Hotel Portofino

Which ones, roses or daisies?

That's enough, Betty. Yes, thank you.

Lovely colour.

Wow! Look how beautiful it is over there!

Do be careful not to get smuts on your dress, Rose.

Attenzione, prego!

Scusi.

Hotel Portofino? Good. Our luggage.

Nostri bagagli. We have eight cases. Otto?

Mrs. Drummond-Ward? Si, Signora.

Marvellous. Let's try not to lose any of them, shall we?

Come along, Rose.

Do try and keep up, darling.

They're one of the oldest families in the county.

I've known Cecil since I was a girl. And what about Mrs. Ainsworth?

Oh, she's quite a different sort. A different sort?

Don't be dim, Rose. You know exactly what I mean.

Not sure I do, Mama. Well...

she is the sort of woman who thinks nothing of opening an hotel,

for one thing. God knows what poor Cecil must make of it all.

Grazie. Prego.

Andiamo.

Betty, I have come to see how you're getting on.

I'm making do, Mrs. Mays-Smith. Making do.

Well, this is not like any cut of meat I've ever cooked before.

It's beef. Yes, it's beef all right.

Italian beef.

And is there a problem with the Italian beef, Betty?

Well, there's not much fat in it, ma'am.

Means I won't have any dripping for me puddings. Or the potatoes.

Oh, yes, potatoes. These waxy little bullet-type things

that are not like proper spuds at all.

Well, you'll just have to manage. I'll do my best, ma'am.

Please make sure you do. My mother is very keen

we make a good first impression on the new arrivals.

To make everything feel like a...

..a home from home.

They could arrive any time, Billy. Yes, Mrs. Ainsworth.

Remember... first impressions.

First impressions. Yes, ma'am.

Nuovi arrivi?

Una fresca consegna di rose Inglese.

Billy, go get the suitcases.

Grazie.

Mrs. Drummond-Ward, Rose. Welcome.

Mrs... Ainsworth?

Yes, but please call me Bella. I do hope I can call you Julia.

How was your journey?

Long. And exceedingly tiresome.

Well, we must do our best to make it all seem worth your while.

Welcome to the Hotel Portofino. How utterly charming.

Lucian, I do hope you looked after our guests

on the way from the train station. Darling?

Lucian... You're Lucian?

Why didn't you say something?

Well, the moment never seemed to arise.

How very irregular.

Oh, darling! What?

What are you doing? It was a joke!

Melissa?

Melissa!

Yes, Aunt. What's that dreadful racket?

I believe some guests are arriving.

Oh, I knew we should have rented a villa.

I very much doubt it would have been as comfortable as this.

A lot more private, perhaps. How are you feeling, Aunt?

Simply ghastly.

Shall I let them know that you won't be down for dinner?

Goodness, no. One has to keep one's strength up.

Look at how dear and delightful everything is.

Do you think Mrs. Ainsworth does it all herself?

I'm sure she enjoys getting her hands dirty.

Let's take a look at you.

Well, I suppose you'll have to do.

Remember, Rose, first impressions.

Hello. Oh, Champagne. How lovely.

It's Prosecco. Lighter and fruitier than Champagne.

From a local vineyard. How did you find your room?

Somewhat smaller than we're used to.

But so exquisitely decorated.

We were wondering if you did it all yourself.

Thank you. Weren't we, Mama?

Well, I do hope that all of our guests are as observant

and sweet as you, Rose. Are we amongst your first?

We've been open since Easter,

but it's only in the last month or so that we've got busy.

How many times do I have to tell you? I don't drink alcohol.

I am very sorry, Lady Latchmere. It won't happen again.

It's deeply irritating.

Is there anything else I can get you? No.

Buonasera.

And that is...?

Oh, Count Albani and his son, Roberto.

I shall introduce you.

I understood that all the guests were to be English.

Your advertisement was quite specific.

"A very English Hotel on the Italian Riviera."

Yes, quite. English or... English speaking.

Count Albani is an Oxford man.

And what about that gentleman? Ah, Mr. Sengupta.

Yes, he's a dear friend of my son's.

Afternoon. It's evening.

Speak of the devil. Lucian, perhaps you'd like to redeem yourself

to Mrs. Drummond-Ward and to Rose.

You could tell them all about Portofino.

Hmm? Erm... Ooh, I hardly know where to start.

Will you excuse me?

Well, then... start from the beginning.

How does an English family come to be here in the first place?

Oh, well, that one's easy.

Mother really rather fell in love with the place

when she was on her honeymoon with Father.

But what made her decide to move here?

I think she thought we would all benefit from... a fresh start.

A new adventure. After the war.

For Alice, for Lottie, for myself. Even for Father.

And will Cecil be gracing us with his presence this evening?

Erm, I'm afraid my father sends his most sincere apologies.

He has been unavoidably delayed.

'Creole Clarinet' by Keith Nichols

Grazie.

The main course. Thank you.

May I have some salt, please? That's enough.

Billy, when you have a moment, can we have another?

Oh, Billy. Thank you so much.

Well done.

Take it off. It's sweltering.

I'm ready. Come on! See you out there.

Come on! Get in! The water is beautiful!

Darling, you were an absolute trooper tonight, thank you so much.

Oh, botheration! What is it?

Another stain. Don't worry, I can fix that.

I think it went about as well as can be expected.

Dinner? No, the introduction to Rose.

Oh. She's very pretty, isn't she?

Not that it matters. No, no. Of course, of course not.

It's character that counts, but...

Her father's 6,000 acres of prime arable land is what counts.

Don't be so cynical! You know it's true.

She could look like the back end of an omnibus

and Father would still be keen for Lucian to marry her.

Alice!

You know, I don't think Father would spend

one tenth of the amount of time trying to find me a new husband.

And you know I'm right.

Take it off, it's soaking. So?

I'm not going to catch a cold. Don't be such a baby!

I've seen it before, hundreds of times.

Lucian, I'm serious, take it off. I'd like to see how it's healing.

What's the prognosis? Just a scratch.

Does it ever bother you?

Hardly at all. It has been eight years.

Italy suits you.

Betty, you are still here.

I were just going, Mrs. Ainsworth.

Can I get you something, ma'am? Perhaps I'll have a fresh mint tea.

Oh, no, no, no. I can manage, honestly.

And thank you for dinner.

Oh, Count Albani sends his compliments.

Oh! Did he just?

Particularly for the potatoes.

Oh! Well, I never!

I told you, this is such marvellous stuff.

Olive oil.

I've been greasing the pans with it, ma'am.

Waste not, want not.

Night-night. Night.

Oh, olive oil! Whatever next?

So, what do you think? What do I think about what?

Of the girl, you ass.

First impressions? She's a bit of a peach.

Do you really think so? Absolutely.

Although it was hard to tell from five yards away

and with you drooling all over her.

I'm sure you'll be very happy.

Mm.

Well...

..nothing's decided yet.

Posso aiutarvi? It's Constance March, ma'am.

The new nanny. Oh! Come in, come in!

How on earth did you get here?

I walked, ma'am. I got a lift on a cart for the last mile or so.

Oh, for goodness sake. Why didn't you telegram, dear child?

Let us know you were coming.

I didn't want to waste the money, Mrs. Ainsworth.

We would've reimbursed you. Are... Are you hungry?

I can manage until breakfast, ma'am. Very well.

Let's get you to bed, then.

And we can acquaint ourselves properly in the morning.

Let me help you, I'll show you your room.

It's slightly makeshift at the moment,

but hopefully it will suffice.

I'll, erm... I'll say good night here.

Aren't you coming up?

No, I'm going to take a turn around the garden.

Do you want me to come with you? No, you go ahead.

"My darling Bella, how your last letter thrilled me.

"I do so wish I could be with you,

"to experience all that Italy can bring.

"The beauty of that blessed country