Mr Selfridge

Not too neat and tidy.

Pile them up!

I want Treasure Island in here,

Aladdin's cave.

Very good, very good.

Great work, Henri.

You're a genius!

Well done, ladies.

We are making history here.

Mr. Selfridge, Mr. Selfridge, if these figures...

Not now, Crabb, we have a store to open.

All well in accessories, Miss Mardle?

We are missing half the ribbon consignment.

Improvise, I know that I can rely on you

and your excellent assistants, can't we ladies?

Yes, Mr. Selfridge.

That is the spirit, I am proud of you all.

Well, get on with your work.

Miss Bunting, all going to plan here in the fashion department?

Yes, Mr. Selfridge.

We are going to dazzle the world.

Yes, Mr. Selfridge.

What do you think, Grove?

Your honest opinion.

Honestly, Chief?

You really think London is ready for all this?

Ready for it?

London is crying out for it.

We are giving them style, glamour, razzmatazz.

Once they see what we've done here,

there'll be no turning back.

Hmm, I don't know.

Those are the very finest kid, sir.

No, I'm sure they are.

I'd like to see some more.

What would you like to see, sir?

Well, maybe I don't know until I see it.

Why don't we get a whole lot of them on the counter

and then we can see what we like?

That's not how it's done here, sir.

Come on, let's have a little bit of fun.

No, please sir, you'll get me into trouble.

You only live once.

All right.

That is more like it.

Now, which pair would you choose out of the whole lot?

These. - Why is that?

I love the color and the softness of the leather.

It's the finest Nappa from Florence.

Try them on.

Go on, don't be scared.

What a great choice.

What's your name?

Agnes Towler, sir.

Agnes Towler. Right.

Might I be of any assistance, sir?

Oh, no, thank you, this young lady is doing just fine.

May I enquire if sir actually intends making a purchase?

What if I said I was just looking?

This is a shop, sir, not an exhibition.

And I've had my eye on you for a while.

I suggest that you hop it.

Thank you for your time, Miss Towler.

It's been a pleasure.

Ah, Miss Towler.

You can collect your cards.

You're dismissed.

But I didn't do anything.

We don't need your sort here.

And don't expect any references.

Agnes, I'm glad I caught you.

Someone left this for you.

This fellow Selfridge seems to have

a damned high opinion of himself.

Well, he's American.

That's what they're like.

Gentlemen.

Welcome to Selfridge and Waring.

You know, you're standing on the very spot

where the biggest and the best department store

in the whole world is shortly going to rise up

out of the rubble.

With respect, sir, we're standing in a hole in the ground

at the dead end of Oxford Street.

This is no ordinary hole.

This is a million-dollar hole.

And in less than one year... yes, one year...

this will be the live end of Oxford Street.

Gentlemen, this is the best site in London.

Ah, here's my partner, Mr. Waring.

Better late than never, come and join the party.

Stop!

Now!

Word with you in private, Selfridge.

It's over.

I'm pulling out.

What the hell are you talking about?

You've ignored all our agreements.

This ridiculous band

to entertain the construction workers,

hiring staff already when your store isn't even built yet,

your reckless advertising policy...

the whole thing is madness.

We shook on this.

You gave me your word as an English gentleman.

Well, I'm sorry. These things happen.

I will ask just one thing of you.

What's that?

Don't breathe a word of this to anyone

until we're up and running.

Will you swear to that?

All right.

Then I consider myself released.

Goodbye, Mr. Waring.

Gentlemen!

My assistants will give you all the literature that you need

about my new store.

Now, if you have any questions, my door is always open to you.

Mr. Selfridge!

How's the partnership with old Waring holding up?

Who wants to know?

Frank Edwards.

London Evening News.

I know who you are, Mr. Edwards,

even if our paths haven't crossed.

People tell me you're one of the best-connected men in London.

I know it from top to bottom, sir.

The press will always be friends of mine and my store.

We're going to be making news, Mr. Edwards,

and I can put you ahead of the pack.

I've put aside a huge advertising budget

for the right sort of papers.

But I need to be talked about by the right people.

It would be a pleasure to show you the town.

'Woman, lovely woman!

What a sex you are!'

That is the one and only Ellen Love.

She's perfect.

I won't ask what for.

Could we go round to see her afterwards?

Is that you, Miss Towler?

Yes, Mrs. Payne.

Payday today I believe?

Yes, Mrs. Payne.

So you'll be down with the rent later?

Yes, Mrs. Payne.

She's been on about that rent all day.

You better go down and give it to her.

I haven't got it, George.

What?

It wasn't my fault, there was this customer,

Monday, it was.

I've been looking for another place all week.

What are you telling me?

I've been dismissed.

Christ!

It's all right, it's going to be all right.

I will get another job.

Where? How are we going to pay the rent now?

Why does it always have to be me?

Why can't you get a job?

You don't think I've been trying?

I've been everywhere!

I tried everything!

Let go, George.

I'm sorry, Agnes.

Christ, If I thought you were going to turn out like him...

I'm not.

I didn't mean it, Agnes.

Agnes, what are we going to do?

I dare say I could find my way blindfolded backstage

in any theater in London.

Here we are.

Ah, yes.

Who is it?

An old friend... and a new one.

Frank Edwards!

Come on in, then.

I haven't seen you in a long while.

And now I see you I can't think why I stayed away.

Allow me to introduce my good friend Harry Gordon Selfridge.

Delighted to meet you.

Do make yourselves comfortable.

Champagne?

None for me, thanks.

Mr. Selfridge?

The Mr. Selfridge?

I guess I must be.

Well.

I was knocked out

with your performance this evening, Miss Love.

So he was.

He couldn't keep his eyes off you.

No more could I, of course.

Well, that's the compliments dealt with.

What do you boys want?

If it's my company for the rest of the evening,

I'm afraid I have to disappoint you... I'm already spoken for.

That is a bitter blow.

In fact, I must get dressed.