Double Darkness

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(Shot of the setting sun. Cut to a small red convertible travelling along a road. Gustav is at the wheel, humming. The car drives on, until he comes upon a car parked by the roadside with the hood up. There is a woman beside it.)

Woman: Hey! Can you help me? Stop! Thank you.

(Gustav stops, stands up and speaks to her through the open top)

Gustav: What seems to be the trouble, miss?

Woman: Ah, I wish I knew. It just died.

Gustav: Ah, technology's a ticklish business. Perhaps I can help.

Woman: Great. That would be wonderful.

(He gets out of his car and moves to hers)

Gustav: Only if I succeed. I'm an old hand at fix-it things, you know. Never give up, I always say, not while there's still oxygen in the air. Speaking of hot air, I was just on my way over to the annual meeting of the Car Travellers Explorer Society. Ah,
here, of course. This is your problem. Someone's torn out your distributor cap.

(He wrenches it from the car and holds it up. He hisses at her, showing fangs, and she screams. He grabs her head and exposes her neck as we cut to credits.)

(Exterior Helsing house, daylight)

Gustav (oc): It's a delightful day for a drive in the country. What more could a young person ask for?

(Cut to Gustav and Max coming down the stairs, wearing matching outfits)

Max: Uncle Gustav, it's not fair, I look like a real dweeb.

Gustav: Nonsense, Max. You look like me.

Sophie: Uncle Gustav, listen to this. A South African diamond mind owned by world famous industrialist, Alexander Lucard, collapsed yesterday with the loss of 300 lives. That's terrible.

(Gustav is packing a hamper as they talk)

Gustav: Well, even vampires can not control the forces of nature, Sophie.

Chris: Yeah, but that was third time this week. First, that oil tanker sank in the Indian Ocean.

Sophie: And then a fire in his Korean computer factory.

Gustav: Well, he's had a run of bad luck, all right. But then none of us are invulnerable.

Max: I look like a Hardy Boy from 1927 and you guys are talking geography? How come I have to go see some goofy bat cave and they don't?

Gustav: It is not a bat cave. It's an important scientific site. Dr Cross was good enough to offer us a tour. Come Maximillian, adventure awaits.

(Gustav and Max exit)

(ls of Lucard Industries, daylight)

(Cut to Lucard's office. He strides in, reading a newspaper, which he folds angrily and thrusts at the man standing by his desk)

Lucard: I have a headache. Get out.

(The man leaves. Lucard sits at his desk, then lowers the lighting)

Lucard: Who is doing this to me? Who would dare do this to me?

(Cut to archaeological site. Gustav and Max get out of the car.)

Gustav: You'll really appreciate it, Maximillian. These cave paintings represent an entirely vanished period of human life. Some of 'em are more than 25,000 years old.

Max: Yeah, so's the muffler on your car.

Gustav: Attitude, Max. Attitude.

(They go through a doorway into an area where archaeological activity is taking place)

Max: Hey, since when did cavemen build this kind of stuff?

Gustav: No, no, no Max. These are Roman ruins. They built them right on top of where the cavemen lived.

Max: That wasn't very nice of them.

Gustav: Ah, here's Dr Cross.

(An attractive, young blonde woman comes over to them)

Dr Cross: Mr Helsing, nice to see you again. Hope I didn't keep the two of you waiting too long.

Max: I've been waiting for you since I was seven. Over three years.

Dr Cross: You must be Maximillian.

Max: Yes, I must be. I mean, you can call me Max.

Gustav: Maximillian is very interested in early man.

Max: And woman.

Dr Cross: Well Max, it's isn't often I find a man interested in Neanderthal cave paintings, so come along.

(Cut to Lucard's office. Lucard is standing by the window)

Man: Mt Vesuvius erupted this morning. There is only one, small lava flow. But it, uh, destroyed your villa.

Lucard: Blind nature takes its course. What else?

Man: Well, uh, we've been in contact with Colonel Rivera in the Costa Bravan government. You've been nationalised. Land, cattle, industries, everything.

Lucard: You know, I found Rivera drowning peasants in the backwoods of Costa Brava. There is just no gratitude in human nature.

(The phone rings and the man answers it)

Man: Yeah. Yeah. OK.

Lucard: And what now?

Man: The holding company in Tokyo? It's under siege by a corporate raider.

Lucard: Who? Who would do all this in such stupid detail. Who would bother to burn my houses and ruin my crops if he could just buy me out? Who?

Lucard: Nosferatu. I suppose he must be free.

(Helsing home, exterior, night)

(Cut to interior, Chris and Gustav passing stairs, heading for living room with food in hand)

Chris: Come on, Max in love? It doesn't sound healthy.

Gustav: We mustn't discourage him, Christopher. First infatuation is a delicate and wonderful thing. You know, it seems a nine-year-old boy proposed to his fourth grade teacher, Miss, uh, Talbert? Hmm?

Chris: Who told you that?

Gustav: Your mother.

Chris: I was misquoted.

(A dressed-up Max comes down the stairs. Chris and Gustav sniff)

Chris: What is that?

Max: None other than me, Maximillian Maurice Townsend. Well, how do I look?

Chris: Sort of depends on how much ridicule you can take.

Sophie: You look sort of like Kermit the Frog at ten.

Max. Ha ha. Well, I think I look sweet.

Sophie and Chris: Sweet?

Gustav: You certainly smell sweet, young man. A little too sweet. A little less use of my aftershave, if you please.

(Doorbell rings)

Max: It's for me.

(He slicks back his hair and opens the door, where Dr Cross is waiting with a bunch of flowers)

Dr Cross: Why, Max. Don't you look sweet.

(cut to Lucard's office, where he sits at the desk and is on the phone)

Lucard: If anyone should appear at the front desk tonight without an appointment, let... them in.

(From the shadows of the office, a voice speaks)

Nosferatu: I'm already in.

Lucard: Well, Nosferatu. (he rises) Greetings and felicitations.

Nosferatu: What has it been, Dracula? Fifty years since you imprisoned me?

(Nosferatu moves toward Lucard)

Nosferatu: You've done well, very well I see.

Lucard: I'm comfortable. I thought you might have escaped somehow. The sudden misfortunes my empire has encountered bear your crude signature. Of course, that's at an end now.

Nosferatu: You haven't changed. You're still an arrogant, egotistical little brat.

Lucard: And pettiness was always your forte, my friend. Your one true calling.

Nosferatu: At least I was never weak. Paintings, music, delicate financial deals, your precious empire. They dilute your true essence. Power seeks pure evil. It will come to me.

Lucard: I doubt that. Your will is too vulgar for real power.

(Nosferatu hisses at Lucard, holds up a stake and lunges at Lucard, who dissipates into sparks. The stake is driven into Lucard's chair. Lucard rematerializes behind Nosferatu. Lucard grabs him by the neck)

Lucard: You were a third rate bungler when you forgot to wake up Hitler on D-Day, and nothing's changed. You can not attack me here or anywhere, Nosferatu. I'm too strong for you. Too strong and too smart.

Nosferatu: But I've already won. When the markets open in Tokyo, my greatest coup will be complete, I will own your company.

(Lucard thrusts him away and laughs. He walks over and pulls out the stake)

Lucard: Tomorrow, Nosferatu, nothing will have changed.

Lucard: I'll still be rich and you'll still be stupid. I made a useful alliance this morning with a certain Arab nation.

(Lucard sits)

Lucard: I sold them my Tokyo company for 24 hours.

Nosferatu: You're lying.

Lucard: And they'll sell it back to me just as soon as your attempt to ruin me has failed.

Nosferatu: You think you can dismiss me like this?

(He hisses at Lucard and lunges toward him. Lucard stands and wields the stake at him. Nosferatu backs against the wall, then turns into smoke. Lucard looks at the stake)

(Cut to outdoor cafe, night)

Max: I think things are working out splendidly for us, Gloria. More wine?

(He fills her glass, and picks up a cigarette)

Max: Yes, everything's going exactly as planned. With your expert help, of course.

Dr Cross: Of course. But really, can't we do something about your appearance. I mean a ten-year old?

Max: How about a 60 year old?

(A cloud of blue smoke obscures him, and when it clears "Gustav" is sitting in his place)

"Gustav": Better?

Dr Cross: Not much.

"Gustav": What a shame. This one is a fine car mechanic.

(The smoke obscures again and Nosferatu is revealed)

Dr Cross: That's better. Much better.

(Her smile reveals she has fangs. Nosferatu bares his fangs)

End Of Act 1

(Helsing living room. Gustav, Sophie and Chris are cleaning up, Max is on the couch. )

Max: Did you know that Lascaux has the world's premier example of primitive animal paintings?

Sophie: No.

Max: Did you know that Palaeolithic man used art to gain magical power over the animals he hunted?

Chris: No. And neither did you until you tried to impress Dr Cross, who's old enough to be your..

Gustav: Fourth grade teacher? Your brother's just going through a phase, Chris.

Chris: Yeah, well, he's going though a window if he doesn't start helping soon. Look at this place! Look at it. It looks like...

Sophie: Your room?

Chris: Exactly.

Gustav: All right you two, upstairs please. Max and I are going to have a little heart to heart.

(Sophie and Chris exit. Gustav moves to sit on the couch next to Max)

Max: No one home but us chickens.

Gustav: Max, please, we have to have a special talk.

Max: Mom and I had that one already. Whew, it was murder.

Gustav: You see, Max, in love some things are possible and some things aren't. You know, a wise man once said, "A bird may love a fish, but where would they live?" It's the same for you and Dr Cross. Some things are possible, like friendship. But a romance between a grown woman and a ten-year-old boy. That's impossible.

Max: No, it's not! You don't understand, that's all! You're too old! Gloria feels the same about me as I feel about her! You'll see!

(Cut to limo driving through the woods to the dig. Max on his bike near the dig. The limo stops, Lucard exits and approaches Dr Cross.)

Lucard: Excuse me, Dr Cross?

Dr Cross: Ah, Monsieur Lucard. I take it you received my invitation to tour the site. I'm gratified you took the time.

(Max pulls up behind a tree where he can see them and watches as they talk.)

Lucard: It's an honour, Dr Cross. Your discoveries are in our local papers everyday, but the photographs don't do you justice.

Dr Cross: Be careful, monsieur, flattery may get you everywhere.

Lucard: Enchanting. Unfortunately, at the moment my schedule won't allow a private tour, but my evening is free.

Dr Cross: So is mine.

Lucard: Splendid. Until tonight.

(He kisses her hand and returns to his limo. Dr Cross watches a moment, then heads toward the interior of the dig. Max comes rushing out of his hiding place)

Max: Hey, Gloria! Dr Cross! I gotta talk to you about that guy.

(She continues walking away, he follows her inside, but she's disappeared from sight)

Max: Gloria!

(He looks around but the place is deserted.)

Max: Gloria?

(Helsing home, exterior, night)

(Cut to interior where Max is filling a balloon with a powder. Shaking it down, he inflates he balloon. He caps the bottle and sets it aside. Getting up, he looks in the mirror)

Max: Sweet.

(As he turns and picks up his backpack, close up shot of the bottle shows the label "Garlic powder")

(Cut to exterior, night, Max riding his bike through the woods)

(Cut to dig, Dr Cross is pacing near a table with a small light on it. A hand grasps her shoulder from behind. She turns to see Lucard)

Dr Cross: Oh, Monsieur Lucard, you startled me.

Lucard: Well, I certainly didn't mean to. You're a valuable resource, Dr Cross.

(He grabs her chin)

Lucard: I've always wanted an archaeologist on my staff. It will only take a moment to arrange.

(Her head tilts, and he brushes the hair from her neck.)

(Cut to Max, parking his bike, getting off and running to where Dr Cross and Lucard are)

Max: Let her go, Lucard!

Lucard: Not now, Maximillian, I'm busy.

Max: That's the woman I love.

(Lucard pushes Dr Cross away, comes to Max and uses one hand to lift him into the air)

Lucard: Shouldn't you be asleep?

(Cut to a second Max riding up)

Max2: Hey! Put me down! I mean, I'm over here, not over there. What am I saying?

Lucard: Two of you?

Max1: Of course not.

(He's obscured by smoke, and when it clears, Lucard is holding a vamped out Nosferatu)

Nosferatu: Just one of me.

(A vamped out Dr Cross comes up behind Lucard with a stake)

Dr Cross: With some assistance.

(Lucard turns to knock her away. Nosferatu grabs him from behind. Dr Cross again comes at Lucard with the stake)

Max: Oh man. Gloria?

(She turns and growls at him. Then turns back. Lucard tries to fend them off)

Lucard: Two on one, Maximillian. Max, it isn't fair.

Max: All right. Just. This. Once.

(Max takes off his backpack and, as Lucard breaks free, throws the garlic powder filled balloon at the vampires. Nosferatu and Dr Cross are engulfed in garlic powder. Lucard is struggling to shield himself with his cloak. Max grabs a cross and
steps between Lucard and the other vampires.)

Max: Back, vampire. Melt into the night.

Lucard: I'll take it from here, Maximillian.

(He picks up a stake)

Lucard: Nosferatu!

(Nosferatu looks at him. Lucard flings the stake into Nosferatu, who glows and begins to disappear. Max drops the cross as he watches Nosferatu and Dr Cross embrace and disappear. He turns to Lucard.)

Max: That takes care of them. Love sure is a funny thing.

Lucard: It certainly is.

(Lucard grabs Max by the jacket, lifts him up and prepares to bite him.)

Max: Hey, I saved you.

Lucard: But I'm a vampire, Maximillian.

(He takes on his human appearance).

Lucard: However, not this time. This time, we're even.

Max: Whatever you say.

Lucard: Your uncle's going to be worried about you.

(He puts Max down and Max runs to his bike)

Lucard: Drive carefully on your way home.

Max: Count on it. Bye.

Lucard: And be on the lookout for vampires. They're everywhere!

(He laughs, transforms into bats and flies off)

Tag

(Helsing home, exterior, day. Sound of vacuum running)

Gustav (oc): I suppose Dr Cross accidentally freed Nosferatu during one of her excavations. An archaeological equivalent of, uh, "bad career move."

(Cut to living room. Gustav's in a chair, Chris and Sophie face each other across a chess board.)

Gustav: A profound change seems to have come over the youngest member of this household.

(Cut to Max, vacuuming and dancing around, with his walkman on)

Chris: I see it, but I don't believe it.

Gustav: Garbage taken out.

Chris: Dishes done.

Sophie: He's a changed man. Let's ask him his secret. Max!

Max: You don't have to yell. There's no music in these things.

Chris: There isn't?

Max: Nope. I just wanted to hear what you guys were saying about me. It's like this. I learned all about love and woman. First of all, this romance business isn't all it's cracked up to be. It can be a real pain in the neck. Second of all, once you get
bitten by the love bug, it could turn out to be permanent.

(He turns the sweeper back on.)

(Cut to hearse with a coffin in the back. The driver (Dr Cross dressed as a chauffeur) closes the back, gets in and drives off. As the camera follows the car, a blue light fills then engulfs the car and it flies off)