Frankenstein Page #21

EXT - MONT BLANC - DAY

Victor descends the mountain, heading back to civilization.

EXT - FRANKENSTEIN ESTATE - DAY

Victor walks his horse toward the house. Elizabeth rushes

out to meet him with Henry and Claude. Victor hands off the

reins to the STABLEBOY and embraces Elizabeth tightly.

ELIZABETH:

I thought I'd never see you again!

VICTOR:

I'm all right. I'm safe,

HENRY:

What happened up there?

VICTOR:

I didn't find what I was looking for.

CLAUDE:

What did you find?

Victor glances over. Claude has pulled the Collier pistols

from the saddlebags and caught a strong whiff of powder.

CLAUDE:

These have been fired,

VICTOR:

At shadows. My nerves got the better of me.

Victor walks on toward the house with Elizabeth

EXT - GARDEN - DAY

... and we find them in discussion by the fountain:

ELIZABETH:

What sort of task?

VICTOR:

It's not something I can explain now. Perhaps

someday.

(CONTINUED)

95

ELIZABETH:

What of our marriage? Victor, we've had so much

tragedy. I want this family to live again.

VICTOR:

So do I.

ELIZABETH:

We need each other now, I need your comfort and

strength, not separation and solitude.

VICTOR:

A month at most, that's all I ask.

(draws close)

Elizabeth, please. Things have not yet resolved.

I must take steps to see that they do. For our

family's sake. For our sake.

(caresses her face)

You are life itself. We shall seal our vow. The

moment I am done.

He leans forward to kiss her ... and pauses, hearing the

distant MUSIC of a recorder echoing from the hills ...

INT - BEDROOM - DAY

Victor sits at bedside, holding Father's hand. The old man

is a weak and frail shadow of his former self.

VICTOR:

You must regain your strength to preside at our wedding ...

and spoil your grandchildren later on. These are duties you

cannot shirk.

Father smiles faintly.

Victor squeezes his hand, whispers:

VICTOR:

We're all safe now. I promise

INT - MANSION ATTIC - DAY

Murky and dark. Victor enters, yanks a dusty curtain off a

window to let in some daylight. He picks up a pry bar,

approaches a stack of crates as if facing an old adversary.

one in particular is quite large. He rams the bar into the

wood, prying it open ... and CAMERA PUSHES IN to reveal a

dull gleam of copper lurking within the packing straw.

VICTOR:

God forgive me.

(CONTINUED)

96

MONTAGE:

victor assembles his equipment, recreating the lab; Bolting

together the sarcophagus, now resting in its cradle. Hanging

the huge glass tube, adjusting the boom. Installing the

ceiling tracks and hoist mechanism. Playing out the copper

wire along the ceiling beams. Hooking up the galvanic

batteries and generators. Testing the electrical circuit

with goggles and thick gloves, getting a huge cascade of

sparks ...

HENRY (O.S.)

I prayed never to see these again ...

Victor turns. Henry stands in the doorway.

HENRY:

Whatever they are

Henry enters, runs his hand over the gleaming surface of the

sarcophagus, circles toward Victor.

HENRY:

I won't bother asking what or why. You wouldn't

tell me anyway. I just hope you know what you're

doing ...

(draws close)

... because if this is a repeat of Ingolstadt, I

won't be around to pick up the pieces.

CAMERA PUSHES PAST to the Da Vinci print on the wall,

contact points still daubed with red ...

EXT - CEMETERY - NIGHT

CAMERA DRIFTS among the tombstones to reveal an eerie sight:

SOMEONE hunched in a grave, digging madly, dirt flying. We

hear the THUNK of a shovel hitting wood

INT - COFFIN - NIGHT

... and the lid wrenches aside to reveal the Creature. He

peers down at us, almost close enough to kiss.

EXT - FRANKENSTEIN MANSION - ANGLE FROM ROOF - NIGHT

The Creature nimbly climbs the outer wall, fingers grasping

the brickwork, a dark shape slung over his shoulder. He

(CONTINUED)

97

pauses as a PAIR OF STABLEHANDS pass far below. He pulls

himself onto the roof, crosses the gables, and pushes open a

dormer window. We see Victor inside as it swings open. The

Creature enters with his prize ...

INT - ATTIC - NIGHT

... and the mottled corpse of Justine Moritz flops onto the

table before us.

TILT UP to:

CREATURE:

I want her

Victor stares down in utter horror. Her cold, dead face.

Blue lips already beginning to shrivel. Purple, sunken eyes.

Knowing that she loved him. Knowing it's his fault she's

dead. He can barely get the words out:

VICTOR:

Why ... her?

CREATURE:

Her body pleases me.

That's it for Victor. He turns away, stomach heaving. It's

all he can do to keep from throwing up.

CREATURE:

Materials, remember? Nothing more. Your words.

Victor hesitates, pulling himself together. Softly:

VICTOR:

My words

He turns back, forcing himself to examine the body, trying

not to view it as someone he knows. He cradles the head,

probing the back of the neck with his fingers.

VICTOR:

The brain stem was destroyed by the hanging.

We'll need another. The body looks like it will

do, but some extremities are too decayed. They'll

have to be replaced. The fresher the better.

EXT - ALLEY - RED LIGHT DISTRICT - NIGHT

Outside the back door of a rowdy tavern, we find a

PROSTITUTE servicing a SAILOR in the alley: he's got her

pressed against the wall, skirt hiked up. It's not long

before he's finished. Off he goes, staggering back into the

(CONTINUED)

98

bar. She arranges her skirt, tucking the money away ... and

pauses, noticing a TALL FIGURE in the shadows. Staring. She

approaches with her best saucy smile:

PROSTITUTE:

Want some yourself? or just like to watch?

(draws close)

What do you say, lover? I can make it good for

you.

The Creature leans into the light, clamps a massive hand to

her mouth. His other arm wraps around her waist, pulling her

off the ground. She gazes up, eyes wide, screams muffled in

his palm. Softly:

CREATURE:

I know you can

And he wrenches his arm, snapping her spine,

INT - ATTIC - NIGHT

The dead prostitute lies staring up, dried blood staining

her mouth. TILT UP to Victor gazing down in horror.

VICTOR:

What is this?

CREATURE:

A brain. Extremities.

VICTOR:

This was not taken from a grave.

CREATURE:

What does it matter? She'll live again. You'll

make her.

VICTOR:

No. I draw the line.

The Creature lashes out and drags Victor across the table.

CREATURE:

You will honor your promise to me!

VICTOR:

(through gritted teeth)

I will not! Kill me now!

CREATURE:

That is mild compared to what will come. If you

deny me my wedding night. I'll be with you on

yours.

(CONTINUED)

99

The Creature vanishes out the attic window into the night.

Victor is left gasping for air, staring at the dead

prostitute. The full horror sinking in.

INT - ATTIC STAIRCASE - MORNING

Victor slams the attic door, securing it with a massive

padlock. He hurries down the steps.

INT - GRAND BALLROOM - DAY

Victor and Elizabeth, intensity flying:

VICTOR:

No. Not tomorrow, not next week, Marry me today.

ELIZABETH:

Why the change? What about your work?

VICTOR:

It was misguided and pointless. is your answer

yes?

ELIZABETH:

It is

VICTOR:

We'll leave this afternoon, right after the

ceremony. Pack only what you need.

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