Grand Hotel Page #3

BARON:

Good evening, Mr. Pimenov.

PIMENOV:

Oh -- good evening, Baron.

BARON:

How's the beautiful lady?

PIMENOV:

Grusinskaya -- well, to tell the

truth, Baron -- tonight we are a

little bit nervous. Were you at the

theatre last night?

BARON:

Certainly -- always when Grusinskaya

dances.

PIMENOV:

Well -- last night was not so good.

BARON:

I thought she was splendid!

PIMENOV:

Yes -- but the audience.

At that moment they are interrupted by a vehement little

Japanese with his wife. They are arguing with the Clerk. The

Japanese speaks in Japanese to his wife.

CLERK:

(to Japanese)

The parquot loges are behind the

parquet chairs.

JAPANESE:

Then they've put me back and I want

to be up in front. How is that, chairs

in front of loges?

Senf is speaking to a lady at the same time.

SENF:

The train leaves at seven-thirty,

Madam. That is the only through train --

the dining car goes along.

The Baron and Pimenov exchange glances as the little Japanese

speaks volubly to his wife.

BARON:

(sarcastically)

It's always so quiet here.

PIMENOV:

If you occupied the room next to

Madam Grusinskaya, you would

appreciate the quiet of a hotel lobby.

BARON:

My dear sir, I would gladly change

rooms with you.

PIMENOV:

(effeminately)

No doubt you would, Baron. But do

you know, I'm quite indispensable to

her. I'm her ballet master and her

nurse. I hardly belong to myself

anymore. But, there you are, it's

Grusinskaya -- you can't help adoring

her.

At that moment, Zinnowitz pushes past them.

ZINNOWITZ:

Pardon me.

(addressing Senf)

Is Mr. Preysing in -- I am Doctor

Zinnowitz.

SENF:

(to bellboy)

Mr. Preysing -- from Fredersdorf --

BELLBOY:

(quickly -- paging)

Mr. Preysing --

Preysing steps quickly into scene.

PREYSING:

Ach! Here you are, Doctor Zinnowitz.

ZINNOWITZ:

Have I kept you waiting?

PREYSING:

Waiting -- I'm waiting for news from

Manchester.

ZINNOWITZ:

No news yet?

PREYSING:

No. No word.

ZINNOWITZ:

Everything depends on the Manchester

merger.

PREYSING:

I know -- I know.

ZINNOWITZ:

I saw Gerstenkorn at lunch -- and as

your lawyer I made it my business to

broach the matter ---

As they begin to move out of scene, Zinnowitz calls back to

Senf.

ZINNOWITZ:

I'm expecting a young woman -- a

stenographer -- she will ask for Mr.

Preysing. Ask her to wait.

SENF:

Yes, Doctor Zinnowitz.

As they move out of scene, telephone bell goes.

SENF:

(to Clerk)

For me?

CLERK:

No -- letters to two-eighty.

SENF:

(to Clerk)

If a young woman, a stenographer, --

etc.

This just covers the scene.

The Baron and Pimenov are laughing at something one of them

has said which brings our attention to them again.

At that moment the Doctor enters the scene.

DOCTOR:

Any letters?

SENF:

No, Doctor.

DOCTOR:

Telegrams?

SENF:

No, Doctor.

DOCTOR:

Anyone asked for me?

SENF:

Nobody, Doctor.

The Doctor turns slowly away, taking out a cigarette with

his one hand.

BARON:

(glancing at Doctor)

The war.

PIMENOV:

(looking up from his

letter -- glances

off at the doctor)

That is Doctor Otternschlag -- You

know him?

BARON:

Yes -- He always seems to be waiting

for something -- and nothing ever

comes.

PIMENOV:

The war dropped him here and forgot

him.

BARON:

(beams)

Yes, I was in the war.

CUT IN:
FLASH OF DOCTOR --

He turns as he hears the Baron say this.

He pulls at his cigarette and looks grimly at the Baron...

then he looks off at Kringelein -- who is trying to get

Rohna's attention (the reception Clerk) -- at the reception

desk, which adjoins that of Senf's.

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

Please -- please pay some attention

to me -- I have no time.

Pan back to desk:

ROHNA:

(engaged with a lady

and gentleman, who

have just arrived)

If you will wait one moment, sir.

KRINGELEIN:

I won't wait -- I can't wait -- I

waited three days before I got a

room at all and what a room that is.

ROHNA:

It's a very nice room and inexpensive,

sir.

KRINGELEIN:

Did I say I wanted a cheap room to

live in -- when I came here did I

ask for a cheap room? Did I?

Rohna, sensing a scene with this strange dirty little

gentleman, looks furtively around for the manager.

ROHNA:

Just one moment, sir.

KRINGELEIN:

No, I won't wait -- I can't -- Every

day is precious -- every hour --

Every minute.

Second Clerk is looking straight at him.

Kringelein turns his attention directly to this man and

proceeds:

KRINGELEIN:

I came here because I wanted to live

here, two weeks, maybe three -- God

only knows -- I've told you I'll pay --

I'll pay anything you ask. I'm tired --

I'm ill -- I can't wait.

As he finishes the Doctor draws into the scene -- he is

watching.

Assistant Manager enters.

ASSISTANT MANAGER

Has the gentleman a complaint?

Rohna and Kringelein speak together.

ROHNA:

The gentleman is dissatisfied with

room number five fifty-nine.

KRINGELEIN:

I certainly have a complaint -- and

a fair one.

He senses an audience and warms up. The Baron and Pimenov

enter the scene. The lady and gentleman have turned. The

bellboy stands watching curiously and even Senf pauses and

looks up.

KRINGELEIN:

(continuing)

I came here from a long distance to

stay at the Grand Hotel. I want a

room -- a big room -- like you would

give General Director Preysing --

I'm as good as Mr. Preysing -- I can

pay like Mr. Preysing -- would you

give him a little room, way up in

the corner with the hot water pipes

going -- bang -- bang -- bang...

(he bangs at the desk

with his fist)

DOCTOR:

This gentleman can have my room.

KRINGELEIN:

(turning)

Oh!

DOCTOR:

Send his bags up to my room.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh -- but -- I --

DOCTOR:

You're tired. I can see that.

KRINGELEIN:

Yes -- yes -- I am tired. I have

been ill...

DOCTOR:

You are ill.

During this scene the manager has been talking with Rohna

quietly. The manager how turns.

MANAGER:

Mr. Kringelein will take room number

one-seventy-six, one of our most

expensive rooms. It is large and on

the front with bath.

KRINGELEIN:

(subdued -- exhausted --)

Does that mean that the bath is my

own? --- Private?

MANAGER:

Certainly, sir.

KRINGELEIN:

Well, now, that's very kind -- thanks.

That's what I want -- a large room

on the front with a private bath --

Yes, that's what I want. I can pay

now if you like.

He takes out his wallet and nervously commences to extract

money.

DOCTOR:

That will not be necessary.

The manager is instructing the bellboy to take Kringelein to

the new room.

Kringelein accidentally drops a bill -- the Baron, who has

noticed the money, stoops to pick it up.

In bending himself, Kringelein drops his hat.

Baron picks up the hat and considerately brushes it with his

sleeve.

KRINGELEIN:

Thank you, sir.

BARON:

(amused)

Not at all, sir.

(he beams)

KRINGELEIN:

(finding a friendly

face)

Permit me -- my name is Kringelein --

from Fredersdorf.

BARON:

I'm Baron von Gaigern.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, a Baron!

(he is impressed)

Baron catches the mood of making this gentleman suddenly

popular.

BARON:

And this is Doctor Otternschlag.

KRINGELEIN:

(turning to Doctor)

Oh -- Doctor -- you are a Doctor --

I am --

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