[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]
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]
[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.
Subtitling: DUBBING BROTHERS