Script FRANKENSTEIN CHARACTERS A BOY: A boy from the present. ELIZABETH: Victor’s girlfriend. ERNST: An Inspector-General of police HENRY: Victor’s friend, also a scientist. JUSTINE: A gypsy girl. THE CREATURE: An artificially-created man. VICTOR: Frankenstein: A young scientist. All rights whatsoever in this script are strictly reserved. 2 FRANKENSTEIN TRACK 1 A chateau on the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland. A living room, a laboratory and the chateau’s garden. 18th century. Act I Prologue TRACK 2 (We see a BOY sneaking into an abandoned chateau. It is the old house of VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN. It is full of dust, spider webs and the furniture is covered with sheets.) Boy: Holy smoke! This place is soooooo cool! Looks like it’s been abandoned for a while… (The BOY examines the room and enters the laboratory. On the laboratory table he finds a book full of dust.) Boy: (Reading the title page.) Victor Frankenstein. Medicine student… What a nerd! I wonder who this Victor Frankenstein was… (The BOY moves to one side.) Boy: (Reading.) November 19th 1819…. Boy: Is this for real? This book is crazy old, man! I wonder if they had Facebook back then... Boy: (Reading.) First day of the experiment: I have collected almost all the human parts I need to start my experiment. Finding a compatible human brain seems to be harder than I thought. Boy: What the...? This dude collected dead body parts?! What a freak! Why would you want to hang around stiffs? Those things reek! My grandma is 80 and she smells like BO... Imagine one of those dudes... whatever... Boy: (Skipping a few pages.) December 13th 1819. Sixth day of the experiment: Everything is ready in the laboratory. The musician’s brain is perfect for the skull that I already had, the nervous system has been adjusted properly. I hope the electrical power will be enough to bring the Creature alive. Now I just have to wait for the perfect storm. (A roll of thunder is herd, the BOY is scared.) (Lights up. We see VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN working. It is an image from the past. The BOY continues to read.) (The laboratory lights up and we see VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN working. It’s an image from the past. The BOY keeps reading in the present.) 3 FRANKENSTEIN Boy: Oh shoot! It’s started to rain! That sucks! Maybe I should just hang out in this crib till it stops... this book, man! I had never read anything beyond the cover... but this is, like, addictive! There’s something about it... I can’t put it down... I’ll read a little bit more... TRACK 3 Victor: This is the storm! This is the storm I was waiting for! I must hurry up. This is the moment! This is the place, All my life I’ve been waiting for To live this day This is the moment, This is the time, All my life I’ve been waiting for to live this night Give me this moment give this chance I’ll gather up my past and make some sense at last! This is the moment, When all I’ve done dreams, screams Become one! This is the moment! This is the place, All my life I’ve been waiting for To live this day TRACK 4 (The storm draws closer. Suddenly a window opens, it’s starting to rain. VICTOR feels euphoric and runs around the laboratory, switching on circuits. He connects the electrodes to the corpse lying on the working table. Everything is ready. VICTOR waits impatiently in silence. There’s a flash of lighting, the electricity runs through the circuits, the room fills with mist, and there are strong sparks. Silence. Nothing happens. The experiment has failed.) Victor: 4 (Hitting the corpse.) Live! live! I command you to live! I have failed, four years! I have wasted four years of investigation. My life’s chance is gone… FRANKENSTEIN (VICTOR turns back he is about to leave, suddenly one of the CREATURE’s hands moves. At first VICTOR doesn’t notice, but suddenly the CREATURE makes a soft sound.) Victor: It’s alive! It’s alive! (Blackout.) (Through some silent scenes we are shown what happens in the days following the CREATURE’s birth.) TRACK 5 Silent scene 1 (A child is playing in the forest. He is wearing a gold cross around his neck. His name is William. He is VICTOR’s younger brother. The CREATURE approaches him and tries to talk to him. William is scared of his face and starts screaming in panic. The CREATURE tries to cover his mouth, but he cannot control his strength and he strangles little William.) TRACK 6 Silent scene 2 (From behind a tree, a gypsy girl has seen everything. She waits until the CREATURE has gone, then she approaches the dead BOY and steals his gold cross.) TRACK 7 Silent scene 3 (We see ERNST, the police inspector, examining the murder scene. Enter VICTOR. Discovers his brother’s dead body, he goes crazy.) (Blackout.) TRACK 8 5 FRANKENSTEIN Scene 1. (VICTOR’s living room, late evening.) Henry: (Offstage.) Victor, Victor are you in there? Victor? Ah! There you are! Victor: How are you, Henry? Henry: The question is, how are you? Victor: My mood varies from deep depression to melancholy. Henry: Come on, you’re away from your gloomy university. What could be more fun than a holiday on the shores of Lake Geneva in a chateau? Victor: I know you are trying to cheer me up… Henry: You’ve had a slight breakdown; that’s all… perhaps this book this will cheer you up more than I can. A new biochemistry thesis. Victor: That’s your field, not mine. Henry: Ah, but this work is by Albertus Magnus, your favourite professor. Victor: He was. Henry: You ought to read it! Victor: No. Henry: Good… Victor: It’s strange that you bring up his name… Henry: How so? Victor: I’m finishing a letter to inform him that I do not intend to return to University. Henry: You mean until your health is restored. Victor: I mean never! Henry: This is because your brother’s death? Victor: I confess, William’s murder is not something I can accept easily. To live less than ten years and die at the hands of an unknown killer… it seems to me to be the height of cruelty… Henry: Yes, it was terrible… he was murdered for an expensive gold cross. It must be a monster. Elizabeth: (Offstage.) Victor, may I come in? Victor: It’s Elizabeth… Please do not make any mention of little William… she is holding up extremely well, but… Henry: I understand. Victor: One moment, Elizabeth! The door is locked. (Enter ELIZABETH.) Elizabeth: 6 Henry! What a wonderful surprise! How great to see you here. FRANKENSTEIN Henry: Always a pleasure, Elizabeth, my dear friend. Elizabeth: I can’t tell you what your visits mean to Victor. You, his best friend, have never deserted him. Henry: Boys together, friends together. Comrades forever. Elizabeth: Like in the old days, the team is together again! (The three of them hug, but VICTOR doesn’t seem too excited with the idea.) Elizabeth: Oh, look at him! Victor, you don’t look well, I do worry about you… Victor: You exaggerate, Liz. Elizabeth: No, Victor, I do not exaggerate. He never sleeps, Henry. My boyfriend does nothing but lock himself here in the laboratory as if the sound of another human voice was more than he could bear. If you could only persuade him to get out and about… Victor: Oh, stop it, Elizabeth. Henry: Oh Victor, you shouldn’t talk to her like that. She cares so much about you. Victor: You too, Henry? Are you going to give me orders too? Henry: Ok Victor, let it go… How are you, Elizabeth, anyway? Elizabeth: Oh… not very well… the police inspector came here this morning… I thought it was probably something quite routine about… the investigation. Henry: So…? Elizabeth: They have found William’s gold cross. Henry: Who had it? Elizabeth: A girl by the name of Justine. The girl was seen talking to him admiring the cross around his neck. Henry: Hardly seems sufficient to prove the girl guilty. Victor: Has she confessed? Elizabeth: Far from it. She said a man gave her the cross. This man was no ordinary mortal. He was big and stitched together like a patchwork doll. Victor: What? Henry: Victor, are you all right? Victor: Why did you have to bring this news? Elizabeth: I had no idea it would upset you like this! Victor: Stop it, Elizabeth! Henry: Victor, please, calm down! Victor: Stop it, I said. Elizabeth: Why are you shouting at me? Victor: I can’t bear it anymore… It’s not your fault, Elizabeth… All this… I need to be alone! Elizabeth: But… 7 FRANKENSTEIN Henry: (To ELIZABETH.) Would you please leave me alone with him? Elizabeth: But, I still don’t understand… (Reconsidering.) Yes, maybe it’s better that I go. Good bye, Victor. (Exit ELIZABETH.) Victor: Did you believe her? Henry: Elizabeth? Victor: The girl, the gypsy girl story. Justine. What she said: “big as a bear and stitched as a doll made of patchwork”. Henry: She was lying. Victor: I tell you the gypsy girl spoke the truth. If your friendship means anything, I ask you to stay and listen to my story… Henry: What story? Victor: I have often asked myself where life came from. I had one single passion. To examine the source of life. And to do that, I first had to examine death. Henry: Death? Victor: I observed the natural breakdown of the human body… Henry: In the dissecting room at University… Victor: No, I do not mean in the dissecting room. I mean in the church graveyard. Henry: I don’t believe you. Victor: I asked for your friendship, not for your scepticism. Henry: (Ironically.) You have both, go on… Victor: For a long time I was not sure how to use my discoveries. And then… I began the creation of a human being… Henry: You did what? How could you “create” another human being? Victor: The city morgue and the charity house provided my material. From one, I stole a hand. From another, I bought a leg… Henry: And that was the end of your experiment? Victor: If only it had been…With these hands… I created… a Creature. There, now you know. Henry: I know what you have told me. Victor: You still don’t understand? Henry: What more can there be? Victor: Henry…William’s murder, the gypsy girl. Remember…? It was him, my creature, made from pieces of other men! He murdered little William. Don’t you understand? He’s found me! He’s followed me here to my house! Henry: If what you say is true, why would he do that? Why would he murder William? Why would he hate you? 8 FRANKENSTEIN Victor: You must listen. Henry: I’ve heard more than enough. Victor: I’m not mad. Henry: You will be if you go on like this. Victor: Henry! I asked for your help. Do not desert me! (Enter the CREATURE.) Henry! Henry! (HENRY returns, sees the CREATURE, and reacts.) Do you still doubt me? Here, standing in front of you, is the proof of what I have told you! Henry: (Shocked.) God help you, Victor. God Help us all! Creature: (Slowly, dramatically, an emotional appeal.) Frankenstein… help me. (Blackout.) TRACK 9 Scene 2 (A few hours later. The laboratory.) Victor: (Moving the CREATURE’s head from side to side.) Do you feel any pain? Creature: No. Victor: No paralysis of any kind? Creature: No. (The CREATURE tries to pick things up from the table and makes a mess.) Victor: Don’t move! Henry: I’m rather amazed. This is incredible. Come to me. (The CREATURE obeys.) Run on the spot. (The CREATURE starts runs.) No, no! Slowly… (The CREATURE slows down.) Excellent. Now, sit down. (The CREATURE obeys.) Great! Well done, Creature! Victor, this experiment is something really big, and it is important. He’s no Adonis, but it’s an extraordinary experiment! TRACK 10 Creature: Is that all I am? Henry: What do you mean? Creature: An experiment. Henry: Far from an experiment! 9 FRANKENSTEIN Creature: I’m a monster! All men hate Frankenstein’s creation. I’m alone, lonely. Victor: And why shouldn’t they hate you? You are a murderer. Henry: (Impressed.) Whatever your technique is, you have opened a special field of medical study. He has the power of locomotion, complete mastery of speech, reasoning, deduction… Victor: A living machine… TRACK 11 (HENRY and VICTOR observe how the CREATURE plays a little flute that the CREATURE carried in of his pocket.) Henry: A living machine, who plays the flute. Victor: Who taught you to play the flute? Creature: I don’t know, I always knew. Henry: Amazing creature! Creature: People like music, but people don’t like me. Wherever I appeared, people ran away in fear and repulsion. I have no friends. Henry: Do you hear that, Victor? He feels pain! Victor: As I do. As you should (To the CREATURE.) Go away from this house. Leave me. Creature: Have I not suffered enough? Victor: Is that why you came here? Is that why you murdered my little brother? Creature: I did not murder him. You did Frankenstein. Victor: How dare you say such a thing? Creature: I had no intention of killing him. I only wanted to hug him and ask him how to find you. When he saw me, he started screaming “Horrible monster! I will call my brother Victor Frankenstein and he will punish you!” That’s how I knew he was your brother. I tried to keep him quiet with my hands; I wanted to ask him how I could find you, but he wouldn’t shut up. I just wanted him to stop screaming so he would listen to me. I covered his mouth with my hand but I did it too strongly... If he had only been quiet. If he hadn’t had been so afraid.... But they are always afraid. Everybody hates Frankenstein’s Creature. TRACK 12 Victor: (Visibly shaken.) Poor, poor William! Creature: I’ve suffered. I ´m suffering. You created me, but your work is not finished. Victor: It is… Creature: You created me… and now, you must destroy me. Henry: What! Victor: We agree. At last! Creature: So will you do it? 10 FRANKENSTEIN Victor: Yes. Henry: Victor! Creature: When? Victor: Tonight. TRACK 13 Henry: Victor I protest, you cannot be serious… Elizabeth: (Offstage.) Victor? Victor? Are you in there? Victor: (To the CREATURE.) You stay here! Don’t move! No one can see you. Henry: Victor, you can’t do that. I’m speaking to your intellect, not your emotion. You can’t this experiment like this… you could be famous, a legend! Elizabeth: (Offstage.) Victor, Victor? Victor: (To HENRY.) And please… don’t tell her. Don’t tell anyone. (HENRY and VICTOR go to the living room.) Elizabeth: But Henry! I didn’t know you were here! We should let Victor rest; he hasn’t slept for several days. Please do not encourage him to keep working. Henry: I agree with you. If you’ll excuse me I have a great deal to think about. See you later, Victor. (Exit HENRY.) Elizabeth: If only you could see your eyes. I can count every tiny vein. Victor: I would like to be alone, Liz. Elizabeth: I have given into your bad ways to often. It’s time to change, to go out, start to live, Victor! I was thinking about taking you into the city. I have shopping to do for the wedding. Victor: Do you think that will interest me? Shopping! Elizabeth: No, I’m sure the shopping will bore you. But my company will be pleasant. And if we leave the house, maybe Sophie, the house keeper, could clean in peace. Victor: Is that what you really want? I have told you so many times not to enter unless the door is unlocked! Elizabeth: But… you allow Henry to come in… Victor: That is another matter. If you could respect my wishes… Elizabeth: There’s is no need to be rude, Victor… You’re not being fair. Victor: What is that? Elizabeth: I had a surprise for you… first strawberries of the season. Your favourite ones… Victor: Oh Liz, I’m really sorry… you are so good to me… strawberries. Strawberries! Have I been rude to you dear? I apologise. 11 FRANKENSTEIN Elizabeth: I understand. No one but Henry should disturb your research. I’m bothering you with trivialities and strawberries. I know that you are working on something very important. Victor: Most women would find my behaviour stupid. Elizabeth: Victor, listen to me. I don’t want to disturb you. Nor are you bothering me with your temperament. You’re not like most men. Perhaps that’s the very quality that attracts me to you. We’ve grown up together and I have always loved you. I don’t know what troubles you… But please don’t close your heart to me. Victor: If I could only be honest. Elizabeth: I want to help you in life. I want to be with you. We were companions as children. We’ll be companions now. Only closer, dear. Victor: And you’ll read to me, and cook for me and comfort me when I’m alone and others might turn against me? Elizabeth: I would do all those things. Gladly. Victor: Then a wife is truly a wonderful thing. Elizabeth: Let me be wonderful for you. Victor, I have never loved anyone else. I never shall. You will never be alone. I promise. Victor: Dear, dear Elizabeth, my dark moods will soon be at an end. You’re the best wife I could imagine for me. TRACK 14 Victor Let me be your freedom, Let me be your shelter, Let me be your morning light Let me dry your tears Let me calm your fears Only you can feel me alive Elizabeth Say you love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summertime... Say you need me with you, now and always... promise me that all you say is true... 12 FRANKENSTEIN I’m gonna run to you Both I’m gonna run to you I’m gonna run to you Until the end of time I’m gonna run to you I’m gonna run to you For the rest of my live Victor Let me be you r light Elizabeth I can’t see you in this night I walk through the fog Victor Feel with me this calm Elizabeth I feel you are not right Both Live with me this life Elizabeth All I want is freedom, a world with no more night ... and you always beside me to hold me Victor All I want is freedom, a world with no more night And I am going to run to you 13 FRANKENSTEIN Both I’m gonna run to you I’m gonna run to you Until the end of time I’m gonna run to you I’m gonna run to you For the rest of my life Victor Elizabeth Love me, and you’ll become my wife Love me, and I’ll become your wife (The CREATURE has been listening to the whole conversation from behind the door.) Creature: (Smiles in anticipation.) Wife! TRACK 15 Scene 3 (Next day. VICTOR prepares the operating table, the CREATURE lies on it while he waits.) Creature: Frankenstein… how will you do it? Victor: I put you together piece by piece. Your whole anatomical structure is a patchwork of transplanted blood vessels, tissues, bones I shall simply reverse the process. You don’t need to worry. I’ll start with the brain first, You’ll feel nothing. Creature: But… How will you kill me? Victor: There are several options. Quick lime… acid… burial. I’m waiting for Henry. I need his advice and assistance. Creature: None of those. Frankenstein! Victor: Do you have something else in mind? Creature: I will live. Victor: No, you will not live. Once the surgery is finished you will be erased from the earth. Creature: I will live, Frankenstein. Victor: What the devil do you mean? Creature: I have a passion and only you can make it come true. Victor: What do you mean? Creature: I’m alone and miserable. People are afraid of me. But someone as deformed and horrible as I am would not hate me. I want a wife. My wife must be alike and she must have the same defects as I have. 14 FRANKENSTEIN Victor: No such creature exists. Creature: You must create her. I demand you create a wife for me. Victor: You demand? You have no right to demand anything of me! Creature: If you create her, I will leave you in peace and will not bother you anymore. Victor: I refuse! Creature: Don’t make me angry… Victor: I do not fear your anger. Creature: Is it so difficult what I ask of you? Victor: For me it is impossible. Are you asking me to create another monster like you? Creature: I am. Victor: How did you come by this stupid idea? Creature: By listening to someone who loves you. Victor: So you were listening at the door when I spoke with Elizabeth. Creature: Her words were gentle. Victor: I have agreed to give you death. Beyond that, I owe you nothing. Creature: Reconsider. Victor: Never. You’re evil! Creature: If I cannot get your compassion then I will cause you fear. I will avenge all the suffering that you caused me. I will destroy you. Victor: There! Your nature! Dangerous, wicked. Your wife would be a monster too. What happiness could there be in your lives? Creature: Our lives will not be happy, but they will be harmless and free from the misery. We will go to the forest or some jungle. I don’t need food. Berries and plants will be enough. Do not deny my request. Now I can see compassion in your eyes. Victor: Forgive me for having created you. Creature: It’s too late for forgiveness. Make my wish come true. (The CREATURE moves to VICTOR and puts his hand on VICTOR’s shoulder.) Victor: Perhaps… I do owe you some measure of…happiness. TRACK 16 (VICTOR is lost in deep thought. The CREATURE moves back to the laboratory, VICTOR remains seated. Alone, troubled. HENRY enters.) Henry: I’m here as you have requested... you look distant. What are you thinking on? Victor: The Creature wants something else. Henry: What do you mean? Victor: Death is no longer on his mind… 15 FRANKENSTEIN Henry: Does he want to live? Victor: More than that. Now he wants a wife. (HENRY is impressed.) Yes, a wife. Henry: He’s more human than I realised. Victor: Yes. The Creature has promised me they will live apart from humanity. Henry: And if you refuse? Victor: The Creature will become a monster of hell and he will kill me. I cannot do it alone. A second time would be impossible. I need someone to help me. Henry: I… I don’t know. Victor: Help me. If not for the Creature’s wish, then for the experiment itself. You were amazed, fascinated, remember? You will see how the miracle is accomplished. Will you turn back on that? Henry: Mmmm… When would we begin? Victor: How about tonight? Henry: Where are you going? Victor: Where else? To the cemetery. Henry: Cemetery? Victor: It’s like a market of human pieces for me. Will you come with me? Henry: I will. Victor: Splendid. We’ll get some legs to begin with the experiment. Come along, Henry. (Blackout.) Act II Scene 1 TRACK 17 (Night. VICTOR, HENRY and ELIZABETH are outside at the garden. VICTOR has his eyes covered with a bandage.) Elizabeth: Come on, Victor! It will do you good to laugh a little so you forget your troubles. Henry: Of course! It will be fun. Did you never play Blind man’s Bluff as a child? Victor: Yes of course, but I was only 8 years old! Now I’m a respectable scientist. Elizabeth: Oh come on Victor! Don’t be such a spoilsport! Victor: I really appreciate your efforts, but I’d rather not play. (He removes the blindfold.) Elizabeth: Then I will wear the blindfold! Henry: One more drink! 16 FRANKENSTEIN (They blindfold ELIZABETH and spin her around till she loses her orientation. They start to play. VICTOR and HENRY hide so that they can’t be found. ELIZABETH moves away and ends up losing herself into the darkness. A tune from a flute is heard.) Elizabeth: Who is there? Victor? Is that you? I did not know that you played the flute! Victor? (ELIZABETH bumps into the CREATURE.) Elizabeth: Got you! Are you Victor or Henry? I’m going to take off the blindfold! Creature: No! Don’t take it off yet. Elizabeth: But the game has finished.... And I’ve drunk lots of wine! Creature: You are so sweet… Elizabeth: You haven’t spoken to me like that for a long time... Creature: Sweetheart… Elizabeth: But Victor! You’re making me blush! (ELIZABETH moves closer to the CREATURE and caresses his face.) Elizabeth: What happened to your face? (The CREATURE pushes her hands from its face.) Elizabeth: Your hands are cold.... Creature: My hands may be cold but for the first time I can feel love warming my heart. Victor: (From a far.) Elizabeth? Where are you? Henry: Elizabeth! The game is over! (Hearing VICTOR and HENRY, the CREATURE flees, ELIZABETH takes off the blindfold. She is bewildered.) Victor: What happened? You are as white as a ghost. Elizabeth: And the flute? Henry: What are you talking about? What flute? I think you’ve had too much to drink... Elizabeth: But you.... Victor: It would be best if we go home... (Blackout.) 17 FRANKENSTEIN (One day later. VICTOR’s Laboratory. VICTOR is wearing a surgical gown. He removes the cap and mask. HENRY starts to laugh.) Henry: (Laughing.) That monster is far from being beauty… Victor: Oh my God, she’s really ugly… TRACK 18 Victor I deal in fact not fiction, I am a scientist, I live for truth and reason, That’s the reason I exist Henry Now he wants a wife So we will create a wonderful wife Victor Legs? Henry Legs! Victor Arms? Henry Arms! Victor Body? Henry Body! Victor Tail? 18 FRANKENSTEIN Henry Women have no tails! Victor True Victor: Head?... Head? Henry: Euh… we’ve got no head. Victor & Henry: No head???!!! Victor: But we need a head! Henry: (Looking inside the bag.) Well, we’ve got an extra foot... Victor: Mmmm… We could use the foot instead of the head, maybe the Creature won’t notice. Victor & Henry The foot! There is nothing like the foot legs and arms are simply toys When compared to a foot! Henry We could make a smiley foot! Victor You are insane! Henry No, you have no brain! Henry & Victor The foot! There is nothing like the foot legs and arms are simply toys When compared to a foot! The foot! There is nothing like the foot legs and arms are simply toys When compared to a foot! 19 FRANKENSTEIN TRACK 19 (CREATURE enters; quickly they cover the corpse not to be seen.) Victor: I warned you to stay away from here until the experiment is complete. Creature: I want to see her. Victor: Not now. Creature: How long will it take? Victor: All in good time. Creature: Let me see her! Victor: No, it’s too soon… Creature: I want to see her. (The CREATURE turns violent and forces his way between VICTOR and HENRY. It removes the sheet covering the body and finally sees the new CREATURE.) Creature: What is this? Victor: It’s not finished yet... Creature: It’s horrible! Do you really think that this could be the woman to join me in my life? Henry: It’s just missing some final touches... It’s not finished yet Creature: Some final touches? It doesn’t have a head! There’s a foot where the head should be! Victor: We still have found an appropriate head yet. Henry: Look on the bright side, at least she won’t be annoying. Women can be very annoying sometimes, they’re always talking and talking, complaining... This one will never complain! At the most she may smell of feet... Creature: I want another! Victor: Very well, we’ll start again. Creature: When? Victor: When I decide it is the right time, first we have to find another head. Creature: You must hurry up. Victor: Must? Is that a word to use to your creator? Henry: We’re doing as you requested. Creature: Hurry up! TRACK 20 Victor: (To CREATURE.) Stay back there and be quiet! Elizabeth: (Enters the living room.) Victor? 20 FRANKENSTEIN Creature: Hurry up! Henry: I will go to look for another head. Victor: Henry! Take this with you (He gives him the foot / head.) Elizabeth: Victor? (VICTOR goes to the living room.) The reason why you prefer to sleep in your laboratory rather in your bedroom is something I will never be able to understand. Victor: Sleeping is a waste of time. Elizabeth: I don’t know why I bother worrying about you when you ignore all my advice. Victor: I’m preoccupied, is that so difficult to understand? Elizabeth: I thought you left the university because you were exhausted. Victor: I was. Elizabeth: And now? Victor: I’m still exhausted, but it’s a different type of exhaustion. Elizabeth: And what is that work, Victor? Victor: Why do you ask? Elizabeth: Deliverymen at the door day and night with boxes of who-knows-what. Henry coming in and out all the time. That rotten smell coming out of the laboratory… And do you think I haven’t wondered about it? The sounds, the lights. What are you hiding behind this door, Victor? Victor: Nothing that could possibly interest you. Elizabeth: Let me be the judge of that! (She goes to the door.) Victor: No! Elizabeth: What is it? (Looks at the door.) There is something… very wrong. Whatever you’re up to Victor, it frightens me… Is your work more important than me, then? Victor: You are important to me dear. You understand me… Elizabeth: But understanding you is not enough… Victor: I love you, Elizabeth, tenderly and sincerely. Elizabeth: Then prove it. Why do you delay our marriage? Victor: I’ve never known anyone as incredible as you are. Elizabeth: You might say the same thing about a piece of porcelain. I fear perhaps you look at me as a sister not as a wife. That’s what I fear. That and whatever lies behind that laboratory door. Perhaps… you may have another whom you love behind the door. Victor: I love you Elizabeth, you have to understand…this horrible time will pass, I promise. (HENRY enters.) Henry: Victor! I found the greatest head in the world! And the complete body too. Elizabeth: (HENRY quickly folds the paper around the head. ELIZABETH has seen something, but was she isn’t quite sure what it was.) What are you hiding in that wrapping paper? Victor: Oh, uh… an experiment. Elizabeth: With blood? 21 FRANKENSTEIN Henry: It’s not important. (Elisabeth feels the tension in the air.) Victor: Then I think it would be best if we went into town together. We might see this “thing” you have founded for “our experiment”. Elizabeth: If you are going shopping, I’m going with you. Victor: This is not a shopping trip. At least, not the kind of shopping you like. Elizabeth: If you say so, Victor… Victor: Trust me. Elizabeth: I try. Henry: I’m ready. Victor: Let’s go then. Elizabeth: I despair of you! Victor: Soon, all that will pass. (Kissing ELIZABETH’s cheek.) Elizabeth: I pray it will… Victor: Remember, trust me. (When VICTOR crosses the stage to exit, she pauses reflecting on the merit of her action. She pushes open the door and she enters to the laboratory.) (Exit VICTOR and HENRY.) (A terrible scream from ELIZABETH.) Elizabeth: Get away from me! Creature: Do not fear me! Don’t you recognise me? Elizabeth: Victor! Let me go, please! Victor help! Creature: I don’t want to harm you… please listen to me. (ELIZABETH manages to escape the CREATURE’s grasp, and runs out of the laboratory.) (Blackout.) TRACK 21 Scene 2 (Two days later. HENRY and VICTOR are in the living room.) 22 FRANKENSTEIN Henry: Poor girl. Victor: Who? Henry: Elizabeth. She is going through a difficult time. Victor: I know, she hasn’t spoken to me for several days. When no one is looking she cries. Something must have happened to her that we don’t know about. Henry: This is the first time I’ve ever heard you sentimental. Victor: Do you think because I haven’t cried that I have felt nothing? I didn’t mean that unseen tears are angry feelings. If that “thing” had never been born, my little brother would be here with us now. Henry: Don’t start that again. Victor: Who is responsible? I am Henry, I am… And the Creature, do you know what he thinks of? My pain? He doesn’t. He thinks only about a wife. He tells me: “The sooner she is ready, the sooner I will be out of your life. Work faster! And avoid future misfortune”. He has no feelings about my brother’s death. He is like a stone. Henry: He is right. The sooner we get to work, the sooner this will all be finished. (The doorbell rings.) (Enter JUSTINE.) Henry: Who are you? Justine: I am Justine. And I have something to tell you before I go to jail. The police are looking for me. (To HENRY.) I’m the girl who saw your brother’s murder. You must believe me, Sir Frankenstein. No one else will. That’s why I am here. I wanted to speak to you. I need to tell you the truth. Henry: I’m not Sir Frankenstein. Victor: I am. Justine: No one will believe my story. Victor: And what if I do? Justine: Don’t make fun of me, Sir. Victor: I am not, I assure you. Justine: There was a man, a terrible man. With great stitches across his face. I screamed when I saw him and held out the gold cross. It was as if he wanted to give me something to stop my screaming. Victor: And did he speak? Justine: No, nothing. Once I had the gold cross in my hand he ran into the woods. Henry: Naturally your impulse was to come into the city and to sell the gold cross. Victor: Henry, let her tell speak! 23 FRANKENSTEIN Justine: I don’t want to keep the cross. Henry: You could have thrown it away. Victor: Stop it Henry. Justine: Here is the gold cross. I thought you might want to keep it. Victor: Are you sure he said nothing to you? He didn’t try to harm you? Did he? Justine: (Shocked.) You believe me! Victor: I know you are not guilty; you should not go to jail. Justine: It doesn’t matter; I have only a few more days left of life. (HENRY and VICTOR look at each other with complicity.) There is no hope for me. Henry: Bad blood. Justine: My blood is as good as yours and better than most. Henry: Mind your tongue. Victor: Henry, there’s no need to be rude. (To JUSTINE.) Please, go ahead. (While JUSTINE speaks HENRY measures JUSTINE’s neck, body, and head. They are planning to kill her to use her corpse to create the CREATURE’s new wife.) Justine: I have come here knowing that my life will end soon. I have done things I’m ashamed of, but I have some decency. Victor Frankenstein, I swear I am innocent. Look into my face, into my eyes, into my soul and tell me if what you see is a murderer? Victor: Into your face, into your eyes, into your soul. What do I see? I see murder… Henry & Victor: Murder… Henry: You must pay for it! Justine: I swear it! It’s the truth! I didn’t kill anyone… You must believe me please! Someone must believe me. Show some compassion! I’m innocent! (HENRY grabs JUSTINE violently while VICTOR covers her mouth and nose with a chloroform drenched cloth, JUSTINE falls to the floor unconscious.) TRACK 22 Victor What have I done? oh, what have I done? Become a killer in the night Become a dog on the run And have I fallen so far 24 FRANKENSTEIN And is the hour so late That nothing remains but the cry of my hate The cries in the dark that nobody hears Here where I stand at the turning of the years? If there’s another way to go I missed it five minutes ago My life was a war that could never be won this girl with a good heart came to my home with good intentions and she is going to find her dead we’ll kill her in order to use her head I am reaching, but I fall And the stars are black and cold What have I done What have I done Become a killer in the night Become a dog on the run And have I fallen so far What have I done God on high Hear my prayer In my need You have always been there She is young she is afraid Let her rest Heaven blessed TRACK 23 (Blackout.) (JUSTINE is laid over the operating table while VICTOR and HENRY are very nervous.) Henry: Are you all right? Victor: You still don’t see the ugliness of it? The cruel shame! Now this girl is going to die because of the Creature. Henry: Circumstances. 25 FRANKENSTEIN Victor: She asked for compassion. Her words keep coming back to me. Henry: Okay, let’s move quickly without thinking. Some good will come of all this. Victor: I won’t do it; I have no longer the strength to do it. Stall your ambition Henry. Henry: Will you let her escape? Go away? Victor: Yes, I think so. Henry: You have no right to say that, Victor. (JUSTINE is waking up.) Henry: She is waking up! We must hurry! Kill her! Victor: No, please! Don’t make me do it. Henry: Then I will do it. (HENRY picks a knife from the laboratory table and slits her neck.) (The CREATURE enters.) Creature: You are three days late. Victor: Do you remember this girl? Creature: Yes, I remember her. Victor: Now you are guilty of another murder. TRACK 24 (The CREATURE examines JUSTINE’s face and body finally he speaks.) Creature: I don’t want her. Victor: You don’t want her? What were you expecting then? She is more than what you deserve. Creature: What I deserve? I’m as good as you are, so I deserve a wife like yours. Victor: What do you mean? Creature: I’ve seen the way you treat Elizabeth. You don’t deserve her. She will be happier by my side. I love her. Victor: Never! This is going too far. I have created you, and now I must destroy you. Henry: Victor calm down. Creature: Be quiet! I will kill you, Victor Frankenstein. TRACK 25 (HENRY stands between them. He tries to stop the confrontation.) 26 FRANKENSTEIN Henry: (To VICTOR.) Let me talk to him, let me persuade him. Creature: I’m going to end your life. Henry: (To the CREATURE.) Listen to me, listen! (With a quick movement the CREATURE starts choking HENRY. HENRY dies.) Victor: (Crying.) No! Stop! (CREATURE turn back and hold tight VICTOR’s neck, VICTOR can barely breath.) Creature: I would kill you right know, but I need you. You will kill Elizabeth and if you don’t do it I’ll do it. She will be mine. (Blackout.) TRACK 26 Scene 3 (The next day. VICTOR and ELIZABETH are in the living room.) Victor: The Police has the chateau surrounded. Elizabeth: Then we are safe. Victor: Perhaps. Elizabeth: Victor, you must always trust me. Never keep anything from me. Victor: I was afraid. Elizabeth: Of what I would think? Victor: Of what you would say. A thousand other fears too. Most of all that you would judge me mad. Elizabeth: What torture it must have been for you… Victor: You can never know. Elizabeth: Poor darling. (ERNST enters.) Ernst: 27 I assure you Victor, the Creature will not escape. I have a thousand police officers surrounding the chateau. FRANKENSTEIN Victor: You don’t know him as I do. He’s very clever. Elizabeth: There is no danger then? Ernst: It will give me pleasure to destroy him. Everything is under control. There’s only one thing missing: Justine, The gypsy girl. We cannot find her. TRACK 27 (VICTOR gets very nervous.) Victor: Then she will go free. Ernst: We almost got her today, but she escaped again. Victor: (Surprised.) That’s impossible! I mean… that… that’s … Great! Ernst: You must stay inside the house. Follow my instructions and nothing will happen. (ERNST exits.) Victor: I’m not going to stay here waiting for that monster to come in and end our lives. We will start a new life in the south of Italy. We must hurry up. Elizabeth: (Nervous.) But… where will we live? Victor: We can go to my mother’s holiday house in Capri. It will be pleasant. We will start a new life far from this darkness. Now you must listen this is what we are going to do: You will stay here and pack while I am at the laboratory, there’s something I must do first. Elizabeth: And do you have to do it now? Victor: Yes, the experiment equipment must be destroyed first. (VICTOR goes to the laboratory.) Elizabeth: Victor! Wait! I’ll be all right. (We see VICTOR carrying JUSTINE’s corpse out of the laboratory and putting away chemical compounds, and some other evidence of his experiments in his handbag but he leaves his medical diary on the working table. Meanwhile ELIZABETH is in the living room packing.) Elizabeth: Hurry up Victor, please! Well there’s nothing to fear, the police are surrounding the house. (Breathing deeply.) I must get a hold of myself. Everything will be all right. TRACK 28 28 FRANKENSTEIN (The lights fade, ELIZABETH shouts in panic.) Elizabeth: Aaaaah!!! Who is there? Why did you switch the lights off? Ernst? Victor? (She lights a candle. we see a shadow standing at the door.) Creature: (He is holding a gun.) We have met before, haven’t we? Elizabeth: You…. You are the monster. Victor! Victor! (Crying.) Please! Don’t harm me. (ELIZABETH cries and screams in panic.) Creature: (With malice.) Even your cries for mercy give me pleasure. You must die, and Frankenstein must suffer. Elizabeth: Who are you? You, you… are the Creature, but I remember this voice… it sounds so familiar to me. Creature: We met some time ago. (With a quick movement the CREATURE grabs ELIZABETH from behind. Now she cannot move.) Elizabeth: Please! Victor! Let me go please… Don’t harm me! Creature: I’m sorry Elizabeth; it’s not your fault. It’s my fate which makes me cover my hands with blood over and over again. This face, the infection which poisons our love. This face which only got slight from others is responsible for everything, but soon you’ll forget, we’ll forget. You’ll be a wonderful wife Elizabeth. The best wife anyone could ever imagine… (Enter VICTOR.) Victor: Elizabeth!!! Creature: We have a guest, Elizabeth! Good night Victor, welcome to the show. Now, my wish comes true. You have truly made my night! Your suffering will now be so cruel that you will never forget… Victor: Free her! (CREATURE laughs.) Do what you like, just let her go! Have you no pity? Creature: Pity? Mercy? (To ELIZABETH.) Your lover seems strange. Pity… Did you ever show pity to me? Why should I show pity to you when you never had it with me? Don’t make me laugh again Victor, please! (CREATURE laughs.) 29 FRANKENSTEIN Victor: I love her! Does that mean nothing? I love her! Show some compassion! Creature: The world showed no compassion to me! Nothing can save you now, except, perhaps, Elizabeth... Victor: She will never be yours! Creature: There’s nothing you can do to avoid it… Just make her my wife. Kill her and afterwards you’ll turn her corpse into my new creature, my wife. That way she will live forever. Buy her freedom with your love! Refuse my request, and you send your lover to her grave! If you don’t do it she will pay for your disobedience with her death and of course your death too. This is the point of no return! Victor: How can I know that after killing her you will not kill me as well? Creature: I still need you. I need your help to make her my wife. I cannot do it without you. Once you’ve done it, I won’t need you anymore. I will keep my word: Once I have my wife I will go away forever with her. You will never see us again. I will never bother you again… Victor: (Doubting.) But… What if… Creature: I know. You will suffer forever. Whatever choice you take your suffering will be immense. There’s no right choice Victor, but in one of the choices Elizabeth will live forever… Make her my wife or send her to her grave. Victor: I can’t do it! Creature: You try my patience! Make your choice! (The CREATURE is about to kill ELIZABETH, but suddenly she turns to face the CREATURE and gently touches his face.) Elizabeth: Why do you want to kill me? You think I cannot love you just the way you are… Creature: Elizabeth… Victor: (Shocked.) Liz… Elizabeth: I have always loved you… You don’t need Victor to make me your wife, let’s escape from here, let’s start a new life together. Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God give me courage to show you, you are not alone... (She kisses the CREATURE passionately.) (The CREATURE collapses and let the gun fall from his hand. With a quick movement, VICTOR grabs the gun from the floor, and ELIZABETH runs into VICTOR’s arms. The CREATURE realises how pathetic the scene is, he takes a look at himself and feels miserable. He looks at VICTOR and ELIZABETH and understands everything.) Creature: 30 How could I think you would ever love me? What kind of life could I offer you? How foolish I was. A body can be transformed, but a heart won’t. FRANKENSTEIN Victor: (Mad.) Now I will kill you… Creature: Do it please! There’s nothing left here for me to live for… Elizabeth: NO! (She approaches the CREATURE.) Don’t do it… Please Victor, don’t… Victor: Elizabeth, stay aside! Elizabeth: This poisoned face does not cause me horror anymore… Don’t you see there’s good in him? (To the CREATURE.) Deep in your soul lies real goodness, real love. Never forget it. My heart belongs to Victor, but I will always remember you. Go now; don’t let them find you… Creature: (He falls on his knees.) I love you, Elizabeth. (She gets closer and touches his shoulder crying. Exit VICTOR and ELIZABETH, holding hands.) (The CREATURE looks around in desperation, crying. He can barely breathe. He sees the gun on the floor, then picks it up.) (Blackout.) TRACK 29 (Back to the present, the BOY is reading the last pages of VICTOR’s diary. Suddenly his mobile phone rings.) Boy: Oh! I’ve been here reading this creepy book for five hours! What incredible story! Glad it’s not real though. (He keeps the book in his backpack.) (Suddenly he hears the CREATURE’s flute playing.) (Blackout.) The End 31 think z a h fais teatring es fa f i egin NUESTRA PROGRAMACIÓN 2014/2015 LOS MÚSICOS DE BREMEN Educación Infantil, Primer y Segundo Curso de Primaria EL PATITO FEO Educación Infantil, Primer y Segundo Curso de Primaria HANSEL & GRETEL (In English) Educación Infantil, Primer a Cuarto Curso de Primaria JINGLE BELLS (In English) Educación Infantil, Primer a Cuarto Curso de Primaria ROBIN HOOD (In English) Educación Infantil, Primer a Cuarto Curso de Primaria LAS AVENTURAS DE TOM SAWYER Tercer a Sexto Curso de Primaria, Primer y Segundo Curso de E.S.O. LOW COST (In English) Tercer a Sexto Curso de Primaria, Primer y Segundo Curso de E.S.O. A CHRISTMAS CAROL (In English) Quinto y Sexto de Primaria, E.S.O. FRANKENSTEIN (In English) E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio RINCONETE Y CORTADILLO E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio LUCES DE BOHEMIA E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio LE MALADE IMAGINAIRE (En Français) E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio Santa Leonor, 61 • Planta 4ª • 28037 Madrid • Tel. 902 879 906 • 91 111 54 50 • Fax 902 879 907 • 91 111 54 60 www.recursosweb.com • [email protected]
