The Halcyon (2017–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

Well done.

You know that sound!

- We all got to move out.
- Aw!

I know, I know!

Just time for one last song.

For a lady
who turns 50 years old today.

The Halcyon Hotel!

The stories these walls could tell.

So raise your glasses
and give a cheer

to 50 golden years!

Emma. I was wrong.



No eye contact, no greetings.
Just act like they're not here.

Consider me part of the wallpaper.

- Good morning, Lord Hamilton.
- Thank you, Feldman.

- Would you?
- Come on.

Terrible weather.

The Royal Suite is prepared,
Your Lordship.

Thank you, Mr. Garland.

You remember Miss Lambert?

This way, please.

- All right. Step back.
- Yes, Chef.

You know what they say.

Nothing good ever comes in
through the back.

The vote of no confidence has
fatally wounded Chamberlain

and all indications suggest that it
comes down to Halifax or Churchill now.



We must use our power and influence
to guide this country

in her time of need.

Churchill is an idiot.

Well, he sees things
as black and white.

Lord Halifax understands
the situation is more nuanced.

Nuanced? I was with Halifax
when he met the Fuhrer.

Hitler thought he was a footman.
He handed him his coat.

With all due respect, Miss Lambert,

our concerns lie more
with economic implications,

rather than social.

The last war plunged our nation
into a recession

- from which we have barely recovered.
- Hear, hear!

- Gin, please.
- Yes, of course.

Anything yet?

Apologies, Mr. O'Hara,
but as I explained,

check-in isn't until 12.

Should your room become available
before then, I will inform you.

Well, thank you.

Well, you guys seem real busy here
today.

I saw some serious-looking men

in some serious-looking cars
coming in earlier.

Well, sir, the Halcyon is used
for a variety of meetings

and business conferences.

Do they always come in through
the back, though?

If... if they wish to.

We try to meet all guests' needs,
whether it's how they enter the hotel

or what time they wish to check in.

Well, thank you.

One last question.
This is probably the most important.

What is your name?

Emma Garland.

Well, thank you for your help,
Emma Garland.

The Fuhrer has already stated that he
doesn't view Britain as the enemy.

Hitler also reneged on Munich.
We need to exercise caution.

Surely the answer is to join
with him.

No, that is not an option.

We're trying to avoid
being dragged into a war,

not forming an alliance.

You say you're men of vision
but you're blind.

Look at how he has restored
Germany's fortunes.

Ten years ago, they were on
their knees.

Miss Lambert...

Now they tower over Europe!

Hitler is not afraid to take
what he wants,

to take a stand against
this plague of itinerants.

Miss Lambert, your connections are
very much appreciated

but you will respect
the authority of the chair.

This is not up for discussion.

Now, may we address
the matter at hand?

I'd like another drink, please.

Stay.

One more, thank you.

- Again.
- Charity...

Please, sir. Can I have some more?

Put that down!

She's on my side,
aren't you, girl?

She doesn't want her job taken by
some shabby little Jew, either.

Charity...

- You stupid idiot!
- I'm so sorry!

I think that's enough, Miss Lambert.

You don't tell me what to do,
Lawrence,

and you don't tell me what to say!

I shan't be kept in the shadows
any more.

Perhaps now might be a good time
to break for tea and sandwiches.

Gentlemen, if you could make your way
to the Linton Lounge

at the end of the corridor.

- You need to have a lie-down.
- Aren't you going to join me, Lawrence?

Always just standing there
in the background.

Is that what you like, Mr. Garland?

To watch?

- That's quite enough of that, now.
- Shut up, Lawrence.

What were you thinking?

- It was an accident.
- I'm not stupid, Emma.

I swear - my hand just slipped.

You heard what she was saying. How can
you stand there and listen to that?

Because it's the job.

This is Lord Hamilton's hotel
and he's been very good to us.

Well, I suppose I'm an embarrassment as
a receptionist and a daughter, then.

Maybe one. Not the other.

Go on. Back to work.

Good morning, Betsey.

You're not supposed to be in here.
What if I'd been someone else?

- Someone important?
- I'm sorry.

I was too tired to go home
after the show.

Besides, a lady needs
her beauty sleep.

I think you stopped being a lady somewhere
between the seventh and eighth cocktail.

I don't know how
you get up in the mornings.

Housekeeping!

Good morning, Mrs. Hobbs.
What are you doing in here?

A guest rang to say they'd
left something behind.

There's no need to clean.
The room is ready.

You can tell
your little whore friend

that if I catch her
in one of my rooms again

she'll lose more than a shoe.

Whore?

Skinner.

- Lady Hamilton. Welcome home.
- Your Ladyship.

Thank you.

She's back.

Mr. Garland, Her Ladyship's here.

She's not due till tomorrow.

- Where is she now?
- Where do you think?

Lady Hamilton?

I am sorry.

I'm afraid His Lordship has
a rather nasty headache.

He made me promise
he would not be disturbed.

Might I suggest you take some tea
in the atrium while you wait?

Lady Hamilton...

he really was most insistent.

Don't shepherd me, Mr. Garland.

I know where I'm going.

I'm your employer, not a guest.

I can still smell some tart.

- Her Ladyship's on her way.
- Room's clear.

Next time I leave, it'll be through
the front door.

Here's a better idea, Miss Lambert.

Consider not coming back at all.

The world is changing, Mr. Garland.
You just don't see it.

His Lordship?

I believe His Lordship is
feeling better.

He's having a drink in the bar.

Would you like me to escort you
down?

I thought the blues were meant
to make you feel better.

Blues, jazz, call it what you want.

It's all the same to me,
just one big noise.

Easy on the eye, though.

Bloody women. I'm getting too old
for it all.

Probably why I'm hiding in here.

Joe O'Hara.

Lawrence Hamilton.

Hamilton as in...?

I'm not sure I know how to address
a lord.

"Another drink, Your Lordship?"
usually works for me.

Another bloody drink.

Gentlemen.
Your mother's in the Royal Suite

and your father is in the bar.

The bar it is, then.

The way I see it, appeasement
doesn't necessarily mean acceptance

- or approval.
- My point exactly.

It's not unpatriotic
to explore options.

Hell, America's wanting to steer
clear of the whole ball game.

Boys! Congratulations, Freddie. Sir Cyril
phoned me himself to tell me you'd passed.

Somebody's got to fly those planes.

Don't put yourself down.
They don't accept just anybody.

This is Mr. O'Hara. He's an American.

Freddie and Toby.
Two of my finest achievements.

So, Mr. O'Hara, what do you do?

Well, right now I'm discovering London
knows how to make a pretty good cocktail.

Yourself? A junior researcher
at Oxford. Fairly dull, I'm afraid,

as I imagine my father would be
happy to tell you.

Now, now, Toby. I'm sure
you're doing important work.

Ahem. I'm sorry, gentlemen, I'm
going to have to ask you to leave.

There's been complaints
about the noise.

Look at you, out from behind
the desk! I'm on room service.

Lucky me!

Hello, again. Mr. O'Hara. I trust
you're enjoying your stay?

So will you be coming to my party
tomorrow, then?

Well, I'll be working at your party.

Well, that counts.

I'm afraid that's all you're getting
tonight.

On behalf of the Sonny Sullivan
band, I'd like to say thank you.

You make a girl giddy.

I should be heading for bed as well.

Boys, don't stay up too late. Freddie, you
should be fresh for your guests tomorrow.

Toby.

So what's he done now?

I'm afraid there are no suites available,
but we do have some superior rooms.

I suppose it'll have to do. Anything
for a bit of peace and bloody quiet.

It was rather a close call today.

It's what you're here for, Richard.

You keep my secrets, I keep yours.

Come.

The boys have just arrived, Your Ladyship.
They're with their father.

I'll see them in the morning.

What are your plans, Emma?

For life?

I don't know. I... haven't really
thought about it.

Just the usual things, I suppose.

Get married, have children.

Become a fat little housewife in
a dreary little house somewhere.

You don't need to.

They'll tell you it's life.
They'll tell you it's growing up.

But it's not.

Is there anything else I can do
for Your Ladyship?

Goodnight, Emma.

- Come with me.
- Where are we going?

Where do you think we're going?

Enjoying yourself, are you? Bloody
hell! Don't they teach you to knock?

How did you get in here?

You're the chanteuse.
What's your name?

Betsey. You're not going to have me
sacked, are you?

Lucky for you, Betsey,
I've had a very long day

and I would like to avoid
any further drama.

- You know your trouble, sir?
- Enlighten me.

You complicate matters. Carrying on
with that Lambert woman for a start.

- How do you know about that?
- She's the talk of the hotel.

- What does your wife think about her?
- My wife and I have an understanding.

Or so you think.

You can't please all of them
all of the time, sir.

Sooner or later, it will all come
crashing down.

Yes, you may have a point there.

Give me a towel, then.

Yes, ma'am.

God! I've not been down here
in ages.

They're going to make it into
a bomb shelter.

Are things really that serious?

It would seem so.

Aha! I'd forgotten
we'd done this.

- Toby started crying.
- Yes, because you told him

that the police were going to arrest
him for vandalism.

And look at us now.
Pilot Officer Freddie Hamilton.

It was strange,
going through training.

Flying a Spitfire for the first time.

But it wasn't until I put on
the uniform that I realised that...

You're a real pilot?

No, I was going to say
that I look good in uniform

but your one sounded a lot better.

Not everyone looks good in uniform.

You're not bad, I suppose.

I've seen worse.

- I'd better...
- Get back to work, yes.

I'll see you later.

I think you've been reading
too many fairy tales.

I'm serious.

There was this big pause
and for a second it

was as though something
was going to happen.

- So why didn't it?
- Hey!

What! No, we've been friends
since we were little.

- It's not like that.
- I'll tell you what I told His Lordship.

You complicate matters.

And you told His Lordship
this when, exactly?

- When he caught me in his bath.
- Please tell me you're joking.

He's actually very sweet.
A proper gentleman.

Your old man's not coming, is he?

Mr. Feldman, every day your
poker corner gets mopped and scrubbed.

It's even on the cleaning schedule.

It's no fun if it's not secret.

Try not to spill any drinks, Emma.

Billy, you're smoking your stake.

He was going to lose it anyway.

No, I wasn't.
I've got three jacks here.

Billy!

- Billy!
- Honestly!

I've never even thought of Freddie
that way.

- I mean, not really.
- Probably for the best, then.

Because he's His Lordship's heir

and you're
just the girl behind reception.

Enjoy the walk, Billy.

Off you go.

Lady Hamilton, I have the menus for
the party tonight, you requested.

Thank you, Emma.

I'll let you know
if there's anything amiss.

Yes, thank you, Emma.

It seems as if the Dutch are on
high alert, fearing invasion.

Please, no politics at the table.

I'm sorry, Miss Lambert. The restaurant
is closed to non-residents until evening.

We both know that's a lie.

Don't worry. His Lordship will be
pleased to see me.

He always is.

Please. Don't do this.

What's she doing here?

Lawrence!

- I have no idea.
- Mother, shall we go for a walk?

Under cover of darkness is
one thing.

But I will not be humiliated like this
in front of my children. Do you hear?

So, this policy of appeasement you
support - how's that working for you?

When you decide to do something useful
with your pathetic little life,

and not before.

Lawrence!

Lawrence. Lawrence! Wait!

I'm coming with you to the house.

I have asked you to be discreet.
This is not discreet.

I have waited.
I have listened to your promises.

I have done everything
you have asked.

Now is the time to choose.
Do you want me or not, Lawrence?

We'll... discuss this elsewhere.

I'm thinking, we get a long enough
lead for the microphone,

all the way down here -
it might work.

Help me up, then.

Why do you want to sing on the bar?

Because it's show business,
Sonny Sullivan.

Keep 'em watching.
Keep 'em on their toes.

It's never going to happen, Sonny.

Just you wait.

Here - let me.

That was quite the scene in there.

I saw you standing up
to your old man.

That takes some guts.

I was stupid to even try.
He never listens to me.

- Freddie, maybe, but...
- Why would you think that?

Because Freddie's the heir by virtue of the
fact that he was born four minutes before me.

And those four minutes count
for a lot, right?

Who's that woman who came in?

Charity Lambert, his... His...?

Fancy lady.

There've been others, believe me,
but she's the worst

and I doubt she comes cheap.

Well, I hate to say it
but she is kind of a knockout.

Yeah - sure.
Blond hair, blue eyes...

No wonder the Germans love her.

The Germans?

Has she spent some time over there?

In Munich.

I believe she made
a lot of very influential friends,

as it were.

Well, I don't know how things work
over here

but the way I see it, your dad had
no right snapping at you like that.

Well,
at least somebody's on my side.

Hell, I'll even buy you a drink.
Come on.

You look like you could use one.

It's possibly a bit early
in the day for it.

Well, like they say...
it's five o'clock somewhere, right?

Your Ladyship. What can I do for you?

How long is it since your wife died?

Ten years.

I was surprised
when my husband appointed you.

You seem a man of limited worth.

I supposed you've served him well.

Everything I do is in service
to your family.

You included.

In that case...

I require a list of all the women with whom
my husband has fraternised behind my back,

every sordid little story
that you've helped to hide.

Your husband loves you very much.

- Don't patronise me.
- You're right. I apologise.

But don't ask me to pick sides,
Lady Hamilton,

because you won't win.

I wish I respected you.

But I can't. If it were up to me,
you'd be out of a job.

Then I'm very happy
it is not up to you.

Thank you, Mr. Garland.

I shan't forget that.

I feel for the son. He's a good kid.

"Yeah. You're all heart, Joe.

Stand by. In five, four, three..."

Good morning, America!

This is Joe O'Hara, live for CBA,
reporting from London,

where the spectre of fascism haunts
the capital's West End.

I'm staying at the luxurious Halcyon
Hotel, where I can reveal

prominent businessmen, aristocrats and
politicians met this week in secret

to discuss a deal with none other
than Adolf Hitler himself.

You should prepare for the worst.

This broadcast is your fault.
You were meant to keep on top of things.

You brought your mistress
to your own hotel.

What did you think would happen?
Don't you take that tone with me!

When I think of what I've done
for you,

where you would have been
without me...

- I am grateful.
- I don't want your bloody gratitude.

You are meant to protect me.

Please. Whatever it takes.
Help me on this, Richard.

The broadcast only goes out to
America

and we have people
at most of the papers

who reassure me they won't be
running with this.

Most?

There's a new editor
at the Telegraph, Mr. Briggs.

- And we don't know him?
- No.

He's going to run the story?

Lord Hamilton, Miss Lambert,

a gripping mix of fact and fiction,
mostly fiction.

Sells papers, though.

Please send Mr. Briggs a most gracious
invite to Freddie's party this evening.

And fetch me my address book,
will you? I have calls to make.

You're excused.

- Would you like some help?
- No, no.

You heard about the radio broadcast,
then?

That bloody American.

What are you going to do?

Well, we have guests coming tonight.

Friends of Mother and Father. VIPs.

I will do what I've been brought up
to do. I'll smile.

I'll be polite.

And pretend nothing is ever wrong.

- Stay still.
- I am staying still.

I er... I'll see you at the party.

Yes.

Freddie!

Hello!

Hello. Good to see you.
How are you?

Mr. Briggs is en route.

Thank you, Mr. Feldman.

I don't suppose you know
where Wellington is?

You've lost His Lordship's dog?

Well, I... I ain't lost him. I just
don't know where he is, Skinner.

You might as well leave
the country, Billy.

Don't say that.

That's like losing
a member of their family.

Capital offence.

- Mr. Briggs.
- Mr. Garland.

I'm so glad you
accepted our invitation.

- I was intrigued.
- Let me show you around.

Can you help me
with these damn cufflinks?

How did we do it?

What's that?

How did we live like this
for so long?

Pretending it's fine
when everything's falling apart.

Priscilla!

You were so handsome.
We were so young.

And I loved you...

so, so much.

We won't tell the boys
until tomorrow.

What?

Tonight, I want you at my side

and thereafter I shall stay
in the country.

- And you can do as you please.
- I... I can make things better.

No, Lawrence, you can't.

This marriage is over.

I hear we're going to be
front-page news tomorrow.

You know you're the only paper
running the story?

Our readers deserve the truth.

Have you ever tried the lobster
at the Savoy?

- I'm not sure that I have.
- You have.

February 4th of this year.

You see, like you, it's my job
to know things, too.

For example, I know why you booked
a room there for one night only.

I know the name of the girl
who visited you

for an hour and a half at 9:35pm.

I also know that you ordered
the Lobster de la Manche.

- Are you trying to blackmail me?
- No, Mr. Briggs.

I'm trying to impress you.
I like you.

I like your paper.

I do hope we can be friends.

I like you, too.

That makes me very happy.

Now, I believe the party awaits.

After you.

Another two.

Go on, Freddie!

Enter.

Shouldn't you be at your party?
I was.

- I wanted to speak to you.
- All right.

They've cancelled leave.

I have to go back to base
first thing tomorrow.

Did you know about this?
Well, they'll be preparing you,

to send out squadrons to support the
British Expeditionary Force in France.

- So it's really happening, then.
- Well, I'm sorry, I did my best

but it looks like it will be
Churchill's country now.

What, was there something else?

You have to stop.

You have to stop treating Mother like
this.

- Mind your tone!
- No, I won't.

Carrying on in that way -
you're humiliating her!

Don't make the same mistakes
as I did.

I took something beautiful
and I destroyed it.

Just because I could.

Go on.

Go down and enjoy yourself.
I'll er... I'll follow you down.

O'Hara.

- Hey, hey, hey.
- Stand up!

I don't want to get into
this with you.

- Stand up!
- Freddie!

Freddie...
Freddie, back to your party.

I was just doing my job.

What did you think would happen,
Mr. O'Hara?

Well, the Queensberry rules,
for one.

I guess you guys want me
out of here.

You're still a guest
and that still means something.

- Is everything all right?
- Freddie, you must stop disappearing.

- Here he is!
- Here's the man of the hour!

He has a wandering eye,
like his father.

Kindly go upstairs and
remind my husband

this is an event to be
attended by both parents.

Lord Hamilton?

Lord Hamilton?

Lord Hamilton? Sir?

Lord Hamilton.

Might I have a word?

Lord Hamilton.

Freddie, he's talking to you.

Come on. Home, boy.

Come on.

Come on.