Present For Luna, Version No. II

An original screenplay

Version No. II

Written by Eva Tunik

Русская версия "Подарок для Луны", Версия №2 http://www.proza.ru/2016/11/22/2025

FADE IN:

1. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

A faint rustling and scratching sound can be heard coming from a varnished black wooden coffin. There’s a knock and the coffin starts to shake. Rhythmic strokes pound at the cover from the inside. It lifts up, slips off, and falls onto a second coffin. A strong hand grabs the side of the coffin. It’s DARION (25), a mulatto dressed in a tuxedo. He quickly sits up and looks around, hair disheveled and eyes wide. Darion rubs his face with his hands. In the center of the deserted bedroom are two coffins covered in dust and cobwebs. Darion jumps out of the coffin, grabs the fallen lid, and pushes it aside. The lid of the neighboring coffin shifts from the impact, uncovering the coffin slightly. From it falls a mummified skeleton hand with an engagement ring on its fourth finger. Darion throws off the lid. Flies emerge from the coffin, making a noise that echoes. The mummy in the coffin is wearing a new, bright red evening dress and a shoulder corsage made of fresh black Dracula Roezlii orchids. Darion kneels next to the mummy. Music begins to play. Darion grabs his head.

DARION
– Lunaaaaaaaa!

The sound echoes in the empty room. Darion leans over the mummy.

2. INT. DINING ROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – DARION’S FLASHBACK

In a corner of the dining room is a self-playing piano and a self-playing violanchelo. In the center is a festive table set for two. The candles go out and the music stops. A chandelier lights up over one end of the table. LUNA (25), a long-haired blonde, wearing a bright red evening dress and a shoulder corsage made of fresh black Dracula Roezlii orchids, enters the circle of light. On a plate is a menu and a card with the name "Luna" written on it. Darion in a tuxedo and mask, disguised as an elderly Butler, brings a tray with the first course: tomato soup served in a pumpkin with a glass eye floating in it.

LUNA
– Where is Darion? I won’t eat dinner alone!

DARION
(removing the mask)
– But you're hungry! Or did you eat those two pumpkins that we dragged along??

Luna laughs. Darion pulls the chair out for her. Luna sits down. Darion moves his chair and sits at the other end of the table, which is decorated in a romantic vampire-halloween style. There’s a centerpiece on Darion’s side of the table: a skeleton with a black orchid bouquet in its skull.

DARION  (CONT’D)
(admiring the table decoration)
– Chic!
(sipping the soup)
– My great-grandmother's recipe…

A glass eyeball pops up as Darion stirs the soup with his spoon.

DARION (CONT’D)
(moving the glass eyeball in the soup with his spoon)
– …not the eye though! Take half a dozen ripe “oxheart” tomatoes, scald them, remove the peel. Chop an onion, saut;e it in butter, add the chopped tomatoes and bell pepper, stir, add rosemary. Sorry, no garlic today… Curious about the second course? Maybe we’re the second course… Hey, have I told you that you look gorgeous tonight? What a dress! I've never seen it.

LUNA
– Yeah. Right.

Butler enters in a frock coat carrying a tray with a cloche. He places it in the middle of the table and raises the lid.

On the tray is a pulsating heart. Darion and Luna laugh. Butler cuts into the heart and divides it on two plates. Butler pours wine and leaves the room. Darion and Luna eat. Darion taps his wineglass with his knife. Luna puts down her fork. Darion raises his wineglass.

DARION
– To the host!

Luna raises her wineglass and smiles.

LUNA
– Yes, thank you for your hospitality!

Darion puts his wineglass on the table, removes the cloth napkin from his knees, and puts it on the table.

DARION
– Excuse me, I need a minute…

LUNA
– Another surprise?

DARION
– Surprises are like kittens - there can never be too many.

Darion stands up, walks to the fireplace, takes the hourglass from the mantelpiece, turns it, puts it back, winks at Luna, and exits the dining room.

3. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion kneels next to the mummy and takes the mummy’s hand into his own. The ring slips off, falls with a loud clatter onto the stone floor, spins, and shines in a sunbeam on the floor.

4. INT. LOBBY AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. SUNSET – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Sound of falling key on the floor. Elderly hand picks up the key. Sound of the entrance door rattling open and then scraping the floor as it slams shut. A spacious lobby with a large oak door and semi-circular staircase leading to a second floor. The sun is setting, causing the windows to glow orange. Tall BUTLER (70) in a tailcoat locks the entrance door. DARION (25), a mulatto wearing beige corduroy trousers and an Oxford Blue sweater, and long-haired blonde LUNA (25) in a coat stand in the center of the lobby. They look around and up. There are two large travel bags at Luna’s feet. BLACK CAT stares at the guests from the staircase.

DARION
– Good evening! My name’s Darion. This is my girlfriend …

LUNA
(interrupts)
– Luna. How charming!

BUTLER
– Good evening! If there is anything good about Halloween…

DARION
(winks at Luna)
– We’ll make pumpkin pie from pumpkins, like lemonade from lemons!
(looks at Luna’s bags)

BUTLER
– Your rooms are waiting for you, Sir, Madam! Dinner is at nine…

With great effort, Darion picks up the bags; he can barely carry them.

5. INT. STAIRCASE TO THE SECOND FLOOR. EVENING – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Butler holds a lantern and leads the way up the stairs. Darion barely makes it up the stairs with the bags. Luna follows.

DARION
– What did you pack, a pumpkin? Two pumpkins?

LUNA
– Just don’t ask me for shampoo.

Black Cat is the last to walk up the stairs. He jumps and pounces on the bag’s strap as it drags on the steps.

6. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion is kneeling next to the mummy.
He picks up the ring from the floor and holds it in his hand. Tears stream down his cheeks and drip onto the ring.

7. INT. DINING ROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Everything is still festive in the hall. There’s a tray covered with a cloche in the center of the table. Darion lifts the lid and reveals dessert: a chocolate marzipan hand wearing a wedding ring. Darion gets down on one knee.

DARION
– This is an heirloom. It belonged to my great-grandmother. Luna, I love you so much. Will you marry me?

Luna pulls the ring from the dessert, licks her finger, and slides the ring on. A rooster crows B.S.

LUNA
– Yes! But I’m totally exhausted!

DARION
– Tonight, you’ll sleep like the dead.

Darion takes Luna in his arms and exits the dining room.

8. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Carrying Luna in his arms, Darion enters the bedroom and places her on the bed, removes her black pumps and massages her feet. Luna opens her eyes and looks up at the ceiling. Her eyes widen.

9. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion stands up on shaking legs. Muted voices and laughter B.S. Darion tenses. Darion walks to the window and looks out.

10. INT. LIBRARY AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Spacious, Gothic-style ancient library room. Through the arched window, forest, meadows, and small houses can be seen. Sunlight illuminates the cloth-covered desk by the window.

Various items are laid out on the table: an hourglass, skull, ink bottle, melted candle in a copper candlestick, scrolls, a pair of old books in leather bindings.

There is also a silver tray with breakfast and tea (teapot, cups, sugar bowl, milk) for 3 persons. Butler, without a wig or makeup, and Luna sit at the table on high-backed chairs. Luna is wearing dark blue jeans and a white sweater made of fine wool. She laughs and nods.

LUNA
– Professor, it is difficult to even pick until all mixed up …
(takes a white napkin and places it on her knees)
I’ve probably still got some ink behind my ear!

Black Cat jumps onto Luna’s knees on top of her napkin.

PROFESSOR
(to Black Cat)
– Count, where are your manners? Let our guest have her breakfast!

LUNA
– Welcome was kinda cute …

Black Cat makes himself comfortable and settles down on LUNA’s lap.

11. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

A small bedroom with a window and a double bed in the center covered with a thick blanket. There are candles on a dressing table next to the mirror. Next to the bed are the two travel bags. Luna drops her coat on the floor, undresses, throws her clothes on the bed, and walks to the bathroom.

12. INT. BATHROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Gothic-style bathroom. A full moon shines in the window. On the marble sink is a freshly folded white towel. Luna enters, looks in the mirror, and smiles at her reflection.

13. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Black Cat jumps from the cabinet onto the bed. Black Cat watches steam coming from the bathroom door. Luna sings B.S.

14. INT. BATHROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Luna opens the tap in the shower, sticks her hand under the stream, and enters the shower. Her silhouette is visible behind the shower curtain. Luna showers and sings a song. The air fills with steam. Luna closes the tap and steps out of the shower. Through the thick steam, with her eyes closed, she grabs a towel and wipes her face. The towel leaves red streaks on her face. Luna opens her eyes, sniffs the towel and frowns. There are red spots on the towel. Luna wipes the misted mirror but doesn’t see her reflection in it. On the floor is a pool of red ink, an empty ink bottle, and red cat paw prints.

15. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Luna comes out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. On the bed is a rectangular cardboard box with a ribbon and a note written in red ink. The box contains a red evening dress. Luna takes it out and puts it on. Black Cat climbs into the box and chews the ribbon. Luna admires the gown in the mirror. She turns to face the cat.

LUNA
– How do I look?

There’s a smaller box on the bedcover. Luna touches the box.

LUNA
– And what do we have here?

Luna opens the box and takes out a black orchid - Dracula Roezlii - shoulder corsage. She goes to the mirror, fastens the orchids to her dress, and admires her reflection.

Luna turns to Black Cat.

LUNA
– I suppose you chew on orchids too? Yes, you probably come at a price…

BLACK CAT
– Miau!

There’s a shoebox on the bedcover.

LUNA
– Another one?!

Luna opens the box and takes out Louboutin shoes - high heel black patent leather pumps with red soles. A clock chimes. Luna flinches from the loud sound. The clock strikes nine times. Luna touches the shoes.

LUNA
– Сhic.

Luna looks at the Louboutin shoes.

LUNA
(to Black Cat)
– I'm hungry, are you coming?

Music starts playing: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata at a very slow tempo. Luna puts on the pumps, looks at her legs in the mirror, and smiles at her reflection. She takes a candle in a candlestick from the dressing table and walks out of the bedroom.

16. INT. CORRIDOR AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Long corridor serving as an art gallery for the castle owner’s portraits. Luna passes the paintings, looking at the faces. Among the portraits is one of Luna. Music is playing loudly now. Luna enters a lighted doorway.

17. INT. LIBRARY AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Luna spreads jam on a piece of toast with a knife. She takes a bite of the toast, chews, and puts the knife down.

LUNA
– Very tasty jam … plum?

Luna picks up an hourglass, bringing it close to her face, looking at it. She twirls it on all sides, shakes it, turns it upright, and puts it back on the table.

PROFESSOR
– That’s my doing!

LUNA
The hourglass or the plum jam? The portrait - did you also paint that yourself?

Luna looks at her portrait on the wall.

18. INT. DINING ROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. EVENING – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Sand is falling in the hourglass. The fire dies out. The clock strikes midnight. Luna hugs her shoulders, rises from her chair, and goes to the fireplace. She looks at the hourglass. She shivers. The sand continues to fall. Luna looks back and walks out of the dining room.

19. INT. CORRIDOR AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Luna walks down the corridor. The faces in the pictures hanging on the walls are illuminated.

LUNA
– Darion!

Luna looks at Darion's portrait on the wall.
Luna quickens her pace and runs down the stairs to the lobby.

20. INT. STAIRCASE AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – LUNA’S FLASHBACK

Luna quickens her step, then stops. She removes one shoe and holds it in her hand like a weapon, leaves the other on the floor behind her, and runs. Ahead of Luna a silhouette flashes in front of an illuminated doorway.

LUNA
– Darion!

Luna runs up the stairs. Luna runs along the corridor.

21. INT. CORRIDOR AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion runs along the corridor. Voices from the library B.S. Darion slows down his pace.

22. INT. DINING ROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Darion hides behind the curtains. Near him on the floor is a liquid nitrogen balloon. Through a crack in the curtains Darion watches Luna.

Luna enters the dining room. The room is transformed: the furniture is covered with sheets, and cobwebs are everywhere. Luna stirs the cold embers in the fireplace with a poker. In the light of the full moon, the place is dusty and deserted. Wolves are howling and owls are hooting B.S. Luna takes the poker and runs out of the dining room.

23. INT. BEDROOM AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. NIGHT – DARION’S FLASHBACK

Luna runs into the bedroom. The bed is gone. Two coffins are in its place. One is closed and moving slightly. Luna rushes in fear to the coffin and rips the nailed lid off with the poker. Darion is lying in the coffin. He sits up and laughs. Music starts playing. Luna bursts into tears.

LUNA
– Darion!

DARION
Come on, now we’ll have dessert. You love dessert.

Darion stands up, takes Luna’s hand, and walks her out of the bedroom. On the way, he picks up the pumps and hands them to Luna.

24. INT. CORRIDOR AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion runs along the corridor then slows down and stops at the entrance to the library. He looks at Butler and Luna. Darion stands in the doorway and rubs his eyes. Butler and Luna turn their heads in his direction.

25. INT. LIBRARY AT DRACULA'S CASTLE. MORNING

Darion slowly walks into the library.

LUNA
– Speak of the devil…

DARION
Professor?! LUNA?!

PROFESSOR
– At the beginning of the school year, you each filled out a questionnaire and checked the box allowing us to conduct psychological experiments without your knowledge. Here are your results.

Professor pulls out an official Oxford University envelope from his pocket. He turns it over in his hand, then puts it back in his pocket.

PROFESSOR
– But you’ll have plenty of time to get acquainted with your results. I'm forced to keep you both in the castle until the next couple…
(to Luna)
– Thank you for breakfast!
(to Darion)
– Bon Appetit!

Professor-Butler gets up and goes to the door, Black Cat following. He stops in the doorway, turns around and exits the library.

A raven caws outside B.S. On the windowsill sit Raven №1 and Raven №2. Darion and Luna look at each other.

DARION
– What were you saying about shampoo?

Luna frowns and sighs. Darion sits down on an empty chair.

The End.

FADE OUT:

November, 2016