Dracula: Scenario

ACT 1

Prologue: A man, Dracula, steps from a coffin. Naked we step into the world, naked we re-enter.

Voyage: Jonathan Harker, a young English lawyer, boards a carriage alone for the final leg of a journey that has brought him far from home.

Arrival and Sojourn: Jonathan's decision to enter Count Dracula's castle will change his, and many others', lives forever. Jonathan reads through his papers as Count Dracula watches, listens and observes. Jonathan is terrorised by the vampire, but is what happened reality, fantasy, or both?

The Plot Thickens: As Jonathan gazes at his beloved Mina's photograph, Count Dracula reaches into his mind and conjures the living image of Mina. As he leaves he locks the door and Jonathan is alone as a prisoner until he is joined by the seductive Brides of Dracula. The women are dispersed by an angry Dracula who claims Jonathan for his own. Jonathan watches Dracula depart for England as the real Mina and Lucy are seen in their English garden.

Engagement: The young Lucy Westenera awaits her suitors. The intelligent but melancholic Dr. Jack Seward is sadly rejected, while the confident and flamboyant Lord Arthur Holmwood is accepted with joy.

Fluttering Bats: Dracula, skittering among his fellow bats, arrives at the cell of Renfield.
The Sanatorium: Dr. Seward returns from his failed proposal to study his most peculiar patient, Renfield. Renfield, who hungers after bugs, spiders and all living things, grows more violent as he cannot get his way with Seward.

Foreshadowing: Whilst sleep-walking, Lucy Westenera is lured into a cemetery by Dracula. He lures her into his arms and then feeds upon her blood. Once he has had his fill, Dracula opens the veins of his wrist to infect Lucy with his blood.

Celebration: Lord Arthur Holmwood and Lucy celebrate their engagement with a party. Lucy arrives late on the arm of an unknown stranger. In defiance of social protocol, she displays her sensual enjoyment, drawing attention from the other guests. As the party ends, the real Lucy resurfaces and runs out in embarrassment.

One Dance: Dracula stops Mina from following Lucy. Time stands still. Dracula who should feed upon Mina cannot; Mina who should be repulsed by Dracula, is drawn toward him. Unbidden, the vision of Jonathan breaks in upon the intimate couple. Mina leaves upon reading a message that Jonathan has returned.

Anger, Retribution: Dr. Van Helsing arrives to view the ailing Lucy. Tortured by the grasp Mina has upon him, Dracula serves his retribution upon Lucy. In a final wild seduction Dracula draws the last drops of life from Lucy. Holmwood, Seward and Van Helsing arrive. They hope to save Lucy through blood transfusions but they are too late.

ACT 2

Funeral: Final respects are paid to Lucy as she is interred in the Westenera family vault.
Grieving: Friends and lovers grieve the loss of Lucy. Mina cannot escape her thoughts of Dracula.

Freedom: Van Helsing leads the young men back to the vault where Lucy is entombed. To their horror, the coffin is empty. Lucy returns as dawn approaches. She attempts to entice the men but is driven back by Van Helsing’s crucifix. Van Helsing arranges that Lucy be staked and beheaded.

The Hunt: The men return, with Mina, to the Sanatorium where she is to spend the night. Van Helsing hypnotises Renfield and learns of Dracula's hiding place. The men seek out and destroy Dracula's crates, bearing unhallowed earth. As the crates are burned, Dracula punishes Renfield and seeks out Mina for his revenge.

Love: Alone in her room Mina realises she is helpless in her love for Dracula. Out of the night the exhausted and hunted Dracula arrives to take revenge by killing Mina. Instead he crumbles and crawls to her feet.

Discovery: The men return to discover Renfield dead and Mina in Dracula's arms. Dracula flees into the night.

Paths to be Followed: Jonathan again finds his wife in one of her strange trances. Mina feels for Jonathan; she fears for him as well. She attempts to escape into the night but it stopped by Van Helsing, Holmwood, and Seward. Van Helsing leads all on his crusade to free Mina and the world from Dracula. Each of our characters lives simultaneously with fears and grief, which have now become a part of them. All follow the path which they must, and in so doing come to the end of our story.