Ninotchka Page #7

LEON:

All right -- go ahead... you talk to

the lawyer and I'll talk to the judge!

IRANOFF:

That won't help you! You can't

intimidate us!

KOPALSKI:

Soviet Russia will put all its might

behind this case.

BULJANOFF:

You think because you represent the

former Duchess...

LEON:

The Duchess...

BULJANOFF:

The former Duchess!

LEON:

In any case, gentlemen, a charming,

beautiful, exquisite woman. I warn

you, if this case comes to trial it

will be before a French court, and

when the Duchess takes the stand...

IRANOFF:

All right, go ahead, get her on the

witness stand! What can she say?

LEON:

But how will she look? The fashions

this spring are very becoming to

her. Gentlemen, the judge will be

French, the jury will be French,

everybody in that courtroom will be

French. Have you ever seen a French

court when a beautiful woman sits on

the witness stand and lifts her skirt

a little? You sit down and pull up

your pants and where will it get

you?

IRANOFF:

I suppose you expect us to hand over

the jewels?

LEON:

Oh, no, no. I am not a highwayman,

I'm just a nuisance. All I'm trying

to do is make things as difficult as

possible.

BULJANOFF:

Not that we are giving in one inch,

but tell us... what is in your mind?

LEON:

Well, gentlemen, how about my

proposition?

IRANOFF:

What proposition?

LEON:

I just said let's have a little lunch.

(picking up the

telephone)

Room service.

MEDIUM SHOT -- CORRIDOR OF THE HOTEL CLARENCE

DISSOLVE TO:

shooting toward door leading to the Royal Suite. Two waiters

are wheeling in a table on which is a block of ice filled

with caviar and a collection of the most delicious hors

d'oeuvres. They enter the room. After the door is closed we

hear from within loud SOUNDS of approval from Buljanoff,

Iranoff, and Kopalski. The CAMERA STAYS on the door. After a

few seconds a very good-looking cigarette girl enters the

room and from within we HEAR even louder SOUNDS of approval.

Next a waiter enters carrying champagne and another with

glasses on a tray. As they are going into the room, the

cigarette girl comes out and runs excitedly down the corridor.

Camera pans with her away from the door as she starts down

the staircase.

MEDIUM SHOT -- DOOR OF THE ROYAL SUITE

Some of the waiters come out, others go in, carrying further

delicacies.

MEDIUM SHOT -- HEAD OF STAIRCASE

Up the staircase pants the cigarette girl, followed by two

other cigarette girls. Camera pans with them as they rush

toward the door of the Royal Suite and enter. From within we

HEAR terrific greetings. The CAMERA REMAINS ON THE DOOR as

we SLOWLY DISSOLVE INTO EVENING.

The electric lights are lit and a band of five Hungarian

musicians enters carrying typical Hungarian instruments,

including a cimbalom.

LONG SHOT -- ROYAL SUITE

The orchestra is playing; the Three Russians, very high by

now, are dancing with the girls. One of them is wearing the

cigarette tray of one of the girls. It is a harmless but

loud and hilarious party. Apart from all the hullabaloo sits

Leon at the desk, a telegraph blank before him.

LEON:

Hey, Sascha! Serge! Misha!

The three come to him, all in the gayest, most agreeable

mood.

KOPALSKI:

Yes, Leon...

IRANOFF:

(pawing him)

What is it, my boy?

LEON:

About this telegram to Moscow. Why

should you bother? I'll write it for

you.

BULJANOFF:

Leon... Leonitchka...

(he embraces Leon)

Why are you so good to us?

(he kisses Leon)

IRANOFF:

(kissing Leon too)

Leon, my little boy.

KOPALSKI:

(joining them)

Oh, Leon, you are so good.

LEON:

(freeing himself as

best he can)

What's the name of that Commissar on

the Board of Trade?

IRANOFF:

Razinin.

LEON:

(writing)

Razinin, Board of Trade, Moscow.

KOPALSKI:

You wouldn't like Razinin.

BULJANOFF:

He's a bad man. Sends people to

Siberia!

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