Monday 31 May 2021

SISTER MOON : I Want to Believe

 “Luther Lee Boggs, Clyde Bruckman, Gerald Schnauz.. 
I went through those cases 
and that work was extremely impressive.”

  


(Cameo) Vanessa Morley: 
When Fox Mulder and Dana Scully first walk back into the F.B.I. offices 
right before they walk into the bullpen, 
a female agent walks by that catches Mulder's attention 
and he watches her walk away. 

The woman is the actress who throughout The X Files (1993) 
played the young Samantha Mulder, 
and is the same Samantha 
in the photo Mulder has taped to the back of his home office door.




 “But I've learned to pretend over the past nine years - to pretend that my victories MATTERED, only to realize that NO-ONE was keeping score.”

— Fox Mulder, 2002,
Post-9/11.
  















GENERAL MARK A. SUVEG: 
This would look bad for the Marines 
if it didn't look worse for The FBI. 
What does Mulder intend to plea?

KERSH shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head. 
He doesn't know.

Right up until this very instant —
He did not CARE :
He HATES Fox Mulder, 
and everything that he represents.

But now.....

GENERAL MARK A. SUVEG: 
You wanted a chance to clear up 
this mess, Mr. Kersh, and 
I'm going to give it to you
Give it to the FBI.

KERSH: 
How?

GENERAL MARK A. SUVEG: 
A fair hearing for Your Agent 
by his own Agency. 

Mulder isn’t an FBI Agent anymore —
He’s been Out of The Bureau since shortly after he returned from The Dead.

The Military Doesn’t Care.
The Bush Administration Doesn’t Care.

Blame must be assigned.

And for that to happen, 
The FBI must get out of The Way, 
go along with The Lie and Keep Silent.

9/11.

Your Prosecutor, Your Judges. 
Held in my court.

KERSH: 
That can't be legal. 

KERSH:
Why Do This?


GENERAL MARK A. SUVEG: 
I want a verdict
A guilty verdict. 

This man Mulder has made 
a lot of Enemies. 

He's A Crusader. 
And a lot of people do 
not like The Crusade.

KERSH shakes his head, no.

KERSH
I can't do that.

GENERAL MARK A. SUVEG: 
Oh, you'll do it
Deputy Director. 

You and I both know there are forces 
inside The Government now that 
A Man would be foolish to disobey.

KERSH knows a threat when he hears one.



SCULLY :
You've always said that you 
Want to Believe. 
 
But Believe in WHAT, Mulder? 
 
If this is The Truth that you've been looking for, then 
What is left 
to Believe in?

MULDER: 
I Want to Believe That The Dead Are Not Lost to Us.
 
That They Speak to Us as Part of Something Greater Than Us
Greater Than Any Alien Force. 
 
And if You and I are powerless now, 
I Want to Believe 
That if We LISTEN 
to What is SPEAKING --
 
It can 
Give Us The Power 
to Save Ourselves.

SCULLY :
 Then,
We Believe in The Same Thing.

She reaches down  to the gifted Gold that hangs on a chain around her neck, the same Golden totem that has hung there, 
in plain sight for 9 whole seasons of Network Television without attracting ANY real notice or curious interest —  or not any from Mulder, at least — 
and she gently turns her Cross ever-so slightly, 45-degrees or so from the perpendicular —

It is an X. 
The Unknown and Unquantifiable, Endless-Nameless Mystery



“A lot of people like to 
characterise Grant, as — 
A Space Case.
 
And a NUTTER.
 

 But what a lot of people don’t realise, 
in large-part because They're not listening,
is that he is extremely 
practial and pragmantic.
 
When he talks about his alien abduction, 
when he talks about Magick, it's all about --
 
The Practical Method 
to make Something Happen.
 
In his completely insane and unreasonable way,
he is actually completely reasonable -- 
and pragmatic about these things."
 
-- Warren Ellis.
 



YOUNG GUARDIAN SAAL : 
Ha!
 
It’s good that you were kind to Them.
 
But you turned down Their Offer?
 
 HAL JORDAN,
THE Green Lantern,
Sir Harold of The Emerald Lamp,
Aladdin, a Widow’s Son, The Son of a Tailor,
The New Taylor :
“My Ring’s running on Grail Energy
and I have plans to hitch a ride on some passing comet,
see where The Road takes me.
 
Maybe catch up on some
Unfinished Business.
 
Guardian Saal —
Where Are We Going?
 
….and Why Do I Hear Voices?"
 
 YOUNG GUARDIAN SAAL : 
Only The Voices of Your Fellow Green Lanterns.
Those Who Were Inspired by You.
Those Who Wish to Honour You.
 
Those Who Dream of One Day Surpassing You!”



The Accolytes :
....um?




 

SCENE 5 
SOMERSET, WESTERN VIRGINIA 

5:02 A.M.

The FBI vehicles drive down a snow-laden track. 
Joe is dozing next to Mulder in the back. 
The vehicle goes over a bump and he wakes up.

FATHER JOE: 
Are we getting warm?

WHITNEY: 
You tell us.

Whitney is in the front passenger seat, Drummy is driving.

FATHER JOE: 
I don't know. 
I have a clue where we are.

MULDER: 
That's all right. 
Everybody works differently.

FATHER JOE: 
Who are you - The Good Cop?

MULDER: 
I'm the non-Cop.

He holds out Monica Bannan's FBI photo ID card.

FATHER JOE: 
I don't know this girl. 
This Agent Bannan of yours. 

I haven't a clue of the connection.

MULDER: 
There's always something, 
however small.

FATHER JOE: 
And who made you 
The Expert?

MULDER: 
I once investigated a series of cases involving unexplained phenomena for the FBI.

FATHER JOE: 
So you believe in these sort of things?

MULDER: 
Let's just say 
I want to Believe.

DRUMMY: 
And His Sister was abducted.
By E.T.

FATHER JOE
...Is that True...?

MULDER
It was a long time ago.

FATHER JOE
.....she's dead, isn't she?
Your Sister?

Mulder doesn't answer. 

He takes Monica Bannan's ID and looks at it. 
Whitney glances at him. 

Then Joe leans forward.

FATHER JOE: 
This is where she was taken - Your Agent. 
This is where she was attacked.

MULDER
I want him to see the crime scene.

They pull into a driveway and get out of the cars. 

Joe walks towards the garage 
then stops.

FATHER JOE
No, this isn't right
You've brought me to the wrong house.

Joe walks back down the drive.

MULDER: 
Pulled that right out of his ass.

Drummy walks after Father Joe who has now 
walked onto the road. 

He approaches the house opposite, 
where there is yellow crime scene tape 
around the garage. 

He goes into the garage and looks around. 
Whitney indicates to Drummy to follow him.

WHITNEY: 
There were news crews out here 
covering the scene, 
pictures of the neighborhood — 

He could've recognized it all from TV....

Mulder and Whitney go round the outside of the house.

MULDER: 
Yeah, but, why?

WHITNEY: 
Why?

MULDER: 
Why do it? Why go to such 
great lengths to create such an 
elaborate fiction.

WHITNEY: 
ExpiationForgiveness of His Sins. 
He's written dozens of letters 
to The Vatican pleading 
re-engagement with 
The Church.


MULDER
A rather odd way to impress 
The Holy See.

WHITNEY
The Voice of God Speaking 
through A Man - 

I think that's been 
A Winner a few times.

At the back of the house, 
Father Joe is walking towards The Woods, 
Drummy watching him.

MULDER: 
So you think he's Guilty too, huh?

WHITNEY: 
We HAVE to consider him 
A Suspect —

MULDER: 
But you found no connection 
to The Crime.

WHITNEY: 
Don't think My Guys have stopped looking, 
and they think they're going to find Monica.

MULDER: 
But you don't
or I wouldn't be here.

WHITNEY
Yeah, I'm not the most popular girl 
at the FBI right now for 
calling you in, 
Believe Me.

MULDER
I wasn't exactly Miss Popularity 
at the FBI myself.

WHITNEY
But you've dealt with 
psychics before

Luther Lee Boggs, 
Clyde Bruckman, 
Gerald Schnauz - 

I went through 
those cases and 
that work was 
extremely impressive.

MULDER
Yeah, well. 
I'm only half The Yeam.

WHITNEY
But it's YOUR insights 
I NEED.

They see Father Joe sink to his knees in The Snow. 
They rush over to him.

FATHER JOE: 
She ran away. 
She tried to escape. 

There were two men. 
Well, she couldn't

He pushed her down, 
it was here, 
it was right here, 
and then they put in the back.

WHITNEY: 
Where?!

FATHER JOE: 
In the car - no - it was a truck, 
a truck with something on it.

WHITNEY: 
We have to find her!

FATHER JOE: 
She's in pain
great, great pain.

WHITNEY: 
Tell me where!

FATHER JOE: 
I don't know
I can't see.

WHITNEY: 
We need to find her!

FATHER JOE: 
I can't see.

Drummy doesn't believe this.

DRUMMY: 
Because he's pulling it out of his ass.

If he were
he would be lying better — 
providing more positive and actionable information 
(even if it isn’t True),
and he would never be saying 
I Don’t Know.”

It isn’t bullshit, therefore.

If he were faking it, 
he would want to seem 
as useful and insight 
as possible — he isn’t.

This is largely unhelpful :
Except for the fact that 
she is in Great Pain.

But that does not help 
in finding her...

He walks off. 
Mulder and Whitney look down at Joe who is weeping. 
They blood spots on The Snow.

MULDER: 
Father Joe?

Father Joe lifts up his head. 
The blood is coming from his eyes.

At the hospital, Scully goes into the children's ward and up to Christian who is lying in bed.

SCULLY: 
Hi, Christian. 
You're looking very bright-eyed this morning.

CHRISTIAN
I was thinking.

SCULLY
Yeah? What were you thinking?

CHRISTIAN
How I'm going to get out of here.

SCULLY
Well, you know, 
I'm thinking exactly the same thing.

CHRISTIAN: 
Can I get out of here soon?

SCULLY: 
What's wrong? 
Has something scared you?

CHRISTIAN
The Way The Man 
is looking at me.

SCULLY
What man?

Christian indicates a man standing in the corridor.

SCULLY: 
Don't be afraid.

Scully walks down the corridor to The Man, Father Ybarra
who is looking through a folder.

SCULLY: 
I was just looking for those.

FATHER YBARRA: 
I wanted to go over them myself 
and the results of the 
new tests that you ordered.

SCULLY
That isn't really your purview, Father. 
It's his primary physician's.

FATHER YBARRA
It is in my purview, to make sure 
that all my physicians are making 
The Right Choices for their patients 
and for The Hospital.

SCULLY: 
Can I have the test results, please?

He hands them to her.

FATHER YBARRA: 
We are here to Heal The Sick
not prolong the ordeal 
of The Dying. 

There are other
better facilities for The Boy.

 




DRUMMY: 
Dana Scully? 

Dr. Scully, 
I'm looking for Fox Mulder.

SCULLY: 
Excuse me.

Scully walks over to him.

DRUMMY: 
Special Agent Drummy 
with the FBI.

SCULLY: 
I can guess who you're with.

DRUMMY: 
The FBI urgently needs to speak with Fox Mulder.

SCULLY: 
I don't work with Fox Mulder any longer. 
I don't work with the FBI.

DRUMMY: 
Well, if you could contact him, 
it might just Save The Life 
of an FBI Agent.

Later, Scully drives down a country road and turns into a lane blocked by a metal gate. 
She opens this and continues driving up the long track to a house. 
She enters the house, into a cluttered living room. 
She undoes her coat, then goes into another room which has press cuttings all over the walls. 
Mulder is sat at a desk with his back to her.

MULDER: 
What's up, Doc?

SCULLY: 
You've become awfully trusting Mulder, 
for a man wanted by the FBI.

MULDER
Eyes in the back of my head, Scully. 
"Auf einer Wellenlänge",
 as The Germans say. 

It's a precognitive state often confused with simple human intuition, 
in which the brain perceives 
The Deep Logic underlying transitory Human Existence, 
unaided by The Conscious Mind, 
materializing much as you did just now. 

Though if you'd actually materialized, 
you'd be rapidly de-materializing. 

But Who Believes 
that crap anymore?

Mulder has been cutting out another newspaper article. 

Then he stands and faces her, smiling.

He's dressed in casual clothes, and has a beard.

SCULLY: 
Well, they do at the FBI apparently. 

I had a visitor today, Mulder. 

The FBI want your help finding a missing agent.

Mulder pins the newspaper article, "Princeton closes ESP lab after 40 years of paranormal study" on the board next to his I Want To Believe poster.

MULDER: 
Well, I hope you told them go screw themselves.

SCULLY: 
They say all is forgiven. 
That they'll drop all charges against you if you come in 
and help them solve this case.

MULDER: 
The FBI will forgive me
They put me on trial on bogus charges 
and tried to discredit a decade of my work, 
they should be asking me for my forgiveness, Scully.

SCULLY: 
I think they are
Desperately.

MULDER:
How can I possibly help these people?

Mulder sits down.

SCULLY: 
Someone's come forward with some promising evidence.

A psychic, he claims.

MULDER
It's A Trick, Scully, 
to smoke me out.

SCULLY
Mulder, if the FBI wanted to get you,
I have no doubt that they could

I think they've just been happy 
to have you out of their hair.

MULDER
Oh good, because I am just as happy, 
having them out of mine.

SCULLY
A Young Agent's Life is at stake. 

Mulder, I know 
I don't have to say this, 
but it could have been you once, or me. 

You know, The Truth is, 
I worry about you, 
and the effects of long-term isolation.

Mulder chuckles.

MULDER: 
I'm fine, here — 
Happy as a clam.

Mulder eats a sunflower seed. 
Scully looks up at the ceiling which has many pencils embedded in it.

SCULLY
I'll Tell Them Your Answer.

She leaves the room. 

Mulder looks at the closed door 
on which there are many press cuttings, 
plus a photograph of young Samantha — 

Looking at him.

MULDER
Shit.

He opens the door.

MULDER: 
Okay, I'll go. 
Under one condition.

Scully sighs. 

A helicopter. 
Mulder holds open the door for Scully. 
After they are both seated inside, 
the helicopter takes off.






SCENE 23
TEXAS-NEW MEXICO BORDER
5:07 AM


The SUV driven by MULDER makes it was down the road. 
It pulls off to the side.

MULDER cuts the engine, leans toward SCULLY who is sleeping and gently kisses her cheek. He gets out of the car.)

MULDER unzips his pants and relieves himself, when ...

FROHIKE'S GHOST :
 
Hey, hot shot! 
You might have the common courtesy 
of doing Your Business there downwind.

MULDER: 
Oh, boy.

LANGLY
'S GHOST: 
Why don't you just finish draining 
the little lizard 
and then we'll talk?

BYER
'S GHOST: 
We're very worried about you.

FROHIKE
'S GHOST: 
It's craziness, man. Turn around.

LANGLEY
'S GHOST:
Just hang a big U-ie and never look back.

MULDER: 
can't.

BYER
'S GHOST: 
Why risk Perfect Happiness, Mulder? 
Why risk your lives?

MULDER: 
Because I need to 
Know The Truth.

BYER
'S GHOST: 
You already know The Truth.

MULDER thinks about that one for a moment. 
When he responds, its with complete honesty 
at what he's really doing there.

MULDER: 
need to know if I can change it.

LANGLY
'S GHOST: 
Change it?

FROHIKE
'S GHOST: 
For crying out loud --
All you're going to do is
 get yourself killed.

From behind him, 
SCULLY 
got out of the car to look 
for MULDER.

SCULLY: 
Mulder! What are you doing?

MULDER: 
I'll be right with you, Scully.

They both get back into the car.

A : She’s Empty




 

Apart from assorted snarls and hisses,

Count Dracula never actually speaks to anyone

other than Jonathan Harker throughout the entire film.

 

 

Although Christopher Lee's performance as The Count

is considered to be quite cold and aloof

he actually smiles amicably during his conversation with Jonathan Harker when he comments upon their mutual appreciation of each other

 

Harker for enjoying the solitude The Castle has to offer,

and Dracula, for finding "such a distinguished scholar"

to catalogue his library of books. 

 

 Of course, in this version, Harker is LYING to him,

and has come there to Castle Dracula

and tricked his way into His Home

via subterfuge to KILL him —

 

There’s  A Universal Lesson here, I feel…. 

 

Dracula's smile is hard to distinguish because he is seen

at a distance in long shot and in profile. 

 

This is the only friendly smile Lee's Dracula ever makes

in his many Hammer performances as the Count.

 

 

 

 

 

 
There is a mysterious and silent nun in the corner of The Room
 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Hello?

Did somebody send you?

 

Sorry, no offence,

but I'm really not A Believer.

 

Jack : 

Zoe?

 

DOOR OPENS

 

Jack :

Sorry, I didn't mean to...

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing : 

Oh, Jack. Hello.

 

Sorry, I was...

I was dreaming.

Please, come in.

 

Jack :

Thanks.

Sorry if I startled you.

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

No, no, you didn't. Ugh.

Try again, I'm incredibly bored.

 

HE CHUCKLES

 

Jack :

I didn't bring any grapes or anything.

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

I hate grapes.

 

Jack :

In that case,

You're Welcome.

 

SHE LAUGHS

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

It's very kind of you 

to come and see your old mentor.

 

Is it, Jack?

 

Is it kind?

 

*****

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Oh, Jack.

You were my star pupil.

 

I only suggested you for the donor programme 

so you could get some easy money,

get you through college.

 

I never thought Dracula

would actually come back.

 

Nobody did.

 

Jack :

So...

What do you think...

..about Lucy?

 

Van Helsing :

It's possible.

Could be him.

 

Jack :

Dracula chooses his victims 

for a reason.

 

Van Helsing :

Is there anything...

special about her?

 

Jack :

I Love Her.

 

But she's a

Perfectly Ordinary Girl.

 

Van Helsing :

She can't be.

Because if it is Dracula...

What keeps him coming back for more?

 

 

Lucy Westenra is lying at home on her bed, texting.

SHE TYPES

 

Lucy Westenra :

Hello?

Who's down there?

Is that you?

 

UNDEAD CHILD:

Peekaboo.

 

SHE GASPS

 

UNDEAD CHILD:

Peekaboo.

Bloofer lady.

Peekaboo.

 

Dracula :

May I come in?

 

UNDEAD CHILD:

Peekaboo.

 

Dracula :

Please avert your eyes - I, um...

...I have to murder a child.

 

As we used to say in Vladivostok.

 

BLOOD SPATTERING

 

CHILD SCREAMS

 

Lucy Westenra :

I'm ill.

 

Dracula :

Well, not ill, precisely.

 

Lucy Westenra :

Look at my face.

 

Dracula :

So, so beautiful.

 

Lucy Westenra :

I'm as white as a sheet.

 

Dracula : 

As the last unprinted snow.

 

Lucy Westenra :

Am I dying?

 

Dracula :

You're mortal.

You've been dying since the day you were born.

 

SHE SIGHS

 

Dracula :

My People have A Saying,

"One should always speed a parting guest."

 

BLOOD GUSHING

 

KNOCK ON DOOR

 

Meg Westenra,

Mother to Lucy :

How are you feeling, love?

 

FLY BUZZES

 

Meg Westenra,

Mother to Lucy :

Just going to make some tea.

Want some?

 

I'll bring you a cuppa.

 

You stay there!

You need to keep your strength up.

 

FLY BUZZING

 

 

Lucy Westenra’s Ghost,

Screaming Internally :

Help me!

 

Help me!

 

Help me!

 

Help me!

 

 

Dracula’s Ghost

in The Mirror :

Shh.

 

Hush, Lucy, you're mine now.

You've nothing left to fear.

 

You won't be long in your grave.

 

Your mind screams aloud, but for now,

your body must be silent.

 

 

Vicar :

In the midst of life, we

are in death.

 

Of whom may we seek for succour but of Thee, O Lord,

who for our sins art justly displeased?

 

Yet, O Lord, God most holy...

 

 

MUFFLED SCREAMS

 

..deliver us not into the bitter

pains of eternal death.

 

MUSIC:

Angels by Robbie Williams

 

# I sit and wait

# Does an angel

# Contemplate my fate?

# And do they know

# The places where we go

# When we're grey and old? #

 

 

No! No!

 

MUFFLED

 

Help me!

 

MUFFLED WHIMPERS

 

Come on.

 

# And through it all

# She offers me protection

# A lot of love and affection

# Whether I'm right or wrong... #

 

SHE SCREAMS

 

It's like...I can hear her.

I can feel her crying for me.

 

SHE SCREAMS

 

Lucy Westenra’s Ghost,

Screaming Internally :

Help! Help!

 

BANGING

 

Orderley :

Hello?

 

CLANGING

 

Orderley :

Hello, is someone there?

Is someone here?

 

Did someone open The Furnace?

It's not supposed to be open yet.

 

Lucy Westenra :

Did you...

 

..put me...

 

Orderley :

What...?

 

Lucy Westenra :

..in The Fire?

 

 

Kind of His Job, dear.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

I'll be with you in a moment.

 

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Where am I?

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

That is not The Question, Zoe.

I may call you Zoe, mayn't I?

 

The Question is -

"What are Dracula's Limitations?"

 

So, we know three things :

 

He cannot enter an abode

without an invitation.

 

He cannot stand in The Sunlight.

 

And he fears, above all things,

The Sight of The Cross.

 

But you see, we are wrong.

 

These Three Things must be One Thing, 

much tidier.

 

God is Always Tidy.

Well, according to His own account.

Oh, do stop hanging your mouth open like that.

 

Dracula drank My Blood, 

and You drank His.


Blood is Lives.

 

What's left of Mine is in Him,

and now also in You.

 

As he promised, 

I have travelled to The New World in his veins.

 

There are an awful lot of people in Dracula's blood, 

but I suppose my DNA syncs with yours.

 

Oh, what a useful vocabulary I now have!

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Who are you?

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

It's perfectly obvious Who I Am.

 

So, What Does Dracula Fear?

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

I don't know.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

What does he want, then?

 

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

I don't know.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

Yes, you do.

 

He returned to feed on Lucy Westenra

time and time again.

 

Well, he could feed off anyone in London, 

anyone in The World.

 

Why return to one Perfectly Ordinary Girl

night after night?

 

Because she’s NOT "a Perfectly Ordinary Girl" :

She’s EMPTY.

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Who are you?

 

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

Who do I look like?

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Me.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

Correct! 

Now, think, think, think — 

 

What Does He Want, 

and 

What Does He Fear?

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

I don't know. I don't care.

It's not my problem any more.


 Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

I am Inside Your Head.

I feel your Guilt.

 

Your Foundation, 

it was funded by...

Oh, I can't see it.

You don't like to think about it, do you?

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Wherever that money came from,

I did Good with it.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

For many years, yes.

 

But you also brought Dracula Back to Life with it,

so he's still very much 

Your Problem, 

and 

You Know That.

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

What can I do?

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

Poor child —

As Our Lord said that night in Gethsemane,

"The Spirit is Willing,

but The Flesh is Weak."

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

Tell me Who You Are.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

I am The Spirit.

And you are The Flesh.

 

The Darkness of Dracula

shall guide us to The Light.

 

Dr. Zoe Helsing :

I'm Dying. I'm Dead.

 

Sister Agatha Van Helsing :

But I am Sister Agatha Van Helsing

of the St Mary's convent, Budapest,

and neither of us are quite done yet.

 

HE SIGHS

 

PHONE BUZZES

 

Van Helsing :

I need you to pick me up from the hospital.

I'm...discharging myself.

 

 

Dr. Jack Seward :

Zoe, you're dying.

 

Van Helsing :

Well, don't take too long, then.

 

LUCY: 

Beautiful.

Beautiful lady.

Bloofer lady.

 

 

Frank Renfield :

So, Master, in conclusion,

I feel we should continue to consider The Harker Foundation

an active personal threat.

 

Dracula :

HE SNIFFS

'62, I think.

Accountant.

 

Frank Renfield :

We shall, of course, continue to monitor their activities

using agents local to the area, some discreet hacking...

 

DOORBELL BUZZES

..and your suggestion...bats.

 

Can I just...?

 

Van Helsing : 

You don't look very surprised.

 

Dracula :

You don't look very dead.

 

Van Helsing : 

I'm getting there.

 

Finding you wasn't difficult.

A Man of your Breeding and Ego

is temperamentally incapable of hiding.

 

One just looks for 

an unnecessarily tall building,

multiple exits

and 

no view of a church.

 

Also, your number's listed.


 D. grabs young Dr. Seward by the throat, and hoists him up into the air, gleefully inspecting his neck —


Dracula :

How kind of you bringing a bottle to the party.

Very inferior vintage.

But the gesture is appreciated.

 

Van Helsing : 

Put him down. 

 

 Dracula :

Why?

 

Van Helsing : 

This is England.

Conversation precedes Dinner.

 

HE CHUCKLES

 Dracula :

Quite right, Dr Helsing.

 

Van Helsing : 

You're expecting company.

 

Dracula : 

Yes.

 

Van Helsing : 

Lucy Westenra?


 Dracula :

Ah, you know her?

 

Van Helsing : 

Well, this is Dr Seward.

It was his phone you stole.

 

 Dr. Jack Seward :

You might say I introduced you.


 Dracula :

Ah! And now she's dead.

HE CHUCKLES

 

Van Helsing : 

If you're expecting Lucy to rise from the grave this evening, Count Dracula,

you might be interested to know that she was cremated.

Dracula :

Cremated?

But I told her, I warned her...

..and still she let them

put her in The Fire?

 

Van Helsing : 

Apparently.

 

 Dracula :

No, no, no, you don't understand.

She would have been conscious the whole time.

Her flesh melting, every cell carbonised, every particle of her being incinerated!

 

Stings a bit, I believe.

 

DOORBELL BUZZES

 

There. You see?

You have underestimated the resilience of the vampire.

 

DOORBELL BUZZES IMPATIENTLY

Ah!

 

I've always liked a lively one.

 

Um, Dr Seward...

She was your friend, was she?

 

 

Yes.

 

Now might be a good time to reflect that beauty...

..is only skin deep.

 

DOORBELL BUZZES

 

Van Helsing : 

Brave Heart, Jack.

Remember, it is The Soul, 

not The Aspect, that one loves.

 

 

 

Dr Helsing, you don't sound quite yourself.

Are you all right?

 

Perfectly.

 

LUCY: 

Hello, you.

 

Did you have much Trouble finding the place?

 

I can always sniff you out, babe.

 

Jack!

Oh, Jack, what are you doing here?

 

Oh! And who's this?

Finally he brings someone.

 

A bit pale, though,

if you don't mind me saying.

 

SHE GASPS

Did you start without me?

 

Van Helsing : 

I'm not on the menu.

I'm an old friend.

 

We go way back.

 

Why are you just standing there, Jack?

 

Kiss me.

Kiss me, Jack.

Kiss me.

 

Lucy, no.

 

Come on, Jack, kiss me like you used to.

Kiss me.

 

Kiss The Girl, Dr Seward.

Journeys end in lovers meeting.

 

What's wrong, Jack?

You can't look at me now?

 

The boy who looks at me all day, every day.

Can't you look now?

 

What's the matter, Jack?

 

Lucy, can't you see yourself?

 

Of course I can see myself.

Bloofer lady.

Bloofer lady!

 

Everyone... 

Everyone smiles when you're beautiful.

Why aren't you smiling, Jack?

 

Van Helsing : 

If you're so beautiful, Lucy...

...why don't you take a selfie?

 

You smell funny.

 

She's Dying.

Beware the bitter bouquet, Lucy.

 

The Blood of The Dying

is Death to The Vampire.

 

LUCY SNIFFS

 

You smell of Death.

 

 

 

Van Helsing : 

It's not just me.

 

CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS

 

SHE SCREAMS

No, no, no!

 

My Patient, Dr Seward.

 

SHE SOBS

My Patient.

 

No, no...

 

Lucy, my love, it's the shock.

It's the shock.

 

But you've done so well.

You've done so well!

 

Look at me!

 

I see you, bloofer lady.

 

Will I always be like this?

 

Yes. Promise. Always.

 

But I was beautiful.

 

Beauty is never more than a disguise, Lucy, 

you've outgrown it.

 

I don't want to. I don't want to!

 

Listen, listen.

SHE SOBS

 

Shh, shh.

 

Shh, listen to me. Listen.

 

Listen to me!

 

SHE CONTINUES WAILING

 

Listen!

 

CHOKES BACK TEARS

 

You're my finest bride yet.

In 500 years, you were the only one

who willingly opened up her veins.

 

You knew what was happening.

You embraced it. You accepted it.

 

Now you can live forever.

 

 

 

 

 

Like this?

 

SHE SCREAMS

 

Look at me!

 

I don't mind.

 

Oh, don't you? No.

 

Well, I do! I mind!

 

SHE WAILS

 

SHE WHIMPERS

 

Lucy.

 

Kiss me.

 

SHE WHIMPERS

 

No, no...

 

HE SCOFFS

 

You don't...

 

You don't want to kiss me...

 

..like this.

 

Lucy Westenra, there has never been

a day I didn't want to kiss you.

 

And there never will be.

 

Oh, Jack.

 

Oh, Jack.

 

DRAMATIC MUSIC

 

Do it.

 

Do it. Do it.

 

For me.

 

Do it for me.

 

SHE SCREAMS

 

STAKE CLATTERS TO GROUND

 

HE SOBS

 

She was my most promising experiment.

 

Took me 500 years to make a bride this good.

Now look what you've done.

 

She was never yours.

Or mine.

Or anyone's.

 

Well, I suppose she died well.

That's a rare quality,

you can take it from me.

 

Van Helsing : 

Quality, or flavour?

 

Ah...flavour.

Very particular.

In my experience...unique.

 

She almost seemed

in Love with Death.

 

Van Helsing :

That's it. That is everything.

 

And that's why her.

Jack, you must go.

 

I can't leave you.

 

Van Helsing : 

I'm about to have a personal

conversation with Count Dracula.

 

And I'm certain he won't want it witnessed.

 

Why not? 

 

Because there's only one thing in This World 

that you're truly afraid of,

and finally I know what it is.

 

I-I don't.

 

I know you don't.

 

Dr Seward, you may leave.

Get out. 

 

Dr Helsing...

No. I can't just...

 

 

Van Helsing :

Jack, if you want to throw your life away

in some act of selfless heroism,

there will be other opportunities.

 

It's going to be a beautiful day.

 

Thank you.

 

Dracula :

Well?

How did it taste?

 

Van Helsing : 

How did what taste?

 

HE CHUCKLES

 

Dracula :

Dr Helsing,

I think you drank my blood.

 

HE SCREAMS

 

 

Van Helsing :

It's 93 million miles away.

It really isn't going to hurt you.

 

 

DRACULA :

I don't understand.

 

Van Helsing :

I have very few breaths left to

explain, so don't interrupt.

 

Consider Count Dracula,

who cannot bear to look in a mirror.

 

 

DRACULA :

Agatha?

 

 

Van Helsing :

Dracula who won't stand revealed in The Sunlight, 

who cannot enter a home without invitation.

 

These aren't curses.

 

They are merely habits that become fetishes 

that become legends that even you believe.

 

The Rules of The Beast...

..as we discussed so very long ago.

 

But why?

 

What are you afraid of?

 

You are A Warrior

from a long line of Warriors.

 

Your Grandfather Died in Battle.

 

Your Father, Your Brothers,

Your Sons, their Sons.

 

All of Them Fell as Heroes on The Battlefield.

 

But not you.

 

Not Count Dracula, 

The Warlord who skulks in The Shadows

and steals the lives of others.

 

Unwelcome Everywhere.

 

Who sleeps in A Box of Dirt 

yet dreams of A Warrior's Grave.

 

Who suddenly found himself in the thrall of 

A Girl in Love with The Thing He Fears The Most...

..Death.

 

And now we know why this works.

 

[ She speaks of The Cross. ]

 

HE GROANS

 

Because it Speaks of 

The Courage You Long to Possess.

 

The Courage it takes to die.

 

I call you ashamed.

Count Dracula is ashamed.

 

I don't need this any more.

 

CROSS BANGS

 

I'm Dying.

I am doing the one thing that you can never do, Dracula.

 

LABOURED BREATHING

 

Dracula :

You're in pain.

 

Nice of you to notice, AT LAST.

 

Van Helsing :

I am equal to it.

 

You seek to conquer Death,

but you cannot, until you face it without fear.

 

Goodbye, Count Dracula.

Shuffle back to your box of dirt.

The Game is over. You lose.

 

You Will Live Forever...

..in shame.

 

DRAMATIC MUSIC

 

Beautiful.

Look at that, Agatha.

 

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

 

It's beautiful.

 

FLAMES WHOOSH

 

Van Helsing :

This isn't real.

This is a dream.

 

DRACULA : 

Of course it is.

 

Van Helsing :

You're drinking my blood.

And my blood is deadly to you.

 

Dracula :

Yes.

 

Van Helsing :

So you'll die.

 

Dracula :

So will you.

After all this time,

did you think I'd let it hurt?

 

FLAMES CRACKLE