Shadow Of The Vampire Page #3

He's not in danger.

He's a fiine actor,|but all this preparation,|it's... very strange.

You think it is strange|enough for him to go so deep|inside his character that--

that he forgets|he's Max Schreck altogether?|God knows I forgot.

Schreck's peculiarities|are like lovemaking games.

You believe them|when they happen,|but they always stop short...

of anybody|being seriously hurt.

[Clattering]|[ Grunts ]

''The woods decay.

''The woods decay|and fall.

''The vapors|weep their burthen...

to the ground.''

Dinner ?

You set|a very mean table.

No rats ?

[ Moaning ]

There was a time...

when I fed|from golden chalices.

[ Rales ]|But now--

Don't look at me|that way !

In my old age,

I feed|the way old men pee.

Sometimes all at once.

Sometimes drop by drop.

I told you...

I feed erratically.

Often, enormously.

[Murnau]|Yes, Max, you may give|the locket to Elke.

Now, Gustav, this is a scene|from the previous night.

You have met your host.|He has brought you home|to his castle.

He is giving you dinner.|You can start eating.

Very well. Excellent.|And, Orlock, you're merely|reading your papers...

and totally ignoring|your guest.

Good.|Wolf, roll camera.

And...

begin.

A thought occurs to you.

Look at your host.|Very good, Gustav.

Do you think...

he might have been the stranger|who drove you to the castle ?

You watch.|Is he even human ?

How does it feel|to be eating next to him...

knowing that you're|spending the night with him|in the castle alone ?

You watch him.|Orlock, drop your paper.

Look at Gustav.

Gustav,|keep watching him.

Take your right hand|and reach for the bread knife.

Watch him.

Breathing.

What will happen ?

Reach out,|take the loaf of bread...

and cut yourself|a slice.

Yes, slicing.|Slicing.

You're slicing.

Toward you.|Toward you.

Watching him.|Slicing. Slicing.

Watch out.|Slicing.

- Watch your... fiinger !|- Aah !

Look, Nosferatu, blood!|Blood!

[ Grunting ]|Stop it, Murnau.|I really did cut my hand.

Paul, go and check|the generator.|He did that intentionally.

Calm down !|I'll see to the light.

That knife was sharp|like a razor!|Gustav, remain in character.

[ Schreck Growling ]|Jesus Christmas !

- Get this Scheisskopf off me!|- [Woman Screams]

[ Straining ]

[Murnau]|Schreck!

What is the matter|with you ?

He's a Stanislavsky lunatic !|That is what is the matter|with him !

I have contracted you in secrecy|and at great expense.

You will not damage|this production !

Herr Muller, when will you|have your equipment|functioning properly ?

I am tired of your|lack of enthusiasm !

I saw you.

Gustav,|bring the girls|to the car.

I am not happy !|Gustav, move !

Herr Doctor, the man|is barely breathing.

I told you|to fix the generator !

No, leave the equipment|and take the camera.

We are done here|for today, Herr Doctor.|Albin !

Help me.|Everybody|to the automobile.

Herr Doctor, we're leaving.|Schreck.

No. No, he stays.

[ Murnau ]|Albin ?

[ Raling ]|[ Sighs ]

Yes, Friedrich.

Do you think Wolf's assistant|can fiinish this fiilm ?

Paul ? No.|He hasn't had|enough experience.

What about you ?

You're the closest we have|to a photographer.

[Henrik]|What are you talking about ?|The film ends here.

No, Henrik,|this film will go on.

Henrik, this fiilm|cannot survive even|the briefest interruption.

The financiers|would take control.|They hate your script.

Actually, it may be|advantageous...

because it makes|the crew very edgy|and I like that.

Do you hear what you're saying ?|I can drop Wolf|at a hospital.

You're out of|your f***ing mind.|You're a fanatic !

Please, don't behave|like children, Henrik !

I'll get a new photographer|and fly him back here|within the week.

Henrik, when you wrote|this scenario,

you had demons of your own|to work out, did you not ?

Now I have mine.

Albin,|you're the producer.

Keep this company|together.

[ Car Engine Starts ]

[Ragged Breathing]

How dare you !

How dare you destroy|my photographer !|You idiot !

Did I kill...|some of your people,|Murnau ?

I can't remember.

We have an arrangement !

Don't pretend|you mourn, Herr Doctor.|l know you.

Why him, you monster ?

Why not the...|script girl ?

[ Chuckles ]

The script girl...

I'll eat her later.

No, you will not.|Our bargain--

you agreed|not to hurt my people.

Listen to me.|Do you understand ?

This requires that|I go back to Berlin...

to find another photographer|and to fly him back here.

And you! You will|control yourself|while l am away.

I don't think...|we need the writer any longer.

I don't expect you|to understand this,

and I am loathe|to admit it myself,

but the writer|is necessary.

All my crew|is necessary.

Do you understand ?

I don't think the ship|is necessary.

What ?

The ship.

The ship.

My God, what are you|talking about ?

I have a dozen scenes|on the ship.

But... I won't sail.

Then I will replace you|with a double !

I will do every scene of yours|with a double !

You, you will have no close-ups.|None whatsoever.

How dare you speak|to me that way!

I have shots !|I am the director !

[ Hisses ]

Why didn't you|mention this before ?

You want to eat the writer ?|Be my guest.

That will leave you|to explain how else|your character...

is supposed to|get to Bremen.

[ Grunts ]

Yes, l will...

shoot the scenes|at sea around you.

But you will still|have to sail to Helgoland|for your death scene.

Or else what ?

Or else ?

Or else... no Greta.

[ Shudders ]|We shoot|her scenes there.

[ Grunts ]

I'll go to Helgoland,

but I won't sail.

Helgoland is an island.

So ?|So, it can only|be reached by sea.

Or air.

And if l agree to fly you in,

you will leave my people alone.

Or else what ?

Don't think|I can't harm you.

Tell me how|you would harm me,

when even I don't know|how I could harm myself.

But thy strong hours|indignant worked their wills...

and beat me down,

and marred and wasted me.

And though they|could not end me,

left me maimed to dwell...

in presence of immortal youth.

Immortal age beside|the immortal youth...

and all I was in ashes.

Albin, what is|the most wondrous thing|you have ever seen ?

Eh, I saw ectoplasm once.

Ectoplasm ?|What is ectoplasm ?

It's the mystical substance|of ghosts.

I saw a spiritualist|pull it out of his mouth|in Italy.

What did it look like ?

Seaweed.

ls that what we|look like when we die ?|[Albin] l hope not.

What was for you...

the most wondrous thing|you ever saw ?

I once saw|Greta Schroeder naked.

No.|Yes.

[Albin]|That beats ectoplasm.

Jesus, Max.

You scared me|to death.

How long have|you been listening ?

[Henrik] We've been|looking all over theplace|for your coffin.

Maybe it isn't|his resting place.

Didn't we have something|to say to him ?

Max ? The great|Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau...

went to Berlin to fiind|a new photographer.

Wolf is probably dead.|So you can take|your funny ears off.

Alb, please.|The man is an artist.

Ask him some|vampire questions.

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