All language subtitles for The.Gilded.Age.S01E09.WEBRip.x264-ION10-English

[TV static drones]

[bright tone]

[spirited orchestral music]

♪ ♪

[cheerful music]

♪ ♪

- My dear,
are you sure this is wise?

- I'm quite sure it is not.

Mr. Raikes feels it's
our only way out of a logjam.

And I agree.
- So what is his plan?

- We're meeting in the park
later to finalize details,

but I know it's next Friday.

It's a lot to ask.

- Go on.

- Can we meet here on the day?

I'll get my bag to you somehow.

- And I'll provide the carriage
to take you to Grand Central.

- Would you do that?

- Why not?
I have no fear of scandal.

I'm a walking scandal as it is.

- And when we're married,
we'll come back to New York

and see how the land lies.

After all, there's no law
that says we have to stay here.

- I do not believe

Mr. Raikes will give up
New York so easily.

- You're wrong.

Society means as little to him
as it does to me.

- Then that is what matters.

Thank you, Edward.

- Does the podium look
big enough to you?

- It's what
the band leader asked for.

- Good, good.

And everything's
on course downstairs?

- It's all under control,
ma'am.

- I'm worried
that it may be too small.

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

- Take a tray of coffee
to the drawing room

for Mrs. Russell right away.
- Right away, sir.

- Have they finished upstairs?
- They're finishing now.

- Is the mistress pleased?
- Is she ever pleased?

- Content, then?
- She's very nervous.

- She has nothing
to worry about.

- Good, the carriage is here.
- Yes, ma'am.

- I want to arrive before 3:00.

I believe Mrs. Astor is very
precise about these things.

- It's a quarter past 2:00,
ma'am.

So I'd say
your timing is perfect.

- Hup, hup.

♪ ♪

- Mrs. Chamberlain will let us
meet at her house at 10:00.

Her carriage will take us
to Grand Central.

I'll get a bag to her,

and you can carry
what you need for the night...

but not too much.

We won't be gone long.

- I love you, Marian.

In fact, I don't think
I've ever loved you more

than I do at this moment.

- That's all right, then.

[soft music]

♪ ♪

- Mrs. Astor is not
at home, madam.

- You gave her my card?
- I'm afraid she's not at home.

- You didn't tell her
about that time in Newport,

did you, Mr. Hefty?

- Mrs. Astor is not at home.

- So you said.
- Good day.

- Wait for me.
- Of course, ma'am.

- I shouldn't be long.

- Welcome, Mrs. Randolph.
- Good day, Hefty.

- Come right this way.
- Thank you.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[door closes]
- Hyah.

- How's the ball
coming along, Mother?

- That reminds me--

I'm afraid we must ask
Carrie Astor to step down.

- What?

- It won't be possible
for her to perform the dance.

- Why not?

- Because it won't be possible

for me to invite her
to the ball.

- What are you saying?

- I looked in
on Mrs. Astor today,

and she wouldn't accept
my call.

- I told you.

- But I can't have
her daughter here

when she doesn't receive me.
- Perhaps she wasn't there.

- A friend of hers was admitted
just as I was leaving.

- They've been practicing
for weeks.

Why didn't you say this sooner?

- It never occurred to me
Mrs. Astor would let Carrie

dance at the ball if she didn't
plan to come herself.

- But, Mother,
Orme Wilson's Carrie's partner.

It's all arranged.

- I can't help that.

- What about the others?

- Angela Schermerhorn,
Sally Drexel, the boys?

Are they all to be turned away
if their parents won't come?

- I'm afraid so.

- Mother, you can't pull
the rug from under them now.

- You will not say "can't"
to me.

- Why shouldn't the girl come
on her own if she wants to?

And the rest
of the young people, too?

- And do you think
Mrs. Astor would entertain

a young woman
whose mother had snubbed her?

Precisely.

Thank you, Church.

[knock at door]
- Oh.

What a nice surprise.

I hope this means
you've changed your mind.

- No, but it's good to see you.
I'm here to collect my clothes.

- Aunt Agnes
will be so disappointed.

- Please give them both
my best regards.

Have you made your plans?

- We're meeting
at Mrs. Chamberlain's.

- How kind of her.

Oh, that's nice.

- I don't suppose
you'd do me a favor?

I've got to smuggle
my traveling bag to her house,

and nobody'd notice
if you had it.

It's not going to be heavy.
- I'll take it there.

I'll be in a cab.

Where are you planning to live?

- In Tom's apartment,
I suppose.

Unless he's got a better idea.
How are your parents?

- My father's in Chicago
until next month.

But my mother's well.

- It's good that you can
spend time together

before he gets back.

- When is the wedding?
- Friday--

same day
as Mrs. Russell's ball.

Would you come and see me off?
We're leaving at 10:00.

- If you like.

But I do feel sorry for
Mrs. Van Rhijn and Miss Brook.

- Don't worry. I'm going
to write to Aunt Agnes

with the whole story.

I'll do a letter
for Aunt Ada, too,

so it won't look suspicious.

- [sighs]
It's really happening, then?

- Yes.
[chuckles]

It really is.

- Ah, Caroline.
There's a letter for you.

- Hefty gave it to me.

- Who was it from?
- Mrs. Russell.

- Oh.

I suppose it was the invitation
to her wretched ball.

- No.

It was explain why I would not
be sent an invitation.

- What?

- She says I can't come
and I can't dance

because you would not receive
her when she called.

- She came
at an inconvenient moment.

- She says someone else
was admitted.

- That was Mrs. Randolph.
She wanted to see me alone.

What was I to do?

- Would you call
on Mrs. Russell now

if I asked you?

- I'm sure she's far too busy
to waste her time on me.

- But that's not true, is it?

- I'm sorry?

- You wouldn't call on her
if your life depended on it.

I worked on the dance
for weeks.

Did you think of that?

You must have known
she'd drop me

when you wouldn't let her
into the house.

- My dear.
- I'm going upstairs.

- Carrie.

Caroline!

♪ ♪

[door closes]

- Oh.

I suppose this means
you're really leaving.

- I am, Miss Brook.

- I'm very sorry.

- You've been so kind.
- Not at all.

Oh, do use the front door.

There's no need for you
to struggle down to the kitchen

and up the basement steps.
- Thank you.

- Miss Marian has
a bag like that.

- This is Miss Marian's.

She lent it to me for the move.

- You'd never help Miss Marian
do anything foolish, would you?

- I'd try to persuade her
not to do it.

You can count on me for that.

- That's not quite
the same thing, though, is it?

Goodbye, my dear.

- Goodbye, Miss Brook.

♪ ♪

- Kneynsberg and Cuyper
want to extend their loan.

- By how much?

- They want another million

and a year longer to repay--
same terms.

- There's nothing wrong
with the bank, is there?

- Not that I'm aware of,
but we'll look into it,

- It's flattering
that the great Julius Cuyper

should come
with his begging bowl.

- Is he so very great?
- His wife is.

They say even Mrs. Astor
treats her with care.

- [chuckles] I don't know
about such things.

- If you lived
with Mrs. Russell, you would.

♪ ♪

- If that's dinner, I'm afraid
Miss Caroline isn't here yet.

- Oh, she's not coming down,
madam.

She's asked for a tray
in her room.

- I see.

- Would you like me
to go up there?

- No.

If she's asked for a tray,

then a tray she must have.

Is she coming with me to
Mrs. Bevan's reception later,

do you know?

- According to her maid,
she's gone to bed, madam.

- Oh.

Well, then...

I shall go alone.

♪ ♪

[footsteps approaching]

♪ ♪

- Is anything the matter?

- You tell me.

- What do you mean?

- You seem so distracted
nowadays.

Is it Miss Barton's Red Cross?

Well, something
is on your mind.

Or are you going to tell me
I'm wrong?

I hope it has nothing to do
with Mr. Raikes.

- I know
Aunt Agnes doesn't like him.

- She will like him even less

if you're planning
some sort of escapade.

- She'll come to like him

when she decides
to get to know him.

- Not if you force her hand.

- Dearest Aunt Ada, I don't
want you to know the details

because I don't want you
to be blamed.

- Marian.

If you want to marry this man,

then come out with it.

Sit through the argument.
Hold to your faith.

And if he's right for you,

eventually
it will come to pass.

- I haven't got time
for eventually.

- You will break Agnes's heart.
- You know that's not true.

It's her pride we're dealing
with here, not her heart.

- I can't help blaming
Mr. Raikes.

- Don't.

We both wanted to wait until
we had Aunt Agnes's blessing.

- But he hasn't waited,
has he, dear?

[footsteps approaching]

- Oscar has invited himself
for dinner tomorrow night.

- That's nice.

♪ ♪

- Isn't Henry James a little
dense for a young lady?

♪ ♪

- Baudin,
that was a good dinner.

What is it?

Is everything all right?
- Not exactly, sir.

- I hope this doesn't mean
you're handing in your notice.

- No. But it may result
in my dismissal.

- That sounds very serious.
You'd better close the doors.

- What?
- It's true.

He's just a farm boy
from Kansas.

- Then how did it all start?
- He was a merchant seaman.

He left the ship in France,
found a job washing dishes

at a restaurant in Cannes.

He trained there.

But when he got back
to New York,

he discovered that nobody
wanted a cook from Wichita.

They were all looking
for a chef from gay Paris.

- And so he became
Monsieur Baudin?

- He was quite settled
into the role when we met him.

- What's his real name?
- Borden.

Josh Borden.

- And why
are we being told now?

His wife has tracked him down.
- And she wants money?

- Worse.
She wanted a reconciliation.

She'd found out
he was doing well.

No doubt we will be hearing
from her soon.

- Well, I'm sorry, George,

but we cannot have a chef
from Kansas.

We'd be a laughingstock.
- But if the food's the same...

- You don't know
the women of New York.

They're all looking for
something about us to ridicule.

And when they hear
that we were taken in,

we'd be providing it
on a plate, literally.

- If that's your decision...
- It is.

And I want him gone
for the ball.

I'll send a message
to the agency in the morning

for the best available chef
on their books.

I'll give Baudin
excellent references,

so you needn't look stricken.

- It's unfair.
He's a hard worker.

- He's been living
a lie, George,

and it's made us vulnerable
to every snob in New York.

We must do it.

- So you brought it
on your own head?

- I couldn't let it
go on forever.

- But we're only a few days
away from Mrs. Russell's ball.

- My wife thought
that strengthened her hand.

I had to stop her.

- If you're not
Monsieur Baudin,

why are you still talking
like him?

- Because this is
who I have been for years.

And now it's hard
to break the habit.

- If your name is Josh Borden
and you come from Wichita,

I think you've got to try.

- [sighs]

[American accent]
You're right.

You're absolutely right.

- So what happens now?

- I cook
till the new chef arrives,

and then he takes over.

- What will you do
about your wife?

- I shall try to persuade her
to divorce me.

- Why didn't you do it
years ago when you had nothing?

- Because I'm a fool.

- I think it's unfair
that you have to go,

especially with the ball.

- Please, don't take sides over
things you don't understand.

Madam has a high mountain
to climb.

[French accent] She cannot
afford to be sentimental--

[playful music]

♪ ♪

- She won't budge.

I've tried everything
I can think of, I promise.

- Carrie.
- Hello, Mrs. Russell.

- Church said you were here.

- If you'd rather
I didn't call...

- Oh, my dear,
I hope you understand

why I cannot allow you
to perform at the ball.

It is only because--

- My mother has offended you,
I know.

- But you are welcome in
this house at any other time.

- Would you forgive my mother
if she apologized?

- I don't think it very likely,

but of course,
I'd be delighted.

- Your kindness
is a beacon of light

after the treatment
you received.

- Thank you, my dear.

And now I must go.
I have a fitting.

♪ ♪

- Monsieur Charron, welcome.

May I present our household,
whom you will come to know?

- If you wish.

- Monsieur Charron,
I am Mrs. Bruce,

the housekeeper here.

And I have a book
of instructions

which our last chef,
Mr. Borden, left

to help you with the ball
tomorrow night.

- Why would I both with that
when he has been sacked?

- Mr. Borden was not sacked.
He left by mutual agreement.

And because the ball is
almost upon us,

he has done a great deal
of preliminary work already.

- All of which he has recorded
in this notebook.

- You had better read it,
monsieur.

The mistress has agreed
to the menus,

and she will not care
for any last-minute deviations.

- If the ball is tomorrow,

I presume she must take
what I give her.

Now, where is my room?

- If you would come with me...

- If it's him
versus Mrs. Russell,

what are the odds?

- I know where I'd put
my money.

[staff chattering]

- I'll correct it
right away, madam.

- I thought I heard talking
in here.

- The ball dress arrived
from Paris yesterday.

Miss Gossage has been making
the final adjustments.

- I can't wait to see it.

How is the ball going?

- Acceptances from people
I don't want

and a lot of Aurora's friends,
whom I want a little,

silence from the people
I want a lot.

- And the parents
of the dancers?

- Not a squeak
from any of them.

- What about Mr. McAllister?

- He won't decide
till he hears

which way
his mystic rose will jump.

- Surely she won't come now
you've uninvited her daughter.

It's too late anyway.
The ball is tomorrow.

- We'll see.

- In the morning,
I'll leave after breakfast,

and I may have luncheon
with Aurora,

so don't panic if I'm not home
by the evening.

- Where are you going?
- Just paying a few calls.

- And who expects a call
right after breakfast?

- Marian always has such
a full dance card.

Remember how worried we were

about whether she would find
enough to do

when she came to the city?

How silly that seems now.

- Ada tells me
Miss Scott has been here.

- She came for her things.

- I assume
she's not coming back.

- I don't think so, no,

but she sends you both
every good wish.

- That's something, I suppose.

- You're sorry
she's gone, Mama.

Why don't you admit it?

- My secretary has handed in
her notice.

What more is there to say?

- That you're sad about it.

- Very well.

I'm sad.

She was a great help to me.

Now are you satisfied?

[knock at door]

- Carrie? Caroline?

[knock at door]

May I come in?

- Why do you bother to ask if
you're going to push in anyway?

- [scoffs]

How long
will you keep this up?

- Could ask you
the same question.

- Suppose I were to call
on Mrs. Russell

and explain that
I'm engaged tomorrow night.

- Are you?

- I can be, if necessary.

- She won't accept it.

The trouble is, you assume
she's weaker than you.

- [scoffs] She is weaker
than I am in this instance.

- We'll see.

[person singing operatically]

♪ ♪

[whispering indistinctly]

[light piano music playing]

♪ ♪

- Well, we've reached the day.

If there are still no answers
from the great folk,

you'd better think of some
last-minute replacements

if we're not to look absurd

waltzing around
an empty ballroom.

- Don't worry.
Aurora's been busy.

The ballroom won't be empty.

- But we'll be
without the great princes

you were tilting at.
- Don't speak too soon.

- I wish I knew the cards you
think you have up your sleeve.

- I'm taking a chance, George,
I know that.

But who ever achieved great
things without taking a chance?

- True enough.

See you tonight.

- [sighs]

[dramatic music]

- Are you off, dear?

- Yes.

- Would you like me
to post those?

- No.

They're just something
for Larry Russell.

I'll drop them off.

- Won't you need your bag?

[soft music]

♪ ♪

- It's at Mrs. Chamberlain's.

- Of course.

I saw Miss Scott go off
with it.

You know that to accept help
from Mrs. Chamberlain with this

is something that Agnes,
or anyone,

would find very hard
to forgive.

- I must take my chances.

- Oh, my darling girl.

♪ ♪

Goodbye...

♪ ♪

And good luck.

- I'll write to you.

Everything will be aboveboard,
I swear.

- Miss Ada, Mrs. Van Rhijn's
asking for you.

- I'll come right up.

- Would you like a cab,
Miss Marian?

- Yes, but I'm just running
across the street.

♪ ♪

[door opens]

- Miss Brook.
- Mr. Russell.

Larry.

I mustn't hold you up,
but I have a favor to ask.

Would you bring these
across the street

before 7:00 this evening?

Could you manage that?
- Certainly.

- I know you've got
your ball tonight.

- I just hope it doesn't
betoken some desperate action

on your part.

- Some action, yes,
but not desperate.

Thank you.

♪ ♪

- You left this.
- Thank you, John.

Please tell the others
downstairs...

- Yes, Miss?

- How much I value them.

♪ ♪

[horse neighs, driver shouts]

- I wonder what Miss Brook
is up to.

- She's quite convincing
when she makes a decision.

It was she who said
I should tell you

about my plans
to be an architect.

- Should I be glad of that?

- I think you will be...
in the end.

This is a great city
in a great country

at a great time in our history.

I want to be part of it,
Father.

[spirited orchestral music]

♪ ♪

- They'll need solvent to get
the stain out of this,

and I'll get them to press it.

Mr. Scott left this
in his pocket, ma'am.

- Typical man, not to check.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[gasps]

Oh.

♪ ♪

- Thank you for having me here,
Mrs. Chamberlain.

- I have broken rules
I don't agree with all my life.

- While we're waiting
for Mr. Raikes...

- What is it?

- I painted this for you

as a way of saying thank you
for all your help, but...

- But what?

- I just realized
it's like asking for my work

to be hung alongside
all of the old masters.

- I assure you I will value
it highly, my dear...

Oh...

For many reasons.

- Dear Mrs. Fane,
please come in.

- Thank you, Bannister.

Is Miss Marian at home?
- I'm afraid she's out, madam.

- Aurora? Is that you?

- I was looking for Marian.

- Come inside, why don't you?

- [sighs]
Will Marian be back soon?

- No, I don't believe so.

- That's a pity.

- Why?

What's the matter?

- Something I saw
at the Academy last night--

Marian should know about it.

- Are you going to tell me
what it is?

- It won't bother you since
you don't care for Mr. Raikes.

He was there
in the Drexels' box,

which is next to ours, and...

he was talking--

well, he was more than talking
to Miss Bingham.

Do you know who I mean--
Cissie Bingham?

- I don't think so.

- She's a niece
of Henry Flagler.

She's very rich.
- And?

- At one point, he leaned over
and whispered in her ear.

Well, she was transported.

And every minute after that,
she clung to his arm.

- I see.

- Maybe I'm making
too much of it.

- You're right.

Marian should know.

- Will you tell her tonight?

- She needs to know
sooner than that.

- But where is she?

- She's--

She's at the house
of Mrs. Chamberlain.

- What?

Has she told Aunt Agnes?
- No.

And you won't either.

Now go to Mrs. Chamberlain's
at once.

Fast as you can.
- Why?

- Just do it.

Marian will explain
if she wants to.

[door opens]

- Mr. Cuyper, Mr. Russell.
- It's kind of you to see me.

- Not at all.
[door closes]

So shall we get straight
to the point?

- We're good for the loan?

- Yes.

You may have overextended
yourselves a little,

but there is nothing
fundamentally wrong

with Kneynsberg and Cuyper.

So I'll have the papers
drawn up for signature.

- Thank you.

Now, I shan't take up any more
of your valuable time.

- There is one more thing...

an invitation to a ball my wife
is giving this evening--

for you and Mrs. Cuyper.

I look forward
to seeing you there.

- Alas, with no warning,

I'm now sure
our diaries will allow it.

- I've not made myself clear.

I will see you there
if you want the loan.

- You can't be serious.

- Don't think
you can go elsewhere.

I have a list of reasons
why not to invest in your bank,

and I will send it
to anyone you approach.

- Isn't that against the law?
- Let's find out.

- You are not a gentleman, sir.

- That's a subject
for another time.

- Very well.
I will attend.

But I cannot promise
that my wife will.

- The loan hinges
on her presence.

- But suppose
she is engaged tonight?

- I am sure,
when you explain the situation,

she will find
that she can join us after all.

[dramatic music]

[upbeat quirky music]

♪ ♪

- I am Mrs. Astor.

Perhaps
you can ask Mrs. Russell

if she could see me
for a minute.

I'm afraid I'm unexpected.

♪ ♪

If you'd be so kind...

- Yes, ma'am.
Of course, ma'am.

♪ ♪

[door clangs closed]
Mrs. Astor is in the hall.

- What?

- She wonders
if you have time to see her.

♪ ♪

- I hope
this isn't a bad moment.

- Not at all.
Won't you sit down?

- I gather my daughter Caroline
will not now dance

at your ball tonight.

Indeed,
she is no longer invited.

Is that correct?
- It is.

- Mrs. Russell, I'm afraid

there's been
a misunderstanding.

When you were good enough
to pay a call on me,

I had promised myself
to a friend

who urgently wished
to speak to me alone.

There is no reason here
for us to fall out.

- Forgive me,
but if that were the case,

you could have called on me
another day

or written a note to explain
why I was turned away

while others were admitted.

- Not others.

Another was admitted.

- Ah.

- Well, I have paid a call now.

- You have dropped by

at a time when no one else
was likely to be here.

- Won't you consider

letting Carrie be included
in the fun after all?

- Would you come with her?

- It is such a difficult time
of year for me--

- If you wish for me to bring
your very charming daughter

back into the fold,
then you must accompany her.

- My being here now
is not enough?

- People know of the snub.

So, to undo the hurt, you
must attend the ball tonight,

and you must let people know
you will be here.

You will need to move quickly.
- I don't have time to do that.

- Oh, I think you do.

And I have one more request.

I want you to make sure
that my neighbors,

Mrs. Van Rhijn and her sister,
will attend.

- Why bother with them?

- I'm tired of being cut
on my own doorstep.

Make them come.

- I don't see how.

- Then you will have
to explain it to Carrie.

I like her very much,
by the way.

I'm sorry she won't be here.

- Well...

at least we know
where we stand.

- Mm.

[dramatic music]

Nothing would give me
more pleasure

than for you
to change your mind.

- But you
will not change yours?

- No.

Mrs. Astor is leaving.

♪ ♪

[door opens]
[exhales deeply]

[door closes]

- Your carriage is ready,
ma'am.

♪ ♪

[door closes]

- Well, Mrs. Bruce, what does
that mean for the mistress?

- Time will tell, Mr. Watson.

Time will tell.

- I don't believe you.
- What do you mean?

- Well,
of course I believe you.

I just don't think it can
have been quite how it looked.

- Then where is he?
When was he expected?

- Hours ago.
- But it may--

it may have been difficult
for him to get away.

- Wouldn't he have sent someone
with a message?

- Maybe he's been hurt.

- Unless he's been killed,
he could have sent a warning.

- All right, well,
I'll go to his office

to see if something's happened.
- Will he be at his office?

- Take the carriage
and start with his office.

Maybe someone there will know
where he might be found.

- But suppose
he's on his way here?

- I'll look after him
until your return.

- Do you want me
to come with you?

- I've already wasted quite
enough of your time as it is.

- I'll go.
That was the original plan.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- Is there anything more
I can do?

- No.
[door opens, closes]

But thank you for receiving me.

And thank you for your kindness
to my cousin.

♪ ♪

May I ask you to keep silent
about the whole affair?

Marian's reputation--
- Is safe with me. Don't worry.

♪ ♪

- But if I don't
maintain standards,

what is the point of me?

- Of course. But what we need
to determine now

is whether Mrs. Russell
will support those standards

or undermine them.

- How can you ask?

- You know I follow your lead
to a slavish degree.

- But you want
to go to the ball.

- We cannot hope to keep out
the new people entirely,

or they'd form
their own society

that would exclude us.

You know this.
- Yes.

And if it looks
as if her children

might make decent marriages,
then I--

- They'll make decent marriages
without our help.

They're good-looking,
and they smell of money--

the sweetest scent I know.

If I were you,
I'd bring them in now

and gain the credit.

- But it's tonight.

- Send a note to her
this minute

and another to Agnes van Rhijn.

- Ugh.

- Then write to anyone else
you can think of.

- You mean that you don't think
that I can beat Mrs. Russell

at my own game?

- My dear mystic rose,

I fear if you try,

it might be at the cost
of your own dignity.

- Which translated means
you want to go to her ball.

- [chuckles]

♪ ♪

- This can't be right.

- What's that?

- She's taken leave
of her senses.

- Who?
- Lina Astor. Listen.

"If you consider yourselves
to be my friends,

you will attend Mrs. Russell's
ball this evening."

- Really?

- Don't you dare
sound cheerful.

- I am curious
about that house.

- Really? You are glad to be
ordered to march into hell

and to dance with the devil?

- I wonder sometimes

if you don't slightly overstate
your arguments.

We cannot be forced to dance.

- So are we to quarrel
with Mrs. Astor

or Mrs. Russell?
- Well--

- I do not wish to quarrel
with Mrs. Astor,

so we will obey her now

but reserve the right
to quarrel

with Mrs. Russell later.

♪ ♪

[door closes]

- I've been trying
to compose a letter.

- Well, now you won't have to.

I assume we're not getting
married today?

- Marian--
- Just tell me.

Was it all pretend?
- No.

Of course not.
I love you very much.

- But as New York smiled
on you,

you came to see
that there were others

who could offer you
so much more than I could?

- The truth is--

- I'll tell you
what the truth is.

The more you pushed
for our elopement,

the more you felt your desire
for it slipping away.

- I suppose I thought that
if I could only make it happen,

then things would come right.

But I began to suspect
that if we did marry,

we would have no armory
for the battle that lay ahead.

- We'd have no money, you mean.

- We know New York now,
you and I.

There's a life to be lived
here, and a good life.

But two penniless strangers
from out of town

could not have hoped
to live it.

- But Miss Bingham can make
sure of that life for you?

Well, why not?

She won't suit the old crowd,

but she'll do well enough
with the new,

and her fortune is more
than ample for both of you.

- I don't admire myself for it.

- [scoffs]

On that note,
I'll say goodbye.

- Can we at least part
as friends?

- Not quite.

But not as enemies either.

I don't like bitterness.

[door opens]

- You're a marvelous person,
Marian.

Do you know that?

- I shall take it
as my consolation prize.

♪ ♪

- Come away, come away.

Your bag's in the carriage.

There's no need to go back
to Mrs. Chamberlain's.

Go home,
and I'll return to Brooklyn.

[bell tolling]
- Oh, the letters.

I must stop Larry
from delivering the letters.

Thank you.

- Of course.

♪ ♪

- [sighs]

- Hefty said you wanted me.

- Only to witness my defeat.

You have won.

- Adelheid said
you were looking for me.

- Only to tell you

that Carrie Astor
is coming tonight after all.

So you will perform the dance
as it was rehearsed.

- Send messages now
to your friends

that I will be there tonight,

starting with the parents
of the other dancers.

- You won't regret it.

- I regret it already.

- Oh, Mother.

- What am I to do?

I'm alone
since your father's never here.

How can I manage
without my darling daughter?

♪ ♪

- [sighs happily]

♪ ♪

- Bannister, there's a bag
of clothes in the carriage.

I need to sort them
for the missionary barrel.

Will you ask John to take them
up to my room?

- Of course, Miss Marian.

- And when Mr. Russell arrives,
please ask him to wait

and come and fetch me.

- He's already here.
- What?

- I've just shown him in
to the drawing room.

♪ ♪

- Am I too late?

- Heavens, is there a fire?

- Marian, you're back.

- Too late for what?
Why shouldn't she be back?

What's going on?
- How was your day?

- Not all it could have been.

Mr. Russell, how kind of you
to come by.

- You were saying you were here
on a mission, Mr. Russell?

Does it concern
those envelopes?

- No.
- What?

- I'm sure Mr. Russell went out
to catch the evening post

and thought he'd look in
to see how you are.

Isn't that so, Mr. Russell?

- Absolutely.

But now it's clear you're both
as well as I could hope.

So I'll be on my way.
- To the mailbox?

- Isn't that nice?
[chuckles]

I'll see you out.

- I feel as if I've been
watching a play

in a foreign language.
- [giggles]

They're young.

- Is that an observation
or an excuse?

- Both.

- Are you gonna tell me
what that was about?

- Someday maybe.

- [chuckles]

- But thank you.
I am so grateful.

- Of course.

[door opens]

Are you coming to Gladys' ball?

- I may regret it,
but I suppose I am.

- Then I claim a waltz
as my payment.

- [chuckles]

[sighs]

- When was it written?

- Three weeks ago.

- Is there an address?
- No.

Just the date and a name--
Mrs. Wade.

The postmark's
from Philadelphia.

See for yourself.

- "The boy is doing well."

[soft music]

And we are to assume
this boy is my son?

- Why else would your father
have made inquiries?

- Did you know?
- I did not.

I accepted what I was told
when he brought you home.

- He stole my child.

And all the time
he was working

and sitting down
to dinner with us

and living a lie.
- You--

He wasn't in his right mind.

- Please don't make excuses
for him!

- I'm not, but I don't know

what good can come of this.

We won't find the boy,
and Arthur won't help us.

- Us?

Have you come over to my side?

- I've always been
on your side.

- My baby is alive, Mama.

[crying] My baby is alive,
and I want him back.

♪ ♪

[sobbing]

- Oh, God help us.

[elegant music]

♪ ♪

- Perfect timing.

♪ ♪

Let the tournament begin.

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

[excited chatter]

♪ ♪

- Mr. and
Mrs. Winthrop Chandler.

- The Drexels.

- Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Drexel.

- [whispering indistinctly]

♪ ♪

- I'm afraid there's trouble
in the kitchens

with Monsieur Charron.
- Can you sort it out?

- Of course.

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

- Mr. and Mrs. Robert McNeil.

♪ ♪

- Mr. McNeil, Mrs. McNeil,
how wonderful to see you.

- Thank you for having us.
- The pleasure is ours.

- Mr. Russell,
I think you've met Mr. McNeil.

May I present
his lovely wife...

- Mr. and Mrs. Ogden Mills.

- [singing
"Après de Ma Blonde"]

♪ ♪

- How long
has he been like this?

- It's been coming on,
Mr. Church.

- How much of the supper
is ready?

- They've got the cold, but
they've still to cook the hot.

Monsieur Charron did not want
the food kept warm

for too long.

- [continues singing]
- Monsieur Charron!

Can you hear me?

- [snoring]

- How much time do we have
before the supper is served?

- Three to four hours.

- You, take this note to
the address I've written there.

- Yes, sir.

- You and you two,
put Monsieur Charron to bed.

- Ah!

[indistinct chatter]

- Are we really determined
on this?

- Marian looks so beautiful.

It would be a shame
not to show her off.

How are you feeling, my dear?

- Just dandy.

- How can she have gotten
round Lina?

I never believed
in black magic,

but I'm having my doubts.

- Did Mrs. Astor explain
why she wanted you to come?

- She didn't explain it,
she ordered it,

as simple as that.

- I suppose you don't have
to go just because she said so.

- Never overestimate
your own power, my dear.

It's always a mistake.

♪ ♪

- So Mrs. Russell won
the battle after all.

- I'm not so sure
it's over yet.

- You wish you'd been invited?

- I suppose.

What about you?

- Maybe we will be one day.

After all, this is America.

♪ ♪

- Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fane.

♪ ♪

- Mr. Russell.

- Mr. and Mrs. Julius Cuyper.
- Oh?

- How did you manage that?

- I just asked them nicely.

- Good evening.
- Good evening.

I'm so glad you could join us.

- We found our diaries
would allow it.

- Thank you for coming.

- Mrs. Arnold van Rhijn,
Miss Brook,

and Miss Marian Brook.

- Aunt Agnes, Aunt Ada.
What are you doing here?

- You may well ask.

Lina Astor wrote saying
it was a test of friendship.

- But now that we're here,

there are
so many familiar faces.

- No doubt they've all had
their hands held in the flame.

- Mama?

You are the last woman on Earth
I thought I'd see tonight.

- And you're the last man
on Earth

I'd allow to criticize me.

- People are going through
to the ballroom.

- They won't start dancing
until I say.

- What are you waiting for?

- Mrs. William Backhouse
Astor...

[chatter quiets]
And Miss Caroline Astor.

- That.

[elegant music swelling]

♪ ♪

Mrs. Astor,
how good of you to come.

- How kind you are
to receive me, Mrs. Russell.

- Mr. Ward McAllister.

- Mrs. Astor, Mrs. Russell.

- Mr. McAllister.
- Well, here we are...

- Mm.
- All of us together.

What could be nicer?

- Have a lovely time.
- Thank you.

- Shall we?
- Ah.

♪ ♪

[both laughing]

[indistinct chatter]

♪ ♪

- [exhales deeply]

[crowd swooning]

[applause]

[upbeat string music playing]

♪ ♪

- Oh, wonderful.

♪ ♪

- How charming they look.
- I think so.

- Didn't it ever worry you
that I might decide

to destroy you
after this evening?

Because I could, if I chose.

- I don't doubt it,
but you won't.

- Oh. Why not?

- Because we're too alike.

- We're what?
- It's true.

And I will be a good friend
to you if you'll let me.

♪ ♪

- That was nice of you.

- I've already said--

if necessary,
we can quarrel with her later.

♪ ♪

[cheers and applause]

[indistinct chatter]

- Come and dance with me.

- But I have to change
my dress.

- You can do that later.
Dance with me.

And I'll leave you alone
for the rest of the evening.

- You'll have to wait
while I change.

I'm out now, Mr. Van Rhijn.

And I've had enough
of being told what to do.

[waltz playing]

♪ ♪

- Henry Flagler
and his party are here.

They must have arrived late.

I'm sorry
I couldn't stop it, Marian.

But I'm afraid

Mr. Flagler trumps
any sort of influence I have.

- Miss Brook.

Mrs. Fane.

Miss Marian.
- I shouldn't be surprised.

You're quite the man about town
these days.

- Aurora, I see Mrs. Russell.

Let's pay our compliments
to the hostess.

♪ ♪

- I'm so sorry.

I didn't think you'd be here.

I assumed your aunt
wouldn't allow it.

I wouldn't have come
if I'd known.

- Had you decided
to break your word?

Did you know when we met
in the park?

- No.

And I meant it
when I said I love you.

- I believe you.

But love is not always enough.

♪ ♪

[applause]

- Miss Brook.

You promised me a waltz.

Uh, I saw you talking
to Mr. Raikes.

- Oh, yes, he's just someone
I used to know.

Let's dance.

[applause]

[soft music]

♪ ♪

- [chuckles]

[waltz music playing]

♪ ♪

- Do you think Mrs. Astor will
accept your hand at friendship?

- No one would believe it,
but who knows?

- Well,
that's all for tomorrow.

Tonight
you're the belle of the ball.

- [chuckles]

♪ ♪

- She looks beautiful.

♪ ♪

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

- You beat me to it.
- Not by much.

You seemed to be making headway
with Gladys.

- So did you.

[chuckles]

Why are you scowling?

You're so easy to tease.

I think I can do it, John.

I think I can reel her in.

And don't worry.

Nothing will change.

- [groans]

Dorothy.

There you are.

Did you not hear me calling
from downstairs?

- We heard.

- Well, I've been traveling
all night,

and I expect a warmer welcome
than that.

Your mother's cable
said you were back,

but this looks like
you're leaving us again.

- We're both leaving.

- Where are you going?

This is my house, and somebody
had better answer me.

I come back--
- We know, Father.

- Know what?

You've no proof.
- You don't know what we have.

- We have proof
the boy didn't die.

We believe he was adopted,
and you knew.

- If you're expecting me
to say I'm sorry--

- We'd never be so foolish
as to expect that.

- Then what do you want
from me?

- We are catching
an early train to Philadelphia.

We intent to find my son.

And we'd like your assistance.

- You won't get it.

And you won't find him.

Leave him alone.

He's happy now and settled.
I made sure of that.

Do you think it wasn't hard
for me?

- You should be ashamed
of yourself.

- Why?

Because I freed our daughter
and our grandson

from a life of shame?

Everything I done was done
for Peggy and the boy.

- I don't want to be free
of my own child.

- Then ruin yourself
if you must,

but you'll do it
without any help from me.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

[laughter, indistinct chatter]

- Shall we say goodbye here?

- I think I must be allowed
to see you safely

to your front door...

Especially
after tonight's bruising.

- I shouldn't have told you.
- Of course you should.

How do you feel?

About Mr. Raikes?

- I'm not sure.

Rather numb, really.

- Numb is good.

Just look after yourself
when it wears off.

[light music]

♪ ♪

- You offered Borden his job
back without speaking to me?

- Well, madam, I--
- I told him to, my dear.

I'm a man of simple principles.

I reward loyalty.
I punish traitors.

- Well, they'll laugh
when they know

we have a chef from Kansas.
- Let them.

Church summoned him, and
he came to our rescue at once.

- Bu--

- Thank you, Monsieur Bau--

Thank you, Borden,

for stepping in
at the last minute

and saving the show.

- I was glad to do it.
- Mm.

- And...

we hope you will stay on?

- But...

is Mrs. Russell content to have
a chef from Wichita, Kansas?

[quirky music]

- Couldn't we just call it
the Middle West?

♪ ♪

- [chuckles]

♪ ♪

[knock at door]

- You're back.

Did you enjoy it
in spite of Mr. Raikes?

- The Flagler party left
when you did,

so the evening picked up.
- Mm.

- It was kind of you
to let me stay on.

- Will you ever explain
what happened?

- Someday maybe, but not now.

It hurts too much.

- Then get into bed
and sleep half the day away,

if you wish.
- [chuckles]

- This is your home, Marian.

You're very welcome here.

And things will get better.
You'll see.

You still have
most of New York to explore

and all the people in the city
to choose from.

- [laughs]

- So good night, my dear.

♪ ♪

[chuckles]

Or should I say good morning?

♪ ♪

[spirited orchestral music]

♪ ♪

[bright tone]