What Is Au Pair Girls About?
The premise of Au Pair Girls in 324 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustling streets of post‑war England, four bright‑eyed foreign women step off a plane and into a world that promises both independence and tradition. An overseas employment agency has matched them with families eager for help around the house, but the arrangement quickly blossoms into something far more intimate than a simple domestic chore. The film opens with a gentle, sun‑lit arrival at Heathrow, where the promise of new beginnings feels as fresh as the crisp English air.
Anita arrives with a daring sparkle, instantly catching the eye of those around her and hinting at a restless curiosity that will test the boundaries of her placement. Randi carries a quiet confidence, her graceful demeanor drawing the attention of the family’s younger members and suggesting a subtle tension between duty and desire. Nan exudes a playful energy, slipping seamlessly into the rhythms of a genteel household while quietly observing the unspoken expectations of aristocratic life. Christa, gentle and seemingly naïve, finds herself navigating the delicate balance between innocence and the alluring possibilities that flutter just beyond the drawing‑room curtains.
Each woman’s personality sparks a distinct thread in the tapestry of the community, weaving connections that extend far beyond the walls of the homes they serve. The tone swings between light‑hearted flirtation and quietly charged moments, underscored by a soundtrack of 1960s London charm. As the au pairs mingle with employers, neighbors, and occasional strangers, their interactions hint at a network of secretive glances, whispered conversations, and fleeting embraces that ripple through the town’s social fabric.
The film delights in exploring how these fleeting relationships ripple outward, turning ordinary domestic routines into a subtle game of attraction and intrigue. With a breezy, almost whimsical style, it invites the audience to wonder where the lines between work, romance, and adventure will ultimately blur, leaving the four protagonists poised on the cusp of choices that could redefine their roles in a world both familiar and alluringly foreign.
What Happens in Au Pair Girls?
The complete story of Au Pair Girls, from the first scene to the last, in 492 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Four young female au pairs arrive at Heathrow Airport and are escorted to the Overseas Employment Agency in London, which has arranged placements for them with various host families.
- Anita Sector [Astrid Frank] is assigned to Mr Howard [Geoffrey Bayldon] and Mrs Howard [Daphne Anderson]. She proves to be something of a handful, flooding the house during a shower and then slipping away on a date with Malcolm, a man who had preyed on her at the airport. Their night out leads to a casino where Anita encounters Sheik El Abab [Ferdy Mayne] and disappears with him after Malcolm loses money at the roulette table. In the sheik’s opulent home she spends time with his concubines and discovers that he is a very wealthy philanthropist. When the sheik attempts to seduce Anita, she realizes that her deadline to return to the Howards’ house has passed. She eventually returns to the house only to find her suitcases left on the doorstep, signaling her disappearance from the arrangement.
- Randi Lindstrom [Gabrielle Drake] is assigned to the family of businessman Mr Wainwright [John Le Mesurier]. His son Stephen [Richard O’Sullivan] is immediately drawn to her, and after a string of mishaps they end up back at Mr Wainwright’s offices, where they have sex in the car. The moment of truth comes when Mr Wainwright discovers them naked the next morning, a surprising breach of propriety that unsettles both the employer and his household.
- Nan Lee [Me Me Lai] is placed with Lord Tryke [Harold Bennett] and Lady Tryke to be a playmate for their son Rupert [Julian Barnes], who has been groomed for a concert career yet remains immature for his age due to limited social interaction. Nan joins in the garden games and the family dinners, observing Rupert’s peculiar maturity and, in time, recognizing her own enjoyment in his company. She eventually seduces him and quietly leaves the next morning, leaving behind a sense of complicated affection.
- Christa Geisler [Nancie Wait] is sent to the Fairfax family, where it’s learned that Christa is a virgin. Their daughter Carole [Lyn Yeldham] decides to introduce Christa to pop star Ricky Strange [Steve Patterson]. They shop for a more revealing outfit intended to entice Ricky, and Christa meets him after a performance, ending up in bed with him. This is soon followed by Carole’s boyfriend Buster [John Standing], but the sequence is revealed to be Carole’s ruse to secure Ricky’s attention. Christa realizes she’s been used, but she confides in Buster, who understands despite his rough manner. The next morning Christa tells Carole that she is leaving and terminates her employment with the Fairfaxes.
Back at the agency, Randi, Nan, and Christa reunite, while Anita returns and proposes that they join her as new concubines for the sheik. The four au pairs accept, and together they climb into the sheik’s car and drive away, completing a cycle of departure from their original placements.
Au Pair Girls Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Au pairs arrive at Heathrow and report to the agency” to “Four au pairs join the Sheik”. 14 events name a place, across 11 locations.
- 1
Au pairs arrive at Heathrow and report to the agency
Four young au pairs arrive at Heathrow Airport, beginning their journey in London. They are escorted to the Overseas Employment Agency to be assigned placements. This opening sets the stage for the intertwined stories that follow.
Where:Heathrow Airport
- 2
Anita Sector is assigned to the Howard family
Anita Sector is placed with Mr. and Mrs. Howard. She immediately makes a poor impression, even flooding the house during a shower. Later she disappears on a date with Malcolm, raising questions about her reliability.
Where:Howard residence
- 3
Anita and Malcolm go to a casino and meet the Sheik
Anita joins Malcolm on a night out that ends at a casino, where he loses money at the roulette table. She then encounters Sheik El Abab and disappears with him. The encounter hints at a new, dangerous opportunity awaiting her.
When:evening Where:London casino
- 4
Anita visits the Sheik's home and meets his world
Anita is taken to the Sheik's home and spends time with his concubines, discovering that he is a very wealthy philanthropist. She witnesses the opulence and power surrounding him. The visit reveals a life far removed from the agency assignments.
Where:Sheik El Abab's residence
- 5
Anita's deadline passes and she returns to the Howard house
When the Sheik makes advances, Anita realises her deadline to return to the Howards has passed. She eventually reaches the Howards' house only to find her suitcases on the doorstep, signaling a return that might be too late. The sense of missed boundaries drives her next choices.
When:morning Where:Howard residence
- 6
Randi Lindström is assigned to the Wainwright family
Randi Lindström is assigned to the household of businessman Mr. Wainwright. She is picked up by his son Stephen, who is immediately attracted to her. The assignment begins with a mix of corporate setting and romantic tension.
Where:Mr Wainwright's offices
- 7
Randi and Stephen's night together and the discovery
After a string of mishaps, Stephen and Randi end up back at Mr. Wainwright's offices and have sex in the car. They are unexpectedly discovered naked the next morning by Mr. Wainwright, who is shocked by the scandal. The incident complicates the employer-employee relationship.
When:next morning Where:Mr Wainwright's offices
- 8
Nan Lee joins the Tryke family and encounters Rupert
Nan Lee is assigned as a playmate for Rupert Tryke, a boy groomed for a concert career. Rupert is sheltered and immature for his age, having little contact with peers. Nan plays along with his games, foreshadowing a more adult dynamic.
Where:Tryke residence
- 9
Nan seduces Rupert and leaves the next morning
Nan secures a clandestine connection with Rupert and enjoys their time together. She quietly leaves the next morning, leaving the Trykes with a conflicted sense of companionship and manipulation. The encounter highlights the naiveté surrounding Rupert's upbringing.
When:next morning Where:Tryke residence, garden
- 10
Christa Geisler joins the Fairfax family and is introduced to Ricky
Christa Geisler is assigned to the Fairfax family, where the daughter Carole learns that Christa is a virgin. Carole arranges an outing to see pop star Ricky Strange, setting up a provocative plan. Christa's status becomes a pivot for later events.
Where:Fairfax residence
Show the other 4 events of Au Pair Girls Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Christa's shopping trip and the Ricky encounter
Carole and Christa shop for a revealing outfit to seduce Ricky. Christa meets Ricky after his performance and has sex with him, followed by Carole's boyfriend Buster in a staged sequence. It is revealed to be a ruse orchestrated by Carole.
When:evening Where:Ricky Strange's venue and nearby shopping
- 12
Christa leaves Fairfax and ends her employment
The next morning Christa tells Carole that she is leaving and terminates her employment with the Fairfax family. She asserts her independence after being used in the ruse. The incident closes her arc with the Fairfaxes.
When:next morning Where:Fairfax residence
- 13
The agency crew reunites and meets Anita again
Randi, Nan and Christa end up back at the Overseas Employment Agency. Anita arrives and proposes that they join her as new concubines for the Sheik. The trio weighs their options as the plot threads begin to converge.
Where:Overseas Employment Agency, London
- 14
Four au pairs join the Sheik
All four au pairs accept Anita's invitation and get into the Sheik's car. They are driven away together, entering a new life as concubines under his wealth and influence. The narrative closes on a note of departure from their agency beginnings.
Where:Sheik El Abab's car
Who Are the Main Characters in Au Pair Girls?
15 characters, among them Anita Sector (Astrid Frank), Randi Lindstrom (Gabrielle Drake) and Nan Lee (Me Me Lai): who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
- AS
Anita Sector (Astrid Frank)
Played by Astrid Frank
Anita is assigned to the Howards, but she proves rebellious and calculating: she floods the house, goes on a date with Malcolm, and eventually ends up alongside a wealthy sheik. Her bold, unscrupulous nature drives her to seek opportunity through risky, boundary-pushing choices.
- 💃 Bold
- 🧭 Resourceful
- ⚖️ Defiant
- RL
Randi Lindstrom (Gabrielle Drake)
Played by Gabrielle Drake
Randi is placed with Mr. Wainwright’s family and becomes entangled with his son Stephen. Her attraction leads to a reckless, improvised moment—opening up discussions of desire and propriety within a patriarchal setting.
- 💃 Bold
- 💞 Seductive
- 🧭 Impulsive
- NL
Nan Lee (Me Me Lai)
Played by Me Me Lai
Nan serves Rupert as a playmate while exposing Rupert’s immaturity and her own agency. She seduces him and leaves, reflecting independence but also the transactional nature of the arrangement.
- 👧 Youthful
- 🕊️ Discerning
- 🗺️ Adventurous
- CG
Christa Geisler (Nancie Wait)
Played by Nancie Wait
Christa is the virgin placed with the Fairfax family. Her status makes her a target for manipulation by Carole’s schemes, revealing the exploitation embedded in the employment setup. She ultimately asserts some autonomy by choosing to leave.
- 💎 Innocence
- 🧭 Vulnerable
- 💥 Exploited
- R(
Rupert (Julian Barnes)
Played by Julian Barnes
Rupert is the Tryke family’s son, groomed as a concert pianist. His sheltered world is challenged by Nan’s seduction, highlighting a gap between his age-appropriate development and adult-style interactions.
- 🧒 Youth
- 🎼 Talent
- 🗺️ Naive
- S(
Stephen (Richard O'Sullivan)
Played by Richard O'Sullivan
Stephen is Mr. Wainwright’s son who becomes involved with Randi. Their naked car encounter the next morning reveals the collision of desire with parental oversight and business concerns.
- 💼 Privilege
- 💘 Desire
- 🧭 Recklessness
- MW
Mr Wainwright (John Le Mesurier)
Played by John Le Mesurier
A businessman whose household becomes a microcosm for social hierarchies and control. His reaction to the affair with his son illustrates tension between propriety and sensual caprice.
- 💼 Wealthy
- 🧭 Controlling
- 🎭 Complex
- MH
Mrs Howard (Daphne Anderson)
Played by Daphne Anderson
Part of the host family, she embodies the authority of employers who set the stage for the au pair placements and the social environment in which the events unfold.
- 👩💼 Authority
- 🗺️ Domestic
- 🕊️ Traditional
- MH
Mr Howard (Geoffrey Bayldon)
Played by Geoffrey Bayldon
The husband in the Howards’ household, whose discomfort with Anita signals early friction in the assignment and a clash of personalities.
- 👔 Authority
- 🕳️ Discomfort
- 🧭 Social
- LT
Lord Tryke (Harold Bennett)
Played by Harold Bennett
A patriarch whose status and expectations frame Rupert’s upbringing and the social milieu that Nan navigates and eventually disrupts.
- 🕰️ Aristocracy
- 🛡️ Protection
- 🗺️ Elite
- LT
Lady Tryke (Rosalie Crutchley)
Played by Rosalie Crutchley
The aristocratic matriarch who anchors the Tryke household and social circle in which the children are groomed.
- 👑 Aristocracy
- 🕊️ Etiquette
- 🕯️ Wealth
- RS
Ricky Strange (Steve Patterson)
Played by Steve Patterson
A pop star used in Carole and Christa’s scheme to arouse and entertain the Fairfax family. He embodies a fame-driven temptress culture that preys on young women’s ambitions.
- 🎤 Pop Culture
- 💫 Fame
- 🌀 Exploitation
- B(
Buster (John Standing)
Played by John Standing
A boorish figure who serves as a vehicle for sexual misadventure and humor, representing the male gaze and casual sexuality that threads through the plot.
- 💬 Boorish
- 🌀 Humor
- 💥 Repercussion
- MF
Mrs Fairfax (Marianne Stone)
Played by Marianne Stone
The Fairfax family matriarch whose household provides the setting for Christa’s experiences and the wider social game of seduction.
- 👩🦳 Domestic
- 🕯️ Social
- 💼 Wealth
- C(
Carole (Lyn Yeldham)
Played by Lyn Yeldham
A scheming friend who masterminds a ruse to help Christa attract Ricky, while pursuing her own interest in Ricky’s attention and the social cache it affords.
- 🧭 Manipulative
- 🧠 Cunning
- 🕊️ Social
Where and When Is Au Pair Girls Set?
Au Pair Girls is set in Heathrow Airport and London (Early 1970s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Early 1970s
The events unfold in the early 1970s Britain, a period marked by shifts in social mores and the rise of youth culture. Fashion, music, and a permissive climate provide a backdrop for comic sexual escapades and the blurring of employer-employee boundaries. The narrative uses the era’s disposable wealth and international travel to set up the contrasts between wealth, class, and desire.
Where
Heathrow Airport, London
The opening sequence follows four au pairs arriving at Heathrow and proceeding to an overseas employment agency in London. Much of the story unfolds in London settings—the agency offices, the Howards' and Wainwrights' homes, and other venues that underscore the city as a backdrop for mobility and opportunity. The airport setting frames the theme of travel, border-crossing boundaries, and the lure of a chance for a better life.
- ✈️ Airport
- 🏙️ London
- 🎬 1970s
What Are the Themes of Au Pair Girls?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Exploitation, Mobility and Agency.
-
01
Exploitation
The plot centers on young women lured into overseas placements and then coerced into sexual arrangements or used as conveniences by wealthier men. The Overseas Employment Agency and the wealth of the Sheik El Abab illustrate how labor and sex are commodified for entertainment and profit. Each grooming sequence reveals power imbalances and a casual attitude toward coercion that underpins the comedic tone.
-
02
Mobility
Movement is a core driver of the story: from airport arrivals to long car rides and new households. The au pairs navigate different social spaces—agency offices, city homes, and luxurious destinations—reflecting the era's promises of escape and opportunity. This mobility highlights the fragility of the young women's autonomy as they are shuffled between strangers and social expectations.
-
03
Agency
The women exercise varying degrees of agency, from Anita's sharp manipulation to Christa's reluctant participation and Nan's pointed seduction. The narrative depicts moments where characters resist expectations, choose a path of independence, or recognize the costs of their choices. Yet the ending suggests the cycle continues as alliances shift and new plans form.
What Kind of Film Is Au Pair Girls?
Light in tone, with fast pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Light
- Pacing
- Fast
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A breezy, titillating sex comedy following the playful misadventures of four young au pairs who find unconventional escapes from their domestic duties, culminating in a surprisingly cheerful conclusion.
- silly
- playful
- sensual
- escapist
- frothy
- sexual awakening
- cultural clash
- exploitation
- class disparity
- voyeurism
Content notes: sexual exploitation, implied manipulation.
Quiz
How well do you remember Au Pair Girls? Test yourself on the story.
