The Gown

Miriam is worried about Ann because she is barely eating and is exhausted. She begs Ann to go to the doctor, but Ann insists nothing is the matter and she just needs sleep. Princess Elizabeth asked Mr. Hartnell to nominate three employees to go to the royal wedding, and he chooses Ann, Miss Duley, and Miss Holliday, the head of sewing. Ann graciously accepts, but Miriam thinks Ann isn’t as excited as she should be. When the Examiner publishes a dress design they claim is Princess Elizabeth’s wedding gown, Ann goes pale and silent. Miriam pulls her aside, and Ann confesses that the sketch in the Examiner is one she did for Doris’s wedding gown. She says Jeremy must’ve taken it. Ann says she must tell Miss Duley and Mr. Hartnell, but Miriam tells her to wait until she can confirm with Walter that it was Jeremy. After work, Miriam goes to Walter’s office and explains what happened with Ann. Walter promises to find out more. Later that night, he stops by and confirms Jeremy sold the sketch. Ann is convinced she will be fired, and Miriam tries to calm her down by asking what is the worst thing that could happen. When Ann doesn’t answer, Miriam realizes that Jeremy raped her. Miriam tries to comfort her, saying she too was once broken, but she survived and is now thriving.

Miriam says she will go with Ann to tell Mr. Hartnell. He says he isn’t worried because no one believes that was the dress. He says that he’s sorry about Ann’s experience with the man who took the sketch and she’s one of his best embroiderers and he wouldn’t let her go. Mr. Hartnell noticed there was a good luck motif in Ann’s sketch, and he suggests she should design one for the princess’s gown. Ann says a sprig of heather on the train would be a good luck charm, and Mr. Hartnell agrees. Ann and Miss Duley leave while Miriam remains to tell Mr. Hartnell the name of the man who betrayed her friend.

Heather enjoys her tour of Buckingham Palace with Miriam and Daniel, though she says it’s far too grand to live in. They end the tour with the Fashioning a Reign exhibition, where all the queen’s important gowns are on display. Heather is amazed by the wedding gown, and Miriam shows Heather where she and Ann embroidered the bodice, the sleeves, and part of the skirt and train. Miriam tells her about the sprig of heather that Ann designed as a good luck charm on the train. After admiring the gown, they go to a refreshment tent for tea and scones. Heather is invited to the reception for Miriam the next day and impulsively decides to switch her ticket and go. Daniel and Heather escort Miriam home, where Miriam (speaking French) encourages Daniel to pursue Heather, which Heather understands because she’s Canadian.

Daniel takes Heather to lunch. Heather asks about the tattoo on his wrist, which is part of a poem by Wilfred Owen. He says his grandfather encouraged him to be a historian rather than a journalist. Daniel loves his work because he gets to study the holocaust and his grandmother’s history. Heather says she was laid off, and now wants to write something she’s passionate about like the history of Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown and Miriam and Ann’s part in it. Daniel encourages her to ask Miriam for an interview. Daniel asks Heather to visit him in New York, and Heather is excited. Daniel walks her back to her hotel, and they kiss.