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Alternate Endings for Carmilla
TRANSYLVANIA, 1993
Like all alternate endings, this follows the scene of X's lecture - beginning with a
somewhat "showbiz" introduction by a professor.
PROFESSOR:
"Like most of you, I was raised in a culture that loves dichotomies: Left and Right, Light and Dark, or Good and Evil. This is a habit that continues to shape our understanding of History. We were - had been - an empire and World War II was the last time we
were great. [acknowledges titters from the students] Good Germans we could imagine, even accept. But it was not easy for us to understand that there were victims among Germans - until I read The Pied Piper's Children by Xan Fenton, who is here today.
And X begins speaking - the scene is/could be happening at the same time. X: "One hates what he fears, especially if it's part of the self: That's what my friend Stefan Demeter
said to me in the summer of 1934. The Nazis had had their Night of Long Knives - "
EXT. TRANSYLVANIA COUNTRY ROAD (1993) - DAY
1. |
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X (V.O.)
And Transylvania was inhabited by Saxons, Magyars and Romanians. Stefan himself was of Saxon and Magyar descent. That summer I spent in his company... |
2. |  |
RADU (IN ROMANIAN)
So you want to go to Dracula's castle? Don't you know we had a real blood-sucker here? |
3. |  |
RADU (CONT'D)
If you want to see his grave, go to
Bucharest. It's unmarked. You know why? Because if people knew where he lay, they are sure to drag him out, shit on the grave.
It won't do to disturb the peace of a cemetery. Other decent people are buried there. They should have tossed him to pigs. They always do things half-way. |
4. |  |
Tourists turn, hearing a CAR coming. It could be their salvation. |
5. |  | It's a white Bugatti. To their surprise, it stops right in front of them.
CARMILLA
Hop in. I will take you to Dracula's castle. |
6. |  | The American tourists are too astounded to utter a word.
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7. |  | CARMILLA
Forgive them their youths.
RADU (IN FLAWLESS ENGLISH)
That is not necessary, Madame. It has been my pleasure. |
8. |  | CARMILLA
May I offer you a ride, sir?
RADU
No thank you. If there is anything this life has taught me, it's that you don't try to outrun Time. |
9. |  | Tourists, spooked by the turn of events, pile into the car. |
10. |  | Carmilla's hand adjusts the rearview mirror. The reflection shows AIR where the driver should be - |
11. |  | - and settles on the lone figure of Radu, growing smaller on the country road. |
12. |  | Music (a Balkan brass arrangement of "YOUNG AMERICAN" by David Bowie).
- THE END TRANSYLVANIA/'93 Version - |
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