DRACULA: RENFIELDS CURSE

ACT ONE
We are in Count Draculas castle. The clock strikes midnight. JONATHAN HARKER, attorney, is asleep. As the chimes continue to echo through the room, shapes form in the shadows. The shapes actually appear to be developing from the darkness surrounding JONATHAN. As they take form and substance, we see that they are women DRACULAS VIXENS. They move towards JONATHAN from three sides sniffing and staring in eagerness of the feast. We see that one of the women if that is what you can still call them is as blonde as the full moon, the second dark as a ravens wing, and the third a witchy ginger. They move behind JONATHAN and begin to stroke and pet him with their long, talon-like fingers. He wakes up and tries to move, but they are too strong for him. He cannot resist. The red-haired she-beast goes down on her knees, while the dark-haired one caresses his midsection, and the blonde one slowly moves JONATHANS head to the side to expose his long neck. JONATHAN moans. Is it pain or ecstasy? Or both? The VIXENS, like a pack of wolves, all bare their fangs at once in preparation of the feast. Just as they are about to sink their teeth into JONATHAN, another shadow appears from above. Is it a large bat? The shadow takes the form of a man and leaps to the floor with a long hiss. Their master, COUNT DRACULA, has arrived. The female abominations scatter in fear and fury. DRAUCLA scolds them for fondling his prize. They protest. DRACULA takes the bundle he has been carrying and throws it towards the VIXENS. Something moves within it. Was that the whimper of a child? The VIXENS lick their lips in expectation of the tender snack, bow to Dracula gleefully, and then disappear back into the shadows with their gift. DRACULA picks up the drowsy JONATHAN, kisses his neck tenderly, and leaves the room. As DRACULA carries away JONATHAN We hear these cries: CECIL Blasphemy! Sacrilege! Degradation! (It is America, 1954. We are in a common room at the Hawthorn Retreat, a private psychiatric hospital.) DON Cecil, calm down. Youll get Harold worked up. SARAH Yeah, let me finish. CECIL Im not going to be quiet when youre spewing such filth! SARAH Its in the book! CECIL No, its not. Bram Stoker wrote nothing about Count Dracula tenderly kissing Jonathan Harkers neck. And your description of those three blood-sucking harlots downright disgusting. It sounded like some trashy French paperback.

SARAH Its called dramatic license. Right, Dr. Carhart? TESS Sarah, you did take some liberties with the details. CECIL Doctor, Ive warned you that this perversity is going to get us all in trouble. (to Sarah) Isnt this book evil enough without your your embellishments? You might as well be kissing Lucifer himself with that mouth of yours. SARAH Im disappointed, Cecil. I thought you more than anyone else would enjoy the thought of another mans kiss. (She kisses the air grossly.) CECIL Stop it! Stop it, you vile serpent! (SARAH continues with the kissing.) Doctor, do something. Her kisses are attacking me. TESS Sarah, remember our rule about being respectful. In these meetings, everyone has a right to their own opinions and interpretations. (CECIL makes a See! face at SARAH.) The same rule also applies to you, Mr. Gould. Lets stay focused, everyone. LARRY (to Sarah) I thought you were great. Ive read Dracula a bunch of times, but you really brought it to life. I felt like I was in that castle in Transylvania. DON Yeah, me too. Three girls, one guy so there. TESS Mr. Spelnick, please. I would appreciate that you and Mr. Biffles be seen not heard. (There is tension between TESS AND DON. He silently acknowledges her command. HAROLD makes a hollow-swallow sound that draws attention.) Harold, do you have something you want to add? DON Yeah, right. TESS Don.

DON Sorry Doctor. (Tess turns back to HAROLD.) TESS Harold, its okay. Its safe to speak here. (HAROLD grows agitated. Is he trying to speak?) SARAH Harold will talk when hes ready. Right, Harold? (HAROLD establishes eye contact with SARAH. He makes what could possibly be construed as a smile or a sigh of relief.) TESS Very well. Mr. Friendel, we havent heard from you. Do you have anything to add? REGINALD I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguishd and the stars Did wander darkling in the eternal space, Rayless, and pathless, and the icy earth Swung blind and blackening in the moonless air; Morn came and went and came, and brought no day, And men forgot their passion in the dread Of this their desolation; and all hearts Were chilld into a selfish prayer for light. TESS Your Byron is impressive, Mr. Friendel. Could you explain how it applies to Dracula? REGINALD There is only darkness darkness darkness (CECIL prays. HAROLD moans.) TESS I see. Well, lets not get ahead of ourselves. We were only supposed to read and discuss the first four chapters, remember? (REGINALD nods an apology.) SARAH Doctor, I have an idea.

TESS Go ahead, Sarah. SARAH Well, what if each of us is assigned a character from Dracula like a role in a play or movie? That way well really be able to get inside their minds. Identify with them, isnt that what you call it? TESS Yes. Do you have any casting suggestions? SARAH Well, to start I think I should play Lucy Westenra, the beautiful, wealthy heiress. She receives marriage proposals by three different men on the exact same day. CECIL Harlot. TESS Mr. Gould. SARAH The first man to propose to her is Dr. John Seward, head of the lunatic asylum. Cecil, you should play Seward because hes bossy and dull and likes to argue like you. But dont move your hands around so much; no one will believe youre in love with me. SARAH Larry, youll be Quincey Morris, the Texas adventurer. (LARRY is disappointed.) I know youd like to play Arthur, but we need a brave, strong man with a big heart to play Quincey. (She whispers.) And at the end, you get to be the hero. LARRY Thanks, Sarah. SARAH (Turns to Don.) So Don, it looks like youre Arthur Holmwood, the rich guy whose proposal Lucy accepts. You kind of look the part, but dont do that laugh of yours. Its unflattering. And no kissing me. (Moves over to HAROLD.) Harold, youll have to play the vampire hunter, Abraham Van Helsing, because youre old. And since hes Dutch or something, you cant really understand what hes saying anyway. Who else? TESS Mina Murray. SARAH Oh, Mina, Lucys smart but kind of irritating best friend and confidante. You should be able to handle that role, right Dr. Carhart? TESS Ill do my best.
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SARAH And, of course, since Mina is Jonathan Harkers wife, it would be perfect for Dr. Shaw to come in and play your husband. (Everyone looks at TESS. She blushes.) TESS Ill ask him. CECIL What about Reginald? He hasnt been assigned a character. SARAH That ones obvious. Hes R.M. Renfield the patient in the asylum who drinks the blood of animals and does Draculas bidding. (REGINALD does not acknowledge SARAH. There is an uncomfortable shift in the room.) TESS Well RENFIELD What about the Master? (Everyone turns to him.) Dracula, who will play him? SARAH (matter of fact, with a smile) That will be revealed when the time is right. (HAROLD starts humming/moaning.) LARRY Its okay, Harold. Calm down, calm down. (to DON) Weve gotta find that dog of his or well never get any peace. DON Last time I saw Bella, she was sniffing around Reggie over there. Along with all those missing cats. (HAROLD becomes even more agitated.) CECIL Its a sign a sign of the evil to come. Its like animals when a flood is about to hit. They know to head for higher ground. DON Oh brother. CECIL We should turn to heaven while we can. The devils on our doorstep and all we do is tell evil stories.
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SARAH Did the demon inside you tell you that? CECIL Mock me, if you will. But were all in danger. The evil is already among us and will destroy us all! DON Now he sounds like McCarthy. TESS Cecil, please calm down. A book itself is not evil. (HAROLDS moans grow louder. He begins to shake.) DON Great. Harolds about to blow. See what you did, Cecil? CECIL He knows what Im saying is true. LARRY Cecil, lets calm down. You dont want to hurt yourself again. CECIL Dont touch me! I have to get out of here! I have to warn the others! (CECIL runs out of the room yelling the 91st Psalm.) LARRY Weve got a runner! (LARRY takes off after him.) DON That damn fruit, whys he always got to run? TESS Mr. Spelnick, watch your language. Im going to help Larry. You take Harold back to his room. Hopefully, you can calm him down. DON On it. (TESS, DON and HAROLD leave. REGINALD and SARAH are alone together for the first time.) SARAH Hello.
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REGINALD Hello. (They dont know what to say to each other.) SARAH Some show, huh? REGINALD Yes. (They share another awkward moment.) SARAH I love the novel. REGINALD I couldnt tell. SARAH Ive read it ten times. REGINALD Thats quite a feat. SARAH Im upset we didnt get to finish the chapter today. I love the part where Jonathan Harker discovers Dracula sleeping in his secret underground lair. He picks up a shovel to kill his captor, but right when hes about to smash in his head, Draculas red eyes open and freeze him to the heart. He drops the shovel, slicing open Draculas forehead. Luckily, Dracula cant move because of the whole vampires must sleep during the day rule. Horrified by what hes seen, and knowing that its only a matter of time before hes eaten by Draculas brides, Jonathan desperately tries to escape but he cant find a way out. However, once Dracula leaves his castle for England, he finally has his opportunity. Braving life and limb, he scales down the castle walls like a bat, and stumbles to freedom. (As SARAH describes his escape, HARKER is seen escaping Draculas castle.) REGINALD You have a gift for storytelling. SARAH Thanks. I like to imagine myself in the stories. Sometimes, its the only way I can bear it in here. (They look at each other with understanding.) REGINALD I should be going. It will be dark soon.
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SARAH Please dont. I like talking to you. REGINALD You do? SARAH Yes. Youre smart and you dont roll your eyes every time I say something. REGINALD Of course not, youre a clever girl. SARAH No ones ever said that to me before. REGINALD Im surprised. You positively radiate intelligence. (She smiles. REGINALD notices the scars on her arms.) REGINALD Are the scars the reason youre here? SARAH (She looks away.) One of them. REGINALD Pardon me. I didnt mean to pry. SARAH Its fine. Weve all got our problems, right? Thats why were here. REGINALD Very true. SARAH I have to be honest; youre not what I was expecting. REGINALD Really? Well dont keep me in suspense. SARAH The way Don and Larry talked, I pictured you as some sort of hunchbacked Jack the Ripper with fangs and beady red eyes. REGINALD Oh, thats ridiculous. Jacks eyes were green.
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(SARAH looks at him with uncertainty.) SARAH You knew him? REGINALD We shared the same barber on Fleet Street. (She doesnt know what to say. He leans into her somewhat menacingly.) REGINALD Im joking. (He smiles at her.) (She looks at him in disbelief, and then gives him a whack on the shoulder. She laughs.) SARAH You creep. Thats not even funny. REGINALD Forgive my manners. Everyone here is so utterly serious. Sometimes I need a bit of levity. By the way, what does a young lady, such as you, know about Jack the Ripper? SARAH I read about him in some of Larrys horror comics. REGINALD Larry has macabre tastes. SARAH He likes Superman and heroes like that too, but he really likes the darker stuff werewolves, mad scientists vampires. (They exchange a look.) REGINALD Do you share Larrys tastes in literature? SARAH I like the monsters. REGINALD Why is that? SARAH I can relate to them, I guess. Feeling like an outsider. Tortured for being different. Having a secret people wouldnt understand or want to.

REGINALD We all feel like that at some time or other. SARAH But you more than most, right? REGINALD What are you hinting at? SARAH (Whispers.) I know who you are. REGINALD Do you? I would quite like to know myself. SARAH Dont worry; Ill keep your secret. REGINALD Thats a relief. I wouldnt want anyone to know that Im older than I look. SARAH I like you, Reginald. I want to be your friend. REGINALD (He seems puzzled.) Friend? SARAH You do remember what its like to have a friend, dont you? REGINALD Unfortunately, my memory has faded. But, if I look within, a tender scar of friendship remains. SARAH Thats beautifully confusing. REGINALD Your charm is contagious, Sarah Homes. (painful realization) But you should stay away from me. No good will come of it. SARAH Thats fine. Im not looking for good anymore. REGINALD For what, then? SARAH Freedom.
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(REGINALD does not know what to say. We hear TESS, LARRY and DON coming down the hall.) REGINALD I have not had a friend in a very long time. Im afraid I wont know how to act. SARAH Just be yourself. (TESS enters the room.) TESS Im sorry for leaving you two alone. I hope everythings okay. SARAH Just discussing the love story between Mina and Jonathan. Right, Mr. Friendel? REGINALD So romantic. TESS Sarah, you better get back to your room and wash up before dinner. Larry will escort you. (SARAH does not move.) Is there something youd like to say? SARAH Im not feeling well. Could I please be excused from dinner? Id like to read in the library instead. TESS You havent been eating well lately. You know you need nourishment to keep up your strength. SARAH Im getting plenty. Please, just this one time? TESS Fine. Tell Larry I said it was okay this one time. SARAH Thanks, Dr. Carhart. Youre the best. (SARAH crosses in front of TESS, and then turns and looks back at REGINALD before she leaves.) TESS She seems very fond of you.

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REGINALD Shes a lonely girl looking for a friend. TESS And you? REGINALD I cannot afford friendship, Doctor. The price is too high. TESS What do you want then? REGINALD Peace. TESS I see. Has your stay at Hawthorn been peaceful? REGINALD I sleep like the dead. TESS And your room? REGINALD You mean my cell? Better than Howard Johnsons. TESS Im sorry we have to keep you under observation, but after the incident REGINALD We dont need to discuss it. TESS But its been over a week, and you still refuse to talk about what happened. If you confide in me, I can help. REGINALD I doubt that. TESS You dont trust me? REGINALD I dont trust. TESS I realize its difficult for you to talk about yourself, but the past cant hurt you.
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REGINALD To the contrary. Memory is deceitful and destructive. Each time we draw upon it, we amplify our feelings be it pleasure, pain, regret, fear and by doing so alter our own reality. These delusions then slither into our brain and coil around our thoughts strangling them, tighter and tighter, until they are not our own. TESS Thats why Im here to help you sort out the reality from the illusion. REGINALD What if not even you, Doctor, can distinguish one from the other? TESS Youll have to trust me. REGINALD And so everything hinges on that. (There is an uneasy standoff of sorts between them.) Doctor, may I be excused? I would like to get back to my cottage before nightfall. TESS Yes, of course. Ill see you tomorrow, Mr. Friendel. REGINALD If we are going to keep having these chats, I insist you call me Reginald. TESS I will do that. I hope you have a good evening. REGINALD I wish you the same. (As REGINALD leaves, DR. MICHAEL SHAW enters.) MICHAEL Hello, Mr. Friendel. Its nice to see you again. REGINALD Dr. Shaw. The pleasure is all mine. MICHAEL Im sorry I havent been around to visit since you arrived.

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REGINALD No need for apologies. We all know youre a very busy man. MICHAEL How are you enjoying your meetings with Dr. Carhart and the rest of the group? REGINALD I must say, we have a lot to sink our teeth into. (MICHAEL does not know how to respond.) TESS Hes joking. MICHAEL Yes, of course. Very funny. (Tries to laugh but it is awkward.) REGINALD Well, I must be off. (He leaves.) (TESS and MICHAEL look at each other. They wait to make sure they are alone.) TESS Dr. Shaw, what a surprise. MICHAEL Dr. Carhart, I see you had another successful meeting. TESS It was enlightening. MICHAEL Its caused a stir among the other doctors that Ms. Homes is the only female in your group. TESS Shes not the only woman present. MICHAEL You dont count. TESS As a woman? MICHAEL You know what I mean. TESS Because if Im not a woman, Dr. Shaw, last nights turn of events would be rather scandalous.
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MICHAEL Yes, they would be. But judging from last night, Id say youre all woman. (He moves to embrace her.) TESS Michael (She stops him.) The staff, the patients (He notices her hand.) MICHAEL Youre not wearing your ring. Is something wrong with it? TESS No, no, its lovely. Perfect even. I just thought it would be better not to show it at work. Everyone already questions my authority. I dont want them to think I have special privileges because of our engagement. MICHAEL Im a doctor here, just like you. TESS Not for long. And everyone knows Superintendent Pierce has already asked you to be his successor when he dies. You will be my boss. MICHAEL Well, as your future boss and husband, I wish youd be more careful with these patients, especially Mr. Friendel. The man concerns me. TESS Hes delusional at times, Michael, not violent. MICHAEL Don and Larry caught him eating a rat in the lower level, Tess. Thats not the behavior of a harmless man. TESS That doesnt prove hes dangerous to the others. I believe hes suppressing a deep fear probably sexual in nature. MICHAEL Then do you think its wise to engage psychotic fantasies by reading Dracula? TESS Have you read the book? MICHAEL No, but I saw the movie. (He impersonates Bela Lugosi.) I want to suck your blood.

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(TESS laughs despite herself.)

TESS The book is different. The characters are more dimensional, the motivations complex. It gives me the perfect opportunity to test my theories on using a piece of literature to create a stable delusion that provides a safe focus for repressed emotions and thoughts. MICHAEL Its been over a month since Mr. Friendel checked himself in, and we still dont know anything about him. He could be a mass murderer for all we know. TESS I know, but I feel Im close to a discovery. Hes opening up to me. Im gaining his trust. Give me more time. MICHAEL Ill give it to you, but Superintendent Pierce and the staff want results. TESS They just dont trust me. Or is it my gender? MICHAEL You know Im on your side. Ill do whatever I can to help you continue your research. TESS Thank you. MICHAEL Just promise me youll be careful. TESS I promise. And Doctor, Ill have to find a way to repay you for your kindness. MICHAEL That can be arranged. (They embrace. MICHAEL notices the time on his watch.) I have to go. Ill be late for surgery. TESS Another lobotomy? MICHAEL Yes, the third one this week. I admit I get a thrill from changing peoples lives for the better. It makes me feel that Im contributing to something greater than myself, you know? TESS Thats wonderful, Michael. Wonderful.

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(MICHAEL leaves. TESS contemplates something for a moment then makes her way to leave. REGINALD appears. Has he been listening? He startles TESS.) REGINALD Im sorry to startle you, Dr. Carhart. I forgot my journal. Ah, here it is. TESS No harm done. Goodbye, Reginald. (She leaves.) There is a howl from outside. A worried look crosses REGINALDS face. Three extremely pale NURSES walk into the room in unison. REGINALD notices them, but something does not seem right to him. They lead him to his cottage, where they set up his room. As they do this, a great storm starts to brew both at Hawthorn Retreat and in Whitby, England. REGINALD No, not another storm! The horizon is lost in a grey mist. The clouds are piled up like giant rocks. This is a presage of doom. As the storm turns ferocious, the NURSES tuck REGINALD into bed. He seems to be in some sort of trance now, muttering: Hes coming The Masters coming. When he falls asleep, we see MINA and LUCY in the storm. MINA is trying to escape the wind and rain; LUCY wants to watch what happens. The ship the Demeter appears in the storm with a corpse tied to its helm. As it glides into the harbor, DRACULA leaps out of the ship as a large, dark dog. The storm and the women disappear. The next afternoon, REGINALD is awoken by the sound of voices outside his room. They are the voices of DON AND LARRY but now they speak in a Cockney dialect. From now on, when they are in England, they will be called DONALD and LAWRENCE. DONALD Renfield was a bloody mess last night. Screaming his head off he was. LAWRENCE Is he still catching those flies? DONALD Moved on to spiders now, I suppose. Lord only knows whats next? (REGINALD turns around and realizes DR. JOHN SEWARD is in the room with him. SEWARD is writing something in his notepad. REGINALD is startled and confused. He and SEWARD stare at each other for a moment. REGINALD reaches towards him and says:) REGINALD Dr. Seward?

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(SEWARD leaves the room. REGINALD begins to twitch as if something inside wants to come out. He moves around the room, saying:) REGINALD No, no, no, no, no, no LARRY Are you alright in there? REGINALD Larry? (LARRY enters.) LARRY Of course. Who else would it be? REGINALD I just well, normally you dont work in the morning. I was confused. LARRY Morning? Its late afternoon. REGINALD Ive been sleeping all day? LARRY Yeah. And from the sound of it, your nightmares were doozies. REGINALD Wheres Don? LARRY Hes calming down some of the other residents. REGINALD Why? LARRY That weird storm last night spooked a lot of folks. You know, the way it just came out of nowhere. REGINALD Yes. LARRY People are also worked up about Cecil flying the coup. He mustve taken off when the storm hit.

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REGINALD Are they looking for him? LARRY Sure. His fathers some big preacher a couple of towns over. The sheriff and his men are searching the woods. Thats where he usually goes when he escapes. (TESS enters.) TESS Gentlemen, may I interrupt. LARRY Sure, Doctor. I was just catching Reg up on Cecils disappearance and all. TESS Thank you, Larry. You can wait outside. (LARRY leaves.) Did you have a nice rest? REGINALD Apparently so. TESS I was told you were yelling in your sleep. Would you like to talk about your dreams? REGINALD Not particularly. Are you wearing perfume today, Doctor? TESS Nothing today, no. REGINALD Odd. I distinctly smell trees (smells) and honey and a hint of damp earth. Its a robust odor. Masculine even. TESS Oh, Don must have walked by me this morning. That man absolutely reeks sometimes. You would think he was a teenager the way he splashes on that aftershave of his. REGINALD Perhaps. TESS If you dont want to talk about your nightmares, lets continue where we left off in our last session. Before we ended, you were going to tell me about your father.
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REGINALD Was I? TESS Yes. REGINALD Well, how unenlightening and trite. Lets begin with something more interesting, like my first sexual experience. TESS If thats your wish. REGINALD I was eleven. She was seventeen our new nanny. She spanked me after we were finished. TESS Was it consensual? REGINALD The spanking? TESS No, the sexual act. Did she ask your permission? REGINALD I asked her how babies were made; she showed me. It was quite educational. TESS Did this make you angry? REGINALD Well, the spanking irritated me, of course, but I was fond of everything else. TESS Mr. Friendel, are you lying to me? REGINALD No, Dr. Carhart, Im just using the ancient art of misdirection. TESS What are you afraid of revealing? REGINALD Nothing. Everything.

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TESS Be honest with me, Reginald. Im not leaving until you tell me. REGINALD Fine. I relent. Where do you want to begin? TESS Lets start with what brought you here. REGINALD Ive travelled many miles over many years to escape my past. After the wars, the States seemed the best place to run. You do advertise taking in huddled masses and such, dont you? TESS Dont change the subject. REGINALD Unfortunately, Ive discovered that no matter where I run, I cannot break free from the whims of my past. TESS Does this cause you pain? REGINALD Yes. And pain is a remarkable friend, isnt it? It keeps giving and giving. TESS Its the same with happiness. REGINALD Oh no. Happiness is something we squander. We save our pain for a rainy day. TESS Have you ever been happy? REGINALD Perhaps. In another time. In another world. TESS Did something change all that? REGINALD Yes, when I was very young. TESS Were you hurt? (REGINALD stares at her.)
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You can trust me. REGINALD Doctor, I was not hurt; I was disappointed. TESS Disappointed? REGINALD Yes. TESS And did this cause you pain? REGINALD No, it ignited my anger. Pain came from not knowing how to efficiently act on that fury. TESS I see. Have you confronted this person? REGINALD Yes. TESS And what did they say? REGINALD He laughed. TESS What did you do? REGINALD I drank. TESS Did the alcohol deaden the pain? REGINALD Sadly, alcohol is not my vice. TESS (realizing) Blood. REGINALD Congratulations, doctor. You win the prize!

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TESS (not giving up now) Why blood? REGINALD Power. Strength. The fruity aftertaste. TESS Power over whom? Your father, a relative, teacher, classmate? REGINALD No, no, no, doctor. None of them were worth the sacrifice. TESS Then who? REGINALD Ill give you a hint. (He leans in as if he is going to give her the secret of the universe.) The power is in the blood of the lamb and the fly and the spider and the bird and the cat and the dog and even you. TESS Thats a metaphor. REGINALD Metaphors dont kill. TESS Are you angry with God? REGINALD No. God and I have learned to leave each other alone. TESS Then what is it, Reginald? What are you trying to tell me? REGINALD I am lost because I can no longer open my eyes. The light is too painful too bear. (TESS does not know how to respond.) Did I answer your question, Doctor? TESS For now. (She leaves his room.) DRACULA and the VIXENS are on the prowl. Were not sure if this is now or then? REGINALD senses them. They kill men whose faces we cannot see. LUCY appears. She is sleepwalking. The VIXENS guide her to DRACULA. He takes first blood. MINA sees LUCY with DRACULA. The VAMPIRES vanish. MINA takes LUCY back home. REGINALD is deeply affected emotionally and physically. SEWARD appears.
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SEWARD Where are your pets? REGINALD You speak? SEWARD Of course, I do, Mr. Renfield. Are you avoiding the question? REGINALD No, I I dont SEWARD You dont mean to tell me you no longer care about spiders? REGINALD That doesnt matter. The Master is at hand. SEWARD The bride-maidens rejoice the eyes that wait the coming of the bride; but when the bride draweth nigh, then the maidens shine not to the eyes that are filled. REGINALD Im supposed to say that not you. Why are you here? Why are you doing this! SEWARD Mr. Renfield, calm down. (LAWRENCE, the Cockney one, and DON, the American one, enter from opposite sides of the room.) LAWRENCE Is everything alright in here? DON What are you going on about? SEWARD Were fine, Lawrence. Mr. Renfield is having one of his spells. REGINALD Don, make him go away. DON Who?

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SEWARD See, the poor man is talking to himself again. Ill leave him alone for the evening. Please tell me if anything new transpires. (SEWARD and LAWRENCE leave.) DON What are you looking at? REGINALD Nothing nothing at all. I must have been dreaming. DON It seems to be a thing with you. (There is a scream and a loud commotion outside. DON rushes out the door to check it out. After a moment, REGINALD senses someone is near.) REGINALD I can hear your heartbeat through the door. SARAH May I come in? REGINALD Yes, of course. (SARAH enters.) REGINALD Welcome to Castle Hawthorn. (She stands hesitantly. It is an awkward moment.) Your heartbeat its quite strong. SARAH (She wonders if this is a compliment.) Thank you? REGINALD You may take it as a compliment. Please sit. (SARAH sits.) I take it that commotion outside was your doing? SARAH Lets just say Don and Larry will be cleaning that mess up for hours.
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REGINALD Very resourceful. SARAH Thank you. (There is a pause between them. A strong gust of wind is heard.) REGINALD Listen. Do you hear the howling? SARAH I only hear the wind. REGINALD Listen more closely. Close your eyes. (They both listen.) REGINALD Do you hear the wolves lonely cries? Theyre calling for us to join them. SARAH I still dont hear it. REGINALD They cloud my thoughts. Make me unreal. SARAH Unreal? REGINALD Not of this place. No longer in my mind. Instead, I can only see, hear and taste one thing. (He looks at her. Realizes what he has said.) Im very sorry. I didnt mean to frighten you. SARAH You didnt. I mean, you did, but I I like it being frightened. REGINALD You do? Why? SARAH My heart beats faster, my skin flushes, and I see things more clearly. It must be what Lucy felt like when Dracula visited her through her window every night. REGINALD Lucy was Draculas prey.
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SARAH No, she wanted the danger, the seduction, the letting go. REGINALD Lucys life was not her own, and in the end, she was killed. SARAH But as a vampire she lived truly lived. She was more than someones daughter or wife or mother or object. She was free. REGINALD She was a slave to the blood. SARAH But in the novel, Renfield proclaims, The blood is the power. REGINALD I was lying. (He realizes what he has said.) I mean Renfield was lying. The blood only brings suffering. SARAH Larry told me he hears you talk in your sleep. REGINALD Did he? SARAH About the Master coming. And the blood. REGINALD Larry needs to learn some manners. Its not polite to scare a lady. SARAH Im not scared of you. REGINALD Then youre not as bright as I thought. (SARAH backs off a little.) SARAH If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell anyone else? (REGINALD nods.) Remember, yesterday, when you asked me about the scars on my arm?

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REGINALD Yes. SARAH They happened after my baby was born. REGINALD A child? SARAH (Shakes her head yes.) She died. REGINALD Im sorry. That had to be awful. SARAH The nurse told me newborns dont have their eyes open when they enter this world. But she did. She came out of me, looked around, and decided not to stay. She knew her lot in life would be pain, secrets shame. And she was already wise enough to know screaming doesnt help. It never helps. So my baby girl just closed her eyes, held her breath and went back to sleep. She passed on without ever making a sound. But I hear her singing in my memories. REGINALD Did you want to follow her? Is that why you cut yourself? SARAH I did. But not anymore. REGINALD Im glad. Thank you for trusting me with that. SARAH Now you have to tell me your secret. (He hesitates. This makes him extremely uncomfortable.) Who are you really? REGINALD That is complicated. SARAH Start with your name. REGINALD (pained) I am Reginald Meredith Renfield.

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SARAH I knew it! REGINALD You are clever. SARAH So, its true? The story the novel it really happened? REGINALD Stoker tends to exaggerate some of my behavior in the novel for theatrical effect, but the story itself is fairly accurate. SARAH But you die in the book. Dracula kills you. REGINALD Oh, reality is much more complicated and tragic than that. The Master found me dying on the operating table and forced me to drink from him and consume a tiny bit of flesh from his finger. He relished telling me that he was a part of me now, and that I could never run from him. I will always find you, he whispered. Ive had to keep myself alive all these years because, if I die, I will become one of them the un-dead. Ill lose the last bit of light inside me, and Dracula will be my master for eternity. SARAH Dracula was stopped by Van Helsing, Arthur, Jonathan, Seward and Quincey. Hes dead. REGINALD Stoker wanted us to believe that good always conquers evil and that monsters can be vanquished with a stake or a sword. But these malevolent spirits cannot be obliterated, only slowed down. Draculas body was destroyed but the evil lives on. He lives through others thoughts and actions. Through the choices they make that inflict harm on others. Through fear, hate, jealousy, envy, we keep him alive. Do you understand? (She nods.) Sarah, Im afraid that the darkness has already found me here. This puts everyone in danger. You must be careful and trust no one not even me. Promise me. SARAH I promise. SARAH steps out of the room, as the NURSES move on in unison. They dress SARAH in LUCYS nightgown and leave. MINA comes up to her and hugs her goodbye. She travels to Budapest to meet JONATHAN. They embrace as DRACULA appears and dips LUCY into a swoon. She allows him to bite her. She is in ecstasy. REGINALD is isolated, standing alone. We hear voices getting closer. DONALD Where did he go?!
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LAWRENCE Hes over here, on the grounds of Carfax! SEWARD Be careful, our friend may be dangerous! SEWARD moves on with DONALD and LAWRENCE. REGINALD realizes he is outside. He experiences a paroxysm of rage more wild beast than man. The men finally seize him and bring him over to a chair to sit. REGINALD calms down. Once he composes himself, he looks around and realizes he is in the common room at Hawthorn Retreat. It is the next day, and they are waiting for TESS to begin their group therapy session. DON, LARRY, SARAH and HAROLD are in the room. DON The guy was irritating as hell but he didnt deserve to go that way throat ripped out, belly slit open, guts all over the place. Geez. LARRY That had to be a mighty big dog. REGINALD Who was the unfortunate man? DON Are you deaf now too? Weve only been talking about it for five minutes. LARRY Its Cecil. They found him this morning outside the woods. REGINALD Dear God, no. (TESS enters. She seems distracted.) TESS Im sorry to be late. I hope everyone is well, at least under the circumstances. (They silently acknowledge the gravity of the situation.) Would anyone like to say something about Cecil? LARRY May I speak, Dr. Carhart? TESS Certainly.

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LARRY Cecil was a tortured soul, but deep down, I think he meant well. Im sorry I wasnt nicer to him sometimes. DON God TESS That was very eloquent, Larry. Anyone else? (The NURSES enter the room. REGINALD seems to be the only one to notice them.) SARAH Can we talk about the novel now? Cecils dead. Theres nothing we can do. TESS Okay. Lets discuss Dr. Van Helsings arrival. Why does Dr. Seward bring him to London? SARAH Seward cant figure out why Lucys been losing so much blood. We know its because she was giving herself over to Dracula. TESS Giving herself? SARAH Arthur, Seward, Quincey and even Van Helsing kept interfering by giving her their blood. Arthur says, My blood is hers, and I would give the last drop of blood in my body for her. Thats disgusting. TESS Most women would adore that kind of love and sacrifice. SARAH He didnt want to love her none of them did. They wanted to display her in a grown-up dollhouse, where they could admire her from afar and visit her at night. TESS So you think they should have let Lucy die? SARAH She was a much more interesting vampire than a damsel in distress, thats for sure. REGINALD She was killing children. SARAH There was charity in their deaths. Lucy saved them from a cruel world and gave them new life.

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REGINALD She fed on them like a lioness devouring a foal. There is no poetry in murdering a child. You know that. SARAH I didnt murder her! She was taken from me! REGINALD Thats not what I meant to imply. SARAH Forget it. It doesnt matter anymore. (There is silence.) Harold, stop staring at me like that. It gives me the creeps. LARRY He doesnt mean anything by it, Sarah. SARAH Shut up, Larry. Who asked you? TESS Theres no need to be rude. SARAH Stop telling me what to do. Im not a child! TESS Then stop acting like one. (SARAH pouts.) I know were all rattled by Cecils death, and we all grieve in our own ways, but SARAH Im not upset. In fact, I could care less. The pervert deserved it. Anyway, its all part of the plan. LARRY (simultaneously with DON) Sarah! DON (simultaneously with LARRY) Geez! TESS Sarah, if you cant be civil, Ill have to ask you to leave. This behavior is not helpful, is it? Tell me whats really bothering you.

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SARAH Youre bothering me, Doc, and that makes me feeeel like cutting off your big head and feeding it to that killer dog out there! LARRY Doctor, Ill take her back to her room. SARAH Dont you touch me! Ill leave on my own. (As she leaves, she leans in towards HAROLD.) Youre next, creep show. TESS Don, please escort Miss Homes to her room. She needs some time to reflect on her actions. (DON and SARAH leave.) REGINALD Its happening again. TESS What was that, Reginald? REGINALD Nothing, Doctor. (SEWARD crosses through the room.) May I be excused? Im not feeling well. TESS Very well. Ill stop by tomorrow. REGINALD Thank you. TESS Larry, you can also take Harold back to his room. Were obviously finished for the day. (As REGINALD, LARRY and HAROLD move out of the common room, we see DRACULA move through the shadows. REGINALD turns and sees TESS with MICHAEL.) MICHAEL Your meetings cant keep ending that way. TESS I know, Michael. But theyre under a lot of stress right now. Im sure once things calm down

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MICHAEL Sadly, thats not going to happen. TESS What do you mean? MICHAEL Superintendent Pierce is dying, Tess, and his physicians cant figure out exactly what is wrong with him. They believe hes developed some sort of blood disorder. TESS Thats horrible. (She moves to hug him.) I know he was like a father to you. MICHAEL Theres more bad news. Two of our residents are missing. TESS Oh no. MICHAEL Both of them have dementia, so theyve probably just wandered off, but until we find them, we cant take any risks. Everyone is a suspect, especially Mr. Friendel. Im going to ask Don to keep a closer eye on him. TESS Don. No, that wont be necessary. MICHAEL Don and Larry found him outside last night yelling at a bat in a tree. He was mumbling something about the Masters house, and then he tried to jump over the wall. He fought them at first, but once they restrained him, he fell to his knees. Im told he was in some sort of catatonic state for the rest of the day. TESS It sounds like he was confused not dangerous. MICHAEL Do you know the difference anymore? TESS Dont patronize me. MICHAEL Im not trying to be condescending, but Im worried about you. Im afraid that where this patient is concerned, youre losing perspective. Youre taking risks risks that could endanger yourself and others. Its not like you.

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TESS He finally opened up to me. I cant turn back now. MICHAEL Tess, how far are you willing to go? And for what: Your reputation? Your career? TESS To help. MICHAEL I understand that, but dont risk destroying everything weve built in the process. TESS I didnt realize this had anything to do with us. We agreed to keep our professional life and our home life separate. MICHAEL You know its not always that simple. TESS I do now. MICHAEL Darling, I hate when youre upset with me. (He hugs her.) I need us to be a united front, especially under the circumstances. TESS Youve never called me that. MICHAEL What? TESS Darling. Youve never said that before. MICHAEL I havent? Well, for some reason, it feels right. Darling. (He hugs her again.) (ARTHUR, SEWARD, QUINCEY and VAN HELSING gather around to stand vigil during LUCYS illness. She dies after showing vampiric yearnings. The men carry her off. REGINALD, crying, gets in his bed and forces himself to sleep. From the darkness we hear: Let me in Let me in (HAROLD is standing over REGINALD as he sleeps. He wakes and is startled by HAROLDS presence.) REGINALD Harold, dear God! What are you doing in here? How did you ? (He realizes HAROLD is not moving.) Harold? Harold! (He shakes him.)

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(HAROLD lets out a strange moan, as if stepped on his stomach. He notices REGINALD, looks around and realizes where he is, and becomes frightened. He starts to cry like a scared child.) No, no, dont cry. Harold, its fine. Im not angry with you. I know you didnt mean any harm. Look at me. Thats it, Harold, look me in the eyes. Take a breath. Calm down. Thats right. Youre safe. You dont want anyone to hear you, do you? (HAROLD shakes his head no.) Good. We dont want Don coming in and saying, This aint no slumber party, girls! (HAROLD finds this funny and laughs.) I have a surprise for you. (REGINALD pulls something from his pocket.) I snuck some candy from the nurses station. I was going to use it for one of my projects, but I want you to have it. (He shows the candy to HAROLD. His face lights up.) You can eat it, if youre really quiet and go back to your room. Okay? Nod if you know what Im saying. (HAROLD nods. REGINALD gives him the candy. He puts both pieces in his mouth at once and sucks contentedly.) Harold, I have a favor to ask of you. I need you to stay away from me for a little while. (This does not set well with HAROLD.) Its nothing personal. See, there are things that may take advantage of your your simplicity, and I dont want either of us to get hurt. Do you understand what Im saying? (HAROLD stares at him, sucking on his candy.) We must both be brave like Dr. Van Helsing. Remember, from the novel? (HAROLD nods.) Good. (DON enters.) DON I should have known this is where youd be. See you two girls didnt invite me to the party. Are you doing each others hair? (REGINALD smiles at HAROLD.) Come on Harold, lets go. I dont have all day. (DON and HAROLD cross to leave.) REGINALD Goodbye, Harold. Remember Van Helsing. DON (to REGINALD) Im watching you, mister. (TESS enters as they leave.)

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TESS May I come in? REGINALD Do I have a choice? TESS I heard that you were screaming in the courtyard last night. Was something wrong? (She is wringing her hands.) REGINALD I notice that you wring your hands whenever youre agitated. (She stops.) TESS Very perceptive. But Im not upset with you, Reginald. REGINALD I do not feel your agitation is directed towards me. Dr. Shaw, perhaps? TESS (Not amused.) Lets discuss your recent behavior. REGINALD Pardon me. I was being presumptive. (TESS starts wringing her hands again. She notices her actions and stops. REGINALD smiles at her and sings:) There was an old lady swallowed a fly, her hands were claws, she was prone to lie TESS Please answer my question. REGINALD Ill answer yours if you first answer mine. TESS I dont have the patience REGINALD What scares you? TESS I I dont know. This really is
37

REGINALD There has to be something. TESS Well, Im not particularly fond of spiders. REGINALD Be honest, Doctor. You said we need to trust each other, correct? TESS (beaten down) Fine. I guess, on a certain level, Im afraid of failure. REGINALD What failure in particular? TESS I answered your question, now we REGINALD Please, humor me. TESS Okay. Im afraid Ill fail at being the type of doctor I want to be. REGINALD Now we are getting to the marrow. But, in all honesty, are you more frightened of failing or succeeding? TESS Why would success frighten me? REGINALD Are you afraid, deep inside your heart, that if all your wildest dreams come true you will be disappointed? TESS I hadnt thought of that REGINALD If you succeed, are you afraid you shall have to sacrifice a husband, a family, and even your own sense of self? Who will you be then? Who will you turn to? You will have to face the worst terror of all being alone and unloved. TESS Youre projecting your thoughts. REGINALD Perhaps, but I am telling the truth.
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TESS Then, in your opinion, what is the cure for this debilitating fear? REGINALD For you, its simple: Death. TESS And for you? REGINALD Theres a fire in my brain, Doctor. It burns up everything human and leaves me with nothing but ash. To be consumed from the inside out, do you know what that is like? No relief. No end. All I can hope for is that time may finally, and graciously, crumble my mind. (DRACULA and the VIXENS appear from the shadows. REGINALD is visibly disturbed.) TESS Whats wrong? REGINALD I travelled all these miles to escape them. I hoped making my way across the Atlantic would cut off their reach. But theyve found me again, Doctor, and they are only growing more powerful by the day. (VAMPIRES disappear.) TESS Reginald, the voices are inside your mind. Theyll never leave you not without help. REGINALD There is nothing you or anyone else in this place can do for me. TESS There are other options new medicines that may help. Theyre still experimental in this country, but they have been very successful overseas. I think we could gain permission to test administer them to you. REGINALD I am not your lab rat! TESS I apologize. I wasnt implying REGINALD Dr. Carhart, I feel my time at Hawthorn Retreat has come to an end. TESS Im sorry you feel that way. Ill consider your request and give you an answer tomorrow.
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REGINALD You mean I no longer have a choice in the matter? TESS I will consider your request. (TESS leaves his room. We see LUCYS burial procession moving through the graveyard. The men bury LUCY *possibly in REGINALDS bed+. The sun sets and the lights go out. SARAH sings an ancient song. When the lights come back up, we are in Reginalds room. SARAH and REGINALD are alone. REGINALD Thats lovely, but it sounds very old. Where did you learn it? SARAH On the wind. (Silence.) Tell me what its like? REGINALD What? SARAH Killing someone. REGINALD Ive never taken a human life. As much as Ive wanted to, Ive always resisted. Yes, I have fed off the blood of dead soldiers, and have haunted alleyways looking for the freshly decaying bodies of beggars, but I have never killed anything larger than a deer. And the price I pay for even those is heavy. The buzzing, the barking I can hear them all the time the souls that Ive consumed whispering, screeching, calling out to be set free. Even the fluttering of wings drives me to stick a spike through my ear. Ive searched the world, followed every myth, tried every cure, but nothing stops the noise nothing but new blood. The only thing that brings relief is what will eventually bring me more pain. SARAH Then why? Why do you fight it? REGINALD If I dont, Ill be lost. I only want to breathe again. (SARAH works it so that she and REGINALD face each other.) SARAH If you take my wrist here (She places his hand on her wrist.) youll be able to feel the ebb and flow of my heart.

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(They breathe together.) Do you know what I desire? REGINALD (He pulls away.) Sarah, Im most flattered, but Im old and this is not SARAH You misunderstand. I want you to have them. REGINALD What? SARAH My heartbeats. I want you to take them through my blood. (She takes a razor blade out of her pocket and cuts her arm. She offers it to him. VAMPIRES move through the shadows.) Its my gift to you. REGINALD Sarah, this is insane. I will not harm you! SARAH I know you wont hurt me. Youll only take what you need. Drink. REGINALD Stop! Dont do this! SARAH Youve been thirsty for so long. Dont deny yourself or me. REGINALD Deny you? SARAH Once I give you my blood, youll offer me your blood in return. Youll give me the Masters kiss. REGINALD Sarah, listen to me. You can still leave this darkness behind. SARAH Why would I want to? I called for him every night the Master and finally, finally, his red eyes appeared on a moonbeam shining through my window. He whispered to me, but I couldnt make out the words. The only thing that was clear was your name: Renfield Renfield. For a moment, I saw your face on the moonbeam. REGINALD You were sleeping. The story has infected your dreams.

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SARAH No, I was wide awake. REGINALD Then youre only seeing what you want to see. SARAH You have brought Dracula to me through your blood. He lives in you. I need that blood to hear him and to serve him. REGINALD I will not give you my blood. SARAH I just need a little. Please, Renfield. REGINALD You dont know what youre sacrificing. SARAH Yes, I do. Ive been practicing just like you taught me. REGINALD God, no. SARAH Since I dont like bugs, I skipped the flies and spiders and went straight for the parakeets in the solarium. But unlike you, I was smart enough not to eat their feathers. Next, I dined on some stray cats and that old guinea pig. It was hard to keep everything down at first, but it got easier by the time I ate Harolds dog. Thats when the real power started to tingle inside me. I thought you of all people would understand. I have to take what I need to survive. REGINALD There are other ways. This is madness. SARAH Who are you to condemn madness? Youre the original madman. Youre an example to us all! REGINALD I am a warning! SARAH No, youre weak! You never deserved the Masters love and attention. Thats why he abandoned you. Youre no higher in the food chain than those rats youre so fond of. But no matter how far youve run, hes finally found you. REGINALD You dont know what youre saying.
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SARAH Stop telling me that! Ive never been more certain in my life. You said, The power is in the blood. The Bible even says so. There is no other way to fill this hole inside me. Im empty! I need your gift to make me whole again. The hole in my heart will be filled only when it is drowned in red. Dont deny me that. REGINALD When you sacrifice love, your peace becomes stillborn. Youll be dead inside. SARAH I no longer need love. Thats for the weak, the pathetic. Power is all I want. If I cant be good, Ill at least be strong. (She moves towards him.) My temple throbs with anticipation. I taste the salty bitterness on my tongue. I hear your heartbeat in my ears. Please, Renfield (She grabs him.) REGINALD (He pushes her away.) I wont give you my blood! No matter how much you beg! (He turns away from her.) You need to leave. Youre no longer welcome here. Go! (SARAH softens.) SARAH Oh, Reginald, Im sorry. Youre right; Ive been selfish. Can you forgive me? We can get through our troubles together. Just please look at me. Please. (REGINALD turns towards her. He softens. She moves closer to him.) I understand you wont give me your blood. Its your decision. It just means Ill have to take it! (SARAH jumps on REGINALD and attacks him. She bites him on the shoulder where it meets his neck. As the lights go to black, he screams in agony and shock; and DRACULA and the VIXENS move closer to REGINALD and the audience.)

-END OF ACT ONE-

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ACT TWO
MINA and JONATHAN walk through the streets of London, as young newlyweds tend to do. JONATHAN thinks he sees DRACULA. They leave. LUCY, Draculas latest vampire bride, appears and moves through the shadows. We hear the sounds of children. Oh, how she is hungry for young, tender morsels. LUCY disappears into one of the shadowy back alleyways. VAN HELSING and SEWARD follow her. We hear her attack a child. Poor little one. After that uplifting sight... We are back in Reginalds cottage at Hawthorn Retreat. REGINALD has a bandage where his neck and shoulder meet. DON and LARRY are in the room with him. REGINALD does not look enthused with his company. DON (Speaks in a mock British dialect, similar but not exactly the same as DONALD.) Oh, poor Reggie. He got bit by a little girl. The all-powerful Ratcula mustve lost his bite! (DON laughs at his own bad joke. He looks at LARRY. Back to American:) Get it? Bite? Vampire? Rat? (Demonstrates.) LARRY Yeah, we get it. (REGINALD turns his back to them.) DON Ahh Im just teasing you, Reggie. That girl was bonkers. I always said so. Right, Larry? LARRY Thats what you said. DON See, Reggie. Im siding with you for a change. LARRY You also said you felt less of a man since your wife left. DON Shut up, moron. LARRY You shut up. REGINALD Gentlemen, please.

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DON Well, pardon us, your highness. A little thank you would be nice for a change. If we hadnt been close by when you screamed that girl would have killed you. It took us both to pry her loose. She was attached to you like those lizards in the desert I read about once. You know, they clamp down on your skin and wont let go. What are they called? A hula monster or something. LARRY Hula is Hawaiian, stupid. DON God, youre wound up today. The point is she was like some wild animal growling and panting and hissing and smacking her lips. She about took my hand off with those teeth of hers. I had a nightmare about it last night. LARRY Did it make you wet the bed? DON Larry, Im not going to warn you again. (LARRY flips him off.) REGINALD Gentlemen, you have my eternal gratitude. Now you may leave. DON Cant do that. Doctors orders. LARRY Yeah, were stuck with you. REGINALD Very well. May I then trouble you for some tea? LARRY This aint a bed and breakfast. REGINALD Larry, you seem awfully tense today. Are you alright? LARRY I dont wanna talk about it.
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DON Hes been moping around since we put that girl in the cage. LARRY She has a name, asshole. REGINALD I empathize with you, Larry. How is Sarah? LARRY Shes locked up with a straitjacket. Thats how she is. DON She keeps muttering, Ive tasted life! Gives me the willies. LARRY I heard her fathers supposed to come and visit today. Shell probably never get out of here. DON Course they blame you, Reggie for putting crazy ideas in her head. Those stories of yours are dangerous. They even spook me, and I was in Korea. LARRY Yeah, whered you fight? DON Doesnt matter. LARRY Tell that to the real soldiers. DON Larry, swear to God, if you say one more REGINALD Do you two believe in vampires? LARRY What? Like in the book?

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REGINALD Yes. DON Of course not. LARRY Why? REGINALD What if I told you theyre real? DON Id say thats why youre in this place. LARRY Why would we believe you? REGINALD You can see the signs for yourself. You know whats going on, dont you, Larry? LARRY Things have been bad around here the last couple days, sure, but no ones been drained of blood. DON Except Reggie. (He laughs.) REGINALD Don, I promise this is no joke. Your lives are in grave danger. DON This is the stupidest crap Ive ever heard. Larry, hes just trying to scare us so well leave him alone. Or maybe he gets his jollies from giving us the creeps. Sicko. REGINALD Youre a fine specimen of a man, Don. Dracula will enjoy draining every droplet of blood from you. (REGINALD approaches him acting as Dracula. He almost appears to mesmerize DON.) Before you can even see his toothy smile, he will have snapped your neck, and ripped open your throat. Or, perhaps, if he finds you particularly appealing, the Master will bring his mouth close to your neck and, like a warm whisper, gently sink his fangs into your jugular. Your heartbeats will meet, becoming one. And as soon as you are at the point of ecstasy, he will coldly seize your last breath as his own. (REGINALD almost touches lips with DON, then hisses in his face.)
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REGINALD Hiss! DON You bastard! (DON takes a swing at REGINALD. REGINALD ducks and DON falls to the floor. REGINALD walks away from him.) Youll pay for this! (We hear SEWARD and TESS from offstage.) SEWARD (simultaneously with TESS) Lawrence, please meet me in the hall. TESS (simultaneously with SEWARD) Don, come out here, please. LAWRENCE Yes, sir. (Moves in direction of SEWARD.) DON This cant be good. (Moves in direction of TESS.) (REGINALD takes out the keys he just took off of Don in their scuffle. He hides them. He sits down on his bed and tries to quiet the voices in his head. They are growing louder. TESS enters.) TESS How are you? Im sorry I was out of the building when you were hurt. REGINALD Mrs. Harker, is that you? TESS No, Mr. Friendel. Its Dr. Carhart. REGINALD (He looks at her.) Of course, I must still be disoriented. TESS Hows your wound? REGINALD Delightful.
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TESS Would you like to talk about what happened? REGINALD Not particularly. TESS It might make you feel better. (REGINALD sees something move out of the corner of his eye.) REGINALD Doctor, could we postpone our chat for another day? Im not feeling well. Lady bites and all, you know? TESS Are you seeing things again? REGINALD Not at all. No more monsters and stone sober. Im cured. TESS Then why did Don tell me you mentioned vampires? REGINALD I was simply trying to carve out a few moments of solitude for myself. For that, I am guilty. TESS Its never that simple with you, Mr. Friendel. REGINALD We are back to using formal names, I see. TESS Im trying to maintain a degree of professionalism. REGINALD And separation? TESS You are the patient and I am the doctor. REGINALD And round and round we go TESS Do you not agree with my methods?

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REGINALD With all due respect, Dr. Carhart, there is more to a person than his psychology. TESS Explain. REGINALD We are shaped not only by the dynamics of our formative years, but also by history and culture and genetics and random accidents and all those other things that the Greeks and Shakespeare knew things like calls from the gods fate destiny. TESS If thats the case, then tell me, why are you running? Shouldnt you shouldnt we all simply stand up and accept our fate? REGINALD You are correct, Doctor. Fear makes fools of men and women. TESS You never told me what youre afraid of. REGINALD I know. TESS Isnt it only fair? REGINALD The last time I exchanged secrets it did not fare well for me. TESS Im waiting. REGINALD Very well. Im afraid of the dark. TESS Figuratively, not literally, I take it? REGINALD Both. TESS Are you frightened of the darkness within you? REGINALD Frightened that I will never want to leave it behind.

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TESS Why? REGINALD Even darkness is a comfort when you are lonely and afraid. It smothers the thoughts that bring the worst kind of pain. The inky depths are more reassuring than flailing about in murky water, constantly trying to reach the light at the surface but never being able to break through and catch your breath. (DRACULA appears from the shadows. REGINALD is agitated by his presence. As DRACULA moves, REGINALD must fight his influence on his behavior and movement. As REGINALD and TESS talk, the madness becomes more and more difficult to control.) No no no TESS Mr. Friendel, whats wrong? REGINALD I look out my window and all I see is thick black ink covering the landscape the trees, the bushes, the moon and the stars. It calls me outside so it can envelop me make me its own. It whispers in my ear, promising me riches beyond this drudgery of body and mind. TESS What are you talking about? REGINALD I tell him to stay away, but he keeps coming for me. TESS Who? Who, Reginald? REGINALD The Master! Hes here! Hes inside! (TESS reaches out her hand to him. REGINALD physically grabs TESS and pushes her down on the bed. It looks like he may bite her. He looks into her eyes and the violence seems to turn into lust. TESS is almost hypnotized. She does not resist, though she is terrified. REGINALD realizes what he is doing and quickly stands up. DRACULA disappears.) REGINALD Im sorry! Im so sorry! DON Whats going on in there?! Im coming in! TESS No, Don! Its fine. Everything is under control. Im leaving.

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(TESS looks at REGINALD. She does not know what to say to him. She looks down and leaves. REGINALD crumbles to the floor distraught.) REGINALD I am not a monster... I am not a monster (As REGINALD forces himself back together, we see VAN HELSING, SEWARD, HOLMWOOD and QUINCEY at the graveyard. They discover LUCY is a vampire. She tries to seduce and attack Arthur. They fight her off with crucifixes. They move away. REGINALD gathers his belongings, along with Dons keys, to make his escape. He takes out a metal stake.) REGINALD Goodbye, Doctor. (REGINALD leaves. VAN HELSING, SEWARD, HOLMWOOD and QUINCEY are standing around Lucys coffin. Arthur stakes Lucy. As LUCY screams outMICHAEL performs a lobotomy on SARAH. MICHAEL moves over to meet TESS in his office.) TESS Michael, how could you? MICHAEL Sarahs father felt it was the best option. TESS For her or for him? MICHAEL Yesterday, I became superintendent of the hospital, Tess. I have to take into account what is best for this institution. TESS So that gives you the right to go around handing out lobotomies? MICHAEL Have you looked around? The world is in chaos. Its not only my job to heal the sick; I have a duty to protect the innocent. TESS By unfairly condemning those people society doesnt know how to deal with? MICHAEL Are you talking about Mr. Friendel? TESS Forget I mentioned it.

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MICHAEL No, youre right; he would make an excellent candidate for the procedure. TESS Never. MICHAEL The man is a virus. His influence has spread throughout the hospital. Look at the damage his words have wrought. For Gods sake, Tess, thats evil if Ive ever seen it! TESS You speak of evil the almighty man of science? You talk as if his words have some sort of magic in them. MICHAEL Its not just his words; its him. TESS Youre the one who sees him as evil, Michael. Youre the one who gives his words power. MICHAEL I forbid you from seeing him. TESS You forbid me? Hes my patient. MICHAEL Is that all he is to you? TESS Youre being ridiculous. MICHAEL Youre obsessed with a man who at best is delusional and at worst a psychopath. Youve lost your perspective, and therefore, I must remove you as his doctor. TESS This is unacceptable. MICHAEL Youre putting yourself and others at risk for injury or worse. TESS He is not violent!

MICHAEL He was going to bite you!

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TESS What? (realizes he knows) That was a misunderstanding. MICHAEL Why didnt you tell me? TESS There was no need to alarm you. Youve been overprotective lately. Almost jealous. MICHAEL From what Ive heard, it seems my feelings are justified. TESS What does that mean? When it comes to Reginald, Im in complete control. MICHAEL Thats what Im afraid of. TESS Excuse me? I dont know what Don has told you, but MICHAEL Larry backed him up, Tess. They noticed something between you. Both of them saw it. TESS Thats absurd. It was an intense session. Thats all. You believe me, dont you? MICHAEL Dr. Carhart, until we get to the heart of what is causing all these strange events, Mr. Friendel will be confined to his quarters without your supervision. This is for your own good. (TESS storms out. We see a lobotomized SARAH haunting the hospital. LARRY and DON are cleaning in the lower levels of Hawthorn Retreat.) DON What an ungrateful bitch. We save her life and she assigns us to cleaning detail. LARRY Im sure shes mad about what you told Dr. Shaw. DON Well, he did ask me to keep tabs on them. I was only doing my job. (There is a noise someone or something moving.) LARRY What was that?
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DON Oh, probably just some rat. LARRY You sure? It made a lot of noise. DON A really big rat then. Hey! Maybe we should bring Reggie down here to catch it. (DON laughs; LARRY does not. Another noise.) LARRY There it is again. Only closer. (Moaning is heard.) Don? DON Shit. (Something bursts in wrapped in a sheet or tarp.) What is it?! (It is still moaning wildly.) LARRY It sounds like (Pulls off sheet/tarp. It is HAROLD.) DON Harold! What in hell?! How did he get down here? Larry, did you leave his room unlocked again? LARRY No, I swear. I double checked it. DON Seems like somebodys playing a joke on us. Those damn nurses probably. In fact, I wouldnt doubt that theyre watching us and laughing right now. LARRY We better get him back to his room before somebody notices hes missing. I dont want to get in trouble again. DON You go. Ill stay here and finish up.

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LARRY You sure you wanna do that? DON I could use the peace and quiet, after all your screaming and crying and carrying on. LARRY Sure, Don. Whatever you say. Knock yourself out. (LARRY leaves with HAROLD. DON continues mopping. After a few moments, there is another noise and some movement in the shadows.) DON Dammit, Larry, is that you? You better not have lost Harold. (No answer. We hear SARAH singing that old song, but something is off about it.) Sarah, is that you? (Movement.) Howd you get down here? Just come out and show yourself. Sarah, where are you? (More movement. DON moves toward it, but is quickly snatched into the darkness. SARAHS lobotomized singing continues as The NURSES bring REGINALD back to his room in a straitjacket. TESS and SEWARD enter from opposite sides and stand together. LARRY is with them.) REGINALD Whos there? SEWARD (simultaneously with TESS) Mr. Renfield, it is I, Dr. Seward. I was told you called for me. TESS (simultaneously with SEWARD) Mr. Friendel, its Dr. Carhart. I was told you called for me. REGINALD Yes. TESS Well? REGINALD I must leave, immediately. SEWARD Why? TESS Why?

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REGINALD It is the only way to assure that you and the rest of the hospital will be safe. TESS You understand that to Dr. Shaw and the staff it sounds like youre threatening violence unless youre released? REGINALD For the sake of everyones souls, please allow me to leave! SEWARD I didnt think you cared about souls, Mr. Renfield? REGINALD I no longer know what I care for, Doctor. I just need to leave. SEWARD Why do you keep looking over there? TESS (slightly overlapping SEWARD) What are you seeing? REGINALD Stop, stop talking! I desire to go at once here now this very hour this very moment. I implore you, for the sake of others. TESS You know I cant do that. SEWARD I am not at liberty to do that, Mr. Renfield. REGINALD Doctor, you dont seem to know whats at stake. TESS I do. Everyone here believes youre a murderer. REGINALD A murderer? SEWARD What about murder? TESS Don was found dead this morning. His throat had been cut and all the blood drained from him.

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REGINALD Its too late. SEWARD What does that mean? REGINALD I am not at liberty to give you my reasons. I can only ask you to trust me. TESS That is not good enough. REGINALD Let me out of this house at once. Send me away how you will and where you will, but let me go out of this. You dont know what you do by keeping me here. You dont know whom you wrong, or how. (TESS turns her back on REGINALD.) SEWARD Come, no more of this: we have had quite enough already. Get to your bed and try to behave more discreetly. (SEWARD turns to leave.) REGINALD (to SEWARD) Will you never learn? (SEWARD leaves.) TESS Mr. Friendel, you need help. REGINALD Im quite aware of that, Doctor. Ive been asking for your help since you arrived. TESS Thats not what Im saying. REGINALD Good heavens, were not going to talk about our feelings at a time like this. TESS No, no were not. You need more help than even therapy can provide. REGINALD What do you mean?

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TESS I was able to secure some of the medication I mentioned to you the other day. I insist you try it. REGINALD Doctor, this will only make things worse. TESS Its the only way I can keep Dr. Shaw from lobotomizing you. Its a risk Im willing to take. Larry, give him the dosage. (LARRY goes to REGINALD. He puts the tiny cup in front of him.) REGINALD I refuse. I will not swallow it. TESS You have no choice. (to LARRY) Force him if you must. (LARRY takes the pill and starts to put it into REGINALDS mouth.) REGINALD Dr. Carhart, cant you understand? I am no lunatic in a mad fit, but a sane man fighting for his soul! (TESS nods to LARRY to continue. She forces herself to turn and leave. LARRY makes REGINALD swallow the medication. LARRY leaves.) Oh, hear me! Let me go! Let me go! (REGINALD stumbles. He appears drowsy. He lies down on his bed. VAN HELSING, SEWARD, ARTHUR and JONATHAN chase Dracula from his Carfax residence. As they chase him off, we see REGINALD is still in his straitjacket. LARRY is tying him up. SARAH is singing/wailing in the background.) REGINALD (He wakes.) Larry? What are you doing? LARRY Making sure you cant run. Im glad that pill knocked you out. I didnt know if it would work on vampires. REGINALD You drugged me? But why? LARRY Do you hear her screams? Its your fault! This never would have happened if you hadnt come along. I wouldve been able to keep her safe. Protect her. REGINALD (realizing) You love her.

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LARRY I failed her. Shes a walking shadow now. REGINALD She still needs you. LARRY Shes beyond help. Now the best I can do is keep this from happening to anyone else. REGINALD What do you mean? LARRY Ive gotta kill you. Its the only way to end all of this destruction. (He takes Vampire-killing tools out of his bag garlic, crucifix, etc.) I was too scared to believe you before and now Cecils dead, Dons dead and Sarahs Im the only one who can stop this. Im the only one who can be the hero. REGINALD Please, Larry, listen to me. You have the wrong man. All you have to do is let me go. Ill run away and all of this madness will cease. LARRY Vampires lie. Everybody knows that. (LARRY sticks a gag and bulb of garlic in his mouth.) Im tired of talking. (LARRY holds up an old butcher knife.) I hope thisll do. I didnt have time to make a wooden stake. (As he is about to do the dastardly deed, HAROLD appears in the room with a large book and grunts. He probably makes LARRY wet his britches.) LARRY What the! Holy-moly, Harold, you scared the pee out of me! I told you not to follow me. (HAROLD is silent.) Harold, I cant have you interfering with this. Its the only way to make sure you and all the other people stay safe. Stop looking at me! This is hard enough the way it is. I cant go through with it if youre staring. Okay okay, just sit over here and turn your back to me. (HAROLD follows his directions.) Thats it. No peeking. LARRY lifts the butcher knife above his head. Right when he is going to plunge it into REGINALDS heart, HAROLD grabs him by the legs and knocks him to the floor. He takes the large book and knocks him in the head. Larry wont be getting up for a while. HAROLD grabs LARRYS feet and drags him to the door. Before he leaves, he stops and says in a tone that could be construed as either heroic or menacing:

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HAROLD Ill come back for you. REGINALD is left tied and gagged. As he desperately attempts to free himself, a thick red mist invades every inch of space. We can see in his eyes that he is terrified. DRACULA and his VIXENS appear in and out of the fog. They are both inside the London asylum and inside Hawthorn Retreat. MINA moves through the space. REGINALD begins shaking his head vigorously to say, No, no, no! Not again!!! DRACULA and the VIXENS close in around MINA, and then DRACULA forces himself on her. It is brutal, very unlike the romanticism of Lucys attacks. REGINALD wails and thrashes and knocks himself onto the floor. This dislodges the gag. He screams. MINA and the VAMPIRES disappear. (VAN HELSING, ARTHUR, QUINCEY, and SEWARD run into Reginalds room and discover him on the floor. To them, he is Renfield from the novel.) ARTHUR Merciful heaven! SEWARD Mr. Renfield, what happened to you? REGINALD Dr. Seward, why are you all here? In my room? SEWARD We heard you screaming. How were you hurt? REGINALD When when she came in to see me this afternoon, she wasnt the same. It was like tea after the teapot had been watered. She didnt look the same. When she went away, I began to think and it made me mad that he had been taking the life out of her. I didnt want it to happen to her again. ARTHUR Who? REGINALD The lady with the red hair. QUINCEY Mrs. Harker? REGINALD Yes. No I dont know anymore. When he came tonight, I was ready for him. I saw the mist stealing in, and I grabbed it tight. I thought I was going to win, for I didnt mean him to take her life. Till I saw his eyes. They burned into me, and my strength became like water. When I tried to cling to him, he raised me up and flung me down. There was a red cloud before me, and a noise like thunder, and the mist seemed to steal away under the door.

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ARTHUR Hes in the asylum! VAN HELSING We know the worst now. Dracula is here, and we know his purpose. It may not be too late. But lose no time. There is not an instant to spare. The men rush out of the room. REGINALD stands, disoriented. DRACULA, MINA and JONATHAN appear in MINAS room, along with the VIXENS. DRACULAS shirt is open. He is making MINA drink his blood from a cut in his chest. JONATHAN is next to them, apparently asleep. VAN HELSING, ARTHUR, QUINCEY, and SEWARD burst into the room to stop DRACULA. JONATHAN wakes and carries off MINA. There is a fight between DRACULA and his VIXENS and VAN HELSING, ARTHUR, QUINCEY, and SEWARD. The VIXENS are killed. DRACULA escapes. The men go after him. (REGINALD is alone, but he can still sense the presence of DRACULA lurking around him, waiting to find a way into his cottage. REGINALD realizes that he has no other choice but to make a stand against DRACULA.) REGINALD Never again! Do you hear me! Never again will I cower in fear of you! Come for me! Do you hear! Im tired of running! I am willing to fight! (REGINALD sits on his bed and waits for DRACULA. There is silence then a knock at the door.) MICHAEL Mr. Friendel, it is Dr. Shaw, may I come in? Dr. Carhart is with me. We need to make sure youre safe. REGINALD How do I know I can trust you? TESS We dont want to alarm you. We just want to talk. REGINALD Come in then; its your damnable hospital. (MICHAEL and TESS enter. They are still dressed in their Victorian-era MINA and JONATHAN clothing. REGINALD stares at them in disbelief. He silently questions whether or not what he sees is real.) MICHAEL (Offers a handshake.) We finally meet again. REGINALD (Does not accept his hand.) What is that smell?

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MICHAEL It must be the adrenaline. I had an altercation with Harold about an hour ago. We found him crying in the infirmary. He was on his knees, shaking Larry. When I attempted to stop him, he attacked me. TESS Im afraid there was an accident. Larry is dead. REGINALD Where is Harold? MICHAEL Hes in isolation. TESS Whats wrong? Do you know whats happening? REGINALD The Master Dracula is here. He killed Larry and the others. He poisoned Sarahs mind. MICHAEL Mr. Friendel, Harold obviously killed Larry by accident. His neck was broken and he still had all of his blood. REGINALD Hes coming back for me. He said so. TESS Harolds being watched. Youre safe. REGINALD No one is safe when the Master is present. TESS Let me help you out of your jacket. MICHAEL Do you think that wise? We still dont know what is happening around here? TESS He needs to be able to protect himself.

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MICHAEL Mr. Friendel has acquitted himself well so far. TESS Michael, I dont see MICHAEL Do not remove the jacket. TESS Its your hospital, Doctor. (to REGINALD) Im sorry. REGINALD You look so much like her? TESS Who? REGINALD Mina. Mrs. Harker. (TESS is strangely touched by this.) I was never able to apologize. I am sorry that I failed you. TESS Reginald, you didnt fail me. REGINALD You called me by my first name. How nice. MICHAEL I hate to break up this reunion, but (There is a scream outside. It is SARAH. She starts telling parts of the Dracula story, but it sounds off childish and ghostly at the same time.) TESS Its Sarah. MICHAEL Dr. Carhart, please see if you can calm her, and then take her back to her room. Ill stay here with Mr. Friendel. (TESS hesitates and then leaves. REGINALD moves closer to the door to listen. In a few moments, SARAH is quiet.)

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MICHAEL Finally, Mr. Renfield, we are alone. It has been such a long, long time since our last encounter. (REGINALD turns to him. As he does, DRACULA appears next to MICHAEL.) Are you tired, my son? REGINALD I was foolish not to have guessed. MICHAEL Your friend, Harold, knew from the beginning. He was always trying to warn you. Too bad that poor fellow has trouble speaking. REGINALD Have you hurt him? MICHAEL Sadly, no; there would have been too many witnesses. However, I was able to blame him for Mr. Biffles death. I enjoyed hearing the crisp, sweet sound of Larrys neck snapping. (He makes the sound.) Ahh, like biting into an apple (MICHAEL and DRACULA move around the room in synchronicity.) REGINALD Why did you choose Dr. Shaw? MICHAEL It is always the handsome, charming ones that no one suspects. Plus, he was rather easy to convince. His ambition mixed with the pleasure he receives from his handy work makes him the perfect host. I plan on keeping him for myself. After all, he is the type of man to one day rule this country. REGINALD Release him! (REGINALD rushes at him/them, but MICHAEL and DRACULA easily hold him off. Together, their strength is super human.) MICHAEL Every choice Dr. Shaw makes is his own. I simply planted the pitch black seed; he allowed it to take root and grow. You know that to be true. You answered the call stronger than most. When I tapped on your window, you did not hesitate. The darkness inside you wanted an excuse to be set free. Deep down, thats what you all want an excuse to kill, to take what you want, to live by your own rules. You dont need my blood; you desire my permission. (MICHAEL/DRACULA throw REGINALD down to the ground.)

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REGINALD You manipulated me. MICHAEL (He acts like his feelings are hurt.) Ohh Mr. Renfield, why hast thou forsaken me? I give and I give and I give and youre never satisfied. Show some respect to your god. REGINALD Youre no god! Youre a parasite with an insatiable appetite. You serve no purpose than to spread disease and fear. MICHAEL Without fear, without disease, what would happen to this world? I am your common enemy the monster that holds you close to each other at night and gives you the license to be heroes during the day. We all play our roles, Mr. Renfield. Why do you deny yours? REGINALD My destiny is not to unleash you on the world. MICHAEL You have been chosen. That is quite an honor, if I say so myself. REGINALD You cursed me! MICHAEL I am saving you. Is that not what you always wanted? REGINALD No! I kept myself alive all these years no matter how painful so that I would not become one of you! MICHAEL Yes, but what good did it serve? You lived for over half a century as a vermin hiding in the shadows, waiting for scraps. Leaving only plague in your path. REGINALD And what of you? You no longer have your own body or even your fangs. Youre a pathetic red-eyed phantom that haunts the minds of the weak. MICHAEL Yet soon soon I will be whole again the spirit made flesh. Your blood sacrifice will bring forth a new era.
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REGINALD You will have to take it from me. MICHAEL This would have been much easier if I could have given you a lobotomy if that woman hadnt interfered. REGINALD Dr. Carhart. What do you plan to do with her? MICHAEL She will make a lovely bride, dont you think? Or dinner. REGINALD By my word, I shall not allow that to happen! (He is allowing the beast to come forth.) MICHAEL You always did have a flair for the dramatic, didnt you? (REGINALD is circling MICHAEL and DRACULA.) Fortunately, for me, youre very weak. Without nourishment, your power is diminished. Youre a withered husk of a vampire. (REGINALD falls to the floor in agony.) This has grown tiresome, Mr. Renfield. (MICHAEL pulls out a knife.) It is time to take what is rightfully mine. I have waited long enough. (He and DRACULA move towards REGINALD.) (REGINALD moves away from them.) Dont play coy. (MICHAEL points the knife directly at REGINALD. TESS enters in her doctors clothes.) TESS My God, Michael, what are you doing? MICHAEL He attacked me, Tess. Get out of here! Run!

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(REGINALD jumps up and grabs TESS.) TESS Reginald, its okay. You dont have to do this. MICHAEL I told you, Tess. Hes a madman! TESS Reginald, calm down. We can help you. You are not alone. (REGINALD looks into TESS eyes. He is distracted. MICHAEL takes the chance to lunge at him. TESS screams. REGINALD moves them both out of the way, but TESS gets cut by the knife.) REGINALD Tessa! (TESS lifts up her arm. It almost looks like she is offering it to REGINALD. But is she? MICHAEL is coming back in for the kill. REGINALD grabs TESS arm and drinks.) MICHAEL No! (MICHAEL/DRACULA runs towards REGINALD and TESS. REGINALD knocks the knife out of his hand. He then brutally attacks MICHAEL and DRACULA. He knocks him across the room and jumps on him like a literal bat-out-of-hell. He rips into his chest and drinks. MICHAEL howls in agony. We hear cracking and popping noises as REGINALD destroys MICHAEL.) TESS Reginald, stop! Stop! (DRACULA is now free from MICHAEL. We see his spirit. Once REGINALD gets off of MICHAEL and stands, we see he is drenched in blood. He is transforming into a vampire. DRACULA wants to enter his body. ) REGINALD Quick, Tessa, the stake! Use it on me! TESS No, I wont kill you!

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REGINALD Kill me! Stick me through the heart! NOW! IT HAS TO BE NOW! (TESS hesitates. REGINALD rushes at her. DRACULA tries to stop him. TESS thrusts the stake into him. REGINALD and DRACULA fall to the floor. TESS is stunned. REGINALD gasps for air.) REGINALD Doctor Doctor (REGINALD is dying. TESS attends to him. He opens his eyes and looks at her.) I have had a terrible dream, Doctor, and it has left me so weak that I cannot move. TESS Im sorry, Reginald. This is my fault. REGINALD No, Dr. Carhart. You saved me. I am free now. I am finally able to wake from my nightmare. The light it does not hurt my eyes. (He dies.) (TESS holds him as the lights dim to black. DRACULA, weakened, rocks himself as an old, brittle man. We are left in the dark with a small light emitting from REGINALD.)

THE END

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