Young Frankenstein

ASSORTED VILLAGERS

Kill them! Kill that doctor! Kill the monster! Tear them both to pieces!

INGA

(handling the dials)

Igor – what time is it?

IGOR

Oh, must be around ten... ten-thirty.

INGA

Igor – the clock! Hurry!

Igor looks at it:

THE CLOCK

It is SIX MINUTES AND FORTY-FIVE SECONDS AFTER TEN.

BACK TO SCENE

IGOR

Another fifteen seconds to go.

INGA

Do Something! Stall them!

Igor rushes up to the charging Villagers.

IGOR

Now see here! What is the meaning of this?

BÜRGERMEISTER

We want the doctor!

IGOR

What?

BÜRGERMEISTER

We want the doctor!

IGOR

What? ?

FIRST VILLAGER

... Come on, men!

They sweep right over Igor.

CUT TO:

THE CLOCK

It is SIX MINUTES AND FIFTY SECONDS AFTER TEN.

BACK TO SCENE

SECOND VILLAGER

(seeing Freddy lying on his table)

Here's that crackpot doctor. Let's get him first!

Several Villagers grab Freddy's body and pull the tubes out from his head.

THE CLOCK

ZOOM TO CLOCK. It is only SIX MINUTES AND FIFTY-THREE SECONDS AFTER TEN.

ANOTHER ANGLE

INGA

No! Please!

Inga is standing further back, near the monster, unable to take her eyes off the clock and dials.

The Villagers hold Freddy up, over their shoulders, yelling and screaming. They start off with him.

A GIANT VOICE (O.S.)

Put that man down!

Everyone quiets down and turns towards the Voice.

There, on his operating table – holding the removed tubes from his head – sits the Monster.

AN OLD WOMAN
Why... it's the monster!

BÜRGERMEISTER

No, it couldn't be.

THIRD VILLAGER

Yes it is. It must be.

MONSTER

(standing on his operating table)

I said: Put that man down!

The frightened Villagers carry Freddy back to his table and lay him down.

BÜRGERMEISTER

And who are you, sir, that you order these people about?

MONSTER

I am a relative of the doctor's. I came to visit him a few weeks ago, in hopes that this distinguished member of my family might be able to help me with a problem that I've had since birth... and which has caused more sorrow in my heart than I wish on any man.

ASSORTED VILLAGERS

(whispering)

What'd he say? Relative??

MONSTER

You see, because of my great size and the somewhat unusual features of my head – when women look at me, their first impulse is to scream; children often cry, or vomit; and men are inclined to beat me over the head.

The Laboratory is silent.

MONSTER

I lived in hopes of meeting people who would... overlook my outward appearance and respect me for whatever good qualities I had to offer. If anyone had ever shown a little kindness, I would have returned it, I think, at least one hundred times over. And for that one person's sake... I would have made piece with the whole world. Do you understand what it means – never to see a kind or happy face? You could imagine then, perhaps, how such bitterness led me, at last, to the brink of another kind or life. I decided that if I couldn't inspire love... which was my deepest hope... I would, instead... cause fear.

A quiet shudder runs through the Villagers.

MONSTER

But all of that happened to me a lifetime ago. And I paid for my crimes... severely. It was just then that fate, or chance, brought me to our famous doctor. I found this man to be vain; I found him to be driven with ambitions of personal glory, and consumed with an unquenchable thirst for power. But even at the height of his quest – this ego-driven, brilliant and half-crazed scientist... always... always... held an image of me as something beautiful. And then, at the moment of truth, when it would have been easy enough to run and stay out of danger... he used himself as a guinea pig, in order to give me a calmer brain... and a slightly more eloquent way of speaking. Yes! I am 'The Monster"... sometimes known as 'Him', or occasionally, 'The Creature'. But they're one and the same. I am that tall, peculiarly attractive stranger, with the winning smile. Would you all get the hell out of here!

THE VILLAGERS

Mumble and shuffle out of the laboratory.

INGA

Oh, 'It's'... you were wonderful. But I'm so worried about the doctor.

Igor is listening to Freddy's heartbeat, as Inga and the Monster come to him.

They all three put their ears to Freddy's chest and listen.

They smile.

DISSOLVE TO:

LEGEND ON THE SCREEN

It reads:
 
"A FEW WEEKS LATER"
 

INT. MODERN BEDROOM – NIGHT

Elizabeth is sitting at her makeup table, dressed in a nightgown, getting ready for bed.