17 The Bridlington - Original Story By Stephanie Poppins

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

In this episode, Harold Hitler and Malory Monks are not all they seem...

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.

The Bridlington.

A series set in an English hotel.

Written and performed by Stephanie Poppins.

Episode 17 Oh,

If I have to step over one more pile of suitcases,

I'm going to lose it,

Moaned Joseph Skinner as he dragged his wheeled coat stand behind him.

It was heavily laden with a lot more than it was designed for,

But he was inundated,

So needs must.

Cunningham was supposed to have staggered these.

Where's my best pals when I need them?

He thought as he staggered towards reception.

Skinner?

Oh,

Here we go.

He didn't waste any time,

Did he?

Yes,

Mr Cunningham.

By the looks of him,

Harold Hitler was in the worst mood he'd ever been in.

Since the theft of the prize painting from the art exhibition,

His stress levels had skyrocketed.

And each time he entered the lobby,

He looked just that little bit older.

His hair was standing on end,

His thick wiry brows were knitted together into one long caterpillar,

And his sidekick,

Mallory Monks,

Was as flustered as a flustered lackey could be.

Sir at your service,

Sir.

Don't be flippant,

Skinner.

Flippant?

Me?

What's all this mess?

This is a hotel lobby,

Not a dumping ground.

Sort it out now.

And there's loads more over there,

Harold.

There's loads more cases over there,

Look.

His monks,

Keen to stir the pot that little bit more.

Right you are.

There's more cases over there,

Skinner.

Loads more cases over there.

Joe winced.

I'm doing me level best,

Sir,

But we need more hands on deck.

They usually arrive in waves,

But this is more like a tsunami.

Cunningham turned his back to tot up the numerous mounds of left luggage,

And Joe afforded himself a sly grin.

He's more stressed than ever,

He said to himself.

And so he should be.

Idiot couldn't sort out a booze up in a brewery.

And as for that Doris Monks.

.

.

Don't worry,

Harold,

I'll see to it,

She gushed.

I'll get a couple of the domestics to move it into the Chester room,

OK?

And as they walked away,

Joe watched them with amusement.

Cunningham was a thin pole of a man,

And he'd partnered up with a saggy sack of a woman.

What a comical pair.

Quite what they saw in each other,

He had no idea.

But they were as thick as thieves.

Conspirators,

He chuckled to himself.

Not realising just how accurate a description this actually was.

Oh,

He sighed,

I hate those two.

I'm sure the feeling's mutual,

But they ain't getting rid of me.

I got the board of trustees behind me,

And I'm back in me old room with all me old perks.

The tables have turned for Joseph Skinner.

And what about the good news from James he'd just had?

That winning streak that afforded him enough money to deliver him from a life of servitude to the biggest criminal operation in town.

Now he was free.

Free from them,

The Petrovskys.

And free from Petra,

Or Bianca,

Or whatever her name was now.

Knowing what she was capable of,

He had to get her out of the Bridlington.

She was corrupt,

A spanner in the works.

Everything about her had been a lie.

Even her name.

But how to do it?

Look,

Mate,

That's tomorrow's problem,

He reassured himself.

Today,

Just enjoy the moment.

You're back,

Aren't you?

At last.

He rubbed his hands together in glee.

Things were going to be okay again.

No more listening to his mum and dad's rows.

No more ducking and diving to avoid telling them the truth about what he was really doing for a living.

He was back at the Bridlington Hotel.

With real wages,

Real uniform,

And real food.

Just the way he liked it.

Southmoor Hill was a thing of the past.

It was time to get stable again and build a future for himself.

And it would be different this time.

No more taking the Bridlington for granted.

His best girl Emily was under siege,

And he was determined to do whatever it took to support her.

And with any luck,

She'd come out on top as the rightful new heiress of the Bridlington dynasty.

They might even get promoted.

But no,

Don't run before you can walk,

He said out loud.

Enjoy the moment,

Joe.

You deserve it.

All right,

Doll.

How's Triggs?

He flashed a toothy smile at the woman sitting behind the front desk.

And she beamed back through twinkling eyes.

Looking good,

Doll.

If only I was 20 years older.

And the rest,

You silver-tongued devil,

You.

Jean liked Joe.

Everyone liked Joe.

And unbeknownst to the older woman,

Everyone liked her,

Too.

She was jolly,

Happy-go-lucky,

And a warm person to run to when the going got tough.

Which it regularly did at the Bridlington Hotel.

I've just spoken to Em.

She said she's on her way,

So you can be off in a mo.

Jean flicked her white bob and replied,

Okie-dokie.

And how are you liking your first shift back then?

You settled in yet,

Have you?

Like a pig in muck.

Just like the old times,

Said Joe.

But a lot busier.

It's been manic here since that theft,

Isn't it?

It always goes berserk when something like this happens.

Crazy magnets crazy,

I guess,

Smirked Joe.

That Petrovsky family's behind it,

I reckon.

They carry far too much weight in this town,

If you ask me.

Joe took a long breath.

He was well out of it now.

But what about Petra?

Was she in on it as well?

He wouldn't put it past her.

Oh well,

What did he care?

He was having nothing to do with any of them.

And anyway,

It couldn't have been them,

He mused.

I'd have heard all about those plans when I was there,

Wouldn't I?

Not that I'd be telling Jean that.

No one outside the Triangle of Trust should know how low I really sank.

I saw someone offering tours on my way in,

He replied,

Narrowly diverting the conversation.

It looks like theft's big business at the Bridlington.

Jean chuckled.

I'm not complaining.

It makes the time go quicker,

Doesn't it?

All these things going on.

And speaking of things going on,

How's my boy now?

Your boy?

J-10.

He's like a son to me,

Isn't he?

Oh,

He's all right.

He's back on with them in a big way.

They're made for each other,

Those two.

Good,

He had me worried there.

Worried?

He was all over the place.

I thought he might go back home at one point.

He was really cut up about that,

Emily.

Well,

He's not going anywhere now,

Trust me,

Said Joe.

Thank God,

Jean replied.

Only,

I need a word with him.

I didn't really want to bother him,

But now everything's settled,

It's kind of urgent.

Anything I can help with?

It's my daughter,

See.

She's back from uni and she wants work in the casino.

He said he'd have a word,

Only she's skint and she needs to get started as soon as possible.

I will see him before your shift's up,

Sure,

Said Joe.

Those two have stopped burning the candle at both ends now that things have settled down.

They shouldn't be long.

And how about our poster boy?

How's he doing?

Everyone's saying the Brillington's not the same without James Brighton.

Him and Chef are good mates,

Said Joe.

His priorities are elsewhere.

Jean shook her soft bob from side to side.

Ain't that a shame?

Chef to get caught up in all that,

Bless him.

He should have just let them take the painting and run,

Shouldn't he?

Nothing is worth risking your life for,

Is it?

Oh,

Hold up,

There's the phone.

Yes,

Mr Cunningham.

Right,

Mr Cunningham.

I'll tell him,

Mr Cunningham.

Thank you.

He says we've got to get back to work and stop stalling.

Oh,

Said Joe Riley.

The CCTV's back on then.

Yeah,

And that suits him down to the ground,

Doesn't it?

Anything to avoid leaving his drinks cabinet.

But Joe had a sneaking suspicion.

There was more to it than that.

Harold Hitler never would have missed the opportunity to take his ego for a stroll around the lobby to wind him up.

So what had happened?

Something had changed.

That's me gone then,

He said,

And headed for the lifts.

He had the three adjacent rooms for the 40th birthday group,

Then the golden wedding couple,

And last but not least,

The holiday couple.

And when he was done,

He'd go back to reception and start all over again.

He just hoped things would settle down now.

If they carried on the way they were,

Something was going to blow.

And it wouldn't be him.

Lady Perklington Smythe looked down at her phone in disgust.

Why couldn't anyone do their job?

And why didn't this imbecile answer the phone?

Lady Perklington Smythe,

Why did you take so long to answer,

Cunningham?

Three rings,

I told you,

Three rings.

It's not rocket science.

Harold Cunningham winced.

Well,

What are you doing about it?

It's one thing after another since you took over.

One thing after another.

What do I pay you for?

You're the one that arranged the security.

You better stay there.

I'm coming to see you and you'd better have some answers.

She slammed the phone down and grabbed the little silver bell she used to summon her maid,

Parker.

She needed the car and her lawyer too.

He would speak to the insurance for her and get rid of this problem as soon as possible.

She'd been put to enough expense removing that Emily from the will and there was no way she'd be footing the bill for this idiot manager as well.

It was time he left.

Harold Cunningham was bad for business.

But little did she know,

The hotel manager was already one step ahead.

That stupid cow thinks we'll be here waiting for her,

He spat.

Did you get everything,

Mallory?

Yeah?

Okay,

Then grab that bottle and let's go.

She must think I'm stupid,

Running that scam with Delaware behind my back all this time.

Well,

Two can play at that game.

I'll make her pay for sullying my name.

No one takes advantage of me and gets away with it.

So what shall we do now?

Said Mallory.

Head straight to the house,

Pick up the painting and off to the ferry.

By the time she arrives,

We'll be long gone.

Then can I get my ring?

Cunningham's face lit up,

His tobacco stained teeth on full display.

Once that pretty little pick is sold,

Mallory Monks,

I'm going to cover you in gold.

Don't you worry about that.

Then the biggest crooks the Bridlington Hotel had ever seen left together without once looking back.

Reviews

Rotten people really mess it up for the rest of us, don’t they? Ugh. Great story though! Thank you ❤️🙏🏼

So enjoying your wit and delivery of your story… it’s great. Thank you for creating and sharing 💝🎶💐