Grand Hotel Page #17

CUT IN:

FLASH OF CHAUFFEUR

Arguing with Senf.

CUT BACK TO:

BARON:

BARON:

Excuse me, Mr. Kringelein.

(he strides off)

Keep the CAMERA on Kringelein as he watches the Baron.

He takes out his pocket-book and looks at his money commencing

to count it. The thought is in his mind of offering the Baron

money. Charming scene.

CUT TO:

BARON AND CHAUFFEUR

Moving into position. They are talking.

BARON:

(quietly)

I've quit.

CHAUFFEUR:

You can't.

BARON:

I'm not going to get those pearls

and neither are you.

CHAUFFEUR:

What about the money?

BARON:

I'll pay you back.

CHAUFFEUR:

How?

BARON:

I have an idea working in my head...

(he glances at

Kringelein)

CHAUFFEUR:

You might find a bullet through that

head...

BARON:

If you did that, you'd get nothing

except the police after you. If you

wait -- I'll give you your six

thousand back --

At that moment a voice is heard.

VOICE:

Madam Grusinskaya's car -- Madam

Grusinskaya's car.

It is passed along.

INSIDE PORTER:

(calls through his

little telephone)

Madam Grusinskaya's car --

MEGAPHONE:

(outside)

Madam Grusinskaya's car --

BARON:

(quickly to chauffeur)

Later.

(Chauffeur exits with

bad grace.)

Baron looks off...

FULL SHOT -- FROM HIS ANGLE

Like a pageant Grusinskaya sweeps forward -- pretty shot.

Music comes up.

Grusinskaya is followed by Suzette, Pimenov and Meierheim.

People turn to look at her. She sweeps forward.

As she gets to the door she faces the Baron. She steps quickly

aside to him. Pimenov and Meierheim pause.

GRUSINSKAYA:

(to them)

Go on please -- go on, Suzette.

She and the Baron are alone.

BARON:

(quietly)

Bless you...

GRUSINSKAYA:

Are you coming to the theatre? Oh --

I shall dance tonight -- How I shall

dance -- I want to feel that you are

in the theatre.

BARON:

I can't.

GRUSINSKAYA:

No?

BARON:

No! I can't explain now. Oh, look --

the pearls. You wear them now...

GRUSINSKAYA:

Why do you think --

BARON:

Why?

GRUSINSKAYA:

They've brought me such good luck --

you --

He takes her hand, kisses it quietly.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I'm worried about you.

BARON:

Don't.

GRUSINSKAYA:

On the train?

BARON:

Yes -- I will be on the train.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Till then.

BARON:

Bless you --

During this scene Kringelein has been hovering nearby. As

Grusinskaya turns away and exits, Kringelein approaches the

Baron, who is standing perfectly still, looking off, -- his

mind miles away.

KRINGELEIN:

Was the Baron joking, or is it really

true that the Baron is -- in financial

straits.

BARON:

(lightly)

Absolutely true, Kringelein and I

have to raise some money immediately.

KRINGELEIN:

If the Baron -- if you would permit

me --

The Baron looks at him suddenly.

BARON:

What?

KRINGELEIN:

I would be awfully glad to oblige,

you've been so decent to me. Three

hundred?

BARON:

If I could get into a game I might

win some.

KRINGELEIN:

Gambling! I'd like that. I have over

six thousand eight hundred marks

with me.

BARON:

If we could scare up some men to

play.

KRINGELEIN:

We could come to my room.

BARON:

(with enthusiasm)

Good!

At that moment Flaemmchen passes.

BARON:

Going?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Yes --

Flaemmchen hesitates as though she wanted to say something

that is on her mind.

A curious little scene.

She doesn't speak, she just turns suddenly through the door.

The Baron glances after her a little puzzled, turns back to

Kringelein.

BARON:

Ready, Kringelein?

KRINGELEIN:

Ready, Baron.

They move off and are last in the crowd.

FADE OUT:

END OF SEQUENCE "#5"

SEQUENCE "#6"

No scenes 88-93 inclusive

Sequence omitted from original script.

DISSOLVE INTO:

KRINGELEIN'S ROOM

Possibly ten men are gathered about a green table. They are

playing cards. There are champagne bottles, glasses, etc.,

on the table -- a great deal of smoke. Good atmosphere. The

game is [...] fer. There is a dead silence except for the

monotonous words of the players.

White faced, the Baron has the bank.

Otternschlag is seen to close the door quietly and approach

the table.

Kringelein's back is to us.

They are smart people, not professional gamblers.

There is a tension in the room. The men are gathered around

tightly. We do not see the cards.

The following voices are heard:

BARON'S VOICE

All right, gentlemen.

VOICES:

I play -- I play -- Here -- Up --

Playing --

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

Yes -- me.

Several men glance at Kringelein and the size of his stake.

KRINGELEIN:

Is that too much, Baron?

BARON:

(glances down at his

own money)

No -- not at all.

KRINGELEIN:

All right then.

BARON:

All right then.

There is tension in the room. The Baron deals two cards.

Kringelein takes cards.

A MAN:

(quickly)

Don't show them.

Kringelein turns it down. He is like a little boy learning a

new game.

The Baron deals himself a card.

KRINGELEIN:

(to Baron)

What do I do now?

The Baron is serious. There is enough money on the table to

take him to Vienna.

A MAN:

(next to Kringelein)

Turn 'em up.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh yes -- that's right -- look! I

win, don't I --

(he turns the card up)

The Baron rises.

BARON:

There you are gentlemen.

A MAN:

(to Kringelein)

Will you take the bank, sir?

KRINGELEIN:

Yes -- I'll take everything gentlemen --

please, let us drink -- champagne ---

champagne is expensive and good. I'm

winning more than I used to earn in

a year -- double what I used to earn.

(he is counting his

money)

They hand him the cards.

Kringelein kisses the Baron -- he looks around.

KRINGELEIN:

Where is the Baron -- where are you,

Baron?

At the side table the Baron is standing -- he is drinking --

his face is white -- he has lost.

KRINGELEIN:

(rising quickly)

Excuse me, gentlemen.

DOCTOR:

(sitting down in

Kringelein's place)

I'll take the bank -- All right,

gentlemen.

Kringelein has come to the Baron.

BARON:

That was my last.

KRINGELEIN:

You've lost everything?

BARON:

I've no luck.

KRINGELEIN:

Pardon me, Baron. Permit me again...

(he puts bills in

Baron's hand.)

Baron pours out a glass of champagne -- he has been drinking

plenty -- he hands glass to Kringelein.

BARON:

Drink to me, Kringelein -- it's my

last chance.

KRINGELEIN:

(earnestly)

I do drink, Baron -- I drink to you,

Baron and to win.

(he drinks)

It's good, -- come along, Baron.

They both move back to the table where the Doctor holds the

bank.

BARON:

I take five hundred.

KRINGELEIN:

All of that at once, Baron?

The Baron picks cards, shows them to Kringelein who doesn't

understand.

BARON:

Eight.

(he is triumphant.)

DOCTOR'S VOICE

(rings in background)

Nine.

The Baron throws the cards into the middle of the table and

turns to Kringelein:

BARON:

That's it. The luck's with you.

(he walks away.)

VOICES:

Come along, Mr. Kringelein. Sit here.

KRINGELEIN:

I'm having luck for the first time

in my life.

A MAN:

Your bank, Mr. Kringelein.

Kringelein seats himself, puts his glass of champagne down

on the table.

Doctor leaves table, crosses to Baron who is pouring another

drink.

DOCTOR:

Out, Baron?

BARON:

(bitterly)

For a while -- I'll recover -- in

ten or twenty years.

(he points)

Look at that.

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