The New Howell Theater

presents

Night

of the

DRAGON'S
BLOOD




A Comedy Screenplay by

Ronald L. Ecker


based on the novel by Ronald L. Ecker
(writing as William Pridgen)


Copyright 2005, 2008 by Ronald L. Ecker
All Rights Reserved




Log line: It's Hitler the vampire, with Eva Perón in his clutches, against Hi Hickenlooper, Eva's pre-Juan beau who still loves her to death.





David and Bathshua





"Night of the Dragon's Blood" has been divided into four Web pages, which helps with the downloading time. A "Go to" link at the bottom of each page will take you to the next page.















                      
	FADE IN:
	
     	EXT. A TRANSYLVANIAN CASTLE - NIGHT

 	Dark and foreboding. SUPERIMPOSE:

	         NAZI-OCCUPIED TRANSYLVANIA
                           1944

	Black-uniformed Nazi SS MEN guard the castle.  

        INT. MAIN HALL - CASTLE - NIGHT

        Romanian COUNTESS BORCA, 40-ish, in a red satin gown,
        looks livid as she paces.

        SS MEN stand guard, admiring her. She's attractive in 
        a spooky sort of way.

        She stops to glare impatiently at the officer in charge, 
        an OBERFUEHRER (SS colonel), 45, giving some instructions 
        to several SCHUTZES (SS privates). 

                            COUNTESS
                  Where is this Obergruppenfuehrer
                  you speak of?

                            OBERFUEHRER
                  He is on his way, Countess.

        EXT. CASTLE - NIGHT

        A four-door sedan pulls up in the courtyard, the driver
        unseen in the darkness.

        From the back seat emerges pudgy SS Obergruppenfuehrer
        (General) DORSCH, 55, whose peaked cap is knocked from 
        his head by the door sill.
 
	INT. MAIN HALL - CASTLE - NIGHT

        General Dorsch swaggers into the hall, SCHUTZE #1 holding 
	the massive front door for him, the other Nazis coming 
	smartly to attention.

        The Countess looks coldly at Dorsch as he joins her, a
	smirk on his round porcine face. As he doffs his cap:

                         DORSCH
               Countess Borca.  I am Obergruppen-
               fuehrer Dorsch of the Schutzstaffel.

                         COUNTESS
               May I ask why the S.S. has invaded
               my castle?

                         DORSCH
               To protect you, dear lady.  You
               must come to no harm.  Shall we
               sit down?

     They sit down at a nearby oak table.

                         DORSCH (cont'd)  
               I've searched all Transylvania
               for someone like you.  I had
               almost decided that you didn't
               exist.

     He takes out a cigarette case.  As he opens it, holds it
     out to her:

                         DORSCH (cont'd)  
               Care for a Lucky Reich?

                         COUNTESS
               No, thank you.

     He notes cunningly that she casts no reflection in a mirror 
     in the case.  She's paying no attention.

                         DORSCH
               You do not smoke, Countess Borca?

                         COUNTESS
               No.

     As he draws her attention to the mirror:

                         DORSCH
               No reflection on you.

     She slaps the case from his hand with an upward blow.
     Cigarettes fly, the case hits Dorsch in the face.

     They both rise in a huff.  Then the Countess regains her
     composure.

                         COUNTESS
               I am sorry.

     She casually steps over to a large, leafy plant, which
     bears roselike red flowers.

                         COUNTESS (cont'd) 
               I do not like mirrors.

                         DORSCH
               Of course not.  You are a vampire.

     The Countess smells one of the flowers.  Dorsch joins her 
     by the plant, some Schutzes gathering his smokes off the 
     floor.

                         COUNTESS
               Who told you such nonsense?

                         DORSCH
               The local peasants.  But I had
               to be sure.  You know how
               superstitious they are.

     Dorsch touches one of the flowers.

                          DORSCH (cont'd)  
               A lovely plant.  What is it called?

                         COUNTESS
               Dracaena.  

                         DORSCH
               Dracaena?  I have never heard of it.  
               Does it grow only here in Transylvania?

                         COUNTESS
                    (beat)
               Are you here to talk about plants?

                         DORSCH
               Of course not.  I am here for one
               purpose.

     The Oberfuehrer steps forward with Dorsch's cigarette case, 
     open to show it has been refilled.

                         OBERFUEHRER
               Your cigarettes, sir.

     Taking the case, Dorsch notes again with amusement how the 
     Countess is not reflected in its mirror.

                         DORSCH
               Now you see her, now you don't.

     As Dorsch closes and re-pockets the case:

                         COUNTESS
               What do you want of me?

                         DORSCH
               You must come with me to Berlin.

                         COUNTESS
               To Berlin?  But why?

                         DORSCH
               Because those are my orders.

                         COUNTESS
               I will not go.

                         DORSCH
               You will go.

     She turns defiantly and heads toward the stairway.  SS Men 
     block her way.

                         DORSCH (cont'd)  
               You cannot escape us.

     She turns and glares back at Dorsch.

                         DORSCH (cont'd)  
               Do not try the bat thing I have
               seen in the movies.  You cannot 
               fly away.

     The Countess transforms into a BIG BLACK BAT. 

                         DORSCH (cont'd)
               She is doing the bat thing. 

     The Bat heads for the window.

                         OBERFUEHRER  
               Close that window!

     SS Men slam the shutters shut, the Bat veers away.

     The Bat wings toward two SS Men guarding the top of the
     stairway.  As they raise their weapons:

                         DORSCH  
               Do not shoot!

     The Men obey.  The Bat turns away.

     Dorsch watches the Bat fly desperately about the room.

                         DORSCH (cont'd)  
               Countess Borca, it is useless.
               You cannot get away.  You might
               as well come to roost.

     Some batshit lands in Dorsch's face.  SS Men try not to
     laugh.

     The angry, humiliated Dorsch wipes some of the crap from his
     face with a handkerchief.

                         DORSCH (cont'd)
               Another bat thing.

                                                      CUT TO:
 
     A BLACK & WHITE NEWSREEL

     SHOTS of lovely blonde EVA PERÓN of Argentina, including 
     shots with her husband, President JUAN PERÓN; MOURNERS 
     lined up to enter the Ministry of Labor building.  During this:

                         NEWSREEL NARRATOR (V.O.)
               Argentina mourns its first lady, the
               beloved Eva Duarte de Perón, dead of
               cancer at the age of thirty-three.

     INT. MINISTRY OF LABOR - DAY

     MOURNERS are lined up in two columns, up one stairway - leading 
     to an upper lobby - and down another.

     SUPERIMPOSE:

                           BUENOS AIRES
                               1952

     INT. UPPER LOBBY - DAY

     Eva's CORPSE lies in a closed coffin, the Mourners, as they file 
     past, viewing her through glass in the lid.

     LADY MOURNER #1 kisses the glass, crosses herself, moves off.  
     LADY MOURNER #2 starts to kiss the glass but sees slobber on
     it, wipes it off first with her handkerchief.

     HI HICKENLOOPER, 34, a handsome, well-dressed North American,  
     is next in line.  Hi looks sadly, lovingly, at Eva for the 
     brief moment that he has.

     EXT. MINISTRY - DAY

     Hi exits the building.  Mourners are lined up for blocks.

     Hi starts walking away.  (He always has a little spring in his gait, 
     due to a slight clubfoot.) 

     SOTO, 42, a trim, mustached LATINO in a pin-striped suit, gets out 
     of a parked car in which he has apparently been waiting.  The 
     person behind the wheel remains obscured.

     Soto starts surreptitiously following Hi.

     EXT. CUCO'S CABARET - NIGHT (LATER)

     Hi gets out of a taxi, which pulls away.  As a few PEOPLE pass, Hi 
     stands for a moment looking over the modest but respectable cabaret 
     with nostalgia.  He goes in.

     A second taxi pulls up, and Soto gets out.  As the taxi pulls away, 
     Soto looks over the place with curiosity.  He shrugs and goes in.

     INT. CUCO'S - NIGHT

     A 30-ish female CABARET SINGER, accompanied by PIANO PLAYER #1, is 
     performing a sad love ballad for the PATRONS.

     Hi sits morosely at the bar as the BARTENDER, 25, brings him his  
     drink.

                         HI
               The place hasn't changed much.

                         BARTENDER
               When were you here last?

                         HI
                    (beat)
               Ten years ago.

                         BARTENDER
               Before my time.

     The Bartender moves off.  

     Hi sips his drink.  He gazes wistfully at the Singer in the large 
     mirror behind the bar.  After a moment, the Singer becomes - 

     FLASHBACK: INT. CUCO'S - NIGHT (1942)

     - brunette EVA DUARTE, 23, accompanied by PIANO PLAYER #2,  
     singing a love ballad, badly off key, for the PATRONS.
    
     Sharply dressed Hi, 24, sits listening at a table.  He looks like 
     he's fallen in love.  Eva eyes him flirtaciously as she's murdering 
     the song.  Hi seems oblivious to all the bad notes.

     As a 30-ish WAITER brings Hi his drink:

                         HI
               What's her name?

                         WAITER
               Eva Duarte.  She is an unemployed 
	       actress, filling in for our regular 
               singer.

                         HI
               She doesn't sing very well.

                         WAITER
               We have found that out.  She was 
               hired because the boss liked her
               looks.

     The Waiter moves off.

                         HI
               So do I.

     Minutes later, Eva joins Hi at his table, where a drink is
     already in place for her.  While they speak, Eva accepts a 
     cigarette, Hi lights it, lights his own:

                         EVA
               I'm Eva.

                         HI
               I'm Hi.

                         EVA
               Hi, Hi.

                         HI
               Hi.

                         EVA
               You are North American?

                         HI
               Yeah.

                         EVA
               Why aren't you fighting in the war?

                         HI
               Got a clubfoot.  You wouldn't know 
               it though.

                         EVA
               I would like to see it sometime.

                         HI
               You show me your feet, I'll show
               you mine.

                         EVA
               What do you do, Hi?

                         HI
               I look for lost cities.

                         EVA
               Really?  How many have you found?

                         HI
               None so far.  I'll explain it all
               later.  I work out of Peru.  Came
               down to B.A. for a break.  What 
               I do is no picnic.

                         EVA
               Nothing is.  It's a jungle out there.

                         HI
               You know English slang pretty well.

                         EVA
               I know lots of slang words.

                         HI
               Know any real dirty ones?

                         EVA
               Sure.  Want to hear one?

                         HI
               Let's talk dirty later.  What
               time do you get off work?

     INT. CUCO'S - NIGHT (BACK TO THE PRESENT)

     Depressed Hi, remembering, drinks at the bar as before.

     An attractive Latin HOOKER, 25, sits down beside him and smiles.

                         HOOKER
               Would you like a date?

     Hi regards her for a moment.

                         HI
               I had two wild and wonderful
               years with Eva Duarte, and you
               want to know if I want a "date"?

     Her smiles vanishes.  As she starts to get up in a huff, Hi 
     gently puts a hand on her arm.

                         HI (cont'd)
               Hey.  Sorry.  I'm having a pretty
               bad time.  Tell you what . . . 

     As Hi takes some bills from his wallet and gives them to her:

                         HI (cont'd)
               I know you have to make a living.  
               If it's okay with you, let's just
               skip the service rendered.

     The Hooker is thrilled by the amount of money.  She looks at Hi
     with gratitude and wonder.

                         HI (cont'd)
               No hard feelings.           

                         HOOKER
               You know, too much drinking can 
               do that.

                         HI
               No, that's not what I meant.

                         HOOKER
               You are so generous with your money!

                         HI
               It's my dad's money, really.  He's 
               got plenty of it.

                         HOOKER
               Where is your dad?

                         HI
               Apalachicola.  That's in Florida.

                         HOOKER
               The United States?  Your father 
               is too far away.

     The Hooker gives him a kiss on the cheek, gets up and leaves.

                         HI
               No, he's not far enough.

     The Bartender steps over.

                         HI (cont'd)
               A whore who knows geography.  I
               ought to go around the world with 
               her.

                         BARTENDER
               Would you like a refill?

                         HI
               Make it a double.

     Soto is sitting alone at a table on the other side of 
     the room, keeping Hi in his sight.

     Bored, Soto lights a cigarette from the butt of the last 
     one.  He idly takes a couple of photos from his inside 
     coat pocket to study them.

     One photo is of Hi.  The other is of a 50-ish gentleman 
     whom we soon will meet.  Handwritten on the back of the photo,
     as Soto looks, is "McKay"; under the name is  "MI6?".

                         HOOKER
               Would you like a date?

     Soto looks up at the smiling Hooker who has stopped by 
     his table.  

                         SOTO
               No, thank you.

     As Soto returns the photos to his coat pocket:

                         HOOKER
               Would you like to pay me anyway?

     Soto looks at her quizzically.  

                         SOTO
               What kind of idiot would do that?

     EXT. DIEGA VARA'S MANSION - LIMA, PERU - NEXT DAY

     A luxurious mansion.  SUPERIMPOSE:

                        LIMA, PERU

     OVERLAP SOUND of an early '50s R&B rocker like Hank Ballard's
     "Sexy Ways" or "Annie Had A Baby."
     
     INT. A SITTING ROOM - DAY

     Handsome Peruvian playboy DIEGO VARA, 32, is jitterbugging 
     with a pretty LATINA, 25, shapely in a tight red dress.

     The 78-rpm record playing on the hi-fi is the naughty R&B
     rocker.  The Latina is thrilled.

                         LATINA
               Oh Diego!  Where did you get this
               recording?

                         DIEGO
               Hi smuggled it in from the states.

                         LATINA
               What do the gringos call it?

                         DIEGO
               Rhythm and blues.

                         LATINA
               Rrrrrrhythm and blues!  What will
               they think of next?

     EXT. THE MANSION - DAY

     The front door opens, and Diego's mestizo BUTLER, 60, looks 
     out at a dignified Britisher, 47, in a suit and fedora.  He 
     is MCKAY, the man in the photo seen earlier.

                         BUTLER
               Si?

                         McKAY
               My name is McKay.  I want to
               speak with Diego Vara.

                         BUTLER
               And why would Diego Vara want
               to speak with you?

                         McKAY
               I'm looking for Hi Hickenlooper.
               Mister Vara should know where
               he is.

     INT. THE SITTING ROOM - DAY

     Diego and the Latina are dancing to the R&B rocker as before.  
     The Butler steps in and shouts above the music:

                         BUTLER
               Excuse me!  A Mister McKay here
               to see you!

                         DIEGO
                    (dancing)
               McKay? . . .
                    (the name apparently
                     rings no bell)
               What does he want?

                         BUTLER
               To find Hi Hickenlooper.

     After a moment, the record ends, with Diego's arm around the
     Latina's waist.  Diego smiles at her, then,

                         DIEGO
                    (to Butler)
               I'll see him in the Pornography 
               Room.

     As the Butler leaves:  

                         LATINA
               The Pornography Room?

                         DIEGO
               I want to make sure it's ready 
               to show you.

     Diego gives her a little squeeze and heads for the door.

                         LATINA
               I'm not sure I want to see it.
                    (going to the hi-fi)
               I'm going to play this record again.

     Diego stops and turns at the door, to watch as the Latina, 
     with her back to him, bends forward over the hi-fi.

                         LATINA (cont'd)
               How's the flip side, Diego?

     Diego admires her flip side.

                         DIEGO
               Spin it until I get back.

     INT. THE PORNOGRAPHY ROOM - DAY

     A sitting room with an extensive collection of 12th-century 
     pornographic Indian pottery, arranged in rows on a long table 
     on one side of the room. 

     McKay, standing at the table, has one of the pieces in hand, 
     examining the two lovers depicted on top, as Diego walks in. 

                         DIEGO
               Mister McKay?

                         MCKAY
               Yes.

     McKay returns the piece to the table.  As they shake hands:

                         DIEGO
               I am Diego Vara.

                         McKAY
               I was admiring your, uh -

                         DIEGO
               Pre-Columbian pornographic pottery.
               Priceless antiquities.  Please handle
               with care.  What can I do for you?

                         McKAY
               Well, I've been looking for Hi.  High
               and low.

                         DIEGO
               Who is Lowe?

                         McKAY
               I've been looking for Hi high and 
               low.

                         DIEGO
               Are you a friend of Hi's?

                         McKAY
               We have never met.  I've got a job 
               for him.

     Diego smiles with amusement.  He starts rearranging some pieces
     of the pottery. 

                         DIEGO
               You don't know much about Hi.

                         McKAY
               What do you mean?

                         DIEGO
               He is hardly in need of a job.  He 
	       is the sole heir of Hickenlooper
               Foods.

                         McKAY
               Which began with a hamburger stand.

     As McKay strolls along the table, looking at and carefully
     handling pieces of the pottery:

                         McKAY (cont'd)  
               I know all there is to know about
               Hi.  He is a man who must labor
               for his father's obsession.  His
               father, as a teenager, was with
               Hiram Bingham.  They discovered
               Machu Picchu.  

     As McKay continues, Diego goes to a couch facing the table and 
     strategically arranges the pillows.

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
               And ever since Hi grew up, his 
               father has sent him, time and 
               again, into the Amazon jungle, in 
               search of El Dorado, or whatever 
               lost city he can find.  When he
               ought to be learning the food
               business.

     McKay looks closely at another piece he is holding.  As he starts 
     to set it down, Diego politely takes it from him:

                         DIEGO
               Wait.  I want that one right here.

     Diego sets it down directly across from the center of the couch.

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
               Hi's Peruvian mentor in exploration
               and archeology was your father,
               the late Francisco Vara.  And
               you . . .

     Diego sits down on the couch and picks up a pair of binoculars 
     from a coffee table in front of it.

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
               . . . when you have nothing better
               to do - have accompanied Hi on a
               number of his fruitless expeditions.

     Diego looks through the binoculars at the piece that he set 
     front and center on the pottery table.

                         DIEGO
               We're not looking for fruit.

                         McKAY
               You must know where Hi is.

     Diego, still seated, sets the binoculars down ready for use 
     on the coffee table.

                         McKAY (cont'd)  
               I've looked everywhere I can think 
               of.  Where is he?

     McKay again picks up the piece that Diego centrally placed, 
     for another close look at its two copulating lovers.

                         DIEGO
               He's in mourning.  He has lost her 
               again.

     Diego casually rises from the couch.

                         McKAY
               Lost who?

                         DIEGO
               His Evita.  Perón.

     McKay is so stunned that he drops the piece of pottery.  It 
     shatters on the tile floor.

     Diego, stunned too, walks over from the couch to look down
     at the shattered piece.

                         DIEGO (cont'd)  
               They were lovers, years ago.

     Diego shakes his head, staring down at the now lost little 
     treasure.

                         DIEGO (cont'd)  
               The finest damn piece in the world.

                         McKAY
               Sorry.  I'll pick up what's left 
               of it.

                         DIEGO
               I'll have the butler do it.

                         McKAY
               Tell him to try Elmer's Glue.  You 
               were saying about Eva?

     As Diego rearranges some pieces, to compensate for the one 
     now lost:

                         DIEGO
               She left Hi for an ambitious army
               colonel named Juan Perón.  Who, as 
               fate would have it, became president 
               of Argentina.  Eva was the love of 
               Hi's life.  He never got over her.  
               And now she has died of cancer.  
               Perón's first wife died of cancer too. 

                         MCKAY
               Do you think Perón is some kind of 
               carcinogen?

                         DIEGO
               Who knows.  

                         McKAY
                    (beat)
               Well, no doubt Hi's in mourning, but 
               where is he physically?

                         DIEGO
               And this job - what is it?

                         McKAY
               I will discuss that with him.

                         DIEGO
                    (beat)
               Then you will have to find him.
               Good luck.

     Diego turns as if to leave.

                         McKAY
               What if I said the job involves
               Adolf Hitler?

     Diego stops, looks back at McKay.

                         DIEGO
               Are you saying Hitler's alive?

     McKay evasively looks again at some pottery on the table,
     though keeping his hands off.

                         McKAY
               No, I wouldn't say he's - alive.

                          DIEGO
               Then what?  Who do you work for?

                         McKAY
               I can't tell you that.

     Diego turns to leave.  McKay turns anxiously from the pottery.

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
               On second thought -

     In turning, McKay knocks a piece of pottery from the table to 
     the floor with his cuff.

     Hearing it shatter, Diego stops, but doesn't look back.

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
               Let's just say I work for Western 
               intelligence.

     Diego turns and walks slowly over to the second shattered piece.

                         McKAY (cont'd)
               Sorry.  Can you tell me where Hi is?

     Diego stands looking down at the two destroyed treasures.

                         DIEGO
               If this really involves Adolf
               Hitler, I will take you to Hi.

                         McKAY
               Do we have far to go?

                         DIEGO
               Buenos Aires.  Right now let's 
               get out of this room.

     INT. CUCO'S - BUENOS AIRES - NIGHT

     REESTABLISHING SHOT.

     INT. CUCO'S - NIGHT

     Hi sits drinking again at the bar.  Soto again sits at a table
     watching him.  Other PATRONS in b.g.

                         BARTENDER
               Refill?

                         HI
               Make it a triple.

     Hi begins remembering again.  OVERLAP SOUND:

                         HI (V.O.)
               I don't believe what you're
               saying.

                         EVA (V.O.)
               He asked me.  I said yes.

     INT. A BOXING ARENA - NIGHT

     Hi and Eva among SPECTATORS at a boxing match.  

     INTERCUT a ridiculous brawl: BOXER #1 pummels BOXER #2 all the 
     way across the ring, then Boxer #2 pummels Boxer #1 all the way 
     back, etc.  During this:

                         HI
               You're going to marry Juan Perón?

     Eva, now a blonde, is stuffing her face with popcorn.

                         EVA
               Please understand, Hi.  It's been 
               wonderful, what we've had together.  
               But I must think of the future.  
               Juan is the Minister of War -

                         HI
               I thought he was the Secretary of 
               Labor.

                         EVA
               He is Minister of War in the 
               morning and Secretary of Labor 
               in the afternoon.  With luck, 
               or a coup, he could be the next 
               president.

                         HI
               You're going to give up your
               acting career?

                         EVA
               With Juan I'll be politically
               involved.  There are things more 
               important than radio soap operas.

                         HI
               I agree.  So give your career up 
               for me, not Perón.

                         EVA
               If I married you, Hi - you with
               your lost cities, so far from
               Argentina -

                         HI
               Forget the lost cities.  We'll go
               live in the states.  We'll get
               politically involved.

                         EVA
               But your father, he -

                         HI
                    (interrupting)
               Don't worry about Dad.  We'll go
               back to the old hometown.  You'll
               love it in Apalachicola.

                         EVA
               But don't you see, Hi?  I don't
               want to go to -
                    (can't pronounce it)

                         HI
               Apalachicola?  Then you name it.
               New York?  We'll go to Chicago.

                         EVA
               I don't want to go to New York
               or Chicago.

                         HI
               Why not?

                         EVA
               Because Chicago is -
                    (searches for words)

                         HI
               - not your kind of town?

                         EVA
               I am Argentine.  This is my home,
               my people.

                         HI
               No problem.  We'll stay here.

                         EVA
               I'm sorry, Hi.  My future is
               with Juan.

     Boxer #2 catches a haymaker.  He falls like a tree.

                                                        CUT TO:

     INT. CUCO'S - NIGHT (BACK TO THE PRESENT)

     Hi sits remembering as before, gazing at the mirror behind 
     the bar, as the Bartender serves him his triple. 

     A WOMAN has entered.  She's dressed in black, but for the moment 
     we see her only from about the knees down, as she walks slowly 
     forward in black stylish shoes.

     Hi hasn't seen her.  As he's sipping, his eyes move to the 
     reflection of Soto, looking at Hi from a table behind him.   
     Hi notes how Soto self-consciously averts his eyes.

     Hi studies Soto for a moment, then turns with a casual air 
     to look over his other shoulder.

     Hi's attention is immediately drawn to the Woman.  Soto notes 
     this, and looks at her too.

     The Woman wears black as if in mourning, her face pale behind a 
     thin veil.  She stands there, as if looking the place over with 
     nostalgia.

     Hi looks incredulous, straining his eyes.  The Woman looks a
     lot like Eva behind the veil.  What can be seen of her hair 
     is brunette, like Eva Duarte's.

     Hi, staring at her, pays no attention to the man standing behind
     her - a large blonde German, pale but muscular, about 40, in  
     a business suit and hat.  (His name is WOLFGANG.)

     With surprise the Woman sees Hi, whose eyes widen now as if 
     in sure recognition.

     She turns quickly to leave.  Wolfgang calmly turns to follow.

     Jumping from his bar stool, Hi heads after her.  His way is 
     briefly blocked by a group of Patrons who cross in front of 
     him, then he makes it to the door.

     EXT. CUCO'S - NIGHT 

     Hurrying outside, Hi looks anxiously around in light fog, as 
     a few PEOPLE pass.  Hi sees no sign of the Woman.

     EXT. MINISTRY OF LABOR - NIGHT (LATER)

     Light fog.  MOURNERS lined up as before.  Hi arrives, and 
     heads straight for the entrance.

     INT. MINISTRY OF LABOR - NIGHT 

     Mourners stand in line on the stairway.  Hi hurries right
     past them up the steps.

                        MALE MOURNER #1
               Hey, where do you think you're
               going?

     POLICEMAN #1 looks up from the lower lobby as more people
     complain.

     Hi breaks in line at the coffin, yanking his arm free from 
     MALE MOURNER #2 who would stop him.  Hi looks anxiously at 
     the Corpse he viewed earlier.

     Policeman #1 is hurrying up the steps.

     Hi is studying the Corpse.  Policeman #1 grabs him by one
     arm, POLICEMAN #2 by the other.

                         HI
               It's not her.

     EXT. MINISTRY - NIGHT

     Policemen #1 and #2 roughly drag Hi out of the building.  
     At the foggy curb they turn loose of him. 

                         POLICEMAN #1
               Do not come back.

     The Policemen turn and head back inside.  As Hi smiles and 
     straightens his coat:

                         HI
               Why should I?

     Hi looks around at the Mourners staring at him.

                         HI (cont'd)
               It's not her.

     Hi begins walking away into the fog, the Mourners watching.

                         HI
                    (to himself)
               It's not her.  She's alive.

     Soto is watching.  He again follows Hi.

     EXT. A STREET - BUENOS AIRES - NIGHT

     PEOPLE are leaving a theater.  The fog now is thicker.

     A well-tailored gentleman named JORGE, about 50, leaving by 
     himself, notes nearby a WOMAN in black, leaning alone against 
     a wall, looking off.

     The Woman's features are not clear in the darkness and fog, 
     yet it is obviously the same Eva whom Hi chased earlier, 
     now minus the veil.

     Jorge approaches her.  She continues looking off, not giving 
     him a full view of her features.  But what he does see, the 
     remarkable resemblance to Evita Perón, clearly amazes him.

                         JORGE
               I am Jorge.  Who are you?

                         EVA
               María.

                         JORGE
               How much would you cost me, María?

                         EVA
               One thousand pesos.

                         JORGE
               It's a deal.

     A pause.  Eva begins walking away (in the same black stylish
     shoes seen at Cuco's), in a manner clearly inviting Jorge to
     follow.  He follows.

     After a moment, Wolfgang calmly steps from around a corner and 
     follows too.
 
     INT. A HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

     On the bed, nude Eva, advancing from the foot of the bed, kisses 
     Jorge's nude body till she reaches his neck.  She's holding down 
     his arms.

     Eva opens her mouth, exposing sharp canines, out of Jorge's view.  
     As Eva starts biting his neck:

                         JORGE
               It feels like you're biting my
               neck.

     Two streams of blood start flowing down the side of the sheet.

                         JORGE (cont'd) 
               You're not actually biting, though,
               are you?  Of course not.  You're
               just nibbling, right?

     Eva props up on her hands over Jorge.  To his horror, there is 
     blood on her lips.  She licks them, and a drop hits his chest.

                          JORGE (cont'd) 
               What have you done?

     Eva quickly rises to start dressing.

                          JORGE (cont'd) 
               What are you?

     Jorge starts to touch his neck, but seems scared to.

     While Eva is dressing, Jorge rises and goes to a mirror.  He 
     gasps at the sight of two bloody holes in his neck.

     He doesn't see Eva in the mirror.  Turning, he sees her still 
     dressing.

                          JORGE (cont'd) 
                 My God.

     Jorge hurries to get a handkerchief from his pants on the floor.

                          EVA
                 I'm sorry.  There should be no
                 effect.  One quickie, as they
                 say, doesn't do it.

     As Jorge presses the handkerchief to his wounds:

                          JORGE
                 No effect?  What about these
                 holes in my neck?

                          EVA
                 I am sorry.  They will heal.

     Jorge looks in the mirror again at the holes.  When he turns 
     again, Eva is gone.

     On a table he sees his one thousand pesos.

     EXT. HI'S RENTED BUNGALOW - BUENOS AIRES - NIGHT

     A taxi pulls up at the curb, behind a parked sedan, in the 
     fog.

     INTERCUT: INT. THE TAXI - NIGHT

     Hi, in back, and the 40-ish TAXI DRIVER both both look warily 
     ahead.

     They can see the dark images of two men sitting in the parked 
     sedan.

                         HI
               Get set.  You may have to get me 
               out of here fast.

     The two mystery men get unhurriedly out of the car.  They wear 
     suits, but their faces are obscured in the fog.  They stand 
     facing the taxi.

                         TAXI DRIVER
                    (scared)
               Do you know who they are?

                         HI
               No.

                         TAXI DRIVER
               Are you a gangster?

                         HI
               No.

                         TAXI DRIVER
               Do you know any gangsters?

     One of the men steps forward, and Hi sees his face.

                         HI
                It's Diego.  False alarm.

     INT. THE BUNGALOW - NIGHT

     As Hi, Diego, and McKay enter, Hi heading for the bar:

                         HI
               You were "brought here by Hitler"?  
               This ought to be interesting.

                         DIEGO
               Nice little place.

                          HI
               I had to rent on short notice.
               What'll you have?

                         DIEGO
               A Bloody Mary.

                         HI
               McCrory?

                         McKAY
               McKay.  Some brandy perhaps.

                         HI
                    (fixing drinks)
               McKay.  Sorry.  I was thinking of
               the dime store.  What do you do,
               McKay?

                         McKAY
               I work for Western intelligence.

                         HI
               Fair enough.  So what's this thing 
               about Hitler?

     McKay walks over to Hi, still fixing drinks, and hands him 
     a photo of Countess Borca.  Hi looks at it.

                          McKAY
               Countess Borca of Romania.
               Transylvania, to be exact.

                           HI
               Not bad.  Transylvania, eh?  
               She looks like a vampire.

                           McKAY
               She is - or was.  She was the
               talk of Transylvania.

     Hi, clearly skeptical, returns the photo, which McKay hands 
     to Diego.

                            HI
               What has she got to do with the
               Fuehrer?

                            McKAY
               In nineteen forty-four, she was
               taken to Berlin by Hitler's elite
               guard, the S.S.

     Hi hands McKay his brandy.

                            HI
               I suppose you're going to tell me 
	       the Fuehrer had this lady put the 
	       bite on him.

                          McKAY
               Exactly.  For the Fuehrer, to
               become a vampire was to become
               immortal.  Losing the war would
               be losing one battle.  He would
               live to fight again.

     Diego returns the photo to McKay.

                         HI
               Where is he now?

                         McKAY
               Somewhere in the Amazon jungle.
               We know he has already contacted
               several South American leaders.

     Hi hands Diego his drink, then stirs the swizzle stick in
     his own.

                         McKAY (cont'd)
               His aim is to rule first South
               America, then the world, through
               bribery - by offering world leaders
               something far more precious than
               power or gold.  Immortality.

                         HI
               You've got to be kidding.

     As Hi takes a sip:

                         McKAY
               His first South American contact
               was Juan Perón.

     Reacting too quickly, Hi gets liquor down his windpipe.  As 
     he's coughing:

                         HI
                Wait a minute.  Did this involve 
                Eva?

                         DIEGO
                You okay?

     Hi nods "yes," but coughs wetly, yanks out a handkerchief for 
     his running nose.

                         McKAY
               We know that Eva Perón traveled
               as her husband's emissary to
               Hitler's secret jungle headquarters.

     Now Hi can't stop coughing.

                         McKAY (cont'd)  
               She never returned.

     Hi seems like he's going to strangle.

                         McKAY (cont'd)  
               According to our Argentine
               sources . . .

     Hi reels into the bathroom.

                         McKAY (cont'd)  
               . . . Perón believes she fell
               for the Fuehrer.

     We hear Hi (o.s.) throw up, then flush the toilet.  While Diego 
     and McKay wait, they speak quietly to each other:

                         MCKAY (cont'd)
                 I couldn't believe it when you 
               told me Hi was involved with Eva.  
               I don't like this complication.

                         DIEGO
                    (calmly accusatory)
               You'd just as soon kill Eva too, 
               right?  Why have to worry about it.

     McKay glares at Diego.

                         MCKAY
               Still sore about your broken
               pornographic pottery?  I said 
               I was sorry.  Now I take it back.

     Hi returns, over the coughing, but breathing heavily, wiping 
     his tearing eyes, trying to clear his throat.

                         HI
                    (croakingly)
               She became a vampire?

                         McKAY
               What?

                         DIEGO
               Eva became a vampire?

                        McKAY
               That would seem likely.
                    (then)
               The deserted Perón had little
               choice but to fake Eva's untimely
               death.  How else to explain her
               absence?

                         HI
               That's not her body in the ministry.
               You're right about that.
                    (Diego looks at Hi
                     quizzically)
               I saw her tonight, Diego.  In
               downtown B.A.

                         MCKAY
               Who was she with?

		         HI
               One man, I think.  I didn't pay 
               much attention.  I was staring
               at her.  In shock.  Then she
               ran.  But there was a second man
               watching me.  

                        DIEGO
               Does it mean she has left Hitler?  
               Can she go back to Perón?
                    (to McKay)
               If what you say is true, then 
               between Perón and Hitler there
               must now be - how else to say it?  
               Bad blood.

                         MCKAY
               True.  Perón has good reason now to  
               rid the world of Hitler.  But then 
               don't we all.

                         HI
               That's where I come in?

                         McKAY
               No other man in the world knows
               the Amazon jungle as well as
               you.  You're the logical choice
               to help lead a special team.  You
               also speak German, should we need
               it, so you fill that slot as well.  
                    (beat)
               We must destroy him - destroy,
               before it starts, his vampire
               empire.  We must save the world
               from Hitler Part Two.

                         HI
               I sure thought we had him at the 
               end of Part One.

                         MCKAY
               That's why the world must never
               know that we didn't.  It would 
               detract from the free world's 
               hard-fought victory.  This mission 
               is therefore top secret, now and
               forever.  What do you say?

                         HI
                    (beat; rhetorically)
               Do I want to help you go in and
               really get Hitler?

                         McKAY
               Liquidation of him and his vampire 
               henchmen.  We don't know how many.

                         HI
               I'd do it with relish.  But what
               about Eva?

                         DIEGO
               If Eva is with him, what is she
               doing in Buenos Aires?  That is,
               if it was really her you saw.

                         HI
               I saw her, Diego.  In Cuco's Cabaret.
                    (beat; wistfully)
               I'd like to think she came in -
               the place where we met - just to
               see it again.
 
     A beat.  Hi looks at his almost empty glass.  He heads for 
     the bar to refill it.

                         MCKAY
                    (aside to Diego)
               What maudlin crap.

                         HI
               What did you say?

                         MCKAY
               I said, "We mustn't dawdle, old chap."

                         HI
               Yeah?  Don't try to rush me.  I won't
               do anything that might hurt Eva.  And
               you know what?  Neither will you.

     Hi and McKay stare at each other, then,

                         DIEGO
                    (to McKay)
               With Eva involved, he needs time to 
               think about this.

                         HI
               You're right, pal.  It's been an 
               eventful day.

                         MCKAY
               Very well.  We shall be on our way.

                         HI
               Where are you guys staying?

                         MCKAY
               The Corrientes Hotel.  

                         DIEGO
                    (to McKay)
               Let's go see what we can find in 
               the bar.

     McKay gives Diego a dismissive glance.

                         MCKAY
                    (to Hi)
               Sleep on what we've discussed.  
               We'll talk more in the morning. 

     EXT. THE BUNGALOW - NIGHT

     As Diego and McKay approach their rented sedan, someone 
     suddenly walks by out of the fog.  It's Soto, with an
     unlit cigarette.  He looks glad to see them.

                         SOTO
                    (to McKay)
               Excuse me.  Would you have a light?

     McKay looks at him with a hint of suspicion, then takes 
     out a lighter.  As McKay lights the cigarette for him, 
     Soto studies McKay's face.  Then he gives McKay a big smile.

                         SOTO (cont'd)
               Thank you very much.

     McKay and Diego watch Soto walk off into the fog.

                         MCKAY
               Ever seen him before?

                         DIEGO
               Not that I know of.

     EXT. AMAZON JUNGLE - NIGHT

     Moonlit view of the vast jungle canopy.  SUPERIMPOSE:

                     AMAZON RAIN FOREST

     EXT. A JUNGLE BASE - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT

     There are four thatch-roofed wooden buildings, large and 
     well spaced, in a large clearing fenced only by jungle.  

     There are few windows, some lit.  In the moonlight, large 
     BATS fly around the perimeter as if on guard duty.

     EXT. GEBAuDE VIER (BUILDING FOUR) - NIGHT 

     Obergruppenfuehrer KEGEL, 50-ish, lean, in uniform, pauses 
     as he approaches the building.  He looks up at the Amazon 
     moon, then he glances around at the base.  He looks sick of 
     it all.

     SS SCHUTZE #2, standing guard at the door, raises his arm 
     in salute and clicks his heels as Kegel enters the building.

                         SCHUTZE #2
               Heil Hitler!

                         KEGEL
               Sieg Heil.

     INT. A CORRIDOR - GEBAUDE VIER - NIGHT

     Kerosene wall lamps light the corridor.  SS OBERSCHUTZE #1 
     (private first class), 33, comes out of a door labeled WATER 
     CONTROL ROOM, and snaps to attention as Kegel comes by.

                         KEGEL
               Is the generator gassed up?

                         OBERSCHUTZE #1
               Yes, Obergruppenfuehrer.

     Kegel looks at his watch.  As he proceeds on his way:

                         KEGEL
               Crank it up in fifteen minutes.  
               All lights burning.

     INT. THE CORRIDOR - NIGHT

     Kegel opens and enters a door labeled BLOOD FACTORY.

     INT. THE BLOOD FACTORY - NIGHT

     Oberfuehrer (Colonel) FRANKEL, 45, and his aide, Oberschutze SPITZ, 
     30, are doing paperwork at their desks.  Their small office area 
     leads to a shadowy cell block.

     Frankel and Spitz both rise as Kegel steps to Frankel's desk.

                         FRANKEL
               Obergruppenfuehrer Kegel.

                         KEGEL
               Oberfuehrer, how is production?

                         FRANKEL
               Very good, Obergruppenfuehrer.  All 
               except for . . . 
                    (checks a document)
               . . . the American Bates.  A bad case 
               of anemia.

                         KEGEL
               Another stingy one, eh?  Then the 
               choice is easy.  He is the one for 
               tonight.  Go and get him.

                         FRANKEL
               Very well, sir.

     Frankel and Spitz head for the cell block.

     After a moment, Kegel follows, strolling along the row of cells 
     as if on inspection.

     There is an assortment of CAPTIVES - explorers, tourists, Amazon 
     natives - in individual cells.  Some are having blood extracted 
     by remote control; others lie languishing, apparently between 
     donations.

     Frankel and Spitz have taken 30-ish American explorer BATES from 
     his cell near the end of the row.  They pass by Kegel.

                         BATES
               Where are you taking me?

                         FRANKEL
               Wouldn't you like to know.

     Kegel comes to the cell of American explorer CROWLEY, about 50, 
     who is lying on his bunk.

                         CROWLEY
               Hey, what are they going to do 
               to my partner Bates?

     Kegel smiles through the bars at Crowley.

                         KEGEL
               Worry about yourself, Mister Crowley.  
               You and the others have to keep giving.  
               You must keep eating well.

                         CROWLEY
               Eating well?

                         KEGEL
               Keep that blood pressure up.  Keep 
               producing fresh blood.  How is my 
               English?

                         CROWLEY
               It stinks.

     Kegel's smile turns to a sneer.

                         KEGEL
               How would you like a dip in our pool, 
               like Bates?

                         CROWLEY
               A dip in your pool?  What does that mean?

     INT. HI'S RENTED BUNGALOW - NIGHT

     Hi, his two visitors gone, sits on the couch thinking and getting 
     drunk, pouring liquor from a bottle on the coffee table.

                         HI
               How could you do it, Eva?

     Hi pours more liquor.  He wipes his brow with a hand.

                         HI (cont'd)
               Go kill Hitler and his vampires?

     Hi sits back and sighs.

                         HI (cont'd)
               If I don't find a lost city soon, 
               Bates and Crowley will beat me to it.

     INT. AN INDOOR POOL - NIGHT

     Lights come on in the pool, as terrified Bates stands, hands 
     bound, at the edge of a platform over the water.  SS SCHUTZE #3 
     is binding his feet.  

     At the rear of the platform are the door and window of the 
     water control room.

     On a bank of seats, vampiric-looking SS MEN, in black shirts, 
     breeches, and jackboots, sit watching and waiting in the 
     darkness beyond the lighted pool.

     Standing off to himself to watch the show is Obergruppenfuehrer 
     Dorsch - a bit paler than he was at the Countess's castle.

     Kegel, a mean smile on his face, steps to Bates's side at the 
     platform's edge.  

     Kegel signals to Oberschutze #1 behind the control room window.

     INT. WATER CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

     Oberschutze #1 begins pulling down a lever.

     INT. POOL - UNDERWATER - NIGHT

     A tunnel in the side of the pool opens by remote control.

     From an adjacent holding tank, a large school of fish - PIRANHAS, 
     with razor-sharp teeth - begins streaming into the pool.

     INT. POOL - NIGHT

     For show, Schutze #3 throws a little raw meat into the pool.
     The Piranhas attack it with clattering teeth.
 
     Kegel smiles at Bates, who is looking down at the frenzied 
     Piranhas with terror.

     Schutze #3 hands Kegel a wired microphone.

                         KEGEL
                    (to Bates; into mike)
               Piranhas.  Such fascinating little 
	       creatures.  They can devour a man 
               in seconds, leaving nothing but 
               blood and bones.  They are even 
               lethal to vampires.  As we found 
               when Schutze Vogel fell in.  As 
               far as we know he has never come back.
               Am I boring you, Mister Bates?

     Kegel holds the mike to Bates's mouth.

                         BATES
                    (terrified of dying)
               No, no, I'm here to listen.  Keep
               talking.  Please.

     INT. WATER CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

     Oberschutze #1 presses a button and there is the sound of 
     PEOPLE (V.O.) laughing.

     INT. POOL - NIGHT

     Bates looks around as Kegel smiles at him.

                         BATES
               Who is that laughing?

                         KEGEL
               It's a laugh track.

     Kegel continues to use the mike for both himself and Bates:

                         KEGEL (cont'd)
               We call this our conversion pool.

                         BATES
               I'm converted!  Really I am. I believe 
	       in the Reich and all that.

     There is more canned laughter.

                         KEGEL
               I don't mean converting the mind,
               you fool.  We convert your body,
               into blood.  What do you think we
               live on out here?
                   (beat, then)
               First, the piranhas do their work.  
               Then we drain the pool, through a 
               special osmotic process, separating 
               the impure fluid.

                         BATES
               Impure fluid?

                         KEGEL
               The water.  Leaving nothing but
               blood.

                         BATES
               Why so much trouble?  Why not just 
               draw out some blood when you need 
               it?  I got plenty.

                         KEGEL
               Oh, we do.  With some people.  But 
               others - special ones - go into our 
               pool.

                         BATES
               Why be choosy?  Why not just extract?  
               It's easier.

                         KEGEL
               Easier, yes.  But no fun!

     Kegel chortles and slaps Bates chummily on the back.  The 
     blow topples Bates screaming into the water.

     The SS Men watch from their seats as the Piranhas, with their 
     clattering teeth, begin converting Bates to blood and bones.

     Dorsch is watching the show from his vantage point with a 
     jaded look.
 
     INT. HI'S RENTED BUNGALOW - NIGHT

     Hi lies asleep, still clothed, on the couch, the empty bottle 
     and glass on the coffee table.  The room is dimly lit.

     EXT. THE PATIO - BUNGALOW - NIGHT

     Dark.  It's still foggy.

     A large BAT lands on the patio.


 


     
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