Interview with the Vampire Page #13

(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 the

night.

LOUIS:

Lestat!

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.

LOUIS:

No. Don't demand this of me.

Don't make me do this. It's too

like your old Paris coven. No

rituals between us.

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

LESTAT:

See how plump and sweet she is,

still. Even death can't take her

freshness. The will to live in

her was so strong. Death mightmake a sculpture of her tiny lipsand rounded hands, but he cannot

make her fade!

69.

CLOSE ON LOUIS:

becoming desperate with hunger and anguish.

Lestat whispers in his ear, compassionately.

LESTAT:

You remember, how you wanted her,

the taste of her...

LOUIS:

I 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 like

a father kissing a child.

LOUIS:

So 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.

LOUIS:

For the love of God, let me

finish!

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

LESTAT:

Claudia, 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.

LOUIS:

Lestat! This is sorcery.

Louis lunges at him, but Lestat brushes him aside effortlessly,

so that he falls to the floor, from which he rises

at once.

LOUIS:

Stop this, now.

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

Louis is fascinated. Dazzled.

LESTAT:

That's it, dear. More. You must

drink 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.

LESTAT:

Stop, that's enough. No more.

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

CLAUDIA:

I want more.

LOUIS:

What have you done!

(CONTINUED)

71.

CONTINUED:

Lestat puts her down on the bed and sits beside her,

holding his wrist, obviously in pain.

CLAUDIA:

More.

LESTAT:

Yes, cherie, of course you want

more. 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.

LESTAT:

Oh, 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.

MAID:

Ah, 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.

LESTAT:

Gently, 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 in

the 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 doll

made out of pearl. Animated, voice crisp.

CLAUDIA:

Where is Mamma?

ANOTHER ANGLE:

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

LESTAT:

Mamma's gone to heaven, cherie,

same as that sweet lady there.

They all go to heaven. And youdid very well, cherie. Not a

drop spilt. Very good! You're

going to be our child now.

Lestat and Louis exchange glances. Claudia looks at each

of them.

LESTAT:

This 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.

LESTAT:

Your mamma's left you with us.

She wants you to be happy. She

knows we can make you happy.

LOUIS:

(whisper)

You are the Devil! You are the

instrument of Satan.

(CONTINUED)

73.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT:

(shhh)

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

you?

CLAUDIA:

I'm not your daughter.

LESTAT:

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

Louis kneels before her as the Maid did. He is struck

with compassion and fascination. It is done and she is

irresistible. He cannot help but reach for her, and holdher gently as if she were a doll that might break.

Claudia smiles at him.

CLAUDIA:

Lou... eee...

Louis is conflicted. He cannot leave her. He touches

her 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:

LESTAT:

Yes, Claudia dearest, you areour little daughter. Now whom

should you sleep with? Darkness

and safety are so important.

Perhaps you should sleep withLouis. After all, when I'm tired

I'm not always... so kind.

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