The Gilded Age (2022) s03e04 Episode Script
Marriage Is a Gamble
1
[TV STATIC DRONES]
[BRIGHT TONE]
[SPIRITED ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪
I'm sorry to take you all
away from your work on what
must be a very busy day.
But the wedding is nearly upon us,
and I wanted to speak
to you one more time.
What I would ask is that from now on,
you act as a single team.
When the florists arrive the
day before, please help them.
If the kitchen staff
need more hands on deck,
please help them.
As the rooms are prepared, please
help if there is a way
for you to do so.
Thank you.
That is all.
Church, are we prepared for those
we've offered transport to?
I believe so, ma'am.
I've spoken to Mr. Johnson.
I want to see the cake
when it's ready if I can.
You will, ma'am.
Are there any other questions?
Will Miss Gladys be
coming downstairs today?
Miss Gladys has
decided to use this time
to rest before the event.
When she feels she has rested
enough, she will come down.
Thank you.
As long as she isn't
planning another escape.
The moment for that sort of
talk has passed, Mrs. Bruce.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Thank you.
Ada, dear, you should have
ordered something new to wear.
I don't see why.
Oh, yes.
It does seem odd that
such an insignificant girl
should be the center
of New York's imaginings.
Marian likes her.
Marian is overgenerous.
Mrs. Van Rhijn,
we have your latest bill.
But there seems to be some confusion
as to whom it should be sent.
Oh.
To me.
Mrs. Luke Forte, I will take charge
of the bills from now on.
Very good, Mrs. Forte.
- Yes.
- Thank you.
I see.
Every penny I spend
will be scrutinized?
Every penny you spend of
mine is to be scrutinized, yes.
When the shoe was on the other foot,
did I ever question you?
Yes.
Well, I might have asked
why you needed clothes
when you never went out.
Well, now we are both to
go to the Russell wedding.
And I am looking at the bill.
I will pay it, but I
suppose I have the right
to peruse it before I do.
Can you drop me off at
the armory on the way home?
I have my charity committee meeting.
Oh.
Of course.
How long do you expect to be?
Oh, a couple of hours, I should think.
I'll be home for lunch.
Why?
Oh.
No reason.
Oh.
What did Mr. Russell want?
He got a letter.
Who from? Saying what?
Mr. Weston, the manufacturer we tried
to interest in the clock.
And is he interested?
He didn't say, just that
he wants to meet us again.
Well, you must have some
idea if he sounds keen.
He doesn't sound anything.
He just gave us a time
and place for the meeting.
Perhaps he decided to steal
your idea and go it alone.
That's not likely with a patent.
Patents could be broken.
When is this meeting?
The day before Miss Russell's wedding.
You don't think I should let
Mr. Larry go on his own?
No.
Whether the news is good or bad,
you must be there to hear it.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
What have you got against Marian Brook?
I have nothing against her.
I've invited her to
the wedding, haven't I?
I've invited her aunts.
I've invited her cousin.
Short of asking her aunt's
dog, what more can I do?
Then why can't she be a bridesmaid?
She's about the same
size as Leonie Jerome.
And who else could take
over at a few days' notice?
But we have Carrie Astor,
Mary Drexel, Isobel Winthrop.
Mother, Miss Jerome is ill.
And if you want six,
you need to find someone
who can wear the same dress.
Besides, she and
Gladys like each other.
Bertha, have you seen this?
Miss Russell will have
her future monogram
embroidered in gold on every
detail of her corsetry.
Her underwear?
This is too much.
How do they get this information?
What if Hector should think we're
doing it to attract attention?
I'm not sure I care,
but you ought to find
out where it's coming from.
But what's wrong with Miss Brook?
Is she not prominent enough for you?
Since you forced my
hand, no, she is not.
After her marriage, Gladys
will be one of the most
important figures in New York.
Her place in London
Society will be the same.
Miss Brook doesn't compare.
Bertha, is it really so important?
Don't go to the stake for everything.
Very well.
I'll write to Miss Brook.
A footman can take it over.
And I hope it makes you happy.
Nothing about this makes me happy.
Have you invited Aunt Monica yet?
- No.
- Why not?
Would it be fair?
She'd have to come all
the way from Albany.
And she's really not a big city person.
Mother, she's your sister and
the only one of your relations
that we know.
What is it?
Are you trying to rewrite your
own history until it stands up
against Mrs. Astor's scrutiny?
But she'd have to stay here.
And what's the problem?
Is the house too small?
[SCOFFS]
Someone is here a lingering soul.
Open your minds, and let
your hearts be free of doubt.
I have a real sense of
suffering, of great loss.
Very great loss.
There is a man not young,
but not old either,
a gentleman, and loving,
loving toward you.
Oh.
That must be my husband.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
- He wants to know.
- Yes?
He wants to know.
What?
What does he want to know?
Where is Mrs. Forte?
She's in the dining room.
The dining room?
Yes, but I'm not sure she
expects to be disturbed.
That does not apply to me.
What is going on?
You're back much earlier
than I thought you'd be.
I didn't attend the meeting.
Why not?
Because you paid the subscription,
so you are now listed as a member.
And I am out of it completely.
Well, I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Now, who is this?
May I present Madame Dashkova?
Madame Dashkova is known to
Mrs. Bauer for her skills in
I wait with bated breath.
Her skills in
communicating with the dead.
What?
I think you heard.
I was hoping my ears had deceived me.
Please don't say this is about Luke.
Is there someone else
I should be speaking to?
These things are hard to
understand for the novice.
I understand very well that my sister
is grieving, vulnerable,
and open to the power
of suggestion.
My sister is generous,
but she can be narrow
when it comes to anything
beyond our normal sphere
of existence.
It is not the first time
that I have encountered this.
Nor will it be the last, I am sure.
Perhaps you would be
good enough to leave us.
Bannister.
Oh, I'm sorry.
[SOFT MUSIC]
You take my card.
We will meet again.
Your husband has more to say to you.
Goodbye, Mrs. Bauer.
And thank you.
Madame Dashkova is going.
You may go too, Mrs. Bauer.
And please refrain
from interfering in this
matter again.
Yes, ma'am.
♪
I won't reprimand you as
that would not be appropriate.
I will only say that Luke
would not approve of this.
I won't give up.
I believe in a life after death.
And so do you.
Yes, but I don't believe
in table tapping, and crystal
balls, and any of the other nonsense
designed to raise your hopes
and part you with your money.
Oh, please, let's not go five minutes
without talking about money.
At least money is real,
unlike the desperate dreams
of a lonely woman.
I am lonely.
I miss my husband.
Should I be ashamed of that?
No, but to be ashamed
of this childish folderol
that you've been toying with.
There are more things in
heaven and Earth, Agnes,
than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
You don't know everything.
No, I don't.
And one of the things I don't know
is how you invited that
charlatan into our home.
♪
Was she very angry?
Wouldn't you be angry if you
saw sketches of your daughter's
undergarments being
hawked on the corner
by newspaper sellers?
She's horrified.
I don't blame her.
The latest article was the last straw.
We must bring it to an end,
or there may be consequences.
You mean she could fire
whomever she suspects?
She's angry enough to
sack us all just to be sure.
And she's certain it's one of us.
Why must it be a member of the staff?
Why not one of the dressmakers?
That's a point which I will
mention when I next see her.
I suppose when the papers
want to write about you,
there's bound to be a downside.
I can't see the upside.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You'll be glad to
hear Miss Brook accepts
and is off to her fitting.
And I will walk her down
the aisle as a groomsman.
She'll walk down the aisle
with the others behind Gladys.
We're doing it the English way.
You have a visitor, Madam,
who says she is expected.
Miss O'Brien.
What?
Your sister is in the hall, Mother.
But why is she in the house at all?
Hadn't we better go
through to greet her?
♪
Hello, Bertha.
Aunt Monica.
Welcome.
Why are you here?
I accepted your kind invitation.
I wrote to Larry since he wrote to me.
But didn't he tell you?
Of course he did.
Church, send Miss O'Brien's
bags to the tapestry room,
and tell Mrs. Bruce.
I take it from Bertha's expression
that you're not expecting me.
Of course we're expecting you.
You're representing the O'Briens.
You have a very important job to do.
Where's Gladys?
She's lying down.
The whole thing has worn her out.
I can imagine.
I'll just go see if she's all right.
I'll come too.
Father, can you look after Aunt Monica?
Come to the drawing room
and tell me all your news.
I'm not convinced Bertha's
very pleased to see me.
Nonsense. She's delighted.
Nobody loves family more than Bertha.
Why are you so indignant?
Larry said you thought she should come,
so he sent her an invitation
in case it slipped your mind.
Doesn't it occur to you both that she
may feel overwhelmed by it all
and thoroughly out of place?
She doesn't seem overwhelmed.
Really, you constantly
seek to undermine me.
I thought it was agreed.
It was discussed.
It was not agreed.
Will you at least
come down to say hello?
[SIGHS]
I don't think so.
You must come down eventually.
Or what, you'll dress me by force
and drag me to the church in chains?
More lemonade, Mrs. Scott.
Oh, yes. Thank you.
It's so nice of you to
have us, Mrs. Kirkland.
Oh, not at all.
I wanted to see Miss Scott again.
William showed me
your article on the South.
It seemed a rather angry
and violent subject
for a young woman to write about.
It is violent, Mother, and angry.
And someone has to write about it.
But not, I would have
thought, a young lady.
Oh, well, Peggy's
interested in politics.
Oh, really?
Well, as a colored woman,
she's a long way from the vote.
Oh, it will come and in my lifetime.
I wish I could be as sure
of anything as you are.
Oh.
Well, we must be supportive
of the rights of our sex
as well as our color.
My goal was to be
a good wife and mother.
But I suppose young women
don't want that anymore.
Oh, I want to be a good wife
and mother who has the vote.
Well said.
My son seems quite
persuaded by you, Mrs. Scott.
He wants me to come hear your talk.
And I will.
Oh.
I'm impressed, Mrs. Kirkland.
Any time my son is
so taken with a body,
I'm bound to be curious.
This is it?
You wanted to know what
I'm wearing for the wedding.
I also thought you could
use some extra clothes
- while you're here.
- Why?
I'm not a doll for you to dress.
How many clothes do I need?
As a rule, I get up into a
dress to shop or write letters.
Then I change for luncheon
or paying calls.
And then I change again
sometime after 6:00 for dinner
and perhaps one last time before
going to a ball or the opera.
Heavens.
I might change once if
someone's coming to break
bread, but that's about it.
What dress will you
wear to meet the Duke?
He's coming for dinner tonight.
That's the only one I have that would
count as a dress for you.
You wanted to see me, ma'am?
Miss O'Brien will need some
more clothes while she's here.
Please show her what I
have, let her choose,
and alter them if necessary.
But it's not necessary.
I think it is.
I assure you, I can dress myself.
And I prefer to wear my own clothes.
I will wear the dress to
the dinner and the wedding.
Fine.
The Duke is a man.
He won't notice.
Very good, ma'am.
What rules do you live by?
But that's you all over.
You always had a right way and
a wrong way for everything.
We have our habits.
It's easier for the staff.
So which is the throne room?
What do you mean?
You're royal now.
I assume you have a place
to receive your subjects.
The Duke is not royal.
He's noble.
I don't know the difference.
Is that very shocking?
What's he like?
You'll see for yourself this evening.
He's bringing his sister.
He's not staying?
No, he has a room at the Union Club.
We don't want them to see
too much of each other
before the wedding.
You mean in case they discover they
don't really like each other?
We don't want to diminish the
excitement of their romance.
They can get to know each other later.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Aunt Agnes.
I don't often see you up here.
The wedding gown is
in the evening paper.
I thought you would be interested.
[GASPS]
[LAUGHS] Mrs. Russell won't like that.
Are you mad?
She probably delivered it herself.
Or maybe it was Gladys.
I'm not sure you understand
Mrs. Russell, Aunt Agnes.
You certainly don't understand Gladys.
I've been in New York
a long time, my dear.
Such people come and go.
But why do you think Mrs. Russell
wanted you to be a part of it?
Because it is a big thing, you know.
Maybe she just wanted to be nice.
I don't think so.
Might she be building you up
to be a suitable society
bride for her son?
Certainly not.
Why else would she give
you such a prominent role?
And the boy's keen, isn't he?
Hmm?
I know you talk about such things
with Ada and never to me.
But my eyes do open,
and I can see through them.
I am not what Mrs. Russell wants.
Believe me, Mrs. Russell
would be lucky to get you.
So have they finished
work on your dress?
Tell me about it.
It's very pretty.
[CHUCKLES]
As pretty as money can buy.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
Mr. Weston won't be long.
Can I get you anything?
No thank you.
None for me.
Thank you.
What should we do if
he's just stolen the idea?
Don't be silly.
We have a patent.
Miss Armstrong says people
can get around patents.
Not often.
Hello, gentlemen.
This is Mr. Eldridge, who
helps me with my businesses.
Please.
Mm.
I won't beat about the bush.
We like your clock.
That is exactly what we wanted to hear.
Of course.
And we feel we have
some ideas that we
I'm sorry to cut you off.
We're not looking for a partnership.
We want to buy the
clock and the patent,
lock, stock, and barrel.
Uh.
Before we answer, may we know
how much you are offering?
We were thinking of three.
♪
Or four.
♪
We cannot go higher.
I'm afraid you must.
We were hoping for six.
You know you'll intend
to make many times that.
I suspect you've already
discussed this figure.
♪
You drive a hard bargain.
Very well, gentlemen.
$600,000.
What?
I'm sorry.
We cannot go any higher.
Gentlemen, we have a deal.
Thank you.
And if I may say so, well done.
♪
Another article.
This one's about the
mistress and Miss Gladys
arguing about the wedding dress.
It seems so underhand for them
to print it without permission.
You don't know many journalists then?
The mistress will be in
more of a rage than ever.
She'll want blood.
But suppose it was Madame Donovan?
Who?
Madame Donovan made the dress.
Everyone expected it
to be Monsieur Worth.
But Miss Gladys wanted
an American designer.
It might be Madame Donovan.
If she gets enough publicity out of it,
she'll be made for life.
Have you said that to the mistress?
Careful.
If Mrs. Russell thinks
it might be true,
she's angry enough to have
Madame Donovan done away with.
Well, at least we'd be off the hook.
That's enough.
We have His Grace's sister
for dinner this evening.
Every tiny detail must be right.
Well, we'll certainly hear about it.
Who do you think is
selling our secrets?
Happily, no one will suspect me.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
So what happens next?
Well, we drink a toast
to ourselves, I suppose.
We couldn't have hoped
for a better deal.
But there's no more to
be done about the clock?
No more to be done.
Strange.
I thought I'd be working on
this the rest of my life.
What'll I do now, I wonder.
You mean now you're
almost as rich as Mrs. Forte
and much richer than Mrs. Van Rhijn.
I won't tell them.
Not yet.
Well, good luck when the time comes.
♪
Jack?
John?
Don't keep us in suspense.
How did it go?
It went well, I think.
You think?
You don't know?
♪
And that's all we're going
to know for now, at least.
Do not misunderstand me.
The Tuskegee School
is a fine institution
and provides real opportunity
for colored students.
Indeed, Mr. Booker T.
Washington is a great man,
but we must be under no illusion.
These new discriminatory
laws are an attempt
to deprive colored citizens
of the rights and benefits
of reconstruction that
were won the hard way
with the Civil War.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHATTER]
Mrs. Fane, what a pleasure to see you.
Miss Brook wrote to tell
me you were speaking.
I thought your talk went very well.
Thank you.
I don't think I understood the damage
these new laws are doing.
You're not alone in that, I'm afraid.
But how are you?
Miss Brook told me you've
been going through
some difficult times yourself.
I'm doing as well as I can.
I'm surprised you're not in New York
for Miss Russell's wedding.
It seemed better not.
Well, this is my mother, Mrs. Scott,
and our cousin, Mrs. Trumbo.
This is Mrs. Fane,
a cousin of Miss Brook's.
You must be proud of your daughter.
And now, if you'll excuse me.
She seems nice, but a little sad.
Her husband's divorcing her.
She's unhappy, but his mind is made up.
I'm sorry to hear it.
Look.
It's Dr. Kirkland and his parents.
Yes.
How lovely to see you.
So nice of you to join us.
Is Mr. Scott not with you?
No.
He had to go back to the city.
Shame.
But he's not an important man, is he?
Not like us.
His history is so very
different from ours.
My husband is an honorable
man, a business owner,
and a proud husband and father.
How different is that than you?
It's the same.
And my wife would agree.
Newport is not the center of
everyone's world, Elizabeth.
I hope you all enjoyed Peggy's talk.
It was wonderful.
I'm so glad I could hear
you speak about your work.
It piqued my curiosity to
read your book even more.
Well, that's still a work in progress.
But it's so kind of you all to come.
And I am really glad
if you did enjoy it.
Very much.
Well, again, I cannot
pretend to understand
your choice of subjects,
but you spoke well.
And now I must go.
William?
Are you coming?
If you wish, Mother.
Give our best to Arthur.
I will.
Miss Scott.
Ladies.
The gall of that woman.
I just couldn't stay silent.
That's what you and
father were arguing about?
Yes, and her other predilections.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
So you spend your time
at Sidmouth Castle?
Well, we go to London for the season
and to Scotland for
the grouse, of course.
Of course.
It sounds admirably regimented.
We Yanks live quite a
knockabout life by comparison.
Don't we, Bertha?
Should the ladies go
through, or shall we
- have our coffee here?
- Here.
Why not?
So are we all prepared
for tomorrow's madness?
Don't exaggerate.
Well, there is a lot of
curiosity about the wedding
in the papers.
But perhaps it's good.
The wonders that can happen
for a modern American girl.
I don't like the idea
of a wedding becoming
a public entertainment.
My sister does not much
enjoy public scrutiny.
But what about you?
Are you ready to star
in a public show, Duke?
My sister says I must call you Duke.
As my wife's aunt, I hope
you will call me Hector.
We are all family.
But will any of your relations
be joining us tomorrow, Lady Sarah?
Some cousins who live in New York.
Not your husband?
Or children?
I'm not married.
That's why I live with
my brother at Sidmouth.
Will you move out now?
I hope not.
Hector?
I hadn't thought about it.
I wonder if Gladys
has thought about it.
I would.
[ALL GASPING]
I apologize, Miss O'Brien.
I don't understand how
that could have broken.
Well, my dress is ruined.
That's for sure.
I'm so sorry.
George, ask Mrs. Bruce
to come help Miss O'Brien.
I'll go up to my room.
Send Mrs. Bruce if you want, but I can
climb the stairs on my own.
Well, should we go to the drawing room?
Perhaps I can offer you
a glass of whisky, Hector.
No.
I must get Sarah back
to her cousin's house.
I'll see you all tomorrow.
And thank you.
Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Russell.
You've been very kind.
Call me Bertha now we're
related, as Hector said.
Yes.
I suppose we are, in a way.
♪
Thank you, Andre. I can manage.
So were you pleased with this evening?
I don't know about pleased,
but I suppose everything's settled.
Lady Sarah's a cold fish.
And she seems to have
Hector well under control.
Let's hope Gladys proves
to be a match for her.
That's if she comes out
of her bedroom tomorrow.
She will.
I'm not dragging her to the church
if she doesn't want to come.
So then what?
We spend the rest of our lives
getting sneered at every time
we leave the house?
You got us into this.
I agreed to go along, but that's all.
Then stick to your agreement.
How's your sister doing?
I looked in on her. She seems fine.
I hope the coffee didn't burn her.
No, it wasn't hot.
Bertha, tell me you didn't.
The dress was hideous, George.
How could I let her
appear before the whole
of New York looking like
a cook on her day off?
It would have been unkind.
So it was an act of mercy?
I've got something picked
out from two years ago.
No one will remember me in it.
She'll look lovely.
We're a pretty ruthless
pair, aren't we, you and I?
I don't know what you mean.
I like things to be right.
But don't you?
I like things my way, yes, but
But what?
I wish I was convinced
that what you want
is right for Gladys.
So then what would
you have wanted for her?
A banker with a house on
the Avenue and a cottage
in Newport.
And that would have
been enough for you?
If it's enough for her,
what do my ambitions matter?
Go to bed, George,
and wake up sensible.
♪
Are you still up?
I couldn't sleep.
Why not?
Did something bad
happened at that meeting?
No.
At least I don't think so.
They're buying us out.
Oh, Jack.
That's amazing.
So what's wrong?
I don't know what I'm
supposed to do next.
I expect you'll invent something
else even more successful.
And you can stay working
here until you do.
But can I?
After they paid me?
Mrs. Forte won't grudge you that.
She'll be glad if
you got a little nest egg
to see it through.
It's quite a big nest egg.
Now, how big is big?
$300,000?
- [DISH CLATTERS]
- What?
I'm sorry.
Never mind that.
$300,000?
You need never work again
if you don't want to.
But I do want to.
And I don't want to leave.
I've never had a home before this one.
Not a real home.
Then this must be our secret.
Not forever, but for now.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
Very good, Miss Gladys.
♪
Well, she took the tea and thanked me.
Come with me.
The mistress may have an idea.
Please, come in.
Miss Brook, you are so good to come.
I was sorry to summon you.
But of all the bridesmaids,
you were the nearest.
How can I help?
Go and see Gladys.
She hasn't been out
of her room in days.
And my housekeeper tells me
she's refusing to come out now.
Somehow, we must help her to grasp
this opportunity on offer.
Do you think you can do that?
I can try.
Miss Brook.
Thank you.
♪
You can't say you
didn't know it was coming.
Everyone in the country
knew it was coming.
But it was so far in the distance.
And suddenly, it's here.
It's now.
I still think I should back out.
Of course, you'd find
yourself on every front page
from Timbuktu to Minsk.
Are you ready for that?
You're not being fair when you're
determined to marry for love.
That's true.
I am.
And maybe I'm not being fair.
So you believe I should stop it?
All I know is that
Charlotte Astor was burning
to marry James Drayton.
And now their battles are a
scandal on two continents,
while Helen Astor was
bullied by her mother
into marrying Rosy Roosevelt,
and they're as
happy as lovebirds in a tree.
What would you do?
Our positions are so different.
No one beyond my own family much
cares what I do with my life.
I think Larry cares what
you do with your life.
That's different.
I'm still not a public figure.
You are, a great heiress destined
to be a society leader
doing good, I hope,
but doing it in public.
The Duke can give you
a safe pedestal for that.
What if I don't want
to live on a pedestal?
I'm not hungry.
The mistress wants you to
eat properly, Miss Gladys.
She says you won't want any luncheon.
She wouldn't want
me to faint in church.
- Although that's one way out.
- [SCOFFS]
Will you take her with you?
Mother says I need a maid
who's comfortable with England
and the rest of the staff.
The idea is for Adelheid to come
with me to train her replacement
and return to New York.
Trust your mother to
leave nothing to chance.
Eat before it gets cold.
[SOFT MUSIC]
I suppose.
♪
They told me you were here, but why?
You know what day it is.
Mr. Morgan is here.
Mr. Morgan.
I didn't see you.
I don't mean to be unwelcoming.
But I'm afraid it's
not a good day for me.
My daughter is getting married.
It can't wait.
What is so important?
You don't seem to understand
your plan is in chaos.
This crisis is developing
into a full blown panic.
Banks are closing.
Every day, our backers
are in a state of terror,
yet you go charging on.
Russell Industries is ready
Russell Industries is in trouble
while you spend money you don't
have apparently until the sky
caves in and buries you.
Are you saying you're
withdrawing your support?
I won't support you,
nor will anyone else.
Why should they?
If Russell Industries
goes down, we all go down.
Wake up, man.
See the ruin that is lying
waiting for you on every side.
I don't accept your analysis.
Yes, there is a banking crisis,
but only within New York State.
It'll pass.
And when it does, America
will still need the transport
system I mean to give her.
Maybe in a different world.
But you're putting at
risk the city of New York
and all our fortunes with it.
I'm out.
I wish you well with
your wedding bells.
But just remember, if you
refuse to change course,
your own money will be
lost with all the rest.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I don't care what he says.
I'll get the land around Morenci.
I'll carry Chicago with me.
And when I'm done, this country will be
ready for the coming century.
How will you manage it without Morgan?
Don't worry.
There's always money if
you know where to find it.
And when I do, Morgan will be back.
Maybe, but not, I think, today.
No.
Today, I have to marry my daughter
to a man she doesn't like.
♪
Oh, how lovely you look.
I'm glad you're wearing
something new after all.
It seemed mean-spirited not to.
And I'm sure this will come in handy.
Well, I'm not, but you
were right just the same.
Oh, Mama, did I tell you
I've got two more clients?
So it's over a dozen now.
How splendid.
I'm surprised you could take
time off to attend a wedding.
Nonsense.
A packed church, and all of
them richer than Croesus,
I mean it to be a busy day for me.
How depressing.
Oh, listen to this.
A certain Mr. B. has been
challenged to a duel
by a Mr. D.
Apparently, Mrs. D. has been
having a little too much fun
in Paris.
That must be Mr. Borrowe
and Charlotte Drayton.
Poor Lina.
What a blow.
Mrs. Astor has weathered worse.
But it's so public.
She'll hate that.
Oh, Marian dear.
How perfectly lovely.
Hear, hear.
A real stunner.
It's all Mrs. Russell's work
down to the least particular.
I just stood still
while they made it fit.
Which they have done.
Extremely well.
Don't be coarse.
Everyone will be looking at you.
But you mustn't be late.
Oscar, will you take
Marian across the street?
- Of course.
- Do you have a coat?
Yes, but I don't think I want it.
It'll just be a bore later on.
Then we'll see you at St. Thomas.
How beautiful she looks.
If only she knew how to use it.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I hope you weren't worried.
I'm not worried.
But I'm afraid I'm going alone.
What's the matter?
I can't take you, not
with the news of James' duel
all over New York.
But he never fought his wretched duel.
He made the challenge because he
thought Mr. Borrowe was your
My what?
Your lover.
Really, Mama?
You quite shock me.
Oh, I think it would be
quite hard to shock you.
This is fighting talk.
What's the matter?
Is your terror of divorce resurfacing?
You will not divorce.
I won't live as you
and father live either,
separated in every way, but legally,
he on his yacht
with his pretty companions
while you rattle around
in this drafty old palace.
You will not have divorced parents.
That, I promise.
Poor you.
Father's life seems much
more fun than yours.
He's a man, my dear.
Men have more fun.
But in the meantime,
I can't come to the ceremony?
[LAUGHS]
I don't much like Mrs. Russell,
but I cannot bring a note of scandal
into her daughter's wedding.
That would be unforgivable.
So we're just going to ride it out?
That's right.
I'm going to ride it out.
And you're going to ride along with me.
Right.
That's all the bridesmaids gone.
You're next.
Are you ready?
How can I go when we
don't know if she'll
even come out of her room?
She'll be down in a minute.
I'll go up.
Your carriage is ready, ma'am.
You go.
I'll see to Gladys.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
I shall say hello to Lina.
Oh.
Good morning to you both.
Agnes, Ada, Oscar, I
wasn't sure I'd see you here.
If only we could have avoided it.
What nonsense, Mama.
Curiosity alone would have
you sleeping on the sidewalk
to get a good seat.
Marian showed us
the dress she's wearing.
It's very pretty.
I can't help feeling
that asking Marian to be
a bridesmaid was a rare sign
of good taste on Mrs. Russell's
part, not to be unkind.
Unkind, but not necessarily untrue.
Wasn't there something
in the paper that we
wanted to ask you about?
Agnes?
Well, I like Mrs. Russell.
And I've decided from now on,
I'm only going to say
nice things about everyone.
Quite an adjustment for you.
Don't make me change my mind.
We'll speak at the reception, my dear.
Well, I'm afraid I can't stay long.
My daughter, Charlotte isn't well.
I must look in on her.
I understand.
What do you understand?
I didn't mean anything by it, Lina.
Shall we be seated?
This wedding is not my doing.
I know.
And I would have supported
you if you had refused to go
ahead when I first got home.
But the time for that has passed.
Backing out now,
humiliating Hector in public
would damage you far more than him.
You'll drag the story with
you for the rest of your life.
So I need to pull myself together.
Gladys, I take no pleasure in this.
In fact, I apologize with all my heart.
You think I've failed you.
And I think I've failed you.
But I can't see a way out of it.
[SIGHS]
I understand.
That's it.
I have nothing more to say.
The decision must be yours.
I will wait downstairs.
If you're not there in 10 minutes,
I will send word to the church.
And that will be that.
Is it true?
Good day to you, Mrs. Winterton.
And now, is what true?
That Charlotte Astor's
husband challenged
Alsop Borrowe to a duel.
- Who won?
- No one.
The duel was never fought.
What had she done?
Nothing.
Mrs. Drayton and Borrowe
were both in Paris.
And they went to a couple
of exhibitions together.
A couple more than Mr. Drayton
would have liked, obviously.
Always a pleasure.
Where's your husband?
He's not well, I'm afraid.
I thought nothing short of death's door
would keep him away from this.
Well.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
Is there anything you would like, sir?
Nothing that you can give me.
Miss Gladys will be down soon.
And then you can stop worrying.
I wish I could be sure of that as you.
♪
Heavens, what a crush.
Oh, Mrs. Astor.
So nice of you to come.
Carrie looks so lovely.
Is Mrs. Drayton here?
No.
She woke with a headache.
Oh. I'm so sorry.
Are you, Mrs. Russell?
Mrs. Ruck.
Excuse me.
What did that mean?
Haven't you seen the paper?
Don't bother.
The story meant nothing at all.
Who's this lovely lady?
That's my sister, Miss O'Brien.
- Have we met?
- I doubt it.
I live in Albany.
Will you come this way, Monica?
But how fascinating.
What is fascinating?
She's Mrs. Russell's sister, so she can
talk about their early years.
Strange.
I've never met her.
Why?
When would you have met her?
Thank you.
Take your seat, now,
before we get overrun.
Bertha, are you sure
this will turn out well?
You've been saying
that since I was three.
And has it turned out well?
Look around you.
I might say the same.
♪
Should I send someone
up to check on her, sir?
No.
We'll know soon enough.
She's coming!
Thank God.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Three cheers for Miss Gladys.
- Hip, hip.
- ALL: Hooray!
- Hip, hip.
- ALL: Hooray!
[APPLAUSE]
♪
Oh, you've done a wonderful job.
I hope so.
Are you all right?
Well, since you asked,
there is something
I have wanted to say to
you for quite a while now.
I was building up the courage.
Go on then.
I would like to ask you
to be my wife, Mrs. Bruce.
As a matter of fact, I've been
carrying this around for weeks.
Your wife's ring.
I prefer to think of it as my mother's.
You don't have to give
me an answer right away.
The truth is, I will answer you
right now only because I don't
want you to get your hopes up.
I cannot marry you, Mr. Borden.
Oh.
I'm already married.
But you told me you were single.
I barely knew you then.
And I didn't want to share my history.
Please, share it now.
My husband suffers
from acute melancholia.
And as a result, he's been confined
in an asylum since 1877.
An asylum?
In Larchmont.
He has enough money to pay the charges.
Leaving you to support yourself?
Don't make me the victim here.
He is the victim.
I am not.
How long has he been ill?
Looking back, I suppose I refused
to see the signs until they
became impossible to ignore.
That was about 10 years ago.
And you can't divorce?
The only acceptable reason
for divorce in New York
is adultery, which
clearly does not apply.
No.
I couldn't afford it, anyway.
And somehow,
I don't want to abandon him,
not in his hour of need.
You'll think me foolish.
On the contrary.
I think you noble.
Well
I should check the rooms
are ready for their return.
Lady Sarah. Hector.
At this rate, I may never
meet the famous Gladys.
You look very handsome, Hector.
Only I thought you might be
in a guardsman's uniform.
It's not done if you
marry out of England.
Well, we mustn't do
anything that's not done.
How is Gladys this morning?
I assume she's come out of her room.
She was right behind
me as I left the house.
They must have got
caught in the traffic.
The crowds were quite large.
I pray they're not disappointed.
I hope we can entertain you
again while you're in New York.
I'm afraid not.
I leave tomorrow.
Oh, what a shame.
Wouldn't you have liked
to see more of the city?
Not really.
There's a lot going on at home.
At Sidmouth Castle?
At Sidmouth, and in London.
And we go to Scotland soon.
- For the grouse.
- Mm.
So Lady Sarah said last night.
[CHATTER]
You should sit down.
All right.
Just try not to laugh.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
The carriage has arrived.
What a relief.
People were starting to look anxious.
They'd look more anxious
if they knew the truth.
♪
So what happens now?
Dear father, I love you.
But as you said earlier, we're
past the point of no return.
["WEDDING MARCH" PLAYING]
♪
Who gives this woman to
be married to this man?
I do.
Well, here goes.
What a triumph for Mrs. Russell.
Strange, really, when you
think that three years ago,
none of us ever heard of her.
Please be seated.
I hope she knows what she's doing.
Nobody knows what they're
doing when they get married.
In the case of this company
to join together this man
and this woman in holy matrimony,
which is an honorable estate
instituted of God in the time
of man's innocency, signifying unto
us the mystical union that is
betwixt Christ and his church.
If any man can show just cause
why they may not lawfully
be joined together, let him
now speak, or else hereafter
forever hold his peace.
I require and charge you
both, as you will answer
at the dreadful day of judgment
when the secrets of all hearts
shall be disclosed,
that if either of you
know any impediment why you may not
be lawfully joined
together in matrimony,
you do now confess it.
For be well assured that if
any persons are joined together
otherwise than as God's word allows,
their marriage is not lawful.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
♪
I pray you're right about this.
George, our daughter is about to be
the Duchess of Buckingham.
At one time, that would
not have seemed likely.
Let me enjoy it.
Only unto her so long
as you both shall live.
I will.
To live together after God's
ordinance in the holy estate
of matrimony, wilt thou obey him
and serve him, love,
honor, and keep him
in sickness and in health,
and forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto him,
so long as you both shall live?
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I will.
♪
Thank you, Adelheid.
You can leave me.
Have you got a nice cabin?
Very nice, Miss
Your Grace.
We sail any moment now.
Yes.
Is there anything you need?
No. I have everything.
Thank you.
Look, um, I suppose
your mother will have told
you that the duties of a wife include
more than is expected of
of an unmarried woman.
Yes.
She's explained it to me.
Good.
That makes things easier.
She said it would hurt.
But only once.
Only the first time.
After that, you may
even come to enjoy it.
People do.
Aren't you tired after such a long day?
There's no rush after all.
It'll be embarrassing
for us both, of course.
But plenty of men and women
have managed it before now.
So you don't want to wait then?
You're right that I'm tired.
But I'm not too tired.
And I prefer to get awkward
things done and settled.
That way we can wake up tomorrow
as a proper man and a wife.
♪
sync & corrections awaqeded
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[BRIGHT TONE]
[TV STATIC DRONES]
[BRIGHT TONE]
[SPIRITED ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]
♪
I'm sorry to take you all
away from your work on what
must be a very busy day.
But the wedding is nearly upon us,
and I wanted to speak
to you one more time.
What I would ask is that from now on,
you act as a single team.
When the florists arrive the
day before, please help them.
If the kitchen staff
need more hands on deck,
please help them.
As the rooms are prepared, please
help if there is a way
for you to do so.
Thank you.
That is all.
Church, are we prepared for those
we've offered transport to?
I believe so, ma'am.
I've spoken to Mr. Johnson.
I want to see the cake
when it's ready if I can.
You will, ma'am.
Are there any other questions?
Will Miss Gladys be
coming downstairs today?
Miss Gladys has
decided to use this time
to rest before the event.
When she feels she has rested
enough, she will come down.
Thank you.
As long as she isn't
planning another escape.
The moment for that sort of
talk has passed, Mrs. Bruce.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
Thank you.
Ada, dear, you should have
ordered something new to wear.
I don't see why.
Oh, yes.
It does seem odd that
such an insignificant girl
should be the center
of New York's imaginings.
Marian likes her.
Marian is overgenerous.
Mrs. Van Rhijn,
we have your latest bill.
But there seems to be some confusion
as to whom it should be sent.
Oh.
To me.
Mrs. Luke Forte, I will take charge
of the bills from now on.
Very good, Mrs. Forte.
- Yes.
- Thank you.
I see.
Every penny I spend
will be scrutinized?
Every penny you spend of
mine is to be scrutinized, yes.
When the shoe was on the other foot,
did I ever question you?
Yes.
Well, I might have asked
why you needed clothes
when you never went out.
Well, now we are both to
go to the Russell wedding.
And I am looking at the bill.
I will pay it, but I
suppose I have the right
to peruse it before I do.
Can you drop me off at
the armory on the way home?
I have my charity committee meeting.
Oh.
Of course.
How long do you expect to be?
Oh, a couple of hours, I should think.
I'll be home for lunch.
Why?
Oh.
No reason.
Oh.
What did Mr. Russell want?
He got a letter.
Who from? Saying what?
Mr. Weston, the manufacturer we tried
to interest in the clock.
And is he interested?
He didn't say, just that
he wants to meet us again.
Well, you must have some
idea if he sounds keen.
He doesn't sound anything.
He just gave us a time
and place for the meeting.
Perhaps he decided to steal
your idea and go it alone.
That's not likely with a patent.
Patents could be broken.
When is this meeting?
The day before Miss Russell's wedding.
You don't think I should let
Mr. Larry go on his own?
No.
Whether the news is good or bad,
you must be there to hear it.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
What have you got against Marian Brook?
I have nothing against her.
I've invited her to
the wedding, haven't I?
I've invited her aunts.
I've invited her cousin.
Short of asking her aunt's
dog, what more can I do?
Then why can't she be a bridesmaid?
She's about the same
size as Leonie Jerome.
And who else could take
over at a few days' notice?
But we have Carrie Astor,
Mary Drexel, Isobel Winthrop.
Mother, Miss Jerome is ill.
And if you want six,
you need to find someone
who can wear the same dress.
Besides, she and
Gladys like each other.
Bertha, have you seen this?
Miss Russell will have
her future monogram
embroidered in gold on every
detail of her corsetry.
Her underwear?
This is too much.
How do they get this information?
What if Hector should think we're
doing it to attract attention?
I'm not sure I care,
but you ought to find
out where it's coming from.
But what's wrong with Miss Brook?
Is she not prominent enough for you?
Since you forced my
hand, no, she is not.
After her marriage, Gladys
will be one of the most
important figures in New York.
Her place in London
Society will be the same.
Miss Brook doesn't compare.
Bertha, is it really so important?
Don't go to the stake for everything.
Very well.
I'll write to Miss Brook.
A footman can take it over.
And I hope it makes you happy.
Nothing about this makes me happy.
Have you invited Aunt Monica yet?
- No.
- Why not?
Would it be fair?
She'd have to come all
the way from Albany.
And she's really not a big city person.
Mother, she's your sister and
the only one of your relations
that we know.
What is it?
Are you trying to rewrite your
own history until it stands up
against Mrs. Astor's scrutiny?
But she'd have to stay here.
And what's the problem?
Is the house too small?
[SCOFFS]
Someone is here a lingering soul.
Open your minds, and let
your hearts be free of doubt.
I have a real sense of
suffering, of great loss.
Very great loss.
There is a man not young,
but not old either,
a gentleman, and loving,
loving toward you.
Oh.
That must be my husband.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
- He wants to know.
- Yes?
He wants to know.
What?
What does he want to know?
Where is Mrs. Forte?
She's in the dining room.
The dining room?
Yes, but I'm not sure she
expects to be disturbed.
That does not apply to me.
What is going on?
You're back much earlier
than I thought you'd be.
I didn't attend the meeting.
Why not?
Because you paid the subscription,
so you are now listed as a member.
And I am out of it completely.
Well, I'm sorry.
Don't be.
Now, who is this?
May I present Madame Dashkova?
Madame Dashkova is known to
Mrs. Bauer for her skills in
I wait with bated breath.
Her skills in
communicating with the dead.
What?
I think you heard.
I was hoping my ears had deceived me.
Please don't say this is about Luke.
Is there someone else
I should be speaking to?
These things are hard to
understand for the novice.
I understand very well that my sister
is grieving, vulnerable,
and open to the power
of suggestion.
My sister is generous,
but she can be narrow
when it comes to anything
beyond our normal sphere
of existence.
It is not the first time
that I have encountered this.
Nor will it be the last, I am sure.
Perhaps you would be
good enough to leave us.
Bannister.
Oh, I'm sorry.
[SOFT MUSIC]
You take my card.
We will meet again.
Your husband has more to say to you.
Goodbye, Mrs. Bauer.
And thank you.
Madame Dashkova is going.
You may go too, Mrs. Bauer.
And please refrain
from interfering in this
matter again.
Yes, ma'am.
♪
I won't reprimand you as
that would not be appropriate.
I will only say that Luke
would not approve of this.
I won't give up.
I believe in a life after death.
And so do you.
Yes, but I don't believe
in table tapping, and crystal
balls, and any of the other nonsense
designed to raise your hopes
and part you with your money.
Oh, please, let's not go five minutes
without talking about money.
At least money is real,
unlike the desperate dreams
of a lonely woman.
I am lonely.
I miss my husband.
Should I be ashamed of that?
No, but to be ashamed
of this childish folderol
that you've been toying with.
There are more things in
heaven and Earth, Agnes,
than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
You don't know everything.
No, I don't.
And one of the things I don't know
is how you invited that
charlatan into our home.
♪
Was she very angry?
Wouldn't you be angry if you
saw sketches of your daughter's
undergarments being
hawked on the corner
by newspaper sellers?
She's horrified.
I don't blame her.
The latest article was the last straw.
We must bring it to an end,
or there may be consequences.
You mean she could fire
whomever she suspects?
She's angry enough to
sack us all just to be sure.
And she's certain it's one of us.
Why must it be a member of the staff?
Why not one of the dressmakers?
That's a point which I will
mention when I next see her.
I suppose when the papers
want to write about you,
there's bound to be a downside.
I can't see the upside.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
You'll be glad to
hear Miss Brook accepts
and is off to her fitting.
And I will walk her down
the aisle as a groomsman.
She'll walk down the aisle
with the others behind Gladys.
We're doing it the English way.
You have a visitor, Madam,
who says she is expected.
Miss O'Brien.
What?
Your sister is in the hall, Mother.
But why is she in the house at all?
Hadn't we better go
through to greet her?
♪
Hello, Bertha.
Aunt Monica.
Welcome.
Why are you here?
I accepted your kind invitation.
I wrote to Larry since he wrote to me.
But didn't he tell you?
Of course he did.
Church, send Miss O'Brien's
bags to the tapestry room,
and tell Mrs. Bruce.
I take it from Bertha's expression
that you're not expecting me.
Of course we're expecting you.
You're representing the O'Briens.
You have a very important job to do.
Where's Gladys?
She's lying down.
The whole thing has worn her out.
I can imagine.
I'll just go see if she's all right.
I'll come too.
Father, can you look after Aunt Monica?
Come to the drawing room
and tell me all your news.
I'm not convinced Bertha's
very pleased to see me.
Nonsense. She's delighted.
Nobody loves family more than Bertha.
Why are you so indignant?
Larry said you thought she should come,
so he sent her an invitation
in case it slipped your mind.
Doesn't it occur to you both that she
may feel overwhelmed by it all
and thoroughly out of place?
She doesn't seem overwhelmed.
Really, you constantly
seek to undermine me.
I thought it was agreed.
It was discussed.
It was not agreed.
Will you at least
come down to say hello?
[SIGHS]
I don't think so.
You must come down eventually.
Or what, you'll dress me by force
and drag me to the church in chains?
More lemonade, Mrs. Scott.
Oh, yes. Thank you.
It's so nice of you to
have us, Mrs. Kirkland.
Oh, not at all.
I wanted to see Miss Scott again.
William showed me
your article on the South.
It seemed a rather angry
and violent subject
for a young woman to write about.
It is violent, Mother, and angry.
And someone has to write about it.
But not, I would have
thought, a young lady.
Oh, well, Peggy's
interested in politics.
Oh, really?
Well, as a colored woman,
she's a long way from the vote.
Oh, it will come and in my lifetime.
I wish I could be as sure
of anything as you are.
Oh.
Well, we must be supportive
of the rights of our sex
as well as our color.
My goal was to be
a good wife and mother.
But I suppose young women
don't want that anymore.
Oh, I want to be a good wife
and mother who has the vote.
Well said.
My son seems quite
persuaded by you, Mrs. Scott.
He wants me to come hear your talk.
And I will.
Oh.
I'm impressed, Mrs. Kirkland.
Any time my son is
so taken with a body,
I'm bound to be curious.
This is it?
You wanted to know what
I'm wearing for the wedding.
I also thought you could
use some extra clothes
- while you're here.
- Why?
I'm not a doll for you to dress.
How many clothes do I need?
As a rule, I get up into a
dress to shop or write letters.
Then I change for luncheon
or paying calls.
And then I change again
sometime after 6:00 for dinner
and perhaps one last time before
going to a ball or the opera.
Heavens.
I might change once if
someone's coming to break
bread, but that's about it.
What dress will you
wear to meet the Duke?
He's coming for dinner tonight.
That's the only one I have that would
count as a dress for you.
You wanted to see me, ma'am?
Miss O'Brien will need some
more clothes while she's here.
Please show her what I
have, let her choose,
and alter them if necessary.
But it's not necessary.
I think it is.
I assure you, I can dress myself.
And I prefer to wear my own clothes.
I will wear the dress to
the dinner and the wedding.
Fine.
The Duke is a man.
He won't notice.
Very good, ma'am.
What rules do you live by?
But that's you all over.
You always had a right way and
a wrong way for everything.
We have our habits.
It's easier for the staff.
So which is the throne room?
What do you mean?
You're royal now.
I assume you have a place
to receive your subjects.
The Duke is not royal.
He's noble.
I don't know the difference.
Is that very shocking?
What's he like?
You'll see for yourself this evening.
He's bringing his sister.
He's not staying?
No, he has a room at the Union Club.
We don't want them to see
too much of each other
before the wedding.
You mean in case they discover they
don't really like each other?
We don't want to diminish the
excitement of their romance.
They can get to know each other later.
[KNOCK AT DOOR]
Aunt Agnes.
I don't often see you up here.
The wedding gown is
in the evening paper.
I thought you would be interested.
[GASPS]
[LAUGHS] Mrs. Russell won't like that.
Are you mad?
She probably delivered it herself.
Or maybe it was Gladys.
I'm not sure you understand
Mrs. Russell, Aunt Agnes.
You certainly don't understand Gladys.
I've been in New York
a long time, my dear.
Such people come and go.
But why do you think Mrs. Russell
wanted you to be a part of it?
Because it is a big thing, you know.
Maybe she just wanted to be nice.
I don't think so.
Might she be building you up
to be a suitable society
bride for her son?
Certainly not.
Why else would she give
you such a prominent role?
And the boy's keen, isn't he?
Hmm?
I know you talk about such things
with Ada and never to me.
But my eyes do open,
and I can see through them.
I am not what Mrs. Russell wants.
Believe me, Mrs. Russell
would be lucky to get you.
So have they finished
work on your dress?
Tell me about it.
It's very pretty.
[CHUCKLES]
As pretty as money can buy.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
Mr. Weston won't be long.
Can I get you anything?
No thank you.
None for me.
Thank you.
What should we do if
he's just stolen the idea?
Don't be silly.
We have a patent.
Miss Armstrong says people
can get around patents.
Not often.
Hello, gentlemen.
This is Mr. Eldridge, who
helps me with my businesses.
Please.
Mm.
I won't beat about the bush.
We like your clock.
That is exactly what we wanted to hear.
Of course.
And we feel we have
some ideas that we
I'm sorry to cut you off.
We're not looking for a partnership.
We want to buy the
clock and the patent,
lock, stock, and barrel.
Uh.
Before we answer, may we know
how much you are offering?
We were thinking of three.
♪
Or four.
♪
We cannot go higher.
I'm afraid you must.
We were hoping for six.
You know you'll intend
to make many times that.
I suspect you've already
discussed this figure.
♪
You drive a hard bargain.
Very well, gentlemen.
$600,000.
What?
I'm sorry.
We cannot go any higher.
Gentlemen, we have a deal.
Thank you.
And if I may say so, well done.
♪
Another article.
This one's about the
mistress and Miss Gladys
arguing about the wedding dress.
It seems so underhand for them
to print it without permission.
You don't know many journalists then?
The mistress will be in
more of a rage than ever.
She'll want blood.
But suppose it was Madame Donovan?
Who?
Madame Donovan made the dress.
Everyone expected it
to be Monsieur Worth.
But Miss Gladys wanted
an American designer.
It might be Madame Donovan.
If she gets enough publicity out of it,
she'll be made for life.
Have you said that to the mistress?
Careful.
If Mrs. Russell thinks
it might be true,
she's angry enough to have
Madame Donovan done away with.
Well, at least we'd be off the hook.
That's enough.
We have His Grace's sister
for dinner this evening.
Every tiny detail must be right.
Well, we'll certainly hear about it.
Who do you think is
selling our secrets?
Happily, no one will suspect me.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
So what happens next?
Well, we drink a toast
to ourselves, I suppose.
We couldn't have hoped
for a better deal.
But there's no more to
be done about the clock?
No more to be done.
Strange.
I thought I'd be working on
this the rest of my life.
What'll I do now, I wonder.
You mean now you're
almost as rich as Mrs. Forte
and much richer than Mrs. Van Rhijn.
I won't tell them.
Not yet.
Well, good luck when the time comes.
♪
Jack?
John?
Don't keep us in suspense.
How did it go?
It went well, I think.
You think?
You don't know?
♪
And that's all we're going
to know for now, at least.
Do not misunderstand me.
The Tuskegee School
is a fine institution
and provides real opportunity
for colored students.
Indeed, Mr. Booker T.
Washington is a great man,
but we must be under no illusion.
These new discriminatory
laws are an attempt
to deprive colored citizens
of the rights and benefits
of reconstruction that
were won the hard way
with the Civil War.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]
[CHATTER]
Mrs. Fane, what a pleasure to see you.
Miss Brook wrote to tell
me you were speaking.
I thought your talk went very well.
Thank you.
I don't think I understood the damage
these new laws are doing.
You're not alone in that, I'm afraid.
But how are you?
Miss Brook told me you've
been going through
some difficult times yourself.
I'm doing as well as I can.
I'm surprised you're not in New York
for Miss Russell's wedding.
It seemed better not.
Well, this is my mother, Mrs. Scott,
and our cousin, Mrs. Trumbo.
This is Mrs. Fane,
a cousin of Miss Brook's.
You must be proud of your daughter.
And now, if you'll excuse me.
She seems nice, but a little sad.
Her husband's divorcing her.
She's unhappy, but his mind is made up.
I'm sorry to hear it.
Look.
It's Dr. Kirkland and his parents.
Yes.
How lovely to see you.
So nice of you to join us.
Is Mr. Scott not with you?
No.
He had to go back to the city.
Shame.
But he's not an important man, is he?
Not like us.
His history is so very
different from ours.
My husband is an honorable
man, a business owner,
and a proud husband and father.
How different is that than you?
It's the same.
And my wife would agree.
Newport is not the center of
everyone's world, Elizabeth.
I hope you all enjoyed Peggy's talk.
It was wonderful.
I'm so glad I could hear
you speak about your work.
It piqued my curiosity to
read your book even more.
Well, that's still a work in progress.
But it's so kind of you all to come.
And I am really glad
if you did enjoy it.
Very much.
Well, again, I cannot
pretend to understand
your choice of subjects,
but you spoke well.
And now I must go.
William?
Are you coming?
If you wish, Mother.
Give our best to Arthur.
I will.
Miss Scott.
Ladies.
The gall of that woman.
I just couldn't stay silent.
That's what you and
father were arguing about?
Yes, and her other predilections.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
So you spend your time
at Sidmouth Castle?
Well, we go to London for the season
and to Scotland for
the grouse, of course.
Of course.
It sounds admirably regimented.
We Yanks live quite a
knockabout life by comparison.
Don't we, Bertha?
Should the ladies go
through, or shall we
- have our coffee here?
- Here.
Why not?
So are we all prepared
for tomorrow's madness?
Don't exaggerate.
Well, there is a lot of
curiosity about the wedding
in the papers.
But perhaps it's good.
The wonders that can happen
for a modern American girl.
I don't like the idea
of a wedding becoming
a public entertainment.
My sister does not much
enjoy public scrutiny.
But what about you?
Are you ready to star
in a public show, Duke?
My sister says I must call you Duke.
As my wife's aunt, I hope
you will call me Hector.
We are all family.
But will any of your relations
be joining us tomorrow, Lady Sarah?
Some cousins who live in New York.
Not your husband?
Or children?
I'm not married.
That's why I live with
my brother at Sidmouth.
Will you move out now?
I hope not.
Hector?
I hadn't thought about it.
I wonder if Gladys
has thought about it.
I would.
[ALL GASPING]
I apologize, Miss O'Brien.
I don't understand how
that could have broken.
Well, my dress is ruined.
That's for sure.
I'm so sorry.
George, ask Mrs. Bruce
to come help Miss O'Brien.
I'll go up to my room.
Send Mrs. Bruce if you want, but I can
climb the stairs on my own.
Well, should we go to the drawing room?
Perhaps I can offer you
a glass of whisky, Hector.
No.
I must get Sarah back
to her cousin's house.
I'll see you all tomorrow.
And thank you.
Yes. Thank you, Mrs. Russell.
You've been very kind.
Call me Bertha now we're
related, as Hector said.
Yes.
I suppose we are, in a way.
♪
Thank you, Andre. I can manage.
So were you pleased with this evening?
I don't know about pleased,
but I suppose everything's settled.
Lady Sarah's a cold fish.
And she seems to have
Hector well under control.
Let's hope Gladys proves
to be a match for her.
That's if she comes out
of her bedroom tomorrow.
She will.
I'm not dragging her to the church
if she doesn't want to come.
So then what?
We spend the rest of our lives
getting sneered at every time
we leave the house?
You got us into this.
I agreed to go along, but that's all.
Then stick to your agreement.
How's your sister doing?
I looked in on her. She seems fine.
I hope the coffee didn't burn her.
No, it wasn't hot.
Bertha, tell me you didn't.
The dress was hideous, George.
How could I let her
appear before the whole
of New York looking like
a cook on her day off?
It would have been unkind.
So it was an act of mercy?
I've got something picked
out from two years ago.
No one will remember me in it.
She'll look lovely.
We're a pretty ruthless
pair, aren't we, you and I?
I don't know what you mean.
I like things to be right.
But don't you?
I like things my way, yes, but
But what?
I wish I was convinced
that what you want
is right for Gladys.
So then what would
you have wanted for her?
A banker with a house on
the Avenue and a cottage
in Newport.
And that would have
been enough for you?
If it's enough for her,
what do my ambitions matter?
Go to bed, George,
and wake up sensible.
♪
Are you still up?
I couldn't sleep.
Why not?
Did something bad
happened at that meeting?
No.
At least I don't think so.
They're buying us out.
Oh, Jack.
That's amazing.
So what's wrong?
I don't know what I'm
supposed to do next.
I expect you'll invent something
else even more successful.
And you can stay working
here until you do.
But can I?
After they paid me?
Mrs. Forte won't grudge you that.
She'll be glad if
you got a little nest egg
to see it through.
It's quite a big nest egg.
Now, how big is big?
$300,000?
- [DISH CLATTERS]
- What?
I'm sorry.
Never mind that.
$300,000?
You need never work again
if you don't want to.
But I do want to.
And I don't want to leave.
I've never had a home before this one.
Not a real home.
Then this must be our secret.
Not forever, but for now.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
Very good, Miss Gladys.
♪
Well, she took the tea and thanked me.
Come with me.
The mistress may have an idea.
Please, come in.
Miss Brook, you are so good to come.
I was sorry to summon you.
But of all the bridesmaids,
you were the nearest.
How can I help?
Go and see Gladys.
She hasn't been out
of her room in days.
And my housekeeper tells me
she's refusing to come out now.
Somehow, we must help her to grasp
this opportunity on offer.
Do you think you can do that?
I can try.
Miss Brook.
Thank you.
♪
You can't say you
didn't know it was coming.
Everyone in the country
knew it was coming.
But it was so far in the distance.
And suddenly, it's here.
It's now.
I still think I should back out.
Of course, you'd find
yourself on every front page
from Timbuktu to Minsk.
Are you ready for that?
You're not being fair when you're
determined to marry for love.
That's true.
I am.
And maybe I'm not being fair.
So you believe I should stop it?
All I know is that
Charlotte Astor was burning
to marry James Drayton.
And now their battles are a
scandal on two continents,
while Helen Astor was
bullied by her mother
into marrying Rosy Roosevelt,
and they're as
happy as lovebirds in a tree.
What would you do?
Our positions are so different.
No one beyond my own family much
cares what I do with my life.
I think Larry cares what
you do with your life.
That's different.
I'm still not a public figure.
You are, a great heiress destined
to be a society leader
doing good, I hope,
but doing it in public.
The Duke can give you
a safe pedestal for that.
What if I don't want
to live on a pedestal?
I'm not hungry.
The mistress wants you to
eat properly, Miss Gladys.
She says you won't want any luncheon.
She wouldn't want
me to faint in church.
- Although that's one way out.
- [SCOFFS]
Will you take her with you?
Mother says I need a maid
who's comfortable with England
and the rest of the staff.
The idea is for Adelheid to come
with me to train her replacement
and return to New York.
Trust your mother to
leave nothing to chance.
Eat before it gets cold.
[SOFT MUSIC]
I suppose.
♪
They told me you were here, but why?
You know what day it is.
Mr. Morgan is here.
Mr. Morgan.
I didn't see you.
I don't mean to be unwelcoming.
But I'm afraid it's
not a good day for me.
My daughter is getting married.
It can't wait.
What is so important?
You don't seem to understand
your plan is in chaos.
This crisis is developing
into a full blown panic.
Banks are closing.
Every day, our backers
are in a state of terror,
yet you go charging on.
Russell Industries is ready
Russell Industries is in trouble
while you spend money you don't
have apparently until the sky
caves in and buries you.
Are you saying you're
withdrawing your support?
I won't support you,
nor will anyone else.
Why should they?
If Russell Industries
goes down, we all go down.
Wake up, man.
See the ruin that is lying
waiting for you on every side.
I don't accept your analysis.
Yes, there is a banking crisis,
but only within New York State.
It'll pass.
And when it does, America
will still need the transport
system I mean to give her.
Maybe in a different world.
But you're putting at
risk the city of New York
and all our fortunes with it.
I'm out.
I wish you well with
your wedding bells.
But just remember, if you
refuse to change course,
your own money will be
lost with all the rest.
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I don't care what he says.
I'll get the land around Morenci.
I'll carry Chicago with me.
And when I'm done, this country will be
ready for the coming century.
How will you manage it without Morgan?
Don't worry.
There's always money if
you know where to find it.
And when I do, Morgan will be back.
Maybe, but not, I think, today.
No.
Today, I have to marry my daughter
to a man she doesn't like.
♪
Oh, how lovely you look.
I'm glad you're wearing
something new after all.
It seemed mean-spirited not to.
And I'm sure this will come in handy.
Well, I'm not, but you
were right just the same.
Oh, Mama, did I tell you
I've got two more clients?
So it's over a dozen now.
How splendid.
I'm surprised you could take
time off to attend a wedding.
Nonsense.
A packed church, and all of
them richer than Croesus,
I mean it to be a busy day for me.
How depressing.
Oh, listen to this.
A certain Mr. B. has been
challenged to a duel
by a Mr. D.
Apparently, Mrs. D. has been
having a little too much fun
in Paris.
That must be Mr. Borrowe
and Charlotte Drayton.
Poor Lina.
What a blow.
Mrs. Astor has weathered worse.
But it's so public.
She'll hate that.
Oh, Marian dear.
How perfectly lovely.
Hear, hear.
A real stunner.
It's all Mrs. Russell's work
down to the least particular.
I just stood still
while they made it fit.
Which they have done.
Extremely well.
Don't be coarse.
Everyone will be looking at you.
But you mustn't be late.
Oscar, will you take
Marian across the street?
- Of course.
- Do you have a coat?
Yes, but I don't think I want it.
It'll just be a bore later on.
Then we'll see you at St. Thomas.
How beautiful she looks.
If only she knew how to use it.
I'm sorry I'm late.
I hope you weren't worried.
I'm not worried.
But I'm afraid I'm going alone.
What's the matter?
I can't take you, not
with the news of James' duel
all over New York.
But he never fought his wretched duel.
He made the challenge because he
thought Mr. Borrowe was your
My what?
Your lover.
Really, Mama?
You quite shock me.
Oh, I think it would be
quite hard to shock you.
This is fighting talk.
What's the matter?
Is your terror of divorce resurfacing?
You will not divorce.
I won't live as you
and father live either,
separated in every way, but legally,
he on his yacht
with his pretty companions
while you rattle around
in this drafty old palace.
You will not have divorced parents.
That, I promise.
Poor you.
Father's life seems much
more fun than yours.
He's a man, my dear.
Men have more fun.
But in the meantime,
I can't come to the ceremony?
[LAUGHS]
I don't much like Mrs. Russell,
but I cannot bring a note of scandal
into her daughter's wedding.
That would be unforgivable.
So we're just going to ride it out?
That's right.
I'm going to ride it out.
And you're going to ride along with me.
Right.
That's all the bridesmaids gone.
You're next.
Are you ready?
How can I go when we
don't know if she'll
even come out of her room?
She'll be down in a minute.
I'll go up.
Your carriage is ready, ma'am.
You go.
I'll see to Gladys.
[UPBEAT MUSIC]
♪
I shall say hello to Lina.
Oh.
Good morning to you both.
Agnes, Ada, Oscar, I
wasn't sure I'd see you here.
If only we could have avoided it.
What nonsense, Mama.
Curiosity alone would have
you sleeping on the sidewalk
to get a good seat.
Marian showed us
the dress she's wearing.
It's very pretty.
I can't help feeling
that asking Marian to be
a bridesmaid was a rare sign
of good taste on Mrs. Russell's
part, not to be unkind.
Unkind, but not necessarily untrue.
Wasn't there something
in the paper that we
wanted to ask you about?
Agnes?
Well, I like Mrs. Russell.
And I've decided from now on,
I'm only going to say
nice things about everyone.
Quite an adjustment for you.
Don't make me change my mind.
We'll speak at the reception, my dear.
Well, I'm afraid I can't stay long.
My daughter, Charlotte isn't well.
I must look in on her.
I understand.
What do you understand?
I didn't mean anything by it, Lina.
Shall we be seated?
This wedding is not my doing.
I know.
And I would have supported
you if you had refused to go
ahead when I first got home.
But the time for that has passed.
Backing out now,
humiliating Hector in public
would damage you far more than him.
You'll drag the story with
you for the rest of your life.
So I need to pull myself together.
Gladys, I take no pleasure in this.
In fact, I apologize with all my heart.
You think I've failed you.
And I think I've failed you.
But I can't see a way out of it.
[SIGHS]
I understand.
That's it.
I have nothing more to say.
The decision must be yours.
I will wait downstairs.
If you're not there in 10 minutes,
I will send word to the church.
And that will be that.
Is it true?
Good day to you, Mrs. Winterton.
And now, is what true?
That Charlotte Astor's
husband challenged
Alsop Borrowe to a duel.
- Who won?
- No one.
The duel was never fought.
What had she done?
Nothing.
Mrs. Drayton and Borrowe
were both in Paris.
And they went to a couple
of exhibitions together.
A couple more than Mr. Drayton
would have liked, obviously.
Always a pleasure.
Where's your husband?
He's not well, I'm afraid.
I thought nothing short of death's door
would keep him away from this.
Well.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
Is there anything you would like, sir?
Nothing that you can give me.
Miss Gladys will be down soon.
And then you can stop worrying.
I wish I could be sure of that as you.
♪
Heavens, what a crush.
Oh, Mrs. Astor.
So nice of you to come.
Carrie looks so lovely.
Is Mrs. Drayton here?
No.
She woke with a headache.
Oh. I'm so sorry.
Are you, Mrs. Russell?
Mrs. Ruck.
Excuse me.
What did that mean?
Haven't you seen the paper?
Don't bother.
The story meant nothing at all.
Who's this lovely lady?
That's my sister, Miss O'Brien.
- Have we met?
- I doubt it.
I live in Albany.
Will you come this way, Monica?
But how fascinating.
What is fascinating?
She's Mrs. Russell's sister, so she can
talk about their early years.
Strange.
I've never met her.
Why?
When would you have met her?
Thank you.
Take your seat, now,
before we get overrun.
Bertha, are you sure
this will turn out well?
You've been saying
that since I was three.
And has it turned out well?
Look around you.
I might say the same.
♪
Should I send someone
up to check on her, sir?
No.
We'll know soon enough.
She's coming!
Thank God.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
Three cheers for Miss Gladys.
- Hip, hip.
- ALL: Hooray!
- Hip, hip.
- ALL: Hooray!
[APPLAUSE]
♪
Oh, you've done a wonderful job.
I hope so.
Are you all right?
Well, since you asked,
there is something
I have wanted to say to
you for quite a while now.
I was building up the courage.
Go on then.
I would like to ask you
to be my wife, Mrs. Bruce.
As a matter of fact, I've been
carrying this around for weeks.
Your wife's ring.
I prefer to think of it as my mother's.
You don't have to give
me an answer right away.
The truth is, I will answer you
right now only because I don't
want you to get your hopes up.
I cannot marry you, Mr. Borden.
Oh.
I'm already married.
But you told me you were single.
I barely knew you then.
And I didn't want to share my history.
Please, share it now.
My husband suffers
from acute melancholia.
And as a result, he's been confined
in an asylum since 1877.
An asylum?
In Larchmont.
He has enough money to pay the charges.
Leaving you to support yourself?
Don't make me the victim here.
He is the victim.
I am not.
How long has he been ill?
Looking back, I suppose I refused
to see the signs until they
became impossible to ignore.
That was about 10 years ago.
And you can't divorce?
The only acceptable reason
for divorce in New York
is adultery, which
clearly does not apply.
No.
I couldn't afford it, anyway.
And somehow,
I don't want to abandon him,
not in his hour of need.
You'll think me foolish.
On the contrary.
I think you noble.
Well
I should check the rooms
are ready for their return.
Lady Sarah. Hector.
At this rate, I may never
meet the famous Gladys.
You look very handsome, Hector.
Only I thought you might be
in a guardsman's uniform.
It's not done if you
marry out of England.
Well, we mustn't do
anything that's not done.
How is Gladys this morning?
I assume she's come out of her room.
She was right behind
me as I left the house.
They must have got
caught in the traffic.
The crowds were quite large.
I pray they're not disappointed.
I hope we can entertain you
again while you're in New York.
I'm afraid not.
I leave tomorrow.
Oh, what a shame.
Wouldn't you have liked
to see more of the city?
Not really.
There's a lot going on at home.
At Sidmouth Castle?
At Sidmouth, and in London.
And we go to Scotland soon.
- For the grouse.
- Mm.
So Lady Sarah said last night.
[CHATTER]
You should sit down.
All right.
Just try not to laugh.
[SOFT MUSIC]
♪
The carriage has arrived.
What a relief.
People were starting to look anxious.
They'd look more anxious
if they knew the truth.
♪
So what happens now?
Dear father, I love you.
But as you said earlier, we're
past the point of no return.
["WEDDING MARCH" PLAYING]
♪
Who gives this woman to
be married to this man?
I do.
Well, here goes.
What a triumph for Mrs. Russell.
Strange, really, when you
think that three years ago,
none of us ever heard of her.
Please be seated.
I hope she knows what she's doing.
Nobody knows what they're
doing when they get married.
In the case of this company
to join together this man
and this woman in holy matrimony,
which is an honorable estate
instituted of God in the time
of man's innocency, signifying unto
us the mystical union that is
betwixt Christ and his church.
If any man can show just cause
why they may not lawfully
be joined together, let him
now speak, or else hereafter
forever hold his peace.
I require and charge you
both, as you will answer
at the dreadful day of judgment
when the secrets of all hearts
shall be disclosed,
that if either of you
know any impediment why you may not
be lawfully joined
together in matrimony,
you do now confess it.
For be well assured that if
any persons are joined together
otherwise than as God's word allows,
their marriage is not lawful.
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]
♪
I pray you're right about this.
George, our daughter is about to be
the Duchess of Buckingham.
At one time, that would
not have seemed likely.
Let me enjoy it.
Only unto her so long
as you both shall live.
I will.
To live together after God's
ordinance in the holy estate
of matrimony, wilt thou obey him
and serve him, love,
honor, and keep him
in sickness and in health,
and forsaking all others,
keep thee only unto him,
so long as you both shall live?
[TENSE MUSIC]
♪
I will.
♪
Thank you, Adelheid.
You can leave me.
Have you got a nice cabin?
Very nice, Miss
Your Grace.
We sail any moment now.
Yes.
Is there anything you need?
No. I have everything.
Thank you.
Look, um, I suppose
your mother will have told
you that the duties of a wife include
more than is expected of
of an unmarried woman.
Yes.
She's explained it to me.
Good.
That makes things easier.
She said it would hurt.
But only once.
Only the first time.
After that, you may
even come to enjoy it.
People do.
Aren't you tired after such a long day?
There's no rush after all.
It'll be embarrassing
for us both, of course.
But plenty of men and women
have managed it before now.
So you don't want to wait then?
You're right that I'm tired.
But I'm not too tired.
And I prefer to get awkward
things done and settled.
That way we can wake up tomorrow
as a proper man and a wife.
♪
sync & corrections awaqeded
[DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[BRIGHT TONE]