PAN IN --

On a funeral procession slowly moving down a narrow earthen road which connects the village of Karnstein to the village chapel on the outskirts of town.

Mourners, dressed in black, follow a horse drawn cart bearing the wooden coffin of the young Countess Mircalla Karnstein.

Among the walking mourners is a Moravian Nobleman, age mid 20s.

EXT: ....KARNSTEIN CHAPEL ........ DAY

The funeral procession has arrived at the Karnstein Chapel, the horse drawn cart having pulled up to the front entrance. The chapel is fairly large; a bell tower rises over the entrance.

The rear half of the chapel acts as a crypt for the Karnstein family, two arched passageways on each side of the chapel leading to the interior crypt. Thus, the chapel walls are fairly thick.

There is a cemetery on the chapel grounds with several recent burials.

ANGLE ON -- THE FUNERAL CART

as pallbearers take the coffin from the cart and carry it toward one of the arched passageways.

The Moravian Nobleman stands at the entrance of a passageway. Led by the priest, Mircalla's coffin is carried past the Nobleman & into the passage leading to the chapel's interior.

PAN IN -- CLOSE SHOT -- MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN

as he watches the coffin pass by.

He lowers his head, his face an expression of LOSS and GRIEF. Trying to console the Nobleman, a man standing next to him PATS him on the shoulder.

INT: ....KARNSTEIN CHAPEL

The Moravian Nobleman stands at Mircalla's grave. She has just been buried in the wall crypt. A wall torch is mounted nearby, casting dancing light across the marble wall monument.

With tears in his eyes, the Moravian Nobleman runs his fingers lightly over the marker.

.........................................................MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN
.............................My love...the people of this village
.............................will think that you will soon be as
.............................the one who did this to you...

The Moravian Nobleman pauses, lowers his head, then looks up at the marker again.

.........................................................MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN (cont'd)
...................................................(choking grief)
.............................I will...I will destroy the one who did
.............................this to you. Then I will move you to a
.............................safe place...

EXT: .... KARNSTEIN CHAPEL ........ DAY

Everyone except the priest has left the chapel & returned to the village. The priest stands near the narrow road as the Moravian Nobleman comes out of the chapel crypt. The priest watches the Nobleman as he walks slowly by without a saying word.

EXT: .... KARNSTEIN CHAPEL ........ NIGHT

The Moravian Nobleman stands at the edge of the woods next to a chapel. He ties his WHITE horse to a tree, then GLANCES toward the chapel and the cemetery on the chapel grounds.

He walks hurriedly toward the chapel door, one hand GRASPING the hilt of his sword. A full moon bathes the churchyard cemetery outside the chapel in its silvery light.

The Moravian Nobleman pauses at the chapel door, GLANCES at the graveyard, then enters the door to the chapel tower.

INT: ....CHAPEL TOWER STAIRCASE

The Nobleman hurriedly CLIMBS the stairs to the Chapel tower.

EXT: ....CHAPEL TOWER ........ NIGHT

At the tower window the Nobleman looks down on the cemetery.

LONG SHOT -- CEMETERY -- NOBLEMAN POV

The Nobleman watches mist form above a grave. The mist solidifies to reveal a Male Vampire standing at the foot of the grave.

The Male Vampire is wrapped in a linen burial shroud. He takes it off, leaving him naked, folds it neatly, and lays it at the head of the grave.

INSERT -- HEAD & SHOULDERS SHOT -- MALE VAMPIRE

from back as he turns so we can see his face.

His face is white, drained of blood. Dark circles are around his eyes which appear normal. He has a leer on his face, and suddenly his eyes flare to a soft red.

PAN IN -- MEDIUM SHOT ON MALE VAMPIRE -- NOBLEMAN POV

as vampire turns away from his grave and heads toward Karnstein.

As the Male Vampire walks away, he seems to GLIDE a few inches above the ground, transforms into a misty figure with elongated limbs, then fades into nothing.

EXT: .... CHAPEL (CHURCHYARD) CEMETERY ........NIGHT

The Moravian Nobleman walks through the cemetery to the Vampire's grave. At the grave he picks up the linen burial shroud, GLANCES around, then heads back toward the chapel.

EXT: .... CHAPEL TOWER ........ NIGHT

The Moravian Nobleman waits in the tower for the Male Vampire to return. He is sitting on the floor next to the window.

A sudden HOWL from the cemetery below causes him to JUMP up with the shroud in one hand, his other hand resting on the hilt of his sword. He GRINS TRIUMPHANTLY as he holds the shroud out the tower window.

.........................................................MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN
...................................................(shouting)
.............................Is this what you seek?!

EXT: ....CHAPEL (CHURCHYARD) CEMETERY ........ NIGHT

ANGLE ON -- MALE VAMPIRE

as he spins to face the CAMERA, eyes upward to the tower.

The naked Male Vampire spins around upon hearing the Nobleman's SHOUT. He is angered that his shroud is missing, his face a bat hybrid. His hands are CLENCHED.

He points with a long bony fingered claw at the Nobleman & SHOUTS with a HISSING GROWL.

.........................................................MALE VAMPIRE
...................................................(pointing)
.............................THAT belongs to me! I must have it
.............................back!

LONG SHOT -- MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN AT TOWER WINDOW -- VAMPIRE POV

.........................................................MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN
...................................................(shouts)
.............................Then come and take it!

GROWLING, the naked Male Vampire walks determinedly toward the chapel tower wall. Reaching the wall, he begins to climb it like a spider.

Occasionally the Male Vampire pauses, GLANCES up the wall at the Nobleman, HISSES, and continues.

The Moravian Nobleman has drawn his sword. As the Male Vampire reaches the window, the Moravian Nobleman drops the shroud on the floor inside the tower. With his sword, the Moravian Nobleman STRIKES the Male Vampire on the side of his head, opening a large gash, blood SPURTING out of the wound.

The Male Vampire HOWLS as he falls off the tower wall to the ground below.

ANGLE ON -- MALE VAMPIRE -- MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN'S POV

as the naked Male Vampire is sprawled on the ground below the chapel tower window.

EXT: ....CHAPEL GROUNDS BENEATH THE TOWER ........ NIGHT

The sprawled Male vampire is MOANING as the Moravian Nobleman approaches him. The Nobleman is CLUTCHING the shroud in one hand and his sword in the other.

Reaching the Male Vampire, the Nobleman drops the shroud, raises his sword above his head with both hands, and cuts off the Male Vampire's head.

EXT: .... ROAD ON EDGE OF KARNSTEIN VILLAGE ........ DAY (MORNING)

The Moravian Nobleman walks his horse into town. Slung over the horse's back, and covered by the shroud, is the headless body of the Male Vampire. The Male Vampire's head DANGLES from the saddle pummel, tied there by its hair.

The townspeople gather around as the Moravian Nobleman stops his horse on the edge of town.

.........................................................MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN
.............................Here's the answer to all of your troubles.

He SLIDES the Male Vampire's body, shroud and all, off his horse to the ground. He then takes his knife, CUTS the hair, freeing the head from his saddle. He TOSSES the head to the dirt street.

ANOTHER ANGLE -- DIRT STREET OF KARNSTEIN -- LATER

as the village is alive with activity.

There is a general CLAMOUR as the villagers are running about. In the middle of the street the head and body of the vampire are impaled, and have been lit on fire. There are CRIES of victory as the people gather around the fire.

ANOTHER ANGLE -- MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN

on the edge of town as he walks his horse out of Karnstein.

HEAD & SHOULDERS CLOSE SHOT -- MORAVIAN NOBLEMAN

as he continues out of town.

.....................................................................................................................DISSOLVE TO:

EXT: ....NARROW DIRT ROAD AT KARNSTEIN CHAPEL ........ DAY

HEAD & SHOULDERS CLOSE SHOT -- BARON VORDENBURG

an elderly gentleman and descendent of the Moravian Nobleman.

Vordenburg (looking remarkably like an elderly version of his ancestor) stands on the road looking at the ruins of Karnstein Chapel and the cemetery. He slowly turns and walks away from the ruined chapel and ruined Karnstein Village.

Vordenburg is tall, narrow chest, stoops, with high shoulders, and dressed in black. His face is sun tanned brown, lined. He wears a hat with a large rumpled brim, golden rimmed glasses, and black gloves. His hair is long, stringy, white, & hangs about his shoulders.

ROLL TITLE MUSIC AND INTRO CREDITS.

END INTRO CREDITS AND...

EXT: ....MISTY WOODS ........ NIGHT

A full moon is partially obscured by clouds. The clouds move across the moon face, forming strange shadows and shapes in the light of the moon. On the horizon a thunderstorm is forming.

CAMERA PANS DOWN TO --

A misty woods.

SUPERIMPOSE ON BOTTOM OF SCREEN: 1845

There are soft ETHEREAL sounds. Creatures of the night are heard. CAMERA PANS WOODS AS LAURA'S VOICEOVER BEGINS --

.........................................................LAURA (VO)
.............................My father is English; I bear an
.............................English name. My father was in the
.............................Austrian service, and purchased a
.............................feudal residence and the small
.............................estate on which it stands.
...................................................(pauses)

PAN THROUGH WOODS TO LAURA'S FATHER'S CHATEAU ON RISE IN WOODS --

.........................................................LAURA (VO cont'd)
.............................Our chateau, a small castle, stands on
.............................a small hill in the forest. An old and
.............................narrow road passes in front of a drawbridge
.............................which has never been raised in my time.
...................................................(pauses)

PAN AROUND FRONT OF CHATEAU --

To candle lit windows.

.........................................................LAURA (VO cont'd)
.............................Our chateau has a many windowed front,
.............................towers, and a gothic chapel.

PAN AWAY FROM CHATEAU TO ROAD IN FRONT WHICH LEADS TO WOODS --

EXT: .... ROAD TO LAURA'S FATHER'S CHATEAU ........ NIGHT

On the road near the chateau a tall gothic bridge spans a creek. NIGHT SOUNDS and mist continue.

.........................................................LAURA (VO)
.............................The forest opens in an irregular and
.............................picturesque glade before its' gate. On
.............................the right a steep gothic bridge carries
.............................the road over a stream that winds in
.............................deep shadow through the woods.
...................................................(pauses)

PAN INTO MISTY WOODS --

.........................................................LAURA (VO cont'd)
.............................The forest where our chateau stands extends
.............................fifteen miles west, and twelve miles east.
.............................The nearest inhabited village is about seven
.............................miles east.
...................................................(pauses)

EXT: ....GENERAL SPIELSDORF'S GREAT STONE CASTLE ........ NIGHT

PAN IN ON GENERAL SPIELSDORF'S CASTLE --

rising stark and foreboding in the forest night.

The night sounds and mist continue.

.........................................................LAURA (VO)
.............................The nearest inhabited castle is that of
.............................General Spielsdorf, about twenty miles
.............................west.

EXT: .... KARNSTEIN VILLAGE ........ NIGHT

The village & chapel are now in ruins. Above the village, jutting above the woods, stands the ruins of a great castle. It is the KARNSTEIN family castle.

Mist SWIRLS amidst the ruins of the village and castle.

LONG SHOT -- RUINED VILLAGE & KARNSTEIN CASTLE

.........................................................LAURA (VO)
.............................Three miles west, in the direction
.............................of General Spielsdorf's castle, lies
.............................a ruined village with a little church,
.............................now roofless. In the aisles of the
.............................church are the moldering tombs of the
.............................Karnstein family,...

PAN ACROSS CHURCH RUINS --

PAN ACROSS KARNSTEIN CASTLE RUINS --

.........................................................LAURA (VO cont'd)
................................now extinct, who once owned the
.............................desolate castle which, in the
.............................forest, overlooks the silent ruins
.............................of the town.

EXT: .... LAURA'S FATHER'S CHATEAU ........ NIGHT

The first floor window of the drawing room is softly aglow in yellow candlelight.

PAN IN ON WINDOW --

.........................................................LAURA (VO)
.............................It is in this dark and mysterious
.............................land that the terrible events
.............................unfolded which have so affected
.............................my life...

INT: .... CHATEAU DRAWING ROOM ........ NIGHT

Laura sits in a chair in the drawing room. She is beautiful, her blonde hair falling in waves around her shoulders.

The room is long. Four windows look out on the drawbridge, moat, & forest. It is furnished with carved oak, carved cabinets, and chairs cushioned in crimson velvet. The walls are covered with huge tapestries in large golden frames. The tapestries display figures in various curious and ancient dress and are as large as life. They represent hunting, hawking, and other festive things.

he drawing room is lit by the light of a fireplace, a candelabra, several candles on various tables, and two wall mounted torches. The drawing room also sports great wall tapestries.

The thunderstorm is still in the distance; lightning flashing.

Across the drawing room are Laura's Father and Doctor Martin Hesselius. Doctor Hesselius is seated at a writing table, taking notes about the events that have happened. Laura's Father stands next to him.

Laura's VOICEOVER ends. She stares straight ahead as if picturing events in her mind.

.........................................................LAURA
...................................................(soft)
................................and she bit me...here...
...................................................(pauses, lightly
...................................................touches her chest
...................................................above her left
...................................................breast)
................................but there were no bite marks. My
.............................nurse and nursemaid said I was
.............................dreaming.

TWO SHOT -- HESSELIUS & LAURA'S FATHER

as Hesselius GLANCES AT Laura's Father.

.........................................................HESSELIUS
.............................And you sent for a priest.

.........................................................FATHER
.............................And a doctor.

Hesselius pauses, makes notes on his note pad.

.........................................................HESSELIUS
...................................................(eyes on note pad)
.............................And this young woman...she looked the
.............................same?

Hesselius GLANCES INQUISITIVELY at Laura's Father.

ANOTHER ANGLE --

as Laura's Father looks over at Laura.

.........................................................FATHER
.............................Laura?

Laura is still staring straight ahead. She slowly NODS "yes".

ANGLE ON LAURA --

as she GLANCES at the drawing room window.

.........................................................FATHER (cont’d OC)
.............................That was the beginning when my dear
.............................Laura was six years old.

.........................................................HESSELIUS (OC)
.............................Then nothing for thirteen years.

TWO SHOT -- FATHER AND HESSELIUS

as Hesselius looks up at Laura's Father.

.........................................................FATHER
.............................Yes; the monster returned three months
.............................ago.

.........................................................HESSELIUS
.............................First to General Spielsdorf's chateau,
.............................and then here.

.........................................................FATHER
...................................................(pauses, lowers head)
.............................Yes, that's right.

LONG SHOT --

as Doctor Hesselius and Laura's Father GLANCE at Laura.

Laura rises from the chair and walks to the great drawing room window. She PEERS out at the darkness, STARING at the lightning.

Her Father is concerned. He walks to her at the window. Hesselius watches the two.

.........................................................FATHER (cont'd)
.............................My dear daughter, are you all right?

.........................................................LAURA
...................................................(soft, eyes straight ahead)
.............................Three months ago. I remember it as if it
.............................were yesterday.

PAN IN CLOSE ON LAURA --

.........................................................LAURA (cont'd)
...................................................(whispers, eyes staring)
.............................She was so beautiful.

EXT: .... DRAWING ROOM WINDOW ........ NIGHT

MEDIUM SHOT --

of Laura and her Father at drawing room window looking out.

SCENE FADES.

The light of the drawing room window becomes a blur.

.....................................................................................................................DISSOLVE TO:

INT: ....BERTHA'S BEDROOM

The room is ornately decorated.

Bertha lies ill in her bed. General Spielsdorf and a Young Doctor are present, the Young Doctor having just examined Bertha.

General Spielsdorf is a stately man in his sixties, sports what appears to be a military uniform, & wears a handlebar moustache.

SUPERIMPOSE ON BOTTOM OF SCREEN:

The Young Doctor turns to Spielsdorf.

.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR
.............................I can't do anything for her.

Spielsdorf is concerned, and turns away. The Young Doctor takes notice of Spielsdorf's concern

.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR (cont'd)
.............................Perhaps a consultation.

.........................................................SPIELSDORF
...................................................(soft, stricken)
.............................Yes, yes. Perhaps. I...I'll send for
.............................another doctor...

Spielsdorf leaves the room, closes the door behind him. The Young Doctor stares are the closed door.

.....................................................................................................................DISSOLVE TO:

INT: ....SPIELSDORF'S LIBRARY

TIME FADE -- FROM BERTHA'S BEDROOM DOOR TO LIBRARY DOOR

The Young Doctor and the Old Doctor are now conferring nearly to the point of arguing. The Young Doctor WALKS INTO THE FRAME as he passes by the door.

MOVING SHOT -- YOUNG DOCTOR

as he walks to face the Old Doctor.

.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR
.............................You can't be serious!

.........................................................OLD DOCTOR
.............................I am deathly serious.

.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR
.............................You're diagnosis is not sound practical
.............................medicine! The next thing you'll be telling
.............................me is that there are witches with warts and
.............................demons that breath fire!

.........................................................OLD DOCTOR
.............................I know it sounds impossible...

.........................................................YOUNG DOCTOR
...................................................(interrupts)
.............................Impossible! It's crazy!!