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to
appear at ease in the presence of a man he knows to be a monster. Whether
Dracula is aware of this is impossible to say for, superficially, he appears
relaxed and affable.
     
    DRACULA
    You seem ill at ease,
    my friend. Is Schubert not
    to your taste?
     
    JONATHAN
    ( brightly )
    Ah, Schubert, that’s it!
    I knew I knew that tune.
     
    DRACULA
    His Unfinished Symphony.
     
    Jonathan covers up his ignorance
and disquiet by attempting a weak joke.
     
    JONATHAN
    Pity you weren’t around
    to help him as well.
    He might have finished it.
     
    To Jonathan’s surprise Dracula takes
him seriously, warming to him somewhat.
     
    DRACULA
    Yes... that is one of
    The great regrets of my
    life.
     
    Realizing he has let slip something
which should have remained secret, he continues in a lighter vein.
     
    DRACULA
    ... but who knows, perhaps
    I would have been too busy
    saving Franz Liszt;
    misguidedly of course.
     
    Dracula abruptly changes the subject
and gets down to business, thus sparing Jonathan the embarrassment of a reply.
     
    DRACULA
    You are sure the property
    is secluded?
     
    JONATHAN
    ( reassuringly )
    Exactly as you requested
    in your letter, sir.
    It’s right in the heart of
    the New Forest, and apart
    from a private sanatorium,
    there’s not a soul for
    miles. Your nearest big town
    is Southampton.
     
    Dracula continues to study the
photographs with enthusiasm as Jonathan fiddles nervously with his briefcase.
     
    DRACULA
    The chapel is a little gem;
    is it consecrated?
     
    JONATHAN
    ( defensively )
    I’m afraid not, sir –
    sacked by Cromwell’s
    Roundheads.
     
    DRACULA
    Cromwell! Ah, fascinating
    man – though something of
    a tyrant, yes?
     
    JONATHAN
    ( pompously )
    Depends on your politics,
    sir, and religion.
    Personally, I think he made
    England what she is today.
     
    DRACULA
    A godless kingdom of the
    Plebeian; I concur totally
    Harker. Where do I sign?
     
    Jonathan is somewhat disconcerted
not knowing quite how to take Dracula’s last remark.
     
    JONATHAN
    Er, quite, sir. Right here
    please.
     
    Dracula signs the document with a
flourish.
     
    DRACULA
    Thank you, Harker. My bank
    will telegraph the money to
    your firm in Southampton
    tomorrow.
     
    JONATHAN
    On receipt of which, Carfax
    Manor is yours, sir.
     
    DRACULA
    Thank you Harker. I took a
    chance. I selected your firm
    from an advertisement in
    your local paper, but it
    seems to have paid off
    most satisfactorily. I am
    delighted.
     
    JONATHAN
    Thank you, sir! It was a
    pleasure doing business
    with you ...
    ( awkwardly )
    Er, if there is nothing
    more, then I’ll be packing
    my things.
     
    DRACULA
    ( chuckling )
    You cannot wait to shake
    the dust of Castle Dracula
    from your shoes. You have
    still not forgiven our
    little joke.
     
    JONATHAN
    ( over-reacting )
    Not at all, Count. It’s
    just ... well ...
     
    Desperately, Jonathan hides his
anxiety behind a half-truth.
     
    JONATHAN
    ... well, I can’t very well
    be late for my own wedding
    can I?
     
    As Jonathan forces an awkward Smile,
Dracula expresses pure delight.
     
    DRACULA
    My dear fellow, you should
    Have brought the young lady
    along. What better place for
    a honeymoon than our
    beautiful Carpathians?
     
    With a sweep of his hand he Indicates
the mountain peaks visible through the elegant windows while Jonathan prepares
to demonstrate that he is not the dummy Dracula takes him for.
     
    JONATHAN She couldn’t have got
away, I’m afraid; she’s too busy organizing Lucy Weber’s farewell season.
     
    Dracula follows Jonathan’s glances
to the portrait of the gorgeous woman, hanging on the wall above them, with a
look of total incredulity. For the first time his mask of detached
sophistication - slips!
     
    DRACULA
    I beg your pardon?
     
    JONATHAN
    My fiancée is Lucy’s
    secretary.
     
    DRACULA
    You are referring to Lucia
    Weber (pronounced Vayber)
    the opera star?
     
    JONATHAN
    That’s just her stage name,
    we’ve always known her as
    Lucy. Have you met?