Ninotchka Page #2

IRANOFF:

This is Comrade Kopalski.

MANAGER:

Monsieur.

BULJANOFF:

I am Comrade Buljanoff.

MANAGER:

Monsieur.

BULJANOFF:

May I ask how much your rooms are?

MANAGER:

(trying to get rid of

them)

Well, gentlemen, I'm afraid our rates

are rather high.

BULJANOFF:

Why should you be afraid?

The other two nod their agreement. The Manager has noted the

single suitcase.

MANAGER:

(haughtily)

I might be able to accommodate you.

Is there some more luggage?

IRANOFF:

Oh, yes, but have you a safe here

big enough to hold this?

MANAGER:

I'm afraid we have no boxes of that

size in our vault, but there is one

suite with a private safe...

IRANOFF:

That's even better.

MANAGER:

But, gentlemen, I am afraid...

BULJANOFF:

He's always afraid.

The other two exchange a look of agreement again.

MANAGER:

(a little annoyed)

I just wanted to explain. The

apartment may suit your convenience

but I doubt that it will fit your

convictions. It's the Royal Suite.

The mention of the Royal Suite startles the three.

BULJANOFF:

Royal Suite!

(To the manager)

Just a minute.

The Three Russians take a step away from the manager and go

into a huddle.

BULJANOFF:

(in a low voice)

Now Comrades, I warn you... if it

gets out in Moscow that we stay in

the Royal Suite we will get into

terrible trouble.

IRANOFF:

(defending his right

to a good time)

We'll just say we had to take it on

account of the safe. That's a perfect

excuse. There was no other safe big

enough.

The other two welcome the suggestion with relish.

BULJANOFF AND IRANOFF

That's right. Good, very good.

Suddenly Buljanoff grows skeptical again.

BULJANOFF:

Of course, we could take out the

pieces and distribute them in three

or four boxes in the vault and take

a small room. That's an idea, isn't

it?

For a moment all three see their bright plans crumble. Then

Iranoff comes to the rescue.

IRANOFF:

Yes, it's an idea, but who says we

have to have an idea?

Buljanoff and Kopalski see the logic of this and their faces

light up.

BOTH:

That's right... that's right.

BULJANOFF:

(turning to the Manager)

Give us the Royal Suite.

The Manager leads the three toward the elevator. The CAMERA

FOLLOWS THEM and NARROWS DOWN to the suitcase carried by two

of the Russians.

DISSOLVE TO:

DARK INTERIOR OF SAFE -- ROYAL SUITE

We hear from the outside the turning of a key, the opening

of a door, then the turning of the dial, and then we see the

safe door open. Through the open door we now see the Royal

Suite. The Three Russians are standing in front of the safe.

One of them puts the suitcase into it.

MEDIUM SHOT -- ROYAL SUITE OF THE HOTEL CLARENCE

Shooting from the interior of the room toward the safe. The

Three Russians are standing around it. As Buljanoff and

Iranoff close the safe door, Kopalski walks out of the shot.

The CAMERA STAYS for a few seconds on Buljanoff and Iranoff,

then PANS OVER to the center of the room, where a waiter is

setting a breakfast table. He is the former Count Rakonin, a

Russian exile employed by the Hotel Clarence. Rakonin is

looking with great interest toward the safe, and as he does

so we hear Kopalski's voice talking into the telephone.

KOPALSKI'S VOICE

Will you connect me with Mercier...

yes, the jeweler...

Rakonin pricks up his ears and looks toward the telephone.

CLOSE SHOT -- KOPALSKI -- AT TELEPHONE

KOPALSKI:

I want to speak with Monsieur Mercier

personally... Hello, Monsieur Mercier?

This is Kopalski of the Russian Board

of Trade. We arrived this morning...

Thank you.

CLOSE SHOT -- RAKONIN

As he sets the breakfast table, his interest in the telephone

conversation increases.

KOPALSKI'S VOICE

Yes, everything is here. The necklace

too. All fourteen pieces... What?

No, Monsieur Mercier, the court jewels

of the Duchess Swana consisted of

fourteen pieces. Why don't you check

on that? Naturally, we have all the

necessary credentials.

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