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Dracula of Transylvania: The Epic Play in Three Acts

Page 9

by Christofer Cook


  (Dracula appears, then disappears.)

  HARKER

  And there!

  MINA

  Oh my dear, dear husband. You are mad.

  HARKER

  He’s toying with me.

  MINA

  You are infirm with nerves.

  HARKER

  He’s here, Mina. And what’s more… He wants us to know it.

  MINA

  You’re scaring me. You’ve lost reality.

  HARKER

  No, I assure you. I am very much replete with sanity.

  MINA

  I’m not comfortable here, all of a sudden.

  HARKER

  Nor I. Come, Mina. This place is not safe.

  (Music of suspense. Husband and wife exit the garden. The same music leads into the next scene.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 7

  “Revelations”

  [Seward’s Office, Whitby Asylum]

  (Enter Van Helsing, followed by Seward.)

  VAN HELSING

  You need not trouble with the bone saw. We will not do it.

  SEWARD

  Why not? Only three nights ago you were so resolute.

  VAN HELSING

  Because it is too late.

  (The professor hands a copy of the Morning Gazette to the Doctor.)

  What do you think of that?

  (Seward gives the paper a cursory glance.)

  SEWARD

  I don’t know what you mean.

  VAN HELSING

  Here, beneath this headline…

  (Seward reads aloud.)

  SEWARD

  “At the cliffs near Whitby Abbey, innocent children are being lured away, evidently decoyed by a mysterious woman yet to be identified. When the children are recovered, it is discovered they all share identical sets of marks. Pairs of deep puncture wounds are bored into their throats.”

  VAN HELSING

  Well?

  SEWARD

  It’s like poor Lucy’s.

  VAN HELSING

  And what do you make of it?

  SEWARD

  Simply that there is some cause in common. Whatever it was that injured her, has injured them.

  VAN HELSING

  That is true indirectly, but not directly.

  SEWARD

  How do you mean, Professor? Tell me. I can hazard no opinion. I do not know what to think and I have no data upon which to found a conjecture.

  VAN HELSING

  Do you mean to tell me, friend Jack, that you have no suspicion as to what Lucille Westenra died of? Not after all the clues given. Not only by events but by me?

  SEWARD

  Of nervous prostration. Followed by a great loss or waste of blood.

  VAN HELSING

  And how the blood lost or waste?

  SEWARD

  I know not. That I cannot decipher.

  VAN HELSING

  You are a clever man, Jack. You reason well and your wit is bold. Listen to me. In some islands of the Western seas, bats hunt at night and the very sailors who sleep on the decks of their ships, in the morning are found dead men. White, even as Miss Lucy was? And there are some human-like creatures who cannot die.

  SEWARD

  I am bewildered by such ideas.

  VAN HELSING

  Can you say with absolute conviction that Lucy is now, even as we speak, sealed in her crypt?

  SEWARD

  With absolute certainty? No. For I never observed Mr. Swales perform the interment.

  VAN HELSING

  Let’s imagine he did. Yet what if Lucy herself has become… a vampire.

  SEWARD

  What!

  VAN HELSING

  I want you to believe.

  SEWARD

  Believe in what, exactly?

  VAN HELSING

  In things that your reason tells you, you should not believe… Come with me.

  SEWARD

  Where are we going?

  VAN HELSING

  You’re going to take me to the cell of one, R. M. Renfield. Your man, Mr. Simmons just found me in the hallway. He told me that this man urgently wants to speak with me and Miss Mina as well. Mina is also very concerned it seems with mental disturbances in her husband, Jonathan. Let’s find Mina and to Renfield’s cell.

  SEWARD

  This way, Professor!

  (Exeunt.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 8

  “Warning and Betrayal”

  Renfield’s cell, Whitby Asylum

  (Music. Renfield’s cellblock. Enter Seward, Mina, and Van Helsing…)

  SEWARD

  All right, Renfield. We’ve summoned Mrs. Harker and Professor Van Helsing. Say what you have to say and do it with speed.

  RENFIELD

  Rats! Rats! Rats! Hundreds, thousands, millions of them! And every one a life! I hunger for rats now. And soon I shall hunger for larger, living things!

  SEWARD

  More delusions? Right then, we’ll be on our way. Come, friends.

  VAN HELSING

  Just a moment, Doctor. Mr. Renfield, I am Professor Van Helsing.

  RENFIELD

  I know exactly who you are.

  VAN HELSING

  You wanted to see me?

  RENFIELD

  Aye, to ask you to be Mrs. Harker’s protector.

  MINA

  Protect me from what?

  RENFIELD

  Where are you staying?

  MINA

  At the Westenra cottage adjacent to the old abbey.

  RENFIELD

  Oh! Stay not there!

  MINA

  But, why not?

  RENFIELD

  It isn’t safe.

  MINA

  Why?

  RENFIELD

  The blood! The blood is the life! And now yours is in jeopardy.

  MINA

  By what? By whom?

  RENFIELD

  Dr. Seward, in the name of all that is holy, protect this dear woman from the fiend. He is my master and I obey him, but just this once, I must warn Mrs. Harker to lock herself up. Stay in hiding with your husband, Jonathan. If not, the same fate of Miss Lucy will befall you!

  MINA

  What fate is it you speak of, Mr. Renfield?

  RENFIELD

  The Professor knows. Don’t you? He can tell you. You’ve no doubt heard of the “Bloofer Lady”? My master is lord of all vampires, Count Dracula! Miss Lucy is now un-dead, his concubine. He has bitten her. She now bites the children.

  SEWARD

  The “Bloofer Lady”! But Mr. Renfield, where does this name come from? Why do the children refer to her this way?

  RENFIELD

  Because Miss Lucy is beautiful, still. At least to the children. And when they try to pronounce the word, ‘beautiful’, it comes out ‘bloofer’. Mrs. Harker, I implore you to stay here in the Asylum. It is the safest place!

  VAN HELSING

  Though this sounds of madness, there is method in it. Seward, can you accommodate Mr. and Mrs. Harker at your asylum?

  SEWARD

  I can. We have a small room with a bed we can use for guests. Mrs. Harker, step outside the door for a moment. When we finish here, we’ll escort you to a safe room.

  MINA

  Yes, Doctor.

  (She leaves.)

  RENFIELD

  Let me entreat you, Dr. Seward, oh, let me implore you, to let me out of this asylum at once! And do it secretly, in daylight. Send me away how you will and where you will; send keepers with me, bearing whips and chains; Let them take me in a straight w
aistcoat, manacled, and leg-ironed, even to a jail, but let me go out of this!

  VAN HELSING

  Come with me, Dr. Seward. We must make plans. And we must share them with the others. We’ll need all the help we can get. I’ll explain it all to you. For there is an evil burning in our midst. And vee are the chosen ones to extinguish the flames!

  (Music. The two men exit. Renfield is left alone in his cell. Fade to black.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 9

  “Suffer the Children”

  A Wooded Area, Whitby

  (Mysterious music eases in. Fog rolls about. Blue lighting illuminates the forest area where Dracula appears. Dracula stands motionless and gestures as though conjuring the appearance of the un-dead Lucy Westenra. The “Bloofer Lady”, slowly enters as if gliding upon a wisp of smoke. At a given moment in the music, small children appear one by one from behind trees, between shrubs, from the deep woodlands as though stirring from a deep and restful sleep. Like a bizarre Pied Piper of Hamlin, the “Bloofer Lady” beckons the children with her hands to follow her. Slowly, in a daze-like state, zombie-like, they walk up to her and each child clutches hold of part of her gown, cape, and/or train. Dracula approaches her, they kiss passionately, then she turns to walk towards the woods. The children follow behind her and all vanish among the trees and darkness.)

  END OF ACT II

  ACT III

  Scene Breakdown

  1 “Jack Straw’s Castle”

  2 “Behold the Un-Dead”

  3 “Baptism of Blood”

  4 “Darkness and the Swirling of Water”

  5 “The Orient Express”

  6 “October 31st”

  7 “Precious Cargo”

  8 “The Final Conflict”

  Scene 1

  “Jack Straw’s Castle”

  [A Tavern in Exeter]

  (Music. Lights come up in a smooth, gradual, and magical glow in the interior of “Jack Straw’s Castle”, a cozy little tavern. Van Helsing, Godalming (formerly Holmwood), and Morris are revealed seated at a table, eating and drinking. A serving wench brings a bowl of bread, clears a dish or two and then exits. Music fades.)

  VAN HELSING

  Good food, Ja?

  MORRIS

  Best chow I’ve had in a coon’s age.

  VAN HELSING

  It should be. For this is Jack Straw’s Castle. The food is hot, the place is warm. The fireplace is always stoked.

  GODALMING

  Yes, Professor. Very nice. Now, I wish you’d reveal your intention behind this impromptu meeting.

  VAN HELSING

  Of course. You don’t think I brought you here for quaint conversation.

  GODALMING

  That I doubt.

  VAN HELSING

  Nor have I brought you here to discuss body fluids, the four humors, open wounds, and dried pools of coagulated blood.

  (He immediately picks up a plate of liver and holds it under Godalming’s nose.)

  More kidney pie?

  GODALMING

  I believe I’ll pass on that for now, Professor. Now, what’s this all about?

  (Van Helsing brings a crowbar out of his leather bag and places it on the dinner table.)

  MORRIS

  What have you got there?

  VAN HELSING

  An iron crow. Which you English call a ‘crow bar’.

  GODALMING

  We know what it is, Professor. But why have you brought it to the dinner table?

  VAN HELSING

  It’s for later. To open a crypt.

  GODALMING

  A crypt. What crypt?

  VAN HELSING

  There is a grave duty to be done.

  GODALMING

  What the devil are you talking about, old man?

  VAN HELSING

  You were, doubtless, surprised by my letter?

  GODALMING

  I was. It rather upset me for a bit. There has been so much trouble around my house of late, that I could do without a trifle more.

  VAN HELSING

  Yes, I know. Your father has died. And now you’ve a new title, inheritance,…

  GODALMING

  If you’re suggesting that I’m better off without him,… Listen here, old man… I’d rather my father were alive and I a pauper, than to be without him and this title foisted upon me. And his passing so soon upon the heels of losing my fiancé to some malady I’ve yet to understand.

  MORRIS

  Out with it, Professor. What’s this mission? We’re a bit befuddled. ’Cause as it stands now, we don’t know our blame hawk from a handsaw.

  VAN HELSING

  Ah! Ah-Ha! A hand-saw! You are closer than you think!

  GODALMING

  What do you mean?

  VAN HELSING

  I want you to come with me, and in secret, to the churchyard at Kingstead.

  GODALMING

  Where poor Lucy is buried?

  VAN HELSING

  Ja.

  MORRIS

  And once we’re there, then what?

  VAN HELSING

  We enter the tomb.

  GODALMING

  Professor, are you in earnest or is this some monstrous joke?

  MORRIS

  And once we’re in the tomb?

  VAN HELSING

  We open the coffin.

  GODALMING

  For what purpose?!

  VAN HELSING

  Exhumation.

  GODALMING

  This is too much! I am willing to be patient in all things that are reasonable; but in this, this desecration of a grave, of one who, …..

  VAN HELSING

  You will understand when we arrive. If I could spare you one pang, my poor friend, God knows I would. But this night our feet must tread in thorny paths. If not, the feet you love will forever walk in paths of flame!

  GODALMING

  Take care, Sir, take care!

  MORRIS

  Easy now, Art. Easy, friend.

  VAN HELSING

  Lord Godalming, I will reveal all to you! Would it not be well to hear what I have to say?

  (After a moment’s pause.)

  GODALMING

  All right. I will listen. That is all I will promise.

  VAN HELSING

  That is all I ask. If we are finished here, I shall explain all along the way. Come, let us pay for our meal, gentlemen, and be gone. I will alert Dr. Seward to our purposes. Meantime, you two do the same with young Mr. Harker. With the five of us, more crow bars, lanterns, and fresh horses, we should be able to move the stone lid of Miss Lucy’s grave. And do what is to be done. Come!

  (Exeunt.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 2

  “Behold the Un-Dead”

  [Kingstead]

  (Dr. Seward and Jonathan Harker enter Lucy’s tomb at Kingstead.)

  HARKER

  You were right. Kingstead is very much an eerie crypt.

  SEWARD

  Yes, most crypts are.

  HARKER

  Look. This is indeed the tomb of Lucy Westenra. Her name is carved into the stone.

  SEWARD

  I told you. I’ve been here before you know.

  HARKER

  So you’ve indicated. I hope we’re doing the right thing.

  SEWARD

  Never you worry. Trust in the Professor and all things will come to light.

  HARKER

  Speaking of which, my lantern is very little help in the darkness here.

  SEWARD

  It is a profound darkness, of that you can be assured.

  HARKER

  What on
earth could be keeping the other three?

  SEWARD

  Gathering the necessary supplies. The Professor promised to dole them out as soon as he arrived.

  HARKER

  He may want to hurry. I don’t know how long my flame will hold out.

  VOICES

  It’s this way! They’ve opened the tomb! Come along! Where’s her crypt?

  HARKER

  In here, Gentlemen!

  (Enter Van Helsing, Godalming, and Morris.)

  VAN HELSING

  Ah! Thank you, young Jonathan. Now, gather round. I’ve assembled your kits. (He hands out leather carrying cases) One for each of you. Open and check your inventory. First, an iron crow, second, two wooden stakes, then a hammer with which to drive them, a vial of Holy water, a strand of garlic, a small prayer book, and most importantly, a crucifix forged in pure silver! You all remember how I taught you to use them, Ja?

  HARKER

  We do. We’ve been practicing the rituals.

  VAN HELSING

  Young Jonathan, we’ll not need our prayer books or perform a ceremony. What we have to do is simple. Now, no delay, take your crows and help to crack open her sealed coffin!

  (Music in. They do so. And open the lid finding the body of Lucy missing.)

  GODALMING

  Good Lord! Where is she?! You knew she was gone! What have you done?

  VAN HELSING

  Dr. Seward, you were with me here yesterday. Was the body of Miss Lucy in that coffin?

  SEWARD

  It was.

  VAN HELSING

  You hear? And yet there is one who does not believe with me.

  GODALMING

  The coffin is empty!

  VAN HELSING

  It is now, Ja! Very observant are you.

  (Godalming grabs Van Helsing by the lapels.)

  GODALMING

  What have you done with her, old man?! Tell me! Or by all that is holy, I’ll cast you to such a crypt as this!

  (Morris jumps in between the men and pries Godalming’s hands from Van Helsing.)

  MORRIS

  Professor, I answered for you. Your word is all I want. I wouldn’t ask such a thing ordinarily. I wouldn’t so dishonor you as to imply a doubt; but this is a mystery that goes beyond any honor or dishonor. Is this your doin’?

  VAN HELSING

  I swear to you by all that I hold sacred that I have not removed nor touched her!

  (Godalming releases. Van Helsing brushes himself off.)

 

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