The mirror surface of the lake darkens.

INT – HIDDEN SALON WITH A BALCONY – SAME EVENING

Everybody looks around in a small adjacent room.

Miller approaches one of the four windows, looks into it, turns to everyone and gestures lively

MILLER

This salon forms a part of the suit of rooms that includes the lady’s bedroom.

HARRY’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

I found a small balcony, the size of a bird’s nest!

Captain Wright comes close to one of the paintings decorating the side wall

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Here is the door to the ghost-bride’s bedroom. It is disguised as a painting.

MILLER

(comes close to the painting)

Yes, it can be mistaken for a painting.

Karl Ivanovich joins Wright and pulls on the door handle

KARL IVANOVICH

It won’t budge.

MILLER

Let me try, sir.

He puts his shoulder to the door, but Wright stops him

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Miller, it’s useless, the door is nailed shut.

Harry stands in the balcony’s doorway facing the room

HARRY

It’s because the door is blocked by the large wardrobe, the one where we found all those women’s clothes.

JAMES

Gentlemen, it’s time for dinner.

Everybody follows James. They close the door behind them and the room is empty again

EXT-FOREST – DAYTIME

Harry, Captain Wright, Georges, and James walk through the forest, carrying rifles and talking. A pair of spaniels follows them.

James carries their trophies, slung behind his shoulder

GEORGES

I think the lady in the abandoned rooms must have died suddenly.

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

And I think she ran off with her paramour.

HARRY

Who else agrees with him?

JAMES

I think something unpleasant happened at the Hunting House, but what precisely?

Georges picks up a stick from the ground and throws it, the dogs rush after the stick

GEORGES

What was a woman doing there?

HARRY

She was a foreign lady.

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

(stops, looking at Harry)

How do you know this?

HARRY

The village headman. He told me that a foreign lady died of a broken heart. She missed her homeland.

(pause)

His grandmother told him.

GEORGES

(comes up to them)

But why didn’t she live up at the castle?

JAMES

(laughs)

The headman’s grandmother did not specify why, did she?

Harry shoots a duck and hits. The duck falls behind the trees. Harry’s dog runs after it

HARRY

Sadly, she did not.

CAPTAIN WRIGHT

Goddamn!

He aims and fires a shot at the black bat flying above their heads but misses

EXT-FOREST-MORNING-COUNT FREDERICK’S DREAM

TITLE 1832

Hunt, Count Frederick, his guests and servants chase a doe. Suddenly a group of trees cuts Count Frederick away from the rest of the party.

He keeps chasing the animal without realizing that he is now alone. The doe mounts a steep hill and is transformed into Maria. She beckons the Count towards herself. He rushes towards his wife only to tumble off the cliff into the chasm below.

Maria is then turned into a laughing Dracula who, in turn, becomes a bat.

Count Frederick wakes up in cold sweat

INT-HUNTING HOUSE, DINING ROOM-SAME DAY

Harry, Wright, Georges and James leave the dining room for the smoking room.

INT – HUNTING HOUSE, SMOKING ROOM-SAME DAY

Harry, Georges, Wright, Karl Ivanovich and James select drinks and cigars, sit down and make themselves comfortable.

Karl Ivanovich sits down in an armchair too, holding a pile of papers. He sorts it nervously

KARL IVANOVICH

I am happy to tell you that I found the continuation of the letters!

GEORGES

Good!

Karl Ivanovich, takes a handkerchief out of his pocket, polishes his glasses and puts the handkerchief away

KARL IVANOVICH

Are you ready, gentlemen?

EXT-OLD VENETIAN STREET – AUTUMN DAY

BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

TITLE: 1852

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

INT – VENICE, ANTIQUE SHOP – SAME DAY

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

SALESMAN

I have special goods for you.

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

CARLO

Who did it belong to?

SALESMAN

To the roman Empress Messalina!

Carlo slides his fingers across the box

CARLO

It has no lock?

SALESMAN

(smiles)

I’d rather show you

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

Voila!

CARLO

Rita will love this.

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

SALESMAN

Your bride will be delighted, signore.

Carlo picks up the comb and looks at it

CARLO

It will look magnificent in Rita’s dark curls!

EXT – VENICE, STREET – SAME AUTUMN DAY

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

CARLO’S VOICE

(behind the scenes)

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

After that we were plunged into something we could not understand

END OF THE MEMORIES

EXT-CARDIE’S CASTLE, GARDEN-SUMMER DAY

BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

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

TITLE: 1832

COUNT FREDERICK

She is recovering well, even her complexion is improving.

The doctor looks at his clock on the chain

FAMILY DOCTOR

The fresh air will be good for her, but still, don’t leave her alone by herself.

COUNT FREDERICK

I am worried about her hallucination, the one about the snake.

They stop and look at each other. The doctor puts the clock into the pocket

FAMILY DOCTOR

I am telling you, she put the necklace on herself.

COUNT FREDERICK

Well, either way, she will never see that damned necklace again.

The doctor looks at his feet and then at the count again

FAMILY DOCTOR

There is a strange epidemic in the village. Seems to affect girls and young women.

Count Frederick thrusts his hands into the pockets of his trousers. He fidgets in place. He doesn’t like this conversation

COUNT FREDERICK

Do you think it is somehow connected to what had happened to my wife?

They walk further along the garden

FAMILY DOCTOR

No, I don’t think so.

COUNT FREDERICK

So, why are you so worried, my friend?

The doctor looks around as if afraid that someone can hear them and stops near a rose bush

FAMILY DOCTOR

Old beggar-woman saw a well-dressed, elderly gentleman who was walking away from the village in the direction of the castle.

Lucy appears suddenly and drags Carlo from his hiding place behind the rose bush. Count Frederick and the family doctor see the children and fall silent

LUCY

I caught you!

EXT – CARDIE’S CASTLE, BALCONY – SAME EVENING

A funeral 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 Maria takes two or three steps into the room, when suddenly; she screams violently and points into the neighboring hall.

COUNTESS MARIA

He is watching me… staring at me! He is my death!

The Countess faints in her husband’s arms. Everyone’s eyes follow the direction to which she was pointing. The faces of guests register unease.

A portrait (the same gold-framed portrait that was discovered in the Hunting House) hangs on the wall of the neighboring room. A tall lean old man, dressed in a renaissance style costume and wearing a heavy gold chain is peering from the frame. His thin lips are pressed together in an arrogant line and his red tinged eyes appear terrifyingly alive

COUNT FREDERICK

(to the servants)

Well, why are you gaping, remove everything!

YOUNG CARLO

(takes Countess’ hand)

Mom, don’t be afraid, the grandfather is dead.

EXT-AN OPEN AIR PLATFORM IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE GARDEN NEAR THE SHEER DROP – SAME SUMMER DAY

The Countess lies on a chaise lounge. She is clearly ill at ease.

She sees the evil red-tinged eyes among the hops. She looks around, terrified. The unseen presence moves towards the rocks of the sheer drop, its shape unclear yet menacing.

The Countess is afraid and reaches towards her husband.

Young Carlo and little Lucy play nearby, completely oblivious to the danger

COUNTESS MARIA

Freddie, those eyes, I can see them everywhere, they are hounding me.

COUNT FREDERICK

Whose eyes, dear?

COUNTESS MARIA

Grandfather’s.

COUNT FREDERICK

Enough, my darling, even the portrait is gone. I exiled it from our home.

The Count serves her cookies on a tray and leaves.

Countess Maria brings a cookie to her mouths and it grows moldy before her eyes.

She feels nauseous, coughs but later calms down and pulls out a small mirror in order to straighten her hair. Her reflection gradually vanishes as if eaten up by rust rising from the site of the bite on her neck. Maria cries out.

Her worried husband rushes in. She embraces him and flings away the mirror. The mirror lies on the floor, cracked, reflecting only the Count

END OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES

INT-CARLO’S SITTING ROOM, VENICE-EARLY MORNING

BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES

Carlo paces his sitting room, holding a letter in his hand and commenting to himself

TITLE: 1852

CARLO

My God, I am rich, unbelievably rich!

PETRO stands nearby in respectful silence. Although he is only about 67 years old the time has dealt him a terrible blow, his appearance is much older and he is dressed in a monk-like cowl. He holds papers and a pilgrim’s sack

PETRO

Your father lived simply. He barely spent his money.

CARLO

There is over a million florins in Venice alone!

Petro reaches into his sack and produces a jewelry box. He places it carefully onto the couch nearby

PETRO

These are your mother’s jewels.

Carlo sits down on the couch and motions for Petro to join him. He places the jewelry box on his knees and opens it, gently lifting the glittering treasures inside

CARLO

This was my father’s gift, I remember it as if it was yesterday.

A large tortoiseshell comb adorned with rubies lies inside the box among the jewels. Carlo caresses it with his fingers

PETRO

Our poor mistress loved them so.

CARLO

And where is the necklace? The one that the American gave my mother?

Petro shudders

PETRO

You are mistaken, there never was such thing.

Carlo looks at him in surprise

CARLO

The snake-shaped one? Don’t you remember?

Petro almost leaps from the couch

PETRO

Do you think I stole it?

CARLO

Dear God, of course not!

Petro paces the sitting room nervously

PETRO

I’ve locked up both the Castle and the Hunting House. I will send the money to wherever you wish.

Carlo closes the jewelry box and rises from the couch

CARLO

That will not be necessary. Once I am married, I will go back home to the castle.

Petro shudders and waves his arms

PETRO

What? No, no you wouldn’t dare!

CARLO

Why not?

PETRO

You must obey your mother’s last wish.

CARLO

I am sorry, but my mind is already made up.

Petro falls to his knees and kisses Carlo’s hands

PETRO

At least wait for me, wait until I’ve come back from Jerusalem, we will go there together.

INT-ENTRANCE TO THE CHAPEL-EVENING

Carlo inspects the chapel’s doors. They are sealed. The servants are crowded behind his back.

Carlo turns to his servants, confused

CARLO

What about my marriage? Open up the doors at once and start preparing for the wedding!

WORKER

But my Lord, Petro forbade us from opening the chapel!

Carlo shoots the worker an angry look

CARLO

Petro is not the master here. I expect you to remember it next time!

The servants attempt to open the door without success

WORKER

(guiltily)

The lock is sealed with some sort of resin.

CARLO

Then melt it! Resin should become liquid when treated with heat. If it doesn’t work than break the door down for all I care. Take a whole wall down if you have to but have the chapel ready for my wedding!

A lighted torch is brought close to the door. The resin starts to melt and trickles to the floor.

The doors open and a dark hurricane rushes at the bystanders driving them to their knees. Black bat with glowing eyes is seen at the storm’s center

END OF THE MEMORIES

INT-HUNTING HOUSE, SMOKING ROOM-SAME EVENING

Harry, James and Georges have finished their cigars and whiskey and are slumped in their chairs, tired. Captain Wright is fast asleep.

Karl Ivanovich sits in his armchair, there is a pile of papers on the armrest. He puts the read sheet on his lap

GEORGES

So, what is the answer to the mystery?

Captain Wright snores in his chair

EXT-WITCHES” VALLEY-SUMMER NIGHT

A large black bat flies from the side of the forest towards the castle.

The moon shines high in the night sky.