Ken Russell's Dracula (5 page)

FADE OUT NIGHT - FADE IN
DAY

INSERT: A cut-throat razor. A hand
comes into shot and lifts it out of frame.

CUT BACK TO REVEAL:

Jonathan shaving himself with the
aid of a small mirror which reflects most of the empty room behind him.
Suddenly, a hand falls on his shoulder causing him to jump and nick his chin.

DRACULA

Good day.

Jonathan looks in the mirror again
to see how he could have been mistaken. But there is no mistake; everything in
the room is reflected - save DRACULA. A trickle of blood runs over Jonathan’s
chin attracting the attention of Dracula and possessing him with demonic fury.
As Dracula makes a grab for his throat, Jonathan pulls away instinctively,
knocking over and smashing the mirror while Dracula’s hand falls upon the
crucifix and rosary beads. Instantly, Dracula checks himself and his fury
passes.

DRACULA

Take care, take care how

you cut yourself. It is more

dangerous than you think in

this country.

He turns and heads to the door
watched by Jonathan, dumbfounded.

DRACULA

After you have lunched we

will conclude out business.

As he exits, TWO SERVANTS enter with
a heavily laden luncheon table which Jonathan surveys with little appetite.

INT. CASTLE DRACULA. MUSIC
ROOM. DAY.

Large and spacious with portraits
of famous musicians adorning the walls, including Beethoven and Sibelius. A
phonograph plays a recording of Schubert’s 8th Symphony as DRACULA examines
photographs of a gracious house and picturesque ruined chapel, while JONATHAN
stares at a large portrait of a beautiful woman dressed as Salome and tries to
appear at ease in the presence of a man he knows to be a monster. Whether
Dracula is aware of this is impossible to say for, superficially, he appears
relaxed and affable.

DRACULA

You seem ill at ease,

my friend. Is Schubert not

to your taste?

JONATHAN

(
brightly
)

Ah, Schubert, that’s it!

I knew I knew that tune.

DRACULA

His Unfinished Symphony.

Jonathan covers up his ignorance
and disquiet by attempting a weak joke.

JONATHAN

Pity you weren’t around

to help him as well.

He might have finished it.

To Jonathan’s surprise Dracula takes
him seriously, warming to him somewhat.

DRACULA

Yes... that is one of

The great regrets of my

life.

Realizing he has let slip something
which should have remained secret, he continues in a lighter vein.

DRACULA

... but who knows, perhaps

I would have been too busy

saving Franz Liszt;

misguidedly of course.

Dracula abruptly changes the subject
and gets down to business, thus sparing Jonathan the embarrassment of a reply.

DRACULA

You are sure the property

is secluded?

JONATHAN

(
reassuringly
)

Exactly as you requested

in your letter, sir.

It’s right in the heart of

the New Forest, and apart

from a private sanatorium,

there’s not a soul for

miles. Your nearest big town

is Southampton.

Dracula continues to study the
photographs with enthusiasm as Jonathan fiddles nervously with his briefcase.

DRACULA

The chapel is a little gem;

is it consecrated?

JONATHAN

(
defensively
)

I’m afraid not, sir –

sacked by Cromwell’s

Roundheads.

DRACULA

Cromwell! Ah, fascinating

man – though something of

a tyrant, yes?

JONATHAN

(
pompously
)

Depends on your politics,

sir, and religion.

Personally, I think he made

England what she is today.

DRACULA

A godless kingdom of the

Plebeian; I concur totally

Harker. Where do I sign?

Jonathan is somewhat disconcerted
not knowing quite how to take Dracula’s last remark.

JONATHAN

Er, quite, sir. Right here

please.

Dracula signs the document with a
flourish.

DRACULA

Thank you, Harker. My bank

will telegraph the money to

your firm in Southampton

tomorrow.

JONATHAN

On receipt of which, Carfax

Manor is yours, sir.

DRACULA

Thank you Harker. I took a

chance. I selected your firm

from an advertisement in

your local paper, but it

seems to have paid off

most satisfactorily. I am

delighted.

JONATHAN

Thank you, sir! It was a

pleasure doing business

with you ...

(
awkwardly
)

Er, if there is nothing

more, then I’ll be packing

my things.

DRACULA

(
chuckling
)

You cannot wait to shake

the dust of Castle Dracula

from your shoes. You have

still not forgiven our

little joke.

JONATHAN

(
over-reacting
)

Not at all, Count. It’s

just ... well ...

Desperately, Jonathan hides his
anxiety behind a half-truth.

JONATHAN

... well, I can’t very well

be late for my own wedding

can I?

As Jonathan forces an awkward Smile,
Dracula expresses pure delight.

DRACULA

My dear fellow, you should

Have brought the young lady

along. What better place for

a honeymoon than our

beautiful Carpathians?

With a sweep of his hand he Indicates
the mountain peaks visible through the elegant windows while Jonathan prepares
to demonstrate that he is not the dummy Dracula takes him for.

JONATHAN She couldn’t have got
away, I’m afraid; she’s too busy organizing Lucy Weber’s farewell season.

Dracula follows Jonathan’s glances
to the portrait of the gorgeous woman, hanging on the wall above them, with a
look of total incredulity. For the first time his mask of detached
sophistication - slips!

DRACULA

I beg your pardon?

JONATHAN

My fiancée is Lucy’s

secretary.

DRACULA

You are referring to Lucia

Weber (pronounced Vayber)

the opera star?

JONATHAN

That’s just her stage name,

we’ve always known her as

Lucy. Have you met? I’ve

never heard her mention you.

Dracula becomes unaccountably
flustered. Now it is his turn to be uncomfortable. He chooses his words
carefully, not wishing to give away his true feelings.

DRACULA

Er, no. Though I had the

Great good fortune to hear

her sing once in Budapest.

I shall never forget it.

(
he becomes genuinely moved
)

And to think that golden

voice will soon be silenced;

it’s tragic!

Jonathan, carried away by his own
concerns for Lucy, forgets for a moment that he is talking to a man he
considers to be a homicidal maniac.

JONATHAN

At least her records will

survive.

DRACULA

(
bitterly
)

Grotesque caricatures to

Mock her memory.

JONATHAN

(
philosophically
)

Everything that can be done

has been done to save her.

She’s very brave but it’s

hopeless. Her personal

physician is preparing her

for the end. All we can do

is pray.

DRACULA

(
cynically
)

Save your breath, God is

deaf.

The hatred in Dracula’s voice snaps
Jonathan out of his reverie.

JONATHAN

When I see her, shall I

Give her your regards?

Dracula too is once again on guard.
Jonathan Harker knows far too much. He must be removed.

DRACULA

... by all means, do!

Jonathan mistakenly feels he is off
the hook.

JONATHAN

Well, I’ll be saying cheerio then;
I’ll ...

DRACULA

(
interrupting
)

I’m afraid that will not

be possible.

Jonathan’s relief drains from his
face as Dracula continues brightly at a rush - almost ad-libbing.

DRACULA

... you have your patron

saint to thank for that;

it’s a public holiday.

Lazlo will take you to

Bistritz first thing

tomorrow. Meanwhile,

everything here is at your

disposal. Why not spend

the rest of the day in

diversion? Browse through

my library, relax in my

picture gallery - my home

is yours; please.

Despite the fact that he feels the
noose tightening, Jonathan manages to relax a little. Conversely, Dracula seems
keyed up and anxious to be off.

JONATHAN

That’s very kind of you,

Count. Not to worry. I can

kill an hour or two

listening to music.

With a curt nod Dracula is gone,
leaving Jonathan to sink into an easy chair and listen to the music. But only
for a moment. Directly the footsteps of the Count have died away, Jonathan is
on his feet and after snatching up a sharp paper knife, which resembles more a
stiletto, leaves the room through another door.

INT. GREAT HALL. DAY.