Original subtitles

Well, if it isn't young Billy Scanlon.

Good morning, Mr Ainsworth.

I... I heard a rumour you was home.

And have you been keeping your nose clean?

Spotless, Sir.

Good man.

Though I shan't be taking your word for it.

Have you seen my wife?

Uh, most likely in the office, Sir.

Or maybe in the kitchen.

Good to have you back, Mr Ainsworth.

Dirt was bad.

But now this?

Basta! Less noise, capiche?

And this... this...

'Scuze, Signora.

What's he saying? What's he saying?

He say you strong like Italian woman.

Oh-ho, yes, yes.

I am. And don't you forget it.

Now, just go away.

Some things don't change around here.

For your information, I'm on holiday.

From your wife, I'm led to believe.

Look...

this marriage business,

I grant you it's never straightforward.

You know, it can take months, years even,

for a chap and his girl to work out.

You know, work out how best to rub along.

By living apart, you mean?

I'll pretend I didn't hear that.

I'll pretend I didn't say it.

My, my, we are sharp today.

We'll cut ourselves if we're not careful.

Have you seen your mother today?

She was on the terrace last time I looked.

Oh, um, nice to see you again.

Not you as well.

Did you sleep any better, Mr Chancellor?

Yes, very.

I'm so pleased to hear it.

- And you, Miss Chancellor? - Oh, very well thank you.

Yes. Quite well...

Will you excuse me?

- Good morning. - Morning, Bella.

Blast it to hell, woman!

Albani.

Ainsworth.

Please, won't you join me?

Oh.

Don't mind if I do.

So...

what an unexpected pleasure to see you back in Portofino.

At last.

A warm welcome

from someone who may possibly even mean it.

Oh, are these ours?

Yes. Well, they belong to the hotel.

Great. I suppose that means that I can borrow one.

Ah, well they're meant for the guests, Luce.

No one's using this one.

Alright. If you have a good use for it, I suppose you can.

Well, I thought I might take one up into the mountains.

Do some sketching for that painting.

Oh, that would be marvellous.

Hello. Buon giorno.

Grazie.

- Here you are. - Oh, there's a telegram for you.

Ooh, that'll be from Nish.

Any news?

Uh, he is not coming.

Not coming, oh, darling, I'm so sorry.

That's disappointing.

It's alright. A bit of a long shot, anyway.

Oh well, on the bright side,

that's even more time for painting.

Quite.

There you are.

You're still angry with me?

No.

What is it then?

I keep thinking about the driver,

Giaconelli's driver.

What about him?

He'll be killed, won't he?

Perhaps.

Perhaps?

Yes, of course. Most likely he will die.

Is that what you want me to say?

And you see no problem with that?

He's a fascist collaborator.

But also a son, maybe a father, a husband, a brother.

There's no other option.

But to fight violence with violence?

Hatred with hatred?

Yes!

It is fatal to hesitate!

And to think about a humanity for they see no humanity in us.

It is hard for you, I know.

You're full of tenderness, compassion.

Yes.

It is why I love you.

Perhaps you should go back to Portofino.

At least until this is over.

You could stop for lunch

and then continue on to San Giorgio.

It's definitely worth a visit.

Please, do take that with you.

Have a wonderful day.

Thank you.

Fancy.

What a strange choice for the foyer.

Indeed, I mean, even she looks embarrassed.

Hmm, you are funny, Jane.

Who is the dog?

That is Bubbles, Mrs Ainsworth.

Didn't they tell you they were bringing a dog?

They certainly did not.

Yeah, they picked him up in France.

There's another thing.

Um, they're not happy with the room, Mrs Ainsworth.

They were expecting a sea view.

Oh.

Also, Ma'am, um, apparently they're veterinarians.

What's that got to do with anything?

You know, Ma'am, they... they don't eat meat.

Vegetarians?

Good morning.

Oh, poor Betty. She swears by good steak.

Shall I go and warn her, Ma'am?

Yes, you better, Billy.

Do you think this might all be some kind of elaborate test,

Mrs Ainsworth?

Yes.

That had occurred to me.

And they might be the inspectors.

They chose the paintings.

Constance, I think you're right.

What are we going do?

Don't fret, Ma'am. We'll manage.

Are you happy here, Bubbles?

You look like you could do with some refreshment.

You are always so considerate.

Thank you.

Looks like it's coming on.

You have made a decision about the building work?

No, no, I haven't quite.

Well, I will carry on until you tell me otherwise.

I hear you have a new arrival at the hotel.

Yes. My husband.

You were expecting him?

No, not really.

He has been away for some time.

Nine months.

That is a long time to be apart.

Of course, it's none of my business.

I said that I co-owned the hotel.

Yet you have barely spoken of him.

Oh, just as you've barely spoken of your wife.

I told you, Helena has been dead 11 years.

It is all so long ago.

Nonetheless, I'm still curious to hear about her,

and why you never remarried.

I'm not that much of a prize.

I find that very hard to believe.

My family and I,

we have nailed our colours to the wrong mast.

We are of the wrong political persuasion.

Or perhaps the right one.

Mot if you want to carry on

running an architect's practice in Milan.

Or find clients in your hometown

who aren't crazy English ladies with big ideas,

but little knowledge of Italian politics.

So, you too have fallen foul of Signor Danioni?

Nothing has ever been said,

but my order books speak for itself.

Yes. I'm sorry.

Oop.

I shall let you carry on.

Thank you.

It's Mr and Mrs Briggs, if you ask me.

She's the cousin of an earl.

So, even toffs need to make a living.

Uh, what about Colonel Hammond?

Maybe he looks more the type.

I'm telling you, it's the Dodsworth sisters.

My money's on that Mr Bertram.

Oh no, no, Mrs Ainsworth said he's a poet.

And, and snooty.

You can hardly imagine him

turning his hand to travel guides.

Hmm, and what about his mother?

Oh, she does nothing but eat and sleep.

It won't be much of a review.

Ah, I hear San Giorgio was a success?

It was lovely.

I'm so pleased. Good night.

- Good night. - Good night.

I think I'll call it night there, if you don't mind.

Why would I mind?

You know me,

never walk away from an open bottle.

Goodnight, Ainsworth.

Goodnight, old boy.

Bella?

Bella, for heaven's sake.

It's locked.

Yes, I can see that.

Just let me in.

I'd rather not.

That was a mean trick.

Leaving me to make my own way from the station.

But... you shouldn't have just shown up like that.

Without warning.

You can't avoid me forever.

And what's in this second room?

Fitness. So, you get us all hot and bothered in there.

So, you get us all hot and bothered in there.

And then you move us into the adjoining room

for a massage and a beauty treatment.

Ah, well it's more about health and wellbeing

than cosmetics, darling.

If you say so.

So, what do you think?

Oh, yes. Yeah, yeah.

The plans certainly, uh, certainly passed muster.

Oh, Luce, you sound so... rude.

I mean, look at the-the design, the-the use of the space.

The... - Of course. I'm sorry.

You have a fine eye, Mr Bonacini.

- Thank you. - Poor Marco.

He's been my sounding board in your absence.

I've bent his ear over thread count of the towels

to the profit margins.

Hello.

Hello.

What are you two cooking up?

We are looking over Mother's plans

to build a health and beauty empire.

Ah.

Oh, forgive me.

Signor Bonacini, err, this is the architect,

this is my husband, Cecil Ainsworth.

Welcome back to Portofino after such a long time away.

Architect, you say?

Seems a spot excessive for a tile and paint job.

It's so much more than that.

Well, what is it you want, Cecil?

Oh, well I-I was heading into town.

I thought I might see if you perhaps needed anything.

Ah, well, Lucian is getting the train to Genoa.

All my needs are taken care of.

Good, good.

Well...

shall we have another look at those column plans that you had?

- Yes. - I did have a few questions.

- Oh, oh, the columns. - Yes, yes.

This is piece de resistance.

It's too bright out here. Really, it's far too bright.

Young man, the parasols! The parasols!

This is not good enough.

Is that who I think it is?

They've got Billy running around after them like a slave.

Shall we?

Hmm.

Sorry that my company's been rather...

foisted upon you this afternoon.

I told your mother I'd be fine going into Genoa on my own, Sir.

Well, it's a bit of a three-line whip, I'm afraid.

Plus, we have enough errands to keep us both busy...

into the middle of next week, by the looks of things.

Danioni.

Signor Ainsworth.

I was told the English gentleman was back in Portofino.

- Gentleman now, is it? - Ah.

Ah, I see you've moved the old fella.

Oh yes.

Where I can see him. Yeah.

- And where he can see you, huh? - Please, take a seat.

A souvenir from bonny Scotland.

Courtesy of Lord Ross Cannon himself.

Very nice, ooh, let's see.

Wow.

And, a little something to help it slip down

even more smoothly.

25 percent from 500 crates shipped last quarter.

Feel free to count it.

- Or don't. - Let's have some, yeah?

Why not?

Thank you.

God bless the Volstead Act, eh?

Long live prohibition.

- Salute. - Salute.

Hmm.

So, what's all this about, Danioni?

Well, I have told you all I know.

Well, is there a problem in Bermuda?

No, I don't think so.

The shipping to Canada?

Like clockwork.

What about the US border?

As far as I know, the right people are being paid, so...

Well...

Perhaps there's some sort of problem in Detroit,

a turf war maybe.

No, my contact would've told me. No, no, no, no.

Well, there's definitely no problem

with the merchandise, that much I know.

Then what?

What are they so bloody keen to talk to us about?

Look...

if I know you're here, then they do, right?

So, we will not wait too long to find out.

So, we will not wait too long to find out.

Thank you.

- I forgot to ask. - Mm-hmm.

You don't happen to know a man called Bonacini, do you?

- The architect? - Yes.

Yeah, I know him.

What can you tell me about him?

Well, he had a practice in Milan, very successful.

But then he sold it and moved back after his mother died.

And moved back after his mother died.

Is he one of yours?

- You mean a party member? - Yeah.

Hmm. Far away from it.

His father was a-a teacher. A socialist.

- A socialist? - Mm-hmm.

Yeah. How fascinating.

How fascinating.

- Yeah. - And, uh, Bonacini?

Hmm.

He lives actually a quiet life.

With his wife and children?

No, he has no family.

Signora Bonacini...

died in childbirth,

and the baby as well.

Why do you ask?

- No reason. - Alright.

He's doing some work for my wife.

I see.

Arrivederci.

Very good day to you.

I am sure that you are busy

with all sorts of happy schemes and devilry.

But it would mean so much

to once again have someone to confide in.

Grazie.

Are you ready?

So, it wasn't a completely wasted trip, then?

One letter. Poste Restante.

I don't know why they don't send it to her at the hotel.

I'm sure there's a simple explanation.

So, we have one hour and one quarter

until our train.

Would you like to...

possibly get something to eat?

I'm not very hungry.

I'd love to look around.

Good.

Where are we going first?

That is the most ridiculous story.

It's true.

Shh.

It's... amazing.

The most beautiful building I've ever seen.

I don't suppose you're hungry now?

I could... I could eat.

Good.

I didn't bring any money, though.

A-ha-ha-ha.

Welcome.

Oh.

Bella Ainsworth, you have no idea

how good it is to see you. Just to be here.

And you have no idea how delighted we are

to have you back, Miss Pascal.

Oh, I'm just sorry to have to put you to this extra trouble.

Trouble, what do you mean?

The boat, your suit, the sunset.

Honestly, this has been the highlight of my day.

You do have a happy knack

of making the most theatrical of entrances.

Oh. Except it's not my normal style. Right.

Slip in the back way.

Yes, I was rather wondering about

the necessity for a precaution.

The vultures haven't descended yet?

Vultures?

Photographers.

Well, I assume there'd be a flock of them

flapping and squabbling at the gates.

Billy? Just the usual sparrows and pigeons, Ma'am,

Just the usual sparrows and pigeons, Ma'am,

last time I checked.

Hmm.

Well, they'll be here with the dawn chorus, honey.

Just you wait.

Ah, there you are.

Oh.

You're rather late.

Sorry, we rather lost track of time.

Well, I-I was beginning to get worried about you.

It's alright, we just missed the train.

And, Constance, did everything go according to plan?

CONSTANCE: Yes.

This is the receipt from the bank.

Oh, marvellous.

And this is what I picked up for you at the post office.

Oh yes, of course. Thank you.

I'll be off to bed then.

- Of course. - Thank you.

- Sleep well. - Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Darling, I-I do hope that wasn't too much

of a wasted day for you?

You know, it wasn't so bad.

Shouldn't you be going to bed too?

Yes. Yes. I-I'll go right now.

Uh, goodnight.

My darling Bella.

I'm bursting with excitement to telling my news.

I've been engaged as a tutor

by the family of one of my pupils

and am travelling to Italy in their company.

We arrive in Genoao on the fourth of next month.

It is my only wish to see your sweet

and oft-imagined face again.

Forever yours, Henry.

What you doing?

What are you doing?

What does it look like?

It looks like you're lying in wait.

The only way I can get a word with my wife, apparently.

What do you want, Cecil?

A civil conversation, perhaps.

I have nothing to say to you.

I don't understand why you've come back.

There's nothing for you here.

Except the people I love.

I made a mistake. I know I did.

You're quite within your rights to despise me.

God knows, I despise myself.

But I...

I've had a lot of time to think.

About you, me,

the life we've lived together.

And I've come to realise that I...

I haven't been the husband you must have hoped for.

Or... or deserved.

Of course, I could play the poor me card, make excuses.

My brute of a father.

Being forced to marry young against my inclination.

My bitterness at seeing the money we should have used

to build our life together

being frittered away on death duties and land taxes.

But... that's all it would be.

Feeble excuses.

All I know is...

when you're here...

and I'm back in London,

I feel...

I feel half the man I do when I'm with you.

How can I ever trust you again?

I could ask you the same thing.

- Cecil! - We made a vow, Bella.

For better or worse.

And I for one want to do better.

I will, I will do better.

Whatever it takes.

Is that it?

Have you said your piece?

Yes. That's it.

We're bound together, you and I.

Whichever way you look at it.

-I quite fancy one of them sorbets now.

-Oh, that would be lovely.

- Si? - Grazie.

No, thank you.

Hey, Connie,

Hey, Connie,

you could do a lot worse, you know?

- Betty! - What?

He doesn't understand a word.

Grazia.

Daft as a brush aren't you, petal, hey?

But very good looking.

If you fancy them all swarthy like.

Oh, maybe it's you who fancies them swarthy, hmm?

Not that one.

He's like a bear with a sore head.

And light-fingered to boot.

You can't prove he stole your knife, Betty.

Oh, you just watch me.

I mean it, though.

You should give some serious thought

to marrying an Italian.

Settling out here, like.

I'm in no position to marry anyone.

That's just what I mean. If you marry a foreigner,

you could tell him your husband was killed in the war.

It'd be harder to question.

There'd be a father for little Tommy,

and you'd be freer to be yourself, love.

Safe from other people's judgements.

Well, if I ever do marry,

it'll be quite a different sort of man than that.

Besides, I don't think it's me Bruno really has eyes for.

Urgh.

What? None of that concerns you.

On the contrary, it most certainly does.

I don't need your permission, Cecil.

Oh, just your father's, I imagine.

If you are going to be able to pay for it, that is.

I have been paying for it out of the profits of the hotel,

if you must know.

Let's not fight.

I was going to say,

jolly good idea I thought it was.

I mean, if I had one tiny criticism,

it would be that I don't think you're being ambitious enough.

- Not ambitious enough? - No.

Cecil, I have built this hotel single-handedly

whilst you sat around smoking cigars

and reading the racing tips.

I mean, how could you possibly lecture me on ambition?

Look, I know, I know, I know.

You've made a terrific go of it, despite the Italians.

Oh, despite your lazy cynicism.

I admit it.

I thought you were throwing good money after bad.

Turns out you've got a real flare for it.

It's just... It's just what?

It's just what?

Why is there always a but?

Because at the current rate of return,

it's going to be 20 years

before you've paid your father back,

the capital sum he invested in the place.

Well, do you have another suggestion?

Yes, I do.

Be bigger, bolder.

Stick a solarium on the front of the house

to capture the winter sun and extend the season.

You could convert the rooms in the attic.

What about those servants' quarters out front?

They could be additional suites for guests.

I can barely afford the work that I have undertaken.

And in fact, I'm probably going to have to pull the plug.

That would be a crying shame.

Yes, it's a disaster.

Have you thought about asking your father?

How many times do I have to tell you

I am never going to take another penny from my father?

And, um... what about little old me?

You.

Yes.

I invested the insurance money from the stolen Rubens.

I've been, err, dabbling in a commodity or two.

Just for once, everything seems to be coming up roses.

Good.

Think of it...

think of it as a peace offering. Hmm?

Cecil, you are not going to buy your way

back into my affections.

Now, please leave my office, immediately.

Oh, do you mind if I take a look?

Oh, sorry, uh, my mistake.

I thought you might be sketching.

Not my thing.

No? Well, what is your thing?

Uh, words.

Verse, more specifically.

Hmm, verse?

You-you had anything published?

Couple of small collections, novella that nobody read.

Oh blimey, you're... you're a real writer then.

Well, um, I should warn you,

we have been asked to expect an anonymous inspection.

So, if any of the staff see you writing,

they will be on you like a rash.

Just so you know.

I'll bear that in mind.

Hmm.

So, are you holidaying or...?

That would be the logical deduction.

With your, with your mother?

I believe she answers to that name.

And, with whom did you serve?

What makes you think I did?

Well, I'm, I'm sorry. I, I saw that.

I just assumed.

Making assumptions is a fool's business.

Right, well then, I'll bid you good day.

Marco, you shouldn't be doing that.

Don't worry, my man, Bruno,

he's very taken with your maid, Paola,

and I do not have the heart to tell him to get back to work.

That's very kind of you.

Well, I hate to leave a job half finished.

Finished?

You cannot magic money out of nowhere.

Or perhaps I can.

Your husband?

Yes.

Cecil has offered some money.

And you have decided to accept?

Well...

he's offered to pay for the spa extension.

I mean, this could make the world of difference.

Besides, you'll no longer be at the mercy of Danioni

and his ghastly politics.

That should not be your concern.

Most importantly,

it would allow us to finish what we've started here.

We? You mean the three of us?

No.

Cecil really has no interest in any of this.

He will let us get on with it.

But I will be working for him.

Not strictly speaking.

And you will be in his debt.

No, he owes me a great deal of money.

Please don't worry about that.

I'm excited.

Grazie.

Madam.

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!

- Urgh! - Stop!

Urgh!

Hey!

Hey, hey, stop!

Argh!

Urgh.

I reckon she must have been flirting with Bruno.

Don't you, Betty?

I was only teasing, Paola.

Hey, hey, none of that.

Come here.

Come here, you big dafty.

Oh, there.

Now, you listen to your good friend Elizabetta,

Paola sweetheart,

if you like him...

find a way to let him know.

In Italy this is not the way.

Thank you, honey.

Oh, grazie, Paola.

I thought you'd like to know there was a man with a camera

at the gate at four PM when Billy left for town.

And when he returned at six, there were another two.

See? What'd I tell you?

Vultures, they scavenge in packs.

I've never encountered them before.

Hmm. Well, they worked for the magazines.

Scandal sheets.

If you ever set so much as a toe in front of a movie camera,

you're fair game.

So, do they follow you everywhere?

Only if they think you're a story.

And are you?

There's a rumour going around my latest film set

that I'm carrying on with my leading man.

Who just so happens to be engaged

to another of the studio's biggest female stars.

Oh, my goodness.

Well, what a thing to just write about someone.

I said it was a rumour, honey.

I didn't say it wasn't true.

Oh, my word.

'Bathing beauty in hot water.

Claudine Pascal caught with her co-star.'

I couldn't help noticing your husband

is hanging around like body odour.

Ah, yeah, we-well, we've been apart for many months.

He's only just dared to show his face again.

And how's that going for you?

Well, I would need a very stiff drink and a lot of time

to go into that. - Well, I got all

the liquor we need.

Ah, but I don't have any time, my dear.

Oh shh, take a load off, honey.

- I really do, I still have... - Tell Claudine all about it.

- So much to do. - No, no, no, I, you...

let someone else stress about this place

just this once.

Do you really think this is a good idea?

Negroni?

Well, only if my guest insists.

What is it? You're bleeding.

I, I needed to see you.

Has something happened?

You've come to say you're leaving.

No, no.

I've come to tell you that this is my place.

Here, by your side.

This is where I'm supposed to be,

wherever that'll take me.

You're sure?

As I've ever been about anything.

Good.

Because I need you.

Come on.

When I was first married,

but after I got over the shock

of being separated from my family

and being thrown into bed with a complete stranger,

I think I did think I loved him.

Um, there was a lot of...

Passion.

There was.

You lau... but there was.

He had charm and, and, and magnetism.

Hmm. That stuff don't last, honey.

That stuff don't last, honey.

Well, and I've been perfectly happy

avoiding making a decision until...

well, now he's here, it's...

Hmm, you're forced to ask yourself

what it is you really want.

Oh God, I would never do that.

No, it could be liberating.

Naming your needs.

Chasing your dreams.

I'm not as brave as you are, my dear.

Hmm.

Then take him back.

Well, that's rather unappealing, to be honest.

That was terribly cruel.

He's very funny, you know.

Hmm.

But the idea, the thought of separation or divorce,

all the... disapproval and upheaval.

I- I-I find it terrifying.

What's the worst that can happen?

Well, it's hard enough being a woman here,

running a business

with a husband, even a slightly useless one.

Without a husband, it would be nigh impossible.

There are so many unwritten rules

and-and-and there's laws, even, that-

and, and quite frankly,

I- I need the money he's offering me.

Well, if it's a matter of money, I got a whole heap of that.

If anybody gives me money, it has to be Cecil

because he has taken so much off of me over the years.

Well, you just have to decide

if the collateral he'll be expecting in return

is a price worth paying.

That is a very, very astute point.

But, you know...

there is something to be said for, um,

the longevity in relationships.

For being witnessed, I mean, decade after decade.

We lost our little boy, you see.

Laurie.

And I do think there's something frightfully... bonding,

binding about that sort of... experience.

Do you understand?

I'll bear that in mind.

Although...

there is something to be said for playing the field.

My goodness. He is frightfully handsome.

If you ever do decide to give him the heave-ho,

as a woman as gorgeous as you,

as caring as you... - Stop!

Men would be buzzing around you

like bees at a honeysuckle.

Oh.

Well, what about that Henry guy?

Hmm.

Oh, poor Henry.

Well, Henry was, was a... a port in a storm.

A safe harbour.

I- I-I stopped writing to him a very long time ago, I'm afraid.

Oh, there must be someone.

Oh, hold that thought, honey, hmm,

we're gonna need another bottle.

Oh, yes.

I feel like rather a thirsty rabbit.

Oh, and don't forget the ice-cream.

Ice-cream.

Is he a Pomeranian?

No, he's a vegetarian.

He eats rice and vegetables, I'm afraid.

Never mind us, honey,

I think someone else's need is greater.

Would you like some?

-I've got a better idea, Claudine.

What, what?

What are you doing?

I'm liberating him.

Out of small acts of rebellion,

mighty revolutions are born.

Go my friend, go.

Hello.

What have we here?

Bunking off, are we?

I often sit out here.

May I see?

Glad to see that you've kept it up.

You have real talent.

Thank you.

I best be getting back.

I enjoyed our little jaunt yesterday.

Me too.

Pulled a lot of...

feelings to the surface...

..that I realise I've been trying rather hard to suppress.

I was wondering...

what things might have been like last summer

if we had been able to...

let them run their course.

I- I don't know what to say.

I have said it.

You don't have to.

- This isn't right. - I don't give a fig.

- You're married. - It's a charade.

Constance, Constance, I have to follow my heart

this once.

Well, I can't believe it would lead you to the hired help.

You sound like my sister.

Then maybe you should listen to her.

My poor Constance faces an almost impossible choice.

She must either turn her back

on the person she loves most in the world.

You alright, sweetheart?

Yes.

I'm fine.

Or sacrifice herself to his needs,

and live with her regrets forever afterwards.

I must either tell my darling girl to come home,

or put her poor child up for adoption

if another loving home in the family

cannot be found for him.

Grazie.

Raffaele, no.

Raffaele, no! No, stop.

No, no, no, no. No, no, no.

No, no, no, no, no!

Stop, stop, stop.

Nish, run!

Nish, run!

That's the bloke who gave Mr Sengupta the pamphlets.

Assassination attempt.

Assassination?

Welcome to paradise.

They would like to propose an expansion.

By how much, exactly?

Listen carefully, Signor Ainsworth.

These are not people to say no to.

There's too many prying eyes here.

Captions edited by Ai-Media ai-media. tv