A H alper in Produc t ion

w h i t e zom bi e
Story and dialogue by: Garnett Weston
Screenplay by: Frank Lawrence & Laura Mae

Murder Legendre, Witch Doctor

Madeline, bride
Dr. Bruner, missionary
Charles Beaumont, comparative stranger
Neil Parker, groom
Silver, Beaumonts butler

Pierre, Witch Doctor

Legendres army of the undead,

driver, minister, maids, locals and vultures
Scene: Haiti, 1932

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ext. roadwayevening
Locals are labouring in the road performing a voodoo chant.
Enter Driver carrying Neil and Madeline in a horse drawn carriage.

Neil.
Looks like a burial.

Madeline.
In the road? Driver, what is it?

Driver.
Its a funeral, Mademoiselle. They are afraid of
the men who steal dead bodies. So they dig the
grave in the middle of the road where people
pass all the time.

Neil.
Well, thats a cheerful introduction for you to
our West Indies.

ext. side of the roadevening

A sinister man, M. Legendre, stands at the side of the road. He knows
there is a carriage coming and he is patiently awaiting it.
Enter Driver, Neil, and Madeline.

Driver.
Do you know where is the house of
monsieur Beaumont?

Legendre ignores the driver and leans into the carriage, intently staring
at Madeline. As he stares into her eyes he takes hold of her scarf.
The driver sees men in the distance and takes off in a terrible hurry.

Driver.

Zombies! Aller vite! Allez!
Legendre menacingly tucks Madelines scarf into his coat.

Madeline.
It felt like hands touching me.

ext. beaumonts house evening

Enter Driver, Neil, and Madeline. Neil and Madeline exit the
carriage and stand at the front door of Beaumonts house.

Neil.
Why did you drive like that you fool?
We might have been killed!

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Driver.
Worse than that, Monsieur, we might have
been caught.

Neil.
Caught? By whom? Those men you spoke to?

Driver.
They are not men Monsieur, they are dead bodies.
Neil.

Dead?

Driver.
Yes, Monsieur. Zombies. The living dead.
Corpses taken from their graves who are made
to work in sugar mills and fields at night. Look!
Here they come!

Exit Driver.

Madeline.
Look, look!

A lonely dog howls in the night as a man emerges from the shadows.
Enter Dr. Bruner.

Dr. Bruner.
Excuse me please, have you got a match?
Did I frighten you? Ha, Im sorry. Im oddly
enough I suppose.

Neil.
No, it wasnt you. Something happened back on
the road there. We stopped to speak to some
men. Our driver told us that they werent men at
all. He said they were corpses.

Dr. Bruner.
Corpses

Neil.
Surely you dont believe it do you?

Dr. Bruner.
No. But I dont knowHaiti is full of nonsense
and superstition. Theyre always mixed up with a
lot of mysteries that will turn your hair grey. Ive
been a missionary here for, oh, thirty years, and at
times I dont know what to think. Come, lets go
in the house.

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Enter Silver. He graciously opens the front door for the guests.

Neil.

Oh, yes, come dear.

Dr. Bruner.
Is Mr. Beaumont in?

Silver.
You are expected, Dr. Bruner.

Dr. Bruner.

Yes, Ive been sent for to marry someone.
Maybe
Dr. Bruner playfully glances at the couple of whom he is speaking.

int. reception hallevening

Neil, Madeline, and Dr. Bruner get acquainted as Silver keeps
busy in the room and listens to their conversation.

Dr. Bruner.
How long is it that youve known
Mr. Beaumont?

Neil.
Oh, only a few days. Madeline introduced him
on the docks in Port-au-Prince.

Dr. Bruner.
Ah, and you?

Madeline.
I met him on the ship coming from New York.
He was very kind during the voyage.

Neil.
Madeline and I planned to be married
the moment she arrived, but Mr. Beaumont
persuaded us to come here. And he promised
to take me out of the bank at Port-au-Prince
and send me to New York as his agent.

Dr. Bruner.
Hmmstrange. Very strange. You

Dr. Bruner glances at Silver who is listening intently.

Silver.
Ill tell Mr. Beaumont you are here.

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Dr. Bruner.
Yeah.
Silver moves from the large room to a position around the corner
where he lurks and is able to hear the conversation. He is suspicious
of the three guests and finds their presence to be quite unsettling.

Neil.
Its all right, isnt it doctor?

Dr. Bruner.

Oh, I guess so. You see I, Ive only met Mr.

Beaumont once or twice. But he never struck

me like the man who would take the trouble to

play fairy godfather to a young couple like you.
Unless

Neil.
Unless what, sir?

Silver exits his secret spot. Dr. Bruner peers around the corner and
sees no one is currently eavesdropping.

Dr. Bruner.
I suppose youll think Im a meddling old fool,
but, you know, Id feel a good deal better if youd
clear out of this place after youre married, and
have nothing more to do with Mr. Beaumont.

Dr. Bruner, along with his two new acquaintances, Neil and
Madeline, go on discussing affairs both current and ancient. They
tell him of their future and he tells them of his past.

int. beaumonts officeevening

Beaumont sits in his large room deep in thought.
Enter Silver.

Silver.
The young people have arrived sir, and Dr.
Bruner. They are waiting in the reception hall.

Beaumont.
Show them to their rooms, and tell them Im
out. No wait. Perhaps Id better see them. It
might look odd if I didnt.

Silver.
Very odd, sir. Especially as Dr. Bruner is a trifle
skeptical as to yourmotives, sir.

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Beaumont.
Nevermind my motives.
Has that other person sent word yet?

Silver.
No, sir. Not yet.

Beaumont.
Hes twenty-four hours late.

Silver.
I wish youd keep away fromthat man,
sir. What you are planning is dangerous.

Beaumont.
Dont you suppose I know that, Silver?
You dont seem to realize what this girl
means to me. Why, Id sacrifice anything I
have in the world for her. Nothing matters
if I cant have her.

int. reception hallevening

Back in the reception hall, the young couple listen to Dr. Bruner as
he tells tales of his time in Haiti.

Dr. Bruner.
I think, ah, I think youll like Haiti.
Most people that

Enter Beaumont and Silver.

Beaumont.
Madeline! Im delighted to see you.
Neil, youre more than welcome.

Neil.
Thank you, sir.

Beaumont.
Doctor, it is very kind of you, I know what a
busy man you are.

Dr. Bruner.
No, ah, not at all. There is a native family live
out here that Ive been trying to see for a long
time. After this young couple are safely married,
I will leave.

Beaumont.

But surely you will stay for dinner after the
ceremony.

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Dr. Bruner.
No no no. No, I must run along.

Beaumont.
Thats a great pity. We have something very
special prepared for this occasion. It was very
good of you, Madeline, to humour the whim of a
lonely man. There was so little time to prepare, I
couldnt do half the things I wanted for you.

Madeline.
Youve done more than enough already
Mr. Beaumont, for a comparative stranger.
Youve made us so happy. Giving Neil a
position in The States.
Beaumont.

Neil?

Neil.
Yes. Yes indeed.

Beaumont.

Oh, yes of course. Im sure Neil will make a

very good agent. But you must be tired after

your drive. You get some rest.
Silver!
Silver steps up to attention.

Beaumont.
Silver will show you to your room.

Silver.
This way please.

All go upstairs save Beaumont who answers a queer knock on the door.
Beaumont climbs aboard a horse drawn carriage driven by a man who
is a member of Legendres crew. The driver has a most unmistakably
vacant look on his face. The horse pulls the carriage out of frame.

int. legendres factorylate evening

Beaumont makes his way through a mill factory that is populated
by Legendres brain dead soldiers. Unaware of reality, these mindless men toil endlessly on the grounds as the months and years pass.
Beaumont slowly and cautiously proceeds to the factory office.
Legendre and another of his servants are waiting in a small room.
Enter Beaumont.

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Legendre.
Delighted to see you again, monsieur Beaumont.

Legendre holds out his hand but Beaumont refuses to shake it.
This display of self righteousness angers Legendre as he curls his hand
back up into a fist.

Legendre.
Please. Sit.

Legendre motions for Beaumont to sit down. As Beaumont sits, he

looks around at all of the peculiar details that accumulate to make up
Legendres factory office. Shelves holding jars containing questions
and secrets. Oil lamps illuminating enormous books on tabletops
while casting wild shadows on the walls and creating deep dark corners
for creatures to lurk. Quill pens and jars of ink alongside the tragic
taxidermied head of a wild beast.

Legendre.
Im sorry to have kept you waiting, Monsieur.
Ive been on a journey seeking men for my mills.
Beaumont.

Men?

Legendre.
They work faithfully, and they are not worried
about long hours. You, you can make good use of
men like mine on your plantation.

Beaumont.
No. Thats not what I want.

Legendre.
Then perhaps we should talk about the young
lady who came to your house this evening.

Beaumont.
Youve seen her? When?

Legendre.
The road, tonight.

Legendre briefly pulls out the scarf he took from Madeline.

As Beaumont reaches for it, Legendre tucks it back into his coat.
Legendre smirks. He knows he can manipulate Beaumont.

Legendre.
There was a young man with her.

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Beaumont.
They are to be married tonight.
You waited too long to do anything.

Legendre.
What do you want me to do?

Beaumont.
If she were to disappear, for a month

Legendre.
What do you hope to gain by her disappearance?

Beaumont.
Everything.

Legendre.
Humph, do you think she will forget her lover in
a month?

Beaumont.
Just give me a month. One little month.

Legendre.
Not in a month. Not even a year. I looked into
her eyes. She is deep in love. But not with you.

Beaumont.
They are to be married within an hour. There
must be a way.

Legendre.
There is a way. The cost. The cost is heavy.

Beaumont.
You give me what I want, and you may ask anything.

Legendre looks at his servant who is standing watch. Beaumont looks

over at him too. He stands at attention as he is commanded to do. An
extremely maniacal yet mindless look is on his face. Through his eyes
you can almost see he is somehow aware of his condition but absolutely
unable to do anything about it. He is a tortured prisoner in Legendres
game. Beaumont looks frightened. Legendre leans in and whispers
something into his ear. Beaumont reacts with surprise.

Beaumont.

No! Not that!
Legendre walks over to a hutch, reaches into a drawer, and takes out a
vial that sits in a case. The vial is full of liquid. He slowly brings it over
to Beaumont. With pleasure in his eyes, he explains.

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Legendre.
Only a pin point, monsieur Beaumont, in a
glass of wine or perhaps a flower. Take it. The
time is very brief. You must do your share if I
am to help you.
Beaumont.

No.
Legendre places the strange vial of liquid into Beaumonts hands.
Beaumont doesn't want it but Legendres eyes and voice are
intensely convincing. Beaumont is easily persuaded and he takes the
vial into his possession.
Legendre.

Keep it, Monsieur. Keep it. You may change

your mind. Send me word when you use it.

Beaumont walks towards the door. Stunned at first, then horrified
of what he knows he will do. He looks back at Legendre briefly just
before he leaves.

Beaumont.
Ill find another way.

Legendre.
There is no other way.

Exit Beaumont.

int. dressing roomlate evening

As Madeline awaits her dress, she checks her hair in a small handheld mirror. It is a most unusual night and there seems to be a strange
sound coming from just outside. Two Maids are helping her get
ready for her ceremony. One of them walks over to the bay window
and opens it to reveal the sound of voodoo drumming. The ladies
look out the window in eager wonder.

Maid 1.
They are driving away evil spirits.

Madeline finds this to be quite unnerving. She is bothered instantly

by it and in haste begs her maid to undo the noise.

Madeline.
Close it, close it!

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Maid 1 closes the window. Maid 2 holds out the wedding dress in
front of Madeline. In amazement of its beauty she cries out.
Maid 2.
Mademoiselle!

int. beaumonts reception halllate evening

The wedding ceremony has begun. Beaumont walks Madeline
down the staircase towards the archway under which Neil awaits.
Strangely and deliberately, Silver places a flower on a nearby table.

Beaumont.
I love you, Madeline, more than anything else
in this whole world. Heaven or hell lies in this
little moment for me. You could raise me up to
paradise or you could blast my world into nothing. I can make you the envy of every woman.
Id give my life to make you happy.
Oh, listen to me dear before its too late.

Madeline.
Dont, please.

Beaumont.
Dont go into that room. We can be in Port-au-
Prince in half an hour. Theres a boat sailing
at midnight.

Madeline.
Youve been so wonderful.
Dont spoil everything now.

Beaumont.
One last gift before I lose you forever.

Beaumont walks over and picks up the flower that Silver carefully
arranged for him. He gives it to Madeline and she takes it from him,
smelling its deceivingly sweet scent. Together they enter the ceremony.
Dr. Bruner.

We are gathered together here in the sight

of god, and in the face of this company, to

join together this man, this woman in holy
matrimony.

ext. beaumonts yardlate evening

Outside in Beaumonts yard, Legendre is lurking around. He takes
a candle from a light stand, blows it out, and wraps Madelines scarf
around it. He then starts to skillfully carve the candle into the figure of

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a human being. Above Legendres head, perched on a nearby wall, a
giant vulture sits and watches. Legendre looks up and is pleased to see
his companion. The vulture feeds Legendres self-belief.
Vulture.
Yeahh!

int. beaumonts dining halllate evening

Neil, Madeline, and Beaumont are dining around a bountiful table.

Neil.
This is the night of nights.

Beaumont.
A toast to the bride. To beautys queen.

Neil.
Gladly, My Lord. Leave but a kiss within the
glass. Fair gypsy, read my fortune. What do
you see in the glass?

Madeline.
I see happiness. I see love, far more than you
can bear.

Is that all?

Madeline.
No. I see, I see

Neil.

Neil.

What is it?

Madeline.
I seeDeath.

Neil.
Madeline! Madeline whats wrong?
Madeline my dear, please.

Outside, Legendre roasts his carved figure of Madeline on the flame

of another candle. As it melts away, Madeline feels much pain and
collapses in her husbands arms.

Neil.
Madeline. Madeline.
Cant we do something?
Please, please. Madeline.
Not my wife. My wife!

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Madeline closes her eyes and fades away under a dark spell. She is
unable to be revived. Her pulse is undetectable. She will later be
examined by doctors and pronounced dead. Very little time passes
and she is put to rest in a cemetery in Haiti.

int. mausoleumevening
Madeline is in her casket and the casket is placed in the mausoleum.

Minister.

Praise of our lord and saviour and the love of

god and the fellowship of his angels.

Be with us ever more. Amen.

int. local barnight

Neil tries to comfort himself with drink. As he tries to numb the
pain of losing Madeline, he suffers apparitions of her. Misery sweeps
him across the room as he follows the distant voice of his wife.

Madeline.
Neil, Neil.
Neil, Neil.

Tormented by the spirit of his dearly departed, Neil leaves the bar and
sets forth for the cemetery. He is as panic-stricken as a rabid animal.

ext. cemeterylate night

Legendre and Beaumont systematically snake their way through the
dark graveyard. Legendre boldly leads the way as a timid Beaumont
follows. They are on a mission. A dog barks.
Beaumont.
Look!
Legendre and Beaumont approach six men who are obediently
standing at attention just outside of Madelines mausoleum.
Beaumont.
Zombies!

Legendre.
Yes. They are my servants.
Did you think we could do it alone?
In their lifetime they were my enemies.
Ledot, the witch doctor. Once my master.
Secrets I tortured out of him.
Von Gelder, the swine. Swollen with riches.
He fought against my spells until the last.
In him I have a struggling type.

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His Excellence, Richard.

Once minister of the interior.
Scarpia, Brigand Chief.
Marcquis, Captain of Gendarmerie.
And thisthis is Chauvin. The high
executionerwho almost executed me!
I took them just as we will take this one.

Beaumont.
But what if they regain their souls?

Legendre.
They would tear me to pieces.
But that, my friend, shall never be.

Legendre commands the motion of his men through his mind and
the arrangement of his hands. The six men open the door and march
down about twelve steps into the mausoleum. They take hold of the
casket from the slab of concrete it sits on and carry it over, placing it
down at the feet of Legendre and Beaumont. One of them removes
the top of the casket exposing Madelines soft pale face.
Both men look inside. Legendre stares at Madeline with intensity.
Beaumont looks into the coffin with surprise and delight in his eyes.
Beaumont.
Madeline.
Enter Neil to the cemetery. In the distance at first. He is overcome
by grief and regret. He has lost his mind in an unfamiliar place of a
country he knows little about. Drunkenly, he stumbles through the
graveyard making his way to his wifes resting place.

Neil.
Madeline! Madeline! Madeline!

Legendre is alerted to the noise and looks at Beaumont. Beaumont

looks up from Madeline to the open door of the mausoleum. Both
men hear Neil screaming out. He is not too far off. Legendre
signals to hurry as they remove Madeline from her resting place.
Beaumont, Legendre, and the team of dutiful and unknowingly
obedient zombies disappear into the night with the casket carrying
Madelines body. Neil soon approaches the mausoleum and finds it
empty. Desperately he cries out in anger and disbelief.

int. bruners officelate morning

Dr. Bruner and Neil discuss the problem at hand. Bruners office
is professional looking yet full of oddities. It is quite large and affords
the two men enough space to walk around during the scene. Neil

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starts out sitting across the desk from Bruner and proceeds to pace
around as his frustration builds. Ever moving, the camera reflects Neils
emotions as it dances around the room.

Dr. Bruner.
Theres two explanations that strike me,
either the body was stolen by the members of
a death cult that use human bones in their
ceremonies, or else

Neil.
Or else what?

Dr. Bruner.
Shes not dead.

Neil.
Not dead? Are you mad?
I saw her die, the doctor signed the certificate.
I saw them bury her.

Dr. Bruner.
Now, wait a minute, wait a minute. Im not
mad. But Ive lived in these islands for a good
many years, and Ive seen things with my eyes
that made me think I was crazy. There are
superstitions in Haiti that the natives brought
here from Africa. Some of them can be traced
back as far as ancient Egypt, and beyond that
yet, in the countries that was old when Egypt
was young.

Neil.
Yes, but what has that to do with Madeline?
I kissed her as she lay there in the coffin. And her
lips were cold.

Dr. Bruner.
Let me explain. Now, just a minute, Ill explain.
Wherever there is a superstition, you will find
there is also a practice. Now, do you remember
what your driver told you the night that he
took you to Beaumonts house?

Neil.
Oh, about those horrible creatures we saw.
Dr. Bruner.

Yeah.
Neil.

He said they were corpses! Taken from their
graves.
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Dr. Bruner.
Yesthats the superstition!
Now for the practice. The ghouls that steal
the dead corpses from their graves, are
supposed to put them there in the first place.

Neil.
Do you mean that Madeline was murdered
so that somebody could steal her dead body?
Aagh! Nonsense.

Dr. Bruner.
No, no. Not her dead, not her
Her body, yes; but not her dead body.
Thats what I meant.

Neil.
Well surely you dont think shes alive, in the
hands of natives! Oh no, better dead than that.

Dr. Bruner.
Excuse me please, have you got a match?

Neil impatiently reaches into both pockets of his white jacket and
provides a single match from his right pocket. He gives the doctor
the match and continues to frantically pace about the room. Equipped
with another match, Dr. Bruner strikes it against the desk leg and
lights his bowl. Long hauls from the pipe produce great clouds of
white smoke that rise up from his hands. The room stands still for not
a moment.

Dr. Bruner.
Thank you.

Neil.
You dont believe that do you?

Dr. Bruner.
Say, theres been lots of people thats been
pronounced dead that came alive again and
lived for years. Now, if nature can play pranks
like that, why isnt it possible to play pranks
with nature?

Neil.
Oh, I dont know.

Dr. Bruner.
Your driver believed he saw dead men, walking.
He didnt. What he saw were men alive in
everything but this and this.

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Dr. Bruner motions to head and heart. He describes a race of men

who live and breathe yet are unaware of their physical or mental
selves. Men who would otherwise walk the earth aimlessly if it wasnt
for their keeperthe one who created them. Their master.

Neil.
Oh, the whole thing has me confused.
I just cant understand it.

Dr. Bruner.
Um, I dont blame you. I dont blame you.
Ive been trying for years to get to the bottom
of these things. To separate what you call fact
from fiction.

Dr. Bruner is intrigued by this mystery and wants to make the most
of this situation. Seeing as how this subject has piqued his interest,
and given he has knowledge on the subject, he knows he can help
young Neil and really make a difference. He makes his way over to a
shelf and takes down a large book. He then returns to his desk.
Dr. Bruner.
The law. The law of Haiti acknowledges the
possibility of being buried alive. Here it is in
the penal code. Ill read it for you. Its in
Frenchdo you speak French?

Neil.
No.
Dr. Bruner.
Excuse me please, have you got a match?

Neil looks directly at the desk in front of them and sees a match lying
on the table. Annoyed, he picks it up and hands it to the doctor.
Neil.
Right here, heres one.

Dr. Bruner.
Oh, thank you. I didnt see it there.
Ill translate it for you. If you could spare me.
Article

Dr. Bruner takes a puff of his pipe again having struck a hot flame.

Dr. Bruner.
Article 2:49. The use

Dr. Bruner pauses again to really get his bowl of tobacco burning hot.

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Dr. Bruner.
The use of drugs or other practices which
produce lethargic coma, or lifeless sleep,
shall be considered attempted murder.
Neil.

Yes.
Dr. Bruner.
Attempted.
Neil.

Yes I see.

Dr. Bruner.
Yeah, alright now, wait If the person has been
buried alive, the act should be considered murder
no matter what result follows.

Neil.
Beaumont! Say, you said you couldnt
understand why he was so interested in us.
Do you think he did this?

Dr. Bruner.

No. No, I think his natives would. Natives

would be right. Of course if you want to, we

could go to Beaumonts house first.

Dr. Bruner bangs his hand on the table with determination. He
stands up and moves to the front of his desk. Neil is his shadow.

Dr. Bruner.
If I could get my hands on the devil thats
responsible for this, Ill make him such an
example that every witch doctor in Haiti
would be shaking in his sandals.

Neil.

But we cant do this alone. Cant the authorities
help?

Dr. Bruner.
The authorities, Neil, my boy, you dont know
these islands. The native authorities are afraid
to meddle. I am not. Ive got friends among the
natives. Theyll tell me things that no jandam
could ever get out of you. Because I am a
preacher they think I am a magician. Before we
get through with this thing, we may uncover
sins that even the devil would be ashamed of.
Oh, these witch doctors

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int. castle legendremidday

Built up high upon a great cliff overlooking the countryside.
Violent waves crash on the rocks below.
A monumental staircase with archway looms at the precipice.
Gigantic columns hold up the enormous Victorian style interior.
Beaumont watches in haunted disbelief as Madeline plays at a
grand piano. Her once vibrant eyes have become so horribly vacant.
Beaumont.
Madeline.
Beaumont gently clasps a necklace around Madelines neck. She
takes no notice of Beaumont or any of her other surroundings.

Beaumont.
Foolish things, they cant bring back the light
to those eyes. I was mad to do this but if you had
smiled on me, Id have done anything for you.
Given you anything. I thought that beauty
alone would satisfy but the soul is gone. I cant
bear those empty staring eyes. Oh, forgive me
Madeline. Forgive me! I cant bear it any longer.
I must take you back!

Enter Legendre.

Legendre.
Back to the grave, Monsieur?

Beaumont.
No, you must put the life back into her eyes and
bring laughter to her lips. She must be gay and
happy again.

Legendre.
You paint a charming picture, Monsieur. One
that I should like to see myself.

With unwavering power, Legendre telepathically commands

Madeline to join the men. She walks over to them.

Beaumont.
You must bring her back.

Legendre.
Arent you a trifle afraid, Monsieur? How do
suppose those eyes will regard you when the
brain is able to understand?

Exit Madeline at Legendres mental request.

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Beaumont.

Better to see hatred in them than that dreadful
emptiness.

Legendre.
Perhaps youre right. It would be a pity to
destroy such a lovely flower. Lets drink
to the future of this flower. A glass of wine!

Enter Silver.

Beaumont.
Silver, bring wine.
We have a toast to drink.

Silver brings over two glasses of wine. Legendre takes them both
and hands one to Beaumont.

Legendre.
To the future, Monsieur.

Beaumont drinks. Legendre does not. Beaumont looks concerned.

Legendre.
Only a pin point, Monsieur.
In a flower or perhaps a glass of wine.

Beaumont looks horrified at his glass. He now realizes that he has

consumed a tainted drink and throws it across the room.

Beaumont.
You devil. What are you trying to do to me?

Legendre.
I have other plans for Mademoiselle.
And I am afraid you might not agree.
I have taken a fancy to you, Monsieur.

Beaumont.
Silver! Silver!

Ever loyal Silver tries to attack Legendre, but is frozen with fear.
Legendre wills his servants into the room.
Enter Legendres entourage.

Beaumont.
Dont, dont.

Silver is carried away by Legendres men but not without a cry for
help as he is being thrown into a flowing stream that no doubt leads
over the cliff and into the body of water at the foot of the mountain.

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Silver.
Aaahhhhh!

Legendre.
To the future, Monsieur.

Vulture.
Yeahhhh!!!

Beaumont.
The vulture, you
No. Not that. Not that!

ext. en route to castle legendreearly afternoon

Dr. Bruner and Neil make their way through the rough, riding on
top of two rather tired looking donkeys.

Dr. Bruner.
We ought to be picking up an old witch doctor
around here pretty soon. His name is Pierre, Ive
known him for years. Bright old fellow. I dont
know just where well find him.

The two men slowly but surely make progress on their route through
the less populated areas. They come across Pierre and another native
talking in a small clearing, one of them tending an ox.

Pierre.
Come son. There are evil spirits in the road.
I will give you an awonga. And here, this one
for the ox. Goodbye.

Exit Native.
Pierre turns to Dr. Bruner and Neil. He looks concerned.

Pierre.
Young man is sick with distress.

Dr. Bruner.
Well hey, wait a minute, we cant afford to have
you sick. Neil, why dont you go over there,
we've got a hard day before us tomorrow.

Exit Neil.

Dr. Bruner.
Now, now then Pierre, come on. Hes gone.
We can talk.

Pierre.
It is a dangerous thing you ask me to do.

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Dr. Bruner.
Well now listen here you know, we're old
friends, you and me, and I want to go on.

Pierre.
Turn back before it is too late.

Dr. Bruner.
Oh, no. Ive come too far to turn back now.

Pierre.
Im too old to go all the way with you.

Dr. Bruner.
Well listen, cant you get somebody to go
with us?

Pierre.
My people all afraid of the mountain.
Dr. Bruner.

Why?

Pierre.
Because it is called the land of the living dead.

Dr. Bruner.
Well, have, have you ever been there?

Pierre.

I am the only man that has ever come back from

there alive. There is an evil spirit man that is
called Murder. Come, I will tell you all about

what he did.

ext. down shore at the base of the mountain that

legendres castle rests uponlate afternoon
Dr. Bruner and Neil have set up a small camp. Neil is resting as
Dr. Bruner approaches with a canteen and forces him to drink.
Neil is not well and is not conscious of this interaction.
Vulture.
Yeaahhhhh!
Dr. Bruner.
Vulture.
Dr. Bruner picks up a stone and hurls it at the vulture. The bird
sends out the most horrific scream.

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Vulture.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeeeaaaaah!

Dr. Bruner.
Just as old Pierre said. A cloud of vultures
always hovers over the house of the living dead.

Neil.
Madeline. Is she there?
Dr. Bruner.

Naw.

Neil.
Oh, I must go and see her.

Dr. Bruner.
Oh, no, no, no, no. Neil my boy, please, please
lie down and rest. Please. Youll feel stronger in
the morning. You rest. Let me go up and see
what I can do.

Full of optimism, Dr. Bruner turns towards his destination.

ext. legendres castleearly evening

Madeline wanders away from her two Maids and walks out to her
balcony. She stares out into the night.

Maid 1.
Why is she so restless tonight?

Maid 2.
Perhaps she remembers something.

Maid 1.
They never remember anything when they
are like that.
Maid 2.

No?

Maid 1.
Because shes cut off.

Madeline knows her husband is out there. Back at the shore, Neil
sees her face in his mind and bravely picks himself up to approach
the castle. Inside, Madeline sits back down and one of the Maids
hesitantly approaches to brush her hair.

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Maid 1.
No, I cant, I cant.

Maid 2.
You must, its your turn.

Maid 1.
Lets run away.

Maid 2.
Shh! He might hear you.

Maid 1.
No way. I cant stand it.
I am going to run away.

Maid 2.
He will find you and make you like her.

int. legendres castleearly evening

Neil, with every ounce of remaining strength, travels through the
giant castle.

int. legendres main roomearly evening

Legendre stands and studies Beaumonts slow and painful descent
into seeming death. Legendre takes joy in watching the effects of
his chemistry progress, transforming Beaumont into another member
of the walking dead. Legendre sits down at the table.

Legendre.
Can you still hear me?
It is unfortunate you are no longer able to speak.
I should be interested to hear you describe your
symptoms. You see, you are the first man to know
what is happening. None of the others did.

A rapidly decaying Beaumont reaches his hand out to Legendre as

if to ask him for pity.

Legendre.
You refused to shake hands once. I remember.
Well, well. We understand each other better now.

Legendre is carving another voodoo doll out of a candle. He systematically takes out wax around where the neck should be, creating an
area near the top representing the figures head.
Enter Neil at the far end of the room. He collapses immediately
due to exhaustion. Legendre notices the disturbance and walks over
to find Neil asleep on a table. He summons Madeline with his

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1932
mind, then moves back to the table where Beaumont is sitting.
Madeline soon appears at the table where Legendre waits. She
reaches out and picks up the knife that he left sitting next to the
wax figure. Beaumont, who is in a most desperate state, looks up to
Legendre in disgust and despair. He is slipping into paralysis and in a
great deal of pain, all the while aware of his rapid deterioration.
Madeline approaches Neil and raises the knife above her head in a
stabbing motion. Then out of nowhere, Dr. Bruner, who has been
waiting for just the right moment in which to make his presence
known, reaches out his arm and stops her from stabbing her husband.
Madeline runs off across the room despite Legendres frenzied
attempts to regain her immediate attention.
Neil wakes and sees Madeline running. He swiftly runs after her.

Neil.
Madeline! Madeline!

He catches up to her outside by the side of the cliff. She is teetering

precariously near the edge. Neil pulls her in.

Neil.
Madeline, Madeline. I found you. Youre alive.
Alive! Whats the matter? Its I, Neil. Oh my
darling, what have they done to you?

Enter Legendre and his faithful group of undead. They move with
intent and quickly approach Neil.

Neil.
Who are you? And what are they?

Legendre.
To you my friend, they are dangers of death.

As they close in, Neil is in danger of falling off the cliff. He draws
his gun and shoots at the ghouls. He hits one of them in the chest
but it doesnt slow the creature down at all. Amidst the commotion,
Dr. Bruner knocks Legendre over the head. Legendre goes down.

Dr. Bruner.
Come! Zombies! Duck!

Neil ducks and dives between their legs, regaining solid ground.
Without guidance from Legendre, the zombies are aimless and start
walking off the cliff one by one. No screams follow their plunge into
the waves and rocks below.
Madeline glares into Neils eyes and actually sees him. Legendre
soon regains consciousness and Madeline slips back under his spell.

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1932

Neil.
Madeline, dont you know me dear? Its Neil.

Dr. Bruner.
I could swear, for a moment she recognized you.

Legendre slyly slinks back up the huge staircase towards the interior
of his castle. Does he have a smirk on his face?

Dr. Bruner.
Come on, dont let him get away.

Legendre pauses and explodes a substance on the ground causing a

cloud of white smoke. He then goes deep into mental concentration
trying to recapture the mind of his white zombie.
Enter Beaumont.
Vulture.
Yeaahhh!!
In a final attempt to set things right, a disfigured and disheveled
Beaumont appears on the scene. He is at the tipping point of his
transformation and barely hanging on to life. He manages to launch
himself at Legendre and they both go over the edge crashing their
bones on the rocks and waves far below.

Vulture.
Yeaahhh!!
Exit Vulture.

Neil.
Madeline my darling!

Madeline is now completely revitalized. She looks again into Neils

eyes, recognizing him as her husband.

Madeline.
Neil, II dreamed.

Neil and Madeline embrace and are overcome with relief and the
feeling of good fortune. It seems as though their story has a happy
ending. They are soon, however, interrupted in their reunion due to
a solicitous tapping on Neils shoulder.

Dr. Bruner.
Excuse me please, have you got a match?

the end

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