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Frankenstein (1994)
I busied myself to think of a story -
- which would speak to the mysterious fears of our nature - - and awaken thrilling horror. One to make the reader dread to look around. To curdle the blood and quicken the beatings of the heart. The dawn of the 19th century. A world on the brink of revolution and scientific advances - - that would bring profound change. The lust for knowledge was great. Among the pioneers, Captain Robert Walton - - was obsessed with reaching the North Pole. But his voyage uncovered a story - - to strike terror into those who would venture into the unknown... ARCTIC SEA, 1794 Tell the captain, we've got to take in the topsail. She's going to rip. - We have to drop the sails! - All hands to the mast. Take the wheel. Captain, we've hit the ice. Iceberg ahead! Hard to starboard! Help! Hold on! Put your backs into it, men! - Let's go! - Captain, this is useless. - Should we just lay down and die? - The men are exhausted. I have not come this far to give up now. They knew the risks. We'll chop our way to the Pole if we have to. Then you run the risk of mutiny, Captain. - Did you say mutiny? - Yes I did, sir. We proceed north... as planned. - At the cost of how many lives? - As many as it takes! There's something out there. What the hell is that? - Who is your captain? - I am. - Who the devil are you? - I've no time to talk. Bring your men and follow me. - Now! - Stay where you are. "I" give the orders here. Get the dogs! Leave them. They're already dead. Get back to the ship. Everybody, back to the ship! - Bears don't kill like that! - Maybe it wants the man. Or the captain! I made my way from St. Petersburg to Archangel on foot. Then I took a whaling ship north. When we hit the ice, I used dogs. What's out there? I spent six years planning this. My entire fortune. I will not be stopped by you or some phantom. Do you share my madness? - No, not madness. - What then? There's a passage to the North Pole. I will find it. - At the cost of all your lives? - Lives come and go. If we succeed, our names will live on forever. I will be hailed as the benefactor of our species. You're wrong. I, of all men, know that. Who are you? My name... ...is Victor... ...Frankenstein. GENEVA, 1773 - Mother! - My wonderful son Victor! You are the handsomest, kindest most wonderful boy in the world! Madam! You will spoil the boy. - Would you two leave us, please? - Doctor. Come along, Justine. Victor, this is Elizabeth. She's coming to live with us. She's lost her mother and father to the scarlet fever, Victor. - She's an orphan now. - Think of her as your own sister. You must look after her, and be kind to her. Always. - How is the imminent arrival? - A little frisky today. - You used to chase fireflies. - When I trapped them, they died. And you cried. You wanted them to glow by your bedside - - to light you as you read. You were so hungry for knowledge. Such a serious little boy. You've become such an earnest young man. All these strange and ancient books. You'll be a greater doctor than your father. But you know, Victor... Life shouldn't be all study. There's such fun to be had! Give me that back, Mother! Change partners! Caroline, you mustn't exert yourself! The new baby will be a natural dancer. You'll be the envy of all the young ladies and gentlemen. Justine! Justine, may I have this dance? Madam! - You must decide! - The baby's in the wrong position. - I can't... - Cut me to save the baby. She'll be all right. Your father's the finest doctor in Geneva. Father? Father, how is she? I did everything I could... Mother! Bring her back! Please, bring her back. Bring her back! THREE YEARS LATER Beloved wife and mother Caroline Beaufort Frankenstein. Oh, Mother! You should never have died. No one need ever die! I will stop this. I will stop this. I promise. Victor, you're obsessed. What is that? Energy. It never disappears, just changes. From wax, to the convulsions of a mechanical dog. The applications are limitless. - Come outside, it's a lovely day. - Go away, I'm busy. What's this? It's for spraying the electric eels. Put it down. It's not for playing with. It's not for playing with. Put it down, don't... Give me that! Come on! We should be grateful to Victor for abandoning his experiments. Well, who says I have? - What do you mean? - Look! - You knew this would happen. - No, but I hoped it would. I've never seen one so large. - Isn't it wonderful? - You shouldn't have done this. - We must take cover. A tree! - No, that's the wrong thing. - What about Willie? - What are we to do? Spread out. Elizabeth, take this. - Come on, quickly! - What is that? - Dig it into the ground. - Now what? - Willie! - Everyone down. Give me your hand. It'll be fine. - I hope you know what you're doing. - Willie, don't look up! Wait! One, two, three... Now. - How do you feel, Elizabeth? - Alive! Ladies and gentlemen, friends! Gather round and listen. As you probably know, tomorrow my son Victor leaves me - - to pursue a career in a profession that I am not unassociated with. Modesty! My one regret is that his mother... ...my late wife, is not here... ...to share the pride... ...which our son fills me with, tonight. Yes. She wanted you to have this, Victor. On your graduation. And in it she has written: "This is the journal of Victor Frankenstein." The rest of the leaves are blank, - - to be filled with the deeds of a noble life. We'd better go in, before they miss us. Just a little while longer. I don't know when we'll be alone together again. Oh, dear Victor! - I'll miss you laughing at me. - I'll miss you making me laugh. How do brothers and sisters say goodbye? Perhaps they never have to. I won't, if you won't. Are you my sister? Sister... ...friend... ...lover. - Wife? - Yes! - Then come with me. Marry me now! - No. - Then I'll stay. - I want so much to be your wife. But as long as you're away, I belong here. I want to make this house live. It will be home for our children. You must go, and do the great things you need to do. I want you so much. I'll be here when you return. Each holiday. Every visit. Then, on our wedding night... Until then. INGOLSTADT, 1793 - How was your journey? - Very good, thank you. - We've only got attic space... - It's exactly what I'm looking for. But there will be a great deal of scientific equipment delivered. I'm sure you appreciate the need for a proper laboratory. Putzi likes you. This will be perfect. "The foolish and vain force their views by the rod." "But knowledge is power only through God." Our motto. Easily forgotten by you young men in a hurry. But perhaps the greatest mistake that all students make, - - during their time here, is to suppose - - that they can ever have an original or creative thought. We have all imagined that in our time. But gentlemen, you are not here to think for yourselves. You are here to learn how to think for your patients. You must learn, therefore, to submit to the laws of physical reality. But surely, Professor... - What of philosophical approaches? - Philosophical? Those of the imagination "and" the intellect, as in Paracelsus. Paracelsus? An arrogant and foolish Swiss. - Albertus Magnus? - He was exposed 500 years ago. - Cornelius Agrippa? - A sorcerer. What is your name? Victor Frankenstein. Of Geneva. Another Swiss! Mr. Frankenstein, here at the University of Ingolstadt - - we teach the study of medicine. Chemistry, biology, physics... - We study hard science. - Surely they can be combined... We do not study the ravings of lunatics and alchemists. Their fanatical speculations do not heal bodies or save lives. Only science can do that. Now, have we your permission to continue? Nice coat. Don't take it too hard. He doesn't like public humiliation. - I am not mad! - Of course you're not. That's just what a rational person would say to a complete stranger! Henry Clerval. And I'm completely crazy. - Victor Frankenstein. - Of Geneva. Why don't you look where I'm going? That's Schiller. Ornament of the playing field. He's new, too. He looks at things with his mouth open. What are you here for? - To research. - I'm here to become a mere doctor. A pity it has to do with healing the sick. I find them revolting. I'll have a good time, get my degree if I can stop failing anatomy, - - and then relieve old ladies of their ailments and their daughters. - Who was that? - That's Waldman. They say in his youth, he could lecture God on science. He got into trouble. Something to do with illegal experiments. What kind of experiments, I wonder? What was that about rich old ladies' daughters? It's a life of sacrifice, but someone's got to do it. The central nervous system and the brain - - are as complicated a set of organs as you are ever likely to encounter. Mr. Frankenstein, the incision is yours. Excellent. Mr. Clerval, you may remove the cranial lid. "Henry is still struggling to pass anatomy." - I was always terrible at anatomy. - I'm learning a great deal. "Prof. Waldman is remarkable. God bless you, Victor." - That's very nice. - P.S. I've fallen in love. "She is dark and beautiful, and wags her tail when she sees me." "Her name is Putzi, and she's the friendliest sheepdog I've known." "PS. Elizabeth, I dream of how your hair shines... ... and of your arms and breasts, and of our wedding night." - What does it say? - "Working hard and making friends." More coffee, anyone? Once and for all, Frankenstein! Life is life, death is death. - These things are real. Absolute. - Rubbish! That has been repeatedly challenged. By "you", sir! We don't know where death begins. Hair and nails continue to grow... Though a man's brain may die, his heart and lungs continue to pump. Frankenstein, I warn you what you suggest is both illegal and immoral. Rubbish! "Dear diary, why does no one understand me? PS, I am not mad." You! - Explain yourself. - I came to study the new science. The combining of modern disciplines and ancient knowledge to create... Create what? We "can" change things. You know that. We can make great discoveries if only we ask the right questions. You must help me. Come on. - Victor... - Come on. Henry. Lock the door. For thousands of years, the Chinese have believed - - that the body is a chemical engine run by energy streams. - Fascinating! How do they...? - Don't touch that! Their doctors treat patients by inserting needles like these - - at various key points, to manipulate the electric streams. - Electricity is the key! - Now, look at this. Go on, touch it. It feels warm. How do you do? - Turn it off! - I can't, it's not working. We must simply reduce the polarity. A monkey's arm is like a human's. - No arm is this strong! - Now, this must work. Let me help you, Professor. You shall of course tell no one. No one would believe you, anyway. Dearest Victor. Nothing much changes here. Mrs. Moritz continues to love and torment Justine, in equal measure. Willie grows even more precocious, and Father is so proud of you. And I... I just miss you, very much. Please write soon, Victor. Take vaccine, for instance. But that isn't the whole answer. - What do you mean? - We can create life to cheat death. - No, there's only one God. - Leave God out of it. If someone you loved had a sick heart, would you give them another? It's not impossible. And if we can do that, we can replace "every" part. We can create a being that won't get old or sick. One better than us, - - more intelligent, civilised... - In our lifetime? - No! - How close did you get? - Too close. - I beg you, let me see these notes. - No. My work now lies exclusively in the preservation of life. - I abandoned my other research. - Why? Because it resulted in abomination. - You're not sticking pox in me! - Pox? They're giving us pox? - It's harmless anti-pox serum. - You just said pox! It's harmless. Without it, this city would be immediately quarantined. - You're not sticking that in me. - Yes I am. It's the law! - Sit him down. - You're not sticking that in me! Professor? Come on! It's no use, Victor, he's gone. Let him go. - This shouldn't happen! - Let him go. It need not happen! The hell with you! Whatever you say, you doctors are killers. You murder people! You're evil! You're the ones that deserve to die. God will punish you. God will punish you. My God, you were so close! Of course, the power! The materials were wrong. You needed auxiliary sources. "The experiment... a failure." "Resulting reanimant malformed and hideous to behold." "This factor dependant on the appropriate raw materials." Raw materials... - Come on! What are you afraid of? - Everything! If the authorities... We'll do this in secret. I've got Waldman's journals. - You stole Waldman's journals? - We must complete his work for him. Were it possible, and you had the right to make this decision, - - wouldn't there be a terrible price to pay? For the chance to defeat death and disease, to give life to all, - - to allow people who love each other to be together forever... I think it's a risk worth taking. Justine, leave me alone. I won't talk about it. - But all the letters you read... - I wrote them! It's been months... - Elizabeth... - Something horrific is happening. I had to hide it from Father. Now there are rumours of cholera. - I can manage here. Go to him! - He's probably found someone else. If he was mine, I'd have gone already. But he isn't mine. He's yours, and you must go to him. Raw materials, that's all they are. Tissue to be re-used. The very finest brain. - But they all died of cholera, sir. - No matter. The assembled organs must have nutrients, heat, and crucially... ...more direct power. More direct power... Amniotic fluid is the chief biogenic element. Acupuncture needles are inserted at energy points. When the current stops, the dead toad has animation - - independently of external power sources. Yes. That's it. That's the combination! Victor! Open the door! - What do you want? - There's cholera. An epidemic! The city is under martial law. Are you listening to me? The militia's quarantining the city. We're getting out. What if Krempe tells the authorities? Goodbye, Henry. Victor, it's me. Elizabeth. Can you hear me? I have to see you. - Go away. - Please, Victor! I won't leave here until you see me. Come in the side door. Alone! What's happened to you? How can you live here like this? - And that stench... - Don't go in there! - We have to leave. It isn't safe. - No, I must stay. - Even if it means you'll die? - Yes. - Well, let me help you. - No, that's impossible. We made a promise. Victor, I beg you. I know this is difficult for you to understand, - - but I cannot abandon this work now. It's too important. Not just for me, but, believe me, for everyone. And it must come first. Before us? Elizabeth... I love you so much, but... Goodbye. Elizabeth! Oh God! Elizabeth. Live! Live! Yes! No... It's alive... It's alive! What have I done? What have I done? Massive birth defects... ...greatly enhanced physical strength... ...but... ...resulting reanimant... ...is malfunctional... ...and pitiful... ...and dead. Tomorrow this journal and its secrets must be destroyed... ...forever. Oh, God! No! You fool, Victor Frankenstein of Geneva! How could you know what you'd unleashed? How is it pieced together? Bits of thieves and murderers... Evil stitched to evil, stitched to evil... Do you really think this thing will thank you for its birth? Evil will have its revenge. God help your loved ones! What do you think you're doing? He's got cholera! He's been spreading the plague! Get him! - Keep away from him. - No, kill him now! He went this way. There now. Easy. Just a bit. - That's it. There now, rest easy. - Henry, you're here. Of course I'm here. But it was touch and go with you. I feared cholera, but it turned out to be pneumonia. I'm becoming a doctor. Even Krempe seems pleased with me. At this rate, I might even pass anatomy. - The epidemic? - There's nothing we can do. The vulnerable, anyone without shelter, the new-born, will die. - Are you sure? - I'm certain of it. - Thank God. - What do you mean? Nothing. Well then, that's my shift finished. I'll see you later. Elizabeth... Elizabeth! - Please, please, forgive me! - Of course I do. I don't know what you're working on, but it nearly killed you. It's over, it's finished. It should never have started. It's dead! Felix! Don't forget the onion scraps. All right, I've got them. Go on, get! Go on, go on! - How are the pigs? - Happy, they've been fed. - How are your hands? - They're bleeding again. That's better. There. - The soup's ready. - Come on, Grandpa. Sit down. We'll never get through the winter with this yield. - The ground's frozen hard. - We'll sell another pig. We can't. Not until they lift the quarantine. Even then, it's one less for us. And there's last month's rent... Come on! We'll do this together. You're right. We've got to, before the snow comes. Come on, then! The ground's frozen solid. We'd need - It's getting late. - We don't have enough to eat. We'll manage. Let's go. Look! - They're from the Forest Spirit. - Father, nothing is free of cost. - I would like to know who and why. - Was it the Good Spirit, Grandpa? - I believe it was. - Don't fill them with nonsense. Who's there? Felix? Children? FRIEND - What's this one? - Fr... i... end. - Friend? - Friend! Well done! You've got lots of friends, haven't you? Grandpa... Frieeend... Friend. Family. F... Father. Travel with them. The equipment must not be left unattended. - My father will take delivery. - Yes, sir. - Going somewhere? - Look at the locket Victor gave me. - Lovely! Is it really you? - It will serve instead of a ring. Congratulations on the entirely expected! - When? - As soon as we get home. - He's to have Father's practice. - And expand it. - I'm going on ahead. - A practice needs a partner... There's not much money, but there's food and board and company. It's the ideal position for someone who's finally passed anatomy. So we were wondering if... you could recommend someone? - I don't know what to say. - Please, say yes. Yes! Yes! And you can write that down in your journal! "This is... ...the journal... ...of... ...Victor... ...Frankenstein... ...of... ...Geneva." Come on, quickly. - Merry Christmas! - Come on, time for bed. "For the Good Spirit of the Forest." - Are you the Good Spirit? - Not exactly. Where's your father? I said, where's your father? - Maggie? - No. - What have you done to Maggie? - Is he in there, hiding behind you? Get away! Don't blame me. Blame your son, for not paying his rent on time. My God! Thank you, my friend. Thank you so much. Won't you come and sit by the fire? Please, don't be afraid. Come. Come in. Have a rest, sit down. That's better. I'm glad you finally came in. A man shouldn't have to hide in the shadows. Better that way, for me. Why? People are afraid. Except you. It can't be as bad as that. Worse. I can "see" you with my hands, if you'll trust me. - Papa, he hurt Grandpa! - Who did? What was that noise? What happened, Maggie? Poor man. Have you no friends? There are some people... But they don't know me. Why do you not go to them? Because I am so very... ...ugly. And they are so very... ...beautiful. Father! - Get out of here, monster. - Leave him alone! We have to leave here. No... Massive birth defects... greatly enhanced strength... ...dead. These experiments are at an end. I will have revenge! Frankenstein! Geneva! - Quickly! - She's here! We got your letter. - Congratulations, Elizabeth. - Thank you, Justine. Is that the locket? - Look how handsome Victor is! - Can I take this to show Peter? - It's not a toy. - Let him go. Justine, pay attention! Anyone would think "you're" getting married. - What's wrong? - Nothing. Leave it. You've ruined it, now. No! Frankenstein. - You, quickly! - Have you seen Willie? - They say he never arrived. - Far too late for him to be out. William! Willie! Willie! This isn't a game! It's so late. We're all so tired. I'm so tired. Father! I'm so pleased to see you. What's wrong? William! We checked the east ridge. There's nothing there. - Elizabeth? - I've found him. Elizabeth! No! We did everything we could, sir. You just rest easy now. We did everything we could. Sir, I'm terrified for my girl. She's still out looking for William. We parted badly. I was cruel to her. I didn't mean it. I think she finds it hard, with your wedding. She loves you dearly. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to her. Help me! We'll organise another search. We will find her, Mrs. Moritz. - How is Father? - His heart is breaking. Mr. Frankenstein, we've apprehended the murderer, hiding in a barn. We found this on her. It's yours, I believe? Sir, you must come immediately. The townspeople have gone mad. - What are they doing? - They've broken into the jail! This is a lynching mob! Stop! This is unlawful. Victor, help me. I was trying to find him. I went to the lake. I wanted to bring him to you. He must be there for the wedding! I'm sorry! He's so tiny. We've closed the gates on the mob. What about Justine? - We've cut her down. - Thank you, Claude. Get to bed. The Sea of Ice. I will meet you there... ...on the Sea of Ice. Justine, forgive me. Who is this man? How do you know he's responsible? - I'll tell you after I destroy him. - Leave it to the police. - They wouldn't understand. - Neither do I. Then just accept it. Get up. - You "do" speak. - Yes, I speak. And read. And think. - And know the ways of man. - How did you find me? Your journal. Then you mean to kill me. No. You murdered my brother, didn't you? I took him by the throat with one hand, - - lifted him off the ground, - - and slowly crushed his neck. And as I killed him, I saw your face. You gave me these emotions. But you didn't tell me how to use them. Now two people are dead... ...because of us. Why? There's something at work in my soul which I do not understand. What of my soul? Do I have one? Or was that a part you left out? Who were these people of which I am comprised? Good people? Bad people? - Materials, nothing more. - You're wrong. Do you know I knew how to play this? In which part of me did this knowledge reside? In these hands? In this mind? In this heart? And reading and speaking... Not things learned, so much as things remembered. Trace memories in the brain, perhaps. Did you ever consider the consequences of your actions? You gave me life, and then you left me to die. - Who am I? - You... I don't know. And you think "I'm" evil. What can I do? There is something I want. A friend. - A friend? - Companion. A female. Someone like me. - So she won't hate me. - Like you? You don't know what you're asking. I do know that for the sympathy of one living being - - I would make peace with all. I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine. And rage, the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one... ...I will indulge the other. And if I consent, how will you live? We would travel north, to the furthest reaches of the Pole. Where no man has ever set foot. There we would live out our lives together. No human eye would ever see us again. This, I vow. You must help me. Please. If it is possible to right this wrong... ...then I will do it. Victor! Are you all right? - Yes, I'm safe. - What happened? Tell us. You have to tell us what happened! One month, that's all. Then we can be married and forget all this. - I promise. - Promise! You "promised" to tell me who he was. You "promised" to stop this work. - I have to leave this house. - Where will you go? - Somewhere I can recover. - I haven't got time to argue. Doesn't it fit in with your plans? Don't you ever think of anyone but yourself? God forgive me! Why her? Materials, remember? Nothing more. Your words. - You will honour your promise! - I will not. - Go on, kill me now! - That is too mild. If you deny me my wedding night, I will be with you on yours! Elizabeth! Wait. I have to speak to you. Please! What do you want to say? Don't go. Please, don't go. I'm frightened. Of what? I have done something so terrible... So evil... And I'm frightened that if I tell you the truth... ...that I will lose you. You'll lose me if you don't. I... ...don't know... ...what... ...to do. Will you marry me, Victor? Marry me today. Tomorrow, tell me everything. But you must tell me the truth. And together, we can face anything. Whatever you've done, whatever has happened... ...I love you. To share the truth, the whole truth, for good or ill, - - to stand by each other in sickness and in health, - - and in joy, from this day forward - - until death do you part. - Who is he? How shall we know him? - You'll know him. He killed William, and Justine died for it. Shoot him on sight! You two look after each other. I'll look after your father. The last ferry's gone. There's nothing now 'till morning. - I'll find lodgings for you. - Thank you, Claude. - Keep your pistols dry! - They're dry enough. - If they fail, we'll gut him. - Go to your post. Don't worry, sir. You're well guarded. Go up to your wife. It's not often a man has his wedding night. You're soaking. Brother and sister... no more. Now husband and wife. Victor? Lock the door. - I saw him. He ran to the lake. - You two stay here. - We lost him. - Elizabeth! Don't bother to scream. Please... Please don't hurt me. You are lovelier than I ever could have imagined. Elizabeth. I keep my promises! - Tell me what happened. - No. I know what I have to do. - No, Victor! You can't do this! - I love her. What would you do? - Leave her in peace. - My father would do this. Your father is dead. - Then there's nothing left to lose. - Nothing but your soul. Live! No! Live... Say my name. Please, say my name. Remember! You must remember. Elizabeth. That's it. That's it, you remember. That's it. Now, stand. Yes, yes... You remember! She's beautiful. - She's not for you. - Come! Elizabeth? Say my name! Elizabeth. Elizabeth! You're beautiful. - Say my name. - Elizabeth, come to me. Say my name, Elizabeth. Vic... That's right, Elizabeth. - Victor... - No, you're mine! - You're mine. - Leave her alone! - Get away. She's mine. - She said my name! She's mine! All that I once loved lies in a shallow grave, by my hand. I followed the trail he left for me. North. Always north. For months now... With one intent: To kill him. Now... ...I'm tired. I'm so very, very tired. What did he say? He's dead. He died raving about some phantom. What is it out there, Captain? He told me a story that... ...couldn't be true. He was mad, I think. A warming breeze! - The ice will melt yet. - And what then, Captain? - We head north. - No! Who are you? He never gave me a name. - Why do you weep? - He was my father. "And I gave my heart to know wisdom, madness and folly, - - and I perceived that all is vanity and vexation of spirit." "For in much wisdom is much grief, - - and he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow." "For God shall bring every work and every secret thing into judgement, - - whether it be good, or whether it be evil." - Captain... - He has a right to bear witness. Jesus, it's breaking up! Get back to the ship, Captain. Leave the damn torch! Come with us. I am done with man. Help! Captain! Where to now, Captain? Home. |
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