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01x02 - Roots

Episode transcripts for the TV show, "Midnight at the Pera Palace". Aired: 3 March 2022 – present.*
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Esra, a young orphaned journalist in modern-day Istanbul, is assigned to write an article about the upcoming 130th anniversary of the Pera Palace Hotel.

01x02 - Roots

Post by bunniefuu »

[ship's horn blaring]

[seagulls calling]

[hammering and clanking]

[sighs]

[sighs]

I knew people could look alike, but this

[chuckles]

Is it possible

that you're a descendant of Peride's?

[Esra exhales] Tell me again

what we have to do?

[sighs] First, we have to find out

who k*lled Peride and why.

Uh, is it to do

with the attempt on Atatürk's life?

We need to know.

Then, of course,

we have to stop the assassination.

- But how do we do that?

- Follow Peride's footsteps.

We don't have much time.

You should go home

before Peride's family become suspicious.

First, convince them,

and then, we need to find out

what she knew about the assassination.

But, Ahmet, how the hell do you expect me

to meet her family and convince them?

You'll have to pretend that you're a lady.

Or is that asking too much?

[sighs]

I'll pretend, then.

Of course I'll pretend.

My whole life's been a pretence, anyway.

Look.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir.

My name is Peride. How do you do?

In good health, I presume?

Oh, no, not at all, I implore you.

[laughs loudly]

Oh, you've quite overcome me

with your wit! [giggles]

[sighs]

Less is more, maybe? Hmm?

Besides, women don't have

much of a voice here in 1919.

All right. [clears throat]

There's no way of telling

how the slightest thing

could drastically affect the future.

So what you do, what you see,

anything at all, you make a note.

- Take notes.

- Mm-hm.

Ah.

- What are you doing?

- I always use my phone to make notes.

- Ow!

- Come on, wake up!

You don't understand what's at stake

in this. This isn't a game.

All right, all right.

[sighs]

I'll clean up this mess.

Then I'll try and find out who k*lled her.

And you must go back to her house.

What house? Ahmet, what house?

Where does this woman live?

How would I know?

Work it out. You're a journalist.

Ahmet, hey, wait a minute!

[sighs] Ow!

[sighs heavily]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[gasps]

[sighs]

[telephone ringing]

Madam Peride? Madam Peride!

- That's me. Yes?

- Ah, thank goodness.

Uh, madam,

everyone's been looking for you.

- Telephoning all day from the house.

- Oh, God.

Well, I have been around.

Where does all the time go? [laughs]

[chuckles] Uh

Uh

[murmurs] sh*t.

[sighs]

[gasps] Uh

Uh, yes?

- Mm-hm?

- What about my uncle?

- Mm?

- The one who owns this place.

Monsieur Bodosakis.

- Is he around?

- No.

He should be on his way

to Paris right now.

I thought you were aware of this trip.

I was. Why wouldn't I be? Course I was.

Ah, right.

See you.

[exhales]

[George] I thought

you took care of this problem.

sh*t.

[bicycle bell rings]

[singing aria]

Oh! Peride.

- Ah, thank God. I've been looking for you.

- [woman continues singing]

Everyone's worried about you.

Are you all right?

There's been uproar in the mansion.

Yeah, I'm fine.

Are you able to take me home, please?

I'd better. It would be my pleasure. Yes.

[woman continues singing]

[sighs]

Ah, my lady Peride. Where have you been?

You said you'd be back in a jiffy.

Well I couldn't. I'm sorry.

And I had to take the blame for you.

Mr Naim was so angry

that he was about to get rid of me.

[man] Madame Marika?

Please just let Peride go in.

[Marika] Oh, Reşat, sir.

Please, forgive me.

[exhales]

I've just been so concerned about her.

Come on.

[woman] It's not the first time

she's done something like this.

Her behaviour's been the talk of the town

for a while now.

[girl] She's always at the Pera Palace,

using Uncle as an excuse.

I wonder what

she's been doing there all night.

Ah. Peride seems

to have found her way home at last.

Yes, I'm back.

[footsteps approaching]

- Shame on you, Peride.

- [gasps]

Why didn't you let me know where you were?

I was beside myself, worrying

about what had happened to you. [gasps]

- [woman sighs]

- [man] Is that Peride?

I don't understand.

There must be another explanation.

We correct our mistakes

instead of denying them.

When you think about

whose daughter she is,

this might not be a serious problem.

Just remember, you are the daughter

of Mr Naim, ex-warden of the mint.

Everything you do reflects on my honour.

You can't go swanning about

like these foreign women, Peride.

Start behaving like the dignified widow

you should be.

A widow?

From now on, you're not allowed to go out

after the evening prayer.

And during the day,

your mother will go everywhere with you.

No more sauntering about by yourself

and coming and going as you wish.

Am I in prison or what? [chuckles]

[sighs]

I have been your guardian

since your husband passed away.

You will live by my rules

under my roof, Peride!

Otherwise, get out of this house!

[girl] Mummy!

Mummy, I missed you last night.

- [buzz of conversation]

- [telephone ringing]

That woman's father might be an ally,

but he obviously never taught her

that silence is a virtue.

Leave it to me. I'll keep her quiet.

There's someone else

that needs to be silenced first.

One of your men.

Hmm.

Why don't you take Leyla up to your room?

You should read a bit.

Your father has important guests

for dinner this evening.

You don't want to look like a ghost

in front of them.

[sighs]

Shall we play a game?

Hmm. Something's going on with her.

You said you were going

to close your eyes.

Mmm.

[Leyla] Not that way. It's this way.

[birdsong]

Here we are.

[sighs]

[whispers] Who are you, Peride?

[murmur of conversation]

[Ahmet] Excuse me, Sonya.

Do you know Madam Peride?

Of course. Madam is a regular at the Pera.

Particularly lately.

Mm-hm.

Uh, as a person, what's she like?

[scoffs]

I don't know.

She doesn't even bother

about people like me, you know?

Who does she usually come here with?

What was your name, again, sir?

- [cicadas chirping]

- [dogs barking]

[sighs]

[sighs]

Bring the turkey in.

[Naim] My wife, my children

and I are all delighted

to have the honour of your presence

in our house.

Shall we take our places at the table?

This way, please.

Peride? Come and say hello

to our esteemed guests.

Enchantée.

I do believe we've crossed paths

at the Pera Palace.

But it's a pleasure

to formally meet you at last.

I've just discovered

you're Mr Naim's daughter.

Had I only known that last night.

And what difference would that have made?

I wouldn't have been so brusque.

Right. Hmm. This way, please.

Why is she speaking to him, anyway?

[traditional music playing]

Thanks very much.

[Naim] As I always say,

the British have brought

extraordinary civilisation into our lives.

[Halit chuckles]

[Naim] I must hand it to you

as well, Halit.

Thanks to you, even in wartime,

we have wanted for nothing at our table.

Hmm. It is my duty, sir.

And what is your duty, exactly?

[George sighs]

Procuring rare goods

for those who demand them, madam.

- But I gave that up once the w*r was over.

- Why?

[Halit sighs]

All I ever really wanted

was a place of my own.

Thankfully, I've managed that.

Ah, I can see why.

- You're a racketeer and profiteer, sir.

- [Naim clears throat]

A w*r, with its shortages,

is a good time to make money.

That all makes sense, yes.

You see,

I believe you ate here during the w*r?

So while everyone else

couldn't even get some bread,

you were indulging yourself, weren't you?

So then I am no worse than you,

nor you better than I am,

are you, madam?

[Naim] The gentlemen

will have coffee alone.

I have a lot of questions for you

regarding some issues

of national interest.

[sighs] Very well.

Please.

[piano plays Étude Op. 10, No. 3

(Tristesse) by Chopin]

[dog barking outside]

[crow cawing]

[owl hooting]

[George] They don't expect

there to be any problems.

My commanders are not yet aware

of the danger,

but the resistance could create

some serious problems.

[Naim] What can they do, anyway?

A handful of insurgents.

You can't take them seriously.

[George] Tell me, Naim Bey,

can we rely on you

to keep our weapons at your warehouse?

[Naim] Don't worry.

I've made all the arrangements.

[George] Excellent. In which case,

expect a shipment in the next two days.

- Did you hear anything?

- [gasps]

Since when have you been like this?

Or were you always this nosy,

and I just hadn't paid attention?

Ah, since when did you start

creeping up on women?

- What do you want, anyway?

- Firstly, I have a warning for you.

If you don't keep quiet

about what you heard last night

[inhales]

the consequences could be fatal.

[door opens]

[door closes]

The Garden Bar tomorrow.

We'll have a proper talk.

[Reşat] Halit?

[Halit] Reşat?

What's going on?

Peride and I bumped into each other.

Just having a little talk.

I'll be joining the gentlemen now.

Are you coming?

Peride and I have to have

a little talk too, if you don't mind.

Is that all right?

What is he doing here?

If he's flirting with you

[scoffs] Nothing like that.

I've warned you before, Peride.

Please, just stay away from Halit, huh?

[rustling]

[dogs barking and howling outside]

[sighs]

[Leyla] Mummy?

What do you want?

I had a bad dream last night.

That's all it is, a dream. It's not real.

It's all right.

Will you come and lie with me?

[owls hooting]

Budge up.

Will you tell me a story?

[sighs]

Once upon a time

[sighs]

Um somewhere in the world,

there was this little orphan called Esra.

Mummy, what's an orphan?

She didn't have any parents.

Any sisters?

No brothers or sisters.

Ah, like me, Mummy.

And a granny?

Nope.

Esra had no family at all, Leyla.

Where did she come from, then?

I don't know.

She was in an orphanage.

What's that?

An orphanage is a very large house

where orphans like Esra live and grow up.

When she left, they gave Esra a folder.

Everything they knew about her

was kept in that folder.

Esra never even looked at it, though.

Because she couldn't.

But why didn't she, Mummy?

She must have wondered.

Of course she wondered.

She wondered a lot.

But [sighs]

she was scared

she'd see terrible things.

Terrible things like what?

Oh, never mind.

Never mind that. You're missing

the best part of the whole story.

Esra became a time traveller.

What's that?

She went back in time.

To the past.

How did she manage it?

Hm. Well, she managed it.

A miracle.

Do you know what a miracle is?

A miracle

is something really extraordinary

that is normally completely impossible.

What happened then?

And then

Esra finally discovered her roots.

Because she saw a woman,

and that woman looked a lot like her.

Who was she?

Probably

she was her great granny.

And do you know what's even better?

The woman she met,

she had a little daughter.

Esra got to meet her family

for the first time.

And she was her granny's mother.

And that was a miracle as well?

Yeah, a miracle.

[Ahmet] My mother was Russian.

She died when I was very young.

Was she ill?

You remind me of her.

Me?

[chuckles]

You're Belarussian, aren't you, Sonya?

I imagine you came to Istanbul

after the Revolution.

Back then, you were probably

a duchess, or maybe a princess.

Am I right?

A maid who used to be a princess.

Who'd believe it?

[sighs]

In the Pera restaurant,

there's a cashier called Alexei.

He was a maths professor.

Then there's Olga,

singing arias out on the street.

One of Tsarist Russia's

great opera singers, did you know?

You aren't alone.

In the end, we're all alone.

You should be very proud

of yourself, Sonya.

Proud? Why? Of what?

Because you're a strong woman.

[ticking]

[whirring]

[clock chimes]

Take care of yourself.

[distant conversations]

[grunting]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[grunting]

[sighs]

[grunting]

[groans]

[sighs]

[Ahmet panting]

[grunts]

[exhales]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[rumbling]

[gurgling]

[sighs]

[birdsong]

[gasps]

[sighs]

Ah!

PERİDE

NAİM (HER FATHER)

LEYLA (HER DAUGHTER)

HALİME - BELKIS

REŞAT (LOVE INTEREST?)

HALİT (THE k*ller)

- [door opens]

- [Leyla] Mummy?

Huh?

Grandma wants to see you.

All right, I'm coming.

Are you writing in your diary again?

Did you say my diary?

[sighs]

- Has Peride come back to the hotel?

- No, sir.

[sighs heavily]

Where the hell are you, eh?

Sort your collar out, man!

This is the Pera Palace, you know?

[birdsong]

The hat box,

that's where you usually hide it.

Yeah, well, you say that,

but it's not in any of these ones here.

[sighs]

Tell me, where else

do you think it could be?

Cann't you remember where you hid it?

Imagine if I'd done that.

[sighs heavily]

- [Leyla gasps]

- What?

Have you remembered something, huh?

What is it?

But I shouldn't be telling on her.

- Maybe she didn't steal it.

- Who do you mean?

- Maybe she did.

- Who?

Belkıs!

Ugh!

[sighs]

What are you doing in my room?

This diary is mine. You stole it.

How could you do that?

[scoffs]

And what?

I was worried about your behaviour.

I wondered what was bothering you, sister.

[scoffs]

Did you manage to find out

what it was, then?

[tuts] I haven't quite

got to the bottom of it.

Oh, but about your great passion

Your love, sister.

Love? What do you mean, love?

If our father finds out,

he'll kick you out of the house, I'm sure.

- [cicadas chirping]

- [dogs barking]

[owl hooting]

[man yelling] Oh, Allah!

I'm gonna set the world on fire!

Just like that!

- [horn honks]

- Oh!

Hey, watch out!

[horn honks]

[wheels grinding]

Ah, Madam Peride, welcome back!

We've been so worried about you.

- [both gasp]

- [glass shatters]

- [Sonya] Hmm.

- [Esra gasps] Oh!

I'm so sorry about that.

Here, let me help you.

That's all right. You don't have to.

Well, please forgive me.

Oh, God, that's

[in Russian] Was that really Mrs Peride?

Is this a dream?

That can't be her.

Maybe something fell on her head.

[knocking at door]

[knocking]

[Ahmet sighs]

Where have you been?

I thought maybe you'd been found out.

Now I'm a little bit offended, Ahmet.

You might not like my performance much,

but they all believed I was Peride.

Oh, well done.

I've been doing some background research,

and this is Peride's profile.

She's clever. educated, courageous.

A free spirit. Always gets what she wants.

Like me, then.

Spoiled, vain, selfish and cruel.

Treats all the staff appallingly.

She's not very popular.

Yeah, yeah.

So she might have enemies.

Did you find anything at the house?

I might have done, yes.

Found this, for a start.

This your bright idea, Ahmet?

Sending the body back to 1916?

Um [clears throat]

- Yes.

- Bravo.

Well, I didn't know what year she died.

What's that?

A book. Peride's diary. Uh-huh.

You've struck gold. Have you read it?

No, I couldn't. It's in Ottoman script.

Don't worry. I can read it.

You can read it?

It's in Ottoman, how are you able to?

Well, why shouldn't I?

Okay.

You read that,

and when I get back, you can tell me.

Where are you going?

To meet a suspect.

Uh The Garden Bar? Whereabouts is that?

[music and cheering]

[man]

Johnny was bashful and shy ♪

- Nobody understood why ♪

- [cheering]

Mary loved him ♪

All the other girls passed him by ♪

Everyone wanted to know ♪

How she could pick such a beau ♪

With a twinkle in her eye ♪

She made this reply ♪

He's not so good in a crowd

But when you get him alone ♪

You'd be surprised ♪

He isn't much at a dance

But when he's taking you home ♪

You'd be surprised ♪

He doesn't look like much of a lover ♪

But you can't

Judge a book by its cover ♪

He's got the face of an angel ♪

But there's a devil in his eye ♪

He's such a delicate thing

But when he starts in to squeeze ♪

You'd be surprised ♪

He doesn't look very strong

But when you sit on his knee ♪

- You'd be surprised ♪

- Excuse me.

At a party or at a ball ♪

I've got to admit ♪

I didn't think you'd accept my invitation.

But in a Morris chair ♪

I have some questions for you,

if that's all right.

Can we talk privately, please?

[cheering and applause]

Let's dance and talk.

A one, a two, a one, two, three, go.

[playing upbeat jazz]

[Halit] I remember

the first time you came here.

You had some French guests with you.

That's when we met, right?

Uh-huh.

Reşat was with you.

Yes, that's right.

Who do you think you're fooling?

You've never set foot

in the Garden Bar before tonight.

Reşat wouldn't be seen dead

in a place like this.

You and I met in the Pera Palace.

So tell me the truth.

Who are you?

[cheering and whistling]

[laughter]

Do you know, I

I don't remember where and when we met.

I was

I was just trying to be polite to you.

Actually, what about you, Mr Halit?

Who are you?

Are you just the profiteer

you appear to be,

or are you a m*rder*r?

The other night, someone tried to k*ll me

at the Pera Palace.

But, as you can see, he failed.

If that were me,

you wouldn't be in my arms now, would you?

That's what I thought.

Either you didn't

try to k*ll me last night,

or you've realised that I don't

take your British friends seriously.

Nor do I care about the ridiculous games

you've been playing

with that nobody of an officer.

[music continues, muffled]

[Ahmet] "A man called Dimitri, who worked

on the construction of the hotel,

has told me about the Portal of Truth,

the flow of time,

and how it connects to the hotel."

"This Dimitri knows all about

the Portal of Truth,

that it is fundamentally different

from other portals"

[sighs]

Oh, my dear God!

[groans]

[sighs]