Grand Hotel Page #16

PREYSING:

I don't know you.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh -- you must know me -- Kringelein

at the plant. Assistant bookkeeper,

building C, room twenty-three --

third floor.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(quickly)

Come and dance with me, Mr.

Kringelein.

PREYSING:

I must speak to you, Miss Flaemm --

business.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(lightly)

Tomorrow morning.

PREYSING:

No -- now.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Do you gentlemen know each other,

Mr. Kringelein -- Mr. Preysing --

Baron von Gaigern.

They bow stiffly.

PREYSING:

Mr. Kringelein will be a good friend

and not accept your invitation to

dance.

KRINGELEIN:

I could not think of not accepting.

PREYSING:

You say that you are employed by us

in Fredersdorf, and here you are in

Berlin, indulging in diversions which

ill befit your position and which

are very much beyond your means --

Quite extraordinary, Mr. Kringelein,

I think we will look into your books.

Kringelein stands watching Preysing, his eyes narrowing.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Now, children, no fighting -- save

that for the office. Let's have our

dance.

(her arms go around

Kringelein. They

dance off)

PREYSING:

I'll remember you, Mr. Kringelein.

BARON:

Oh, let the poor devil alone.

PREYSING:

I did not ask your advice.

The two men eye each other; for a moment there might be a

fight.

BARON:

I think it would be much better if

you went away.

PREYSING:

We shall see who remains here the

longer.

BARON:

(shrugging his

shoulders)

As you will.

Preysing leans against the bar, orders a cognac. The Baron

turns his back to him, watching the dancing.

CUT TO:

FAEMMCHEN AND KRINGELEIN ON FLOOR

FLAEMMCHEN:

You must look at my face and not at

the floor.

KRINGELEIN:

Yes.

FLAEMMCHEN:

You're trembling.

KRINGELEIN:

I never danced before -- in public.

FLAEMMCHEN:

You dance splendidly.

KRINGELEIN:

I'm happy, Miss Flaemm.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Really?

KRINGELEIN:

For the first time in my life, I'm

happy.

Kringelein shows signs of exhaustion.

Flaemmchen watches him quickly.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Let's stop -- I'm tired.

It is obvious that she has stopped because of Kringelein's

distress.

KRINGELEIN:

Thank you, Miss Flaemm.

They move back to the bar. Preysing catches Flaemmchen's

arm.

PREYSING:

Well now, Miss Flaemm, we can talk.

KRINGELEIN:

Some champagne, Miss Flaemm?

PREYSING:

You may go, Mr. Kringelein.

KRINGELEIN:

Does the world belong to you, Mr.

Preysing?

PREYSING:

What is this insolence?

KRINGELEIN:

Do you think you have free license

to be insulting? Believe me you have

not. You think you're superior, but

you're quite an ordinary man.

PREYSING:

Go away -- go away.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Please -- please!

KRINGELEIN:

You don't like to see me enjoying

myself.

PREYSING:

Who are you? -- An embezzler most

likely.

KRINGELEIN:

An embezzler -- you're going to take

that back, right here in the presence

of this young lady -- who do you

think you're talking to? You think

I'm dirt, if I'm dirt, you're a lot

dirtier, Mr. Industrial Magnate

Preysing.

PREYSING:

You're discharged.

KRINGELEIN:

Me?

PREYSING:

Yes you -- shut your mouth -- get

out -- you're discharged.

Kringelein's hat has fallen from the stool upon the floor.

Flaemmchen picks it up, brushes it.

Kringelein starts to laugh.

The Baron steps into the scene.

The Doctor slowly comes from the bar.

KRINGELEIN:

You can't discharge me -- I'm my own

master now -- at last. I'm ill, I'm

going to die -- do you understand?

I'm going to die very soon. Nothing

can happen to me now. Nobody can do

anything any more to me. By the time

you can have discharged me I shall

have been dead already.

(his laugh becomes a

convulsive sob)

The Baron steps between the two looking straight into

Preysing's face.

DOCTOR:

Come, Mr. Kringelein.

(he pulls him out of

the scene towards

the bar)

PREYSING:

(his fists clenched,

between his teeth)

The man's insane -- he acts as if he

is glad he is going to die...

(hesitates -- to

Flaemmchen)

I shall see you in the lobby in half

an hour.

END SEQUENCE "#4"

SEQUENCE "#5"

FADE IN:

KEY SHOT OF LOBBY OVER SENF'S HEAD

General activity.

The house detective, later identified, is talking to the

chauffeur. He leaves the chauffeur and crosses to Senf.

HOUSE DETECTIVE:

Better let him stay -- I've sent for

the Baron... How's your wife coming

along?

SENF:

I was at the hospital all night

walking up and down the corridor.

They wouldn't let me in to see her.

She has the pains, but the child

doesn't come and I have to stay here

chained to this desk.

HOUSE DETECTIVE:

It will be all right.

SENF:

I hope so.

At that moment Preysing enters.

PREYSING:

Did you send that page?

SENF:

The young lady's there, sir.

Preysing glances off to see Flaemmchen standing looking

around.

Preysing crosses to Flaemmchen.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Oh, yes, Mr. Preysing?

PREYSING:

Sit here.

(calls to a boy)

Cognac -- for you?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Nothing.

At that moment the Baron and Kringelein pass.

Preysing glances up at Kringelein as he passes.

PREYSING:

I'm going to keep an eye on that

Kringelein fellow. I'll find out

where he gets the money to hang around

the Grand Hotel.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Well -- you want me?

PREYSING:

(looks straight at

her)

Yes.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Well?

PREYSING:

I must go to England -- at once.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Well?

PREYSING:

You see, I'd like to take a secretary

with me for my correspondence and --

humm -- humm -- for company on the

trip -- I'm nervous -- I need somebody --

I don't know if you quite understand

me. You said you have travelled with

gentlemen -- and I mean --

FLAEMMCHEN:

I understand perfectly.

PREYSING:

What do you think your salary would

be -- for such a trip?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Wait -- I must figure it up.

(she smokes and thinks)

First, I'll need -- clothes -- shoes --

it's cold in England in March, I'll

need a suit... You'd want me to look

nice?

PREYSING:

Of course -- of course.

(he is fidgeting)

FLAEMMCHEN:

A thousand marks --

(she waits anxiously

thinking it might be

too much)

PREYSING:

It's agreed -- I will get a room

here for you.

She is looking away.

PREYSING:

I can get a room here in the Grand

Hotel for you.

She still looks away.

PREYSING:

Can you pay some attention to me?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Oh, yes.

PREYSING:

(looking off)

Insolent young cub!

FLAEMMCHEN:

You mean Baron von Gaigern?

PREYSING:

Baron!

FLAEMMCHEN:

Well, he's a gentleman!

THE BARON:

Who is leaning against a chair by a pillar with Kringelein.

THE CAMERA APPROACHES THEM.

They are not speaking. The Baron is looking off at:

FLASH A SHOT FROM HIS ANGLE OF CHAUFFEUR

Sauntering between the door and Senf's desk.

BACK TO:

THE BARON:

He slumps on the arm of the chair.

KRINGELEIN:

(watching him)

The Baron is tired?

BARON:

No, Kringelein, not tired, -- just --

(he shrugs his

shoulders)

Well -- well --

KRINGELEIN:

Perhaps this evening, Baron, we could

go to the Casino -- the place we

passed with the marvelous bright

lights?

BARON:

I'd like to Kringelein, but I can't --

I am broke!

KRINGELEIN:

Broke -- A Baron? But, Baron --

The Baron looks off, sees the chauffeur --

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