In Episode 4 of Netflix’s My Brilliant Career, New Year’s Eve at Caddagat brings celebrations, secrets and romantic complications as the characters prepare to ring in the year 1901 and welcome the new Australian Federation.
- Episode Title:
- Setting: New Year’s Eve 1900, Australia
- Main Locations: Caddagat and Possum Gully
- Key Characters: Sybylla Melvyn, Harry Beecham, Frank Hawden, Blanche Derrick, Julius Bossier, Helen Bossier, Augusta Beecham, Nell Kirby
What happens in Episode 4?
Episode 4 opens with the Melvyn family’s finances reaching crisis point. Back at Possum Gully, more of their belongings are being sold simply to pay the interest on Richard’s accumulated debts. The McSwats offer a possible solution by offering to pay £20 to one of the Melvyn girls to work as a governess; this is exactly the amount needed to pay one year’s interest.
At Caddagat all attention is focused on New Year’s Eve. It is the last night of 1900, which means that both the new century and Australian Federation are about to begin. Mrs Bossier has an agenda of her own. She wants Julius to commit to taking over Caddagat and has not given up on seeing Sybylla married off, this time with eyes on Frank Hawden.
Frank admits that he genuinely sees a future with Sybylla. She has always thought of him as just a friend, but this leads her to wondder whether there could be something more between them.
Meanwhile, Harry gives Augusta the deeds to the Sydney house, taking advantage of the new laws allowing women to own property. She is less progressive when it comes to Harry’s future though. Augusta wants him to make official his supposed engagement to the wealthy Blanche Derrick, whose money could help them to secure Five Bob.
Blanche duly arrives for the New Year celebrations, forcing Sybylla to confront Harry’s complicated romantic situation. To her surprise, she quickly takes to Blanche, who proves far less conventional than she expected.
New Year’s Eve at Caddagat
For a while, the party provides an escape from everyone’s troubles. Sybylla, Nell and the others drink, dance and throw themselves into a chaotic broomstick “stockman’s challenge”. But beneath the celebrations, several long-held secrets are beginning to surface.
Helen confides in Augusta that she resents being overlooked while Julius is expected to inherit Caddagat simply because he is a man. She then share the truth about what really happened in her marriage. Her husband did not die in New York, as everyone has been told; he left her for another woman after taking her money. Julius came to her rescue, while Mrs Bossier invented the story of his death to spare the family a scandal. Augusta urges Helen to seek a divorce to be free of him forever.
Elsewhere, Blanche is equally frank with Sybylla. Her relationship with Harry is little more than an arrangement, and she has no real desire to marry him. More importantly, Blanche has noticed what Harry himself has been reluctant to admit: that he has feelings for Sybylla. After midnight, she releases Harry from their ‘understanding’ and tells him to pursue the woman his heart really wants.
Secrets, confessions and a kiss
The night brings other relationships to a crossroads. Jim asks Nell to leave with him when he goes droving, but Nell has something even more pressing on her mind. Her sister Betty is in love with policeman Jack Klein — and is pregnant with his child.
Julius also lets down his guard. Drunk and heartbroken, he confesses how devastated he is by the loss of Everard and admits his fear that nobody will ever love him.
Sybylla, meanwhile, spends part of the evening with Frank. Their growing flirtation finally leads to a kiss, only for Harry to see them together. He angrily confronts Sybylla, but she refuses to be made to feel guilty. She demands to know why what she does with Frank should matter to him?
This time, Harry can no longer make excuses. He finally admits that it matters because he cares about her.
