Isle of the Dead Page #21

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GENERAL:

(looking at her in sudden

horror)

You ask that of me? You're afraid

to live in your coffin. You know

what that means?

MISS WOLLSTEN:

(nods)

That's superstition. That's

something out of old tales -- about

the dead who live —- I'm talking of

something else --cataleptic attacks

-- apparent death that is not real.

GENERAL:

Never fear -- when you are dead you

will remain dead. I will see to it

that you do not walk about again. I

promise you that. There is another

one here who can not die. I will

watch you both. Never fear.

He turns and walks away from her. Miss Wollsten looks after

him with a puzzled expression. She makes a half move as if to

stop him for explanation then thinks better of it and lets

him go.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

INT. MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Albrecht sits at the long table where he sorts his artifacts.

Oliver sits on the table facing him.

THE CAMERA PANS FROM the scientist and Oliver to the woman

servant who is setting the table and the man servant who is

pouring charcoal into the brazier. As the charcoal covers the

live coals that corner of the room grows dim and the CAMERA

PANS TO the foot of the stairs.

DISSOLVE:

INT. THE GIRLS' BEDROOM - NIGHT

Thea stands in front of the mirror brushing her long hair.

Suddenly, there is a small movement in the glass alongside

her reflection. She stops brushing, poised in midair, peers

into the glass, then whirls to look at the window.

THE WINDOW - NIGHT

A face hardly discernible and unrecognizable is disappearing

from the glass.

CLOSE SHOT - Thea. She looks in puzzlement at the window,

then with a little shrug, she lays down her brush and begins

to pile up her hair and put on her head-dress. She finishes,

bends swiftly to put out the oil light and goes out the door.

The room is plunged into darkness, except for the lighted

doorway of Miss Wollsten's room.

INT. THE CORRIDORNIGHT

DOLLY SHOT The CAMERA MOVES BEFORE Thea as she comes down the

dark hallway. The top button of her dress needs fastening and

she is concentrating on it as she walks. Behind her a vague

form seems to be emerging from the darkness. At the stair

landing she pauses.

THE TOP OF THE STAIRS - NIGHT

FULL CLOSE SHOT - Thea - as she pauses to finish adjusting

the button. Behind her, the half-seen dimness of the figure

that has followed her down the hall emerges fully in the

person of the General. Just as he comes into clear

perception, Thea finishes fastening the button of her dross

and starts down the stairs, quite oblivious of his

threatening proximity. He stops at the top of the stairs.

INT. THE GIRLS' BEDROOM - NIGHT~

The CAMERA IS SET UP IN a corner with a wide angle lens

taking in both the door to the hall and the door to Miss

Wollsten's room. The room is in darkness, but Miss Wollsten's

room glows with a dim light. Miss Wollsten comes into the

doorway of her room. In her hand is one of the little

lychnoses. She hears a knock at the hall doorway. She

hesitates a second, then puts out the lamp, plunging the room

in darkness. At this instant, the door from the hail opens

admitting light as well as the General. The General strikes a

match and sets flame to the oil lamp which Thea left in the

room. When the room is illuminated, Miss Wollsten has

disappeared and only the black emptiness of her doorway can

be seen. The General holds up the lamp and looks around. He

walks into the room and CAMERA PANS WITH him as he crosses to

the window.

CATHY'S VOICE

General -—

The General turns back towards the hall door, startled.

ANOTHER ANGLE - including both the General and Cathy, who

stand in the open doorway to the hall.

CATHY:

What are you doing?

GENERAL:

I was looking for you.

The General walks over to her.

GENERAL:

I have been troubled about you. I

want you to know that my room is

just downstairs --

(nodding toward hail)

You have only to cry out if you are

ill —— or frightened.

CATHY:

(pleased)

How kind you are. It is so

comforting to know that someone

cares.

As she speaks, Cathy goes into the room and sits on the edge

of her bed.

GENERAL:

(kindly)

You no longer have your father —-

(smiles almost

affectionately)

And I have no children.

The General turns to leave the room, then looks back toward

the other bed.

GENERAL:

Miss Wollsten shares the room with

you?

CATHY:

No, that's Thea's bed. Miss

Wollsten's bed is in there.

Cathy gestures toward the darkened doorway of Miss Wollsten's

room. The General looks for a second longer at Thea's bed and

then nods as he starts out.

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