Surprise!
Oh, what is this?
This is your new atelier.
Oh...
It's beautiful.
But we can't afford it.
We are spending too much on attorneys already.
I know money's been tight, so I called in a favor from an old friend.
This...
belongs to Pierre Cadault.
And it's yours if you want it.
Wow, that's so generous.
I mentioned your name, and he said, "No problem."
And also to send his love to "Zio Lorenzo"?
Uncle Lorenzo?
He worked for the company for many years.
He charmed the pants off everyone in the fashion industry, literally.
Ah, this is...
Scary?
Exciting. How soon can we move in?
How about... now!
- Whoa! - Ah!
Am I doing this right? I've never been a fit model before.
- You're perfect. - Okay.
Pierre Cadault's ready to Zoom. He has news.
- Oh! Go, go, go. - Oh.
- Hey. - Hi.
Sorry, guys.
There's our fairy godfather.
What did you call me?
Bonjour, Pierre.
Thank you again for this gift. This changed everything.
You said you had some news?
Any luck on Paris Fashion Week?
Despite all the cloaks I wear,
I'm not a wizard.
It's impossible to get an unknown designer into Paris Fashion Week.
Especially when he's being sued by his own mother.
You said you had good news?
I found you a much more suitable event.
Venice Fashion Week.
Venice has a Fashion Week?
It's more for emerging designers.
Well, then that's perfect.
An Italian newcomer making a splash in Venice, literally.
You'll sink or swim.
Either way, prepare to show in two weeks.
What? That's not possible.
Oh, my darling boy.
Fashion is all about making the impossible possible.
Cher Pascal, we're very excited to share our ideas with you
for the launch of your absinthe, Le Rêve Vert.
To celebrate, we'll be throwing a decadent party
in the style of La Belle Époque.
There'll be can-can dancers,
as well as waiters in period costumes.
And no absinthe party is complete
without a visit from the Green Fairy herself.
Nice touch.
When guests arrive,
we'll greet them with a shot of Le Rêve Vert served on sugar cubes.
But just a splash. We can't have anyone going mad.
That's just a myth, right?
- Is it really a hallucinogen? - No, it's real.
Absinthe was banned for almost a century in France.
It was the Molly of the Belle Époque.
What do you know about Molly?
Don't pretend to know me.
It's a strong drink, but I assure you,
Le Rêve Vert is nothing like Molly.
It will not make you lose your mind.
During the Belle Époque, regulations weren't strict.
We weren't there, so who can say?
I wish I had been there.
La Belle Époque wasn't about restriction. It was about experimentation.
About progress in art, in technology, in science, in everything.
It was the birth of cinema.
It was the birth of la tour Eiffel.
And the epicenter of it all was Maxim's.
So I'm very, very glad you were able to book the venue for the event.
We did?
Oh, yeah, we did, of course.
Luc, why is Pascal's party at Maxim's? I thought you were booking Laurent's club.
It's a perfect fit for the party. And he could use the business.
I called to reserve the space, but I was told it is unavailable.
We even offered to change the date, but they said no.
Should we ask again?
No, no.
Too late anyway.
Emily, are you free tonight?
I'm feeling nostalgic, and I would love to show you my Belle Époque Paris.
Aw!
That sounds lovely.
Marcello's busy working tonight, so count me in.
An artist working late into the night,
it is just like the Belle Époque.
Without all the syphilis and the smells.
Do you know about the Great Stink of 1880?
What? Ew, no.
The city was unbearable.
Eh-- Oy.
I can't wait to tell you all about it. Hello?
Have fun.
I can have a marketing plan ready by tomorrow,
but if they get two weeks for the line,
can I please just at least get two days to prep the rollout?
Okay, thank you.
Sounded intense.
- Who was that? - Nico.
He's pretty freaked out.
Can you maybe try to cut him, like, a little slack?
Money's really tight right now.
He's worried about money? Really?
Yeah.
Oh, do you not know that when he left JVMA,
it violated his trust, so he's locked out of that?
He cashed in some stocks that his grandfather gave him,
so he's basically betting his whole inheritance
on Marcello's business.
- Wow, I had no idea. - It'll be fine. He knows what he's doing.
But I feel like I need to start contributing more, you know?
If I nail this audition tomorrow, I can cover his rent.
You have an audition? For what?
Did I not tell you?
So, these movie producers saw me at Crazy Horse,
and they want me to read for Satine
in an animated Moulin Rouge.
- Oh my God, I love that movie! - You do?
- You'll be an amazing Satine! - Aw, thanks.
Mm! Okay, how do I say "break a leg" in French?
The French version is...
shit
Okay, well then...
shit
I'll take it.
I need all the merde I can get.
I'm glad you were able to get away. It sounds like you're very busy.
Oh!
You can't even imagine.
I'm sorry about the absinthe party.
We're booked for weeks.
No, it's fine.
That's good news.
Yes.
I missed you.
You asked for space, so I was giving you space.
But I'm glad you called.
It's good to see you too.
Where have you been all this time?
Mostly in the south.
Paris has been busy but St. Tropez is even crazier.
That reminds me
I found something the other day.
This was from the opening.
You shot this, didn't you?
Yes. Posed for it. Shot it on a timer.
Designed the flyer. Did everything.
You were amazing.
Still are.
We couldn't get enough of each other then, could we?
I guess that was our Belle Époque.
Or maybe our best days are ahead of us.
If we want them to be?
So this was my neighborhood when I first moved in Paris.
I wanted to be in the world of Toulouse-Lautrec,
where the artists I read about used to paint and write and drink
and screw their brains out until sunrise.
I fancied myself quite the painter.
Well, that doesn't surprise me at all.
- You have an artist's soul. - Oh.
Come on.
So this is Le Bateau-Lavoir.
Matisse, Cocteau, Modigliani, they all gathered here.
Oh, and Picasso too, wow!
I would have killed to be among them.
But I was more like him.
Selling my works by day and painting new ones at night.
You really were an artist.
How romantic.
It was a brutal existence.
No money,
no sleep,
just me and my art.
I was never happier.
Aw.
- Do you still have any of your paintings? - No.
I sold a few.
The rest I used as firewood when I realized I had no talent.
Oh.
What did you used to paint?
Oh. My specialty was portraits.
Oh, cool.
Self-portraits.
Nude self-portraits, to be precise.
Oh.
I wish you could have seen them. I cut a striking figure in my youth.
Oh. My loss.
Okay, final absinthe.
This is my last one.
Any more and I start hallucinating.
Are you feeling it too?
- I am feeling a little tipsy. - Oh.
Oh! And maybe I am hallucinating.
Gabriel! Gabriel.
No way!
You have to answer!
Hi, Gabriel. How are you? Where are you?
Are you still on the yacht?
I'm actually in Amsterdam.
The yacht is in dry dock for repair.
So we are moving to Heatherton's summer home in Monaco.
Mm. Sounds fancy.
It is, but I didn't call to brag.
Um, listen, I...
I left in such a rush that I forgot some of my knives.
I'll be passing through Paris tomorrow,
but I don't have much time in between trains,
so I was wondering if you would be willing to come to the train station
and bring them to me.
I know it's a big ask.
Uh... uh, what time?
I'll be there at one o'clock for about an hour.
We could have a quick lunch if you'd like.
It would be nice to see you.
Um, yeah. Yeah, I think I could do that.
Ah, thank you, Emily. I...
Honestly, you are a lifesaver.
Um, listen, I'll shoot you a picture so you know what to look for
and make sure the gardien knows to let you in.
Okay, I'll see you tomorrow at Le Train Bleu,
Uh, Gare de Lyon at 1:00 p.m.
Okay, yeah. Um...
Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow.
Bye.
Just in case you were wondering,
you were not hallucinating,
that call was very real.
It definitely was.
Marcello.
Livia. What are you doing here?
So it's true. You're working out of Pierre Cadault's atelier.
Ciao.
Nicolas, this is my sister Livia.
Ciao, Livia. Nice to meet you.
So you're the one behind this.
This was my decision.
Did Mamma send you?
She doesn't know I'm here. I don't agree with what she's doing, but--
But?
I don't know what you're doing.
You never designed anything in your life,
and suddenly you're doing a whole collection.
If I may,
your brother is very talented.
Clearly, it runs in the family.
Why don't you take a look at the line?
We'd love to get an outside opinion.
Good idea.
I'd love to know what you think, hm?
Hm...
They're beautiful.
Really well constructed.
But, Marcello, why do you want to tear our family apart over this?
It's not even that different from our own brand.
You just put a colorful horse on it.
You're not seeing the whole picture.
Neither are you.
Please stop this before it's too late.
Excuse me.
[phone buzzing[
- Ah! Hey, you, what's up? - Emily.
I need you to cancel Venice.
What? What do you mean?
We have to shut everything down.
What's going on?
It was a huge mistake.
I'm not a designer.
Of course you are.
Just because you keep saying it doesn't mean it's true.
We've wasted so much money.
I can't show this collection. I never should have listened--
Wait.
What happened? Where is this coming from?
My sister came here to see the line.
And she said it's not good enough.
And she's right.
She's right. I'm going to humiliate myself.
That's not true, okay? Don't let her get into your head.
The line is great.
Emily, stop.
She's right.
It's boring crap.
No, it's not.
Maybe we can add some accessories to liven it up.
I said stop.
You always want to fix everything.
But there are some things you can't fix.
Just stop.
Please.
Okay.
Um, let me see what I can do.
Emily!
Oh...
Sri Lanka was so beautiful. Like nothing I've ever seen before.
But I think my favorite place was Thailand.
The people are so friendly.
And the food... Oh!
Your episode of Chef's Table is gonna be incredible.
I still can't believe you just packed up and left.
It was a crazy thing to do,
but I had to do it.
I'd gotten everything I thought I wanted, and I was miserable.
So I decided to do the exact opposite.
Instead of stability and routine,
I ran for the unknown.
It just woke me up. Uh...
I don't know. I...
I'm talking too much.
How have you been?
Oh, um, I'm fine. Yeah, the usual.
Marcello and I are back together.
How are you guys doing?
- We don't have to talk about it if... - No, no, no. It's okay.
Um, we're... We're good.
He's starting a fashion company.
He's actually designing the line himself.
I didn't know he was a designer.
Well, he wasn't.
But then we lost the one that we had, and I saw his sketches were incredible,
so I insisted that he take over.
Hm.
And we're supposed to show at Fashion Week,
but now he wants to trash the entire collection, so...
Wow, I missed so much.
It all happened so fast.
You know, maybe a little too fast.
Maybe I shouldn't have pushed him to do it.
Can I ask you something?
Of course.
Did I push you?
For the Michelin star?
The Michelin star was my dream.
But you were miserable.
And you ran halfway across the world to escape from it and...
...I don't know,
maybe from me.
Emily, all I can tell you is that you supported me.
You had faith in me.
Probably more than I ever deserved.
That's a good thing.
I just don't think that's how Marcello feels.
He's so upset, and I feel like it's my fault.
Although...
...maybe that could be because of the lawsuit.
'Cause on top of everything, his mom's suing him.
That's terrible.
His business partner, Nico--
Oh, Mindy's boyfriend, you remember him?
- The billionaire? - Well, no, not anymore.
It's a really long story.
You know what, I forgot how dramatic Paris can get.
This restaurant is so gorgeous.
We should have had our Belle Époque party here.
It's art nouveau, right?
You know what? I believe it is.
Look at you, you're such a cultured Parisian now.
There was a time where you didn't even know which floor you were on.
Oh, God, remember when that was my biggest problem?
Oh.
I feel like that was my Belle Époque.
Everything was so new and exciting.
Like a fantasy.
Now it all just feels
so difficult.
And real.
We tend to romanticize the past.
Things were pretty hard back then too.
You didn't know what you were doing at work.
Hm.
You were kissing people that had girlfriends.
Which I didn't know.
And they were kissing back, by the way.
Very true, but not only that,
there were... secrets and pacts
and fake Michelin inspectors.
And also good memories like
sex on the roof.
Now who's romanticizing the past?
You know,
when I left for the yacht, I thought my best days were behind me.
But now I'm excited for the future.
Wherever it brings me. I...
I think you should be too.
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
I wanna vanish inside your kiss
Every day, I love you more and more
Listen to my heart
Can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change
Winter to spring
Thank you for meeting me.
It was good to see you.
Give Marcello some time.
You two are good together.
What makes you say that?
Because I saw the two of you in Rome.
When were you in Rome?
After you decided to leave Paris,
I had this crazy idea to follow you.
And...
I saw you with him.
Why didn't you ever tell me?
Because you looked
happy.
And that's all I ever wanted for you.
It's all I ever wanted for you too.
For both of us.
You know, they didn't start calling it La Belle Époque until after it had passed.
Nobody knows if they're living their golden age.
Maybe we're living ours now.
Just send me a postcard, okay?
A real one, with a stamp.
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song...
Au revoir.
Bye.
Storm clouds may gather
The stars may collide...
Oh. Oh my God! Your... Uh, Gabriel, your knives!
Wait!
Gabriel! Gabriel!
- Your knives! - Oh!
Thank you.
Come what may...
You're a good friend.
I will love you
Suddenly the world seems Such a perfect place
Hey.
Where is everyone?
I sent them home.
Did you cancel the show in Venice?
Not yet.
Are you sure that's what you wanna do?
It's what needs to be done.
You know, sometimes, when things don't work out,
it helps to look at it from a different perspective.
Do the opposite.
Like, if I'm thinking black, I run towards white.
What?
Black is white, up is down.
Something like that, yeah.
All I can think of is how I'm disappointing everyone.
Well, then, think of the opposite.
Listen, I don't need you to be a designer
or a... titan of industry.
Or anything other than the wonderful man that you are.
Whatever you decide, I'm with you.
Finally!
"Finally?"
Maman, you only called an hour ago.
And I told you it was urgent.
Lovely to see you, too.
What's the emergency?
Have you seen your husband lately?
I saw him just last night.
He's been distant. But we're just starting to reconnect.
Wonderful.
Can you ask him to connect with me
and explain why his creditors are harassing me?
What?
He's behind in payments on everything
his liquor license, vendors, even some of his employees.
I don't understand.
He told me business was going so well.
Did he tell you he took out a two million euro loan
on the building?
I just found that out from my lawyer.
Maman, are you sure?
Of course I'm sure.
He doesn't have the money, so they're coming after me.
I should've never gotten in bed with that man.
And neither should you!
Thank you all so much.
It's perfect.
It's exactly how I pictured Maxim's during the Belle Époque.
It's been our pleasure.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with the Green Fairy.
She's in love with me.
Are we sure this doesn't make you hallucinate?
Is everything okay?
I thought you'd have the time of your life here.
No, c'est magnifique, but being here amid all this beauty,
I wish I hadn't given up on my art.
Luc, I think you're romanticizing the past.
Do you remember how hard it was?
And look at you, okay?
You have a great life.
You have great friends and a great job.
And... well, you...
You live on a boat.
Yes, it's true.
But, uh, I wasn't talented enough anyway.
Just another dream that died.
Luc, there is something you have to see.
Oh my God, is that...
It's me.
All of these years, I've been hanging in Maxim's.
Maybe a little too well hung.
Artistic license.
I can't believe it.
I did make it as an artist.
Emily, can you take a photo of me with my masterpiece, please?
Oh, of course, yeah.
Okay, let's see. Uh...
Oh, you know what? Here, you wanna just hold this?
Okay.
Um, just a little higher.
Tilt it to the left. Yeah, up, up, up.
Perfect.
Hello.
May I join you?
Uh, sure.
But no dancing tonight.
Deal.
I can't do the can-can anyway.
You alright?
It's so stupid.
Ah, try me.
Well, I guess I have to tell somebody.
I booked the role of Satine in Moulin Rouge.
It's an animated movie musical.
Well, congratulations. That's great.
Isn't it?
It is.
I mean, I could use the cash,
'cause I was really excited to tell Nico that I could cover the rent for a while.
But?
But they just sent me the script and some sketches,
and the full title is "Moulin Rat."
I'm a rat.
Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.
That can't be the right translation.
I mean, what's French for "rat"?
It's fucking "rat."
What?
I'm Ratine.
Who's Ratine?
- A cartoon rat prostitute. - Oh, shit.
This is why I didn't want to tell Nico. This is so humiliating.
Who cares? Cash that check.
That rat sex worker would.
She would.
Honestly, yes.
Bonsoir.
Hi. You alright, mate?
What's so funny?
I, um...
I...
I booked a job.
I'm Ratine.
That's great.
- Yes. - Wait, who?
- A rat prostitute in a top hat. - Stop it.
No, no, no. It's Moulin Rouge with rats.
Ah.
I get it. Funny.
No, no, no, it's not that funny.
But the salary's great,
and rent is on me.
That's amazing.
Yeah?
Mm.
I'm gonna go grab another drink.
Congrats.
Emily.
Did Laurent check in?
I didn't see him, but I was only at the check-in the first hour, so...
Oh! I think he just walked in.
Laurent.
You lied to me.
I know about the loan.
I can explain.
I needed to pay off some debts in Saint-Tropez.
I don't care why you did it.
You took advantage of my mother.
I'm so done with you.
Sylvie, please.
I want a divorce.
Hey, what's going on?
Oh, Emily, I'm sorry about earlier.
You've been so supportive during this.
It's been so difficult,
and... I need to tell you something.
- You're canceling the line-- - I love you.
- Canceling? - What?
No, uh, say your thing again.
I love you, Emily.
I love that you believe in my crazy dream even when I don't.
I love that you won't let me give up.
I love you too.
And like I told you before, none of this business stuff matters to me.
I hope that's not true.
Come.
What is all of this?
I took your advice about thinking differently.
And I'm doing the opposite.
The Palio is bright and loud. That's what the collection should be.
Not a colorful pony on neutral fabrics,
but a neutral pony on big, bold colorful designs.
But who were you on the phone to before?
I thought you were so upset.
Oh, that was my textile supplier.
And I wasn't angry. I was excited.
If we are going to make it to Venice, we don't have much time.
- We're going to Venice? - Mm-hm.
We're going to Venice! Ah!