There are curses in these walls.Is someone getting attacked?
Why are you screaming?I'm the one that should be screaming.But you'll be home next week, right?Who are you?
Cat Tracey.Cat Tracey.Cat Tracey.
Here's the thing.It was all too easy at the beginning.
Cat, can you hear me?We're gonna get you out of here.
Maybe I should have seen the fire coming. But can you blame me?The only smoke I'd ever smelled was from a backyard bonfire.
I'd never imagined I'd end up here on the Upper East Side, where an enormous blaze has taken over the Highgate Hotel.
Well, I'm getting ahead of myself.Where did I leave off?Right. I left Minnesota for the first time in my life to find out why my dead mother left me a riddle on a piece of stationary from a Manhattan hotel.
Took a job at said hotel under the guise of living in New York, which I definitely do not.And in under an hour, I managed to make enemies out of a cranky cab driver, some random British boy, and my terrifying co-worker.GG.
Yes, Renee?I mean, yes, Miss Highgate.My apologies.
Be so kind and give Kat the tour, won't you?The girl who showed up here with a gym bag?Of course.Wonderful.I'll see you upstairs.
You know this job is more than just smiling and answering phones, right?
Oh, trust me, I'll need all of your expertise.I got fired from Culver's for being too polite to tell one of our regulars his coupon was expired.What's Culver's?It's sort of like steak and shake. Or Sonic?The Hedgehog?Fast food place.
French fries, burgers, milkshakes bigger than your head.I'm lactose intolerant.Okay, point is, customer service can really suck ass.We aren't allowed to swear up here.Well, customer service can really suck grass.Somehow you made it weirder.
Whatever.Follow me.This is the Madison Lobby.It doubles as an art collection.The ceiling was painted by Rembrandt's great-granddaughter, and this mirror is from the Hall of Mirrors.As in Versailles?Is it on loan?Please.We bought it.
This is our largest on-site restaurant, The Concord, to Michelin stars.It's upscale American with a light Etruscan touch.
Oysters, Gigi?Gigi's friend?
Sure.Delicious, right?It's slippery.
So, what's the deal with Renee?She had a Vogue feature?Renee is everything.She was a model, Donatella's muse, before she became an entrepreneur and took over here.
The Highgates had a tiny little hotel in Chelsea before they bought this building, and Renee expanded the brand to Los Angeles, London, Monaco... Second, floor.This is a typical guest floor.
We try to keep the floors populated by guests of ascending importance.Here we have high-income tourists.Fourth floor.Micro trendsetters and niche influencers.Sixth floor.Brand ambassadors, Fortune 500 conference goers.Seventh floor.They're bossy.
Tech moguls, diplomats, CEOs.This is where the long-term residents live.Actors and musicians who are in town for a while.Emma Stone stayed in that room when she was doing cabaret. And then there are the permanent residents.
People just live in a hotel.Why?Room service, laundry service, turndown service, luxury apartment living without lifting a finger.12th floor, college dorm for the 1%.They're what we call high touch.
Guest services keeps a close eye on them, but you probably won't have much contact unless they need Renee.And if they need Renee, something has gone very, very wrong.
Is someone getting attacked?We run around the corner to see a very tiny, very angry dog with its mouth around some guy's hand.
It's instinct.I grab my airport water bottle and...
It works!I scoop her up, stroke her head.It's okay!
Christ!You're okay!She's your front desk.Can we get first aid to 1206?Tyler, are you okay?
I am now.Now that the dust's settled, I take a good look at the dog's victim. He looks like... Titanic-era Leo.Bright hazel eyes, hint of a southern accent.I'm cooked.
That was incredible.Who are you?
It's wild how you think you know the answer to that question until a hot person asks you.What?
Oh, God.I'm going to say something embarrassing.I can feel it.It's in my throat.It's coming out.Oh, call me Ishmael.
You're funny. Hey, what's your horse called?
Your shirt.It says, ask me about my horse.I'd love to hear about your horse.
No, it's ironic.I don't have a horse.
Well, I've got three back home, and that's my biggest beef with New York.Not enough horses.
First aid kit!Copy.See you soon.Cat, what was that?
Oh, that.I used to volunteer at an animal shelter.They put me with the dogs because it was hard to tell when people were talking to me or the cats because my name... Oh.My name is Cat.
Well, pleasure to meet you, cat.And hey, Joan Crawford, can we be friends?
Easy, easy.You know, dogs usually love me.
We're going to take her home.I'm so sorry, Tyler.Michael will be up to look at your hand any minute.
Thanks, Gigi.And thank you, dog whisperer.
Don't even think about it.No, I wasn't.I'm not.Okay, did I hallucinate or is this dog's name Joan Crawford?
It's quiet hours.It's 3 p.m., Anne-Marie.Open up.I have Joan Crawford.Oh, come here, sweet baby.Um, where have you been?She had an altercation with Tyler Kelly in 1206.This is your third strike.
No, second.Second strike.That pipsqueak from Dune had it coming.You know what we talked about?
If these incidents continue, we'll have to arrange
Arrange what?Alternative accommodations.You want to move me?You can't move me.I've been here since Jennifer Grey had her original nose.This place had a whole different name when I got here.A whole lot more respect for its elders, too.
You.Annemarie turns to me.I feel like I might burst into flames, but... Come here, girl.
That's right.I've been walking around this place waiting for some kind of sign.For something that would tell me when mom was here or why.For someone who can look at me and give me all the answers.Natalie Wood.Spitting image of a young Natalie Wood.
But of course, it's not that easy.I was going to say, you're the one who looks like Joan Crawford.Oh, stop.
Flattery will get you everywhere. But you, Miss Gigi, you're nothing but a puppet of this broken hellhole.There are curses in these walls, you know, and if you try anything foolish, this whole place will crumble to the ground like a dry cookie.
Gotta go take out my teeth.
Okay, bye, Anne-Marie.Now, you have a nice afternoon.Just stay, rest, relax.Okay, bye now.Curses in the wall, my ass.Should we be worried about that?Anne-Marie's romanticy book club meets on Wednesday nights.She's probably just quoting ACOTAR.
Fourteenth floor.Fourteen?Who lives up here?Bella Hadid?That would be you.Welcome home, cat.
Cats living on the 14th floor?
Of course she is.No sense in her taking up a room we can give to a guest.You're so right.
This is so generous of you, Renee.
Thank you, Gigi.I'll see you later.
I was so sure I was a second floor person.This is... wow.Thank you so much.Oh, nonsense.It's the least I could do.I'm pretty sure I could fit my town's entire main street in here.Floor to ceiling windows, check. Massive sectional couch?Check.
TV bigger than my wildest dreams?
Check.Any water?Aquadeco?Decrystallo?Pellegrino?Perrier?Just tap is fine.Tell you a secret.I'm a tap girl too.Ice?Sure. Oh, wow.
So sorry, should have asked.Crushed or cubed?Cubed is fine.It's just, this is so stupid, but my mom and I used to want one of those water things on our fridge so bad.Even more stupid, I'd reached for my phone to text her a picture.
To say, look, I found one in real life.The one thing we always wanted and never had. But this is what no one tells you about grief, that sometimes you'll forget somebody's gone.And when you remember, it's like losing them all over again.
We always said that if we ever got one, that's how we'd know we'd made it.
Then I suppose you've made it.Are you all right?
I... My mom died. Three months ago, but it's fine.I'm fine.It's alright if you're not.You didn't know.You wouldn't happen to remember.I almost asked her.But the odds of Renee Highgate remembering Alice Tracy?Slim to none.Plus, what am I gonna say?
Thanks for the job and the free room, but I actually came here to solve a puzzle my dead mom left me. No.Better play it cool.Never mind.
Well then, you'll be in the bedroom just down the hall to the left.Go ahead and get settled and be ready downstairs by seven.Gigi will be training you on front desk.If you need anything, I'll be one floor above.Penthouse.And Cat?Yeah?
Shit.Siri, FaceTime Ethan.FaceTiming Ethan McKay.Chili pepper emoji.Dancing girls emoji.
I'm watering your plants.
Last I checked, you didn't have a plan.And you know what else is messed up?Your orchid.
It's fine.Put it in the shade and give it some water.Not that much water.Don't look at her.She's thirsty.Just a little bit of water.Then you won't have to water it again till next week.Easy.Now.
Next week? But you'll be home next week, right?
Um, I sort of got a job.Working the front desk at the hotel.My boss gave me a room on the 14th floor.Bitch!What?Ethan, this is bad.I'm supposed to get closure, not a job.
Jobs are made to be quit.Show me your pied-à-terre.
Oh my god, I'm crying.Does it have clap lights?My bed has clap lights.
It has clap lights!Oh, it gets worse.I met a boy.Some actor.He's staying at the hotel.Name?Tyler Kelly.
Tyler Kelly.I'm Googling.Oh.Brokeback hottie.Is that a horse?
Oopsie.Followed on Instagram.When are we kissing him?
I can't do anything.Hooking up with guests is strictly off-limits. But he has this little accent, and he made a joke about my shirt, and I want to kiss him so bad.
Look at you.It's happening.
Senior year, I was the Minnesota representative for Young Broadway USA.I was having a perfectly sensible Saturday, and then before I knew it, I was making out with a dancer from Little Shop and getting a tattoo of the plant.
New York happened to me and I can tell New York is happening to you too.
I still think the city smells bad and I'll be home in a... Hello?
That's so weird.I thought Rene was out.
Well, well, well.What do we have here?
Why are you screaming?I'm the one that should be screaming.I live here.
I'm... I'm gonna call Renee.
And what exactly is Renee going to do for you?
That's when it hits me.I recognize that accent.
Oh my God. You're the little klutz who steamrolled me in the lobby earlier.
I'm sorry.And I'm sorry for screaming.I just, you startled me.
Your door was open and all that yapping ruined my nap, which I was taking in my room, which is regrettably the one right next to yours.
I'm sorry.Ew.Why am I apologizing?You know, a nice pair of earplugs can really do wonders for a nap.
So you're Renee's new charity case, are you?And let me guess. Press off the plane.You smell like economy.Shower's that way.
For your information, I'm from Berlin.
Well, Auf Wiedersehen, Berlin!
Austin, I didn't know you were returning so soon.
Lovely to see you too, Mum.
I thought you were still in Monaco.You could have given me some warning.As a courtesy.
Like you did me courtesy of telling me you were dumping some girl in my suite.
I had Gigi send you an email.
You've always been a paragon of healthy communication.
Austin, watch your tone.And be nice to Kat.I need her.I'm always nice.And I need a favor from you, too.
Giving me a roommate and then asking me for a favor.Unbelievable.
I can't hear anything after that. All I know is that between the accidental job, asshole suite mate, and the non-zero chance of Ethan drowning my orchid, I need to figure out why Mom sent me here and get out of here as soon as possible.
They're always guests, never patrons, folks, customers, or God forbid, guys.
Absolutely not.You are their friend, but they are not our friend.If you need to direct someone, and you will, never point, always gesture with an open hand.This is your walkie, channel 4.And this is your iPad.Have you ever used an iPad?
It's like a laptop without a keyboard.Or a really big phone.Do they use smartphones in Montana?
Minnesota.And I've used both smartphones and iPads.
Oh, well.Look at you exceeding expectations.Your passcode is your birthday, which is... next week.You're a Virgo.
I don't really know what that means.
That's for the best.You'll use the same passkey for the software.Hi, Gate Hotel.This is Gigi.How may I assist this evening?Cat, take notes.
With all due respect to Gigi, I'm not taking notes.Instead, I opened the guest services software.If mom ever stayed here, there'd be a record of her in here.Right?
You are welcome to purchase a bidet for an upcharge, yes.
Last name Tracy, first name Alice.
Passcode required.Shit!What are you doing?Sorry, I... Give me that!The upcharge is $200.I can't babysit you.Go sit over there.I'll get you when I'm done.Yes, there is an additional charge to bring your own the day.
Ah, Gigi exile you already?
We'll see.Hey, how long have you worked here?
You ever hear of dinosaurs?I was here when the first ones had.
Can I ask you a question?You just did.Forget it.It's silly.
I carried some lady's ferret up six flights of stairs today because she insisted it's afraid of elevators.Do your worst.
Here's my worst.I'm lying to all of you about why I'm here, and I'm gonna quit this job as soon as I find out why my mom left me this stupid piece of stationery.I'm on a little bit of a mission.
I think my mom stayed at this hotel at some point, and I need to find out why.What's your name?Alice Tracy.Marty furrows his caterpillar eyebrows, studies my face like it's written in code.Well, I'll be damned.
Cat Tracey.I can feel it.Something's cracking.That's me.Why?But just when I'm sure everything will be illuminated.The power blows.
