The Chronicles of the Counts Dracula-Cardie. Adapted from Baron Olshevris novel «Vampires»
the corpse itself is with them in the room.
James comes up to the table with the vase with dried field flowers. He points to the open decanter, whose stopper lies next to it on the table
JAMES
Here is the stopper. Whoever lived here had no time to close it.
HARRY
Why did the owners fled from here?
Georges looks inside a birdcage that stands near the window. Tiny bones of the long-dead bird lie at its bottom. Seashell-shaped feeder is empty
GEORGES
Good question.
Karl Ivanovich opens the drapes on the furthest window and discovers that it is really a door
KARL IVANOVICH
Here’s the door.
He turns the key and the door opens with an unpleasant creak. Evening breeze rushes into the room
Candles flicker, curtains and the dried flowers in the vase move, as if the spirit of the dead woman has invaded the room, angered at the disturbance
EXT – WITCHES” VALLEY – SAME SUMMER EVENING
The mist rises over the lake.
A quiet female laughter, like a bell, is heard here and there.
Nenufares seem to move on the water surface.
The mirror surface of the lake darkens.
INT – HIDDEN SALON WITH A BALCONY – SAME EVENING
Everybody looks around in a small adjacent room.
Miller approaches one of the four windows, looks into it, turns to everyone and gestures lively
MILLER
This salon forms a part of the suit of rooms that includes the lady’s bedroom.
HARRY’S VOICE
(behind the scenes)
I found a small balcony, the size of a bird’s nest!
Captain Wright comes close to one of the paintings decorating the side wall
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Here is the door to the ghost-bride’s bedroom. It is disguised as a painting.
MILLER
(comes close to the painting)
Yes, it can be mistaken for a painting.
Karl Ivanovich joins Wright and pulls on the door handle
KARL IVANOVICH
It won’t budge.
MILLER
Let me try, sir.
He puts his shoulder to the door, but Wright stops him
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Miller, it’s useless, the door is nailed shut.
Harry stands in the balcony’s doorway facing the room
HARRY
It’s because the door is blocked by the large wardrobe, the one where we found all those women’s clothes.
JAMES
Gentlemen, it’s time for dinner.
Everybody follows James. They close the door behind them and the room is empty again
EXT-FOREST – DAYTIME
Harry, Captain Wright, Georges, and James walk through the forest, carrying rifles and talking. A pair of spaniels follows them.
James carries their trophies, slung behind his shoulder
GEORGES
I think the lady in the abandoned rooms must have died suddenly.
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
And I think she ran off with her paramour.
HARRY
Who else agrees with him?
JAMES
I think something unpleasant happened at the Hunting House, but what precisely?
Georges picks up a stick from the ground and throws it, the dogs rush after the stick
GEORGES
What was a woman doing there?
HARRY
She was a foreign lady.
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
(stops, looking at Harry)
How do you know this?
HARRY
The village headman. He told me that a foreign lady died of a broken heart. She missed her homeland.
(pause)
His grandmother told him.
GEORGES
(comes up to them)
But why didn’t she live up at the castle?
JAMES
(laughs)
The headman’s grandmother did not specify why, did she?
Harry shoots a duck and hits. The duck falls behind the trees. Harry’s dog runs after it
HARRY
Sadly, she did not.
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Goddamn!
He aims and fires a shot at the black bat flying above their heads but misses
EXT-FOREST-MORNING-COUNT FREDERICK’S DREAM
TITLE 1832
Hunt, Count Frederick, his guests and servants chase a doe. Suddenly a group of trees cuts Count Frederick away from the rest of the party.
He keeps chasing the animal without realizing that he is now alone. The doe mounts a steep hill and is transformed into Maria. She beckons the Count towards herself. He rushes towards his wife only to tumble off the cliff into the chasm below.
Maria is then turned into a laughing Dracula who, in turn, becomes a bat.
Count Frederick wakes up in cold sweat
INT-HUNTING HOUSE, DINING ROOM-SAME DAY
Harry, Wright, Georges and James leave the dining room for the smoking room.
INT – HUNTING HOUSE, SMOKING ROOM-SAME DAY
Harry, Georges, Wright, Karl Ivanovich and James select drinks and cigars, sit down and make themselves comfortable.
Karl Ivanovich sits down in an armchair too, holding a pile of papers. He sorts it nervously
KARL IVANOVICH
I am happy to tell you that I found the continuation of the letters!
GEORGES
Good!
Karl Ivanovich, takes a handkerchief out of his pocket, polishes his glasses and puts the handkerchief away
KARL IVANOVICH
Are you ready, gentlemen?
EXT-OLD VENETIAN STREET – AUTUMN DAY
BEGINNING