Grand Hotel Page #2

BARON:

(speaking into

telephone)

Baron Gaigern speaking. Yes, Baron

Gaigern himself. Where are you?,...

Good... No -- first, I need money. I

need it right now. I have to make a

showing... That's my business. I

hope to do it tonight... at the

theatre or after the show... But

money -- for the hotel bill, for

tips... I don't need advice, I need

money!... Now, listen...

PAN TO KRINGELEIN - booth.

KRINGELEIN:

Who is that, This is... Hello,

hello!... Who is that... Heinrich?

This is Kringelein. Hello, Heinrich.

This is Otto Kringelein. Hello! Can

you hear me?... I've got to speak

very quickly. Every minute costs two

marks ninety... What?... Otto

Kringelein! Yes, I'm in Berlin,

staying at the best hotel, the Grand

Hotel... No, don't you understand? I

want to explain, but I must do so

quickly, it costs so much. Please

don't interrupt me -- hello? Hello!

Listen! You know that will I made

before my operation? I gave it to

you. I want you to tear it up. Destroy

it. Because, listen, I came to Berlin

to see a great specialist about that

old trouble of mine... It's pretty

bad, Heinrich. The specialist says I

can't live much longer.

(louder)

I haven't long to live! That's what's

the matter! Hello, hello. Are you on

the line? No, it isn't nice to be

told a thing like that. All sorts of

things run through your head. I am

going to stay here in Berlin. I am

never coming back to Fredersdorf.

Never! I want to get something out

of life, too. You plague, and bother,

and save -- and all of a sudden you

are dead. Heinrich... You don't say

anything. I am in the Grand Hotel,

do you understand, the most expensive

hotel in Berlin? I'm going to get a

room here. The very best people stay

here. Our big boss, Preysing, too. I

saw him -- not five minutes after I

was here. Sometime, I'd like to tell

him exactly what I think of him.

Listen, Heinrich -- I have taken all

my savings; my life insurance, too;

I cashed in all my policies, the

sick benefit fund, the old age

pension, the unemployment insurance,

the burial fund and everything...

What's that, miss?... Hello, Heinrich.

I have to hang up now. I have to pay

three times overcharge. Just think,

Heinrich! There's music here all day

long. And in the evening, they go

around in full dress... Yes, sometimes

I have pain, but I can stand it.

Everything is frightfully expensive

here. You can imagine, the Grand

Hotel... What? Time's up...

Near the conclusion of Kringelein's speech, we see the Doctor

approaching through Kringelein's booth. He is looking down

at something.

CUT TO:

COMPLETE REVERSE - MATCH SHOT - SHOOT THEM BOTH TOGETHER

Doctor is looking down at parcel. Kringelein's voice on same

track. CAMERA BACKS UP. Show doctor as he passes various

booths -- voices of respective people come up sharply.

KRINGELEIN:

I'm a sick man -- Heinrich -- Hello -

hello -- Operator -- every minute

two marks ninety.

Doctor passes Baron's booth next.

BARON:

Dangerous?... That's my business...

I'll do it tonight -- ...I'll do it

alone.

Doctor passes Suzette's booth.

SUZETTE:

Madam is afraid -- she will never

dance again -- there was no applause

last night --

Doctor passes Preysing's booth.

PREYSING:

Yes -- the merger -- Manchester --

it is my business as much as yours --

we've already lost eighty-five

thousand --

Doctor passes Senf's booth.

SENF:

I'm on duty -- I can't leave the

Grand Hotel -- it's like being in

prison -- the baby --

Doctor crosses to telephone operator:

DOCTOR:

(to operator)

Any calls?

GIRL:

No, Doctor.

DOCTOR:

(half to himself)

Grand Hotel -- people -- coming --

going... Who cares... nothing ever

happens.

FADE OUT.

SEQUENCE "#1"

FACADE OF HOTEL:

showing electric sign -- odd angle -- THE GRAND HOTEL --

unlighted.

CUT TO:

ELECTRIC CONTROL ROOM

small section -- Engineer pulling down lever.

FACADE OF HOTEL:

sign flashes on.

DISSOLVE OUT:

DISSOLVE INTO:
EXTERIOR HOTEL

Shooting directly on swinging door -- normal crowd action.

Tea-dansant at this hour is daily rendezvous for smart demi-

mondaines, gigolos, out-of-town travelers, etc. -- These

types indicated.

In the distance we hear music.

DISSOLVE SUDDENLY TO:

YELLOWROOM - NEAR SHOT OF BAND

This same music is being played by the Eastman Jazz Band in

the Yellow Room of the hotel.

THE CAMERA does not wait but backs down the room. It is the

hour of the tea-dansant.

As the CAMERA IS BACKING OUT OF THE ROOM which is in reality

the restaurant converted -- the tall figure of the Baron --

he proceeds through the door of the restaurant --

Note:
Question here as to whether Yellow Room will be the

restaurant converted, or not. In which case it will be

necessary to add scene of Baron walking through corridor

upstairs -- giving sense of distance.

The Baron is whistling the tune of the orchestra, he proceeds

through the lobby as if on a mission. He glances at a pretty

woman who passes and nods good evening to the Doctor, who is

seated in his chair, not far from the desk. He enters.

CUT TO:

FLORIST SHOP:

Pretty girl is there, she has seen him coming. She turns

from the door and hands him a box of orchids, already tied

in ribbon.

BARON:

Good little girl -- nice ones?

GIRL:

Yes, Baron.

The Baron would stay and flirt but he has a mission; he

leaves.

CUT TO:

LOBBY:

In the lobby we pick up the Baron leaving the florists with

small box of flowers -- he crosses quickly to Senf's desk.

SHOT OVER SENF'S HEAD as the Baron puts the flowers down.

Senf is busy.

The Baron is whistling gaily -- tapping his fingers on the

flower box -- he is good-natured and patient.

SENF:

(to Clerk -- as

telephone bell rings)

Is that for me?

CLERK:

No -- Madam Grusinskaya's car is to

be brought.

(he replaces the

receiver)

SENF:

(to one of the bellboys)

Madam Grusinskaya's car is to be

brought.

Boy leaves. We hear his voice out of scene at the door.

BELLBOY'S VOICE

Madam Grusinskaya's car... to be

brought.

SENF:

Good evening, Baron.

BARON:

(amiably)

Good evening. Will you send these up

to Madam Grusinskaya?

SENF:

Yes, Baron.

(he hands the box of

flowers to the clerk)

Madam Grusinskaya.

Clerk hands box to bellboy.

CLERK:

Room one-seventy -- Madam Grusinskaya.

BARON:

(to Senf)

Have you my tickets for the theatre?

SENF:

Oh yes, Baron --

(to Clerk)

Baron von Gaigern's seats for Madam

Grusinskaya.

Telephone rings again. Clerk picks it up.

SENF:

(to Clerk)

For me?

CLERK:

(at telephone -- shakes

his head)

No -- Madam Grusinskaya's car is not

to be brought.

SENF:

(to boy)

Madam Grusinskaya's car is not to be

brought.

The Clerk hands Senf the tickets which Senf hands to the

Baron.

BARON:

Charge them...

As the Baron is picking up his tickets he looks around quickly

as he hears the voice of Pimenov, who has arrived apparently

from his afternoon walk from the rehearsal at the theatre.

PIMENOV:

(to Senf)

Good evening -- my key -- one sixty-

eight.

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