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

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

      TITLE: 1852

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes)

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

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

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes, continues)

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

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

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

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes, continues)

      I want to see her again!

      EXT – VENICE, LIDO, SEAFRONT – SUMMER EVENING

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

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

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

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

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

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes)

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

      (pause)

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

      RITA

      (shouting playfully)

      Carlo, come to us!

      CARLO

      Right away.

      He keeps writing

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes)

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

      RITA

      (calling)

      Carlo, Carlo, we are waiting for you!

      CARLO

      I am coming.

      He keeps writing

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes, continues)

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

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

      RITA

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

      END OF THE MEMORIES

      EXT – CLEARING IN THE WOODS – SAME SUMMER DAY

      Harry sits down next to Karl Ivanovich

      HARRY

      I come from the land of the Aztecs!

      KARL IVANOVICH

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

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

      BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

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

      TITLE: 1832

      CARLO’S VOICE

      (behind the scenes)

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

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

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

      EXT – ENTRANCE TO THE CHAPEL – SAME SUMMER DAY

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

      AMERICAN SERVANT

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

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

      COUNT FREDERICK

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

      AMERICAN SERVANT

      I know it from my late master’s stories.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      (speaking to the servants)

      We will have to forgo the funeral mass.

      COUNTESS MARIA

      How can we bury him without a proper service?

      COUNT FREDERICK

      (speaking to servants)

      Open up the western doors to the crypt.

      PETRO

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

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

      Petro eyes the coffin suspiciously

      PETRO

      (to himself, puzzled)

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

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

      INT – IN THE CRYPT UNDER THE CHAPEL – SAME DAY

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

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

      The count and the countess watch the proceedings

      COUNT FREDERICK

      (to his overseer)

      Michael, don’t forget to lock the crypt.

      MICHAEL

      (to the

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