Smith comes up to Harry with a local assistant MILLER (27 years old) in tow
SMITH
My assistant Miller, will be our tour guide.
INT-HUNTING HOUSE SAME EVENING
Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges and Karl Ivanovich follow Smith along the dimly lighted corridor.
Karl Ivanovich slides his hand along the wall
KARL IVANOVICH
I wonder why the Counts chose not to live here?
Georges looks up at the painted ceiling
georges
Perhaps they didnt like hunting?
MILLER
Previous owners have passed away long ago.
Harry walks past a wooden door
HARRY
And the rooms in this part of the house were used for the Counts guests, werent they?
Miller stops
MILLER
Yes, and now they are being prepared for you, Sir.
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
What about the rooms of the former owners themselves?
INT-BRIDES BEDROOM, HUNTING HOUSE SAME EVENING
Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges and Karl Ivanovich enter through the door opened.
The room is large with tall windows that open onto the view of the lake. The interior is rich and luxurious.
Carved four poster bed with an opulent brocade hanging has its headboard decorated with gilded cupids. Everything in the room speaks of a spoiled, wealthy woman.
Harry and friends examine the room with interest
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Damn it Harry, it is like being inside a fairytale!
Karl Ivanovich pulls out a drawer in a small desk.
KARL IVANOVICH
A woman lived here once, take a look.
Items of a ladys handicraft covered with a light layer of dust lie inside the drawer: still vibrant colored silks, slightly moth eaten wool, small scissors, beads and pearls. A tiny gold thimble rolls in the drawer.
Smith and Harry examine the findings
SMITH
We havent touched anything here, Sir
(apologetically)
HARRY
Im glad you didnt. Wed rather explore ourselves.
Harry opens the door of the wardrobe. James stands next to him and sniffs at the interior
JAMES
I swear, I can smell lavender. The past and the present meet at last.
Beautiful lace edged undergarments are stacked on the shelves as well as heaps of ribbons, bows and artificial flowers.
A pair of ladies shoes stands on the bottom shelf.
A large jewel-box, decorated with gold and mother of pearls flowers attracts the friends attention.
Captain Wright examines the jewel-box, Karl Ivanovich comes up to him
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
It is Japanese, fit for the Emperors palace.
KARL IVANOVICH
I wonder what the lady kept in it.
HARRY
Lets find out.
Harry takes the box and tries to open it. But all for nothing, there is no exterior lock.
James takes the box and shakes it slightly. Georges watches them from the side
JAMES
The box has its secret!
Harry puts the jewel-box back and closes the cupboards door
HARRY
I will have to get a locksmith.
Captain Wrights voice is heard from the other side of the room
WRIGHTS VOICE
(behind the scenes)
Come over here, it is worth seeing!
EXT-LARGE BALCONY OF THE BRIDES BEDROOM SAME EVENING
Georges, James, Captain Wright and Karl Ivanovich are gathered on the balcony, watching the view of the castle.
The mist rises from the lake. In some places the mist parts a little and the clear blue water of the lake peeks through.
To the left there is the dark green of pine trees and on the right there is the dark rock, crowned with the ominous looking castle
KARL IVANOVICH
What a magnificent view.
James whistles in appreciation
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
And now, more than ever, I refuse to believe in the local lore of malicious maidens with duck feet.
Harrys irritated voice is heard from the room
HARRYS VOICE
(behind the scenes)
I will not sleep on an old dusty mattress!
INT-BRIDES BEDROOM-SAME EVENING
Harry, Smith and Miller argue near the four-poster bed
SMITH
I thought it was the best room in the house
HARRY
Take my things to another bedroom.
Smith and his assistant Miller start to exchange words and both appear troubled
HARRY
Whats the matter?
SMITH
We are not sure to whom we can offer the big bedroom.
MILLER
We have prepared the rooms according to the number of guests.
HARRY
Well, you should make yourself comfortable in this dusty nest!
Miller appears afraid and Smith takes a step backwards
MILLER
Me? Sleep here, in her bedroom? Forgive me but I cannot.
HARRY
What the hell are you talking about?
MILLER
A young bride lived here, she died here too and the people say that her soul is restless and her ghost walks and cries at night.
Harry turns to his friends
HARRY
So, who wishes to make an acquaintance with a ghostly bride?
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
I am game, as long as I have a dozen cigars and a glass of rum.
KARL IVANOVICH
With a dozen cigars laced with opium like you prefer, you will see not only a ghostly bride but a white elephant and a green snake thrown in for a bargain.
Harry claps his hands
HARRY
It is settled then, Wright will sleep here, lead on, Smith.
EXT-GARDENS AROUND THE HUNTING HOUSE SAME SUMMER EVENING
Harry, James, Wright, Georges, Karl Ivanovich and Miller struggle to make their way through the overgrown garden.
The sun hasnt set yet, but it is not bright anymore.
INT HUNTING HOUSE, OTHER WING, FIRST FLOOR SAME EVENING
Almost all rooms are walk-through. The atmosphere is gloomy
HARRY
Everything is rather unpretentious.
Georges points at the door
GEORGES
Take a look at this portrait!
The bright gold frame hangs near the door leading off to a small room. Its opulence is strangely at odds with the rest of the interior
JAMES
They used the first available place.
HARRY
Light it up please, Miller.
Karl Ivanovich approaches the portrait with the lamp
KARL IVANOVICH
Let me help you.
Miller and Karl Ivanovich light up the portrait with the lamp.
Tall, gaunt elderly man (aka the American grandfather) dressed in a velvet renaissance style costume, wearing a thick gold chain stares regally from the frame.
His large aquiline nose and thin lips speak of his aristocratic breeding and stern character.
In the flickering light of the lamp his eyes shine with an eerie red tinge