INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE

by

Anne Rice

Based on the novel byAnne Rice

April 1992Second Draft

FOR EDUCATIONALPURPOSES ONLY

FADE IN:

EXT. DUBOCE STREET HILL SKYLINE (SAN FRANCISCO) - NIGHT

INT. BAR (SAN FRANCISCO) - NIGHT

UNDER CONTINUOUS ROARING ROCK MUSIC -- we see, but do nothear:

YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN

talking in groups or couples, some dancing, as lightsflash. Punk hairdos, heavy makeup. Chatter.

DAVID MALLOY, aged 25, well-dressed, leans close to auniformed police officer, holding a mike to the officer'slips, as the officer talks. The wire from the mike leadsto a small recorder on the bar. Malloy also wears oneearphone plug connected to this recorder, which he holdsto his left ear.

CUT TO:

ANOTHER PART OF BAR - BOOTH

Malloy interviews two beautifully-dressed women, whoobviously flirt with him, as they answer his questions,lean forward, talk into the mike. Malloy finishes hisdrink, puts the recorder in his pocket, takes out acigarette, looks for a door.

EXT. ALLEYWAY - MALLOY

Cigarette on lip, stumbles in darkness, amid garbage cansand debris, fumbling for lighter, then finally lighterflashes.

LOUIS is REVEALED for one instant only an inch fromMalloy, his hand on Malloy's shoulder. Faces almosttouching. Malloy stumbles away in shock.

Louis recedes more slowly into shadow.

MALLOYI'm sorry! I didn't know... youwere there.

He struggles to make out the figure but can't. Smokesnervously.

LOUISI know.

(CONTINUED)

2.

CONTINUED:

MALLOYReally, I didn't mean to run intoyou.

LOUISGo on. Pass by.

Malloy stamps out the cigarette, holds up the hand mike.

MALLOYYou don't want to tell me thestory of your life, do you?

He flicks on the recorder in his pocket. Eagerly.

MALLOYThat's what I do. I interviewpeople. I collect life stories.Sometimes I interview four or fivepeople a night...

He backs away further. Louis is perfectly still.

LOUISThe story of my life?

MALLOYYes, I've been collecting livesfor years. F.M. radio. K.F.R.C.In there I just interviewed agenuine hero, a cop who...

LOUIS(quietly, politely)

You'd have to have a lot of tapefor my story. I've had a veryunusual life.

MALLOYSo much the better. I've gotpockets full of tapes.

INT. ROOM (SAN FRANCISCO)

City skyline from Duboce Street hill.

Louis in shadow moves to the window, as behind him Malloysets the tape recorder on the table and sits in one oftwo straight chairs. Dim light burns on chest of drawersbeyond. As they talk, Louis keeps his back to the roomand Malloy.

(CONTINUED)

3.

CONTINUED:

MALLOYThis is where you live?

LOUISIt's just a room...

MALLOYSo how shall we begin?

(playfully, almost teasing)

What do you do?

LOUISI'm a vampire.

MALLOYAh, and you mean this literally, Itake it.

LOUISYes. I was waiting for you inthat alleyway. You or whoevercame out of that doorway. Andthen you began to speak.

Malloy laughs goodnaturedly.

MALLOYWell, what a lucky break for me.

LOUISPerhaps lucky for both of us.

Still in shadow he turns from the window and approachesthe table.

LOUISI want to tell you my story. Allof it. I'd like to do that verymuch. I'm glad we've met.

Malloy is uneasy as he studies the shadowy figure,fascinated but afraid.

MALLOYYou were going to kill me? Drinkmy blood?

LOUISYes, but you needn't worry aboutthat now. I told you in the alleyto go on. I was letting you passby. I let a lot of motals passby.

(CONTINUED)

4.

CONTINUED:

Louis stands opposite, hand on the chair.

Malloy is riveted.

MALLOYOh this is one I have to hear.You believe this, don't you? Thatyou're a vampire? You reallythink...

LOUIS(patiently)

We can't begin this way. I'mgoing to turn on the light.

MALLOYBut I thought vampires didn't likelight.

LOUISWe love it. I only wanted toprepare you.

Louis pulls the cord of the overhead naked light bulb.

LOUIS'S FACE

appears inhumanly white, eyes glittering. Inhuman or notalive. The effect is subtle, beautiful and ghastly.

MALLOYGood God!

He struggles to suppress fear and understand.

LOUISDon't be frightened. I want thisopportunity.

The light appears to go out by itself and suddenly Louisis in the chair, dimly lighted by the nearby lamp and thetape recorder has been turned on. The cassette isturning.

MALLOYHow did you do that!

LOUISThe same way you do it. A seriesof simple gestures. Only I movedtoo fast for you to see. I'mflesh and blood. Only not human.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

5.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (CONT'D)I haven't been for two hundredyears.

Malloy is speechless, frightened, yet enthralled.Spellbound.

LOUISWhat can I do to put you at ease?Shall we begin like DavidCopperfield? I am born, I growup. Or shall we begin when I wasborn to darkness, as we call it.That's really where we shouldstart, don't you think?

MALLOY(baffled)

You're not lying to me, are you?

LOUISNo. 1791 -- that's the year whenit happened. I was twenty-four --younger than you are now.

MALLOYYes.

LOUISBut times were different then. Iwas a man at that age. The masterof a large plantation just Southof New Orleans...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. LOUISIANA - DAY (1791)

A disheveled Louis, hair in pigtail, in deep pocket frockcoat, rides his horse through the fields of indigo,waving here and there to the African slaves at work.

He passes slave quarters and the distant colonial raisedcottage mansion of Pointe du Lac.

CONTINUE V.O. as he speaks he approaches a small parishchurch and graveyard. He dismounts, approaches a rec-tangular Greek style above ground tomb. The stone islike a doorway.

(CONTINUED)

6.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.)I had only just lost my wife inchildbirth. She and the infanthad been buried less than half ayear.

Inscriptions on the high rectangular tomb show the names:

DIANNE DE POINTE DU LAC 1763 - 1791INFANT JEAN MARIE 1791

Louis in mix of anger and sadness pushes away the vinesalready covering the head stone and stares bitterly atthe inscription which he touches with his fingers. Takesa flask from his pocket, takes a heavy drink. He sits,exhausted, against the grave, as if close to his wife andchild. Face tender and sad.

INT. DINING ROOM (POINTE DU LAC) - NIGHT

Table set with candelabra, gorgeous China.

Louis in soiled shirt and boots, sits at the head of thetable, staring at a plate full of steaming food.

YVETTE, pretty Mulatto slave, pours his glass full ofwine.

LOUIS (V.O.)I had everything a man could askfor. Yet a darkness had come thatwould not lift.

YVETTEPlease, Michie, eat your supper.Please. We pray for you everyday.

Louis doesn't move.

Yvette takes his linen napkin from the ring and tries toput it in his lap. He takes her wrist firmly. Risesfrom table.

LOUIS(patiently)

I know, ma chere. I need time.

EXT. RIVERFRONT STREET (NEW ORLEANS)

of gunwale sidewalks and loud, crowded riverfront tavernsfull of ruffians.

(CONTINUED)

7.

CONTINUED:

Louis in ragged lace and dirty brocade coat walksdrunkenly along the sidewalk. As he enters a crowded,smoky little tavern and blunders into a card game, flat-boat men and one FANCY-DRESSED GAMBLER eye him as a mark.He lays his money down on the table. They deal him in.

LOUIS (V.O.)Perhaps if I'd had time, I wouldhave come to my senses. Who cansay? I might have married again.As it was, I courted death, takingevery risk that I could.

As the men play cards two tavern waitresses approach --TERESA and SUZANNE. Suzanne throws her arms aroundLouis, and exchanging glances with the Fancy-DressedGambler, puts a powder into a drink of whiskey which shepushes toward Louis, eyeing him stealthily. Teresawatches all and looks down at Louis' hand of cards.

PAN OVER tavern scene -- Indians, men of color, blackAfrican freedmen, sailors and wenches.

LESTAT, a hooded figure in the corner, smiles frombeneath the shadow of his hood. Gleaming blue eyes.

CLOSE ON - LESTAT

He approaches the table as:

Louis lifts the glass of drugged whiskey. The hooded andcloaked figure of Lestat knocks it out of his hand,bumping into Suzanne and knocking Teresa roughly to oneside.

Louis rises, drunk, outraged.

LOUISHow dare you, monsieur.

Louis pulls out a pearl-handled pistol. Teresa clingsto him. Others gasp and give way, though eager to seewhat will happen.

Lestat, face half-covered by the hood but eyes gleaming,backs away through the crowd, eyes riveted on Louis,smiling. The crowd closes indifferently.

Louis is slightly dazed by Lestat's eyes. Then shudders,loses interest, sits down and picks up his cards.

8.

EXT. NEW ORLEANS STREET - COTTAGE - NIGHT

Louis and QUADROON PROSTITUTE emerge from the cottage,kissing fervently.

QUADROON PROSTITUTEDon't leave me, Michie Louis.

Fancy-Dressed Gambler appears from shadows.

FANCY-DRESSED GAMBLERFirst you call me a cheat, thenyou try to steal my woman.

The Gambler spins Louis around and goes to hit him.Louis blocks punch, knocks Gambler into the dirt.

Quadroon Prostitute shouts warning to Louis as theGambler draws his pistol.

LOUISGo ahead. Do it. I'm alreadydead. Finish the task, so theycan sing the Requiem.

Louis shrugs.

Gambler rises slowly and warily holding the gun on Louis.

GAMBLERThe Oaks; tomorrow morning atsix.

Louis laughs and shakes his head, no. He turns his back.

CLOSE ON - LOUIS'S FACE

thoughtful distant, and behind him --

GAMBLERCoward!

Louis staggers down the wood sidewalk. QuadroonProstitute comes after him, embracing him, and he kissesher firmly and gently pushes her away. She pleads withhim in French.

LOUIS (V.O.)My invitation was open to anyone.But it was a vampire thataccepted. I had never conceivedof such a thing.

Louis moves on into darkness among small colonial Frenchbuildings.

(CONTINUED)

9.

CONTINUED:

Rain falls. He looks up in it and lets it drench him.Over his shoulder, we see Lestat approach, hood stillshadowing his face.

ANGLE ON LESTAT'S BLUE EYES

Lestat's hands clamp on Louis's shoulder and then Louisstiffens, cries out and freezes, as Lestat's teeth gointo his neck.

Louis slips from Lestat's grasp, unconscious in the mudand rain.

INT. ROOM (SAN FRANCISCO)

Malloy and Louis facing each other.

MALLOYThat's how it happened?

LOUISNo. That is how vampires drinkblood. The Dark Gift oftransformation requires a gooddeal more as you'll see.Besides, this vampire wantedsomething from me. He came backfor it the following night.

INT. LAVISH FRENCH-FURNISHED BEDROOM AT POINT DU LAC(NEW ORLEANS)

Louis is delirious in four-poster bed, shrouded withmosquito netting. Female slave Yvette bathes his facewith a rag. She is crying. Other slave women hover inshadows. Overseer, a Quadroon male, stands weeping indoor.

Yvette puts out all candles save one by the bed.

LOUISMy poor Yvette. What will becomeof you -- all of you -- if I die?

YVETTEYou won't die, Michie. We needyou. You won't leave us here.

10.

SAME SCENE - LATER

Louis alone.

Candlelight flickers on face of bisque virgin.

Louis tosses and turns, dreaming, murmuring incoherently.Then he opens his eyes.

Lestat, exquisitely dressed in French clothing, standsbeside the bed smiling. In the light of the candle, wesee that he is not human; skin too white; eyes toobright. It is more subtle than earlier electric lightshot of Louis. Lestat looks amiable, even mischievous,but impossible -- an angel or a monster.

Louis rises, grabs for his pistol from the table andcocks it.

LOUISWho the hell are you? What areyou doing in my house?

LESTAT(looking around the lavish bedroom)

And such a beautiful house. Yoursis a beautiful life.

Louis takes aim and FIRES.

The BULLET passes through Lestat's slightly raised hand.It leaves a bloody wound. Lestat winces, studies thewound. It begins to heal as we watch.

Louis reaches for his sword, hanging over the end of thebed. He struggles to get up.

LESTATYou're not afraid of anything, areyou?

LOUISWhy the hell should I be? I warnyou again. Get out!

LESTATAre you going to put that swordthrough me, too? Ruin my beautifulclothes?

Louis rises up, jabs the rapier at Lestat who effort-lessly knocks it from his hand. It "appears" across theroom on the floor.

(CONTINUED)

11.

CONTINUED:

Louis slumps against the headboard, staring keenly atLestat. He is in a rage.

LOUIS(quietly and coldly)

If some voodoo priest sent youhere, say so. If you're thedevil, I'm all yours.

LESTATI don't believe in voodoo priestsor the devil. Neither do you.

Lestat sits on the side of the bed, facing Louis.

LESTATBut I do believe in eternal life.

Lestat holds up his bullet-wounded palm, and we see thevery last healing as it smooths out and is whole again.

LOUIS(coldly)

How was this done?

LESTATI love your courage. I even loveyour grief. You're no simplesoul, are you, my friend?

Louis is bewildered. Feels pain. Is becoming spellbound.

Sound of SEA RISING.

LESTATWhat if I told you I could giveyou back your old passion forliving, and that for those withcourage, living can be for alltime?

Sound of HEARTBEAT, DRUM IN TIME WITH IT...

DISSOLVE TO:

DARK SEA

An 18th century ship sailing with black ragged sails.Only two figures on the top deck, Lestat at the wheel andLouis, in his soiled night shirt watching him. In thissea are the ruins of buildings, temples, churches, seendimly in the midst.

(CONTINUED)

12.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (V.O.)Vampires, that's what we are.Creatures of darkness, only we seemore clearly in that darkness thanany mortal has ever seen!

Dead men and women float in the water. Louis is amazed.Dead woman and dead infant float by. A giant dead oakfloats by. Lestat holds the wheel steady. Lestat pointsto the horizon of white clouds stacked high under themoon. The two speak together but we do not hear theirwords.

EXT. PARISH GRAVEYARD (LOUISIANA) - NIGHT

Louis and Lestat stand before the tall crypt of Louis'swife and baby. Sounds of WIND. Lestat leads Louis fromthe graveyard into a dreamlike swampland.

DREAM SEQUENCE

thickens as we see HAZY fragments suggesting possibility:

A) Louis, beautifully-dressed, dancing with a woman.

B) Louis and Lestat together riding horses fast throughthe night.

LAUGHTER, MUSIC, HEARTBEAT INTERMINGLE.

PAN OVER an audience of bejeweled and wigged spectatorsall clapping and cheering. Return to:

INT. LOUIS'S BEDROOM

Louis sits against the bedstead staring intently atLestat.

Silence.

FOCUS ON LESTAT

seated on the bed.

Then:

LESTATYou have to ask me for this. Youhave to give your full consent,do you hear?

(CONTINUED)

13.

CONTINUED:

LOUISGive it to me!

LESTAT(seductive)

Vampires. We slay our brothersand sisters.

LOUISI want it!

LESTATAnd thrive on their blood.

LOUISGive it to me.

Lestat bends close as if to drink Louis's blood. Louisdoes not shrink back, but stares into his eyes. Lestatdraws back, stands up, leaves through French doors, thensays:

LESTATTomorrow night. I want you toprove yourself. I shall give youthe choice I never had.

(looks outside)The sun's coming. Watch itcarefully. If you join metomorrow, you'll never see the sunagain.

Louis sits dazed staring at the empty French windows.

The sun rises over the swamplands and the plantation. Sunfills the room, striking water pitcher, glass, mirror.

INT. RIVERFRONT TAVERN (NEW ORLEANS)

Crowds of gamblers and revelers carry on at tables andmakeshift bar.

Suzanne is slipping a poison into a man's drink and thenhelps him stagger into:

EXT. ALLEYWAY

There she robs the man and lets him fall down dead in themud.

14.

INT. TAVERN - LOUIS AND LESTAT

at a corner table are watching Suzanne as she re-enters.

LOUIS(fearfully, confusedly)

You mean now, with this knife?

He reveals the dagger inside his coat.

LESTATShe's an evildoer, my friend.I've made it easy for you. Don'tyou see what she's up to? If youcan kill her, the Dark Gift isyours.

Louis rises, uncertain, crazed, pushes through thecrowded tavern, approaches Suzanne and seduces her outinto the same alley.

EXT. ALLEYWAY

Louis stares in horror at the bloody knife in his hand asSuzanne falls back dead onto the ground.

Lestat appears over his shoulder, looking coldly at thedead woman. He puts his hand on Louis's shoulder.

LOUISWhat have I done?

LESTAT(reassuring)

It won't be this way when you'reone of us.

Louis drops the dagger on the ground and moves away fast.

EXT. POINTE DU LAC

Louis on a horse dismounts and walks towards the stepsleading up to the gallery. He is crazed with guilt.Suddenly, as he comes into light from lantern at foot ofsteps he sees --

LESTAT

sitting collected at the head of the steps.

15.

LOUIS

backs up as Lestat rises and descends the steps so fluidlyhe hardly appears to move. Light from lantern illuminatesLouis as:

LOUISYou are the devil, aren't you?That's who you are.

LESTAT(gently)

I wish I were. But if I were,what would I want with you?

LOUISI can't go through with this.

LESTATYou're perfect for it. You'rebitter, and you're strong.

LOUISBut why do you want me?

LESTATBecause you're as strong as Iwas... when I was alive. Andbesides, I like you. I like yourconscience. You remind me of...myself.

Louis takes out his flask and drinks. Fearlessly, drunk-enly, he turns and heads slowly for the nearby swamp.

EXT. PARISH CEMETERY - GRAVES OF LOUIS'S WIFE AND BABY

Louis stops in front of the crypt. Leans his foreheadagainst the stone.

Lestat appears beside him, radiant, beautiful.

LESTATYou really want to be with them?

LOUISYes. I killed that tavern girl.I deserve to die.

Lestat in quiet rage, raises his right fist and shattersinto large fragments the rectangular marble face stone,revealing two coffins on the upper and lower shelf.Insects swarm from opening.

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED:

The upper coffin slides out, cracks open, revealing half-rotted body of a woman, holding an infant, no longerrecognizable as individuals, a tangle of gruesome, rottedflesh, hair, eaten away lace, insects and worms crawlingover it.

Louis gasps and bends closer taking in the full horror.

LESTATIt's not your wife and child,Louis. It's death. Just thatsimple. Think and choose. Ithappens to everyone. Except us.

Lestat stares at him, smiling, becoming a hazy dreamlikevision, and then hyperclear. He draws closer and closer.We hear the FLASK fall and BREAK ON paving STONES.

Louis is again spellbound. Sound of HEARTBEAT.

Lestate appears angelic in his radiance.

LESTAT (V.O.)(patient and persuasive)

We shall be this way, always.Young as we are now. I'm solonely for a companion... But youmust ask. Do you want to or no?

Louis's senses are confused. He is entranced.

LOUIS(tentative and then sure)

Yes. Yes!

Lestat embraces Louis obscuring his face. HEARTBEAT growsLOUDER. DRUMBEAT comes, OUT OF SYNC, but almost together.

LOUIS'S POV

The moon, the clouds, the sky, and fragments of earliervisions, blurred figures are glimpsed, with earlier dreamimages. LAUGHTER and MUSIC rise and fall under theUNSYNCHRONIZED SLOWING BEAT of the HEART and the DRUM.

BACK TO SCENE

Lestat lets Louis fall down beside the broken crypt.

(CONTINUED)

17.

CONTINUED:

Lestat stands over him, once again radiant. Lestat speaksgently.

LESTATYou may go now.

Lestat lifts his hand to his lips and blows Louis a kiss.

LOUISNo! No, give it to me.

Lestat lifts his own right wrist to his teeth. Fangsslash his own flesh, blood falls. Louis rises to receivethe first drops into his open mouth. Lestat gathers himup, as Louis clamps his hand on Lestat's arm and sucksfrom the wrist.

HEARTBEAT AND DRUMBEAT are SYNCHRONIZED and grow STRONGERand pick up speed.

Louis is released. Staggers.

VAMPIRE VISION

The world around him (and the look of the film) is trans-formed; the swamp, the CRY of the night BIRDS, the moon,the clouds, all reflect his heightened vision. He looksdown in pity on the rotted woman and infant who appear toglitter and to be beautiful rather than repulsive. Hecloses the lid of the coffin, astonished at the ease ofit. Then lifts the entire coffin and returns it to itsslot in the crypt.

He turns and stares at Lestat whom he sees now with avampire's vision. Lestat's eyes are brighter. Hisbuttons are glimmering in the light.

Everything is clearer, brighter, containing more facetsof light and color.

LESTAT(lighthearted)

Stop staring at my buttons.Didn't I tell you it was going tobe fun? But we've work to do.

Lestat leads him into the swamp. Tiny CREATURES move orSING everywhere; leaves move as if growing before Louis'seyes. The water makes myriad OVERLAPPING sounds, and hecan see deep into it, to the creatures swimming in thedepths.

(CONTINUED)

18.

CONTINUED:

Louis stops, hand going around his waist as he feels acramp of pain.

LESTATYour body's dying, pay noattention. It will take twentyminutes at most.

Louis is horrified, but the beauty of moon flowers andbanana trees continues to distract him. The sky isviolet, flooded with luminosity. Again he feels pain.

LESTATCome, you're going to feed now.

LOUISI want a woman.

Lestat laughs and the laughter echoes like bells inLouis's ears.

LESTATThat doesn't matter anymore,Louis. You'll see. Come...

LOUIS'S DAZZLED POV - SWAMP

Small high ground. Camp of runaway slaves. Several sharea bottle of rum around the fire. Male slave rises, agorgeous hunk of flesh in the firelight, simply beautiful(Razor Rudduck) and goes into swamp to relieve hisbladder.

LESTAT (O.S.)They're all beautiful now. Men,women, the old, the young... simplybecause they are alive.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis sees.

The slave comes nearer.

Louis pushes past Lestat. Lestat is surprised but amusedand proud, and folds his arms to watch. Louis sees thetiny crucifix on a chain around the slave's neck. Stops.Lestat snatches the crucifix off the man and throws itaway, urging Louis towards him.

19.

SLAVE'S POV

Two gleaming white beings stand before him with devil'seyes.

BACK TO SCENE

As the slave tries to bolt, Louis embraces him easilythen his teeth into the powerful neck. They are newfangs, he has to really bite into the victim, but he isravenous to do it. Holds tight to the man as he drinks.

LOUIS'S POV

Trance as he drinks the blood. ECHO of Lestat's LAUGHTERas the swoon thickens. Distant firelight gets brighterand brighter.

INT. POINTE DU LAC - NIGHT

Main floor parlor and dining room with floorlength windowsto porches on all sides. Building for all its high ceil-ings is crude. Furnishing is lavish Parisian Louis XVI.

Lestat plays the harpsichord rapidly and exuberantly...an improvisation on Bach as Louis -- skin whiter, eyesbrighter -- wanders from room to room, dazzled by thecandles, the light on the furniture, the petit pointtapestry of the chairs, the draperies. Before a mirrorhe stops amazed to see his reflection. In the distance,over the MUSIC, Lestat laughs.

LESTATYes, that's you, my handsomefriend. And you'll look that wayuntil the stars fall from heaven!

Louis draws closer to the mirror, and sees his small, nowfully-developed fangs. He runs his tongue over them.

LESTATThose will make it easier nexttime to neatly puncture the flesh.We are well mannered immortals,always remember.

WILD MUSIC.

YVETTE

the mulatto slave, stands still in alarm on the porchgazing at Louis as he stares into the mirror.

(CONTINUED)

20.

CONTINUED:

Slowly Louis turns to her and is stupefied by her naturalbeauty.

The MUSIC gets LOUDER and more FRENZIED.

Louis moves out past the dazzled Yvette, along the --

EXT. GALLERY AND STAIRS TO GROUND

He moves out onto the grass and looks up at the stars.He begins to turn around. And suddenly he raises hishands to his lips and he roars. It's a long, horrified,grief-stricken roar. It DROWNS OUT the MUSIC.

INT. BASEMENT OF POINTE DU LAC

A brick walled storage room. Two coffins stand on thefloor. Lestat, holding a lantern, closes and bolts thedoor. Then turns to see --

LOUIS

a full-fledged vampire of high gloss -- sitting on a benchstaring at the coffin. Louis is stunned.

Lestat is apprehensive and protective of Louis. Heapproaches the nearest of the coffins and opens it. It isfitted with satin inside. Louis stares at it in shock.Then looks away sharply, staring at the lantern.

LESTATYou must get into it. The sun canburn you to ashes.

LOUISBut is it magical or merely ashelter?

LESTATIt's the best shelter that you canhave.

Louis rises, approaches the coffin, hands trembling as hepeers into it.

LESTATDon't be afraid. In moments you'llsleep as soundly as ever you sleptwhen you were living. You'll dream.And when you wake I'll be waitingfor you, and so will all the world.

(CONTINUED)

21.

CONTINUED:

Louis looks for assurance at Lestat's beaming face. Wecan see the fear behind Lestat's smile. The uncertainty.

LOUISYou told me something. Earlier.You said that you didn't have achoice. Was that true?

Lestat smiles bitterly and nods.

He points to the coffin.

CLOSE ON HIS HAND

pointing into the coffin.

LESTAT (O.S.)Some night I'll tell you thatstory, if you like. We have a lotof time now to talk to each other.

Louis gracefully crawls into the coffin, fearful yet fas-cinated, and is suddenly lying on his back as the lidcomes down with a bang. Total darkness. Sounds of hisbreathing, of his gasp. Of a whispered prayer:

LOUIS (O.S.)Dear God.

EXT. NEW ORLEANS

A big lavish drinking place with a raised stage.

Italian actors in buffoonish costumes act crude commediadell'arte on the stage.

Plantation owners in soiled brocade, lace, crooked wigs,some pretentious, some drunk, some merely young and happy,watch the show as tavern wenches move about.

CLOSE ON TERESA

entering. Looking about.

TERESA'S POV

Louis and Lestat at a small table watch the comedy.Lestat laughs uproariously at the antics of the actors,who trip or hit each other Punch and Judy style. Louisis quietly amused and amazed as much by the wine in hisuntouched glass, or the light on his boot. But he toowatches the stage.

22.

BACK TO SCENE

Teresa comes, offers the men two more drinks, even thoughtheir wine is untouched. Sits in Lestat's lap.

Lestat winks at Louis who is enthralled.

Teresa lifts the fresh glass to Lestat's lips as he flirtswith her.

TERESACome on, mon cher. The best inthe colony. Once you taste this,you never go to any other tavernagain.

LESTATYou think so, cherie? But what ifthat's not what I want to drink.

Lestat sinks his teeth into her neck as he looks playfullybeyond her at Louis who is amazed and amused in spite ofhimself.

ANTICS ON STAGE

Laughter rocks the tavern.

Lestat slips the dying, dazed Teresa onto Louis's lap.Louis studies her but does not drink. Gently he puts herin the chair beside him, and folds her hands on the table.She appears drunk. He wants to laugh but is ashamed. Noone notices. Lestat lays gold coins on the table, andtouches Louis's knee.

LESTATLet's get out of here!

Delighting in their own mischievousness, they rush out.

EXT. STREET

Louis is suddenly distracted by the moon moving beyondthe clouds. Distant MUSIC from a ball room. The breeze.

LESTATCome, let me show you a lovely game.

EXT. BALLROOM

Quadroon house of ill fame. Beautiful dark-skinnedquadroons, octaroons, mulattresses are dancing with whitemen as a mulatto or quadroon orchestra plays.

(CONTINUED)

23.

CONTINUED:

Men and women dance minuet. But even more men and womenmerely cluster everywhere, talking and laughing andflirting. Drinking wine.

Lestat spies a pretty dark girl, neglected.

LOUIS(in a whisper)

Have you ever been caught?

LESTATOf course not. It's so simple.You almost feel sorry for them.Now watch me. This is called theLittle Drink. You take itwhenever you wish.

Music rises and becomes faster as Lestat embraces darkgirl, startling her with sudden kiss on the neck, hiseyes closing for one minute, and then leaving her dazedbefore she even knows she's been bitten.

Lestat embraces a red-haired yellow-skinned girl, turningher in a wild embrace, and giving her the same "littlebite." Then goes to an elderly quadroon, a chaperone, andflirting with her, takes "the little drink" from her.

Lestat backs up next to Louis. Lestat is dazed. Thereis a faint sheen of blood on his lips.

LESTATOh, it takes skill, and restraint!But it's worth it. It's fun.

Louis is suddenly drawn to a victim.

Toinette, a beautiful girl with cold eyes, who has beenstaring at him all this while. Very pale, very calcula-ting, and very luscious.

Louis is dazed with hunger. Moves towards her, embracesher and leads her into --

ALCOVE

lighted by candles.

Louis kisses her lips and then sinks his teeth in herthroat. The swoon takes him into the realm of light andmusic only.

Suddenly Lestat pulls him away.

(CONTINUED)

24.

CONTINUED:

Toinette lies against a chair, dead.

LESTATYou need a little practice.

Louis stares at the body.

LESTATBut never mind. She was amerciless little schemer. Thetown is thick with them.

Lestat leads Louis out into the night.

LOUISBut how do you know? All I tastedwas... innocence.

LESTATFrom her thoughts. Couldn't youread her thoughts?

Louis shakes his head.

LESTATYou can't hear anything they'rethinking?

LOUISNo. I hear no thoughts fromanyone.

Lestat considers, then shrugs. He throws his arm overLouis's shoulder and they walk together.

LESTATThe Dark Gift is different foreach of us. But one thing istrue of everyone. We become morepowerful as we go along. You'lllearn to pick the evil ones.

LOUISYes, I see things in the faces ofmen and women...

LESTATOh, I'm not the right hand of God,mind you. Nor the local constableor judge. It's just thatevildoers are easier. And theytaste better.

25.

EXT. GIANT OAK TREE BESIDE COLONIAL MANSION

Lestat leads Louis with preternatural ease up high intothe tree, then onto the gallery of the mansion. Theypeer through glass doors into huge library.

LOUISYou hoped I'd be better all this,didn't you?

Lestat interested in the library inside.

LESTATI didn't know, to tell the truth.And you're doing very well.

Lestat easily pries open the door and enters. A man dozesby the fire in a chair. Lestat moves all around himsoundlessly, and smiles as he takes books: TristramShady, Robinson Crusoe, Moll Flanders. He tosses avolume of Byron to Louis, who catches it easily, wary ofthe sleeping man, who never stirs. They leave, the manstill dozes.

INT. POINTE DU LAC - LOUIS'S PARLOR

Lestat sits paging through his new books.

LESTATWonderful new novels from England.Remember, you can move easilyaround them without making a soundthat they can hear. Look, henever even read any of thesebooks, he never cut the pages.

Louis follows Lestat out onto the gallery of Pointe DuLac. They look out over the river.

LOUISBut what are the rules? What isit we can not do? What are we,really?

Lestat looks at the river:

LESTATWhat in the world makes you thinkthere are any rules for anyone,Louis? We're vampires, I've toldyou. You must find your own wayon the Devil's Road, as I did.

26.

EXT. STREET

Louis and Lestat argue as they hurry past riverfronttaverns and lighted colonial houses.

LOUISBut surely you must know somethingabout the meaning of it all, youmust know where we come from, whywe...

Lestat in rage comes to a halt.

LESTATWhy? Why should I know thesethings? Look.

He points into the tavern.

LESTATDoes anybody in there know theanswers? Go to the priest. Askhim!

LOUISBut the vampire who made you.What happened. What did he tellyou? There must be some purpose.

LESTAT(laughs in spite of himself)

Purpose? Louis, what purpose wasthere to your life last week, orlast month, or last year?

Lestat rushes along, impatient, hating this discussion.

LOUISI cursed God that he took my wifeand my child from me. But Inever doubted...

Loses conviction. Louis questions himself silently.

LESTATShall I make up stories for you?

LOUISNo. But you must have learntsomething from the one who madeyou.

LESTATI learnt less than you've learntfrom me. I wasn't given achoice, remember?

(CONTINUED)

27.

CONTINUED:

He comes to a halt before a little theatre. Sounds ofLAUGHTER, CATCALLS, CLAPPING from inside. Postersannounce a Shakespearean play by English actors.

Lestat caught by the SOUND moves inside.

INT. SMALL WOODEN BUILDING

Smoky footlamps reveal crude Macbeth and Lady Macbetharguing with each other. Crowd talks, eats, drinks,yells for more action. Actors ignore them.

CLOSE ON LESTAT

With Louis beside him.

LOUISHow did it happen? Where?

EXT. WOODEN BUILDING

Lestat angrily shoves Louis back out into the night.Louis is vulnerable.

LESTATListen, my beloved fledgling.I'll say this once and once only.I've no secrets to tell you. I'venever laid eyes on God or theDevil. And pity the Devil if Iever do. You have received fromme all I have to give!

Louis is wounded, but quiet. Lestat goes on morepatiently.

LESTATThe one who made me was mad.That's what often happens to theold ones. He'd lasted a few morehundred years than most of them.And he wanted an heir before heburnt himself on his own pyre. Heleft me there to witness it.Newborn. There was no one thereto guide me as I've guided you.

Louis tries to accept this, bowing to Lestat's anger.Lestat walks on and Louis follows.

Lestat talks as we see:

28.

ENGLISH STAGE

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth engaged in conversation.

LESTAT (V.O.)You want to know how it happened?I was an actor. Oh, nothing sovery great. Just the boulevardsin Paris, but if you'd come fromthe provinces as I had, theyseemed splendid enough.

INT. BOULEVARD THEATRE (PARIS)

Lestat as a human (far less lustrous) plays Lelio in theCommedia. He bows and introduces himself to the audience.We can not make out his words, only that he is making themlaugh. He pretends to be choking on the smoke from thefootlamps. Then goes back into character. More laughter.

LESTAT (V.O.)You might say he picked me for myyellow hair. Or perhaps becausein my country youth, I'd been agood hunter. And we must be goodhunters, we vampires. We must likethe hunt, or we can't survive.

CLOSE ON LESTAT

Transfixed on the stage.

HIS POV - MAGNUS

An old male vampire heavily cloaked, with a face almostlike a skull, peering from the audience at Lestat.

LOUIS (V.O.)So it's passed on, one to another,century after century. And heleft you no secrets except thatfire can destroy you. And so canthe sun.

LESTAT (V.O.)Jewels, that's what he gave me,and a coffin such as you'll neversee in this damned wilderness.And a tower, yes, and clothes.He left me such fine clothes. Weare the secret, Louis. Maybe thisis all a secret. Maybe Godhimself has forgotten we're allhere.

29.

INT. POINT DU LAC - DINING ROOM - ANOTHER NIGHT

Louis XVI chairs, table, sideboard. Crystal glassesgleam on sideboard.

Louis sits at the table watching Lestat as Lestat paces.

LOUISWhat if we are wounded, a stakedriven through the heart, a bullet...

Lestat is vaguely amused.

LESTATWe heal. You saw this for yourselfthe night you aimed your pistol atme. It may take time but we heal.Only the destruction of our bodiesbrings us to the finish. Crosses,garlic, all that rubbish has nopower over us, naturally. We cannot turn to mist and pass throughkeyholes. We are not magicalcreatures, really, merely luckylittle devils, so to speak.

LOUISPreternatural.

LESTAT(kindly)

Good word. Come with me. It'sbeen weeks since we've huntedtogether. Let's go...

LOUISHow long can I go without feeding?One night? Two?

LESTAT(impatient but kind)

You'll have to find that out foryourself. Never let yourselfbecome so weak that you can'tfeed. That's an endless livingdeath in itself.

Louis ponders.

LESTATAre you trying to tell me youdon't like it? Are you trying tosay that every time the bloodtouches your tongue you don'tfeel that pleasure.

(CONTINUED)

30.

CONTINUED:

LOUISYou know I do. But I didn't seethings clearly before. I didn'tsee them for what they are.

LESTATAnd now you know what life is andyou have eternity to enjoy it.

LOUISI have eternity to destroy it.

LESTATLouis, there's nothing beyond yourreach now. Stop grieving foryourself. And for your victims!

Louis does not respond.

LESTATLook, you need a littlerefreshment. Here, let me showyou another little trick. Yourtrouble is you don't experimentenough on your own.

He picks up one of the crystal glasses, holds it to thelight of the candelabra and then sets it before Louis.He turns, one eyebrow raised, listening, and then hedarts too fast for us to see through the French door,curtains closing behind him.

Louis gasps as Lestat appears before the table, holding along-tailed gray rat. The rat appears paralyzed, asLestat tears open its throat with his own teeth, and letsthe rat's blood gush into the crystal glass. Lestatbegins a low, helpless laugh. Absently he lays the ratto the side on the lace tablecloth.

Louis is impressed in spite of himself. Smiles, shakeshis head. Lestat hands the glass to Louis. Louis drinksthe blood, and stares at it in surprise.

LESTATI know. It gets cold so fast.

LOUISWe can live from this, the bloodof animals?

Lestat shrugs.

(CONTINUED)

31.

CONTINUED:

LESTATI wouldn't call it living. I'dcall it surviving. And you mayhave to do, now and then. You'dbetter know the trick if ever youfind yourself for a month on aship at sea, unless you mean toslay all the passengers and thecrew.

Louis downs all the blood in the glass. His eyes aresuddenly bloodshot. He wipes his mouth.

He stares at the body of the rat.

Rat is soft and beautiful to behold. Very delicate littlehands and feet; lovely eyes.

LESTATIt doesn't disgust you, does it?

Lestat strokes the belly of the dead rat, studying it,smiling.

LESTATThere's nothing in the world nowthat doesn't hold some...

LOUIS... fascination.

LESTATYes. And I'm restless. I don'twant to spend another eveninghere. There's an opera in NewOrleans tonight. A real trueFrench opera.

LOUISBut we can live on animals. Wecan live without taking humanlife.

LESTATYes, I suppose we can. But howlong do you think you can resistmortals? Give it a try.

LOUISI can't take blood from mortalswithout killing. You know that.

(CONTINUED)

32.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT(imploring)

But don't you see, it's the deathyou want, as surely as the blood.It's the life that flows with itwhen you drink.

LOUISMy God. I know. I do see. Iknow. I know.

LESTAT(patient but frightened)

I won't stay here engaging in thissophomoric prattle. You have allof them out waiting for you. Takethe evildoers if you must. Mondieu, are there not hundreds inthis miserable little place? Andwhat a paradise they make for us,Louis, with their dancing anddrinking till dawn?

LOUISWasn't it that way in Paris? Whydid you come here?

Lestat laughs beguilingly as he rises.

LESTATIn Paris, a vampire has to beclever for many reasons. Here,all one needs is a pair of fangs.

He becomes frustrated at Louis, snatches his cloak and tri-corne hat from the chair and turns to go. Louis saysnothing.

Lestat, stubborn and conflicted, leaves.

Sound of LESTAT'S SINGING an Aria in Italian as he leaves.Then sound of the HORSE RIDING AWAY.

Yvette, the slave woman enters.

YVETTEMichi Louis? You don't want anysupper?

Louis stares at the glass with its thin residue of blood.He laughs soundlessly.

(CONTINUED)

33.

CONTINUED:

LOUISNo, ma cher. I need nothing now.Is all well at Pointe du Lactonight?

Yvette draws closer. Light reveals her beauty.

YVETTEWe worry about you, master. Whendo you ride the fields? How longis it since you've been to theslave quarters? Have you seen thenew baby born to Charlotte? Whydo you let the overseer whip somany so often? Always before youlooked after us.

Louis listens, but in spite of himself he is gettinghungry. Yvette looks more and more succulent. Throatlong and slender. Skin gorgeous.

LOUIS(dazed monotone)

Leave me alone now, Yvette. Goout.

YVETTEI will not go unless you listen tome. Send away this new friend ofyours. This Monsieur de Lioncourt.The slaves are frightened of him.They are frightened of you.

LOUIS' POV

She approaches the table, skin gleaming, but her voice isno longer audible, only her beating heart. As she placesher hands on the table to lean forward, she sees the deadrat lying on the tablecloth.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis' hunger crests.

Yvette, staring at the rat and then at Louis, starts toscream. He upsets the wine glass as he rises and clampshis hand over her mouth.

The GLASS rolls to the floor and BREAKS.

In horror, he realizes he has accidentally broken herneck. He stares at her dead eyes, and he isgriefstricken.

(CONTINUED)

34.

CONTINUED:

For one moment he is tempted to drink her blood, thenhorrified by the incestuous and monstrous idea. Hecradles her as he would a precious friend, overcome withgrief.

LOUISYvette, my poor faithful Yvette.

EXT. SWAMP - NIGHT

Louis watches the body of Yvette sink deep into the muck.He is utterly dejected. He hears SOUNDS, turns, seesslaves at a distance spying on him.

He walks back to:

EXT. SLAVE QUARTERS

A row of brightly lighted little pitched roof bungalows.Not turning his head he walks past the slaves in thedarkness of the porches as all greet him softly with aBonsoir, Michie. He makes no answer. He stands lookingat:

MANSION OF POINTE DU LAC

The rich house with all candelabra and chandelierslighted, all windows open. He stands rapt by the vision.Behind him slaves gather, uneasy, whispering.

Suddenly galvanized, Louis rushes up the stairs, snatchesup the candelabra and sets fire to the drapes. He goesfrom window to window doing it.

SLAVES' POV - MASTER

setting fire to the house.

BACK TO SCENE

They rush up the stairs, with shouts of "Stop him, he'smad."

INT. BEDROOM

Louis stands surrounded by flames, ready to be consumed.The night is full of SHOUTS and SCREAMS and the planta-tion BELL CLANGING. GLASS BREAKS. Louis turns to see --

(CONTINUED)

35.

CONTINUED:

Lestat stepping through the broken window. Louis squintsas he looks beyond at the paling sky.

LESTATYou fool, what have you done?

LOUISIt's almost sunrise. You promisedme that the sun or the fire couldkill me! Now leave me, saveyourself.

Lestat pulls Louis' left arm around his shoulder, as ifhefting a drunken companion. Carrying Louis, he rushesout on the porch and leaps over the railing to the ground.

He climbs on his horse, lifting Louis before him. Louiscovers his eyes as the barest light of morning fills thesky. He slumps forward over the horse's neck.

Slaves rush towards them, but Lestat drives them backeffortlessly with several swipes of his riding crop andrides out the road and out the gates. The sky is violetwith the coming dawn.

EXT. LARGE GRAVEYARD

With many large crypts. Louis, now unable to uncover hisface, is being carried over Lestat's shoulder.

LOUIS'S POV

Passing crypts, light coming in orange flashes. Sound ofRUSTED HINGES. Then darkness.

INT. CRYPT

Louis is flung down on the floor of a large crypt.Lestat fits the iron door back into place and secures it.The gleaming burning light is gone.

LOUISWhere are we?

LESTATWhere do you think, Louis? We'rein a nice filthy cemetery. Doesthis make you happy? Is thisfitting and proper enough?

Louis laughs softly.

(CONTINUED)

36.

CONTINUED:

LOUISWe belong in hell.

LESTATAnd what if there is no hell, orthey don't want us there? Everthink about that?

Lestat lies down in the shadows beside him.

LESTAT(defeated)

Never mind, don't answer.Sometimes this is close enoughto hell as it is.

INT. INN (NEW ORLEANS)

Lavish little supper chamber with coffered bed, fancyFrench furniture. Open window to rooftops of colonialcity.

Louis is in fresh clothes and sits calmly in a chair.Lestat before the mirror fusses with his lace collar.

LOUISWhy did you bother to save me?You can make another. Someonebetter than me.

LESTATYou're too strong. That's yourtrouble. You feel too deeply.You see too much.

LOUISYou spoke of old ones, you saidin time they went mad. Is thatwhat will happen to you and tome?

LESTATSome do, some don't. There arelegends of those who've livedfor a millennia. Why can't welive for eternity. We have thechance!

Lestat pauses, perplexed, plunged into thought.

(CONTINUED)

37.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI'm leaving you. I'vedisappointed you, Lestat. Andthere's no reason for me toremain. You have no need of me.You never did.

Lestat looks sad.

LESTAT(compassionately)

And where are you going? Youthink you'll find others in theNew World? Or will you attemptthe voyage to Europe? Supposethe ship sinks, Louis, and youand your coffin are plunged tothe bottom of the sea. You won'tdie, you know. You'll lie there,struggling forever. And you'llhave forever to realize all yourquestions were in vain.

Louis rises and moves to the door.

LOUISI'm sorry I've failed you. Itold you I wanted it, and I waswrong. I'm going. Where, how --I don't know the answers. I'lllive from the blood of animals, Iswear it. I shall never takeanother human life again. AndI'll search... for what I can'tsay...

Lestat shakes his head, trying to suppress his dismissalof this. He is losing Louis and afraid.

LOUISThere's nothing more you canteach me, you've said so yourself.

LESTATAnd you think there are others whocan teach you things? That you'llfind them? You don't understandabout the others. They're lonepredators, jealous of theirterritory. They'll see youcoming. You'll be a mark.

LOUISAll of us lost... lone wolves.

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED:

LESTATNow that is the truth. And allwe have is the companionship wecan give each other. That's allanyone has, Louis. Go out, walkthe city streets, peer throughthe windows at the couples intheir beds.

Lestat takes Louis by the shoulders and tries to get himto listen. He hovers like an angel whispering in Louis'ear.

LESTATIt's part of our nature tomeditate, to seek, to see through... to understand.

Louis tries to remain resolute. Does not reply.

LESTATWe are creatures of the earth, myfriend. And yes, like a thousandother species we kill so we maylive. This world is a savagegarden. We're no different fromother beasts of prey.

Louis looks at Lestat. Sincerely:

LOUISAdieu, Lestat. I'm sorry.

LESTATIn the old world, they called itthe dark gift, Louis. And Igave it to you.

LOUISI know. Forgive me. It was allan error, a tragic error from thestart.

EXT. STREET (NEW ORLEANS) - NIGHT

Deserted narrow muddy streets of small, pitched roofbungalow cottages. Louis walks alone, seeing things in adaze.

He sees a white X marked on an empty house.

A MAN with a lantern lifts it as he passes.

(CONTINUED)

39.

CONTINUED:

MANDon't go that way, monsieur. It'sthe plague, monsieur. Go back theway you come.

Louis smiles at those words, repeating them softly.

LOUIS... the way I came.

He walks on. More houses marked with X's. MOANS andCRYING come from the houses. Sometimes only the soundof someone GASPING for BREATH.

A black cat darts past Louis. Crazed with hunger, hestares at it, watches it speed away. He trembles. Hewalks on.

A CHILD'S CRYING becomes LOUDER and LOUDER. Gradually,we realize it's a child of perhaps six, crying inexhaustion and fear. It is coming from a dark house.

Louis pauses before the house. The child is sobbing.

CLAUDIA (CHILD) (O.S)'Mama, please, wake up. Mama,I'm frightened, please...

LOUIS' POV

CLAUDIA, in a ragged little gown tugs at the dead body ofher mother, crying softly and wearily.

CLOSE ON the dead mother. Her eyes are being eaten awayby ants.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis gasps in horror.

Claudia turns. She is a radiant doll or angel as shestretches out her hands to Louis.

CLAUDIAMonsieur, please, help us. Wehave to get to the ship. Mypapa's waiting for us. Please,monsieur, help me. Wake Mamma,please.

Louis stares past her at the dead mother.

(CONTINUED)

40.

CONTINUED:

Instinctively, he gathers the child to him, protectively,looking back at the spectacle of the mother's faceswarming with ants.

Claudia chokes and sobs against his shoulder.

He turns her face upward looking at her, stricken withpity, and then the hunger glazes his eyes. Her cryingbecomes louder yet ever more distant, and we see onlyher beauty, her cheek, her throat.

Louis closes his eyes, hand touching her throat, andslowly he bends to kiss it, and then we see his fangs forone instant as he eases them into the flesh.

The CRYING DIES away as Louis goes into the swoon.Gradually another sound replaces it.

LESTAT'S LAUGHTER, GROWING LOUDER AND LOUDER and moredistinct.

Suddenly, Louis breaks away, caught redhanded, the childin his arms. He sees Lestat laughing in the doorway,pointing at him, slapping his knee, and laughing again.

LESTATAh, my philosopher, my martyr.'Never take a human life again.'Well, really, you must admit it'sterribly funny. Or is it merelytouching? I'm not sure.

Louis stares down at the unconscious Claudia in horror,then lets her slip gently into a chair. Shamefully hewipes at his mouth, sees the streak of blood on the backof his hand, and the tiny wounds on her throat.

Lestat rushes past him. He snatches up the dead motherfrom the bed, and begins to dance with her in greatcircles, humming and talking. Her head falls back.Black water flows from her mouth.

LESTATWell, let's make a party of itshall we? The child's still alive,Louis. Look at her, you've leftsome life in her, and some bloodtoo.

Louis flees into the street.

Lestat runs behind him.

(CONTINUED)

41.

CONTINUED:

Men with cart of corpses pass by, peering into eachhouse.

LESTATCome back, Louis. Come back. It'sonly your vampire nature.

Louis runs. Lestat follows taunting him.

LESTATLouis, do you want me to go backfor her?

Louis scales a wall and runs from rooftop to rooftop,Lestat following him easily, dancing alongside of him.

LESTATOh, come on, it's not so veryshameful! She'd have died of theplague if you hadn't taken her.Oh, Merciful Death, how you dolove your precious guilt.

Louis turns on Lestat and attacks him with all hisstrength. They fight, Louis again and again assaultingbravely, Lestat easily blocking the blows.

Finally Lestat's hand rises.

BLACKNESS.

INT. INN

Window open to the setting sun. Night comes over thecity.

A maid enters, puts a lighted candle on the table.

Full darkness outside.

CUT TO:

LESTAT AND LOUIS

seated by the candle. Lestat is talking.

LESTATWhat can I tell you? How can Imake you understand?

LOUISTalk to me. Where did you comefrom? How did it happen with you?

DISSOLVE TO:

42.

EXT. LESTAT'S CASTLE IN AUVERGNE (FRANCE 18TH CENTURY)

Snow storm.

LESTAT (V.O.)We were country lords. Proud,penniless, the old order who neverwent to Paris to wait hand and footupon the king. If I didn't hunt, westarved in our ancestral castle.

INT. GREAT HALL

Three tradesmen from the village stand with platters ofhot food before --

Lestat, a crudely dressed Robin Hood style lord, dappledwith snow, walks in with two slain wild rabbits over hisshoulder. Stops, sees the laden table, and acknowledgesthe tradesmen with a bow.

LESTAT (V.O.)(bitterly)

Unless the villagers fed us,bringing their gifts of roast pigand wine, as if they were tributesand not charity to keep us alive.

CLOSE ON GABRIELLE

at nearby hearth in much mended and faded finery. Pale,obviously ill.

Lestat approaches her, lays down the game, and thenkisses her on the mouth.

Lestat and GABRIELLE gesture for the tradesmen to placethe food on the table, and we see --

LESTAT'S FATHER

blind, dignified, seated at the table, making a grandoisegesture of acceptance as the villagers back away. Twobrothers also watch stiffly and uncomfortably, giving thevillagers nods of thanks.

Lestat leaves with the villagers, talking together,escorting them to the doors. They talk.

LESTAT (V.O.)And when a pack of wolves beganterrifying the villagers, it wasI who had to hunt and kill them.I was the only one left who couldsit a horse, the only Lord whocould hunt our ancestral lands.

43.

CLOSE ON BLIND FATHER

groping for cup of wine. Two brothers begin to dine aswell.

EXT. SNOW-COVERED VALLEY

Lestat, in crude garments, with crude weapons -- flail,old broad sword, musket in its belt, flintlock rifle --rides his mare through the deep snow. Behind him plodtwo giant mastiffs with spiked collars.

LESTAT(singing)

Come out, brother wolf. I'mwaiting. I'm waiting for you all.

Whistles as he rides on, enjoying wind and blue sky.

Two wolves appear, rushing from the dark woods towardshim.

Lestat is galvanized, takes aim with FLINTLOCK RIFLE andbrings one down as the other charges and kills one dog.

Lestat has no time to reload. He aims the MUSKET, woundsthe wolf, but the dog is dead. Then to his horror --

Three more wolves suddenly come running from far ahead.

LESTAT (V.O.)It was an ambush. They are suchclever animals. And I should haveknown. I'd hunted them before.

Lestat fights at the wolves with his sword, killing athird, as the other one attacks and kills his other dog.The wounded wolf and the last of the five come back,charging him, striking his horse, and wounding thehorse's hind quarters so that it falls.

Lestat slips out of the saddle. He grabs the flail fromhis belt. He strikes the wounded wolf and kills it. Thelast wolf, very canny, merely watches him.

Lestat looks at the nearby forest. It's too far. Thebranches are too high. Nevertheless he backs towardsit, staring down the wolf who begins to pace.

Lestat turns and starts to run. The wolf chases.

Lestat pivots and rams the sword right through the wolf'sthroat. In exhaustion he collapses, arm over the warmbody of the wolf, staring back at...

(CONTINUED)

44.

CONTINUED:

His HORSE emitting terrible WHINNIES as it tries to standup but cannot.

LESTAT (V.O.)How did I slain the entire pack?Another man might have lost hislife then. It seemed the greatestvictory, but afterwards it cameto mean so much more.

Lestat reloads his MUSKET and executes his horse.Bitter. Heartbroken.

INT. GREAT HALL

with table and fire.

Lestat and Gabrielle greet THREE VILLAGERS. Villagerspresent Lestat with beautiful red velvet cloak lined withwolf fur.

VILLAGER #1From the wolves, my lord, thoseyou slew with your own hand.

LESTATThank you, Antoine, thank you all.

Lestat turns, sees four villagers filling the table withmeat and drink.

As villagers leave, Lestat slumps into a huge medievalstyle chair by the fire.

Gabrielle comes to him. He rises, but she bids him tostay seated and she sits on the broad arm of the chair.He is alarmed at her pale appearance. He goes to kissher. She pushes him away.

GABRIELLEListen to me, my youngest and mydearest. Listen well. I knowwhy you don't leave here...

LESTAT(resigned)

I'd never leave you, Mother.Don't talk of such a thing.

She takes gold from her pockets. Lestat is shocked atthe sight of so many real gold coins.

(CONTINUED)

45.

CONTINUED:

GABRIELLEThis is all I have left of myfamily's money. You're to takeit, do you hear me? You're to goto Paris and make your fortune.

Lestat tries to protest.

GABRIELLE(forcefully)

Lestat, I'm dying. I can't livethrough another winter. Now youmust do this for me. Go to Parisso that I know you are happy andaway from here as my eyes close.

Again, Lestat tries to protest. Gabrielle looks almostcruel.

GABRIELLEGive me this gift, my son. Formy sake, leave tonight.

LESTAT (V.O.)I could hardly bear to leave her.But I couldn't deny her either.That she knew.

Gabrielle kisses him, slightly intimate for mother andsone, but very full of love.

RETURN TO INN

Lestat talking to Louis who is rapt.

LESTATIt was the boulevard theatres Iwent to. I loved them. No decentlord would have ever acted upon astage but what did that matter tome? Thanks to my mother I wasfree.

INT. RENAUD'S THEATRE

Lestat in the red cloak with its wolf lining, cavortsbefore the audience as the younger lover in the play. Hewinks as he chases the beautiful heroine. A buffoonishold man with a fake nose suddenly blusters between them,grabbing the heroine, who takes one look at him and fleesinto Lestat's arms.

Roars of laughter from the audience.

46.

CLOSE ON LESTAT'S FACE

as he sees in the audience, third row:

MAGNUS

A skull-like visage with dark, gleaming eyes, watchinghim from beneath a dark hood of black velvet.

LESTAT

in a trance senses danger.

SOUNDS OF AUDIENCE GROW FAINT.

CLOSE ON MAGNUS

MAGNUS (V.O.)Wolf killer.

SOUNDS OF THEATRE GROW FAINTER. Magnus smiles.

LESTAT

breaks into a sweat.

LOUIS (V.O.)He could read minds as you could.

LESTAT (V.O.)Oh, yes!

INT. ATTIC ROOM (PARIS) - NIGHT

Lestat and two actresses and actors sleep on pallets onthe floor. Snow falls outside. Lestat wakes, shivering,hearing.

MAGNUS (V.O.)Wolf killer.

The WINDOW SHATTERS. Lestat is dragged by a hoodedfigure out of the bed, out of the window and up into theswirling snow. He fights like mad, even biting at thewhite hand that holds him. We hear Magnus's LAUGHTER.The HOWLING STORM.

47.

INT. TOWER ROOM - FUNERAL PYRE

Lestat newly made a vampire with blood on his lipswatches in terror as Magnus, leaping about like a spidermonkey, sets fire to the pyre and then ascends.

LOUIS (V.O.)He told you nothing.

LESTAT (V.O.)Only where I might find my coffin,and how I must find it. And thathe'd left me the tower and all hiswealth.

LOUIS (V.O.)He thought you were strong.

Lestat wanders through the dungeon of the tower. Comesto a cell where he sees something which horrifies him.

LESTAT (V.O.)And I was strong. I'd fought himthrough every step of it. Thatmust have been why he had let melive. Because there had beenothers, lots of others whom he hadchosen and then allowed to die.

Lestat grabs the bars of the cell, staring at what'sinside.

CLOSE ON GREAT HEAP OF BODIES OF YOUNG BLOND-HAIRED MEN

Some long dead, some recently dead. All resemble Lestat.All have his height, coloring, even similar garments. Andthe most recent corpse, swarming with flies, has blue eyes!

Lestat backs up, doubled over with nausea and vomits astream of blood onto the stones. Stunned, he stares atthe blood and instinctively, arches his back and reachesdown and laps it back up with his tongue.

Realizing what he is doing, he rises, slamming back intothe bars, against the corpses and then he lets out a roar.It is like the roar we have already heard from Louis inthe swamp. It echoes throughout the dungeon and the tower.

EXT. BOULEVARDS (PARIS)

Lestat, a vampire, beautifully dressed in brocade and lace,walks through the crowds of jugglers, vendors, ladies ofthe street, city strollers and stops at Renaud's Theatre.He watches from a distance, as the crowds go in.

(CONTINUED)

48.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (V.O.)Of course I learned how to huntinstinctively. That was nothing.But as for the rest, I was asconfused as you ever were. Ididn't dare return to my mortalcompanions. To Gabrielle, mymother. I sent vague lettersdescribing my turn of fortune,and all the money she couldpossibly desire. I thought I'dnever lay eyes upon her again.

Lestat turns away from the theatre and goes through thecrowd.

LESTAT (V.O.)All around me, I could hear thethoughts of mortals. I alwayshave been able to hear them. It'slike a chorus of whispers. And inthe midst of that chorus, I wasalone. Until one night, I heardthe voice of a different soul, amonster like myself.

EXT. PLACE DE GREVE

Lestat stops, listening, wary. A shadowy shape rushesaway from the facade of Notre Dame.

LESTAT (V.O.)Soon, I heard them often. Theywere following me. I could feeltheir hatred, and when I glimpsedthem, I saw ragged, filthy littlegoblins. Why, they reeked of thedirt of the grave!

EXT. DOORS OF NOTRE DAME (PARIS)

Lestat rushes toward them as a little band of raggedvampires in rags hurries silently after him. He seesthem up on the roofs. He rushes into the:

CHURCH

He peers back out at them with curiosity and contempt.Three little vampires hang out in the shadows trying tokeep an eye on him.

(CONTINUED)

49.

CONTINUED:

A man passes before the cathedral with a lantern and thethree vampires run cowering from the light.

LESTAT (V.O.)It was very easy to elude them.All I had to do was seek shelterof a church. They were afraid togo into them! They ran fromcrosses. They ran from the light.

RETURN TO:

INN (NEW ORLEANS)

Louis listens rapt, as Lestat talks, walking back andforth.

LESTATI soon realized they lived in thecemetery of Les Innocents. It'slong gone, that place. But inthose days it was in the heart ofParis.

EXT. LES INNOCENTS CEMETERY

Gigantic place full of many crypts. Three vampires dartthrough the darkness and disappear through a crypt door.

LESTAT (V.O.)They inhabited the catacombsbeneath the cemetery. And theybelieved the cross could hurtthem, that holy water would burnthem, they believed it, do youunderstand?

LOUIS (V.O.)Yes, I can understand it.

RETURN TO:

INN (NEW ORLEANS)

Lestat talking to Louis.

LESTATAll that superstition. And I, theorphan was breaking all theirrules, because I didn't know therewere any rules at all.

RETURN TO:

50.

INT. BALLROOM TUIELIERES (PARIS)

Lestat in dim light dances with a mortal woman.

LESTAT (V.O.)What was it they later accused meof? Ah, yes, walking in theplaces of light. I didn't servethe devil properly as they saw it.I tempted the fiend to drag medown into hell for my sins. Andof course, there was anotherthing. I'd made a companion soonafter. And broken more of theirrules when I'd done that.

EXT. ILE ST. LOUIS

Lestat on horseback rides over bridge behind Notre Dameand stops before a mansion, anxious, looking up at alighted window.

LOUIS (V.O.)A companion! Where is this beingnow?

RETURN TO:

INN

Lestat smiling sadly at Louis. Louis studies him, curiousyet patient.

LESTATIf only I knew.

RETURN TO:

ILE ST. LOUIS

Lestat dismounts, enters:

INT. MANSION

He rushes past attendants up stairs.

LESTAT (V.O.)As I told you, my mother wasdying when I left her Thatjourney to Paris was the hardestthing I'd ever done.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

51.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (CONT'D)Yet with the wealth I showeredupon her -- the wealth Magnus hadgiven me -- she accomplished theone thing I never expected. Shemade the journey to Paris to seeher son for the last time.

Lestat stops before a bedroom door.

A NURSE emerges gesturing for him to be quiet.

NURSEMadame is very ill. Yet she isdressed and waiting to see you.All day we've waited for you! Doyou think death waits on everyspoilt young lord?

Lestat is anguished. Slowly he goes into the room. Hestands in the shadows. In the light of a candle, we see:

Gabrielle, his mother, pale and very sick obviously, yetbeautifully dressed and seated in a gilded armchair bythe big heavily-draped bed. She is almost too weak torise.

GABRIELLELestat, oh, my darling... Comeinto the light where I can seeyou.

Lestat remains in the shadows.

LESTATPut out the candle, Mother. I wasa pauper when last you saw me. Imight dazzle you now.

GABRIELLESo were we all, my darling, beforeyour good fortune. It is you Icame to see. Not your fineclothes.

LESTATPut out the candle, Mother.

She pinches out the candle. Only light comes throughhigh window.

GABRIELLEPlease, come to me. Let me takeyou in my arms.

(CONTINUED)

52.

CONTINUED:

Lestat draws nearer, trancelike.

LESTAT (V.O.)How could I tell her? How couldI explain I wasn't her sonanymore, that this is what I'dbecome? You know what you seewith your vampire eyes. Imaginethe sight of her to me with mynew vision. She was dying. Shecould not have lived anotherweek, perhaps not another night.And her thoughts, I could hearthem. She was afraid of dying!That's why she'd come to me.She'd thought it would be easierwith me there!

Lestat in anguish draws nearer. Gabrielle struggles toher feet, eyes full of tears and reaches out. As shetouches him, she realizes he's not human anymore. Shefalls back, losing her balance, grabbing for the bedpost.Lestat stares at her sadly.

LESTAT (V.O.)Countless mortals I'd deceived inthe ballrooms and the theatres,in the boulevards and the cafes.But I could not deceive her. Sheknew the moment that she touchedmy skin. What could I do butexplain to her silently, makingher see it in images, that Ihadn't chosen it, that it hadbeen done to me, against my will.

CASCADE OF IMAGES

A) Magnus

B) The Towers

C) Jewels

D) Lestat drinking blood from a mortal in an alleyway.

BACK TO SCENE

Gabrielle moves trancelike toward Lestat. Though hislips don't move, we hear his whisper.

(CONTINUED)

53.

CONTINUED:

LESTATI hide nothing from you, not myignorance, not my fear, not thesimple terror that if I try Imight fail. I do not even knowthat it is mine to give more thanonce, or what is the price ofgiving it, but I will risk thisfor you, and we will discover ittogether.

GABRIELLETake me. Bring me with you! Doit!

Gabrielle opens her arms just as she is about to fallfrom weakness. Lestat enfolds her in his arms, lovingly,sinks his teeth into her throat and enters a swoon. Theyembrace tightly. As she weakens he wakes her and slash-ing his own throat with his fingernail puts her lips toit and she begins to suck his blood. Again, he closeshis lips on her wound. They make a cycle, each drawingblood from the other. Sound of HEARTBEAT. Sound ofDRUM.

Gabrielle steps back, wiping the blood from her lips,transformed.

EXT. ROOFTOPS

Gabrielle and Lestat hurry over the roofs together. Theydrop down on the top of a passing coach, laughing, hold-ing tight to each other.

EXT. HOTEL PARTICULEIR (PARIS) - NIGHT

Gabrielle is dressed as a man now, standing over a corpsefrom which she took the clothes. She ties her hair in along pigtail with the dead man's ribbon and taking Lestatby the arm they walk off together.

GABRIELLENow, don't look so heartbroken.There's no reason for me to wearskirts any longer.

Lestat reaches for her long hair.

LESTATJust... don't cut your hair,Mother. Do that for me, don'tcut your hair.

(CONTINUED)

54.

CONTINUED:

GABRIELLEGabrielle now, Lestat. Let go ofthat word, Mother. Let it go withthe mortal coil. And if the hairmeans so much to you, very well.

Gabrielle kisses him. They walk off together, arm inarm.

BACK TO:

INN (NEW ORLEANS) - LESTAT

He smiles sadly at the amazed Louis.

LESTATYes, my mother. I am such adevil. If you were I, would youhave let her die?

LOUISI don't know. But she was thestrong companion you needed, thatmuch is plain.

LESTATYou think so? But how thisangered the ragged coven beneathLes Innocents! I had broken therule of all rules. Being abastard was one thing. Makinganother of one's own mother, why,you'd think I'd trampled on theSacred Host itself.

INT. LES INNOCENTS

The ragged coven of twelve vampires surround Lestat andGabrielle. Gabrielle is in her male garb with her hairin a braid. The vampires hold torches with which theytaunt the pair. Gabrielle clings to Lestat but she is asgrimly angry as he is.

ARMAND, a boy with an angel's face and auburn curlinghair appears. He points a denouncing finger at Lestat.

LESTATWhat devil do you serve? Where ishe? Who says that you cannot gointo the cathedral of Notre Dame,if you want to? That you must livehere in filth among the old bones!

(CONTINUED)

55.

CONTINUED:

ARMAND(gently, sadly)

Blasphemer. We are the devil'schildren.

LESTATYou're a pack of fools.

Suddenly he remembers something. He drags a jeweledrosary out of his pockets. The vampires gasp and backaway.

GABRIELLELook, he took it from one of hisvictims. He's stolen a hundred.The cross has no power.

She snatches the rosary from Lestat and dangles the crossin the light of the torches.

GABRIELLEThese are but superstitions. Youare as deluded as mortals. Moredeluded. Who in the Paris aboveyou believes in God as youbelieve?

CLOSE ON ARMAND'S STRICKEN FACE

as the argument continues. Armand is being mentally andspiritually destroyed.

LESTAT (V.O.)Don't you see? I was the firstone among them to discover thatthese old curses didn't matter.A bunch of monks and nuns, that'swhat they were, Satan'smendicants. And it was allnonsense.

LOUIS (V.O.)But had they all believed it?Every one?

LESTAT (V.O.)No. Their leader, Armand. TheBotticelli angel with the darkred hair. Oh, how deceptive wasthat innocent face! He had beentaught it.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

56.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (V.O.) (CONT'D)And he had believed in it, whichwas far worse than believing it.That's why he had always orderedthe destruction of any hereticor rogue outside the coven.

Armand steps forward, obviously issuing judgment.Gabrielle draws close to Lestat as the torches ring them.

Lestat in desperation looks at ELENI, a ragged, half-naked vampire woman who comes at him with a torch.

LESTATAnd you, ma cherie, what has thedevil done for you of late, thatyou should serve him sodevotedly? Ah, but you'd look sopretty if only you'd let me fityou in a proper dress.

Eleni is startled, lowers the torch. Others cry

"Burn them."

Lestat turns to a tall boy of twenty or so -- Laurent.

LESTATAnd you? How many years have youendured the smell of death inyour nostrils? Wouldn't you liketo walk with me for an hour alongthe boulevard? Perhaps sit fora while among mortals in a warmcafe?

Lestat turns this way and that. The vampires are losingtheir nerve. They turn to Armand.

LESTATWhy, some of you are cold! Weneed never be cold. Why have youno hearth here?

Armand does nothing. He appears brokenhearted, sad. Aswe CLOSE ON him, he turns his back slowly on the proceed-ings. Eleni throws aside the torch.

ELENIYou can take me into thecathedral?

(CONTINUED)

57.

CONTINUED:

LESTATYes, once you're bathed andpropertly attired. I could takeyou to Versailles.

Whispers, murmurs from the confused vampires.

GABRIELLECome with us, all of you. We'llshow you. The lights of the nighthave no power. By day, we mustsleep in the dark of course, butonce the sun sets, we are free tohunt and do as we please.

The vampires degenerate into loud quarreling.

Suddenly Lestat seizes the torch from Laurent andGabrielle snatches up the torch that Eleni has let dropto the dirt floor.

Lestat and Gabrielle flee, brandishing the torches. Theyrush up --

INT. WINDING STAIRS

strewn with skulls and bones, with bodies in niches alongthe walls, until they reach --

CEMETERY - HUGE CRYPT

out of which they run, throwing aside the torches, jumpingto the top of the wall, and dashing away.

RETURN TO:

INT. INN (NEW ORLEANS) - LESTAT

He looks dejected.

LESTATThey soon scattered. The covenwas destroyed. Armand, the devilwith the angel's face, hedestroyed most of them becausethey could not survive withouthim, and he could no longer lead.

58.

INT. LIBRARY (PARIS) - CLOSE ON ARMAND

dressed now as a French gentleman, standing in a lavishlibrary in Paris. He is addressing Lestat who stands bythe fireplace, equally well-dressed.

ARMAND(gently)

You were our ruin. You drove usout of Eden with your burningsword.

LESTATYou were in purgatory. What doyou want of me! All I did wastell you the truth!

ARMANDAnd what was that? That there isno truth to be known? Our beliefswere our strength, our survival.They were our citadel againsttime.

LESTATLies? Lies can't be the strengthof anyone. We are monsters. Soare mortals. If we cannot facethe truth we are lost.

ARMANDStop speaking of the truth asthough it were something. It isnothing.

LESTATOh no, you're wrong. The truth isin the flesh, in the beauty we see,in the blood we drink. It's inthe mystery of the rainfall, andthe clouded sky, the flight of alone bird over the sea.

He pauses, entranced for a moment with the beauty ofArmand himself. He reaches out, touches Armand's cheek.

LESTATHow many centuries lie behind thisradiant face?

He pulls Armand to the window and points down into thecrowded Paris street. A mob is surging by.

(CONTINUED)

59.

CONTINUED:

LESTATDo you hear them, they'rescreaming for the death of KingLouis and his Queen, MarieAntoinette.

ARMANDWhat do I care what they want?

LESTATThe old order has fallen for them.It's fallen for you as well. Makea new order as they must make it.

ARMANDAh, but you know so little,fledgling. With your jewels, andyour velvet, and your shiningsword. You think it will be easyto see everything you lovedisintegrate and crumble away?

LESTATThe blood, the warmth, the love...that is what will keep meimmortal.

ARMANDGabrielle. Your companion. Shegives you what you require. Thatis why you say all these things.But will she remain with youalways? You cannot read herthoughts, can you? Though youcan read mine?

Lestat looks afraid.

ARMANDBut you could before you took herin that lovely bedroom on the IleSt. Louis, is that not so? Youcould know her soul as I knowyours now.

Lestat refuses to answer Armand, but we hear:

LESTAT (V.O.)He was right. Gabrielle's mindhad been closed to me from themoment my blood had filled herveins. As closed as your mind isto me now.

(CONTINUED)

60.

CONTINUED:

ARMANDIt's always so with master andfledgling. You can hear otherchildren of darkness, you cancommune with mortals. But wemaster and fledgling are divided.We must speak to and reach outfor each other. And with no vowsto bind her, she will tire of you,your mother. She tires of youalready. She has never neededanyone, your mother. She isharder than you!

LESTATStop!

ARMANDOh, you'll make others. You'llseek for better, more genialcompanions. But it will alwaysbe the same. They'll turn on you.They'll leave you. They may evenhate you for making them. Ourservice to Satan has held ustogether. You have nothing, andyou will go into the fire somenight as the old ones have alwaysdone.

LESTATNever.

ECHO. Never. Never...

Armand looks sadly after Lestat and then sadly at all thebooks on the shelves. He stands back and with the powerof his mind makes the books suddenly fall in heaps allover. They cascade to the floor from all the surroundingwalls.

Lestat is afraid of this show of telepathic power, butangry that he is afraid.

Armand smiles sadly.

ARMANDPatience. All these little skillscome... if you last long enough!

LESTATGet out of here. Get away from me.With your dark prophecies andmaledictions.

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

61.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (CONT'D)To keep those fools in slavery asyou did. It was unspeakable.

Armand gives one last wan smile. A vision of beauty. Heseems to vanish. Lestat searches the empty spaceanxiously.

Gabrielle becomes visible, in fancy male dress, hairbraided down her back. She is merely watching. She andLestat exchange glances.

LESTATHe's right, isn't he? You dreamof being free of me already.You've had no need of me sinceour enemies were destroyed.

Grabrielle opens her arms to him.

GABRIELLE(kissing his cheek)

To love and to need -- these aredifferent things. And what doesit matter if some night we decideto part for a little while?

Backs up, smiling, with deliberate reassurance:

GABRIELLEIt's too soon now to speak of it,anyway. Let's go out into thecrowd.

They walk down the corridor together:

GABRIELLELet me tell of my most recentdiscovery. Last night I abandonedthe coffin. I slept in the earthitself.

LESTATBut how?

GABRIELLEI dug deep beneath the ground,and when the sun set I rose as aswimmer rising to the surface ofthe sea.

Lestat is fascinated.

(CONTINUED)

62.

CONTINUED:

LESTATSo the coffin has no magic power.It is pure darkness which werequire.

GABRIELLEWe should leave Paris. I'm tiredof it already. Tired of all thesemortals. I long for exotic placeswhich I have never seen.

They go out into Paris streets.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. INN (NEW ORLEANS)

Lestat sits at the table staring away from Louis.

Silence. Then...

LESTATI could have told you Armand'slies. That we were the childrenof darkness, that we travel theDevil's Road. That Satan is ourmaster. I could have used apinch of stolen incense when Imade you. And Latin mumbo jumbo.Instead I made up a little testfor you, that you kill that tavernmaid. And then I told you... whatI've seen for myself.

Lestat looks searchingly at Louis.

LOUIS(compassionately)

But Gabrielle. Where is she?Surely she didn't leave you. Notin hatred and coldness as Armand.

Louis shakes his head, disapproving.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SNOW-COVERED MOUNTAIN SIDE - FOREST

Lestat and Gabrielle dressed in fur garments walk, armin arm. Then they stop and part and Gabrielle moves onalone...

(CONTINUED)

63.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (V.O.)Where is she, tonight? I can notimagine. What continent, whatnation, what wilderness does sheroam? She was always the lone one.That was the argument. We neverhated each other. We love eachother even now. It's only thatshe sought the wilderness -- theforests and the mountains. And Icould scarcely bear it. I needthe cities, the lights, themortals around me, the thingswhich men and women have built.

INT. INN (NEW ORLEANS)

LOUISAnd a companion... at least one ofour kind.

Lestat nods, admitting it defiantly.

LESTATYes -- not to be the only oneamong all the others, not toknow... love.

LOUISAnd when she left you, you came tothe New World.

Lestat reflects; decides not to answer directly.

LESTAT(impishly)

Well, I couldn't stay in Paris.Armand's power was incalculable.And there were too many othersleft in Paris. I loathe them,really. And you would too.

LOUISWhat do they do now?

LESTATWhat we do. Wander the savagegarden in pairs or littlefamilies. Same thing mortals do,really. The world's enough todrive mortals mad if they thinkabout it. You ought to know.

(CONTINUED)

64.

CONTINUED:

Louis smiles.

LOUISYes, on that I agree with you.

LESTATAnd... besides...

(smiles)They said it couldn't be done,that no vampire had ever crossedthe great sea. And so I did! Assoon as I could book passage formyself a great ebony coffin!

Lestat laughs. Louis smiles sadly.

LOUISHow could I pass up a challengesuch as that?

LESTATExactly. That's when I learnedto live off rats. And drunkensailors. Never forget the littledrink. It tortures me, but thenI like being teased... well, for alittle while.

LOUISAnd the ship did not sink, ofcourse.

Lestat shrugs.

LESTATWhat if it had? I can swim betterthan a shark. Would you like toswim the river some night, thetwo of us together? I've done it.I'll race you to the far bank.

Louis shakes his head, no.

LOUISYou made one error in judgement,however.

LESTATOh? What was that.

LOUISWhen you found yourself aloneagain -- the only one -- you werea little more desperate thanbefore.

(CONTINUED)

65.

CONTINUED:

LESTATI picked you carefully anddeliberately, Louis. And I'vealways found it boring... to bealone.

LOUIS(nodding)

Yes, that I understand as well.

LESTATHave patience with yourweaknesses. All our powersincrease with age. When the oldones give you their blood, whichthey can when they choose, theygive you greater strength.

LOUISHave you drunk the blood of oldones? Have you...? Did you?Did Armand...

Lestat interrupts.

LESTATDon't let's talk of Armand. Itgives me a mortal headache tothink of Armand. Besides,reading minds -- it's not such ablessing as you might think. Idon't like knowing when othervampires despise me, or whenmortals find me ugly or don'teven notice me at all!

LOUISAs if that ever happens to you!

Lestat preens at the compliment, and shrugs. Suddenly hestands up.

LESTATCome, not only do I hear themortals about me, I breathe theirscent. I hunger for them. We'llhunt together. I won't let youhate me so soon. I won't letArmand be proved right, do youhear me?

(CONTINUED)

66.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI want him to be wrong. For yoursake. But I can't bear this,Lestat. And you know it now.Choose another, and let me go.

Lestat smiles seductively.

LESTATBut Louis, you haven't tried!

EXT. DARK STREET

with lights and NOISE of the CITY in the b.g.

Lestat and Louis walk arm in arm. Partygoers pass them.A coach rushes by.

LESTAT(tenderly)

Pain is terrible for you. Youfeel it like no other creaturebecause you are a vampire. Youdon't want it to go on.

LOUISNo...

LESTATDo what it is your nature to do.And you will feel as you felt withher in your arms, your littlechild.

LOUISWed to her, and weightless as ifin a dance.

LESTATThat and more.

Lestat looks about, gets his bearing, is seized by anidea. He takes Louis's hand.

He leads Louis as if searching for some specific place.

LESTATEvil is a point of view. Armandknew it. You know it. Gabrielle,my beloved mother never forgot it.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

67.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (CONT'D)And what we have before us are therich feasts that conscience cannever appreciate and mortals cannever know without regret!

Louis almost winces in pain at the accuracy of it. Lestatquickens the pace as they come to --

LIGHTED BUILDINGS

Lestat speaks while searching each with his gaze.

LESTATGod kills, and so shall we. Forno creatures under God are as weare, none so like him asourselves...

LOUISYes, merciless and greedy and cruel.That I do believe.

Louis looks at the stars. He is soothed by the breeze.

LESTATAh, but we have even more incommon with our creator. Come, Iam like a mother tonight. I wanta child.

Louis is baffled. He follows as Lestat enters --

LONG COLONIAL HOSPICE OR SHELTER

with rows of wooden beds. Children moan and cry beneaththe covers. One nurse and one doctor attend, each withcandle in hand.

Lestat peers into the shadows.

LESTATShe's there, your wounded one!

LOUISWhat are you saying? What is thisplace? These are foundlings,starving children...

Intrigued and seduced, he watches as Lestat moves fastdown the ward, and points to Claudia, pale and uncon-scious on the bed.

(CONTINUED)

68.

CONTINUED:

Louis recognizes her.

The doctor approaches Lestat. The doctor wraps thesleeping child up in her little white blanket, as Lestattakes money from his pockets and flings it on the bed.Many gold coins.

LOUIS(whispers)

Lestat, what are you doing?

Lestat is murmuring politely to the doctor, who is bowing.Lestat turns and hurries silently past Louis, with Claudiaasleep on his shoulder. Louis hurries after him into thenight.

LOUISLestat!

EXT. DARK STREET

We see only dim figures and the white blanket as if itwere flying through the dark like magic.

INT. INN - SUPPER ROOM

Bedroom as before. Candle on the table.

Lestat lays Claudia gently on the coverlet of the bed.Louis draws near, looking down at her, stricken by herbeauty and her fragility.

LESTAT(gently)

You haven't fed yet at all tonight.And last night you took so little.

LOUISNo. Don't demand this of me.Don't make me do this. It's toolike your old Paris coven. Norituals between us.

But he cannot take his eyes off Claudia who tosses inhalf sleep.

LESTATSee how plump and sweet she is,still. Even death can't take herfreshness. The will to live inher was so strong. Death mightmake a sculpture of her tiny lipsand rounded hands, but he cannotmake her fade!

69.

CLOSE ON LOUIS

becoming desperate with hunger and anguish.

Lestat whispers in his ear, compassionately.

LESTATYou remember, how you wanted her,the taste of her...

LOUISI didn't want to kill her.

But he is overcome with the memory of the ecstasy.

HIS POV - CLOSE ON CLAUDIA

Claudia is lifted towards him, slipped into his arms.

LOUIS (O.S.)Poor cherie, no chance...

LESTAT (O.S.)No chance at all.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis closes his eyes as he caresses her, holding hercheek against his own and kissing her forehead, verypaternal. And then he opens his eyes and looks at herneck, and sees the traces of the wound of last night andhe becomes a ravenous vampire, and slowly, gently sinkshis teeth once more, careful not to hurt her.

LESTAT(whisper)

Just a little tear. It's just alittle throat.

Louis moans as he sinks into the swoon. HEARTBEAT.DRUMS. The ECHO of Claudia's crying from the nightbefore. His hand cradles her head tenderly. He is likea father kissing a child.

LOUISSo strong.

LESTAT(whispers)

Is she?

The HEARTBEAT and DRUM are getting SLOWER and SLOWER.

(CONTINUED)

70.

CONTINUED:

Suddenly Louis opens his eyes in shock as Lestat snatchesthe child from him.

LOUISFor the love of God, let mefinish!

Lestat shakes her, talks to her, staring at her enthralled.

LESTATClaudia, Claudia, listen to me.That's your name, isn't it,cherie. Claudia! You're ill, myprecious, and I'm going to giveyou what you need to get well.

LOUISLestat! This is sorcery.

Louis lunges at him, but Lestat brushes him aside effort-lessly, so that he falls to the floor, from which he risesat once.

LOUISStop this, now.

Lestat bites his own wrist and presses the bleeding woundto the child's mouth. He winces in pain.

Louis is fascinated. Dazzled.

LESTATThat's it, dear. More. You mustdrink it to get well.

Claudia sucks on the wound, reviving, making little noiseslike a person waking from sleep.

Louis rises to his feet as Claudia clutches Lestat's arm,sucking the blood fiercely, and Lestat moans.

LESTATStop, that's enough. No more.

He pulls her loose, as she growls, and she stares at himwith big clear astonished eyes.

CLAUDIAI want more.

LOUISWhat have you done!

(CONTINUED)

71.

CONTINUED:

Lestat puts her down on the bed and sits beside her,holding his wrist, obviously in pain.

CLAUDIAMore.

LESTATYes, cherie, of course you wantmore. And I'll show you how toget it. Louis, the bell rope.Pull it.

(to Claudia)You drink from mortals, my beauty,but from me? Never again.

LOUIS(whispers)

Burn in hell!

Impatient, and still suffering, Lestat reaches for thebell rope himself.

LESTATOh, come now, the child's hungry.

CLOSE ON CLAUDIA

being transformed. Becoming white yet robust, bright-eyed yet crazed. She shakes her dusty curls and the dustfalls from them. They are shining in the candlelight.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis cannot stop looking at her. He does not notice --

As the MAID enters.

MAIDAh, quelle belle enfant!

The Maid comes near to the bed, kneels in front of Claudia.Lestat lays his hand on the Maid's throat and Claudiawatches keenly.

LESTATGently, cherie. They are soinnocent. They must not be madeto suffer.

Claudia lunges for the throbbing vein in the neck, veryserious, gnawing, growling slightly, then locking on theflowing blood.

The Maid is transfixed.

72.

CLOSE ON LOUIS

As we see his anguish, we hear Lestat's voice.

LESTAT (O.S.)That's enough, cherie. Stop beforethe heart stops. It's best inthe beginning, lest the death takeyou down with it. Ah, yes, that'sit. My child. My beloved child.

LESTAT AND CLAUDIA

sit on the Louis XVI settee. Claudia is a vision, a dollmade out of pearl. Animated, voice crisp.

CLAUDIAWhere is Mamma?

ANOTHER ANGLE

The words ECHO in Louis's head as he puts his hands tohis ears.

LESTATMamma's gone to heaven, cherie,same as that sweet lady there.They all go to heaven. And youdid very well, cherie. Not adrop spilt. Very good! You'regoing to be our child now.

Lestat and Louis exchange glances. Claudia looks at eachof them.

LESTATThis is Louis, and I'm Lestat.

Lestat takes out his comb and begins to comb her hair.At once, it curls resiliently. He smiles with delightand kisses her cheek.

LESTATYour mamma's left you with us.She wants you to be happy. Sheknows we can make you happy.

LOUIS(whisper)

You are the Devil! You are theinstrument of Satan.

(CONTINUED)

73.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT(shhh)

Do you want to frighten our littledaughter? What's the matter withyou?

CLAUDIAI'm not your daughter.

LESTATYes you are, dearest. You are mydaughter and Louis's daughter.

Louis kneels before her as the Maid did. He is struckwith compassion and fascination. It is done and she isirresistible. He cannot help but reach for her, and holdher gently as if she were a doll that might break.

Claudia smiles at him.

CLAUDIALou... eee...

Louis is conflicted. He cannot leave her. He touchesher cheek, her hair. Same as his. Vampire skin and hair.He draws in his breath, shocked at her beauty, and thenhe clasps her head again, tenderly kisses her forehead.His body relaxes as he embraces her, takes her to himselfas a father might a daughter, his eyes closed.

LOUIS(whispers to Lestat)

You devil, you monster.

Lestat is sort of amazed. He stares at Claudia as thoughfascinated by what's happened, and then:

LESTATYes, Claudia dearest, you areour little daughter. Now whomshould you sleep with? Darknessand safety are so important.Perhaps you should sleep withLouis. After all, when I'm tiredI'm not always... so kind.

DISSOLVE TO:

ROOM (SAN FRANCISCO) - PRESENT

Malloy looking at Louis.

(CONTINUED)

74.

CONTINUED:

MALLOYHe did it to make you stay withhim! He made a vampire of a child!

LOUISPerhaps. The answer to why isn'tso simple. Lestat was always theman of action. And that nighthe'd bared his soul to me. He'dshowed me his own weakness, hisown failure.

MALLOYThat Gabrielle had left him. ThatArmand had been right.

LOUISMaybe he didn't know himself whyhe'd done it.

EXT. NEW SPANISH TOWNHOUSE (RUE ROYALE, NEW ORLEANS)

Two husky movers bring furniture through the back court-yard, past the fountain and the banana trees, and up theback stairs and into --

INT. FLAT

Striped wallpaper gives way to flowers in the bedrooms.And though huge four posters fill three of these rooms,we also see large chests, as big as coffins, standingagainst the walls. Everywhere there are candles, andpretty Louis XVI furniture.

There are oil lamps about.

As we MOVE INTO:

DIMLY LIGHTED PARLOR

we see Claudia resplendent in white lace standing on apetit point chair, as a DRESSMAKER hems her garment withpins.

LOUIS (V.O.)Life was very different withMademoiselle Claudia, as you canimagine. And he loved her. Oh,he loved her as much as I lovedher and that was more than wordscan express.

(CONTINUED)

75.

CONTINUED:

Lestat stands in the French window, open to the porch,watching as Louis sits at the desk, his hand idly on anopen book.

DRESSMAKERMonsieur, I need more light. Ishall go blind if you do not bringme a lamp, or let me fit this childduring the day.

Claudia laughs, languidly, beautifully. Laughter seemsto echo off every surface. Lestat smiles at Claudiaand winks.

INT. ST. LOUIS HOTEL (NEW ORLEANS) - LOBBY - EARLY EVENING

Slave auction going on under the rotunda. Spectatorseverywhere.

Lestat and Claudia (mentally six years old) sit at smalltable in the open bar.

Lestat points to a man passing.

LESTATAll yours to choose from. Alwayspick carefully. Always pick oneyou want to hold in your arms.One you want to know for aprecious moment.

Claudia nods.

CLAUDIAThat one!

She points to a well-dressed WOMAN WITH a BABY in herarms who has just come down the stairs. A black slavewoman follows.

Lestat is obviously a little distressed. But he doesn'twant to question her.

He follows Claudia as she slips after the Woman outinto...

EXT. DARK STREET

WOMAN WITH BABYHush, my little one. The cathedralis only steps away. Here, take her,Annette. I won't be long.

(CONTINUED)

76.

CONTINUED:

The Woman gives the baby to the slave woman who rocks itin her arms as the Woman enters the cathedral.

INT. ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL

The Woman approaches the shrine of the Virgin and kneelsand quickly makes the sign of the cross. She looks upstartled to see...

CLAUDIA

radiant, still as a statue, beside the altar.

ANOTHER ANGLE

The Woman is entranced as Claudia draws nearer. Othersmove quietly about the church.

WOMANWhat is it, little one? Are youlost? Come here to me, darling.

Claudia winds her arms around the Woman's neck, looksdeep into her eyes. Then awkwardly, quickly, lessgracefully than Lestat or Louis, she sinks her teeth.The Woman freezes.

WOMAN'S DAZED POV

as she is dying: Lestat beside the altar watching,amazed at Claudia's determination and fearlessness. Yeta little put off.

EXT. CROWDED STREET CAFE (JACKSON SQUARE)

Lestat and Claudia talk together.

LESTATI like the evil ones, I told you.I like the taste. I like the rumin their blood. It gets me tipsy.

Claudia laughs scornfully.

CLAUDIAAnd I like the innocent and theyoung. Come now, I dare you.Take that little orphan there,wandering outside. Look at him.

(CONTINUED)

77.

CONTINUED:

FOCUS ON ragged boy selling matches in the street.

LESTATYou're a little fiend, you knowit?

CLAUDIAAnd you love it.

LESTATI want a sodden drunk tonight.Come, I'll show you. We'll findsomeone who's had at least a fifthof the best wine.

They leave together.

CLAUDIAYou really can taste it.

LESTATCherie, I'll have to carry youhome.

INT. FLAT (FURNISHINGS - 1815)

Louis and Claudia sit together on the French couch asLouis reads to Claudia from Moll Flanders. He stops,tired and sits back.

CLAUDIAHere, Louis, let me read to youfor a while.

LOUISBut I've never taught you...

CLAUDIAWell, I don't think it's so veryhard. Not after watching you.

Claudia begins to read the page, haltingly, then fasterand more fluidly and finally as eloquently as Louis.

Louis is amazed. We hear:

Lestat's laughter.

Lestat appears with a handbill. He drops it over thebook. He gives a little belch.

LESTATHere, my precious, read this.

(CONTINUED)

78.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIA(reading)

'The Saint Charles Theatre herebyinvites all young actors of thecity of New Orleans to auditionfor the leading role inShakespeare's tragedy... '

Oh, not Macbeth again, Lestat.We've seen it a hundred times.And you've been hunting among thesots again, haven't you?

Louis laughs softly to himself.

LESTATAh, but not with Lestat deLioncourt in the leading role,you haven't seen it!

CLAUDIAYou? As Macbeth? How marvelous!

Jumps off the couch and runs to him. Lestat picks herup.

LESTATI intend to try for it fair andsquare.

LOUISIt's too risky and you know it.To be that close with mortalsnight after night.

Lestat dances around the room holding Claudia as if shewere a woman dancing partner.

LESTATI have it all figured out, Louis.I'll go to the audition with myface painted. I shall always havemy face painted. They can lookas closely as they like!

INT. ST. CHARLES THEATRE - LOUIS'S AND CLAUDIA'S POV

alone in back row watching:

Crowd of actors on the stage. Dickensian theatricaldirector motioning for quiet.

(CONTINUED)

79.

CONTINUED:

Lestat dressed as Macbeth with face painted heavilyholds the script and begins to read.

LESTAT(with great but subdued feeling)

' ... Out, out brief candle.Life's but a walking shadow, apoor player that struts and fretshis hour upon the stage, and thenis heard no more...

(hesitates, struggles to continue)

... It is a tale told by an idiot,full of sound and fury, signifyingnothing.'

BACK TO SCENE

Claudia makes a silent delighted gesture of clapping herhands, and in her excitement kisses Louis who watchessmiling as --

Other actors applaud, nod in agreement. Stage managergoes into raptures of approval, jumping to the stage totake Lestat's hand.

Lestat stands transfixed staring at the dark emptytheatre.

The mortals all around him.

BACK TO LOUIS'S POV

who realizes Lestat is suffering.

Lestat stares into emptiness.

INT. FLAT - SEVERAL EVENINGS LATER

Lestat enters the parlor with Claudia rushing behind him.Louis looks up from the evening paper.

CLAUDIAWhat do you mean you won't be inthe play? Why? Why did you backout? Tell me.

Lestat sits at the harpsichord and starts fussing throughthe music.

(CONTINUED)

80.

CONTINUED:

LESTATI told you, I decided not to doit.

CLAUDIABut it wouldn't have been suchfun! They'd have never guessed.

LESTATThat's just it. It didn't seemfair, really. It's their realm,their time... the mortal actors.

Lestat and Louis exchange glances.

CLAUDIAFair! To mortals! I've neverheard such nonsense. Lestat,what is the matter with you?

Lestat deeply distressed begins to play a slow melancholytune.

Louis rises and sweeps Claudia up in his arms.

CLAUDIAWhat's wrong with both of you?

LOUISGreat actors have their moods.Maybe he'll try again sometime.

He carries Claudia down the hall. Glancing back he seesLestat sitting with his hands over his face.

Louis carries Claudia down the stairs, and through thecourtyard and out the gate.

LOUISCome, let's walk together, wehaven't done it in a long time.

CLAUDIAYes, I'm hungry for your lessons.Teach me to see with my vampireeyes, as you always do.

EXT. ROYALE STREET

LIGHT RAIN. Aureoles around the crude oil lamps. Richlycolored walls, mud street, gleaming carriage passes.

Claudia leans close to Louis's ear.

(CONTINUED)

81.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIALet me see you kill tonight.You've never let me see you kill.Lestat lets me see it all thetime.

Louis is unperturbed.

LOUISThat's because he's so much betterat it than I am.

They turn on a side street. Flowers pour over gardenwall. Louis grabs a handful of loose blossoms andsprinkles them over Claudia's hair.

LOUISLet me sing a song to you, or tellyou a story. I'm better at thatsort of thing.

She smiles.

CLAUDIANot Macbeth!

LOUISNo, not Macbeth!

CLAUDIAAnd no silly child's story either.

They laugh and whisper together as they walk AWAY FROMUS.

EXT. RUE ROYALE (1830'S - 1830'S) - NIGHT

(CHANGES INDICATING PASSAGE OF TIME)

Mud has given way to flagstone. Lamps are bigger andmore stately. Passing carriages are now big andlumbering. Streets are crowded with people in the dressof the 1830's.

EXT. SHIPS AT PORT/CROWDED MARKETS (NEW ORLEANS) - EVENING

Theaters emptying out.

(CONTINUED)

82.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.)Oh, it was a very different life.Every burden seemed somehowlighter. And the new century wassimply wondrous. What had oncebeen a small godforsaken Frenchcolony was growing into a greatport.

Claudia walks with Louis and Lestat on either side ofher. All are dressed in 1830's fashions. The hair ofLouis and Lestat is trimmed according to the newerfashion. Bushy, but no longer pigtails.

They enter --

CROWDED OPERA HOUSE - LOBBY

Louis picks up Claudia, who allows herself to ride in hisarms.

INT. OPERA BOX - LESTAT, LOUIS AND CLAUDIA

watch the performance, applauding enthusiastically.

LOUIS (V.O.)Time can pass fast for mortalswhen they're happy. With us, itwas the same.

INT. CLAUDIA'S ROOM

(1840 Styles) CANARIES SING in a cage.

Claudia is writing at a secretaire. She is writing inher diary with a quill pen. She reads aloud as shewrites. Her cadence is now entirely mature.

CLAUDIASeptemmber 21st, one hour aftersunset. The sky is still violet,the way Louis loves it, and asalways Lestat was gone when werose...

Lestat appears in the doorway. He has a big box in hisarms.

CLAUDIAAnother doll? I have ten yourealize.

(CONTINUED)

83.

CONTINUED:

FOCUS ON early 19th Century French dolls -- wood, glass,wax, bisque -- all around the bedroom, on chairs, on thebed.

LESTATWell, I thought you could useanother.

He hands her the box. She opens it. It's a fine ParisianJumeau Doll. She likes it and strokes its face.

CLAUDIAWhy always on this night?

LESTATWhat night? What do you mean?What are you writing there?

Claudia shuts the diary, playfully making an indignantface. Lestat pretends to sulk.

CLAUDIAYou always give me the doll on thesame night of the year.

LESTATI didn't realize.

CLAUDIAIs this my birthday?

He examines the other dolls.

LESTATSome of these are so old andtattered. You should throw theold ones away.

CLAUDIA(patiently)

I have. Or there would be twiceas many.

LESTATAnd you're the fairest, by far.

Lestat drops to his knees, kisses her hand. They doteon each other. Then Lestat leaves whistling to himself,as she watches, vaguely distressed.

INT. PARLOR - 3 A.M.

by the mantel clock.

(CONTINUED)

84.

CONTINUED:

Claudia enters, dressed as a vagabond boy. The clothesare even soiled. Her long hair mussed.

Louis rises from his chair.

Claudia goes to the secretaire and removes a bigscissors.

LOUISWhat's happened to you?

CLAUDIANothing's happened to me. There'sno need for me to be dressed likea doll, is there? I'm impatientwith all this childish fuss. Asa boy I can go about scarcelynoticed.

She goes into the hall, and stands before the mirror andbegins cutting off her hair.

LOUISNo, please don't do it! Claudia,don't!

She turns around, an angelic little boy with soft curlsaround her face. Her hair is all over the floor.

CLAUDIANow, Louis, don't give me a longlecture. It's almost dawn. I amready for sleep.

She disappears into the bedroom. Glimpse of coffinagainst the wall as she shuts the door.

Louis stares at the long blonde hair all over theOriental carpet. He kneels down and gathers up a handfulof it. As he brushes the cut ends across his left hand,they leave thin trails of blood.

Lestat enters noisily letting the door bang. Come to ahalt.

LOUISHistory's repeating itself? Whyshould a girl child be a girlchild, when a boy has such freedom?

LESTATShe cut off her hair!

(CONTINUED)

85.

CONTINUED:

LOUISYes.

He stands up, holding the tresses.

LESTATDid you tell her? Did you explainto her?

LOUISNo.

LESTATLouis, you should have.

INT. PARLOR - FLAT

Beyond the French windows, the sun sinks over the roofs.Darkness falls. A lamp is lighted. Louis stands at thewindow looking out into the night.

A HORRID SCREAM pierces the silence. MORE SCREAMS whichbecome roars.

INT. CLAUDIA'S BEDROOM

She stands before the dressing table, all her long hairgrown back hanging down around her. She holds it withboth hands screaming and screaming and screaming.

Lestat grabs her by the shoulders.

LESTATStop it. It's only... our nature.Now stop!

He's very frightened. She falls silent staring at him.

CLAUDIAAnd if I cut it off again!

LESTATIt will grow back again!

Claudia backs away from him, her hand raised to herlips.

CLAUDIAMy God! Day after day it wouldgrow back, until my cut tressesfilled this room the way the dollsfill it.

(CONTINUED)

86.

CONTINUED:

She screams again.

Louis brushes past the panic stricken Lestat, scoopsher up in his arms and takes her into the --

PARLOR

and out --

ONTO PORCH

They look down into the Rue Royale. An old woman with apushcart passes. She is selling flowers. A man pausesto buy a bouquet with a coin.

Louis holds Claudia, and wipes her soiled face with hishandkerchief.

LOUIS(tenderly)

We're immortal. You've alwaysknown that. We don't age ordecay. And that means we don'tchange either.

Claudia nods. She's in shock.

LOUISYou see the old woman? That willnever happen to you.

She nods in acceptance. Gently he puts her down.

She stands in the doorway looking at Lestat in the parlorwho gazes at her fearfully, then back to Louis who triesto be calm.

CLAUDIAAnd it means something else, too,doesn't it? I shall never nevergrow up!

With outstretched hands, she looks down at her own smallform.

Lestat is stunned. Then hurries away in panic.

Louis tries to calm her with firmness.

LOUISClaudia, stop this...

Claudia rushes after Lestat...

87.

SERIES OF SHOTS - CONTINUOUS ACTION

down the hall, down the exterior stairs, through thecourtyard and the carriageway.

CLAUDIAYes, go out, run from me, run frommy questions. You want me to bethe doll forever, don't you?That's what you think I am.

Lestat in a fury turns. He drops on his knees, angrygritting his teeth, but his anger leaves him as he looksat her. He is suddenly overcome with conflictingemotions.

In a broken voice he quotes Webster.

LESTAT'Cover her faceMine eyes dazzleShe died young.'

CLAUDIAAnd what is that, Father? Morelines from a play? Do you nevertire of them?

She slaps him with the full force of her right hand,stepping back to see tiny pink imprint of her hand on hiswhite face. Then it vanishes. He is completely unaffec-ted by the blow otherwise. He merely looks at her. Andthen slowly:

He stands up, on the edge of tears, looking down at her,towering over her.

CLAUDIA'S POV

Staring up at his great height. He pivots, departs.

EXT. WALLED CEMETERY AND CHURCH - ANOTHER NIGHT

on outskirts of French quarter. Claudia dressed as a boywith hair tied back. Louis with her.

Claudia stares at corpses piled up to be buried in massgraves.

CLAUDIAYellow fever...

(CONTINUED)

88.

CONTINUED:

LOUISYes, every year it's the same.And you know. Please come homenow. Come back. It's almostmorning.

CLAUDIAI see the light coming as well asyou do. I don't want to sleep inthat coffin. I want to sleep ina grave.

Lestat appears.

LESTATClaudia, please, for Louis' sake,come home. You can torment me allyou like. But please don't besuch a nuisance to Louis.

Claudia walks past them towards the church. Forces lockon the side door and goes in.

INT. CHURCH

Candlelight and sanctuary light illuminate altar and pews.

Lestat and Louis follow.

CLAUDIAYou slept in a grave once. Louistold me. Remember, Louis? Thenight he saved you from the fire.

LESTAT(ironically)

And it was so thrilling! Whydon't we all move to a graveyardpost haste.

She ignores him. She walks past the altar rail andstares at the memorial stones in the floor beneath whichpriests are buried. Reads the names carved.

CLAUDIAFather Michael, of yellow fever...

LESTATClaudia, we can not remain hereanother minute.

CLAUDIAThen go.

(CONTINUED)

89.

CONTINUED:

She falls on her knees, rips up the stone, revealing adeep and wide crypt.

LESTATFor the love of hell!

LOUISClaudia, we can't leave you here.

Lestat reaches for her. She backs away, glaring at him.Louis tries but she slips out of his arms.

She peers down into the crypt. There is plenty of room.The old coffin is rotten and fallen to splinters. Shelies down in it. Lestat and Louis join her. Lestatmoves the stone back into place above.

LESTATI loathe places like this! Damnit!

Claudia lies there still peering into the eye sockets ofa skull, her hand on it. She says bitterly.

CLAUDIAThen leave me, Father. Nobodysaid you had to be properlyburied.

LESTATYou brat!

Claudia suddenly turns over and in panic snugglingagainst Louis, who holds her patiently, his eyes closed.

BLACKNESS.

We hear SINGING. A whole CHORUS SINGING a Latin hymn:

CHORUS (O.S.)O Salutaris HostiaQuae caeli pandis ostium.

A seam of light falls on --

LESTAT'S SLEEPING FACE

He opens his eyes.

INT. CHURCH ALTAR CRYPT - NEXT NIGHT

He sits up staring wildly --

(CONTINUED)

90.

CONTINUED:

CHORUS (O.S.)Bella premunt hostilia,Da robur, fear Auxilium...

He stares at the sleeping Claudia and Louis. He tries towake them but it is too early. They lie as if dead.

FROM ABOVE, come sounds of the PRIEST INTONING a litanyto the blessed sacrament to which the CONGREGATIONRESPONDS.

PRIEST (O.S.)Blessed be God --

CONGREGATION (O.S.)Blessed be God --

PRIEST (O.S.)Blessed be thy most holy name.

LESTAT(comically enraged)

Oh, you little monster! I couldbreak your pretty neck!

Louis opens his eyes slowly, like a corpse coming backto life.

LOUISWhere are we? What's happening?

LESTATThe six o'clock novena andbenediction. The church is filledwith people. The Priest isstanding right over our heads.

Louis laughs in spite of himself. Lestat, trying not tolaugh, and still angry, clamps a hand over his mouth.

INSERT

verses of Litany. (Take from Roman Missal.)

CLAUDIA

opens her eyes. She sits up. She hears the LITANYcoming to a close.

Congregation sings.

(CONTINUED)

91.

CONTINUED:

CONGREGATION (O.S.)Tantum ergo SacramentumVeneremur cerniu...

She's frightened. She looks around at Louis and Lestat.And she tries to stand up but the roof of the crypt won'tallow it. Louis and Lestat sit there, Louis still laugh-ing and Lestat trying to control his temper.

LESTATYou see what you've done? Thisservice will go on for two hours!It's the first time I've been madeto go to church since I was twelve.

LOUISShhh. You want them to hear us?

LESTATAnd what would they do if theydid?

Claudia is panicking.

SOUND suggestion of dim memory of early church services.She stares at the skull, at the bones, the splinteredcoffin. Claustrophobia. She tries to stand up. Louispulls her down.

CLAUDIAI can't stay in here. I have toget out of here!

LESTATIt was good enough for you lastnight!

LOUISClaudia, we have no choice but towait!

CLAUDIAI know it. The blessed sacramentis on the altar!

LESTATSo what!

Louis can see this is irrational, phobic. He tries toembrace her. She tries to push up the stone and againhe stops her.

(CONTINUED)

92.

CONTINUED:

The HYMN CONTINUES ABOVE.

CLAUDIAI can't stay in here, I tell you!

Louis is confused.

LESTATAll right, then we shall go outof here. But we are going to doit as proper vampires, do youhear? We will do it in style!

He picks up handfuls of grave dirt and smears it allover the bewildered Louis and the petrified Claudia.

LESTATYou have money? Get it out ofyour pockets.

Louis and Claudia both find several gold coins. Theynod. Claudia is shaking violently.

LESTATNow when I lift the stone, makethe most horrible faces you canmuster ! And show your fangs andhowl!

Claudia rises heaving the stone back.

CLAUDIA, LOUIS AND LESTAT

leap up into the lighted Sanctuary of the crowded church.

PRIEST

drops the Monstrance with the blessed sacrament and fallsdown. The altar boy screams.

Lestat bares his fangs and gives a great roar, and so doesClaudia who runs for the front door which is open to thenight. She drops the coins. Louis flings them into thepanicstricken congregation as he follows. Lestat howlingand growling, pitches the coins everywhere.

People scream, fall back, scurry to pick up the gold.

PRIESTThe devil and his cohorts throwmoney! Catch them!

93.

EXT. CEMETERY - SWAMP BEYOND - NIGHT

Claudia, Louis and Lestat rush into the darkness, up ontop of the cemetery walls, easily outdistancing the fewfaithful Catholics following, and soon they are deep intothe swamp.

Lestat slumps down beside a huge cypress, laughing help-lessly. Louis is beside him, also laughing, hand on hisshoulder. Claudia stands there. She can't repress asmile, and then she too laughs, quietly.

CLAUDIAWell, they'll be talking aboutthat till the twentieth century!

Lestat and Louis respond with more laughter.

CLAUDIAThe devil throws money! Indeed.

Lestat climbs to his feet, brushing the dirt off hisclothes.

LESTATLook what you've done to me! Ihate dirt!

LOUISWell, there was no one there whowould ever recognize us, you canbe sure of that!

LESTATNot like this! I never lookedlike this in my entire endlesslife!

(eloquent)Yuk!

Claudia laughs more freely. Lestat tries to be angry buthe is only pretending. He lets her laugh. They alllaugh.

INT. FLAT - LESTAT

in style of 1840s, comes into Claudia's room. She isdressed neatly in boy's clothes, and is throwing herbobbed hair onto the coal fire in the grate.

LESTATI loathe that smell.

(CONTINUED)

94.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIASo do I. That's why I do itbefore I leave, so that I canwalk away from it.

LESTATWell, don't walk out so fasttonight. I have a surprise foryou.

CLAUDIAWhat in God's name could that be?

LESTATCome. The workmen have been verybusy in the last few days. Youmight have noticed if you werehome anymore with us.

Lestat leads her into the parlor. Louis is waiting. AsLestat nods, he turns up the wall switch of the newcrystal gaslight chandelier, filling the room with light.

Lestat hurries to turn up the sconces and soon the wholeflat is full of light.

Claudia smiles. She loves it, the vision of light every-where. So does Louis. Claudia is softened utterly.

LESTATNo expense spared, my child. TheQuadroon ball room is no betterlighted, or the suites in theSaint Louis hotel.

CLAUDIAI do believe you.

Louis watches as Lestat turns away. Claudia watchesLestat lovingly, forgivingly, as if she can't resist him.

CLAUDIA(sincerely)

It's beautiful, Father. You're aPrometheus. You've brought thefire from heaven.

LESTATYes, that's true, my dear. Inmore ways than one.

Lestat breaks off, realizing this might be taken thewrong way. But Claudia is smiling.

(CONTINUED)

95.

CONTINUED:

LOUISAnd we've a pair of new servants.Lestat's found a mother anddaughter, excellent maids.

LESTATYes, I'm tired of all this dust,and strange charwomen coming andgoing.

LOUISThey think us most peculiar, ofcourse, but they will clean byday, and take their wages from thehall table, and be out of the waybefore we rise.

Claudia laughs at the irony of it.

She sits at the piano, looking around at all the gaslight, even the gas sconce that lights her music, and shebegins to play a somber piece by Beethoven, become evermore morose and involved.

Lestat and Louis exchange glances, amazed at her absorb-tion and her skill. She doesn't notice. She continuesto look dreamily at the light.

CUT TO:

INT. FLAT - PARLOR - ANOTHER NIGHT

Paintings have changed, and some furniture.

Louis watches Lestat go through a pile of books on thetable:

LESTATMy, but she reads dreary things.Boetheus. Plato. And MarcusAurelius. What's the matter withDickens or Thackery or WilkieCollins!

LOUISYes, and she reads her booksfaster than I can.

Louis and Lestat realize that Claudia has appeared in thedoor:

(CONTINUED)

96.

CONTINUED:

Claudia is dressed gorgeously in a violet dress withribbons and silk flowers. Her hair is long and shining.She holds a big bouquet of chrysanthemums.

Lestat is alarmed. Claudia steps menacingly into theroom.

CLAUDIAWhich of you made me what I am?

They are stunned.

CLAUDIA(to Lestat)

Did you do it! Was it you? Orwas it Louis!

She points to --

Louis. Then turns back to Lestat approaching him.

CLAUDIAOne of you had to do it. Youdidn't find me on All Hallow'sEve. You were the one, weren'tyou! Answer me.

She hurls the chrysanthemums at Lestat's feet.

CLAUDIAMonstrous parents! To give meimmortality in this helplessguise, this hopeless shape.

Lestat is angry.

LESTATI was a sorcerer's apprenticeonly! I didn't know what wouldhappen!

CLAUDIAThen it was you, wasn't it? Youwere the one!

Louis steps forward.

LOUISClaudia, it was no simple thing,I swear it.

Lestat rushes out as he has done before. The door bangsbehind him.

(CONTINUED)

97.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIADid you do it? Did you? It wasLestat. I know it was. You wouldnever have done such a thing.

Louis says patiently.

LOUISI want you to come with me. Andlisten.

EXT. OLD PART OF CITY - OLD PITCHED ROOF OF FRENCH HOUSES - MUD STREET

Louis talks with Claudia as they walk slowly, finallycoming to a halt beneath a dim gaslamp.

ECHO of Claudia's CRYING of years before.

LOUISIt was the old days, there, thereis the house, or perhaps it's thatone. I can't tell. The plaguewas raging in the city. I heardyou crying. You were there in aroom with your mother, and she'dbeen dead for days. You didn'tknow it. You clung to her. Youbegged me to help you. I cameinto the room. I felt pity foryou. Pity... but something else.

CLAUDIAYou fed on me! I was your victim!

LOUISYes! I did it! But you had aheart like no other heart I'dever felt. It wouldn't stop.Then Lestat came. He found meout. He laughed at me, Louis thesentimental one, with a holyinnocent in his arms. I ran fromhim, from you.

CLAUDIAYou meant to kill me! You leftme for dead.

LOUISYes. The next night, he foundyou in the hospital where they'dtaken you.

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

98.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (CONT'D)I never knew what he meant to dobut teach me my nature. 'Finishit,' he said.

Claudia backs away. He grabs her wrist.

LOUISOh, I know I've lost you. Youlook at me now as you look atmortals, from some cold self-sufficiency I can't understand.But the hunger, that we allunderstand! I felt it for youthen, a vile unsupportable hunger,a hunger for your hammering heart.For this cheek, this hair.

Claudia lets him touch her.

LOUISYou were pink and soft as mortalchildren are, sweet with the biteof salt and dust.

Claudia's face softens only a little.

LOUISI held you again. I took you.And when I thought your heartwould drag me down with it andI didn't care, he parted us. Hecut his wrist. He gave you theblood to drink. And drink youdid. And you became one of usthat night. And drank bloodfrom your first victim. And youhave drunk the blood of mortalsevery night ever since.

He waits. Claudia looks at him, unreadable.

LOUISIt was I who took your life. Hegave it back to you.

CLAUDIA(holding out her hands)

And here it is, and I hate youboth!

99.

INT. PARLOR OF FLAT - SUNRISE

Stillness reigns over all.

Quadroon maid and teenaged daughter arrive. Both wear redtignons or scarves, and gold earrings. The maid picks upall the withered chrysanthemums, clucking over the mess.The teenaged daughter begins to sweep. Return to:

MALLOY AND LOUIS (SAN FRANCISCO) - PRESENT

Order of opened tapes on the table indicates the tape hasbeen changed, if anyone cares.

MALLOYDid you lose her? Did she leaveyou?

LOUISHow could she? Little boy.Little girl. She was a childno bigger than that. Whatwould her life have been? Andsomething in her was kin to me,kin to Lestat. We had eachother. We had endured for halfa century in harmony. We couldnot bear to be alone.

INT. FLAT (1860)

Claudia at her dresser, dressed as a little girl,brushes her long hair. Louis stands behind her. Thendrops down beside her, takes the brush and brushesher hair for her.

She watches him through the mirror.

CLAUDIALocked together in hatred, that'swhat we are.

LOUISNo. You feel that now. But it'slove that binds us. Love is theonly thing that allows us to goon.

CLAUDIA(softening)

You think so?

LOUISI know so.

(CONTINUED)

100.

CONTINUED:

Claudia turns and touches his face and kisses him. Shecannot help herself. They embrace.

We hear...

Lestat's voice SINGING a Verdi aria as he comes in.

Lestat enters. Looks about.

LESTATWell, I see the maids are doingtheir usual fine job.

LOUISI raised their wages as yousuggested. They're happy. Thisevening, I saw them as they wereleaving. I told them how verymuch we appreciated their work.

LESTATYes, Jeannette the daughter hasgrown so pretty.

CLOSE ON CLAUDIA'S STILL FACE

LESTATAnd do pay them more. That's onething I've noticed about even themost superstitious mortals. Paythem enough and they question nota single thing.

Louis smiles.

LOUISI think you're right. They'rehappy. And so are we.

Lestat snaps his fingers and points to Claudia.

LESTATUptown, in the Rue Camp, a hauntedhouse! Ghost appeared three timesthis very week. Want to go seeit.

Inspite of herself, Claudia smiles, sadly, wisely. Sherises and goes to his waiting arms. She is womanly,cool, but pleasant.

(CONTINUED)

101.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIABut we aren't going to merelywatch, are we? Maybe we should... you know... make a littlesupernatural mischief ourselves,don't you think? Louis, want tocome?

LOUISI wouldn't dream of spoiling yourevening.

INT. FLAT - PARLOR - EARLY EVENING

Lestat is reading a newspaper -- Mercurie De France --which he then throws into the fire.

Claudia enters, dressed in velvet, with muff and bonnet,to go out. Bad mood.

CLAUDIAAnother newspaper from Paris?

Lestat turns round, stares at her. Tension.

CLAUDIAWhy don't you ever save them?

LESTATHave you been searching my room?

CLAUDIAWouldn't do any good, would it?

She approaches the grate, confirms the paper is nowashes.

CLAUDIAYou have no keepsakes, do you?Only a wardrobe worthy of Czar ofRussia or the King of France.

LESTATStay out of my room!

She looks up at him coldly.

Lestat is confused.

LESTATYou look very beautiful tonight.I love you in red.

(CONTINUED)

102.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAI know. There are many vampiresin Paris, aren't there. Many ofus in the old world.

LESTATYou'd despise them. We're theonly vampires on this earth whomatter! And New Orleans is ours.We've never had to share it withanyone.

He tries to laugh.

CLAUDIAPerhaps it's time I saw Paris.

LESTATPerhaps so. Though frankly, I'dprefer New York or maybe London...

CLAUDIAYou'd let us go to Paris, me andLouis?

LESTATOh, I see, so that's how it is.I won't stop you, but you'd be afool if you didn't take me withyou.

CLAUDIAWhy?

LESTATLouis can't protect you as wellas I can. And our kind can beyour worst enemy.

CLAUDIAAre there others like me there?Little ones.

Lestat is overcome with emotion. He shakes his head.He whispers.

LESTATClaudia, you would have died if Ihadn't done it. I didn'tunderstand what I was doing. Itwas an impulse.

(CONTINUED)

103.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAI know. Poor darling. Poordarling, Lestat, the thoughtlessone. And you'd protect me fromall the big bad vampires in Paris,wouldn't you?

LESTATYes, I would. You think theydon't war with one another, thatthey don't try to destroy oneanother? Remember the fire, mychild, and the light of the sun.And there are other ways as well.They won't share the City of Lightwith a vagabond.

CLAUDIAYou're serious, aren't you?You're telling me the truth.

LESTATDarling, I've never lied to you.I've teased you, taunted you,shouted at you, kissed you, evenstruck you. But I've never lied.

She watches Lestat leave.

CLOSE ON HER FACE

Inscrutable.

INT. FLAT - SUNSET (ANOTHER NIGHT)

through parlor windows.

CLAUDIA'S ROOM

Her coffin lid is raised.

Claudia sleeps inside against satin lining like a deadbody.

CLOCK TICKING.

Then her eyes snap open.

Lestat is looking down at her. From nearby Louiswatches.

(CONTINUED)

104.

CONTINUED:

Still sluggish and weak, she sits up slowly with no helpfrom her own hands. Her eyes clear.

Lestat smiles thinly.

LESTATWe thought we'd wait for you,tonight.

Claudia now fully awake smiles coldly.

CLAUDIAAll right. We hunt, then,together?

As he turns to go, unseen by him, her face becomes cold,masklike with hatred.

Louis sees it.

EXT. JACKSON SQUARE - ANOTHER NIGHT

Standing against the new iron fence before the Cathedral,holding the bars and peering through it. Louis in tophat and gloves and opera cape looks down at her.

CLAUDIAIf he made the journey we can makeit. We feed off the rats ofcourse. We take the little drinkfrom the elder passengers. Wecan do it if he did it.

LOUISBut why must we go without him?It's time we all went traveling... together.

CLAUDIAHe can't come with us.

LOUISWhy not? I think he's ready fora journey.

CLAUDIAYou misunderstand me, beloved. Hewon't be here when we leave.

LOUISWhat do you mean?

(CONTINUED)

105.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAHe'll be in hell when we leavehere. I intend to kill him.

LOUISClaudia, you can't do this!

Claudia turns and walks away impatiently. Louis follows.

CLAUDIAWhy can't I? You don't think hecan die? We can all die! Thereare lots of ways. He's told me.

LOUISHe's part of us! He's... he'sLestat! You can't simply turn onhim.

CLAUDIAOh, yes, I can. I want to killhim, and I'll tell you a secret,Louis, if you come down so I canwhisper it in your ear.

Louis kneels.

CLAUDIAI want to kill him! I'll enjoyit. Killing mortals can't behalf as much fun.

Louis draws back.

LOUISNo. You can't mean it. I won'tlet you do it.

CLAUDIAShhh, don't you want to be freeof him! I hate him. The mortalsI kill. I care nothing forthem. But him I hate.

LOUISImpossible. You can't succeed atit. You don't know his strength!He do can things neither of uscan do.

CLAUDIAYes, and do you think thatstrength will pass into me when Ikill him?

(CONTINUED)

106.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI won't allow this to happen.

CLAUDIAWhy don't you admit that you hatehim as much as I do?

LOUISBecause I do not hate him. Hatemyself? Yes, often.

CLAUDIAHe made you too, didn't he? Hedid it to you as he did it to me.Why don't you hate him?

Louis shakes his head.

LOUISIt's not as easy as that, my dear.and I will not let you harm him.Maybe we should go away for awhile, travel on our own, see ifwe can manage.

CLAUDIAOh, we'll manage. Don't seek toknow the week or the night, orthe hour. And don't seek to comebetween us, I warn you. Or --

LOUISOr what? You'll destroy me too?

Claudia is shaken.

CLAUDIANo. I would never harm you. Butif you do seek to interfere...

LOUISYes?

CLAUDIAYou'll never see me again.

She leaves so fast she seems to vanish.

INT. FLAT - ANOTHER NIGHT

Lestat marches through the place, seeing mess everywhere,a theatre program on the carpet, a newspaper lying on thesettee. The window is open and the rain is coming in.

(CONTINUED)

107.

CONTINUED:

LESTATMon Dieu, where is Jeanette?Where's Marie? They haven't beenhere for days!

LOUISMaybe we've frightened them someway. I'd better call at theirhouse when I go out.

LESTATJeanette would have come to meherself if she were troubled.She's never suspected a thing.

Lestat stops. He lifts his chin. He catches a scent.

LOUISWhat is it?

LESTATDamn her into hell. She's donethis!

LOUISWhat? What are you talking about?Lestat, wait.

Lestat goes DOWN the hall, OUT on the porch, DOWN theback stairs, ACROSS the courtyard, and INTO old deserted...

BRICK KITCHEN

As he rips open the wooden doors, a huge swarm ofgnats rises and nearly suffocates him. He waves themaway in disgust.

Louis looks over his shoulder.

They both see Jeanette and her daughter, Marie, freshlydead in each other's arms, yet already devoured by heatand insects.

Lestat bangs the shutters closed.

LESTATHow dare she! Our own servants!Mortals under my protection, andto kill here, in our lair, andleave the remains!

(CONTINUED)

108.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI'll talk to her. I'll reasonwith her. She's full ofresentments. Now, come, help meget rid of these two. I can'tbear to be near them.

Lestat shudders. Opens kitchen doors again.

LESTATDamn her. Only the mad ones aretoo lazy to clear away theremains! She knows this isforbidden.

He opens the old, unused iron-doored brick oven, andturns and stares at the two bodies, disgusted that hemust touch them. He reaches down and touches Jeanette'sdark hair.

CUT TO:

Sound of a MATCH.

FLARE OF FLAMES

Bodies burning amid kindling and paper.

CLOSE ON LESTAT'S FACE

in firelight.

LOUISThere'll be more trouble from her.And we must ride it out. She'llcome round to herself again.

LESTATI'm mortally tired of her!

LOUISLestat, she broods. She makesthreats. It's idle talk --

LESTATThreats? What do you mean,threats?

Lestat is furious. Louis is stymied. Sees the dilemma.

LOUISIt will run its course. We mustbe patient.

(CONTINUED)

109.

CONTINUED:

Lestat looks hard at Louis, then turns his back walksoff.

Louis realizes full dilemma, says nothing.

Lestat turns back, deeply aggrieved.

LESTATDoes she despise me so much?

LOUISShe's so small, so powerless.What can she do to either of us?She is a woman, and the pain runsdeep.

CLOSE ON OPEN OVEN

and bodies burning.

LESTAT(whispers)

No, not a woman. That she neverwas. And that's the horror.

LOUISShe harms herself more than --

LESTATLet her try to harm me and I'llput her out of harm's way fastenough!

Leaves.

CLOSE ON LOUIS'S FACE

realizing he's caught between the two of them.

INT. PARLOR - LESTAT - ANOTHER NIGHT

in formal dress comes in, sees all the doors are shut.Listens, catches scents. Angrily he walks into theparlor.

Louis is playing solitaire at a small game table.

(CONTINUED)

110.

CONTINUED:

LESTATShe's back. What a surprise. Ithought she'd run away with thegypsies. And she's got twomortals with her.

LOUISSeems so. I don't like it either.

LESTATHow dare she bring them here!

LOUISPatience, mon ami. She wants anindependence that she can neverhave. Let it go... for my sakeand your sake.

Lestat is too disgruntled.

Sounds of Claudia CLOSING DOOR at the end of the passageand coming down the hall. She is a vision in lovelywhite lace, pink ribbons, long hair.

CLAUDIABonsoir, mon pere!

She beams at Lestat who sits down at the piano with hisback to the keys.

LESTATAh, the prodigal daughter! I'dgiven you up nights ago, afteryou left those two murdered inthe kitchen. Where have you been.

CLAUDIAOh, little people can hide inlittle places. And how considerateof you to burn those bodies. Ashesto ashes. My thanks.

He gets angry, but she gestures for patience. Sheapproaches him, smiling, radiant, seductive. She putsher little hands on his shoulders.

CLAUDIA'Bless me, Father for I havesinned.' I'm sorry. Truly. I'vea gift for you. To make up forthe whole thing.

(CONTINUED)

111.

CONTINUED:

LESTATGift? What do you mean, gift?What are those mortals doing underour roof?

CLAUDIAThey are my gift for you, darling.

LESTATI don't need such a gift.

Claudia grabs his right hand in both of hers and tugshim to his feet and after her down the hall.

Louis follows, alarmed, suspicious.

CLAUDIAOh, come see! They're the mostbeautiful tavern girls I've everbeheld.

LESTATTavern girls. You know myweaknesses...

CLAUDIAYour favorite kind. Faces likeangels and hearts of coal. They'vesent many a sailor to his death,those two...

Lestat stops in the doorway of a back parlor, seldomused dusty. Two gorgeous women -- a blonde and abrunette -- lie tumbled on the couch, heavily painted,full breasts, gorgeous, very flashy and tacky and fastasleep.

Lestat laughs.

LESTATAh, yes, from Lafitte's. Doesthe world never stop giving usthese luscious little ladies of thestreets! Oh, you're right, theyare my favorite meal, surely.

CLAUDIAKilled a man this very evening.For a single gold coin.

Lestat hardly hears her. He walks toward the women.He's getting hungry. On the table are bottles andglasses.

(CONTINUED)

112.

CONTINUED:

Behind him, Louis is very wary. Can't quite figure allthis out.

LOUISHow did you get them to comehere?

CLAUDIAIt wasn't difficult. I'm anadorable little girl when I wantto be. I led them to believe Iwas alone in this great big flatfull of such fine furniture andsilver!

LESTATYou are a genius, Claudia.

He kneels down before the two irresistible women,tumbled against each other.

CLOSE ON LESTAT

savoring them. He runs a finger over the lips of thebrunette.

CLAUDIAWell, it was you who gave me theidea, actually. Burning theremains of the maid and herdaughter. I thought why notbring the meal home now and then,and use the old oven again.

LESTAT(uneasy but dazed with hunger)

Where we can really savor it.

LOUISDon't take this victim here,Lestat. Claudia, I want noneof this!

LESTATDon't fuss, Louis. I'll burnthe remains myself.

She draws near to Lestat who is bending over the brunette.

(CONTINUED)

113.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAGo to it, let me watch you.

Lestat lifts the brunette, who groans and he sinks histeeth into the flesh above her breast and drinks, givingoff long savoring moans as he does so. They look likelovers.

Claudia watches.

Louis turns angrily to return to the parlor, then hears:

LESTATHmmm, absinthe...

CLAUDIAYou've always liked the taste ofit, Father.

Louis comes back. Lestat continues to drink. Thenglaze-eyed, he pulls himself up and reaches for theBlonde. He takes her ravenously, like someone kissingfarewell before a war.

He moans again, and she slips out of his arms and backon the couch onto the body of the other one. He staresforward...

LESTATAbsinthe!

Almost paralyzed, he stares wildly as he slips to asitting position on the floor. With effort he focuseson Claudia who comes toward him on tiptoe, and then bendsover him.

CLAUDIAThat's right, Father, and laudanum,so much of it, they would not havelived another hour had you not come!

LESTATLouis! Louis... she's... poisonedme! Louis, put me in my coffin...

Claudia slips a huge knife out from under the pillowsbeneath the whores. She drives it right through hisheart.

CLAUDIAI'll put you in your coffin,Father. I'll put you thereforever!

(CONTINUED)

114.

CONTINUED:

Louis rushes to stop her, as Claudia stabs Lestat overand over in an orgy of wounds, blood pouring out of him.

Louis reaches her just as she has slashed Lestat'sthroat, and he grabs for the knife, lifting it, and herwith it because she will not let go of it.

LESTATMy God, Louis... it's too manywounds! Too fast!

Claudia kicks at Louis heaving him backwards over thetable, BOTTLES CRASHING as he falls. As he climbs tohis feet, she pounces upon Lestat and sinks her fangsinto his neck and sucks his blood ravenously.

Louis rushes to Lestat just as Claudia draws away,repelled and stunned by what is happening to Lestat:

Lestat is shriveling, as if he'd been a bag of blood.His skin is shriveling against his bones like parchment,his eyes are slipping back into his skull-like face. Anoise escapes his lips. His lush, beautiful hair remainsunchanged. But his clothes are virtually being emptiedof the body.

It is now no more than the bones, wrapped in paper andthe pupils of the eyes suddenly roll up into the paperedskull.

Claudia stares at the shriveled skeleton in its skin wrap-ping, which looks totally dead. She is fascinated.

Louis kneels beside the ghastly spectacle.

He reaches for Lestat's shoulders. But it's just bones,held together with cloth, or so it seems, and Louis dropsthe skeleton in fear and horror. It lies in the puddle ofblood. The eyeballs, blank, now look yellow. All theskin looks yellow.

Claudia pulls herself out of her thrall.

Tenderly, she approaches Louis, patting his shoulder ina reassuring way.

CLAUDIAGo now, go on. It's my doing andI shall finish it.

LOUISNo!

(CONTINUED)

115.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAHe's dead, Louis! Spare yourselfthe sight of the flames.

Louis begins to gather up the dried limbs though theyflop free like sticks.

LOUISNot in that filthy oven, not withthose charred bones. Not likethat, no.

INT. LESTAT'S BEDROOM

The shriveled skeleton lies on the lace coverlet. Louisstares at it. It looks deader than ever.

EXT. OLD CEMETERY NEAR POINTE DUE LAC - NIGHT

A carriage stands on the distant road with its lampsburning.

Louis, carrying the white wrapped body of Lestat wandersamong the old tombs.

LESTAT (V.O.)I loathe places like this, damnit!

CLAUDIA (V.O.)Then leave, Father. Nobody saidyou had to be properly buried.

Louis, in grief and confusion, leaves the cemetery.Goes into:

EXT. SWAMP

A still pool under the moon.

ECHO of Lestat's LAUGHTER.

LESTAT (V.O.)Didn't I tell you it was goingto be fun?

CRIES of BIRDS merge with Lestat's LAUGHTER. RAPIDHARPSICHORD MUSIC.

(CONTINUED)

116.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT (V.O.)I'm so lonely... I want acompanion.

Gently Louis lowers the body to the surface of the pooland then lets it sink.

LOUISWho can forgive me, Lestat? Whocan give me absolution?

He gives up in despair.

FOCUS ON YELLOW HAIR

billowing from the sheet beneath the water.

EXT. CEMETERY - TWILIGHT

The next NIGHT FADES TO NIGHT:

EXT. COURTYARD

Claudia stands in the open brick kitchen watching theburning of Lestat's belongings in the furnace. Shethrows a top hat into it, a pair of gloves. Her faceis grave, sad.

She turns as Louis returns.

CLAUDIAAt last! I've been sick withworry.

As she tries to go to him, he moves past her up thestairs and into the...

INT. FLAT

Claudia comes behind him, distressed and perplexed.

CLAUDIADon't you see, we're free now? Wecan go. What's wrong with you?Louis, look at me. Louis, hedeserved to die.

Louis turns around in the doorway of his room:

(CONTINUED)

117.

CONTINUED:

LOUISThen so do we! Every night of ourlives. We should die, both of us,now. He was my brother! Mymaker! He gave me eternal life.

CLAUDIAI told you I meant to do it.

LOUISYes, you did! And I didn't darewarn him because I didn't believeyou could do it! And I wasafraid that if I did warn him,that if he believed me, he'ddestroy you!

CLAUDIA(hurt)

Please, Louis... He wronged usboth when he made us. He keptus under his dominance always...

LOUISLeave me alone. I can't look atyou. I'll care for you becauseyou can't care for yourself. ButI don't want you near me. Getaway.

Claudia's eyes are glazing over with faint bloody tears.She turns away.

Louis walks into his room, stares blindly around him.

Then he's distracted by:

Claudia's CRYING. A terrible heartbroken crying, likethe crying he heard the first night he ever saw her,utterly defenseless, but it's ECHOING like a vampire'scrying.

He can't quite believe his ears. He moves into the hall-way and then into her room. She lies against a heap ofpillows on the bed, truly sobbing. He draws near,touches her shoulder and when she looks up at him, hereyes and face are stained with blood tears. The bloodruns down her cheeks. Her lips tremble. She sobsuncontrollably, lips trembling.

(CONTINUED)

118.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIALouis, I did it for us. So wecould be free. I did it becauseof what he did to us. I triedto forgive him. I couldn't doit. Louis, if I lose you... Ihave nothing. I would undo itto please you. I would, I swearit...

He shushes her gently, gathering her into his arms andsits on the bed covering her hair and her blood-stainedface with kisses. She cries softly, allowing herself tobe comforted.

LOUISVery well, my darling. Very well,my love...

Claudia crying softly against his blood-stained shirt.

CLAUDIAWe'll leave here, Louis. We'll goto Paris. We'll forget he everexisted. We'll find others.We'll see the world. Who knowswhat the old ones know? What theycan do.

LOUISAll right, my darling. All right,my love.

INT. FLAT - TWO NIGHTS LATER

Movers take out two trunks. The parlor furniture is alldraped with white sheets.

Louis and Claudia both have on cloaks and gloves. Theyare ready to go. Louis takes one look around. He standswith the poker looking down at the small coal fire. Thenhears...

The BIRDS. CANARIES SINGING in Claudia's room.

LOUISAh, the birds. I forgot thebirds. There's nothing to do nowbut let them go.

(CONTINUED)

119.

CONTINUED:

Claudia, weary, melancholy sits down on the sofa as heputs down the poker and goes down the hall. He stops,staring at the back door.

Sound of FOOTSTEPS SHUFFLING in the courtyard. ThenHEAVILY TREADING on the stairs.

Louis is frozen. Claudia rises and comes toward him,takes his hand.

LOUISIt can't be.

CLAUDIABut it is!

She turns in panic to the front of the flat. STEPSCONTINUE UP the STAIRS. ON the PORCH. The DOOR CRASHESopen.

Lestat in filthy swamp-soaked rags nearly falls into thehall. He is robust again, but his entire body is coveredwith creases where the flesh had wrinkled and shriveled.He is scored all over with these scars. His eyes arebloodshot. He can hardly steady himself.

Louis tries to stop him, but Lestat contemptuously andclumsily throws Louis to one side.

CLOSEUP OF LESTAT'S

scarred face, seemingly without reason.

LESTATClaudia!

BACK TO SCENE

Claudia rushes into the parlor, but he's after her. Shesnatches up the poker from the fireplace and batters himwith it fiercely, knocking him backward. He staggers.

Louis comes in and throws his arms around Lestat'sshoudlers. Lestat hurls him back and off balance againand then kicks him a powerful kick in the gut. Claudiascreams.

Lestat snatches the poker from Claudia and reaches forher. She shoves him with all her might and he fallsback against the gas sconce, SHATTERING the GLASS. Thefire burns his face. He cries out.

(CONTINUED)

120.

CONTINUED:

Claudia regains the poker and whips the burning coals outof the grate at Lestat's feet. They land on the carpetand near the draped furniture and begin to smolder.Sheet over chair begins to burn. Lestat stares down atthe smoking coals trying to get his bearings. Claudiaslams him with the poker again in the GAS flame, and thistime the SCONCE SHATTERS and the flame EXPLODES up thewall.

Louis struggles to his feet. The wallpaper is burning.Lestat's hair catches. She turns, sees the burning sheeton the chair and hurls it at Lestat. Her dress catches.She screams.

The room is exploding into flame.

Lestat is on his knees, choking, hands up over his face,in the smoke. Louis grabs up Claudia smothering theflames of her skirt with his hands. The whole parlor isafire.

Louis carries her out, down the back stairs, throughcarriage way and through the gathering crowd of mortalsand away down the...

STREET

Finally, he stops and sees that she is not badly burnt,only terrified. She clings to him. He looks back at theglare of the distant burning house.

He puts Claudia down in a doorway.

LOUISStay here, until I come back.

CLAUDIANo, Louis, don't leave me. Theship is about to sail.

Louis runs back toward the townhouse. It is surroundedby mortals. Fire roars out of the parlor window. Louiswalks closer, cleaving to the wall, trying not to rousenotice. He looks up. The parlor is an inferno.

Claudia catches up with him. Desperate.

CLAUDIAThe tide's going out! The ship'sgoing without us.

(CONTINUED)

121.

CONTINUED:

LOUISNot yet.

Picking her up, Louis hurries away.

EXT. DECK OF SHIP

Louis stands at the railing in the morning mist as theship moves down river. He sees...

CITY OF NEW ORLEANS

with its flickering lights.

LOUIS (V.O.)Until the very dawn I stood onthat deck, watching, fearful hewould come again, out of the veryriver like some monster to destroyus both. And all the while Ithought Lestat, we deserve yourvengeance. I deserve it. Yougave me the Dark Gift. And I havedelivered you into the hands ofdeath for a second time.

Return to:

MALLOY AND LOUIS (PRESENT)

LOUISWe had the voyage to ponder it,how he had survived. Claudiaswore we had a fatal error when wehad failed to burn his remains.

EXT. DECK OF SHIP - CLAUDIA AND LOUIS

at the rail. Stars over the sea.

CLAUDIAPray he died in the fire! Didyou see him? Did you see thescares all over him? Hecouldn't have gotten away.

(CONTINUED)

122.

CONTINUED:

LOUISOh, yes, he could have. Hecouldn't come after us, no, hewas too weak for that. But hecould have gotten away.

CLAUDIAYou sound as if you wanted himto escape. When will you admityour own hatred for him?

She cleaves to Louis. In spite of himself, he strokesher soft little face.

RETURN TO PRESENT

MALLOYWas she right? Did he die in thefire?

LOUIS(smiling sadly)

How could we know? You canimagine how powerful he was torise from the swamp as he had...

MALLOYHe was conscious all the while,waiting to get his hands onsomething living, something withblood in it...

LOUISExactly. It isn't very hard toenvision. There must have beenblood filled creatures all aroundhim in those waters. And he wasLestat after all. Maybe he fed onthe smallest at first, and then thegreat alligators of the wildernessuntil he was healed enough to takesome hapless human on the road.

CLOSE ON MALLOY'S FACE

As:

LOUIS (O.S.)You know as much about us now,perhaps, as I do. We can sufferterrible blows, blows that wouldkill a mortal, but if we are notburnt to ashes, we heal. We comeback.

123.

EXT. 19TH CENTURY STEAMSHIP

moving at sea under night skies.

LOUIS (V.O.)I think I did pray that he escapedthe townhouse. And yet I fearedfor Claudia at the very thought.Meanwhile, each night brought uscloser to Europe, closer to Paris,closer to a world of which we hadonly dreamed.

EXT. BOULEVARD FACADE OF GRAND HOTEL AND PARIS OPERA

Crowds and gaslight everywhere. Carriages, horses.OPERA coming from the opera house.

LOUIS (V.O.)Ah, Paris. How many mortals haveuttered that name with reverence.Is there any other place thatevokes such love? But understandwhat Paris meant to us... we twohad lived a century in NewOrleans. Paris was a universe,whole and entire unto herself!

EXT. 18TH CENTURY PALACES ALONG THE SEINE - NIGHT

The high walls of the Louvre, dark figures walking inpairs through the shadowy tulieries.

EXT. STREET - SHOP WINDOW

Claudia, in furtrimmed muff and bonnet, peers through theglass at the dolls. They resemble her markedly, these,with blonde hair and blue eyes. She peers deep into theshop to see:

MADELINE, a young woman bent over a workbench painting adoll's face, oblivious to being watched. Claudia smilesat her lovingly. Then looks with a troubled expressionat the dolls.

INT. OPERA STAIRCASE

Louis and Claudia hurrying hand and hand with crowd ofmortals as we hear the sound of the ORCHESTRA TUNINGbeyond. Both are excited and happy.

124.

INT. NOTRE DAME

Claudia and Louis standing in the deep shadows of NotreDame, looking up at the branching arches. Louis is over-come with the beauty. He is excited. Claudia isfascinated.

INT. GALLERY

Louis and Claudia walk among paintings of 1870 with otherspectators. Louis studies them intently. He studiesthe mortal ladies passing, studies their big fashionablehats.

INT. CAFE

Claudia watches the waitress flirt with Louis as sheteases him about not liking his wine. She smiles toherself thoughtfully.

LOUIS (V.O.)We were alive again. We were inlove, and so euphoric were we thatI yielded completely when Claudiamoved us into the Grand Hotel, thevery largest in Europe on theBoulevard des Capuchines.

INT. SUMPTUOUS SUITE

full of late 19th century furniture, lots of Empirestyle, Regency, gilt, the usual velvet and brocade.

CLOSE ON HUGE, BLACK, EBONY CHEST

against a wall, solemn among all the light and glitter.

CLAUDIA

at the open French windows listens to sounds of the CROWDoutside. Busy night.

Louis approaches, drops on one knee and presents her witha little string of pearls. He puts them on her, gazingat her slightly uneasily and then he kisses her on bothcheeks.

She forces a smile.

(CONTINUED)

125.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIAWhere are the others, Louis? Ican hear them. I can sense theirpresence. But they hide.

LOUISLet's not be so eager to findthem, my fairy princess. Lestatwarned me often enough about them.They may not be willing to sharetheir territory, even with twosuch human creatures as you and I.

CLAUDIABut they're like us! They arewhat we are!

LOUISAre we so alike, Claudia?

Claudia smiles at him, kisses him.

CLAUDIAAlike enough, don't you think?

LOUIS(thoughtfully)

Yes.

She looks out at the crowds below. Then:

CLAUDIAMaybe they know things.

She looks at her hands, her own reflection in the openFrench door beside her.

CLAUDIAOld magic, secrets. Charms. Whoknows?

LOUISCharms for what, my dear?

Claudia looks down at her little hands, at her arms, thenmuses.

LOUISLestat would have told us ifthey had some precious secret.You know what they'll be like.City cousins and we, theridiculous rustics.

(CONTINUED)

126.

CONTINUED:

Louis admires her. She watches carriages stop below.Porters rush to gather luggage. Ring of LADY'S LAUGHTER.

CLAUDIASometimes it's almost worse here.The loneliness, the separateness.

Louis controls his inner thoughts. He says only.

LOUISSometimes, but not always. Anddefinitely not tonight.

He takes her hand. She gives in. As they open the doorto the hall to leave, sound of ORCHESTRA SWELLS fromlobby below.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - ANOTHER NIGHT

Louis wakes up from a nap, rumpled on the lavish bed,picks up his book -- David Copperfield -- and tries tofind his place. He is wearing distinct clothing -- agreen frock coat and striped waistcoat, cream-coloredpants. Claudia enters, shuts the door.

She has a large parcel. She strips off bonnet and glovesand then tears loose the ribbon from the box.

She lifts a huge doll from the box, a duplicate ofherself.

LOUISWherever did you find that?

CLAUDIAYou thought I hated dolls now,didn't you?

LOUISYes, I did. But that one looksexactly like you.

Claudia flings the doll gently in the chair. She stripsoff her own cape. Her hair is loose. Her manner andexpression are entirely womanly.

CLAUDIAIt should. It was made for me, bythe doll maker, Madeleine. I askedher to make it. All her dollsresemble me.

Claudia tosses her hair, scowls at the doll and picks itup and begins fussing with it. Suddenly something snapsin her expression.

127.

CLOSE ON HER FACE

as she looks down at the doll. She blinks as we hear theGLASS BREAK. She flings the doll onto the empty hearthwhere its broken head is utterly shattered.

Louis studies her sadly, but not with complete sympathy.He looks at the broken doll. He holds his tongue.Claudia runs her fingers back through her own hair in awoman-like gesture, her face ironic and grim. Louisdeliberately looks away.

CLAUDIAWhy do you look away, why don'tyou look at me?

Louis puts down the book on the table, rises, brushes offhis coat and straightens his coat. He lifts a dark greenwool cape from over the arm of a chair and puts it overhis shoulders.

LOUISYour tone is unkind with meagain, tonight. It seems yourhabit of late. Maybe I should gowalking and leave you to yourmeditations for a while.

Claudia approaches, face molded in a sophisticated expres-sion of ironic dissatisfaction.

CLAUDIA'S POV - LOOKING UP AT LOUIS

CLAUDIA (O.S.)Ah, but tell me something fromthat lofty height, before you go.

BACK TO SCENE

Louis nods, he sits down on the bed beside her and hebends to take her hand and kiss it.

CLAUDIAWhat was it like... making love?

Louis is stunned. He blushes. He rises and goes to thedoor. He reaches for the knob.

CLAUDIAYou don't remember? Or you neverknew.

She stares at him coldly, mocking him. He turns around,leans against the door. He answers candidly.

(CONTINUED)

128.

CONTINUED:

LOUISIt was something hurried. Seldomsavored. Quickly lost. I thinkthat it was... the pale shadow ofkilling.

They look at each other.

CLAUDIA(in pain)

Ahhh. Like hurting you as I donow... that is also the paleshadow of killing.

LOUISYes, madame. I am inclined tobelieve that is correct. Bonsoir.

He goes out and closes the door.

EXT. WINDING STREET (LATIN QUARTER)

LOUIS (V.O.)I knew her dissatisfaction wasgrowing. Her resentments wereincreasing night after night.Though she'd claimed to hateLestat, now she missed him, andher anger was turning slowly onme.

Louis walks briskly, inspecting the old buildings abouthim, enchanted with them, yet worried about Claudia.

Suddenly he stops. Listens. He takes a step. He hearsa STEP behind him. He takes two steps. He hears TWOSTEPS. He takes three, four, five and the STEPS MIMIChis. He senses danger.

He stares ahead at the light of a lone gaslamp at the topof the hill and then a figure materializes there underthe gaslight, or appears to do so.

SANTIAGO, a tall vampire stares down at him. And gradu-ally we realize as does Louis that this vampire hasassumed the same attitude and posture as Louis and thathis clothes are identical to Louis's and his black hair iscombed in the same way.

Louis gives a little involuntary shake of the head.Santiago mimics. Louis takes a step forward. Santiagomimics. Louis utters a syllable and so does Santiago.Louis falls silent and folds his arms. So does Santiago.The timing is preternatural.

(CONTINUED)

129.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS AND SANTIAGO(simultaneously)

Clever.

LOUISYou mean me harm?

SANTIAGO(a beat behind)

You mean me harm?

Louis calculates.

LOUISTrickster. Buffoon!

Santiago echoes the first word but not the second. Louishas broken his composure. He turns his back on Santiagoonly to come face to face with Santiago right in front ofhim.

Again Louis turns his back to find Santiago facing him.

Louis turns, glowers, refusing to look at him.

LOUISI've been searching for you. I'vecome to find you and this is whatI find?

Slowly he looks up. Santiago draws close, breaking themirror tricks and suddenly pushes Louis who is slammedback against the wall. Santiago smiles.

Louis is furious. He quickly regains his balance and hedeals Santiago a great blow, catching him just as hetries to dodge. Santiago staggers, is amazed and asSantiago rushes at him, Louis deals him a strong blowagain.

LOUIS'S POV

as he struggles to see where Santiago has fallen. Hehears sounds of a SCUFFLE. BLOWS. Silence.

Then Louis sees

Armand, standing alone with his back to the light.Armand's hair is trimmed short nineteenth-century style,like Louis's and he is dressed for the period in a blackfrock coat, and high-collared white silk shirt. He lookslike an angel.

130.

BACK TO SCENE

LOUISArmand!

Armand looks momentarily confused, then regains his calm,tranquil expression.

ARMANDLouis, is it not? Louis de Pointedu Lac.

He cocks his head, scanning Louis's mind.

Louis becomes faintly suspicious.

Armand takes an engraved invitation out of his pocket andthrusts it at Louis.

Louis reads aloud as we see:

THEATRE DES VAMPIRES By Special Invitation Friday, 9 p.m.

ARMANDBring the petit beauty with you.No one will harm you. I won'tallow it. But you must explaintomorrow how you know my name.

Armand vanishes.

Louis listens to the silence.

EXT. BOULEVARD DES CAPUCHINES - THEATRE DES VAMPIRES- NIGHT

Louis formally dressed, with Claudia in rich attire, inhis arms, approaches the theatre as others buy ticketsand go in.

LOUISRemember what I've told you.They'll have different strengthsand weaknesses. Some will readyour thoughts if you allow it.Be on guard.

They draw close to:

HUGE POSTERS

announcing the Theatre Des Vampires showing cliched imagesof vampires in cloaks overcoming damsels.

131.

ANOTHER ANGLE

CLAUDIABut this can't be real. This isnonsense.

LOUISI think it's nonsense, all right.But something tells me it's goingto be the strangest nonsense we'veever seen.

Warily, they show their invitation to the mortal tickettaker at the door. He glances away indifferently.

INT. THEATRE BOX POV - STAGE BELOW

Claudia and Louis look about at crowd as lights go down.

CLAUDIAMortals, mortals everywhere. Andlots of drops to drink.

LOUISThey are here. I know they are.Listen for something that doesn'tmake a sound.

Stage; curtain rises.

A vampire disguised as an old woman comes out on thestage, limping to COMIC MUSIC, basket on her arm, as thegrim reaper, a vampire, holding a skull mask on a stickbefore his face, follows her.

Suddenly she sees him. MUSIC is poignant. She kneels,prays to him silently to take her. She lays her headagainst her folded hands in weariness.

The grim reaper comes for a closer look, then backs off.Laughter. The old woman rises and chases the grim reaper.Laughter as they run round and round on the stage.

The grim reaper hides behind a painted tree. The oldwoman gives up, goes away. Grim reaper now lowers themask and yawns. Revealing that he is Santiago. Bored,he lifts the mask again, appears to fall asleep with itover his face, against the painted tree.

LOUIS(whisper)

It's a vampire. It's the oneI saw in the Rue St. Jacques.

(CONTINUED)

132.

CONTINUED:

Santiago affects a bored air as if about to go to sleep,when a spotlight uncovers --

A MORTAL WOMAN suddenly forced out upon the stage.

CLAUDIAShe's no vampire.

LOUISNo. And she's frightened. Shedoesn't know where she is.

The audience laughs uneasily, then stops as the MortalWoman comes into the footlights. She is too beautiful,too confused. Silence falls.

The grim reaper throws up his hand in adoration. Thenhe tears away the skull mask and his white face grimacesat the audience, looking as frightening suddenly in itspreternatural gleam as the mask.

The Mortal Woman sees him and is more frightened. Tearsstand in her eyes.

Vampire men and women, clothed in black emerge from theshadows, each holding a skull mask before his or her faceas they make a great horseshoe behind the Mortal Womanwhich she does not see.

Suddenly, the Mortal Woman sees them and is morefrightened.

CLOSE ON VAMPIRE MEN AND WOMEN

as in concert, they cast down before them the skull masks,the sticks stack like crossbones, the skulls gleaming atthe audience. It is a preternatural trick of skill.

The vampires are seven -- five women and two men in addi-tion to the grim reaper. All beautiful gleaming white,aged 20 or 30 in mortal appearance.

LOUIS(whisper)

They use no paint. And theaudience thinks it is paint!

CLAUDIA

CLAUDIAOh, Lestat would have loved this!

(CONTINUED)

133.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI'm not so sure you're right. Idon't love it!

MORTAL WOMANI don't want to die!

She looks around in panic. Santiago swoons, arms overhis breasts as if he is hopelessly in love.

SANTIAGOWe are death!

The Mortal Woman steps to the footlights.

MORTAL WOMANSomeone help me. Please... Whathave I done?

LOUISThis is no performance!

CLAUDIAAnd you and I are the only onesin the audience who know.

SANTIAGOWe all die. Death is the onething you share with all thosehere.

Santiago gestures to the audience.

FOCUS ON AUDIENCE

Rapt faces.

ON STAGE

MORTAL WOMANBut I'm young...

SANTIAGODeath is no respecter of age. Youcould harbor an illness in youryoung body. Outside a man mightwait to kill you simply for youryellow hair. Need I tell youwhat fate has in store for you.

MORTAL WOMANI would take my chance. Let mego! Please...

(CONTINUED)

134.

CONTINUED:

SANTIAGOAnd if you take that chance andlive, what is your fate. Thehumpbacked toothless visage ofold age?

SANTIAGO

approaches her, and tears the drawstring out of her pea-sant blouse. It opens completely, and starts to slip.She tries to catch it, but he gently takes her wrists andlifts them down. The blouse falls revealing her youngbreasts.

LOUIS AND CLAUDIA

LOUISThis is monstrous!

CLAUDIA(dazed with hunger)

Yes, and very beautiful.

ON STAGE

SANTIAGOJust as surely as this flesh ispink now, it will turn gray andwrinkle with age.

MORTAL WOMANLet me live, please. I don'tcare.

SANTIAGOThen why should you care if youdie now?

She shakes her head, confused. He catches her wristsbehind her back.

AUDIENCE

is awestruck by her beauty, her suffering.

SANTIAGO

draws near her cheek.

(CONTINUED)

135.

CONTINUED:

SANTIAGOAnd suppose death had a heart tolove and he did release you? Towhom would he turn his passion?Would you pick a person from thecrowd there? A person to sufferas you suffer now?

AUDIENCE

A YOUNG GIRL cries out from the third row.

YOUNG GIRLOh, yes, take me, MonsieurVampire! I adore you.

Audience roars with laughter.

ON STAGE

SANTIAGO(aside to the girl)

You wait your turn.

Laughter.

The Mortal Woman shakes her head in panic.

SANTIAGOWell, have you a sister, a mother,a daughter you would send in yourplace?

CLOSE ON CLAUDIA

Even she is repelled by the cruelty of it. Shakes herhead.

MORTAL WOMAN

shakes her head no. She is helpless.

ON STAGE

SANTIAGOUnconscious death waits for youeverywhere. But we are consciousdeath. Do you know what it meansto be loved by death, to becomeour bride!

136.

MORTAL WOMAN

looks up on the verge of hysteria or fainting. But thenher eyes mist over. She is being entranced.

FROM HER POV

we realize she is looking past Santiago at Armand who hasjust stepped out of the wings. Armand has entranced her.He passes Santiago. Santiago stiffens, but yields thestage.

ARMANDNo pain.

MORTAL WOMAN (O.S.)(entranced)

No pain?

ARMAND

takes her by the naked shoulders.

ARMANDYour beauty is a gift to us.

Armand gestures to the others who slowly, gracefully closein.

ARMANDWho deserves such a gift?

He pulls the drawstring from her skirt and it fallsrevealing her nakedness. But she is spellbound.

MORTAL WOMANNo pain...

Armand embraces her, drinks, her naked body stark againsthis black clothes, then he passes her to the othervampires one by one.

CLOSE ON LOUIS

who battles desire and hunger with anger. Pushes histongue against his fangs, and frowns.

LOUISI've seen enough of this.

CLAUDIA(cajoling)

Be still!

137.

ON STAGE

The naked Mortal Woman lies dead on the floor of thepainted forest. The vampires seem to vanish one by one.The AUDIENCE LOUDLY APPLAUDS the tricks.

ANOTHER ANGLE

APPLAUSE, CHATTER. But the audience is uneasy and eagerto escape. They hurry to the exits, whispering anxiously,with forced smiles.

CLAUDIAPatience, Louis. Patience.

Houselights go up as Louis sees Santiago standing in thedoor of the box gesturing for them to come.

INT. FOOT OF STAIRWAY

opening into a

HUGE UNDERGROUND BALLROOM

Walls are painted with copies of famous Brueghels, Goyas,depictions of death. Fine wooden coffins lie in nichesset into the walls up and down both sides of the longroom. Some are very old, some lustrous, some rusted.

Candles burn in sconces.

Armand stands in the center of the ballroom, handsclasped behind his back, as Claudia and Louis come downthe stairs and into the room.

Vampire men and women seem to appear all around Louis andClaudia deliberately startling them. Hands dart out totouch Claudia as if she were a doll. Shrieks of preter-natural laughter. She cleaves to Louis. He is silentlyenraged. He looks to Armand.

Armand gestures for the vampires to back off.

All obey but ESTELLE.

ESTELLESuch a darling. Whoever made you,my dear?

She menaces Claudia, her breasts enormous, her fangsbared.

(CONTINUED)

138.

CONTINUED:

Armand glares at her. Suddenly she is forced off herfeet and back against the wall by something invisible.She slams into the plaster and glowers at Armand.

ESTELLEThat was crude of you!

She vanishes.

Blur. Armand reappears with a lighted candle in his hand.He gestures for Louis to follow him. Claudia remainsbehind, watching warily.

Armand and Louis walk along the walls, the candle flaringon the ghastly murals: The Triumph Of Death; The Fall OfThe Angels; Bosch's Hell.

Armand's face gleams like that of an angel above thecandle. Louis is horrified by the paintings as he was bythe performance.

LOUISMonstrous.

ARMAND(lips not moving yet echoing Claudia's earlier words)

Yes, and very beautiful.

LOUISYour lips, they didn't move.

ARMANDI'll speak in audible words if itmakes you happy. I can do iteither way.

Louis looks at him, drawn to him, yet wary.

Armand snaps his fingers.

A mortal boy of fifteen comes forward. Armand gesturesto Louis. And the boy offers himself. Louis is utterlyconfused. Can't resist. Sees marks on the boy's throat.Drinks his blood.

Other vampires appear all around Louis who suddenlysenses it and draws back, releasing the boy, ashamed.

CLOSE ON CLAUDIA

far away, watching contemptuously and warily.

139.

LOUIS

is disoriented, trying to regain his equilibrium.

BOY

smiles as he withdraws, spellbound and weak.

LOUIS

glares at the others.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Armand beckons for Claudia and Louis to follow as hereveals a door in the wall by opening it and leading themdown stairs into a passage and into a stone room withmedieval chairs, table, an old coffin, a blazing fire.Books on one wall.

MEDIEVAL PAINTING OF SATAN

hangs over the fire.

ON SCENE

A door is open to the rainy night outside and anotherstairway to the street above. Armand closes it. Louisfalls into the chair, hands to his temples.

Armand turns to Claudia. Claudia's eyes mist. Without achange of expression, she sits limp in a chair, her eyesmoving listelessly over the books.

CLOSE ON BOOKS

Withcraft, demonology, lives of the Saints, GrandGrimoire.

BACK TO SCENE

She refuses to lose consciousness.

Armand sits in the chair opposite Louis as Louis looks up.

ARMANDDisappointing, isn't it? To comeso far, and find so little! Jadedlords and ladies of darknessamusing themselves like the OldRoyal Court.

140.

CONTINUED:

LOUISYet, you are their leader! Youlet them do all this. This play,this horror...

ARMANDYou sound like your maker. Itwas Lestat de Lioncourt, wasn'tit, who made you both? Hecomdemned me once in the sameway. All I do is give the otherswhat they need of me.

LOUISAnd this theatre sustains them,and gives them contentment.

ARMANDSo they let me believe. Orperhaps I must believe it.

LOUISYou can read my thoughts, can'tyou?

ARMANDNow and then. You don't know yourown strength. The child knowshers. Her purpose she can'tconceal, but her deeper thoughtsare closed to all who wouldpillage them.

LOUISShe's no child. You know thatwhether you can read her mind ornot. And what purpose do youspeak of?

ARMANDShe has the charm of a child. Andthe wisest of us can be lulled byappearances. And we needinteresting and new companions.

LOUISDo we?

ARMANDYou know we do. Time is ourenemy! What would we do withoutthe fledglings to guide us intothe new era as all we love slowlyrots and fades away?

(CONTINUED)

141.

CONTINUED:

Louis tears his eyes off Armand and looks up at thepicture of Satan.

ARMANDWhy do you stare at that? It's apicture, nothing more.

He rises suddenly, composure broken, grabs the pictureoff the wall and throws it into the fire.

LOUISIt has no meaning.

ARMANDYou know it does not. It's asymbol.

LOUISBut the old ones, the very oldones...

Armand takes his hand.

ARMANDI know nothing of God or the Devil.I have never seen a vision, norheard a divine voice, nor learnta secret that would damn or save mysoul. And I am the eldest. Forall I know I am the oldest livingvampire in the world.

Louis is thunderstruck. He stares at the angelic facewhich is very sad.

CLOSE ON ARMAND.

Louis falls back into the chair.

Armand waits patiently. Then:

ARMANDThis doesn't surprise you. Youknew you would find no answershere.

LOUISOh, but I hoped and I dreamed.That Lestat was wrong, that therewas some framework, some place forus. Children of Satan... thatsomeone somewhere knew why we wereallowed to exist.

(CONTINUED)

142.

CONTINUED:

ARMANDChildren of Satan? Didn't Lestattell you of those old customs.

LOUISYes.

ARMANDAnd if there is a Satan, who madehim, pray, whom do think?

LOUISWhy, God made Satan. Who else?

ARMANDThen we're all Children of God,aren't we? And that is whatmortals believe. How can weimprove upon that?

Louis is struck by the simplicity of it.

LOUISThen we are damned in hell, allof us. We are evil...

ARMANDBut what is evil?

LOUISNow it's you who are deceivingyourself. You know what it is.You saw it on that stage tonight.Evil is cruelty. Evil is murder.Evil is the taking of a singlehuman life!

Armand is deeply moved by Louis' sincerity.

ARMANDI fear for you!

LOUISAnd not for yourself?

(OPTIONAL. SCENES OF VENICE WITH VOICE OVER)

ARMANDNo. I was born to Darknesscenturies ago, in Venice by aMaster who brought me to him inlove. He told me no tales of godsor demons. It was the others whotold those lies.

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

143.

CONTINUED:

ARMAND (CONT'D)Those who came to destroy himbecause he was an outlaw and ablasphemer. Those who took meaway and taught me the Ways OfSatan, and the Rules Of TheChildren Of Darkness, the oldcatechism of the damned.

CLOSE ON Louis's face.

ARMANDAnd I took their vows, and saidtheir litanies, and sang theirhymns and danced at their sabbats.Until Lestat came. Your maker.The innocent one, the perfectspirit of the last century,believing in nothing but thegoodness of his own nature. Andhe was right.

Louis doesn't answer. Then:

LOUISLestat knew we were evil. He justdidn't care.

ARMANDKnew? You say knew? You meanLestat is...

Claudia appears suddenly at Louis's shoulder, inter-rupting. She is fighting a spell, as if it is a drug.Trying to see and move with clarity.

CLAUDIACome, beloved. It's time we wereon our way. I'm hungry and thestreets wait.

She stares hard at Armand and he stares back at her.She looks away warily, as if his eyes have a power.

ARMANDYou can leave by this door. Theothers won't hurt you. I won'tlet them. This I swear.

(CONTINUED)

144.

CONTINUED:

Armand looks meaningfully at Claudia who eyes himsuspiciously.

ARMANDI have no magic potions for you,little one. No charms.

Claudia is shocked by his words.

ARMANDYou will be as you are and as youwere made... a child forever.

Claudia is enraged and humiliated, glaring at him andthen at Louis.

CLAUDIAI made no requests of you!

LOUISWhat are you saying to each other?

ARMANDGo. Your finely appointed roomsawait you. You can always come tothis door if you wish to find me.I'll be here.

INT. HOTEL SUITE (PARIS) - BEFORE DAWN

Claudia paces in a rage. Hair wild, dress undone,looking entirely like a little woman, voice resonantlike a woman. All childish innocence long lost.

CLAUDIAI detest them, I can't stand thesight of them! They disgust me!Stupid, bourgeois Parisians.Fools! They all dress in black,did you see it? It's a damnedorganization, a private club!

Louis stares into the fire, dejected.

CLAUDIAGod in heaven, what I wouldn'tgive to speak with Lestat forfive minutes! And there are nolittle ones among them. I am theonly one! The only one! Andtheir leader mocks me!

(CONTINUED)

145.

CONTINUED:

Louis takes her in his arms, tries to still her withkisses.

CLAUDIAWhat a fool I was to kill Lestat.And I'm in danger.

LOUISWhat danger?

CLAUDIAI can feel it emanating from allof them! They want to know whatbecame of our maker. They'resuspicious. They have their rules.Their idiotic rules!

LOUISThey don't know what happened toLestat. They search our souls butthey don't have the answers. Notyet. And we are in danger, mycherie. We. Not you.

CLAUDIANo, it is I who am in danger. Andas much from that ghastly Armandas from the rest.

LOUISThat's not true.

CLAUDIAHe wants you, Louis. He wantsyou for a companion. He bideshis time in this place. 'How weneed new companions.' Do youremember what he said? And hetaunts me with my foolish dreams!

LOUISWhat dreams, Claudia?

CLAUDIADid you think you were the onlyfool, beloved? I dreamed of somewizardry that would make me...

He kisses her, smooths back her hair.

LOUISYou are perfect to me as you are.You always were. You are mybeloved.

(CONTINUED)

146.

CONTINUED:

She leans on him, closes her eyes, confides:

CLAUDIADo you know what Armand's soulsaid to me -- 'Why not end thepain now, child? The sun can beyour deliverance.'

LOUISNo.

CLAUDIAOh, yes. He can't make me growinto a womanly shape but he canshow me how to die.

EXT. FOOT OF STEPS (PARIS) - NEXT NIGHT (RAIN)

by Armand's door.

Louis knocks. Armand opens.

ARMANDYou've come early. I'm gratefulto you. I was waiting for you,of course.

LOUISListen to me.

He follows Armand into the room.

LOUISClaudia, she is dear to me, my...daughter.

ARMANDYour lover.

LOUISNo, my beloved, my child.

ARMANDIf you say so. You are soinnocent.

LOUISI'm not innocent. But I'm afraid.She feels she's in danger from theothers.

ARMANDShe is.

(CONTINUED)

147.

CONTINUED:

LOUISBut why? Why would they hurther. What right have they to doanything to either of us!

ARMANDThey are the coven. They havetheir laws. It's forbidden tomake one as young as she is, oneso helpless, one that cannotsurvive on its own.

LOUISIt wasn't her blunder!

ARMANDShe's too small to make a vampireof a male or female old enough toprotect her. She can't... makeanother at all. Do you know whatshe hoped to find here?

LOUISYes. She should have known sucha thing wasn't possible. But youhave to protect her.

Armand nods.

ARMANDI know.

Louis sinks into the chair, looking up at Armand.

LOUISThere was so much I wanted tosay to you, so much I wanted toask, to learn from you.

ARMANDAnd I'm here to teach. I needyou, young one, just as you needme. I'm the teacher Lestatwouldn't be. And you're thepupil he didn't want.

He draws close to Louis, a picture of boyish innocence.

ARMANDHow many vampires have the staminafor immortality? Do you knowhow quickly they perish of theirown will.

(CONTINUED)

148.

CONTINUED:

LOUISYes, because I almost did it onceto myself.

ARMANDNo, you'd never give up on life.I know you wouldn't. If the worldwere reduced to one empty celland one fragile candle, you'd stayin that cell studying that candle.You see too clearly. You see toomuch.

LOUISThat's what Lestat said to me.And I failed him! I wronged him.Oh God.

ARMAND(smiling)

How he must have loved you. Ilove you.

LOUISBut why?

ARMANDI need you more than he ever did.To make my link with this century,to carry me into its art and itsphilosophy, and all the things Idespair of understanding on my own.

LOUISOh, but you'd be making a terriblemistake. I'm at odds witheverything and always have been.I wasted life when I had it. Iwaste my gifts now. I have neverbelonged anywhere with anyone atanytime.

Armand laughs softly.

ARMANDYou are so nearly perfect. Louis,don't you realize everyone in thisNineteenth Century feels as youdo? You are the very spirit ofthese times! Your melancholy isthe melancholy of the century.

Louis is speechless, and in love.

(CONTINUED)

149.

CONTINUED:

ARMANDThere's so much I can show you. Iwant to go back to Italy, back toVenice, to the palace where I wasmade. I can teach you thingsabout your powers you haven'tbegun to learn. But listen. Youmust... you must get the childaway from here. They won'ttolerate her. They'll destroyher.

LOUISI can't leave her. Oh, I want tocome with you. Talking to you,it's...

ARMANDLike feasting? Like the deep richtaste of blood?

LOUISYes.

ARMANDCome, I'll hold them off. They'reall cynical little cowards whenwe get right down to it. Thetrash of the era, just as you areits essence. I'll keep them atbay, but you must think of someway to get her safely out of hereand on her own.

EXT. STREETS (MONTMARTRE)

Louis walks up the hill past lighted cottages.

LOUIS (V.O.)Of course I couldn't leave her,get her safely away! What didsuch words mean to me. But Iwanted to leave her! For thefirst time, I admitted it. I hadwanted to leave us since thenight she's tried to kill Lestat.I loved her, yes, beyond reason,but since that night, we had beena torment to each other now and Icould deny it no longer.

Louis stops. Peers into --

150.

PAINTER'S STUDIO

The mortal painter is fast at work on a huge canvas,vaguely impressionistic, very early Monet. He stopsin his work as he sees Louis in the doorway.

The painter wipes his hands on his smock, beckons forLouis to enter. The room is brightly lighted, full ofglorious pictures. A fire blazes in the little stove.

Louis is hungry. He lets the painter, enrapt, put himin the chair.

The painter begins Louis's portrait.

CLOSE ON Louis who becomes ever more hungry staring atthe painter who works furiously sketching Louis's face.

The painter stops, disturbed.

LOUIS(dazed monotone)

Save yourself. Beware.

The painter drops the brush, backs away in fear.

Louis takes him. The painter fights, but Louis sinkshis teeth and drinks.

LOUISDie. Die... Give it up...

He releases the painter, still alive but comatose, ontothe floor.

Louis stares at the canvas, the sketch is a portrait ofinnocence, a young man, wholly compassionate and gentle.

LOUISI'm mortal now, like you, mybrother, with your blood.

He touches his face.

Louis touches his own face.

LOUISWarm and wanting to be warmer, togo on existing, and thriving onyour blood!

The painter's eyes close.

(CONTINUED)

151.

CONTINUED:

Louis lifts the painting and starts to leave with it,when the painter opens his eyes, and rises up, grabbingthe painting from Louis.

They wrestle with it, Louis winning, but casting asidethe painting and drawing the painter up to him andgashing his throat in rage for the final drink.

INT. HOTEL SUITE - NIGHT

Louis enters. He is carrying the painting sketch,which he props on the mantel. Suddenly he catches ascent. Small lift of his chin. He looks into themirror. He sees in the glass.

MADELINE, the Doll Maker, resplendent in green taffeta,sitting like a Madonna with Claudia on her lap.Claudia's arms are around her neck. The contrast betweenmortal woman and immortal child is plain.

Louis turns around.

LOUISWhy did you bring her here? Whatdoes this mean?

Claudia slips from Madeline's lap. She approaches,looking womanly and cruel.

CLAUDIADon't you know?

LOUISNo.

CLAUDIAEven now you dream of leaving me,of wandering the world with yournew teacher. Well, you will makeher one of us before you leave me!You will do that for all you'vedone to me!

Louis recoils.

CLAUDIADo you know how I despise you?Your evil is that you cannot beevil! You will not! You didn'tstop Lestat when he made me! Youdidn't stop me when I destroyedhim. Well, you will do evil nowand for me!

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

152.

CONTINUED:

CLAUDIA (CONT'D)You will make her strong andimmortal so she can care for me,so I can leave this place!

Madeline is stricken with love for Claudia. Claudiapaces, a woman in a doll's body, enraged.

Louis is not surprised so much as defeated. Bravelyhe listens.

CLAUDIASnatching me from mortal handslike two grim monsters in anightmare fairy tale! You idle,blind parents! Fathers!

She spits blood at his feet.

CLAUDIAAnd you weep. You haven't tearsenough for what you did to me.Six more mortal years, seven,I would have had that shape.

She points to Madeline.

CLAUDIANow, you give her to me! You dothis so I can go on with her! Iwill not live with this hatredany longer. I will not live withthis rage!

CLOSE ON Louis accepting, and identifying with her com-pletely without defense.

CLAUDIAOooh!! I love you still, that'sthe core of it.

She pivots. Bending at the waist as if struck by a blow.

CLAUDIALestat I never loved, but youalways. The hate I feel is equalto the love. Louis, do you knowhow much hate that is?

LOUISYes, I know.

(CONTINUED)

153.

CONTINUED:

Claudia begins to tremble and cry blood tears. Madelinecomes to her side.

MADELINEOh, my precious one, don't cry.Don't.

They embrace each other. Louis watches.

Pause.

He goes to Madeline and he draws her near to him. Hecradles Madeline's chin in his hand.

LOUISYou must do as I tell you. Lookat the gaslight. Don't take youreyes off it. I'm going to drainyou to the brink of death butyou must stay alive, do you hearme?

MADELINEYes!

Louis bends and starts to drink her blood.

EXT. HOTEL SUITE - BALCONY

Louis emerges from the room and puts his hands on therailing. The wind blows the curtains. Behind him wesee...

Madeline dancing in mad circles with Claudia. Theirmingled laughter becomes louder and louder. Louis staresdown into the Boulevard. At the corner of...

CAFE DE LA PAIX

he sees...

Armand. Solitary. Watching him from the street.

HOTEL SUITE - NEXT NIGHT

Luggage being carted out by bellhops. Madeline is tracingthe flowers in the carpet with her foot like a personon LSD, giggling, and dancing around the flowers.

(CONTINUED)

154.

CONTINUED:

Louis pays the last bellhop. He leaves. Claudia, dressedand ready for the journey, shuts the door. She comesback and she looks at Louis.

CLAUDIAForgive me.

LOUISThere's nothing to forgive.

CLAUDIAI showed you my pain, Father.

LOUISThat you did, child, and Ideserved to see it. All of it,and your anger as well.

Claudia reaches up for him with both arms. He lifts her,embraces her.

LOUISMy darling, my love...

Claudia kisses him on the mouth. She draws back, bitesinto her tongue, and when the blood flows, she kisses himfull on the mouth again. He closes his eyes, receivingthe kiss, and then he pulls away holding her.

CLOSE ON MADELINE

looking up, startled.

Lights dim all around her.

LOUIS

is fully alert. He looks around.

OTHER VAMPIRES

in their black clothes are all around them. Pressingcloser and closer.

ESTELLETime for justice, little one.

SANTIAGO(to Louis)

Yes, you blundering fool!

As Louis starts to fight, we hear Madeline scream.

155.

INT. FACADE OF THEATRE

which is closed. Carriages stop before the doors. Wesee the whole crowd in black, with Louis, Claudia, andMadeline, emerge from the carriages. The prisoners areshoved inside.

INT. BALLROOM

Louis, Madeline and Claudia are forced inside, and thevampires make a circle around them.

LOUISWhere is Armand? I demand thatyou wait for him.

SANTIAGOYou can make no demands here,rogue! Bastard!

Louis rushes at him and is knocked back. Madeline andClaudia cling to each other. Claudia appears fatalistic.Madeline sobs in fear.

Louis gasps.

HIS POV

Lestat, dressed beautifully but horribly scarred now fromthe fire more than from the early stabbing, is shovedforward, teetering and reaching for Santiago's shoulderto steady himself. He is clearly confused.

LESTATLouis... Where is Armand? Armandpromised me...

BACK TO SCENE

He stares, disoriented, at the others. Claudia looks athim, but he does not seem to recognize her or anyone, butLouis. Claudia is fearless and resigned.

SANTIAGOYou rose up against your maker.You tried to destroy one of ourown kind! You rose against thecoven master!

LOUISBut he's alive. We didn't destroythem. Lestat, I beg you if everthere was a particle of lovebetween us...

(CONTINUED)

156.

CONTINUED:

Lestat tries to follow the words, but can't.

LESTATWhere is Armand? He promised mehis healing blood. I need it. Ineed the blood of the old ones.

(recognizes Louis again)

Louis?(smiles)

It's you.

Vampires scream over and over, Justice, Justice, Justice...

Santiago points at Claudia. Lestat appears to see herfor the first time.

SANTIAGODenounce the rebels. Name themand pass sentence.

LOUISWhere is Armand? This creaturedoesn't know what he's saying.You have no right to condemn us.Lestat, look at me. Tell them tolet the other two go. I am theone who hurt you. Tell them.

Lestat tries to follow, but can only express a fainthappiness at the sight of Louis. He tries to gather histhoughts.

A BANGING, DRAGGING NOISE distracts Louis.

ESTELLEEnough. The outcast has confessed.The child is an abomination. Thewoman is a weak and stupidfledgling. The sentence on allis death.

Louis goes wild, fighting, but they overpower him,dragging him to a big iron coffin which they havedragged to the spot. They force him down into it.They lock a chain over his chest, and hold him.

Santiago bends over the coffin.

SANTIAGOFor you, the slow way. Perhaps itwill take centuries. Perhaps itwill never really come at all.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

157.

CONTINUED:

SANTIAGO (CONT'D)Deep in the old dungeon, no onewill ever hear your screams asyou thirst, as you wither. Timewill have you all to itself.

Louis struggles. The lid slams.

INT. COFFIN

Louis struggles, breaks the chain, and beats his fistsagainst the lid of the coffin. All in vain. He triesto turn over, he can't. It's too tight. He goes wild,beating at the lid. Then stops.

TREAD OF FEET on stairway, and going down a long passage.Seems endless. Louis feels all around him for some weak-ness in the coffin, can find none.

Sounds of BRICKS and MORTAR. Louis stares. One morestruggle. Then he loses consciousness.

BLACKNESS.

INT. COFFIN

Dim light. Louis sleeps. Sounds of BRICKS being BROKEN,thrown aside. Then of LOCKS BREAKING.

Louis opens his eyes. He is at once alert.

The lid opens. He sees.

ARMAND

above him, reaching down to lift his hand. A torch burnson the wall behind Armand.

CUT TO:

LOUIS

Standing beside Armand, in vast long catacomb. Very farat the end, we see the broken wall. Louis runs to it.

CUT TO:

LOUIS AND ARMAND

stepping through the broken brick wall.(CONTINUED)

158.

CONTINUED:

LOUISWhere is she? What's happened?Where is Claudia?

ARMANDCome, we must go, that way throughmy cell.

Points to his cell at the end of the passage, foot ofthe steps. We can hear the RAIN through the open door.

LOUISNo, not without Claudia andMadeleine. Where are they?

ARMANDI can't save them.

LOUISThat's not true. You don'tbelieve I'd go without them doyou. Good, God! They have themhere, somewhere, you must help mefind them.

He goes up the stone stairs and enters the ballroom.Estelle stands far off, looking at him coolly. She liftsthe stage skull mask and laughs softly behind it. A malevampire slumps in a chair staring fully at Louis.

Silence. Indifference.

Others hover in the same manner. A door is open to thefalling rain.

Louis sees Lestat sitting in a far corner. He rushes toLestat who looks up, confused. He's holding something,crumpled, made of cloth.

LESTATLouis, we should go home now. Weshould go back where we belong.

LOUISClaudia! Claudia!

Louis turns round and round in rage. Passive still faces.The open DOOR BANGS suddenly in gust of breeze and openson the RAIN once more.

Louis glares at it, at Lestat. Lestat's hands releasethe cloth. We see it is a small torn bloodstaineddress. Claudia's dress.

(CONTINUED)

159.

CONTINUED:

Louis sees it. He snatches it up and stares at it. TheDOOR BANGS AGAIN. Estelle laughs. RAIN GUSTS into theballroom.

Louis goes to the door. Armand approaches, tries to pullhim away, but Louis shrugs him off, advancing on thedoorway. He draws nearer and nearer and stares out --

INT. BRICK AIRWELL

On the stones lie Claudia and Madeline, burnt to greasyashes, in each other's arms, exactly like the maid andher daughter in the brick kitchen in New Orleans. Sameattitude, as if they died embracing each other.

Only Claudia's blonde hair and Madeline's red hair remainunburnt.

Louis look at the walls of this airwell, he looks up manystories to the sky.

Santiago shoves Louis suddenly into the ashes. Louisroars in horror, then attacks Santiago, overpowering him,ashes scattered into the RAINY WIND. Claudia's goldenlocks fly up into the wind, they swirl around the twowarring figures.

Santiago tries to escape, dragging Louis back with himinto --

BALLROOM

where the others close in.

Armand pulls Louis free of them. Louis fights.

BLACKNESS.

EXT. DOOR OF NOTRE DAME (PARIS)

Louis is slumped against the stone wall. Armand standsbeside him like a guardian angel.

ARMANDI couldn't prevent it.

LOUISI don't believe you. I do nothave to read your soul to knowthat you lie.

(CONTINUED)

160.

CONTINUED:

ARMANDLouis, they can not be broughtback. That is impossible. Theirremains are destroyed.

LOUISYou let them do it.

Louis climbs to his feet.

LOUISYou held sway over them. Theyfeared you. You wanted it tohappen.

ARMANDI swear I did not.

LOUISI understand you only too well.You let them do it, as I let herrip Lestat's heart to pieces!You let it happen as I let himmake her! Well, I am your passivefool no more. Your melancholyspirit of this century! I knowwhat I must do. And I warn you,do not seek your cell in theTheatre des Vampires again. Donot go near it.

EXT. STREETS (PARIS) - ALMOST DAWN

Wet and deserted. Theatre Des Vampires is quiet.

CLOSEUP ON CLOCK

CHIMING five a.m.

CLOSE ON LOUIS

looking at the paling sky. He is in the alleyway, out-side of Armand's cell. He has a huge keg with him. Hefinds the door unlocked. He enters.

INT. CELL

empty. The hearth is cold. The old coffin is gone.Louis silently closes the door to the passage, and barsit with the immense bar. He looks about. Looks at thebar. It's enough to block this exit. He rushes backout.

161.

INT. THEATRE

Louis hurls kerosene all over the stage curtain, thepadded seats, the carpet. He leaves a long trail ofkerosene behind him like a wick. He rushes to the wingsand down the stairs, dribbling the kerosene behind him.He sees the candlelight of the ballroom below. Then thecandle goes out. He listens, creeping quietly into theballroom, leaking the kerosene from the cask. He splashesover the coffins that gleam in the dimness.

Then he strikes a match and heaves it at the kerosene.Everything bursts into flames. The trail of keroseneROARS INTO FIRE through the ballroom over the coffinsand up the stairs. We hear EXPLOSION of FIRE above.

LOUIS

shudders all over, fighting the morning weakness. Hetakes a small scythe from his belt and stands like theGrim Reaper.

Estelle rises from her burning coffin, screams and triesto run through the fire, but Louis slashes at her with thescythe, and she goes down screaming, her dress in flames.

ESTELLEStop him. It's morning. Thesunlight. Stop him.

Others rise, choking in the smoke. SCREAMS come fromeverywhere. They are burning.

Louis backs to the stairs to the dungeon. He can seedown there a thin pale light under Armand's bolted door.Morning coming.

Santiago suddenly appears behind. He turns. Santiagorushes him in a blur. Louis lifts the scythe, too fast tosee what he himself is doing. Santiago's head streamingblood flies through the air. The body drops, flappingits arms.

SCREAMS come from everywhere.

Another vampire rushes burning towards Louis. He decapi-tates the burning vampire.

The light from below is nearly blinding him.

LOUIS

covers his eyes with his arm and descends, rushing pastthe door of Armand's cell with its burning gleam oflight. He runs down the long passage to the brokenbrick wall. He enters the --

162.

DUNGEON

He stops once to catch his breath in the cool dark,listening to --

SCREAMS ABOVE. ROAR of FIRE.

PASSAGEWAY

before and behind are empty.

He rushes back the long dark passage and finds the ironcoffin in which they locked him. He digs the scythe intothe ceiling, over and over, causing RUBBLE to FALL in agreat heap before the coffin, and then he climbs inside.

INT. COFFIN - CLOSE ON LOUIS

His eyes closing. Oblivion.

STAIRWAY - LOUIS - FOLLOWING NIGHT

Moves slowly up the sooty stone stairs, hearing the SOUNDSof the CITY above. He emerges in the --

BURNT-OUT BALLROOM

under the naked sky. Above, on the --

EXT. SIDEWALKS

there are hastily constructed wooden barriers, a fragmentof a wall, heaps of rubble, but the theatre is gone.

He climbs up over the heaps of rubble. A high wallremains, a piece of burnt roof and rafters.

Carriages and pedestrians go by, ignoring him.

INT. CROWDED CAFE

across from the theatre. Louis sits at a table, paperfolded in front of him. We see headline:

FIRE DESTROYS BOULEVARD THEATRE

LOUIS (V.O.)The mortal world did not guesswhat had taken place. Few bodieshad been found in the ruins.

(MORE)(CONTINUED)

163.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.) (CONT'D)In other words, the younger oneshad left their bones; the olderones had been obliterated. Nomention of an eyewitness or asurvivor. How could there havebeen?

INT. LOUVRE - NIGHTS LATER

It is already a museum by this time, and Louis fancilydressed and composed, walks alone through the rooms,looking at the painting by moonlight that comes throughthe windows and the skylights. He pauses before aGericault. The Wreck of the Medusa.

Armand appears standing beside the painting.

Louis sighs.

LOUISYou didn't even warn them, didyou?

ARMANDNo.

LOUISWhy not?

ARMANDI didn't want to.

LOUISYou were their leader. Theytrusted you.

ARMANDNo. That was never true. Thetheatre was mine. But I wasnever the leader, not since thetime when Lestat destroyed theold ways.

Louis stops.

LOUISAnd Lestat? Was he there whenthe theatre burned?

ARMANDDid you want him to be there?

(CONTINUED)

164.

CONTINUED:

Louis walks on.

LOUISI don't know. That's the truthof it. I don't know.

ARMANDYou are much changed, and yet youare the same.

Armand looks at him affectionately.

LOUISWhat a pair we are. We deserveeach other, don't we?

ARMANDWhat does it matter, innocent one.We are a pair! That is what counts.

Armand and Louis walk slowly through the Louvre together.

LOUIS (V.O.)That is the end of my storyreally. I never changed afterthat. I left Paris shortly afterand Armand followed me. For yearswe wandered the world. Greece,Egypt, all the ancient lands.But Claudia's death is truly theend of my tale.

RETURN TO:

EXT. DIVISADERO STREET - PRESENT

TRAFFIC ROARING along Divisadero Street below the window.

LOUIS (V.O.)We were in Venice when Armandwent his own way. I feared forhim going off on his own, but notenough to utter a single word tostop him. From time to time, Iglimpsed others... old ones.Sometimes they fled. Sometimesthey were indifferent.

EXT. OLD DELHI (INDIA) - PRESENT TIME

Crowds swarming in the early evening. Autos push againstthe endless stream of motley pedestrians.

(CONTINUED)

165.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.)Then only a few years ago, Icaught a glimpse of anothervampire, and I knew at once ithad to be Gabrielle!

CLOSE ON Louis in gentleman's white tropical suit staringthrough the crowd.

Distant figure of Gabrielle, her hair tied back, dressedin khaki men's clothes, white-faced, oblivious, like awalking statue. Unnoticed yet horrifying in her trance-like movement.

LOUIS (V.O.)I didn't dare call out to her.What could I have said to her? Itwas like seeing a goddess!

He watches as she suddenly vanishes. He hurries throughthe crowd trying to catch another sight of her, but hecan't. She seems to have disappeared. He's alone in themortal crowd.

LOUIS (V.O.)Every memory of Lestat I'd everburied in my soul came back to me.Oh, I'd never really forgottenhim, but now he crowded everythingfrom my mind. He became myobsession.

EXT. STREET (SAN FRANCISCO) - MALLOY'S FACE (PRESENT)

MALLOYLestat is still alive. He didescape the fire.

LOUISThat's what I had to find out.I'd been back to Paris innumerabletimes. I would have known had hebeen there. Now I wanted toreturn to New Orleans. FinallyI could think of nothing else.The idle dream that if he existedstill, he might be there. And Iwanted to see my home again. Mycity. Where we had been so happyall those years. It was areason... for existing.

166.

EXT. GARDEN DISTRICT - NIGHT

Louis in Twentieth Century suit walks past the many GreekRevival Mansions.

LOUISMaybe I sensed something in thosedark streets. I saw and heardsounds. And then on PrytaniaStreet, only blocks from theLafayette Cemetery, I caught thescent of death and it wasn'tcoming from the graves.

PAN OVER white-walled Lafayette Cemetery, surroundingmansions.

LOUIS (V.O.)The scent grew stronger as Iwalked on uptown. Old death. Ascent too faint for mortals todetect.

Louis sees rats darting along the street. One, then two,then two more together. They rush into a great overgrowngarden surrounding a ruined mansion. No lights.

LOUIS (V.O.)Someone was luring them.

A cat darts along the top of the wall and into thegarden.

LOUIS (V.O.)The smell of death grew stronger.

Louis stops at rusted gate. He forces it open andenters --

EXT. VERITABLE JUNGLE

of overgrown rose and oak tree and wisteria. He sees afaint glimmer of light coming from a distant glasslesswindow of a huge two-story Greek Revival house.

He approaches, and then he sees --

HIS POV

Old shriveled corpse of a man, long dead and dried up,snagged in the thorny rose vines.

167.

BACK TO SCENE

He looks around. Walks on. Sees another corpse, almostnothing but bones sinking into the wet earth, the rootsof the oak overgrowing it.

He looks up at the distant light.

He passes a third corpse, caught in wisteria and rosevine, only bones and clothes.

LOUIS (V.O.)They were like the doomed princescaught in the thorny vines ofSleeping Beauty's castle. I knewwhat it meant. A vampire hadlured them here, but had been tooweak to get rid of them.

Louis sees dead rats lying near the steps.

LOUIS (V.O.)No vampire can linger near theremains of his victims. It speltdespair -- the behavior of a dyinganimal that pollutes its own nest.Perhaps it meant madness.

Louis treads carefully on the rotted steps. He movesalong the porch. More dead rats. He sees through thefloor-length windows into rooms lined with stacked books.Virtually walled with them. Water seeps down over thebooks. It gleams as it drips from the ceiling. Thefloors of the splendid rooms are bare, except for arotted French chair by a dead fireplace. A single mirrorreflecting the moon.

Dead rats.

He moves along the porch to the parlor windows. Thecandle flickers inside. He sees --

HIS POV

Lestat lying on the floor. He is gaunt to near starva-tion. All his scars are gone, but he is almost a skeletonand his eyes are enormous in their sockets. His clothesare rags. Blond hair beautiful as always.

One tiny candle stands beside him. He reads:

The Black Mask Magazine. 1929.

(CONTINUED)

168.

CONTINUED:

He reads aloud the second installment of DashielHammett's, The Maltese Falcon, laughing now and then, withdelight. He affects a tough American voice, lapsing intoFrench accent for narrative.

Without turning his head he speaks.

LESTATCome into my parlor, Louis, saidthe spider to the fly.

He goes on reading, as Sam Spade bullies Joe Cairo.

INSIDE

Louis studies him. Lestat ignores Louis.

LOUISI prayed you were alive!

LESTATDid you? To whom did you pray?

Lestat continues reading. He is Sam Spade.

Louis approaches and takes the magazine tentatively fromLestat's hand. Lestat allows this.

LOUIS1929. Do you know what year thisis?

LESTATWhy don't you bring something newto read then? A long time agothe magazines stopped coming. Ihad no more bank drafts, no moreink to write. No more stamps.

Lestat appears almost too weak to lift his head. But heis very composed. Mentation perfect.

LESTATYou are beautiful, Louis. Youalways were. The strong one.Armand's no longer with you, ishe? That's better for you, thoughyou may not know it now.

LOUISWhere is the coffin?

(CONTINUED)

169.

CONTINUED:

LESTATWhat does it matter? There aremany dark places in my house andbeneath it.

LOUISLestat, this place is a ruin.This is no longer safe. Mortalswill come here.

Lestat laughs softly.

LESTATThat would be lovely. I haven'ttasted mortal blood in so long.Could you get me a mortal, Louis?

Lestat struggles to sit up. He is straightbacked, smi-ling, a horror of starved limbs.

LESTATYou know, some nasty little thiefor killer, like in the old days.Some bittersweet trash from theriverfront. I can still hear theriver. I can smell it. Can you?Don't bother. I don't reallywant a human. If I did, I'd getone for myself.

LOUISHow long have you been here?

Lestat falls into thought, then suddenly excited:

LESTATLouis, last time I went out I sawthe most marvelous thing.

LOUIS(compassionately)

What was it?

LESTATA motion picture, Louis. Peoplemoving on a giant screen. Oh, itwas magic. And there wasdialogue, written on cards inbetween the moving pictures. Itwas a whole story. Orphans InThe Storm. Lillian Gish. It wasbeautiful. Surely you've seenit. You look so fit, so well.

(CONTINUED)

170.

CONTINUED:

Lestat's face darkens.

LOUISWhat is it?

LESTATThey showed the daytime sky! Iwas frightened. I left thetheatre. I ran all the way backhere. Do they still make thesemotion pictures? I know all aboutradios, I can hear them, I lovethem, and some sort of... I don'tknow what it is...

LOUISLestat, they make motion picturesin color. The actors speak. Thedaytime sky in a film can't hurtus. The rising sun in a film isjust an illusion.

Loud noise from the street of TRUCK RATTLING BY.

Lestat shivers, covers his ears. He's terrified. Hecrosses his legs Indian-style and bends over.

LOUISLestat, it's only a truck passing.

Lestat takes his hands away from his ears.

OTHER SOUNDS of the night. DISTANT TRAFFIC. A SIREN.Lestat winces at the siren, but it DIES AWAY.

LESTATI know what these sounds are,Louis. I saw the automobiles whenI went out last. I saw themchugging and racing through thestreet. Here... look!

He holds up the Black Mask magazine. Points to an adver-tisement of a young man riding a motorcycle. Year 1929.

LESTATMotorcycles, they pass sometimes.

Lestat shivers.

LESTATAnd there are aeroplanes... in thesky.

(CONTINUED)

171.

CONTINUED:

A silence falls. Lestat's mind appears to wonder. Helooks about and then looks up at Louis in happy surprise.

LESTATYou are here, I thought I wasdreaming! See the rats? In theold days in France, they calledus country lords harecatchers --we starved if we didn't kill thesmall game. And now I'm the ratcatcher!

(laughs)The Pied Piper. And the rats,they are marvelously reliable.They never learn not to come whenI call.

Lestat laughs softly.

Louis smiles bitterly.

They look at each other.

LESTATI didn't go to Paris for vengeance,Louis.

Louis says nothing.

LESTATI came for the blood of the oldones. For Armand's help. I washealing, but it was so painful andso gradual, and I was still, well,you know... young.

Louis says nothing.

LESTATI did tell them she'd tried tokill me. You can't blame me forthat, can you?

LOUISNo. I can't blame you for it.

LESTATBut it was Armand who directed thewhole trial and execution as ifit were the final play for hislittle stage.

(CONTINUED)

172.

CONTINUED:

LOUISI suppose I've always known thatwas so. And yet I stayed withhim.

LESTATLoneliness. You needn't tell me.You should develop a taste forrats again. You tried once,didn't you? Sometimes I talk tothem before I kill them. I neverdid that with innocent mortals.Did I? I was never cruel tomortals, was I?

Louis shakes his head.

LOUISYou must come out of here.Please. Come with me.

Lestat shakes his head.

Sudden sound of DIESEL TRAIN from the riverfront. PIER-CING WHISTLES. Again, Lestat cowers, covering his ears.He trembles violently. He shrinks up, knees under hischin. The SOUND DIES AWAY.

A pause.

LESTATThere are machines out there, thatcool the houses. In summer theyroar like wild beasts. But thewarmth is lovely then. I don'tmind it. Only I wish the treeshadn't grown so thick. I can nolonger see the stars.

Louis drops down beside him. Urgent.

LOUISLestat, let me get you out ofhere. Let me show you the worldthe way it is now. It's full ofmarvels. Of all of us, you shouldsee it, you above all should --

Lestat smiles.

LESTATShould what? Respect it? Havethe stamina for eternity? Apassion for beauty that helps meendure the passage of time?

(CONTINUED)

173.

CONTINUED:

Lestat laughs bitterly.

He gathers up the Black Mask magazine. He begins to readagain out loud -- Sam Spade and Joe Cairo. Tough guyaccent.

Louis stares at him. He speaks his name, but can't gethis attention.

He grabs Lestat and shakes him.

LESTATBack off, my friend! I may not beas weak as you think.

He sits up again very straight, in full command.

LOUISThat's the point! You've healed.You're whole again. But you mustfeed.

LESTATGo away, Louis.

LOUISYou'll be destroyed if you stayhere. You'll be discovered. Thisplace... it could...

LESTATBurn? Like Pointe du Lac. Likeour townhouse? Like the Theatredes Vampyres? Oh, and thank youfor that last conflagration. Ithought they deserved it.Despicable liars. They neverhelped me. They never gave metheir healing blood. And to thinkArmand's blood was so powerfulwith age. Do you know what hereally did?

EXT. TOP OF TOWER (PARIS) (1870)

Armand forcing the wounded, scarred Lestat to thebattlements.

LESTAT (V.O.)He took me back to the Magnus'stower, the very place where ithad all started. He lured methere with his promises.

174.

ANOTHER ANGLE

Armand strikes Lestat and sends him over the battlement.He falls and falls until he is smashed on the stones.Blood flows from his fallen body but his blue eyes arewide open. He is alive.

RETURN TO SCENE - NEW ORLEANS MANSION (PRESENT)

Lestat sitting on the floor.

LESTATHe had his reasons. I'd destroyedthe old coven. My broken boneshealed. Everything healed. Weare immortal, more or less.

He reaches for the Black Mask magazine. Louis lets himtake it.

LESTATSome night, something will rousemy curiosity. Give me a reasonto rise and become the vampireLestat again. But not you, Louis.You remind me of too many things.

He lies back down and opens the magazine.

LESTATYou knew she meant to destroy me.

LOUISYes, I did.

LESTATYou left me in the burningtownhouse.

LOUISYes, I did.

LESTATAnd when you burnt the Theatre,for all you knew I was there.

LOUISHate me for it. Come back to dobattle, to quarrel. Take yourvengeance!

Lestat laughs softly, shaking his head.

LOUISMy blood isn't as powerful asArmand's, but it can revive you.

(CONTINUED)

175.

CONTINUED:

LESTATNo, thank you, my dark brother.I remember that taste only toowell.

LOUISLestat, don't you want to makeme suffer for what I've done toyou?

Lestat merely smiles at him, seeing through the taunt.

LESTATLouis, I think you are sufferingbeautiflly, just as you havealways suffered. Why should Ilift a finger? It isn'tnecessary.

Louis smiles ironically and nods in agreement.

LESTATGo away now, mon ami. Go backto your modern world of marvels.Let me have my peace and quiet.And if you do come back, bringsomething new to read. Andcandles. Bring me candles. Youknow how I love the light.

EXT./INT. RUINED MANSION - NEXT NIGHT

Louis comes up the steps and into the parlor. He has asmall parcel. Lestat reads as before. He does not lookup. Louis tears open the parcel, and removes a smallWatchman portable TV with earphones. He kneels by Lestatand he turns it ON.

We see the tiny screen glimmer with a ROCK VIDEO, Madonnadancing wildly.

Lestat sits up, clasps it, amazed.

LOUISThis is to blot out all the soundsthat hurt you. Here.

He drops extra batteries on the floor and they gleam inthe light. He puts the earphones over Lestat's head.Turns up the volume.

Lestat smiles in delight. He begins to laugh, and thensway with the music which he can hear and which we cannot.

(CONTINUED)

176.

CONTINUED:

He holds the little Watchman like a treasure, singing inperfect pitch the words of MADONNA'S song.

LESTAT'Like a Virgin, kissed for thevery first time.'

INT. MANSION - HALLWAY - ANOTHER NIGHT

Louis stands in the doorway, arms folded. He watches --

Lestat, a skeleton in rags, dancing as he wears theearphones and holds the Watchman.

We hear a very THIN SOUND from the earphones: ROLLINGSTONES. "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." Lestat danceswith eerie grace in perfect time.

MUSIC GROWS LOUDER.

As Louis watches, Lestat becomes the performer, singing,dancing to the music, a spectacle among the ruins, as hedoes the modern Michael Jackson-style move to perfection.

Louis tries to clear his vision, to shake the illusionor suggestions of Lestat as rock star.

LOUIS (V.O.)I don't remember how many times Icame back. Three? Four. Itdoesn't matter. He would not lookat me or speak to me. And finallyone night he wasn't there.

EXT. MANSION

From a distance behind its jungle of vine and trees.

LOUIS (V.O.)But I could hear the music, comingfrom somewhere, perhaps beneaththe foundations. I went away. Inever saw him again.

EXT. MANSION

We DRAW AWAY FROM the mansion, THROUGH the Garden Districtstreets, PAST huge Magnolia trees, PAST iron fences.

Oaks hung with moss.

(CONTINUED)

177.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.)That's my story. You have it all.I go on, night after night. Ifeed on those who cross my path.But there is no passion in me anylonger. I am reverent. A spiritwith preternatural flesh. Itended when I saw Claudia burnt toashes in that airwell. My dreamsdied with Claudia. My faith.

RETURN TO SCENE (SAN FRANCISCO) - PRESENT

Malloy staring at Louis.

MALLOYNo! It can't end like that.

LOUISBut it did. It's finished. Thereis no more to tell.

MALLOYBut it's not over. Your passionfor all of it, your vision -- It'sstill inside you. It comes out inevery syllable you speak. You'reimmortal! Truly immortal --

LOUISI tell you it's over! As Lestatonce said to me, I have given youwhat I have to give!

MALLOYLouis, listen to me. Lestat maystill be there.

LOUISIt makes no difference now. It'sfinished.

Louis looks at the cassettes on the table.

LOUISDo with this story what you will!Learn from it what you can. Giveit to others. I'm glad I've toldit. Maybe for the first time Iunderstand it myself.

Malloy rises.

(CONTINUED)

178.

CONTINUED:

MALLOYOne more chance, Louis! Take me!Make me one of you! Do it.

Louis is slowly horrified and then outraged and angry.

LOUIS(barely able to contain his rage)

This is what you want? After allI've told you! You ask me forthis!

MALLOYYes. I can be your link with thiscentury! I'm the one to take youboth into these times. Louis,give it to me. You don'tunderstand your own story. Youdon't understand the intensitythat you yourself described!You've forgotten what mortal lifeis!

LOUISDear God. I've failed again,haven't I?

Louis rises, overturning the table, scattering the tapes.He disappears.

Malloy sits there trembling. Quickly he gathers up thetapes, and the recorder. He puts away the mike. He ismuttering to himself almost feverishly. He stands upand turns to go and --

Louis is right before him, inches away, a figure ofmenace, as in the alleyway at the start.

Malloy falls back in terror.

Louis reaches out, drags Malloy to him. Malloy drops thetapes and the little machine.

LOUISYou want to go a little deeper?One final lesson to make you see!

Malloy panics and tries to get away, but Louis gashes hisblood, sucking the blood fiercely and then throwing thegroaning Malloy on the floor.

(CONTINUED)

179.

CONTINUED:

Malloy, badly weakened, hand to his heart, gets up. Louisadvances on him in menace.

Malloy staggers out of the room. He makes for thestairs. Louis grabs him again, drinks again, as Malloytries to push him away. Louis drags him from the stairsto the second staircase which leads to the roof. Hethrows him down. Malloy is weak, his throat torn.

LOUISYou like it? You like being foodfor the immortals! You likedying? Is it beautiful? Is itintense?

MALLOY'S POV

His heart is racing. In a haze, he flees up the stairs,as Louis comes relentlessly after him, barely seeming totake steps, he moves so fast and so gracefully.

BACK TO SCENE

Malloy pushes open door to the roof.

EXT. ROOF (SAN FRANCISCO) - NIGHTTIME

light of San Francisco all around him. He staggers tothe right and to the left. No escape.

He turns.

Louis smack dab against him again.

Malloy screams.

Louis sinks his teeth again.

MALLOY'S POV

of view as he loses consciousness. Haze. Confusion.

He sees --

Blurred image of Louis standing over him looking down athim.

His eyes close.

180.

EXT. ROOFTOP - MORNING

FROM ABOVE we see the body of Malloy like garbage on theroof.

As we DRAW IN, we see Malloy looks dead, eyes half open.Sun strikes him. Wind blows torn newspapers across theroof and out into the sky. A cat approaches, licks atMalloy's neck, then goes away.

CLOSE ON MALLOY

Half-mast eyes look dead.

Then suddenly the eyes open. He sits up. He staresaround him. He is pale and feverish and trembling. Likea drunken man, he makes his way --

INT. STAIRS - BACK TO ROOM

There in the sunlight is the tape recorder and all thecassettes, just as he left them.

He falls on his knees gathering them up.

CUT TO:

INT. MALLOY'S CAR

He hunches over the wheel. Looks impossibly sick andweak. He holds the RECORDER, rewinds the tape. Thenhears:

LOUIS (V.O.)(on tape)

And then on Prytania Street, onlyblocks from the Lafayette Cemetery,I caught the scent of death andit wasn't coming from the graves.

Relief. Excitement. Malloy turns ON the IGNITION. HeROARS out of the parking place while with his right hand,he STOPS the RECORDER, puts in another tape, hits therewind button.

EXT. FREEWAY

FROM ABOVE we see Malloy's car on the freeway.

We see it on the open road:

(CONTINUED)

181.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS (V.O.)(on tape)

1791. That's when it happened...I was twenty-four -- younger thanyou are now.

PAN TO sky;

ROCK MUSIC RISES. ROLLING STONES. "I Can't Get NoSatisfaction." GROWING LOUDER and LOUDER and BLENDINGwith the motion picture THEME.

EXT. CAR - NIGHT

is a tiny speck on the dark desert highway.

We DRAW UP again and FROM --

EXT. DESERT SKY

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. LOUISIANA SKY

Oaks with moss, magnolias... CRY of BIRDS...

ROLLING STONES and THEME CREST.

FADE OUT.

THE END