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

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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

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