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

END OF COUNTESS MARIA’S DREAM

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, COUNTESS MARIA’S BEDROOM-SAME NIGHT

Countess Maria lies on propped up pillows and wipes her lips with the back of her hand nervously. The bloodstains on her nightgown are clearly visible.

Count Frederick sits beside her, the family doctor and the servants crowd around her bed. Countess Maria continues

COUNTESS MARIA

Instead of the necklace there was a real snake around my neck and it bit me…

YOUNG CARLO

Where is the snake, mama?

He wiggles through the crowd of adults towards the Countess. Carlo’s nurse Catherine grabs his hand immediately and takes him away.

Countess falls back onto her pillows with a frightened sigh

INT – YOUNG CARLO’S BEDROOM IN THE CASTLE – SAME NIGHT

Carlo sits on the bed and looks at Catherine. His bare feet stick out from under the blanket

CATHERINE

(closes his legs with a blanket)

Where have you seen running barefoot at night!

YOUNG CARLO

(goes to sleep)

But where is the snake, nurse?

CATHERINE

(straightens his blanket)

The lady had a dream and cried.

Carlo pulls the blanket over his head

INT – LARGE LIVING ROOM OF THE CASTLE – MORNING

The sun highlights the living room of the caste. Countess Maria, pale and haggard, reclines on the couch. Count Frederick stands nearby.

The footman stands in front of them

COUNTESS MARIA

Where is Nettie? I have been waiting for her for half an hour.

FOOTMAN

Nettie isn’t here. We have been looking for her since early morning.

COUNTESS MARIA

(discomposedly)

Find out who was the last to see her!

The footman bows and leaves the living room

YOUNG CARLO

(quickly coming up to parents)

Mom, have you found the snake?

COUNT FREDERICK

(pulls on Carlo’s arm)

Be quiet.

Countess leans back on the pillow with a slight groan

COUNT FREDERICK

(keeps looking at his son)

Do you want to ride to the village?

YOUNG CARLO

(joyfully)

I want it, want it! Mom, we’ll go to the village!

Carlo hugs his father and mother by turns

COUNT FREDERICK

Order for Caryago to be saddled.

Petro comes from somewhere and takes Carlo’s hand

COUNT FREDERICK

(continues, looking at Petro)

Come to me. I have an instruction for you.

EXT – CASTLE GARDEN – SAME SUMMER DAY

Maria sits on the beautiful terrace with climbing roses. She waves to the departing people. She is pale and leans on the railing awkwardly. She bumps the roses and they wilt from her touch only to be reborn as the dead nenufares.

EXT – AT THE GATE OF CARDIE’S CASTLE – SAME SUMMER DAY

Young Carlo and Petro ride away of the castle gate. The gatekeeper asks passing them

GATEKEEPER

Find out if there is Nettie in the village.

PETRO

I’ll look for.

Petro and Carlo go out of the gate

INT-ROOM OF CARDIE’S CASTLE – SAME DAY

Young FEMALE SERVANT dusts the furniture. She sees a shadow on the polished white marble of the fireplace. A silhouette of a man is visible behind her back.

The servant girl turns around and her face is frozen in fear. She screams once and everything is plunged into darkness

EXT-FOREST ROAD – SAME SUMMER DAY

Young Carlo and Petro ride along the forest road that leads to the village that lies at the foot of the castle rock

YOUNG CARLO

Petro, are you upset?

PETRO

Why do you think so, Carlo?

YOUNG CARLO

We no longer hunt birds’ nests or fish.

PETRO

(laughs)

Have I really changed so much?

YOUNG CARLO

Why is mama sick?

They move further and further away and their voices cannot be heard anymore behind the sound of wind and rustle of leaves on the trees.

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, KITCHENS – EVENING OF THE SAME DAY

Petro mends a huge wicker basket in the kitchens. He winces, muttering something to himself.

Young and plumb floor washer MARINA (18 years old) scrubs the floors and chatters.

PETRO

(muttering)

Old Devil…

MARINA

(chattering)

Why do you hate the American so much? Everybody is gossiping about it.

PETRO

Mind your own business. Go on, polish-polish!

MARINA

(does not give up)

He also goes down to the crypt every day.

She leaves her washrag for a moment to cross herself.

Petro concentrates on his work. He frowns even more

MARINA

(continues)

He is never seen with us folks and he refused the offer of allowance.

Marina attempts to imitate the voice of the American servant

MARINA

(continues)

My master left me enough money not to starve.

She laughs. Petro concentrates on his work

MARINA

(continues)

He arrived here all grey and dry and now has become so fat, soon he wouldn’t even fit through the doorway!

Angry at the girl, Petro tosses the basket aside

PETRO

Don’t you squeal! Once he’d sucked you dry, he will get even fatter.

MARINA

(laughs even louder)

He will gag first!

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT-GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE HUNTING HOUSE – SUMMER EVENING

Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges and Karl Ivanovich are gathered in the garden in front of the Hunting House.

The bottom windows are half covered by the overgrown bushes of hawthorn and jasmine. Parts of the former garden are so overrun by vegetation that they resemble a jungle

TITLE: 1912

HARRY

Nobody has been here for forty years.

Smith comes up to Harry with a local assistant MILLER (27 years old) in tow

SMITH

My assistant Miller, will be our tour guide.

INT-HUNTING HOUSE – SAME EVENING

Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges and Karl Ivanovich follow Smith along the dimly lighted corridor.

Karl Ivanovich slides his hand along the wall

KARL IVANOVICH

I wonder why the Counts chose not to live here?

Georges looks up at the painted ceiling

georges

Perhaps they didn’t like hunting?

MILLER

Previous owners have passed away long ago.

Harry walks past a wooden door

HARRY

And the rooms in this part of the house were used for the Counts’ guests, weren’t they?

Miller stops

MILLER

Yes, and now they are being prepared for you, Sir.

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

What about the rooms of the former owners themselves?

INT-BRIDE’S BEDROOM, HUNTING HOUSE – SAME EVENING

Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges and Karl Ivanovich enter through the door opened.

The room is large with tall windows that open onto the view of the lake. The interior is rich and luxurious.

Carved four poster bed with an opulent brocade hanging has its headboard decorated with gilded cupids. Everything in the room speaks of a spoiled, wealthy woman.

Harry and friends examine the room with interest

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Damn it Harry, it is like being inside a fairytale!

Karl Ivanovich pulls out a drawer in a small desk.

KARL IVANOVICH

A woman lived here once, take a look.

Items of a lady’s handicraft covered with a light layer of dust lie inside the drawer: still vibrant colored silks, slightly moth eaten wool, small scissors, beads and pearls. A tiny gold thimble rolls in the drawer.

Smith and Harry examine the findings

SMITH

We haven’t touched anything here, Sir

(apologetically)

HARRY

I’m glad you didn’t. We’d rather explore ourselves.

Harry opens the door of the wardrobe. James stands next to him and sniffs at the interior

JAMES

I swear, I can smell lavender. The past and the present meet at last.

Beautiful lace edged undergarments are stacked on the shelves as well as heaps of ribbons, bows and artificial flowers.