BBC Short Dramas: Frankenstein 6

Mar 062015

BBC Short Dramas: Frankenstein 6 – Death comes to you: “I’m the Creature and I’m sad and lonely. A child won’t reject me just because I’m ugly. I’m good and loving but if you’re not my friend I’ll kill you!”

Vocabulary:

fainted – lost consciousness
took me by surprise – was something I didn’t expect

_______Show Transcript______

IN THE CREATURE’S HUT, SITTING BY THE FIRE

Creature
Hello, I’m the Creature. And I’ve been telling you and my creator, Viktor Frankenstein, about my experience meeting people. Some feared me, some hated me and finally I found a man who was kind to me… Well, he was blind and couldn’t see my ugly face. But I hoped he might help me persuade others I’m good and loving… There I was, in his house, when his children arrived. What would they do when they saw me?

IN THE PAST – IN THE DELACEYS’ HOME

Girl
Oh! What is that? Ohhhhhh…

Boy
Sister? She’s fainted! Get away from my father you monster! Don’t be frightened, Dad! Get out of here, ugly monster! This will show you!

Creature
Ouch! Ouch! Please, please don’t hurt me!

Boy
Out! Out!

Father
Son, what’s going on?

Creature
Ouch! Arrrrrgh!

IN THE CREATURE’S HUT, BY THE FIRE

Creature
Oh that boy beat me with a stick! And he beat me and beat me! I could have killed him but… I just ran away. I was really angry! I wanted to be their best friend… But it was not going to happen. That’s when I decided life is a war against man! Then I thought you, Dr Frankenstein, might be the only person to give me some answers. You, my creator!

Viktor Frankenstein
How did you know where I lived?

Creature
Papers I took from your laboratory in Germany said you came from Geneva and that’s where I was going! It took me two months to reach the place. One night I was ready to go to sleep when I heard the voice of a child…

IN THE PAST – IN THE WOODS NEAR GENEVA

William
(Humming a song)

IN THE CREATURE’S HUT, BY THE FIRE

Creature
The beautiful boy looked innocent and I thought he might accept my appearance. I decided that I would take him with me to be my friend. I wouldn’t be lonely anymore. But when I caught him… well, I tried to tell him I wouldn’t harm him.

IN THE PAST – IN THE WOODS NEAR GENEVA

William
Let me go, horrible monster! Let me go or I’ll tell my daddy! He’s a powerful man! He’ll beat you! His name is Frankenstein!

IN THE CREATURE’S HUT, BY THE FIRE

Creature
That name took me by surprise! The name of my enemy! I felt so much hate… I put my hands around his neck and I held it. Yes, I held it tight and… suddenly I realised he went silent.

Viktor Frankenstein
My brother William! My father is called Alphonse. Alphonse Frankenstein. And he doesn’t even know about you!

Creature
I knew this would make you suffer! You made me suffer and now I realised I could make you suffer too.

Viktor Frankenstein
And what happened to Justine, William’s nanny, who was executed as his murderer?

Creature
I found this lovely woman sleeping in a hut. I thought about waking her up but… I was sure she wouldn’t be nice to me! She should suffer for that!

Viktor Frankenstein
And what did you do?

Creature
I put a locket with the picture of a woman I took from the boy’s body in her pocket. My life is very sad and I made her pay for it!

Viktor Frankenstein
Horrible creature! You’re responsible for the deaths of two good and innocent people!

Creature
I told you, I was good too. But now I’m sad and alone! Nobody will ever love me… unless you create a woman – a monster like me – whom I can share my life with.

Viktor Frankenstein
Another monster like you? No!

Creature
What I ask you is fair. If you give me another creature that looks like me, I could go and take it far away to South America. I’ll make sure nobody will ever see us again.

Viktor Frankenstein
No more contact with people?

Creature
No. Never again.

Viktor Frankenstein
Let me think about it. I’ll tell you my decision next time.