Season 4 | Episode 8

department store owner in London.

LINNEY: Previously on "Mr.

Selfridge."

CRABB: Several of the suppliers are refusing to do business until a series of outstanding debts have been met.

He's gone.

It was so quick.

He just fell asleep.

If I stay longer, people will talk.

I don't want to be alone.

MAE: We can't do this.

We both have our reputations.

I don't care about that.

You think I had something to do with it?

Did you?

Do you really think I'm capable of murder?

"Mr. Selfridge," tonight on Masterpiece.

MR.

KEEN: My report on the Civic's foreign interests, sir.

Surprising developments in the far east.

Tensions in the United States.

Good.

My report on our British interests, Mr. Donoghue.

I completed it early.

Have to be vigilant.

Can't ignore the storm clouds rolling in from America.

Fresh warnings from the Federal Reserve.

Wasn't there cause for concern with Selfridge?

Is that company in hand?

Yes.

We're kept fully apprised of all developments.

I work from there two days a week.

Not much here about his involvement in Whiteley's?

Doesn't interfere with his stewardship of Selfridge's.

Man seems to have more hours in his day than the rest of us.

Make sure you're not blindsided, Keen.

Never drop your guard.

♪ ♪ (birds chirping) HARRY: Pull!

(gunshot) A landmark anniversary is coming up at Selfridge's.

20 years since we opened our doors.

Congratulations.

You must be so proud.

It's been a troubling year.

I need to feel proud again.

Pull!

(gunshot) I can't imagine what you're planning.

A huge public spectacle.

We hope to take over all of Oxford Street.

I'm thinking that big.

Now that Whiteley's is on an even keel, I need to leave it in your hands for a while.

That way, I can fully concentrate on the anniversary.

Whatever you need, Harry.

Ah, Mae.

I never see you these days, and the topic has to be Harry Selfridge?

I thought I'd come straight to the top.

It's your reporter, Wynnstay.

Oh, he's being a pest.

Not to you, surely?

Oh yes, to me and anyone to do with Harry.

He's trying to undermine Harry's business partner.

He thought that Indian chappie got a bit hot around the collar at the mention of Colleano.

Mr. Dillon was out of town with his mother the night that Mr. Colleano died.

Call your dog off.

I'm not sure I like being told what to do, Mae.

Oh, all right, then.

Continue and at best, you'll end up looking a fool, and at worst, in a courtroom for slander.

You seem to care a lot for Harry Selfridge.

He's my boss.

MISS MARDLE: Ernest, remember you have games this afternoon.

And for lunch, home-baked cold chicken pies, raw carrot, and tomato.

Can I have cheese and pickle?

Father didn't mind.

We know about vitamins now, Ernest.

You eat your vegetables, there's an apple for after.

But Father said... You must've been up since the crack of dawn to get all this ready.

5:00.

Right, everyone, shoes polished?

Let's exit in an orderly fashion.

Have a good day, Meryl.

I won't let you down, Roger.

Stock selling is a good thing, surely?

Just it's faster than we ever anticipated.

What are you saying?

There've been miscalculations about the sales forecasts.

We're new to the retail business.

Picked up a lot in a very short time.

We haven't balanced sales against the flow of stock.

You know I don't have time to study these figures in detail.

You should have, because now we're running out of stock.

Right.

And we have no means of purchasing new goods until the suppliers' embargo is lifted.

Yes, and it will be-- we're seeing the chairman of the British Wholesalers' Association today.

And how long before they offer us credit again?

I'll push as hard as I can.

You'll have to close the doors if we can't restock within three days.

We keep this between ourselves.

You need to tell Mr. Selfridge.

(loud bang) You do as I damn well tell you.

I can't let Mr. Selfridge down.

Leave this with me.

Where is she?

Well, this isn't a very good start, is it?

(sighs) Mrs. Towler, isn't your replacement due to start with us this morning?

Miss Blight hasn't arrived.

Oh, late on her first day?

She needn't bother turning up.

(sighs) So, where does this leave me, eh?

I should be out of here in days.

Which color do you prefer, Madame Rennard?

Oh, the red, definitely the red.

It's a much stronger contrast.

Good Morning, Mr. Selfridge.

Good morning, Chief.

Morning, sir.

Good morning, sir.

The council has said yes!

(applause) We get our 20th anniversary parade!

I can't think of no finer tribute to all of our loyal customers.

Finally, we get to put into place everything we've been planning.

There'll be special offers and promotions throughout the store.

Mr. Lyons, where are we with the performers?

Oh, we've got acrobats, jugglers, dancers, magicians.

We'll even have floats!

Mr. Towler?

Everything starts at Marble Arch.

Traffic will be closed off for the day.

Police manning pavements either sides of the road.

Crowds along here and here.

The parade moves down Oxford Street to the store.

CRABB: What a spectacle!

This will be splashed on newspapers across the world.

Who's in charge of sunshine?

(laughter) Madame Rennard?

Right, well, my ladies are currently making thousands of gift rosettes bearing the slogan "20 years at Selfridge's".

Your own fine idea.

These celebrations will show the public, dare I say the world, how far we've come and how far we mean to go.

Mr. Dillon is here to see how we do things.

Please welcome him.

Thank you.

I hope to pick up some tips from the world's best store so if anything goes wrong, I'll know what to do.

(laughter) GORDON: That's it, folks.

From this moment on, we're in full showtime mode.

Thank you all very much.

Madame Rennard.

It seems that the head of Fashion has let us down.

Yes.

We'll need to make a plan.

JIMMY: Pretty impressive.

You'll have your work cut out to top that at Whiteley's.

Jimmy Dillon will think of something when the time comes.

A lot to learn before any major Whiteley's anniversaries.

It's more complex than a person might think, this retail business.

No one could have picked it up as quickly as you.

My father and I really are grateful, Jimmy.

I don't much rate the Swan and Edgar applicant, but I'll call her in anyway, I think.

Why have you been avoiding me, Mae?

I'm not avoiding you.

I'm not blind.

Ever since we spent the night together...

It think it best if we continue like that never happened.

It did.

It meant a lot to me.

I'd hoped you felt the same way.

Is it about Jimmy?

Oh!

No.

It's not about Jimmy.

I'm going to confirm these applicants.

Well, if it's not Jimmy, then tell me what's bothering you, because.... Chairman Hardcastle is waiting for you in your office, Mr. Selfridge.

Good to see you, Mr. Hardcastle.

Sorry to keep you waiting.

This embargo on Whiteley's is completely unjustified.

Store's under new management.

You must've known about the debts when you purchased the store.

A new slate, Mr. Hardcastle.

We'll make good on the debts in time.

Of course, we all have nothing but goodwill towards your father.

Is it me you're worried about?

You know I'm not new to the world of business, and I'm surrounded by the greatest retailers in the country.

HARDCASTLE: No one doubts that.

But the fact remains you are an unknown entity in this business, Mr. Dillon.

He's a man of the future.

He's my partner, and I trust him.

So can you.

You're the largest supplier of linen and cotton in the country.

All the wholesalers take their cue from you.

If anyone can persuade them to lift the embargo, you can.

I'll consider my position and consult with fellow members of the association.

That's all we can ask for.

It'll be a week before I get back to you.

Thank you.

In the next couple of days would be preferable, Mr. Hardcastle.

(laughs) You see how keen Jimmy is to do business with you?

A week will be fine.

So, how is Mrs. Hardcastle?

Last time we spoke... You can't rush these people, Jimmy.

It's not how it's done.

Lord Wynnstay.

Anything solid on Harry Selfridge's new business partner?

I'm still digging.

Dillon was with his mother the night Colleano died.

The police closed their investigation.

It's a dead end.

I'm not convinced.

Unless you've got something rock solid, shut it down.

So, the departments are replenished with new stock each day before doors opening.

Currently, you're replenishing every third day, according to the system?

Correct.

That'll see you through until the embargo is lifted.

I'd like to look at the stock control in operation, if that's okay.

I used to work in the loading bay.

Come and take a look.

I'll leave you gentlemen to it.

Thank you.

GEORGE: Fresh stock rolls in every day, stacked according to size, customer demand, life duration.

JIMMY: How do you mean?

GEORGE: Soaps, candles-- small, but shift fast, so they're easily accessible on the bottom rows.

The anniversary stock.

This was all pre-ordered in bulk, so it'll go to the back of the bay area.

And why is that?

Because it's not needed yet.

It's always like this around sale time, Mr. Dillon.

We've barely got enough space for it all!

(door opens) Roger's personal items.

I thought I'd take them to his family this evening.

Are you all right, Mr. Crabb?

I miss him.

20 years of devotion to this store and he won't be here for the anniversary celebrations.

He'd be so cross.

(chuckles) We've lost some good people.

It'll be a real challenge to replace that sort of experience to carry us through the next 20 years.

I need to speak with you urgently, Mr. Crabb.

Please.

I'll be blunt.

We're running out of stock at Whiteley's.

There are systems in place to monitor the stock.

I talked you through them.

There was a lot to take in.

I must have missed the finer details.

All being well, credit will be resumed with the wholesalers in a week.

It'll be too late.

We'll have to close the doors within three days if I can't restock those shelves.

You have stock that won't be used until the anniversary sale.

I need to get that Selfridge stock to Whiteley's.

Out of the question.

That's madness!

Mr. Selfridge has been working hard to break the embargo at Whiteley's.

This sort of action will seem to be an attempt to get around the problem.

Which is why Mr. Selfridge must keep his hands clean.

But we could do it.

Just a few days, Mr. Crabb.

Just enough stock, all to be replaced before anyone's the wiser.

It's stealing.

Borrowing.

Think of the alternative: Whiteley's closes.

It could take months to open again, if ever.

While I'm sympathetic to your predicament, I can't help.

Think, Mr. Crabb.

Mr. Selfridge's failed venture all over the papers, just as the Selfridge 20th anniversary parade troops down Oxford Street.

What are you going to do?

There's nothing else I can do.

Go to Mr. Selfridge, let him decide.

Wait.

You're right.

If he agrees to your plan, it would be incredibly damaging to him if his involvement is discovered.

That's why I came to you, Mr. Crabb.

This is an impossible decision.

It's difficult.

But not impossible.

WOMAN: Freddy!

Lovely to see you.

Nice to see you too.

You look ravishing as always, Rita.

Oh Freddy, you're such a flirt!

No, Ernest, do it again.

So kind of you to bring Roger's things, Arthur.

I just wondered how you all are.

We're getting by.

We're keeping busy.

That's the spirit.

Can I look at Father's things, Mr. Crabb?

One more time over the past pluperfect, please, Ernest.

It's so difficult when they mention Roger.

(sighs) Tell me about the store.

Take my mind off things.

Well, it's anniversary this-and-that, as you can imagine.

Hard work but fun, yes?

Not all fun.

I've had a difficult decision to make.

I hope I've done the right thing.

It's not like you to question your decisions, Arthur.

This one was particularly tough.

Did Meryl tell you Mrs. Towler's replacement didn't turn up?

Yes, I heard-- the cheek of it!

Running off to Liberty's without telling people?

It's hard to find people of the right caliber these days.

We need people like you.

You aren't suggesting... Would it really be so out of the question?

Roger always said you were a company woman.

Yes, but the children need me.

They've just lost their father.

Really, Arthur, what an earth are you thinking?

I'm sorry, Josie, I never...

Yes, well, I shall make you some tea.

I'm surprised you'd even suggest such a thing.

Is everything all right?

I stupidly suggested her coming back to work.

I meant no offense.

Actually, I think it'd do her the world of good.

Rosalie?

I've waited.

Yes?

When are we going to talk about Mae?

I know she stayed here the other night.

Rosalie...

I need to know, what are your intentions?

(laughs) I don't believe this.

I love her.

Tatiana loves her.

If you mess with her heart... Mae is the one keeping me at a distance.

She's probably trying to protect herself.

From me?

She knows your history.

She can see that I've changed.

She's chosen the wrong men in the past.

She's been hurt.

You need to give her time, prove to her that you're the right man.

There.

Sharp as pins, the pair of you.

I took it from the box Mr. Crabb brought.

Can I have it?

Yes, of course you can, Ernest.

You shouldn't have to ask.

He doesn't want to upset you, Josie.

None of us do.

But we need to talk about Father.

We need to grieve.

Oh my goodness, I'm sorry.

This is precisely what I didn't want to do.

It's all right.

I cry in my room every night.

Me too.

ERNEST: Sometimes I do.

A bit.

Well, you shouldn't have to do that alone.

(sniffling) I mean, we should all be, I don't know, crying together!

(laughter) I tell you what, we'll do more as a family.

Yes?

Good.

I have two tickets to a lecture on Byzantine art tomorrow evening.

Do you want to come with me?

I'm not in the habit of accepting invitations someone else has refused.

Miss Grove... Meryl, have I offended you in some way?

I thought we'd come to an understanding.

Then I saw you in the Tea Rooms with another girl.

Rita Rogers?

No, she's an old friend.

Who happens to be a special friend of the great Carmo himself.

Carmo's circus?

That's a huge hit at the Olympia.

I'm booking their performers for our anniversary parade.

You were jealous, weren't you?

Go on, admit it.

The circus.

Tomorrow evening.

Oh, but it's completely sold out.

Well, if Miss Rogers is such a good friend... You're asking the impossible.

That's five tickets, Freddy.

For all the family.

I'll be ever so grateful.

Five?

What do you think, Mr. Crabb?

Obviously, I'm not happy.

But disaster at Whiteley's means disaster for Mr. Selfridge.

Then this store suffers the consequences too.

I can't let that happen.

Mr. Towler.

Will you help me?

Tonight, then.

I'll arrange the unmarked vans.

Get me an inventory of the stock that's needed and make sure the Whiteley's loading bay is prepared.

Thank you, both of you, from the bottom of my heart.

(elevator dings) Straight to Whiteley's.

Yes, Mr. Towler.

Come on.

Any problems, come straight back here, all right?

Mr. Towler?

Where is stock going at this hour?

I'm moving the anniversary stock to our Shoreditch warehouse.

It's taking up too much room here.

Shoreditch?

That's where we kept the provincial stores' stock, isn't it?

But why isn't the loading bay manager in charge?

Moving stock comes under my remit as head of Security.

Why unmarked vans?

The Selfridge vans are out on deliveries.

Waiting for the mechanic.

Thank you, Mr. Towler.

I hope I haven't inconvenienced you.

Good night.

Good night, Mr.

Keen.

(door closes) (snoring) Connie?

You need to go to bed.

Why are you so late?

What've you been doing?

Doesn't matter-- it's done now.

Come on.

(sighs) Stiff as a board.

You shouldn't have waited up.

I'll be fine in the morning.

You're staying in bed tomorrow.

Oh, George...

I'm gonna make you breakfast.

They can do without me for a few hours.

I have to go to work, George.

I'll report you sick.

(laughs) No arguing now.

It is Selfridge-- we should ask.

Quite so.

Are you joining us in the game tonight, Mr. Selfridge?

No.

Thank you, though.

Right you are.

I'm sorry, it's late.

I was at the club.

Who could tell?

I didn't want to go home without telling you that I'll wait for you.

I'll give you the time and space you need.

Which is what you're doing right now?

(laughs) Damn if I'm being my usual impatient self.

You don't say.

Mae... You mean the world to me.

Even if you did scare the pants off me the first time I met you.

(laughs) We have so much history.

People we loved together, people we hated together.

But there's still us.

Us.

We've both come a long way.

And through it all, you've been my friend.

And if I lose you, I lose my friend, and I couldn't bear that.

You'll never lose me.

Trust me.

Goodnight, Mae.

(door closes) Meryl, about the circus...

I've told the family, Freddy.

You wouldn't believe the excitement this morning.

Um...

I know it was a silly challenge, but it really means so much.

There's no performance this evening.

Or any other evening.

It's finished.

I'm so sorry.

I'll have to telephone ahead.

Tell them not to come.

Wait!

I have an idea.

But I will need your help.

Can I be of any assistance, Mr.

Keen?

Thank you Mr. Crabb, but I've found what I was looking for.

Could you clarify something, Mr. Crabb?

We did cancel our contract with the Shoreditch warehouse, didn't we?

Indeed we did.

Soon as we moved the provincial store stock.

(door closes) CRABB: How did it all go?

Nothing to worry about, Mr. Crabb.

Thank goodness.

You're sure nobody saw anything?

Mr.

Keen asked a few questions, but I fobbed him off.

Mr.

Keen?

He saw the vans coming out.

I told him we were shifting stock to the Shoreditch warehouse.

Mr. Crabb?

Are you all right?

You've gone as white as a sheet.

We have to go to Mr. Selfridge immediately.

Gentlemen, Mr. Selfridge is engaged.

Oh yes, thank you.

What have you done?

I didn't see any other way.

Mr. Crabb and Mr. Towler were just trying to protect your interests.

Stealing is in my interests?

Mr. Towler and Mr. Crabb, we'll speak later.

KEEN: Staff out of control.

Stock shifted to a business that has nothing to do with Selfridge's.

I will handle the situation, Mr.

Keen.

Of course, the stock will have to stay there now.

We can't risk this getting out.

Gordon, order more replacement stock.

Do what you have to do.

But the fact remains, you have misplaced your trust in this man.

And I misplaced my trust in you.

I have no option but to report this to the Civic.

Harry, I can fix this.

Go home, Jimmy.

I'll go to the Civic.

Go home.

Now.

You'd better have a good reason for pursuing this.

I have a story, I know I have.

Dillon storms out of Colleano's club.

So what?

He was furious Madame Rennard spent all evening with Colleano when she arrived on Dillon's arm.

Club staff told me Colleano was planning an intimate dinner for two the night he died.

Madame Rennard?

You're not suggesting Mae had anything to do with it?

No.

But she told you where Dillon was.

I wondered if the police had checked, and they hadn't.

He wasn't with his mother.

She spent all evening at a church gathering.

You can prove that?

I spoke with the vicar himself.

I just want us to be clear, none of this was my father's doing.

But it was his business partner's doing.

You know, I'm not the enemy.

I've been trying to protect you and your father more than you think.

Good evening to you, Mr. Gordon.

Ah!

(shouts in pain) Ah!

(heavy breathing) I just wanted you to know we don't hold either of you responsible.

My father and I have to take our share of the blame.

We should've kept a closer check on Mr. Dillon's management.

GEORGE: Thank you, Mr. Gordon.

Mr. Towler!

You have to get home straightaway.

The doctor's been called.

Your wife's gone into labor.

I should've stayed with her.

Go.

Go!

I'm so sorry.

There isn't gonna be a performance tonight.

The circus has finished.

I've made a complete mess of things.

Oh, well, that's all right, Meryl.

We can all go to the Tea Rooms when you've finished work instead, yes?

Not the same as a circus, though.

No.

Nothing like.

I'm sorry, Ernest.

Who wants to go to the toy department?

Oh yes, good idea.

My treat, yes?

Come along, then.

Oh!

Madame Rennard's autumn collection.

It's Italian silk.

You can tell the quality straightaway.

And look at those darts.

(gasps) That's good sign of good tailoring.

You love being here.

Mr. Crabb told me that he asked you to come back.

Now I'm asking.

Yes, but what about the children?

Surely they would think I was abandoning them.

Why don't you ask them?

I'm genuinely sorry, Harry.

I thought I'd pay you the courtesy of showing you first.

This is sheer nonsense.

I wouldn't print it if it wasn't solid.

No.

No, it's low, even by your rag's standards.

I didn't have to come here.

I certainly didn't come here to be insulted.

Even if this isn't to get at me, you have Jimmy Dillon all wrong.

He's not a murderer.

There's enough to provoke a proper police inquiry, at the very least.

We run with the story first thing in the morning.

Good day.

Where is she?

It's a boy, George.

A beautiful, healthy baby boy.

Mr. Selfridge to see you, sir.

Harry.

I'm sorry.

I'm not here about the stock, Jimmy.

The Herald is running with a story about you tomorrow.

What kind of story?

Total nonsense.

Accusing you of killing Victor Colleano.

Now, the good news is we've been forewarned.

Harry... We can get ahead of this with a press release of our own.

We can make it clear that this is all part of Wynnstay's ongoing vendetta against me.

Harry... Against people that I work with.

No press release.

We have to fight back hard, Jimmy.

If we don't...

I did kill Victor.

No.

No.

Why?

It was an accident.

We argued about Mae.

Mae?

I was jealous.

We fought.

I never meant for him to fall.

Every night, I see it happening over and over again.

Why didn't you come to me?

I didn't want to see the look that's in your eyes right now.

I put my trust in you.

I thought us buying Whiteley's together, somehow you could shield me from what I've done.

But even Harry Selfridge can't do that.

I came to look at you as a son.

I am so sorry.

Harry, I am so sorry for everything.

I'm not a bad man, Harry.

I never meant for Victor to fall.

Everything about you is a lie.

Everything.

You killed a man.

And then you think that you can just hide behind me?

I'll go to the police.

Pay your price.

Harry... Pay your price.

I want nothing more to do with you.

(door slams) (crying) MISS MARDLE: Now, I know I've been trying to organize you all rather too much.

Please bear with me while I try and muddle through, won't you?

ERNEST: You're doing a great job, and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise.

Would any of you be upset if Josie went back to work?

We could all help out.

Is that what you want, Josie?

No, not if it makes you unhappy, I don't, no.

Will you still read me stories and tuck me in every night?

Yes, of course I will, Ernest.

Father working didn't make us unhappy.

It wouldn't be any different with you.

As long as we're together.

I mean, that's the main thing.

We'll always be together, Eleanor.

We're family now.

Good evening, and welcome!

This way, please.

Go on, Ernest.

♪ ♪ (gasps) Oh!

Look at the acrobats!

Did you do all this?

It was Freddy's idea.

(laughs) (applause) Harry, what's the matter?

Jimmy killed Victor.

Oh my God, so it's true.

You knew?

MAE: I was meant to be having dinner with Victor that night.

Just dinner with a dear friend.

Jimmy had become far too possessive, jealous.

He was trying to own me.

Well, what made you suspect him?

A journalist started asking questions about Victor's death, and Jimmy acted... strangely.

So I went to him.

I confronted him.

And you didn't think to tell me any of this?

Well no, because he...

He denied it, and I had no reason to disbelieve him.

How could you not say anything to me?

Because I had no proof, and you'd just gone into business with him.

You believed in Jimmy so much.

This may well destroy me and my family.

Harry... No, I have to say goodnight, Mae.

I have to take all this in.

I thought I knew you, I thought I knew Jimmy.

I don't know who to trust.

♪ ♪ Next time on "Masterpiece": the final episode of "Mr.

Selfridge."

I built Selfridge's from nothing.

That's my name on that store!

Mae, I love you.

I don't trust myself.

I trust you.

You can come back or you can leave it all up to me, but you need to decide.

"Mr. Selfridge," the final episode next time on "Masterpiece."

Go to our website, listen to our new podcast, watch video, and more.

"Mr. Selfridge" season four is available on Blu-ray and DVD.

The companion book is also available.

To order, visit shopPBS.org or call us at 1-800-PLAY-PBS.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org