Writer's Workshop

The fall out from the last chapter is coming, but the players are starting to reveal their intentions. I'm not sure we're quite in the last act yet but it is getting closer. Only a matter of time.

Before you dive in make sure you're all caught up on the story up until now (in the script archive) before diving into this chapter.

Bride of Dracula: Part 8

FADE IN.

INT: MAIN LOBBY, RITZ HOTEL, NIGHT, PRESENT.

We see BARRETT sitting in one of the comfortable chairs dotting around the spacious lobby of the hotel. He has a paper that he's half-reading, a drink on a small table beside him. He looks up as he spies RACHEL come into the lobby from the main stairs. RACHEL is now dressed for an evening out on the town. BARRETT nods, then picks up his drink and takes a sip as RACHEL comes over.

RACHEL:

You don't even stand for a lady when she comes over?

BARRETT:

You're not a lady. You're my sister.

RACHEL feigns shock.

RACHEL:

The indignity. What would father say?

BARRETT:

He would have been upset it took you until-

BARRETT looks at his watch.

BARRETT:

-half past nine to finally be ready for the evening.

RACHEL laughs.

RACHEL:

Ah yes, there is that.

She sits down in a chair near her brother and motions for the WAITER, who comes over.

RACHEL:

I'll have a glass of Cabernet and-

She looks over at BARRETT.

RACHEL:

What are the plans for tonight?

BARRETT sets down his paper and gives her a stern look.

BARRETT:

Well I had hopes to introduce you to Lord Desjardins but that meeting was supposed to happen well over an hour ago.

RACHEL:

Excellent. Another bullet dodged.

She looks at the WAITER.

RACHEL:

Make it two glasses of wine, then.

WAITER:

Very good.

RACHEL looks back at BARRETT.

RACHEL:

Lord Desjardins, huh? He sounds stuffy and obnoxious.

BARRETT:

He's nobility and quite flush with money.

RACHEL:

Ah, he's a war profiteer.

BARRETT:

RACHEL!

RACHEL:

What? There's only one kind of man who gets rich and stays rich in this country.

BARRETT:

He comes from old money.

RACHEL:

Oh, like all the pompous old men you tried to shove me off on back in England.

BARRETT:

And if I had you would have been set for life.

RACHEL:

Sounds dreadfully dull. I prefer the night life.

BARRETT:

Yes, well, that won't last forever.

RACHEL:

Oh, won't it?

Before BARRETT can say anything the WAITER returns and sets two glasses of red wine on the table near RACHEL. She grabs a glass and takes a deep drink.

BARRETT:

I do wish you'd take this seriously. We must find you a suitor.

RACHEL:

I can be my own woman, brother dear. It's the modern era! Women don't just have to marry. They can work in the army, work at factories. I hear there are women playing baseball over in the States.

BARRETT:

Talk like that would have killed our father.

RACHEL:

Good thing he's dead then.

BARRETT:

A ghastly thing to say.

She gives him a smile and takes a sip of wine.

BARRETT:

I do have things I'd rather do with my life then drag you around Europe looking for a suitor.

RACHEL:

I can handle my own affairs, BARRETT.

BARRETT:

Oh, really? And just who would you end up with, sister.

At this point, In walks LUCY, coming in the front doors of the lobby. She looks fresh and properly put together, not giving a hint of what she and RACHEL were up to for the previous couple of hours. She spies BARRETT and RACHEL and comes over.

LUCY:

Ah, my two favorite people in this city. Good evening.

BARRETT looks up, sees LUCY, and stands.

RACHEL:

Oh, sure, you stand for her.

BARRETT:

Countess LUCIA. I didn't- were we expecting you?

LUCY:

Oh, no. RACHEL had offered a meal when last we met and I unfortunately had to decline at the time. I'd love to take you both up on the offer now, though, if you are available. My treat.

BARRETT:

We'd be honored.

RACHEL stands.

RACHEL:

Absolutely.

LUCY:

I hear the restaurant here at the hotel is wonderful. Sound good?

BARRETT:

That would be great.

LUCY:

Then it's settled.

BARRETT offers his arm, not just to be polite, but RACHEL moves over and grabs LUCY's arm. The two go off towards the restaurant, gabbing like schoolgirls, with BARRETT following behind, looking more than a little perplexed.

RACHEL turns and looks back at him.

RACHEL:

Oh, BARRETT! My wine.

EXT: ROMANI CAMP, BOROGRAVIAN WOODS, NIGHT, PAST.

LUCY is sitting at the fire, watching the flames. She looks up at NICA with a puzzled look on her face.

LUCY:

I'm worry, what?

NICA:

Would you like some wine?

LUCY looks puzzled.

LUCY:

I don't... I mean, I can't drink wine.

NICA smiles, then sets down the glass of wine. It's half full. She places her wrist over the glass and, with a knife, draws blood. The blood goes into the glass (mostly), and fills it the rest of the way. She then hands the glass to LUCY while wrapping a bandage around her wrist.

LUCY looks down at the glass, doubtfully.

NICA:

Taste it.

LUCY takes a tentative sip and, though she makes a face, is able to stomach the wine.

LUCY:

I can drink it if there's blood in it.

NICA:

It's the same thought as the broth you drink. It comes from an animal, mostly, so you're able to drink it. I doubt it would sate your thirst but at least you can blend in when needed.

LUCY nods, then takes another sip.

LUCY:

I think I'd rather have blood.

NICA laughs, then she holds our her wrist.

NICA:

If you would prefer.

LUCY takes the offered wrist and opens her mouth. As she's about the bite she looks up and sees RENFIELD walking across the clearing. He looks at her, and NICA, and gives a disapproving face. NICA notices.

NICA:

Perhaps we should handle this somewhere more... private?

LUCY, looking at RENFIELD, nods. NICA stands, and LUCY follows, as the woman leads our vampire back to LUCY's wagon.

INT: LUCY'S WAGON, ROMANI CAMP, BOROGRAVIAN WOODS, NIGHT, PAST.

NICA holds the door open for LUCY, then goes around the small space and lights candles, giving the interior of the wagon a dark glow. She turns to LUCY and smiles. LUCY looks down a NICA's wrist, then up at the woman's eyes.

NICA:

You may feed.

LUCY reaches for the wrist but stops as NICA slowly starts unbuttoning her blouse, revealing more and more of her neck and shoulders. LUCY's eyes widen.

NICA:

This, perhaps, is more comfortable for both of us.

The blouse comes down, held up by NICA's hands to just barely cover her modesty. LUCY slowly moves in, the pulse in the woman's neck drawing her in. She embraces NICA, drawing the woman in, before putting her mouth over the bend between neck and shoulder. NICA gasps, and then smiles, wrapping her arms around LUCY.

LUCY feeds, then pulls back slightly, blood around her mouth, a trickle dribbling from one side. She seems ashamed as she looks in NICA's eyes, but NICA leans in, kissing LUCY, getting blood on her mouth, too.

LUCY:

I'm not... we shouldn't...

NICA:

This is your wagon. We can do whatever you want in here.

She kisses LUCY again.

NICA:

What would have have of me.

LUCY looks embarrassed, but licks her lips.

LUCY:

Get undressed.

NICA:

As my lady commands.

EXT: ROMANI CAMP, BOROGRAVIAN WOODS, NIGHT, PAST.

RENFIELD stands outside LUCY's wagon, hearing the sounds (of pleasure) from within.

RENFIELD:

That's disgusting.

A ROMANI ELDER comes up and gives him a questioning look.

ROMANI ELDER:

Our lady needs to feed.

RENFIELD looks at him.

RENFIELD:

It's not the feeding I find objectionable. She shouldn't be with a woman.

ROMANI ELDER:

The Countess blesses us with her presence. She is free to pick who she chooses from our number.

RENFIELD:

You don't find this objectionable?!

ROMANI ELDER:

Who is to say what is objectionable when talking about those that live forever.

RENFIELD:

I am! We are!

The ELDER nods sagely.

ROMANI ELDER:

Perhaps, then, the problem lies not with the Countess but with you.

RENFIELD looks flabbergasted at this, but the ELDER just smiles and moves on.

INT: RESTAURANT, RITZ HOTEL, NIGHT, PRESENT.

LUCY, RACHEL, and BARRETT sit for a fine dinner, with wine and bread and several dishes of food. LUCY has a very rare steak in front of her, practically mooing right at the table. As they chat, she cuts a bite of food from the steak and brings it to her mouth, chewing. Both BARRETT and RACHEL watch this action intently. LUCY seems pleased as she chews.

BARRETT coughs.

BARRETT:

LUCIA, I don't think you mentioned. Why, specifically, are you in Paris?

LUCY smiles and finishes chewing.

LUCY:

I like to travel. I've been on my own for a while now and I find I enjoy moving from place to place, seeing the sights. Paris was my latest stop, but I've been all over. France, Spain, Germany-

BARRETT:

England.

LUCY nods.

LUCY:

For a time. And then the urge to travel brought me here.

BARRETT:

During the war? That's an odd time to travel.

LUCY:

Says the man who brought his sister here for... what exactly?

BARRETT has the decency to look chastened.

BARRETT:

Yes, well, our family fortune isn't what it once was. I had hoped that RACHEL could find a proper suitor here among the French aristocracy.

LUCY:

During a war?

BARRETT:

That was just part of the reason to travel. But my sister-

RACHEL:

Isn't having any of it, dear brother.

BARRETT:

The family needs you.

LUCY smiles.

LUCY:

It needs one of you.

BARRETT looks over at her.

BARRETT:

I'm sorry?

LUCY looks slyly meek.

LUCY:

Oh, just thinking that ANITA girl certainly took a shine to you the other night.

RACHEL laughs.

RACHEL:

Why yes, bother! You could be the one that marries for the good of the family.

BARRETT:

What? No! I have other matters that need my attention.

RACHEL:

Such as?

BARRETT gives her a nasty look, but then looks across the room and sees someone. He stands, rather quickly.

BARRETT:

Terribly sorry. I must go attend to something. Won't be more than a few minutes.

He moves off across the room. From where they're sitting, though, the two ladies can't see who BARRETT was going to go meet. RACHEL looks over at LUCY and smiles.

RACHEL:

That was fun.

LUCY:

He flusters easily.

RACHEL laughs and nods. She then puts her hand over LUCY's on the table.

RACHEL:

He's not the only one that was flustered.

LUCY gives her a knowing smile.

LUCY:

I'm fairly certain "flustered" isn't what you're feeling.

RACHEL gives her a hungry smile.

LUCY:

Soon. Once we can withdraw from your brother.

RACHEL pulls back her hand but keeps smiling.

INT: MAIN LOBBY, RITZ HOTEL, NIGHT, PRESENT.

BARRETT moves into the room and walks over to the side.

BARRETT:

You shouldn't meet me here. She might have seen you.

PAN OVER.

We see that, in the shadows, BARRETT is talking to FENWICK.

FENWICK:

The Baroness is growing bored. She says you're taking too long.

BARRETT looks worried.

BARRETT:

I've finally made enough progress with her that I think she trusts me. She came to visit me at the hotel.

FENWICK:

Yes, I saw you and your sister having dinner with her.

BARRETT:

It's only a matter of time. I'll get her to trust me and then I'll have her blood.

FENWICK:

You better. The Baroness is only willing to finance this for so long. Get her what she wants.

BARRETT:

I... I will.

He leans in.

BARRETT:

And then she'll make me-

FENWICK:

Get her the blood first.

BARRETT:

Of course.

End of Part 8:

As we reach the last act there have been a lot of balls in the air all going together. Now we finally start to see things settle into their final positions and learn that, hey, everything up to this point was connected. Milla isn't just some random vampire but is connected to the Renfields, who are connected in various ways to Lucy, who is also being observed by Milla. It all swings around. Of course, where this is truly heading will be revealed soon enough.

Hopefully this script doesn't end up longer than the first movie...