a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
a screenplay adaptation by
R S Cartwright
... continued ...
INT: .... CHATEAU DRAWING ROOM
In the drawing room Laura is still pacing the floor. Her Father is seated in a chair. De Lafontaine and Perrodon enter. Perrodon walks to Laura and places an arm around her shoulders.
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................DE LAFONTAINE
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................PERRODON
.........................................................FATHER
Perrodon and De Lafontaine leave the drawing room and Laura asks her Father what Carmilla's Mother had to say.
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................FATHER
PAN IN -- CLOSE SHOT OF GRANDFATHER CLOCK
The clock reads 11:30 PM
.....................................................................................................................DISSOLVE TO:
GRANDFATHER CLOCK --
Now reading 1:00 AM
Laura's Father is seated again, reading a book. Laura stands at a window PEERING out on the night. De Lafontaine is also present, seated in a chair, a hand to her chin as she is thinking. Madame Perrodon is with Carmilla.
All look toward the door as it opens. A Servant stands there.
.........................................................SERVANT
.........................................................FATHER
Laura's Father closes the book he was reading, lays it on the reading table next to his chair, rises & leaves the study. He closes the door behind him.
INT: ....CHATEAU DRAWING ROOM
LATER --
The Doctor is Doctor Spielsberg.
Doctor Spielsberg is a short elderly man, white hair, and wears gold rimmed spectacles.
He enters the drawing room to speak with Laura's Father. Also in the drawing room are Laura, Perrodon, and a Servant.
.........................................................SPIELSBERG
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................SPIELSBERG
Laura APPREHENSIVELY approaches Doctor Spielsberg.
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................SPIELSBERG
Laura GRINS happily as she turns to the Servant.
.........................................................LAURA
The Servant BOWS to Laura, then leaves the drawing room.
Laura's Father walks Doctor Spielsberg to the drawing room door.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................SPIELSBERG
INT: ....ENTRANCE HALL
Laura's Father and Doctor Spielsberg pass out of the drawing room and into the entrance hall as Laura's Father escorts the Doctor to the door.
INT: .... CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
The Servant stands next to the bed. Carmilla, wearing a white silk dressing gown embroidered with flowers, is sitting up in the bed. The silk quilt is still draped over the foot of the bed.
.........................................................CARMILLA
INT: .... CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
Laura RECOILS a moment as she comes into the room. She recognizes Carmilla as the young woman that bit her at age six.
Carmilla notices this, plays on this knowledge by sitting up, opening her eyes wide, and SMILING.
.........................................................CARMILLA
.........................................................LAURA
Laura approaches Carmilla; though SHY, she takes Carmilla's hand. Carmilla SQUEEZES Laura's hand lightly and rests her other hand on top of Laura's. Carmilla's eyes are GLOWING with PASSION.
.........................................................LAURA (cont'd)
Carmilla leans forward with a SMILE.
.........................................................CARMILLA
EXT: ....FOREST BEDROOM ........ NIGHT
FLASHBACK -- CARMILLA'S DREAM -- VOICEOVER SCENES
Six year old Carmilla sits up in bed and PEERS around. Her room is open, and in the middle of the forest. There are several beds resting amidst the trees, one of them near a window that seems to be hanging in the air a few feet off the ground as though a wall were there. There are also cupboards, benches, and chairs spaced around the trees.
Off to one side is a two branched candelabra, the candles lit.
There is a thick mist (fog) clinging to the ground, & the entire scene is lit by the light of the moon.
.........................................................CARMILLA (VO)
Six year old Carmilla CRAWLS out of bed.
ACTION FOLLOWS VOICEOVER --
with six year old Carmilla seeing eighteen year old Laura CRYING.
.........................................................CARMILLA (VO cont'd)
INT: ....CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
Laura is sitting on the edge of Carmilla's bed. Carmilla, still relating her story, is sitting up and leaning toward Laura.
.........................................................CARMILLA
Carmilla pauses, reaching forward & lightly touching Laura's lips with her fingertips.
.........................................................CARMILLA (cont'd)
Carmilla pauses again, slowly withdrawing her fingers. She GLANCES to the side, then SMILES at Laura.
.........................................................CARMILLA (VO cont'd)
Carmilla SMILES as she lays back on her pillow.
INT: ....CHATEAU DRAWING ROOM
Laura's Father is in the drawing room. A Servant opens the door & a Priest, Father De Lacy, enters. Laura's Father turns to him.
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................DE LACY
.........................................................FATHER
.........................................................DE LACY
Laura's Father, thinking, pauses as he approaches De Lacy.
.........................................................FATHER
INT: ....CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
Laura has just finished telling Carmilla of her dream.
.........................................................LAURA
Carmilla sits up, GRINS, CLASPING her hands in her lap.
.........................................................CARMILLA
Carmilla turns her head to one side and GAZES SLYLY at Laura out of the corner of her eyes.
.........................................................CARMILLA (cont'd)
Carmilla CLASPS Laura's hand between hers, SIGHS, looks at Laura PASSIONATELY. Laura feels UNCOMFORTABLE, but drawn toward her. Yet, there is still an unexplained feeling of REPULSION. Laura changes the subject.
.........................................................LAURA
.........................................................CARMILLA
Laura NODS agreement. Carmilla HUGS Laura close and WHISPERS into Laura's ear.
.........................................................CARMILLA (cont'd)
Carmilla lies back on pillow with a SIGH, SMILES, then....
.........................................................CARMILLA (cont'd)
Laura, a PUZZLED EXPRESSION on her face, backs away as Carmilla SMILES. Laura pauses at the door, then, without a word, she leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Carmilla GRINS as she stares at the closed door.
INT: ....CARMILLA'S BEDROOM
LATER -- NEXT DAY
Carmilla and Laura, now dressed, are in Carmilla's bedroom. Carmilla is seated in a chair, Laura standing behind her, playing with Carmilla's hair and occasionally LAUGHING. Carmilla is talking to Laura (INAUDIBLE) as Laura plays with Carmilla's hair.
ACTION FOLLOWS VOICEOVER --
.........................................................LAURA'S NARRATION (VO)
Laura stops playing with Carmilla's hair. Carmilla turns in her chair to face Laura as they talk. It appears to be a somewhat heated exchange of words.
.........................................................LAURA'S NARRATION (VO cont'd)
Carmilla rises from her chair as the conversation between the two continues.
.........................................................LAURA'S NARRATION (VO cont'd)
Carmilla walks to Laura & places her hands on Laura's shoulders. She SMILES as she talks to Laura.
.........................................................LAURA'S NARRATION (VO cont'd)
Carmilla WRAPS her arms around Laura's neck, and rests her cheek against Laura's cheek.
.........................................................CARMILLA
Carmilla PULLS Laura closer in her TREMBLING embrace, and places a series of soft KISSES on Laura's cheek.
After a moment Carmilla stands back, takes hold of Laura's hands and looks into Laura's eyes. Carmilla is BREATHING HEAVILY, her breasts rising and falling, like a lover.
She slowly PULLS Laura close again & KISSES her along the cheek.
.........................................................CARMILLA (cont'd)
Laura PULLS away and backs up a few steps.
.........................................................LAURA
Child-like, Carmilla THROWS herself into a chair and covers her eyes with her hands. In silence Laura STARES at her. Carmilla lowers her hands and looks away.
.............................Is she well?
.............................As well as any child can be after
.............................suffering an overturned carriage.
.............................How do you like her? Tell me about her.
.............................She is a very lovely young lady; about
.............................your age. So gentle, nice.
.............................She is stunningly beautiful.
.............................And such a sweet voice.
.............................Did you see the woman in the carriage
.............................who didn't get out? She was hideous,
.............................nodding, grinning. Eyes wide, teeth
.............................clinched.
.............................And what an ill-looking pack of men those
.............................servants!
.............................Yes, ugly looking fellows. I hope they
.............................don't rob the poor lady.
.............................They must have been worn out from too long
.............................traveling. Their faces were so lean, pale,
.............................and sullen. Perhaps the young lady will
.............................tell us all about it tomorrow.
.............................I don't think she will.
...................................................(to her father)
.............................What did her mother speak to you about?
.............................She was reluctant to trouble us with
.............................her daughter. The young lady is in
.............................delicate health, nervous...
...................................................(pauses)
................................and that she is not subject to any
.............................kind of seizure or illusion, that she
.............................is perfectly sane.
.............................How odd to say that!
.............................At any event, it WAS said. You asked.
.............................She also said that while she was gone,
.............................the young lady would not say where
.............................they came from, who they are, or where
.............................they were going. That's all.
...................................................(grins)
.............................She spoke French.
...................................................(pauses, eyes distant)
.............................I hope I haven't done anything foolish in
.............................taking charge of the young lady.
.............................The Doctor is here, m'Lord.
.............................Very well. I shall show him to the
.............................young lady's room.
.............................My young patient is sitting up; her
.............................pulse is normal. She appears perfectly
.............................well.
.............................Will she recover?
.............................There were no injuries that I could see.
.............................The shock of the accident has passed.
.............................Would it be all right for me to visit her?
...................................................(smiles)
.............................Perfectly, my dear child.
...................................................(to Servant)
.............................Go ask the young lady if I may come
.............................see her.
.............................I can't thank you enough, Doctor.
.............................It's my job to look after the ill.
...................................................(smiling)
.............................I'd love to see her.
.............................I dreamed about you! Twelve years ago!
.............................It's haunted me ever since.
.............................So did I!! I saw you twelve years ago.
.............................I couldn't forget your face. So beautiful...
.............................I'm very sorry about your accident,
.............................but we are all pleased you are staying
.............................with us. Especially me.
...................................................(anxious)
.............................I've got to tell you about my dream;
.............................it was so strange... I was a
.............................child, about six...
.............................I woke up and found myself in a room like
.............................the woods. There was mist on the ground,
.............................and there were cupboards, and bedsteads,
.............................and chairs, and benches. I thought
.............................the beds were empty.
.............................I crawled out of bed and went to the
.............................window. I heard someone crying and
.............................turned around. You were there, in
.............................another bed - as you are now...
...................................................(softly)
................................a beautiful young lady, with golden
.............................hair and blue eyes, and lips...
...................................................(softly)
................................your lips.
.............................A scream woke me; I was back in my
.............................nursery at home. I've never forgotten
.............................you. You're the lady I saw.
.............................Ah, Father De Lacy, it's good to see
.............................you again.
.............................I am afraid I come bearing grave news.
...................................................(pauses)
.............................A local peasant girl has died. She is
.............................to be buried in the cemetery, and her
.............................father would like someone notable to be
.............................there to witness her burial.
.............................I am hardly notable.
.............................You are respected among the local
.............................people. Besides, her father asked
.............................especially for you.
...................................................(sighs, saddened)
.............................She was his only child.
...................................................(softly, nods)
.............................I'll witness the young lady's burial.
.............................That's what happened. I've never
.............................forgotten that dream.
...................................................(soft)
.............................I feel as though I've known you all
.............................these years, and have already a right
.............................to your intimacy. We must have been
.............................destined to be friends.
.............................Do you feel as strangely drawn towards
.............................me as I do you?
.............................The doctor thinks you should have
.............................a maid sit up with you tonight. One
.............................of ours...
...................................................(interrupts)
.............................You are very kind, but I can't sleep
.............................with someone else in the room.
...................................................(grins)
.............................I confess I'm afraid of robbers. Our
.............................house was robbed once; two servants
.............................were killed. I've locked my door
.............................ever since. A habit...
...................................................(nods toward door)
.............................There is a key in the lock.
...................................................(whispering)
.............................Goodnight, darling; it's hard to part
.............................with you, but I'll see you tomorrow.
.............................Goodnight, dear friend.
.............................The next day came and we met again. I was
.............................delighted with my friend...certainly the
.............................most beautiful young lady I had ever seen...
.............................her hair so wonderful, so thick and long
.............................when she let it fall about her shoulders.
.............................I've often placed my hands under it, played
.............................with it, braided it. Her hair was fine and
.............................soft, a rich dark brown. I loved to let it
.............................down, tumbling with its own weight, as she
.............................lay back in her chair talking in her sweet
.............................low voice. If I had only known!
.............................There was also a coldness, it seemed,
.............................beyond her years. She evaded my questions
.............................about her and her family. I can't say we
.............................quarrelled. It was unfair of me to press
.............................her, but I really couldn't help it. I should
.............................have just let well enough alone.
.............................What she did say amounted mostly to nothing.
.............................She was vague, saying only that her name was
.............................Carmilla; her family was very ancient and
.............................noble; and her home lay to the west...
.............................I could tell she was saddened by her evasion,
.............................even the passionate declarations of her liking
.............................me. But she promised that, in time, she would
.............................tell me everything. I couldn't find it in my
.............................heart to be mad at her for long.
.............................Dearest, I know you are uncomfortable.
.............................Please don't think me cruel just because
.............................I love you. My wild heart bleeds with
.............................yours. I live in your warm life, and you
.............................shall...
...................................................(very soft, mesmerizing)
................................die - die,...sweetly die - into mine.
...................................................(SIGHS)
.............................I can't help it. I love you. That is all
.............................I can give you.
...................................................(pauses)
.............................Please ask no more about my family and I.
.............................Trust me.
...................................................(a kiss)
.............................Your are mine,...
...................................................(a kiss)
................................you SHALL be mine,...
...................................................(a kiss)
................................and you and I are one forever.
...................................................(a kiss)
.............................What do you mean? Do I remind you of
.............................someone you love?
...................................................(shakes head 'no')
.............................I don't know you. You...I don't know myself
.............................when you act and talk like this.
