Dracula of Transylvania: The Epic Play in Three Acts

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Dracula of Transylvania: The Epic Play in Three Acts Page 6

by Christofer Cook


  (With this, Renfield tosses a handful of coins onto the stone floor in front of him. In addition are Seward’s pocket watch, Simmon’s whistle on a chain, Snelling’s eating utensils, and Hennessey’s pewter container of talcum powder. They all react immediately, down to the floor to recover their personal items, coins included. While they are momentarily distracted, Renfield unlocks his cell with Simmons’ key.)

  ALL

  Oh my! There’s my talc! What’s all this? Who’s money? How’d he do it?!

  (He steps out of the cell.)

  RENFIELD

  By the way, Mr. Simmons, you may want your jail keys returned!

  (Suspense music in. He tosses the keys to the floor and runs off stage, escaping his confines.)

  RENFIELD

  RENFIELD’S COMING, MASTER! COMING TO DO YOUR BIDDING!

  SEWARD

  He’s escaped! Hurry, Simmons! Let’s after him. Miss Hennessey, Miss Snelling, alert the asylum staff!

  (They split up and run offstage. Exeunt.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 9

  “Servitude”

  [A Forest Between the Asylum and the Cottage]

  (A sudden emergence of mysterious music. Dracula appears from the forest, he intercepts Renfield. The music underscores the following dialogue.)

  DRACULA

  Well, well, well. If it isn’t Mr. Renfield. The poorest excuse for a sniveling coward of pseudo-humanity. You are the lowest order of your fellow mortals. You are a mere lunatic and you wreak with the stench of rotted carp.

  RENFIELD

  Your kind words flow through me. You have adorned me with a flattery beyond measure.

  DRACULA

  It is all well-deserved.

  RENFIELD

  I am here to do your bidding, Master.

  DRACULA

  You come most carefully upon your hour.

  RENFIELD

  Aye, but chide Renfield not, please, good paramour. He is present, nonetheless.

  DRACULA

  So you are.

  RENFIELD

  Renfield is your slave.

  DRACULA

  So too you have become.

  RENFIELD

  You will reward him. For he has been faithful.

  DRACULA

  Have you?

  RENFIELD

  Renfield has worshipped you long and from afar. Now that you are near, he awaits your commands.

  DRACULA

  I have only one at present, Renfield.

  RENFIELD

  Anything, Lord and conqueror.

  DRACULA

  Go to the bedchamber of one ‘Lucy Westenra’. You will know the way. Her French windows are locked. The room has been sanctified and without invitation, I can not enter. But you can. Find your way to her upon the hour of her slumber. Unlock the portal from within. Leave without detection. So that I may have access to her. I will cast open the windows and summon her into the garden cemetery… It is time. Go.

  RENFIELD

  Renfield will. You will not pass him by. Will you, dear Master, in your distribution of good things?

  DRACULA

  Do this for me, Slave. And I will bestow upon you the greatest of all gifts.

  RENFIELD

  And what might that be?

  DRACULA

  Cold, eternal death, amongst a legion of depraved souls.

  RENFIELD

  Enticing as that sounds, Renfield was hoping for, maybe, something more along the lines of immortality among mountains of gold.

  DRACULA

  Test me not, Mortal. I will bestow upon you that which you deserve. Now go!

  RENFIELD

  Aye, Lord of Darkness! Straightaway!

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 10

  “The Beast with Two Backs”

  [Lucy’s Boudoir, Cottage in Whitby]

  (Music of mystery and suspense underscores the entire following scene. Renfield creeps his way through underground crawlspaces. Then, a trap door creaks open in the floor of Lucy’s bedchamber where she and Mina are fast asleep in the same bed. There is a warm, glowing light emanating from the trap door hole. It is a mysterious and supernatural light. A hand comes out of the trap holding a lit lantern. It is Renfield. He crawls out and goes to the bed. Renfield leers over the two girls for a moment, then goes to the French doors, unlocks the latch, and crawls back down into the trap door hole, closing the lid behind him. Dracula appears in the mist outside the glass window panes. With a wave of his hands, the doors miraculously open by themselves. He holds out his hands towards the sleeping Lucy as if to summon her. She rises hypnotically and slowly glides to the open doors. She exits to join the Count. He takes her by the hand and leads her into the deep woods. Mina awakens when she finds Lucy missing from beside her. She throws on a coat over her night dress.)

  MINA

  Lucy? Lucy?!

  (She goes to the French door windows, sees them open, then closes them and latches them securely shut. She takes Lucy’s housecoat in one hand and an oil lamp from beside the bed in the other. She uses it to see her way out the house. She goes out into the night in search of Lucy. It is cold. The wind kicks up and thunder begins to roll.)

  MINA

  Lucy! Lucy! I know you mustn’t have gotten far without your house coat! Where are you, Dear? Follow my voice, dear-heart! Lucy!

  (All of a sudden, Lucy is seen alone appearing in the cemetery garden. Mina is still far enough away that she cannot quite make out that it is her friend. Lucy goes to a gravestone and kneels. Out of the darkness a werewolf appears. It grabs Lucy, hoists her up into his arms as she falls limp. The wolf bites Lucy upon the throat. Mina does not understand exactly what is happening. Only that Lucy’s safety is in peril.)

  MINA

  OH MY GOD!!!, LUCY!!! NO!!!

  (The thing waves a hand as if casting a spell on Mina.)

  THE BEAST

  You will remember nothing.

  (Mina brings her hand to her head and slumps a bit as if feeling faint. After the thing bites, he places Lucy back down on top of the grave. The beast vanishes into the wood. Mina shakes the dizziness from her head and runs to Lucy.)

  MINA

  Lucy, come to the house this instant! We must go home at once!

  (Lucy revives. Mina wraps the house coat about Lucy’s shoulders and uses a large pin to close it ‘round her neck. She leads Lucy back to the cottage and to bed. Mina places the lamp on the nightstand, removes Lucy’s housecoat, takes off her own and helps to guide Lucy back to bed where they both cuddle together off to gradual sleep. Music comes to a gentle close.)

  [END OF SCENE]

  Scene 11

  “A Strange Fever”

  [Lucy’s Boudoir, Cottage in Whitby]

  (Lighting and gentle morning music rise back up on Lucy’s boudoir to convey a new morning after the storm. Mina is straightening toiletries on a vanity. Mina gently begins to brush Lucy’s hair in an effort to gradually wake her. Lucy stirs, music fades out.)

  MINA

  Well, good morning, Sleepy Head.

  LUCY

  How long have I slept?

  MINA

  I thought it time to awaken you. But I wanted to let you get in a few extra winks this morning.

  LUCY

  Why? What for?

  MINA

  You were quite the midnight wanderer.

  LUCY

  What?

  MINA

  The adventure of the night seems not to have harmed you.

  LUCY

  How you speak in riddles. What adventure?

  MINA

  You don’t remember, do you?

  LUCY

  Don’t tell me, somnambula
ting? Again?

  MINA

  I’m afraid so.

  LUCY

  Is it warm in here to you?

  MINA

  Oh! My word!

  LUCY

  What is it?

  MINA

  Your throat!

  LUCY

  What about it?

  MINA

  On your neck, there are,… Oh, my word! I must’ve injured you.

  LUCY

  You?

  MINA

  I rapped your shawl about you, then fastened it with a large, safety pin. I must’ve been careless. For you have two small and distinct wounds.

  LUCY

  Don’t be silly, Mina. I hardly feel it at all.

  MINA

  I hope it doesn’t leave a scar.

  (Lucy checks her neck wounds in a hand-held mirror.)

  LUCY

  Doubtful. The two holes are so small. I wouldn’t worry.

  MINA

  Would you like a bandage?

  LUCY

  No, silly. That’s not necessary. In fact, I fancy them a bit. If nothing else, they may allude to a social life that I have not, yet greatly desire.

  MINA

  Lucy! You’re spoken for now, you naughty little minx…

  LUCY

  It really is warm… I’m telling you, I cannot…

  (Lucy begins feeling ill.)

  MINA

  Luce?

  LUCY

  I’m all right. Just feeling rather faint at the moment.

  MINA

  Lie back down.

  (She does so and Mina feels her forehead.)

  LUCY

  Oh my! It’s almost,… as if…

  MINA

  Oh! My Lord! Lucy, your forehead! You’re burning up! You’re hot as fire!

  LUCY

  I’m so weak all of a sudden… Mina, I think I’m slipping away.

  MINA

  Oh God! No, Lucy! Stay with me. I’ll ring Dr. Seward!

  (Mina grabs a bell from Lucy’s bedside table.)

  MINA

  He’ll hear the bell from across the lawn at the asylum. Hold tight, my love!

  (Mina goes to the French doors, slings them open and furiously rings the bell.)

  MINA

  He’s always up early. He must’ve heard.

  LUCY

  Water, please.

  MINA

  Yes, yes, of course! Here, my love.

  (Mina gives Lucy a glass of water.)

  LUCY

  Bless you, dearest…

  (Young Mr. Nigel Billington, a footman of the Westenra cottage, begins knocking on the outside door to Lucy’s boudoir.)

  (Knocking)

  LUCY

  Dreams. I’m dreaming again. The Sandman came. He loves me so. Do let him in, won’t you, Wilhemina?

  MINA

  Oh, my poor friend. You’ve succumbed to delirium.

  (More knocking)

  MINA

  Who is it?

  BILLINGTON

  It’s Billington, Mum.

  (Mina runs to the door…)

  MINA

  Oh, Billington. It’s Lucy. She’s taken ill.

  BILLINGTON

  I heard the bell and wondered if I might be of assistance.

  MINA

  Yes, please, Billington. Go and fetch Mrs. Westenra.

  BILLINGTON

  Right away.

  (He exits briskly.)

  MINA

  Dr. Seward! Dr. Seward! Come quickly! It’s Lucy!

  (She closes the door and goes back to Lucy.)

  MINA

  I don’t know if he hears me. I’ll have to run ’cross the lawn. Hold on, Dear. I’ll return presently.

  (Mina runs out quickly to fetch Dr. Seward. A mysterious music eases in and lights gradually crossfade to a glowing crimson. Lucy, sweating and pallid brings herself up to a sitting position, she moves to the foot of the bed on her knees. The following speech is delivered upright from her bed. Lucy looks out as if seeing and feeling all that she describes.)

  LUCY

  Yes,… Yesssss,… I hear you, Master. I see it. All. I reach the summit of East Cliff. Gazing below, I spy waves rise in growing fury, each overtopping its fellow. The mysterious glassy seas are like a roaring and devouring monster. White crested waves beat madly on the craggy rock at the foot of the shelving cliff; The wind roars like thundering masses of sea creatures come drifting inland, white wet clouds which sweep by in ghostly fashion so dank and damp and cold that the spirits of those lost at sea were touching my naked body with their clammy hands of death. I so want to join them! I inch closer to the ledge. Compelled to leap off the cliff and dive down to sweet oblivion. And just at the last, before I leap, crushing skull against the rocks below, I spy the corpses of hundreds of souls taken their own lives. The stench of their rotting flesh wafts upward and excites me. Blood-bloated with sickly hue of algae, the dead begin to move, to swim out to deeper ocean and my mouth waters. I desire, I hunger, I THIRST!

  (As music dies and lights restore gradually, Lucy appears to come out from under her odd spell. Mina enters hurriedly.)

  MINA

  He’s coming, my sweet.

  LUCY

  Water, please.

  MINA

  Yes, yes of course!

  (Mina pours a glass of water from a nearby pitcher and takes it to Lucy.)

  MINA

  Here you are, love.

  (Seward enters followed by Hennessey and Snelling.)

  SEWARD

  What is it?

  MINA

  It’s Lucy, Sir. She’s stricken with some fever, I fear.

  SEWARD

  Oh, Good Lord! Her skin!

  (Seward goes to Lucy’s bedside. He examines her eyes, mouth, and pulse.)

  MINA

  It’s just come on. She was fine last night.

  (Seward notices the two wounds on her neck.)

  SEWARD

  And these marks? Good God, what’s happened to her?

  MINA

  She was sleep-walking again. I went out to find her. Closing her shawl, I may have caught her in the neck with a safety pin.

  SEWARD

  Twice?! And so deep into the flesh. No safety pin did this. You can rest easy, Miss Murray. No fault of your own. No, these appear to be wounds from some animal’s teeth marks. Fangs. A wolf or something.

  MINA

  A wolf?! But how could that have happened? She was within my sight most of the time.

  SEWARD

  Miss Murray, quickly! Come ’round to the other side of the bed and talk to her. Keep her awake. She needs to stay conscious.

  MINA

  All right… Lucy, it’s me, Mina. I’m here. Everything’s going to be all right…

  SEWARD

  Miss Hennessey, some compresses with a basin of cold water, if you please.

  HENNESSEY

  Right away, Doctor.

  SEWARD

  Smollet, you’d better go and fetch her mother. But don’t alarm her. Simply tell her to come to Lucy’s bedchamber.

  (Enter Mrs. Westenra at the door with Billington.)

  SNELLING

  It seems she’s already here, Dr. Seward.

  (Seward runs to stop Mrs. Westenra at the door.)

  WESTENRA

  What in God’s name is happening?! I heard the bell. And some commotion.

  SEWARD

  Relax, Mrs. Westenra. Everything’s in hand. Lucy appears to be a little dehydrated is all.

  WESTENRA

  I want to see her.

  SEWARD


  Stay calm. You may see her so long as you don’t cause alarm in her.

  WESTENRA

  Let me see my daughter!

  SEWARD

  All right but for God’s sake, Madam, choose your words carefully. Use diplomacy, Mrs. Westenra. Don’t let on how grave she appears. We don’t want to worry her unnecessarily. Whatever you do, be gentle.

  WESTENRA

  Out of my way, Doctor Seward. I know how to speak to my own daughter.

  SEWARD

  Very well. And remember your heart condition. It does you no good to get upset, either.

  WESTENRA

  (Completely in shock.)

  Oh my word, Lucy! You look simply God awful! Why, she’s like a dying invalid in the throws of apoplexy! Dear, you’re colorless as a decaying corpse, rotting in a charnel house!!!

  SEWARD

  Your sensitivity is eloquent as always, Madam.

  WESTENRA

  Well, I’m sorry, Dr. Seward, but just look at her!

  SEWARD

  I SEE her!

  WESTENRA

  What in God’s name has happened to my baby?!

  SEWARD

  It appears to be some type of blood poisoning or rather an anemia of sorts that I’ve not witnessed in my years.

  WESTENRA

  Dr. Seward, haven’t you any smelling salts?

  SEWARD

  Smelling salts won’t help your daughter maintain consciousness.

  WESTENRA

  Not for her! For me! I’m feeling a hot flash just now.

  (She collapses on a chair, waving her face with a fan.)

  SEWARD

  Miss Snelling, see to Mrs. Westenra. Get her a glass of water.

  SNELLING

  Yes, Doctor.

  SEWARD

  Ladies, help Miss Lucy into the water closet. Prepare a cold bath. Anything to bring her temperature down!

  MINA

  Dr. Seward, what more can we do? Please, tell me Lucy’s going to be all right.

  SEWARD

  Miss Murray, this is unfortunately beyond my scope of practice. I have a very dear friend. My mentor and advisor at School of Medicine. Professor Abraham Van Helsing of Holland. He’ll know what to do. I’ll send a telegram straightaway to Amsterdam! Meanwhile, stay by her side. Help Mrs. Westenra to more comfortable accommodation.

  MINA

  Yes, yes, of course.

  (Mina and others help Lucy offstage, presumably to a cold bath.)

  SEWARD

  (Aside. Music in.)

 

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