Frankenstein Page #16

CREATURE:

For the...Goood Spirr-rit ... of the ... Forr-

rest.

He snatches up the plate, scurries around the side of the

house, and hunkers down near the tool shed with his prize.

He plucks the red silk flower, enchanted by it, tucks it

gingerly into an inner coat pocket. He uncovers the plate to

reveal a wonderful array of Christmas cookies.

He's not sure what they are, but they don't smell half bad.

He picks one up and bites into it. He pauses, stunned, eyes

going wide as saucers. A whine builds in his throat. He

starts huffing air as he chews, mouth gaping, mind

thoroughly blown. Screw potatoes and turnips.

EXT - HOUSE - MORNING

The children race out the door to find the plate empty.. and

a big snow-angel waiting for them in the yard,

INT - PIGSTY - NIGHT

The Creature watches the family clustered around the fire.

Marie reads a book aloud:

MARIE:

... with particles of heavenly fire, the God of

Nature did his soul inspire ... and pliant still

the ethereal energy which wise Prometheus tempered

into paste ...

The Creature leans back into the shadows, grappling with the

concept of book." He reaches into the pocket of the

greatcoat, and pulls out what's been there all along:

Victor's Journal. So that's what this is. A book. He unwinds

the thong, riffles the pages. Letters fall, scattering from

the pages. He picks one up by the corner, turns his head

this way and that. Slowly:

(CONTINUED)

70

CREATURE:

Myyy Darrllnng Vic...tor ... 'Willee haaad hisss

burrth-dayyy. I wissh ... yooo cuud huvv beeen

... herre ... to sharre ut ... withh ... ussss ...

EXT - GRANDFATHER'S POND - DAY

Grandfather sits playing his recorder. Again, the Creature

approaches to listen. Grandfather stops. Turns.

GRANDFATHER:

I know you're there.

(waits for a response)

Won't you speak to me?

The Creature studies Grandfather for a time. The old man

waits. Finally starts to play again. The Creature finds a

spot to listen. He opens Victor's journal.

CAMERA PUSHES SLOWLY IN as he puzzles over it ...

INT - PIGSTY - DAY

... and we CONTINUE PUSHING SLOWLY IN as the Creature reads:

CREATURE:

... of sscience ... and to c-create ... a beinng

... in the image of man ... assembled ffrrom ...

the...dead bodieess I have ... gatherrred ...

He turns the page and discovers his own rough likeness: it's

Victor's sketch of his patchwork man." The rendering

includes suture marks where the pieces were joined.

The Creature gazes for a long time. His finger traces the

penciled suture-line where an arm joins the torso. Eyes

going wider. Revelation slowly dawning. No. It can't be.

it's too horrible to conceive ...

... and he drops the journal, clawing at his coat in a surge

of panic, wrenching it away to reveal his arm ... And the

massive suture scars Joining his shoulder to his torso in an

exact match to the drawing, He throws his head back in

an animalistic PRIMAL SCREAM, face twisted in a mask of

utter horror, Munch's painting made flesh ...

IN THE WOODS:

... and his scream echoes across the countryside-, Felix

turns from chopping wood. His family gathers, eyes wide,

listening to the sound trail off. Softly:

FELIX:

God in heaven.

(CONTINUED)

71

IN THE PIGSTY:

A massive hand rips the page from the journal, raises it in

a clenched fist.

ANGLE WIDENS to reveal the Creature huddled in a corner,

dropping his head into his arms to hide his face. Sunlight

throws streaks of light and shadow through the slats. He

sobs, wracked with despair as we

FADE TO:

EXT - VALLEY - DAY

The house is distant below. Felix and his family are heading

out across the fields now sparse with snow, herding the cow

before them. Only Grandfather is missing.

The gentle MUSIC of the recorder drifts up from the house.

ANGLE WIDENS to reveal the Creature hunkered on a hill.

watching. Waiting. The family dwindles in the distance.

INT - HOUSE - DAY

For the first time, we actually see the inside of the house

from a perspective other than through the chink in the wall.

Grandfather is by the fire, playing his recorder.

The Creature's face appears at a window. Peering in. He

ducks from view, appearing at another window. Making sure

the house is otherwise empty. He vanishes again. The door

swings silently open. His figure fills the doorway.

Grandfather stops playing. Silence.

GRANDFATHER:

Would you like to sit by the fire?

The Creature enters. Sits. Holds his hands toward the

embers, feeling the warmth.

CREATURE:

Nice.

GRANDFATHER:

The music? Or the fire?

Grandfather offers him the recorder. The Creature hesitates,

takes it, inept where such delicacy is required. He puts it

to his misshapen lips and blows a few hollow tones. He gives

it back, huffing air, delighted.

GRANDFATHER:

I'm glad you finally came to the door. A man

shouldn't have to scurry in the shadows.

(CONTINUED)

72

CREATURE:

Better that way ... for me.

GRANDFATHER:

Why?

CREATURE:

I'm ... very, very ugly. People are afraid.

Except you.

GRANDFATHER:

(smiles)

it can't be as bad as that.

CREATURE:

(soft)

Worse.

The old man-reaches for his face. The Creature draws back.

GRANDFATHER:

I can see you with my hands. If you'll trust me.

The Creature decides to trust. He eases forward. Grandfather

runs his fingers over his features. Gently:

GRANDFATHER:

You're an outcast.

CREATURE:

Yes. I have been seeking my friends.

GRANDFATHER:

Friends? Do they live around here?

CREATURE:

Yes. Very close

GRANDFATHER:

Why do you not go to them?

The Creature pauses. Emotions swirling. Afraid to continue.

CREATURE:

I have been ... afraid. Afraid ... they will hate

me...because I am so very ugly ... and they are so

very beautiful

GRANDFATHER:

(softly)

People can be kinder than you think.

CREATURE:

I am afraid,

(CONTINUED)

73

Grandfather reaches out and takes the Creature's hands.

GRANDFATHER:

Perhaps I can help. Tell me who.

The Creature is huffing air, breath hitching in his chest

like a panicking child. His monstrous eyes well up with

tears. Trying to get the words out:

CREATURE:

I love them ... so very much. I want ... I want

... them to be my ff-family. I II-Ilove them ss-so

very mm-mm-mmuch ...

The Creature pauses. Trying to get the words out. And the

door swings open. The Creature whips his head. There stands

Maggie. Eyes going wide. Breath catching in her throat. She

lets out an ear-splitting SHRIEK! The Creature throws

himself on the old man's lap, clutching him, pleading:

CREATURE:

Don't let them hate me!

Felix bursts in, shoving Maggie aside, hell breaking loose

in screaming, hollering chaos: Marie trying to get the

children out of the way, Felix throwing himself on the

Creature to rip him off the old man, the Creature sprawling

to the floor, the old man shouting, the children SHRIEKING,

Felix snatching, up the fireplace poker and swinging it

down, again and again, trying to kill the thing ...

GRANDFATHER:

Leave him alone!

... the CREATURE SCREAMING and taking the blows, writhing

across the floor in agony, the children scattering from his

pleading hands, the old ROUGH MAN dazed and shouting,

William, now 10, comes charging up the steps with a small

package under his arm, nearly bowling over Mrs. Moritz as he

sails past her hollering his head off: tugging on his arm.

the CREATURE rolls from under the brutal beating and sails

out the door.

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