The Eagle descends at high speed and rushes on a white Dove – this happens in the sky over the clearing, where Harry has stopped in the woods…
HARRY: (27 years old, a loafer, millionaire, descendant of the Dracula-Cardie family, confident, eccentric, sometimes unscrupulous, sexy, used to get what he wants, he and Rita are two of a kind. He is a comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and James.
EXT-FOREST IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CARDIE’S CASTLE-SAME SUMMER DAY
Harry has lost his way during the hunt. His horse stands in a clearing in the woods. Harry seems that a woman’s blue dress flits in the trees and a female laughter is heard.
Harry is distracted by the eagle and the dove – looks to the sky, he can see the eagle attacking the dove, this happens over his head.
Harry looks at the trees again, where the blue dress has just flashed. There is nothing. Harry looks around, looking for the owner of the dress.
The horse knickers and takes off.
INT – DINING ROOM IN THE VILLAGE INN – EVENING OF THE SAME DAY
Harry, James, Captain Wright, Georges, Harry’s attorney and doctor, KARL IVANOVICH (50 years old), have supper after hunting at the wooden table
Harry wipes his hands with a napkin
HARRY
I think I saw her.
Karl Ivanovich sorts some records on his knees
KARL IVANOVICH: 50 years old, a librarian, Harry’s attorney in castle affairs. A quiet, well-educated, intelligent-looking old man, wearing glasses because of poor eyesight, half-Russian
KARL IVANOVICH
(takes off his glasses)
Her?
Harry puts his napkin aside and looks at everyone
HARRY
The ghost from the castle: the blue dress, dark hair.
Georges drops his fork under the table. James pours himself a glass of wine
JAMES: 30 years old, an Englishman, military interrogator, positive hero in all senses, conscientious, man with principles, generous, good friend. A comrade-in-arm of Captain Wright and Harry, aristocrat
JAMES
Harry, what makes you think it was her? Maybe some local pulled your leg.
Harry puts a scarlet rose on the table
HARRY
Found in the forest.
Captain Wright takes the flower
CAPTAIN WRIGHT: 31 year old, an Englishman, cool cynic, skeptic, typical military man, it is hard for him to admit his weaknesses. Rarely smiling, traditionalist in everything. Captain is a true friend, smokes a lot. Introvert, aristocrat
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
(examining the rose)
Such roses certainly don’t grow in the forest.
JAMES
I guess once we move into the castle all that is hidden will become revealed.
Georges shifts in his chair, is a little nervous
GEORGES: 20 years old, amorous, a bit naive, unspoiled young man. Georges is a virgin, aristocrat, student
GEORGES
I saw her too, she was beautiful like an angel.
Captain Wright abstracts himself from the rose and looks at Georges
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Well, that’s something new.
Karl Ivanovich puts the papers aside
KARL IVANOVICH
Stories about lake women are taking new forms.
Harry takes a sip of wine from his glass
HARRY
I tell you, this woman is from the castle! The LAKE MAIDEN has fair hair, and the beauty from the forest is dark-haired. I saw it myself.
Captain Wright lights up a cigar
CAPTAIN WRIGHT
Maybe there are their own mermaids in the forest?