Five years have elapsed since the store opened. Harry's son Gordon is at boarding school but obtains his father's permission to leave and work in the store whilst all his female relatives have returned to America. Rose comes back for the fifth anniversary. On the boat over she has met emancipated feminist Delphine Day, a writer and night-club owner, who advises her to use her own potential. Lady Mae's husband Lord Loxley arrives in London, suspicious of his wife's friendship with Harry and not above using blackmail to get onto a military committee. New head of fashion Mr Thackeray is not popular. Trained in Paris, he sees himself as superior to other staff members and is jealous of Agnes, who has also returned from Paris. Now head of display she impresses Harry with her ideas but is dismayed to find that Victor, now manager of the restaurant where he employs his young cousin Franco as a waiter, has a close working relationship with friend Gabriella. Henri Leclair also returns from ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Harry is confronted by a delegation of trade unionists led by Arnold Huxton demanding better workers' rights. Union membership is forbidden at the store as the staff have their own council for debates but Ed and Dave, who work in the loading bay with Gordon, are interested and arrange to attend a talk given by Huxton. Gordon overhears and sneaks into the meeting but when the Selfridge staff learns how comparatively well-served they are, the unionists are angry and a fight ensues. Rose, seeing Henri at the club, follows him home to where he is living in poverty though he declines her offer of his old job back. Harry is annoyed that she made the offer behind his back. To repay the staff for their loyalty he arranges a tango party at Delphine's, inviting Lady Mae, though her obnoxious husband also tags along and is angry when Harry refuses to discuss business with him. Despite the threat of war, which particularly unnerves Grove, the party is a success, Kitty dazzling Frank, though Agnes... Written by don @ minifie-1

The store is preparing for the Empire Exhibition but Agnes is struggling with her display and Thackeray is not pleased when Harry reinstates Henri, who has offered to help her. Nor is Rose happy to find Gordon has some saucy photos but in the resultant confrontation he makes her see that she should give Harry another chance. Consequently she declines her husband's suggestion that she should return to America if there is a war and they agree to support each other. Kitty gives Frank another chance as they take a picnic to Green park whilst Grove reencounters Miss Mardle who, thanks to a legacy, is now a woman of property, making him regret his not marrying her. Lady Mae learns that Loxley has huge gambling debts and threatens to expose this should he ever lay a finger on her again and, following the success of Agnes and Henri's impressive display, Loxley offers to invite Winston Churchill to open the exhibition. However Harry must inform the staff that Churchill cannot come as Britain ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Male staff are anxious to enlist in the army, gaining the nickname the Selfridge Brigade. Agnes is upset to learn that brother George has joined up but cannot prevent him whilst Victor is about to sign up but his uncle Gio is dying and asks him to stay and look after the family. Rose, Lady Mae and Delphine hold a charity sale to raise funds for Belgian refugees, taking place in the store's Palm Court restaurant. This leads to a confrontation between Thackeray (angry that a donation tin is put on his counter) and Henri, but Harry has now appointed Henri his deputy and Thackeray must back down. Meanwhile Miss Mardle strikes up a friendship with one of the refugees, chocolate maker Jean Neuhaus. Frank obtains his own newspaper column and asks Kitty if she can provide information to discredit Loxley and his dubious role in the military procurement committee. Lady Mae has the same aim in mind after her maid tells her that she has heard Loxley talking to a man with whom he can strike a ... Written by don @ minifie-1

At Neuhaus's suggestion Miss Mardle takes in Belgian refugees, including handsome young violinist Florian Dupont. Agnes is asked out by Victor, now running the family restaurant following Uncle Gio's death and Gabriella's return to Italy. Gordon feels guilty that his friends are fighting in the war whilst Harry will not allow him to sign up and women are recruited to take over delivery work at the store, Rose becoming their champion when she demands better conditions for them. Delphine arranges a meeting for Harry with members of the military procurement board - including Loxley - with a view to giving Harry a say in the running of military matters. The men play cards, Harry winning a substantial sum from Loxley, though Lady Mae is curious as to how her husband amassed a large wad of money. He gives her some notes to buy a new outfit at the store but she is offended by Thackeray's sexist comments and makes no purchases. Thackeray again comes off worse after another spat with Henri but... Written by don @ minifie-1

As the war progresses German goods are withdrawn from the store and Harry is approached by Bill Summertime, whom he met at the card game and who is part of British Intelligence. He asks if Harry, as an American neutral, will visit Germany as a spy. Henri bumps into Agnes, whilst she is waiting for Victor. Things are strained between them but she tells Henri that Victor is a good man. A party including Henri and Agnes and Miss Mardle and Florian attend the music hall and see popular singer Richard Chapman. Not only is he ideal to headline Harry's patriotic concert but he and Lady Mae find themselves getting close as she confides in him about her unhappy marriage. Victor tells Agnes that he has a bank loan to run the family restaurant and wants her to leave the store to work with him whilst after yet another argument between the two men Thackeray accuses Henri of being an enemy spy and he is arrested. As news of casualties among former Selfridge workers arrives at the store Harry ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Henri is arrested but tells Agnes that the only reason he went to Germany was to find his old lover Valerie. Agnes tells Grove she believes Henri has been set up by the jealous Thackeray, who is forced to admit it. Henri, after being accused of theft in New York went on the run. Rose is concerned that she cannot get in touch with Harry and learns from Delphine that he is in Germany, spying on their manufacturers. An envious Grove warns Miss Mardle that she and Florian could become victims of gossip but she does not care - unlike Grove Florian has declared unconditional love for her. Loxley is in trouble when boots manufactured for his contract with the military board are found to be shoddy and he is accused of being a war profiteer. However Loxley tells Edwards that the real culprit is Harry, whose visit to Germany makes him appear even more suspect and Edwards, desperate for a scoop, is willing to print this, to Kitty's disgust. Meanwhile Lady Mae decides to leave her husband and ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Harry returns to London with information for Summertime but is angry that Bill will not support him in the face of accusations of treachery and talks to the staff to reassure them that Edwards' newspaper story about him was a lie. Edwards is genuinely contrite and agrees to print a letter from Harry telling the truth but the editor refuses. Following the bad publicity business is poor until Delphine brings American film producer Mack Sennett and his actress lover Mabel Normand to the store. They throw a lavish party where Mabel gets young Gordon very drunk. Harry visits Henri, who is facing deportation, but manages to trace Valerie with Bill Summertime's help and she vouches for his innocence, securing his release. Having sold her jewels to pay for their accommodation Lady Mae tells Pimble that, since her husband is reluctant to grant her a divorce, she must destroy him whilst again her efforts to reconcile with the Selfridges are rebuffed. Mack Sennett asks Harry to return to the ... Written by don @ minifie-1

Business is still suffering after the newspaper story so Henri brings in the formidable journalist Winifred Bonfils Black. At the same time a contrite Frank Edwards resigns from the paper and meets Lady Mae, who tells him and Harry that she knows Loxley blackmailed Edgerton and is the real culprit. Harry invites her and Pimble to live with the Selfridges, reconciling Mae with Rose, and they unite against Loxley when he storms in to drag his wife back. Rose is feeling unwell and is advised to take a break from London by Delphine. Mae believes Delphine is trying to steal Harry from Rose and indeed Delphine makes a play for Harry, who rebuffs her. Winifred's article is very positive, largely built around Agnes, who has other reasons to be happy, as George, missing and feared dead, comes home and she is engaged to Victor. Grove has a son with Doris but is still jealously censuring Miss Mardle for her relationship with young Florian, who is now working in a factory. Written by don @ minifie-1

Josie Mardle tells Florian she believes she is too old for him and that she has arranged an audition with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester. The young man is heart-broken but surprisingly it is Grove who apologizes to Miss Mardle and persuades her that she should make a go of the relationship. Agnes and Victor give Harry notice as they are leaving to run the restaurant together. Henri is also quitting to go to France and fight in the army. Agnes, Victor, Franco and George look around the restaurant but Agnes has her misgivings as to whether it is what she wants, given that her forte is in window display and goes for one last walk with Henri. Frank Edwards comes to see Harry, telling him he needs actual proof to discredit Loxley but Mae manages to procure a list that exposes him and Harry delivers it to the Procurement Committee meeting, thus clearing his name and showing Loxley to be the profiteer. Kitty forgives Frank and the Selfridges prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving. However Rose... Written by don @ minifie-1