a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
INT: ....ROOM ADJOINING LIBRARY
Spielsdorf sits in a chair, reading a book. He can hear the two doctors in the library. They RAISE THEIR VOICES, and Spielsdorf GLANCES at the door to the library. He places his book on the reading table next to the chair, rises, and KNOCKS on the library door, then enters the library.
INT: .... SPIELSDORF'S LIBRARY
The argument between the Old Doctor and the Young Doctor ends as Spielsdorf enters the library. They GLANCE at him as he slowly closes the door behind him.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR
The Young Doctor LAUGHS.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
The Old Doctor sits at a table to write something. Spielsdorf GLANCES at the Young Doctor who is looking back at him. The Young Doctor places a turning finger to the side of his head, then SHRUGS & points at the Old Doctor. Spielsdorf leaves the library.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF (cont’d)
Spielsdorf turns and leaves the library.
EXT: ....SPIELSDORF CASTLE GROUNDS ........ DAY
Spielsdorf walks slowly, distracted, through the courtyard, his hands CLASPED behind his back. Unseen, the Old Doctor approaches him from behind.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR (OS)
Spielsdorf stops and turns upon hearing the Old Doctor's voice. The Old Doctor walks to Spielsdorf and stops.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR (cont'd)
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR
The Old Doctor pauses, SHRUGS his shoulders again, and CLASPS his hands at his waist.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR (cont'd)
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
The Old Doctor takes the note he had written from an inside pocket of his coat.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR
Spielsdorf holds the note to his chest as the Old Doctor lays a hand on Spielsdorf's arm. Spielsdorf GLANCES at the note, then looks into the eyes of the Old Doctor.
.........................................................OLD DOCTOR (cont'd)
The Old Doctor pauses a moment, then turns and walks away. In silence, Spielsdorf watches him leave.
INT: ....SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
It is night. There is a thunderstorm in the distance. Lightning occasionally FLASHES through the windows.
The drawing room in the Spielsdorf chateau is ornately decorated, also with tapestries, and carved furniture. There is a fire in the fireplace, a candelabra lit, a single candle aglow on a writing table.
In the drawing room Spielsdorf is sitting in a chair next to a reading table.
There is a KNOCK at the drawing room door.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
The door opens and a Servant enters the room.
.........................................................SERVANT
Spielsdorf NODS his head, remaining silent. The Servant waits for a vocal reply.
.........................................................SERVANT
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
Spielsdorf STARES at the fireplace until he hears the drawing room door close. He then takes the note out of his pocket and opens it. Slowly he begins to read the note to himself.
Spielsdorf slowly raises his head, staring off into space. The expression on his face is one of DISBELIEF and SURPRISE.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF (cont’d)
Spielsdorf GLANCES the note again and reads part of it aloud.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF (cont'd)
Spielsdorf falls silent. He rises from the chair and walks to the mantel of the fireplace. He places the note on the mantel, and takes down a sword that is hanging on the wall above the mantel.
Spielsdorf pauses before the fireplace, GLANCING down the length of the sword.
There is a soft PEEL of thunder, and lightning FLASHES through the windows. Spielsdorf GLANCES at a window as the lightning FLASHES, then turns & walks hurriedly out of the drawing room.
INT: ....BERTHA'S BEDROOM
Bertha is in her bed, asleep. The room now exhibits protection against vampires with garlic twists and crucifixes hanging on the walls. On a night stand next to her bed a candle is burning. The thunder storm is still distant, PEELS of thunder soft, soft lightning occasionally FLASHING in the window.
Spielsdorf, with sword in hand, is in a dressing room off the side of the bed near its head. The door is slightly ajar.
In the night, as Spielsdorf watches, a large ill-defined black mass, like a great shadow, RISES from the floor over the foot of the bed. It spreads (crawls) toward Bertha's face. At Bertha's chest and throat the black mass seems to BLOAT and HEAVE like a breathing lung, unaffected by the 'vampire protection' of garlic and crucifixes.
Spielsdorf, momentarily TERRIFIED, steps from the shadows of the dressing room doorway. Then, sword in hand, he JUMPS at the black mass which quickly contracts, moving back toward the foot of the bed and the floor.
The black mass forms into Carmilla (Millarca), standing at the foot of the Bertha's bed. It is Carmilla in every respect - long dark brown hair, wearing a nightgown, & such, except her face is a hybrid "cat" face. Spielsdorf looks WIDE-EYED at Carmilla.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF
Carmilla SNARLS, and WHIPS a clawed hand through the air at him.
Spielsdorf LUNGES toward her, CUTTING an arc through the air with the sword. Carmilla vanishes as the sword CUTS the air where she stood. She SNARLS at Spielsdorf again. He SPINS on his heels, wide-eyed, to see her standing in the door to the hallway.
.........................................................CARMILLA
Horrified, Spielsdorf LUNGES toward the door, SWINGING the sword at Carmilla. As the sword (supposedly) CUTS through Carmilla, she ERUPTS into steam which RUSHES into the hallway and disappears in the darkness. Spielsdorf's sword hits the door, SHATTERING the blade onto the floor.
Spielsdorf STARES into the darkened hallway a moment, then turns around to see Bertha still asleep, a peaceful SMILE on her face.
Spielsdorf, broken sword in hand, walks to Bertha's bedside and kisses her on the forehead. He then BLOWS out the candle on the night stand, and quietly leaves the room.
INT: ....SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
Spielsdorf, still carrying the broken sword, enters the drawing room. He WANDERS to the chair, FALLS into it, DROPS the broken sword on the floor, and STARES into the flames of the fireplace.
PAN IN -- CLOSE SHOT -- FIREPLACE FLAMES
FADE AND...
.....................................................................................................................DISSOLVE TO:
EXT: ....SPIELSDORF'S CASTLE ........ NIGHT
The blurred light fades to the light of a drawing room window of the Spielsdorf Chateau. The thunderstorm is still on the horizon.
PAN IN ON LATTICED WINDOW -- SPIELSDORF IN CHAIR
as he rises from the chair and begins to PACE the floor.
INT: ....SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
Spielsdorf is deep in thought, WORRY on his face. He walks to the fireplace and STARES at the DANCING flames, the light reflecting off his face. Slowly he GLANCES at the ceiling.
EXT: .... MISTY WOODS........ NIGHT
There is an occasional FLASH of lightning, the thunder SOFT and DISTANT. The ground is SHROUDED in a thick layer of low clinging mist. The moon DARTS between the clouds as the storm slowly approaches.
Hoof beats and carriage wheels are heard. The carriage rolls by, the horses at a gallop. All that is seen is the lower half of the black carriage, turning wheels, & galloping horses legs & feet.
MOVING SHOT --
following the moving carriage.
The carriage suddenly stops in the woods. Mist SWIRLS around it. The carriage is black, highly ornate, and trimmed in silver.
The team of four horses SNORT. They are large horses, also black, and their eyes GLOW red.
There are also four Horsemen, two in front of the carriage & two behind, wearing dark hooded shrouds, thus, they cannot be seen. Like the four Horsemen, there is a Carriage Driver also dressed in a dark hooded shroud.
EXT: .... MISTY WOODS ........ NIGHT
There are soft ETHEREAL sounds; night creatures heard. The mist still clings to the ground. The soft moonlight DANCES through the woods, CASTING EERIE SHADOWS, as the moon continues to DART among the clouds.
Something UNSEEN is moving through the woods. IT SNORTS and CRIES OUT in an UNEARTHLY HOWL.
The "Thing" is approaching a light in the woods. As it nears the source of the light (in a clearing), the light is revealed to be the drawing room light of the Spielsdorf Chateau.
MEDIUM SHOT -- SPIELSDORF CHATEAU
Above the drawing room window is a darkened second floor window.
PAN IN ON THE DARKENED WINDOW --
the bedroom of Bertha Rheinfeldt.
INT: .... BERTHA RHEINFELDT'S BEDROOM
The soft blue moonlight shines in the room from outside. An occasional lightning FLASH softly illuminates the room otherwise.
Bertha, still asleep in her bed, is now very ill, her face pale. There is a Maid is seated on a chair watching over her.
A SOFT UNINTELLIGIBLE UNEARTHLY WHISPER fills the room; the Maid falls asleep.
Bertha awakens upon hearing her named called softly. The voice is a FEMALE VOICE, different from that which caused the Maid to fall asleep. The FEMALE VOICE calling to BERTHA is SOFT, SINGING, MUSICAL, almost FAIRLY-LIKE.
.........................................................FEMALE VOICE (OC)
Bertha, TRANCE-LIKE, climbs out of the bed and walks slowly to the window. She FLINGS the window open wide. An outside breeze BILLOWS her hair out around her shoulders.
EXT: .... BERTHA AT HER BEDROOM WINDOW ........ NIGHT
Bertha stands at the window STARING into the dark night, her hair still BILLOWING on the wind.
EXT: ....GROUNDS OF SPIELSDORF CASTLE ........ NIGHT
Bertha walks slowly into the misty woods.
MOVING SHOT -- BERTHA
as she walks into the woods.
A monstrous shadowy figure JUMPS from branch to branch, tree to tree, pacing Bertha. The SOFT FAIRY-LIKE voice continues to call her name.
.........................................................FEMALE VOICE (OC)
MEDIUM CLOSE SHOT -- BERTHA
as she stops beneath a low hanging branch of a large old tree.
From above her a pale blue & white blotchy arm & hand suddenly reaches for Bertha. The arm is long, the hand thin, but large with long bony fingers and long claw-like nails, yet feminine.
The "Thing" grabs Bertha by the neck and picks her up off the ground to the branch where it crouches.
The "Thing" is a bat-woman hybrid form of Carmilla that, when standing fully erect, would be about nine feet tall. The face has deep set eyes, a bat-like snout, long curving fangs, and it sports long thin stringy straggly hair as though the hair is falling out. Huge leathery wings are folded behind its back.
Crouched on the branch, the bat-hybrid Carmilla lays Bertha face up across its lap, & RIPS open the right side of Bertha's blouse. There is a bandage just above Bertha's right breast, the skin around it discolored. Carmilla THROWS back her head and HOWL'S...
INSERT --
The black carriage.
The large black steeds are STARTLED as they HEAR Carmilla's HOWL in the distance.
CLOSE TWO SHOT -- BAT-HYBRID CARMILLA AND BERTHA
as the bat-hybrid Carmilla BURIES her fangs into Bertha's breast and bandage.
As Carmilla bites into Bertha's chest, ribs are heard CRACKING, and Bertha MOANS as her head rolls back to HANG LIMP.
SLOW MOTION SHOT --
The bat-hybrid Carmilla THROWS back her head, Carmilla's fangs TEARING blood and strips of flesh from Bertha's breast. The blood and strips of flesh WHIRL into the air. The hybrid Carmilla ROARS HIDEOUSLY in victory.
INSERT --
Flesh and blood CASCADE through the air.
ANGLE ON GROUND BENEATH TREE BRANCH --
as the hybrid Carmilla DROPS Bertha.
Bertha, dead, FALLS to the ground. The bat-hybrid Carmilla JUMPS to the ground beside the fallen figure of Bertha. Carmilla, unsteady, balances herself with a CURLED hand on the ground. Gaining her balance, she GRUNTS and SNORTS, then STAGGERS away into the shadows of the misty woods.
MOVING SHOT --
as the bat-hybrid Carmilla STAGGERS through the woods.
The bat-hybrid Carmilla continues to STAGGER as if exhausted or in pain. It GRUNTS a RASPING breath.
Passing behind a clump of bushes, Carmilla immediately re-emerges in her true form, though naked. She is a beautiful young woman, apparent age about eighteen. Yet, her skin is very peeked, her long dark brown hair falling over her shoulders in a CASCADE of waves, mostly obscuring her face.
Carmilla still STAGGERS, GASPING for breath. At a tree she stops, leaning against it to rest, then continues on.
ANOTHER ANGLE --
as Carmilla STAGGERS toward a narrow country lane.
Waiting on the lane is the black ornate carriage drawn by the four horse team. The hooded Carriage Driver sits in the driver's seat while the four Horsemen remain mounted on their horses.
Carmilla approaches the carriage; a door opens. Carmilla STAGGERS toward the open door.
PAN IN -- CLOSE SHOT
of Carriage Driver.
He slowly turns to face CAMERA. Nothing can be seen inside hood.
INT: ....SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
Spielsdorf STARES at the flames of the fireplace.
.........................................................BUTLER (OC)
Spielsdorf turns to see the Butler standing just inside the open door of the drawing room.
INT: ....HALLWAY OUTSIDE SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
A Maid stands in the hallway outside the open door of the drawing room as General Spielsdorf ERUPTS with an anguished CRY.
.........................................................SPIELSDORF (OC)
Spielsdorf breaks down upon hearing of Bertha's death.
The Butler comes out of the drawing room and closes the door on the agonized Spielsdorf. The Maid steps toward the Butler as he turns away from the closed door. The Butler SHAKES his head "no".
Through the closed door Spielsdorf's CRIES can still be heard.
INT: .... SPIELSDORF'S DRAWING ROOM
General Spielsdorf, his eyes red, SNIFFLING, sits at the writing table. He starts a letter to Laura's Father.
PAN IN -- CLOSE ON THE LETTER AS SPIELSDORF STARTS TO WRITE
Spielsdorf begins the letter in elegant script...
...................................................(closing door)
.............................Gentlemen, is there...
...................................................(interrupts, sarcastic)
.............................Sir, my learned brother seems to think
.............................you need a conjurer, not a doctor.
...................................................(displeased, to Young Doctor)
.............................Pardon me, I'll state my own view of the
.............................case in my own way another time.
...................................................(softer, to Spielsdorf)
.............................I'm sorry, Monsieur le General, that my
.............................skill can be of no use. However, I would
.............................like to suggest something to you.
...................................................(softly)
.............................All right.
.............................I must get some air.
.............................Monsieur le General...
.............................I do apologize, sir, for following you,
.............................but I cannot in good conscience leave
.............................without saying a few things.
.............................All right.
.............................I'm not mistaken in my diagnosis. There is
.............................nothing in nature to account for the symptoms
.............................displayed by your niece.
...................................................(pauses, gathering
...................................................thoughts)
.............................I'm sorry to say she is dying. A day or two,
.............................perhaps. Still, if the cause of her ailment
.............................were to be stopped,...
...................................................(shrugs, brings up his hands)
................................then...with skill and great care perhaps
.............................her strength would return in time.
.............................One more attack of Bertha's ailment may
.............................kill her.
.............................And just what is the nature of this ailment?
.............................I have explained everything in this note.
...................................................(hands note to Spielsdorf)
.............................I'd ask that you send for the nearest priest,
.............................and open the letter in his presence. You would
.............................disbelieve it otherwise. It IS a matter of
.............................life and death. If a priest is not available,
.............................then I urge you to read it and listen to what
.............................I have said. Do exactly as I have instructed.
.............................It may save your niece's life!
.............................May God watch over you and your niece.
...................................................(eyes on fireplace)
.............................Come in.
.............................I'm sorry, sir, but the priest has gone
.............................to Gratz on business.
.............................Sir?
...................................................(softly, still staring
...................................................at fireplace)
.............................That will be all. You may leave.
...................................................(thinking aloud)
.............................Vampire?
...................................................(reading aloud)
............................."The punctures near her throat were
.............................caused by the vampire; the small livid
.............................mark induced by the demon's lips. To
.............................destroy the vampire you must sever the
.............................head from the body..."
...................................................(pauses, looking at
...................................................another line)
............................."Baron Vordenberg may be able to help...".
.............................Millarca?
...................................................(sneering hiss)
.............................It is done! She belongs to me!
.............................Bertha. Bertha Rheinfeldt. Come to me.
.............................Come to me, Bertha. Come.
...................................................(softly)
.............................My Lord...
...................................................(agonizing)
.............................NOOO!!!!!!
EXT: ....MISTY WOODS ........ NIGHT
On a narrow road in the misty woods the black carriage comes to a sudden stop. All we see of the carriage is the bottom edge and part of one wheel.
The carriage door is heard opening, and a young woman steps out. All we see of the young woman is the bottom of her ankle length dress and her feet (with shoes).
MOVING SHOT --
following the feet of the young woman (Carmilla) as she walks slowly into the woods.
Carmilla pauses at a tree on the edge of a clearing.
PAN UP --
onto a wooden shack on the opposite side of the clearing. A window is lit by the light of candles on the inside.
ANOTHER ANGLE -- CLOSE ON SIDE OF SHACK
as the feet of Carmilla walk slowly along the wall of the shack.
INT: ....WOODEN SHACK
The shack has an "add-on" on one side. It is the bedroom of a peasant girl. The only thing separating the bedroom of the girl from the rest of the shack's interior is a sheet hanging from hooks which acts as a wall and doorway.
The peasant girl's father is seated at a wooden table, a tankard of ale in front of him. Next to him on the table is a candle in a candle holder. The man is STARING into the tankard, at a loss at what is afflicting his beautiful young daughter.
INT: ....PEASANT GIRL'S BEDROOM IN SHACK
The peasant girl is asleep in her bed. She is beautiful, her hair CASCADING around her head on the pillow.
A shadow rises from the floor at her bedside. On the fringes of the shadow we can see Carmilla's long wavy dark brown hair. A hand reaches from the shadow and gently pulls the covers down to the peasant girl's waist.
The shadow Carmilla pauses as the peasant girl SIGHS in her sleep & shifts her head slightly. Then the shadow and wavy dark brown hair rises over the peasant girl and BITES into her chest above her right breast.
The peasant girl MOANS, a SMILE CRAWLING across her face, her eyes still closed in sleep. She ROLLS her head, still MOANING, & brings her hands up to gently CLUTCH the dark brown wavy hair.
As Carmilla continues to drink, the peasant girl still MOANS, occasionally SIGHS, and lets out soft GASPS, her eyes closed all the while.
EXT: .... MISTY WOODS........ NIGHT
The carriage is waiting for Carmilla.
ANGLE ON -- THE CARRIAGE DOOR
as Carmilla's hand suddenly grabs hold of the opened door.
Carmilla's Mother leans out of the open door.
ANGLE ON -- CARMILLA
as we see her human face clearly for the first time.
Carmilla is middle height, slender, "stunningly beautiful", and graceful; very languid in motion; rich and brilliant complexion. She has large and lustrous dark eyes, and very dark brown hair that is wavy and cascades down about her shoulders.
Blood TRICKLES down her chin. She is BREATHING HEAVILY as is she is fatigued. She SHAKES her head "no".
.........................................................CARMILLA
...................................................(soft, shaking her head)
.............................Not...enough.
Her Mother helps her into the carriage. The door closes and the carriage drives away into the night.