Grand Hotel Page #4

DOCTOR:

I know -- I know -- when a man's

collar is an inch too big for him --

I know he is ill.

KRINGELEIN:

Yes -- Oh -- oh -- yes, --

(his finger goes

nervously to his

collar)

Zinnowitz passes through scene quickly on his way out.

At that moment, Pimenov returns from the news-stand, where

he has bought the evening papers.

PIMENOV:

Well, Baron -- I must go and dress.

KRINGELEIN:

(to doctor)

Is this gentleman a Baron, too?

PIMENOV:

(laughing)

Unfortunately no.

The Manager comes into scene.

MANAGER:

Will Mr. Kringelein kindly register.

KRINGELEIN:

Again?

MANAGER:

Please.

Kringelein turns to the desk. The Doctor turns up with him.

At that moment the Baron's chauffeur touches his arm.

CHAUFFEUR:

Have you a minute now?

BARON:

No -- I told you not to come in this

lobby.

CHAUFFEUR:

Time's getting short.

BARON:

I've told you a hundred times not to

speak to me with a cigarette in your

mouth.

Chauffeur takes the cigarette out of his mouth -- but still

holds it in his hand.

CHAUFFEUR:

I want to speak --

BARON:

Not now.

CHAUFFEUR:

Yes, sir.

The Baron leaves.

General moving off, towards elevator, of Baron, Pimenov,

Kringelein and the Doctor.

SENF'S DESK

On another shot, shooting profile onto Senf's desk, bring in

Flaemmchen. Flaemmchen enters. Her back to CAMERA.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(we hear her ask)

Mr. Preysing.

SENF:

Will you wait please.

CLERK:

The stenographer is to go up -- Mr.

Preysing telephoned.

SENF:

Mr. Preysing -- one sixty-four.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Thanks --

(calling off to

elevator)

Heigh! -- Wait!

She crosses to elevator.

THE CAMERA RUSHES UP BEHIND HER, ALMOST PUSHING INTO ELEVATOR

WITH HER.

As she enters the elevator and the gate shuts, she turns

around, back pressed against the Baron -- who is looking

down at her. The look on her face is the look we often see

on Flaemmchen's in elevators when they are pressed.

NOTE:
Good introduction, for Flaemmchen.

The lift ascends.

UPPER CORRIDOR:

Flaemmchen steps out of the lift. She is looking around for

the numbers. She moves out of scene.

The Doctor, Kringelein and the bellboy with the bag, move

straight down the hall.

Pimenov is chatting volubly.

PIMENOV:

(to Baron)

Poor Grusinskaya -- how can she

receive anyone. She can't -- theatre,

trains, hotels -- hotels, trains

theatre.

We see Flaemmchen being directed by the floor clerk to Mr.

Preysing's room.

PIMENOV:

(continuing)

I must go and dress -- she'll be

waking up and calling for me.

He proceeds up the passage, pompously, humming the air of

his ballet.

At that moment, Flaemmchen, who has been directed to

Preysing's door, by floor clerk, passes the Baron and there

is an amusing exchange of glances between them.

Flaemmchen knocking at Preysing's door hears a voice.

PREYSING'S VOICE

Come in.

She opens the door.

CUT TO:

PREYSING'S ROOM

Preysing has had a bath and is actually steaming from it. He

stands before a long mirror, rubbing himself with a towel.

He sees her through the mirror, wraps the towel around him

very cutely, for a big man, and turns upon her.

PREYSING:

What...! --

FLAEMMCHEN:

I'm the stenographer.

PREYSING:

Then you will please wait outside.

He is very much affronted.

Flaemmchen, who has seen many large gentlemen in the

altogether --

FLAEMMCHEN:

(lightly)

Don't hurry -- take your time.

She goes out of the room and shuts the door.

CUT TO:

UPPER CORRIDOR:

Flaemmchen emerges from Preysing's room.

Baron loitering in the hall. (Whistling as outlined). Baron

approaches, he is also whistling -- the same tune that

Flaemmchen is whistling. She glances at him, as he continues

whistling with an amusing dance step, as much as to say:

"Are you mad?"

BARON:

Like dancing?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Not with strangers.

Baron glances back up the passage; it is apparent that he is

going to make conversation here with this girl, in order to

keep legitimately in the passage until Grusinskaya comes

out.

BARON:

(turning to Flaemmchen)

Never?

FLAEMMCHEN:

You're a fool!

BARON:

Yes, I am rather.

He glances down the passage again, his hands in his pockets.

She glances impatiently at her watch.

BARON:

He must be very nice.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Who?

BARON:

(gallantly)

Whoever is keeping you waiting.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(indicating Preysing's

door)

Have you seen it?

BARON:

Oh, my large and noisy neighbor --

really? That?

(indicating Preysing's

door)

FLAEMMCHEN:

That.

BARON:

(with meaning)

You?

FLAEMMCHEN:

(quickly)

Oh -- work!!

BARON:

(with meaning)

Oh!

FLAEMMCHEN:

Dictation.

(she twittles her

fingers)

You know...

BARON:

Oh... poor child. If you were free,

I'd ask you to come and have some

tea -- but --

FLAEMMCHEN:

Tea would spoil my dinner.

(lightly)

One meal a day, I'd hate to spoil

it.

BARON:

Reducing?

FLAEMMCHEN:

(she turns invitingly)

No -- why? -- should I?

BARON:

Lord no -- charming -- but why one

meal a day?

FLAEMMCHEN:

(laughing in his face)

Money -- Ever heard of it?

BARON:

Yes -- yes indeed -- but you are

a...

(moves fingers)

...a stenographer. Don't little

stenographers earn little pennies?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Very little.

BARON:

Too bad.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Did you ever see a stenographer with

a decent frock on? -- One that she'd

bought herself?

BARON:

Poor child --

(enthusiastically)

I wish I were free tonight -- we

could --

FLAEMMCHEN:

(with invitation)

Aren't you?

BARON:

(quickly)

What?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Free --

BARON:

(glancing up passage)

Unfortunately no -- to bad -- tomorrow

though.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Tomorrow? What time tomorrow?

BARON:

Shall we say five o'clock --

downstairs?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Where downstairs?

BARON:

Yellow Room where they dance --

(business)

FLAEMMCHEN:

You're very funny --

BARON:

(with great meaning)

Yes? -- Tomorrow?

FLAEMMCHEN:

Of course.

BARON:

Really?

Flaemmchen laughs at him.

BARON:

We'll dance.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(slowly)

All right. We'll dance.

At that moment we hear Kringelein's voice calling from his

doorway at the end of the passage.

KRINGELEIN'S VOICE

Baron -- Oh, Baron!

The Baron turns and looks off at ---

KRINGELEIN:

Kringelein is in his door in the distance -- radiant. He

waves.

KRINGELEIN:

If I could trouble the Baron to come

and see this beautiful room. I have

ordered champagne. Perhaps the

Baroness could join us.

CUT BACK TO:

FLAEMMCHEN, BARON AND KRINGELEIN

KRINGELEIN:

Waiter, oh waiter! Wait a minute!

(to Baron and

Flaemmchen)

We are having caviar -- it's expensive

but that makes no difference -- I

see the Baroness is laughing.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Have caviar if you like, but it tastes

like herring to me.

At that moment Grusinskaya's door opens suddenly and Suzette

comes out into the hall.

SUZETTE:

Ssshh! Please! Madam is asleep.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh!

By this time the others are entering Kringelein's room. The

Baron turns back for a moment.

BARON:

(calling back quietly

to Suzette)

Asleep? -- Ssshhh -- sorry!

Suzette turns back into the room.

CUT TO:

GRUSINSKAYA'S ROOM

It is typical hotel. Half-open trunks, etc. Curtains are

drawn -- room is in semi-darkness. There is a sense of

silence, except for distant music coming from the Yellow

Room below.

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