Frankenstein Page #17

EXT - WOODS - DAY

The Creature runs bleeding and sobbing, a specter sailing

among the trees with greatcoat billowing like huge dark

wings. Running from the horrified screams of rejection still

echoing in his mind.

EXT - WOODS - DAY

A snowscape. Stark trees. A figure in a greatcoat. Head

bowed with misery. Leaning against a tree. Trying to catch

his breath. Can't. Crying too hard. He sinks to his knees,

hands clutched bitterly to his heaving chest. Wondering why

the anguish doesn't stop his heart in mid-beat.

(CONTINUED)

74

A realization. He pulls the little red silk flower from the

inside pocket. It lies glittering in his huge, misshapen

palm like gentle magic. Or hope. Yes.

HOUSE - DUSK

The sky is brewing. The Creature runs across the courtyard

toward the house, breathless, holding his palm out. see?

Here's the flower you gave me. Don't you understand?

CREATURE:

It's me! It's mmmmeeeeee.1

Nothing. He glances around. The pigs are gone. Chickens too.

The Creature's eyes go wide. He dashes to the house

HOUSE - DUSK

... and bursts in to find it empty, Items have been scattered

and left behind. Books, clothes, even the old man's

recorder. They left in a hurry.

CREATURE:

... no

HOUSE - NIGHT

We hear furniture CRASHING, glass SHATTERING, shelves being

ripped from walls. A faint glow kicks up. Flames rise

within. The Creature exits with a flaming torch, spins back

to watch. He has new possessions: an armload of books

jammed in a satchel, some extra clothes on his body, the old

man's recorder jammed in his belt.

A HOWLING WIND whips up, billowing his coat and hair,

fanning the flames even higher. He raises his torch, HOWLING

along with the wind, reflected fire seething in his eyes,

exulting as the house is consumed ...

DISSOLVE TO:

MONT BLANC - DAY

Massive pale gray feet walking through the snow. ANGLE

WIDENING to reveal a lone, windswept figure traversing the

glacier with a walking staff. Struggling toward the crest of

a ridge. Greatcoat billowing in a freezing wind.

THE CREATURE rises from below the crest and gazes down.

Glowering with triumph at achieving his goal. Softly:

CREATURE:

Geneva.

(CONTINUED)

75

AERIAL SHOT sweeps up the slope of the glacier like the wind

itself, rising magnificently past the tiny figure standing

on the ridge, sailing up over the crest ... to reveal the

valley and lake of Geneva below.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT - VICTOR'S GARRET - DAY (SPRING)

Sunlight streams through the dormer window. Birds twitter on

the ledge outside. The trees are in bloom. Victor stands

dressed and ready to go, taking one last pensive look around

at the now-empty garret. Henry appears:

HENRY:

Our carriage is here.

EXT - INGOLSTADT CITY GATES - DAY

Bustling with activity. Hopeful. A traffic snarl is jammed

up in both directions, waiting to get in and out of the

city. People, carriages, wagons, goods. We find Professor

and MRS. KREMPE saying goodbye to Victor and Henry:

MRS. KREMPE

(watching the gates)

Such a terrible winter. I'll praise God to see

those gates open again.

KREMPE:

I'll have all your things sent on. They should

arrive soon after.

(Victor nods)

It's been a rough time, lad. For us all. But if

you'd like to come back and finish out your final

term once university re-opens ...

A ROAR goes up from the crowd. The gates are finally opening

as SOLDIERS swing them aside. The traffic starts to flow.

Victor turns back to Krempe, nods gratefully.

VICTOR:

Thank you, Professor. For everything.

Krempe is flustered as Victor gives him an awkward hug.

KREMPE:

Write and let us know you've arrived safely.

Victor breaks the embrace. He and Henry clamber into the

carriage. Softly:

(CONTINUED)

76

VICTOR:

Take me home, my friend.

Henry signals the DRIVER. The reins snap. The carriage

lurches away, easing into the flow of traffic as we

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT - FRANKENSTEIN ESTATE - DAY

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:

WILLIAM:

HE'S COMING HOME!

INT - PARLOR - DAY

Willie careens into the parlor, where Elizabeth and Justine

are entertaining FRIENDS.

WILLIAM:

Elizabeth! Justine!

Father enters, trailed by HOUSEHOLD STAFF.

FATHER:

What's all the fuss? Why are you shouting?

WILLIAM:

He's coming home! Tonight!

ELIZABETH:

Who? Victor?

WILLIAM:

That's what I'm telling you!

ELIZABETH:

(swept with relief)

Thank God.

Willie thrusts the package into her hands. She hesitates

FATHER:

Open it.

Willie scrambles to bring her the letter opener. Elizabeth

lays the package down, slits it open. 'Willie peers in.

Elizabeth pulls the locket out to the admiration of all. She

presses the catch. The locket pops open to reveal Waldman's

miniature oil painting.

(CONTINUED)

77

WILLIAM:

It's Victor!

JUSTINE:

It's beautiful! May I?

(takes the locket)

He looks so handsome.

Elizabeth pulls out the letter. Apprehension and hope. She

begins to read. The others watch her. Waiting.- Her face

lights up, blinking back tears. She remembers to breathe.

FATHER:

What does it say?

ELIZABETH:

Let this locket be a token of the vow we took the

night I left.

(beat)

He's coming home to marry me.

Instant pandemonium and joy ... except from Justine, whose

heart quietly breaks. Father and the others ROAR with

approval while Willie jumps and shouts:

WILLIAM:

Married! The two of you?

FATHER:

Brilliant! I knew it! Ever since you were

children!

JUSTINE:

(softly)

That's wonderful.

She hands the locket back. She slips quietly from the room,

unnoticed by the others ...

INT - ENTRYWAY - DAY

and hurries down the hall, fighting back tears.

RESUME PARLOR as Elizabeth is swept up in congratulatory

conversation. Willie grabs the locket, admiring it:

WILLIAM:

Elizabeth? Can I take this to show Peter?

ELIZABETH:

Willie, it's not a toy for your friends.

(CONTINUED)

78

WILLIAM:

I'll take extra special care, I promise! Pete's

never seen what Victor looks like! He'll admire it

enormously!

Willie's so solemn and earnest that Elizabeth has to smile.

ELIZABETH:

Don't dawdle. It'll be dark in a few hours.

The boy takes off like a shot. Father throws his arm around

Elizabeth, announcing to all:

FATHER:

Join us for champagne! My son is coming home!

EXT - FRANKIENSTEIN ESTATE - LATE DAY

Geese scatter as Willie comes racing across the grounds. He

clambers over a low fence, heading into the miles of wooded

acreage behind the house. His favorite shortcut.

EXT - COUNTRYSIDE - LATE DAY

Willie hurries/dawdles along as kids do, the precious locket

clutched in his hands, admiring it. He can't get over the

fact that his brother's finally coming home.

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