Olga Boyko - The Chronicles of the Counts Dracula-Cardie. Adapted from Baron Olshevris novel «Vampires»

FAMILY DOCTOR

No, I don’t think so.

COUNT FREDERICK

So, why are you so worried, my friend?

The doctor looks around as if afraid that someone can hear them and stops near a rose bush

FAMILY DOCTOR

Old beggar-woman saw a well-dressed, elderly gentleman who was walking away from the village in the direction of the castle.

Lucy appears suddenly and drags Carlo from his hiding place behind the rose bush. Count Frederick and the family doctor see the children and fall silent

LUCY

I caught you!

EXT – CARDIE’S CASTLE, BALCONY – SAME EVENING

A funeral bell tolls from the direction of the village. Everyone crosses themselves.

Countess Maria lies propped up on the chaise lounge, surrounded by her family. Her private balcony is large enough to resemble a terrace. The Countess shivers.

Count Frederick and Petro stand nearby on the balcony

COUNTESS MARIA

Another death in the village?

COUNT FREDERICK

I am sure it is nothing, my dear. Do you want me to send Petro to find out?

PETRO

You will see, my lady, that the Count is right and there is nothing to worry about.

COUNTESS MARIA

Go, Petro, find out, perhaps they need help.

She falls back onto her pillows, tiredly. The bells start to ring once more

The Count mutters in Petro’s ear…

COUNT FREDERICK

She must never learn of the epidemic.

PETRO

I will come up with something.

EXT-GARDEN OF THE WIDOW’S HOUSE-SUMMER EVENING

A small village house is surrounded by a garden. One part of the garden faces the main village road.

WIDOW’S DAUGHTER (17 years old) and a young servant girl LISA (16 years old) pick berries in the garden.

ELDERLY GENTLEMAN (aka American Servant 80 years old) walks towards the garden wall from the main road. He addresses Lisa

ELDERLY GENTLEMAN

May I have some water, my child?

He hands the girl a silver coin over the fence. She stares at it for a brief moment then takes the coin.

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, MUSICAL SALON – SAME EVENING

Count Frederick’s fingers glide masterfully along the keys of the piano.

Countess Maria listens to her husband play the piano. The children and the servants headed by Petro are all nearby.

EXT-GARDEN NEAR THE WIDOW’S HOUSE – SAME SUMMER EVENING

Lisa walks along the garden path, carrying a pitcher of kvass. She trips over something, looks down and discovers the body of the widow’s daughter. She drops the pitcher and it shatters at her feet

LISA

Help me! Help!

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, MUSICAL SALON-SAME EVENING

The Count’s fingers glide along the keys of the instrument, he finishes the melody.

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, YARD NEAR THE STABLES-SUMMER MORNING

Family Doctor and Count Frederick walk near the stables. The whinnying of the horses can be heard (sound behind the scenes)

COUNT FREDERICK

Is your patient getting better, Doctor?

FAMILY DOCTOR

She has anemia and a very severe case. She will need a healthy diet, milk, wine.

COUNT FREDERICK

Send her all she needs.

NIKOLAI the groom (25 years old) runs up to the Count. He is out of breath

NIKOLAI

Marina, our floor washer girl, she is dead.

FAMILY DOCTOR

Hurry up, take us to her.

They hurry, passing the servant’s barracks. Nikolai talks while walking

NIKOLAI

She didn’t come down to work in the morning. Chambermaids went up to her room and found her dead.

INT – MARINA’S ROOM-SAME MORNING

Marina’s corpse lies on her bed. Her face and body appear peaceful, as if she is only sleeping. The sudden gust of wind through the open window lifts and tangles her long loose hair.

Family Doctor takes Marina’s wrist. Count Frederick watches him closely

FAMILY DOCTOR

She is not only dead; the body is already stiff and cold.

COUNT FREDERICK

Do you see that red mark on her neck?

A small red wound is visible on the dead girl’s neck, the skin around the wound is slightly red.

Count Frederick and the Family Doctor exchange looks

EXT-GATES OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER EVENING

The mournful toll of the village bell is answered by the bell in the castle.

Countess Maria, Nikolai the groom, Lina the COOK, SERVANTS, little Carlo and his sister Lucy follow Marina’s coffin to the gates of the castle. From the crowd of castle servants muffles sobs can be heard.

The cart bearing the coffin drives slowly through the castle gates

NIKOLAI

The American did not come to the funeral mass.

COOK

Did you see it? His windows, even the shutters were closed when we were passing his guardhouse.

INT-FORMAN LIVING ROOM WITH THE NEW BALCONY-MORNING

Count Frederick guides his wife to her new place of rest. Catherine walks respectfully behind, accompanied by a couple of female servants, young Carlo and little Lucy

COUNTESS MARIA

It’s a pity this beautiful room was always locked.

COUNT FREDERICK

From now on we can spent our evening here.

The FOOTMAN opens the door for the couple.

Countess Maria takes two or three steps into the room, when suddenly; she screams violently and points into the neighboring hall.

COUNTESS MARIA

He is watching me… staring at me! He is my death!

The Countess faints in her husband’s arms. Everyone’s eyes follow the direction to which she was pointing. The faces of guests register unease.

A portrait (the same gold-framed portrait that was discovered in the Hunting House) hangs on the wall of the neighboring room. A tall lean old man, dressed in a renaissance style costume and wearing a heavy gold chain is peering from the frame. His thin lips are pressed together in an arrogant line and his red tinged eyes appear terrifyingly alive

COUNT FREDERICK

(to the servants)

Well, why are you gaping, remove everything!

YOUNG CARLO

(takes Countess’ hand)

Mom, don’t be afraid, the grandfather is dead.

EXT-AN OPEN AIR PLATFORM IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE GARDEN NEAR THE SHEER DROP – SAME SUMMER DAY

The Countess lies on a chaise lounge. She is clearly ill at ease.

She sees the evil red-tinged eyes among the hops. She looks around, terrified. The unseen presence moves towards the rocks of the sheer drop, its shape unclear yet menacing.

The Countess is afraid and reaches towards her husband.

Young Carlo and little Lucy play nearby, completely oblivious to the danger

COUNTESS MARIA

Freddie, those eyes, I can see them everywhere, they are hounding me.

COUNT FREDERICK

Whose eyes, dear?

COUNTESS MARIA

Grandfather’s.

COUNT FREDERICK

Enough, my darling, even the portrait is gone. I exiled it from our home.

The Count serves her cookies on a tray and leaves.

Countess Maria brings a cookie to her mouths and it grows moldy before her eyes.

She feels nauseous, coughs but later calms down and pulls out a small mirror in order to straighten her hair. Her reflection gradually vanishes as if eaten up by rust rising from the site of the bite on her neck. Maria cries out.

Her worried husband rushes in. She embraces him and flings away the mirror. The mirror lies on the floor, cracked, reflecting only the Count

END OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

INT-CARLO’S SITTING ROOM, VENICE-EARLY MORNING

BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

Carlo paces his sitting room, holding a letter in his hand and commenting to himself

TITLE: 1852

CARLO

My God, I am rich, unbelievably rich!

PETRO stands nearby in respectful silence. Although he is only about 67 years old the time has dealt him a terrible blow, his appearance is much older and he is dressed in a monk-like cowl. He holds papers and a pilgrim’s sack