a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
EXT: .... COURTYARD OF LAURA'S FATHER'S CHATEAU ........ DAY
It's just before dusk. It is the warmth of summer with flowers in bloom in the courtyard. Laura stands in the courtyard, exchanging GLANCES between the sky and the gate. Her Father approaches her, wraps an arm around her shoulder.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
Laura's Father SIGHS, GLANCES at the ground, then at Laura.
.........................................................FATHER
MOVING SHOT -- LAURA AND HER FATHER
They cross the courtyard, heading toward a narrow path leading to an arched stone walking bridge that spans a creek.
As they walk Laura's Father explains to her why Spielsdorf & his niece, Bertha Rheinfeldt, will not be coming.
.........................................................FATHER (cont'd)
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
ANOTHER ANGLE --
as Laura and her Father stop walking.
Laura turns and looks up at her Father.
.........................................................LAURA (cont'd)
Laura's Father GESTURES to a nearby stone bench.
.........................................................FATHER
They turn, walk to the bench, & sit. The bench rests under a line of magnificent lime trees. Nearby is the small bridge and creek. The water of the creek can be heard RUNNING under the bridge.
Laura's Father takes the letter from a pocket & hands it to her. Laura reads the letter silently to herself, pauses, then rereads the letter aloud.
.........................................................LAURA
Laura pauses, GLANCING QUESTIONINGLY at her Father, then turns her eyes back to the letter, finding where she left off.
.........................................................LAURA (cont'd)
The letter ended, Laura lowers the letter to her lap as her eyes fill with tears. Her Father drapes an arm around her shoulder and takes the letter from her. She rests her head on his chest as he comforts her.
EXT: ....NARROW ROAD AND DRAWBRIDGE ........ DUSK
It's twilight, the sun now set. A nearly full moon is high in the sky, CASTING a soft light on the surroundings.
About a mile from the front of the chateau a drawbridge spans a small TRICKLING stream.
Just beyond the drawbridge & to the right, a ruined stone tower, which at one time use to guard the pass, rises out of the woods. A small narrow road winds to the left into the woods. The woods crest a steep rise beyond the tower.
Standing near the drawbridge, above the bank of the stream, are Mademoiselle De Lafontaine and Madame Perrodon. De Lafontaine and Perrodon are admiring the beautiful moonlight scene.
Perrodon, Laura's governess, is a rather short and plump woman, gaiety apparent in her manner and smile.
De Lafontaine, a "finishing lady" of the chateau, is tall, thin, and stately.
A thin mist is settling into the woods. Moonlight GLINTS here and there off the water of the stream.
De Lafontaine and Perrodon are talking about the beauty of the moonlight scene.
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................PERRODON
ANOTHER ANGLE --
of De Lafontaine & Perrodon with Laura and her Father approaching in the background.
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................PERRODON
Laura and her Father join them. Their sadness is evident.
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................FATHER
Suddenly they hear the sound of HORSE HOOF BEATS & an approaching carriage. The horses are at a GALLOP.
Laura, her Father, De Lafontaine and Perrodon turn to see the four horses and the carriage approaching the drawbridge from the other side. The carriage is the same carriage which Carmilla had gotten into after killing Bertha. The carriage is still fronted by two Horsemen, with the other two Horsemen flanking it, and the Carriage Driver.
This time their hoods are down and their faces seen. All five are stringy white haired, gaunt, pale, tall, GHOSTLY & EVIL looking.
ANGLE ON THE ON-COMING CARRIAGE ON OTHER SIDE OF BRIDGE --
as the carriage nears the bridge.
At the crossroads on the other side of the bridge is a stone cross. The four-horse team see the cross and are frightened.
At the stone cross the four-horse team BOLT, veering away from the cross, and passing between the leading two Horsemen. The four Horsemen go after the carriage.
Veering away from the stone cross, a carriage wheel BOUNCES across exposed roots of a huge old lime tree on the opposite side of the road. The carriage turns over on its side, the Carriage Driver JUMPING, the horse team coming to a stop.
The Carriage Driver gets up, brushing himself off, as the four Horsemen draw up along the carriage. They dismount, unhook the four horses while the Carriage Driver helps a woman dressed in black velvet from the carriage. The woman in velvet carries a handkerchief with which she occasionally DABS at her eyes.
Laura's Father RUNS across the drawbridge to lend his assistance. Laura, Perrodon, and De Lafontaine follow.
The woman dressed in black velvet is of middle age, & evidently of a high social class. She is Carmilla's Mother.
Carmilla's Mother FUSSES with the Carriage Driver who helped her from the carriage as he turns to the carriage again, this time to take an unconscious young Carmilla, now dressed in a dark dress, from the carriage.
Laura, her Father, Perrodon, and De Lafontaine crowd around as the Carriage Driver carries Carmilla from the carriage.
Carmilla's Mother turns to Laura's Father.
.........................................................CARMILLA'S MOTHER
Carmilla's Mother GLANCES at the Carriage Driver as he, followed by the others, carries Carmilla to the side of the road and lays her gently in the grass. Carmilla's Mother and Laura's Father HURRY after them.
Madame Perrodon attends the unconscious young woman. The Carriage Driver turns away and walks toward the overturned carriage to help the four Horsemen.
As Perrodon supports Carmilla's head, Carmilla's Mother lays a quilted silk cover over her feet. Behind them stands Laura, her Father, and De Lafontaine.
TWO SHOT -- LAURA AND HER FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
Laura's Father walks to Carmilla's Mother.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................CARMILLA'S MOTHER
.........................................................FATHER
Carmilla's Mother takes Laura's Father away from the others to converse privately.
ANGLE ON LAURA --
as she watches Carmilla's Mother and her Father converse further.
There is a change of tone and expression that Laura notices. Her Father apparently doesn't notice.
While Carmilla's Mother and Laura's Father are conversing, both in company and in private, the four Horsemen and Carriage Driver unhitch the four-horse team, use the horses to right the carriage, then hitch the four-horse team back up.
The carriage righted, the four Horsemen mount their horses. The Carriage Driver stands by the opened door of the carriage.
Carmilla's Mother leaves Laura's Father, walks to the unconscious young woman, WHISPERS to her, then NODS to Laura's Father as the Carriage Driver helps her CLIMB into the carriage.
As the carriage is about to pull away, a STRANGE and FRIGHTENING black woman wearing a turban glances at Laura and the others from one of the carriage windows. With a JERK, the carriage hurriedly pulls away with two Horsemen in front and the other two behind, the Carriage Driver CRACKING a whip.
ANGLE ON -- THE CARRIAGE
as the carriage and its entourage disappear into the misty woods.
Laura and the others watch until the sound of the carriage and horses fade into silence. They then turn their attention back to Carmilla still lying in the grass at the side of the road, Madame Perrodon still CRADLING her head.
Carmilla suddenly opens her eyes. She is week and STRUGGLES to sit up. She is consoled and restrained by Madame Perrodon.
.........................................................CARMILLA
Laura begins to approach Carmilla to give her consolations, but is restrained by De Lafontaine.
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................FATHER
Perrodon picks up the quilt and throws it over her shoulder. Then she and Laura's Father help Carmilla to her feet. Perrodon helps Carmilla along the road back to the chateau, followed closely by Laura's Father, then Laura and De Lafontaine.
INT: .... ENTRANCE HALL OF CHATEAU
Laura's Father followed by Madame Perrodon, supporting Carmilla, enter the entrance hall of the chateau. Behind them come De Lafontaine and Laura. They are met by a Servant and a Maid.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................SERVANT
The Servant hurries out the door Laura & the others have just entered. Laura's Father turns to the Maid.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................MAID
The Maid leaves to get other Servants to prepare a room. Laura's Father and Perrodon begin to help Carmilla up the stairs.
TWO SHOT -- DE LAFONTAINE AND LAURA
Laura begins to follow, but is again restrained by De Lafontaine.
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
Laura looks questioningly at De Lafontaine. De Lafontaine SMILES reassuringly. Laura NODS, then goes into the drawing room just off the entrance hall. De Lafontaine watches her with a SMILE.
INT: ....CARMILLA'S BEDROOM (IN CHATEAU)
The Maid and other Servants are readying the room for Carmilla as Laura's Father and Perrodon enter with her.
The room is stately. Opposite the foot of the bed is a large tapestry of Cleopatra with the poisonous asps at her breasts. On other walls are other classic scenes in tapestry, slightly faded. Also there are gold carvings and other assorted brightly colored things in the room. There are candles at the bedside.
A Maid rolls down the bedspread, then Laura's Father and Perrodon help Carmilla into bed. Perrodon covers Carmilla, then drapes the quilt over her.
Carmilla is tired, exhausted from her ordeal. She MOANS, TILTS her heads sideways, and drifts off into a deep sleep immediately.
Laura's Father quietly leaves the room.
INT: .... CHATEAU DRAWING ROOM
Laura is in the drawing room pacing the floor. In the fireplace a fire is CRACKLING. She stops pacing, GLANCES at the closed door, then shakes her head and starts pacing again.
Laura turns and faces the door as it opens, her face EXPECTANT. It is her Father.
INT: .... CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
Perrodon is sitting at the bedside of Carmilla. Carmilla is still asleep. A Maid is also there. The door opens. Perrodon looks up. De Lafontaine enters.
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................PERRODON
.............................You are patient, my dear.
.............................I don't understand...the general and
.............................Bertha should have been here. I am
.............................looking forward to meeting Bertha.
.............................Let's walk for a while.
.............................General Spielsdorf cannot come as
.............................soon as I'd hoped.
.............................How soon?
.............................Not for two months, until autumn. And
.............................I am very glad that you never knew
.............................Mademoiselle Rheinfeldt.
.............................Why?
...................................................(pauses)
.............................The poor young lady died. I received a
.............................letter from the General this evening...
...................................................(pauses)
.............................I am afraid he is in great distress. The
.............................writing is...well, very shaken.
.............................Bertha is dead? The General's last letter
.............................said she wasn't well, but...
...................................................(choked, tears in
...................................................her eyes)
.............................What...what happened?
.............................Let's sit down.
...................................................(reading letter
...................................................aloud 2nd time)
............................."I have lost my darling daughter, for as
.............................such I loved her. During the last days of
.............................my dear Bertha's illness I wasn't able to
.............................write to you. I had no idea of her danger;
.............................now, when it's too late, I know ALL too
.............................well. What a fool I have been!"
...................................................(continuing letter)
............................."I thank God my child died without her
.............................knowing the truth. If it takes me the
.............................rest of my life, I shall find and destroy
.............................the monster that did this to Bertha!"
...................................................(pauses, looks at
...................................................her father)
............................."There is a man I must travel to meet
.............................who may be able to help me, a Baron I am
.............................told. Please pardon me for not going into
.............................detail. I am quite distracted. I cannot
.............................believe my conceited incredulity, my
.............................blindness... Some time soon I will come
.............................and see you - explain everything. Until
.............................then, farewell. Pray for me, dear friend."
...................................................(looking at the moon)
.............................You know, the bright moon indicates a
.............................special spiritual activity.
...................................................(looks at Perrodon)
.............................My cousin was a mate of a merchant
.............................ship once. He took a nap on deck on a
.............................night like this, lying on his back,
.............................his face full in the moonlight.
...................................................(pauses, CHUCKLES)
.............................He awoke after dreaming of an old woman
.............................clawing him on the cheek; found his face
.............................horribly drawn to one side. He never
.............................recovered.
.............................Oh my!
.............................The moon is full of magic this evening.
.............................See, when you look at the front of the
.............................chateau...
...................................................(they turn toward the
...................................................chateau a mile distant)
................................, the windows flash and twinkle with
.............................that silvery moonlight. It's as if unseen
.............................hands had lighted up the rooms to receive
.............................fairy guests.
.............................Yes.
.............................My Lord and my young lady, there's a
.............................sadness...
...................................................(interrupts)
.............................I'm in one of my moping moods tonight.
...................................................(pauses, grins)
............................."In truth I know not why I am so sad:
.............................It wearies me; you say it wearies you;
.............................But how I got it -- came by it..."
...................................................(smiling)
.............................Ah, Shakespeare.
.............................Yes. I forget the rest.
...................................................(sighs, glances at
...................................................the moon)
.............................I feel as if a dark cloud were hanging
.............................over us. I suppose the general's
.............................letter has something to do with it.
.............................Was I ever so born to such problems? I'm
.............................on a journey of life and death. If I lose
.............................an hour, I may lose all. I must leave my
.............................child somewhere; I cannot delay. How
.............................far on, sir, is the nearest village?
...................................................(tugging father's coat,
...................................................whispers)
.............................Oh! papa, ask her to let the young lady
.............................stay with us.
.............................Madame you can entrust your child to the
.............................care of my daughter and Madame Perrodon.
.............................I would be honored to have her as our
.............................guest.
.............................I cannot do that, sir. I would not want
.............................to task your kindness...
...................................................(interrupts)
.............................On the contrary, it would be a great
.............................kindness when we most need it. My daughter
.............................has recently been disappointed by a cruel
.............................misfortune.
...................................................(weakly)
.............................Where is mamma?
...................................................(looks around)
.............................Where am I? What is this place?
...................................................(pause)
.............................The carriage...; Matska, where's
.............................Matska?
.............................One at a time is enough; a little
.............................excitement may be too much for
.............................her now.
.............................We should get back to the chateau.
...................................................(to Servant)
.............................Go quickly and bring a doctor.
.............................Yes, m'Lord.
...................................................(to Maid)
.............................Have a room prepared for our guest.
.............................Yes, m'Lord.
.............................Not now child. Perhaps you should wait
.............................in the drawing room.
...................................................(whispers)
.............................How is our dear Laura?
...................................................(whispers, walking
...................................................toward bed)
.............................Anxious and excited.
...................................................(smiles at Carmilla)
.............................And how is this lovely child?
...................................................(smiles at Carmilla)
.............................Sleeping peacefully.
