Flawless

Waiter!

What's that? - Oh my God.

Hi.

Madam. - Thank you.

Woman: Hang on one second.

Well, yes.

Hang on one second. One second.

Hi. Sorry I'm late.

Cassie Jay, I'm the features editor at the paper.

We spoke on the phone earlier. It's, um...

Laura Quinn.

Robin, go ahead.

I got front page?

Perfect. Thanks.

Thanks, bye.

Whoo! We should be careful what we wish for. Hmm.

Having it all at 25 cannot be biologically correct.

So, thank you for contacting us.

As you know, we're running a series of features called "Women Who Led,"

all about the everyday women who back in the late '50s,

the early '60s, started breaking the boundaries,

really inventing the modern woman.

A lot of people who turned up in our research

turned out to be dead, but you're...

alive, so that's great.

l, um, I need to paint a picture.

You're hired by the London Diamond Corporation.

It's number one in the world. But it's the '50s.

It's a fiercely male-dominated environment.

You take on the men.

You battle your way up and become... a manager.

Well, that's not going to impress anyone these days,

but you were the only female manager that had ever existed

in that company and I want to know your story.

You know, I haven't set foot in this city

as a free woman in over 40 years.

Really? - It's changed.

It's an exceptional piece, isn't it?

168 carats,

58 facets...

very rare.

I stole it...

from London Diamond.

A good deal took place at London Diamond

that may not be in your notes.

You've been in prison. That's where you've been.

Good morning, gentlemen. - Miss Quinn, good morning.

Good morning, Miss Quinn.

Good morning, Miss Quinn. - Good morning, Mr. Hobbs.

Aiming to beat the sunrise, Miss Quinn?

Obliterate, Henry. Obliterate.

No more blood for diamonds!

I see our fan club has assembled.

Murderer!

Murderers!

Good morning, Sir Milton.

Good morning, Sir Milton.

Morning, gents. Good morning.

I'm sure by now you're all aware

tensions reached a head yesterday in Kimstad.

What are the final figures? - What do you mean?

Dead? How many dead? - 100, give or take,

Most of them on our payroll. - It is a cock-up.

Everyone is pointing their fingers at us.

Christ Almighty!

The whole pissing South African regime is our fault.

What are the Soviets saying?

I'm afraid the Russians are leading the charge.

They're pressing for UN sanctions. - They're going to war with us

the week that we are renewing their contracts.

We don't need the Russians. - With respect, sir,

if the Soviets broke away, it would be disastrous.

They could align with Botswana,

Sierra Leone or even Angola.

Combined production would exceed our own.

We would no longer control global supply.

The cartel collapses and prices would free fall.

The Russians are paid well above market. They won't break ranks.

In any case, officials from the Soviet Diamond Trading Organization

are en route as we speak.

Precisely. To end our relationship.

Very well.

Now we have two days--

two days to find a solution.

Wait wait, uh, um...

one final item.

I'd like you to join me in congratulating

our newest managing director,

who, God willing, will keep us afloat in Cape Town,

Mr. Peter Boland.

Congratulations. Well done.

I'm speechless.

Boland over you?

The old man is losing his mind.

No, he's thinking straight.

In addition to being several years my senior,

Boland's experience is far better suited to the position.

Besides, they're doing me a favor.

Didn't you know? Cape Town's a furnace in the summer.

I hope that they've got something better lined up for you.

"Lon Di subsidiaries worldwide, 1 ,223;

female managing directors, 0."

"Don't give up.

Work harder.

You will win."

You forgot again.

Lunch? - Lunch?

It's a holiday-- middle of the day.

People meet, unwind, buy makeup, plot against men.

Oh, it's all the rage. - I'm so sorry.

Look, it's one crisis after another. Can we reschedule?

Tuesday it is, but not with me, with Kenneth Pearson,

a friend of mine that would like to meet you.

Judy, it's so kind, but I really don't like the name Kenneth.

Don't leave it too long, Laura.

There won't be any plots left.

Oh, working late again, Miss Quinn?

Always the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Your colleagues must value your dedication.

What's that bit from the, uh, from the Bible?

You know, "He who is last shall be first

and he who is first shall be last."

Is that how it goes? - Yeah.

What a load of rubbish.

We all know you take what you desire.

Fortune favors the bold.

Take those South Africans, for example.

Do you think we should hand them their freedom

or let them seize it for themselves?

Well, that's an interesting debate-- a dangerous one maybe.

But for my money,

I'd say things are never as simple as they seem.

I'm sure you're right, Miss Quinn. You're the one with the suit.

Good night.

Good luck.

Living dangerously, Miss Quinn?

Recklessly, Henry. Recklessly.

Sir Milton: Something troubling you, Miss Quinn?

The existing Russian contract: I propose we simply extend it.

I'm sorry. You've lost me. Was it not you

who suggested the Russians were on their way here to sever all ties?

lf we allow the Soviets to publicly disassociate with London Diamond,

let them pound the table at the UN,

denounce racist capitalism and so on and so on,

but secretly we extend our contract

and keep it a strictly private matter,

at least until the storm has passed over.

While they continue to wholesale diamonds at a magnificent price.

That's not bad. That's not bad at all.

Who else have you told about this?

Man: He's much better at the job than Albert ever was.

In such a short time.

Laura, is that you?

Harold Reynolds, good God.

Gentlemen, this lady is the cleverest person

I've ever met-- and she's American.

Ran circles around the lot of us at Oxford.

Of course I don't talk to her anymore.

She turned me down for dinner three times.

I was just testing his resolve.

lf he had tried one more time, I would have said yes.

I'm at Allied Banking heading up syndications.

We've just been sweating over your accounts,

a lot of ice down there.

No doubt impressive, but it's making people nervous.

But now I know you're here, I can sleep a little easier.

Um, unless of course you're considering a career change?

At Allied Banking world domination can also be arranged.

Henry: Earliest and brightest as usual, Miss Quinn.

Oh, I do my best, Henry.

Thank you.

"No, you won't"?

Miss Quinn. Miss Quinn. Why don't we sit in there?

Mr. Hobbs? - Yes.

Mr. Hobbs, I'm flattered, but I'm-- I'm-- I'm really not looking--

Oh, please-- please don't panic, Miss Quinn.

I'm-- I'm a happily married man. And I wouldn't be so courageous.

I-- I have a proposal to put to you.

It's-- it's a trifle.

Just give me five minutes. Please.

Come and sit.

It's something I do to get sympathy.

War wound-- the Blitz.

My wife and l, we went for some music at Wilton's.

Very explosive peftormance.

Anyway, we both survived that one,

only to find out that my wife was living on borrowed time.

I thought you were happily married?

Oh, I am, Miss Quinn,

and I always will be.

Are you always in the habit of reading private correspondence?

Would you hold these for me, please?

Correspondence?

This is more like a diary of frustration.

"Number of Lon Di subsidiaries worldwide, 1 ,223;

number of female managing directors, 0."

That first number is not correct.

It's 1 ,224 now,

but the other number, that is quite accurate.

You've succeeded in arousing my curiosity.