upset people, warm and un-dead.
CHARLES
Indubitably. It sounds like an affair for your old associate, Mr Holmes.
LESTRADE
He is not at liberty to investigate, sir. He has differences with the current government.
CHARLES
That ass Lord Ruthven, the Prime Minister, has packed him off to those pens on the Sussex Downs. What does the
LESTRADE (uncomfortable)
Indeed. He’s in Devil’s Dyke.
CHARLES
Well, you’ll have to catch Silver Knife yourself. I’ll make my report and see if the Diogenes Club can make any contribution.
LESTRADE (gloomy)
All help welcome, sir.
CHARLES
No doubt. I’m going to root around a bit on my own, see if anything turns up.
LESTRADE (doubtful)
If you think that’s wise.
CHARLES (waving cane)
I can look after myself, Inspector. Her Majesty’s Service has taken me to tight spots before. I’ve faced the stranglers of Bombay and the man-killers of Kilimanjaro.
LESTRADE (after CHARLES has gone)
But you don’t know the women of Whitechapel, clever sir.
§ The producers wanted to keep the Ripper’s identity secret for the bulk of the film, making it a murder mystery. While writing the novel, I briefly considered the possibility of having Seward’s phonograph diary be fake – planted by the real Ripper (yes, it would have been Arthur) to frame his old friend. I didn’t take that route because it struck me as being a bit too much like one of those 1960s William Castle or Jimmy Sangster movies which offer a surprise ending at the expense of involvement with the characters.
* * *
DARK PLACE. INT. DAY.
A room blacked-out against the sun. Aladdin-style lamps burn, disclosing chinoiserie. VARDALEK, burning with humiliation, stands in the light. A CHINESE GIRL is with him. Two other figures, shadowed, are in the room: the GIRL’S FATHER, a criminal mastermind, and MR YEE, an ancient Chinese vampire in mandarin robes.
VARDALEK
It is my understanding that a murder may be purchased here.
CHINESE GIRL
Many things are for sale in my father’s domain. He is the Lord of Strange Deaths. But you are of the Carpathian Guard, why should you entreat a favour of those as unworthy as we? Do you not have friends, more powerful even than my father?
VARDALEK
I do not wish to involve the Prince Consort in this squabble. It would be undignified.
CHINESE GIRL
You do not wish Prince Dracula to know you were bested in full view of many warm Britishers by the French girl?
VARDALEK
You impertinent celestial devil...
GIRL’S FATHER claps, silencing VARDALEK.
CHINESE GIRL
My father understands your position. Please place the coins in my detestable palm.
From a purse, VARDALEK draws gold coins, which he doles out. He stops. CHINESE GIRL’s hand is still out. He grudgingly pays more. Finally, she turns away and kneels before GIRL’S FATHER.
CHINESE GIRL
Father, the death is sought of the vampire elder Genevieve Dieudonne. Shall it be arranged?
GIRL’S FATHER claps. MR YEE steps into the light. His face is ancient, mummified with wrinkles, but his green eyes glow and his fangs are fearsome. He has a snake tongue. Even VARDALEK is disturbed. Green smoke puffs and the room is filled with light. VARDALEK finds himself alone.*
* * *
COMMERCIAL ROAD, WHITECHAPEL. EXT. NEAR DAWN. The fog is thinning. OLIVER* walks quickly across the road, and hurries along. He passes an alley-opening and is chilled. Not wanting to, he finds himself turning round and stepping into the alley.
ALLEY, WHITECHAPEL. EXT. NEAR DAWN.
OLIVER sees a shadowy figure at the end of the alley. Red eyes glow. The fog is pooled at knee-height. OLIVER, mesmerised, is drawn on step by step. VARDALEK, more hideous than when last we saw him, bends forward, fangs extended, licking his lips.
VARDALEK
Pretty lad, come hither...
OLIVER stands by VARDALEK, who picks him up. OLIVER doesn’t struggle. VARDALEK kisses the boy’s cheek and opens his mouth to bite...
In a blur, someone fast interrupts, knocking VARDALEK down. OLIVER sprawls and backs out of the alley. VARDALEK looks up and sees HENTZAU and KOSTAKI, faces grim.
VARDALEK
Comrades...
COMMERCIAL ROAD, WHITECHAEL. EXT. NEAR DAWN. OLIVER is in a panic. People gather. JAGO and his Crusaders are around. DIARMID and KATE appear on the street. A lone police CONSTABLE toots his whistle, but no more official help comes.
OLIVER
He attacked me.
VARDALEK crawls out of the alley. HENTZAU and KOSTAKI follow.
JAGO
Jack the Ripper! He’s Jack the Ripper! The Carpathian is Jack the Ripper!
VARDALEK, afraid, scurries back and cringes by KOSTAKI’s boots. The mob gets angry and closes around, repeating the accusation, spitting, cursing. OLIVER runs to KATE, who hugs him. KOSTAKI faces JAGO.
HENTZAU (reading aloud from a proclamation)
By the order of Prince Dracula, Lord Protector of These Isles, Count Vardalek is condemned for degeneracy.
VARDALEK (lost)
Degeneracy? The Prince?
HENTZAU
I am sorry, Excellency. But you’re a disgrace.
VARDALEK
Dracula would never...
HENTZAU
You don’t really know him, Count.
VARDALEK scrambles upright. He has lost his wig and looks like a pathetic
HENTZAU (reading)
As an example to those who would misuse their position, Count Vardalek shall be hung in chains and exposed
