Grand Hotel Page #18

He has pointed and turned off because we hear Kringelein's

voice:

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

I've won again, Baron -- I've won

again.

Baron moves out of scene followed by Doctor. As Baron

approaches table.

KRINGELEIN:

Baron, I drink and win -- I drink

and win -- I win and drink!

(he is pulling money

towards him, counting

it, eagerly,

frantically, not the

movement of a miser,

not a greedy movement,

but the movement of

an excited child

liberated. Money has

become so much mad

paper to him.)

During the foregoing scene, one of the men at the table has

answered the ringing of the telephone bell, he comes back

now.

A MAN:

There are complaints in the hotel

about the noise.

VOICES:

What time is it? Getting late? Let's

break it up!

(to Kringelein)

You've been very lucky... Where's my

coat? Let's go. He's drunk anyway!...

Goodnight, Baron. Let's wind up the

game, I'm broke and tired; you can't

play against him. I put my hat down

here, somewhere. I think I'll have a

drink before I go. By the way, I've

got to see you tomorrow morning.

How've you been, Doctor?

Business ad lib. General business of slow normal exit.

Kringelein looks up from counting his money. He has been

like a little boy with a Christmas stocking. He looks up

suddenly, sees men are leaving --

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, don't go, gentlemen! -- Stay a

while.

(he stands to his

feet)

Be my guests!

By this time the men are pausing by the door.

KRINGELEIN:

I oughtn't to presume, but I --

(he is a little drunk)

I'm so grateful to you -- it's been

so marvelous. The first time in my

life I have gambled -- I've danced!

Oh, you can laugh, gentlemen, but

it's the first time in my life I've

ever tasted life!

A MAN:

(slapping him on back)

Splendid!

There is a general feeling in the room that although this

man is drunk he is terribly sincere, and that there is no

wish to embarrass themselves or him. In fact, there is a

nervous impatient movement among the men. But Kringelein has

reached an emotional pitch.

KRINGELEIN:

Life, gentlemen, is wonderful, but

very dangerous. You must have courage

for it, then it's wonderful. You

gentlemen don't know that because

you are all healthy and happy, but I --

believe me -- a man must know death

and not until then does a man know

anything about life.

A MAN:

(sings)

Rejoice in life while yet the small

lamp burns.

General noise among men, some are ribald, others are serious.

Two men come and shake hands with Kringelein, bidding him

goodnight.

The Baron puts his hand restrainingly on Kringelein's

shoulder.

Kringelein almost staggers towards the sideboard. The men

are nearing the door.

A MAN:

(starts singing)

It's a short life and a gay one...

KRINGELEIN:

(seizing a glass of

champagne)

Every glass high to life -- the

splendid, dangerous, mighty, brief --

brief life -- and the courage to

live it.

(turns to Baron)

Baron, you know -- I've only lived

since last night -- but that little

while seems longer than all the time

before -- all the --

(he collapses suddenly

onto the floor)

Business ad lib.

The doctor is there quickly. The Baron next.

MAN:

Drunk.

ANOTHER MAN:

Poor fellow.

General normal business ad lib between the men. Perhaps three

of them help him up, including the Baron. They carry

Kringelein to the bed.

VOICES:

(of players mingling)

Drunk? No, he's ill. Looks ill.

(well paused over:)

He's a doctor -- The doctor's here --

He's just drunk!

DOCTOR:

Gentlemen, this man is ill -- very

ill -- if you will leave.

VOICES:

Certainly, Doctor. Goodnight!

Goodnight, Baron! Bad luck!

DRUNKEN MAN:

He's not used to champagne -- why

does he drink it?

Little comedy on exit. Ad lib.

INTERCUT FOR RELIEF -- Kringelein's face -- white, drawn,

tragic.

One man, perhaps, remains.

MAN:

Can I help, doctor?

DOCTOR:

No, the Baron will stay.

BARON:

Certainly.

Man leaves. During this scene the Baron has been carefully

making Kringelein comfortable on the bed, bolstering pillows

behind his head. Kringelein's eyes are shut tightly, his

hands are limp.

By the business of the Baron, although we do not of course

know it, this is the time that he takes the wallet from

Kringelein and puts it in his own pocket.

We might perhaps remember a sudden turn away in which we see

his back and his right hand raised as though reaching in his

inside pocket --

He stands looking down at Kringelein.

DOCTOR:

(drops Kringelein's

hand)

It will be over in a minute.

Kringelein's eyes flutter. His voice sounds hoarsely:

KRINGELEIN:

Over -- over so soon -- it has just

begun.

(he closes his eyes

suddenly)

Oh, the pain.

DOCTOR:

Try and sleep, Kringelein, don't be

afraid.

KRINGELEIN:

(mutteringly)

I'd like to live a little longer but --

I'm not afraid to die -- I'm not...

BARON:

(touching his shoulder

gently)

You'll be all right, Kringelein.

(he moves from the

bed -- takes out a

cigarette, moves to

the table. He seizes

his drink)

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

(out of scene)

My pocketbook... my money in it...

DOCTOR'S VOICE

What do you say -- what?

We watch Baron's face, he looks back over his shoulder.

DOCTOR'S VOICE

You what -- Oh, isn't it there?

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

No -- But no I -- Baron, I've lost

my pocketbook.

Baron turns in this scene. He walks forward toward them.

The Doctor's hands are on Kringelein's coat.

DOCTOR:

There is no pocketbook here... On

the floor probably.

(He glances down)

KRINGELEIN:

(starting up suddenly)

More than fourteen thousand marks...

were in that pocketbook.

DOCTOR:

(looking at Baron)

Fourteen thousand marks... One can

travel -- one's happiness might depend

on fourteen thousand marks -- don't

you think so, Baron?

BARON:

(with a shrug)

Quite possibly.

At that moment, Kringelein, who has been staring up at the

ceiling, his hands clenching and reclenching, starts up.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, I've got to find it.

DOCTOR:

Stay where you are.

KRINGELEIN:

No -- I must find it --

(he starts talking)

Fourteen thousand two hundred marks.

(he pulls himself to

the side of the bed)

The doctor goes to restrain him.

KRINGELEIN:

I'm all right, Doctor. There's no

pain now -- only you don't know what

that money means to a man like me.

He is suddenly on his hands and knees, crawling along the

floor, looking for it, like a little boy; his drunkenness,

his condition, makes the situation tragic. He actually gets

under the card table.

The Doctor looks at the Baron.

The Baron only watches Kringelein. He follows him, fascinated.

KRINGELEIN:

(talking at intervals

as he crawls looking

for money)

You don't know, because you've never

lived like a dog -- in a hole -- and

saved and scrimped. My life hangs

upon that money, Baron. Nobody gives

you anything. You have to buy

everything and pay cash for it. I

wanted to pay for my last days with

that money. Every hour costs money.

I've nothing -- nothing but that

pocketbook.

(he crawls along the

floor on his hands

and knees talking to

the carpet as he

looks)

I must have it back.

(he pauses breathless --

like an animal along

the wall -- looking

up at the men)

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