OPENING TO EACH EPISODE
Glimpses of hooves of the horses galloping through the forest. Again the sound of laughter and flashes of sunlight among the trees.
Blue shards of the sky high above and wistful laughter of the beautiful stranger in the blue dress as she vanishes in the rays of the sun
The horse rears up, throwing its rider off
SMITH
Are you alright?
HARRY
I saw Her…
INT – CARDIE’S CASTLE – DAYTIME
A gust of wind blows across the abandoned halls of the Cardie’s castle, reaching the open piano in the main room. Crimson rose petals are scattered on the ancient ivory keys, they shift as the wind stirs them
TITLE: 1912
RITA’S VOICE
(whispering behind the scenes)
Your love gave me back my life… Your love gave me back my life…
The wind swirls and the petals fall to the floor
EXT – MOUNTAINS IN PERU – DAYTIME – MEMORIES
TITLE: 1770
YOUNG DRACULA (27 years old), the INTERPRETER and the OLD GUIDE stand in front of the cave decorated with carvings of Indian idols. Their clothes wave in the strong wind that blows from the mouth of the cave. The old guide shakes his head and pleads in his native tongue, his very manner indicating that it is forbidden to go further
YOUNG DRACULA
What is he saying?
INTERPRETER
We cannot go any further. Anyone who does will doom himself to eternal torment and bring curse upon his descendants.
YOUNG DRACULA
The main thing is that it’s eternal… Give him a scare of offer some money – we must get into the temple, whatever it takes!
The interpreter persuades the old man, but the latter pushes the interpreter away and falls on his knees in front of the count. He points to the sky, where a huge eagle flies. The old man almost faints in horror, when the eagle rushes down. The old guide covers his head with hands and wails
OLD GUIDE
(in Spanish)
Death, death, it is already following us, and we ourselves are going to meet it.
END OF THE MEMORIES
EXT – IN SURROUNDING FORESTS OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER DAY
HARRY (27 years old), CAPTAIN WRIGHT (31 year old), JAMES (30 years old) and GEORGES (20 years old) rush on horses across the forest. The riders sweep past a Hunting House.
EXT-IN THE SKY OVER THE CASTLE FOREST-SAME SUMMER DAY
From above an EAGLE flies and looks down: there is a valley with a lake below. On one side of the valley there is a gloomy medieval Cardie’s castle, and a bit away from the valley, in the lowland of the forest, there is a Hunting House.
The Eagle descends at high speed and rushes on a white Dove – this happens in the sky over the clearing, where Harry has stopped in the woods…
HARRY: (27 years old, a loafer, millionaire, descendant of the Dracula-Cardie family, confident, eccentric, sometimes unscrupulous, sexy, used to get what he wants, he and Rita are two of a kind. He is a comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and James.
EXT-FOREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER DAY
Harry has lost his way during the hunt. His horse stands in a clearing in the woods. Harry seems that a woman’s blue dress flits in the trees and a female laughter is heard.
Harry is distracted by the eagle and the dove – looks to the sky, he can see the eagle attacking the dove, this happens over his head.
Harry looks at the trees again, where the blue dress has just flashed. There is nothing. Harry looks around, looking for the owner of the dress.
The horse knickers and takes off.
INT – DINING ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – EVENING OF THE SAME DAY
Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges, Harry’s attorney and doctor, KARL IVANOVICH (50 years old), have supper after hunting at the wooden table
Harry wipes his hands with a napkin
HARRY
I think I saw her.
Karl Ivanovich sorts some records on his knees
KARL IVANOVICH: 50 years old, a librarian, Harry’s attorney in castle affairs. A quiet, well-educated, intelligent-looking old man, wearing glasses because of poor eyesight, half-Russian
KARL IVANOVICH
(takes off his glasses)
Her?
Harry puts his napkin aside and looks at everyone
HARRY
The ghost from the castle: the blue dress, dark hair.
Georges drops his fork under the table. James pours himself a glass of wine
JAMES: 30 years old, an Englishman, military interrogator, positive hero in all senses, conscientious, man with principles, generous, good friend. A comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and Harry, aristocrat
JAMES
Harry, what makes you think it was her? Maybe some local pulled your leg.
Harry puts a scarlet rose on the table
HARRY
Found in the forest.
Captain Wright takes the flower
CAPTAIN WRIGHT: 31 year old, an Englishman, cool cynic, skeptic, typical military man, it is hard for him to admit his weaknesses. Rarely smiling, traditionalist in everything. Captain is a true friend, smokes a lot. Introvert, aristocrat
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
(examining the rose)
Such roses certainly don’t grow in the forest.
