Ninotchka Page #11

BULJANOFF:

Yes, Comrade?

NINOTCHKA:

Do you spell Buljanoff with one or

two f's?

BULJANOFF:

(with fright in his

voice)

With two f's, if you please.

Ninotchka goes on with her typing. Suddenly she looks up at

Iranoff, who becomes self-conscious and fixes his tie. As he

does so he sees that Ninotchka's glance is concentrated on

the spats which he was wearing and in his hurry forgot to

remove. He knows it is too late to do anything about it except

to stand one foot behind the other, as Ninotchka types faster,

the clicking of her keys twice as loud. Ninotchka picks up

the telephone.

NINOTCHKA:

(into phone)

Will you send me some cigarettes,

please?

(suddenly getting up)

Comrades, I am not in a position to

pass final judgment but at best you

have been careless in your duty to

the State.

(with utmost gravity)

You were entrusted with more than a

mere sale of jewelry. Why are we

peddling our precious possessions to

the world at this time? Our next

year's crop is in danger and you

know it. Unless we can get foreign

currency to buy tractors there will

not be enough bread for our people.

And you three comrades...

KOPALSKI:

We did it with the best intentions...

NINOTCHKA:

We cannot feed the Russian people on

your intentions. Fifty per cent to a

so-called Duchess!... Half of every

loaf of bread to our enemy! Comrade

Kopalski, go at once to our Embassy

and get the address of the best lawyer

in Paris.

KOPALSKI:

Yes, Comrade.

NINOTCHKA:

You, Comrade Iranoff, go to the Public

Library and get me the section of

the Civil Code on property.

BULJANOFF:

Is there anything I can do, Comrade?

NINOTCHKA:

You might get me an accurate map of

Paris. I want to use my spare time

to inspect the public utilities and

make a study of all outstanding

technical achievements in the city.

BULJANOFF:

Yes, Comrade.

The buzzer rings.

NINOTCHKA:

Come in.

The three Cigarette Girls enter.

CIGARETTE GIRLS:

(gaily)

Hello! Hello! Cigarettes?

Ninotchka looks up astonished. Seeing her, the Cigarette

Girls freeze. The Russians stand by quietly.

NINOTCHKA:

(looking at the

Russians)

Comrades, you seem to have been

smoking a lot.

FADE OUT:

MEDIUM SHOT -- LOBBY -- HOTEL CLARENCE -- EVENING

FADE IN:

shooting past the desk toward the revolving door. The

telephone rings and the Desk Clerk answers.

DESK CLERK:

Desk... yes, Monsieur Kopalski...

(he writes down the

message)

...you are expecting Count d'Algout...

uh huh... but he is not to go to the

Royal Suite under any circumstances.

He should go to your new room, 985?

Thank you, monsieur.

(he hangs up the

receiver)

A few seconds later Ninotchka, naturally completely unaware

of the telephone conversation, passes by. She carries a map

in her hand.

DESK CLERK:

Good evening, madame.

NINOTCHKA:

Good evening. She exits out the door.

EXTERIOR, HOTEL CLARENCE

Ninotchka emerges, unfolds the map.

CLOSE-UP -- MAP OF PARIS

in the hands of Ninotchka. The CAMERA ZOOMS down to a CLOSE-

UP of the little drawing of the Hotel Clarence on the map.

The CAMERA then PANS OVER from the Clarence toward the

opposite side of the street, but before we reach the opposite

side we see that in the center of the street is a little

isle of safety. The CAMERA proceeds PANNING to the opposite

side of the square and we

DISSOLVE TO:

The Real Location Corresponding to That Seen on the Map and

seen from the same ANGLE. It is evening, and along the street

comes Leon on his way to the hotel. The CAMERA PANS with him

as he crosses the street. He reaches the isle of safety and

there passes Ninotchka, who has come from the other side.

They pass on the little isle without noticing each other.

Suddenly we hear the whistle of a traffic policeman and both

Ninotchka and Leon have to step back to the little isle.

CLOSE SHOT -- NINOTCHKA AND LEON

on the little isle. Wanting some information Ninotchka turns

to him -- completely impersonal.

NINOTCHKA:

You, please.

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