THE LIGHTS COME UP SLOWLY ON DRACULA. HE STANDS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THEN RAISES HIS ARM.
THE LIGHTS COME UP ON JONATHON HARKER, TRYING TO MAKE
HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD TO THE INNKEEPER.
HARKER: My good man, I require transportation to the Borgo Pass.
INNKEEPER: Kass vallgaraida set Borgo. Chater da Chronos Aureala. (You are already in Borgo. This is the Golden Krone Inn.
HARKER: The Borgo pass. I need to take a coach, I believe . . .THE INKEEPER’S WIFE ENTERS, AND GREETS HARKER
INKEEPER’S WIFE: Gottagda.
HARKER: What? ah, yes, good day to you.
INKEEPER’S WIFE (ASIDE TO INKEEPER): What does the Englishman want?
INKEEPER: How should I know? You think I speak English? I think he’s trying to figure out how to avoid the Borgo Pass.
INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Smart man. Look, perhaps this will explain.
HARKER HANDS THE INKEEPER A LETTER. THE INKEEPER STARES AT IT UNCOMPREHENDINGLY. DRACULA, FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE STAGE, READS THE WORDS OF THE LETTER.
THE LETTER FROM DRACULA: My friend. Welcome to Transylvania. I am anxiously expecting you. Take a coach from the town of Borgo to the Borgo Pass, where my carriage shall await you. I hope that your journey from London has been pleasant, and that you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land. Your friend, Count Dracula.
HARKER: Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot. It’s written in English, which you obviously don’t under . . .
HARKER TRIES TO TAKE BACK THE NOTE, BUT THE INNKEEPER SNATCHES IT AWAY, AND SHOWS IT TO HIS WIFE.
INNKEEPER: Marga! Marga, look at the crest. It is from . . . No!
HARKER MOVES CLOSER TO THEM, SO THAT THEIR LINES SWITCH BACK TO MOCK-TRANSYLVANIAN
HARKER: Is something wrong?
INNKEEPER’S WIFE: Des Ordog! Desta stregoica michtal! Des vrolok della Pokol! (The evil being! The warlock lord! The monster of the castle!)
SHE THRUSTS THE LETTER BACK AT HARKER
INNKEEPER: Kender des Drakul (Dracula)
HARKER: Drakul? Dracula? You have heard of him? Yes, that is why I am trying to reach the Borgo Pass. Count Dracula will have a carriage waiting for me there this evening.
THE INNKEEPER PULLS HER HUSBAND AWAY FROM HARKER
INNKEEPER’S WIFE: We cannot let him go.
INNKEEPER: Do you want the wrath of Dracula to descend on us? We have no choice. God help him.
INNKEEPER’S WIFE: (THE INNKEEPER’S WIFE MOVES TO HARKER) Harker Dominaran. Set ballada, acraballan desta. Javil (Englishman Harker. If you must go, take these with you. You will, yes?)
THE INKEEPER’S WIFE TRIES TO PRESS A ROSARY ON HIM
HARKER: Really, I’m Church of England, you know. Appreciate the gesture, but I really can’t. Just put me on the coach to the Borgo Pass!