ask for money that she instead pretends to have found Miss Bunting’s coin on the floor and gives it to the immensely grateful woman.  Doris finds Miss Bunting at the Tea Room once again and learns that her mother whom she had stolen for passed away.  Sympathetic of the ruined woman, Doris offers to treat her to supper.  More than that, Doris speaks with Mr. Grove to speak in behalf of Miss Bunting.  She apprises him of the woman’s financial hardship and asks him for a reference for her.  Moved by Doris’ plea, Mr. Grove hands her money to give to Miss Bunting and agrees to speak to Mr. Selfridge about giving the woman reference.  Kitty, on the other hand, receives another note from her secret admirer.  The note asks her to meet with him at the tea hut on Duke Street.  Kitty arrives at the tea hut on the specified time expecting to meet Mr. Edwards only to learn that her secret admirer is George Towler.  Although annoyed at the truth, Kitty commiserates for George, who confessed that she is out of his league.  His humility and genuine admiration won him Kitty’s approval.

Mr. John Musker meets with Mr. Selfridge to check on the entrepreneur.  They discuss about expanding the department store and their desire to purchase the buildings adjacent to Selfridges.  Mr. Musker, however, warns him about competition from developers, but assures the entrepreneur of their upper hand given their impending stock issue.  He expects the city and the bank to recommend issue in about two months, but Mr. Selfridge finds the duration too long and insists that the bank make the recommendation sooner.  Mr. Selfridge’s impatience worries Mr. Musker, who knows that his importunateness will do them a disservice.  He argues that banks dislike being hurried especially by an American.  Mr. Selfridge is adamant with his desire to persuade the bank to issue the stocks such that he recommends that Mr. Crabb bring the bank to them.  This troubles Mr. Musker enough that he enlists the help of Lady Loxley.  His concern is not without foundation given that the chairman of the bank and his deputy has agreed to meet with Mr. Selfridge at the shop floor of Selfridges.  Mr. Selfridge receives the esteemed bank executives and already creates uneasiness with his choice of words.  He becomes candid with the bankers’ concerns regarding his reckless personality.  He confesses that his recent accident did put Selfridges in a precarious position, but assured them that his near death experience proved that the company that carried his name would survive without him.  His words seem to have put the bankers at ease and Lady Mae’s show of support appeased their concerns.  The bankers schedule a meeting with Mr. Selfridge to discuss the stock offer.  Mr. Selfridge is grateful and indebted to Lady Mae for using her influence to gain favor of the bankers.  She, however, warns him of the consequences of his business going public.  The issue of stock will put his family in the public eye.  In fact, his eldest child will soon be attracting attention.  Rosalie Selfridge has convinced herself that she must take part in the London Season to gain the acceptance of the British elite.  She, however, loses confidence the night of the soiree that she is to attend in the company of Lady Mae and not her parents.  Rosalie later finds confidence in her mother and Lady Mae’s encouragement.

Rose Selfridge learns from her mother-in-law, Lois Selfridge, that Roderick Temple had a huge success in his exhibition in Paris.  Although the news was conveyed without malice, Rose could not help but feel a pang of guilt at hearing the young man’s name.  She makes her way to her husband’s office to have lunch with him as per his request that morning.  Moreover, she has come to have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle sign her books.  The famous writer most willingly signs her books and introduces them to his American friend, Mr. Rex Crenell, a highly regarded medium.  It pleases Sir Arthur that Rose is familiar with the Spiritualist movement that he and Mr. Crenell join her and Mr. Selfridge for lunch.  Rose piques Sir Arthur’s interest even more with her observation of Harry during his coma, calling it otherworldly.  Her statement leads Sir Arthur to tell the story of Mrs. Haskins, a woman whose heart stopped for over twenty minutes causing the nurse to call her death only to find the woman resurrected moments later.  Sir Arthur believes that Mr. Selfridge could have been partly dead and partly alive just like Mrs. Haskins.  Although Rose seems amenable to believe unexplained phenomena, she brings up the issue of some mediums exploiting vulnerable people.  Sir Arthur confirms Rose’s suspicion, but vouches for Mr. Crenell.  The medium offers to hold a séance at Selfridges for the staff that they may bear witness of his gift.  Rose and Sir Arthur urge Mr. Selfridge to accept the offer.  Mr. Selfridge invites his employees to the séance causing fear on some such as Miss Mardle and Miss Blenkinsopp, who finds the event unwise especially with the recent death of Mr. Grove’s wife.  They, nonetheless, attend the séance.

Although skeptical of the séance, Mr. Selfridge presents his agreement to hold it at Selfridges as a display of openness for progress and discovery that allows for expansion of knowledge and experiences.  Mr. Crenell assuages the audience’s fear by drawing out laughter from the audience and by explaining the various items for the séance.  The staff’s fear remain nonetheless even with Mr. Perez, who drops a glass in fright.  Sir Arthur joins the circle of spiritualists conducting the séance and with their help, Mr. Crenell, brings forth his first spirit.  He identifies an elderly man as a twin of someone who lived in Somerset, but no one recognizes him.  Mr. Crenell moves on to another spirit, a woman he claims who has recently died.  The woman wants to send a message to her husband and with the help of the spiritualists identifies her as one whose name starts with the letter H.  Miss Mardle believes her to be the recently deceased, Hettie Grove.  Mr. Crenell conveys the woman’s message to her husband.  She wants him to know that she is out of pain and that she is grateful for all the years of his care.  Moreover, she gives her husband her blessing to marry again.  This message delights Josie Mardle, but upsets Roger Grove enough for him to walk out of the room.  Josie speaks with Roger about the message from the supposed spirit of his late wife hopeful that the message has lifted Roger’s burden of guilt.  She learns soon enough that it has not and that Roger asks her to wait for him still.  Josie, who has waited for Roger for such a long time during her childbearing years, could no longer do so.  

Another spirit, one so forceful that the light from the candle is extinguished, confronts Mr. Crenell with a hostile message.  The forceful spirit of a man causes Mr. Crenell to end the séance abruptly.  Mr. Selfridge and Lois seem to think that the spirit is of his late father, but both refuse Mr. Crenell’s offer for a private session knowing that the malign male force is associated with Mr. Selfridge.  The séance made Lois realize that the past most especially the lie he told her son haunts her and her son.  She believes that his son’s nightmares stem from the lie she made him live.  Lois soon learns that her son had long known of her husband’s shameful desertion of his family.  Harry does not find his mother at fault for making people believe that her husband was a war hero in order to hide the shame of her husband’s choice to walk out on his family at the time they need him most.  In fact, Harry credits all the good he has done in his life to his mother.  They agree to put the past behind them.

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Episode 6 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.6

Synopsis: Newspapers feed on the news of the car accident of Mr. Selfridge that left him in a coma.  His absence becomes the concern of investors and employees who find themselves under the management of Selfridges’ Chief of Staff, Mr. Grove.  Mr. Crabb begins to question the decisions of Mr. Grove especially his decision to ban the Suffragettes from Selfridges.  He and the department heads devise a plan that goes against Mr. Grove’s orders, but will save Selfridges from the wrath of the Suffragettes.

Episode Summary: Newspapers make the car accident of Mr. Selfridge their headline eliciting concerns from employees.  Selfridges’ chief accountant, Mr. Crabb, addresses the employees confirming the headlines that Mr. Selfridge was in a serious car accident and that their employer remains unconscious.  Employees, however, are incredulous about their employer’s well-being seeing that Mr. Crabb is wearing a mourning band.  They learn, however, that the mourning band is meant for the recently deceased Harriet Grove, Mr. Grove’s wife whom he nursed for the last 12 years.  Mr. Crabb takes charge in the absence of Mr. Selfridge and Mr. Grove, makes Miss Mardle the Chief of Staff, and assigns Miss Ravillious as the head of both fashion and accessories for the time being.  Moreover, Mr. Crabb lifts up employee’s morale with optimism that Mr. Selfridge will recover in no time.Continue reading...

Newspaperman, Frank Edwards, informs Lois Selfridge that there is clamor for the reason that led to Mr. Selfridge’s car accident.  Mr. Edwards, who saw Mr. Selfridge at the club the night of the accident, informs the matron that her son drowned himself in alcohol and lost a great deal through gambling that night.  He believes that his inebriation and gambling were consequences of a prior incident.  He intimates that an upset Harry Selfridge was toasting to his father and had an encounter with Miss Ellen Love.  Concerned with newspapers feeding off the misfortunes of the troubled entrepreneur, Mr. Edwards advises that the family state that Mr. Selfridge’s encounter with Miss Love relates to the renegotiation of her contract.  Mr. Edwards will ensure Miss Love’s cooperation.  Miss Love is indebted to him for he was the one who saved her from her suicide attempt.  Frank visits Ellen, who is still brooding about Harry’s treatment of her.  Frank informs her of Harry’s car accident educing a concern from the former mistress.  Ellen’s growing hatred of Harry, however, leads her to consider vilifying the lover who unceremoniously ended their relationship.  She ponders about earning an income from speaking to the newspapers about her affair with the well-known entrepreneur in order to cover the loss of his financial support.  Frank advises her against doing so arguing that associating herself to a scandal will adversely affect her career.  He offers to introduce Ellen to playwrights instead that she may consider leaving the Gaiety for serious acting.  Frank recommends that she begin to entertain a highbrow audience, but adds this type of audience dislikes scandals.  Ellen recognizes the insinuated trade and she deliberates on accepting it.  She decides to move on and to leave the Gaiety.

Kitty Hawkins teases Agnes Towler about her obvious infatuation with the creative director, Henri Leclair.  Miss Towler takes offense and learns from Doris Miller that Kitty’s antagonism stems from Miss Towler unexpectedly landing the Senior Assistant position.  Miss Towler sees an opportunity to conciliate the enmity between her and Miss Hawkins after Miss Ravillious asks her to act as Senior Assistant of both Fashion and Accessories that day.  Miss Towler recommends making Miss Hawkins Senior Assistant of Accessories, while she takes over Fashion’s Senior Assistant position left vacant by an ill employee.

Rose Selfridge refuses to leave the bedside of her husband not wanting to miss his return to consciousness.  She, however, had to leave it to meet with Selfridges’ major investor, Mr. Musker.  The man has come to offer sympathy, but more so to ascertain the identity of Mr. Selfridge’s heir.   Mr. Musker is alarmed at learning that the young boy, Gordon Selfridge, is the heir.  The fact that the young boy’s shareholdings will remain in a trust managed by Lois and Rose until Gordon comes of age appeases him.  The talk of preparing for the worst, however, disturbs Rose, but not as much as Gordon.  The young boy makes his way to Selfridges only to be thought of a pickpocket.  Fortunately, Mr. Leclair recognizes the child and vouches for him.  Mr. Leclair and Miss Towler return Gordon to his worried family who thought that the boy had simply run away.  Soon they learn that Gordon had gone to check the department store he will solely inherit upon the death of his father.  The statement shocked Gordon’s sisters who are unaware of their father’s desire for Gordon to be the sole heir of his business and his belief that commerce is a man’s world.  Rose, on the other hand, becomes upset at her son’s presupposition of his father’s premature death.  Her anger stems from the guilt of the fight he had with her husband that led to his car accident.  Meanwhile, Mr. Leclair and Miss Towler make their way back to the store and Mr. Leclair conveys his observation of Miss Towler and Gordon.  He finds her good with children and a fitting mother, but is surprised to hear that Miss Towler has no desire of starting a family just yet.  He learns that Miss Towler does have a boyfriend whose company she is not completely enjoying.  Miss Towler, on the other hand, learns that Mr. Leclair’s French lover is in New York, too far to maintain a relationship.  Moreover, she learns that Mr. Leclair has become infatuated with an ingénue in England whom he fears will become frightened of him the instant he courts her.  Miss Towler recommends that he wait for the ingénue to which Mr. Leclair agrees.

Mr. Grove decides to distract himself from the death of his wife and comes to work to take charge of Selfridges in Mr. Selfridge’s absence.  He begins to show ineptness when asked for a recommendation for the empty window display.  The window was to display the luxury sports car that Mr. Selfridge regrettably crashed.  His incompetence surfaces when confronted with the Suffragettes’ issue.  Miss Ravillious brings forth the need for a strategy to avoid the wrath of the destructive Suffragettes and Mr. Grove could offer none.  Moreover, he forbids the Suffragettes entry to Selfridges and orders Mr. Perez to cancel the Tuesday luncheon the women have at the Palm Court.  News of the forbiddance of Suffragettes at Selfridges riles Lady Loxley, a Suffragette herself, who with the blessing of Mr. Selfridge has been meeting with the movement at The Palm Court on a weekly basis.  Lady Loxley confronts Mr. Grove of his decision to bar the Suffragettes from Selfridges.  Mr. Grove refuses to reinstate the scheduled Suffragettes lunch at the Palm Court and affronts Lady Loxley with his claim that women do not have the aptitude for politics. Lady Loxley warns them about the violence that might come to Selfridges.  Mr. Crabb is in disagreement with Mr. Grove’s decision and believes that Mr. Selfridge would have taken advantage of the Suffragette march instead of receiving their ire.  Mr. Grove maintains his intransigence and refuses the advice of Mr. Crabb.  Mr. Crabb enlists the help of all department heads to prevent an impending disaster.  Miss Mardle accompanies Mr. Grove on his walk home as per Mr. Crabb’s instruction.  The department heads led by Mr. Crabb assemble the employees as soon as Mr. Grove stepped out of the department store.  Mr. Crabb conveys his understanding that Mr. Selfridge has endorsed The Suffragettes for they embody progress.  He believes that emancipated women are the future and going against the Suffragettes would be disastrous for Selfridges.  Mr. Crabb and the department heads have put together a plan to appease the Suffragettes and ask their staff, without mandating them, to work overtime to implement the plan.  Much to Agnes’ surprise, Victor Colleano has decided not to help due to an appointment with a potential investor for the restaurant he dreams of opening.  Little did she know that the person Victor is going to see is Lady Loxley with whom he began to have a love affair.  She did sense that the person is a woman due to Victor’s decision to correct himself in order to hide the gender of his investor.  Agnes, however, welcomes Victor’s absence at the store for it allowed her to spend time with Mr. Leclair without his prying eyes.  Meanwhile, Miss Mardle has done her duty and made sure that Mr. Grove has gone home.  She, however, finds that the death of his wife ironically put an end to their affair due to the man’s guilt.  Mr. Crabb is grateful to her and the dedication of Selfridges’ employees for rising up to the challenge and implementing the plan that will save Selfridges from the wrath of the Suffragettes.  In return, he receives praise from Miss Ravillious, who found him inspirational.

Mr. Selfridge wakes from his coma confused and agitated at the sight of his deceased father that he screams for him to get out.  Unfortunately, his family and doctor are unaware of his hallucination that they find his behavior disturbing.  They continue to watch over him and later rejoice when Harry becomes fully conscious and cognitive.  With his wife’s permission, Harry decides to walk to his department store and finds himself in the middle of the Suffragettes march demanding votes for women.  The peaceful protest has turned sour when women began smashing windows of establishments leading the police to arrest them.  Miss Ravillious worry of the destruction the women will cause once they pass Selfridges that she urges Mr. Leclair to open the unfinished window display they worked on all night.  The Suffragettes reach Selfridges and they begin to protest in front of the establishment that forbade them entry.  Mr. Selfridge watches in horror as one of the Suffragettes encourages her fellow protesters to smash the windows of their enemy.  He and the Suffragettes are astounded when the curtains of the windows reveal a display purely in support of WSPU, the organization to which the Suffragettes belong.  What would have been the sound of smashing windows became cheers and applause.  Mr. Selfridge, however, still weak from his accident collapses.  The Suffragettes gather to help him including a very young Suffragette, Violette Selfridge.  Violette identifies the man as her father, Harry Gordon Selfridge.  The Suffragettes cheer Mr. Selfridge.

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Episode 5 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.5

Synopsis: Mr. Selfridge learns that Miss Towler has left Selfridges following the humiliating incident at the store that involved her father.  He also learns of theft at the loading bay causing him to call for a staff meeting in order to discuss honesty.  Unbeknownst to Mr. Selfridge, Roddy Temple pays Rose Selfridge an unexpected visit at his house leading her youngest daughter to witness a scandalous moment between her mother and Roddy.

Episode Summary: Mr. Selfridge loaned an expensive car to be put on display at Selfridges in the hope of attracting customers to his department store.  Henri Leclair is to make the uninsured luxury car the focus of the window display that promotes “Motoring for the Modern Age!”  Mr. Leclair happens to mention missing Miss Agnes Towler’s assistance to Mr. Selfridge, who is unaware that the shop girl has left Selfridges after the humiliating incident that involved her father.Continue reading...

Agnes Towler finds herself without a job and in the company of her drunkard father after her landlady threatened eviction if she and her brother do not take in the intoxicated family member passed out on the stairs of the apartment.  Although Victor Colleano takes pity on her misfortune, he finds consolation in the fact that he can now engage in a relationship with Agnes without breaking the Selfridges rule prohibiting love affairs between employees.  Victor courts Agnes, who agrees to become Victor’s girlfriend.  Kitty Hawkins also benefits from Miss Towler’s absence as she displays her competence to Lady Carlyle, one of the loyal customers fond of Miss Towler.  Unlucky for her, Miss Towler’s absence may only be temporary.  Harry Gordon Selfridge arrives in the impoverished London neighborhood attracting the attention of its poor inhabitants.  He finds the residence of Agnes Towler and asks the landlady for her.  The sight of Mr. Selfridge at her residence surprises her.  Even more surprising is Mr. Selfridge’s wish for her to return to work despite the humiliating and disruptive incident at Selfridges involving her father.  Mr. Selfridge sees himself in Miss Towler and he believes that he would be remiss to let a person of great potential miss her chance.  Contrary to Miss Towler’s belief, Mr. Selfridge could not care less about her deadbeat father.  Mr. Selfridge believes that the sins of her father bear no merit on the being of Miss Towler.  She, however, explains that she can never be rid of her ruinous father for he manages to find her and her brother wherever they go.  Mr. Selfridge takes it upon himself to speak personally to Reg Towler, Miss Towler’s father.  He offers him money with the condition that he must never bother Miss Towler again.  Reg maliciously mistakes Mr. Selfridge’s generosity as a deed enacted by a lover.  The despitefulness of his notion infuriates Mr. Selfridge causing him to manhandle the drunkard instilling fear in him.  Reg Towler fearfully accepts the imposition.  The episode, however, resurfaced dreadful memories of his deadbeat father.  Mr. Selfridge remembers the time he learned and confirmed that his father who supposedly died a war hero was in reality alive.  Moreover, the man returned from war and chose to abandon his family for another.  The calls of Miss Towler brought him back to the present and the delight of having successfully removed the bane of Miss Towler’s existence brought him joy.  Mr. Selfridge gives Miss Towler a ride back to the store in his car and he finds her childish delight at riding a car refreshing.  Knowing that her return will cause a stir among her colleagues, Mr. Selfridge advises the grateful shop girl not to apologize or explain her return.  True enough her return shocked her colleagues including Miss Mardle, who nevertheless receives her without much protest.  Mr. Grove, however, disapproves of Miss Towler’s return explaining to Mr. Selfridge that her father’s disgraceful behavior at the store is enough reason for her dismissal.  Mr. Selfridge asserts that dismissing her would have been a mistake and adds that the parent is not the child.  Mr. Grove argues that Miss Towler’s return despite her desertion will confound the staff giving Mr. Selfridge reason to address the staff in order to expel reservations about her return.

Roderick Temple drops by the home of the Selfridges unannounced insisting on seeing Rose Selfridge.  Rose feigns forgetting to inform their butler, Mr. Fraser, of the appointment she scheduled with the painter, Mr. Temple.  Rose receives Roddy in the drawing room and they reconcile as friends.  The sight of the portrait Roddy painted, however, rekindles their passion and the two passionately kiss.  The arrival of Rose’s youngest daughter, Beatrice Selfridge, breaks their scandalous act.  Rose flounders for an excuse for the inappropriate intimacy her daughter witnessed between her and Roddy.  She asks Beatrice to keep what she witnessed a secret explaining that the painting Mr. Temple made is a surprise for Harry.  Rose realizes the indignity of engaging in an affair that she ends her burgeoning relationship with Roddy.  This, however, ignited Roddy’s passion for her even more.  Beatrice’s inability to keep a secret adds to Rose’s misfortune.  She wakes to find her displeased husband with the portrait Roddy made of her.  Harry’s demeanor exudes his suspicion, but Rose is unyielding with her claim of innocence.  In fact, she claims that the portrait of her was to be a surprise and it is to hang in his office.  Later that day, Rose receives another unexpected visitor, Miss Ellen Love.  The woman has come to inform her that Mr. Selfridge has been having an affair with her.  Much to Miss Love’s shock, her revelation did not surprise Mrs. Selfridge at all.  Mrs. Selfridge claims to have had her suspicions from the onset.  Moreover, she believes that Miss Love’s decision to divulge the affair to her suggests that the affair has reached its end or has already ended.  Mrs. Selfridge finds her undertaking an act of desperation for a misguided belief that Mr. Selfridge has fallen in love with her unaware that the man has had many similar liaisons.  Miss Love leaves with a threat of causing the Selfridges discord.  Unbeknownst to Miss Love, her revelation hurt Mrs. Selfridge despite her apathetic reception of the news of her husband’s affair.

Roger Grove breaks the news he received from Mr. Colleano about thieving at the loading bay to Mr. Selfridge.  Mr. Selfridge instructs Mr. Grove to catch the thieves red-handed and to terminate them immediately.  Victor learns of the plan to catch the thieves in the act and hastens to warn George Towler, who naively and unknowingly taken part of the theft.  Victor pulls George aside as he is loading items to the unmarked van and makes it clear to the ignorant young man that he has been inadvertently aiding Alf and Sam with their theft.  Victor advises George to wise up believing that he remains as the breadwinner of the family.  Imagine his surprise at learning that Agnes has resumed working at Selfridges.  In fact, she is again assisting Mr. Leclair with the motor driving promotion.  The promotion has caught the interest of high society including Lady Loxley, who pays a visit at Selfridges to find that the store has started to take down the posters of Miss Love officially ending her association with Selfridges.  Just as Mr. Selfridge gets rid of his mistress, he learns from Tony Travers through insinuation that his wife might be having an affair with the bohemian young painter, Roddy Temple, after seeing them at the Chelsea Arts Club.  Travers continues with the insinuation despite Mr. Selfridge and Lady Mae’s obvious discomfort about the subject.  This displeases Lady Mae, who scolds her lover for his behavior, upsetting Travers for having to oblige to her censure.  Travers abandons Lady Mae, who could not care less for she has found a replacement in the person of Mr. Colleano.  Lady Mae uses Mr. Colleano’s ambition to open a restaurant in Soho to lure him into becoming her lover.  She offers him a place in her kitchen as a temporary replacement for her ill chef with the suggestion of using her influence to help him realize his dream.  Victor speaks with Agnes about her decision to return to work at Selfridges, which complicates their relationship given the rule prohibiting love affairs between colleagues.  Agnes apprises Victor of the visit she received from Mr. Selfridge that justified her return despite its consequences in their relationship.  Victor understands Agnes’ decision and both decide to continue their courtship in secret.  They, however, engage in an argument after Agnes refuses Victor’s dinner offer due to a prior work engagement with Mr. Leclair.  Kitty fans the fire after commenting to Victor how Agnes and Mr. Leclair make a lovely couple.  Fueled by his jealousy and ambition, Victor agrees to cook for Lady Loxley despite recognizing the woman’s real intentions.  Meanwhile, Agnes and Mr. Leclair finish a window display.  In order to show his appreciation for Agnes’ hard work, Mr. Leclair buys her a scarf, an act that adds to her infatuation with the gorgeous creative director.

In light of the recent thefts from Selfridges employees, Mr. Selfridge addresses all employees to discuss honesty.  Selfridges prides itself for giving their customers exactly what they paid for and believes in the philosophy that employees stealing from the store only steal from themselves.  Mr. Selfridge speaks of his humble beginnings starting as an errand boy and shares of the pride he felt at earning the trust of his employer.  He believes that an establishment cannot run without trust, which is why he has no tolerance for dishonesty.  Mr. Selfridge, however, avows of his willingness to offer help to those who seek it.  He speaks of his refusal to accept Miss Towler’s resignation due to the humiliating incident at the store that involved a member of her family.  Mr. Selfridge reiterates his desire to help those who seek his help and his abhorrence for theft.  He arrives home after his speech to spend time with his family.  He finds his wife reading to their youngest child, Beatrice, and asks about the fifty white roses he had sent to Rose.  More importantly, he stresses the message in his note and repeats that Rose is his one and only.  Mr. Selfridge gives Rose a kiss causing her to blush leading Beatrice to divulge innocently of having seen her mother terribly blush after Mr. Temple kissed her.  The innocent statement causes domestic strife between husband and wife.  Harry finds the gall to admonish Rose for kissing Roddy in his house in front of their daughter when he is guilty of having an affair with Ellen Love.  Harry declares to have ended his affair, and Rose refutes the accusation of her affair with Roddy.  She, however, believes of its justification if she did.  Harry rationalizes his extramarital affairs as urges he could not contain and that it is a constant struggle for him, but he receives disgust from his wife instead of pity.  He leaves the house for the club and resorts to alcohol to drown his sorrows.  Frank Edwards finds a heavily inebriated and depressed Mr. Selfridge at the club.  The arrival of Ellen Love, who spews harsh words, after being rejected adds to his despair.  Frank ushers her out of the club and later checks up on her at her apartment.  He finds her overdosed with pills in an attempted suicide.  Meanwhile, a severely intoxicated Mr. Selfridge makes his way to Selfridges and against better judgment takes the expensive sports car for a drive.  Unpleasant memories of his childhood and recent events that led to his inebriation cloud his mind leading to a serious car crash.

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Episode 4 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.4

Synopsis: Miss Bunting is found guilty of theft and is replaced with a progressive Head of Fashions, Miss Ravillious.  Mr. Selfridge invites the famous ballerina, Anna Pavlova, to Selfridges allowing everyone the opportunity to meet her.  Rose Selfridge spends time with the young painter, Roddy Temple, and his friends losing track of time causing her to miss the afternoon tea her husband arranged for her and Pavlova.

Episode Summary: Miss Bunting is castigated and dismissed in front of all employees after she was found guilty of pilfering Selfridges’ best lace and silk inside the hem of her skirt.  Her betrayal disappoints and upsets Mr. Selfridge, who hoped for her innocence.  It also led Mr. Selfridge to instruct Mr. Grove to increase the random checks on all different departments.  Miss Bunting pleads for mercy to Mr. Grove explaining her situation, but it is too late.  Ironically, her pride to keep secret the hardship of taking care of an invalid mother brought her shame.Continue reading...

Harry Gordon Selfridge takes his wife and daughter to see the ballerina, Anna Pavlova, perform for a private audience.  His wife, Rose Selfridge, was so taken by her performance, but unlike Lady Loxley, she longs for every woman to get a chance to experience a moment of perfect beauty such as the one she witnessed in Pavlova’s performance.  Her statement struck Mr. Selfridge with an idea.  He invites Pavlova to Selfridges, allowing everyone to see her in person.  This delights his family most especially his youngest daughter, Beatrice.  Rose is delighted as well at hearing that her husband managed to arrange an afternoon tea with the ballerina.

The new Head of Fashion, a woman who came to work on a bicycle and has her skirt above her ankles, scandalizes Kitty Hawkins at the sight of her skirt and for requesting for inset collars of the finest gauze with a pearl motif without speaking to the Head of Accessories, Miss Josie Mardle.  Kitty refuses to accede to the woman’s demand, but yields when the woman does not show any signs of dissuasion.  Doris Miller speaks to Miss Mardle about the incident that had just transpired.  Later, Mr. Selfridge introduces to the various heads of departments, Miss Irene Ravillious, as the new Head of Fashion.  He speaks of her with great respect due to her training at the House of Lucile in London and her experience at the Liberty department store.  More importantly, he finds that she will breathe new life into the Fashion Department with her progressive ideas.  In fact, Miss Ravillious predicts that women will be able to purchase readymade for purpose clothing in the near future.  Mr. Selfridge agrees with her belief that fashion will shine and will even surpass accessories.  He plans to stock all shapes and sizes so a woman can purchase clothes without requiring a fitting or a seamstress, clothes a woman can take home the day of the purchase.

Miss Mardle later asks Miss Ravillious about her shortened skirt believing that it is the new trend in fashion only to learn that the woman had it shortened that she may ride her bicycle with ease.  Moreover, Miss Ravillious declares herself as a champion of the Rational Dress Movement, a group that believes that clothes can serve a purpose other than mere drapery.  In addition, she does not wear a whalebone corset believing that a vigorous exercise will keep her figure intact.  Miss Mardle then segues to the incident early that morning cautioning her against taking stock away from one department to another.  Miss Ravillious, however, argues that she is allowed to use her initiative as the staff manual decrees.

Mr. Selfridge announces that the ballerina, Anna Pavlova, will be making an appearance at Selfridges allowing anyone from any class to meet her.  Taking from his wife’s philosophy, he wants everyone to have a Pavlova moment.  More importantly, he wants the store to benefit from the event.  He requests all departments to work together and provide him with suggestions on how to use the event to increase sales.  This request, however, turns into a competition between Miss Mardle and Miss Ravillious with the former forbidding her staff from acceding to Miss Ravillious’ demands.  Moreover, Miss Mardle asks her staff to come up with an idea before Miss Ravillious does.  Unlucky for her, Miss Ravillious is already presenting her idea to Mr. Selfridge complete with an end product.  Miss Ravillious plans to sell a cape with braiding much like the ones Pavlova wears.  Moreover, she has laid out a plan to have her seamstresses produce as much as they can that day so they can test the viability of the capes in terms of sales.  If the capes proved to be sales worthy, the seamstresses will then be requested to work shifts through the night so the capes will be ready for tomorrow’s event.

Miss Mardle finds herself missing the company of Mr. Roger Grove; the man has been avoiding her.  She finds a reason for them to spend time together after receiving tickets for Drury lane, an evening they had planned to spend together awhile back.  Regrettably, Mr. Grove could not accompany her to the theater claiming that his wife’s nurse will be taking the night off.  She confronts Mr. Grove about his avoidance, revealing her fear that he had tired of her.  Mr. Grove denies having done so and maintains that his invalid wife’s care is the only reason for his unavailability.

Victor Colleano sees George Towler loading goods in a blue van absent of the Selfridges livery.  He learns from George that the young man is the only one who loads goods into the van as per the instructions of his superiors, Alf and Sam.  Victor gathers that George is unaware of the meaning of the unmarked motor van.  Although he has been avoiding Agnes, he manages to inform the young woman of warning George about the vans he loads.  Mr. Henri Leclair interrupts their conversation causing Victor to leave summarily.  Mr. Leclair asks Miss Mardle’s permission to have Miss Towler work at the Fashion Department for that day.  The request annoys Kitty and Doris who find it unfair that Mr. Leclair always requests the help of Miss Towler.  Meanwhile, Lady Loxley flirts with Victor at the Palm Court.  She becomes impressed when Victor turns a bland chicken dish into a flavorsome plate.

Rose poses for Roderick Temple as he paints a portrait of her for a show at the Chelsea Arts Club, which disappoints her for she had hoped to purchase it as a gift for her husband.  Roddy, however, manages to persuade her to join him at the Chelsea Arts Club.  Rose finds herself enjoying the company of the artists and the artists become intrigued of the American who calls herself Mrs. Buckingham.  Rose, who is to have afternoon tea with Pavlova, tries to take her leave, but to no avail.  Anna Pavlova arrives at Selfridges with the fanfare reserved for celebrities.  She is treated like royalty as Mr. Selfridge presents her with the finest items sold at his store including luggage she can use to transport all the gifts from the entrepreneur.  His generosity does not come without a price and this Pavlova learns when he presents her to the press among a crowd anxiously waiting for her at the shop floor.  Soon, Pavlova wears the cape sold at Selfridges and flaunts it to the expectant crowd with the grace of a ballerina.  Mr. Selfridge watches with delight as spectators become customers.

The Selfridges wonder about Rose’s absence unaware that she was tied up at the Chelsea Arts Club.  The artists, at last, leave the club giving Rose the opportunity to go to the engagement for which she is already late.  They, however, urge her to go with them and Roddy puts her in a bind when he tells his friends to force the supposed Mrs. Buckingham to come.  Rose is flabbergasted at learning that the artists are making their way to Selfridges in order to see Pavlova.  She speaks privately with Roddy in order to confess her real identity unaware that her conversation with Roddy is within earshot of the playwright, Tony Travers.  Rose explains that she had assumed a different identity due to her desire to have a life of her own, one that is not tied to the famous Selfridge name.  Roddy becomes upset at having been made a fool and assumes that the woman has been using him to take revenge on her philandering husband.  He confesses to have fallen in love with her.  Rose, however, confesses to remaining in love with her husband despite his transgressions.  She did confess that she was tempted to betray her husband.

Mr. Selfridge has begun to avoid Ellen Love leading the woman to confide in Frank Edwards.  Miss Love has mistaken Mr. Selfridge’s largesse as his way of settling.  She has made herself believe that Mr. Selfridge is preparing to leave his wife for her. Ellen becomes furiously jealous upon learning that Mr. Selfridge will be too busy to speak to that day causing Frank to divulge the news that Anna Pavlova will be visiting Selfridges.  This concerns Ellen, who gathers that Mr. Selfridge has found a new star for his store.  She finds that it is her duty as the Spirit of Selfridges to be at the event to welcome the famous ballerina.  Ellen Love arrives at Selfridges much to everyone’s surprise, some pleasant and some not.  Mr. Selfridge watches in horror as the tawdry performer steals the attention from Pavlova.  Moreover, causes further embarrassment when she refuses to leave and insists on having her photograph taken with the famous ballerina.  Meanwhile, Agnes Towler becomes perturbed at the sight of her drunkard father at the store.  Reg Towler has come to cause a disturbance at her daughter’s place of business after being refused entry to her apartment.  Miss Towler tries to urge her father to leave the store, but ends up causing a scene when her father falls on a glass display breaking it with a loud crash.  Moreover, the drunkard being escorted out of Selfridges identifies himself as Miss Towler’s father embarrassing the young woman so.  Upon Mr. Selfridge’s instruction, Victor escorts the drunkard out through the loading bay followed by his humiliated daughter.  Reg relishes at having cost her daughter her job, but has the gall to demand respect from her.  Agnes declares her hatred of him causing the man to attack her.  Luckily, Victor was there to protect Agnes.  Victor was relieved to learn that Agnes’ evasiveness was due to her father.  Agnes believes that the incident that transpired will result in her termination and the same incident will recur anywhere she goes as it always had.  Victor offers to look after her for which Agnes is grateful, but refuses to accept knowing that he also has a family to support.

With the commotion placated, the event at Selfridges continues as Mr. Selfridge announces the creation of a window dedicated to Anna Pavlova, a window Ellen Love covets.  This announcement caused another scene from Ellen Love, who has been asking Mr. Selfridge for a window ever since she signed up to become the Spirit of Selfridges, but has yet to have one.  Moreover, Mr. Selfridge ends her contract and their affair that moment.  The Selfridges arrive home and finds Rose there with an excuse of having taken ill.  Meanwhile, Mr. Mardle lies on her bed feeling alone when Mr. Grove arrives with a box of violet creams from the shop she loves on Marylebone Street.  Moreover, he is to spend the night with her.  At Selfridges, people including the famous ballerina herself admire the newly unveiled window dedicated to Anna Pavlova.  Ellen Love too passes by to see, but looks at the window not with awe, but with envy and despair.

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Mr. Selfridge Episode Summaries
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Episode 3 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.3

Synopsis: Mr. Selfridge plans to create a beauty department that will sell perfume and makeup over the counter.  The absence of sales from the expensive perfumes prompts him to develop a more affordable house scent for Selfridges.  Mr. Leclair, who is tasked to define the Selfridges perfume, enlists the help of Miss Towler.  Meanwhile, Rose Selfridge learns of her husband’s procurement of a flat for his mistress causing her to seek the company of Roderick Temple.

Episode Summary: Harry Gordon Selfridge engages in an affair with Ellen Love.  He learns that the woman whose real name is Joyce Humphries was eighteen when she first got her big break thanks to the leading lady falling ill.  The two has not been discreet in their love affair given Miss Love’s frequent purchases from the fashion department at Selfridges, all of which are on Mr. Selfridge’s credit.Continue reading...

Mr. Selfridge relishes the success of his department store, but he has no notion of complacency and so moves on with another radical idea.  He wants to move perfume out of the pharmacy into its own department.  It is a concept English women find scandalous believing that perfume is a lady’s secret and is best kept hidden.  Conversely, Mr. Selfridge would like the perfumes displayed at the front of the store to help disguise the malodorous scent of horse manure from the street.  Moreover, he wants to sell beauty products alongside it, items Miss Mardle and Miss Bunting both find even more indecent despite their use of them.  Mr. Selfridge has learned that Pond’s Cold Cream is a high selling product and yet no one buys it from Selfridges.  He believes that its placement is the reason for the lack of sales.  Beauty products are scattered all over the department store alongside disagreeable items such as bedpans.  Henri Leclair agrees with Mr. Selfridge’s plan to put all beauty products in one department consequently introducing a completely new way of shopping for women.  Mr. Crabb is in disagreement of the concept believing that only disreputable women would purchase lewd products such as rouge and lip salve; peddling makeup over the counter is a bold statement that could prove damaging to Selfridges’ reputation.  Sensing the unease between his colleagues, Mr. Leclair proposes further exploring the concept before making a decision and recommends enlisting the help of his friend who works for an advertising company in America, Valerie Maurel.  News from Miss Blenkinsop of the Miss Love’s request to see Mr. Selfridge adjourns their meeting.  Miss Love is at the store struggling between purchasing a fox or a beaver fur coat.  She has made quite a scene at the store with her song and dance that customers and sales clerks gather around to witness it.  The performance drew applause from everyone and Mr. Selfridge agreeing to dance with her added to the people’s delight and curiosity.  Lois Selfridge becomes witness to the spectacle and becomes the only one to disapprove of it.  She is fully aware of her son’s penchant for women that she advises him to maintain a professional relationship with Miss Love.

Mr. Leclair anxiously awaits the arrival of Miss Maurel and his anticipation catches the eye of Kitty Hawkins and Doris Miller, who both immediately recognize her as the gorgeous man’s lover.  Mr. Selfridge, who knows the woman as well, introduces her to his employees as an employee for the advertising agency, J. Walter Thompson.  He apprises Miss Maurel of their dilemma of determining the consequence of selling makeup on beauty counters.  She presents to them various beauty products ranging from acceptable to ignominious.  Miss Mardle and Miss Bunting avert their eyes from Pastel Joue aware that stage actors and prostitutes mainly use the item Bourjois in Paris invented to give color to the cheeks.  The women and Mr. Crabb even find lipstick risqué despite it gaining popularity with models, artists, and film stars in Paris.  This is because colored lips are associated with prostitutes or suffragettes, but more so, by its suggestive purpose, which is the intentional provocation of males.  Red lips are an indication of a woman’s arousal as blood courses through her body causing a change in the color of the lips.  It is known to educe a physical and sexual reaction from men.  Mr. Crabb feels strongly against displaying such products to their customers arguing that the English regards reputation highly and its loss is impossible to regain.  Nonetheless, Mr. Selfridge appears set on creating the Selfridges Beauty Counters.  Miss Mardle becomes alarmed not only with the store peddling shameful products, but also with it displacing the accessories department.  Mr. Leclair, on the other hand, is thrilled with displaying the inner workings of the boudoir.  He believes that woman want to make themselves beautiful for men, while men want to see how they do it.  Harry is aware that Henri is spellbound with Valerie, but senses trouble between the two.  He decides to distract his friend from his worries and brings him to the theater to see Miss Love’s performance.

The performance was more of a distraction for Harry than for Henri.  Henri does not hide his aversion towards Ellen and derisively expresses his preference for opera where singers sound like goddesses.  She returns the insult a disparagement of his profession. The three spend the rest of the evening at the club, but much to Ellen’s dismay Harry found the card table more enticing than her company.  She finds an unlikely companion in Henri, who intimates that his dislike of her stems from his concern for his friend.  Sensing Henri’s fondness of Harry, she begins to wonder whether Henri is a homosexual and learns that he is not.  Moreover, the man has agreed to allow her to choose the poses for the photographs that were the cause of their dispute.  Meanwhile, Harry plays against Tony Travers despite Frank Edwards’ advice against it noting that the boastful young man is not adept with poker and is playing with Lady Mae’s credit.  True enough, Tony loses all his money to Harry.  He arrives home very late in the evening unaware that his wife is conscious of his late arrival.  She, however, is unaware that Harry did not sleep with Ellen that night.  In fact, the woman is in the midst of drowning her sorrow with illegal drugs.

Boredom finds Rosalie Selfridge, who surprisingly found herself missing her younger sisters who are at school.  Rose Selfridge proposes enrolling her to a finishing school, but Rosalie suggests doing the Season instead.  Rose dissuades her daughter about it given that the Season is reserved for British aristocracy.  Seeing Rosalie’s resolve to be part of the Season, Rose turns to Lady Mae, who is delighted that the woman has come to seek her help.  She suggests holding a tea party for Rosalie believing that it will be a success given the popularity of their name, a credit to her now famous husband.  Lady Mae, however, insinuates Mr. Selfridge’s turn to infamy with his extramarital affair.  Lady Mae learns that Rose is aware of her husband’s philandering and that she has become used to it enough to know that ignoring them is the best recourse.  Nonetheless, Lady Mae warns her of Mr. Selfridge’s latest fling noting Miss Love’s ambition as a cause for concern.  Rose argues that a chorus girl such as Miss Love is inconsequential to her, but learns that Lady Mae was herself a chorus girl, one of the original Edward’s Company Gaiety girls.  This note along with news of Harry providing a flat for Miss Love alarmed Rose.  Her anger prompts her to go against her better judgment as she pays a visit to Roderick Temple’s studio.  Moreover, she asks him to paint her portrait.  She begins to regret her decision when she returns home and learns that Lady Mae already informed Rosalie of the wonderful news of her becoming part of the Season.  Nevertheless, she continues to see Roddy and he begins to work on her portrait.  Meanwhile, Lady Mae learns that Tony lost a considerable amount of her money playing cards against Harry Selfridge.  She wastes no time to speak to Mr. Selfridge about the matter.  Mr. Selfridge is reluctant to dissolve the large gambling debt Tony owes him leaving Lady Mae to enumerate the numerous favors she gave him including her assistance in presenting his eldest daughter into society.  The matter regarding Rosalie is news to Mr. Selfridge for he has been too engaged with Miss Love.  Having been reminded of his debt of gratitude to Lady Mae, Mr. Selfridge finds himself beholden to her and she takes advantage with another favor to ask.  Lady Mae asks him to endorse the cause of suffrage women by selling their goods and reserving a table at the Palm Court for them every Tuesday at lunchtime.  This is not much of a favor to ask of Mr. Selfridge for he is in support of Suffragettes.  Mr. Selfridge immediately instructs Mr. Colleano to reserve a large table for the London branch of the movement.  The waiter instantly catches the interest of Lady Mae, who has grown tired of her lover, Tony Travers.

Agnes Towler arrives home to find her father there instead of at work.  Reg Towler has lost his job and has returned to drinking.  Agnes, although disappointed, does not deride his drunken father and even helps him undress.  Nonetheless, the man slaps Agnes with great force when she contradicted his assertion of not always being a drunkard.  His heavy hand left a bruise on her face and caused her to be absent from work for several days.  A concerned Victor Colleano arrives at her doorstep with a box of pastries he baked for her and finds her behavior evasive.  She refuses to join him on his way to work.  Agnes arrives at Selfridges to find it changed as perfumes took the place of the glove counter.  Mr. Leclair asks her opinion of the display and receives valuable feedback from her.  Miss Towler explains that a woman like her would not dare touch the precious not to mention expensive bottles of perfume.  Mr. Leclair, however, seems to be captivated by her so much so that he leans to smell her scent of Yardley Lavender.  Doris interrupts their conversation as she apprises her of the fabulous hats that have just arrived.  Their focus, however, moves to the bruise on her face that Kitty was bold enough to point out.  Embarrassed with the revelation of the bruise she tried so hard to hide with makeup, Miss Towler feigns having fainted and hitting her cheek on the bath.  Customers arrive and gather around the shop girl highlighting the perfume.  To Mr. Selfridge’s consternation, the customers are not purchasing.  Mr. Leclair notes that perfumes are expensive leading Miss Maurel to suggest developing Mr. Selfridge’s own label, one made through chemical synthesis that will allow him to sell the fragrance at an affordable price.  Mr. Selfridge approves of Miss Maurel’s recommendation and becomes thrilled with the idea of Selfridges having its house scent.  He sees Ellen a fitting endorser of the perfume he plans to call “The Spirit of Selfridges”.  Miss Maurel’s suggestion and her connection with a factory in London that can produce the perfume prompt Mr. Selfridge to offer her a job at his company.  Miss Maurel, however, turns it down for her love of New York triumphs over a job offer elsewhere that even Henri’s love for her cannot make her stay.  With Harry’s prodding, Henri goes after Valerie to convince her to stay, but she leaves anyway.  Miss Towler holed up in storage becomes witness to Valerie’s parting kiss with Henri.  Mr. Leclair later finds her there twirling and wearing one of the new hats yet to be displayed.  He has come to seek her help in defining what the Selfridges house scent should be, because Mr. Leclair believes that the perfume should appeal to women such as Miss Towler.  Meanwhile, Mr. Selfridge asks Miss Love to endorse the Selfridges perfume.  Miss Love is exhilarated with the proposition believing that it brings her to the level of the French opera singer, Calve, known only to wear Guerlain.  She later rejects the offer after learning that the Selfridges perfume will be produced inexpensively and will be sold at affordable prices unlike the grand French fragrances.  Mr. Selfridge inveigles Miss Love into agreement with a promise of a window display reserved for the Selfridges perfume and its endorser.

Agnes’ evasiveness concerns Victor that the waiter speaks to George Towler about it.  He learns that Agnes has been assigned a special task with the Art Department under the supervision of Mr. Leclair whom Agnes could not stop talking about.  Given Mr. Leclair’s vision of a simple, fresh, and natural fragrance for the Selfridges perfume, Miss Towler picks Lily of the Valley as the inspiration for the house scent.  She remembers picking them in the countryside with her mother who loved the flower, and Mr. Leclair finds it a suitable choice.  He notes that those flowers are sold in the streets of France on the first day of May and are what young lovers give each other.  Miss Towler dares to ask Mr. Leclair about Miss Laurel and learns that he has known the woman since they were children.  Moreover, Mr. Leclair had asked Miss Maurel to marry him, a proposal she rejected.  Mr. Leclair postpones presenting the designs to Mr. Selfridge and gives Miss Love complete freedom in posing for the photographs.  Miss Love holds the bottle of perfume seductively as she poses for the camera.  Together they present the suggestive photographs to Mr. Selfridge with Mr. Leclair noting them as Miss Love’s vision.  Mr. Selfridge finds the photographs appalling and rejects them all much to Miss Love’s consternation.  Moreover, he cancels his lunch with her and foregoes seeing her show.  He admonishes Mr. Leclair for his guile, but forgives him as he presents the Lily of the Valley designs he and Miss Towler had conceived.  Mr. Selfridge approves of the design and the message of childhood, springtime, and love it conveys.  Before long, the Lily of the Valley makes its debut on the window of Selfridges with “Unforgettable” as its strap line.  Miss Towler admires the window display she helped create.  In fact, Mr. Leclair tells her that the window she admires is hers.  Mr. Selfridge succeeds once again in his endeavor as sales of Lily of the Valley continue to grow pleasing everyone including Mr. Crabb.  The man has another cause to rejoice as his employer abandons his plan of putting makeup on display, but his joy comes from hearing Mr. Selfridge’s plan of coming home to his wife.  Mr. Selfridge, however, is up for disappointment because his wife is at Roddy Temple’s studio.

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Episode 2 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.2

Synopsis: Harry Selfridge hears of Louis Bleriot’s attempt to fly across the English Channel and decides to persuade the aviator to exhibit his plane at Selfridges.  He enlists Miss Love to play the aviatrix at the exhibition and begins an affair with her, while Rose Selfridge becomes acquainted with the painter, Roderick Temple.  Meanwhile, the man Agnes and George Towler are trying to hide from arrives at Selfridges.

Episode Summary: The staff hastes to their posts as Mr. Selfridge makes his way to the floor.  He finds that all are in order except that there are no customers in sight and Mr. Crabb notifies him of their need for sales.  He instructs Mr. Grove to offer spot reductions on special lines for early birds, which he believes will bring in the sales Mr. Crabb necessitates aware that they have not been breaking even.Continue reading...

Mr. Leclair brings to Mr. Selfridge’s attention an issue with Ellen Love.  The woman is at the store reviewing the photographs taken of her that are to be used in her endorsements.  Ellen is unsatisfied with the photos and believes them to be dated and dreary.  Mr. Leclair finds that the photographs convey the message he wants to communicate.  To his consternation, Mr. Selfridge agrees with Miss Love and instructs Mr. Leclair to redo the work.  There is more to Mr. Selfridge’s rejection of the photographs than his desire to please Miss Love.  Mr. Selfridge would like to present Selfridges as a paradigm of modernity and is always looking for new ways to convey this message.  His visionary outlook led Miss Love to compare him to the Frenchman attempting to fly across the English Channel.  Her comparison brought inspiration to Mr. Selfridge causing him to hasten back to his office to speak with his staff and Frank Edwards.  Mr. Edwards informs Mr. Selfridge that the daredevil has signed a deal with the Daily Mail.  Fortunately, Mr. Edwards is friends with the owner of the Daily Mail long before he established the newspaper.  Moreover, Mr. Selfridge explains that his plan will help the newspaper double its circulation.

Agnes Towler speaks with Mr. Grove about finding a position for her brother, George, at Selfridges.  Mr. Grove maliciously finds the request as a favor in exchange for her discretion, aware that Miss Towler is cognizant of his affair with Miss Mardle.  Although surprised and naive of the insinuation, Miss Towler accepts his request.  Mr. Grove offers her brother a porter’s job in the loading bay.  A man enters the store and catches the eyes of Kitty Hawkins and Doris Miller.  Kitty attends to the man and he begins to charm her when Miss Towler catches sight of him and pulls him aside.  The man is Agnes’ father, Reg Towler.  She asks her father why he has come and he explains that he only wants to see her to make amends.  Knowing him to be a troublemaker, Agnes begs him not to ruin the good life she is only beginning to make for herself.  Agnes’ father acknowledges his faults and swears to have changed his ways.  She agrees to speak with him at the teashop on Duke Street during her break only to learn that her father is in need of a place to stay.  He has come to ask her to take him in, while he finds a place of his own.  Agnes reminds him of the reason why she and her brother moved out and asserted not to live with him again.  Her father, however, expresses his remorse for what he had done and vows having stayed away from alcohol in two months.  Moreover, he has found job at a hotel and states that the manager will let him reside there at the end of the month.  Her father gets on his knees to beg consequently embarrassing Agnes enough to allow him to stay with them until the end of the month.  She, however, warns him against attacking her or George again.  Meanwhile, Mr. Grove brings George Towler to the loading bay where he is to work as a porter unloading the vans coming in and loading the vans going out.  He introduces him to the porters, Alf and Sam.  Seeing that George is naïve, the two porters make fun of the young man and have him carry a heavy sack on his back, while Alf adds his own weight to it causing George to fall on the floor.  George, however, is undeterred and gains favor with the two porters.  The three unload four thousand silk scarves for an event that is happening the next day.  The event remains a secret to everyone except for the department heads.  Later, Alf apprises George of the special deliveries that he must load to the blue van instead of the usual green vans.  The man explains that those goods going into the blue vans are for urgent express delivery probably consigned to the directors of the store.  He adds that due to the nature of these deliveries, George is not to tell anyone about them.

Mr. Edwards drives Mr. Selfridge to the place where Monsieur Bleriot had just landed his plane.  Mr. Selfridge congratulates the Frenchman for becoming the first man to fly the English Channel.  Mr. Edwards introduces the American as Harry Gordon Selfridge, the owner of the greatest store in London, Selfridges.  Moreover, he explains that Mr. Selfridge is going to give Monsieur Bleriot and his airplane pride of place at his store.  Monsieur Bleriot, however, becomes annoyed with Mr. Selfridge for stealing the limelight from him, but Mr. Selfridge convinces the aviator to allow him to explain his proposal.  He explains that Monsieur Bleriot’s achievement showed them the future, and because of his courage, many others will follow his steps.  He asks him of Monsieur Bleriot’s experience and the man recounts his ordeal with pride telling him that he was flying blind.  Mr. Selfridge avows that he too knows of the feeling of flying blind and with that, he strikes a deal with Monsieur Bleriot.  Later, Mr. Leclair receives a call from Mr. Selfridge provoking anger from him so much so that he tenders his resignation to the Chief of Staff.  Mr. Grove runs after Mr. Leclair in an attempt to dissuade him from leaving and learns that the man is livid at their employer for he has the gall to order him to build a great exhibition in such short notice after he humiliated him in front of his mistress.  Mr. Leclair is upset with Mr. Selfridge for being ungrateful, but Mr. Grove argues that their employer, in fact, speaks highly of him and lauds him for his genius.  Mr. Leclair is unaware of this and Mr. Grove promises that their employer will show his appreciation before the end of the day.  Mr. Leclair, however, is ready to leave, but Mr. Grove manages to convince him to postpone his resignation until tomorrow.

Rose Selfridge is on her way out when she learns that Lady Mae had insisted to see her.  Rose asks that her mother-in-law, Lois Selfridge, to join them.  Lady Mae has come to speak to Rose with the pretense of ensuring that she and her children have settled quite nicely in London.  She begins to insinuate that the demands of Mr. Selfridge’s work must have caused him to neglect his family.  One of the demands seems to be the care of the seductive Ellen Love, who is to become the Spirit of Selfridges.  Lady Mae suggests of Rose spending more time at the store and assumes that she was on her way there when she arrived.  Rose, however, was going to the National Gallery.  This surprised Lady Mae, who finds the National Gallery, filled with disreputable people on public days, but Rose could not care less for she is going there to admire the paintings.  Lady Mae is shocked even more when Rose informs her that she will be taking the Underground to the National Gallery.  Rose is admiring Peter Paul Rubens’ painting of Samson and Delilah when a handsome young man stands beside her and whispers in her ear his admiration of the painting for its beauty.  Rose, however, admires it beyond its beauty as she finds it an unusual work of art depicting a man laid low by a woman.  The young man introduces himself as Roderick Temple, a Romantic painter, and Rose as Rosalie Buckingham, an American on holiday.  Mr. Temple informs her that he has found an extraordinary quality of stillness in her that prompted him to create a sketch of her.  He explains that he aims to capture the inner beauty and the mystery of life through the human form.  The pretentiousness of his goal made Rose snicker embarrassing Mr. Temple, but causing him to laugh with her.  The young man learns that Rose dabbled in painting in college and he invites her to his studio across Charing Cross Road.  Rose joins Mr. Temple in his studio and just as she is admiring his paintings, the young man steals a kiss from her.  She breaks away, explains herself to be a married woman, and takes her leave.  Mr. Temple apologizes and begs her to stay, but Rose has made up her mind.

Victor Colleano has an uncomfortable conversation with Mr. Perez and learns that his attractiveness is one of the reasons for his hiring.  Mr. Perez believes that his appeal is a draw for their female patrons.  He wants Victor to satisfy them including the unprepossessing ones.  In fact, Victor has caught the eye of, Lillian Worthington, a matronly patron who tips him generously and requests his services for a private party she plans to hold for a small group of friends.  He later receives a box of chocolates from Ms. Worthington causing him surprise.  Mr. Perez, after reading the note that came with the box of chocolates, explains that the party will only be with Victor and Ms. Worthington.  Victor asks Mr. Perez if he should go, and the headwaiter encourages him to do so.  He, however, decides to ask Agnes out for tea, but the young woman has some family business to take care of that evening and politely turns him down.  She, however, hints of accepting his invitation for another night.  Victor then gives her the box of chocolates he received from Ms. Worthington causing her colleagues to tease her as they try one of the truffles.

Mr. Selfridge returns to his office and dictates the ad that is to run in the newspapers.  It states that the Bleriot airplane that flew over the English Channel is on view, free of charge, on the ground floor of Selfridges.  Mr. Selfridge sees Mr. Leclair and becomes forthcoming with his compliments to him.  It becomes obvious that Mr. Grove has spoken to him of the creative director’s discontent, but Mr. Leclair remains upset with his employer despite his compliments and apologies.  He believes that Mr. Selfridge will continue to maltreat him until one day he will push him too far.  Mr. Selfridge leaves and rushes to Miss Love’s dressing room to ask her to play aviatrix at tomorrow’s exhibition of the Bleriot airplane at Selfridges.  Miss Love’s allure becomes too much for Mr. Selfridge that he gives in to temptation and passionately kisses her.  They are about to make love when one of Miss Love’s colleagues enters her dressing room embarrassing Mr. Selfridge.  The interruption caused him to think twice about what he is to embark and eventually decides to leave.  The rest of the staff of Selfridges returns home after a long day at work.  Roger Grove spends the night at Josie Mardle’s place and assuages her concern about Miss Towler’s knowledge of their affair.  He believes that Miss Towler is trustworthy and that the young woman will not betray them given that he had given her brother a job in the loading bay.  Josie, however, fears that Miss Towler will one day follow Roger home and inform his wife of the affair.  Roger becomes alarmed of Josie’s portentous thought, but remains confident that Miss Towler will do no such thing.  In fact, Miss Towler has more pressing things in her mind as she and George return home to find their father already there waiting for them.

The following day, Selfridges is heaving with people wanting to see Monsieur Bleriot and his airplane.  Moreover, they are purchasing the goods peddled in the store.  Mr. Selfridge brings his family to see the exhibition and Rose finds Miss Love, the Spirit of Selfridges, sitting atop the Bleriot plane eyeing her husband seductively.  Harry apologizes to his wife for being away most of the time, but their conversation is interrupted by Mr. Crabb, who has come to congratulate Mr. Selfridge for his achievement.  Rose finds herself alone in the crowd as her husband introduces Monsieur Louis Bleriot to the public.  Lady Mae later joins her to intimate an affair between Mr. Selfridge and Miss Love.  Rose approaches her husband to congratulate him in an attempt to avoid hearing any more of Lady Mae’s insinuations, but Lady Mae speaks to Mr. Selfridge vaguely and ominously about how the man rows, while the lady holds the tiller.  Having had enough of Lady Mae’s allusions, Rose excuses herself from the exhibition, but Harry convinces her to stay.  There is truth to Lady Mae’s intimations as Mr. Selfridge had just secured Miss Love an apartment at the posh St. John’s Wood neighborhood.  Mr. Edwards commends Mr. Selfridge for his accomplishment and asks him how it feels to make history.  Mr. Selfridge confesses that the thrill of it is gone after the fact then speaks glumly about the thought of throwing everything away including ones life.  Meanwhile, Victor finds Ms. Worthington waiting for him in her car.  He, however, informs the woman apologetically that he cannot join her for the evening for it is against the company’s policy to do so.  Agnes and George arrive home to find their father drunk and disapproving of Mr. Selfridge with claims of him working his employees like slaves.  Agnes, however, argues that Selfridges is a place where employees can rise up from the ranks to have better lives.  Their father turns to George and challenges him to a fight causing alarm on both siblings, but their father does not attack George but relishes in the fright he gave his children.

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Episode 1 Season 1 – Mr. Selfridge Episode Summary 1.1

Synopsis: Harry Gordon Selfridge comes to London with an ambitious plan of opening a grandiose department store.  He encounters many obstacles in his way beginning with the withdrawal of support from his partner after finding Mr. Selfridge a reckless businessman.  Mr. Selfridge must now establish new relationships that will help him fulfill his dream.  Meanwhile, Miss Towler, a shop girl at a glove counter loses her job due to Mr. Selfridge and learns that the man is the proprietor of the much talked about department store.

Episode Summary: In 1908, Mr. Selfridge pays a visit to the Gamages Department Store to look at gloves and learns that the lack of display proved difficult to make a choice.  He persuades the young lady at the glove counter to lay all the gloves in their selection on the counter that he may see what they have to offer.  He asks her which pair of gloves she would choose.  The shop girl picks a red leather glove and upon Mr. Selfridge’s urging explains her choice.  She had made the decision based on the color and the softness of the leather and makes note that it is the finest Nappa from Florence.  Mr. Selfridge then asks the sales clerk to try on the glove and praises her for the choice.  The shop girl behind the glove counter is Agnes Towler.  Soon, Miss Towler’s manager approaches Mr. Selfridge and asks him if he intends to make a purchase.  Mr. Selfridge states that he was only browsing.  The manager then orders him to leave the store.  Later that day, the manager terminates Miss Towler without giving her references.  As Miss Towler recovers from the shock of her unjust termination, a colleague hands her a box addressed to her.  The box contains the red leather glove and a business card from H. Gordon Selfridge.Continue reading...

Mr. Selfridge invites the press to the construction site of what will be the biggest and the best department store in the whole world, Selfridge and Waring.  Incredulity fills the press seeing that there is nothing there but a hole at the dead end of Oxford Street.  They become even more doubtful when Mr. Selfridge declares that in less than one year the million-dollar hole in front of them will become a department store that will transform Oxford Street into the best site in London.  The partner of Mr. Selfridge, Mr. Waring, arrives late at the site and irately orders the band to stop the music.  He speaks to Mr. Selfridge in private to inform him of his decision to withdraw his support.  Mr. Waring claims that Mr. Selfridge violated all their agreements with him hiring a band to entertain the construction workers, hiring staff before the store is built, and having a reckless advertising policy.  Mr. Waring finds the whole endeavor madness.  Mr. Selfridge asks only one thing of Mr. Waring; his former business partner must not reveal his withdrawal until the department store is up and running.  Mr. Waring agrees to his request.  Frank Edwards of London Evening News asks Mr. Selfridge of the state of his partnership with Mr. Waring.  Mr. Selfridge eludes the question, but offers Mr. Edwards a proposition.  Very much aware that Mr. Edwards is one of the best-connected men in London, Mr. Selfridge proposes that the journalist help him gain reputation around distinguished social circles in exchange for a considerable advertising account his newspaper will get from him.  Moreover, he gives Mr. Edwards an edge on news he plans to make.

Mr. Edwards brings Mr. Selfridge to the Theatre Royal Drury Lane where Ellen Love stars in the musical comedy His New Girl.  At the request of Mr. Selfridge, Mr. Edwards brings him backstage to the dressing room of Ellen Love and introduces him to her as Harry Gordon Selfridge.  Miss Love immediately recognizes him as The Mr. Selfridge.  Miss Love mistakes their visit as an invitation to be in their company, but becomes aware that Mr. Selfridge has come to offer her a business proposal.  They speak of the proposition as she dresses behind the screen that defeated its purpose given the mirror that allowed the men to view the person dressing behind it.  Intrigued with what Mr. Selfridge has in mind, Miss Love accepts the man’s business card.

Mr. Selfridge’s family including his mother arrives in London.  He welcomes them especially his loving wife with a warm reception and shows them the mansion that is to be their home in London.  Mr. Selfridge arrives at his office where Mr. Crabb receives him with restless anticipation given that Mr. Waring’s money has not yet arrived and they have outstanding bills to pay.  Mr. Crabb becomes even more concerned upon learning that Mr. Selfridge has already hired department heads and that they already are in the office waiting for their employer.  Mr. Selfridge welcomes his new hires and explains his reason for hiring them before the store is even built.  He gives them the task to spend twelve months scouring the world for the finest merchandise with the goal of showing it how to make shopping thrilling.  He does not want them to be concerned with expenses for he wants to see product range and product quality.  He is looking for merchandise that will elicit desire.  Mr. Selfridge masks his worries with excitement and grandiose unaware that the same ostentation causes incredulity among his hires.  Both Miss Mardle and Miss Bunting share the same misgivings with Miss Bunting already pondering about returning to her previous employer, Debenham and Freebody.  She, however, is certain that they would not take her back given that she left them in the lurch.  Miss Mardle notes of having heard rumors that Mr. Selfridge has not secured the money needed to build Selfridges.  Mr. Grove appeases their concerns believing that jealous rivals must have spread the rumors.  He hides his reservations from his colleagues and speaks privately to Mr. Crabb to gain reassurance of receiving their salary while the store is being built noting that he has an invalid wife at home.

Mr. Selfridge has breakfast with his family and becomes riled at the unfavorable newspaper article about his endeavor.  The journalist doubts the fruition of the much-anticipated department store and accuses Mr. Selfridge of luring people into dishonesty with his strategy of putting goods on display.  He becomes frustrated with the press’ lack of confidence in him.  However, the article that found him leery is not as damaging as the one that revealed of Mr. Waring’s withdrawal of his partnership with Mr. Selfridge.  Mr. Crabb becomes piqued at learning that Mr. Selfridge already knew of his partner’s withdrawal a week before and yet found no reason to inform him, the head of finance.  Moreover, he approved all sorts of expenditure despite the knowledge of not having the capital to pay for it.  Mr. Crabb, who left an estimable position to join Mr. Selfridge, notifies him of his disappointment and trepidation at the reckless way he conducts his business. Imparting his concerns, however, did not perturb Mr. Selfridge as the man instructs him to redouble their advertising.

Mr. Edwards manages to procure an invitation for Mr. Selfridge to Lady Mae’s soiree.  Lady Loxley, whom everyone calls Lady Mae, used to be a Gaiety girl before marrying Lord Loxley.  Having gained status through marriage, she now knows everyone who is anyone in London with her residing there while her husband spends most of his time in the country.  Mr. Edwards finds her the person to find Mr. Selfridge a new investor.  Having read much of Mr. Selfridge on the newspapers, he requires little introduction.  Lady Mae is very much aware of the businessman’s predicament and offers advice.  According to her, London dislikes being shown how to do things especially by outsiders.  Moreover, she informs him that people in her class do not bother with shopping for they have tailors and dressmakers.  Lady Mae is certain that Mr. Selfridge has come to ask her help despite his reluctance to acknowledge his need for a new investor.  The drunken waywardness of Tony Travers interrupts their conversation.  Mr. Selfridge mistook the young man as Lady Mae’s son only to learn that Mr. Travers is Lady Mae’s lover.  He returns home and finds his family asleep.  His son, Gordon, awoke when he checked on him.  He begins to share his trouble at school.  With Mr. Selfridge very much on the paper, even the children at school is aware of his troubles that one found reason to insult the young boy with assertions that Mr. Selfridge is a huckster.  He informs his son that a huckster is not as bad as others might think and consoles him with claims that the bully will one day ask him for a job when Gordon takes over the firm.  Mr. Selfridge finds solace in the arms of his wife, Rose, whom he declares to be the only woman in the world he wants to be with.  His troubles, however, begin to consume him as his mother finds him deep in thought on the steps of the staircase.  Mr. Selfridge begins to have doubts about coming to London with his ambitious endeavor.  He worries of bankruptcy and leaving his family out on the street.  Having come from nothing, his mother will not allow them to return to it and asks of his options.  She learns that there is someone who can help his son, but he is hesitant to accept her help reluctant to become beholden to her.  The mother of Mr. Selfridge begins to speak of his father whom she says would be proud of his son, but Mr. Selfridge does not want to hear anything about his supposed hero of a father.  He contends that it has always been him and his mother who have endured.

Without any other options, Mr. Selfridge yields to seeking the help of Lady Mae.  He brings with him, the gorgeous Henri Leclair, his friend who has just arrived from America.  Mr. Selfridge claims him to be the best window display man in the world.  Upon the request of Lady Mae, Mr. Leclair apprises her of his profession.  Mr. Leclair believes himself a designer of space and imagines every Selfridges window a painting that allows its audience a chance to be part of the story.  Lady Mae becomes intrigued after hearing that Mr. Leclair does not have any qualms about putting a motorcar in a window.  She shrewdly supposes that Mr. Selfridge has come in desperation and makes it known that her aid comes with favors.  Having already anticipated the requirements of doing business with Lady Mae, Mr. Selfridge agrees to her wiles.  Lady Mae invites Mr. Selfridge to a shooting and introduces him to Mr. Musker.  The man attests to choosing his business ventures the same way he chooses his horses; he looks them in the eye.  Mr. Musker looks straight into the eyes of Mr. Selfridge, who tries to hard not to squint from the loud blasts of rifles.  Fortunately, Mr. Musker finds him a suitable business partner and agrees to become his new investor.  Months pass when at last stands the department store, Selfridge & Co.  A long line of people stand in wait as they hope to land a job at the much talked about establishment.  Mr. Grove advises the heads of departments of Mr. Selfridge’s preferences warning against candidates who are haughty and obsequious and favoring those who are friendly and respectful.  Moreover, he approves of those with ambition and those wishing to better themselves.  He forbids flirting and love affairs.  In addition, female assistants who marry will have to leave.

Agnes had just arrived home when Mrs. Payne starts pestering her about the rent.  She learns from her brother, George that the woman has been nagging about it all day.  To George’s consternation, he finds that his sister does not have the money to pay the rent for she had lost her job and has been looking for a new one ever since.  George becomes upset at the news and grabs her by the collar.  Agnes is not frightened of her brother, but becomes concerned that he is turning into someone they know.  George apologizes and asserts that he is not like the person they detest.  Agnes finds a job scrubbing floors and happens upon an article on the newspaper about the man that caused her dismissal from Gamages Department Store.  Months later, she pays a visit to the address printed on the business card Mr. Selfridge gave her only to learn that it is the address of his house.  Fortunately, Fraser, the butler takes pity and allows the young woman to enter the house as he sees if Mr. Selfridge will receive her.  Mr. Selfridge meets with Miss Towler ready to dismiss her upon hearing that she has come to see him for a position.  He, however, spends a few minutes with her after Miss Towler shows him the red gloves he bought for her and remembers her to be the shop girl at the gloves counter at Gamages.  He remembers Miss Towler’s unwavering patience despite his demanding behavior and the floorwalker’s disapproving looks.  He then learns that Miss Towler was dismissed without a reference because of him.  He becomes apologetic for the misfortune he had caused the poor shop girl.  Moreover, he gives Miss Towler a chance at a job and instructs her to come to Selfridges the following morning and to ask for the chief of staff.  In addition, Mr. Selfridge offers to pay for Miss Towler’s cab ride home.  Miss Towler arrives at Selfridges along with many others.  Miss Mardle interviews her and learns that the young woman used to work at the glove counter at Gamages, but does not have any references.  Miss Mardle dismisses Miss Towler having been instructed not to entertain anyone without a reference.  Miss Towler, however, informs her that she had explained to Mr. Selfridge and that he said to speak to the chief of staff.  Miss Mardle is incredulous of Miss Towler’s claims and speaks to Mr. Grove, the chief of staff.  Mr. Grove confirms of receiving a note from Mr. Selfridge himself about a Miss Towler and shows it to Miss Mardle.  Miss Mardle returns to her desk to inform Miss Towler that hers is a special case and that she is to start as a senior assistant in Accessories, the department she manages.  Two other female candidates hear of Miss Towler’s good fortune and they begin to become suspicious of her.

The staff begins work a week before opening and all are in awe of the establishment including Miss Towler.  Mr. Grove speaks to Miss Mardle of the irregularity in her department, it having four assistants instead of three.  He requests that he be informed if Miss Towler does not work out.  Miss Mardle acquaints Miss Towler of the Accessories department emphasizing that theirs is the most demanding department for they are responsible for over six thousand separate items of merchandise.  It is Miss Towler’s responsibility to know them all and to be able to locate each one at a moment’s notice.  Miss Mardle conveys her doubts at having Miss Towler made a senior assistant given her inexperience.  She notifies the young woman that she will be watching her closely.  Later, Miss Ellen Love arrives at the store educing awe from everyone at the store especially Doris Miller, who have run to Miss Love to ask for her autograph.  Miss Towler volunteers to lead Miss Love to Mr. Selfridge’s office.  They take the lift and Miss Love finds the elevator girl familiar.  She learns that they were both in the chorus of Frilly Dolls at the Gaiety and remembers her as her former colleague, Mabel.  Mr. Selfridge meets with Miss Love at his office that bears no chairs other than his.  Miss Love decides to sit seductively on his desk instead.  Mr. Selfridge uncomfortable at having the woman sitting so close to him gets up from his chair to stand a few feet away from Miss Love.  He then begins to explain his business proposition to her.  He wants Miss Love to exemplify the essence of Selfridges, which is beauty, elegance, and quality.  She is to appear in their advertisements as an endorser, while continuing as a stage performer.  Miss Love is delighted and accepts the proposition, but makes note that she had thought he had other things in his mind.  She invites him to come see her at the show where she will be every day of the week except Sundays.  Later, Rose learns from Fraser that Mr. Selfridge will not be coming home for dinner.  It will be the third time her husband had done so that week making Rose anxious.  Her anxiety is within reason for Mr. Selfridge has chosen to watch Miss Love perform instead of joining his family for dinner.  The next day, Miss Love receives a fur coat from Mr. Selfridge.  She sees in Mr. Selfridge a ticket out of the performing stage.

Kitty Hawkins begins calling Miss Towler, Aggie, and remarks that the moniker is fitting of a scullery maid.  Miss Towler returns the insult commenting that they used to have a cat at home called Kitty.  The arrival of Mr. Leclair interrupts their banter.  He has come to Miss Mardle’s department trying to find an item that will complete the window display.  He is trying to determine what that item must be.  He explains that the display is akin to a scene from a play where there are two ladies in a garden where one is standing looking out with her hand shading her eyes as if she is waiting for someone, while the other is seated, looking down at something on her lap.  The thing on the other young lady’s lap is the focus of the picture.  He has come to hear their suggestions as to what that item should be.  Miss Mardle not having any suggestions to offer politely informs Mr. Leclair of their inability to help him.  Miss Towler, however, suggests the use of a silk red rose, one that can be perceived as a token of love given to the young lady.  Mr. Leclair accepts the suggestion and informs Miss Towler of his consideration of its use.  That evening, Miss Towler bumps into Victor Colleano, the man he met in the employment line at Selfridges.  He landed a job as a waiter at the Palm Court restaurant that is to open in a couple of days.  He invites Agnes inside the restaurant and practices waiting on her table.  Not having eaten at a fancy restaurant, Victor suggests that Agnes order a glass of sherry.  Agnes becomes frightened at being caught, but Victor argues that his attending to her is part of his training.  They both have a sip of sherry.  Victor then takes a seat and shares his dream of owning a restaurant like the Palm Court.  He then learns that Agnes has taken interest in window dressing.  Agnes then becomes uncomfortable and politely takes her leave.  Victor tries to convince her to stay, but fails.  He instead accompanies her to the train station where George sees them.  The young man is upset at the tardiness of his sister and at seeing her with a man.  He becomes agitated and prepares to attack Agnes. Victor warns him, but George turns on him receiving a punch from Victor, who advises Agnes to find someone better.  Agnes explains that George is his brother and comes to his aid.  She learns that the cause of her brother’s unrest is the arrival of the man from whom they are hiding.

Mr. Leclair is still at Selfridges working on the window displays.  With a cigarette in his mouth, he adds a silk rose to the ceiling of the display inadvertently activating the sprinklers.  The people on the street watch as they see a silhouette of a man behind a curtained window and everything around him get drenched with water.  The next morning Mr. Grove explains to Mr. Selfridge that they have not identified what activated the sprinkler system seeing that nothing had been on fire.  He notes that they have not worked with a sophisticated system.  Mr. Selfridge is anxious given that every window display is now soaked with water and the store’s grand opening is the next day.  He, however, gets assurance from Mr. Leclair that impossible as it is, the window displays can be fixed.  Mr. Crabb adds to his worries with news of the insurance company’s reluctance to cover them if the sprinklers go off the store.  Mr. Selfridge orders Mr. Crabb to speak to the insurance company, while Miss Blenkinsopp is to gather all the staff.  Everyone convenes to hear Mr. Selfridge’s address.  He tells his staff that they are to prove their detractors wrong.  He commends them for their work and asks them that they may spend their evening at the store in order to create the finest house of business that the world has ever seen.  He makes it clear that Selfridges will open at nine in the morning the next day as planned.  He makes his rounds and advises a minor change in the scarves display of Miss Towler, but commends her nonetheless.  Upstairs, Miss Bunting struggles to finish her display and enlists the help of Doris from Accessories.  That night, Mr. Selfridge finds Miss Towler admiring one of the window displays unaware that the silk red rose one of the mannequins is holding was her suggestion.  Mr. Selfridge makes his way home and he becomes fretful at the sight of falling snow worried about tomorrow’s opening.  Miss Towler rushes to the underground station at Bond Street, but just misses the lift.  She manages to peep inside it just as the door is closing and finds Miss Mardle holding hands with Mr. Grove.  She quickly removes her hand from Mr. Grove’s grasp soon after seeing Miss Towler.

Opening day has finally arrived.  People rush to the doors of Selfridges anxious to see what it holds.  At nine in the morning, a fanfare signals the opening of Selfridges.  All the window displays are unveiled and people gasp in awe of the store and its merchandise.  Lady Mae followed by Mr. Musker and Mr. Edwards meet with Mr. Selfridge to congratulate him of his success.  They have brought their friends to experience the spectacle and more importantly to purchase merchandise.  Miss Love also arrives at the store and introduces herself to Mrs. Selfridge as the spirit of Selfridges.  Later that night, Mr. Crabb accounts the profits of the day.  He could not help but be dismayed.  Mr. Selfridge, however, heaves a sigh of relief.  He walks home with his wife in his arms with a sense of accomplishment.

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