Frankenstein Page #18

He pauses, hearing FAINT TONES carried on the breeze, eerie

and flute-like. A recorder. curious, he follows the sounds

further and further into the woods ...

EXT - POND - LATE DAY

... and comes into view of the pond. There's a FIGURE

sitting half-concealed among the tall reeds, gazing off

across the water and playing his delicate wind instrument

with oddly-pleasing dissonance (again, a simple variation of

our familiar WALTZ/LOVE THEME.)

Willie draws closer. Curious. Not wanting to intrude, but

listening to the music. The figure in the reeds still hasn't

noticed him ...

... And then his head abruptly whips around, An ogre right

out of a storybook. Willie's eyes go wide. The locket drops

from his fingers into the dust. The boy turns and runs as

the monster in the reeds lunges to its feet:

CREATURE:

Wait! Don't be afraid!

(CONTINUED)

79

The boy keeps running. The Creature comes shambling up from

the pond, still calling after him. He picks up the dropped

object. As he rises, he finds himself staring at the locket.

At the small painting it contains. Victor Frankenstein. He

raises his gaze after the fleeing boy. Maybe Willie does

have reason to be afraid.

The Creature starts after him, locket clenched in his fist,

teeth grinding in greater and greater rage. Eyes wild.

THEIR FEET go pounding through the brambles and brush. The

terrified boy. The pursuing monster. Faster and faster ...

INT - FRANKENSTEIN KITCHEN - DUSK

Whirling with activity. Mrs. Moritz supervises the staff.

Elizabeth and Justine are helping with the preparations.

Justine turns with a platter, collides with one of the

kitchen staff. Carrots go flying.

MRS. MORITZ

Justine! Pay attention!

JUSTINE:

(tight)

Yes, Mother.

ELIZABETH:

(pulls her aside)

Are you all right?

JUSTINE:

(even tighter)

Fine,

Justine sees genuine concern. She softens:

JUSTINE:

I'll be all right. Really.

Father enters with Claude. Both men worried.

FATHER:

Have you seen Willie?

ELIZABETH:

is he not back yet?

FATHER:

Claude rode over there to see if held lost track

of time. They say he never arrived.

(CONTINUED)

80

ELIZABETH:

It's far too late for him to still be out.

EXT - MANSION - DUSK

Elizabeth exits with the others

CLAUDE:

Don't worry, Monsieur, we'll find him.

He rushes to gather the men. Elizabeth gazes off. Wind

kicking up. Night approaching. Almost too dark to see.

EXT - COUNTRYSIDE/WOODS - NIGHT

A massive search in progress. People are scouring the fields

on horse and on foot, shouting Willie's name. Elizabeth

enters frame, calling out:

ELIZABETH:

WILLIE!

LIGHTNING dances on the horizon. A storm approaching.

EXT - WOODED AREA - NIGHT

The stark black silhouettes of tree trunks bisect the frame

in foreground as Justine approaches from the fields, lantern

held high ...

JUSTINE:

WILLIE!

... and one of the "tree trunks" turns out not to be. It

darts abruptly across frame with a billow of flapping

greatcoat, Justine enters the woods. A FLASH OF LIGHTNING

sends shadows skittering among the trees ...

EXT - ROAD TO MANSION - NIGHT

... And the storm is now a raging downpour, TILT DOWN to

reveal a coach clattering through the rain.

INT - COACH - NIGHT

Victor is peering out the window flap.

VICTOR:

There! Look!

Henry cranes to look. A LIGHTNING FIASH stutters the mansion

briefly to life a few hundred yards down the road,

(CONTINUED)

81

HENRY:

Quite a place

VICTOR:

Thank you, Henry.

HENRY:

For what?

VICTOR:

This. My home. My family.

(softly)

If not for you, I'd be dead in a burial pit

somewhere.

Henry smiles, squeezes his shoulder. The carriage lurches

violently, tossing them forward.

EXT - COACH - NIGHT

Victor jumps from the coach as the DRIVER wrestles his

rearing horses under control and points. Victor turns.

Elizabeth stands in the downpour like a ghost. Drenched to

the bone. Weeping from the depths of her soul. Holding

Willie in her arms. The boy's arms hang limp, his head

dangles back. Victor starts forward, stunned, unable to

comprehend, running faster and faster ...

VICTOR:

Elizabeth?

... and now others are converging on the scene, dark

screaming figures in the storm. Victor reaches her first as

the others crowd around in a panic of confusion, crushing

and jostling as she collapses into Victor's arms, all of

them cradling Willie to the

... and then Father is there, shoving his way through, -

seeing his dead boy and collapsing in the muck with a

SCRF.AM, and suddenly Henry is there shouting for the men to

lift him and everybody is scrambling and screaming as we

SMASH CUT TO:

INT - MANSION - FATHER'S BEDROOM - MORNING

Silence. All we hear now is the SOFT TICKING of a clock.

Henry tenderly ministers to Father, who lies gravely ill.

INT - PARLOR - MORNING

Elizabeth is sitting. Elbows crossed. Holding herself

together. Face ashen. Dazed. Still in shock. Mrs. Moritz is

nearby, looking much the same. Eyes swimming with tears.

(CONTINUED)

82

MRS. MORITZ

Sir. I'm terrified for my girl.

VICTOR:

(softly)

We'll organize another search now that it's light

enough. We'll find her, Mrs. Moritz, I promise.

Henry comes downstairs. He and Victor confer in whispers

then approach Elizabeth. Victor crouches before her.

ELIZABETH:

What is Father's outlook?

HENRY:

I am cautiously hopeful. With quiet and proper

care he may eventually regain some or most of his

strength.

Victor squeezes her hand. Comfort and strength.

ELIZABETH:

Thank you, Henry.

There's a KNOCKING at the front door.

INT - ENTRYWAY - MORNING

Victor opens the door. POLICEMEN hover outside. Faces grim

POLICEMAN #1

Mr. Frankenstein. We've apprehended the murderer. Not five

miles from here, hiding in a barn.

VICTOR:

Who is it?

The policemen trade uneasy glances.

POLICEMAN #2

it's very unsettling, sir. And quite strange.

Perhaps you'd better come with us.

INT - JAIL CELL - DAY

Victor is led in by policemen. The JAILER unlocks the cell.

Victor enters as the men depart. Victor is alone, staring at

a FIGURE huddled in the corner, pooled in shadow. We get the

impression of long, dangling hair. The figure stirs ...

FEMALE VOICE:

Victor?

(CONTINUED)

83

... and leans into the light. Justine. Pale. Dazed. Scared

JUSTINE:

Victor! It's you! Thank God!

She rushes to him, throws herself into his arms. He reacts

stiffly, not at all sure he wants her touching him.

JUSTINE:

Is it true? What they say about Willie? Is it

true?

VICTOR:

Yes

She dissolves into tears. Barely able to breathe.

JUSTINE:

Willie. My poor little angel.

(looks up)

Victor! They think I did it!

VICTOR:

Did you?

Justine pauses. Stunned. Her eyes on his. Here's the deepest

betrayal ever experienced. Her heart turns to ash.

JUSTINE:

(low)

I don't believe ... I am in need of your comfort

... anymore.

VICTOR:

(a whisper)

Did you, Justine?

Beat. She hauls off and slaps him hard enough to rock his

head around. Then she slaps him again. Harder.

JUSTINE:

Get out!

INT - COURTROOM - DAY

The courtroom is packed. Justine sits accused. An older

KITCHEN MAID is on the stand.

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