Young Frankenstein

FRAU BLUCHER

Will there be anything else?

FREDDY

I don't think so. Is my assistant taken care of?

FRAU BLUCHER

I put her in the guest room, just down the hall.

FREDDY

Good.

She leaves. Freddy starts back towards the bookcase and pulls book.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Door opens and Inga enters.

INGA

Are you busy?

FREDDY

That's quite all right. What is it, dear?

INGA

Could I lie down in your bed for a little while? I just can't sleep.

FREDDY

We only arrived a few minutes ago.

INGA

I know, but usually I can fall asleep right away. It must be the strange room.

FREDDY

Well...

INGA

Oh please – just till I get sleepy. Then you can force me right back to my room.

FREDDY

Well... I suppose it would be all right, for just a little while.

Inga gets into Freddy's bed.

FREDDY

Would you like a sandwich?

INGA

No, thanks! I want to get right to sleep.

FREDDY

Well... I'll just finish unpacking.

As Freddy continues to unpack, he hears a STRANGE "BLOWING" SOUND coming from outside. He goes to the window and looks up.

CUT TO:

A TURRET AT THE TOP OF THE CASTLE

Igor sits in the window, trying to blow a ram's horn. He tries and tries, but can't get one good sustained not. Finally, he throws the ram's horns away and picks up a trumpet. He blows some "SWEET" BLUES.

CUT TO:

FREDDY

Lying in a chaise lounge near the bed, reading. He wears his robe over his clothes. Freddy looks at Inga, who is sound asleep. Now he drains the last of his glass of fruit juice and sets it down on an end table. he turns over to sleep. The CAMERA BEGINS TO PAN SLOWLY to the bedroom window. On its way, we SEE: A FEW DROPS OF FRUIT JUICE dripping down the inside of the glass that Freddy has just put down.

ANGLE THROUGH THE BEDROOM WINDOW (STOCK FOOTAGE)

CLOUDS PASS ACROSS A FULL MOON.

DISSOLVE TO:

LATER THAT NIGHT

Deadly silence! As the CAMERA PANS from the clouds, SLOWLY BACK ACROSS THE ROOM, suddenly – from the deep recesses or the castle – A VIOLIN IS HEARD PLAYING: THE EERIE TRANSYLVANIAN LULLABY. As the CAMERA reaches Freddy, he is tossing restlessly in his sleep.

FREDDY

Stop it. Stop it, I tell you I don't want to be perfect. Can't you understand that? I don't want to be perfect!

Freddy wakes with a start. He sits up and listens to the MUSIC. Then he stands and crosses to the bed.

FREDDY

Inga!

INGA

(in her sleep)

Yes, you may... but don't make any noise.

FREDDY

(shaking her)

Inga, wake up!

INGA

(slowly waking)

What is it? Is something wrong, Doctor?

FREDDY

Listen! Don't you hear that strange music?

INGA

(listening)

Yes! What could it be at this hour?

FREDDY

I don't know. It just woke me up.

Freddy goes to the bookcase; Inga follows.

FREDDY

It seem to be coming from behind this bookcase.

He puts his ear against the books and then fells for some hidden button or handle.

FREDDY

Hand me one of those candles!

Inga takes a candle from a wall sconce and hands it to Freddy. He looks closely at the books, examining some of the titles. One title reads:

INSERT – TITLE

"SEX AND HAIR GROWTH: IT'S UP TO YOU"

FREDDY

Out of amazement, pulls the book from the shelf.

ANOTHER ANGLE – A SMALL DOOR OPENS IN THE BOOKCASE

INGA

Dr. Fronkonsteen – look!

FREDDY

(listening through the open door)

Whatever it is, it's coming from down there. I'm going down to see.

INGA

Let me come with you, Doctor, please! I don't want to stay up here alone.

FREDDY

All right then, quietly! Close your robe and stay right behind me. Don't make a sound!

They enter the secret passage.

INT. SECRET PASSAGE

Freddy, holding the candle above them, follows the MUSIC down a narrow, winding stairway. The source of the MUSIC gets CLOSER and CLOSER, as they follow the yellow candlelight down, down, down... brushing against the cobwebbed walls. As they pass one section of wall, an ancient sign can just barely be made out in the after glow of their light. It reads: "CAPACITY: NOT MORE THAN 3 PERSONS"

By order of: "FIRE DEPT."

Finally, they reach a landing. A door separates them from whatever lies beyond. Freddy takes hold of the handle... it crumbles in his hand like dust. He gently pushes against the door. It CREAKS slowly open. The VIOLIN MUSIC STOPS!

INT. VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN'S LABORATORY

Freddy and Inga walk into the now famous room. A strange light comes from around a corner. As they walk towards the light, they pass a shelf lined with skulls. They look at each ancient head as they pass. Inga shudder with horror.

The forth head is Igor. It looks as if his head is on the shelf, but actually he is standing just behind the shelf. He smiles.

FREDDY

Aye-gor!

IGOR

Fro-derick!

FREDDY

What are you doing here?

IGOR

I got frightened all alone upstairs, so I came down here.

He leads them around the corner, where a glass bowl filled with water is being heated by small flame.

FREDDY

But what you were doing?

IGOR

Just putting up some tea.

FREDDY

Did you hear that strange music?

IGOR

What?

FREDDY

Did you hear that strange music??

IGOR

What?

FREDDY

Did you hear that strange music?

IGOR

No, not sound.

INGA

There must have been someone else down here then.

FREDDY

It seems that way.

(to Igor)

You didn't hear any music at all?

IGOR

What?

FREDDY

You didn't hear... nothing! Aren't there any lights in this place?

IGOR

Two switches over there, but I wasn't going to be the first.

Freddy walks over and throws the first switch. OPEN ENDED ELECTRICAL CURRENTS SHOOT OUT ALL OVER.

IGOR

Well, it's all right for atmosphere.

Freddy turns off the first switch and then throws the other one.

"NORMAL" LIGHTS GO ON.

Now the lab can be SEEN in all its old splendor, but thick in dust and spiders' webs.

INGA

Ooh!

FREDDY

What a filthy mess.

IGOR

I don't know... a little paint, some flowers...

FREDDY

Did you see anyone else down here?

IGOR

No, but when I first came in, there was a light coming from behind that steel door.

A huge steel door is open a few inches. Freddy goes to the door and listens, then opens it and they all walk in... hesitantly.

INT. PRIVATE LIBRARY

By the light of Freddy's candle, they see a small, creepy room, filled with musty books. There is a table in the center of the floor. On the table there is a large book, an ashtray, and a VIOLIN AND BOW.

INGA

(seeing the violin)

Look, Doctor!

FREDDY

Well, this explains the music.

INGA

But who was playing it?

There is a smoldering cigar in the ashtray.

FREDDY

I don't know, but whoever it was barely finished putting out his cigar. It's still smoldering.

(to Igor)

Let me smell your breath.

Igor exhales in Freddy's face. Freddy nearly passes out.

FREDDY

Well, it wasn't you.

He looks around the room.

FREDDY

What is this place?

IGOR

Must be the music room.

INGA

There's nothing but books and papers.

FREDDY

I wonder...

He looks at the large book lying on the table. He puts his candle over the cover. A LOW RUMBLE OF THUNDER as we SEE:

CLOSE SHOT – BOOK

"HOW I DID IT" BY VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN. Camera pulls back.

FREDDY

It is! This was my grandfather's private library. Look at this!

IGOR

(reading the cover of the book)

'How I Did It'. Good title!

FREDDY

Funny it should just be lying out here on the table. I wonder what kind of dribble this is?