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

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 – GARDEN OF CARDIE’S CASTLE – SAME SUMMER DAY

American Servant moves away in the direction of the chapel. Nettie, like crazy, runs after him and goes out of sight.

END OF THE MEMORIES OF THE CHURCH WATCHMAN

EXT-VILLAGE CHURCH GARDEN-SUMMER DAYTIME, THE TEACHER’S MEMORIES

BEGINNING OF THE MEMORIES

The teacher and the church watchman talk in the church garden

TITLE: 1852

TEACHER

(sits down on the bench and adjusts the collar with his hand)

Do you think the snake bit Nettie?

CHURCH WATCHMAN

(painting a cross)

No, the snake bit Countess.

TEACHER

How could a snake get into the castle?

CHURCH WATCHMAN

(painting the cross)

From the jewel box that the old devil had brought with him.

(pause)

Don’t go to the lake.

TEACHER

Who told you that I was going to the lake?

CHURCH WATCHMAN

(throws the brush and takes off the gloves)

Where else could you dirty your boots, mud is everywhere, completely ruined.

END OF THE TEACHER’S MEMORIES

INT-ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – SAME NIGHT

Karl Ivanovich puts the notebook on his knees

TITLE: 1912

KARL IVANOVICH

(sorting the sheets)

Here is another interruption.

HARRY

(slouches in the armchair)

Time for bed.

Captain Wright snores in his armchair.

EXT – WITCHES” VALLEY – SAME SUMMER NIGHT

YOUNG MAN, a villager, staggers from the lake in the direction of the village.

He takes some steps and falls dead. He holds a rose-nenufare in his hand. There are drops of blood on his shirt.

EXT – CLEARING IN THE WOODS – SUMMER DAY

During the hunt Smith, Harry, James, Captain Wright, Karl Ivanovich and Georges have a picnic in a clearing under a wide-branching tree. They eat ham from big plates and drink wine out of bottles.

There are hunting trophies and guns next to them. Saddled horses graze nearby

SMITH

(pours out wine by glasses)

Mr. Harry, whole stories are told about you.

Harry lies and chews a grass blade

HARRY

Well, what kind of?

JAMES

(gives Harry a glass of wine)

They say, you’ve got a whole kingdom in America and you are a descendant of Montezuma.

Harry spits out the grass blade and takes the glass from him

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

(puts a piece of ham into his mouth)

Where did you get such information?

JAMES

The villagers say so.

He chews the ham and takes a sip from his glass of wine

HARRY

Have you already been to the village?

Harry takes a piece of ham from the plate, brought to him by Smith

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

James and I walked there in the afternoon.

He lights up a cigar

SMITH

Mr. Harry is the owner of the local castle, so they talk about him.

He sits down on the grass next to Harry and eats a piece of ham

HARRY

Karl Ivanovich will help me to become its owner.

He takes another piece of ham from Smith’s plate

KARL IVANOVICH

(wipes his hands with a napkin)

I haven’t found missing documents yet in the archive, but I have got interesting letters.

He leans back against the tree trunk and gets a batch of letters out of his bag

HARRY

These are letters from the Hunting House, we will live there until I get the castle.

KARL IVANOVICH

(unties the ribbon, which ties the letters)

The letters have an evident connection with the teacher’s diary.

INT – LIVING ROOM OF THE VENETIAN MANSION – DAYTIME

BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

A hand of a young aristocrat writes a letter

TITLE: 1852

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

Dear Alf! I am able to return to my motherland, which I left as a seven-year-old boy. I still don’t know the reason for my exile from my parents’ castle.

EXT-TERRACE OF CARDIE’S CASTLE – SUMMER EVENING

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

Everybody gathered on the terrace: YOUNG CARLO (7 years old), his sister LUCY (5 years old); COUNT FREDERICK (41 year old): adult, calm, with noble manners; COUNTESS MARIA (25 years old): beautiful, graceful blonde with noble manners; PETRO (39 years old), Count Frederick’s younger brother.

Countess’ favourite greyhound, NETTIE, lies right here.

SEBASTIAN (40 years old), the servant, enters

TITLE: 1832

SEBASTIAN

An elderly gentleman wishes to speak to the Count.

COUNT FREDERICK

Call him.

Sebastian leaves

The old grey-haired gentleman, seemingly 80 years old, AMERICAN SERVANT (aka American Grandfather) enters the terrace.

AMERICAN SERVANT: seemingly 80 years old, aristocratic bearing and manners, tall, thin-faced, is a bit haughty. He has got reddish eyes and crimson lips on the pale face. He wears a long religious habit.

The American servant bows to the count and countess.

Nettie jumps, bristles up and rushes at him.

The old man drives her away with a crutch, which he holds in his hands

COUNTESS MARIA

Nettie has never behaved like this before!

COUNT FREDERICK

Petro, take the dog away.

Petro grabs Nettie by the collar and drags her off the terrace.

The American Servant bows, handing Count Frederick a large sealed envelope.

Count Frederick opens it and reads a few lines to himself, then turns towards his wife

COUNT FREDERICK

(continues)

A coffin, bearing the mortal remains of our American relative is due to arrive at the castle in accordance to his wishes. He wanted to be buried in his home soil.

Countess Maria nods silently

COUNT FREDERICK

(continues)

Are you the same servant who is mentioned in this letter?

The American Servant bows in acknowledgement

AMERICAN SERVANT

My Lord, when can I bring the coffin?

COUNTESS MARIA

Tomorrow, if you wish

The American Servant bows to the couple and leaves

COUNTESS MARIA

(continues)

Who was that relative, dear?

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT – VENICE, LIDO CANAL – SUMMER EVENING

BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

A gondola glides noiselessly along the water. Last rays of the setting sun reflect on the canal. All around, laughter and singing can be heard from the neighboring gondolas.

CARLO (27 years old): a son of Count Frederick and Countess Maria, an educated young aristocrat, has lived away from home for almost 20 years.

Carlo gazes at the water, lost in thought

TITLE: 1852

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

My mother died when I was already in Nuremberg. She was so beautiful, and yet she died so young. To this day I don’t know what illness took her to her grave.

END OF THE MEMORIES

INT – LARGE LIVING ROOM OF THE CASTLE, GROUND FLOOR – DAYTIME

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

Young Carlo and Count Frederick talk in the living room of the castle. Carlo cries, standing in front of his father

TITLE: 1832

COUNT FREDERICK

It is your mother’s wish.

YOUNG CARLO

But why? Doesn’t she love me anymore?

INT-LUCY’S ROOM, NIGHT

Lucy sleeps peacefully in her bed when a big black cat moves crouching towards her. It arches its back and pounces on the child, mutilating her face. Lucy screams from pain and fear and tries to fling the cat away but the animal keeps attacking.

The door flies open and Catherine, the washer-woman Marina and the female cook rush in. The cat hides under the bed

CATHERINE

What is wrong, young lady?

Lucy sobs. Marina sees the blood and flings up her hands in horror. The cook presses a hand to her own mouth to stifle a scream. Catherine hugs the child

LUCY

Ooow, it hurts. That horrible cat hurt me! Why didn’t you help me?

CATHERINE

We came running as soon as we heard you.

Maria and Frederick come into the room. Frightened, Marina makes a hasty curtsey. The cook leaves the room backwards

COUNTESS MARIA

What is happening?

She looks at her daughter and pales. Maria sits down on the bed. Frederick casts Marina an angry look. She takes a few steps backwards

COUNTESS MARIA

Are you alright my dear?

LUCY

No! I am hurt and I am scared!

Blood drips from her face onto the pillow

COUNTESS MARIA

(speaking to servants)

Bring water and bandages. Hurry!

(speaking to Lucy)

Who did this to you?

The little girl starts to cry

LUCY

(in between sobs)

A cat…it was so…huge… and scary.

Maria looks around, then nods to her husband. Frederick picks up a burning candle and looks under the bed. A drape between the bed and he window moves. A sound of beating wings can be heard. A dark shadow moves into the night

COUNT FREDERICK

Calm down, dear, there is no one.

LUCY

The cat had the same evil eyes like the nasty old man from America.

The girl is calmed down by her parents and put back to bed

INT-MARIA’S ROOM-A VISION

Maria is on her bed, moaning, tormented by a nightmare. Lucy’s ghost forms at the foot of her bed

LUCY

Mommy, help me! Please, I am scared, I am going to die soon. Don’t leave me, please. Save me!

Maria wakes up and sits upright, breathing heavily

INT-MARIA’S ROOM-MEMORIES

Maria embroiders by the window. Michael, Petro and Catherine rush into the room. They are clearly disturbed

MICHAEL

Something bad has happened, my lady.

COUNTESS MARIA

What’s the matter?

MICHAEL

Your husband, my lady!

The Countess rises from her chair abruptly

COUNTESS MARIA

What is wrong with Frederick?

MICHAEL

His Highness has had a fall from a horse…

COUNTESS MARIA

Is he alive?

MICHAEL

Yes, but he is badly hurt.

Maria tries to run out of the room but faints.

She opens her eyes and sees the gloating smiling face of the American servant

AMERICAN SERVANT

So my lady, you haven’t worn my present yet? What a pity, the necklace has some wonderful properties and it could help guard your loved ones from harm…

Maria nods hopelessly

AMERICAN SERVANT

A wise decision, my lady. One can never run from one’s destiny.

EXT – LIDO, VENETIAN CANAL – SUMMER DAY

Venetian canal. A gondola glides quietly along the waves. Carlo stands in it, dipping an oar into the water.

TITLE: 1852

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

I can still see my mother clearly, tall and slender with rich golden braids.

Maria’s face, framed by two thick braids is reflected in the waters of the canal

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes, continues)

Her blue eyes are looking at me with such love. I can feel them still, but what? Another eyes are looking at me, but they are not my mother’s calm blue ones, but black and passionate.

The image in the water changes, Maria’s blue eyes darken and become brown eyes of a STRANGE WOMAN (aka Rita, 19 years old), she is soon seen sitting in the nearby gondola. Rita and Carlo exchange glances and he is clearly smitten.

The camera shows only Rita’s eyes for now, the rest of her face is obscured

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes, continues)

I want to see her again!

EXT – VENICE, LIDO, SEAFRONT – SUMMER EVENING

Rita walks along the seaside (the camera shows her back, her face is kept hidden from the viewer).

She is followed by her nurse CECILIA (45 years old), the Italian, Catholic.

RITA: 19 years old, a beautiful Venetian, impoverished noblewoman. Selfish, self-confident, pampered. Rita has beautiful white skin and dark hair.

CECILIA: 45 years old, Catholic. She speaks only Italian.

Carlo watches them from a quiet spot on a nearby bench while writing a letter to Alf

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

I found her, my black-eyed girl. She is so dazzling!

(pause)

Just think of a description of a legendary Venetian beauty, but even then think not of her but of her shadow.

RITA

(shouting playfully)

Carlo, come to us!

CARLO

Right away.

He keeps writing

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

I am not going home alone. Rita is coming with me, we are to be married!

RITA

(calling)

Carlo, Carlo, we are waiting for you!

CARLO

I am coming.

He keeps writing

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes, continues)

You are asking me about the coffin that I had written to you about… yes it was Grandfather’s coffin, brought by his old servant from the land of the Aztecs.

Rita comes closer (her face is still hidden from the viewer). She takes Carlo’s hand and pulls him somewhere. He follows her meekly

RITA

Oh, signor, one can wait for you for an eternity!

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT – CLEARING IN THE WOODS – SAME SUMMER DAY

Harry sits down next to Karl Ivanovich

HARRY

I come from the land of the Aztecs!

KARL IVANOVICH

Perhaps the old grandfather mentioned in the letters is the same relative whose burial record you need to complete your transference of inheritance, Sir.

EXT-FRONT GATES OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SUMMER DAY

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

Young Carlo stands in front of a gigantic black coffin at the gates of the Cardie’s castle

TITLE: 1832

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

The old servant’s visit was followed by the arrival of the grandfather’s coffin the next day.

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, FAMILY CHAPEL – SAME DAY

Castle private chapel is brightly lit and elegantly decorated in an anticipation of a funeral Mass.

EXT – ENTRANCE TO THE CHAPEL – SAME SUMMER DAY

American servant stands at the entrance to the chapel. Behind his back, servants hold the gigantic coffin

AMERICAN SERVANT

The coffin is too large and will not pass through the chapel’s entrance to the crypt. Wouldn’t it be best to open the crypt’s western doors in the garden?

Count Frederick stands at the threshold of the chapel and looks up at the old man, clearly surprised

COUNT FREDERICK

How could you possibly know about the other entrance to the crypt?

AMERICAN SERVANT

I know it from my late master’s stories.

COUNT FREDERICK

(speaking to the servants)

We will have to forgo the funeral mass.

COUNTESS MARIA

How can we bury him without a proper service?

COUNT FREDERICK

(speaking to servants)

Open up the western doors to the crypt.

PETRO

Don’t worry, Your Highness. We will take care of it.

American servant gives Petro an evil stare. Petro gives sign and the servants lift the American coffin but as soon as they step on the stairs as the latter begin to crumble and the large coffin falls, almost toppling over. When the coffin connects with the floor a hollow sound is heard.

Petro eyes the coffin suspiciously

PETRO

(to himself, puzzled)

Empty? But why drag an empty coffin halfway around the world?

The American servant tries to escape Petro’s gaze by hiding behind other servants

INT – IN THE CRYPT UNDER THE CHAPEL – SAME DAY

The crypt has been cleaned and is brightly lit with burning torches.

Servants, led by Petro lower the coffin into a stone sarcophagus that has an inscription “Brought from America” carved on its lid.

The count and the countess watch the proceedings

COUNT FREDERICK

(to his overseer)

Michael, don’t forget to lock the crypt.

MICHAEL

(to the servants)

Who has the key?

The servants go around the sarcophagus, shrug their shoulders and shake heads

COUNT FREDERICK

(to the servants)

Who was the last man to hold the key?

PETRO

You have lost it, airheads.

MICHAEL

(to the count)

Perhaps it was stolen, My Lord?

COUNTESS MARIA

God forbid, please order a thorough search.

The count and the countess walk out through the open door of the crypt into the garden. American servant follows them

AMERICAN SERVANT

May I beg your permission to live in the old guardhouse near the chapel?

COUNT FREDERICK

But the old guardhouse is hardly fit to live in.

AMERICAN SERVANT

The only desire I have left in this world is to guard my master’s grave.

COUNT FREDERICK

As you wish.

The count, the countess and the American servant go out through the open western doors of the crypt to the garden.

EXT – GARDEN NEAR THE WESTERN DOORS OF THE CRYPT-SAME DAY

Count Frederick, Countess Maria and American Servant stand in the garden.

The old man bows deeply to the count, handing the countess a long dark velvet box

AMERICAN SERVANT

(bowing)

As per my master’s spoken command, in the memory of him.

Countess Maria opens the box, revealing a beautiful pearl necklace resting on the blue velvet. The necklace’s clasp is shaped like a serpent’s head with two large emeralds for eyes. The emeralds glint mysteriously in the light.

Countess Maria looks up at her husband questioning and he nods in approval. The Countess’ fingers touch the necklace

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT – CLEARING IN THE WOODS – SAME SUMMER DAY

Karl Ivanovich puts sheets on his knees

HARRY

(eats olives from a saucer with fingers)

The great idol of Huitzilopochtli was once adorned with a pearl necklace fashioned into a snake with emerald eyes. It was supposed to possess some sort of a supernatural power. It vanished when the Spaniards looted Huitzilopochtli’s temple.

GEORGES

Who was she, Huitzilopochtli?

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

A he. An ancient god of war.

JAMES

So this is all?

KARL IVANOVICH

I cannot find the rest of this letter.

He shuffles through the pile of old letters

HARRY

(puts an olive into his mouth)

Well, please read the next one that you can find.

INT – CARDIE’S CASTLE, LONG CORRIDOR – NIGHT

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

TITLE: 1832

The empty corridor of the castle is dimly lit. The silence of the night is broken my Countess Maria’s scream.

INT – CARDIE’S CASTLE, CHILDREN’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Young Carlo sits up in his bed, listening in the darkness. He can hear the doors slamming, the sounds of running feet and the voices of the excited servants (sound behind the scenes)

YOUNG CARLO

(frightened)

Catherine, Catherine, where are you?

He leaps out of his bed, barefoot and clad in a nightshirt and rushes out of his bedroom

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

Countess Maria’s bedroom is filled with frightened servants.

The countess lies unconscious on propped up pillows, her face as white as her sheets and nightdress. There are red spots of blood on her chest, on the white fabric.

The count sits next to her, lifting her head, and the FAMILY DOCTOR (40 years old) pours medicine in her mouth.

A few moments later she regains consciousness and looks around the room, terrified

COUNTESS MARIA

Freddie, did you chase him away?

COUNT FREDERICK

(lowers his wife’s head back onto the pillow)

Whom, my dear?

COUNTESS MARIA

(grabs Count’s hand)

The old grandfather, don’t let him in!

COUNT FREDERICK

(takes her hand)

Calm down, my dear, grandfather is dead and you must have had a nightmare.

COUNTESS MARIA

(squeezes his hand)

No, it was not a dream.

(touches her lips)

I did fall asleep, but then I sensed somebody come into the room. I recognized him, the grandfather. It was him, and yet, not him at all.

COUNT FREDERICK

(strokes her hand)

My dear, you just had a bad dream.

COUNTESS MARIA

(shakes her head in denial and clutches his hand even tighter)

No, listen…

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