Grand Hotel Page #21

KRINGELEIN:

We must call the police, your

excellency.

Preysing takes him by the shoulders.

PREYSING:

How much -- how much do you want --

you need money -- you have nothing.

KRINGELEIN:

Don't worry about me, Mr. General

Director Pryesing -- worry about

yourself.

(he picks up receiver)

There has been a murder -- this is

room one sixty-four.

CUT TO:

TELEPHONE ROOM:

Telephone girl plugs in.

GIRL:

Hello -- hurry up... hurry up...

someone in one sixty-four says there

has been a murder.

CUT TO:

HALL PORTER:

The scene gradually grows intense. Porter calls night man.

PORTER:

Here - quick - here -- go to one

sixty-four immediately.

(calls back on

telephone)

Give me Mr. Rohna -- Rohna the

manager.

CUT TO:

ROHNA'S ROOM

Darkened room. Bell ringing. Rohna sits up in bed, turns on

light, picks up telephone; on his face we see him hear the

news.

ROHNA:

Where?... murder?... who?... all

right, I'm coming. Wait a minute.

(speaks in a monotone)

Instruct everyone to use the utmost

tact -- we must have no scandal in

the Grand Hotel. Answer no questions,

I'm coming now -- inform the police.

(he replaces the telephone commences dressing quickly)

CUT TO:

GRUSINSKAYA'S ROOM

Trunks standing around everywhere. Suzette is finishing

packing. Grusinskaya is sitting in front of the mirror in a

loose night wrap -- she is doing her hair.

SUZETTE:

Madam should sleep.

GRUSINSKAYA:

I've done my hair differently -- do

you like that?

SUZETTE:

When a lady falls in love she does

her hair differently.

GRUSINSKAYA:

(rising)

In the middle of the night -- those

flowers make me think of a funeral.

Laurels and tube-roses.

(she pushes the window

closed, shivers, it

is chilly. She crosses

the room turning out

one of the lights)

Oh, think, Suzette -- the Villa and

the sun at Tremezzo -- quiet -- simple --

happy -- we'll have a guest, Suzette.

SUZETTE:

(quietly)

Yes, Madam. And now Madam will sleep.

It is not long 'till the train.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Goodnight, Suzette.

Suzette leaves -- turning out a light.

Alone, Grusinskaya goes to the telephone. She raises the

receiver.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Hello -- can you tell me if Baron

von Gaigern is in his room -- ring

him.

(talking to herself)

Cherie, I must wake you or you'll

miss the train.

(into phone)

...yes... are you ringing, he may be

asleep.

(to herself)

Cherie, you must get up and fetch me

from my room -- I'm longing for you,

Cherie -- I have not been to sleep --

I kept thinking you would come to

me.

(into phone)

...Oh, but he must answer. Ring --

ring -- ring.

CUT IN HERE at discretion the:

BARON'S EMPTY ROOM

Telephone is ringing.

CUT BACK TO:

GRUSINSKAYA'S ROOM

GRUSINSKAYA:

(to herself)

Cherie, hurry -- hurry -- hurry.

Answer the phone -- what is the

matter.

(into phone)

Ring him -- ring him.

(to herself)

Where are you -- where are you,

Cherie? Why don't you answer?

(into phone)

Well, ring him -- please -- please.

FADE OUT SLOWLY:

END OF SEQUENCE "#6"

SEQUENCE "#7"

Music up as we --

FADE IN ON:

DISSOLVE INTO - EXTERIOR SERVICE ENTRANCE OF HOTEL

The trees and the milk cart effect and other curious signs

of dawn, which we remember after the climax of the first

sequence.

Music cold and eerie.

DISSOLVE OUT:

General early morning bustle and activity.

From one van, fruit and vegetables are being unloaded. From

another, huge hind quarters of beef are being carried in and

in a monotonous way a baker throws two loaves at a time, to

another man, from a van backed up --

BAKER:

(counting)

Forty-two -- forty-four -- forty-six --

forty-eight -- fifty -- fifty-two --

Waiters coming to work. A noisy racket.

Sandwiched between the bread and butcher vans, is backed a

hearse.

At the moment we come upon it, the men are pausing in their

work to glance. The men take off their caps, as; proceeded

by the hotel detective and others, who will be there, the

corpse of the Baron in the basket, used at such time, is

brought out and placed in the hearse, which drives noisily

away. A policeman rides with the driver on the box.

By this time the man with the bread is counting:

BAKER:

One hundred and eight -- one hundred

and ten -- one hundred and twelve...

Stay with him for a moment.

DISSOLVE OUT:

DISSOLVE INTO - EXTERIOR FRONT OF HOTEL

Shooting onto door - day lighting.

A man comes out and signals a black closed limousine, which

pulls forward.

DISSOLVE OUT:

DISSOLVE INTO - MAIN HOTEL LOBBY

Early morning. Sense of chill and desolation. Some chairs

stand on tables. A vacuum cleaner is at work on the carpets.

Newspaper boys are delivering papers at the news stand. The

various shops are slowly being opened, the windows being

cleaned.

The general feeling of the beginning of another day.

THE CAMERA waits at a distance shooting from door as Preysing,

with a plain clothes man on either side of him, leaves, moving

towards THE CAMERA. He is grim, his hat is drawn over his

eyes. His hands deep in his pockets. When he has passed the

CAMERA MOVES FORWARD TO:

SENF'S DESK

(the old shot) Meierheim is entering quickly goes through

the door.

He crosses now to Pimenov. They talk eagerly out of earshot.

But it is apparent that Meierheim is, as usual, in a hurry.

Rohna is there too. One of the men carries a telephone stand,

wrapped loosely in paper. But we know it's the telephone

stand.

Senf comes on duty, looks around, it is apparent that he is

late.

CLERK:

The night clerk has already gone --

you are late.

SENF:

Man -- I was at the clinic the whole

night -- there are no words to

describe what my wife suffered.

CLERK:

And the child isn't coming?

SENF:

No -- no -- not yet. Well, I mustn't

let it interfere with my duty. Any

news here?

CLERK:

News? Yes -- killing in number one-

sixty-four.

SENF:

What? -- Who? -- Whom?

CLERK:

The big manufacturer killed Baron

von Gaigern.

SENF:

Good heavens. What for?

CLERK:

I don't know.

SENF:

Man -- that's terrible. He was a

nice fellow -- I am sorry about him.

CLERK:

It seems that he was a thief and an

imposter.

SENF:

I don't believe it -- he was a real

gentleman. I know people... I'm so

tired I can hardly see out of my

eyes. No sleep for two nights and so

many duties and now this killing in

the hotel -- that means a lot of

work. But it's too bad about the

Baron, you always felt better when

he came along -- always friendly --

such an agreeable fellow.

CLERK:

Most imposters are --

A number of bellboys march up and form a line. Senf comes

from behind the desk and inspects them.

SENF:

Good morning.

BOYS:

(in chorus)

Good morning.

SENF:

Show your hands.

They show their hands.

SENF:

(to one boy)

You have dirty nails -- you little

pig -- you're no good... Caps off! --

Let's see your hair.

(Boys take off their

caps)

Good -- caps on!

(Boys put on their

caps)

Where is number seven?... Not here?

(to clerk)

Take his name -- if he comes late

again today, he's fired. Dismissed!

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