The Gown

Miriam and others at Hartnell are worried they won’t get the princess’s wedding gown done in time. Photographers lurk outside the doors and bombard the staff with questions and try to bribe them for details. Miss Duley tells Ann and Miriam that there were problems getting the pearls for the gown through customs, and the prime minister was only pacified about the nationality of the silkworms being used when Hartnell assured him they were Chinese and not Japanese. Miriam and Ann finished the bodice and are now working on the skirt.

When she’s not working, Miriam dreams about her embroidery and the five tapestries she wants to make. She also meets Walter at least once a week, so she feels bad about neglecting her chores. Ann comforts her and says it’s the mark of an artist to always be working on their art. Miriam denies she’s an artist, but Ann assures her she is because she is telling a story that matters. Miriam tells Ann the story of how she hid from the Nazis. Her parents and grandparents had been arrested, and she felt so guilty that she joined the Resistance. She and her partners were betrayed and sent to Ravensbrück, but the Nazis didn’t know Miriam was Jewish. Miriam was young and knew how to sew, so she worked in the sweatshop making uniforms. Miriam describes how they began gassing people. Several of her friends died, but the Americans liberated the camp before Miriam was killed. Ann comforts her and encourages her to tell Walter. In response, Miriam asks Ann about Jeremy. Ann says she is unsure about the relationship. Miriam is worried they won’t finish the gown on time, and Ann assures her they will.

It is raining while Heather walks to the restaurant to meet Dr. Friedman. Inside, she finds a young, handsome man reading a book. Heather expected Daniel to be older. They order food and dive into Heather’s quest to find out about Ann’s past. Daniel reveals he knows about her grandmother because Miriam is his grandmother. Heather knows nothing about Ann’s past, and Daniel explains it was only when he convinced Miriam to do the retrospective exhibit that he found out it was Ann who first encouraged Miriam to be an artist. Heather shows him the photos that lead her to Miriam, and he says in the picture of the embroidery workroom the women are expecting a visit from the queen and Princess Elizabeth.

Heather explains that she wishes to see the Hartnell workrooms. Daniel agrees to take her to see them after lunch. They tour the Hartnell showroom and embroidery workroom, and Heather is overwhelmed by the beauty and feels close to her grandmother again. Heather doesn’t know why she left it all and never embroidered again. Daniel says he will arrange a meeting with Miriam so Heather can ask her about it.