77
EXT. CEMETERY NIGHT SEMI LONG SHOT
A Newcomb shot, weird, eerie; bare-limbed, queer trees; in
semi f.g. a mausoleum. Run a few feet for the effect and
LAP DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. MAUSOLEUM NIGHT CLOSE SHOT
The open door of the mausoleum. Sir James and Burke stagger
backward out the door of the mausoleum. Burke has a pocket
flashlight in his hand. He clicks it off. They stare at
each other aghast. Then Sir James mutters, incredulously,
in horror:
TITLE:
"The coffin was empty!"
BACK TO SCENE: He finishes title. Burke nods slowly,
solemnly. Suddenly Sir James clutches at Burke's arm and
both men are tense, listening.
INSERT:
CLOSE UP owl on bare limb of tree.
It opens its beak.
TITLE:
"HOO!......HOO!"
BACK TO INSERT: It closes beak.
BACK TO SCENE: Sir James, trembling, gets over "Let's get
out of here." Burke looks up and off, telling him: "It's
only an owl." They turn to go.
78
EXT. BALFOUR HOUSE AND GARDEN NIGHT SEMI LONG SHOT
The house and the ruined garden in weird lighting. At the
gate stand the Man in the Beaver Hat, the girl in black
with the sleeves that look like wings. These two are
welcoming three others -- three men as queer in appearance
as the man in the Beaver Hat and his companion. Not a word
is spoken. The whole effect is odd, fantastic. They start
toward the house, slowly, in solemn procession.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
INSERT:
Vignetted passage of the printed
page of an old book, the paper of
a parchment-like quality, aged,
the print in an Old English type:
"--the undead, the vampyrs: dead
bodies which leave their graves
at night to suck the blood of the
living."
LAP DISSOLVE INTO FROM INSERT:
79
INT. HAMLIN LIBRARY (NIGHT) MEDIUM SHOT
Hibbs, Sir James and Burke. The Secretary is reading from
one of the old books to the other two men. Both of whom
seem to be profoundly impressed. He turns the page and is
instantly struck by what he encounters there. He spreads
the book open on the desk and calls their attention to it.
They lean over, seeing:
INSERT:
PAGE illustrating from book
done in old wood-cut fashion
depicting a vampire.
CUT FROM INSERT TO:
80
INTERIOR HAMLIN LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP
Sir James and Burke, looking down at the illustration.
Burke looks up from it, in his eyes the faintest suggestion
of a cynical smile. Sir James looks at the page facing the
illustration and reads on for a few lines. There is a
strange excitement in his manner as he indicates to Burke
to read what he has just read. Burke looks down at the
page:
INSERT:
Extract from book:
"Men who have died by suicide
frequently become vampyrs.
They come out of their graves
at night, rush upon people
sleeping in their beds--"
BACK TO SCENE: Burke looks up from the page. Sir James says
to him slowly, with deep significance:
TITLE:
"Roger Balfour died a suicide!"
CUT FROM TITLE TO:
81
INTERIOR LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP
Sir James, as he finishes title, awed, looking out of scene
at Burke.
82
INTERIOR LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE UP
Burke, as he realizes the significance of this. There is a
moment when he seems deeply impressed. Then, with a sudden
change of manner, he says, vehemently:
TITLE:
"My God, man, this is the
twentieth century -- and
here we are almost believing
it!"
CUT FROM TITLE TO:
83
INTERIOR LIBRARY (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT
The three men, as Burke finishes title, indicating the book
on the table. Hibbs tells him rather hotly:
TITLE:
"I believe it!"
BACK TO SCENE: Burke turns a cold gaze on Hibbs. For a
moment it seems as if his eyes would bore through the
secretary. Then, with something of contempt in his final
appraisement, he turns to Sir James, who shrugs his
shoulders, as though to get over, "What can we believe?"
Suddenly all three are tense, listening. Burke says in a
whisper:
TITLE:
"What was that?"
BACK TO SCENE: They listen, tense, not moving a muscle.
Suddenly Hibbs cries out:
TITLE:
"A scream -- a woman's scream!"
CUT FROM TITLE TO:
84
INTERIOR LIBRARY (NIGHT) MEDIUM SHOT
The three men, as Hibbs finishes title, indicating upward.
The three men rush out through the door to the hall.
85
INTERIOR HAMLIN HALL (NIGHT) LONG SHOT
The three men running out from the library, run to the
stairs. As they start up,
ONE FOOT LAP DISSOLVE INTO:
86
INTERIOR UPPER HALL (NIGHT) SEMI LONG SHOT
The three men coming into scene up the stairs. They stop in
f.g., listening, tense. Hibbs cries out, pointing off toward
a door, wildly--
TITLE:
"It's from Lucy's room!"
BACK TO SCENE: They rush over to the door indicated.
87
INTERIOR UPPER HALL (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT
At door to Lucy's room as Hibbs, first in, tries the door.
It is locked. He pounds upon the door. "Lucy! Lucy!" "Break
it open!" commands Sir James in wild excitement.
88
INTERIOR LUCY'S ROOM (NIGHT) MEDIUM SHOT
Miss Smithson, the maid, is backing away toward the door.
She has her hand clutched to her throat and is staring in
terror out of scene. She hears the hammering on the door.
She reaches the door, frantically turns the key. The door
is flung open. Hibbs, Sir James and Burke plunge into the
room. The maid has her hand to her throat in pain. They
stop, looking around the room out of scene. Sir James
cries out:
TITLE:
"Where's Lucy?"
BACK TO SCENE: Taking a hand from her throat, Miss Smithson
points wildly off saying:
TITLE:
"I -- locked her in there--"
BACK TO SCENE: Sir James and Hibbs rush out, Miss Smithson
sinking into a chair.
89
INTERIOR LUCY'S ROOM (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT
Door to dressing room. Sir James, Hibbs, rushing in. Hibbs
turns the key in the door. Lucy, weak and faint from
fright, steps out. Sir James puts an arm about her,
supporting her. Speaking comfortingly to her, he starts out
with her toward an open window, out of scene. Hibbs looks
off after them, deep concern in his eyes.
90
INTERIOR LUCY'S ROOM (NIGHT) CLOSE SHOT
By open window. Sir James, leading in Lucy, seats her by
the open window, leaning over her, speaking comfortingly to
her. In response to a question, she assures him that she is
all right. He looks up and off, as though spoken to out of
scene.
91
