Mrs Palfrey at The Claremont

She came from a world of sensible choices.

Nothing in her life had prepared her

for the loud confusion of her unexpected present.

What's the name of the hotel, ma'am?

The Claremont. Do you know it?

- There are lots of old hotels in Lancaster Gate.

Have you stayed there before?

Oh, no. No, I haven't.

I saw it advertised in a magazine

when I was visiting my daughter in Scotland.

It sounded nice.

It mentioned excellent cuisine.

"Excellent cuisine"?

Here in England?

You don't get good food in England.

...in off the foot

of the left post.

Charleston are shattered,

but York has scored for Manchester United.

- Thank you. Could you help me in?

Oh, really!

- I had imagined something quite different.

Ah... Ah...

Morning, ma'am. Welcome to the Claremont.

Help you with the bags? - Please.

Thank you. -

There. Follow me, ma'am. - Thank you.

Ah.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- I'm Mrs. Arthur Palfrey. I have a reservation.

- Oh, yes. Mrs. Palfrey. Welcome to the Claremont.

We've been expecting you.

A single room by the month.

Now, dinner is served at 7 p.m. promptly.

Breakfast is from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m.,

and you'll find the menus posted in the lift.

Um, you're not a vegetarian, are you?

- What? - You're not a vegetarian.

No.

- Oh, good, because we don't cater to them.

Summers.

- Uh, is it a nice room? - Oh, yes.

One of our very best.

- Oh, thank you. - Right.

This way, miss.

There. There. There.

- Could...could you hold that, miss?

Well...That's it.

- - bag thuds]

Oh, dear...

All...All this... stuff on the...

There. There.

Oh, uh, the bath.

It's down the hall to your left.

I suggest you let the water run for about five minutes,

if you want it hot.

- Yes. - Oh! Oh!

Thank you, ma'am. Yes.

If I was you, I'd get up nice and early.

Yes.

To avoid the rush.

Thank you. - Yes.

Hmm.

Oh, dear.

- "First impressions," as Mama used to say.

Oh, Lord!

Oh, dear.

- Good evening, ma'am.

- Good evening. - Follow me.

This'll be your regular table.

I'm Violet. I'll be your regular waitress,

and if you'd like to keep some of your own things

on the table, just let me know.

Oh, that's kind of you.

I do have a special marmalade I prefer.

And perhaps my own packet of crisp bread.

Well, just leave them with me,

and I'll see that they're at your place each morning.

Thank you.

- Were you going to the theater?

Uh, perhaps.

- Okay? - Thank you.

Not enough salt on this anyway, so...

Oh, that's better.

Oh!

- Good evening. I'm Elvira Arbuthnot.

I thought of introducing myself and coming to your rescue.

Oh. Oh, thank you.

I'm Sarah Palfrey. - I know.

Rule number 1--

We under-dress for dinner here.

An attempt to blend in with the surroundings.

Oh, dear.

- I'm on my way to the television room.

Takes me a long time to get there,

so I leave a bit before everyone else.

We take our coffee there

and watch the latest serial on the telly.

I'd be glad if you joined me...

if you're not faint of heart.

- Well, what on earth do you watch?

One of those gruesome American things?

Yes.

"Sex and the City."

I watch it in weekly doses, like a medicine.

It makes me feel better

knowing I'm not going to be around much longer.

Mrs. Burton, "Sex and the City."

- Coming.

Oh. I'm Shirley. Shirley Burton.

Welcome to the Claremont.

- Why, thank you. I'm Sarah Palfrey.

So I've been told.

Will you be joining us tonight for our little escapade?

Uh, no, not tonight.

- Oh! You don't know what you're missing, dear.

It's a rerun of a rerun.

I've seen it at least three times.

Oh! Spicy.

Mrs. Burton!

- Something we desperately need around here.

- Oh, Arthur, what have I got myself into?

Violet?

I don't want any strawberry jam.

- But you always have strawberry jam.

- Precisely. I'm sick and tired of strawberry jam.

I'm allowed to make some changes, aren't I?

Remember, I'm a guest here, not an inmate.

- Would you like to try some of my marmalade?

- Oh, no, thank you, Mrs. Palfrey.

I'm just exercising my rights.

Keeps my heart going.

Oh. Good for you.

- A little thing I learned from Mrs. Thatcher.

- Good morning. How do you do? I'm Vera Post.

- Good morning. I'm Sarah Palfrey.

Yes, I know.

I hope we're going to have the pleasure

of having you here for a long time.

How long do you plan to stay?

- Well, I'm not sure. I'm taking it month-by-month.

- Oh, good. Do you have relatives in London?

Uh, yes, yes.

I have a grandson, Desmond.

He works at the British Archives.

Marvelous.

I suppose we'll be seeing a lot of him, then.

- Well, he's a very busy young man.

They all are.

- I have my whole family in Bournemouth,

but they come to visit me constantly.

How lovely for you.

- I'm seriously considering moving there myself.

Ah, that would be nice.

The weather is certainly milder.

Yes.

It's such a lively place. There's so much going on.

Well, I would've thought

there was always something going on in London.

- It's true, but one just doesn't seem to go to it.

Widow, are you?

- Mrs. Post, isn't it a bit too early for interrogations?

- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pr--

- No, no, no. It's quite all right.

And yes, yes, I am a widow.

So am I. Yes.

So is Mrs. Arbuthnot. - Twice.

- Orange marmalade. That all right, Your Highness?

Temper, temper, my child.

- Anything special for you ladies?

No, thank you.

I've been thinking of calling my grandson