AMERICAN SERVANT: seemingly 80 years old, aristocratic bearing and manners, tall, thin-faced, is a bit haughty. He has got reddish eyes and crimson lips on the pale face. He wears a long religious habit.
The American servant bows to the count and countess.
Nettie jumps, bristles up and rushes at him.
The old man drives her away with a crutch, which he holds in his hands
COUNTESS MARIA
Nettie has never behaved like this before!
COUNT FREDERICK
Petro, take the dog away.
Petro grabs Nettie by the collar and drags her off the terrace.
The American Servant bows, handing Count Frederick a large sealed envelope.
Count Frederick opens it and reads a few lines to himself, then turns towards his wife
COUNT FREDERICK
(continues)
A coffin, bearing the mortal remains of our American relative is due to arrive at the castle in accordance to his wishes. He wanted to be buried in his home soil.
Countess Maria nods silently
COUNT FREDERICK
(continues)
Are you the same servant who is mentioned in this letter?
The American Servant bows in acknowledgement
AMERICAN SERVANT
My Lord, when can I bring the coffin?
COUNTESS MARIA
Tomorrow, if you wish
The American Servant bows to the couple and leaves
COUNTESS MARIA
(continues)
Who was that relative, dear?
END OF THE MEMORIES
EXT – VENICE, LIDO CANAL – SUMMER EVENING
BEGINNING OF GROWN-UP CARLO’S MEMORIES
A gondola glides noiselessly along the water. Last rays of the setting sun reflect on the canal. All around, laughter and singing can be heard from the neighboring gondolas.
CARLO (27 years old): a son of Count Frederick and Countess Maria, an educated young aristocrat, has lived away from home for almost 20 years.
Carlo gazes at the water, lost in thought
TITLE: 1852
CARLO’S VOICE
(behind the scenes)
My mother died when I was already in Nuremberg. She was so beautiful, and yet she died so young. To this day I don’t know what illness took her to her grave.
END OF THE MEMORIES
INT – LARGE LIVING ROOM OF THE CASTLE, GROUND FLOOR – DAYTIME
BEGINNING OF YOUNG CARLO’S MEMORIES
Young Carlo and Count Frederick talk in the living room of the castle. Carlo cries, standing in front of his father
TITLE: 1832
COUNT FREDERICK
It is your mother’s wish.
YOUNG CARLO
But why? Doesn’t she love me anymore?
INT-LUCY’S ROOM, NIGHT
Lucy sleeps peacefully in her bed when a big black cat moves crouching towards her. It arches its back and pounces on the child, mutilating her face. Lucy screams from pain and fear and tries to fling the cat away but the animal keeps attacking.
The door flies open and Catherine, the washer-woman Marina and the female cook rush in. The cat hides under the bed
CATHERINE