Endgame s01e08 Episode Script
The White Queen
[Tires squealing.]
[Screaming and cursing.]
No, no! [Breathing hard.]
[.]
B1 to D3.
Um D1 to E2.
D3 to F1.
Keep going.
Keep going I thought you said you were only good at chess.
Next time, we're playing blindfolded scrabble.
Perhaps.
[.]
[Sirens wail distantly.]
[Whispering in horror.]
: Starfruit Starfruit! The white queen? Here? Now? Starfruit! Starfruit, everyone! Danni, your best move Starfruit! Crap.
Starfruit! [Gasping.]
Really? Is A6 to B7.
Fingerprints.
Come on, people, move it, let's go, double-time! We've been through this drill.
30 seconds, let's wrap it up! Go, go, go, go, go! April Barbara I could've used a heads-up.
Fell through the cracks.
We're having some challenges.
What are you doing here? Her birthday party in Palo Alto Is happening here.
[Weakly.]
Oh good.
You win.
Mr.
Balagan, I'm Bern Schenk, head of personal security.
Sore loser.
There's your whack-job right there.
Oh, well, spoils to the Victor.
Hmm? [Grunts in surprise.]
[.]
[Elevator dings.]
[Quietly.]
Stay on the perimeter.
[All sighing with relief.]
[Door opens.]
Mr.
Balagan, I'm Bern Schenk, head of personal security.
Personal security for whom? My son, Christopher, has vanished, and you are going to find him.
Am I? And why is that? Because I'm Vivien Huxley, and this is my hotel.
[.]
[Crowd cheering.]
I'm Vivian's husband.
Robert Spiro.
Christopher's dad.
Is it Christopher Huxley-Spiro or Christopher Spiro-Huxley? Just Huxley.
She wouldn't let me give my name to my own son.
I detest hyphens.
Besides, my grandfather opened the first Huxley in Chicago, and my father turned it into an international brand, so my name is a legacy.
April Hello, April.
[Christopher.]
: Sorry, dad, I traded the Porsche for a 4x4.
Uh, more my style, don't you think? We gave Kitch Christopher The Porsche when he was accepted for his MBA at Stanford.
Let's go.
She has trouble sitting still.
It's been two months since we've seen Kitch, so the plan was for us all of us to be together at my birthday party Light But he hasn't returned any of my calls or emails in three days, and Perhaps he's in bed with the flu.
Nobody has seen him at home.
With whom does he live? - No one.
- With everyone.
He lives at the Huxley Palo Alto.
Kitch grew up in Huxley's around the world.
Hotels are his home.
A kindred spirit.
Grime And now he's vanished into thin air.
She's on the move.
Copy that.
[Elevator dings.]
A 24-year-old man doesn't call you back in a few days, and this is a crisis? A mother knows.
April The police found his truck yesterday here, 800 Miles from where it should be.
Either it was stolen in Palo Alto and then driven here, or Kitch drove it here, and then it was stolen.
Two police departments in two cities and neither claiming jurisdiction.
It just baffles me.
[Sighs testily.]
Good afternoon, Huxley, can you hold, please? Please tell me someone checked to see if her son had stayed at this hotel.
I did.
Kitch wasn't on the books Rust.
We're going through every hotel between here and Palo Alto.
He has friends here? Family, business associates? None that we know of.
His girlfriend Deirdre's worried sick.
Chair.
Yeah, but she's all the way back in New York, so You trust her? Despite the hyphen, Deirdre Knebworth-Hall is an angel, the perfect match for Kitch.
Such a devoted mother.
I assume you were the last to speak with him? No, that would be April.
Two days ago.
Kitch called to ask about plans for Ms.
Huxley's birthday party.
He sounded depressed? Desperate? No, normal.
You have no idea where he was when he went missing.
You have no police support, and there is no motive for a disappearance.
You have solved some very difficult problems, Mr.
Balagan.
I want you to find Kitch.
[Echoes of festivities swirl.]
[Blowing party horns.]
Happy Birthday, Vivian! [Blowing horn.]
I've found your son! Sadly, he is dead.
Dead? No, no! You have failed me.
Throw him out of my hotel! No! No! I am afraid I must decline.
[Shocked.]
You wh Don't worry, ma'am.
I'm your guy.
Hugo Lum, head of hotel security.
I've got the contacts.
Border services, local police.
I'll find your boy for you.
[Cell phone ringing.]
April Delman Oh this "1" should be a "7".
See, you're in good hands.
It's mayor Wilson.
So, tell me, Bob, what passes for a police force in this town, one man and a horse? [.]
Why'd you turn down the job? You don't build a latrine in the middle of your tent, Sam.
You do if it's a latrine tent.
[Sighs heavily.]
We're stuck planning a 50th birthday party from scratch.
The least you could do is find the birthday girl's missing kid.
Despite his unfortunate nickname, Kitch is a grown man.
He does not have to punch a clock with his mother.
Oh, well, if you were on the job, maybe you could tell her that.
Okay, everyone can stop panicking.
I got this thing wrapped up.
See? You don't need me.
Hugurt's on the case.
[Chuckles mirthlessly.]
I talked to my boys downtown.
Got pics of everything left in Kitch's truck.
Now, to the untrained, or Russian eye, this probably just looks like a random collection of outdoorsy junk, but the veteran homicide detective sees the one important detail Keys left in the car? Well, if I tell you there's a twist coming, you're going to look for a twist.
Now, the way I see it, Kitch was driving to campus, and got grabbed from right behind the wheel.
[Scoffs.]
Kidnapping, really? Seriously? Yeah.
The son of a hotel heiress? Someone hit the jackpot.
Oh, okay, well, then how did his truck get all the way up here? Easy, some doofus happens by the truck, keys are still in the ignition, says, "hey, a free ride outta town," meanwhile, poor Kitch is probably tied up in some basement way down in Californ-I-a.
Do campers often collect rocks? Rich yahoos.
They're always decorating with crap like that.
Scored a few from my boys downtown.
I figured the white queen might like a piece of her son till we get him back.
Are you sure you will? Uh-huh.
There'll be a ransom note coming any day, you watch.
Yippee-ki-yay.
[Sam.]
: Kidnapping.
Yikes.
We'll see.
I thought you weren't working on this.
I'm not working on this.
But if I was, I would start with the knowledge that the Huxley hotels are a home for Kitch, and if he did come to town, he He would have stayed here.
I thought you weren't working on this.
I'm not, I'm just curious.
Okay, guests who paid cash Ansen Chelderknopf, Ravi Mariwalla, Tarlton Fiske, Sherry Smith Tarlton Fiske? Room 801.
Paid cash for two nights.
The room was turned over to other guests yesterday.
What, do you think that Anything strike you about the name Tarlton Fiske? Uh, yeah, who would name their son Tarlton? No one.
It is an alias.
It's Robert Bloch's pen name.
He wrote a charming story about a young man who owns a motel and takes orders from his mummified, tyrannical mother.
You mean Psycho? Yes, a clue within a clue, within a clue.
[Elevator dings.]
So, Kitch registered at the hotel as Tarlton Fiske and paid cash so no one would know he was here? If he did, I'm really starting to like this young man.
So we should find Alcina and see if anything was left in the room.
Correction.
[Elevator dings.]
You should.
[.]
[Knocks.]
This is what was left in 801.
Oh.
And this is for your Nieta's baptism.
Gracias.
Bali, hmm No name.
Five-star hotels.
The owner of this book is looking to spend some money.
The owner of this book stayed at the Huxley Palo Alto.
[Sighs heavily.]
Under-ripe.
What is that smell? April, you You haven't taken up smoking again, have you? [Coughs.]
[April.]
: I'm so sorry.
It's just, the stress.
I've No, you're right.
I've been thoughtless.
Please, take a few days off while I search for my missing child.
I'll take care of the cognac.
Thank you.
So, I'm not sure what we are to take from these photos.
We have a working theory, that your son was kidnapped in Palo Alto.
What? Ransom should be forthcoming.
I put in calls to the Palo Alto P.
D.
Vivian Please, call me Ms.
Huxley.
April? April! Why must I scream your name? Where is Bern? I want him to call the police.
I want a door-to-door search.
Someone might be holding Kitch in Palo Alto.
Only a fool would think so.
What? Your son was here, in this hotel.
When? Two days ago.
He checked in under an alias and paid cash.
However, he left this behind.
What? And he is planning a trip to Bali.
To Bali? So, so, so, what does this mean? Is it not obvious what this means? No.
It means, Vivian, I am taking the job.
So, Deirdre, you're in New York, Christopher is in California.
How did East meet West? Last year, at the spring regatta in Florida.
We were both a bit tipsy, one thing led to another Have you noticed anything different about Christopher, something that might shed light on his disappearance? He was on top of the world.
Loads of energy, super upbeat.
He'd dropped a few pounds.
Maybe a cleanse? Any thoughts on why he was here? No idea.
The depth of your relationship is inspiring.
Does this mean anything to you? It's a stone.
No, it's a piece of a puzzle.
So, uh, I spoke to Kitch's friends on campus.
He quit crew, starts missing seminars, and then, skips mid-terms.
Oh, business school drop-out.
I'm sure his mother will be happy to hear that.
Perhaps it has something to do with his pending trip to Bali? Yeah, that jives with my Intel.
The word is jibe, Hugo, with a "b".
It's a sailing term.
Ah, why don't you just jibe back to ruskieland? Any ransom notes yet? Forget about the ransom note, all right? My buddy at the border said Christopher Huxley crossed two days ago, alone, and when he did, his car was searched top to bottom.
Why? He was flagged.
He had a drug conviction.
Three years ago, Vegas.
They found a bag of cocaine in the glove compartment.
So he's just like any other rich boy.
Except he does have a quality, doesn't he? I'll tell you what quality.
He's planning a trip to Bali, right? Where's Bali? Indonesia.
What's in Indonesia? Orangutans? Drugs.
Kitch was losing weight.
He had lots of energy.
He was skipping classes, yes? Mm, yeah, could be a coke addiction.
Nah, nah, nah.
What if he just wasn't into drugs, what if he was into drugs, you know what I mean? Could have been applying his business school smarts to a drug-smuggling operation.
- Drug smuggling, Hugo? - Yeah.
Mm-hmm, I prefer the orangutan theory.
Oh, yeah? Well, I'll bet you we find Kitch's severed head in a ditch in Arizona any day now.
Well, I bet we don't.
You watch.
So, what next? We follow the little white lines.
[Chuckling happily.]
Oh, Mr.
Balagan! This is my mother, Celine.
Ah A pleasure.
He's helping to find Kitch.
Oh, I-I don't want to get in the way, it's just that she comes back here so seldom.
I did not know you were from this rain-soaked wasteland.
April? Vivian's asking for you This is my mom, Celine Robert Spiro.
Your daughter's a godsend.
[Chuckles warmly.]
You know what? Take your mom out to lunch, put it in on the corporate card.
Are you sure? Yes, go, go! You've met her mother before.
Uh, no, just in April's photos.
You often look at pictures of April? How's the search going? I just have one question for you.
Are you so ashamed of your son, that you felt it necessary to withhold information? Ashamed? What? No, we-we couldn't be prouder.
Proud that he was once arrested with cocaine in his glove box? No.
Well this-this can't be real.
Kitch has been showing signs of addiction.
What? Yes, he dropped out of school.
Robert? Hmm? Darling, don't just sit there like a sock puppet.
What is going on? Robert knows something that Vivian doesn't No No, I mean, if he's dropped out of school, it's news to me What about the cocaine? Yes, Robert, tell us about the cocaine.
I got a call from one of Kitch's friends.
He was partying in Vail.
Smashed up a chalet and disappeared.
I found him in a motel, alone, strung out.
[Whispers in horror.]
Strung out? I checked him into rehab in Colorado.
Excellent back to nature program.
He's been clean and sober for two years! [Smack.]
Kitch didn't want to disappoint you I am his mother.
And I'm his father! Oh, keep your voice down.
We're in public.
Our son has a drug problem! [Patron laughing.]
[Vivian, venomous.]
Will you sit down now? Hugo Why the long face? We're having fun here.
I don't want anyone to panic.
Police pulled a body from the inlet.
Knapsack full of rocks.
They'd like you to come to the morgue.
[Gasps in horror.]
Ms.
Huxley, can I get you anything? Yes, a mock-up of the cake design.
Let me see it.
Well, I-I canceled it.
Well, I didn't think, given the circumstances that you would want to celebrate You canceled it? If I can't trust you with a simple cake, how can I trust you with an entire hotel? Well, I'm sorry, I just assumed that What, that I would like to disappoint 300 of my dearest friends? Give me your key card.
You're done.
Cancel this, see her out.
April? Get rid of all these hideous white flowers, and call my guests.
The party's off.
Mr.
Spiro? It's not him.
The boy pulled from the water was some other parents' son.
We don't need the cognac here anymore.
If you don't find Kitch soon, we are all going to pay.
But here comes Sam with good news! Well, news.
There's no Huxley Hotel in Bali, but I called all the hotels in Kitch's travel guide, and one of them has a room reserved next week for Tarlton Fiske.
It's Kitch's alias.
The reservation was made by his personal travel agent.
This is a list of all the flights from the past year.
He's been flying everywhere.
Um, everywhere except for New York, which is where his girlfriend lives.
Something is keeping him from school, keeping him from his girlfriend, and it's intensifying as time goes on.
Well, don't yell, but Hugo might be right.
Maybe he was smuggling drugs.
Nyet.
He was in Buenos Aires.
Cheap cocaine? Yeah, maybe, but that's weird because Vivian and Robert were there, too.
It was a polo championship.
It was the corporate newsletter, w was a big spread.
Hmm, so wait, Kitch was in Argentina the same time as his parents? Three weeks ago, but they said they have not seen him in two months, so they obviously did not know he was there.
Or one of them is working with Kitch in the drug business.
[Gasps.]
Maybe there's more than one reason why they call her the white queen! Enough! I should throw you both in the pit with Hugo.
Well, what do you think then? I think this family is an onion of lies.
And I'm going to peel them.
[Cell phone warbles.]
Pippa Requests an audience.
Curious.
How are you? Busy.
How are you? Terrible.
Have a seat.
Alcina.
So, what brings you? I've been talking to everyone who saw Rosemary's shooting.
Ah, yes, like Sisyphus, pushing the rock up the hill forever.
Ark, the guy who confessed to pulling the trigger Emil Shirt, the false confession, yes.
Yeah, he's dying of cancer, right? Well, he was just transferred to a hospital, and I'm going to try and sneak in.
So, you're going to confront Emil Shirt and expose his lies, Pippa? Yeah.
Alcina heard that I was talking to staff here.
[Quickly.]
I was there.
Where? I saw the shooting.
I'm sorry I never said.
I didn't want to upset you.
You saw Rosemary? I was coming for the start of my shift.
[Gunshots blasting.]
Before the shooting, I was sitting in the Park with my coffee.
The car, the one that came and did it, it was parked on the street, waiting.
For a signal from the spotter.
This confirms it.
The guy wasn't driving around looking for Greg's car.
It wasn't road rage.
It was an assassination.
I told the police.
And they buried it.
You bring a Bible, wear a cross.
The police will think you're one of those nuts that goes room to room bothering patients.
Alcina Thank you.
For she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly [Laughing.]
[Door opens.]
Uh-huh? Just the Russian I'm looking for.
It's my birthday.
Well, shall we sing together? Yes.
For she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow [Sighs.]
So, when was the last time you talked to your mother? Hmm, 1992.
Why, is she dead? Far from it.
I send my parents money, but we are strangers.
So, how did you end up living in this This sad Chekhov play? In the original Russian, Chekhov plays are comedies.
Oh.
Like your son, I was a drop-out.
I fled the chess academy into which my parents had worked so hard to put me.
I wonder how they reacted.
They felt I had betrayed them.
So you-you what, cut them out of your life, and now you have no family? On the contrary.
I now have the luxury to choose my family.
Oh? So where are they all? Your husband, have you noticed him giving your assistant, April, a great deal of dic-tation? Oh, it's It's not that he's screwing the help.
Please, that's inevitable.
It's just that he's being so damn indiscreet about it.
How long? Oh, I don't know, forever.
He's been her mentor for years.
He keeps just promoting her and promoting her through the ranks until finally she becomes our personal assistant.
And yet you have not fired her.
Do you know how many deeply stupid assistants I have been through? No, April stays.
[Door opens.]
Ms.
Huxley? Oh, well Here comes Bernsy to check up on me.
Just wanted to make sure someone wasn't getting a little too Too what? Messy.
My son is missing! And none of you are doing anything about it We'll find him, Vivian.
Um Ms.
Huxley, excuse me.
[Sighs wearily.]
[Chuckles apologetically.]
Bernsy's been with me a quarter of a century.
Sometimes he forgets himself.
I told you.
Screwing the help's inevitable.
Ms.
Huxley I need more information Or better motivation, perhaps? Listen, you find Kitch, and I will comp you your next six months here.
That would be very generous.
But if you fail? I'm throwing you out with the trash.
Understood? Let's go.
I saw the trap 10 moves ahead, and still I fell for this gambit.
[Snapping fingers testily.]
What? What? Be a gentleman, hold the bag! Sorry.
The white queen is going to toss me off the board.
Not if you find her son.
What do you have so far? Kitch was in recovery, but then he fell back into addiction, why? So it would seem.
What were the signs? He was losing weight, high energy, skipping classes.
It could be love.
Doesn't he have a girlfriend? Mm-hmm.
The oldest addiction.
He could have been in love But not with his girlfriend.
So, you met Kitch at the regatta, but alcohol was not involved.
Kitch has been sober for the past two years.
Yes? Well, that's how I remember it.
[Tsking.]
Deirdre Help me find him.
Tell me the truth.
We hit it off bitching about our mothers.
We cooked up a relationship.
And why would you do that? My roommate isn't my roommate, she's my girlfriend.
And Kitch is gay as well? I assumed so.
Well, if Kitch is gay, there's always Bern.
Handsome older guy, young pretty boy The bodyguard? I'm afraid not.
Vivian is sleeping with him.
[Laughs.]
No.
No, Bern's been out forever.
No Really.
What, the corporate newsletter? Nicco, gossip-waiter.
Kitch's cell phone records finally arrived.
Well [Sighs.]
Day before the truck was found, he contacted Ms.
Huxley's assistant.
To ask about the birthday party.
Yeah, around 5:00 P.
M.
, but then there's a bunch of calls right after that.
So, I checked 'em out.
A couple of prank calls, and then one to a sex line, so, obviously, Kitch didn't make those.
The car thief did.
Kitch left his phone in the truck.
Yeah, which means that the last person that Kitch contacted was Ms.
Huxley's assistant.
Wait.
April has started smoking again, and she's been eating a great deal of cake.
So I've been there.
It's Dumpsville.
Perhaps Kitch is not gay.
He was? April and Kitch, could be.
So, find out what she's hiding.
Do your bartender thing.
[Tapping on door.]
Room service.
I didn't order any I have a really good story.
It's about this one time I dated a rock star.
Oh, we had vip everything.
Private jets, and I totally thought he was gonna marry me, and then, he just dumped me for some dumb-ass debutante.
I spent six weeks of my life at the bottom of a vat of hagen daz, which Oh, yeah.
So To heartbreak? I'm not C-could you just please leave April We all know that Kitch's relationship with Deirdre was a cover.
We know Kitch was in love with you.
[Scoffs.]
Do you? I knew he was trouble.
I tried to keep myself from falling for him, but he was just so Open, and good, and persistent.
But you kept it a secret.
I'm not part of their world, not really.
Vivian would have lost her mind.
Well, how serious was it? We were going to open a wilderness resort here on the West coast, after we got married.
You were going to elope, in Bali! Then what was Kitch doing all the way up here? My mom lives on the North shore.
Kitch was going to ask for her blessing.
Die-hard romantic, eh? Yeah, I thought so, but then he phoned me, hammered.
He said it was a mistake, and he never wanted to see me again.
Why? What did your mom say to him? She never saw him.
He chickened out.
So, no, Kitch did not love me.
Emil Shirt? He's, uh, he's got, like, maybe days left.
He's totally doped up.
I told him I was a hospital chaplain, and he invited me right in.
Perfect.
I asked him if he wanted any help making peace with God.
You know, for the murder he confessed to.
He said there was nothing for God to forgive.
He never killed anyone.
Hmm.
But But he will not recant his confession with the police.
He made it for money.
His kids are going to get a big payday when he dies.
Who, though? Who is paying? He refused to say.
All I could get out of him was, uh Ark, get this He met them here, at the Huxley.
Ark, someone at this hotel was involved in Rosemary's murder.
Or they simply met here at the hotel [Cell phone rings.]
Many people meet at the hotel.
Yeah, maybe.
Yes, Danni.
I'll be right there.
Right where? Pippa, what you're talking about is No, no, you can't ignore this.
This hotel isn't safe.
You know who you sound like now? You sound like me.
Oh, jeez I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone about Kitch and me.
I just couldn't.
It still does not explain what happened to him.
Well, when I saw the pebbles, I got scared.
They're from the beach at my mom's place.
Then when they pulled the body from the water, and the guy's knapsack full of rocks, I just You thought Kitch did the same thing.
Well, he was a drug addict.
It's over, April.
I never want to see you again.
I never want to see anyone! Excuse me, but why not? I never loved April.
I'm incapable of loving anyone.
I don't even deserve to live! So you collected a bag of pebbles from the nearby beach to drown yourself W-wait a sec, maybe I collected the pebbles before I was upset.
And why would you do that? Because they're pretty! [Screaming.]
It is pretty.
Perhaps Kitch wanted to bring you back a memento.
What do you mean? This pebble.
He went to your mother with the full intention of asking for her blessing.
Perhaps something happened that made him change his mind.
No, she never saw him.
Or your mother lied to you and Kitch was there.
Does that look familiar? Well, I suppose it's from our beach, yes, but Kitch never came to see me.
Right before he disappeared, Kitch called April, drunk.
Something had happened to make him break two years of sobriety and your daughter's heart.
Nothing to do with me.
Something to do with his father perhaps? Robert recognized you.
[Laughs unconvincingly.]
We've never met.
And yet he gave your daughter preferential treatment.
Did you hold something over his head? Coming here was a mistake.
Is there a lie in Robert's past? Did he kill someone? Please He's in love with your daughter.
Of course not! Why does that thought upset you so much? It doesn't You love him.
[Scoffing.]
No.
But you once did.
Yes, you do know Robert.
He is April's father.
Right, Celine? And you told Kitch he could not marry April because they are brothers and sisters.
He asked for my blessing.
Mm-hmm.
I-I went into shock.
It just came out.
And that's when he fell off the wagon and disappeared.
Robert Oversaw renovations at this hotel.
I waitressed at a cafe around the corner.
He came a lot, said he liked the pie.
And only you and Robert know that he is April's father? He was married to Vivian.
He gave me enough money so I'd stay quiet.
Yes, and yet, you did not stay so quiet.
I raised her on my own, but when April finished school, she had no work, no direction.
I broke down and called Robert for one favour.
Let me guess.
He placed her at the Huxley Hotel, but he wanted to get to know his daughter, and so gradually, and over time, he promoted her closer, but tragically, it was also closer to Kitch.
You can't tell anyone Kitch came to see me.
Please.
[Door opens.]
Just because you have a key-card, doesn't mean you can stick it in any slot you want! What is it? Been sent to get a progress report on the missing kid.
Any news? No.
I'm afraid not.
Well, in that case, it is my pleasure to enforce Ms.
Huxley's directive.
Eviction-ay.
Dasvidaniya.
[Clapping.]
Hey! Those are worth $10,000, be careful with them! Okay, we really need to find Kitch.
Celine says he came to see her between 4:30 and 5:00.
Those are my flowers, not the hotel's! He called April at 5:00, already drunk.
Get to Celine's house.
Find the closest place to find a drink.
Okay, cool.
What are you going to do? [Door opens and closes.]
You can't take him out of the hotel.
He has a medical condition! I know.
That's why I've booked the car straight to the cuckoo house [Cell phone rings.]
Ah What took you so long? Well, I had to check a few places, but I found it.
Kitch was drunk in 15 minutes, got kicked out right at 5:00.
That's when he would have called April to break up with her, and then he would have kept drinking Trust me.
More bars? No, he was too drunk to get served.
Find the nearest liquor store Okay, it's time to go Hey, don't touch him! Danni, Danni It will be all right.
Hugo [Sighs.]
I concede.
After you.
Hey, you son of a What the Get out of the way! [Giggling.]
Any harm that befalls me, physical or psychic, will return to you tenfold in the form of a lawsuit! I'm sorry, but I just can't abide failure, and I won't have it wafting around the hotel.
I thought it was the mouldy carpets.
Dear, dear, dear.
Now, if you would like a sedative to help you deal with the outside world, speak to my assistant.
[Hugo cackles.]
Hugo Yes? Hugo, what about that giant I.
O.
U.
? Ah You got it on you? [Laughs.]
Let's go, boys.
[Roaring in protest.]
Pasaran! [Cursing in spanish.]
Samuel's trying to call you He sent photos.
Look, Mr.
Balagan.
[.]
Need a ride, pal? Where you headin'? Alaska.
Alaska? No, I don't think so.
Where you heading, pal? Uh, find a motel.
Drink myself to death.
[Groans.]
Soon as the world stops spinning.
Hmm Hey, kid, where you going? Nature, man, only place I'm happy.
Drunk people shouldn't wander off into the woods to keep drinking! Whatever happened, Kitch set off on foot from the liquor store.
What liquor store? Ms.
Huxley! If you will be so kind as to return my bags to my suite I will tell you where you can launch your search that will help you find your son, and all you need is a dog that sniffs.
[Elevator dings.]
[Sighs.]
Hmm Kitch Hey, guys Oh, my darling baby boy! [Cries in relief.]
Are you all right? Yeah, I'm okay, mom, I'm okay.
Boopsie, what happened? Uh could everyone just leave April and me alone for a bit? What? April? Why? What the hell is going on? It's between us, mom.
But I am your mother I have a right to know April and me, alone.
Now.
[.]
She wouldn't even let me give my name to my own son! I've worked for Vivian I mean Ms.
Huxley For a quarter of a century.
Were you always gay? Hmm [Laughs.]
It is a comedy! Your son wants to tell you of a tragedy, but I think everyone here will prefer the Russian version.
No, no, l-let me just talk to April alone Shh! So Your son and your assistant are in love.
You're Alas, Kitch discovered that your husband, his father, is also April's father.
Disaster! But wait! Vivian had had an affair with Bern, before he came out.
You'd better watch yourself And Kitch was the product of that affair.
What? What? What? [Mournfully.]
Oh, God Therefore Your son and your assistant do not share the same father, and they can, indeed, be together.
Discuss.
[Stammering.]
[Sighs, speechless.]
Did anyone get left in a handbag at a train station? [Chuckles.]
I'm sure she's going to let you stay.
Messengers do not always fare well with royalty.
Oh, well, here comes your answer.
Danni So, how do you like your birthday present? [Chuckles wryly.]
Well Family dinners are going to be complicated.
But not boring.
Kitch and April? Are still going to Bali.
To-to elope? To process.
Well, I am off for a swim, and then dinner In [Exhales nervously.]
My suite? Ah.
Your suite Is comped for the next six months.
[Whispers.]
Thank you.
Mm.
You're welcome.
Oh, Ms.
Huxley, one more thing [Brisk knocking.]
Ms.
Stilwell.
So glad you decided to cut short your sabbatical.
So glad it was cut short for me.
It had nothing to do with me.
Of course.
French cuffs must be pressed with precision.
Try again.
I am not going to And so Look Here she is.
Aw Here she is getting cake on her dress.
Here she is opening your present.
Oh, she loves the Russian dolls.
Mm, you're welcome.
Her birthday is in six months.
Maybe you will come.
Perhaps.
Nostrovya! I don't have time for your games, Balagan.
A man in dead.
More blood on your watch.
No, it was an accident.
Why did you go up to the roof? Arkady, I have an alibi.
He says he was with you.
That's ridiculous.
I don't mean to cast judgment, but you're obviously lying.
Be careful punching above your weight, Mr.
Balagan.
Nice to see you again, Mr.
Balagan.
You too, Randal.
[Crash.]
Samuel, wake up.
It's rocket ships and murder.
[Screaming and cursing.]
No, no! [Breathing hard.]
[.]
B1 to D3.
Um D1 to E2.
D3 to F1.
Keep going.
Keep going I thought you said you were only good at chess.
Next time, we're playing blindfolded scrabble.
Perhaps.
[.]
[Sirens wail distantly.]
[Whispering in horror.]
: Starfruit Starfruit! The white queen? Here? Now? Starfruit! Starfruit, everyone! Danni, your best move Starfruit! Crap.
Starfruit! [Gasping.]
Really? Is A6 to B7.
Fingerprints.
Come on, people, move it, let's go, double-time! We've been through this drill.
30 seconds, let's wrap it up! Go, go, go, go, go! April Barbara I could've used a heads-up.
Fell through the cracks.
We're having some challenges.
What are you doing here? Her birthday party in Palo Alto Is happening here.
[Weakly.]
Oh good.
You win.
Mr.
Balagan, I'm Bern Schenk, head of personal security.
Sore loser.
There's your whack-job right there.
Oh, well, spoils to the Victor.
Hmm? [Grunts in surprise.]
[.]
[Elevator dings.]
[Quietly.]
Stay on the perimeter.
[All sighing with relief.]
[Door opens.]
Mr.
Balagan, I'm Bern Schenk, head of personal security.
Personal security for whom? My son, Christopher, has vanished, and you are going to find him.
Am I? And why is that? Because I'm Vivien Huxley, and this is my hotel.
[.]
[Crowd cheering.]
I'm Vivian's husband.
Robert Spiro.
Christopher's dad.
Is it Christopher Huxley-Spiro or Christopher Spiro-Huxley? Just Huxley.
She wouldn't let me give my name to my own son.
I detest hyphens.
Besides, my grandfather opened the first Huxley in Chicago, and my father turned it into an international brand, so my name is a legacy.
April Hello, April.
[Christopher.]
: Sorry, dad, I traded the Porsche for a 4x4.
Uh, more my style, don't you think? We gave Kitch Christopher The Porsche when he was accepted for his MBA at Stanford.
Let's go.
She has trouble sitting still.
It's been two months since we've seen Kitch, so the plan was for us all of us to be together at my birthday party Light But he hasn't returned any of my calls or emails in three days, and Perhaps he's in bed with the flu.
Nobody has seen him at home.
With whom does he live? - No one.
- With everyone.
He lives at the Huxley Palo Alto.
Kitch grew up in Huxley's around the world.
Hotels are his home.
A kindred spirit.
Grime And now he's vanished into thin air.
She's on the move.
Copy that.
[Elevator dings.]
A 24-year-old man doesn't call you back in a few days, and this is a crisis? A mother knows.
April The police found his truck yesterday here, 800 Miles from where it should be.
Either it was stolen in Palo Alto and then driven here, or Kitch drove it here, and then it was stolen.
Two police departments in two cities and neither claiming jurisdiction.
It just baffles me.
[Sighs testily.]
Good afternoon, Huxley, can you hold, please? Please tell me someone checked to see if her son had stayed at this hotel.
I did.
Kitch wasn't on the books Rust.
We're going through every hotel between here and Palo Alto.
He has friends here? Family, business associates? None that we know of.
His girlfriend Deirdre's worried sick.
Chair.
Yeah, but she's all the way back in New York, so You trust her? Despite the hyphen, Deirdre Knebworth-Hall is an angel, the perfect match for Kitch.
Such a devoted mother.
I assume you were the last to speak with him? No, that would be April.
Two days ago.
Kitch called to ask about plans for Ms.
Huxley's birthday party.
He sounded depressed? Desperate? No, normal.
You have no idea where he was when he went missing.
You have no police support, and there is no motive for a disappearance.
You have solved some very difficult problems, Mr.
Balagan.
I want you to find Kitch.
[Echoes of festivities swirl.]
[Blowing party horns.]
Happy Birthday, Vivian! [Blowing horn.]
I've found your son! Sadly, he is dead.
Dead? No, no! You have failed me.
Throw him out of my hotel! No! No! I am afraid I must decline.
[Shocked.]
You wh Don't worry, ma'am.
I'm your guy.
Hugo Lum, head of hotel security.
I've got the contacts.
Border services, local police.
I'll find your boy for you.
[Cell phone ringing.]
April Delman Oh this "1" should be a "7".
See, you're in good hands.
It's mayor Wilson.
So, tell me, Bob, what passes for a police force in this town, one man and a horse? [.]
Why'd you turn down the job? You don't build a latrine in the middle of your tent, Sam.
You do if it's a latrine tent.
[Sighs heavily.]
We're stuck planning a 50th birthday party from scratch.
The least you could do is find the birthday girl's missing kid.
Despite his unfortunate nickname, Kitch is a grown man.
He does not have to punch a clock with his mother.
Oh, well, if you were on the job, maybe you could tell her that.
Okay, everyone can stop panicking.
I got this thing wrapped up.
See? You don't need me.
Hugurt's on the case.
[Chuckles mirthlessly.]
I talked to my boys downtown.
Got pics of everything left in Kitch's truck.
Now, to the untrained, or Russian eye, this probably just looks like a random collection of outdoorsy junk, but the veteran homicide detective sees the one important detail Keys left in the car? Well, if I tell you there's a twist coming, you're going to look for a twist.
Now, the way I see it, Kitch was driving to campus, and got grabbed from right behind the wheel.
[Scoffs.]
Kidnapping, really? Seriously? Yeah.
The son of a hotel heiress? Someone hit the jackpot.
Oh, okay, well, then how did his truck get all the way up here? Easy, some doofus happens by the truck, keys are still in the ignition, says, "hey, a free ride outta town," meanwhile, poor Kitch is probably tied up in some basement way down in Californ-I-a.
Do campers often collect rocks? Rich yahoos.
They're always decorating with crap like that.
Scored a few from my boys downtown.
I figured the white queen might like a piece of her son till we get him back.
Are you sure you will? Uh-huh.
There'll be a ransom note coming any day, you watch.
Yippee-ki-yay.
[Sam.]
: Kidnapping.
Yikes.
We'll see.
I thought you weren't working on this.
I'm not working on this.
But if I was, I would start with the knowledge that the Huxley hotels are a home for Kitch, and if he did come to town, he He would have stayed here.
I thought you weren't working on this.
I'm not, I'm just curious.
Okay, guests who paid cash Ansen Chelderknopf, Ravi Mariwalla, Tarlton Fiske, Sherry Smith Tarlton Fiske? Room 801.
Paid cash for two nights.
The room was turned over to other guests yesterday.
What, do you think that Anything strike you about the name Tarlton Fiske? Uh, yeah, who would name their son Tarlton? No one.
It is an alias.
It's Robert Bloch's pen name.
He wrote a charming story about a young man who owns a motel and takes orders from his mummified, tyrannical mother.
You mean Psycho? Yes, a clue within a clue, within a clue.
[Elevator dings.]
So, Kitch registered at the hotel as Tarlton Fiske and paid cash so no one would know he was here? If he did, I'm really starting to like this young man.
So we should find Alcina and see if anything was left in the room.
Correction.
[Elevator dings.]
You should.
[.]
[Knocks.]
This is what was left in 801.
Oh.
And this is for your Nieta's baptism.
Gracias.
Bali, hmm No name.
Five-star hotels.
The owner of this book is looking to spend some money.
The owner of this book stayed at the Huxley Palo Alto.
[Sighs heavily.]
Under-ripe.
What is that smell? April, you You haven't taken up smoking again, have you? [Coughs.]
[April.]
: I'm so sorry.
It's just, the stress.
I've No, you're right.
I've been thoughtless.
Please, take a few days off while I search for my missing child.
I'll take care of the cognac.
Thank you.
So, I'm not sure what we are to take from these photos.
We have a working theory, that your son was kidnapped in Palo Alto.
What? Ransom should be forthcoming.
I put in calls to the Palo Alto P.
D.
Vivian Please, call me Ms.
Huxley.
April? April! Why must I scream your name? Where is Bern? I want him to call the police.
I want a door-to-door search.
Someone might be holding Kitch in Palo Alto.
Only a fool would think so.
What? Your son was here, in this hotel.
When? Two days ago.
He checked in under an alias and paid cash.
However, he left this behind.
What? And he is planning a trip to Bali.
To Bali? So, so, so, what does this mean? Is it not obvious what this means? No.
It means, Vivian, I am taking the job.
So, Deirdre, you're in New York, Christopher is in California.
How did East meet West? Last year, at the spring regatta in Florida.
We were both a bit tipsy, one thing led to another Have you noticed anything different about Christopher, something that might shed light on his disappearance? He was on top of the world.
Loads of energy, super upbeat.
He'd dropped a few pounds.
Maybe a cleanse? Any thoughts on why he was here? No idea.
The depth of your relationship is inspiring.
Does this mean anything to you? It's a stone.
No, it's a piece of a puzzle.
So, uh, I spoke to Kitch's friends on campus.
He quit crew, starts missing seminars, and then, skips mid-terms.
Oh, business school drop-out.
I'm sure his mother will be happy to hear that.
Perhaps it has something to do with his pending trip to Bali? Yeah, that jives with my Intel.
The word is jibe, Hugo, with a "b".
It's a sailing term.
Ah, why don't you just jibe back to ruskieland? Any ransom notes yet? Forget about the ransom note, all right? My buddy at the border said Christopher Huxley crossed two days ago, alone, and when he did, his car was searched top to bottom.
Why? He was flagged.
He had a drug conviction.
Three years ago, Vegas.
They found a bag of cocaine in the glove compartment.
So he's just like any other rich boy.
Except he does have a quality, doesn't he? I'll tell you what quality.
He's planning a trip to Bali, right? Where's Bali? Indonesia.
What's in Indonesia? Orangutans? Drugs.
Kitch was losing weight.
He had lots of energy.
He was skipping classes, yes? Mm, yeah, could be a coke addiction.
Nah, nah, nah.
What if he just wasn't into drugs, what if he was into drugs, you know what I mean? Could have been applying his business school smarts to a drug-smuggling operation.
- Drug smuggling, Hugo? - Yeah.
Mm-hmm, I prefer the orangutan theory.
Oh, yeah? Well, I'll bet you we find Kitch's severed head in a ditch in Arizona any day now.
Well, I bet we don't.
You watch.
So, what next? We follow the little white lines.
[Chuckling happily.]
Oh, Mr.
Balagan! This is my mother, Celine.
Ah A pleasure.
He's helping to find Kitch.
Oh, I-I don't want to get in the way, it's just that she comes back here so seldom.
I did not know you were from this rain-soaked wasteland.
April? Vivian's asking for you This is my mom, Celine Robert Spiro.
Your daughter's a godsend.
[Chuckles warmly.]
You know what? Take your mom out to lunch, put it in on the corporate card.
Are you sure? Yes, go, go! You've met her mother before.
Uh, no, just in April's photos.
You often look at pictures of April? How's the search going? I just have one question for you.
Are you so ashamed of your son, that you felt it necessary to withhold information? Ashamed? What? No, we-we couldn't be prouder.
Proud that he was once arrested with cocaine in his glove box? No.
Well this-this can't be real.
Kitch has been showing signs of addiction.
What? Yes, he dropped out of school.
Robert? Hmm? Darling, don't just sit there like a sock puppet.
What is going on? Robert knows something that Vivian doesn't No No, I mean, if he's dropped out of school, it's news to me What about the cocaine? Yes, Robert, tell us about the cocaine.
I got a call from one of Kitch's friends.
He was partying in Vail.
Smashed up a chalet and disappeared.
I found him in a motel, alone, strung out.
[Whispers in horror.]
Strung out? I checked him into rehab in Colorado.
Excellent back to nature program.
He's been clean and sober for two years! [Smack.]
Kitch didn't want to disappoint you I am his mother.
And I'm his father! Oh, keep your voice down.
We're in public.
Our son has a drug problem! [Patron laughing.]
[Vivian, venomous.]
Will you sit down now? Hugo Why the long face? We're having fun here.
I don't want anyone to panic.
Police pulled a body from the inlet.
Knapsack full of rocks.
They'd like you to come to the morgue.
[Gasps in horror.]
Ms.
Huxley, can I get you anything? Yes, a mock-up of the cake design.
Let me see it.
Well, I-I canceled it.
Well, I didn't think, given the circumstances that you would want to celebrate You canceled it? If I can't trust you with a simple cake, how can I trust you with an entire hotel? Well, I'm sorry, I just assumed that What, that I would like to disappoint 300 of my dearest friends? Give me your key card.
You're done.
Cancel this, see her out.
April? Get rid of all these hideous white flowers, and call my guests.
The party's off.
Mr.
Spiro? It's not him.
The boy pulled from the water was some other parents' son.
We don't need the cognac here anymore.
If you don't find Kitch soon, we are all going to pay.
But here comes Sam with good news! Well, news.
There's no Huxley Hotel in Bali, but I called all the hotels in Kitch's travel guide, and one of them has a room reserved next week for Tarlton Fiske.
It's Kitch's alias.
The reservation was made by his personal travel agent.
This is a list of all the flights from the past year.
He's been flying everywhere.
Um, everywhere except for New York, which is where his girlfriend lives.
Something is keeping him from school, keeping him from his girlfriend, and it's intensifying as time goes on.
Well, don't yell, but Hugo might be right.
Maybe he was smuggling drugs.
Nyet.
He was in Buenos Aires.
Cheap cocaine? Yeah, maybe, but that's weird because Vivian and Robert were there, too.
It was a polo championship.
It was the corporate newsletter, w was a big spread.
Hmm, so wait, Kitch was in Argentina the same time as his parents? Three weeks ago, but they said they have not seen him in two months, so they obviously did not know he was there.
Or one of them is working with Kitch in the drug business.
[Gasps.]
Maybe there's more than one reason why they call her the white queen! Enough! I should throw you both in the pit with Hugo.
Well, what do you think then? I think this family is an onion of lies.
And I'm going to peel them.
[Cell phone warbles.]
Pippa Requests an audience.
Curious.
How are you? Busy.
How are you? Terrible.
Have a seat.
Alcina.
So, what brings you? I've been talking to everyone who saw Rosemary's shooting.
Ah, yes, like Sisyphus, pushing the rock up the hill forever.
Ark, the guy who confessed to pulling the trigger Emil Shirt, the false confession, yes.
Yeah, he's dying of cancer, right? Well, he was just transferred to a hospital, and I'm going to try and sneak in.
So, you're going to confront Emil Shirt and expose his lies, Pippa? Yeah.
Alcina heard that I was talking to staff here.
[Quickly.]
I was there.
Where? I saw the shooting.
I'm sorry I never said.
I didn't want to upset you.
You saw Rosemary? I was coming for the start of my shift.
[Gunshots blasting.]
Before the shooting, I was sitting in the Park with my coffee.
The car, the one that came and did it, it was parked on the street, waiting.
For a signal from the spotter.
This confirms it.
The guy wasn't driving around looking for Greg's car.
It wasn't road rage.
It was an assassination.
I told the police.
And they buried it.
You bring a Bible, wear a cross.
The police will think you're one of those nuts that goes room to room bothering patients.
Alcina Thank you.
For she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly [Laughing.]
[Door opens.]
Uh-huh? Just the Russian I'm looking for.
It's my birthday.
Well, shall we sing together? Yes.
For she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow for she's a jolly good fellow [Sighs.]
So, when was the last time you talked to your mother? Hmm, 1992.
Why, is she dead? Far from it.
I send my parents money, but we are strangers.
So, how did you end up living in this This sad Chekhov play? In the original Russian, Chekhov plays are comedies.
Oh.
Like your son, I was a drop-out.
I fled the chess academy into which my parents had worked so hard to put me.
I wonder how they reacted.
They felt I had betrayed them.
So you-you what, cut them out of your life, and now you have no family? On the contrary.
I now have the luxury to choose my family.
Oh? So where are they all? Your husband, have you noticed him giving your assistant, April, a great deal of dic-tation? Oh, it's It's not that he's screwing the help.
Please, that's inevitable.
It's just that he's being so damn indiscreet about it.
How long? Oh, I don't know, forever.
He's been her mentor for years.
He keeps just promoting her and promoting her through the ranks until finally she becomes our personal assistant.
And yet you have not fired her.
Do you know how many deeply stupid assistants I have been through? No, April stays.
[Door opens.]
Ms.
Huxley? Oh, well Here comes Bernsy to check up on me.
Just wanted to make sure someone wasn't getting a little too Too what? Messy.
My son is missing! And none of you are doing anything about it We'll find him, Vivian.
Um Ms.
Huxley, excuse me.
[Sighs wearily.]
[Chuckles apologetically.]
Bernsy's been with me a quarter of a century.
Sometimes he forgets himself.
I told you.
Screwing the help's inevitable.
Ms.
Huxley I need more information Or better motivation, perhaps? Listen, you find Kitch, and I will comp you your next six months here.
That would be very generous.
But if you fail? I'm throwing you out with the trash.
Understood? Let's go.
I saw the trap 10 moves ahead, and still I fell for this gambit.
[Snapping fingers testily.]
What? What? Be a gentleman, hold the bag! Sorry.
The white queen is going to toss me off the board.
Not if you find her son.
What do you have so far? Kitch was in recovery, but then he fell back into addiction, why? So it would seem.
What were the signs? He was losing weight, high energy, skipping classes.
It could be love.
Doesn't he have a girlfriend? Mm-hmm.
The oldest addiction.
He could have been in love But not with his girlfriend.
So, you met Kitch at the regatta, but alcohol was not involved.
Kitch has been sober for the past two years.
Yes? Well, that's how I remember it.
[Tsking.]
Deirdre Help me find him.
Tell me the truth.
We hit it off bitching about our mothers.
We cooked up a relationship.
And why would you do that? My roommate isn't my roommate, she's my girlfriend.
And Kitch is gay as well? I assumed so.
Well, if Kitch is gay, there's always Bern.
Handsome older guy, young pretty boy The bodyguard? I'm afraid not.
Vivian is sleeping with him.
[Laughs.]
No.
No, Bern's been out forever.
No Really.
What, the corporate newsletter? Nicco, gossip-waiter.
Kitch's cell phone records finally arrived.
Well [Sighs.]
Day before the truck was found, he contacted Ms.
Huxley's assistant.
To ask about the birthday party.
Yeah, around 5:00 P.
M.
, but then there's a bunch of calls right after that.
So, I checked 'em out.
A couple of prank calls, and then one to a sex line, so, obviously, Kitch didn't make those.
The car thief did.
Kitch left his phone in the truck.
Yeah, which means that the last person that Kitch contacted was Ms.
Huxley's assistant.
Wait.
April has started smoking again, and she's been eating a great deal of cake.
So I've been there.
It's Dumpsville.
Perhaps Kitch is not gay.
He was? April and Kitch, could be.
So, find out what she's hiding.
Do your bartender thing.
[Tapping on door.]
Room service.
I didn't order any I have a really good story.
It's about this one time I dated a rock star.
Oh, we had vip everything.
Private jets, and I totally thought he was gonna marry me, and then, he just dumped me for some dumb-ass debutante.
I spent six weeks of my life at the bottom of a vat of hagen daz, which Oh, yeah.
So To heartbreak? I'm not C-could you just please leave April We all know that Kitch's relationship with Deirdre was a cover.
We know Kitch was in love with you.
[Scoffs.]
Do you? I knew he was trouble.
I tried to keep myself from falling for him, but he was just so Open, and good, and persistent.
But you kept it a secret.
I'm not part of their world, not really.
Vivian would have lost her mind.
Well, how serious was it? We were going to open a wilderness resort here on the West coast, after we got married.
You were going to elope, in Bali! Then what was Kitch doing all the way up here? My mom lives on the North shore.
Kitch was going to ask for her blessing.
Die-hard romantic, eh? Yeah, I thought so, but then he phoned me, hammered.
He said it was a mistake, and he never wanted to see me again.
Why? What did your mom say to him? She never saw him.
He chickened out.
So, no, Kitch did not love me.
Emil Shirt? He's, uh, he's got, like, maybe days left.
He's totally doped up.
I told him I was a hospital chaplain, and he invited me right in.
Perfect.
I asked him if he wanted any help making peace with God.
You know, for the murder he confessed to.
He said there was nothing for God to forgive.
He never killed anyone.
Hmm.
But But he will not recant his confession with the police.
He made it for money.
His kids are going to get a big payday when he dies.
Who, though? Who is paying? He refused to say.
All I could get out of him was, uh Ark, get this He met them here, at the Huxley.
Ark, someone at this hotel was involved in Rosemary's murder.
Or they simply met here at the hotel [Cell phone rings.]
Many people meet at the hotel.
Yeah, maybe.
Yes, Danni.
I'll be right there.
Right where? Pippa, what you're talking about is No, no, you can't ignore this.
This hotel isn't safe.
You know who you sound like now? You sound like me.
Oh, jeez I'm sorry I didn't tell anyone about Kitch and me.
I just couldn't.
It still does not explain what happened to him.
Well, when I saw the pebbles, I got scared.
They're from the beach at my mom's place.
Then when they pulled the body from the water, and the guy's knapsack full of rocks, I just You thought Kitch did the same thing.
Well, he was a drug addict.
It's over, April.
I never want to see you again.
I never want to see anyone! Excuse me, but why not? I never loved April.
I'm incapable of loving anyone.
I don't even deserve to live! So you collected a bag of pebbles from the nearby beach to drown yourself W-wait a sec, maybe I collected the pebbles before I was upset.
And why would you do that? Because they're pretty! [Screaming.]
It is pretty.
Perhaps Kitch wanted to bring you back a memento.
What do you mean? This pebble.
He went to your mother with the full intention of asking for her blessing.
Perhaps something happened that made him change his mind.
No, she never saw him.
Or your mother lied to you and Kitch was there.
Does that look familiar? Well, I suppose it's from our beach, yes, but Kitch never came to see me.
Right before he disappeared, Kitch called April, drunk.
Something had happened to make him break two years of sobriety and your daughter's heart.
Nothing to do with me.
Something to do with his father perhaps? Robert recognized you.
[Laughs unconvincingly.]
We've never met.
And yet he gave your daughter preferential treatment.
Did you hold something over his head? Coming here was a mistake.
Is there a lie in Robert's past? Did he kill someone? Please He's in love with your daughter.
Of course not! Why does that thought upset you so much? It doesn't You love him.
[Scoffing.]
No.
But you once did.
Yes, you do know Robert.
He is April's father.
Right, Celine? And you told Kitch he could not marry April because they are brothers and sisters.
He asked for my blessing.
Mm-hmm.
I-I went into shock.
It just came out.
And that's when he fell off the wagon and disappeared.
Robert Oversaw renovations at this hotel.
I waitressed at a cafe around the corner.
He came a lot, said he liked the pie.
And only you and Robert know that he is April's father? He was married to Vivian.
He gave me enough money so I'd stay quiet.
Yes, and yet, you did not stay so quiet.
I raised her on my own, but when April finished school, she had no work, no direction.
I broke down and called Robert for one favour.
Let me guess.
He placed her at the Huxley Hotel, but he wanted to get to know his daughter, and so gradually, and over time, he promoted her closer, but tragically, it was also closer to Kitch.
You can't tell anyone Kitch came to see me.
Please.
[Door opens.]
Just because you have a key-card, doesn't mean you can stick it in any slot you want! What is it? Been sent to get a progress report on the missing kid.
Any news? No.
I'm afraid not.
Well, in that case, it is my pleasure to enforce Ms.
Huxley's directive.
Eviction-ay.
Dasvidaniya.
[Clapping.]
Hey! Those are worth $10,000, be careful with them! Okay, we really need to find Kitch.
Celine says he came to see her between 4:30 and 5:00.
Those are my flowers, not the hotel's! He called April at 5:00, already drunk.
Get to Celine's house.
Find the closest place to find a drink.
Okay, cool.
What are you going to do? [Door opens and closes.]
You can't take him out of the hotel.
He has a medical condition! I know.
That's why I've booked the car straight to the cuckoo house [Cell phone rings.]
Ah What took you so long? Well, I had to check a few places, but I found it.
Kitch was drunk in 15 minutes, got kicked out right at 5:00.
That's when he would have called April to break up with her, and then he would have kept drinking Trust me.
More bars? No, he was too drunk to get served.
Find the nearest liquor store Okay, it's time to go Hey, don't touch him! Danni, Danni It will be all right.
Hugo [Sighs.]
I concede.
After you.
Hey, you son of a What the Get out of the way! [Giggling.]
Any harm that befalls me, physical or psychic, will return to you tenfold in the form of a lawsuit! I'm sorry, but I just can't abide failure, and I won't have it wafting around the hotel.
I thought it was the mouldy carpets.
Dear, dear, dear.
Now, if you would like a sedative to help you deal with the outside world, speak to my assistant.
[Hugo cackles.]
Hugo Yes? Hugo, what about that giant I.
O.
U.
? Ah You got it on you? [Laughs.]
Let's go, boys.
[Roaring in protest.]
Pasaran! [Cursing in spanish.]
Samuel's trying to call you He sent photos.
Look, Mr.
Balagan.
[.]
Need a ride, pal? Where you headin'? Alaska.
Alaska? No, I don't think so.
Where you heading, pal? Uh, find a motel.
Drink myself to death.
[Groans.]
Soon as the world stops spinning.
Hmm Hey, kid, where you going? Nature, man, only place I'm happy.
Drunk people shouldn't wander off into the woods to keep drinking! Whatever happened, Kitch set off on foot from the liquor store.
What liquor store? Ms.
Huxley! If you will be so kind as to return my bags to my suite I will tell you where you can launch your search that will help you find your son, and all you need is a dog that sniffs.
[Elevator dings.]
[Sighs.]
Hmm Kitch Hey, guys Oh, my darling baby boy! [Cries in relief.]
Are you all right? Yeah, I'm okay, mom, I'm okay.
Boopsie, what happened? Uh could everyone just leave April and me alone for a bit? What? April? Why? What the hell is going on? It's between us, mom.
But I am your mother I have a right to know April and me, alone.
Now.
[.]
She wouldn't even let me give my name to my own son! I've worked for Vivian I mean Ms.
Huxley For a quarter of a century.
Were you always gay? Hmm [Laughs.]
It is a comedy! Your son wants to tell you of a tragedy, but I think everyone here will prefer the Russian version.
No, no, l-let me just talk to April alone Shh! So Your son and your assistant are in love.
You're Alas, Kitch discovered that your husband, his father, is also April's father.
Disaster! But wait! Vivian had had an affair with Bern, before he came out.
You'd better watch yourself And Kitch was the product of that affair.
What? What? What? [Mournfully.]
Oh, God Therefore Your son and your assistant do not share the same father, and they can, indeed, be together.
Discuss.
[Stammering.]
[Sighs, speechless.]
Did anyone get left in a handbag at a train station? [Chuckles.]
I'm sure she's going to let you stay.
Messengers do not always fare well with royalty.
Oh, well, here comes your answer.
Danni So, how do you like your birthday present? [Chuckles wryly.]
Well Family dinners are going to be complicated.
But not boring.
Kitch and April? Are still going to Bali.
To-to elope? To process.
Well, I am off for a swim, and then dinner In [Exhales nervously.]
My suite? Ah.
Your suite Is comped for the next six months.
[Whispers.]
Thank you.
Mm.
You're welcome.
Oh, Ms.
Huxley, one more thing [Brisk knocking.]
Ms.
Stilwell.
So glad you decided to cut short your sabbatical.
So glad it was cut short for me.
It had nothing to do with me.
Of course.
French cuffs must be pressed with precision.
Try again.
I am not going to And so Look Here she is.
Aw Here she is getting cake on her dress.
Here she is opening your present.
Oh, she loves the Russian dolls.
Mm, you're welcome.
Her birthday is in six months.
Maybe you will come.
Perhaps.
Nostrovya! I don't have time for your games, Balagan.
A man in dead.
More blood on your watch.
No, it was an accident.
Why did you go up to the roof? Arkady, I have an alibi.
He says he was with you.
That's ridiculous.
I don't mean to cast judgment, but you're obviously lying.
Be careful punching above your weight, Mr.
Balagan.
Nice to see you again, Mr.
Balagan.
You too, Randal.
[Crash.]
Samuel, wake up.
It's rocket ships and murder.