Original subtitles

(upbeat music)

- Sometimes you wake up in the morning

and you think, "This could be it.

"This could be enough.

"The rest of my life."

- Morning.

- Hi.

- You okay?

- Yeah.

You?

- Yeah.

I was wondering if you wanted to meet up

for something to eat after work?

- Yeah.

I mean, if you want to.

- That's why I asked.

You expecting someone?

- No.

Excuse me.

(upbeat music)

What?

- You don't call, you never write.

- What do you want, Stephanie?

- I'm here to make your day.

Little proposition for you.

One last job?

(You know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse)

As I said, I'm here to do business.

And, strange though it may seem,

I'm not keen to discuss it here.

- Well, you're not coming up.

- What, you ashamed of something?

Not done the washing up?

Or is there a doctor in the house?

- Stephanie you can't just turn up here.

- Well maybe if you answered your phone.

- I don't own a work phone any more.

I've told you, I'm retired.

- Well, that's what I told the client.

And he immediately upped his offer to 1000 pounds.

- What client?

- What does it matter?

You're retired.

- Stephanie!

- A gentlemen caller who's tired of eastern Europe

wants to try a little of your English rose.

- Oh, please!

- Apparently your reviews speak for themselves.

- No, I don't wanna do it.

- Is that your final answer?

- Yeah.

Sorry you've had a wasted journey, but I'm not interested.

- Shame.

Well, you know where I am if you change your mind.

(upbeat music)

- Can you help me?

- There you go, you look great.

- Really?

- Wish I could come and watch you.

- Ah, medical conference, it's beyond dull.

It's a morning of consultants and old buffers.

- Yeah, it beats shredding at MH-fucking-Credit.

Right, come on, let's go.

- Yeah.

(My Moon My Man by Feist)

Bye.

- Bye.

♪ There's nowhere to go but on ♪

♪ Heart on my sleeve not where it should be ♪

♪ The song's out of key again ♪

♪ Take it slow ♪

♪ Take it easy on me ♪

♪ Shed some light ♪

♪ Shed some light on things ♪

♪ Take it slow ♪

I know.

Not great.

But I will tell him.

I just need to get another job first.

It's hopeless.

Completely unemployable.

I'm losing it, you know.

- Come on.

There must be something you can do.

Look, let's look at what we're working with, all right?

You're a 20-something arts graduate.

And what are your skills, exactly?

- I can put a condom on without using my hands.

I don't even know what half of these jobs are

and they're all shitty pay.

And horrible bosses.

The same thing day after day

- So freelance.

Lucrative.

Preferably sex-based.

If not actually having sex, then talking about it.

Sex therapist.

- Ugh, listening to people.

Asking questions.

- Agony aunt.

Writer.

Writer!

- Writer, yeah.

- Yeah, why not?

Write about what you know.

- No.

- Come on, you must have fuckin' loads to write about.

- It's hopeless.

You know, this is why I started escorting

in the first place.

There's nothing I wanted to do

that paid as well for so few hours.

- And so you're gonna go back to it.

You're talking about it like that.

- No.

No, I I can't.

You know, and I don't want to.

I've got Alex now.

And that's all I need.

(somber piano music)

- Excuse me.

I'm looking for Hannah Baxter.

She works for MH Credit.

- Oh, she doesn't work here any more.

(somber piano music)

Once upon a time

there was an escort called, Belle.

Like all working girls Belle had her favorite clients.

The one she would find hard to give up.

Ashok.

I knew there was something I missed about London.

Congestion Charge?

Black cabs?

- No.

- So, how was New York?

- Seductive.

Expensive.

- There's nothing wrong with that.

- You can be in the best place in the world

but you're still chained to your desk.

- You know, I almost feel sorry for you.

- That's what I wanted.

- Come on.

- God, I've missed you.

Six months away.

The whole time I thought about you.

Imagined you.

Us.

And here you are.

And it's true.

You're flawless.

- You're just not looking closely enough.

- No.

There's no one else who can do what you did to me.

(Fever by Beyonce)

♪ You give me fever ♪

♪ Fever in the morning ♪

♪ Fever when it's late at night ♪

♪ You give me fever ♪

♪ Fever ♪

♪ Fever when you kiss me ♪

♪ Fever when you hold me tight ♪

♪ You give me fever ♪

♪ Fever ♪

♪ Fever in the evening ♪

♪ Fever all through the night ♪

♪ You give me fever ♪

♪ Fever ♪

♪ Fever when you're with me ♪

♪ Fever when you love me right ♪

♪ He's so sweet ♪

♪ He's so good to me ♪

♪ He's so intelligent ♪

♪ He's so confident ♪

- To the client I'm a treat.

A luxury.

Something special.

- We should go, together, New York.

A weekend away on me.

- You'll buy me pancakes?

- You do what you just did to me again,

I'll make you pancakes.

Belle?

- Hm?

- Your phone.

- Hm?

Hello?

- You're gonna kill me,

but I need to meet you in Grimsby at half two.

- [Hannah] What?

- There's a guy who comes to the bar, James.

He's a publisher's assistant.

He reckons his boss might be interested in your book.

- No, what book?

- The one you're writing.

I told him you're a middle class ex-schoolgirl

and it's all a big secret and everything.

And his eyes lit up.

- Ben!

- Whoa, it's okay, it's just a chat.

He said he can't promise anything,

but it's worth a try, right?

- No, I'm not going.

Don't be ridiculous.

- Hannah, I've gotta go.

I'll see you there.

I'll text you the address.

- No! - [Ben] Don't be late.

- Shit.

Oh Shit!

- Hiya.

It's Ben and Belle.

We've got a meeting with James.

- He's just on another call.

Please, take a seat.

- [Ben] Thanks.

Could be you.

You and Melv, pressing the flesh.

- Don't, Ben.

- Don't what?

- Joke about this.

I don't even know what I'm doing here.

- You're here because you wanna write a book.

- No.

- Hey.

- You want me to write a book.

You're so fucking desperate for me to go straight.

- What?

- You pretend to be okay with what I do.

What I did.

What I did.

But you're not.

And this is, I dunno, this is like some way

of kind of legitimizing it.

- That's bullshit.

- My friend's an escort but it's okay,

because she writes about it.

- [Ben] Bollocks!

- You know what?

I have kept this a secret for years.

I haven't told anyone.

And now suddenly you want me to just let them all in.

So they can read and point.

- Hannah, will you.

- Don't!

- [Ben] Where are you going?

- [Hannah] I'm going.

- Might have to reschedule.

(Red by Elbow)

♪ You burn too bright ♪

♪ You live too fast ♪

♪ This can't go on too long ♪

- Alex, it's me.

Can you call me as soon as you can, please?

Cheers.

♪ Your a tragedy starting to happen ♪

- [Stephanie] One last job?

♪ Just as you are perfect ♪

Apparently, your reviews speak for themselves.

- [Hannah] Alex, can you please call me back?

I really need to talk.

- [Stephanie] You know where I am,

if you er change your mind.

♪ Don't make those promises ♪

♪ Don't tell me again ♪

♪ The dust is gonna settle your nerves ♪

- Hello?

- [Alex] You left a message.

- Yeah.

- What do you want?

I've gotta get back to theatre.

- Alex, I love you.

- Mm-hm.

- [Hannah] You know that, don't you?

- I've gotta go.

- We should, please can you

- Don't work too hard.

- Well, well, well.

Forgive me if I don't look surprised.

Escorts.

They're like boxers.

Retire every year, then surface for a rematch

a little fatter, more desperate,

and further down the rankings.

- Who's the client?

- What's it matter?

- It matters to me.

His name's Simon.

He sounds American.

He's only in the city for a week.

Why don't I call him?

Name a price.

Leave the rest to fate.

Simon, It's Stephanie.

I've had a word with Belle and she's prepared to reconsider.

Obviously on her own terms.

One hour 5000 pounds.

Absolutely.

My pleasure.

The Molton, 9:30 it is, then.

The Royal Suite.

Bye.

Yes.

Don't worry.

They say it's like riding a bike.

- Belle, hey.

You've thought about this, have you?

What are you doing?

- One last job.

- Yeah, but, what if it isn't?

What if you can't give up?

What if Alex finds out?

- Alex won't find out.

- But he might.

Bloody hell, babes,

I saw you when you were split up and you were lost.

- No, no, you don't do this, all right?

You don't tell me what to do or how I feel.

You're nothing like me, Bambi.

(Right as Rain by Adele)

- I'm not being funny.

I know she's your mate,

but she was really horrible to me.

And I was only trying to help.

- What?

- You know make sure she'd really thought about it.

Make sure he's bloody worth it.

- Bambi, what are you talking about?

- She is taking a booking, 9:30 tonight.

- This is a sensible decision.

5000 pounds.

It's a lot of cash.

And I'm only doing it for the cash.

It's not like anyone will know.

There's always anxiety when you take a break.

First day back at the office, first day back at term.

Now to see if the uniform still fits.

What?

These ones are bloody expensive.

- You're really worried about her, aren't you?

- No.

- Do you think we should go and do something?

- She's a big girl, Bambi.

It's not up to us.

- I just don't think she knows what she's doing.

(Piece by Piece by Katie Melua)

♪ Piece by piece ♪

♪ Is how I'll let got of you ♪

♪ Kiss by kiss ♪

♪ Will leave my mind one at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

♪ First of all must fly ♪

- [Hannah] There's no other job like it.

Maybe actors waiting for the curtain

or athletes before the gun.

That feeling.

The butterflies, the knot in the stomach.

I've missed this part the most.

The mystery.

Who will be on the other side of the door?

What will he want?

♪ Is how I'll let go of you ♪

♪ Kiss by kiss ♪

♪ Will leave my mind one at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

- Bit dressed up for the office.

I didn't want you to come.

I'd hoped that you wouldn't.

But I knew you would.

Because I think that you love this job.

More than you love me.

And when you stopped

it was like a light had gone out in you.

You look like you looked when I first met you.

The hair and the make-up.

- It's a different hotel, though.

It's cheaper.

- I'm a rich American, remember?

I didn't want any of this but,

I wanted Hannah.

I didn't want Belle.

- They're one and the same.

We never quite got it right, did we?

- We got everything right.

(Piece by Piece by Katie Melua)

♪ First of all must go ♪

♪ Your scent upon my pillow ♪

♪ And then I say goodbye to your whispers in my dreams ♪

♪ And then I'll lips will part ♪

♪ In my mind and then my heart ♪

♪ 'Cause you're kiss went deeper than my skin ♪

♪ Piece by Piece ♪

♪ Is how I'll let go of you ♪

♪ Kiss by kiss will leave my mind one at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

- Babes.

Are you all right?

Come on, we were really worried about you.

♪ Is how I'll let go of you ♪

♪ Kiss by kiss will leave my mind one at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

♪ One at a time ♪

(Today Has Been Ok by Emiliana Torrini)

- You can stay if you want.

My bed.

Promise I won't touch you.

Put a line down the middle I won't cross it.

- Good.

You're a terrible shag.

- I'm glad you're here.

♪ It looked like May and June ♪

♪ All the same, I miss you ♪

♪ Today has been okay ♪

♪ Today has been okay ♪

♪ Preacher lost his son ♪

♪ He's known by all in town ♪

♪ He found him with another son of God ♪

The first thing you should know about me

is that I'm a whore.

In escorting, as in life,

you don't always get the ending you expect

but it helps if you write your own story.

♪ Wind has burned your skin ♪

♪ The lovely air so thin ♪

♪ The salty water's underneath your feet ♪

- Studio two.

- Bloody hell, babes, you look like a transvestite.

- Thanks, Bambi.

- A pretty one.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, thanks for your support.

♪ Here's where you stay ♪

♪ This life has been insane ♪

♪ But, today has been okay ♪

♪ Today has been okay ♪

- [Interviewer] Today sees the much anticipated publication

of The Secret Life Of A London Call Girl.

Tell us, how does it feel

to be the latest literary sensation?

- [Hannah] Actually, it feels pretty good.

- [Interviewer] When you're working as an escort

how do you manage to keep your emotional life

separate from your work?

- [Hannah] Uh it's, it's difficult.

It's probably the hardest part of my job.

- [Interviewer] Have you ever been in love?

- Yes.

Once.

It was wonderful.

I didn't actually think I had it in me (chuckles).

And then it broke my heart.

- [Interviewer] Do you think,

now that you've found this new career,

you'd ever see yourself giving up escorting?

- Never.

A girl's gotta do her research.

(You Know I'm No Good by Amy Winehouse