Grand Hotel Page #10

GRUSINSKAYA:

Why do you look at me like that?

BARON:

I did not know you were so

beautiful... and --

GRUSINSKAYA:

(bitterly)

And then --?

BARON:

No irony. You're so appealing -- so

soft -- so tired. I feel like taking

you in my arms and not letting

anything more happen to you -- ever.

GRUSINSKAYA:

(involuntarily closing

her eyes)

And -- and --

BARON:

How tired you are!

GRUSINSKAYA:

Yes -- tired...

BARON:

So alone.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Alone. All alone.

(whispers in Russian)

Oh, you strange -- strange creature.

BARON:

You mustn't talk Russian to me.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Strange man...

BARON:

Am I quite strange to you?

GRUSINSKAYA:

Not quite strange now. It is as if I

had been expecting you. You know,

once when the Grand Duke was alive,

I found a man hiding in my room -- a

young officer --

BARON:

And...?

GRUSINSKAYA:

He disappeared. Later he was found

dead.

BARON:

I never knew it was so dangerous to

hide in a woman's room when she's

alone.

(he embraces her)

GRUSINSKAYA:

Go away. Who are you --?

BARON:

A man who could love -- that is all,

who has forgotten everything else

for you.

GRUSINSKAYA:

You could love me. It is so long

since I have heard that word. Nobody

has loved me for a long time. It is

so icy-cold to be famous. One is so

cruelly alone. How is it that you --

Let me look at you. Your hands. Your

eyes. Why could you love me?

BARON:

I saw you just now -- then I saw you

cry -- and now I see you in the mirror --

Grusinskaya...

GRUSINSKAYA:

Grusinskaya... Oh -- oh if you knew

how I slaved and slaved for

Grusinskaya -- for the success of

Grusinskaya -- for the triumph of

Grusinskaya... and what is she now?

Just someone who has found that on

the day success ceases life ceases --

Are you listening to me -- Do you

understand? -- I want you to

understand.

BARON:

Yes -- I do understand.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I think you must go now -- the key

is on the floor.

BARON:

I'm not going -- You know I'm not

going -- Let me stay here?

GRUSINSKAYA:

I want to be alone.

BARON:

That is not so -- you don't want to

be alone.

(he looks back at the

bed as if remembering

the suicide.)

GRUSINSKAYA:

I want to be alone --

BARON:

No -- You don't want to be alone at

all -- You were in despair before --

If I left you, you'd feel worse than

you did before, You must not be alone --

You mustn't cry -- you must forget...

Tell me that I can stay with you --

tell me.

GRUSINSKAYA:

(whispering)

Just for a minute then.

Outside the distant noise of Kringelein is heard --

BARON:

What? Say it again -- I didn't hear.

She whispers.

GRUSINSKAYA:

You -- man...

The way she says it, the word goes home. It hurts him. She

has looked into his eyes for a moment with a strangely melting

and almost happy expression. She gets up suddenly.

(NOTE:
The other side of the bed -- not where the glass is)

She reaches with her feet for her slippers. She puts one on.

She can't find the other.

Business as he gets other slipper for her.

He kisses her ankle and looks up at her. She smiles down.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Thank you -- you are gallant.

(she turns, her mood

has changed)

What a sentimental scene. Grusinskaya

weeping is a sight worth seeing. It

is many years since she did such a

thing... You frightened me -- badly.

You're responsible for this -- painful

scene.

He watches her.

The sound of her own voice reassures her. She is generating

warmth. Her cry has done her good, she speaks quickly,

volubly.

GRUSINSKAYA:

The stage frays one's nerves... the

discipline -- it's so exacting.

Discipline means doing what you don't

want to do and take no pleasure in

doing. Do you know what I mean? Have

you ever experienced the weariness

that comes from discipline?

BARON:

I? -- Oh, no. I do only what I take

pleasure in doing.

Grusinskaya turns, she is graceful again.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I see -- you do only what you take

pleasure in doing. You take pleasure

in coming into a woman's bedroom and

you come. You take pleasure in a

dangerous climb onto a balcony, so

you do it... And what is your pleasure

now?

BARON:

(naive as he says

frankly)

I should like to smoke.

She rises. She had expected something else. His reply strikes

her as chivalrous and considerate. She crosses to the writing

table brings back her little cigarette box which she holds

out to him. He takes a cigarette and lights it. She watches

him curiously. She smiles, as she watches him greedily inhale

the smoke. She crosses and sits before her looking glass.

She brushes her hair back and powders her face. She looks

into the mirror, we feel that she has regained a desire to

live. He crosses and looks at her in the mirror, he smiles.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Why do you smile?

BARON:

Because I can see something in the

mirror that you cannot. My dear --

(he pauses suddenly)

GRUSINSKAYA:

What can you see?

BARON:

You are beautiful!

GRUSINSKAYA:

No.

BARON:

Beautiful but so sad. I did not know

it was so dangerous to look into a

woman's bedroom.

Suddenly he stoops, takes her shoulder in his hands and kisses

it. A long tender and sincere embrace.

Her eyes close. A tremor passes through her. Suddenly his

whole being is aware of her. She turns, rises and disengages

herself.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I think you had better go now. The

key is on the floor.

He glances back. He speaks suddenly with an air of command.

BARON:

I'm not going... You know that I'm

not going... Do you think I could

leave you alone here? After that --?

GRUSINSKAYA:

What?

BARON:

The veronal -- you. I'm going to

stay here with you.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I want to be alone.

BARON:

That is not the truth.

(he catches her wrists)

You do not want to be alone -- you're

afraid of being alone -- I know you're

afraid. I know you. You were

desperate, just now, if I go away

you'll be more desperate than ever.

Say I am to stay with you... say it.

(he almost shakes her)

Her head falls slowly on his breast.

GRUSINSKAYA:

(whispers)

For just a minute then.

(she pulls away,

crosses the room,

quickly to the door,

with almost a cry.

She looks around for

the key to the door)

No -- oh, no!

He crosses quickly to her and holds her in his arms.

BARON:

Just for a minute, Grusinskaya --

Outside the distant noise of Kringelein and the doctor.

FRONT ON SHOT OF KRINGELEIN

approaching the CAMERA with the Doctor.

They are returning from the bar and are passing Grusinskaya's

room. THE CAMERA precedes them. The Doctor is

characteristically drunk. He is silent, tense, cynical. A

distinct contrast to Kringelein, whose soul is warmed for

the first time by alcohol.

Kringelein's hat, the same, eccentric one, is twisted upon

his head jauntily. The carnation is in his buttonhole.

THE CAMERA backs into Kringelein's room and pauses, because

the Doctor has paused at the door.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, but Doctor. Isn't this wonderful.

To live -- to live -- in the Grand

Hotel.

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