OPEN
Dracula. Our aidolon,•.Hais huge and we admire his size, Strongand we admire his strength.Ha moves with confidence of a creature that has energy,power and will•
Dracula. Our aidolon,•.Hais huge and we admire his size, Strongand we admire his strength.Ha moves with confidence of a creature that has energy,power and will•
how tempting is thechoice ha makes: available i111.111ortality,Hehascollected on the Devil's.bargain:the infinitely stoppedmoment •••••
OR, LEdNARDWOLF--
Author andfriend--
A Preu of Pr1eul1 & Thi AnnotatedPIDQUll
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4/16/91 1.
DRACULA
NARR: JUNE, 1462: Moslem Turks, ledby
Sultan Mohammed, have dr.iventhe Christians from Constantinople and invaded Rumania witha superior force, threateningall of Christendom. A Rumanian Prince from the region of Transylvania, VLADISLAUS DRACUIA --military genius notorious throughout Eastern Europe forhis blood- thirsty ways--leads 7,000 of his countrymen in a bold pre-dawn sneak attack against 30,ooo TUrks as a last heroic attempt to save his homeland •••
A jagged rock foI"lllation.WEHEAR THE SOUNDS OF BATTLE: thundering horses; clash of steel; men yelling••• dying •••
TURKISH LANCERS CHARGE amidst smoke and flames. A LONE ( WARRIOR PRINCE wlelds his sword against them; his face hidden in a helmet fashioned from a great wolf's head;
The Prince UPENDS A TURKISH LANCER with a slash. He ducks another 1erking the lance from the rider's grasp.· He wheels--impaling the man, tossing him like hay.
smoke swirls away behind the warrior revealing a horrifying sight: TUrks, hundreds, impaled on spikes into the distance.
Turkish attackers falter dead in their tracks, reviled by the sight of their dead comrades. They retreat.
STEFAN, a Moldavian Prince, rides up with 2 WARRIORS.
PRINCE DRActlIAremoves his wolf helmet. Stallion black hair falls about his shoulders. Young, handsome. Oeee piercing blue eyes of an angel capture us. He kneels kissing his crucifix.
He viciously skewers the wounded Lancer begging for his life and hoists him before the field of impaled TUrks.
----.:-: --.~'
4/16/91 2,
Anguished cries echo around them. WOLVES HOWLin the distance, on the scent. Dracula stares at thefresh blood on his hands. A horrible premonition seizeshim--
He leaps astride a riderl••• black stallion rearingaway.
EXT, CASTLE DRACULA • DAWN (MATTE SHOT) 2
A mountain fortress in the Carpathian Alps overlooking the Arges River. A sei:-pentin•roadis linedwith impaled corpses. Dracula thunders ay in the f,9.
PRAYING MOHIS fallback as Prince Dracula dismountsracing into the chapel, A final grotesque VICTIM hangs impaled by the door, - 4 INT,CASTLE CHAPEL• TIGHT ON ELIZABETH 4
Her regal lifelessbody twisted and bent beneatha great stone Dragonarch before a shrine of the crucifixion, Note: referencegolden coin ritual par rrc
PRINCE DRACULA crumbles prostrate over her, Th• Warrior in him fails, kissing, caressing, willing her baokto life.
CHESARE, an elder Monk, tries to comfort him.
Chesare hand• Dracula a bloodstained parchment,
VOIC! OF ELIZABETH "MY Prince ia feared dead. All is lost without him ••• Iwould rather my body rot and be consumed by the fi•h of the Argos than fall capture by th• Turk•.
- •.•May God unit• u• in heaven••.•
4/16/91 J•
He kisses her bloodstained mouth, convulsing in his pain.
Dracula cries out--a dying animal, lashing the crucifixion with his sword. He dumps the font of holy water washing Elizabeth's blood across the floor.
Dracula bends Chesare•s wrist in his powerful grip snapping bones--the crucifix falls to the bloody floor.
He rakes the colll.llluniongobletthroughthebloody-holy water--raising it high--
CHESARE/MONKS DevilI Vrolokl Berserker!
Cradling Elizabeth, he drinks the rush of freshlife.
FADE OUT:
Overlooking London and the Thames. A stone bench and family cemetery mark the highest point. We begin a diary entry typed on an early typewriter.
SUPER: MINA MURRAY'S DIARY - 9, MAY, HILLINGHAM MANOR
4/16/91 4.
The tyfing keysjam. Mina's eyes drift to Sir Richard Burton s ARABIANNIGHTS open beside her.
Mina turns. WE SEE HER FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME•. Age 20. She evokesthe very image of Eliza.beth. Her schoolmistress attire designedto prevent any sensuality from escaping.
LUCY WESTENRAopens the balcony doors--as if making a grand entrance intoa ballroom filled with Royalty. 19, rich, spoiled, coquettish,and blonde--everything Mina is not.
Mina stands--the concealed book falls to the floor opening wide to an erotic etching.
4/16/91 5.
They burst intotitillating laughter. Lucy picks up the book, both breathlesslyfanning pages to another etching.
WC'i They come much bigger.
She indicates10 inches-with her hands. Mina is aghast.
WC'i I did--only last night--
Lucy posesthe sex position in the etching. Kina flushes.
WC'i (adding) --in my dreams. (savoringgiddy) I almost forgot. I am bursting with news.
7 INT,PARUIR - POV THROUGH KE'iHOLE 7
A handsome young MAN turns a wide brimmedhat nervously inhis hands, Western boots. A beaded American Indian vest flashesunder his waist-coat.
Mina gawks through the keyhole. Lucy langors.
4/16/91 6.
She giggles the coquette,primpin9 in the hall mirror. Mina tends Lucy's hair,burning with jealousy.
Lucy enters to her Texan. Mina studies.the mirror.
The allure of the keyhole is too great. She steals a peek.
4/16/91 7.
MINA'S POV- THROUGH KEYHOLE - WC'l ANOQUINCEY
Giddy,she reaches for his crotch and pulls outhis big Bowieknife. She fondles it seductively.
Acce~ting defeat, he extends his hand, Lucy kisses it tugging him to her neck, her breast. He drops his hat.
RESUME: HALLWAY - A SERVANT APPROACHES,
Mina rises, el'lll:)arrassed1shehurriesaway.The Servant waits, then sneaks a peek through the keyhole.
Peacocks roam, screeching mating cries. JONATHAN HARKER greets Mina at a stone bench overlooking the Thames. 24, wildlr ambitious, upwardly mobile-•a Victorian yuppie·. He wh rls her scattering peacocks. They kiss.
HARlCEJt (full of himself) And why not? I'll bur you an estate just like Hill ngham someday. Perhaps you'd fancy a castle. Why should you be the poor schoolmistress that just visits her aristocratic friends. You can forget typing and teaching and all that forever.
4/16/91 s.
Mina flings herself in his arms. She swells,caressing his neck with a long peacock feather, downhis chest to his thigh, mimicking Lucy•s teasing ways. Aroused, Harker controls himself. ·
Harker swells at the idea of rubbing shoulders with royalty. Mina strokes him competing for his affections.
He takes her in his arms, bracing her up.
4/16/91 9.
I
Mina kisseshim like never before aroused--desperate--
Mina watches him hurry to his eoaeh. There is a finality to this moment. As if nothing will ever be the same.
A light at the end. THE ORIENT EXPRESS blasts into day.
ll EXT. ORIENT EXPRESS - AT A COACH WINDOW - HARKER 11
SUPER: JONATHAN HARKER'SJOURNAL
Steaming over the Danube across Szencheynyi•s Great Bridge.
4/16/91 10.
Harker travels in a coach taking in the magnificent Carpathian mountains as he reads a letter.
Harker folds the letter from Dracula into his 1ournal. 2 GYPSY PEASANT WOMEN and a RUSSIAN MERCHANT st opposite him, staring. Harker stares back.
HARltER (slow and deliberate) Do you speak English?
Silence.
Thunder rolls over jagged mountains.
Thunder cracks. The SLOVAK DRIVER whips the horses.
The passengers sleep, uneasily.
TIGHT ON MINA - PHOTOPLATE
A travel frame. Harker, exhausted, studies her smile as he strokes himself with the peacock feather she gave him, alone with erotic thoughts of her.
He looksup, caught. The women and Merchant are awake. One of thewomen jabs a strange two-fingered sign at him,
4/16/91 11.
THUNDER CRACKS!
The coach suddenly stops. The Merchant checks his watch, anxious.
The Slovak Driver answers in Romany as he lights the coach lamps. The passengers are at once fearful, spattering in different languages--The peasant woman makes the strange sign again at Harker.
HARKER CLIMBS OUT.
It is snowing. He stretches, studying a roadside shrine; Christ nailed to the cross; but the head is a great wolf.
PAWS RACEalong the ridge above. WOLVES GATHER watching Harker on the road below. Silent. Eyes gleaming.
The Horses SPOOKwildly--backpedaling. The Slovak tries to control them. Harker leaps in.
INSIDE - PASSENGERS SIAM into each other, crying out, screaming.
4 BLACK STALLIONS APPEAR from the mist pulling a Caleche coach so black it's purple--A vision from Dante's nightmares.
Lantern rays fall across the DARK DRIVERreining in the Stallions--a tall man with a thin brown beard--his face shadowed by a great black hat (DRACULA indisguise)--
4/16/91 12.
HARKER SITS BACK, suddenly feelingvery conspicuous. The peasant woman folds a crucifixinto his hand.
PEASANTWOMAN {Romany) For the dead travel fast,
The Dark Driver faces the passengers,evidently hearing her. He smiles. His eyes FLASH a deepfamiliar blue.
The woman hides her face, crossingherself. Harkertenses watching the Slovak hand over hisbag,
Harker steps out. Before he touchesground, the Dark Driver leansdown and LIFTS HIMEASILY INTO THE CALECHE WITH ONEHAND, The Stallions wheeland sweep Harker away into thesnowy mist.
The Slovakspeeds his relieved Passengers in the opposite direction.
The partition snaps back startlingHarker. The Dark Driverhands him a heavy cloak anda flask of brandy.
The Driver closes the partition abruptly. The coach sways, lulling Harker hypnotically. A DOG HOWLSin the distance-- Another joins it--echoing on thewind.
WOLVES HOWL back, More of them. Closer. Harker freezes. The coach lurches up a steep grade. Harker looks out--
The 4 Black Stallions. Heads churning. Steam rising. HOWLING surrounds them. Harker is terrified.
Wolves gather in silhouette lining both sides of the pass howling Harker's progress up the road.
4/16/91 l'.l.
26 RESUME: COACH
suddenly a strangeBLUE FLAME floatsin the darkness ahead silhouettingthe Oriver--Horsesspook and whinny.
The Driver stopsthe Caleche in frontof the jagged rock formation. Theunseen HOWLINGWOLVES are circling. The Dark Driver stridestoward theblue flame--having no fear. All howling ceases. HARKER PEERSfrom beneath the cloak.
28 IN THE DARKNESS -A RING OF EYESSURROUND THE COACH 28
Clouds break. Moonlight pours throughREVEALING: A RING OF WOLVES. More terrifying intheir grim silence.
HARJCERSCREAMS,pounding on the sideof the coach--hoping to scare the beastsaway--
The Dark Driverappears from the·blue flame facing the wolves. His voicemetallic, Not of the living,
With a gestureof his long arms the wolves depart howling
into the distance. The Dark Driver leaps aboard.
STALLIONS PLUNGEAHEAO--THROUGH THE BLUE FLAMES--
HEAVY CASTLEGATESCLOSE BEHIND!
The Coach stops. The Dark Driver removes Harker•s luggage then sets the frightened man down in front of a great door as if routine. Resuming the rein, he wheels the nightmare coach down adark passage.
Harker is completelydistraught. The Castle appears a vast ruin. The GREAT DOOROPENS behind him. He faces:
A TALL OLD KAN in a dark Oriental style suit bearing an emerald green cross over the breast: white mustache of Oriental fashionlike Attila or Ghenghis Khan. Hands long and hairy. Face riveting, handsome like a Tartar--and horrible at the same time. His eyes a cold vivid blue.
4/16/91 14.
Draculasmiles, bowing with a courtly gesture,speaking perfectEnglish.
The Count carries his luggage with astoundingvitality. Harker enters •freely.H The door closes witha boom.
JO INT. CASTLE - THE GREAT HALL - NIGHT JO
A brightly lit room. Byzantine treasures abound. Tapestries hang, centuries old: but all in pristine condition! A ruin of a battlement protrudes in thecenter of the mosaic floor sui::-roundedbyascaffolding; aphallic remnant. The castle is in trans1tion. Crated artworks and sculptures stand everywhere.
Dracula reads a letter by the massive walk-in fireplace that warms the room. He watches Harker devour a sumptuous meal.
Feminine laugbter echoes, startling Harker. Dracula doesn't react. Harker looks quickly about.
He's facing a huge TAPESTRY: A WINGED DRAGON prostrate.on the cross biting its own tail encircles the young Warr1or Dracula mounted on his horse: his shield a GREEN CROSS. A Latin inscription:
Dracula is suddenly beside Harker, startling him. With a mocking smile, he pours more wine into Harker•s golden chalice. Dracula's skin is shockingly pallid. His flashing blue eyes burn into Harker to the point of discomfort--
4/16/91 15.
Dracula laughs like a childcarried away with his own first joke, Harker laughs uneasy,trying to be polite.
Ashe speaks, hedraws a curvedTurkish sword from a rack, slashing itabout--sending Harker backpedaling. Dracula sags,drained--saddened--facing the painting•••of himself.•.
Ihave offended youwith my ignorance, Count. Forgiveme.
He bows in apology. Harker bows in return,unnerved.
Long nails filed to claw like points--oriental fashion. He pens his ornate signature to a "DEED OF PURCHASE".
"VLADISLAUS ORAKWYLA SZEKLYS"
Harker places the hot waxen seal on the deed.
4/16/91 16.
Harker extendshis hand toshake. Not knowing the custom, Dracula opensboth hands and bows. SILKEN HAIR lines his palms. Harkermasks his reaction.
Harker spreads glass photoplates on the greattable. Dracula is amazed as he surveys the views of the old estates, as if he'd never seen a photo-plate. Ever.
Harker admires the impressive array of English magazines, newspapers, Whitaker's Almanac--He turns the Atlas to oracula--doing his sales job--
Dracula's Atlas has already been marked with red circles in every location he mentioned. Purfleet, Exeter, Hillingham, the docks at London, the 10 properties, including a foundry--Harker hesitates, puzzled.
4/16/91 17.
Dracula: riveted to a photoplate--so stillhe looks dead.
REVEAL: THE PHOTOPLATE - MINA - Her secretsmile reaching across the centuries to Dracula.
Dracula rubs his palm over Mina's likeness mating with her aura. He turns away hiding his orgasmic reaction.
Dracula shows Mina's photo to Harker.
NARI<ER (embarrassed) Ah--you tound--Mina. I thought she was lost. We're to be married as soon as I return.
A RUSTLE of feminine garments blurs behind Harker. He looks. Nothing. Maddening. Dracula doesn't react.
He returns the photoplate.
4/16/91 18.
Dracula abruptly exits, leaving Harkeralone. Harker surveys the opulence. He leans back proppinghis feet on the massive desk, imagining it's all his ••• andbeginsto write.
Elegant appointments. Roaring friendly tire. Food. Cognac. Harker hwns at his shaving mirror,pleased with his "coup."
He eyes the CRUCIFIX about his neck. The gift from the Peasant Woman. DRACULA'SSLENDER HAND appears, gliding to him--flexing in anticipation--landing gently on his shoulder.
Harkerstartles--the mirror shows no reflection except his own--hewheels to see--
DRACULA:Way across the room! Turning back his bed--
4/16/91 19.
Withblurring speed, he wipes blood froma razor cut on Harker'sjaw. Harker turns to his mirror. Dracula pitches it outthe window. It SMASHES far b~low.
Harker turns over 3 sealed envelopes. Dracula eyes them in the candlelight and tucks them in his jacket,satisfied.
(nagging fear builds) I'm sure I understand.
HOWLING WOLVES echo o.c. in the distance--
Harker shudders--MUsic--Those animals? Dracula's eyes flash fixing on Harker•s crucifix.
Indeed, I have seen many stran9e things this night--Wolves chasing me--I was almost consumed in some blue inferno--and that driver•••
4/16/91 20.
Harker rushes to thewindow, peering out.
It was justoutside your gates. we could retrieve it inthe morning. I'lldig itup myself.
The Wolves HOWL CLOSER. Harker turnsto the sound. His doorlock clanks in place. Dracula isgone!
Harker sinks at the windowin nagging fear. Soft RUSTLING outside startles him, Harker leans outto investigate.
A dark figure slowly emerges from a window, FACE DOWN. Its cloak spreading aroundit like greatwings. It hesitates, then scurries lizard-like through patches of moonlight down the sheercastle wall over the abyss.
34 RESUME HARKER: 34
He ducks back, unableto trust his eyes. He looks again. No figure. Tbe wall impossible to climb,
His door handle RATTLES. LOW FEMININE LAUGHTER RIPPLES on the other side.
Empty hall. Torches flicker. The TINKLING LAUGHTER ripples again--through thecastle. Harker crosses with a torch.
His voice echoes.No response. SHADOWS scurry up the high walls behindhim. Titters. He wheels. Nothing.
4/16/91 21,
36 INT, SPIRAL STAIRS- CONTINUING ACTION 36
Harker triesdoor after door. Locked. At the top of the stairs, flankedby oriental erotic statues,a lone door opensas ifexpecting him--
Octagonal. Byzantine, Adorned in feminine frills. Mirrors abound. Harker laughs aloud.
He sitson a yreat couch in front of tall windows taking in the moonlitv ew. Finally relaxing, he drifts asleep.
Oust beginsto swirl in the moonbeams. Footprints appear on the dustymarble floorbeside Harker•s. Petite. Female.
Harkerblinks indreamy state. A smile of pleasure crosses his face--A languorousFEMININE HAND traces his loin, caressing,arousing him. He reaches down to join the stroking--MOR.EHANDSsmooth up his thighs, his chest to his throat--hischeek--
DRACULA'S3 EXQUISITEBRIDES hover like adoring angels, Half spiritual,half erotic. Brilliant white teeth behind rubyvoluptuous lips. Their laughter "intolerable, tingling sweetnessof water glasses when played by a cunning hand",·
The Youngest hesitates, no more than 17, as fair as Mina, "withmasses ot golden wavy hair, eyes like pale sapphires."
The Youngest drops to her knees bending over Harker. She arches her neck wetting her scarlet lips. She rips his shirt down to his waist, tracing his stomach--his nipples with a hungry tongue--Harker swells, unable to resist-- She flicks her tongue up his throat to his crucifix. She shrinks back--swelling with hate to the delight ot the older Brides, She clasps the crucifix chain in her luscious mouth and bites it in two. The crucifix clinks to the floor.
4/16/91 22.
IN THE MIRRORS,WE SEE: only Harker'sreflection. He exalts. Hispassion freed! There isno reflection of the Brides--Whopin his ar111swithsurprisingstrength.
The youngeststraddles him like a horse. She cups her young breasts loweringthem maddeningly tosuckle him. She trails her mane down hisbare chest, down hisstomach licking him down to his loins. He cries out in ecstasy.
The older Brideskiss each other acrosshim fondling them- selves to a frenzy--nippinghis breastsand ar111swith·love bites. Harkerstiffens in orgasm as theyfeed on his wrists.
The youngestjabs her nails into hispants and slits them down to hislcnee--nibblinghis bare thigh--Harkerjerks with electric spasmsof passion. Older Brides smotherhis cries with theirbodies as they slither down his faceand torso, their mouthsfinding each other in a torrid Jway kiss--
WINDOWS BLOWOPEN with a rush of energy. DRACULAGRABS the young Bride'sneck--his fingers encircling her throatlike tentacles. He yanks her into the air--
--hurling theyoung bride away like a rag doll. -She SLAMS INTO THEWALL AND STICKS TO IT --like a fly!
Youngest scurriesacross the ceilin~ taunting Dracula, laughingcruel--soulless. Older Brides laugh with her.
Dracula recoils. His voice a soft tender whisper•••
Youngest crawls seductively down the wall to him. Brides fold themselves into him like a big furry animal.
4/16/91 23.
He gestures to a bag. sittingon theCloor by the window-- THE BAGMOVES--as if something aliveis in it-- Youngest leaps and opens it. ALOW WAIL of a baby emits. She swoons. Older Brides join her--flushedwith hunger-- the desire. They vanish in a floodof moonbeams.
Harker chokes back his repulsion. Dracula faces him--eyes blazing red. And with that elegantimperious gesture--he taints Harkerdead way.
SZGANY:GYPSIESload heavy coffin-likecrates onto 2 horsedrawnwagons. OTHERS bringmore boxes up from a vault entrance. A crate topplesbreaking open-- The Szgany backaway, terrified. Horses frenzy,
THE BROKEN COFFIN BOX--moldy dirtspilling out. JUST DIRT! Quickly turning tomud in the pouring rain--
HARKER; curled in fetal position atthe window--nude. Eyes sunken. A husk ravaged by fear--hunger--andthe Brides entangled on and about him. Older Brides untwine, kissing his liml:is,histhroat--theirhunger sated--
The youngest strokes him--wiping her lips with her golden hair--kissing him passionately--She slowly leaves letting him feast on her perfect body withhis eyes--His arrogance gone--his nightmare not over.
HA1UCE1l(V. 0. ) These may be the lastwords I write inthis journal. I a.a alone inthe castlewith those women. No--Kina is awoman. These are devils of the pit!--Dracula--this being I am helping transfer to London< where, for centuries,he m1ght amongst its teeming millions satiate his lust for blood and create a new and ever widening circle of his demons •••
He looks out the window. Szgany load boxes quickly.
4/16/91 24.
The Arges River roars200 feet below. Harker descendsthe stone wall; slipping,clinging, cut~ing himself.
His bloody fingersgive way. He skids down the face--
Dim lightstreams down from the crumbling vaulted ceiling. The ground excavated. Coffin-crates stand in rows.
Exhausted, in painl Harker crawls from a tunnel to a PILE OF GOLD COINS sitt ng on the ruins of the vecy 14th centucy altar where young Prince Dracula cradled Elizabeth.
Harker plows his hands into the coins, feeling a surge of energy. He stuffs his pockets, looking around--crazed.
He marvels at the dragon arch with one word carved in it--
"DRAKWYLA"
Harker inspects the carvings. A BERSERKER WOLF, in full armor, repels an army of Turks. Hundreds of bodies impaled on stakes. The dragon's tail rings the rendering.
Stakes still protrude in the chapel ground. Skeletons, centuries old, grotesquely skewered on them.
SZGAHY GYPSIES ENTER carcying out more crates. Harker ducks behind an open crate. He shrinks back in horror.
DRACULA lays in his "day coma" packed in the moldy earth: eyes wide open and stony. No sign of life. Harker summons courage, grabs a shovel and raises it to strike.
DRACULA'S INERT BODY RISES STRAIGHT UP FACING HARXER
Harker stumbles back, gagging, entangling himself in the impaled skeletons. He flails madly--trapped!
4/16/91 25.
SILVERY LAUGHTERechoes through the chapel. OUSTBEGINS TO OANCE--THEJ BRIDES MATERIALIZE wearing flowingburial gowns. They surroundHarker--more voluptuous thanbefore.
Hegrabs an impaling pike. She rubs her porcelain skin againsthim, Harker weakens, his laugh building--maniacal. He grabsher golden hair--guiding her luscious mouth to his erogenouszones--The Brides engulf him--
HARKER EXALTS LIKE A MAOMAN--ECHOING OVER:
Szganr reverently fix Dracula's coffin atop the load. 50 inal; each consigned to: S.F. BILLINGTON & SON, GOSEWELL ROAD, LONDON, E.C. l, ENGLAND. The wagons clatter from the courtyard.
HARKER'S MAD LAUGH CONTINUES OVER;
Young, mocking smile. Crystal-blue eyes watching us.
44 THE BLUE FLAME 44
A schooner crashes down through stormy seas, as if emerging from the blue flame.
SUPER: LOG or THE DEMETER - VARNA TO LONDON
4/16/91 26,
Waves crash over hergunwales floodingthe empty deck. An AGONIZED SCREAM is muffled by the·storm.
A BODY surfaces on deck and floats by ina rush of water.
47 INT, SHIP'S HOLD- CONTINUING ACTION 47
Water streams down spattering like drumson the stacks of COFFIN CRATES. One has no lid. A puddleof water rapidly fills an impression in its moldy dirt. THE SHAPE OF A MAN!
48 EXT, QUARTERDECK- CONTINUING ACTION 48
A HORRID FACE appears from the spume. It'sthe First Mate. He gaffs the deadbody and turns it over. The Man's throat has been torn away.
The CAPTAIN appears. The First Mate grabshim--wild eyed.
The mad sailor slasheshis knife through theair,
FJ:RSTMATE His face--it changed. E's a young· lad! E' changed agin--A beasty!
A chilling soundnever heard at sea spirals above the din stopping bothmen. The lone agonized HOWL OFA WOLF,
The FirstMate runscrazed leaping overboard into the stormy sea. TheCaptain lashes himself to the wheel. The HOWL resounds again; the hunter hunting•••
A magnificent sunset over the cemetery and the Thames.
SUPER: 24,JULY, MINA MURRAY'S DIARY
4/16/91 27.
Mina sitson the stone bench,aloof, removed. Lucy, beautifulin a white lawn frock;full of excitement, balanceson a grave monument laughingmischievously.
Mina is elated and jealous, which she triesto hide.
Mina is annoyed. Major scowl.
4/16/91 28.
Mina regards Lucyin complete disbelief.
Silence. Mina isuneasy.
·-, MINA Mr. Hawkins sent me a note from him. One brief line in over a month. That is not like Jonathan.
The truth? Mina is shocked. The skies suddenlydarken. THUNDERCRACKS une~ectedly. A cloudburst unloadsdrenching them. Lucy revelsin the downpour, standing on thebench.
Lucy twirls,pulling her drenched white frock down over herbody--transparent--titillating. She tickles-Mina.
Mina's white linen dress is diaphanous in the downpour. She laughs with utter delight. Lucy chases Mina around . the bench, both squealing like schoolgirls. They wrestie.
Lucy runs into the cemetery--daring Mina to follow. Mina gives chase, dodging and weaving through the tombstones. Suddenly she stops.
An ominous, iridescent fog bank obscures the sunset: brightened by flashes of lightning, it rolls toward them. Something powerful is coming. GREAT STREAKING HOLLOW sounds boom overhead like modern jets.
RESUME MINA: Strangely unafraid: her destiny rides the storm.
4/16/91 29.
BERSERKER the Wolf wakes to thesounds; howling snarling at the bars.
MORE CAGES: (2nd unit/practicallocation)
Lions and tigers and bears suddenlyrise yowling and roaring at the stor111.Monkeys chatter andrace around their cage. Baboons suddenly fight and tear ateach other.
Literally a madhouse. INMATES tearat each other and their barred windows; slathering likeanimals at the zoo.
INMATES scream from their cells. MORE INMATES rush down the corridor like a crashing wave. outnumbered KEEPERS beat and lash trying to drive themback.
RENFIELD wakes from comatose sleep. LikeBerserker1 he senses the presence of a mighty force. He mashes his face between his window bars convinced he can fitthrough. He exalts at the great streaking sounds, summoningthem like a conductor summons his orchestra.
He opens a box of spiders. Big ones. He shepherdsscores of flies swarming onto a plate of sugar.
He dumps the flies on the spiders watching the feeding frenzy with childish delight. He writes numbers in a note book--counting flies like an accountant runningtotals.
DR. JACK SEWARD, an intense "workaholic" in his JO's, dictates into an Edison wire recorder. As he speaks, he prepares an injection.
4/16/91 JO.
Seward ties off his an1. The injection istor hims
Seward glides calm and resolute through hisLOoneysi · hissing--grovling--claving at him like hungry animals; He motions to the BIG KEEPER at Ren.field'scell.
Covering his face with a handkerchief. The floor covered with dung. Renfield offers a large spider inhis palm,
Hors d'oeuvres, Dr, Seward? Canapes?
Far better than you, my lovesick Doctor.
Renfield pops a handful of flies in his mouth, savoring the taste, licking his fingers in mannerly fashion.
4/16/91 31.
He picks outa largeblowfly and eats it. Seward is impressed byhis logiconly,
Renfield wipes a slew of roaches off a medical journal pointing to an article, "DISEASES OF THE BRAIN," BY A. VAN HELSING,
Renfield loses composure begging on Seward like a dog--
Seward leaves him gnawing his fingers on the floor.
Lightning flashes through the skylight. THUNDER CRASHES!
4/16/91 32.
Lucyand Mina hide under the covers andgiggling like schoolgirlsat the sounds of the storm.
She pulls Lucy from under the covers forcingher to look out the balcony windows. THUNDER BOOMS! LIGHTNINGFLASHES, blinding them both. They dive, shrieking,under the covers.
Lucy hurries to her vanity and begins brushing on bright red lip paint. Mina follows, piqued.
She begins to paint Mina's lips, playfully caressing her neck, her breast--Mina backs away, surprised at her arousal.
Mina is imperious, almost regal in her command. Lucy ba~ks away like a scolded puppy, then laughs like Dracula's brides and dances into the bed seductively. Mina is surprised at her own strong behavior. THUNDER BOOMS! The both SCREAM!
A rowdy pub on a London street.
QUINCEYMORRISS is roaring drunk in a sea of HOOKERS.
4/16/91 JJ.
He spins sloshing RIGHTON LORD HOLHWOOD~-Luc•s fiance. Late 2o•s1 a rich, stiff imperious Englishtw1t. His title and wealth are his..majorattractions. He is drunk as well, but disdainful of Quincey's behavior.
Holmwood trips Quinceyr angrily. He staggersback into a BIG IRISHMAN--embrac1ng the man's HOOKER. The IRISHMAN smashesQuincey against a row of kegs. Kegs topple sending a waveof ale crashing like the sea overQuincey sprawled on the floorwith several Hookers.
THUNDER BOOMS! Pub windows blow open. Rain blows in. Quincey greets it with a Cowboy yell.
Hookers roll back from thewind·and rain. A human wave of flesh writhing past Holmwood seeking refuge.
61 EXT,/IH'l'.DEMETER - NIGHT - STORM CONTINUING ACTION 61
The CAPTAIN; lashed firmto the wheel--dead. His head pitches to and fro. Histhroat torn completely away.
BELOW: Waves crash down an open hatch, Ha111111ockssway. Arms and legs dangle. A HEAD, throat torn away.
Shutters blow off. Terrace windows blow open.
4/16/91 34.
Rain and windlash her as she forces the terrace doors closed, lockingthem.
She can't seein the darkness. She feels the bed. Empty. covers tossedon the floor;- Fearing the worst, she peers out a smallwindow.
Ascendingthe steps to the cemetery, a WHITE GOWNED FIGURE--
Serene smile. Oblivious to the winds ripping at her.
Fog; lightning. Suddenly the Demeter plunges in the lighthousebeams out of control.
COASTGUARDSMEN race about securing small craft. The bank of fogrolls in blinding the view. The great streaking hollow sounds boom overhead, as lightning flashes.
The fog suddenly clears, REVEALING THE DEMETER motionless inthe water at the docks. Its anchor drops. The guardsmen stand awestruck at the impossible sight.
An IMMENSE WOLF DOG SUDDENLY LEAPS from the bow into the water, swi111111ingaway.
The guardsmen hurry on deck, findini hideous cadaverous dead bodies washing about. Lamps d scover the dead Captain lashed to the wheel. His throat has been torn away.
A LONG TRIUMPHANT HOWL momentarily silences the tempest.
4/16/91 35.
MINA EMERGES from the fogwrapped ina heavy shawl, fightingthe wind andspray--She stopsdead as the HOWLING reaches her--sendingdeeper chills through her. She disappears into the fog.
MINA'S POV - THE CEMETERY
Lucy's white-gowned figure is splayedwanton in the stone seat. Her arms pinnedback, herhips undulating wildly. A DARK FIGURE, erect likea man orbeast·bends over her--
Mina appears from themist. Lightningilluminates the view.
The DARK FIGURErears up, staring with flashing red eyes--
DRACULA'S POV - NIGHTVISION (A VAMPIRE'SVIEW)
Mina moves in slow fluidmovements. Bloodglowing in her veins like lava. Churningwith life. Her breathing and heartbeats amplified. The view jumps closer--rightup to Mina's face.
70 FLASH TO: THE FACE OFELIZABETH: THENBACK TO MINA 70
WITH MINA
She finds Lucy alone,breathing in heavyorgasmic gasps; gown spread revealingher breasts--her thighs. Mina wraps her shawl about Lucypinning it at her neck. Lucy shudders. Mina takes her shoesoff and slips them on Lucy's bare feet. She shakes Lucy hard,waking her in a half-dreamy state. Lucy gasps for air--Minastands her up andguides her away.
They pass beneatha massive stone monument of the cross.
4/16/91 J6.
LIGHTNINGCRACKLES: REVEALINGDRACULA IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS! The handsome Warrior Princeyoung again. Stallion blackhair falling abouthis shoulders. Those piercing blue eyeswatch Mina go. Filledwith a hunger--to live--to love.
Thunder; lightning. The Masterhas come.
CUT TO: BLACK
SUPER: Letter, Samuel F. Billington, Son, Solicitor, to Messrs. Carter, Patterson, co., London, 17 August.
"HEREWITH PLEASE RECEIVEINVOICE OF GOODS TO BE DELIVERED AT CARPAX NEAR PURFLEET IMMEDIATELYUPON RECEIPT. ENCLOSED FIND KEYS. YOUWILL PLEASE DEPOSITTHE CONSIGNED BOXES 01" EXPERIMENTAL EARTH, 50 INNUMBER, INTHE PARTIALLY RUINED BUILDING MARXED A ON THEDIAGRAM ENCLOSED. WE ARE, DEAR SIRS, FAITHFULLY YOURS,SAMUEL F.BILLINGTON & SON."
High stone walls surroundthe house which has been abandoned tor years. A pond spreads in frontot an old chapel. At the chapel entrance, LORRYMEN unloadthe Cottin crates from 2 delivery wagons markedCARTER, PATTERSON& SON.
The cottin crates make aneerie sight lined up inthe ruins ot the medieval chapel. Dracula is •••home.
Rentield holds vigil athis window, nosingthe wind.
He politely gorges himselfon spiders and flies--
Seward tips a MESSENGERand signs for a telegram. The Messenger exits. Seward checks the "sender".
He reads. He sits, gravely disturbed by the telegram.
4/16/91 J7.
Seward is chilled by the plea. Lucy••• A STOUT KEEPER suddenly bursts in--
Renfield smashes his bed throughthe barred window with superhuman thrusts.
He crawls out, face down--spreadinghis arms and legs like a spider--AND FALLS 2 FLOORSsmacking the ground. Impossibly, he staggers to his feet andruns toward carfax.
The cell is crawling withbugs and spiders. Seward spots Renfield out the window goingover the wall to carfax.
Renfield beats against theold iron-boundoak chapel door.
Sewarddrops over thewall and approaches slowly. Keepers follow. The Stout Keepercarries a strait waistcoat.
Renfield turns facings·ewardand the Keepers.
4/16/91 38.
He grabs Seward by the throat. Keeperswrestle him to the ground. Renfield bites one keeper'snose off. He snaps another's arm as if a chicken bone:cracking like a pistol shot. The man screeches agony.
The vampire view of human auras inbattle below. Heartlights pounding--breathing amplified. Keepers beat the lunatic with clubs. Renfield fightson.
WE HEAR: Dracula's metallic animalgrowl of approval. WE SEE: The red eyes of the predatorwatching.
Seward exits a hansom.
Lucy turns in her wedding dress, bubblingdelight•••
She opens her arms to him. Seward,unflappable, is shocked at her appearance. He takes her handinstead of her kiss.
She spins for his approval; her skina chalky bloodless white. Weight loss frightening. Gaunt,cheeks sunken in. Receding gums. The early stages ofvampire transformation.
Ever the ,tease, she toys with a blackvelvet choker around her neck. Seward forces a laugh, hidinghis reaction.
4/16/91 39.
Lucydrops her "bubble" mask. She reclineson a chaise, hidingher eyes in her hands.
She fondles the choker, c~ling in gaspingsobs.
She gasps, unable to breathe, clutching Seward, terrified.
He ~abs an injection in her arm, rocking her like a baby, trying to comfort the one he loves but has lost. Lucy moans--the drug taking effect. Her hand drifts to the choker riding it up, revealing two red marks. Seward is too distraught to notice.
WCY'S THROAT: at her external ·jugular--twosurgical wounds.
Scanning the rush of humanity. WOMEN in great cartwheel hats parade by with and without GENTLEMEN. Each Woman steals a glance at us. Some smile. Others look away embarrassed--only to look again. And again---
REVERSE TO: YOUNG DRACULA
The most dashing, handsome man on the street cuts a swathe likesome legendary adventurer back from the wilds. An unusual wide brimmed hat shades his sculpted face. Thin dark beard perfectly trillll!led.Whitekidgloves--a silver headed walking stick, which he thoroughly enjoys swinging.
4/16/91 40.
His eres hidden behind thenewest fashion--tinted glasses. He sm les perfect white teeth--tippinghis hat to each woman who catches his eye. The countis cruising.
WOMEN titter quite improperlyas he opens a horsedrawn hansom for them. Their GENTLEMANCHAPERON frowns--
He rises, sweepinghis hand. The horse spooks and bolts awaywith the man clinging to the hansom.
SCHOOLBOYS dodge around Dracula inpursuit of a PLUMP SCHOOLGIRL playing tag withtheir book.bags. He delights in their vigor; appraising theirsize and shape •.The little plump girl would do for a tastysnack.
One boy shoves the girl hardto the cobblestones· and runs. She sits on the curb holdingher knee sobbing. A shadow passes over her. She looksup. Dracula looms.
Dracula bends, offering his handkerchief.
She removes her hands revealing her freshly skinned knee, Blood drools down her leg, The girl wipes the blood with her fingers, licking them clean.
Dracula turns away, dizzied by the smell of fresh blood. His hunger is powerful.
4 16/91 4.I..
He's lying. He takes the girl's pudgy hand in hisglove.
DRACULA'S POV - THE FACE OF MINA APPROACHES
Tense as she hurries through the crowd. Her eyesmeet his. She looks ilDlllediatelyaway.somethingcompels herto look again. HE HEARS HER HEART BEAT FASTER. She smiles heading right at Dracula! As if she knows him! He panics, tipping his hat clumsily. Mina marches right past him--
--to FLORENCE the pudgy girl. She tends the knee, trying to make her presentable.
Flo hands Dracula his bloodstained hanky. Mina rises taking him all in. He bows in a courtly gesture.
Mina is enchanted by his manner and voice but wary.
Mina gives Flo her book bag andtakes her hand to go.
Dracula is THE "lost soul." Mina flouncesby with Flo, properly reticent to engage the strangeman.
4/16/91 42.
Flo waves toDracula. He waves, desperate notto let Mina out of his sight. He HEARS every word--
At thecorner, Mina delivers Flo to her NURSEand goes her ownway.
Mina pays tor a bottle of LAUDANUM, rounds a corner and bumps rightinto Dracula. She startles backward•.The bottledrops. He catches it with blurring swiftness.
Destiny. 400 years. She eyes him--unexplainably drawn--
She holds out her hand. He almost grasps with his trembling hand, then realizes he has her medicine.
4/16/91 43.
Dracula is suddenly infront of her, waiting. Mina is shocked, How?
He bows, defeated and turns to leave. Mina is confused, fighting against every rule of decorum--
4/16/91 44,
Dracula turnsback trying to controlhimself, He removes his tintedglasses. His sparkling blueeyes hypnotic --enchanting--takingMina all in withloving grace.
--A subconsciouscommand. Mina is completelytransfixed.
Mina flushes red--beside herself with elllbarrassment.
Dracula can. He grins like a lovesick schoolboy--
Flustered, she starts to curtsy--Dracula stops her.
She allows a tentative smile charmed and disarmed. PRINCE
DRACULA, barelr containing hls pure joy, escorts Nina into the swirl ot l fe on the streets ot London. Streetla~ps are being lit. People rush home from work. Couples stroll catching the sunset. Big Ben chimes.
4/16/91 45.
A GREAT GRAY WOLFleaps at us snarling--lipscurled back over its canines--gnashing atthe bars of its cage--
WOLF'S POV - THROUGH THE BARS
Dracula leans on his cane. Sly smile. Ruddy lips. White teeth. Enjoring the chaos he is causing,unflinching as the beast hurls its body against the bars--
Mina pulls at Dracula, distressed. She flinches back as if suffering an electrical shock. Fora flash she sees those eyes--not vivid blue--but burning redlike lasers.
Mina regards this strange man who droppedin on her life.
The ZOOKEEPER, MR. BILDER, hurries up andsmacks the wolf through the bars with a wooden staff--
BERSERKER rushes the bars, frighteningMina back. Dracula counters with a sweeping gesture speakinghis mother tongue.
The Words the Dark Driver spoke to controlthe wolves on Marker's journey to Castle Dracula. The Wolfcowers-- understanding~-and retreats to the corner.
Mina and Bilder watch dumbfounded.
Dracula beckons. Gentle. The Great Wolf comes, head down, obedient. Dracula reaches through the bars and cradles Berserker's head in his white gloves, rubbing his ears, stroking his great back.
4/16/91 46.
Mina resists. Dracula drawsher hand into the cage. She struggles--then her hand touchesthe soft fur. Sensual. Berserker moans like a playfulpuppy. She strokes its great neck, getting into it. She smilesto Dracula--the verr image of Elizabeth, laughing freeand completely trusting as she pets the Wolf.
Dracula removes his glasses. Man and Beast face to face. His eyes again crystal blue--thesame color as the wolf.
An elegant BLACK TOURING CARstops outside thegates. Dracula helps Mina down; lastrays ot sunglowing about her.
Mina lingers, reluctant to end itat all.
Her emotions ripple. She cannotdeceive this man.
Silence. Both fixed on each other. Unable to move. He bends kissing her hand. Mina reaches to stroke his long hair--like the wolt--then catches herself pulling back.
'.-,.
Mina takes a last lookat those angel eyes and hurriesup thecarriage road to Hillingham.
FOLLOWMINA
A rush of sexual adrenalin. Her face flushed, unableto contain her excitement. She turns to back--
Nothing. Dracula is gone! Even the touring car!
Lucy sleeps peacefully. Mina peeks in and covers her. Mina is radiant. Bursting with news she cannot share.
SUPER: SAME DAY, ll PM, MINA MUlraAY'SDIARY
Harker runs, dream motion, fightingthe snow. TINGLING LAUGHTER of Dracula's Brides builds to the REVERBERATING HOWLING of Wolves. The HOWLING closes in--
He falls--tumbling, sliding down--down--landing on railroad tracks--BLINDING LIGHTS APPEAR! A SlmILL WHISTLE. Harker looks up--unable to move!
The BRIDES MATERIALIZE, surrounding him, pressing him back into the snow. The train ROARS by o.c. He strugglesto free himself, but their erotic power over him is too great.
FADE OUT:
88 FADE I~:TIGHT ON MICROSCOPIC VIEWOF BLOOD 88
PUlsing. Cells churning. Corpuscles battle attacking a foreigncell.
REVEAL: ABRAHAM VAN HELSING lecturing a handful ofSTUDENTS around his microscope. "The poise of his head indicates thought and power ••• sculptedinmystery and kindness••• dark blue.eyes quick and tender or stern with the man'smoods."
Van Helsing raises the limp arm of a cadaver on a table and lets it drop punctuating his point. His students laugh.
He slits his thumb with a lancet squeezing his own blood onto a glass slide,
van Helsing moves to the head of the cadaver pushing electrical wires into lobes of the exposed brain and open heart cavity.
4/16/91 49.
Van Helsing turns a hand generatorslowly watching the amps on a gauge--students shrink back inexclamation.
The cadaver's hands quake with theelectricity. The dead heart beats erratically. studentssfioutand applaud.
TIGHT ON VAN HELSING: cranking faster•.. playingGod.
SUPER: 6, SEPT. TELEGRAM, LONDONTO VAN HELSING, AMSTERDAM
"Dear Professor, come atonce: do not lose an hour. A dear friend near death; disease unknown. I am in desperateneed. Jack Seward."
The VIEW lands silently and moves throughthe garden toward Lucy's balcony. The POV LIFTSeffortlessly into the air and glides to Lucy's Frenchdoors.
Lucy senses the presence and turns over. Her eyes brighten. She smiles wanton and opensherself•. Blood rushes through her glowing like moltenlava. Pulsing life.
ON THE BALCONY - DRACULA WATCHES
Tracing his own hand up his leg to his pelvis--toyingwith her like a trained animal--
LUCYmirrors him, arousing herself withher own caress. Her hands glide up her body finding herbreasts--to her neck. She removes her choker--strokingher neck slowly with her hands--then faster--ejaculatory--sexualpowers awakened. This is what she has hungered for.
Dracula enters. No love or tenderness in him. He hungers. He hurls her back on the bed--rips away hergown--and takes her--
Dense fog has set in. A motorcar stops in front of the house. PROF. VAN HELSING steps out carrying a single valise. A 9rand silhouette. The car leaves. Van Helsing remains motionless, sensing, listening.
Urgency sweeps over him. He ascends the steps hurriedly with a marked limp.
4/16/91 50.
A SERVANTtakes Van Helsing's coat. He refuses to let go his bag. Seward, haggard, hurries to meet him.
Van Helsing, set in his eccentric ways, doesn't shake hands, but rather places his gloves and hat in Seward's care and immediatelysurveys the house with his 6th sense. Already fearfulof the power he is up against--
Seward nods: near collapse. Suddenly, Lucy's ORGASMIC WAIL echoes down the stairs.
LUCY'S WANTON MOANS repeat again building to a passionate female climax--seward falters topping the stairs, confused by her cries of ecstasy.
~/16/91 51.
Balcony doors stand open. Curtains flap. Lucy lies s~rawled on her bed. A small pool ofblood caking on a pillow. Her gown torn open to herwaist.
Van Helsing covers her. Her chestheaves struggling to breathe. He checks her pulse--her jugular. The black choker hinders him. He slides itdown--revealing the t~o ..smallpunctures. Fresh. Larger. Worn with repeated use--
Van Helsing's expression tells all. He knows. He knows!
Seward opens the bag pulling out implements--
Holmwood rushes in his hat and topcoat as Van Helsing ties off Lucy's arm in her state of undress,
He grabs atVan Helsing. Seward pulls him back.
4/16/91 32.
Van Helsing looks at Seward, then at Holmwood. He "sees" everything.
He's trying to save her, Art.
"HOI.MWooo· My life is hers. I would give my last drop of blood to save her.
Van Helsing holds up two ghastly needles in each hand connected by tubini and a bulb plllllp.Holmwoodgrows faint. Seward is irritated by his lack of will.
self-conscious and overwhelmed, Holmwood kisses Lucy tentatively on her bluing lips.
Seward sits him down like a child, ties off his arm with a jealous jerk and thumps up a vein. Experience. He jabs Holmwood with the large needle, inwardly enjoyi·g the pain he's inflicted in Holmwood's face.
Van Helsing inserts the large needle into Lucy's arm. She quivers in brief pain--still unconscious. He pumps.
RED BLOOD rhythmically travels the tube from his arm to hers~ feeding life into her. WE HEAR the force like a raging torrent of water crashing down.
95 THE FACE OF DRACULA 95
Inhis "coma." His lips red with life. His hunger sated.
SUPER: 6, SEPTEMBER
4/16,91 5J •
CHORUS GIRLS and ACTRESSES dine discreetlywith their GENTLEMEN ADMIRERS; GERMAN DUKES, AUSTRIANCOUNTS, ENGLISH ROYALTY,the like in this famous Bohemian supper club. Absinthe abounds, the "Green Fairy" liquid drug of choice.
OSCARWILDEexpounds a romantic poem to all the ladies present•.• andof course, the men••• especially.••
DRACULA,in classic tuxedo with a dash of red silk, riveted to Wilde. Dracula's handsome pallor and tinted glasses draws women's glances like a rock star.
Wilde ends kneeling BEFORE MINA, sitting radiantly sim~le beside Dracula; who stands in rousing applause rewarding Wilde with a magnificent golden ring.
Mina flushes red watching Dracula adoringly.
Wilde leads the crowd, applauding Dracula's wit. Dracula greets the adulation as if a great actor long absent returning to his stage.
4/15191 54.
( 98 INT. FRIVATE DINING ROOM - LATER
Where lovers meet for an undisturbed"tete-a-tete." Dracula talks animated. He pressesgreen absinthe to her lips.
They drink deep. Mina weakensat his proximity, giving in.
She swirls the green absinthein the candlelight. Dracula covers her lips.
MINA {V.O. cont'd) Yet I am drawnto something in him that frightensme. He has many secrets to unlock. I want to know them all•••
~/16;91 55.
Their eyes meet,both lingeringtoo long.
Mina awakens to her deep inner self.
Mina smiles aloof, lost inthe absinthe dream trying to decipher sensations surging through her.
--speaking "Elizabeth" to Mina as if it were her given name.
4/16/9l 56.
Silence. Mina takes his hands inhers, rubbing them comforting•.•
THE CAFE - LATER - MINA AND DRACULADANCING
A waltz. Hundreds of candles flicker. With each turn, Dracula becomes more fluid and comfortablein Mina's arms and she in his. she is awakeninghis dead soul.
He lifts her eyes to his--They kiss--gently,tenderly-- Mina's desire awakened by ••• amonster.
LUCY'S ANGELIC FACE
Sleeping peacefullf, Cheeks and color healthy. Breath short: her face thin and drawn. An orgasmic st.udderripples through her. A tiny garland of white flowers has replaced her black choker.
THE FACE OF VAN HELSING
hovers over her; his eyebrows converge deep in thought. He checks her receding gums, hiding his reaction to her slightly changed teeth. He has seen this condition before! Mustn't panic. Mustn't panic.
Van Helsing gently reveals the punctures on her throat. Seward inspects them.
Van Helsing scoffs, disappointed in his student.
~/16/91 57.
She wakes. Van Helsingdisarms her with his jovialbedside manner.-::-•·
Lucy rallieswith her coy laugh--taking his hand. Seward appears atVan Helsing's side.
Lucyenjoys Seward's.embarrassment. Her hands glide to her throat. She freezes--feeling flowers instead of her choker. She wrinkles her·nose ..atthedisgusting smell.
He points to a large bouquet of beautiful white flowers in a vase by the French doors.
Lucy tears the flower necklace off laughing derisively.
~/16/91 58.
Van Helsingstands menacing over Lucy. Sherecoils--
QUINCEYENTERS, having been outside waiting. He's shocked by her appearance, but puts on his big grin.
Her voice is soft, voluptuous, reeking with desire. Seward is shocked, then jealous. Quincey bends to her eager--
VAN HELSING EXPLODES, catching Quincey with a fur/ yanking him back across the room--
Quincey grabs Van Helsing--Seward intervenes--
Lucy's weak hand rests on Van Helsing•s. She kisses it. Her voice faint and filled with "untellable pathos".
Van Helsing eyes the young men. No one challenges his authority now. He kneels, taking Lucy's hand in oath.
~/16/91
Harker crawls through a rush of mud and rain, as if trying to swim up a waterfall, drowning, sinking, dying.
Someone pounds like a madman on the door. Outside, wolves howl. A NUN rushes to the door, sliding open a small'hatch. Lightning flashes, revealing the tormented face of Harker. He tries to speak. His voice is gone, He offers handfuls of ancient golden coins, pushing them through the small hatch. More nuns rush up. Thar open the door.· Harker collapses into their arins. He is saved.
A wedding rehearsal. Mina fills in for Lucy. Holmwood, Quincey and Seward greet her at the altar. The mood is soml:ler.Holmwood puts on a brave face. Mina shores him up as they face the PRIEST.
SUPER: 7, SEPTEMBER, MINA MURRAY'S DIARY
4/15.191 '50.
Mina finishesher diary entry on a lapdesk. A SERVANT enters.
Mina panics to herself.. . r
Van Helsing enters, all charm masking his agenda.
Mina wasn't expecting this. Van Helsing takes her hand comforting.
She finds the page. van Helsing politely finesses it from her, moving to the window to read. Mina starts to protest--
~/16/91 ':51.
He shuts the diary in a rush ofenergy, taking Mina's hands .
Madam Mina, how canI say what I owe you? This paper isas sunshine. I am dazzle. It will be a pleasureto serveyou as friend. I trust youbut ask.
He kisses her hand and turns togo. He stops, slapping his hands to his great noble head--
He fishes a letter from his pocket and presents it--
He dashes off. Mina stares at the opened letter. Jonathan? She reads, breathless, theweeks of waiting over--
Mina reads a letter for the hundredth time, still barely comprehending its truth:
SUPER: 12 AUGUST, LETTER, SISTER AGATHA, HOSPITAL OF ST.
JOSEPH ANO ST. MARY.
4/16/91 62.
Mina's joy becomes remorse•••crumblingin tears.
Dracula reads the letter in the privatedining room set with an elegant meal. He is alone. Painsharpens: with each word wrenching him like a wild animalcaught in a trap.
Tears drop blurring the ink, They are Dracula's!
Her joy melts to anguish and heartbreak. She finds her diary. Methodically, she tears 3 pages from it and throws them overboard, watching each memory drift away.
4/15191 63.
She starts to throw a single white kidglove, touching it to her face, savorin9, remembering. Tears finally come. Her inner strength failing, she sobs,closing the door on Oracula .•.forever•••
107 RESUME: DRACULA 107
Heads in hands, fighting his grief,hiding his tears. Kid gloves stained with blood! He removesthem revealing the hideous face of a corpse. Skin cracking,rupturing, transforming into the ~00 year old demon thatrules him!
Van Helsing climbs in a motorcar withhis inexpendable bag. Seward follows with Quincey--cradlinga Winchester.
Seward, exhausted--strung out--faces Quinceyman to man.
Van Helsing leans from the car--impatient.
Quincey, disgusted, ready to punch van Helsing out.
4/16/9: ':14.
Quincey looks to Seward for explanation of thisnonsense.
Seward climbs in--Van Helsing barks to the driver. They speed away leaving Quincey behind. He surveys thevast grounds. He checks his knife and rifle••• spooked.
Renfield lies comatose on the floor strapped in his strait-jacket. Face bruised and beaten. His eyes open wide--as if suJDJDoned.
Something is there in the darkness. DRACULA STRIDES from the shadows as if he walked through the wall. His face still the 400-year-old demon. Renfield rises, controlled by invisible strings. With superhuman strength, he pulls himself free of the straitjacket.
Renfield is talking to an empty room.
Seward ties off his arm, his body quaking as he prepares an injection.
RENFIELD CRASHES IN THE DOOR armed with a lancet.
..;./~6i91 55.
Renfield lunges at Seward slashing his arm spewing blood. The men gra~ple to the floor. Seward stabs Renfield inthe neck with his syringe. The men sag ••• lifeless.Blood trickles in a puddle. Madness.
lll EXT. HILLINGHAM GROUNDS - NIGHT lll
Quincey patrols watching the same full moon. HOWLING draws closer. Dogs? No. A wolf? He cocks his rifle.
PREDATOR'S POV: A vampire's view of Quincey--way across the lawn. The VIEW jwnps to his rifle and gleaming knife.
Quincey turns, sensing the presence--VIEW RUSHESCLOSER. He raises his Winchester--he weakens. VIEW rushes over him--
Lucy tosses unable to sleep. Her nocturnal powers alive.
The 4 legged kind. Moving through the garden to Lucy's balcony. IT RISES--flying to the balcony doors.
She wakes--on command--her eyes filled with wanton lust-- facing Dracula through the glass doors. Not the handsome creature of desire, but a hungry demon.
A NUN'S CHOIR chants God's praises in Latin. A tall GOLDCRUCIFIX fills the view.
RESUME 114: DRACULA & LUCY
Lucy clutches the garland of flowers around her neck--
4/16/91 '56 •
\ RESUME 115: CATHEDRAL WEDDING
A PRIEST carries the crucifiK leadinga wedding procession. MINA, the Bride. Her dress simple,her veil sparse, but she is beautiful all in white.
RESUME 114: DRACULA & LUCY
He raises his arms c~lling fortha tempest. BERSERl<ERLEAPS RIGHT THROUGH HIM {OPTICAL FX)--asif she were a ghost--
RESUME 115: CATHEDRAL WEDDING
AT THEALTAR, the GROOM slowly turnsto facehis bride. JONATHANHARKER, ashen, unsmiling,gaunt, eyes deepset.
The GreatGrey Wolf--CRASHES THROUGHTHE GLASS intothe room--knocking Lucy back onto thebed. WINDS ROAR!
BERSERKERpants over Lucy. The hunger. Mesmerized, Lucy looks intothe eyes of the beast•••Dracula's eyes. Her handglides to the garland aroundher neck--and rips it awayrevealing her neck and throat--
RESUME 115: MINA AND HAIU<ER
The shadow of the cross passes overthem. Panic wells in his eyes, he kisses the crucifix. Peace fills his face. He is clean.
RESUME 116: DRACULA AND LUCY - WOLF POV
Gazing down at Lucy. Slowly and lovingly, she takes his fur in both her hands and pulls his great head to her-- LUCY'S ORGASMICWAIL BUILDS AND BUILDS CONTINUING OVER:
RESUME 115: MINA AND HARKER
They kiss in holy matrimony. There is no life in Harker•s face ••• Thereisno passion in Mina's.
LUCY'S WAIL CRESCENDOS!
FADE OUT:
4/15/91 57.
Lovelier than ever. Surrounded bywhite satin. The same room at Hillingham where shemade Quincey show her his knife is "a wilderness of beautifulwhite flowers" and "tall wax candles" giving her anangelic glow.
VAN HELSING'S HANDS place a tiny gold crucifix gentlyover Lucy's lips--a wreath of white flowers on her head--
Van Helsing comforts his former student with tears in his wise aging eyes.
Seward backs away repulsed--stunned into silence. The VIEW MOVES SLOWLY TO LUCY'S FACE.
SUPER: CABLEGRAMTO MR. &MRS. JONATHAN HARKER
Porters loadtheir bags onto a "motorbus.•• Harker recoils from.thecrush of peopl,eon_the street, paranoid, fearful.
DRACULA'S POV - STALKING THEM
Watching. Hearing. The VIEW JUMPS CLOSER to Harker.
Harker buckles. His legsgiving way. Mina struggles to hold him up. His eyes wild interror and amazement--
He sees DRACULA! Younger! Restored! Looking rightat Harker from inside the dark touring car.
lWU<ER (pointingfeverish) It is the man himself. The Count ••• He has grown young. My God!--
Dracula is gone in the crush of people. Mina looks back to harker trying to comfort him. The motorbus rings its daparture.
~/16/91 59.
He issuddenly animated, lucid with purpose.
HARI<ER You go on to Exeter without me. I must know if this is true and that I am sane--If he is here, My journal, Mina--unspeakable horrors--You will understand••• I pray you will•••
He hands her the tattered journal, and kissesher passionately. She boards the motorbus unableto look back. Harker watches her go with grim resolve.
Lamps flash across the iron gate leading to the family crypt. Quincey SWINGS a sledge breaking the lock. Van Helsing leads Holmwood reluctantly in. Seward follows.
The Leaden Coffin sits on a stone altar, Seward and Quincey inspect it with their lamps. Sealed tight.
Van Helsing produces screwdrivers from his bag. Quincey and Seward go to work on it. Holmwood is an emotional mess.
4/15/91
Holmwood backs off, helpless. Van Helsing pries the lead flange back. Quincey and Sewardremove the lid. Empty!
Quincey isloudly skeptical. Holmwood lashes out--
SOFT FEMININESINGING drifts intothe vault. Holmwood recognizesthe voice. He shrinksback--Van Helsing signals.· Seward shuts off the lantern.
A GOLDEN HAIRED WOMAN descendsthe stairs draped in white. She.holds a young child at herbreast, singing and swaying--
Holmwood openly gasps. It is Lucy--inher bridal gown. Van Helsing steps out, flanked by theothers ina line blocking the crypt. He shines his lantern inher face.
Lucy--her lips and gown fresh with atiny stream of blood. She drops the child carelesslyto the9round. Itmoans crying. Seward picks it up--checking itscondition.
HOLMWOOD BUCKLES. Quincey is horrified and aroused at the same time but ready with his knife--
Lucy approaches Holmwood with a voluptuous grace.
•/16/91 71.
Holmwood opens his arms in a trance--sheleaps into them-- VAN HELSING SHOVESHER BACKslashing the air with a curved Kukri knife. He flashes a crucifix--
Holmwood falls to his knees--his faceburied in his hands.
HOLMWOOD Do as you will. Oh••• dear .•• God.
Lucy's eyes burn unholy light. Shepushes past Van Helsing and disappears into the darkness ofthe crypt.
A train roars from the darkness.
Mina sits in a compartment alone. She finishesJonathan's tattered journal. Her breath short. Completelydistraught. She sets the journal down and backs away from itas if it might come to life--
The CONDUCTOR sticks his head in--
Mina acknowledges. The conductor continues his rounds. Mina looks out at the night sliding past into dawn. The compartment door opens and closes behind her.
Someone sits op~osite her. She properly avoids eye contact. She sees the white kid gloves. A chill runs through her-- In the dim light his blue eyes flash. DRACULA--young and handsome as she has always seen him. She wants to cry out--
He glides his hand to hers. She fights his gentle touch--
4/16;91 72..
She raises the journal as if in defense. Hebats it from her hand.
The train roars into a tunnel. Cab lamps flick out.
She weakens--smoothing her hand to his face. She recoils, refusing to succumb.
A passionate kiss--He opens her bodice. Her flesh pale, shimmering. He reclines her back on the bench. She pulls himdown to her, He kisses her arms, her fingers. She arches herself to him, willing, wanting--his hands lift her neck to him. Her entire body shudders--
123 INTERCUT: VAN HELSING IN THE CRYPl' 123
Lucy lies in the coffin in state. Van Helsing holds a cruel meter-long stake charring the tip in the lamp flame. A surgeon preparing his instruments.
4/16/91 73.
Holmwood whimperstaking the stake and the coal hammer in his tremblinghands. Trying to maintain control, Seward covers Lucy's facewith a shroud, pressing hard.
VanHe_lsingbegins to read th.eLatin death mass--Holmwood, weeping, raises the hammer--HE STRilCESl
Lucy writhestwisting in wild contortions. Seward holds her down smothering any cries, swallowing his own.
RESUME 1221 DRACULA AND MINA
He jerks back suddenly in the darkness--clutching his chest-- writhing around--yowling like a wounded animal--
INTERCUT: HOLMWOOD
Van Helsing reads louder. Holmwood strikes again--Blood sprays the wall--trickling in delicate rivulets.
RESUME 122: DRACULA & MINA
He slams against the compartment door, hurling Mina back.
The train roars from the tunnel. Dawn's light flares in. Dracula is gone! She curls in shock, oblivious to her state of undress. She frantically closes up her bodice.
The men gaze in shame and wonder "as they had seen Lucy in life, with her face of unequaled sweetness and purity."
Van Helsing guides Holmwood down to Lucy. Their lips meet. Seward can't take it. Quincey shrinks back, sickened--
Quincey leads Holmwood from the crypt,~eeping.
Silence. Seward·opens a case of autopsyknives. Van Helsing chooses and places the largeknife to Lucy's throat--He sags for a moment--hiswill finally giving out.
Seward looks away--he weeps at theslicing sound.
FADE TO BLACK:
Dracula, tonnented, sharpens the pointof a makeshift staff...feverish...desperate. He staggersto the center of
to die. With the anguished cry ofan animal, he raises the lance to his own chest to kill himself.
Suddenly he jerks the lance away--
He hurls the lance in anger--burying itdeep in the wooden image of Christ on the cross, hangingabove the altar.
Harker shakes hands with the CUSTOMS CLERX,places a sheaf of documents in his satchel and stridesaway barely using his cane.
SUPER: SEPT. 25, JONATHAN HARKER'S JOURNAL
4/16/91 75,
van Helsing reads Harker's journal like a childreading a comic.
He finishes the journal in silence. He inspectsseveral of the gold coins Harker hands him. Harker waits nervously.
THE COIN: The Warrior Prince on one side and the order of the Dragon on the other.
van Helsing arches his large eyebrows, scoffing.
van Helsing roars with laughter then scowls turning Harker's face to his checking him over like a man buying a horse.
Harker is a new man atthis news. They shake earnestly.
Harker opens hisbrief ah-cflaysthe docwnents on the table. Van Helsing inspectsthem inshocked amazement.
SUPER: SEPT. 25,MINA MURRAY'S DIARY
Mina approachesthe irongates eying carfax in the b.g. tentative--nervous. Seward hurriesto let her in. He is completely exhausted.
Their handsmeet inawkward silence.
Silence. Mina can't ease his pain.
MINA
'•,, (foreboding)
Has Jonathanarrived yet?
--showingher his wrist bandages. Mina insists.
His room isquite spotlesssave fora new menagerie of bugs. Renfield meditates placidly on a stool.
Renfield opens one eye at SEWARD.
4/16/91 78.
Renfield moves to his menagerie and simplyswallows the insectspresent--stands at attentionand slicks his hair. Mina enters approaching him gracefullyextending her hand--
Renfield properly bows and shakes herhand eying her all
over with keen intent. He looks herdeep in the eye. (He smells Dracula on her). His eyes growfearful.
Seward is shocked by his knowledge.
Mina remains steadfast. Seward steps betweenthem.
Grave sadness softens the lunatic's face. He takes her Mina's hand gently. She holds his gaze.
Renfield winds her scent like an animal. Mina doesn't flinch, motioning to Seward to let him be.
4/16/91 79.
He kisses her handthen hides trembling in a corner.
Mina exits, disturbedand fascinated by Renfield.
Seward closesthe cell door. Renfield grabs at him through theview port--
Seward shuts the view port. Renfield broods in silence gazing through the bars at Carfax, rejected.
Harker•s journal sits open on a table. Van Helsing, Harker Holmwood and Quincey plot over a map. Battle plans. Van Helsing's vampire killing tools are spread by his bag. Seward and Mina enter.
Mina flushes as the wily Dutchlllankissesher hand.
4/16/91 ao.
In an instant he is overwhelmedwith grief--Mina comforts him like a mother. He sits down,head in his hands.
They share a warm laugh: hishandshake rough but sincere.
Van Helsin~•s eyebrows go up. Harker takes Mina in his arms, pulling her aside.
She looksat her husband to be: strong again, renewed. She iscom~letely torn--Harker extendshis hand to her. She takes 1ttightly to her in love and respect.
She places her hand in his, gesture of love and respect.
Huch approval around the room. Mina acknowledges each man.
4/16/91 81.
Holmwood breaksdown. Mina is shocked. Lucy? A vampire? Van Helsingbeckons to Harker who presents a file.
Seward shakes his head in grim wonder--van Helsingexalts!
The "VAMPIRE KILLERS" assemble. Holmwood tends 2 HUNTING TERRIERS tugging and yowling. Quincey, Harker, Seward bear revolvers and rifles--ltnivesin their belts--van Helsing totes only his bag like a doctor making a call.
Seward sheaths his military saber. Quincey loads his Navy Colt snapping it shut.
4/16/91 82. \.
Van Helsingroars with laughter until .tearscome to his eyes. Quincey wasn't trying to be funny.
Harker says farewell to Mina by Seward's quarters.
Jonathan kisses her full, then pulls away. She watches him join the Vampire Killers heading toward Carfax•••
Renfield screeches at the night from his cell window--
Nightvision. Watching the Vampire Killers approach. The VIEW JUMPS CLOSER--CU,SER--right up to:
RENFIELD screeching at his window--
THEN TO MINA; watching from Seward's quarters.
4/16/91 83.
The VampireKillers survey the eerie sight. Electriclight lamps fallon the Coffin crates sitting like podsof some alien life formwaiting to be opened.
Van Helsing removes a flask of holy water from his bag hanging it about his neck. Then his rainments.
Harker takes the lead, fireaxe in hand. He surges driving the axe through the lid with a cry of rage--He chops again --moving to the next--smashing it--
The Vampire Killers follow methodically breaking open and boxes and dumping the white moldy earth--
Van Helsing sprinkles the earth with holr water and crumbles holy wafers in crates while reciting the communion sacrament--all as if out on a Sunday stroll.
DRACULA'S POV - LOOKING DOWN
The men doing their dirty business. The view LEAPS AND GLIDES toward the asylum. No effort. No sound.
Mina in her bed gown is at the window, unable to sleep. Renfield's painful cries continue o.c. She covers her ears--wanting him to stop.
4/16/91 84.
137 HER POV -THE GROUNDS 137
In thedistance, Carfax isdark. No movement. A thin streakof WHITE MIST snakes across the grass toward the asylum,almost invisible.
138 RESUMEMINA 138
Suddenlyfeeling lethargic,Mina climbs in bed. Renfield SCREAMS LOUDER o.c. She buries her head in the pillow.
The streak of mist climbs the wall of the asylu:m.
The tendril mist pours in his window. Renfield watches, coiled in a corner to spring--
Renfield leaps grabbing at the mist--A powerful force hurls him head first repeatedly against the bars. or is it just a lunatic purging his personal demons.
Harker chops. The others stack the boxes high.Seward methodically spreads coal oil on the pile--
HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING echoes around them. A SPARKLING SWIRL OF MIST FORMS rolling across the floor. RATS APPEAR from it!
Quincey empties his Colt at them. Holmwood and Seward slash and chop at them with saber and axe.
Harker pulls rats from Van Helsing•s neck and shoulders fighting them off as he lights a torch--
4/16/91 85.
Harker fights through the swarm tossing thetorch onto the pile of crates. It erupts in a ball of flames--
The stream of mist billows across the floorand up under Mina's sheets coiling toward her like a serpent--
Mina, in near stupor. watches the bulge slideup toward her. Suddenly it feels warm--the fear leaves herface--ecstasy returns--DRACULA SLIDES from underneath thesheet handsome-- sensual-~intoxicating--kissing her passionately. She responds--wanting him--hungering him!
Hundreds of years of resistance melt in him as shetouches his face--tracing his lips--his eyes--
She kisses him. She opens her legs and buries his face in her neck--sliding him down to her breasts. Her gown slips down her pale shoulders--His mouth meets her flesh. Her legs wrap around his waist. She arches against him--
Dracula stops at her throat--her pulse pounding in his brain--He grabs her hand-~placing her palm over his bare chest--over his heart--She stiffens--the realization--
She shrinks back reviled--horrified--
Dracula turns away covering his face in shame. He is suddenly the wicked evil hideous 4OO-year-old creature.
4/16/91 86.
Mina, tears of compassion, gently strokeshis hair---
His entire being swells with the power--the hunger--heturns slowly to face her--HIS FACE ONCEAGAIN YOUNG filledwith eternal tender love,
Renfield is a twisted mass. Seward enters followedby Van Helsing--both smoke burned. Sewardmakes a cursory diagnosis. Renfield moans. Seward pokes his leg withhis lancet. Nothing. No feeling.
Seward pulls a round trephine bore from Van Helsing bag.
Van Helsing holds Renfield--seward bores a hole in his head.
He spasms and dies.
4/16/91 87.
144 RESUME: MINAAND DRACULA 144
Dracula rises aboveher, holding her gently in his hands, in a vampirewedding.
Dracula caresses her face as tenderly as a child. He gently turns her, exposing her neck, kissing her softly--She moans --a tiny grimace of pain as he enters her veins--
With his long thwn.bnail,he opens a vein over his heart.
He pulls her submissivelr to his chest. She drinks. She swoons as his life runs intoher---
He falters--welling up--suddenly fightinghis desire--He shoves her back in anguish--
She shudders--pleading--holdinghim--caressing him--
Mina breaks down--all her facultiescollapsing--poundinghim futilely--her own guilt fuelingher--
She forces her lips to his chest--
THE DOORBURSTS OPEN! Van Helsing andthe men rush in. They freeze at Dracula••• Minaathis breast.
Mina!---
Dracula--his eyes red with rage. Mina wails in guilt and horror. Dracula springs at them--catlike--protectingher--
Harker fires a pistol point blank. Draculareels from the impact. He hurls Harker beside Mina--Sheholds him back--
Quincey slashes at him with his gleaming Bowieknife.
Seward cuts with his saber. Dracula stopsthe blade with his bare hand, smiling cruel. He wrenches the saberaway--
Van Helsing advances raising a large pointed crucifix.
4/16/91 89,
Van Helsin9 stabs the cross at him. Dracula blocks it. It bursts into flames. Dracula flings itto the floor, wailing in pain like a wild beast caughtin a trap-- --then taking a final longing look atMina--he bows--
--and LEAPS OUT THE WINDOW--vanishing into a vapor--
Quincey rushes to the window peeringout. Nothing. Gone. Silence. The Vampire Killers regard each other--numbed--
Harker tears himself from Mina and storms out reviled by her appearance--her actions.
--staring at her bloody hands and sheets. Van Helsing cradles her in that fatherly manner. She sobs like a child.
FADE OUT:
A burned out ruin.
The mound of crates and earth now a scorched monument.
Dracula's silver brushes and combs lay next to an elegant porcelain basin filled now with dank water. In the burned debris a face stares out--the photoplate of Mina, charred and broken. The remnants of Dracula's lonely existence.
4/16/91 90.
Van Helsing leans into view. He isworn. Aged with the stress and rigor. As old as Dracula firstat his castle.
Mina stares into space. Gaunt. Pale, Her gums receding back. She is changing. Transforming.
Mina wrestles with the powers ripping her insides--
Van Helsing shudders remembering what they did to Lucy.
Van Helsing sighs in grief--knowing Mina's inevitable end.
4/16/91 91.
Mina nods with firm conviction.
Van Helsinghypnotically caresses her hand, moving his free hand slowlybefore her--she fixeson it--weak--fatigued--
Shenods--staring glassy eyed. Van Helsing checks her vitals--knowing what he must do, He puts her deep in an hypnotictrance.
A clipper ship heads eastunder ·fullsail.
SUPER: THE CZARINA CATHERINE,LONDON TO VARNA, RUMANIA
The Czarina crashes through waves, speeding with the wind.
4/16/91 92.
The view glides over boxes andcrates to one last coffin crate resting in the shadows.
A :RAIN WHISTLE BLOWS!
The Orient Express speeds eastthrough blinding snows.
Deep in hypnotic trance.
Van Helsing gently closes Mina'seyes. She sleeps. Van Helsing sponges her head.
Seward unpacks transfusion tubes. Van Helsing stops him.
van Helsing raises her lips. Hergums have receded. Mina suddenly grabs Van Helsingbarely able to breathe--
Harker takes her hand, fighting his tears.
4/16/91 93.
At the other end of the car, Hol.::·Joodsleepsinhisbush gear. Quincey whets the edge of his Bowieknife--in his rough rider gear. Harker arrives witha map and two whiskeys--sharing his natural sense ofco1111Dand.He shows Quincey their progress against Dracula's.
Quincey clinks his glass pledging hisloyalty.
A full moon. Land is visible in thedistance. The Czarina sails on. That haunting lonelyHOWL ECHOES,•.
(REDRESSLONDON DOCKS)
SUPER: 15,OCTOBER, HAJUCER'SJOURNAL,VARNA ROMANIA.
Harker paces a dock outside the private railwarcar like a caged animal fighting the cold, Quincey busieshimself sharpeninglong wooden stakes.
Harker appreciates Quincey's levity, but he's too intense to laugh. Holmwood hurries up with a cablegram--distraught.
4/16/91 94.
The men look at each_other in shock.
Harker explodes, Quincey's stakes about.
WITH MINA: Approaching in a horse coach with Van Helsing. Seward drives. She is even paler. There is a gleam of triumph in her vacant smile.
DOORSSLIDE BACK ON THE PRIVATE CAR
Quincey, Holmwood and Jonathan ride exquisite English mounts down a ramp. They rein up beside Van Helsing's coach.
Quincey hands Van Helsing a sealskin rifle scabbard holding a well-oiled Winchester. He hands his Navy Colt to Mina. Respect and grim understanding passes between the cowboy and the lady.
Seward mounts the horse Holmwood leads for him. He doffs his fur hat to Mina--then to Van Helsing who gives him a warm clasped hand farewell--like the Pope blessing the flock.
Quincey and Seward wheel and ride away after Holmwood.
Mina and Harker face each other. He leans to kiss her. She reaches to him, his horse rears skittish at her--
4/16/91 95.
Harker shouts in anger.
Nol Do you know the place you take her, Professor? Every speck of dust that whirls ia a devouring monster embryo! Have you felt the vampire's lips on your throat, old manl
He gallops after the others. Mina watches him go. A final silent "goodl:lye11•
Van Helsing wheels their coach in the other direction.
Dracula's coffin crate is lowered onto a horse cart. 12 SZGANY GYPSIES guard the crate with guns and blades.
His handsome face aging rapidly. Hair graying. He whispers.
Dracula's beloved snowc·appedpeaks stretch before us.
Van Helsing and Mina approach. Both wearing bulky fur. The horses are fatigued, The old man even more so.
4/16/91 96.
Mina reclinesin a near comatose state. Suddenly,she wakes, animated,excited like a child--
Theycrest the to~ of a steep rising hill--theCastle appears infull view on its precipice. A timelesssentinel.
Van Helsing studies Mina's exuberant reaction, troubled--
FUll of new energy, Mina jllll!psdown andstartswalking.
Van Helsing takes her arm gently. She flares, struggling against him--
She fights harder--he grabs her dragging her back--
He pulls a tin from his coat--and produces a holy wafer---
4/16/91 97.
He presses thewafer to her forehead. Her skin searsat the touch. Mina screams falling back. A scarlet redmark branded on her forehead--
She convulsesin gasping sobs prostrate on the cold ground. Van HelsingJcneelsbeside her. His tired body giving out.
The windsrise around them mixed with a TINGLING IAUGHTER--
Van Helsinglistens, sensing a presence. The sun has set.
Van Helsing throws more wood on a roaring fire. Mina sits upright on a couch of furs, wide awake and energized by the night. Van Helsing brings her a bowl of food.
He leads her. She stops--tugging away. Sitting where she stands, on her haunches, watching,
Her eyes gleam. van Helsing watches her. HORS~ NEIGH ANO WHINNY in fright--The TINGLING LAUGHTER echoes in the darkness. Mina hears it. She stands, excited.
THE BRIDES OF DRACULA materialize, beckoning to Mina---
She is the image of Lucy!
4/15/91 98.
Mina raises her arms to greet them--VanHelsing pulls her back--He grabs a stick from the fireand quickly draws a crude ring around Mina---
He crumbles a holy wafer around thecircle, waving the flaming stick at the Brides--
The YOUNGEST laughs cruelly hissingat his antics--
He stands before Mina--his flaming stick in one hand, his holy book in the other--The Brides swirlpast him--
The horses neigh in fright--One beast is yanked down by the Brides--leaping and tearing at itsgreat neck •
sight as the horses cry and neigh in death.
A smile of triu:mphspreads on his aging face.
The red dawn appears. The fire smolders. Mina sleeps soundly covered with furs inside the circle.
Fresh two-legged tracks lead away from the camp past the two dead horses--heading for the Castle in the distance.
162 EXT, CASTLE ENTRANCE - CONTINUING AC'l'ION 162
The tracksgo through the same gates Harker entered.
4/16/91 99.
The ground covered in a blanket ofwhite. Follov the tracks to: Van Helsin9. His face andhands bitten with the cold, limping in his great fur coatup to the stone altar, He gazes reverently at the dragonarch--"DRAKWYLA."
THE 3 BRIDES lay in their tombs. More beautifuland more voluptuous than ever. Their hunger sated--
Then he opens his bag, as a Doctor making a housecall, laying out his instruments ofdismemberment--his post-mortum knives, 3 long wooden stakes, his ma.llet--withritualcare.
He kneels before the youngest, overwhelmedby her beauty. He straightens her hair lovingly. Her robe laysopen revealing her perfect breast••• arousedandweakening, Van Helsing bends•••kissing her exposed nipple. Her eyes open glowing hot--she presses hismouth harder toher breast waking his desires--
A Second Bride wakes pulling him down to her loinsarchin9 against him. He recoils, chastising himself. In one fluid motion, he places a stake on her chest--AND STRIKES!
164 EX'?.VALLl!!Y-CASTLE IN VIEW - AFTERNOON 164
A SCREAM echoes through thevalley--
The scream is Mina•s--struggling awake beneath the furs.
12 MOUNTED SZGANY GYPSIES escort the wagon bearing Dracula along the river toward the Castle. ·
167 R.EStJKB:CAMPSITE - CONTINUING ACTION 167
van Helsing staggers through the snow: his furs covered in vampire blood.
Mina rises in her fur--He embraces her--exhausted--barely able to stand.
4/16/91 100.
He grabs the sealskin of riflesand a rucksack and drags her down the hill afterhim.
The Szgany approach. The coffin crate drawing closer to the Castle in the distance.
Van Helsing and Minatake up positions in the jagged rock fortress overlookingthe road.
WOLVES BEGIN TO HOWLo.c. IN THE HILLS. Van Helsing climbs up on the rockwith his fieldglasses--
The caravanmakes theturn heading right at their position. Further backTWO RIDERS are closing fast--
RESUME: VAN HELSING &MINA
From thesnowy gloom. Quincey's unforgettable REBEL YELL flanked by Jack Seward, his saber drawn!
Quincey FIRES his Winchester rapidly--Indian style--
One szgany drops. The Riders clash. SEWARD SLASHES one across the chest, dropping him to the ground.
van Helsing yells. Mina is riveted.
HARKER AND HOI)iWOODAPPEAR leaping their horses into the road. Both steady their mounts and level their weapons.
4/16/91 101.
Halt!
The LEAD GYPSY bears down--fearsome blade in hishand.
Holmwood calmly drops him with an expert shot. RAlUCtR SPURS up and LEAPS ABOARD--The Gypsy Driver turnsto strike. Quincey drops him.
Harker slashes the bonds holding the box--It breaksfree--
THE BOX BURIES itself in snow still shut tight.
MINA WATCHES IN HORROR
Harker fights to the box. Seward rides up leapingover the box chopping a gyp•?· One Gypsy slashes Quincey. He fights hand to hand--bleeding profusely--
Van Helsing yells pointing to the sun.
174 IH'l'.COFFIN- DRACULA 174
Roaring with all the powers left in him!
HARKER STRUGGLES WITH THE LID, The coffin quakes--the lid EXPLODESsmashing over Harker, Harker raises to strike--
ORACUIA ANO HAR.KER- FACE TO FACE
Dracula rises--grabbing Harker by the throat, roaring the beast--
QUINCEY DIVES
Driving his Bowie knife deep in Dracula's heart, He screeches--flinging Quincey into the snow.
Dracula writhes clawing at the knife deep in his chest. A grept beast is dying--
HARKER SWINGSHIS KUKRI
Severing his neck, Crimson blood spatters white snow.
Erect--facing his assailants. Blood streaming fromhis severed throat--Bowie knife stuck deep inhis heart. His body shudders. His skin slowly oozing away--
MINA
Harker raises to strike again--A GtTNREPORTS--thebullet kicking the blade from Harker's hand. He wheels--stunned--
Mina rushes to Dracula--aiming a rifle wildly atHarker-- then seward--Holmwood--all shocked by her action.
Dracula turns to her. His face horribly transformed. Almost a skull. Bulging cheekbones. Teeth bared--
ORAC:UIA (tender, loving) Mina ...?
His voice rasps--cracking like broken glass. Mina holds his dying gaze. Fighting her repulsion as he putrifies: returning to a 400-year-old corpse before them.
His sunken eyes find the setting sun. A moment of triwnph flashes across his face. He staggers back:Wards,snarling in pain--wrenching himself through the snow toward the castle gate, refusing to die like an animal--
Mina backs slowly after him, her gun trained on the men.
van Helsing holds Harker back, using all his strength to restrain him.
Harker knocks Van Helsing down and rushes at her--
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Mina squeezes point blank at Harker. She trembles, lowering the rifle unable to shoot. Harker reaches for the barrel--
Dracula reaches the gates. He seesHarker and Mina--with all the power left in him, he sum.mo~sthepowers of hell--
A powerful force SWIRLS THE SNOW blindingHarker. A PILLAR OF THE BLUE FLAMES ERUPTS swirling aroundHarker, obscuring Mina from view.
van Helsing is blown to the ground ina shower of golden coins.
Harker kneels on the mound of treasureobsessed with the sea of wealth, calling to Mina.
Holmwood sitsmotionless on his mount. Head bowed. End of the trail. Seward cradles Quincey. He dies•••
van Helsing_cli:ml)samound--facingthe castle.
Last rays strike the magnificent dragon arch--
PAN DOWN TO: DRACULA; collapsing, sprawledon the marble altar. The same position he discovered Elizabethin centuries earlier. How a husk of his bodyis all that remainsas he oozes away. Deep in the cavernsof his eyes, fierce life still bUrns.
DRACULA'SCADAVEROUS HAND: framed in thecrimson snow-- reaches--u~--up--to his precious night visiblethrough the vaulted ceiling--
MINA'S HANDS APPEAR takinghis withering bony fingers, kissing th-, caressing th-. She kneels beside him, fighting her revulsion.
Dracula cracks a hideous painful smile, coughing up blood in· a rasping gasp.
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He reaches feebly to the blade. Mina grips the handl•!and pulls with all her strength. His fingers, nearly bone, creep up the shaft resting aroundhers, stopping her.
She kisses his horrid lips, smoothingwhat's left of his once strong face.
Sha clutches him to her throatto feed but he cannot. She tears open her cloak clutchinghim to her bare breast to suckle her blood••• hecannot.
Pleading,begging, crumbling inher arms. His voice a rasp--
She quakes, knowing what she mustdo--
He criesout--Mina closes her eyes,prays for strength and falls onhim with all her weightdriving the knife clear through_his flimsy chest---Arching,reaching up to the altar--cradled in Mina's arms--Draculacrumbles to dust.
Mina sinksin a dreamy silent motionacross him ••• themark on her foreheadvanishes. She is free•••
The ruinsecho with Mina's tenderweeping. ·Moonlight streamsupon her cradling his remains. Beams strike the magnificent altar--the dragon arch--illuminating his name--
"DRAKWYLA•
The warrior Prince is at peace •••
FADE SLOWLY OUT.