Baron (Count) Dracula and Count (Baron) Frankenstein is a short story written by Stephen Marley. Released in 1998 in the Doctor Who anthology Perfect Timing, it is a sequel to Marley's Doctor Who novel Managra and shows various figures descending on Castle Dracula.
Characters[]
- Miles Dashwood
- Crocker
- Dracula
- Victor Frankenstein
- Van Helsing
- The creature
- Beatrice
Plot[]
The story begins with a brief summary of Europa - a land constructed out of European folklore and history in the 31st century.
A pub near Dracula's castle in a version of Transylvania is visited by Van Helsing. Curiously, the pub seems overly paranoid about vampires. Once Van Helsing leaves, it is revealed that the pub is staffed by actors putting on elaborate characters (presumably for the various Van Helsing reprises). They quickly put their character back on once another visitor arrives - Baron Victor Frankenstein, who is looking for his creature.
As Frankenstein, his creature, and Van Helsing make their way towards Castle Dracula/Frankenstein, Miles Dashwood and Crocker also travel towards the castle, seeking to rescue Dashing's girlfriend Beatrice from the clutches of Dracula (something that has happened rather frequently). The duo are attacked by a werewolf, which Miles dispatches rather easily, and enter the grounds of the Castle.
Miles leaves Crocker behind with his horse. To protect himself, Crocker seeks out the tomb of the guard vampire and stakes it through the heart. Unfortunately, while doing this, he accidentally breaks a water pipe.
Using the Dashwood's semi-vampiritic family dog, Gruff, Miles scales the walls of Castle Dracula just before Dracula can convert Beatrice into a vampire. Unfortunately, all of Miles' efforts to attack Dracula fail. Van Helsing soon enters the room - leading to Dracula fleeing. The two vampire hunters chase Dracula and find themselves in Frankenstein's lab, where the Baron and his creature are fighting. All three men soon join into the brawl before it is broken up by Crocker.
After breaking up the brawl, Crocker (who was formerly a detective) reveals that this version of Transylvania is actually built on an ancient film set used for Gothic movies and that the reprises of Dracula/Van Helsing and Frankenstein and his creature were based on actors from those movies (presumably Boris Karloff and Peter Cushing). Unfortunately, the personalities for the actors were swapped but Crocker promises that (as the actors were good friends) they will be able to come the best of friends. Everyone in the room then walks down the same pub, unaware of an angry mob descending on them.