8 The Bridlington - Original Bedtime Tales Stephanie Poppins

The Bridlington Hotel is the most prestigious getaway on the coast of East Riding. Owned by the cantankerous Lady Perklington-Smythe, it is never far from scandal. But reception staff Emily, James, and Joe are professionals, and committed to keeping up appearances, come what may.

In this episode, Joe is made an offer he cannot refuse, while James is asked to compromise his integrity.

Written and performed by English author Stephanie Poppins.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Sleep Stories with Steph,

A romantic bedtime podcast guaranteed to help you drift off into a calm and restful sleep.

Come with me as we travel into the heart of the Bridlington Hotel,

The most prestigious enterprise on the coast of East Riding.

Meet the characters as they go about their everyday lives,

Albeit amongst scandal and intrigue.

Not a day goes past at the Bridlington without something happening.

But before we begin,

Let's take a moment to focus on where we are now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose.

That's it.

Then let it out on a long sigh.

It is time to relax and fully let go.

There is nothing you need to be doing and nowhere you need to go.

This is your time.

Feel your shoulders melt away from your ears.

Feel the pressure seep away from your cheeks.

And let all the muscles in your face relax.

As you sink into the support beneath you,

Let the pressures of the day seep away.

Happy listening.

The Bridlington A series set in an English hotel.

Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins Episode 8 In the English seaside resort of Bridlington,

Where tourists from all over the country come to spend their not-so-sunny summers and ever-so-glamorous winters,

There are many hidden pockets of loveliness.

Between the rambling lanes and cobbled high streets,

They have little squares lined with tall townhouses and uniformly placed apple trees.

In one of these squares lives the Petrovsky family.

Known locally as the most hard-working addition to the community,

At least that's what the community is advised to say,

They have been there since they migrated in 2007,

When their country joined the European Union.

The Petrovskys are a large family,

Consisting of many cousins,

Their wives and their children,

Who all work hard to keep Campton Square as prim and proper as a square should be.

And it is very pretty by all accounts,

With the little water fountain and dark wooden benches lining the path.

But Campton Square wasn't always that way.

Before the Petrovskys arrived,

It was divided into rental apartments.

Many of the houses were tired and neglected.

When they brought their place for a song,

Along with a fair number of the vacant property surrounding it,

They soon sorted that out.

Now,

Campton Square is dubbed an idyllic haven for discerning residents,

By any estate agent worth his salt.

During the reign of Mikhail Petrovsky,

It was not possible for any resident to come in or out without his knowing about it.

Anyone who was looking to buy into his square quickly came to understand they also bought into his family in one way or another.

Of course,

This deterred the more discernible of residents,

But encouraged those who considered it a small price to pay to keep the standards up and the riff-raff out.

Making himself comfortable in the tanned leather chair offered him,

Joseph Skinner awaited the man himself.

Very nice,

He thought as he took in the marble flooring,

The studded furniture and the long sash windows.

A drink,

Mr Skinner?

A girl looking remarkably similar to Petra walked in.

She was carrying a small tray and on that a bottle of vodka and a shot glass.

Jo accepted her offer with a smile.

Don't mind if I do.

Then Mikhail entered,

Ready to receive his good news.

Am I drinking alone?

Said Jo.

I prefer to keep my wits about me,

Mr Petrovsky replied.

Now,

Your sales from last week.

He reached across the table,

His heavy hand empty and expectant.

Jo took out the wad of cash from his jacket pocket and smiled.

He'd done well that week and he knew it.

Petrovsky smiled back,

But his fierce eyes were scanning Jo from head to toe.

Jo wasn't quite sure what he was looking for,

But he had nothing to hide,

So he sat back and enjoyed another vodka.

With thick fingers and an even thicker grunt,

Petrovsky began to count,

His diamonds flashing in the bright spotlights as the notes flicked backwards and forwards.

And when at last he was satisfied,

He gestured for Jo to follow him into another room,

This one darker and more intimate.

There'll be more caviar next week,

He confirmed,

A new shipment.

But in the meantime,

I've got another job for you.

It should suit you well.

He shut the door behind them and Jo took in the scene.

Dark walls,

A wall safe and a desk.

Pretty sparse for an office,

He thought.

This job's at the Bridlington,

Petrovsky continued.

Jo smiled.

No problem.

A lot of my business is done there.

And she's alone,

So she shouldn't cause you too much trouble.

She?

Jo swallowed hard.

He didn't like the sound of this.

Knock-off season tickets and moody sunglasses were more his thing.

The most he'd ever stretched to was this new caviar.

Yes,

She's got something of mine,

Rather a lot of it,

Actually,

And I want it back.

There's a safe in her room.

All you have to do is get the combination.

She's a cantankerous old bag,

Petra says,

But harmless enough.

Petra?

Jo grabbed a seat.

This didn't sound right.

And it was all the worse for Petra being involved.

Is it cash?

And when do you need it by?

I need it as soon as possible.

Her memory's not what it used to be,

So the sooner the better.

But I'm not sure I can get access to the rooms,

And then there's the CCTV,

Insisted Jo nervously.

But Mr.

Petrovsky was not about to take no for an answer.

You will find a way,

Joseph.

I'm counting on you,

And Petra will be there to help.

Jo was confused.

Why did an old woman owe the Petrovskys money in the first place?

Was it something to do with Louis and the money he extorted from the hotel staff?

Yes,

That must be it.

And the old woman was his grandmother.

Delaware.

Hmm.

I think I know who you mean,

He said.

The old lady with the dog.

That's the one.

Now take this just in case.

Mr.

Petrovsky reached into his drawer and pulled out a long blade.

Jo balked at the sight.

This was not what he'd envisaged when he accepted Petra's invitation to work with her father.

It's okay,

I can manage,

He said quickly.

He didn't want to antagonise his meal ticket,

But he wasn't about to turn into a thug,

Either.

Her grandson's inside now,

And she's got off scot-free.

She is well connected.

Yeah,

But she's met a matching you,

Hasn't she?

Jo smirked.

Mikhail Petrovsky hesitated.

This lad was impertinent,

But Petra liked him,

So he'd do for now.

He placed the knife back in its drawer.

Lover,

Not a fighter,

Eh?

Well,

If she gets difficult,

Offer to take her dog out for a long walk.

That should get the message across.

Whatever you do,

Joseph,

Do not come back empty-handed.

Then he left,

And a burly assistant materialised to escort Jo from number one,

Campton Square.

Emily pushed away the morning paper James offered her,

With tears in her eyes.

What's up with you?

Said James.

You've been acting weird since we started.

What's going on,

Em?

The morning rush was over,

And Emily took a deep breath,

Finally letting out what she'd been torturing herself with ever since she got the call.

It's coming out tomorrow.

What's coming out,

Em?

What is it?

You're worrying me now.

It was unusual to see his friend so distraught,

Especially as she didn't even know what Dakota had been up to the night before.

The whole story.

It's coming out tomorrow.

This is it,

James.

No more fake escape to Switzerland.

No more freedom to be myself.

It's over.

Everyone will know.

My past has finally caught up with me.

James stood stunned.

He couldn't believe it.

In the press?

Yes.

How do you know?

The journalist.

He called me.

Who?

The bloke from the other night in the bar.

What did he say to you?

He said he's done some digging and he knows who I am.

He said he'd give me today to make my peace with it,

But the story's going to run tomorrow.

When did he call you?

5.

30 this morning.

It was bad enough having to tell J.

Tin.

His reaction was terrible and now he's going to think I only told him because I knew it would go public.

Yes,

It does look like that,

James admitted.

God,

Em,

It's one thing after another for you at the moment.

James looked on as more tears rolled down Emily's cheek.

He put his arm round her.

And what,

Says Mother Dearest?

She doesn't know yet.

But I don't care about that.

It's J.

Tin that's getting to me.

He's ghosting me.

I've never seen him so busy.

Every time I so much as look in his direction,

He's surrounded by guests.

I'm going out of my mind,

James.

He said we'd known each other long enough for me to have told him before.

He thinks I've been playing him all along like a rich girl's toy or something.

And he's right,

Isn't he?

It's not like that and you know it,

Em.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself,

Said James.

You've done nothing wrong.

We made plans to travel and everything.

But J.

Tin says how could I ever have been serious about any of it if I'm going to inherit so soon?

He says I was just telling him what he wanted to hear.

James looked away and bit his lip.

He warned her this would get messy.

But this wasn't the worst of it.

Dakota had been all over the concierge ever since that night in the bar.

And from what James could see,

He wasn't exactly beating her off with a stick.

Leave it to me,

He said.

I'll have a word with him.

Then handing Emily a tissue,

He planned his attack.

There was no way he was going to stand by and watch J.

Tin break Emily's heart.

It was about time that man was reminded just how lucky he was.

And as for Dakota,

James resolved to have a word with that vixen straight after.

Now the story was coming out,

He'd have the perfect threat.

It wouldn't be long before Emily could sack Dakota's quickest look at her.

That should cool her off.

You three are all I've got,

James.

You,

Joe and J.

Tin,

Sighed Emily.

Before I met you,

Nobody ever understood me.

She began to sniffle again.

I just can't lose J.

Tin.

I can't.

I love him.

Then she reached for another tissue,

Before a harsh voice interrupted.

Is anyone actually working this morning,

Or have I woken up in the Twilight Zone?

Mr.

Ambassador,

How can I help?

James ushered Emily into the back office,

Pulled his shoulders back and met the Ambassador's eye.

In response,

Mr.

Wade leant over the front desk,

Shirt sleeves rolled up.

But James stood his ground.

If this man was looking for a fight,

He'd get one.

Meanwhile,

The Ambassador's long-suffering wife hovered behind him,

Entertaining one of the waiting staff with tales of a particularly vicious shopping spree.

James gestured to the new bellboy as he said,

Morning tea,

Sir.

Is that what you're after?

You've a long journey ahead,

Haven't you?

But the Ambassador refused to play ball.

It's not morning tea I want.

James sighed.

He had a feeling there was more to it,

But he refused to give in that easily.

Mrs.

Wade,

He declared over her husband's shoulder,

Aren't you looking particularly perked for your journey home?

Emily watched the frustration seep away from Mrs.

Wade's cheeks,

From the anonymity of the back office.

James Brighton had such a way with browbeaten wives.

That sounds delightful,

How thoughtful you are.

But her husband had other things on his mind.

Go and sit down,

He ordered.

I'll sort things out here.

James had done his best to remove the Ambassador from reception before things got heated.

But he'd failed.

The man was obviously after something,

Although James didn't know what.

John will take your bags,

He offered,

Then we can facilitate the checkout from the premier lounge.

But his charm was lost on Ambassador Wade.

There's money missing from my room,

He said curtly as soon as his wife was out of earshot,

And I want it dealt with as soon as possible.

And there it was.

What a surprise.

Not content with the free booze,

And the conveyor belt of women,

Now the Ambassador intended on scamming the Bridlington as well.

James clenched his teeth.

He knew the drill,

He'd seen it all before.

Deny,

Deny,

Deny,

That was how to deal with this.

There were safes in each room to prevent such things,

And if the guests didn't know how to use them,

Or point blank refuse to,

That wasn't on them.

Then from out of nowhere appeared Emily,

Eyes dry,

Ready for a showdown.

We have an unusually low crime rate at the Bridlington,

Mr Wade,

She said stiffly.

Theft is practically unheard of.

Did you use the safe?

Pressing his protruding stomach against the counter,

Ambassador Wade kept his eyes fixed on James.

I shouldn't have to.

Perhaps it got mislaid during the evening,

Emily persisted,

But the Ambassador refused to look at her.

I do not carry that amount of cash around with me.

And what amount of cash would that be,

Ambassador?

£1,

500.

James sucked in the air through his teeth.

This was rich,

Even for his blood.

Now,

How to say diplomatically?

If he hadn't kept such company while he was out,

He might not find himself compromised like this.

But James held back.

It couldn't have been those women,

He knew them,

They were regulars from the casino.

Nice girls,

This had happened.

This was a scam,

Pure and simple.

One second,

Please,

He declared calmly.

I'll just call the manager.

Then he gestured to Emily to follow him.

He's trying it on,

Pure and simple,

She said.

But he's an ambassador from a great country.

They wouldn't allow this behaviour,

Surely?

You're right,

Let's look into him.

Something's not quite clear about this.

When was the last time he stayed here?

Years ago,

Said James,

Maybe two or three.

Hmm,

A lot can change in that time,

Said Emily.

She opened up her laptop and checked the emails he sent.

Was this even an official booking?

But Emily hadn't finished yet.

She'd already been had over once today and she was not going to let this go.

Look!

She turned the screen to face James.

And?

This booking was made from a private email,

It's not even official.

So?

So,

It's Cunningham's job to weed out things like this.

After all,

He was copied in.

I don't think our ambassador has any right to call himself that anymore.

Give me that!

James tapped away in disbelief and sure enough,

After digging a little deeper,

He saw Mr Wade had been dismissed six months earlier.

Oh my God!

After all the effort we've gone to,

The man's a fraud!

Yes,

Emily agreed,

And check this.

She pulled out his statement.

He used his government credit card to make the booking.

Well,

Well,

Now we've got him.

And this was just what she needed.

How dare these people think they could get one over on her.

Mr Wade,

She declared,

Leaving James in the back room.

I'll be dealing with this matter from now on.

Then she took him to the Premier Lounge to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

While James considered how best to deal with J.

Tin,

And how best to approach Cunningham about breaking the news to the staff,

Before the news about Emily Perklington Smythe,

And how she'd managed to deceive everyone around her,

Came out in the morning newspapers.