|
|||||||
|
|
|
|||||
|
|
|||||||
Children Of the Night
Writer Glenn Davis & William Laurin Director: Allan Eastman
Tease
(a couple leaves friends in a cafe and walk down the street)
Girl: Night, Herb. Night, Sybil
: See you two on Monday.
Boy: Ok, night
Girl: Night
Boy: All right. See ya.
(and walks down the night street)
Girl: We can’t It’s almost midnight. My parents will kill me!
Boy: They’re asleep.
Girl: They never sleep.
Boy: Come on.
Boy: Let’s take the long way around.
(view becomes blurred as they stop to neck in a doorway. The view become clear as a hand
clasps the boy’s shoulder.
They gasp)
Policewoman: Sort of late, isn’t it?
Girl: We were just on our way home.
Officer: Seems like a nice idea.
Boy: Night, Officer.
Girl: I knew we should have
(they move off.)
(View stays with officer, becoming blurry. She turns, sees nothing. Moves on. Walks on,
turns again and shrieks. PB to
shot of officer with figure in dark clothes and hat with hand clamped over her mouth. The
figure tilts her head, and bends to
her neck. Close up of her face, eyes open with the hand still covering her mouth. The
figure lowers her to the ground,
exposing her neck with two bleeding puncture marks. )
Cut to opening credits.
ACT 1
(Red car driving by local scenery)
Eileen: Here it is boys, your new European home.
Max: Wow, Mom! There’s a castle. It looks neat.
Chris: It looks damp.
Max: I bet a vampire lives there. It’s a perfect place for him to wait for sunset.
Chris: While we wait for Max to grow up.
(car stops in front of a house and they get out)
Eileen: Isn’t it just how you imagined it would be?
Chris: How’d you get Hansel and Gretal evicted?
Eileen: Come on, Chris. Oh I’m sorry guys, I forgot to tell you. They changed my
schedule again. I have to go to Madrid
tomorrow.
Max: I thought it was London.
Eileen: No, honey. That’s the day after.
Chris: I thought we were going to get to see you this time.
Eileen: Well, you are, hon. That’s why I’ve flown you over. We’re gonna be
a lot closer here than with you in Philadelphia.
Gustav (wearing sunglasses) : Welkommen! Bien Venue! Welcome!
(Shades his eyes) Come inside, will you? It’s terribly
bright out here. (goes inside) Come. Come, come.
Eileen: Guys, this is your Uncle Gustav. Gustav, this is
Gustav: I recognise them from their pictures. This is little Maximillian. (pinches his
cheek)
Max: Max please. Just Max.
Gustav: And this is Christopher.
Chris (ducking out of the way): Who bruises easily.
Gustav: Then you must be a peach.
(Max is moving around the room. Picks up a stake-like item)
Max: Umm... Uncle Gustav, is this what I think it is?
Gustav: A very interesting epistemological question, Max. How can I know what you think?
Max. Well, it looks like a wooden stake. The kind you’d use to
plunge into the blood-gorged chest of a vampire.
Gustav: My goodness. You’re exactly right. And to think all these years I’ve
been using it as a doorstop.
Eileen: You’ll have to excuse Max, Gustav. He’s a little obsessed with the
supernatural.
Chris: A little.
Gustav: Anyway, Max, how do we know that you’re not a vampire yourself, the way you
wolf down those poppy seeds?
Max: What’s wrong with them?
Gustav: Heh. Some expert! Vampires can not resist poppy seeds. (He grabs the bag)
They’re absolutely mad about them.
(eats a handful)
Gustav: If you’re going to venture into the world of the undead, young man, you
had better know the nature of the beast.
Sophie. Hello, Mrs Townsend. Uncle Gustav.
Gustav: Gentlemen, may I present Miss Sophie Metternick. She stays here when she goes to
school.
Chris: You live here?
Sophie: Yes. Shouldn’t I?
Chris: Chris Townsend. I love astronomy and rap and I’m older than I look and I think
I’m ready for a truly giving relationship.
Sophie: Hello.
Gustav. And this is Maximillian.
Max: Max, please. Just Max.
Eileen: Come on guys. I’ll show you to your rooms. Then we have to change and get
going.
Chris: We just got here.
Eileen: I know. But I’m invited to a reception at the embassy this afternoon. You
guys can come along.
(exterior of Embassy. cut to interior guests milling about)
Chris: Mom, how about if I catch just a bit of MTV till you’re
done?
Eileen: Oh Honey, I don’t think Uncle Gustav gets MTV.
Chris: I don’t remember you mentioning that, Mom.
Eileen: Look, there’s the ambassador. I can introduce you in a minute.
Max: Maybe he’s a vampire. Looks like he hasn’t been outside in a while.
Eileen: And there’s Alexander Lucard. Now that’s
exciting.
Chris: I can hardly contain myself.
Eileen: No, no. He owns Lucard Enterprises. Banking, real estate and chemicals. He’s
one of the richest men in the world.
Lucard: Not even in the top ten, I’m afraid. Alexander Lucard.
Eileen: Eileen Townsend. Pennsylvania Industrial Bank.
Lucard: Yes, I know. You’ve made quite a splash in the last few weeks. That Eurobond
deal was very interesting.
Eileen: Thank you. Oh, these are my boys, Chris and Max. They just arrived today.
Lucard: How are you liking it?
Chris: I want my MTV.
Lucard: You can have it if you own a satellite. How else would I watch Young MC?
Chris: You’re into rap?
Lucard: And hip-hop. And some Ska. I tell you what. Chris, here is my card. Call my people
if you get homesick for a little
rap.
Chris: Yes, thanks I will.
Lucard: Welcome. Welcome, Max. Eileen.
Chris: Well, If you’re gonna be in Europe, might as well have some friends, right?
(cut to exterior of house, night)
Chris: Face it, Max. Your search for vampires is a bust.
(cut to boy’s bedroom)
Max: That’s it! (Max turns on light) Uncle Gustav hates garlic. And did you notice
that there aren’t any crosses around either?
Chris: Maybe he’s Jewish.
Max: And did you see the way he wolfed down my poppy seeds?
Chris: He’s the one that told you about the poppy seeds.
Max: Exactly! Uncle Gustav is a vampire. He’s gotta be. Oh man! What are we gonna do?
Chris: We’ll go to sleep. (throws pillow at Max)
Max: Oh sure. But don’t blame me if you wake up and he’s sucking plasma. (throws
pillow back) I gotta tell Mom. (he gets
out of bed)
Chris: No. At least let her sleep. She’s got a flight to catch at 6 AM tomorrow.
Max: Well then I’ll go see Mr Lucard. He’ll know what to do.
Chris: Great. Until then go to sleep. OK?
Max: Ok. But I’m keeping my guard up.
Chris: As long as you do it quietly.
(Gustav appears in the register, watching them.)
(exterior Lucard Industries)
Lucard: Well, hello Max. Come to catch some videos?
Max: I’m afraid it’s more serious than that, Mr Lucard.
Lucard: Well, I’m going to surprise you, Max. I’m not one of those adults who
will just ignore you. There are certain things
you should know about Gustav Helsing.
Max: I knew it! (spills the bag of poppy seeds he’s eating) (Lucard is mesmerized by
the seeds)
Max: Oh man. What a dweeb I am.
Lucard: Please, Max. It could happen to anyone. Just leave those. Now listen to me. I
believe you and your brother may
be in some danger. I’m expecting an important phone call. Could you give me just a
few minutes alone. Then we’ll have a
talk about what needs to be done.
Max: Uh. Sure, Mr Lucard. I’ll just be outside.
(Max exits and Lucard falls to the floor and devouring the seeds. When he lifts his head,
he’s vamping out)
End Act 1
Act 2
(Exterior Helsing house, night)
Chris: Are you sure we can’t get MTV on here?
Sophie: Yes. I’m sure.
Chris: This is unbelievable.
Sophie: We can watch the festival of folk lore ?? of Poland tonight.
Chris: Oh, awesome.
(cut to Max in the bedroom, putting on his coat & moving his bed)
(back to living room, Chris and Sophie look up)
(back to bedroom, where Max is trying to open window)
(back to living room, Chris & Sophie looking up)
(back to bedroom where Max is preparing to exit through the window via a bedsheet)
(back to living room)
Chris: I know I’m gonna regret this, but I gotta know.
(Max goes out window as Chris comes in)
Chris: Max! Max.
Chris: Max, what the heck do you think you’re doing? (Max reaches the ground and runs
off) Max, you get back here right
now.
(Chris starts to climb out the window)
Sophie: Take the stairs.
Chris: Good thinking.
(Chris and Sophie come out the door and start after Max)
(Exterior Lucard’s castle)
(cut to Max running through woods)
(cut to Chris and Sophie running after him)
Sophie: Where can he be going?
Chris: To the hospital if I get my hands on him.
Sophie: The castle. He’s going to Mr Lucard’s castle.
(cut to Max running)
(cut to Chris running)
Chris: I’m gonna kill him. Yep, I’m gonna kill him.
(Max goes in the castle)
Chris: Great.
(Interior Lucard’s castle -- main room)
(Chris and Sophie enter)
Chris: Oh man. This place looks like a Metallica video. And it’s damp. Max.
Max (running from behind suit of armour): All right. I did it.
Chris: OK, Max. This time it’s personal.
Max: Don’t you see. I saved you. Uncle Gustav is a vampire and this the only place
we’re safe.
Sophie: Uncle Gustav’s a what?
Max: A vampire. I knew you wouldn’t come here if I had asked you to. So I tricked
you. Pretty cool, huh?
Chris: This is the dumbest thing you’ve ever done. And believe me there is lots of
competition.
Lucard: Don’t be to hard on the boy, Christopher. Max brought you here at my
invitation. You were in very great danger, but
you are safe now. Under my wing, so to speak.
(Sophie pulls out a cross, and Lucard cringes)
Max: Uh-oh.
Sophie: Go on, run.
Lucard: Raymond!
(A zombie grabs Sophie, making her drop the cross. Chris and Max hesitate as another
zombie enters the room.)
Sophie: Run. Get Uncle Gustav. He’s our last chance.
(Chris bushes the new zombie into a suit of armour and they exit. Raymond holds Sophie in
front of him and moves toward
Lucard)
(cut to exterior, foggy night, boys running through town to a phone booth. They enter
and Chris dials)
Chris: Come on.
Gustav: Hello. This is Gustav.
Chris: Uncle Gustav! We’re in big trouble.
Gustav: But I’m not home right now. Probably out eating too much schnitzel again. So
just leave a message at the tone.
Chris: He’s not at home
Gustav (message continues): And while we wait for the tone, here’s a little music.
(polka music)
Chris: Which means he not in, right? Yeah. Which means we gotta go back there. Which means
we gotta go save Sophie
by ourselves? And don’t forget, this is your fault. OK.
(They exit the phone booth. The polka music ends. Max grabs the receiver)
Max (yells into the receiver): HEELLLP!
(cut to Lucard’s castle)
Lucard: You might as well try to relax, my dear. Do you know the music?
Sophie: Mozart.
Lucard: Very good. His mass for the dead. He died while he was writing it. Funny how
things work out.
Sophie. You’re him, aren’t you?
Lucard: Why, whatever do you mean?
Sophie: You’re... Dracula.
Lucard: No, I’m Milli Vanilli. Of course, I’m Dracula.
And you know what? I enjoy being me.
(cut to boy’s running through the woods)
Lucard: Think of the advantages. Forever free to roam the night. Collecting (pauses as the
policewoman seen earlier
enters the room, now a zombie) Officer Maria Schmitt, my latest acquisition. Beautiful
skin tone. Although yours is even
finer.
(cut to boys approaching castle door)
Max: Wait. I have an idea. (pounds and kicks door)
Chris: What are you doing, you idiot?
(Boys run to hide around corner. Three zombies open the door and cautiously exit. Max
throw a rock, and the two male
zombies go to investigate. The female stays near the door. Max and Chris slip toward the
door. The female turns and sees
them, baring her fangs. )
Chris: She’s not happy.
(The boys run inside and close the door. Cut to Sophie)
Sophie: Gustav will find out you have me. And he’ll come after
you.
Lucard: I sincerely hope so. That was the point of bringing you here after all. Apart from
your beauty... and your blood
type. AB negative, I’d guess.
Sophie: He suspects who you are, you know.
Lucard: Well, of course he does. He’s a worthy opponent. Not
quite the equal of his great-grandfather, but definitely ahead
of his grandfather and father. Legendary vampire hunters, all of them. That’s why
he must be disposed of.
Sophie: No.
Lucard: I’ll start with a little aperitif, I think.
(He vamps out and advances on Sophie, who screams. He moves behind her, lifts her from the
chair, tilts her head,
exposing her neck and prepares to bite her. Chris and Max burst in)
Chris: Leave her alone!
(Chris charges at Lucard, attempting to throttle him. Lucard throws Chris the length of
the dining room table)
Lucard: You don’t know who you’re dealing with.
Max (removing bottle from his backpack): But I do.
(Throws contents of bottle on Lucard, who begins to smoke and recoil)
Chris: What is that stuff?
Sophie: Holy water.
Chris: Where’d you get it?
Max: I never leave home without it.
(They run out of the great hall. Cut to them running down stairs. At the bottom is the
female vampire)
Chris: Oh great, Elvira.
(She stops in mid-growl when Max holds up a cross)
Max (passing the cross to Sophie): Keep her covered. (removes stake and mallet from back
pack and give them to Chris).
Stake her. You’ve gotta stake her.
Chris: But I don’t believe in...
Sophie: Believe.
(Chris advances on her)
Chris: But I can’t do it. She’s a girl.
Max: Stake her.
(Chris moves in on her)
Max: You’re blocking the cross!
(She realises it at the same time, takes the stake & mallet from Chris, throws them on
the ground and lifts him up by the
collar)
Max: Nobody messes with my brother!
(Max charges into her, she drops Chris and falls onto the stake. Glowing skeleton effect
and she vanishes)
Chris: I believe.
(Lucard materialises behind them)
Chris: I believe. I said I believe.
(They run off down a hallway and wind up back in the great hall, screeching to a halt when
Lucard appears in front of them.
Max shakes the bottle of holy water at him, but it’s empty. Lucard laughs and
advances on the children who back away. He
grabs Max)
Gustav: Lucard!
(Gustav advances with a stake in hand, Lucard drops Max, and backs away as Gustav lunges
repeatedly at Lucard)
Max (holding another bottle of holy water): Care for seconds, Mr Lucard?
(Lucard straightens up, bows his head at his opponents, then steps back and spins into
several bats and flies away as
Gustav and the children watch. Lucard’s laugh fills the hall )
Gustav: And to think, I left you safe and sound watching
television. Well, come on, before his creatures find us.
(They exit)
End Act 2
Tag
(exterior Helsing house, night)
Gustav: It’s been a running battle through the centuries, my ancestors and him. I
lost track of him several years ago, before
he created this newest identity, this Alexander Lucard. You must all learn to trust each
other. And no one else. I, myself,
spent an evening watching you two sleep, to make sure you weren’t Lucard’s
agents. Such snoring! It was unbelievable. I
had to keep my guard up, because he’s never had such power. Oh, as a Count in
Transylvannia, he could never do more
than local harm. But now, with his corporate connections, he’s in a position to take
over the world. He must be stopped.
Maximillion, you’re being very quiet.
Max: Well, It’s just that... I mean I was in the same house, the same room as
Dracula, The Dracula. And I didn’t even get his
autograph.
Gustav: There will be other evenings, Max. I can promise you that.
More cocoa anyone?
THE END
Transcribed By Lindy. Please e-mail any corrections to corrections@dracula.tvheaven.com