Short from the Done Deal Halloween contest, Nov 2010
"The Night of the Terror"

FADE IN:

EXT. SPOOKY CASTLE - NIGHT

Seen in silhouette against a moonlit sky.

A flash of lightning reveals the "castle" is really an
apartment block, surrounded by other city buildings that
gave the impression of towers and battlements.

A doorbell RINGS.

                      CHORUS OF CHILDREN (V.O.)
          Trick or treat!

INT. LIVING ROOM, APARTMENT - NIGHT

A high-backed chair is occupied by the aristocratic COUNT,
dressed in a quilt robe. He chuckles as he watches a B/W TV
that's showing some old creaky horror movie with swelling
melodramatic MUSIC.

                      COUNT
          That's right, there he is! You cannot
          escape, my pretty.

INSERT B/W TV SCREEN: a momentary glimpse of a beautiful
blonde film starlet from bygone times, SCREAMING in terror
as she sees something too awful to describe.

The Count takes a sip from a wine glass. On a table is a
wine bottle with a handwritten label, "O+". The bottle is
almost empty.

FEYDOR enters. He is the Count's manservant, very tall and
stooped. He shuffles to the Count's chair. Feydor speaks
veeeery sloooowly. So would you if you were 200 years old.

                      FEYDOR
          Master. We have visitors.

The Count makes a sweep of his hand. The TV falls silent.

                      COUNT
          Visitors?

Feydor smiles the ghastliest smile imaginable, his eyes huge
with evil pleasure.

                      FEYDOR
          A group of young children. They are
          dressed in the manner of night
          creatures. And also, a cowboy! They
          are waiting in the entrance hall.

                      COUNT
          Feydor. I know you mean well. But
          drawing attention to ourselves would
          be foolhardy. Did we not come here
          to escape from the hunters?

                      FEYDOR
          But, Master. They are so young, and
          so full of blood. Your reserves...

Feydor looks significantly at the almost-empty wine bottle.

                      FEYDOR
          ...are in need of replenishing.

                      COUNT
          I would rather endure the gnawing
          pangs of hunger, than have a wooden
          stake driven through my heart. I am
          too old for that sh!t. Send the
          children away.

                      FEYDOR
                       (he can't believe it)
          All of them?

                      COUNT
          All of them.

                      FEYDOR
                       (bitterly disappointed)
          As you wish, Master.

Feydor shuffles to the door, almost weeping. He opens the
door, looks back at the Count, hopefully. But the Count
ignores him and makes another sweep with his hand. The TV
sound comes back, more MUSIC and SCREAMS.

Feydor makes a sad moaning sound and exits, closing the door
behind him.

INSERT B/W TV SCREEN: a shadow falls over the SCREAMING
blonde woman.

                      COUNT
          Ha ha! You are trapped, with no way
          out! Now you are for it!

The Count looks up, frowning in puzzlement.

He sniffs the air. Sniff. Sniff sniff.

He waves his hand. The TV sound dies. Silence.

The Count gets up, walks to the door, opens it.

                      COUNT
          Feydor?

No reply. The Count exits.

INT. LONG DARK HALLWAY, APARTMENT - NIGHT

Driven by curiosity, the Count sniffs his way along the
hallway.

He pauses when he hears SOBBING.

He continues along the hallway.

He stops again, staring in puzzlement at what lies ahead.

                      COUNT
          Feydor?

The Count flicks a light switch, the hall is illuminated.

Feydor crouches in a corner, sobbing. The walls are spattered
with blood. The floor and ceiling are spattered with blood.
Feydor is spattered with blood. It's a scene of blood-
spattered spatter-horror.

                      COUNT
          Feydor!

Feydor's head slowly comes up. He's wearing a little cowboy
hat. A kid's cowboy hat.

                      COUNT
          Feydor, what have you done? What
          have you done?

                      FEYDOR
          I could not help myself, Master.

The Count tentatively touches the bloody wall with his finger.
He sniffs the finger. He sticks his finger in his mouth to
taste it.

                      COUNT
          This is not the blood of a child. It
          tastes disgusting.

Feydor stands up, an intricate and noisy operation involving
bones popping into place and joints creaking like old
bedsprings.

Feydor pulls a crumpled handkerchief out of his pocket and
wipes his nose.

                      FEYDOR
          I will clean up the mess, Master. I
          was too excited. I got a nosebleed.
          I feel shame.

The Count stares up at the cowboy hat perched on Feydor's
head.

                      FEYDOR
          I paid the child American dollars
          for his hat! He was very happy.

                      COUNT
          Why?

Feydor takes off his cowboy hat and stares at it with demented
nostalgia.

                      FEYDOR
          Ever since I saw Tom Mix in Riders
          of the Purple Sage, I have dreamed
          of being a cowboy.

                      COUNT
          Feydor. You never said.

                      FEYDOR
          I did not wish to trouble you, Master.

The Count puts his arm around Feydor's shoulders and leads
him back up the hallway.

                      COUNT
          Then we shall watch a cowboy picture.
          With the power of my mind, I shall
          make them show Tom Mix tonight!

                      FEYDOR
          Thank you, Master. I am unworthy.

                      COUNT
          It is my honor to have you as my
          servant, Feydor.

                      FEYDOR
          And it is my honor to serve you,
          always.

EXT. SPOOKY CASTLE - NIGHT

Seen in silhouette against a moonlit sky.

PIANO MUSIC plays over, suitable for a 1925 silent era cowboy
movie.

FADE OUT