The Brides of Dracula Page #2

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throw yourself over the balcony.

I assure you I wasn't.

I can't.

Come closer.

Please, come closer.

You see, I...

I can't come to you.

But... it's inhuman!

My mother thinks of me as inhuman,

doesn't she?

I suppose she's told you that I'm mad.

That I have to be locked away like this

for everybody's sake.

Well, why shouldn't she?

And why shouldn't you believe her?

- I don't know what to believe.

- You see, Mademoiselle, this castle...

...the mountains, the dark acres of forest...

Even the valley below, belong to me.

They are my inheritance. I am Baron Meinster.

But my mother is a

vicious, evil, jealous woman.

She's let people believe that I'm dead.

She wants them to think that the castle

and the grounds have devolved upon her.

They might just as well have done so.

I'm more than half dead,

already living shut away like this as I am.

I mustn't talk like that.

I promise to help you.

If you confide in me, I'm sure I can.

- Only tell me what to do.

- Could you...?

Could you, I wonder,

find the key that fits this.

Where does your mother keep it?

Greta tells me it's in the locked drawer

of the bureau in her bedroom.

- That's the room next to yours.

- I'll find it.

Will you? There are grave risks, you know.

- Do you think you dare?

- Yes, I dare.

- Monsieur Baron.

- Yes! Yes!

- I have found a key.

- Good. Throw it to me.

One moment.

Now you must get dressed at once

and meet me outside, will you?

- Yes.

- But hurry.

Give me back that key.

- But, Madame, I...

- You have taken a key from my room.

Give it back to me. Do you hear me?

- I assure you, Madam, I have no key.

- You must have it.

- Give it to me! Give it to me!

- Leave me alone.

You haven't taken it to my son?

You little fool,

you don't know what you have done!

- Help me. Help me.

- Easy. Don't worry.

She can't harm you now.

You have nothing to fear.

Go to your room and wait there.

Mother, come here.

No.

No, my son.

Mother!

Come here.

Now, mother, come along with me.

He's free. He's gone.

Oh, my God.

He's gone. Oh, God.

Oh God, help us. He's free.

He's free. Oh God, help us.

He's gone. He's gone. He's free.

He's Gone. Oh, my God.

Oh God, help us. He's free.

He's free. He's gone.

What's the matter?

He's free. The cunning devil.

Why was he locked up?

He's not mad.

No, he's not mad.

You know that much, don't you?

Who got him the key?

Was it you? You?

- Did you?

- Where is he?

Gone.

Out into the night.

The bats are about.

Listen.

There's a wolf howling down there.

He'll get them all astir, trust him.

You don't know what you have done,

but I know.

Are you mad or what?

- Where is Madame la Baronne?

- She's not far away.

You want to see her?

Would you like that?

Would you?

Look!

You needn't be afraid. She's dead.

- What have you done?

- She's dead and he's free.

Don't blame me, mistress.

It was none of my doing.

No.

I've always kept faith with you.

Twenty years since I first saw you

come to the castle here...

...with the old Baron and your little son.

A fine, handsome imp he was, too.

But you spoiled him. Oh, yes.

He was always self-willed and cruel

and you encouraged him.

And bad company you kept, too.

You used to sit and drink with them,

didn't you?

Yes, and you laughed at their

wicked games.

Till in the end, one of them

took him and made him what he is.

You have done what you could for

him since then, God help you.

Keeping him here a prisoner,

bringing these young girls...

...keeping him alive with their blood.

But the powers of darkness

are too strong. They've beaten you.

He's free.

But he'll come back here.

That's certain.

He'll come back to his old Greta.

He'll come back.

He's got to come back here before cockcrow.

- Carl, let's have the travelling rug, will you?

- Yes, sir.

Good. Put it around her.

- She's not dead, is she?

- No.

Bad case of shock, I should say.

Exhaustion.

Now don't worry.

How far are we from Badstein?

Three or four kilometres.

You've been badly frightened, haven't you?

But there's nothing to be afraid of now.

I am a doctor. Dr. Van Helsing.

Now you just sit down here.

Landlord?

Coffee and cognac, please.

- I'm very sorry, sir.

- Please, this girl has been unwell.

Miss, I am glad to see you safe.

I'm afraid we are closed

to customers this morning, sir.

Father Stepanek booked me a room here.

I'm Dr. Van Helsing.

- Oh yes, of course. I'm sorry, sir.

- I'll go and get you some coffee.

There's been a death in the village.

Hans's daughter, such a beautiful girl.

She was found dead in the forest.

- They are holding a wake there now.

- How did she die?

No one really knows.

But she's dead alright.

Her father Stepanek is away.

They're going to bury her

in the churchyard without him.

- May I see her?

- You could see her, of course.

They probably would like you to,

being a doctor.

But there's nothing that can be done.

I won't be long.

Wild garlic?

Yes, it's supposed to be a protection

against evil. Vampires...

...and such. You must

humour these local superstitions.

After all,

who knows how she came by her death?

There's usually a good reason

for all these old customs.

There's her father.

- He's a doctor.

- I'm so very sorry.

She was a good girl.

I can't believe she's dead.

If only the priest was here.

The whole night was like a bad dream.

- I can hardly believe it happened.

- Then don't talk about it.

The Baroness seemed so kind at first.

- But her son...

- Her son?

But... surely he's not still alive?

It's such a long story.

Do you feel well enough to travel?

- Yes.

- Goodbye and thank you.

- We'll be back later.

The next thing I remember was seen you.

I am afraid I have put you

to a lot of trouble.

Not at all.

What was the name of this

chateau where you stayed?

The chateau of Meinster.

- Do you know it?

- I know all of it.

And you are on your way to

school for young ladies at Badstein.

I am to teach there French and deportment.

- I'm sure you'll do very well at both.

- Merci.

- What about your luggage?

- I left it behind at the chateau.

- I shall have to send for it.

- The chateau Meinster?

- I don't think that would be very wise.

- But...

Please let me explain.

I have been asked to make a

study of a strange sickness.

Sickness partly physical, partly spiritual.

And may I know what it is?

Have you heard of the

"cult of the undead"?

- The undead?

- Yes.

- Have you hear of it?

- No.

- Are you sure?

- Quite sure.

It is most prevalent in Transylvania

and the Lower Danube.

And could it spread?

Unless it is stamped out.

That's why I'm here.

And you can help me.

I want you to tell me everything that

happened in the chateau Meinster.

- But...

- Everything, in detail...

...leaving nothing out,

however trivial it may seem to you.

- Will you do that?

- Yes.

And when you have told me,

I want you to forget it.

Forget it completely and

never mention it to anyone.

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