Frankenstein's Documentary Script

Katie Fitzpatrick
Wollstonecraft and Shelley
Prof. Botting

THE FORMATION OF FRANKENSTEIN’S DOCUMENTARY

WALTON and MARGARET are camping in a forest at night. WALTON uses a handheld camera to observe a creature that they search for in the woods.

WALTON’S VOICE OFF CAMERA
(Blurred images on camera coming into focus)
Are you blind? Could you not see that, that thing?

MARGARET
(Looking off into the woods)
No, I am not blind. But I doubt that what you saw is anything to worry about. Probably just a huge, black bear…
(Turning back toward the camera)
Stop filming me!

WALTON
Margaret, honestly, who would ever want to film you? And it was bigger than a bear. I just need to get a better shot - I need to go back into the woods.

MARGARET
Oh right, Walt, so let’s go into the woods… in the dark… alone after something that is bigger than a black bear.

WALTON
I believe it is called adventure.

MARGARET
I believe it is called death.

WALTON
You aren’t going to die! We will just start walking for a few minutes and if we don’t see anything, we can head back to our tent.

MARGARET
Fine! As long as you know that you are insane.

WALTON
(Turning camera towards himself)
Alright, well for the record I am Walton, and I am not insane, merely curious. Moments ago, I saw the dark outlines of a large creature in the woods. Margaret and I are going to forge a short trail in the direction that the creature was headed.
(Turning camera back toward woods)
Alright, let’s go. And Margaret I know how hard it is for you to be quiet, but please try.

MARGARET
Whatever, Walt.

MONTAGE
Clips of footage of woods at night.

WALTON
It must have moved too quickly.

MARGARET
Oh too bad, let’s head back.

WALTON
(Filming Margaret heading back toward campsite)
Wait, not so fast!
(Margaret stops short)
 What? What did you see?

Pan camera in direction of Margaret’s line of vision. Two yellow eyes glow in the distance.

MARGARET
Stop filming! Get over here!

WALTON
(Shaky camera- Running toward Margaret)
Those eyes! What creature has yellow eyes? We could have discovered something!

MARGARET
That something could come after us, Walt. This was a bad idea. Remember the Blair Witch Project? Yeah, that was a bad idea.

WALTON
The Blair Witch Project wasn’t real Margaret- this is real.
Camera pans to yellow eyes and demonstrates their close proximity to MARGARET and WALTON.

MARGARET
Shit! It’s so much closer!

WALTON
(Grabbing Margaret)
Then let’s get a closer shot!

MONSTER starts running toward WALTON and MARGARET. MARGARET screams and races in the opposite direction, toward the campsite. WALTON does not move, and his hands tremble as he holds the camera.

WALTON
Just a little bit closer! I can’t see what you are. I can’t… oh my God…

MARGARET
(Screaming)
Walton! Walton!
The camera cuts out. Blackness until two yellow eyes gaze straight into the camera. Blackness again, proceeded by choppy footage. Finally, the MONSTER faces the camera.

MONSTER
(Reading from Paradise Lost and glaring at the camera )
“Did I request thee Maker from my clay/ To mould Me man? Did I

MONSTER (CONT'D)
solicit thee/ From darkness to promote me?”
Cuts to MONSTER swinging the camera back and forth in his hand.

MONSTER
What shall I do with this tiny device? Would anyone dare to look at my face for too long? Those children run away in fear, as they should.

Cuts to MONSTER pacing back and forth in front of camera until MONSTER sits on rock.
 
MONSTER
I have decided to use my new object. If you are not Viktor Frankenstein, then I suggest that you turn off this tape immediately. This is for the eyes of Frankenstein only. This is for my creator, my unfeeling, heartless creator! I know that you sought to become a god; I know that you sought to create a new Adam. But I have read the lines of this book over and over again…
(Flipping through the pages of Paradise Lost)
and I am no Adam!

(Slamming the book to the ground)
I am wretched and hideous. In this book, I have but one identity- I am Satan.
(Standing up and approaching the camera)
But I did not choose my role. You chose to create me from the limbs of death. I command you to look at your creation! Look at the horror of mankind!
Cut back to MONSTER in a clearing and setting up the camera.

MONSTER
Whispering into camera)
Hatred is my only companion. And with him I shall seek revenge on you, Frankenstein. It begins here and now. Watch.
(Backing away from camera and hiding)

A young boy, WILLIAM, runs into the clearing. MONSTER seizes the boy and holds him in his grasp.

WILLIAM
Let me go! Monster! Please don’t eat me!

MONSTER
Nonsense! I am not hungry William.

WILLIAM
Screaming)
Help! Help!

MONSTER
You belong to my enemy, Frankenstein. And therefore, your life belongs to me.

MONSTER strangles WILLIAM while smirking at the camera positioned in the clearing. MONSTER proceeds to clap triumphantly. The film cuts out.

MONSTER holds the camera and shows the face of the dead WILLIAM. Then MONSTER turns the camera toward himself.

MONSTER
Did you see the face of my first victim, Frankenstein? As I gaze at him now, my heart swells with exultation and hellish triumph. I, too, can torment and destroy! I will not finish until I desolate your heart, so that you curse the hour of your birth.
The film cuts to black. END SCENE.