Original subtitles

Sex work, like lots of things in London, is about class.

I'm educated, so I'm expensive.

I'm expensive, so I attract a certain clientele.

(man talking on phone)

And some of them are connoisseurs.

...start shooting next month...

Take Mitchell Rothman.

He's one of my more international clients -

film producer, multimillionaire,

and like all Americans a great tipper.

And I get the impression he knows his escorts.

Belle, can I say something?

I am not a stranger to this, and I think you're kinda great.

Thank you very much.

I think you could take the next step.

Do you know Diamond International Courtesans?

Yeah.

Do you wanna get nominated?

Really?

Mm. I know them. They listen to me.

You've got what it takes to be a courtesan.

You've got a lot of class.

What I've got is class.

(bad English accent) Claaass.

Class.

Claaass. Class.

I'm a high-class escort, but there's a whole level above me.

Courtesans. They only have a few long-term clients,

but they earn a fortune.

I really want to be one.

But it's not up to me.

Belle, I'm Della. How lovely of you to come.

This way.

You're not nervous, are u? No.

A little bit, yeah.

(chuckles)

You know Mitchell Rothman?

That's right.

He's a good sort.

Is this examples of your wardrobe?

Oh, yeah. I thought you said I should--

Absolutely. Shall we dive in? Sure.

Anna? Oh.

Shall we go through one or two things? How old are you, Belle, just for the record?

24.

OK. Well,

our clients, they like their companions like their wine -

expensive and mature.

A man who wants company for weeks wants someone with life experience.

Something to say.

I'm actually 27. Oh.

Genuinely, I don't know why I said "four."

We're a sisterhood. We're not an agency.

Fiona and I felt there wasn't anywhere providing real upmarket quality in this industry.

So we thought we'd do it.

Wow. That's impressive.

This is nice. Where do you wear this?

Uh, dinners, if I go to a party or a ball...

Yes, this is the right color for you. You should avoid, um...

that.

Why do you want to be a courtesan, Belle?

That's a good question. Um...

I'm ready to take the next step up the ladder.

I've got great communication skills, and I'm always looking for a new challenge.

At this level it's not about the man.

It's about the woman.

Languages, etiquette, golf, knowing how to ski.

We're not just about servicing the client, if you will.

We're genuine companions.

What you might call, uh, lifestyle sponsors.

But it's still all fucking in the end, right?

(weak laugh)

(toilet flushes)

(exhales)

They spoke to me in French.

I took German and Spanish. Je ne parle pas a lot of French.

Hi.

Look, I know things haven't gone very well so far,

and I know what I said in French

was that I grew up in a small town called London which is very picturesque.

But people who know me would say

that I'm clever, I'm discreet, I'm strong,

I've read every feminist book since Simone de Beauvoir and I still do what I do,

and I am very, very good.

I like her.

I'm a courtesan.

They said I need new clothes and I need to learn another language

and I need new photos, which I totally need your help with. But I did it, Ben.

I'm in!

OK, call me back.

Is that weird?

Asking your ex-boyfriend to take photos of you in your underwear

so rich strangers can decide whether they want to pay you to have sex with them?

That's all right, isn't it?

There's something I have to do first.

So I won't be sent to any more stag dos "by mistake"

and I won't be putting bits of sponge up myself during my period

and I won't be giving you 40% of anything.

I'm with Diamond International now.

It's been lovely, ladies.

(Stephanie) Aren't you forgetting something?

There you go.

Last week? Yep.

Hang on.

I'll give you a receipt.

Photographs have a huge impact on the sort of client you get.

The more expensive you are, the less flesh you flash.

Cleavage is good, but no nipples. Not at this level.

Pointing your toes is great if you wish your legs were longer.

But then...

so are these.

The lean back is a good one for hiding your tummy.

But if you're still not looking classy enough,

go monochrome.

That actually looks professional.

Yeah, you scrub up OK.

Are you deleting them? Yeah.

Oh, don't! They're nice!

I can't keep photos of you on my camera, Han.

She shouldn't be looking at your camera, Ben.

How's the house hunting going?

Yeah, it's good. We're looking in St Albans.

Very nice.

Actual... grown-up place.

Well, you can't keep on renting after you're married.

What do you know about real life? You're gonna be an uber-whore.

(Big Ben chimes)

So, am I the first patron of the new all-improved Belle?

Yes, you are, Mr Rothman.

You deserve... to be treated... like this.

Mmm.

You deserve everything.

That's why I want you to have this apartment.

What?

This is your apartment. If you want it.

No...?!

Yeah.

No. Oh, my God!

My own see-through stairs!

(chuckles)

I'm still working nights,

but I get five people under me and it's a lot more money.

And the new place belongs to one of the partners?

Yeah, from the LA office.

The lease on this place runs out next month, so...

Are these yours?

No, Mum, I stole them.

Look.

I used to read this to you.

I know. Why don't you take it for Jackie?

Well, don't you want it?

I'm not gonna need it. You should take it. It'd be nice for the baby.

OK.

Hannah, I know you've always belonged to your dad.

Oh, Mum.

No, I know that. It's just I understand what Jackie's doing.

Same thing I did.

Your world I don't know at all.

What do you think, Dad?

(laughs)

We're so proud of you.

I thought about getting you a cat,

but then I thought that's way too much responsibility.

Then I thought about getting you a fish,

but then I remembered that you find all fish...

(both) ...strangely depressing.

Yeah, the man at the shop said that's the lowest maintenance you can get.

Aww.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Being at the top of my profession means I'm completely in charge.

I sift through the applicants judging their spelling and grammar.

Some of those go on to a conversation.

(laughs)

And a small number of those I arrange to meet for a sort of mutual interview.

My name's Rupert.

It's a filtering process. (laughs)

Some of them want a paid mistress, a holiday companion.

Others are after a female friend they can fuck.

But they all want something more than sex.

(both) I'll be in touch.

(both laugh)

See you. Bye.

So, have you got yourself much of a list yet?

I've got four now.

That's including...? That's including yourself.

You wanna watch that. You don't want more than that.

The more guys a courtesan sees, the less prestigious she is.

I'll remember that.

Listen, uh, we're filming in Scotland next month. I want you to come out and join me.

Really? Sure.

They've got me this little place. It'll be... charming.

(thunder crashes)

And do you know what I found?

I found, with the dinners and the taxis and the ballet, dating cost me just the same.

And these were very nice women,

but divorced and complicated or crazy and young.

Well, you do tend to date actresses.

No, I married actresses. I dated waitresses.

(laughs)

What did you study?

Politics and economics.

Really? No.

I changed to English when I saw the hours.

You could do so many things.

Mitchell, you're not trying to save me, are you?

Hell, no.

I live in the real world.

(phone rings)

They need me on set.

I was saying I'm sorry I couldn't make it.

I had to come to Scotland. Ben.

Ben?

Ben? Hello? The signal's shit.

(exhales)

You're demanding.

(phone rings)

What the hell are you doing?

Christ.

What, you think that's cute?

Great.

This is how it's gonna be, huh?

(door opens then closes)

I was just wondering if there was a time when all the women get together at all.

Not that often. I mean, everyone's so busy and diffuse.

Of course. Yeah, yeah.

But you're doing well, though.

I heard you had one of Mitchell Rothman's places.

Did you?

Has he got lots of places?

Yes. Unusual man.

He's got girls in places all over the world.

He's what we call a collector.

But... Mitchell's well, isn't he?

Yeah. Yeah, everything's fine.

OK. Bye.

(# "Wake Up Alone" by Amy Winehouse)

What is it? What's up?

I'm so fucking bored, and... lonely.

Jesus, Hannah. You call me over here in the middle of the night 'cause you're bored?

Serpico's on.

I hate Serpico. It's you that loves Serpico.

All right, stop saying Serpico.

Vanessa, I won't be long.

Yeah. Can we talk about that later?

Do you want another cocktail or just a cup of tea, Ben?

No, I understand. I understand, love.

Well, thanks for that. That's just fucking brilliant.

What? You knew exactly what you were doing.

What? I asked you what you wanted to drink.

Just-- So she knows you're with me.

It's not like we're fucking. We're best mates. I'm gonna be your best man.

You know what?

You are bored. You are lonely.

You never see any of your university friends, your family.

You've lied about it all! You've alienated everyone,

for this.

For all this shit!

Don't go.

Yeah, Vanessa wonders what I'm doing here at midnight.

Of course. Because she knows, Hannah.

Shit, at our wedding she's gonna be sat there next to me in her dress.

And you're gonna get up and give your speech.

And every single person in the room's gonna be thinking:

"Why isn't he marrying her?"

Belle?

Do you like this font?

Yeah, it's nice.

So what are you now?

An independent escort.

Good. I always thought "courtesan" sounded a bit silly.

I like short appointments, I like lots of clients. Don't wanna be a paid wife.

I can always be your security.

What?

Not in a pimpy kind of way.

Seriously, though,

wouldn't Vanessa mind me calling you with, like, names and addresses and everything?

Won't that cause problems?

I've called it off.

What?

The wedding. We're not getting married.

And I don't wanna marry you.

I know.

But when I realized that, I realized...

I don't wanna marry her either.

(phone rings)

Hi, Mum.

You need to press it down really hard.

Yeah, Ben's here.

Hello, Mrs B.

She says do you want to come for Sunday lunch?

Only if she does her lamb.

He said yes.

Can I come too, though?

That's the thing.

In London you can keep secrets, you can be anonymous,

you can be whoever you want.

But as long as one person knows you entirely and loves you still,

it's the best place in the world.