British Comedy Guide

Bridie Dracula

This is an old sketch (a couple of years at least) that never quite worked. It was going to be a recurring character but I couldn't see much mileage in it. Anyway, I've finally come up with an ending but... is it any good?

INT. A SMALL LIVINGROOM - DAY

Here sits BRIDIE DRACULA, late teens, goth and supposed vampire. She is dressed in black, with black dyed hair, black makeup and nails. She is plump. She basically resembles a grumpy panda.

She sits slumped on a sofa. She watches TV. The curtains are drawn.

The voice of her mother comes from O.S.

MOTHER (O.S.)
Bridie, if you've got a minute could you pop down the shops? I need some sprouts.

BRIDIE
Mam, how many times do I have to tell yer, I can't go out there or I'll burst into flames. Vampires have to stay out of the sun, don't they?

MOTHER (O.S.)
Sorry dear, I didn't think. But it won't be dark for ages, and I want to get started on dinner.

BRIDIE
Oh fine, I'll just go to the shop will I, surrounded by innocent humans with their deliciously pulsing jugulars. Oh, I hope my supernatural animalistic urges don't get the better of me, Mam, eh? Did you think about that? Oh, there's a bloodbath down the corner shop but it's all right cos Mam's got her sprouts. God! You are so selfish sometimes.

Enter Mother.

MOTHER
You know, Bridie, I've been fair with you, I've been playing along, but you've got to face facts, love. You're not a vampire.

BRIDIE
Oh right. I suppose I'm completely delusional, am I?

MOTHER
You're just confused, love.

BRIDIE
Oh confused is it? So confused I might catch fire in the sunlight, is that what you're saying? Oh look, Bridie's on fire! Don't worry, she just a little perplexed this morning. Look at her furrowed little brow as it turns to dust.

MOTHER
You're overreacting.

BRIDIE
Overreacting? Have you ever been on fire?

MOTHER
Have you?

BRIDIE
Not even the point. Oh fine! Right! I'll go.

MOTHER
Put your coat on love, the sun's out but there's still a chill in the air.

BRIDIE
I'll have to put a big hat on, and sunglasses.

She puts these clothes on.

BRIDIE (CONT'D)
There! Hopefully that'll be enough protection.

MOTHER
If it makes you happy dear.

BRIDIE
I'm telling you, there's going to be a bloodbath.

MOTHER
I know dear, but we really do need some sprouts.

BRIDIE
God!

She stamps out of the front door, slamming the door as she goes.

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Was that Bridie leaving?

MOTHER
Yes, dear.

MAN'S VOICE
Did you tell her? She can't go on like this.

MOTHER
I tried, but you know what she's like. It's not easy you know...

Mother walks into the kitchen where her husband sits at the table. He is dressed in full DRACULA-STYLE VAMPIRE regalia.

MOTHER (CONT'D)
Telling your daughter she's adopted.

Dracula shrugs and bites into some toast.

End.

'Here sits BRIDIE DRACULA, late teens, goth and supposed vampire. She is dressed in black, with black dyed hair, black makeup and nails. She is plump. She basically resembles a grumpy panda.'

Aren't the Osbournes notoriously litigious?

I'm more worried about the pandas. Nothing they like more than a good lawsuit between bouts of not having sex.

There's not quite enough jokes in it to sustain the length so you might want to cut a few lines out. It's a nice reveal though and there are probably a few more sketches you could get out of the character.

INT. A LIVING ROOM - EVENING.

MICHELLE and GEOFFRY sit on the sofa drinking coffee. Michelle strokes a small black and white dog, Rory, on her lap.

MICHELLE
The neighbours have gone away for the weekend so I'm looking after Rory here.

GEOFFRY
I see. And did you get a new car?

MICHELLE
I pick it up Monday.

GEOFFRY
What did you choose?

MICHELLE
A red one.

GEOFFRY
No, what make and a model?

MICHELLE
Oh, a Fiat, I think.

There's an embarrassing pause. Geoffry is trying to move in on Michelle, but it's not working. Finally...

GEOFFRY
Is it a Panda?

Michelle holds up Rory to Geoffry.

MICHELLE
Duh! No Geoffry, it's a dog.

ENDS

Sorry, for hi-jacking just panda talk reminded me of this.... :)

I thought it was a shame that the 'grumpy panda' line was the thing that made me laugh most about the sketch, and it's wasted in scene description. It's enjoyable enough and the dialogue is wonderfully naturalistic but I'm not totally sold on it. It's a bit repetitive in the middle I think and the ending still isn't quite working. How about instead the man says (from the kitchen) something like "Is she still going on about being a vampire? She does talk some rubbish, that one" only for him to enter looking like the wolf man.

Quote: David Bussell @ February 20 2009, 2:21 PM GMT

How about instead the man says (from the kitchen) something like "Is she still going on about being a vampire? She does talk some rubbish, that one" only for him to enter looking like the wolf man.

I think this would be a good alternative.

How about through the window you see her tearing the throat out of a passing pensioner and a scene of panic and carnage ensue while mum and dad chat nicely.

orrrrrrrrrr

They see this and smile and Dad says "She's persistant though, I'll give her that." or something along those lines.

Quote: Stuart Doherty @ February 20 2009, 3:42 PM GMT

How about through the window you see her tearing the throat out of a passing pensioner and a scene of panic and carnage ensue while mum and dad chat nicely.

orrrrrrrrrr

They see this and smile and Dad says "She's persistant though, I'll give her that." or something along those lines.

That would be a nice capper for the ending I suggested.

Great suggestions, David and Stuart. This is why posting stuff up here is so useful. I think on the whole it needs more gags in the body of the sketch, and then a bit of thought as to the ending.

If the dad was a werewolf, would that be more open to continuing hi-jinks than the adopted daughter of a Vampire? The more I think about it, the more I think a run of sketches with Bridie could actually be ABOUT something ie one's expectations of life and wanting to please parents etc...

Highbrow!

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