Grand Hotel Page #6

Meierheim is pushing the bell.

PIMENOV:

How is the house?

MEIERHEIM:

Terrible. After this, no more ballets

for me. Jazz --

(snaps his fingers)

Just jazz.

PIMENOV:

If the house is empty again, I don't

know --

MEIERHEIM:

When she gets her paint on and hears

the music -- she'll be all right. I

know these people.

They are walking towards Kringelein's room. They are pacing

rather like men who walk the deck on a liner. They turn almost

together, but when they turn back past the CAMERA the CAMERA

PROCEEDS on into Kringelein's room. The CAMERA ENTERS THE

ROOM to a burst of laughter. Champagne bottles open, caviar,

smoke, etc.

In the room are the Doctor, Kringelein, the Baron, Flaemmchen,

and a very fat waiter -- comedian.

KRINGELEIN:

You may laugh. Caviar and champagne

may mean nothing to you, but to me --

they mean a great deal. You see, I'm

ill and all of a sudden I got a fear

of missing life. I don't want to

miss life -- do you understand?

FLAEMMCHEN:

You are funny. You speak of life as

if it were a train you wanted to

catch.

KRINGELEIN:

Yes -- and for me, it's going to

leave at any minute. Let's drink.

The Baron offers Flaemmchen a glass of champagne. She shakes

her head.

KRINGELEIN:

I'm sure this beautiful room must

appeal to your taste -- distinctive,

don't you think? Velvet upholstery --

'A-number one'. I'm in the textile

trade and I know.

(he has a slight case

of hiccups from the

champagne. He touches

the drapes)

And these are real silk drapes.

FLAEMMCHEN:

(amusedly)

Silk -- think of that -- silk --

they are, too.

KRINGELEIN:

(who hasn't stopped

talking)

Have you seen the bathroom? -- Hot

and cold running water -- You see, I

can get a bath whenever I like.

At that moment Preysing's voice is heard calling to the Floor

Clerk.

PREYSING:

The stenographer!

Flaemmchen, hearing this, turns and looks off, apparently

through the door. Her manner changes, she puts down her glass.

FLAEMMCHEN:

Her master's voice!

(turns to Baron)

I must go now -- goodbye -- thanks.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, don't go.

FLAEMMCHEN:

I'm engaged for the evening.

KRINGELEIN:

Oh, can anyone engage you for the

evening?

FLAEMMCHEN:

To take dictation -- a Mr. Preysing --

(to Baron)

Goodbye, you -- tomorrow at five

o'clock.

(she is moving out)

Kringelein's optimism has left him for a moment, he stands

looking out of door undecided, he is drooped suddenly, as

though years had returned to him.

BARON:

What's the matter, Mr. Kringelein?

KRINGELEIN:

(to himself)

General Director Preysing!

(possibly he turns to

Baron)

Baron, when I was sixteen years old,

I started as an office boy in that

man's factory --

BARON:

Then you know him?

KRINGELEIN:

Do I know him -- I know him through

and through.

They start to leave. Oh, gentlemen, please don't go.

BARON:

I must -- I hope to see you again,

Mr. Kringelein.

Baron leaves.

KRINGELEIN:

You will stay, Doctor -- if you have

nothing better to do?

DOCTOR:

I have nothing better to do, Mr.

Kringelein.

They move into the room.

CUT TO:

NO SCENES:
24 and 25 Sequence omitted from original script.

NEAR ELEVATOR:

Pimenov and Meierheim are standing there.

Meierheim is pushing the elevator button.

The Baron stands near and pauses, he is now a changed man.

He looks off as he hears the voice of Grusinskaya, off in

the distance.

Grusinskaya's Voice Hurry, Suzette.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Shot from the Baron's angle. Grusinskaya is sweeping down

the corridor, followed by Suzette.

CUT BACK TO:

BARON, PIMENOV AND MEIERHEIM

BARON:

Perhaps you could present me now,

Mr. Pimenov.

PIMENOV:

Please, Baron -- forgive me -- not

now -- here she is.

Grusinskaya sweeps into scene.

The Baron leans forward quickly and pushes the bell with a

glance at her.

They look at each other. He fixes his eyes on her

characteristically. She glances at him. This is the first

time they have met in the picture.

She is impatient. As if to break an awkward silence, she

turns to Suzette.

GRUSINSKAYA:

My coat.

Suzette is carrying the coat over the pearls. As she takes

the coat off her arm, Grusinskaya glances down at the jewel

case.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Suzette -- I told you not to bring

the pearls. I will not wear them

tonight.

MEIERHEIM:

Why not?

GRUSINSKAYA:

Take them back, Suzette.

MEIERHEIM:

You haven't time.

Suzette hesitates.

GRUSINSKAYA:

Hurry, Suzette.

MEIERHEIM:

Such nonsense.

Suzette toddles off with the pearls.

The elevator opens, collects its passengers, all except the

Baron and descends.

FLASH IN:

A shot of Grusinskaya's eyes as she goes down, glancing up.

FLASH IN:

A shot of the reverse of him looking down.

The Baron pauses, hesitates, thinks. We are interested in

his action. For the first time he becomes furtive.

HOTEL LOBBY - FROM ELEVATORS

Music swells up from the Yellow Room. A great deal of noise,

confusion and activity as the elevator stops to emit

Grusinskaya, followed by Pimenov, Meierheim and some other

people who are rather excited to be in the elevator with the

great Grusinskaya.

MEIERHEIM:

(off scene)

The car for Madam Grusinskaya.

The bellboy hears it and passes the word around. It seems to

be echoed through the lobby.

People turn, as Grusinskaya's spirit seems to rise with the

attention she is getting.

THE CAMERA precedes her through the revolving door, as she

sweeps outside of the hotel.

The Baron's chauffeur, Schweinke, is seen to watch her go.

He looks furtively around and enters the hotel.

CUT BACK TO:

UPPER CORRIDOR - CLOSEUP OF BARON

As he watches Suzette returning from Grusinskaya's room. She

is about to push lift button - then decides to run downstairs.

IMPORTANT CLOSEUP OF BARON

FADE OUT:

END OF SEQUENCE "#1"

PREYSING'S ROOM

Zinnowitz and Preysing are standing by door.

PREYSING:

No news from Manchester yet -- Do

you think we ought to postpone the

conference?

ZINNOWITZ:

Good heavens no. That'd create the

very worst impression. You must be

optimistic. You must convince them.

You know as well as I do that the

merger must go through.

PREYSING:

Yes -- the merger must go through --

But I am used to making my deals on

a solid basis. I am not a liar. I am

an honest business man -- a good

husband and father -- I have a sense

of honor -- I have nothing to conceal.

I couldn't live happily otherwise.

ZINNOWITZ:

Well, don't get excited about it. We

agreed that the merger with the

Saxonia people must go through.

PREYSING:

I want to dictate my statement for

tomorrow. I can't speak without notes.

I like to have things down before me

in black and white.

ZINNOWITZ:

I'll see you in the morning then, at

the conference. Everything'll be all

right, Preysing... Don't worry.

Goodnight.

PREYSING:

Good night.

Zinnowitz leaves.

SEQUENCE "#2"

FADE IN ON BLACKNESS OF PREYSING'S ROOM

We hear the distant voice of Preysing and the keys of the

typewriter rattling. The reason for the blackness is that

Preysing's back is flat into the camera. His hands are behind

his back and his fat fingers are moving restlessly. It is an

odd effect. We don't know quite what it is.

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