Grand Hotel (Gran Hotel)

Grand Hotel

All aboard.

All aboard.

Ticket, please. -How long to Cantaloa?

Cantaloa? Make yourself comfortable.

People only go to Cantaloa to stay at the Grand Hotel or to work there.

I doubt if you can afford a room. I hear they've even got electric light.

I'm going to see someone. -She must be pretty...

if you're making such a long journey. -She's my sister.

episode 1

'Dear brother, I'm sorry not to have written in recent weeks...

but we've been so busy preparing for the lighting party.

You should see it, Julio. All three floors have been full for days.

People have even come all the way from America for the party.

To be honest, I'm nervous. It's my first big event as floor manager.

I'm in charge of the maids.

I hope all goes well. I wish you were here, brother.

The Grand Hotel is a good place to work...

and I've made good friends, but...

I miss you all. Kiss mother for me and tell her I love her.

And you too. I'm longing for the visit you promised.'

Cristina. -I'm coming.

Cristina. -I'm coming.

My mother's waiting for you.

What's wrong? -I don't know.

Can you ask Pascual to post this? -And the stamp?

Tell him I'll pay him tomorrow. -I told him that last week.

What kept you? The guests are arriving.

It was my break time. -No breaks today. It's too important.

Is anything wrong?

Doña Teresa wants you to bring up her tea.

Me? -So she said.

But why me? That's a waiter's job.

Doña Teresa owns the hotel and I won't question her orders.

Neither should you, if you want to stay here.

Belén, hurry, there's a lot to do.

I don't know why she's a floor manager.

You've been here seven years, this is her first year.

I wonder how she did it.

Madam... -Come in. Carmen, you can go.

Cristina, a pretty name. Common, but pretty.

How long have you been employed? -8 months, doña Teresa.

And how have we treated you? -Well, doña Teresa.

Do you have any complaints? -No.

Are you sure? -I am, doña Teresa.

You know, Cristina, I only hate two things more than unpunctuality.

Mistakes and lies.

Are you lying, Cristina?

No, doña Teresa. -So give me back what's mine.

I don't know what you're referring to. -Are you lying to me again?

We both know you have something of mine. You'll stay here till you return it.

If you hurt me, everyone will hear the truth and you'll lose the hotel.

Is that a threat? -Take it as you wish.

Dear friends, I want to thank all of you for coming today, some from far away...

to celebrate with us the Grand Hotel's entrance into a new era.

My late husband, don Carlos Alarcón, whom many of you knew...

always dreamed of making this hotel one of the most important of the nation.

Today, with the arrival of electric light, the symbol of progress...

his dream has unquestionably come true.

This is the first luxury hotel in Spain to have electric light.

No less than 4,500 bulbs from the Edison Electric Lighting Company...

will light our rooms and this great salon.

I only regret that my late husband could not see it.

But I know his spirit will be in each of the bulbs that will light the hotel.

And now, if you'll join me in the countdown...

we'll discover if the electrical installation works...

or if we have to continue using candles.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

One.

Cantaloa station. -I think we've arrived.

Cantaloa station.

All aboard.

Thank you.

Alicia, at last. -Mother.

I thought I'd be toasting alone tonight. Shall we go in?

And my brother and sister?

Sofía hasn't arrived yet. Some mishap, I guess.

Did Javier miss the train again? -Let's not talk about him.

How was your journey? -Fine, but I couldn't wait to arrive.

Aren't the tablecloths out yet? -They've just arrived...

I didn't ask that. I want the tablecloths out, no explanations.

Belén, why did you take so long? -I'm sorry, madam.

Are you one of the new waiters? -No, I'm looking for Cristina Olmedo.

Cristina?

Yes, Cristina Olmedo. She's a floor manager. Do you know her?

She doesn't work here anymore.

They fired her. -Why?

It seems she stole jewelry from a guest while supervising the maids.

That's impossible. -It's what the guest said.

Her word is worth more than an employee's.

Especially when it's Lady, a resident and doña Teresa's friend.

What's her name? -Lady.

She lived in England, so everyone calls her that. Her name is Ludivina.

Where did Cristina go? -I don't know. She didn't say goodbye.

They told her to leave and we heard nothing more.

I presumed she went home. -Well, she didn't.

I haven't heard from her in a month. She usually wrote every week.

Maybe she was ashamed.

If you really knew her you wouldn't say that.

Andrés, what are you doing? Has the new waiter arrived?

Julio Espinosa. I've just arrived. I was just telling Andrés.

Show him his room, get him a uniform. Then bring him to the dining room.

Andrés. -Hello, señorita.

We missed you, señorita Alicia. -Ángela. And I missed all of you.

But I'm back now, for a long time, I hope.

Gabriel, how are you? -Señorita.

May I help you, don Diego? -I'm looking for señorita Alarcón.

Alicia, can we have a word? -Of course, Diego.

What are you doing?

Trying to find my sister. -I said she left.

You don't know where she went. She wouldn't have left without writing to me.

I've traveled nearly 600 km by train. I'm not going home without her.

Very well, but that's my bed.

And I hope you find her before the new waiter arrives.

Which room was hers? -No, you can't go in there.

You'll get me fired. Where are you going?

Where is it?

That was her room.

You'll find nothing there. -Wait here and keep watch.

Andrés, have you seen don Benjamín? The new waiter is here.

The new waiter?

Do you know where don Benjamín is? -No, but I'll sort it out. Where is he?

At the service door. -So let's go.

Who are you? -I'm sorry, I'm new, I've just arrived.

I was looking for my room, but I got lost.

Can't you read? This is the women's corridor.

I'm very sorry, Cristina.

My name is Belén. -Sorry, I saw the name there.

I thought it was you. -She was my roommate.

I'm alone now. -That's good, isn't it?

We were friends. I'm not glad she's gone.

Belén. -If she sees you, we'll both be fired.

Belén. -I'm coming.

Why did you lock the door? -I'm sorry.

I was looking for you. -I was changing.

To the laundry. The new employees are here.

They need their uniforms. Come along.

I left another job to come here. Don't tell me it was a mistake.

I'm very sorry. -Andrés.

Why are you here? Is there a problem?

This man... -Enrique Barón.

He says he's the new waiter. -We weren't expecting one.

All our vacancies are filled.

Yes, but he got a letter confirming his position.

May I?

I'm sorry, there's been a mistake. -What do you mean?

We took on staff a month ago for the lighting party.

I'm afraid the letter arrived too late.

It's obviously not your fault, but neither is it ours.

We had to find another waiter instead. -But I got the letter...

The most I can do is inform you of any new vacancies, but that won't be soon.

I'm sorry.

That wasn't right.

Unpunctuality isn't allowed. If you're called for 6:00, be available at 5:30.

Each of you is responsible for your uniform and equipment.

You can't wear rings, bracelets, watches or chains.

Clean nails, spotless shoes, clothes without a wrinkle.

You must have perfect knowledge of the three floors...

the sixty bedrooms and the preferences of our regular guests.

You must know what's behind each door.

If you're in doubt, ask before making a mistake.

You are part of the image of the Grand Hotel.

Bear that in mind in each thing you do.

The waiters will answer to don Benjamín, the maître.

The maids to me. Is that clear? -Yes, madam.

Then let's begin.

Manners, silence and discretion.

The guest is not a friend.

Do not look him in the eye and keep a distance of a counter width.

Some 40 cm.

Don't forget.

At the Grand Hotel there are no second chances.

Now, go to work.

Rather him than her. She must be unbearable.

She's my mother.

Your mother's call will have surprised you.

I'm used to her surprising me...

but not to her being so secretive about a family gathering.

I suppose you know the reason. Am I mistaken?

And she will have asked you to say nothing.

Your mother likes to do things her way.

But I'm sure you have your suspicions.

Your father's death changed everyone's plans, especially yours.

But she thinks it's been long enough. -Long enough for what?

I'm sorry, it's not your fault. Your mother misses him too.

But she has to look ahead, think of your future.

And with whom I should spend it. That's why she called us here.

She thinks it's time you got engaged. -To whom?

The suites are along here. They're all identical, except for the royal suite.

They're the best rooms, used by the wealthiest guests...

and by the Alarcón family. -The Alarcón family?

They own the hotel. -All of it?

60 bedrooms.

Please, behave. Doña Teresa hates two things more than unpunctuality.

Lies and mistakes.

The Alarcóns always keep their word. -I didn't give my word.

But I did, and I'm your mother. -I don't love him.