The Grand
At the end of World War I, the Bannerman family re-opens the Grand Hotel after a lengthy closure and a costly re-furbishing. The hotel has been in the family for a long time and John Bannerman and his wife Sarah desperately want to make a go of it. Their son Stephen has returned from the wars without any physical harm but still suffers from the mental anguish of seeing so many of his comrades-in-arms falling on the battlefield. When they learn that their accountant has squandered what little money they had left, they must turn to John's brother Marcus, a successful businessman who has eschewed any interest in the hotel over the years but now seems ready to plunge into the business with both feet. He also has an interest in Sarah. For the most part, the staff take pride in their work and are lead by the Hall Porter, Jacob Collins, who lost his son in the war and by Kate Morris one of the chamber maids who, by force of her own personality, is bound to make an impression on anyone who meets her. With the arrival of a permanent guest, Miss Esme Harkness, the cast is set for much drama as their lives, hopes and dreams all become intertwined.
- 1997-1998
- 2 seasons
- Drama
At the end of World War I, the Bannerman family re-opens the Grand Hotel after a lengthy closure and a costly re-furbishing. The hotel has been in the family for a long time and John Bannerman and his wife Sarah desperately want to make a go of it. Their son Stephen has returned from the wars without any physical harm but still suffers from the mental anguish of seeing so many of his comrades-in-arms falling on the battlefield. When they learn that their accountant has squandered what little money they had left, they must turn to John's brother Marcus, a successful businessman who has eschewed any interest in the hotel over the years but now seems ready to plunge into the business with both feet. He also has an interest in Sarah. For the most part, the staff take pride in their work and are lead by the Hall Porter, Jacob Collins, who lost his son in the war and by Kate Morris one of the chamber maids who, by force of her own personality, is bound to make an impression on anyone who meets her. With the arrival of a permanent guest, Miss Esme Harkness, the cast is set for much drama as their lives, hopes and dreams all become intertwined.
Season 2 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 1998
Episode 1
Episode #2.1
60 mins
Marcus opens his club, the Manhattan, managed by Stephen, who offers Clive permanent bar-work. Ruth is left behind at the Grand with John whilst Marcus makes up to Sarah, and the club is raided, a publicity stunt arranged by Marcus. Ruth's formidable grand-mother, Mrs. Crawford, installs herself in the hotel, telling Marcus a few home truths and making arrangements for Ruth's pregnancy. Esme gets close to Jacob Collins and he confides in her that he saw Sarah and Marcus kissing. She advises him to say nothing but he lets it slip to Sarah and is rebuked for his pains. Stephen kisses Kate but, in view of Monica's fate, she sees a relationship between them as out of the question.
Episode 2
Episode #2.2
60 mins
On a staff outing to the music-hall, chambermaid Lynne impresses when she gets up on stage and the lecherous M.C., Harry Frindel, offers her further work. This involves her defying Mrs. Harvey and walking out of the Grand, but when she realizes that Frindel only wanted her for sex, she returns in tears and Mrs. Harvey shows a kindlier side of her nature for once and reinstates her. Will Reynolds, an old army friend of Stephen's, turns up and Stephen employs him at the club but he is very clumsy and Marcus fires him. He is injured trying to rob a customer and Stephen hides him from the police at the Grand, unwittingly involving Jacob and Esme. Eventually, partially-recovered Will leaves the hotel so that Stephen will not be incriminated, collapsing in the street. Marcus also sacks Stephen after a row but Sarah uses her allure with her brother-in-law to get her son his job back.
Episode 3
Episode #2.3
60 mins
Kate hides her disappointment as Stephen introduces her to his fiancée, Christina Lloyd-Price, at a political function in the hotel. Left in her room by Marcus as ever, Ruth miscarries and realizes that she will probably never be able to bear the children Marcus wants. She wears padding, pays the midwife to keep visiting her as if all was still normal and makes arrangements to buy a baby from a poor woman in time for her own child's 'birth'. Sarah and John argue yet again when she and Marcus over-rule Mrs. Harvey and allow the maids to attend a sex education lecture. Worse is to come though when he sees his wife and his brother leaving a bedroom in which they have obviously had sex.
Episode 4
Episode #2.4
60 mins
There is much turmoil at the Grand hotel. The staff are upset when they learn that David Jeffries, one of the men who attacked Monica Jones, has returned to the hotel yet again. Jeffries knows he in not welcome but the room was booked for him and he has little choice. The only person who will give him more that cursory service is Fred Willets, a relatively new member of staff. He even invites Jeffries to have a pint with him but realizes too late that Fred has his own plans. John and Sarah's marriage has reached the breaking point. John cannot believe she betrayed him and is ready to chuck it all in. Both he and Sarah are surprised when Marcus offers to buy them out and become the sole owner of the Grand.
Episode 5
Episode #2.5
51 mins
With John out of the way, the staff fear redundancies as Marcus considers cost-cutting measures. Madame Euphrasine, an aristocratic Russian, books into the hotel, befriending Esme and offering Kate the permanent job as her maid. She summons Marcus to her room on business and makes advances at him, which he does not reject. Next morning she is found murdered. Marcus is suspect and Ruth will not lie for him. Despite his animosity towards his boss, Jacob - wanting justice to be done - helps the police find the real killer and Marcus shows his gratitude by keeping all the staff. Esme is left with a priceless Faberge ornament given her by the dead woman, who was not what she seemed at all.
Episode 6
Episode #2.6
52 mins
Clive Evans visits his Dad and has some news to tell him. He's reluctant at first but slowly tells his tale which starts off with the good news that he has been promoted to a new position as assistant Head Porter. The staff are now to refer to him as Mr. Evans and he has all of the authority of being in charge of the staff when Jacob Collins is not present. His problems start with the arrival of a new guest, Mr. Villiers who is a homosexual. Clive claims to be disgusted by him but in fact is exploring his own sexuality and accepts to visit his room. The conversation with his Dad takes a strange twist, however. Jacob meanwhile has more free time on his hands and has taken to stepping out with the seamstress. Stephen Bannerman announces his engagement to Christina Lloyd-Price and invites the staff to a party on the family floor.
Episode 7
Episode #2.7
51 mins
Edward Lawrence comes to the Grand to find Esme. Forty years ago they were deeply in love but the class system was against them - she was a lady's maid to his mother - and they were forced to part. He is now a wealthy widower, aware of her profession, and keen to marry her. She accepts but when she visits his children, who are wary of her, she is told that he is still in love with his recently-deceased wife and essentially on the rebound. He breaks down and cries. Esme returns to the Grand and accepts an offer made to her earlier by Marcus to give proper organization of the prostitutes at the Manhattan. Ruth panics when Marcus calls a doctor to examine her and runs away to find Edith, for whose unwanted baby she is paying. Edith is late and the baby has to be induced but arrives in time for her to tell Marcus they have a son. He slaps her however for causing him to worry about the future of his child. Clive tries to get the staff to join a union after he has served at a T.U.C. conference but Jacob dissuades him, believing it would give Marcus cause to sack them.
Episode 8
Episode #2.8
51 mins
Esme interviews girls for the club. Many pay protection to Scott, a vicious pimp who, to put her off, smashes up Esme's room, injuring Kate when a mirror is broken. Stephen is especially concerned for Kate's welfare. Esme is proud that her old business acumen has not left her but is genuine that the girls from the Manhattan should be safe from Scott and is shocked when Marcus tells her he has forced Scott out of the picture by burning his warehouse down. Scott tells Esme, in Marcus's hearing that she has two children and he tells her where they are. Marcus feels she should see them but she refuses, believing it would upset them. Stephen breaks up with Christina and follows the charabanc taking the staff on a day-trip to the seaside to tell Kate that he loves her.
Episode 9
Episode #2.9
51 mins
Stephen continues to see Kate, causing some staff resentment, especially when Marcus makes her assistant housekeeper. Mrs. Harvey walks out and Kate copes well with a chaotic evening. Clive persuades Mrs. Harvey to return and Kate finally gets her to crack when she admits that Mr. Harvey has left her and she has been defrauding small sums of money to keep herself. Edith comes to the Grand and gets a job as a chamber-maid to be near her baby. Esme is concerned that her 'girls' are at risk and so Marcus uses five rooms in the Grand for them and their clients. Jacob is appalled and also gets one over on Marcus for offending a lady guest of whom he is fond. He gets drunk and discovers Edith, whom Ruth has paid to go away, leaving the hotel. She confides in him who she really is, causing Jacob to be even more displeased with the Bannermans.
Episode 10
Episode #2.10
60 mins
Mrs. Harvey moves into the Grand to solve her money problems and discovers who Edith really is. Jacob has already told Esme. Kate takes Stephen to see her parents but her father, who knows that the Manhattan club has prostitutes, is hostile to him. Stephen, in turn, delivers some home truths to Marcus on the morning of the christening and Marcus, a happy man because of his 'son', promises to mend his ways. Mrs. Harvey believes the christening is a sham and returns the baby to Edith but she is caught and Ruth is forced to come clean. Marcus flies into a rage but ultimately comes to realize the lengths to which Ruth has gone to please him. The christening party goes ahead and he gives a strange speech, admitting his sins, apologizing to Ruth and setting her free of him. He gives the baby back to Edith and says he plans to move on and will sell the hotel so that it can be demolished for the land. The staff are appalled and fear for their jobs. However, Esme saves them all by buying the hotel with the proceeds of the sale of her Fabergé ornament, even reinstating Fred. Stephen says goodbye to Kate, re-enlisting in the Army, where he was happiest, and so the Grand passes out of the Bannerman family forever.