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

COUNTESS MARIA RECALLING HER DREAM

Countess Maria is awoken by a cold wind, blowing onto her face from the open window.

American GRANDFATHER (aka American Servant, 80 years old) is in her bedroom. He moves towards the Countess’ bed and leans over her. Eyes wide open with fear, she stares at him in the darkness

GRANDFATHER

Why are you not wearing my gift?

He holds the pearl necklace with the serpent’s head. He places it around the Countess’ neck and kissed her on the lips

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.

A pair of ladies shoes stands on the bottom shelf.

A large jewel-box, decorated with gold and mother of pearl’s flowers attracts the friends’ attention.

Captain Wright examines the jewel-box, Karl Ivanovich comes up to him

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

It is Japanese, fit for the Emperor’s palace.

KARL IVANOVICH

I wonder what the lady kept in it.

HARRY

Let’s find out.

Harry takes the box and tries to open it. But all for nothing, there is no exterior lock.

James takes the box and shakes it slightly. Georges watches them from the side

JAMES

The box has its secret!

Harry puts the jewel-box back and closes the cupboard’s door

HARRY

I will have to get a locksmith.

Captain Wright’s voice is heard from the other side of the room

WRIGHT’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

Come over here, it is worth seeing!

EXT-LARGE BALCONY OF THE BRIDE’S BEDROOM – SAME EVENING

Georges, James, Captain Wright and Karl Ivanovich are gathered on the balcony, watching the view of the castle.

The mist rises from the lake. In some places the mist parts a little and the clear blue water of the lake peeks through.

To the left there is the dark green of pine trees and on the right there is the dark rock, crowned with the ominous looking castle

KARL IVANOVICH

What a magnificent view.

James whistles in appreciation

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

And now, more than ever, I refuse to believe in the local lore of malicious maidens with duck feet.

Harry’s irritated voice is heard from the room

HARRY’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

I will not sleep on an old dusty mattress!

INT-BRIDE’S BEDROOM-SAME EVENING

Harry, Smith and Miller argue near the four-poster bed

SMITH

I thought it was the best room in the house…

HARRY

Take my things to another bedroom.

Smith and his assistant Miller start to exchange words and both appear troubled

HARRY

What’s the matter?

SMITH

We are not sure to whom we can offer the big bedroom.

MILLER

We have prepared the rooms according to the number of guests.

HARRY

Well, you should make yourself comfortable in this dusty nest!

Miller appears afraid and Smith takes a step backwards

MILLER

Me? Sleep here, in her bedroom? Forgive me but I cannot.

HARRY

What the hell are you talking about?

MILLER

A young bride lived here, she died here too and the people say that her soul is restless and her ghost walks and cries at night.

Harry turns to his friends

HARRY

So, who wishes to make an acquaintance with a ghostly bride?

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

I am game, as long as I have a dozen cigars and a glass of rum.

KARL IVANOVICH

With a dozen cigars laced with opium like you prefer, you will see not only a ghostly bride but a white elephant and a green snake thrown in for a bargain.

Harry claps his hands

HARRY

It is settled then, Wright will sleep here, lead on, Smith.

EXT-GARDENS AROUND THE HUNTING HOUSE – SAME SUMMER EVENING

Harry, James, Wright, Georges, Karl Ivanovich and Miller struggle to make their way through the overgrown garden.

The sun hasn’t set yet, but it is not bright anymore.

INT – HUNTING HOUSE, OTHER WING, FIRST FLOOR – SAME EVENING

Almost all rooms are walk-through. The atmosphere is gloomy

HARRY

Everything is rather unpretentious.

Georges points at the door

GEORGES

Take a look at this portrait!

The bright gold frame hangs near the door leading off to a small room. Its opulence is strangely at odds with the rest of the interior

JAMES

They used the first available place.

HARRY

Light it up please, Miller.

Karl Ivanovich approaches the portrait with the lamp

KARL IVANOVICH

Let me help you.

Miller and Karl Ivanovich light up the portrait with the lamp.

Tall, gaunt elderly man (aka the American grandfather) dressed in a velvet renaissance style costume, wearing a thick gold chain stares regally from the frame.

His large aquiline nose and thin lips speak of his aristocratic breeding and stern character.

In the flickering light of the lamp his eyes shine with an eerie red tinge

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

What a wonderful technique.

GEORGES

It is as if he is really staring at us.

HARRY

This is only half a picture, I wonder why someone would cut painting in half?

JAMES

Let me take a look.

James comes closer to the portrait first from right and then from left, trying to examine it from every angle.

While doing so he accidently bumps Karl Ivanovich, who, in order to avoid falling, braces his hand against the wall. The seemingly solid surface gives way, revealing a secret passage and the old man cries out as he falls into the dark space

KARL IVANOVICH

A-a-a!

INT-HIDDEN SALON-SAME EVENING

Karl Ivanovich rises from the floor, groaning. Harry helps him to his feet

KARL IVANOVICH

I am all right, thank god.

JAMES

Please forgive my clumsiness.

Karl Ivanovich pats James’ shoulder. The men are fascinated by the new room

With its large Venetian windows and luxurious furnishings it appears similar to the bedroom of the ghostly bride

GEORGES

Don’t you think this salon matches the ghost lady’s bedroom?

He runs his fingertip along the surface of an elegant desk

The finger is covered with dirty dust

HARRY

It seems that someone else lived here yesterday.

Books and bits of lady’s handicraft litter a small desk.

In the center of the room there is a large chaise lounge with a small elegant table placed next to it.

A large silver vase on the table still holds a bouquet of dried field flowers

MILLER

Mister Cardie is right.

JAMES

(touching a cushion on the chaise lounge)

Take a look at this cushion; it still has an imprint of a head!

Captain Wright, Georges and Harry stare at the cushion

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

I see it too.

HARRY

Jamie, you are a hopeless romantic.

Georges touches the cushion

GEORGES

This is incredible!

A lute lies on the seat of the nearby chair. At the foot of the chaise lounge among several dried up roses there is a discarded blood red lady’s cape, made from expensive plush fabric

JAMES

Look, here is her cape.

He picks up the cape and inhales its send slowly

JAMES

(continues)

This room and the ghost bedroom belonged to the same lady.

HARRY

Wait you can tell it from the smell, Sherlock?

JAMES

Yes, it is the same lavender perfume.

James hands Harry the cape

HARRY

No, thank you, I don’t feel like sniffing at dusty old rags.

Harry puts the cape back where he and James found it

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Jamie, have you fallen for this fabled beauty?

JAMES

I wouldn’t have minded meeting her.

HARRY

(laughs)

But, as always, you are too late.

INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, PORTRAIT GALLERY-SAME EVENING

A portrait of a beautiful woman (aka Rita) with a spray of red roses at the waist of her blue dress hangs on the wall of the portrait gallery.

INT-HIDDEN SALON – SAME EVENING

Karl Ivanovich hands Harry a small gold-edged book

KARL IVANOVICH

I’ve fallen on it

Harry takes the book and opens it. The title page bears an inscription in Italian

HARRY

(reads it out loud)

Pray for my poor soul…

KARL IVANOVICH

It is a catholic prayer-book.

Harry’s words silence the laughter and the banter. It is as if 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 OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

TITLE: 1852

Carlo walks along the old Venetian street, he turns right and opens the glass door of an antique shop.

INT – VENICE, ANTIQUE SHOP – SAME DAY

Carlo looks around in the antique shop. The old Jewish SALESMAN greets him

SALESMAN

I have special goods for you.

The salesman opens up the cupboard and gets a beautiful jewel-box (the box from the Hunting House) and places it on the counter before Carlo

CARLO

Who did it belong to?

SALESMAN

To the roman Empress Messalina!

Carlo slides his fingers across the box

CARLO

It has no lock?

SALESMAN

(smiles)

I’d rather show you

(the salesman’s hand moves the apple into the bird’s beak and the box opens)

Voila!

CARLO

Rita will love this.

The salesman shows Carlo various compartments inside the box. Each is filled with ladies’ jewels. The piece de resistance is a large roman comb with pink pearls

SALESMAN

Your bride will be delighted, signore.

Carlo picks up the comb and looks at it

CARLO

It will look magnificent in Rita’s dark curls!

EXT – VENICE, STREET – SAME AUTUMN DAY

Carlo walks along the cobbled Venetian street. Wheels of carriages roll past him, frilled hems of the ladies’ gowns move along and a single blue blossom falls from the basket of the street flower seller, lying on the rough cobblestones

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

Up until now, if you do not count my mother’s fit and the disappearance of her favorite dog, everything was simple and logical.

After that we were plunged into something we could not understand

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, GARDEN-SUMMER DAY

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

Count Frederick and his family doctor walk in the western part of the garden

TITLE: 1832

COUNT FREDERICK