La Maison (2024) s01e07 Episode Script

1
[thunder rumbles]
Hey, Nelly, can you
give us a second, please?
[sighs] Robinson, sir
[thunder rumbling]
I have friends who sleep with escorts.
Maybe they know you?
For a first-timer, I didn't do half bad.
I didn't even have to pay.
I'd have chosen a different model, but
So, I'm not supposed to question you,
but I do wanna know who was in my bed.
Um
Did an agency send you?
Were you short on clients?
No, I always had plenty.
I had to face the fact
that I'd never be a model.
I'm not talented,
no aspirations, no future.
I'm a classic rent boy.
You want sympathy? [chuckles]
How do you think I felt
when they offered me 30 grand
to seduce Prince Charming at the ball?
30 grand?
[chuckles]
Wow.
For all I know,
you're still bullshitting me.
Is your birthday a lie as well
after all I went through to remember it?
Yesterday, I thought you'd be a different
person in the morning, an asshole.
But it's still you. It's so hard.
[sniffles]
I promise I'll testify against them.
Great.
[car alarm beeps]
- [keypad beeping]
- [door buzzes]
That can't have been an easy Christmas.
How do you feel?
Relieved to be home.
You're allowed to feel bad.
The second time you give up
people you love doesn't get any easier.
Well, I didn't have high hopes when
I decided to go. I'm not disappointed.
It wasn't as if
you betrayed us or anything
and then it backfired on you, right?
Exactly right.
[phone buzzes]
Returned to the land of the sane?
My sister is sleeping
with her auctioneer friend,
but, what's more, she's in love with her.
Yann won't be able to handle that part.
We must act quickly.
Same for Robinson. We'll take him
by surprise to finalize the deal.
We've really missed you, Victor.
No more Christmases without you.
[Perle]
Thanks for cutting your vacation short.
The family wants this handled fast.
LEDU versus Rovel?
No judge wants to be accused
of dragging their feet.
Some big-shot lawyer, I suppose?
They got Herrman.
An old battle horse. A safe bet.
He wasn't exactly thrilled about
rushing back from Gstaad on Christmas Day.
- Huh! They're scared.
- [chuckles]
All right. Keep me posted.
[door closes]
Hi, you've reached Paloma.
Leave me a message.
- [phone beeps]
- Hi, it's me. Did you miss your boat?
We're waiting at the studio.
Watch out, Paloma.
He'll make you think
the world revolves round you
and lure you into his web.
Come back quickly. The staff's waiting.
For haute couture, this is your moment.
This is where they keep
what are called the Jacquard cards.
These.
They control each movement of the loom.
Mmm.
This collection is unique.
It's the seamstresses' memory. Hmm.
Look at this.
[Paloma] Mmm.
And this is Marie's christening gown.
I always loved spending time
with the lace workers here.
I was their little mascot.
And [chuckles] their model as well.
[Paloma chuckles]
I remember, uh,
I was around ten years old,
my father caught me in here.
I was all dressed up in a communion gown.
As punishment, he forced me to wear it
outside for the rest of the day.
It was February.
I was sick in bed for the next two weeks.
No one ever saw me in a dress after that.
So you decided to create them.
- Right.
- [chuckles]
- May I?
- Mmm.
You know,
this Maison is as fragile and precious
as the lace it makes.
It's hanging by a thread.
Literally.
Sort of like your collection.
[chuckles]
You'll figure it out.
I'm sure of it.
[guests speaking indistinctly]
- [woman] Absolutely.
- [man] Right?
The opposition party plans to run
hiking trails right through our land.
- [woman] No, that isn't true.
- But nobody hikes around here.
It's just to annoy us.
[woman] The coast belongs to those
who defended it against the British.
- [man] Exactly.
- Don't you agree, Yann?
Well, uh, you've been here
even longer than us.
Since the Seventh Crusade.
Has anyone seen Marie?
[guests] No.
[Marie laughing]
[man] This isn't fair.
- [woman] No.
- [man] No one consulted us.
[woman] Exactly. I mean, it's crazy.
Coming in for a drink,
or that's asking too much?
These people are so hard to take now.
Is it me, or is it worse
with each passing year?
It's you. We've been friends
with those people for years.
Their money is more respectable than ours.
They have nothing but contempt
for fashion.
I get plenty of contempt from your family.
At least here, they show me respect.
That is, to my face.
The Maison wouldn't exist
without me and my money.
And you all tend to forget that.
You got something to say?
You voted for the Left?
I know you think I'm the village idiot.
You and your brothers, even your son.
But I have eyes, you know.
- You've changed.
- No, I haven't changed.
Who can't you stand? Me or "those people"?
I'm warning you, Marie.
If you want my 15% to remain
in the family, then you'll have to choose.
You see, in fashion,
the most important thing
is what your hands can make.
See? Because if you can't weave yourself,
you can't speak
the language of the artisans.
And a competent artistic director
is also a competent seamstress.
If you want to design couture,
the most important thing
is the ephemeral, the immaterial aspect.
Accepting that that beauty
is its own reward.
Isn't it a bit convenient to use
"art for art's sake" as a pretext?
And ignore the world around you?
We don't all have the same dream.
My generation's dream is is to save
what's left of the beauty in our world.
Leather, cashmere, cochineal dye.
Why does our species always have to
destroy another to live out its dream?
Oh.
Luxury always puts us
at the top of the food chain.
- Mm-hmm.
- But that's an illusion.
- [sighs]
- We're part of the chain.
We don't reign over it.
I wanna put what our hands can make
to work for my generation.
You're courageous and very strong.
But it all begins here, huh?
First, you have to find your music.
And once you've found it,
you'll be able to make your own dream.
I'm sorry it's so sudden,
but I'm asking you, don't you agree,
that it's for the best?
You're asking me what I think?
I hope that you will stay on
as curator of my foundation.
But if you want to quit, I'll understand.
[chuckles]
Quit? Me?
You're the one who's quitting.
I never made promises.
You can't be serious.
What's next? "Seize the day"?
You gave in.
You chose Ledu over me.
None of this is real.
You know that, don't you?
Hey, who are you trying to convince?
You're not that woman.
Which woman, Judith?
The woman locked up in her own cage,
and all because
she wants to be as powerful
and just as miserable as her brothers.
[Marie chuckles]
You're consumed by your family.
But you're still protecting them,
whatever happens,
and that part isn't real, Marie.
Your family isn't real.
I'm very sorry, Judith.
Not as much as I am sorry.
For you.
[door closes]
[Solal] Robinson, I know I'm not allowed
to talk to you anymore.
But I want to.
I wanna see you.
I wanna touch you. To kiss you.
I should have never agreed to do that.
I'll regret it my whole life.
I love you.
[Perle] Are you sure he's coming?
[Robinson] Yes.
Hmm.
Well, then, perhaps we can hear
from the other party while we're waiting?
I'll give your witness a few more minutes.
Mr. Herrman?
[Herrman]
This will go very quickly, Your Honor.
My clients, of course,
categorically deny any involvement
in the fanciful scenario
invented by the Ledu family.
Mr. Ledu, do you deny
knowing Mr. Solal Batetana?
I know him. I don't deny it.
I saw him on Christmas Eve
at my brother's house in Brittany.
That's when I realized my nephew
was in a personal relationship
with a a guy who worked
at reception at LEDU,
despite the workplace ethics policy
I insisted on establishing
when I worked there.
Are you acquainted with him also,
Madame Ledu?
Madame Rovel.
Uh, we were introduced
last September, yes,
at the LEDU ready-to-wear show.
He and Robinson
went to the show together as a couple.
Right, but, actually,
by then he was working for you.
I can't abide these accusations against
my client without a shred of proof.
And what did you do with the proof?
[judge] Monsieur Ledu,
let's try to confine our discussions here
to different versions of the truth
rather than individuals.
Listen, Robinson, I
I'm so sorry.
I know how much you loved Solal.
And I'm sorry it didn't work out
between you.
I mean it. I really do.
Come on.
Solal said he'd make a statement
two days ago.
Did you make threats?
Your Honor, at this time,
we'd like to reserve our right
to bring a suit for libel.
If you wanna sue me, go ahead.
Be my guest.
You'll be taking an enormous risk,
but, hey, make my day.
- [Herrman] Monsieur Ledu
- Come on, really.
- Ow.
- Hi, you've reached Solal
Are you going to punch
every mailbox in Paris?
[phone beeps]
Let's go.
Go where?
In that enormous apartment.
You must have space for your mother.
What the hell?
[clicks tongue] You wanna mother me now?
I'll fend for myself, thanks.
Just like I've always done.
It would do me some good as well.
Mom, let's not pretend to be close.
I'm sure you'll be fine.
The judge won't even order
an investigation.
[Diane] Perfect! Navarre is settled, then?
Settled.
We buried him in cement. [chuckles]
Metaphorically.
What about your sister?
Uh, I'm on it.
Well done. I'm proud of you both.
[line disconnects]
A "proud" and a "well done"
from my mother.
- You're a hero.
- [chuckles]
She said, "You both."
In 32 years,
she hasn't wondered how I'm doing.
And now she wants to play mom?
Are you kidding me?
- Right, I understand.
- Not to mention she was awful to Solal.
Seeing me happy, it bothers her.
It always has.
But especially with someone like him,
the hired help.
Well, you can't deny
she was a better judge than us.
I talked to Solal's doorman.
Apparently, he moved out last week.
I mean, Ismaël M'Bemba. His real name.
- Ismaël.
- Really?
The worst part is
it doesn't suit him at all.
Yeah, that's definitely
the worst part of it.
Here, look.
They got him fake documentation.
- How did you get this?
- I ransacked Virginie's office in HR.
So
Look, Solal let us down,
but Nelson's on it,
and we'll find proof to nail them.
- He wanted to testify.
- Yeah, but, Robbie, he wasn't there.
I don't know. They must have offered him
more money or something.
Or maybe he got hurt. I mean it!
Come on. Who knows
what those people can do? You've seen it.
I know that I sound like a man in denial.
Too bad.
Because I know Solal was sincere.
Ismaël. Or, well, whatever.
[Paloma sighs]
Isn't it incredible out here?
Yeah.
I can't believe
you went from here to social services.
[sighs]
[opera playing]
[Vincent] Mmm.
My inspiration is, um
is a water goddess
swimming the seventh continent.
[Ye-Ji] That's why we wanted to use
a less conventional lace.
Yeah, I got that.
But it was problematic.
The problem is that haute couture
is the label of exception,
and that label can always
be withdrawn by the Guild
if designs don't meet their criteria.
All your prototypes,
you never botched one?
[laughs] Oh, I have.
A million times.
- One month before the show?
- [Vincent] Mmm.
[Ye-Ji] So, what's the solution?
We do things like you or we do nothing?
If you want to use lace,
you must do it properly.
Sure, we all want to be revolutionaries.
I wanted to as well.
You know, Lace was already
sort of cheesy in the '80s.
But the difference is, in my case,
I grew up around it.
Since I was a little kid,
I watched the lacemakers at work.
And so if you break with the traditions,
you must be beyond reproach,
technically speaking.
But, fortunately,
technique is not the same as genius.
You can acquire it. It can be learned.
But if not
Mmm.
LACEMAKING
[Paloma] It's insane.
Wow.
It's magnificent, huh?
Palo, why'd you make me come to Brittany?
We have work at the studio.
Our idea was a mistake.
Ye-Ji
Come on. Look at this. Isn't it beautiful?
Look at the precision of it.
It took a hundred years to get to this.
Tough luck. We have one month.
Well, we have the skills.
Why does everything we try
have to be the opposite of LEDU?
Well, that's the point!
Not overproducing.
Looking for another way to make lace.
I know that.
I know, but
Well, maybe that's not
such a great idea after all.
[Ye-Ji] But the show
is in less than a month.
I'm all messed up in my head. I just
[sighs]
All right, what happened at Christmas
was really upsetting, so
No, it's not that.
This is about the collection, okay?
Should we break everything
because we wanna be different?
And, I mean,
the Maison doesn't deserve that.
[Paloma sighs]
The Maison or
Vincent?
You got a brand-new dad
as a Christmas present,
and that's great,
but it's got nothing to do with me.
[sighs]
[Ye-Ji sighs]
[sighs]
[Nelly] Wine, Mademoiselle?
Oh, yes. Yes, please. Thank you, Nelly.
Excuse me. [chuckles]
Ye-Ji hasn't come down yet?
Oh, well, she left.
- What do you mean?
- [sighs]
Uh You were in your room.
She told me to let you know and
She's not able to stay over tonight
because she has to be in the studio
tomorrow early in the morning.
Oh, thank you.
You're lucky to have her.
But I'm here as well.
And if you want, we can get to work.
Whenever.
[Robinson] I'm sure you know I plan to
keep my shares, after what you did to me,
not to mention what you did to Solal.
- Well, the Rovel group would never
- [Robinson] Yes, yes.
As far as I'm concerned, the deal is off.
I'll pay back the money
Rovel "lent" to me.
No more debt, no more collateral,
and no more shares.
Adios, Rovel.
[Victor clears throat]
Robinson, are you sure you can't be
convinced that you belong here with us?
Wow, you really have got some nerve.
Still, we must find a way to get along.
[Victor] Mmm.
We do want to show
your ready-to-wear collection next year.
Our team's working on how to market it.
Yeah, but no.
I'm returning the money to you.
[Victor] Well, then, uh
So we're sorry, but we couldn't imagine
you'd want to back out of this.
You You remember?
Like you said, this was your ideal.
Your dream?
But you don't have my shares.
No.
No, according to our contract,
if I default on payment,
I receive a letter of notification.
[Victor] Mmm.
And if I don't
don't respond to that letter,
then you could proceed
to seize my collateral.
But I never got any letter.
Perhaps you forgot to check
your Cayman Island letterbox.
As of today, you are very, very rich.
You run a very promising Maison
within the Rovel group.
We're still very excited
about working with you.
- Hmm.
- Robinson.
[sighs]
[Victor clicks tongue]
I'll show you out. [clears throat]
[sighs]
[door closes]
[exhales]
Your sister's next up, you know.
[Monique] We can create a symmetry here
by adding a
- Not too hard?
- No. All in all
We have the new sample.
Take a look.
- [Ye-Ji] Thanks.
- Thank you.
[Ye-Ji sighs]
- [rips]
- [Monique] Oh.
Shit.
Looks like we still don't know
how we're making all of this.
We've been here before, Monique,
in the "red zone."
The stress of the last three weeks,
I know all that by heart.
But this is speeding into a brick wall.
Listen, I know
the studio's under pressure,
but Paloma will deliver
within the next few days.
She has my confidence.
We've never been ready with the designs
and not the fabric
so close to the deadline, never.
- But, uh, Monique
- [Ye-Ji sighs]
Where the hell is Paloma?
I've been under pressure four days
while she plays around with embroidery.
[sighs]
I know how you feel.
Yeah, like I wanna quit?
Paloma will need someone to lean on.
A friend in need. All right?
Okay, so to you I'm just Paloma's friend?
No.
Have patience. Work your way up.
Every great designer
has been with a great Maison.
You aren't always gonna be number two.
Don't worry.
I'm throwing a little party tonight
for the New Year.
You're more than welcome. Stop by.
[sighs]
[Paloma] Thanks, Nelly. Thank you.
No, thanks.
Come on. Just one drink.
- It's New Year's Eve after all.
- Thank you.
I said horrible things
last time I drank champagne, so
Hey.
Any news from Paris?
Nothing good.
You and Victor, I guess
it wasn't just over Perle.
There's something else going on.
Right from the start,
we've never been able to coexist,
me and my brother.
We've never been close.
According to him, and to Perle as well,
I'm the one who's to blame.
Apparently, I'm what they call "toxic."
The kind all the blogs and the podcasts
say you should steer away from.
On that note,
if there's a party
with people your own age tonight,
take my advice
and just go.
[chuckles]
[Vincent chuckles]
What do you think that is?
It's amazing.
Yes, it's beautiful.
But it's pollution.
It's not a dream.
Not mine, anyway.
It's the new world, I guess.
[people chattering]
What did you do for Christmas?
- Oh, we went to Saint-Moritz.
- Oh, you're such a snob! Get out of here.
- Agnès, how are you?
- Hey, Perle.
- How are you?
- Good. And you?
I love your little Champs-Élysées hideout.
Whose dress is that? It's nice.
Rovel. My LEDUs are all at the cleaner's.
- Uh-huh.
- [imitates ringing]
The more they copy us, the better.
- [server] Champagne?
- Oh, none for me. It reminds me of work.
- [guest] Agnès!
- Hey, hi, Nathalie.
- Be right back.
- Okay.
[in French] One day, one of them predicted
that I'd always have good luck
and be happy.
[phone buzzing]
But I haven't been happy.
Hello?
Gone through your entire wardrobe yet?
Where are you?
I don't have the strength
to walk out the door.
Are you watching one or two?
Three.
Sissi: The Fateful Years of an Empress.
Oh, my God.
I guess it's worse than I thought.
[Perle] Okay, I'll let you
ring in the New Year with Sissi.
I'll call you tomorrow, all right?
Thank you.
I love you.
[clicks tongue]
[in French] My precious dear. How are you?
[sighs]
- [car alarm beeps]
- [Caroline] We're late.
- My mother will be thrilled.
- Change of plans for tonight.
A surprise?
I feel like I'm 20 again.
How are you?
- I'm fine.
- Don't bullshit me.
I can tell when you lie.
I've never been happier.
Okay. Well, you've done a great job
after the Vincentgate.
I mean, once again,
you're the one who saved LEDU.
It's what I do.
My husband just bought
an old family brand in Italy.
I can't tell you which one yet.
I know which one.
Okay, so you know
there is everything to rebuild.
The new artistic director is a prodigy.
And you
You know the drill. Come.
Dust off the brand. Make it grow.
After three years, you enter the capital.
It will be in your contract.
[sighs] Well
Sounds tempting.
So, New Year's Eve,
you rent out the restaurant
from our first date.
It's a little bit late for Operation
Win Back The Girl, don't you think?
[chuckles]
We're way beyond that now.
Ah.
But it's a perfect place for us to talk.
To talk for real.
Still in love with her?
[chuckles]
Straight off the bat.
Okay.
[sighs]
Yes, I am.
But I loved you too.
And I thought it could work.
For our family too.
We have a daughter.
She's spoiled rotten,
but we love her, and she knows it.
Isn't that what we wanted?
I know what you two plan to do.
You divorce me, stick me on a shelf.
End of story.
You want to get your hands on my shares
and kick me to the curb.
You're mistaken.
Our relationship may be a failure,
but you are good for the group.
[chuckles]
They say that two is company,
Caroline, you know.
But three's a crowd.
If you stick with your mother,
you're in for another battle.
And it'll be a brutal divorce
because I'll put up one hell of a fight.
Whereas if I take your side?
We'll rule Rovel together.
The power couple.
You give me your trust,
I'll put my shares
in the holding company right now.
If you give me your trust.
[classical music playing]
You mind if I put on something cheery?
[chuckling] Oh, yes. Go right ahead.
Are these Gino's records?
Uh those are. Yes, yes.
[music ends]
["La Vie en Rose" by Grace Jones playing]
[laughs]
[laughs]
You know, Gino used to love to DJ
at the Bains Douches.
And he'd end every evening
by playing this song.
It was his trademark.
Who was he, besides a social butterfly?
I mean, did he have a special talent
for anything?
He wasn't a social butterfly at all, no.
Gino Ah.
had a talent for living, for
for letting go
and for going all night long.
He was a partier, not a social butterfly.
If it hadn't been for him,
then I would still be
stuffy and provincial,
an old, tired aristocrat,
all uptight, holed up in his mansion.
Really.
You've come a long way.
- [chortles]
- [chuckles]
Watch out.
Hey, come on.
I have something to show you.
All right.
Ready?
- Here we go.
- Okay.
[child squealing]
[Vincent] Watch it! She can't breathe
with those paint fumes of yours.
Stop complaining.
She better get used to it.
Paloma is the name of an artist.
Like her daddies.
[squeals]
[no audible dialogue]
[song continues]
[song continues]
[in Korean] Hi. Why have you called
at this hour? Where's Dad?
[caller] Dad's asleep.
That's why I called you.
I saw Paloma on TV.
But they didn't mention you.
Okay. Happy New Year to you too, Mom.
[Yann] Ah.
It's almost midnight, dear.
Happy New Year.
My darling.
[song continues]
CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU.
I'M THINKING OF YOU
[song continues]
[fireworks crackling]
[no audible dialogue]
[song fades out]
[Vincent] Cross. Good.
Turn.
- And turn again.
- [Paloma sighs]
There.
The needle.
- Ow.
- [sighs]
[Paloma exhales sharply]
There.
- Right there.
- Ah.
Yes. Good.
Cross.
Mm-hmm.
[Paloma] Okay.
[sighs]
[chuckles]
Keep at it.
[Ye-Ji] Palo, it's me.
[groans]
[Ye-Ji] What the hell are you doing?
It's January 2nd, the workers
in your Maison are waiting,
and I don't know what to tell them.
I know you're going through
personal stuff, and
and you need to be alone, but, uh
But I'm alone too.
And I don't know what to do anymore.
Call me.
- Come back.
- [chuckles]
Good morning.
Ah, yes!
Let's see.
Not bad for a beginner. Hmm.
Oh, and I also found my neo-lace.
So, it's elastic, it's robust, it's vegan,
and it's local.
I found a start-up in Nantes
that makes thread out of seaweed.
The lacemakers can start
the first trials tomorrow.
LEDU returns to the sea,
where the Maison was born.
The collection will be called
"The Wave."
[Vincent sighs]
- Well, see you later?
- Mmm. Goodbye.
After everything we went through to
get rid of the guy, you brought him back?
At least he stayed to help me out.
What do we tell people?
Tell them he's here as a consultant,
nothing more.
Listen to me. I've known him a long time.
People get hurt around him,
whatever his intentions, so
Thanks, but I'm a big girl, all right?
That all? Are we finished?
[Perle sighs]
[chuckles]
Oh, I hate mauve.
It's for old ladies.
His entire collection is lilac.
Difficult to avoid it.
Well, no. He'll just have to start
from the beginning.
So close to the runway?
Sky is the limit.
Do I have to get under the table?
I'm not a kid.
Darling, you're still the youngest
among us. It's tradition.
Mmm?
Who gets this slice?
Mom does.
And this one? The biggest?
Grandma.
[chuckles]
Oh, by the way, what if I win?
Who will be my queen?
- [Caroline] Mom! Oh!
- [Louise] Grandma?
- Grandma?
- Mom.
Call an ambulance. Hurry.
- Well?
- She feels better.
[Caroline sighs]
And there's nothing
you wanna tell me, is there?
No.
She's just had a complete checkup.
She's fine. It's just stress.
Have you thought about our conversation?
[sighs]
I'm not sure yet.
Given the payment for
- [knocks on door]
- Yes?
Oh! What you doing here?
Perle.
- We're in deep shit.
- Oh.
I'm so sick of hearing that.
Yes, but we have never been
in so much deep shit.
Oh, you'd better call your uncle,
your mother, someone in your family.
[sighs]
I'm sick of cleaning up after your family.
Are you the one that they poached?
I heard they poached
someone from LEDU for Milan.
It's you, right?
I should have left a long time ago.
[chuckles]
Don't do it, Perle. Not now. They
Rovel wants a majority share of LEDU.
That's not really a scoop.
Right, but now they're gonna have it.
I think Victor's gonna sell his shares.
And mine, the worst has happened.
My father's probably next.
I need you to help me.
[piano playing]
Your mother's not free now.
I know.
She's rehearsing for the Philharmonic.
Even you don't know
what's going on in there.
Am I right?
You're loyal.
That's important to my mother.
I get paid to be loyal.
You and I have
so much in common, actually.
No, not much.
My mother's just a bookkeeper,
not a big shot.
We're not cut from the same cloth.
Okay, but all roads lead to Rome.
We're both good soldiers.
And people make
the same assumptions about us both,
that we're women
who can't make it on our own.
I'm happy where I am.
For now you are.
[sighs]
Know why they valued
the architects who designed the pyramids?
The construction held up, I imagine.
Their work could never be duplicated.
It was unique. And secret.
And in order to keep it secret forever,
they entombed the architects
in the sarcophagus along with the pharaoh.
What is happening behind her office door
could well change the world
for both of us.