Grand Hotel Page #2

At the conclusion of Senf's speech, CAMERA MOVES TO NEXT

BOOTH. Thru the glass door we see Preysing approaching from

desk. He enters booth and commences conversation:

PREYSING:

Hello! Long Distance?,... Get off

the wire... No... I was talking to

Fredersdorf... What?,... Oh...

Hello!... Is that you dear?... How

is everything at home?... What do

you hear from the factory?... No...

How are the children?... I left my

shaving set at home... Yes, is your

father there?... Hello, father?...

Our stock has gone down twenty-three

points. If our merger with the Saxonia

doesn't go through -- I don't know

what we can do... Hello, hello...

yes, papa. Rely on me -- everything

depends on Manchester... If they

refuse to come in -- well, we will

be in bad shape... no... Rely on me,

I'll make it go through -- I'll make

it go through... Waiting?... Yes,

I'm still speaking...

THE CAMERA THEN PANS TO Suzette. Suzette is already in the

booth and she is waiting for Mr. Meierheim to come on.

SUZETTE:

(starting to speak)

Hello, Mr. Meierheim?... Is that,

Mr. Meierheim?... This is Suzette...

Suzette, Madam Grusinskaya's maid...

No... Madam Grusinskaya will not go

to the rehearsal... No... Madam is

in a terrible state, she didn't sleep

all night -- She's very tired... No,

I'm speaking from a booth -- I didn't

want to speak in front of her... I

gave her a tablet of veronal... She's

sleeping now... You had better come

to the hotel, I'm afraid...

PAN TO BARON just entering booth. He is lighting a cigarette.

(receiver down - trick)

BARON:

(speaking into

telephone)

Baron Gaigern speaking. Yes, Baron

Gaigern himself. Where are you?,...

Good... No -- first, I need money. I

need it right now. I have to make a

showing... That's my business. I

hope to do it tonight... at the

theatre or after the show... But

money -- for the hotel bill, for

tips... I don't need advice, I need

money!... Now, listen...

PAN TO KRINGELEIN - booth.

KRINGELEIN:

Who is that, This is... Hello,

hello!... Who is that... Heinrich?

This is Kringelein. Hello, Heinrich.

This is Otto Kringelein. Hello! Can

you hear me?... I've got to speak

very quickly. Every minute costs two

marks ninety... What?... Otto

Kringelein! Yes, I'm in Berlin,

staying at the best hotel, the Grand

Hotel... No, don't you understand? I

want to explain, but I must do so

quickly, it costs so much. Please

don't interrupt me -- hello? Hello!

Listen! You know that will I made

before my operation? I gave it to

you. I want you to tear it up. Destroy

it. Because, listen, I came to Berlin

to see a great specialist about that

old trouble of mine... It's pretty

bad, Heinrich. The specialist says I

can't live much longer.

(louder)

I haven't long to live! That's what's

the matter! Hello, hello. Are you on

the line? No, it isn't nice to be

told a thing like that. All sorts of

things run through your head. I am

going to stay here in Berlin. I am

never coming back to Fredersdorf.

Never! I want to get something out

of life, too. You plague, and bother,

and save -- and all of a sudden you

are dead. Heinrich... You don't say

anything. I am in the Grand Hotel,

do you understand, the most expensive

hotel in Berlin? I'm going to get a

room here. The very best people stay

here. Our big boss, Preysing, too. I

saw him -- not five minutes after I

was here. Sometime, I'd like to tell

him exactly what I think of him.

Listen, Heinrich -- I have taken all

my savings; my life insurance, too;

I cashed in all my policies, the

sick benefit fund, the old age

pension, the unemployment insurance,

the burial fund and everything...

What's that, miss?... Hello, Heinrich.

I have to hang up now. I have to pay

three times overcharge. Just think,

Heinrich! There's music here all day

long. And in the evening, they go

around in full dress... Yes, sometimes

I have pain, but I can stand it.

Everything is frightfully expensive

here. You can imagine, the Grand

Hotel... What? Time's up...

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