- Margaret Wells' brothel is in a down-trodden area of the capital, but she's making her move upwards, aiming to move her family and her girls and take a new house in the vibrant new area of Soho.
- Brothel owner Margaret Wells takes care of her girls and aspires to move to more genteel quarters, but is challenged by her former employer, Lydia Quigley, who runs a more high-class establishment. Subplots introduced in first episode involve Wells's older daughter Charlotte, mistress to a nobleman; a virtuous reformer who Quigley lures into her world; one of Wells's girls who absconds to Quigley; Wells's younger daughter whose innocence is up for highest bidder; and a cheeky Irishman considering becoming a male prostitute, who flirts with Charlotte.—Alden O'Brien
- Margaret plans to move her business to the upscale neighborhood of Soho, and to auction off her youngest daughter, Lucy, to the highest bidder once the move is complete. Margaret's move to Soho puts her former madam, Lydia Quigley, on high alert. Quigley runs a high-end brothel that attracts aristocrats and high-ranking members of the judiciary, and she sees Margaret's move as a threat to her business.
Meanwhile, Margaret's daughters are also caught up in the world of prostitution. Margaret's eldest daughter, Charlotte, is one of the most celebrated courtesans in London and is currently being courted by Sir George Howard, who wants her to sign a contract binding her to him. Charlotte is reluctant to give up her independence and befriends a newbie male prostitute. Margaret's youngest daughter, Lucy, has been kept pure so she can be sold to the highest bidder once the move to Greek Street is complete.
As Margaret's brothel is raided by religious zealots led by Florence Scanwell, she is charged and taken to the station. The next morning, Lucy wakes up in a pile of hay. Charlotte is awoken by Sir George Howard and they prepare to have intercourse. Margaret defends herself in court but is fined 100 pounds for running a disorderly house. Margaret is given bad news that her landlord has hiked the rent and she has been given till Monday to get it paid, which puts her in a bad spot and gives her little choice but to sell Lucy's virginity immediately. This decision causes tension between Margaret and her daughters, especially Lucy who is worried about her future.
In the meantime, Lydia Quigley sees Margaret's arrest as an opportunity to gain an upper hand and offers Florence Scanwell a place to stay in her brothel in exchange for continuing to fight Margaret. Margaret's best girl, Emily Lacey, also takes this opportunity to leave Margaret's brothel and join Lydia's as a way to get back at Margaret.
As Margaret is released from the station, she tries to defend herself in court but is fined 100 pounds for running a disorderly house. Margaret and her daughter Charlotte have a confrontation about Charlotte's refusal to sign the contract with Sir George Howard. Margaret becomes angered that her daughter has yet to sign Howard's contract.
On the other hand, Sir George Howard becomes enraged after learning Charlotte lied to him about her activities while he was out of town. Charlotte is also confronted by Lord and Lady Repton, who inform her that Lord Repton had Charlotte and plans on buying her sister's virginity as well. Charlotte is torn between signing the contract with Sir George Howard or running away from this life of prostitution.
The episode ends with Margaret and her daughters trying to come to terms with the sacrifices they must make in order to survive in this world and the harsh realities of the society they live in.
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What is the broadcast (satellite or terrestrial TV) release date of Episode #1.1 (2017) in Italy?
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