The Chronicles of the Counts Dracula-Cardie. Adapted from Baron Olshevris novel «Vampires». Olga Boyko
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СКАЧАТЬ bell tolls from the direction of the village. Everyone crosses themselves.

      Countess Maria lies propped up on the chaise lounge, surrounded by her family. Her private balcony is large enough to resemble a terrace. The Countess shivers.

      Count Frederick and Petro stand nearby on the balcony

      COUNTESS MARIA

      Another death in the village?

      COUNT FREDERICK

      I am sure it is nothing, my dear. Do you want me to send Petro to find out?

      PETRO

      You will see, my lady, that the Count is right and there is nothing to worry about.

      COUNTESS MARIA

      Go, Petro, find out, perhaps they need help.

      She falls back onto her pillows, tiredly. The bells start to ring once more

      The Count mutters in Petro’s ear…

      COUNT FREDERICK

      She must never learn of the epidemic.

      PETRO

      I will come up with something.

      EXT-GARDEN OF THE WIDOW’S HOUSE-SUMMER EVENING

      A small village house is surrounded by a garden. One part of the garden faces the main village road.

      WIDOW’S DAUGHTER (17 years old) and a young servant girl LISA (16 years old) pick berries in the garden.

      ELDERLY GENTLEMAN (aka American Servant 80 years old) walks towards the garden wall from the main road. He addresses Lisa

      ELDERLY GENTLEMAN

      May I have some water, my child?

      He hands the girl a silver coin over the fence. She stares at it for a brief moment then takes the coin.

      INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, MUSICAL SALON – SAME EVENING

      Count Frederick’s fingers glide masterfully along the keys of the piano.

      Countess Maria listens to her husband play the piano. The children and the servants headed by Petro are all nearby.

      EXT-GARDEN NEAR THE WIDOW’S HOUSE – SAME SUMMER EVENING

      Lisa walks along the garden path, carrying a pitcher of kvass. She trips over something, looks down and discovers the body of the widow’s daughter. She drops the pitcher and it shatters at her feet

      LISA

      Help me! Help!

      INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, MUSICAL SALON-SAME EVENING

      The Count’s fingers glide along the keys of the instrument, he finishes the melody.

      INT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, YARD NEAR THE STABLES-SUMMER MORNING

      Family Doctor and Count Frederick walk near the stables. The whinnying of the horses can be heard (sound behind the scenes)

      COUNT FREDERICK

      Is your patient getting better, Doctor?

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      She has anemia and a very severe case. She will need a healthy diet, milk, wine.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      Send her all she needs.

      NIKOLAI the groom (25 years old) runs up to the Count. He is out of breath

      NIKOLAI

      Marina, our floor washer girl, she is dead.

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      Hurry up, take us to her.

      They hurry, passing the servant’s barracks. Nikolai talks while walking

      NIKOLAI

      She didn’t come down to work in the morning. Chambermaids went up to her room and found her dead.

      INT – MARINA’S ROOM-SAME MORNING

      Marina’s corpse lies on her bed. Her face and body appear peaceful, as if she is only sleeping. The sudden gust of wind through the open window lifts and tangles her long loose hair.

      Family Doctor takes Marina’s wrist. Count Frederick watches him closely

      FAMILY DOCTOR

      She is not only dead; the body is already stiff and cold.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      Do you see that red mark on her neck?

      A small red wound is visible on the dead girl’s neck, the skin around the wound is slightly red.

      Count Frederick and the Family Doctor exchange looks

      EXT-GATES OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER EVENING

      The mournful toll of the village bell is answered by the bell in the castle.

      Countess Maria, Nikolai the groom, Lina the COOK, SERVANTS, little Carlo and his sister Lucy follow Marina’s coffin to the gates of the castle. From the crowd of castle servants muffles sobs can be heard.

      The cart bearing the coffin drives slowly through the castle gates

      NIKOLAI

      The American did not come to the funeral mass.

      COOK

      Did you see it? His windows, even the shutters were closed when we were passing his guardhouse.

      INT-FORMAN LIVING ROOM WITH THE NEW BALCONY-MORNING

      Count Frederick guides his wife to her new place of rest. Catherine walks respectfully behind, accompanied by a couple of female servants, young Carlo and little Lucy

      COUNTESS MARIA

      It’s a pity this beautiful room was always locked.

      COUNT FREDERICK

      From now on we can spent our evening here.

      The FOOTMAN opens the door for the couple.

      Countess СКАЧАТЬ