The Chronicles of the Counts Dracula-Cardie. Adapted from Baron Olshevris novel «Vampires»
sorts crosses in silence and hides his eyes
HEINRICH
(quietly)
I do.
INT – LIVING ROOM IN THE TEACHER’S HOUSE – EVENING OF THE SAME DAY
Mina sews in a chair by the window. The teacher rocks in a rocking chair
MINA
(darns a shirt)
They say, the old man knew better life. He was the uncle of one of the young Counts Dracula and lived in the castle.
(bites the thread in two with her teeth and examines her work)
Then the family suffered some sort of misfortune. The castle was abandoned.
(puts the shirt on her knees and looks at the brother)
The counts have relatives somewhere in America, but no one knows them.
TEACHER
(stops rocking)
Are you talking about our church watchman, Mina?
MINA
(sighs)
About him. Who else?
END OF THE TEACHER’S MEMORIES
INT-ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – SAME NIGHT
Karl Ivanovich looks into his notebook and keeps silent.
TITLE: 1912
GEORGES
(rubs his eyes half asleep)
The teacher writes about your relatives, doesn’t he?
HARRY
Why do you think so?
GEORGES
(shrugs his shoulders)
Intuition.
KARL IVANOVICH
(reads the teacher’s diary)
Today the church watchman came to our house, bringing some objects for Mina to clean. I lured him to my study and gave him a cup of tea, into which I had poured two tablespoons of rum.
INT – STUDY IN THE TEACHER’S HOUSE – EVENING, THE TEACHER’S MEMORIES
BEGINNING OF THE MEMORIES
The teacher and church watchman sit in the teacher’s study at the table. The teacher gives the church watchman some tea from the tray
TITLE: 1852
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(a little drunk)
And I dare say, she almost bit me to death!
TEACHER
Who, the hound bitch?
CHURCH WATCHMAN
What bitch? The Countess herself! She died, but at the time of the full moon she starts to stroll around. If she gets stuck on someone – you know, the poor man is dead!
He bites off a pie, washes down with some tea. The teacher watches him
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(continues)
Once we were walking together on the clearing, and a big wolf jumped on me, knocked me over flat. And she, my darling Nettie, my beauty, she flew into a rage and grabbed the bastard by the scruff of his neck.
TEACHER
The dead Countess?
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(waving his hands at him)
Go on with you, all you do is confuse things! The hound, Nettie, I raised her myself; and for nothing perished the poor dog.
TEACHER
I don’t understand who you are talking about.
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(completely drunk)
I drowned her in the old well.
He gets up from the table, takes his bag on the floor near the chair
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(continues)
Well, I must go.
TEACHER
(nods and gets up from the chair)
Tomorrow Mina will clean everything
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(winks at the teacher)
Sleep well?
INT-BEDROOM IN THE TEACHER’S HOUSE – NIGHT OF THE SAME DAY
A nenufare stands in the glass of water on the table in the bedroom. The teacher stands next to it, but the flower is unmoved
TEACHER
How can I get you to come back?
He paces the room, nervous. He accidently moves the window curtain: something falls on the floor – the teacher picks up a wreath made up of dried garlic flowers and bulbs
TEACHER
(continues)
So this is the source of the stench in my room.
EXT – GARDEN OF THE VILLAGE CHURCH – SUMMER DAY
The teacher talks to the church watchman. The teacher holds a small package in his hands. The church watchman varnishes a big wooden cross
TEACHER
(stretches the package to the watchman)
Here, Mina gave the church objects.
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(points to a bench to his left)
Put it there.
TEACHER
(puts the package on the bench)
What about the hound Nettie? The Countess’ one. What happened to her?
CHURCH WATCHMAN
(turns towards him with a sly smile)
The counts had a fine pack of hunting dogs, and Nettie was the Countess’ favourite. The old American devil did away with her.
EXT – CARDIE’S CASTLE – SUMMER DAY, THE MEMORIES OF THE CHURCH WATCHMAN (PETRO)
BEGINNING OF THE MEMORIES
TITLE: 1832
Panoramic view: a terrace of the castle, there is a chapel away from it.
INT – LARGE BALCONY ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE CASTLE – SAME DAY
PETRO (as a young man, 39 years old) enters the balcony in the form of a terrace, AMERICAN SERVANT (seemingly 80 years old) meets him halfway. Petro exchanges glances with him.
NETTIE follows the American with her eyes and shakes, her fur stands on end, eyes are wild, teeth snap.
COUNTESS MARIA (26 years old) reclines pale on a couch. There is fear on her face, eyes are half-closed
COUNTESS MARIA
(groaning)
Petro…
Petro stares at the Countess, then at the dog, then at the door, after the gone servant.
EXT –