ANNOUNCER:
Mercury Theatre On The Air presents Orson Welles as Count Dracula in his own version of Bram Stoker's great novel 'Dracula'.
SEWARD:
Ladies and gentleman, my name is Arthur Seward. I am here tonight to bear witness to the truth of certain events which you may find it hard to believe, but I ask you to believe them. I have here certain documents, telegrams, clippings from the press of the day, memoranda and letters in various hands. All needless matters have been eliminated. Through the history almost at variance with the possibilities of contemporary belief, they stand forth as simple fact. I present you, first, with excerpts from the private journal of Jonathan Harker.
HARKER:
I, Jonathan Harker, lawyers clerk, articles to Peter Hawkins, Esquire, of Exeter, England, am writing this journal in the hope that if misfortune overtakes me, it may one day come to the eyes of those who love me. I set out from London on the last day of April to visit one of our clients in Eastern Europe. On May the third, I arrived in Budapest and came after nightfall to Klausenburgh on the border of Transylvainia. At Bistritz, there was a letter of welcome for me from our client informing me that his carriage would await me at the Borgo Pass. It was signed: 'Dracula'.
DRIVER:
Bukovina! Coach for Bukovina!
HARKER:
The road was rough, but still we seemed to fly over it with feverish haste. When it grew dark there seemed to be some excitement among the passengers. They kept speaking to the driver and looking at me and urging him on with a greater speed.
HARKER:
The crazy coach rocks from its great leather springs.
HARKER:
The mountains seem to come nearer to us on either side. Coachmen! Coachmen! What is it? Where are we?
DRIVER:
You are nearing your destination, young Herr. This is the Borgo Pass.
HARKER:
There are black, rolling clouds overhead, and, in the air, the heavy, oppressive sense of thunder.
HARKER:
Now, we go through the pass.
DRIVER:
The young herr is not expected after all?
DRACULA'S DRIVER:
You are early tonight, my friend.
HARKER:
A caleche, with four horses, had drawn up beside us.
DRACULA'S DRIVER:
Let me help you, sir.
HARKER:
The coachman smiled, and the lamplight fell on a hard-looking mouth with berry red lips and sharp-looking teeth as white as ivory.
HARKER:
We began to move. I looked back. The coach with its load of passengers had vanished from sight. We swept into the darkness of the pass. I struck a match. It was within a few minutes of midnight.
HARKER:
Then, a dog began to howl somewhere far down the road.
HARKER:
The wind was rising, moaning and whistling through the rocks, and the branches of the trees crashed together as we swept along. It grew colder and colder still, and fine, powdery snow began to fall.
HARKER:
The baying of wolves sounded nearer and nearer, as though - as if though they were closing round on us from every side. We kept on ascending - always ascending! The howling of wolves was growing less.
HARKER:
Presently, it ceased altogether. And just then the moon broke through the black clouds and, by its light, I - I saw around us a ring of wolves running along side the carriage - in silence - with white teeth and lolling red tongues, with long, sinewy limbs and shaggy hair!
DRACULA:
Welcome to my house.
HARKER:
I must have fallen asleep. The carriage had pulled up in the courtyard of a vast, ruined castle. The coachman was nowhere to be seen.
DRACULA:
Welcome to my house. Come freely. Go safely. And leave something of the happiness you bring.
HARKER (to Dracula):
Count Dracula?
DRACULA:
I am Dracula.
HARKER:
The face was strong - very strong - aquiline.
HARKER:
The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy mustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp, white teeth.
DRACULA:
Mmmmm. You hear them, Mr. Harker?
HARKER( to Dracula):
The wolves?
DRACULA:
The children of the night! As you say, Mr. Harker - the wolves. Listen!
DRACULA:
Mmmm. Come now. There are many things you must tell me tomorrow - of England and of the estate there you have purchased for me.
HARKER:
Ah, yes.
DRACULA:
The estate is called Carfax, I believe.
HARKER:
Yes, that's so.
DRACULA:
But now, I will detain you no longer. You will find your room in readiness. And I advise you not to leave it during the night.
=====================================
HARKER (narrating):
This castle is on the very edge of a terrible precipice. A stone falling from the window would fall a thousand feet without touching anything. I explored. There are doors-doors-doors everywhere! All of them locked. The door to the great hall, the door to the courtyard, every door in the castle is closed, bolted against me! Castle Dracula is a prison, and I am a prisoner.
HARKER (narrating):
The next night, I could not sleep. So, after a few hours, I got up, and, lighting my candle, I placed my shaving mirror on the dressing table, and was just beginning to shave--
DRACULA:
You feel rested, Mr. Harker?
HARKER (narrating):
I had not seen him, although the reflection of the glass covered the whole room behind me. I turned to the glass again. Count Dracula was close to me, and I could see him over my shoulder, but there was no reflection of him in the mirror. It was blank. I started and cut myself on the side of the throat, the blood was trickling down my neck.
HARKER:
My mirror!
DRACULA:
The blood! The blood. Wipe the blood from your face, Mr. Harker. And take care how you cut yourself. It is more dangerous than you think . . . in this country.
HARKER (narrating):
When I awoke, I found most of my things were gone - my passport, my notes, my letter of credit - I could find no trace of them anywhere. And my door was locked from the outside.
HARKER (narrating):
June 20th. There is work of some kind going on in the castle. Now and then I hear the far away muffled sound of mattock and spade, and last night, the second of the three dated letters which Dracula made me write - the second of that series which was to blot out the very traces of my existence from the Earth went forth!
HARKER:
Count Dracula!
DRACULA:
Yes, my young friend.
HARKER:
Well, what of me? When am I free? When can I leave this place?
DRACULA:
Free? Mr. Harker, you are always free. You want to leave? Would you like to leave tonight?
HARKER:
Yes. Yes, in God's name!
DRACULA:
My dear, young friend, not an hour shall you wait in my house against your will. Come, follow me.
DRACULA:
Hmmm. Your door seems to be bolted. How strange, your door is locked.
HARKER:
In God's name, open it!
DRACULA:
As you will, Mr. Harker. You English have a proverb which is very close to my heart - 'Welcome the coming, speed departing guests'. Good night, Mr. Harker!
DOOR OPENS. RAVENOUS WOLVES BARK AND GROWL, BURSTING INWARD
HARKER:
Shut the door! Shut the door! Shut the door! Shut--!
DRACULA:
The door is shut, Mr. Harker. I take it you will remain?