01x04 - Good Times

[bunniefuu]

A toast

to the confederacy of the humbled.

[OSIP] My daughter is
eight. She loves to read.

You will teach me what I want to know.

You will never share the
contents of our conversations.

[COUNT] I often wonder
if she'd still be alive

if I hadn't come between you two.

[MISKA] Don't you think
we've both lost enough?

[COUNT] Should I be done away with, too?

Should our whole past be done away with?

[NINA] I'm glad to do my
part for Mother Russia.

What have they done to you?

Nina, please. I'm sorry. Stay.

[OSIP] Be very careful, Alexander.

You are still a prisoner here.

Are you not scared
of being seen with me?

[ANNA] Well, it won't
make a difference now.

I think my career might be over.

[ABRAM] You have so much more to give.

Don't waste it.

[WIND WHISTLING]

[VEHICLES APPROACHING]

[BAND PLAYING LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC]

[NARRATOR] The Count had
been confined to the hotel

for ten years, and had found a use

for his unsurpassed
knowledge of food and wine.

[ANDREY] Welcome to the Boyarsky.

Head Waiter Rostov.

[NARRATOR] While the West reeled

from the Great Depression,

Russia was facing a new dawn.

Stalin transformed the country.

Wine with labels was served once more,

and guests from across the world came

to witness the Soviet dream.

- Sir, please enjoy your meal.
- Alex.

Miss Campbell.

[FREYA] You'd think Tolstoy
wrote this wine list.

[COUNT] Might I make a suggestion?

The Château Latour '99
would be an excellent choice

to accompany the lamb.

Sold.

Leplevsky, watch your tables, please.

Madam, might I show you to a table?

You can show me anything you like.

Minister of Culture.

So good to see you again, darling.

You don't really think I'd allow myself

to banish to the provinces
and miss out on all the fun?

- Allow me to introduce...
- I'm Anna Urbanova.

General Belsky.

I'm afraid I don't really like films.

Well, I don't really
like w*r, so we're even.

- [LAUGHTER]
- [LIVELY JAZZ MUSIC CONTINUES]

♪

- [ANNA GRUNTS]
- [SONG ENDS]

[LUSH ORCHESTRAL MUSIC]

♪

♪

You know, I could stay.

Well, I sleep better on my own.

Mm. With you next to me,

I'd struggle to sleep at all.

Well, it's better for us both if you go.

Certainly better for Olga,

who'll be lurking in the hall somewhere.

I'm going.

You appear to be staying.

Adieu.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[HOPEFUL MUSIC]

♪

[CHEF] Two borscht, two lamb.

Two minutes on table eight.

[DEMETRI] Thirty seconds on the sauce.

Three lamb, one borscht.

Spring greens, Yasha.

Where the hell are my spring greens?!

Uh, 20 seconds.

- He's not burnt it down yet?
- Give him time.

- And a clip around the ear if he needs it.
- [EMILE] Don't worry, I'll...

I'll b*at the hell out of him.

- Yasha, I'll see you tonight.
- [EMILE] That was a joke.

I-I can send him home
with some dinner...

... if you like.

[CHUCKLING QUIETLY]

Chef Demetri, you plan to
boil that down to nothing?

- Yes, Chef. I mean, no, Chef.
- Start again.

[COUNT] Do you know what
never works with women?

Leaving them entirely ignorant
as to your affection for them.

The jus is cold.

As is your romantic technique.

I could give you some
pointers if you like.

Table 14.

Ah. You're needed in
the private dining room.

I didn't know we had an event.

We don't.

I'll take this for you.

I ordered us some... duck.

Ah. Very good.

If that is giving you any bother,

I could easily...

Expertly done.

[WINE POURING]

[BOTTLE THUDS]

I did something wrong.

Uh...

A gentleman would always
serve their guest first,

and he would never
gesticulate with his Kn*fe.

Thank you.

How did you get on with Monsieur Hugo?

And what of Inspector
Javert and Valjean?

I found it hard to believe

a prisoner would save his tormentor.

And I don't understand
why Javert kills himself.

Because he believes a
criminal cannot change.

When Valjean saves him,
proving his innate goodness,

Javert's worldview crumbles

and he can see no way to continue.

[CUTLERY CLINKING]

I don't buy it.

I wouldn't expect you to.

Because I'm a brute?

Because you are a product of our time.

While you remain a product of yours.

Instead of Nizhny Novgorod,

you have the Metropol
Hotel as your fiefdom.

Well, if you'd be willing to
give me back my old estate,

I would gratefully accept.

You're useful to me here.

Alexei Nachevko,

our new minister of culture...

you have a particular
insight into his character.

No more than any other guest.

But you know Miss Urbanova.

Well, everyone in Moscow
knows Miss Urbanova.

Questions about Nachevko's
loyalty have been raised.

I know nothing about him,

other than he likes
his lamb medium rare,

which makes Emile apoplectic.

I want to know who
he meets... how often,

what they speak about... everything.

There must be any number of people

that could do that for you.

I want you to do it.

I would never dishonor
myself or the hotel

by betraying the
confidence of the guests.

You will.

[TENSE, OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪

The hostesses in the bar
know how to contact me.

- [LIVELY CHATTER]
- [PLAYING AN UPBEAT TUNE]

♪

♪

Scotch, please, Audrius.

- Single malt?
- Sure.

Make that two.

You'll drink with me, won't you, Alex?

Freya, I implore you
to call me Alexander.

Not Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov?

My country did away with honorifics.

- It's just Alexander now.
- Hmm.

I think you're far more
interesting than that.

Mm. Very much doubt it.

[FREYA] A prerevolutionary aristocrat

sentenced to a lifetime of house arrest

in a hotel

reinvents himself as a waiter.

Americans love stories of
resilience and redemption

now more than ever,

with the dollar still on its knees.

It'd make for a great
feature in my paper.

Well, you'll just have
to find another subject

for such a heartwarming tale. Thank you.

I've been looking for a
good story for three months.

You think I'm taking no for an answer?

Well, whether you take
it or not is irrelevant.

I'm not changing my mind.

Even if it means you have
a chance to tell your truth?

Salud.

Salud.

[COUNT] Oh, I do...
Please, uh, f-forgive me.

Excuse me. Nina?

Nina Kulikova?

It is you.

Uh...

I'll just be a minute, Leo.

It's so good to see you again.

And you,

Alexander Ilyich.

I hear you're waiting
tables at the Boyarsky now.

Yes. For several years.

Andrey tolerates me, and Emile, well...

he tries his best.

An... an-and you?

You're still in the Komsomol, I see.

Been living in Leningrad
for five years now.

Goodness.

Has it really been that long?

Yeah, I'm not staying.

We're... passing
through on our way east.

Ah. Yes.

To aid Stalin and his great
collectivization project.

It's time for the common
land to serve the common good.

- Well, you should stay for a drink.
- I should go.

It was good seeing you again.

Yes.

[SOFT, SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

[COUNT] I imagine you must
have been very busy in Donetsk,

if the brevity if your
letters is anything to go by.

Yes. There's a lot of work to be done.

And we're only just getting started.

I see our cultural minister

still avails himself of the
very best Russia has to offer.

[SCOFFS SOFTLY]

What do they have you doing now?

Shalamov has asked me to transcribe

all of Chekhov's private
letters for publication.

What an enormous honor.

Yes, you'd think so.

You see, at first,

I thought I must have made
a mistake, but it's just

as Chekhov wrote it.

Read.

Go on.

Read it.

"The bread here is amazing.

I've been stuffing my face with it.

The coffee is excellent,
and the dinners...

are beyond words."

[BOTH] "People who
have never been abroad

don't know how good bread can be."

Chekhov was in Germany
when he wrote that.

I'm sorry, Mishka,
um, what am I missing?

It's to be struck off,

apparently on Director
Shalamov's orders.

It would seem that to compliment
another country's bread

is to criticize Russian bread.

Imagine what my response was.

No, Mishka, I can't begin to
imagine what your response was.

It's madness, and I told them so.

At length?

I spoke my mind, yes.

I'm meeting with Director
Shalamov at the end of the week.

Where, I assume, you
will object to the cuts.

Vehemently.

Uh, it's not that I disagree...

Do you think it's wise?

After all, these are Chekhov's letters,

not the final act of The Cherry Orchard.

- Words matter.
- Mishka,

you have earned the
right to speak your mind,

I have no doubt.

But do take care not to antagonize them.

Don't rant.

Try not to be...

well, you.

Then who would I be?

Just promise me you'll be careful.

I will do my best.

[LOW, SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

[DOOR OPENS]

I hope it's not too early.

I know how you enjoy
your morning routine.

Nina.

What a pleasant surprise.

[CHUCKLING]

[CHUCKLES]

I wasn't ashamed.

When I saw you last week.

It's just been so long.

Oh, Nina.

There's no need for you to explain.

Still, it wasn't behavior befitting...

- a princess.
- Well,

I think the age of
princesses is behind us now.

It is.

But even so,

the importance of...

good posture and manners is timeless.

- [SIGHS]
- We may also refrain from rolling our eyes.

We must respect our gray-haired elders.

A few odd gray hairs does
not make one gray-haired.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Will you be in Moscow long?

My comrades and I are
leaving for Donetsk tonight.

Oh. Mishka just got back from there.

Well, I'm going to aid the shock workers

in the collectivization of farms.

Farming, Nina?

I never guessed that
was of interest to you.

It's the greater project
that interests me.

It's a historical necessity.

Oh.

I...

Does a teacher only
teach his own children?

Does a physician only
care for his parents?

Does a fuddy-duddy ever
stop being a fuddy-duddy?

[CHUCKLING] No.

- I shouldn't think so.
- Oh, that's what I was afraid of.

Don't worry.

- It suits you.
- [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

Will your gentleman friend
be amongst your party?

- Who?
- The young man I saw

waiting for you last time
you visited the hotel.

- Leo?
- Perhaps your adventure

will include romance.

There won't be any time for that.

Nina, the heart must
always be a priority.

And what of your heart?

Are you still engaged in your
secret trysts with your actress?

I have no idea what
you're talking about.

- [CHUCKLES]
- Come.

I want to show you something.

A part of the hotel that
not even you discovered.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[SOFT, WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

♪

[CHUCKLES]

[CHUCKLING]

You can see all of Moscow from up here.

Keep them with me.

Always.

[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]

[LAUGHING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

Oh, my goodness.

- Mmm.
- Stay for dinner.

I'll ask Andrey for the night off.

We'll have the finest
table in the Boyarsky.

The train leaves tonight.

[COUNT] We used to have
so much fun together.

You got me into trouble.

As I recall, it was
you who led me astray,

- dear little Nina.
- [LAUGHS] Not so little.

No. Not so little anymore.

You couldn't imagine how much I mourned

the loss of our friendship.

I hold myself entirely responsible.

Nothing was lost.

Merely misplaced.

Is there nothing I can say
to dissuade you from leaving?

What would I do? Stay here instead?

Yes! We'd live off room service.

We'd order the finest dishes,

straight from the hands of Emile.

Mmm.

What we're doing in
Donetsk... it's important.

And without it,

we wouldn't be able to feed
the people in the cities.

The factories would grind to a halt.

And what about living your own life?

You're still so young.

Hmm.

- [SIZZLING]
- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]

One mousse aux fraises, one
meringue au moka for table two.

[EMILE] Where's my jus, Demetri?

Citizen Petrovychk.

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

♪

Demetri.

Needs two more minutes.

Yasha.

Saucier station.

Everyone... back to work.

Who will be next?

[DARK, DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪

[COUNT] I need to speak with
you. I don't have much time.

What are you doing?

Good evening, comrade.

Apologies. I didn't mean to disturb you.

[NACHEVKO] Alexander
Ilyich Rostov, isn't it?

- Why are you here?
- [COUNT] Uh, t... to check

that everything is in
order with your dish.

You are not as discreet as you think.

The attraction was
obvious from the start.

Alexander and I have an arrangement.

Practical one, I might add.

Nothing more.

I see.

I'll leave you to it.

Good night.

- What were you thinking?
- I wanted to warn you.

He's dangerous. Being
close to him is dangerous.

[ANNA] Being close to him

is the only hope I have
of resurrecting my career.

He's being watched by the secret police.

They're watching everybody.

Please, Anna. I-I'm only
trying to protect you.

Alexei's men should
secure me a part in a film.

My first in years.

No, I understand how important
that must feel to you...

Feel?

It is important.

- Anna.
- Olga and I...

we're in constant danger.

The secret police, the army,

men on the street, men anywhere.

We have never needed
anyone else's protection.

We protect each other.

[COUNT] I've grown to
care a great deal for you.

That's all. I care for you both.

Please...

just be careful.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SOFT CREAK]

[SOFT, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

♪

Mishka. What are you doing in here?

You scared me half to death.

What happened?

My meeting with Shalamov didn't go well.

So they did this to me.

We agreed you would remain calm.

I did.

Until I couldn't take it anymore.

- Apologize.
- No.

- Beg if you have to.
- I won't.

- Take back every word.
- I meant every word.

They will forgive you.

You'll be forgiven.

Just... for the love of God...

They're dying, Alexander.

Who are dying?

What are you talking about?

[QUIET, DRAMATIC MUSIC]

The very people I fought to free.

The farmers have been
kicked off their land

and now the crops are failing.

- In Donetsk?
- All across the country.

I've seen children

with stomachs swollen from hunger.

And it is only going to get worse.

But I've heard nothing of any of this.

The kitchen storeroom
is overflowing with food.

Because they need to maintain
appearances for foreign visitors.

Nina's on her way to Donetsk.

Then I hope she has the sense to leave

- as soon as she arrives.
- Why didn't you say something?

- I could have warned her.
- I was asha...

Because I was ashamed.

I was ashamed.

You must think me a fool.

I would never think that.

I truly believed we were
going to build a better world.

I believed it.

I'm sorry.

Oh, Mishka.

[CRYING]

I'm so sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I feel like we've been here before.

If I'm not saving you,
you're trying to save me.

Can't decide if we're incredibly
good for each other or incredibly bad.

I am sorry.

I never truly expected
you to keep your counsel.

I've known you too long.

Where does it end?

If everyone accepts the lies
and only thinks of themselves,

what kind of world are we left with?

Lies upon lies until the
truth ceases to exist.

There must still be a way out of this.

I publicly insulted Stalin.

I'm afraid of what they'll do to me.

I love you, Mishka.

[SLOW, SOMBER MUSIC]

I love you, too.

[TENSE MUSIC]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

- [INDISTINCT CHATTER]
- [COUNT] Thank you.

♪

- [FLAME WHOOSHES]
- [METAL CLATTERING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[BISHOP] Comrade Glebnikov,

delighted to have you
with us this evening.

Thank you for accommodating
us on such short notice.

Of course. Let me
show you to your table.

[SOFT, UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

- Yay.
- [COUNT] Bravo.

Did you wish to see more of your papa?

It won't come true if I tell.

It won't come true if you don't.

Poppet, why don't you cut the cake?

- Don't call me that.
- You're embarrassing the girl.

Yes?

Comrade Glebnikov,
did you get my message?

I'm having dinner with my family.

[QUIET, TENSE MUSIC]

I said I'm having dinner with my family.

Do you want some?

Alina, we use our
cutlery to eat, not point.

On your daughter's birthday?

- Please, Maria.
- So that's why you insisted

- we come here?
- Do you really want to talk about my business?

A bigger slice than that, poppet.

Papa is hungry.

[PIGEONS COOING]

Never speak to me in
front of my family again.

[COUNT] I'm sorry.

- I presume...
- [DOOR CLOSES]

this concerns Mikhail Mindich.

You've seen him recently?

[COUNT] I did. I have.

Then you know of the trouble he's in.

Since long before the revolution,

he is a loyal part of the movement.

I see no way back for him.

Well, th-then why did
you respond to my message?

I was curious to know
whether your sense of honor

would prevent you from
saving your friend.

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪

What of Nachevko?

Comrade Nachevko possibly has a...

a weakness for alcohol.

Other than that, he is unremarkable.

Who does he meet with?

- Any number of people.
- General Belsky?

Yes.

They're both frequent
visitors to the hotel.

They dine together, drink together.

We suspect Belsky is
plotting to overthrow Stalin.

He wants Nachevko's help in doing so.

Well, if you know all this,

I really don't see what you need me for.

They're powerful men.

Evidence to their plotting

would make my case irrefutable.

Whatever happened to the good old days

when you could drag a
man out into the street

and b*at a confession out of him?

What'll happen to Belsky and Nachevko?

I'd be more concerned about what
will happen to Mikhail Mindich.

You've k*lled before
for someone you love.

Why the hesitation now?

You and I aren't so different.

We all do what's necessary to survive

so our loved ones survive.

Find something I can use.

You have until tomorrow evening.

♪

[SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

[MISHKA] Sasha, you'll be condemning

Nachevko and Belsky to their deaths.

But to save your life.

You've k*lled a man before
and no good came of it.

What was it you said
all those years ago?

Everything that happened
was because of me.

I was angry.

Helena would never have been involved

with a man like Pulunov.

But I sent you away.

She was hurt.

Vulnerable.

And still in love with you.

And he knew. And he punished her for it.

It was a mistake to k*ll Pulunov then.

It is a mistake to do this now.

I've forgiven many things, Alexander,

but if you debase yourself,

if you collaborate with those butchers,

if you condemn those men

to their deaths to protect me...

it will dishonor us both.

And it will be the end for us.

- [LIVELY CHATTER]
- [UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]

Party of five on table seven.

Ah. Yes.

Thank you, Andrey.

Madam.

Thank you.

Miss Urbanova. Our
menus for this evening.

- Anything you would recommend?
- It's all excellent.

Uh, before we get into
all that... Champagne.

Two bottles of Krug '28.

Ah, what are we
celebrating this evening?

The start of production on my new film.

Congratulations.

I'm sure it will be a huge success.

Two bottles of Krug.

Tonight will be my treat.

Room 406.

[DARK, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

Ah. I will have your
drinks sent over right away.

♪

♪ Say it isn't so ♪

[PIANO PLAYING A GENTLE TUNE]

♪ Say it isn't so ♪

♪ Everyone is saying ♪

♪ You don't love me ♪

♪ Say it isn't so ♪

♪ Everywhere I go ♪

♪ Everyone I know ♪

- ♪ Whispers ♪
- [LAUGHTER]

♪ That you're growing tired of me ♪

♪ Say it isn't so ♪

♪ People say that you ♪

♪ Have found somebody new... ♪

Vodka, please, Audrius.

♪ And it won't be long ♪

♪ Before you leave me ♪

♪ Say it isn't true ♪

[MEN LAUGHING]

♪ Everywhere I go... ♪

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

♪ Everyone I know... ♪

[LAUGHTER CONTINUES]

♪ Whispers ♪

♪ That you're growing tired of me ♪

♪ Say ♪

♪ It isn't so ♪

♪ People say that you ♪

- ♪ Have found somebody new...
- ♪ - [LAUGHTER CONTINUING]

- [LAUGHS]
- ♪ And it won't be long ♪

♪ Before you leave me ♪

♪ Say it isn't true... ♪

Enjoying your bread?

Russian bread.

Finest in all the world.

You're drunk.

[MISHKA] Ooh.

Is this bread from
Berlin? Careful, comrade.

Take a single bite and Shalamov
will sh**t you from a cannon.

Keep your mouth shut.

[MISHKA] You're right.

I should be silent.

We should all be silent!

No matter how many of us die.

No matter how many our beloved
leader a-allows to starve,

we should all be silent.

So, forget your German bread,
forget your French bread.

There is only one true
bread in all the world.

That belongs to Russia!

Russian bread!

The one true bread...

is Russian bread!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

♪

♪

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[OSIP] You have something?

This is not one of your pretty stories.

This is the reality of
the world we live in.

- We have a choice.
- Oh, I don't see that you do.

Who are Belsky and Nachevko to you?

You k*lled a man for your sister's honor

but you won't give me what
I need to help your friend.

I would be condemning
them to their death.

Better them than Mindich.

Either way, the choice is yours.

Actually, the choice is yours.

You can stop this from happening.

Save Mishka.

Prove your case against your enemies.

Do the honorable thing.

- Yes.
- Your world is gone, Alexander.

So forget honor. There's no such thing.

I don't believe that.

And more importantly,
neither does Mishka.

Then you will never
see your friend again.

Why? Did something happen?

Osip.

[DARK, ATMOSPHERIC MUSIC]

Your friend put on quite a show.

Thank you, Bogdan.
I'll take it from here.

[ELEVATOR WHIRS]

- Freya.
- [SCOFFS]

Just when I thought this evening

couldn't get any more interesting.

There was a man taken from here tonight.

His name is Mikhail Fyodorovich Mindich.

You'll need to write this down.

He spent most of last year
in the region of Donetsk,

- Alexander...
- He witnessed the beginning of a terrible famine.

Stop.

There is no famine.

Does the truth not matter to you?

I have a life here.

And right now, so do you.

I like you, Alexander.

I'll never repeat what you just told me.

Neither should you.

[ELEVATOR WHIRS]

[SLOW, SOMBER MUSIC]

♪

[NARRATOR] No one ever
discovered the truth

about Nachevko and
Belsky's relationship.

But the party had little
regard for the truth.

When it suspected disloyalty...

... it simply applied
pressure until someone broke.

Stalin held the country
in an iron grip of fear.

And no one was safe.

Russia's people starved

and the revolution
devoured its children.

But the guests in the Metropol...

they still experienced

the very best Russia had to offer.

And the staff...

- [DOOR OPENS]
- ... well, they took solace in each other.

[DOOR CLOSES]

- Delicious again.
- [EMILE] Ah, it's nothing.

Leftovers.

Ours is such a brief
moment on this Earth.

[GENTLE MUSIC]

Don't let the best bits pass you by.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- Uh, Marina?

[DOOR CLOSES]

I'll-I'll-I'll cook for you tonight.

I'd cook for you every night.

You've done enough of
that already. [CHUCKLES]

I'll cook for you.

I'm going to kiss you now.

- Later.
- Oh, yes, absolutely.

♪

[WISTFUL MUSIC]

[PEOPLE EXCLAIMING]

[NARRATOR] Although life changed
for the people around him...

- [CHEERING]
- [APPLAUSE]

... the Count's life remained the same.

Until one evening,

the door of the hotel spun once more,

and fate flung someone into the lobby

who would change the
Count's life forever.

[PIANO PLAYING CHOPIN'S
"NOCTURNE IN E FLAT MAJOR"]

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATION]

Fancy a nightcap later, Vasily?

[SIGHS] I'd fall asleep if I did.

All right. Good night, then.

[NINA] Alexander Ilyich?

Nina.

Has something happened?

Nina, you're shaking.

[NINA] My husband's in trouble.

Your husband?

Leo. He's been arrested

and he's been sentenced to
five years corrective labor.

- I'm so sorry.
- They're putting him

on the train tonight for Sevvostlag.

I'm gonna follow him.

No, Nina. I don't think
that's a good idea.

What I need is for someone
to watch over Sophia

while I get myself settled.

[SLOW, SOMBER MUSIC]

I'll come back for her.

It may take several weeks or

even a month.

I've got no one else to ask.

M-My father, he...

Oh, I'm so sorry, Nina.

[SNIFFLES]

Please, Alexander. I have no one.

I-I will. Of course I will. I will.

[CHUCKLES] Yes.

[EXHALES]

Sophia, this is the
man I told you about.

Your Uncle Alexander.

And he's gonna look after
you for a short while,

and then I'll be back.

Then we'll go on the long train to Papa.

That's right, my sweet.

And then we'll take
the long train to Papa.

I love you.

These are her things.

And, um, you-you should probably

take this, too.

You were right.

I should have stayed.

I wish I stayed.

[MOURNFUL MUSIC]

♪

Thank you for everything.

Yes.

♪

♪

♪