Original subtitles

Let's go!

To the left!

You don't know that.

Cecil.

Cecil.

What is it?

I need to go back to my room.

No one gets up at this godforsaken hour, Nellie.

At least no one with an ounce of self-respect.

Zelda does.

I rest my case.

Shh!

She's on the next door.

She's a very light sleeper.

Then the damage is already done.

Come here.

Come back to bed.

She'll report back to Father?

And he'll tell Mother that I'm a whore?

That's precisely what you are.

Cecil!

A perfect, perfect little whore.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Get up.

What are you doing?

I'll get the dress.

No, no, no.

You can't go.

Well, I did.

Then I'll wait.

I'm going.

I have to.

No, no.

I have to go.

When will I see you again?

You may never see me again.

If anyone finds out about us.

Impossibile.

A sempre bello.

Oh, and shoes.

Yes.

I have to go.

You're up very

early.

As are you.

Well, we have the parade later, and it needs to be perfect.

Well, I shall do my utmost to stay out of its way.

What about you, Signor Hainsworth?

Who brings you to town on this hour?

This is a day of memorial for my family.

So perhaps even you might respect that.

Constance.

How did you know it was Rose's birthday?

Mrs May Smith must have said something to Lottie.

She told me.

Yes.

She'd be 25 today.

I'm just glad there's someone else remembering her.

It'll be a hard day for Lucian, wherever he is.

You haven't heard from him then, ma'am?

Oh, not since he boarded the ship in Aden.

Unless you count a two-word telegram that he sent me from

Bombay.

Arrived safely.

That was four months ago.

Morning, morning.

Did we sleep well?

Hardly at all.

Oh, dear.

Not with the insects and the rattling and groaning of the pipes.

I must have been awake half the night.

I'm glad that's all you heard, rattling and groaning.

I'm going to get my guidebook.

We should meet in reception.

Nellie?

I won't be late.

Grief.

Martinette she is.

I wish it was you who was coming with me and not

Cousin Zelda.

Well, I wish it was me, too.

You know I'd much rather spend the day with my Nellie kids

than tend to this miserable business with my wife.

Do you mean that, Cece?

Of course I do.

I just can't put it off any longer.

Come here.

Zelda says the trick to an unpleasant task is to treat it

like a bandage.

Pull that off in one go.

Keep at it, Salvatore.

Good job.

Si, signorina, si.

Mother?

Oh, Constance, make sure you put those on the drawing room trolley.

Of course, ma'am.

Mother?

Up here!

And then we cover everything else with dust sheets and we don't

have to clean in here again until next spring.

Oh, are you trying to compensate for the lack of men in

our lives by starting to dress like one?

You should get a pair.

Ooh, I'd rather run naked down the Via Roma.

They're practical, comfy and stylish.

Stylish?

Yes.

According to the book I'm reading, dresses are just yet another way

to restrict women.

Well, I'm just glad the season's over and there are no guests

to see you make a spectacle of yourself.

There are two more guests arriving today, in case you've forgotten.

Aunt Amelia and Grandpa Livesey don't exactly count as guests.

Even though we're closed, I still want the hotel to look its

very best for them.

It's not how the hotel looks you should be worried about.

Oh, Mrs Hoffman left her hat box.

Ah.

Um...

Paola.

Li adoro.

Grazie.

Oh, please tell me that's the last of it, Connie, love.

My hands are like prunes.

I have never known it to be so busy.

This last week of the season's felt like a month.

We should be asking for a pay rise.

Couldn't quite believe it when the Hoffmans left this morning.

I thought they'd be joining us for Christmas.

Germans at the Hotel Portofino.

Good job old Billy isn't here.

At least we don't have to worry about where the next lot

are coming from.

Ah, good Lord no, George Livesey.

He's as English as roast beef.

I said you used to work for him.

Yes, after his wife died.

Mrs Ainsworth, er, Miss Isabella, as she was called then.

You know her sister then, Mrs Jackson.

What's she like?

They're like chalk and cheese.

She's got a tongue like a whip, that one.

Then they aren't close.

Not so I'd noticed.

Did they fall out for a reason?

You know, just family stuff, love.

Least said, soonest mended.

Oh!

Sorry.

Give over, give over.

Connie doesn't want to see us pecking away at each other like

a couple of lovebirds.

Not until the wedding.

You know you don't need to mind yourself with him around me.

I'm just made up to see you looking so happy.

It'd be funny to think I'll be sharing my bed with a

man again after so long.

Ciao.

Oh, hello, you two.

You ready for school?

Come on, then.

Let's be having you.

Come here.

You ready?

See you.

Bye, Betty.

Bye-bye, love.

They look happy together, don't they?

Very happy.

I don't know what I'd have done after my mum died if

Mrs Ainsworth hadn't said I could bring them here.

OK, but what's with that?

Children!

Why don't you give me those?

You don't want those.

Those are nasty flags.

Oh!

Just stick by me.

I don't know where you're going.

It's good.

Tommy, stay closer.

All right?

Fire!

Ciao, Vito.

Constance, this is Vito, Bruno's friend.

Will you come?

No, I've already got a date with these two.

Let's go.

Ciao, guys.

Ciao.

Ciao.

Yes, come in.

Betty asked me to bring this for you, ma'am.

Oh, love, you've just put it on the side.

Thank you.

Oh, this stuff, ma'am, that you've made yourself, it's like a

badman's cave in here.

There's not much magic involved.

It's more about hard work and some simple distillation.

Well, the guests certainly think they have magical properties, judging by the

number of empty bottles we find.

That's very nice to hear.

But if you'll, um...

If you'll excuse me.

Oh, yes.

I didn't mean to interrupt.

Oh, no, that must be Mr. Livesey and Mrs. Jackson.

They're an hour early.

Heavens.

If you wouldn't mind, just, um...

Oh, of course.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Cecil.

Good Lord, what are you wearing?

What on earth are you doing here?

I've come to wash the windows.

What do you think I'm doing here?

But you can't just breeze in without so much as a bye,

you'll leave.

Can't I?

I'm sorry.

I don't think I was alerted to that particular bye.

We had agreed to communicate in writing if either one of us

needed to see the other.

Well, I can't be bothered with all that malarkey.

Well, I have people coming.

Christ, better listen to yourself.

I shouldn't need an appointment to see my wife and daughter.

Actually...

Daddy!

Hello, Poppet.

You look pretty as a picture.

Aren't you going to invite him inside?

Oh, you do.

No good will come of him being back here.

You mark my words.

He is her husband, Betty.

Says maybe.

We haven't seen hide the hair of him for two years.

Things have never been so happy and peaceful.

No one's been happy, Betty.

After what happened with Rose.

Mrs Ainsworth's been happier, if you ask me.

Don't you agree, Paula Love?

What?

And if she's happy, I'm happy.

But you don't know what goes on in private between two people.

People can barely give each other the time of day and still

be passionately in love.

And what would you know about being passionately in love, madam?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

My guests will be arriving very shortly.

What about my tea?

I really do need you to leave now.

Oh, I see.

No room at the inn for poor old me.

You haven't even got any luggage.

Keep your hair on.

We're staying along the coast.

Ah, so you're not travelling alone.

Er, no.

With a friend.

A woman, you mean?

Yes, as a matter of fact.

We may as well be honest with one another.

Wouldn't you agree?

Then you're staying at the Geniali.

How very imaginative of you.

Our honeymoon was 30 years ago and you're not likely to go

back there with me any time soon, given the state of our

marriage.

What precisely is the state of our marriage?

Mother.

They're here.

Vanish.

Who's here?

Papa!

Oh, goodness, Emilia, you're early.

I wasn't expecting you until one.

I couldn't sleep in that last hotel.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Emilia.

He's been up and ready since six.

Oh, really?

Portate i bagaglia nelle loro camere.

Excuse me.

Oh, thank you, darling.

Grandpapa's in Epsom and Aunt Emilia in Aintree.

Have you been gardening, sweetheart?

Oh, gosh, no, no, no.

Oh, Papa, these are all the rage with women nowadays.

You should know that, owning a textile factory.

Don't worry, Papa.

We'll stick to skirts and shawls for now.

I always said better wears the trousers in our relationship.

Ah, my favourite son-in-law.

Emilia.

His only son-in-law, Cecil.

You didn't mention you'd be here.

I didn't know that I would.

Why didn't you say that you'd seen Papa?

I didn't get the chance, did I?

We bumped into each other in London, outside the Ritz, as luck

would have it.

Yes, I had a jolly nice lunch.

Yes, very nice it was, too.

Only because I picked up the tab.

So, this is the marvellous hotel I've heard so much about.

I can't wait to show you about, Papa.

I can't believe that we've been open for three years and we've

only just got around to getting out here.

Especially seeing as it's Papa's money that's paid for it.

The naughty fox steals the hen.

Hm?

Tonight, yes?

No, Paola, I don't think I can.

Elisabetta, can you tell her?

Tell her what, my darling?

She must come with me and Bruno because Bruno has a friend.

Who?

Of course you must.

No, I have to look after this one.

Nonsense.

Me and Salvatore will take care of the little treasure.

What do you think, Tommy?

Mm-mm.

Come on, do you want one of Auntie Betty's biscuits?

Oh!

If you're sure.

I'm sure, I'm sure.

You go out and enjoy yourself, you're only young once.

Which one's your favourite?

You're welcome.

It's a little cooler down on the terrace, if you like.

They're talking about the stock market.

I'd rather roast, frankly.

Well, at least your room will be nice and cool.

Positively frigid, I imagine.

They always seem to be in these old piles.

You know, I was trying to remember the last time that we

saw each other.

The day after Ralph's funeral, 10th September 1923.

Goodness, that's...

How incredibly insensitive of me.

I'm so, so sorry, Amelia, I...

Don't be.

Six years is a long time.

And you...

You look well.

And you look...

Older.

Even a little worn down, if I'm being honest.

We had a terribly busy summer.

I was sort of run off my feet.

Running a hotel must be hell.

I should have written.

I'm not much one for letters.

Well, I should have visited then.

When I came to England after the ghastly business with Rose, I...

No need to make a thing of it.

This place takes priority over everything else.

That's abundantly clear.

Anyway, I suspect Papa will be keen to see rather a lot

more of you.

Now you're a Viscount's wife.

Oh gosh, not that, please.

It's all you can drone on about.

Really?

How is everything?

At home.

Well...

The deepest pit of the underworld.

And what about the business?

I'm not allowed to talk to you about that.

Why am I not?

He says he's going to speak to himself.

God, this is such a treat.

Good grief, darling, a treat.

To have you here, to talk to you.

A treat is a glass of champagne, not a gossip with an

elderly widowed aunt.

You are hardly elderly.

In that outfit, you look younger than I do.

Frankly, that's not saying much.

What happened to that feisty, devil-may-care young woman who spent

that glorious summer with me in Paris?

She got dowdy.

And drab.

And provincial.

You're losing your best years in this fusty backwater.

Don't let Mother hear you call it that.

Seriously, darling, aren't there any dishy men around here who might be

worth making an effort for?

There was one.

Name and vital statistics, please.

Carlo.

So where's Carlo?

Well, it took me a while to work out that I liked

him.

But when you did?

I let him know, of course.

And he didn't reciprocate?

Quite the opposite.

Then what happened?

Poor Rose happened.

We got caught up in the aftermath of that to-ing and

fro-ing from London.

He said he would come visit this summer before last, but then

there was a death in his family.

Brother-in-law, I think.

How tiresome.

Then he wrote to say he would come at the end of

this season.

But by that time, I'd committed to taking Lottie back to see

Alfred's parents, so...

And since then?

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.

George, George, George.

Just slip through my fingers.

Are you all right?

There's no need to apologise.

A little bit of broken glass.

How about a lie down for a bath?

That's a good idea.

Perhaps some water?

Darling, please mind your fingers.

Don't pick them.

Thank you, Poppy.

Come on, come on, come on.

I'm tickled pink to be thanking Viscount and Viscountess Head for their

hospitality.

I only hope that I haven't disgraced myself.

No, no, no, no.

And that I might get an invitation to Knaresbrook.

When Isabella finally comes home to take her place.

You'll be first on our list, George.

Thank you, Cecil.

Take care, old boy.

Don't fuss.

What now?

What on earth are you playing at?

What do you mean?

I have no intention of coming back to England.

And even less of styling myself as Viscountess Head.

I know that.

That's why I've come to ask you for a divorce.

It's over.

You said it yourself.

And I meant it.

Then what's your objection?

I didn't say I object.

The idea of no longer being married to you, of not having

to put up with your nonsense, is quite frankly appealing.

But?

But, it's not as simple as so long it's been fun goodbye.

There are things to think about.

Money, you mean?

My father, the children.

Your father's a man of the world.

And there's the hotel.

It's all just detail, Bella.

Well, that's easy for you to say when you've never paid the

slightest bit of attention to it.

If you're worried what people will think, you shouldn't be.

A woman always has to worry about what people think.

But divorce is commonplace these days.

Well, it might be amongst your aristocratic chums, but not anyone else.

Look, they passed an Act of Parliament.

Not in Italy, they didn't.

Can you imagine the mischief Danione would make?

He's looking for any pretext in which to shut down the hotel.

I thought you had Albani take care of all that for you.

No, but he's been gone the last two summers.

Look, look, look, look, look.

I'm going to Florence for a week.

Which means you've time to have a mull.

My lawyer's drawn up an agreement.

I'll have it sent over.

See what you think, once you've given it a read.

You're not going anywhere.

What?

My father's delighted to have you here.

How would I explain your absence?

Right, so, you should go and get your bags and tell your

lady friend the bad news.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Bye.

What do you like?

I like chocolate.

The cream.

Where do you get the cream from?

Paola, come here.

Where?

Come on!

Initially we say, um, reggere il moccolo.

Oh, um, we say, playing the gooseberry.

You didn't say you spoke English so well.

You didn't ask.

Go on then.

Where did you learn it?

In school.

I didn't realise they taught it here.

They teach chemistry, and the best textbooks are in English, so...

But Paola says you speak Italian.

Like a three-year-old, maybe.

She says you're clever.

I like that.

I was sorry to hear about Edmund.

I was genuinely fond of your brother.

Well, he was genuinely fond of you too.

So I was a damn fool for ever spending so much as

a night apart from you.

So, this woman you're travelling with, are you going to marry her?

That's part of the plan, yes.

She's called Nelly, if you must know.

Eleanor Gibson White.

She's the daughter of my stockbroker.

Ah.

So she's rich.

I wouldn't marry her if she wasn't.

I don't get to practise my English very often.

Well, I'm glad you got something out of this evening then.

Perhaps we can do it again, if I promise to let you

speak Italian like a three-year-old.

On Saturday, perhaps, after lunch?

I'm sorry.

I don't think I can ask Mrs Ainsworth for any more time

off.

All right.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Sabato.

Ci vediamo a mezzogiorno?

Si.

Si.

Bye.

Bye.

What did you say that for?

Because.

I'm your friend.

Vito is clever and handsome, and one day he'll be rich too.

Women here, they would die for him to look at them.

But he looks at you.

Nellykins, don't be like that.

Don't you Nellykins me, you weasel.

I told you this wouldn't be straightforward.

And I told you that Nelly must always come first.

It's a week.

And you have your cousin.

You promised to take me to Florence Cecil.

You absolutely promised.

I promised that my little Venus would get to see the birth

of her namesake, that Dio Fizzi.

And you will.

With Zelda.

Look.

What say I come with you to Florence tomorrow?

Help you get settled in at the pensioneer, then scoot back up

here and take care of business.

Hm?

What I know about art could be written on the back of

a cigarette packet.

Zelda will be in her element, bossing you about, quoting from the

guidebook.

Without me huffing and tutting, asking where lunch is every five minutes.

I'll rejoin you in Rome.

I promise.

By which time everything will be sorted.

I think you should do that.

I'm sorry?

Get down on your knees and beg my forgiveness.

And call me Lady Haddon while you're down there.

I don't kneel to anyone.

And I certainly don't do penance.

But I will make it up to you.

Bye.

Antonio.

Do you see the woman with the hat climbing the stairs?

Yes.

Go and see where she's going.

Antonio.

Be careful not to get cleaned up.

Yes.

Be careful.

What are you doing here?

I have something to tell you.

Yesterday morning you said you couldn't respond.

I'm here.

No one follow me.

I change.

This is important.

Tell me.

Cecil's come back.

At the hotel?

Yes.

He just turned up out of the blue.

But you agreed he'd write first.

I know, but he's a law hunter himself.

What does he want?

He's asking for a divorce.

That's wonderful news.

But is it?

Oh, my God.

Hey!

Stop!

Stop!

Hey!

Why did you send him to spy on me and my client?

Your client?

Yes.

Mrs. Ensworth.

We were talking about new jobs at the hotel.

So you were working without a license?

No.

My license is absolutely regular.

Really?

Yes.

I decide whether it's regular or not.

Let's do it this way.

Come to my office on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. Then

we'll see.

Yes?

Oh, good.

I'm still up.

What's that?

It's just a photograph.

It's Emilia and I when we were young.

Is this your mother?

Yes.

It's your grandmother.

Why'd you try to hide it?

Did you want something, darling?

Yes.

Well...

I was wondering if Daddy had said anything about what he's doing

back.

That's a little bit complicated.

I don't like the sound of that.

Mother.

Your father has come to our...

Well, no.

Your father has suggested that it might be a good idea if

we were to get a divorce.

A divorce?

Yes, a divorce.

But, Alice, darling, this can hardly come as a surprise.

We're virtually separated as it is.

Yes, but I thought that you were going to try.

People do get divorced now.

Nobody I know gets divorces.

I haven't said yes.

And if you do?

Well, that's a long way off.

We don't need to worry about that.

Oh.

There is going to be a terrible scandal.

Darling, the hotel can't afford a scandal.

Mother, I can't afford a scandal.

Of course.

Of course you can't.

What about that funny little trattoria?

The one behind the beach at Paraggi for lunch?

The one that served us those spidery squid things?

Calamari.

I think your grandfather might like it.

Well, I hate to break up your little party, but I have

to go into Genoa, I'm afraid.

That's a shame.

Well, I'd invite you to come with me, George, but it'll be

a dreary business.

I'm speaking with my stockbroker.

Oh, I don't mind.

Oh, sorry, old chap.

It's a private matter.

Well, you could always use the hotel phone.

To New York.

To the bank.

It'll take half a day to make the connection.

You have investments over there?

I have some business in Detroit, yes.

It makes sense to put my money to work on that side

of the pond.

Isn't it a bit high risk?

High risk?

Please.

The New York stock market index has risen fivefold in the last

decade.

We're laughing all the way to the bank.

Have you invested too, Papa?

No, I'm having a little dabble, yes.

Daddy, could I come with you to Genoa?

Fine by me, Poppet.

Perhaps Aunt Amelia would care to join me?

I would love to take shameless advantage of your fashion sense whilst

you're here.

Buy some new clothes.

Be as shameless as you like.

I'd better bring my checkbook.

We might even buy some trousers.

OK.

Can you do this?

Ah!

Now we're getting somewhere.

You don't think it makes me look too available?

Frankly, darling, the more available, the better.

Carlo.

Alice.

What are you doing here?

The same as you, it would appear.

Yeah, you look so...

And you look just the same as always.

It's been so long.

Yes, I know.

I should have written.

May I introduce you?

The Contessa di Mazzi.

Mrs Mace Smith.

And...? Amelia Jackson.

Pleasure.

Yes, Amelia, this is Count Carlo Arbani, mother's business partner and a

favourite guest of the hotel.

Or at least he used to be.

Oh, si.

We're late for a lunch party.

I'm sorry.

My mother will be most sad to have not seen you.

And I not to have seen her.

You're right.

Carlo is dishy.

It seems I'm not the only one that thinks so.

Ah, Geoffrey, old boy.

Hello, Cecil.

Can't stop.

Important phone call.

Good morning.

Morning, morning, morning.

Hello?

Randall, is that you?

Last time I checked.

How's Italy?

Oh, you know, sunny, full of Italians.

New York?

Not so sunny, full of Italians.

Nellie with you?

Uh, no.

No, I've sent her on ahead to Florence.

Zelda's riding shotgun.

Heaven help the locals.

Look, I may as well get straight to the point.

I need you to sell off 100,000 pounds worth of stock

for me.

Is that a problem?

No problem.

I'd just advise against it is all for the time being.

Yes.

Why is that?

Because the market is up and down.

Like a two dollar hoarding.

I don't have much choice, Randall.

I need that money for my divorce.

Your wife said yes?

She's, she's moving that way, yes.

Do you have what I asked for?

I'm working on it.

Ah.

Oh, I must have dropped off.

Papa, why don't you lie down properly in your bed if you're

tired?

Oh, don't make a fuss, sweetheart.

I'm quite happy.

I'll shout if anything changes.

All right.

Papa.

I do hope you know what you're doing investing with Cecil.

What business is that of yours?

None.

It's just...

Well, he doesn't have the best track record with money.

Do I look like I need advice?

Well, perhaps you do, if you're relying on him to look after

your money.

Don't you go sticking your nose in.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sweetheart.

Forgive me.

But, look, I've done all right for myself up to now.

Of course you have, yes.

And you, who's never had to worry a pretty little head about

these things.

And a titled lady now, to boot.

I'll let you be, Father.

Isabella.

Knock, knock.

Oh, Cecil, I'm working.

I brought you a present.

It's from...

It's from the Geniali.

Go on, open it.

They still sell it.

After all these years.

What do you want?

Um...

Well, I was wondering if you'd given any thought to this signed

affidavit I'll need from you.

Ah, the one we talked about.

Not really.

I don't even know what it should contain.

An admission of adultery.

By you.

With a named party on a given date.

Jenkins was very specific about that.

You've discussed this with your lawyer?

Of course I have.

Without telling me first?

Good God, Bella, grow up.

Are you telling me you haven't?

Haven't what?

We've committed adultery.

Are you telling me you haven't?

Look, I'm sorry, alright?

But apparently the court won't accept anything less.

Cecil, why on earth should it be me?

Because Nelly's father won't allow her to marry a named adulterer.

And without his consent, there's no payola for either of us.

But if I'm publicly shamed, that will ruin my reputation and then

no one will come and stay in the hotel.

Don't be ridiculous.

You'll be well insulated from any scandal ever here in Italy.

Not from Danione I won't be.

For God's sake, Bella, I'm offering you £100,000.

You can buy a new reputation and a new hotel for that.

Cecil, after everything you have done to me...

Me?

Yes.

You think I should take the blame?

Frankly, yes, I do.

Get out.

Signore.

Come with me, please.

I'm sorry, come with you where?

I don't think so.

Signore Ellsworth, what an unexpected pleasure.

It's neither a pleasure nor unexpected and you'll address me as Lord

Heddon.

Or is lordship like a cigar?

It's Cuban.

It's a good one.

I don't care if it's rolled on the thighs of the Virgin

Mary.

I won't take anything from you.

What happened to Farina?

Let's say his time here came to an end.

Ah, leaving you as the capo de capi, eh?

The West Side gang's plenipotentiary in Italy and the Papal States.

Their humble representative, yes.

Right.

And Il Duce?

He's happy with that, is he?

Well, I remain the localist party's secretary.

So, why did you send your guerrillas to drag me here, Daniele?

What choice did I have?

You don't answer the telephone.

This is not the way friends should behave.

We're business associates, not friends.

Remember?

If you have anything to say to me, it should be communicated

through my solicitor.

Wait a moment.

I don't think you'll want your solicitor to see this.

Where did you get these?

I wish to propose a different split of the profits from our

whisky business.

In favor of your employers in Detroit?

No.

In favor of myself.

You're getting very full of yourself.

No fuller than you.

How much?

Andrea.

You'll invite me to the English hotel so we can finalize the

details, eh?

No, no, no.

You can keep it.

I got more.

Keep it.