Grand Hotel Page #5

CLERK:

(at telephone -- shakes

his head)

No -- Madam Grusinskaya's car is not

to be brought.

SENF:

(to boy)

Madam Grusinskaya's car is not to be

brought.

The Clerk hands Senf the tickets which Senf hands to the

Baron.

BARON:

Charge them...

As the Baron is picking up his tickets he looks around quickly

as he hears the voice of Pimenov, who has arrived apparently

from his afternoon walk from the rehearsal at the theatre.

PIMENOV:

(to Senf)

Good evening -- my key -- one sixty-

eight.

BARON:

Good evening, Mr. Pimenov.

PIMENOV:

Oh -- good evening, Baron.

BARON:

How's the beautiful lady?

PIMENOV:

Grusinskaya -- well, to tell the

truth, Baron -- tonight we are a

little bit nervous. Were you at the

theatre last night?

BARON:

Certainly -- always when Grusinskaya

dances.

PIMENOV:

Well -- last night was not so good.

BARON:

I thought she was splendid!

PIMENOV:

Yes -- but the audience.

At that moment they are interrupted by a vehement little

Japanese with his wife. They are arguing with the Clerk. The

Japanese speaks in Japanese to his wife.

CLERK:

(to Japanese)

The parquot loges are behind the

parquet chairs.

JAPANESE:

Then they've put me back and I want

to be up in front. How is that, chairs

in front of loges?

Senf is speaking to a lady at the same time.

SENF:

The train leaves at seven-thirty,

Madam. That is the only through train --

the dining car goes along.

The Baron and Pimenov exchange glances as the little Japanese

speaks volubly to his wife.

BARON:

(sarcastically)

It's always so quiet here.

PIMENOV:

If you occupied the room next to

Madam Grusinskaya, you would

appreciate the quiet of a hotel lobby.

BARON:

My dear sir, I would gladly change

rooms with you.

PIMENOV:

(effeminately)

No doubt you would, Baron. But do

you know, I'm quite indispensable to

her. I'm her ballet master and her

nurse. I hardly belong to myself

anymore. But, there you are, it's

Grusinskaya -- you can't help adoring

her.

At that moment, Zinnowitz pushes past them.

ZINNOWITZ:

Pardon me.

(addressing Senf)

Is Mr. Preysing in -- I am Doctor

Zinnowitz.

SENF:

(to bellboy)

Mr. Preysing -- from Fredersdorf --

BELLBOY:

(quickly -- paging)

Mr. Preysing --

Preysing steps quickly into scene.

PREYSING:

Ach! Here you are, Doctor Zinnowitz.

ZINNOWITZ:

Have I kept you waiting?

PREYSING:

Waiting -- I'm waiting for news from

Manchester.

ZINNOWITZ:

No news yet?

PREYSING:

No. No word.

ZINNOWITZ:

Everything depends on the Manchester

merger.

PREYSING:

I know -- I know.

ZINNOWITZ:

I saw Gerstenkorn at lunch -- and as

your lawyer I made it my business to

broach the matter ---

As they begin to move out of scene, Zinnowitz calls back to

Senf.

ZINNOWITZ:

I'm expecting a young woman -- a

stenographer -- she will ask for Mr.

Preysing. Ask her to wait.

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