The Green, Richmond, N Yorks, UK – A Woman of Substance (1984) - Movie Locations on Waymarking.com

The film starts in the present day with an elderly Emma flying to New York with her favourite grand daughter, and personal assistant, Paula. In New York Emma’s secretary tells her that her sons are plotting to oust her from her own company. In retaliation Emma decides to leave her businesses to her grandchildren in her will, bypassing her children. She intends to break the news at her birthday party back in Yorkshire. Whilst waiting for the family to arrive Emma re imagines her life story.

Her life story starts with Emma as a servant at Fairley Hall. The whole family work for the Fairleys Emma becomes friends with the younger Fairley son, Edwin. After being caught in a storm and needing to dry their clothes Emma and Edwin become lovers. Inevitably Emma becomes pregnant and Edwin abandons her. Emma decides to move to Leeds, following the advice of her friend Blackie O’Niell.

In Leeds she finds that Blackie has had to go to Ireland on a family matter and Emma tries to find work. Whilst going around Leeds she saves Abraham Kallinski, a jew, from being stoned by hooligans. She accompanies Abraham home and is offered a job in return for her kindness. When Blackie returns he introduces Emma to Laura who is looking for a lodger. Laura gets Emma a job at Thomson’s Mill. In March Emma has a baby girl, Edwina. Blackie puts his name on her birth certificate. Edwina goes to live with Emma’s cousin in Ripon whilst Emma tries to make her way in the world.

After working at multiple jobs for a couple of years Emma has enough savings to rent a shop in Armley. The shop is a success and Emma expands into the adjacent two shops. However, Gerald Fairley catches up with Emma and threatens her if she doesn’t give up Edwina to Edwin. Emma decides she needs a husband for protection and marries her landlord, Joe Lowther. Blackie marries Laura. Emma and Joe have a son Kit before Joe goes off to WW1. Unfortunately Joe is killed at the Somme and Laura dies in childbirth. Emma takes in Laura’s son, Bryan, until Blackie returns from the war.

Towards the end of the war Emma meets Paul McGill, the son of an Australian sheep farmer. They have an intense affair before Paul goes off to fight. At the end of the war Paul returns to Australia and contact is lost. Emma eventually marries her lawyer, Arthur Ainsley. They have two children, but are not happy. Eventually Paul returns and they resume their romance. Arthur Ainsley is divorced by Emma, but cannot marry Paul, as he cannot divorce his catholic wife in Australia. Paul and Emma have a daughter, Daisy.

At the outbreak of WW2 Paul goes back to Australia to try to sort out his affairs. Whilst there he has a serious car crash which leaves him paralysed. He draws up his will and commits suicide. This is a blow for Emma, but she seeks solace in her business interests.

Back in the present Emma reveals her new will to her family at her birthday party. The businesses are distributed amongst the grandchildren, whilst her children take cheques for £1m providing they don’t contest the will. Having spent most of her life bringing the Fairley family to its knees, Emma allows her grand daughter, Paula, to become engaged to Jim Fairley, Edwin’s grandson. Jim tells Emma of Edwins contrition on his death bed.

Movie or TV Show: A Woman of Substance Year Released or First Aired: 1,984.00 IMDB Link: [Web Link]

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