My father wasn't the great man I thought.
We must find out what he did that morning.
Why can't we talk about it? -Doña Teresa was very clear.
For your sake and mine, forget about that day.
Imagine, a payment made shortly before my father's death. Arsenic.
I brought him coffee that morning. But he didn't drink it like he always did.
He called for don Diego.
The coffee wasn't poisoned. -But it can't have been Diego.
However they did it, it could have been anyone.
If Alfredo gets an annulment, he'll marry me.
They want me to join the Protocol Office...
and assist with the preparations of His Majesty's wedding.
You'll do an excellent job.
You'll have to renounce your share of the property and the directorship.
You failed to restrain Alfredo.
Letting Beatriz take him away is the only way to get the hotel back.
I won't renounce Alfredo. I'll do whatever it takes to win him back.
Doña Beatriz was found in the garden. She's dead, Alfredo.
Find out who did this and make them pay for it.
He's back.
I found it before Ayala could and fobbed him off with a gold knife.
Your fingerprints are still on it. And blood from Beatriz.
What do you want? -Someone who is faithful to me.
I was kidnapped. -Don't give me your stories.
Don Benjamín. -Doña Ángela, how good to see you.
Mother, no...
Who's responsible for this? -You can imagine, Mother.
Grand Hotel
I think I've been sufficiently clear.
My son has to comply with the duties of a new servant, so treat him as one.
Since it's not being taken seriously, I'll fire anyone who's lenient with him.
You can't let them treat me as a servant.
Didn't you want to work at the hotel? -This is cruel.
Not more so than making me think you were kidnapped.
Ángela, I want to see you in the office, but first create some order here.
As you wish, madam.
Don't let her intimidate you. My mother won't fire anyone, least of all for a trifle.
Javier, put water to boil and wash down the table.
What crazy notions you have, Ángela. -Do as I told you.
Andrés, can you come here?
What's the matter? -I made it for you.
Thank you. It's lovely.
I'm sorry, I used a hairpin. Let me see. No, don't worry.
There are people here.
So what? They're employees, like us. -No, Camila.
Alright, as you wish.
Camila, where are you going? -There's nothing more to say.
At least listen to me. -Look, I fooled myself about you.
You don't know what you feel, and I don't blame you.
You lost your child, and Belén must have been very special.
You obviously loved her. -Belén caused me a lot of pain.
Maybe she didn't love you.
I think I'm in love with you.
And I don't mind waiting.
But if you come, you should be sure about your feelings.
I hope it's urgent. -It's not urgent, but it's important.
It has to do with your father's death. Did you see Houdini?
The party's in his honour. I should be with him now.
Did you see him or not? You were in the audience, weren't you?
How long did he take to free himself and get out?
You know as well as I do. Three minutes. They thought he'd drowned.
So it took him almost four minutes to come back on stage.
But the truth is that he got out much sooner, after just a minute and a half.
The rest of the time he waited next to the tank, to make it more exciting.
I don't see what this has to do with my father's death.
We've been assuming that he was poisoned the same morning he died.
But the poison wasn't in the coffee, nor in his liqueur.
And that's all your father drank that morning.
We also know that the night before, after arguing with Javier, he felt faint.
What if your father... -Was poisoned the night before?
In that case we can't tell who did it, but we can tell who it can't have been.
Diego.
He left at noon and only came back the next day.
Who did he have dinner with?
I don't know.
I'd like to resume my old job.
That you're here can only mean your brother has recovered, or the contrary.
He's better, madam. -I'm glad.
Getting your old job back will be difficult.
You were gone a long time, and you've come back as suddenly as you left.
We're expecting a new maître. -I understand, madam.
If it's not indiscreet, may I ask who you have chosen?
His name is...Miguel Vera.
The major-domo of the Baron of Ans.
If I'd known you'd be coming... Believe me, I'm sorry.
I understand, madam.
Excuse me, doña Teresa, would you mind if I spent the night here?
This was your home for many years.
You can stay as long as you need while you make new plans.
Thank you, madam.
How are you, don Benjamín? Nice to see you.
The register must be closed after each entry.
Good habits decline quickly, Mateo. -I'm sorry, sir.
Doña Teresa has a telegram to send. Write it down.
To the attention of don Miguel Vera, Pazo de Ans, La Coruña.
Dear señor Vera, stop...
new circumstances have made it unnecessary for you to come, stop.
I'm sorry for any inconvenience this may cause you, stop.
A cordial greeting, stop.
Teresa Aldecoa de Alarcón.
Did you write it all down? -Word for word.
Ah, Mateo. -Sir?
Doña Teresa wants maximum discretion about this.
Don't discuss it with anyone. -I won't, don Benjamín.
Don Benjamín.
I'm happy to see you again. -Thank you. Likewise.
Don Benjamín, we've missed you. -What brings you here?
I'm passing through. I'm only staying one night.
Would you mind a brief word? -Of course not.
It's like a serial: 'The search for the gold-knife killer continues.'
The press draws hasty conclusions. -You don't seem convinced, agent.
The so-called gold-knife killer, who hasn't been active for a while...
tends to choose his victims among the lower classes.
Who was it, if not the gold-knife killer? -I don't know yet.
Doña Beatriz was killed with a gold knife.
So technically speaking, whoever did it is a gold-knife killer.
Hernando, sometimes I envy your simplicity.
Don Alfredo, tomorrow I'll conclude the autopsy.
Can you come for doña Beatriz's belongings?
Of course.
I'm sorry to interrupt, but as there's an expert in solving mysteries here...
Thank you.
I was referring to señor Ayala.
If you'll excuse me.
With your permission.
As you have seen, my work consists in creating mysteries.
The difference is that mine are real. -It seems you take what I do as a joke.
I see it for what it is, a performance by a very skilful man.
You do tricks, and I grant you the respect due to you, no more, no less.
Do you realize I could be a great thief? Who would stop me?
The police? -Without any doubt.
I don't like to argue, inspector. -Agent.
I prefer to bet. I propose a little challenge.
I assume this hotel has safety boxes. -Of course.
Let's say I store something valuable in one of them. A bracelet, for example.
You get to keep the keys and guard it the best way you can for all of one day.
You can count on our collaboration.
If by the end of the day the bracelet is in my possession...
I win and can publish the news in the papers.
However, if you manage to prevent the theft...
I will change my stage name and call myself 'The Great Ayala'.
My obligation is to chase criminals, not play games, however entertaining.
I should be the one to respond, agent. I'm still your superior.
And how do you respond, sir? -I can see my name travel the world.
'The Great Hernando, the most amazing magician of all time.' I like it.
You know I wasn't here when he died. -Yes, I'm sorry.
You always served us dinner yourself. -I took pride in it.
I know it's hard to remember one of many, especially after so long.
It wasn't one of many, madam. It was the last time I saw your father alive.
Your father was there, your mother, your sister and her husband...
and your brother. No, your brother wasn't there.
A place had been set for him, but he didn't come, to your father's dismay.
And Diego? -No, don Diego wasn't there.
Do you remember what my father ate? -Roast beef.
Just him? -Everyone had roast beef and sauce.
And what did he drink?
A gran reserva he shared with don Alfredo. Your mother tried it as well.
And the dessert?
Your father didn't stay for dessert. He left the table early.
Why isn't Javier with us? He promised he'd be here.
He must be indisposed. -I know his indispositions, Teresa.
And I'm fed up with you protecting him.
If Javier had received more attention from his father, he'd be a different man.
I've given him more opportunities than anyone else, and I'm fed up.
Father, calm down. -How can I be calm?
I'm leaving the future of the hotel in the hands of harpies and louts.
Where are you going, Carlos? -I've lost my appetite.
Why did you follow him?
To see if he needed anything. It was my duty.
Did he need anything?
Your father was very upset, madam. He said he was going to his room.
I asked him if I should already bring up the hot water for his infusion.
The infusion he drank every night? -Yes, it was much earlier than usual.
And he told me to go ahead. -And so you served it, I'm sure.
Actually I did not.
That is to say, I went to the kitchen and boiled the water...
but as I was about to bring it up, doña Ángela appeared and said she'd do so.
Did you see my father alive after that?
I didn't see him, but I heard him from the other side of the door.
He was arguing with Ángela.
Don't say another word. Nothing you say will make me forgive you for this.
Then, after a silence, I heard her take her leave.
Goodbye, Carlos.
Doña Ángela came out in tears.
Come in.
Madam, the chauffeur who went to the station to pick up the new maître...
came back alone. That man wasn't on the train.
Shall we notify the House of Ans? Perhaps he wasn't able to leave.
In that case, they should have told us. -I suppose so.
The Grand Hotel doesn't need a maître who fails to show up.
But as you said yourself, we do need a maître.
We have one, Ángela. Benjamín knows this hotel better than anyone.
If he hasn't left yet, send him to me. -As you wish, madam.
Sofía.
Forgive me.
What for? -For that with Beatriz.
For a moment I thought you killed her.
Do you forgive me?
Of course.
You see, Sofía, one should never lose hope.
Alfredo clearly still has feelings for you. There lies your hope.
And mine.
He'd already signed a document renouncing his claims...
but then you killed Beatriz, and now he can't decide whether to give it to us.
There's nothing I can do. -Sure there is.
You can push Alfredo to accept the job offered him by Beatriz's family.
Or just take the signed document and bring it to me.
Are you asking me to betray Alfredo? -One more time.
You're not having scruples at this stage, are you?
Good night, Alarcón.
Speak for yourself. I've known better ones. Actually, they've all been better.
Polish that sugar bowl again. -It's as clean as the parish shrine.
I don't think you ever go there. Go on, do it again. Don't make it hard on me.
Benjamín, you know it's fine like this. -It's an explicit order from your mother.
She just told me about the situation. We have to treat you like the others.
I think it's fine like this. -Would you still if it was in your room?
Don Benjamín, I just wanted to say I'm glad you're back at your old job.
Ángela, do you have a moment? -Of course, madam.
What can I do for you, madam?
You argued with my father the night before he died.
No, it was the night he died.
My father died in the morning, and I know you know.
What did you argue about? -I don't want to talk about it.
You don't want to talk about it? -No, madam.
According to the medical report, he died on the 9th, of natural causes.
In fact he died on the 10th, poisoned the night you argued with him.
If you say so, madam, I'll have to believe it.
Ángela, I'm not suspecting you.
Or my father wouldn't have written that letter about Andrés.
What letter, madam?
Where did she go? -That way.
Let's go.
Yes? -Doña Teresa.
I need to talk to you. -Come in, Ángela.
If I could only hear what they're saying.
I did what I thought was best. -Best for whom? For Andrés, right?
With what right did you burn that letter?
Your husband wanted to recognize Andrés.
What do you mean, with what right? With what right did you sleep with him?
I burned that letter because it was just another crazy idea.
If I'd known about that letter, I wouldn't have done what I did.
It's too late now, my dear. -I know, madam.
But I still have a conscience.
Don't go.
I have something to show you, for if you're tempted to tell the truth.
Come in.
They went to the lounge.
So let's go. It makes no sense to stay here. We won't hear anything.
Wait.
Listen.
What are you doing?
Remember what I told you before?
Absolutely.
May I come in?
Come in.
I'm bringing your order, madam. -Whisky?
Yes, fine. Thank you. -Good night, madam.
I hate being served by these kids. -Why not call room service yourself?
My mother won't let them serve me. -She won't like it if she finds out.
And if she finds out about you and Julio?
You promised you'd keep quiet. -I will, just like you.
I'm going through hell. They make me work like a slave.
Even worse, they use my first name and order me around. Me, an Alarcón.
It's normal that my plight affects you. -It's not because of you.
Oh no? You should be affected, and talk to mother to make her stop this.
You think I didn't do so? Sofía and I talked to Mother about it.
And you couldn't convince her? -No, instead she convinced us.
So please, leave before Diego comes in.
As you wish. But remember: silence.
Good day, agent. -Good day, don Alfredo.
I put doña Beatriz's belongings aside.
Have a seat, please.
Here it is. Her clothes, jewellery, everything.
And don't worry, I took the liberty of throwing away what had blood on it.
Thank you. Have you discovered anything?
Nothing to identify the murderer. No fingerprints or other clues. However...
However? -The wound is very coarse.
And the size of the gold knife doesn't match the incision.
You still think it's someone else? -It's too early to tell.
Good morning, Marquis.
Ayala, come along. We have an appointment with Mr Houdini.
As we're going to the hotel, I hope you'll allow me to check something.
Here are the knives. -One is missing.
When was the last time they checked? -Last week, and they were all here.
You think the missing knife was used to kill Beatriz?
At least it was the one I found next to her body.
I'm glad you're back, Benjamín. -Thank you, madam.
A little more tea? -No, that's fine, thank you.
Forgive me, doña Sofía, but I'd like to ask you some questions.
Of course. Have a seat.
The night doña Beatriz was killed you argued with her, didn't you?
She wanted to steal my husband. It's only normal I didn't take it well.
And where did you go afterwards?
Shouldn't you be in the village?
I understand that the victims tend to come from Cantaloa.
The knife was stolen that same night from the cupboard in this hotel.
I checked, and one is missing. -You think I took it?
Please, calm down. I'm only trying to find out where you were that night.
I think I was having dinner, as usual. -They didn't see you at the restaurant.
You were with me, Sofía. Don't you remember?
I was still recovering and she helped me go for a walk.
The doctor had recommended it.
Yes, that's right. That's why I couldn't attend dinner.
Did you spend all evening walking? -Quite a while, talking about things.
Shouldn't you be looking for Yanes, the man who tried to kill me?
I've sent out an arrest warrant. I don't have enough men to do anything more.
Then I wish you good luck, agent.
If you'll excuse me.
Don't expect me to thank you. I know why you did it.
Then you know what to do, and you won't succeed sitting there anxiously.
Come in.
They're Beatriz's things. I'm going to send them to her parents.
They'll appreciate it.
What do you want?
Several days have passed since...
You still haven't said what you intend to do. Has Beatriz's father...
The baron of Villalba is a man of honour and has kept his promise.
If I wish, I can start at the Royal House tomorrow.
Will you let that opportunity pass?
I was going to give up everything, including this hotel.
Why don't you?
If you give my mother that document, you'll be able to start a new life.
Here, you give it to her if you think it's what's best for everyone.
I'm not stupid, Sofía. At least, not as stupid as your mother likes to think.
I know the job at the court served as an excuse to get me away from here.
And yet you were going to accept.
I don't know what to do.
That's the problem.
Stupid and plain as it is, at this moment I don't know what to do.
What are you doing? -Don't you realize?
Beatriz and my mother manipulated you to sign it.
You sacrificed yourself for me many times.
I won't let them steal the hotel from you.
This is where you belong.
Camila, is my mother in her room?
She's bathing, madam. -Thank you.
As the British say, curiosity killed the cat.
It's a lovely case. You never showed it to me.
And you just picked it up by chance. -I was looking for something to read.
How long will this go on, Alicia?
What do you mean, Mother? -I thought marriage would do you well.
In our youth we all dream of a life full of passion and adventure.
There's nothing wrong with that. It's cured by time.
Why don't you say what you want to tell me?
You have to settle down, Alicia. Accept your responsibilities and have children.
You spend your time asking about your father's death...
prying where you shouldn't.
What do you hope to discover? There's nothing to discover.
You obviously don't want me to.
May I ask what that's supposed to mean?
I know Father was poisoned. And that he died on the 10th and not on the 9th.
I know that he left a letter in which he recognized Andrés as his son and heir.
You're delirious. That letter doesn't exist.
Not anymore, because you and my husband burned it. I know that too.
I know that the same day the judge ordered Father's exhumation...
someone tried to steal his body.
Mother, I only want to find the truth, nothing else.
If you keep trying to find it...
something terrible may happen to you.
When you actually do find it...
the truth will be impossible to bear.
It's worse not to know anything, not to understand anything.
Did you see it? -Yes, and my mother saw me.
What was inside? -An envelope from my father.
Did you open it? -I didn't have time.
There were photos as well, from their wedding day.
Is that all? -It's not my fault there wasn't more.
There must have been more. -Then it must be in the envelope.
Is Ángela in any of the photos? -In one, with the rest of the staff.
She's the only one who's still here. She couldn't have been older than 25.
She looks a little embarrassed. -Why?
Because of her belly, I guess. She's pregnant in the photo.
We must tell Andrés he appears in a photo from...
36 years ago.
But that's impossible. -Yes, my parents got married in 1870.
That's 36 years ago. And Andrés is 29.
That means Ángela had another child.
Was it your first child?
My first and don Carlos's first, years before Andrés was born.
What happened?
Your father was a great man and I loved him dearly.
I even fantasized about us getting married.
But that was out of the question.
Don Carlos arranged for the nuns of San Bernabé to look after me.
What happened with the child?
It was very weak. It hardly had the strength to suckle.
He only lived for two days.
I'm sorry.
May God rest his soul.
Don Carlos was very generous. I suppose he loved the child as well.
He paid for a funeral like those of wealthy people.
I can't imagine that mattered to you at that moment.
Money is useful for many things, but it doesn't relieve the pain.
Julio, why are you here? Do you have anything to do here?
Nothing. -Then come help me in the restaurant.
Julio, what's the matter?
I'm waiting for Alicia.
What's going on? Julio, doña Alicia...
I broke my word to doña Teresa and my mother to help you.
I've told you what happened the day don Carlos died.
I know, and I appreciate it. -So please, don't lie to me.
You suspect my mother, right?
You think she could have done it? -No.
But she may know more than she told us.
Is that all?
Alicia, tell me, is that all? -Yes.
Don't be too long, it's very busy. -I'll be right there.
I don't like doing this to him. -Nor do I.
But until we find the truth, let's not upset him.
What did you find out?
It's an absurdity. -Stop complaining, agent.
Nothing wrong with a little bet. -It interferes with our investigation.
We've already questioned people. -Given the results, not the right ones.
Gentlemen.
If by the end of this afternoon my bracelet is still in the box, you win.
In the opposite case, I win.
Have a good day.
Gentlemen.
Thank you.
What are you doing? -Keeping guard.
Are you going to sit here all day? -Of course not. We'll take turns.
My duty is to find a murderer, not to waste time on your games.
I'm trying to prevent a theft. -But it's Houdini's own bracelet.
Don't dwell on subtleties. Get something to eat, I'm starving.
Why do you give me that look? I won't forsake my duty.
That's exactly what you're doing. Don't count on me.
Something hot.