The Elixir of Life
by Honore de BalzacGenre: Suspense
Setting:
Format of Original Source: Short Story
Recommended Adaptation Length:
Candidate for Adaptation? Promising
EXCERPT:
The dying man smiled.
“I thank you for having brought singers and music! A banquet, young and beautiful women, with dark locks, all the pleasures of life. Let them remain. I am about to be born again.”
“The delirium is at its height,” said Don Juan to himself.
“I have discovered a means of resuscitation. There, look in the drawer of the table–you open it by pressing a hidden spring near the griffin.”
“I have it, father.”
“Good! Now take out a little flask of rock crystal.”
“Here it is.”
“I have spent twenty years in—-“
At this point the old man felt his end approaching, and collected all his energy to say:
“As soon as I have drawn my last breath rub me with this water and I shall come to life again.”
“There is very little of it,” replied the young man.
COMMENTS:
High drama, high emotions. On the supernatural side.
VIEW SOURCE DOCUMENT
BACK TO LISTINGS