Transylvania, early afternoon: In a Coach in the Carpathian Mountains, a young woman reads to four passengers from a travel brochure.
YOUNG WOMAN: "Among the rugged peaks that frown down on the Borgo Pass are found crumbling castles of a bigone age."
The woman is knocked from her seat by the jostling coach.
RENFIELD [Dwight Frye]: I say, driver, a bit slower.
MAN: Oh, no! Must reach the inn before sundown!
MADAM: And why, pray?
MAN: It is Walpurghis Night, the night of evil! Nosferatu!
The man's wife places her hand over his mouth.
MAN: On this night, madam, to the Virgin we pray.
Late afternoon, a village inn: Villagers anxiously greet the coach.
RENFIELD: I say, porter, don't take my luggage down. I'm going on to Borgo Pass tonight.
Porter speaks in Hungarian to the Innkeeper.
RENFIELD: No, no, please, put that back up there.
INNKEEPER [Michael Visaroff]: The driver, he is afraid. Walpurghis night. Good fellow, he is. He wants me to ask if you can wait and go on after sunrise.
RENFIELD: Well, I'm sorry, but there's a carriage meeting me at Borgo Pass at midnight.
INNKEEPER: Borgo Pass?
RENFIELD: Yes.
INNKEEPER: Whose carriage?
RENFIELD: Count Dracula's.
INNKEEPER: Count Dracula's?
RENFIELD: Yes.
INNKEEPER: Castle Dracula?
RENFIELD: Yes, that's where I'm going.
INNKEEPER: To the castle?
RENFIELD: Yes.
INNKEEPER: No, you mustn't go there. We people of the mountains believe at the castle there are vampires. Dracula and his wives! They take the form of wolves and bats. They leave their coffins at night, and they feed on the blood of the living.
RENFIELD: But that's all superstition. Why I...I can't understand why...
INNKEEPER: Look, the sun! When it is gone, they leave their coffins. Come, we must go indoors.
RENFIELD: But, wait. I mean, just a minute. What I'm trying to say is that I'm not afraid. I've explained to the driver that it's a matter of business with me. I've got to go, really. Well, good night.
INNKEEPER'S WIFE: Wait! Please, if you must go, wear this for your mother's sake.
The Innkeeper's wife places a crucifix around Renfield's neck .
INKEEPER'S WIFE: It will protect you.
The coach carrying Renfield exits.
Sundown, the Crypt at Castle Dracula: Dracula and three vampiresses awaken from their coffins.
Midnight, Borgo Pass: Renfield's coach arrives. Renfield dismounts and the coach speeds away.
RENFIELD (approaches awaiting coach): The coach from Count Dracula?
The coach driver motions him to get in, but he does not speak. Renfield enters the coach and it speeds away.
RENFIELD (peering out the coach window): Hey, driver!
The coach is led by a flying bat.
RENFIELD: I say, driver, what do you mean by going at this...?
There is no driver.
Later that night, Renfield arrives at the entrance to Castle Dracula. A door into the castle opens, Renfield enters the castle.
Inside the castle, Dracula enters down a long flight of stairs.
DRACULA [Bela Lugosi]: I am...Dracula.
RENFIELD: It's really good to see you. I don't know what happened to the driver and my luggage and...well...with all this, I thought I was in the wrong place.
DRACULA: I bid you welcome.
Dracula heads upstairs. We hear a Wolf call O.S.
DRACULA: Listen to them...children of the night. What music they make!
Renfield follows Dracula, breaking a path through spiderweb.
DRACULA: A spider spinning his web for the unwary fly. The blood...is the life, Mr. Renfield.
RENFIELD: Why, yes.
Renfield's Bedchamber: Dracula and Renfield enter.
DRACULA: I'm sure you will find this part of my castle more inviting.
RENFIELD: Oh, rather! It's quite different from outside. Oh, and the fire! It's so cheerful.
DRACULA: I didn't know but that you might be hungry.
RENFIELD: Thank you. That's very kind of you. But I'm a bit worried about my luggage. You see, all your papers were in...
DRACULA: I took the liberty of having your luggage brought up. Allow me.
RENFIELD: Oh, yes. Thanks.
DRACULA: I trust you have kept your coming here...a secret?
RENFIELD: I've followed your instructions implicitly.
DRACULA: Excellent, Mr. Renfield, excellent. And now, if you're not too fatiqued, I would like to discuss the lease on Carfax Abbey.
RENFIELD: Oh, yes. Everything is in order, awaiting your signature. Here is the lease. I hope I've brought enough labels for your luggage.
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