The Eternal Daughter

But there was something strange though,

because a few months later,

we were looking through our wedding photographs

and there was a picture of myself and my wife

at the front of the hotel.

And you could see just behind us,

a figure of someone looking out of the window.

Staring at us.

Really quite scary at the time.

- Nobody you could account for? - Absolutely nobody.

- Oh, my goodness. - And it turns out the room

was empty at the time.

So, I, uh...

I avoid the place on dark winter nights.

Mum, we're here.

We've arrived.

Good evening. We'd like to check in please.

Yeah, no problem.

- Uh, do you have a reservation? - Yes.

- Great. What's the name? - Hart.

Hart.

Mm.

When did you book?

I was gonna say that I...

made the reservation um, several months ago.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I understand that.

I'm just... I'm just looking.

Just...

- Several months ago you said? - Yeah.

- But I did ring last week... - You did ring?

- Okay. - To double check.

- Ah, here you go. - Yes.

- Uh, Julie Hart, ground floor. - That's right.

- No. Well, no, uh... - With wheelchair access.

In fact, when I rang last week it was to confirm that what we...

What we've reserved is the first floor,

uh, facing the formal gardens.

Uh, no. There's nothing here on my side.

Usually when people book and they have a special request

- it's attached to the booking. - Uh-huh. Yes.

Well, I imagine he would have made a note of it.

Can you check with your colleague maybe?

He's not here this evening.

Or, maybe even your manager.

It's just me for tonight.

But we're here tonight and I reserved it.

Yeah, I get that. So, would you be happy to stay

on the ground floor just for tonight?

No, I'm afraid not, because I reserved a first floor room.

Well I can't put you in a room that I haven't got.

A lot of keys there.

Just one moment, please.

I mean...

I have one room that I can give you just for tonight.

- Oh. - That is on the first floor.

Oh. Oh, that's very good. Um...

Well, maybe could I see that room?

Yeah, you wanna see the room?

- Yes. Just check it out. - I'll take you up.

And there's Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, is there?

Uh, no, not throughout the hotel.

If you want some signal,

best off going to the top of the building.

I'm sorry, I didn't understand.

Did you say that there was Wi-Fi on this floor?

I mean, there is Wi-Fi in the building,

but you only get signal when you go up to the top.

I did reserve a table in the restaurant for dinner.

H, no, you were late so everything's closed.

- And here's your key. Thanks. - Thank you.

And as soon as possible it would be good to know

that we can be here for the remaining nights.

Oh, God!

Getting our things in a little bit of a muddle here.

Just get it all.

Here we are. Oops.

Now, no peeking.

No, I'm not looking. I'm not looking.

Darling, don't you want to take your coat off?

You must be boiling.

I just want to get everything organized.

Oh, it's so good to be here.

I remember the ceiling.

And I think, uh, I was in that bed.

My sister was in this one.

Look...

Oh, darling. Oh, no!

Oh, my Lord...

H, shit.

Come on.

All right, Mum. So, I'll see if I can find a kettle.

- All right? - All right, darling.

Louis, you stay here. Stay with your mistress.

I won't be long.

Aren't you a good boy? Yes.

- Good morning. - Good morning.

- Just one or two things. - Yeah?

I'm wondering if there's any clarity on whether or not

we can stay in our room for the next few nights.

Um, I still don't know about the room.

Oh, there's no way of expediting that decision is there?

Uh, no. I can try and get back to you later on today,

but I can't promise anything.

Sooner rather than later would be much appreciated.

Yep.

Also, we don't seem to have a kettle in our room.

- An electric kettle, please. - Yep, I'll bring one up.

And, also, I had a very unsettled night.

There was a sound.

I'm sure other people have mentioned it to you.

A banging of some kind. I imagine it was a window or...

Yeah. I mean, there's no one staying above you.

Well, exactly. I can't imagine anybody

would have been staying in a room with that

because they wouldn't have been able to sleep at all.

It was... And I don't know if it was a window,

but it felt repetitive and... Yeah, all night.

That's strange, 'cause nobody else

has mentioned anything at all about any noise whatsoever.

- Really? - Yeah.

That does surprise me. It was pervasive.

Oh, well, anyway, um... I would be very grateful

if you could make sure that doesn't happen again tonight,

and check all the windows and...

All the windows?

Well, all the windows...

Especially in the rooms that are not occupied,

because, obviously, the people who are staying in the rooms

will be able to check their own windows.

Yep.

I also have a message for you, by the way.

Your cousin...

Alistair.

He wants you to go to lunch with him on Sunday.

Oh, thank you very much.

So, lovely to hear that we can stay in our room.

The checking of the windows...

and, uh, and the kettle.

- Yeah, I'll bring the kettle up. - Thank you.

- No problem. - Thank you.

We don't want to go do we?

Just tell me, what would you prefer?

Well, what do you feel?

No, Mum. I want us to do what you want.

Oh, well I feel so awful to say it, but...

It's not that I don't want to see them, but I mean,

we're so cozy here, aren't we?

Yeah, I mean it's very selfish, but I was rather hoping...

we could be together.

If you can think of a nice way of saying it,

I think it would be really wonderful

- if we could just be us. - Very good. I'll call him later.

I think that would be... I think that would be the best.

You having a nice breakfast?

Very, very good marmalade.

So I'm gonna go and make a start on my work.

Are you all right?

I'm perfectly fine, thank you, darling.

I'm just gonna take my time and then I'm gonna have a bath.

Do you want me to run it for you?

- Mm. - Really?

No, don't worry. I'll be fine.

You found a nice place to work?

Yeah, yeah, I think so. I'm gonna give it a stab anyway.

It's not a problem...

I'm just... in the middle of something.

Yeah.

Mum?

Mum?

I got you a nice glass of wine.

Thank you very much.

Oh, goodness me.

Are we early or late?

I mean...

Are we the only people staying here?

Have you worked that out yet?

I know... I don't know. I...

There was no-one here when I arrived.

Oh, look at that.

Thank you very much.

That's very welcome.

Are you ready to order?

Oh, I do apologize.

Haven't even had a look.

Uh, not quite, I just, uh... gosh.

Shall I come back in a couple of minutes or...

That would be kind.

'Il come back in a couple of minutes.

Thank you.

Ooh... Nice looking things.

What do you think, Mum?

What do you think?

I'm, um... I'm a bit torn between the soup...

A carrot and coriander soup,

and the beetroot salad sounds very nice.

Yeah, "Salad of heritage beetroot, apple and Welsh feta."

Such... So nice when it's local.

I mean, I suppose we could have...

different things on different nights.

Have you decided?