My Brilliant Career (2026) s01e04 Episode Script

[oppressive music rises]
Not the desk, Papa!
It's going, Gert.
Who's gonna tell Syb?
You can tell her this time.
-Not that you will.
-[man] Get a hold of it, Pete.
[grunts]
[man] This one as well.
[strains]
Don't scratch it.
Just… Be careful.
I'm sorry.
I really am. [sighs]
Covers this month's interest,
but what about the next?
Mrs. McSwat's been making noises
about a governess for the little ones.
-[man] This isn't helping.
-Gertie's a smart girl.
But she's not done much teaching.
Well, it's more like
helping out around the house,
doing some lessons.
I could come at 20 for your girl.
What a coincidence.
A year's interest on my loan.
One burden off your plate, anyway.
[baby crying]
When would you want her to start?
"Australia becomes
the world's youngest nation
on 1st January 1901."
"In Sydney,
a Grand Federation Parade will be staged
with 500,000 spectators
expected to attend,
followed by a firecrackers display
over the harbor."
How wonderful.
Augusta will have firecrackers.
You know, this will be
my first ever proper New Year's Eve party.
Things can only go up from here.
You can't spoil it
with your sarcasm, Frank.
I'm excited.
The Beechams put on a good show
at New Year's.
Some rather wonderful dresses
have arrived for you two this morning.
-Thank you, Mother.
-My pleasure.
So, Augusta will first have drinks
for a select few, up at the house.
That's us.
-And then there's the barn dance.
-[door opens]
[Helen] Do you remember the camel, J?
[Sybylla] What's this?
One year, Julius arrived
on the back of a camel,
dressed like an Arabian sheikh.
[group laughs]
I was a wise man.
There were meant to be three of us,
but we could only find one camel.
It was quite the entrance.
And then it escaped.
And it started eating Mrs. Klein's…
…sandwiches.
[all chuckle]
Ah.
The keys to the kingdom.
[somber music rises]
I want the new year
to start with some commitments.
Beginning with you, Julius.
Before breakfast?
Taking over Caddagat is not a joke.
Would have been good to, um…
have some notice, Mother.
But there it is.
I'll get the books ready for you, J.
I should, um…
[clears throat] Lots of things to do.
[Julius] Hm.
I'm not hungry.
I'm expecting an answer.
By the new year.
Trust me, Mother.
I think of nothing else.
Me too.
I mean… [clears throat]
-This should… I've got things to do outs--
-Sybylla.
I haven't forgotten about Everard Grey.
Yes, Granny.
Once Julius comes to his senses,
Frank Hawden will return to England.
He is still available.
At a reasonable price.
It's not a day for jokes.
I know he's considering you.
We're friends.
And what a wonderful way
to start a marriage.
Don't run out of time, Sybylla.
[tense music playing]
[Betty] Come on.
Nah. I'm not going.
You have to come, sis.
You can't spend New Year's alone out here.
And what?
Celebrate their poxy federation?
It's not a new country to us.
I know.
But we deserve to have fun too.
Come on, we can dance together.
Betty's right.
You have to come.
What's all this fuss
about New Year's for, anyway?
Granny wants me
to pay attention to Frank Hawden.
So I need moral support.
Oh, shame.
-I'd watch that.
-So come.
Please, sis. Please, come.
Ugh. Fine, I'll go.
Yes! I already made you a dress.
Nah, too late. You promised.
It'll be great.
Barn dance!
Yes!
-I am not wearing a dress.
-[Betty] Not without a wash.
You smell like them horses.
You seem especially excited
about this party, even for you.
I'm determined to have fun.
Even though you have low expectations.
You have me wrong.
I love New Year's Eve.
Shed the old you, not worry,
make promises you'll never keep.
It's magic.
Sounds like my perfect night.
Let's do it together, Syb.
What?
It's something that Granny said.
Forget about it, Frank, actually…
-Mm.
-You have to say it now.
All right.
I mean, it's ridiculous.
And we've obviously moved way beyond this.
And I apologize in advance.
But do you consider me?
Honestly?
I do.
I thought you knew.
-I thought we were friends.
-Definitely. But we could be more, surely.
[Helen] Sybylla!
Come try on your new dress.
I've embarrassed you. Let's make a pact
and have a smashing New Year's Eve.
I would really like that.
Great.
[heartfelt music playing]
[Sybylla] Yeah.
[Helen] Sybylla!
[Sybylla] I'm coming, Helen.
[Augusta sighs] I don't have time
for this, Hal.
Mrs. Klein has given me
some very Germanic mouth pie
about the party tomorrow.
-You'll like it, I promise.
-[sighs]
It's the deeds to the city place.
From 1st January,
women are allowed to own property.
[sighs]
"Allowed."
I put the city house in your name.
I thought you'd be happy.
Of course I am, but now I feel uneasy.
Is everything all right moneywise?
We're fine.
There is one more thing.
Blanche.
It's gone on too long.
-You have to make an announcement.
-Yes.
I'm planning on speaking with her
after New Year's.
Why wait?
I've invited her. She arrives tomorrow.
You could have asked.
And ruin the surprise?
This way, we get to make
an announcement of the engagement
at New Year's.
It'll be… butter upon bacon.
[reflective music playing]
[sighs]
Hels…
You've been avoiding me.
I never asked for those keys.
I always knew you'd inherit.
Haven't yet.
-No.
-[both chuckle]
Must be nice to have a choice.
Oh. A choice? With our mother?
If you don't want Caddagat, just tell her.
So you can have it?
[sighs]
It's not… just Caddagat.
So what is it?
Come on, tell me.
You were there for me
all those years ago in New York.
J, let me be there for you.
Hey, I'm good.
I'm always good.
You're clearly not.
Yes. Well, this one isn't
something that you can fix.
[Sybylla] Dear Gert,
almost 1901,
and Granny's started her campaign early.
Can you believe,
this time it's Frank Hawden!
I haven't forgotten my promise,
but it's my first ever
real New Year's Eve party,
and I long to leave
all my troubles behind.
Just for one night.
[spirited music playing]
[music fades]
[Julius] Hold up, whoa. Is that Harry?
[horse whinnies]
Need a hand, mate?
[sighs deeply]
[Harry] Where were you
half an hour ago, J? [grunts]
Just fixed it.
Ah. Shouldn't you be at home?
Just picking up a last-minute guest.
[Bossier] Who is it, Sybylla?
[Harry] It's Miss Blanche Derrick.
[intriguing music rises]
[Harry] My neighbors.
The Bossiers.
And Miss Sybylla Melvyn.
-Oh.
-And Mr. Hawden?
I'm here.
Would you like to ride
with us, Miss Derrick?
Oh, I'm fine.
Thank you, Mrs. Bossier. Go ahead.
We'll meet properly at the house.
We'll see you there.
[driver clicks tongue]
[tense string music playing]
[driver] Hup!
So that's the famous Blanche Derrick.
[chuckles]
The Beecham boy's done well for himself.
She looks like
she's a long way from the city.
[Bossier] Indeed.
But if she's come all this way
for a barn dance,
perhaps it won't be too long
before we hear wedding bells at Five Bob.
She looks a bit wilted to me.
She's magnificent.
[Helen] No! Sybylla!
How could you be so careless?
I thought I put the ink in my own bag.
-It must have…
-[Helen] …jumped in there by itself?
Two brand-new dresses.
-I'm sorry.
-Did you do this on purpose?
No!
Why…?
I loved that dress.
It was a genuine accident.
-I just…
-…thought of yourself.
It's all you think about.
-I have a lot of dresses.
-No, no.
I can't even look at you, Sybylla.
I have never seen Helen upset like that.
[door slams]
She's right.
I do ruin everything.
[sighs]
You leave Helen to me.
Right now,
we need to put our heads together
and come up with a solution
for this situation.
It's New Year's.
It's bad luck to quarrel on New Year's.
And if it isn't, it should be.
[dreamy pop rendition of "Atomic" playing]
-Uh-huh, make it magnificent…♪
-[man] Cheers!
-[Bossier] Mm.
-Are you enjoying it?
Champagne. In jelly.
Absolutely delicious.
How do they even do it?
-I think that's the last one.
-[door opens]
Your hair is beautiful… ♪
Don't you two look perfectly dressed
to welcome in a new year?
[Helen sighs]
I think the two of you
have topped my camel stunt.
A necessity, not a stunt. [chuckles]
It's a loan from Augusta.
Oh no, it's yours now.
Has everyone gone mad?
Where are your new dresses?
Sadly, they didn't make the journey.
-I--
-There was just an unavoidable accident.
Go upstairs and get changed.
Any dress is better than that.
I think she looks incredible.
[Julius] Mm.
The dress code was formal.
It's a party, Winifred. No one cares.
Well, Helen, you can take responsibility
for Sybylla tonight.
Are you leaving?
I've been nursing
a terrible headache all day,
and this has just pushed me over the edge.
If you'll excuse me.
What a terrible shame.
[group chuckles]
-Right, shall we all get a drink?
-Yes!
-[all laugh]
-Come on.
You do look stunning.
I must thank you again
for the loan of your suit, Frank.
Purely selfish.
Oh, of course she's tall.
Yes, I remember.
-[ominous music playing]
-[chatting indistinctly]
They're coming over.
Well, I'd heard about the ink-cident,
but this is everything.
[chuckles]
Sybylla, Harry tells me you're a writer.
Unpublished.
Everyone starts out that way.
I can't wait to read something.
-Champagne, Miss Derrick?
-Yes, please.
And we're all friends now,
so call me Blanche.
Syb.
About Blanche.
I didn't know she was coming
until yesterday.
She seems lovely.
I'm glad she's here.
Yes, she's a dear friend.
Harry, you're going to have to work
on that one before your wedding.
[introspective music rises]
[Sybylla] Finally, the famous barn dance.
Hm. You'll enjoy it.
What about you?
[Julius] Hmm…
J, about Everard, I…
You refused him.
That's your right.
And you and I have barely spoken since.
I just need to say
that I never meant to hurt you.
In fact, the exact opposite.
Well, that's good to know,
but it really wasn't any of my business.
Have you heard from him?
No. He's cut us all off.
Then it's his loss.
You were a good friend to him.
Thank you, Syb.
[Frank] So sorry, but I must interrupt
with an important question.
Is there anything sadder
than champagne left to go warm?
Lucky you were there to rescue them.
We've made a pact
to only have fun tonight.
Haven't we, Frank?
-It's compulsory.
-[Julius] Oh.
Mm. Are you with us, Uncle J?
I am.
-[group laughs]
-[lively folk tune playing]
[all exclaim]
[excited chatter]
[Sybylla chuckles] Oh, your dress!
Nell, wow!
Look at you!
[chuckles] Amazing!
[Betty] Oh, she's here.
-[music stops]
-Is no one going to ask a lady to dance?
[all chuckle]
Young Master Klein!
[giggles eagerly]
[women cheer]
-Shall we, Syb?
-Tickety-boo!
[folk rendition
of "Beautiful Life" playing]
-Nice frock.
-What's it to you?
Well, he's not wrong.
You're here.
Surprise.
You can do what you want ♪
Just seize the day ♪
What you're doin' tomorrow's
Gonna come your way ♪
Don't you ever consider givin' up ♪
You will find, oh, oh ♪
It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
-It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
-[Sybylla exclaims]
I just wanna be here beside you ♪
[laughs]
It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
It's a beautiful life, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
I just wanna be here beside… ♪
-[sounds distort]
-[folk song fades]
[wistful instrumental tune rises]
[folk song ends]
[applause]
[folk rendition of
"Dancing in the Moonlight" playing]
You and I need a truce.
Really?
It's a new year.
And we've all decided
to only have fun tonight.
So, peace?
We'll dance along ♪
Out into the moonlight ♪
-[Harry] You are so annoying.
-She's the absolute worst.
-Dance?
-Absolutely.
-[Frank grunts]
-You see the stars that shine together ♪
Like you were mine forever ♪
No matter what they say ♪
I feel like dancing in the moonlight ♪
I feel like dancing in the moonlight ♪
[folk song fades]
[excited chatter in distance]
[up-tempo folk tune playing]
[Augusta chuckling]
We're heading back to the house.
-I would really like to stay.
-I'll guard her with my life.
Have her back just after midnight.
Definitely before dawn.
You are so much like Lucy.
Not the one that I know.
Come on!
Goodbye.
Well, at least that's a pairing
that should make your mother happy.
Well, if dereliction of duty
is what it takes to make that match,
I'm killing two birds
with one stone tonight.
-Let's go.
-Ah! She's back.
I hope you have a lovely evening.
You too, Sergeant.
Not tonight.
I'm off duty.
[Helen laughs]
You're so theatrical.
You love it.
[both laugh]
[gasps playfully] Oh!
Hmm. [gasps]
-What is that?
-[chuckles]
[Helen] Ah, that's clever.
A friend sends them from Bombay.
Turkish delight.
With a secret ingredient.
-Charas.
-Oh.
Hashish.
-No.
-Oh, come on, Helen.
Where has being a good girl got you
all these years?
[gasps softly]
[chuckles]
[dramatic music rises]
-Here we go.
-[both giggle]
[slow folk rendition of
"I Love You Always Forever" playing]
I love you, always, forever ♪
Near and far, closer together ♪
Everywhere, I will be with you ♪
Everything, I will do for you ♪
I love you, always, forever ♪
Near and far, closer together ♪
Everywhere, I will be with you ♪
Everything, I will do for you ♪
You've got unbelievable brown eyes ♪
You've got me melting away… ♪
[both laugh]
-I'm not very good.
-You're amazing.
[Harry] I'm not very good.
Under a blue sky ♪
Exotic sweetness ♪
A magical time ♪
We really need to change this mood.
You are so right.
It's just like a stockman's challenge,
only the broom is your horse.
And it's a relay.
Each team member has to prance.
-One, two, three.
-[group laughs]
Then canter their horse
through the course.
Sybylla.
[woman] She's quite athletic!
Any mistakes,
you have to go back to the bar
and drink a beer.
Oh no, I think this game is made for me.
Any questions?
Good. Host is captain, course.
-[man 1] Go, Harry!
-[man 2] Harry!
-And…
-And me.
[Frank] And Sybylla.
Nell.
Charlie.
["Date with the Night" playing]
-Uncle Julius.
-[laughs]
-Blanche.
-[squeals]
Here we go.
On your marks.
-Get set…
-[plays note]
[guests cheering wildly]
To the drinks table, Julius.
Come on!
[man 3] Come on!
Go, Julius.
Come on, Julius!
I'm coming!
[guests cheer]
[Harry] Come on! Go!
Come on!
Harry!
-Go, Blanche!
-Go, Jim!
[Blanche squeals]
Quicker than that! Jim.
[exclaims]
[man 5] Go, Charlie!
Hey!
Go, Charlie!
No running, Sybylla.
You made the rules!
Oh, come on!
Barrel, Beecham!
Don't!
[crowd chanting] Down! Down!
Down! Down! Down! Down! Down! Down!
Come on, Syb!
[man 6] Come on, Harry!
-Go on!
-Yes!
[all cheering]
Yay!
[Frank] The winner!
[man 7] Hey!
[gentle music playing]
[grunts, chuckles]
[Augusta and Helen laughing]
You're right.
This is nice.
[Augusta giggles]
So tell me what's going on. Hm?
The dresses.
I've never seen you like that before.
No.
Who does Sybylla remind you of?
Lucy, of course.
Every time I look at her,
I think of my beautiful sister.
And I think
Sybylla should do what she's told
and get married so she can help them.
And then I think…
Oh, I've lost
my train of thought. [giggles]
The dresses.
No, it's not about the dresses.
Oh, I knew it.
[sighs]
Yesterday Mother practically begged Julius
to take over Caddagat.
-Ah.
-And no one cares what I think.
I'm just expendable, dependable Helen
with nothing of my own.
You know Harry's been going around,
buying up all those failed farms?
-Well, that's smart.
-No, you don't get it.
He doesn't keep them.
He gives them back like a gift.
-No!
-Yes.
But we keep the mortgages.
-That's expensive.
-Aye.
No one ever asked my opinion on it.
I don't know who he thought
kept this place afloat.
but it was me.
Yes.
But that's how it is.
Men get to decide everything.
We just have to do what we're told,
and hand it all over,
and sell off our young girls
and hope they get a good husband
so we can all start all over again.
[sighs]
I mean, to be fair, I did just tell Harry
he has to marry Blanche.
[Helen] Hmm.
And I just left Sybylla with Frank Hawden,
hoping the same.
-God, Helen, who have we become?
-Oh, it's not your fault.
-He's the one with the secrets.
-True.
Blanche is very rich,
and any problems we have
would be solved just like that.
I have secrets.
No, you don't.
Yes, I do.
My husband's not dead.
[softly] What?
I thought he died in New York.
No. He ran away with another woman.
She was waiting for him in New York.
He took all my money
and abandoned me at the Astor.
Julius came to fetch me.
Mother swore us both to secrecy, and then…
we made up a stupid story
about him dying of the flu.
[both laugh]
The flu.
Oh, my…
[whimsical music playing]
[sighs]
[softly] Helen?
Helen.
Helen.
[sighs]
You should get a divorce.
Gus.
[both laughing]
Well, I've never done this outside before.
We call this a bushie.
We don't all have a gilded commode
in every other room.
No, I think you mean in every room.
[laughs]
I thought you'd be awful.
Have I disappointed?
No, you're amazing.
You are.
[chuckles]
-Now what?
-Just bounce like this.
Dry off a bit like this.
And then you pull up your smalls.
And just careful
not to step in your own creek bed.
You'll make an excellent wife for Harry.
Yes, it's, uh… good to be rid
of that endless line of suitors.
Mustn't have been too hard for you.
-You're rich.
-Exactly. Be glad you're poor.
[scoffs]
I'm poor, but it's not better.
Do you know how hard it is
to tell if a man is in love with me
or my dowry?
Must have been terrible.
[scoffs] I hear your sarcasm.
I'm sorry.
You're sorry? I missed out on
a very glamorous party to be here tonight.
-These are real problems.
-Right?
-[both laugh]
-[Harry] Blanche!
You out here?
It's almost midnight.
Come on.
[Sybylla] Well, I'm not sure your dress
will ever be the same.
[Blanche] I am rich.
I'll just buy another.
[bright music playing]
Wow! You did this?
It was all Harry.
Lay down, everyone!
We need to see the sky.
[Frank chuckles in awe]
[woman 1] Come. It's almost midnight.
[woman 2] Where's everybody going?
[excited chatter]
I really like you, Nell.
And I know you like me too.
Even if you can't say it.
You're all right.
I'm going away again.
When?
After new year.
-That's how it goes.
-Five…
-Not if you come with me.
-[guests] Four…
Three…
-Droving?
-Two…
-Yeah, why not?
-One…
-Happy New Year!
-[Nell] Oh! They've started!
I told Betty
we'd watch the crackers together.
Wait, Nell.
[intense music rises]
["All the Lovers"
by Kylie Minogue playing]
Dance, it's all I wanna do ♪
So won't you dance? ♪
I'm standing here with you ♪
Why won't you move? ♪
I'll get inside your groove ♪
'Cause I'm on fire, fire, fire, fire ♪
All the lovers ♪
[man 1] Whoa!
-That have gone before♪
-[guests exclaim]
They don't compare…♪
Oh, it's like they've taken
the colors of nature
and turned them inside out.
[Augusta] Exploded them across the sky
like supernatural blossoms.
[Helen] So pretty and free.
My husband's not dead!
[sighs]
He's a cheat and a liar!
[woman 3] Happy New Year!
-Oh!
-[both laughing]
It's perfect.
[Frank] Wow!
[giggles] Wow.
Wow!
All the lovers ♪
That have gone before ♪
They don't compare ♪
To you♪
Don't be frightened ♪
Just give me a little bit more ♪
They don't compare ♪
All the lovers… ♪
[Frank] Good show, Beecham!
-Let's keep this party going.
-[Sybylla chuckles, grunts]
Are you two coming?
[Blanche retching]
Oh.
I think I may have had
one too many champagnes.
Let's get you back inside.
-Oh, I'll help.
-No.
I can do it.
[Sybylla scoffs]
Plenty of water.
And a good lie down.
[Sybylla chuckles]
-[Frank] Coming through. Come on.
-[Sybylla laughs]
[both laughing]
[guests singing "Auld Lang Syne"]
[sighs] Jack.
I need to talk to you.
-Plenty of time for that.
-No. It's important.
I have to tell you something.
Me too.
-Me first. [laughs]
-[chuckles] All right.
-You first.
-[Nell] Betty.
-Get off of her!
-[Betty] No, Nell. He's all right.
Nell, Nell, Nell.
What, you want this?
Of course.
-Betty.
-Just go.
I've got this.
[guests cheer in distance]
-Nell.
-What are you doing, going with a copper?
[sighs] What's wrong with it?
[Nell] What's not?
[Charlie] Nell.
This is a family matter, Charlie.
[sighs] Why did you have to come now?
Sis, this can't be. You know that!
I love him, Nell.
[scoffs]
And I'm having his baby.
[somber piano music playing]
-See you tomorrow.
-Tomorrow.
Come on boss.
Time for bed. Hey?
Yeah.
[sniffles]
Come on. [grunts, strains]
All right. [chuckles]
All right. Yeah.
I can take it from here, Jim. [sighs]
All right.
-Good night.
-[Jim] Night.
I'm all alone, Hels.
I'm here, J. [chuckles lightly]
Sit.
No. No. I had someone, and I lost them.
I don't fit anywhere.
I'm all wrong.
Now Everard's gone,
and no one will ever love me again.
Why am I like this?
[somber music fades slowly]
[Sybylla giggles]
[grunts] Here.
-[grunts]
-[giggles, exhales]
[Frank sighs, chuckles]
Good man.
Thank you, Harry.
For looking after me.
Of course.
You touched my hand.
It was nice.
-["Black Cherry" by Goldfrapp playing]
-How can it be… ♪
-It was nice, yeah.
-[Blanche] Let's be honest, Harry.
If you weren't doing me this favor,
my family'd be crawling all over me.
Our little arrangement
has given me a freedom I never expected.
It worked for both of us.
I hear a past tense in there.
[both breathing heavily]
I don't wanna get married.
I'm not proposing.
Let's not pretend anymore.
And I see the way
that you look at Sybylla.
All my world in one grain ♪
Of sand ♪
And you own it ♪
Black cherry ♪
Don't stop.
-[both panting]
-Black cherry ♪
Stone ♪
Black cherry… ♪
Go get her.
-Are you…
-Sure?
Happy New Year, Hal.
Thank you, Blanche.
Ignite me ♪
Oh, and you know ♪
I miss you ♪
I kiss you ♪
Oh, and you know ♪
[Sybylla moaning]
[song cuts out]
-[Sybylla sighs deeply]
-[chuckles]
[both laugh]
[Sybylla] Mm.
I've never met anyone like you,
Sybylla Melvyn.
[both chuckle]
[sighs]
[both laugh bashfully]
-[Frank] Okay. Follow my lead.
-[giggles]
[Frank grunts]
-[Frank] No, but…
-[Sybylla] You're quite good.
What do you mean,
"If anything, I'm quite--"?
[tense music rises]
Where were you?
Sybylla was showing me around.
In the dark?
[Frank] Don't fret, Beecham.
She was perfectly safe.
With you?
You should go to bed, Frank.
[softly] Good night.
-It's not what you think.
-We both know it is.
Why does it matter to you?
You break every rule.
Push every boundary.
Risk everything, for Frank Hawden?
Why can't something just be for me?
Because what you do matters.
Not to you.
You're right.
Finally.
We're on the same page.
[tense music fades]
[sighs]
[dramatic opera music playing]
[music building]
[both panting]
-[moaning]
-[chuckles]
[dramatic music fades]
[Bossier] Hm.
[sighs]
[rebellious cover of
"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"]
I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I… ♪
[softly] Oh, my…
Between the devil
And the deep blue sea ♪
I saw you dancing ♪
With a girl like me ♪
For a girl like me ♪
[ethereal music playing]
[music fades]