Hotel

The St. Gregory Hotel is in financial trouble, and owner Warren Trent contends with mounting pressure to sell. Manager Peter McDermott becomes deeply involved in evaluating proposals from three potential buyers. The tense atmosphere hints at the hotel’s uncertain future and the jockeying for control.

McDermott navigates the sale process while also pursuing a personal interest in Jeanne Rochefort, the French mistress of one bidder. His dual role places him at the center of competing interests as the bids intensify. The romance adds a layer of tension to the negotiations.

Curtis O'Keefe presents a bold vision for a hotel of the future, with ideas that feel more like an airport terminal than a traditional lodging house. He imagines conveyor belts moving luggage and even the bill being presented on a moving line. His project signals a radical disruption to the St. Gregory’s current operation.

O'Keefe's immediate plans are even more drastic: remove the fountain, replace seating with paid areas, fill the mezzanine with shops, and divide the great suites into smaller rooms. He wants to push guests toward revenue-generating spaces. The changes showcase the clash between modernization and preserving the hotel’s historic character.

The Duke and Duchess of Lanbourne arrive under mysterious circumstances, hiding from a previous accident. Hotel detective Dupere tries to blackmail them, adding another layer of intrigue. The atmosphere thickens with temptations and threats among the guests.

Keycase, a professional thief, begins stalking the hotel using a range of cunning techniques. He picks up a discarded key found in an ashtray at the airport and starts sneaking into rooms to steal cash. The shift to credit cards means he must adapt to fewer cash payouts.

Dr. Elmo Adams and his wife are denied a room by Trent, who is anxious about jeopardizing a sale. They disappear, followed by a man with a camera, fueling suspicions. McDermott berates Trent for obstructing the union-backed bid and risking the hotel’s future.

The Adamses are tracked to another hotel before McDermott offers to return their room. The NAACP becomes involved and informs McDermott that there is no plan yet to push for black guests at the St. Gregory. The potential racial controversy threatens both O'Keefe’s deal and the union's preferences.

O'Keefe makes a final offer during a meeting with Trent and McDermott. A late phone call reveals that Adams is not a doctor, but an employee of an O'Keefe hotel in Philadelphia, and that Adams was paid to influence Trent. McDermott also reveals that Rochefort slept with him to smooth the arrangements, pushing Trent to reject the deal and preserve the hotel.

Keycase’s luck shifts when he opens the attaché case to reveal the cash that will pay off Dupere. He heads for the elevator, pockets jangling with his prize. The stakes rise as the escape plan collides with the hotel’s mounting turmoil.

In the elevator, the control relays fail and the brakes begin to give way. McDermott and his assistant transfer passengers through the roof to safety while the Duke and Keycase are trapped inside. The car plummets after the brakes fail, and the Duke dies, sealing Keycase’s fate.

The Duchess admits she caused the car accident to protect her husband’s reputation and saves Dupere by confirming his ignorance. Police detectives decide not to press charges after seeing through the ruse. The hotel’s atmosphere shifts from danger to a tense aftermath as the situation stabilizes.

Keycase is arrested after his identity is revealed in the wake of the elevator incident. The elevator disaster contributes to an exodus as confidence in the hotel wanes, making its closure seem likely. The narrative threads tighten around the looming fate of the St. Gregory.

With the guests leaving, McDermott rounds up the remaining occupants, including Jeanne, and buys drinks on the house for a final toast to the St. Gregory. The elevator disaster marks a turning point, sealing the hotel’s uncertain fate. The scene ends on a note of resilience mixed with impending change for the historic hotel.