Frankenstein Page #5

...and they begin to dance. She's glowing. This is a big

moment for her. But they've hardly begun, when...

...ting-ting-ting, Victor's father is tapping a champagne

glass with a knife. The dancers stop. The orchestra falls

silent. Justine hides her disappointment as servants pass

among the guests with glasses of champagne.

(CONTINUED)

19

FATHER:

My friends, fatherly pride won't allow this

occasion to pass without my raising a toast.

Shouts of assent. Victor is grabbed by his friends and

dragged forward, a glass of champagne shoved in his hands

FATHER:

To Victor. My son. Who read every medical book in

my library by age thirteen ... and then re-read

them, which seemed excessive even to me.

(the guests ROAR with laughter)

Drape yourself in glory, my boy. Study well.

When you return, you return a man of medicine. I

will then be honored to call you "colleague."

VICTOR:

But never your equal.

FATHER:

No. You'll surpass me.

Applause and roars of approval. The drinks are tossed back.

Victor is jostled with backslaps and handshakes.

EXT - MANSION -'NIGHT

Music and warm light spill from the windows. A COUPLE eases

through a French door and come racing across the lawn,

giggling and hushing each other. They take refuge under a

tree, revealing their faces to the moonlight: Victor and

Elizabeth. She leans against the trunk to catch her breath.

ELIZABETH:

Smell the air. Wonderful.

VICTOR:

Quite a send-off, isn't it?

ELIZABETH:

Father's so proud.

VICTOR:

And you?

ELIZABETH Prouder still. You'll be the handsomest student

there.

VICTOR:

I'll have to do better than that.

(CONTINUED)

20

ELIZABETH:

You will.

(searches his eyes)

What do you want, Victor?

VICTOR:

To be the best there ever was. To push our

knowledge beyond our dreams ... to eradicate

disease and pestilence ... to purge mankind of

ignorance and fear ...

He's so serious, she can't help laugh.

VICTOR:

I'm not mad.

She smiles, smoothes a lock of hair gently off his forehead.

ELIZABETH:

No. Just very earnest. And very dear.

An extended moment. Unspoken words flowing between them.

Victor leans forward and kisses her. Her eyes widen

slightly. So do his. Shared excitement, gentle and sexy

beyond belief. They pause, draw back, searching each other's

eyes. He whispers:

VICTOR:

I've loved you all my life

ELIZABETH:

All my life live known.

They kiss again. A breath. A shiver.

VICTOR:

This feels ... incestuous.

ELIZABETH:

is that what makes it so delicious?

She brushes her lips against his. Gentle as a sigh.

ELIZABETH:

Brother and sister still?

VICTOR:

I wish to be your husband.

ELIZABETH:

I wish to be your wife.

(CONTINUED)

21

VICTOR:

Then come with me to Ingolstadt. Marry me now.

ELIZABETH:

If only I could. But one of us must stay.

Father's not strong. Willie's just a child. Who

can look after them in your absence? Who can run

the estate?

VICTOR:

Only you

ELIZABETH:

I will be here when you return,

Another kiss. Turning lustful and steamy. They melt into

each other, sinking down, bodies pressing and minds afire.

These people are hot for each other. They stop, stunned at

the intensity. He lays his head to her breast. Their fingers

clasp. She whispers her secret:

ELIZABETH:

My head is spinning. I want to give myself to

you.

He raises his head. She meets his gaze evenly

ELIZABETH:

If we're to be married, must we wait?

He touches her face. Fingertips tracing downward, gentle and

reverent, brushing the contours of her bosom at the edge of

her bodice. She shivers. Closes her eyes. Lays her hand over

his. Guiding his touch.

VICTOR:

You make me weak.

ELIZABETH:

Not as weak as I.

She raises his hand to her mouth. Brushing his fingertips

with her lips. Wrestling with desire. Their eyes meet.

ELIZABETH:

Our decision. Together.

VICTOR:

Your decision. For us,

ELIZABETH:

(hesitates)

I give you my soul ...

(CONTINUED)

22

VICTOR:

(nods)

... until our wedding night. When our bodies will

join.

ELIZABETH:

Victor. I love you,

VICTOR:

Elizabeth. My more than sister.

They kiss again. Gently ...

EXT - FRANKENSTEIN ESTATE - CEMETERY - DAWN

A misty gray dawn. Victor is kneeling at a gravestone,

observing a moment of silence. His saddled horse is tethered

nearby. Softly:

VICTOR:

I'll make you so proud, Mother.

He lays a small sprig of flowers on the grave, rises and

walks toward his horse.

EXT - MANSION - MORNING

Overcast and chill. An open carriage stands loaded. The

family and household staff have turned out. Victor stands

ready to go. Father pulls him into a back-slapping embrace.

FATHER:

Write to us often.

Victor moves on to Justine, takes her hand.

VICTOR:

We never finished our dance.

(she smiles)

Someday we shall.

Next is William. The little boy stands stiffly, tears on his

face, trying to be brave. Victor kneels and whispers:

VICTOR:

The others will look to you while I'm gone,

Willie. Be strong.

The boy nods miserably, throws his arms around Victor's

neck. Last comes Elizabeth. She and Victor regard each

other, sharing the secret of last night. A faint smile plays

at the corners of her mouth. He kisses her cheek.

VICTOR:

Elizabeth.

(CONTINUED)

23

He mounts the carriage. CLAUDE snaps the reins and lurches

away, speeding Victor off to his future. Victor turns back

for a final look at the home and family he loves so much.

William runs after him until he's gone from sight ...

DISSOLVE TO:

INGOLSTADT - ESTABLISHING ANGLES - DAY

High white clouds in a blazing blue sky. Church steeples

rising among the rooftops. Beautiful.

BOARDING HOUSE - DAY

FRAU BRACH trudges heavily up a long, steep, narrow flight

of stairs with Victor teetering uneasily behind.

FRAU BRACH:

No real rooms left. All we've got is attic space.

No one ever wants the attic space ...

ATTIC SPACE/GARRET - DAY

She leads him into an immensely long space running a twisted

path the entire length of the building; various levels and

areas unhindered by wall separation, massive vaulted beams

crisscrossing as understructure to the roof. Daylight

filters dimly through dozens of dormer windows and skylights

coated with grime. Nooks and crannies abound.

VICTOR:

This will do nicely.

UNIVERSITY - DAY

A monumental structure of brick. A BELL TOWER TOLLS. Dead

leaves scurry across the lawn.

LECTURE HALL - DAY

PROFESSOR KREMPE, a squat little man, paces before the

packed galleries of eager young STUDENTS.

KREMPE:

In science, the letter of fact is the letter of

law. Our pursuit is as dogmatic as any religious

precept. Think of yourselves as disciples of a

strict and hallowed sect. Someday you may be

priests ... but only if you learn the scripture

chapter and verse.

(off their laughter)

Any questions?

(CONTINUED)

24

VICTOR:

(hand shoots up)

But surely, Professor, you don't intend we

disregard the more ... philosophical works.

KREMPE:

Philosophical?

VICTOR:

Those which stir the imagination as well as the

intellect. Paracelsus, for one.

This reference is lost on all but a few. At the faculty

table:
PROFESSOR WALDMAN peers up at Victor, adjusting the

glasses on his nose. Up among the students: HENRY CLERVAL

leans out and shoots an amused look in Victor's direction.

SCHILLER catches Henry's look and rolls his eyes.

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