(Murdoch reading Merrill’s short story and Merrill is sitting at the other side of the table across from him)

Merrill – It’s just a first draft. I can improv –

Dr. Murdoch – It’s a solid effort, Merrill.

Merrill – I’ve never written fiction before.

Dr. Murdoch – It’s a touching story about love sought and love denied. You’re dealing with the most complex of human emotions here. Even fully mature mortals have trouble grasping its subtleties.

Merrill – It’s like I sense how my characters should feel; yet I can’t seem to connect with those feelings.

Dr. Murdoch – I know, the transformation from human to vampire causes that disconnection, and that’s precisely what we’re trying to restore here.

Merrill – Sometimes I think it’s hopeless. Like I’ve lost what I can never get back…

Dr. Murdoch – Give it time. Give it – (Sound of thunder)

Merrill - …Professor Murdoch?

Dr. Murdoch – It’s thunder. Can you hear it?

Merrill – I can’t hear anything. (Murdoch loosens his collar) Are you alright?

Dr. Murdoch – I ca… I can’t breathe.

Merrill – Professor Murdoch? (He’s coughing and gagging. He falls off chair) Professor Murdoch!? (Merrill goes down to him)

(In Cellar: Drew sitting on couch drawing)

Dr. Murdoch – A creature of darkness. A vampire’s life could appear romantic and exciting. But to vampires themselves, (Merrill in library reading) their lives, driven by instinctual needs, seem stale and repetitive. They long for change.

(In Cellar: Drew sketching. Karl comes in past him and stops in doorway. Drew stops what he’s doing and hides picture.)

Karl – Hey.

Drew – Hey.

(Karl sits at table. Drew starts to sketch again. Merrill in library reading and Marty enters room. He walks over to Merrill and gives her a plasma bag.)

Merrill – Thank you.

Marty – Okay. I’m here. So huh… what’s so important?

Merrill – Something strange happened with Professor Murdoch and me.

Marty – You and Murdoch? (Lays beside her) I thought this was about huh… me and you, you know. Our appointment with destiny.

Merrill – Marty. This is important… can you once… just once…

Marty – Okay… all right… fine. (Drinks blood)

Merrill – Professor Murdoch was talking to me about my short story and then suddenly he begins coughing and gagging.

Marty – That bad, hey? Well so much for your literary future. (Drinks)

Merrill – He couldn’t breathe. I thought he was going to suffocate…

Marty – I just saw him, Merrill, he’s fine.

Merrill – I know. But it was weird.

Marty – Look, (Merrill drinks) he pretends to live this healthy life, but he’s probably sneaking out for burgers and milk shakes. Read the papers. Common, middle aged men live unhealthy lives. Get him jogging and eating broccoli – he’ll be fine.

Merrill – Something else was odd. Right before he starts choking, he said he heard thunder. The night was perfectly clear.

(In conservatory: Mimi walks into class and sits beside Malcolm)

Mimi – Professor Murdoch met with me about my math assignment. (Murdoch standing at window) He forgot my name. He called me Marilyn. I just looked at him. He tried Margaret. I gathered my books and stood up. Marjorie, he said. I turned, walked to the door and said “Mimi”. Do I look like a Marilyn or a Margaret or a Marjorie?

Malcolm – He must be working too hard.

Dr. Murdoch – (Hears thunder) Looks like a storm coming.

Malcolm – Dr. Murdoch. (Murdoch turns around)

Dr. Murdoch – What are you all doing here?

Malcolm – (laughs) It’s 10:30, it’s time for class.

Dr. Murdoch – Yes. Yes, of course, it is. (Walks to desk and flips through book) So, huh… what is it we’re working on today?

Malcolm – Huh, chapter 5. Napoleon at Elba.

Dr. Murdoch – Right. (Flips through book. There’s a sound like wind rushing. Murdoch coughs)

Malcolm – Dr. Murdoch? (Murdoch choking and he collapse’ to the ground Malcolm and Mimi rush to him) Somebody call a doctor!

(In Cellar: The vampires are all sitting at the table.)

Merrill – The doctor found nothing wrong. Says Murdoch just needs some sleep. Classes are cancelled for the night.

Marty – (Closes book) Teachers away. Vamps will play. (Drops book on table)

Karl – I’m going midnight bowling. Any takers?

Essie – Ha… for sure.

Merrill – Hey, aren’t we forgetting the rules here?

Karl – Nah, a night of bowling has minimum human contact. Actually, a lot of people believe that bowlers are another race entirely. Like golfers.

Marty – Mmmm… (Points to Essie) you and bowling? Am I missing something?

Essie – The pins stand up so straight and tall. I knock ‘em down. I don’t know. It speaks to me as something very deep and primal.

Karl – Wanna come?

Marty – No… a little too touchy-feely for me.

Merrill – Hello! What about Professor Murdoch?

Karl – He’s aging. He’ll be fine. (Gets up)

Essie – Catch up with you. (Gets up too)

Merrill – (Drew starts to get up) Drew, aren’t you worried?

Drew – A man works 2 sifts. He’s run down. (Gets up and leaves)

Merrill – Marty? C’mon, the man’s hearing things that aren’t there.

Marty – What do you want from me?

Merrill – I need to investigate what’s going on.

Marty – Mmm… a night out or rummaging through Murdoch’s office? (Thinks) It’s a tough choice.

Merrill – Precisely the answer I expect from a passive-aggressive.

Marty Passive-aggressive?

Merrill Same old patterns. Same old behaviour.

Marty – What psycho-mumbo-jumbo are you talking about now Merrill?

Merrill – You’re timid, Marty. When faced with a challenge you put your head in the sand. Typical.

Marty – Aahhh… (In Office: Merrill and Marty come out of Cellar into the office. Merrill goes to the desk and looks through the books and papers) What are we looking for?

Merrill – I don’t know - - just, anything that’s going on in his life that might explain this sudden stress. (Marty looks around. Merrill looking stuff)

Marty – (Burps)

Merrill – What was that? (Marty goes to Merrill)

Marty - …me. Must have been the blood was off.

Dr. Murdoch – No. (They stop doing stuff) Stay away… stay away please! (Marty starts to run in slow motion. Merrill goes after.) Stay away! (We see in the library a ghost on the staircase looking down on Murdoch.) No!

(Marty and Merrill enter and stand beside Murdoch and look up. Then the ghost disappears and Murdoch goes to chair and sits down. He is wet and cold. Water then rushes out from beneath him. In office: Marty is on computer and Merrill enters)

Marty – I’m looking for a woman who died over 30 years ago. Best looking ghost I ever saw. Love the beads. Love the hair

Merrill – Hmm. Very 70’s.

Marty – How’s Murdoch?

Merrill – He’s developed pneumonia.

Marty – Is he gonna be okay?

Merrill – They’ve put him on antibiotics. (Goes beside Marty)

Marty – Well, does he know the woman?

Merrill – He has no memory of her. Doesn’t know who she is or what she could possibly want.

Marty – Well, did you read his mind?

Merrill – There’s a hug bloke. I couldn’t get through. (Walks to the other side)

Marty – I don’t know how anybody could block a beauty like that?

Merrill – Extreme trauma, emotional pain. Anything powerful enough to shut me out. (Sits down)

Marty – Nothing’s matching her description. Whoever she is, she can’t be found.

Merrill – Well here’s a fact you can use in your search - - I over heard the doctor say that Murdoch has suffered from this condition before.

Marty – Yeah?

Merrill – The odd part is that he’s had a re-occurrence every year since 1971.

Marty – Okay, so he’s cornice.

Merrill – It’s happened exactly on the same day, same month, each time.

Marty – Well then, let’s check today’s date. Alright. (Types) April…14…1971… let’s see what mysteries lie beneath this day in history.

(In Cellar: Drew is still sketching when Karl walks in. Drew hides picture.)

Karl – Ah! Let me guess - -Sherry? (Sits in coffin)

Drew – Weren’t you bowling?

Karl – I bowl the perfect game now. (Takes off shoes) The challenge is gone. I thought you and her were over. (Lies down in coffin)

Drew – Maybe.

Karl – If you’re not careful, you could kill her.

Drew – I checked it out. Vampires can love mortals without putting them at risk.

Karl – Yeah… who says?

Drew – Tested it myself. I was right there, beside her up close and personal. And I – didn’t fang out. Look, I wouldn’t risk hurting Sherry. I just want to be with her. You can understand that.

Karl – All I understand is that love between mortals is one thing. Love between vampires and mortals is something completely different.

Drew – No, it can’t be that different. The feelings are the same.

Karl – Right. A mortal always risks killing the one he loves. (Drew looks at picture as Karl opens a magazine.)

Drew – I broke it off in an instant, I never told her why. (Karl sits up)

Karl – You left it at that?

Drew – Yeah. I just vanished from her life.

Karl – Well, the first thing you have to do is apologize.

Drew – (looks at Karl) How? What can I say without revealing the truth?

Karl – (sits up completely) You say: “I don’t expect you to forgive me.” This is very important. Girls love it when guys say that. It gives ‘em permission to keep being angry at you.

Drew – Absolute surrender.

Karl – Exactly, and then you tell ‘em you treated ‘em badly… and that you’re willing to do anything to make it up to them.

Drew – And that’s it?

Karl – You got any gifts? (Drew looks at sketch. Karl Laughs) No… that’ll do, that’ll do. It-it comes across as very personal, very intimate.

Drew – I drew it from memory. Besides, I haven’t sketched in years.

Karl – No-no no no no… It’s perfect. It shows that your love is raw and passionate and like a rough diamond an-and you need her to smooth the edges over.

Drew – Okay - - if you think so.

Karl – Hey-huh- it’s a beginning. We’re dealing with a mortal here. (Lies back down) and-a woman, to boot.

(In Office: Marty on computer typing. He has his feet up on table)

Marty – Rhaaa… (Gets up and walks around) I must have done about 50 searches on the web trying to find out the significance of April 14^th, 1971.

Merrill – (Looking through book) You found absolutely nothing?

Marty – Well – on the contrary. Come here. (She goes over to him and sits down) On that very day in Milan, Italy, a woman introduced the world’s first designer pizza.

Merrill – (looks up at Marty) No.

Marty – Hell no.

Merrill – What we’re looking for is something to link the ghost to Murdoch.

Marty – Finally the supernatural shoe is on the other foot. Ain’t that news?

Merrill – Don’t even think about telling that to the others.

Marty – Why not?

Merrill – Because whatever we find out is private. It doesn’t concern anybody else.

Marty – Why are you (smiles) protecting doctor Murdoch, Merrill?

Merrill – He’s my teacher, in case you’ve forgotten.

Marty – And just what exactly is that pseuds-maven of the mystical teaching you anyways?

Merrill – You’re really a very boxed personality, aren’t you, Marty?

Marty – Cut out the psychobabble Merrill.

Merrill – Your sense of self is so limited you’ll do anything for a cheap laugh, say anything to put someone else down. When I think about it, it’s really very sad.

Marty – Okay. You can shut up now. (Lights flicker. The two look and the wind blows and a drawer opens up and toss’ out a book to the floor) Aahh… It’s a sign.

Merrill – It’s some kind of message. (Marty and Merrill go over to the book and Merrill picks it up.)

Marty – O.K. If ghosts can make drawers open and close and make strange noises and walk through walls, why can’t they just tell us the message instead of making us go through all this?

Merrill – Ghosts are non-corporeal. (Marty takes book) All they can do is manipulate energy.

Marty – So she likes fishing. Great! (Puts book on desk and walks away)

Merrill – Just cool it, okay. (Merrill gets book and flips through it and finds a picture) Marty… (Holds up picture. Marty goes over to her and takes picture)

(In Cellar: Drew looking at picture of Sherry that he’s drawing. Back in Office looking at picture of Murdoch’s mystery girl)

Marty – So they knew each other.

Merrill – Then why has he blocked her out? (Lights flicker and a door opens)

Marty – Let me guess, another - - sign. (They start to go to door) This would be so much easier if she could talk. (They walk out of office and head to library. And once there they look up at Ghost)

Marty – Okay… (They see a ghost like image floating in the air) Now that’s cool.

(In library: Marty is walking up steps to top floor where Merrill is. She is reading a book)

Marty – One second she’s here and then the next second she’s gone.

Merrill – Here’s something from the H worth’s guide to ghosts and goblins.

Marty – You mean somebody actually put… ghost and goblins in the title of a book?

Merrill – It’s standard reference work. (Reads) The repressed memory of that hauntee’ can only be fully unlocked through intimate dialogue with the ‘haunter’.

Marty – So Murdoch has to talk to the ghost in order to get his memory back?

Merrill – Exactly, it will help him unlock any – memories that might be locked in his subconscious. And help us help him.

Marty – Why d’all your books on vampire lore sound like they’re badly translated from the Romanian?

Merrill – Because they were.

Marty – Well, it’s time for anew edition.

Merrill – You see much demand, Marty?

Marty – Not for this book. Doesn’t make any sense. (Merrill goes back to read) How is Murdoch supposed to talk to the ghost when the ghost can’t even speak?

Merrill – (reads) To give voice to a ghost, a corporal entity must allow the ghost to enter their body. In this manner, the ghost speaks through the body of the corporeal entity, the host.

Marty – You gotta be kidding. (She reads more and closes book) What?

Merrill – Nothing. (He goes to get book)

Marty – Uh-uh. You read something. (Flips through book) Ts-ts-ts-ts. (Reads) It is cautioned that the ghost, upon taking residence in the body can refuse to leave and takes possession of the host’s soul… (Looks at Merrill) That would be YOU, Merrill.

Merrill – It won’t happen.

Marty – Why take the risk?

Merrill – Because Murdoch’s lungs are filling up with water. The doctors keep on emptying them out but they keep on filling up again. Within 12 hours, both of his lungs will be full of water.

Marty – And then?

Merrill – Murdoch drowns. (In the Office: Murdoch is sitting in a chair. Merrill and Marty waiting around) We have to get him back to his room before the night nurse returns.

Marty – What if this ghost doesn’t show up?

Merrill – Then he dies.

Dr. Murdoch – Merrill don’t – don’t do this, please, I beg you…

Merrill – (goes to Murdoch) Sshh - - save your strength.

Marty – Where is she?

Merrill – She’ll come.

Marty – Hey, would it help if I sing?

Merrill – She has to show - - she must. There’s a connection between these 2 that won’t die - - I can almost feel it - - if I could only feel it then maybe… (Lights flicker and the ghost goes into Merrill, pushing Merrill back into a near by chair. Merrill is now all wet and is coughing out water)

Marty – Merrill?

Merrill – Reg? (Looks at Murdoch) Can you hear me, Reg? It’s alright. Reg, it’s alright. You can remember now.

Dr. Murdoch – No…no… the waves keep coming… it’s so cold… I can’t feel my fingers. I can’t hold on much longer. (Coughs)

Merrill – You have to let me go, Reg. Please. If you don’t, we’ll both drown.

Dr. Murdoch – No, never… I can’t… oh, God Chelsea! I can’t hold you… I can’t hold you… Nooo! (Cries) Chelsea… (Merrill goes over to him)

Merrill – Look at me Reg. Look at me.

Dr. Murdoch – No… (He looks at Merrill but he sees a ghost of Chelsea)

Dr. Murdoch - …Ch-Chelsea. Chelsea, Chelsea. (Holds her face) I tried, Chelsea. I tried. I tried with all my strength.

Merrill – I know, my love. I came back each year tryin’ to tell you not to punish yourself. But you wouldn’t remember.

Dr. Murdoch – I couldn’t… I couldn’t live with that.

Merrill – I know. (We see Chelsea’s ghost were Merrill is) Tell me you can forgive yourself.

Dr. Murdoch – Can you forgive me?

Merrill – (Ghosts face) I can… Reg, I can… Good-bye, my love… Goodbye.

(Ghost goes out of Merrill and Merrill falls to the floor and Marty goes to her. Merrill just coughs. Murdoch looks to door and we see the ghost of Chelsea leave. In Office: Murdoch is at desk writing in his book)

Dr. Murdoch – Vampire’s survive for centuries. Yet it is not the length of time that gives life value. It’s love that makes it worthwhile. (Merrill writing in book in Cellar) And with love comes the possibility of rejection and loss. (Marty comes over to Merrill. He’s acting like a ghost)

Marty – Whhooo!

Merrill – You’re a card, Marty. (He sits beside her)

Marty – And one hell of a ghost buster.

(Drew upstairs at Sherry’s door. He has a picture that he drew of her with him. He stands there for a moment.)

Dr. Murdoch – My students must learn to know both love and loss, to feel them in all their complexity, (Drew looks around) for only then can they become truly human. (Drew slides the picture under the door and leaves)