The Brides of Dracula Page #4

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- Then you know who I am.

- I know who you were.

- He's escaped?

- Yes.

You'll never catch him.

He's too clever.

- He has taken the blood of his own mother.

- It was all my own fault.

I loved his wildness. I encouraged it.

And when this monstrous thing

took possession of him...

...I didn't send for a priest

or a doctor.

I hid him and helped him to live.

And now there is no release

from this life...

...which isn't life or death.

And I know I shall have to do

whatever hideous things...

...he asks me to.

There is one release.

Come in.

I am sorry, Frau Lang.

I did not know it was you.

It's perfectly alright, my dear.

I thought I'd better come with the news myself.

You know how the girls chatter.

- Well, my dear, he's here.

- Who?

Why haven't you told us you expect him?

Luckily, Herr Lang's gone down to the village.

I don't know what he'd say if he knew.

- But who is...?

- Come along, my dear...

...you mustn't keep him waiting.

- Monsieur Baron.

- See? Didn't I keep it to myself?

I wanted so much to meet you again...

...so I took this opportunity of

bringing the luggage that you left behind.

- I thought that you might need it.

- How kind of you.

Your mother, Madam la Baronne,

is she well?

I regret to have to tell you...

...she's dead.

Oh dear. Why, I'm sorry.

So now you are all alone,

up in that great house?

- Exactly.

- Oh dear.

Now Monsieur, I should leave you

entirely to yourselves...

...for 10 minutes.

Well, Marianne.

What are you doing?

Keeping an eye on things.

Trust me.

Keeping an eye on what?

- A pair of turtledoves, bless their hearts.

- Who?

Mademoiselle Danielle

and a young man, dear.

What?

Stop. What do you think you're doing?

- Shameless little hussy.

- Herr Lang.

You know it's a rule, my rule.

The staff are allowed no followers.

What the devil do you think

you are doing here?

I was placed here by a most charming lady.

In fact, your wife.

Don't you try to be impertinent to me, sir...

...or I shall have the privilege of

throwing you headfirst out of that window.

You'll find it a most interesting way of

making my closer acquaintance, Herr Lang...

...but hardly necessary

under the circumstances.

I've long wanted to meet you,

an old and valued tenant.

I'm no tenant of yours,

you young jackass.

- I'm a tenant of the Meinster estate.

- Exactly, and I'm Baron Meinster.

I must apologize for

not having called before...

...but I've been recovering from...

...a long illness.

I wouldn't have come today except that

I had some pressing business...

...to discuss with Mademoiselle Danielle,

who has just consented to become my wife.

Wonderful.

I shall be grateful if you would allow

Mademoiselle to stay here for a few weeks...

...whilst I make arrangements

for the wedding.

Of course. We should be

more than honoured.

Oh, yes, indeed.

May I take this opportunity of

congratulating you and Frau Lang...

...on having the most

charming house and grounds.

- Mein Herrschaft.

- At so low a rent.

I'm so proud for you, Marianne.

What's it feel like to be a Baroness?

Not so fast. We are only engaged.

- Isn't he handsome?

- I think he is.

So he should be marrying you.

He's just like I imagined

Prince Charming was to look at.

So noble...

...and with such wonderful eyes.

Such tenderness in them

and humour, too.

I must be careful, or I'll be

falling in love with him myself.

I shan't allow that.

The toast!

- What a terrible smell!

- I'm so sorry.

Never mind. I'll go down for some more bread.

Frau Lang won't mind.

I wish it had been me.

- Thank heaven you're safe.

- Father.

What happened to that woman?

I'm afraid she got away from me

soon after you'd gone.

I tried to follow but

lost track of her in the dark.

- How did you fare?

- I went to the chateau.

You remember when you wrote to me

asking me to come here?

You told me of your suspicions

about the Baron and his mother.

- I do indeed.

- They were well founded.

The Baroness had become the victim

of her own son.

- Oh, no.

- She's dead now and at peace.

God rest her soul.

But her son escaped with the girl.

My son, we have a great deal

to thank you for already...

...but I'm afraid your work

is not yet finished.

Must be tired. You should have some food.

I'll join you presently.

Is it well and truly boiling?

- Straight out of the kettle, doctor.

- Good. That's fine.

Might have been chest...

...bronchitis or pneumonia.

You never know.

Extract of Benzoin.

Yes, tincture of myrrh.

Only want a drop of that.

Just a drop.

Yes, liquor of capsicum,

plenty of that. Ad lib.

Now, my very good woman, the towel.

Right, right over my head.

Don't you pay any attention

to anything I may say.

Here we go.

My very dear, kind Frau,

I can't breathe. You're killing... Mercy.

I can't breathe!

Very well, there you are.

What the devil?

I told you not to pay

any attention to anything I said.

- Let's have another try, shall we?

- You see off to yourself, thank you.

I've got my living to earn.

What we doctors have to put up with.

First it's you clericals, father...

...with your monolithic superstitions.

Then peasants like her with

their troglodyte indifference.

Of course, she may have died of

heart failure.

I mean the heart may have just...

...slowed down and stopped.

That's clearly a case for nux vomica.

Or perhaps it galloped itself

to a standstill.

In that case, digital.

And of course, always and all the time...

...valerian to quiet my nerves.

I wish I haven't drunk you

out of house and home.

But if the patient is dead,

what's the use of all these concoctions?

Precaution is better than cure,

father. By doing this...

...I have survived a vast number of

other people's deaths.

I mean to survive a great many more.

- But who's dead?

- One of the young girls at the Academy.

She died quite suddenly in the night.

Dr. Tobler, this is Dr. Van Helsing.

Are you sure it is one of the pupils

and not one of the staff?

That I can't say.

Doctor, if you're going to see her...

...it would be better for you

to take Dr. Van Helsing with you.

He's one of the most eminent

medical men in Europe.

- Would you come for nothing?

- Certainly.

Splendid.

I might put your specialist's fee

on my own little account.

Worth trying, anyhow.

Would that be all right with you?

- Why not?

- Thank you. Shall we go then?

Thank you.

- You say the door was locked?

- Yes, on the inside...

...but the window was open.

- Open?

- Yes.

We found her lying on the bed.

What did she die from?

- I'm not sure.

- But I must know.

Such a thing,

if we can't say what it is...

- ...might mean ruin for us.

- I shall have to make a further examination.

Perhaps you and Frau Lang

will leave us.

What should we make the verdict?

Have you ever seen anything like this?

- That's a bite, isn't it?

- Have you ever seen it before?

Very seldom.

Once or twice in the forest villages.

You know, that's probably a pet animal,

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