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

Translator Alla Shvydchenko

Translator Peter Arhipov

Translator Ksenia Budaeva

© Olga Boyko, 2017

© Iryna Shcherbyna, 2017

© Alla Shvydchenko, translation, 2017

© Peter Arhipov, translation, 2017

© Ksenia Budaeva, translation, 2017

ISBN 978-5-4485-2731-9

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

OPENING TO EACH EPISODE

Glimpses of hooves of the horses galloping through the forest. Again the sound of laughter and flashes of sunlight among the trees.

Blue shards of the sky high above and wistful laughter of the beautiful stranger in the blue dress as she vanishes in the rays of the sun

The horse rears up, throwing its rider off

SMITH

Are you alright?

HARRY

I saw Her…

INT – CARDIE’S CASTLE – DAYTIME

A gust of wind blows across the abandoned halls of the Cardie’s castle, reaching the open piano in the main room. Crimson rose petals are scattered on the ancient ivory keys, they shift as the wind stirs them

TITLE: 1912

RITA’S VOICE

(whispering behind the scenes)

Your love gave me back my life… Your love gave me back my life…

The wind swirls and the petals fall to the floor

EXT – MOUNTAINS IN PERU – DAYTIME – MEMORIES

TITLE: 1770

YOUNG DRACULA (27 years old), the INTERPRETER and the OLD GUIDE stand in front of the cave decorated with carvings of Indian idols. Their clothes wave in the strong wind that blows from the mouth of the cave. The old guide shakes his head and pleads in his native tongue, his very manner indicating that it is forbidden to go further

YOUNG DRACULA

What is he saying?

INTERPRETER

We cannot go any further. Anyone who does will doom himself to eternal torment and bring curse upon his descendants.

YOUNG DRACULA

The main thing is that it’s eternal… Give him a scare of offer some money – we must get into the temple, whatever it takes!

The interpreter persuades the old man, but the latter pushes the interpreter away and falls on his knees in front of the count. He points to the sky, where a huge eagle flies. The old man almost faints in horror, when the eagle rushes down. The old guide covers his head with hands and wails

OLD GUIDE

(in Spanish)

Death, death, it is already following us, and we ourselves are going to meet it.

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT – IN SURROUNDING FORESTS OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER DAY

HARRY (27 years old), CAPTAIN WRIGHT (31 year old), JAMES (30 years old) and GEORGES (20 years old) rush on horses across the forest. The riders sweep past a Hunting House.

EXT-IN THE SKY OVER THE CASTLE FOREST-SAME SUMMER DAY

From above an EAGLE flies and looks down: there is a valley with a lake below. On one side of the valley there is a gloomy medieval Cardie’s castle, and a bit away from the valley, in the lowland of the forest, there is a Hunting House.

The Eagle descends at high speed and rushes on a white Dove – this happens in the sky over the clearing, where Harry has stopped in the woods…

HARRY: (27 years old, a loafer, millionaire, descendant of the Dracula-Cardie family, confident, eccentric, sometimes unscrupulous, sexy, used to get what he wants, he and Rita are two of a kind. He is a comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and James.

EXT-FOREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER DAY

Harry has lost his way during the hunt. His horse stands in a clearing in the woods. Harry seems that a woman’s blue dress flits in the trees and a female laughter is heard.

Harry is distracted by the eagle and the dove – looks to the sky, he can see the eagle attacking the dove, this happens over his head.

Harry looks at the trees again, where the blue dress has just flashed. There is nothing. Harry looks around, looking for the owner of the dress.

The horse knickers and takes off.

INT – DINING ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – EVENING OF THE SAME DAY

Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges, Harry’s attorney and doctor, KARL IVANOVICH (50 years old), have supper after hunting at the wooden table

Harry wipes his hands with a napkin

HARRY

I think I saw her.

Karl Ivanovich sorts some records on his knees

KARL IVANOVICH: 50 years old, a librarian, Harry’s attorney in castle affairs. A quiet, well-educated, intelligent-looking old man, wearing glasses because of poor eyesight, half-Russian

KARL IVANOVICH

(takes off his glasses)

Her?

Harry puts his napkin aside and looks at everyone

HARRY

The ghost from the castle: the blue dress, dark hair.

Georges drops his fork under the table. James pours himself a glass of wine

JAMES: 30 years old, an Englishman, military interrogator, positive hero in all senses, conscientious, man with principles, generous, good friend. A comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and Harry, aristocrat

JAMES

Harry, what makes you think it was her? Maybe some local pulled your leg.

Harry puts a scarlet rose on the table

HARRY

Found in the forest.

Captain Wright takes the flower

CAPTAIN WRIGHT: 31 year old, an Englishman, cool cynic, skeptic, typical military man, it is hard for him to admit his weaknesses. Rarely smiling, traditionalist in everything. Captain is a true friend, smokes a lot. Introvert, aristocrat

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

(examining the rose)

Such roses certainly don’t grow in the forest.

JAMES

I guess once we move into the castle all that is hidden will become revealed.

Georges shifts in his chair, is a little nervous

GEORGES: 20 years old, amorous, a bit naive, unspoiled young man. Georges is a virgin, aristocrat, student

GEORGES

I saw her too, she was beautiful like an angel.

Captain Wright abstracts himself from the rose and looks at Georges

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Well, that’s something new.

Karl Ivanovich puts the papers aside

KARL IVANOVICH

Stories about lake women are taking new forms.

Harry takes a sip of wine from his glass

HARRY

I tell you, this woman is from the castle! The LAKE MAIDEN has fair hair, and the beauty from the forest is dark-haired. I saw it myself.

Captain Wright lights up a cigar

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Maybe there are their own mermaids in the forest?

Harry puts his glass on the table

HARRY

I understand, you don’t believe me.

Captain Wright throws the rose on the table, stands up from his seat, pushes back his chair.

His cigar emits smoke in the ashtray. Captain takes it and smokes

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Village tales are like the village beer – thorn apples.

EXT-WITCHES” VALLEY – SUMMER NIGHT OF THE SAME DAY

Mist twists above the lake. White nenufare opens its petals, swaying gently. It rises above the water, its stem is no longer the stem, but a slim body of a woman. It is the LAKE MAIDEN (aka Maria, 23 years old)

She has a pale face with big blue eyes, and there are white nenufares in her loose golden hair.

Her body is translucent as if woven from silver threads.

The air over the lake is filled with inaudible sounds, female laughter is heard.

The Lake Maiden as if floats on air and whispers something with her lips.

White snowstorm of petals of white nenufares rises over the lake, following her.

INT-ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – NIGHT OF THE SAME DAY

Harry, Captain Wright, James and Georges slouch in the living room.

Karl Ivanovich lays a notebook in front of him

KARL IVANOVICH

(puts on the glasses)

I will read you the teacher’s diary.