The Bloody Vampire
There he is
- And the mandrake? - It's under the hanged man's feet
What's that?
It looks like a carriage coming from Mexico
But it doesn't make any noise
We should hide
There
Flog those damned horses!
We have to get there before the full moon is over!
Hurry! For Satan!
Did you see the coachman? He looked like death
Yes, I thought he looked like death too
It's truly strange that neither the carriage nor the horses make noise
It's like they weren't touching the ground
Let's let him go on his way, whatever it may be,
and let's take care of our business
Here's the mandrake
Let's dig it up carefully so we don't damage the root
Certainly, this is where the mandrake holds it's wondrous properties
From this root you can extract hallucinogenic narcotics,
love philtres, hate philtres and many other things
except boric acid
Excuse me Master, but from your last lesson I understood that
boric acid is obtained from mandrake root
That's true Ricardo,
but it isn't from the common variety know as hanged man's mandrake
that it's obtained
And all the trouble I went through to find a hanged man
I didn't know there were other kinds of mandrake
There's only one other than this kind,
and no one but our family knows of it's existence
- Except for me Father - All in due time my daughter
And you too Ricardo,
as Inez's betrothed you will one day be one of us
This mystery is part of the inheritance left to us by our ancestor Jose Balsamo,
first count of Cagliostro,
and was a primary reason for his ending his days in a cell in Rome
But that was a long time ago Lord, today-
It'd be the same today. In every age Man tends to oppose progress
Do you think that if it wasn't for the risk we run
I'd limit myself to passing on my knowledge
to a small group of brave souls
and gather them here in my home
in the greatest of secrecy as if it were a crime?
- We struggle against death - And risk our lives by doing so
What would happen to Justus
if he was found stealing a corpse in the graveyard for us?
Nothing my Lord, because they'll never catch me,
I will steal all the cadavers your Excellency desires
I know, my loyal Justus.
You who should hate all mankind for the way they've treated you
show yourself to have a heart of gold
by risking yourself to correct the monstrous error of certain men
who have forbidden under penalty of death
the practice of dissecting cadavers
How do these wretches expect us to help turn what we only know in theory
into a practical reality?
We will never stray from the path Father,
we'll forge ahead until the end
That's what I like to hear my daughter,
do not deny the Cagliostro blood that flows through your veins
We'll fight to give life while others struggle to give death
How was the journey my Lord?
It went well Hildegarde, it was as fast as usual
There's nothing faster or more silent than her,
you can't even feel her approaching
Have you given them the narcotic?
Yes Lord, to both of them like the other times
Good. Have the chest taken to your room, as always
- I'll see you there later - Yes my Lord
When will this all end Lord?
Soon Hildegarde, soon.
It won't be long before I heal my illness,
in the meantime...
In the meantime my Lord, we are both in great danger,
the day will come when it will be impossible
to hide the disappearances of so many young women,
- if we're discovered- - No one knows anything in Mexico,
and the Countess is bound to my will
Leave now
I don't think they suspect anything yet,
though Ms. Brunhilda
is starting to wonder about her mother's prolonged absence,
she's told her grandfather
I'll calm my daughter down. And the Marquis?
He's the one that worries me the most,
every full moon
it's like he awaits his daughter's return
It will be some time before the Countess can come,
it's been some time since she's left from her bedroom
You'll have to accompany me on my return to help me
Yes my Lord
Very well, let's not waste any more time
The full moon is nearly gone, if I let it pass
I could have a grave setback with my illness
Rise Genevieve, I order it!
On your feet
Lay down in the coffin
Now you will begin your eternal servitude to the Frankenhausen,
like Elena has, and Soledad
and all the rest!
And you shall remain there until the end,
when all the men and women in the world
shall be my slaves
This girl's cadaver, dead for just a few hours,
has flesh as flexible as it was in life,
which will permit us to perform the experiment I propose
as rigidity would be an insurmountable obstacle
Tonight I would like to show you
the workings of this marvellous apparatus
that my ancestor invented for the express purpose
of filling the heart, arteries and the veins of a vampire or his victim
with boric acid, the only method to destroy this frightening disease
and the danger of contagion that it represents
Are you trying to say that vampirism is contagious Master?
I'm surprised that you Ricardo,
one of my most gifted pupils, would ask that question
It isn't contagious precisely, but it is transmittable
It seems you've forgotten some of the details
from my earlier explanations and theories on the theme,
for example, how many kinds of vampires exist
and what the differences are
I do remember Master, there are only two kinds of vampires,
living vampires and dead ones
Living vampires are the carriers of the disease
and live like any mortal,
looking for victims whom they kill to sustain themselves,
draining their blood completely
and turning them into dead vampires
These dead vampires remain still and contained within their coffins
I see the time has come
to lift the mysterious veil that occults this illness a bit more
The revelations I'm about to make
will be the last thing that you learn from me
and will leave you in a position to clearly understand
everything that's contained within these manuscripts
A detailed account
of the investigations my family undertook regarding vampires,
and which from this moment on I bequeath to my daughter Inez
with the obligation to see things through to the end if I should fall
But Father, you'll live for a long time
- You can't die - You mustn't!
No one can decide that but god
It's true that I possess the philtre of life and youth
left to us by the first Count of Cagliostro,
but an accident could happen to me as it did to him
This night I will embark on the journey which you all know about,
and it's filled with numerous and grave dangers
This isn't an undue precaution
They must have noticed the grave robbery
No, I don't think so, I left the grave just as I found it,
there wasn't a single trace
- Go see who it is - Yes Lord
Who would knock on the door of a honourable home at this hour?
It's me Justus, open up, it's urgent
Lazarus!
What's wrong my friend?
It's my mistress, she's suffered an attack
What do you want me to do?
Help me. I'm scared Justus,
it's been a long time since the lady Countess took ill
and she isn't recovering
She's like a dead woman
Was it the Lord who sent you?
The Lord Count has been gone since the full moon, I'm alone at the house
You mean, Genevieve also..?
Like the Lady's other servants, she left without even saying goodbye
Doesn't this all seem strange to you?
I don't know, I don't know That matter is none of my business
Will you help me or not?
I appreciate your friendship very much and I would love to,
but I don't know how
You've told me many times that your master
is a famous doctor, if he wanted to-
- Go see your mistress? - Yes, talk to him
You've told me he's a good man and respects you,
please help me Justus and I will be in your debt for life
But my master has left Mexico
and I don't know when he'll be back
If that's the case then I'm sorry to have bothered you
Wait
There's a friend of the family here who's a doctor,
- let me talk to him - Thank you,
I knew I could count on you
There's no danger, it's a friend who came in search of aid
He works as a lackey nearby, it seems his mistress has suffered an attack
But I can't go now
I know my Lord, I told him your Excellency had left Mexico,
but I don't know if I've done the right thing...
You've done very well Justus. Now let's continue
Excuse me my Lord,
I meant to say that I wasn't sure if I'd done the right thing
by telling my friend Lazarus
that there was a doctor here who could see his mistress
- But Justus! - Don't scold me my Lord,
I have a great interest in helping him
because he's the only friend I have
Ricardo, do you have any objection to going?
None Lord. Let's go
Thank you my Lord
Let's continue with our illness
The first to have the privilege of discovering the truth
was an ancestor of mine, the first Count of Cagliostro,
through a very sad occurrence
This forebear of mine was married twice,
and his second wife died tragically, burned at the stake
along with other victims of a famous vampire
who ravaged the areas of Turengia, Celisia,
some places in Germany and even Austria
This vampire was known by the name of the Vampire of the Moon
because he had a predilection for attacking on the night of the full moon
No one knew who he was exactly
From that moment on, my ancestor
dedicated his life to finding the origin of the Vampire of the Moon
and made such important discoveries
that in his will he made the utmost obligations of his inheritors
to search for the Vampire of the Moon until they found him
and the extermination of vampirism
What he wrote here
brought into practice what today is only a theory
I'll read you some excerpts from the manuscripts
It's untrue that there exist or have existed many living vampires in the world
The ones that are known or have been known
all belong to a single family by the name of Frankenhausen,
after the region where they first appeared in the 12th century
as their true origin is lost in the mists of time
It's untrue that it's always the same living vampire
that periodically appears and disappears
The ones that reappear are the firstborn
of this family that in every generation
remain unknown until they reach a certain age
when vampirism manifests itself
which they alone inherit along with the title of Count,
freeing the rest of their family from this terrible illness
What she's suffering from is a state of shock,
has she had some fright?
I don't know Doctor,
when I came in because the Lady hadn't called me for so long
she was already like this
Well, didn't the other servants see anything?
The other servants can't come here,
the Lord forbids them from going past the kitchen
Only the ones in service to the Lady, a housemaid and a servant,
can roam the house freely
and the housemaid left a few days ago
as soon as the Lord left on his trip
If you'll come with me I'll give you something to give her when she recovers,
there's nothing more to be done
Yes Doctor, I'll go with your lordship, I'll guide you
Who is this gentleman?
The Lady suffered an attack and I went in search of aid
I asked you who this gentleman is
I'm Doctor Ricardo Peisser
Let me introduce myself,
Count Siegfried von Frankenhausen
Doctor,
I beg you to forgive my housekeeper Frau Hildegarde's rudeness,
she's very rigid about having my orders obeyed in my home
and Lazarus, Lazarus knows that no one,
absolutely no one, for whatever reason
can enter this place without my permission
Not even if the Countess' life was in danger?
Don't exaggerate Doctor,
those attacks my wife suffers are of no importance
Regardless, she's on the verge of cardiac failure
due to considerable agitation
It just seems that way
I was on my way to find a remedy to calm her
Don't bother Doctor, I tell you she's alright, it will pass soon
I'm grateful, but you mustn’t worry any more
Goodnight
Now you won't forget
that you're nothing more than the Countess' lackey
Fortunately I'm here now, I'll restore order to this home
Come Eugenia, calm down, you're very agitated
Don't touch me! What are you doing here?
Can't you see? I've come back from my journey to the House of Spirits
Don't come closer!
Don't come closer or you'll regret it
Leave, get out of my room!
I've told you not to come in here, I've told you a thousand times!
I just came to give you news of Brunhilda
What have you done with my daughter?
Our daughter
- She's alright - You lie, you lie!
And your father the Marquis is in good health
They can't be alright after not seeing me for so long
Why won't you let me see them?
Because you're very sick and your presence would make them suffer
You, having compassion for others? Since when?
The Count Frankenhausen who's never had feelings
is now like every other mortal?
The heartless wolf has become a tame lamb
Don't mock me Eugenia,
choose your words carefully
- or I'll have no mercy on you! - Mercy? You have mercy?
Have you had mercy on any of my servants
who you've sacrificed in full flower of youth
- to your bestial instincts? - Silence!
Silence!
What have you done with Genevieve on this last journey?
What did you do with Julieta, with Soledad, with Elena,
with all my other ladies in waiting?
They have became eternal servants of the Frankenhausen
and have saved my life
Have you ever thought of saving your soul?
Quiet you wretch!
Never say that word in my presence or I'll-
You don't scare me
I know how to destroy you because I know what you are,
that's why you have me imprisoned here,
locked away in this horrible mansion,
so I won't scream out to the world that you're a vampire
You can't make me surrender, you see?
Get out of here immediately or I'll pierce your heart with this stake
Do you see how I can kill you when I want?
I haven't killed you yet because you're the father of my child
For her I've put up with my captivity and your presence,
so she won't die of shame knowing who her father was
But if you lay a hand on Brunhilda,
just one of your bloodstained hands,
I'll kill you like you deserve, you disgusting vampire!
Get out! You horrify me!
And you sadden me
Your neurosis has become dementia,
you're completely mad
Boric acid is the only chemical that counteracts
a certain substance which I call vampirina
which flows through a vampire's veins
and feeds on red blood cells,
causing them to seek out victims whose blood to drain
and replace with large quantities of vampirina
Let's suppose this were a vampire,
living or dead, it doesn't matter which,
her veins would be full of vampirina
By means of this apparatus
we'd introduce boric acid into her veins, thus nullifying it
All we need to do is fill this container with boric acid
Let's use this oil for now
Start the mechanism
Afterwards we pierce the vampire's heart with the injector
This section of the apparatus is where the real miracle takes place,
as any body it works on will no longer produce vampirina
If dead vampires don't move from their coffins,
why is it necessary to treat them with boric acid?
Dead vampires remain still within their graves
while the living vampire that created them remains alive,
but when he dies with a stake through his heart
or reduced to ashes by fire,
the only two methods known to kill them,
his victims, because of the vampirina,
rise from their graves in search of prey
who in turn will create yet more victims
If this chain reaction isn't stopped in time,
as it luckily has during every outbreak until now,
the day would come when all of humanity
would be made up of dead vampires
- That's frightening - Yes my daughter,
now you understand the importance of my ancestor's theory
And now Ricardo,
did you understand the answer to your question about contagion?
Yes Master, but we still haven't obtained any boric acid, however
The opposite is written here
Boric acid can only be obtained from mandrake root,
but only of one variety, the black,
called so because it's root and flowers are that colour
instead of white like common mandrake's
The most important thing to note is that
black mandrake only grows in vampire lands
Here
You'll have the rest when you bring her, as always
I'll do my part, as always. Let the German know
Well hurry, it looks like this time she's in a bigger rush than usual
Good day Lazarus, hello innkeeper
- Good day, the usual? - Yes Lupe
You seem very happy
Yes, everything's going well,
I have very little to do. My master's on a trip
How'd it go with the doctor last night?
Well, well
- What happened to you? - Nothing
- Goodbye - Lazarus
What bee got in his bonnet?
It looks like things aren't going as well for Lazarus as they are for you
I saw it on his face. How can a man stand to be beaten?
One can't judge everyone else by one's own standards Justus,
life holds many mysteries
Lazarus' Master's house does too, and large ones at that, right Lupe?
I don't know what you're talking about
You're saying you know nothing about what the while neighbourhood whispers,
that strange and mysterious things happen in that house,
that no one dares pass by that door,
and when they do, they cross themselves
This is the first I've heard of it
Is that so? So you don't know anything about the servants?
The only thing I know is that they pay me very well to bring them
Look, Lazarus just gave me this to find a housemaid for his Mistress,
and he'll give me more afterwards
And what do you say to the relatives of the girls who disappear?
I don't have to say anything,
the conditions are they should have no relatives or acquaintances,
that they're orphans
Ah, you have it all planned out, eh?
In the end that's none of my business,
they can take care of themselves
- Oh, you scared me - Am I that frightening?
No, not you, I was reading a story my great grandfather wrote
about the vampire family
What family do you mean?
Which do you think? The one that father told us about last night
I don't remember
Oh yes, he told us when you went to see that sick woman
It must have been when we left to speak with Lazarus
because I don't remember either
Yes, it's about some German Counts
Look what a strange coat of arms they have
It's strange and fearful
Isn't there an inscription on the manuscript that explains what it represents?
Of course it does, how would that escape my great grandfather?
Here on this page, look
The count's coronet has a vampire over it,
black and with its wings spread
The shield is German and black to represent the night,
and over it there's a silver skull with a red F in gothic script on it's forehead
that represents the death that the firstborn
of the Frankenhausen carry with them
Yes, Frankenhausen. What's wrong?
That's the name of my friend Lazarus' master
It can't be possible
Maybe not Justus,
I met him last night and I don't think it's him
There wasn't a single coat of arms like it says here,
there are others. The count is affable-
Affable? You should have seen Lazarus' face this morning
Well he seemed like a normal man to me
He can't be that normal when such mysterious things happen in his house
Ask anyone in the neighbourhood
This morning I found out they're looking for a housemaid for the Countess,
that no one dares even approach their door
And knowing all this
you never told father that just feet away there's a Frankenhausen?
Your father never asked Ms. Inez
Didn't you know that my life and his have no other goal
save to find a count by that name?
In truth I didn't
Alright, alright, it's no use lamenting what's already happened,
the important thing is finding out what Count Frankenhausen
has to do with the vampire
If we could find out by the time father returned
it would make him ever so happy
I'll help however I can Ms. Inez
The first thing we have to do is find out what his coat of arms are
- I'll ask Lazarus - No, we must be cautious
If he suspects he's being watched he'll disappear
There must be some other way
Perhaps I should go back and ask after the Countess' health
No, wait. No one knows me in the neighbourhood
because I haven't been in the capital long,
they don't even know father has a daughter
because I've always been away at school
I have an idea
Much too fine for a housemaid
- She was raised well - Parents?
I'm an orphan maam
My name is Hildegarde,
the help calls me Frau, I like it better than maam
Yes Frau
- Relatives? - No, Frau
Frau, may I tell you something privately?
- Of course - Excuse me
Take her, she meets all the conditions, I guarantee it
A good friend brought her to me, a trusted servant,
and besides, it'd be very difficult to bring another one
because no one wants to serve at this house anymore
Alright, I'll accept
It's just that this one is going to be a little more expensive,
you can see for yourself that she's quite fine
Alright, you'll be staying.
The first thing you have to do is remove that cross you wear
and make sure that no one in this house sees it again
- Yes Frau - What's your name?
Inez Sanchez at your service
It's the Countess whom you must serve
Lazarus hasn't come, did you make it clear to him that I'm calling?
Yes Countess
It must be Lazarus, open it
Why the reaction?
- Forgive me, I didn't know that- - Why are you here?
Just to meet your new housemaid
Frau Hildegarde talked about her so much that I became curious
She said she was a jewel, but I see she's sold her short
Thank you sir... Count?
Yes, I’m Count Frankenhausen
May I my Lady?
Come in Lazarus, your timing is impeccable
Close the door and lock it so we won't be bothered, then come here
Why have you been gone for several days?
Because I was sick
You know that I don't want that damned Frau Hildegarde
from the Count's staff attending me,
why don't you see to me, since you're part of mine?
Because I've been sick
Don't lie, I sent people to call you many times
Why haven't you come?
- Who has dared to hit you? - His Lordship the Count
But why?
Because the night your Excellency fell ill, I brought a doctor
When I went to accompany him to get a remedy
the Lord arrived and punished me for allowing a stranger into the manor
I didn't know of that visit
You Excellency didn't come to her senses when the doctor was here
Afterwards the Lord didn't want him to return,
though the doctor said it was a serious condition
That wretch
I beg that your Excellency not speak of this to the Lord,
he would punish me again, and more severely this time
Don't worry Lazarus, I'll find some way to resolve this
Now you may go
- May the Lady Countess rest - Goodnight
You can go too
Lock the door from the outside
and take the key to come in when I need you,
I have a copy. This room must never be open, don't forget it
Yes my Lady
And I recommend you do the same in your own chambers
- Yes my Lady, may you rest well - Goodnight
Don't be scared, I need to talk to you
- What's wrong? - Lower your voice. Come
Even the walls have ears in this place,
and they'd be willing to skin me alive
Who would do such a monstrous thing?
The Count or the Frau
You don't know what sort of people they are
I've just met them, I can't judge
That's why I waited for you to leave the Lady's chambers,
- to warn you - Me? About what?
I can't say anymore, but heed me well:
trust no one other than the Countess,
- she they hold captive - That's not possible
Believe me, I'm telling you nothing but the truth
You should have never come to work in this house
Inez's idea strikes me as a good one,
I need to see the doctor that attended me during my crisis
so he can help me in my recovery
But my Lady,
do you know the danger I'd be in
if they find out I'm seeking out the doctor?
The danger will be mine, since I'll be the one going
All you have to do is show me where I can find the doctor Lazarus
But they'll find out, surely they will
We'll take advantage of those mysterious trips
the Frau takes sometimes
- Keep an eye on her and let me know - As the Lady orders
As far as the Count is concerned we don't have to worry,
he sleeps all day
He comes out of his chambers once the sun sets
and locks himself in again at dawn
Shall I tie your Excellency's hair up
or shall I leave it loose for later?
Is it shiny?
I believe so, odd that your Excellency doesn't have a mirror
In this home, mirrors are forbidden
The latest philtre you prepared wasn't satisfactory,
they woke too soon
I'm preparing a new one based on the fruit of the white lotus
You'll see, with this plant they'll sleep a whole year
It has to be diluted or they sleep until the end of all time
Be aware it will be costly
The important thing is that it's effective
Count Frankenhausen pays those that serve him well
A dash of buttercup, marigold,
a bit of yellow bugle since it goes so well with black nightshade
Ah, and a bit of Venus' navelwort so they have good dreams
A brew of swallowwort
mixed with king's cup
And now... belladonna
Hurry, I don't like being out of the house long,
especially when we have a new servant
Before accepting you should think it over well Doctor,
I don't want to hide the fact that simply by being my ally
you'd be in great danger
Medicine is a road full of difficulties,
sometimes they're so great that the practitioner loses his life
I'm glad to see that aside from being a gentle you're also brave
Your Excellency compliments me
I repeat once again Countess, you can count on me
I don't know how I'll do it though,
since Count Frankenhausen threw me out once already,
but I will
We'll find a way, let me think about it
Whatever I decide on I'll let you know through my housemaid Inez
who though new to my service seems as loyal to my person as yourself
Before beginning my treatment
I must place a condition on your Excellency
I accept Doctor
You have to be to completely honest with me
and tell me the whole truth
Of course I will. Are you talking about something specific?
Yes Countess, the night I went in aid of your Excellency
I realized that what you were suffering from was fear
You're more intelligent than I supposed Doctor
It's true, what made me lose my consciousness that night was fear,
a fear that is greater and more irresistible each time
Why?
- Must I tell you now? - Yes my Lady
Very well, if that's what you wish, I will
Lady Countess, Frau Hildegarde is approaching
Keep calm. Sit Doctor, I beg you
Inez, go to my chambers and wait for me there
Lazarus, open as soon as she knocks
- We have a visitor - I see that
The doctor came to see how I was feeling
It's good to know that there are people who worry about one's health
Fortunately I find you in good health Countess
Regardless, I'm amazed that the Countess has left her chambers
and exposed herself to having a relapse
Your interest gladdens me Hildegarde
You're mistaken Countess,
my interest is solely for Count Frankenhausen
My amazement is greater still at seeing the doctor
I hadn't the slightest doubt on the meaning of the words
that the Lord Count spoke in his presence,
that he should never return here
without the permission of the lord of this manor
You go too far Hildegarde,
I also rule in this house and I'll prove it to you once and for all
Doctor, I hope you can do me the favour of dining here toni-
- No, not that! - No? Why not Hildegarde?
Because-!
The Count would not be pleased
But I would
Can I count on your presence Doctor?
- Of course Countess - At 8 then
I'll be here my Lady
Lazarus, accompany the doctor
At your service Countess
- Goodbye Lazarus - Have a good afternoon Doctor
It will be an eventful dinner
In my profession as a doctor of natural science,
I lean towards the school of the Dutch doctor Armand Borgheim
His theory is very simple, a doctor must be a servant of nature,
limiting himself to aiding and directing its functions
That theory seems admirable Doctor
Of course, that's my belief and that of any realist
Nature is very wise and is always right in the end
I expect you'll subject me to a treatment
like you just spoke of Doctor
It'd be my pleasure if the Count has no objections
Oh no, none. I'd be happy if you could aid my wife
I'm sure I'll recover soon
A toast to nature's wisdom
- Shall I serve coffee my Lord? - No,
we'll have some in the living room
You heard the woman Hildegarde
- Have Inez serve it - As my Lady wishes
Count, I hear we're to have coffee,
do you refer to the Arabic beverage?
- Exactly Doctor - Have you drank it before?
No Countess, I just know that coffee is a beverage from Asia,
that it's obtained through infusion,
cooking a plant named coffee that originated in Ethiopia
I admire the fact that you're so well informed
My hobbies of alchemy and chemistry
permit me to produce nearly all known organic substances
Some, like coffee, only in theory, as I've never had the seed,
I've never even seen it
In my travels in Asia and Africa
I acquired the custom of drinking coffee
Since then I've had quantities imported
I leave the amount necessary for your work at your disposal
And now, would you permit me the honour of being the first
to offer you a cup of coffee?
- It's delicious - And dangerous
When the body becomes accustomed to it
it's difficult to do without it
Is my Lady feeling well?
It's nothing, I'm just tired and sleepy
If the Doctor would permit me, I'd like to retire
- I beg you to Countess - It'd be best if you rest,
the effort you've made to leave your chambers has exhausted you
I expect a visit from you soon Doctor
You can count on it my Lady
Goodnight. Inez, would you come with me?
I feel like I'll fall asleep before reaching my bed
Yes Countess
- What will happen to the Countess? - Nothing Doctor
You heard her, she's just sleepy
I don't think so. Could it be the coffee?
I understand that coffee produces strange effects
Yes, but drowsiness would be the opposite one
The camel drivers in the caravans that cross the desert
spend whole days without sleep because they drink coffee
In any case I worry about the Countess' health
It's a matter to worry about Doctor
Not physically, as she's completely healthy
The place where her illness resides is here,
in her mind
- In her mind? - Yes Doctor,
my wife suffers from an acute mental ailment
- It doesn't seem that way - Sadly, she's completely mad
and sometimes she's even dangerous
That's why I have her here in Mexico,
completely imprisoned in this house,
because having her with her father and our daughter Brunhilda
could lead to an unfortunate accident
And what does her mania consist of?
She has several, like believing herself to be sick,
but the main one is that she believes I'm constantly trying to kill her
That's why I ask you now that she can't hear us Doctor,
that you leave her and pay her no mind
If your Excellency believes it convenient I shall do so
Thank you
- May I ask your Lordship something? - Whatever you wish Doctor
Why is it that while you use the title of Count
you use the coronet of a Marquis?
- You ask because of this coat of arms? - And the others around here
This home belonged to my wife's parents
who gave it to us when we married
and this coat of arms is the one she'll inherit when her father dies
It isn't easy for me to find a title by its blazon
Though I'm very interested in heraldry,
sadly my means have not allowed me
to acquire books and scrolls to study it
You have no reason to worry Doctor,
in this home's library there is a magnificent collection
of everything known about heraldry
From now on it's at your disposal
How can I thank your Excellency for his kindness?
By visiting my library when you wish as if were your own home
I'm thankful for the privilege Count,
now if your Excellency would permit me I must leave, it's growing late
I repeat that this home is like your own
- Did his Lordship call? - The doctor is leaving
If I were in the Count's position I wouldn't trust that doctor
It's best to have your enemy before you than skulking about the shadows
Are you a doctor?
Me? Why?
You were taking the Countess' pulse
You don't need to know medicine for that, anyone can do it
- How did his Lordship enter? - Through the door
It can't be, I locked it
You might have only thought so and left it open, it's of no importance
It's important to me, those were orders from my Lady
You can be Countess whenever you like, I've already told you
Let me go!
When I ask a question
I'm accustomed to being answered immediately
You still haven't even though I've asked many times if you want to be my wife
Let me go or I'll wake the Countess!
- Don't worry, she won't wake up - Let me go!
You see now that the door was open?
You're troublesome and a fool!
You may retire now
Before going to sleep, the Countess
ordered me to stay by her side all night
But now I order the opposite
I don't take orders from anyone but the Countess
You insubordinate-! Get out of here or I'll-!
I'm not the one that's going to leave
The Countess ordered
that neither Count Frankenhausen or you were to enter
Get out!
You'll regret this, you wretch
Here it is, I've finally found it!
- Is your Lordship sure? - Of course, listen:
Coat of arms and blazons
of the noble house of the Guzman's del la Selva,
Marquis' of the same title
I thought it was a false one to hide the Frankenhausen's
You see that the Count didn't fool me? It's authentic
Despite that, isn't your Lordship afraid that Ms. Inez is in danger?
If I had the slightest inkling
she would no longer be in Count Frankenhausen's home
- But your Lordship just said- - Yes yes, I know,
there's many suspicious things there
There are no mirrors.
Vampires avoid mirrors because they aren't reflected in them
He doesn't leave his rooms except at night
Vampires don't go out during the daytime
because they cast no shadow in the sunlight
There's more details, but this could all be a coincidence
Also the fact that he carries the title of Count Frankenhausen?
That too
There could be an identical title
bequeathed by his Holiness the Pope,
it'd be a pontifical title,
not a noble one like Jose Balsamo says here
While we still haven't seen his coat of arms...
Your Lordship makes it difficult
If you knew Count Frankenhausen personally
you would think as I do,
that he's truly a victim of his wife and that she's mad as he says,
rather than him being a vampire
You talk too much Justus and I don't want to speak
Will you give him my Mistress' message or not?
Of course I will, why would you think otherwise?
I have as much interest in this as you do,
the doctor is nearly a member of my Lord's family
Well you know what you have to tell him
I know, I know, that he's to see the Countess as soon as possible
- No, I'll pay - Thank you. Goodbye
Wait Lazarus, you have to reciprocate
What is it this time?
About your Countess' life
My Countess'... are you mocking me?
My Lady's life is also in danger
And what does your lady have to do with the Countess?
Much more than you think. A service for a service,
if you answer my questions
I'll tell you what my Lady has to do with your mistress
and I assure you it'll be worth the trouble
Alright, but hurry
Who is Count Frankenhausen?
I'd like to know that myself, no one knows
He appeared out of nowhere many years ago at House of Spirits
- House of Spirits? - It's my Mistress' home
That's where they married and that's where Lady Brunhilda was born,
the only daughter they have
And where is that manor located?
At the end of Mictecacihuatl, next to the Lagoon of Death
And how does one arrive at the end of that Micte...
- Mictecacihuatl - Well, however you say it
It's the name of the Aztec death goddess
And how do you get there?
Even if I told you you'd never arrive
if you don't make the trip with someone who already knows the way
But you know it, you've come and gone many times, tell me
You ask much but say little
What were you going to tell me?
Do you know who your Countess' housemaid is?
- No, Lupe brought her - I brought her,
she's my Lady Inez de Cagliostro, the doctor's betrothed
- No... - Yes, you see that it was worth it?
I don't want you to say anymore, I don't want to know more!
Have you gone mad? This stays between us
Forget everything we've said!
What's wrong with Lazarus?
Nothing, it's none of your business!
- Here you are - What's wrong with them?
Good afternoon Frau, how may I serve you?
What do you know of Inez, the Countess' housemaid?
Me, well... what I told you when I brought her
I need to know more, I need to!
I don't know a thing Frau, Justus brought her
Who is Justus?
I already told you that he can be trusted,
he was leaving as you arrived
He's a friend of Lazarus, the Countess' lackey
Justus is Count Cagliostro's chamberlain
A Count Cagliostro in Mexico... Since when?
I don't know. He lives in the neighbourhood
very close to your own home
Lazarus and Justus come here sometimes,
just a moment ago they were drinking wine
To be sure they were speaking very furtively,
I couldn't hear what they were saying,
but all of a sudden Lazarus stood up
and left so quickly he didn't even say goodbye
What would you prefer,
a purse full of coins
or that I chop off your tongue?
Chop of my tongue?
If someone learns of a single word we've spoken here
you can be sure of it
- Have you been here long? - Yes, I was growing impatient
I didn't know how to get in touch with you,
it's like the earth swallowed Lazarus up
No matter how much the Countess sends for him he doesn't come
- Who let you in? - Frau Hildegard,
she seemed very agitated
I told her I was coming to the library,
taking advantage of the liberty the count gave me
The Countess desperately wants to talk to you, come
No, wait
First I want you to know that we have some information,
the names of some of the Countess' family members
and where her father the Marquis and her daughter live
And about Count Frankenhausen?
We haven't learned a thing, and you?
Neither have I. Whenever I try to talk about him
the Countess changes the subject
It's the Countess!
I hope we've arrived in time
Here are the smelling salts
Countess, Countess!
Let me go, let me go, I can't breathe!
Countess, it's us, wake up
- It's good that you came Doctor - Don't worry, calm down
It was him, it was him! He attacked me from behind!
- Who Countess? - Count Frankenhausen
My Lady, no one could have entered in my absence,
I locked the door when I left
and it was locked when we came back
I don't know how he got in but I'm sure it was him
Didn't your Excellency see him?
No, I don't know how it happened
All of a sudden I felt like I was wrapped in something strange,
a warm cloth, like the wings of a giant bat
that tightened more and more,
choking me until I lost my senses
But how could he have come in, everything is closed
- It's strange - I feel very weak Doctor
It'd be best if we take you to your bed
Yes, help me
I was afraid of an attack like this,
Count Frankenhausen has been very agitated lately,
that's why I called you Doctor
Inez, give me the key
It's the key to a secret passage that no one knows,
not even Count Frankenhausen
You can open the well in the garden
and enter the house without being seen
In case of danger I'll call you and you'll come to aid me Doctor
You can rely on that Countess,
but why doesn't your Excellency flee this place?
Even if I hid in hell itself the Count would find me
Maybe even more easily there, as he has a pact with Satan
We should find some place
It'd be worse, my daughter and father would be in danger
- I'm so drowsy - It'd be best if you rest
Yes, I need to sleep
Don't leave me alone, for pity's sake
I'll stay with you all night Countess, sleep soundly
Thank you Inez
What do you think of all this?
From what the Countess has said,
it sounds like the work of a vampire
Vampires can't go through walls,
how could he have come here with everything closed?
- I don't know - It's very clear to me,
the Countess has been victim to a hallucination
And moreover, she's had a bout of hysteria
which makes me believe that Count Frankenhausen is right
And if Count Frankenhausen is a vampire?
And if the Countess is truly crazy?
How can we learn the truth?
There's a way to find out for sure
How?
By entering Count Frankenhausen's bedchamber,
- vampires sleep in a coffin - We have to get the key
What we have to do is leave this place immediately
I won't leave this place without learning the truth
about Count Frankenhausen,
- I know what this means to Father - At the cost of your life?
- I can defend myself - Don't you understand?
The only thing I understand
is that it wouldn't be loyal to abandon the Countess now
Alright, alright, you win
Now you must leave, the Count may suspect
But promise me that tomorrow you'll leave here for good
I promise
Go on Doctor
You're here Doctor?
I was in the library making use of your Excellency's kind offer
- That's always open - Thank you Count
Then I heard the Countess' cry of anguish
How strange, I haven't heard anything
Please forgive that I haven't kept my promise of not seeing her again,
but I thought something serious had happened to her
Don't worry, what happened to her?
Nothing important, she had a nightmare or a hallucination
- Nothing more? - That's all,
but it hurts me to see that your Excellency was right
- About what? - The Countess
is completely mad
It's best that you could see that for yourself Doctor
I'm very shaken, if your Excellency would allow it
I'll continue my studies in the library some other day
It's at your disposal Doctor
I don't know where Lazarus is, he's not here
- Goodnight Count - Some other time Doctor
- Where are you going Hildegarde? - I have things to do
It'd be best if you take greater care of the house's servants,
even you fail to see to my needs
Your Excellency has no more need of my service
- What do you mean? - Your Excellency already knows
Since the Countess housemaid came here
your Excellency has eyes for no one but her
My poor Hildegarde is jealous
Don't pity me Count,
your Excellency is more worthy of compassion
Don't disrespect me or I'll strangle you!
Yes, I'm in love with Inez
as I've never been in love with anyone
I want her for myself, and I'll destroy anyone who interferes,
do you hear me?
The night of the full moon is approaching
and you have to find me a substitute,
I want to keep her
If you don't either you or the Countess will take her place,
now you know!
I know, I know full well who it is that's mad
and it isn't the Countess
it's your Excellency!
I won't kill you because I need you
I knew you would respond to my question
and come to my bedchamber
I, I...
Don't say anything, I understand your feelings
Words aren't necessary, I know what you desire
It's only just that the future Countess Frankenhausen
desires to learn the act she'll share with me
Look!
Enter!
Look!
The Countess will die during the next full moon
and you shall be my wife!
Lord Count, Lord Count!
Don't come near me, what do you want?
Lord, come with me and learn who your Inez is!
I don't care, leave me alone!
Does your Excellency not care to learn
that she's a spy and that we're all in grave danger?
This can't be true
Your Excellency must come with me to the torture chamber,
there's a person there that will confirm it
Tell the Count the housemaid's real name
You've told me already, he has to hear it from your lips
Inez de Cagliostro
Cagliostro...
Is she related to Count Cagliostro?
She's his daughter and the doctor's betrothed,
they live a few houses away
You knew this and hid it from me
The Cagliostro's are the Frankenhausen's mortal enemies!
I didn't know,
I only found out who Ms. Inez is today
Tell him what you gave to learn it
Talk you wretch!
I told Count Cagliostro's chamberlain
where the House of Spirits is
- And now Count? - You were right Hildegarde,
we're in imminent danger
Does your Excellency insist that I find someone else for the full moon?
No, there's no need
Inez is a wretch and the Countess has betrayed me
And Lazarus?
He talks too much. Cut off his tongue!
Doctor, Doctor!
What's wrong Justus, you act as if you've seen the devil
Worse Doctor, much worse
Sit down, calm down and speak
Count Frankenhausen's home is shuttered
and seems to be empty
What are you talking about, that can't be
Lupe told me that last night, at the height of the storm,
she saw the Count's carriage speed off as if Satan himself was guiding it
The Count must have left on one of his mysterious trips
She had gone to bring them something they had requested
and knocked over and over but no one answered
She thinks everyone left
That can't be, let's make sure
But how Doctor, the house is closed
We'll go in through the secret entrance
Take the ladder and pull it down
The Countess has deceived you Doctor,
we've fallen into a trap
No Justus, the entrance must be here
Let's look for the Count's bedchamber
Lazarus!
What has happened to you?
They've cut off his tongue!
Was it Count Frankenhausen?
Where's his bedroom?
Let's go
This must be it
The vampire's coffin
The coat of arms of the Frankenhausen!
And Ms. Inez?
She's in grave danger,
we have to get to the House of Spirits before the full moon,
Lazarus will guide us
God willing, we won't be too late
They disappeared among the rocks
- Let's go after them - No, it'd be dangerous,
the vampire could hide in the shadows and attack us by surprise
Let's wait,
and not lose sight of where they disappeared from for a moment
And Ms. Inez?
We'll only find her by entrusting ourselves to god
and following Count Frankenhausen's trail
Someone's coming
It's the Frau!
- No, leave her! - We'll make her talk!
There's no need, I saw where she came from perfectly
- Should I light the torches? - Yes, let's not waste time
Rise Inez, I order it
Get on your feet
Lie down in the coffin
Murderer!
Save the lady, I'll protect you!
Genevieve!
You cannot resist my desires,
you will rise, I order it
Now you'll put on those riding clothes
because we're going to take a trip together on horseback
under the light of the full moon which is more brilliant than ever
This is what you've always wanted, but have never recieved
Get dressed
You know where we're going,
to your favourite place,
the Lagoon of Death
Justus has died as he lived,
sacrificing himself for others
I was right when I said that his motto was
"For Friendship and Loyalty"
May god hold him close
Thanks to him it's all over
Except for the danger that menaces humanity
The vampire lives and remains at large
The End
Translation: Turdis July 2009