Interview with the Vampire Page #7

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 looking

at:

MANSION OF POINTE DU LAC

The rich house with all candelabra and chandeliers

lighted, 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 plantation

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.

LESTAT:

You fool, what have you done?

LOUIS:

It's almost sunrise. You promisedme that the sun or the fire could

kill me! Now leave me, save

yourself.

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. Louis

covers 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 back

effortlessly 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 his

face, is being carried over Lestat's shoulder.

LOUIS'S POV

Passing crypts, light coming in orange flashes. Sound of

RUSTED 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.

LOUIS:

Where are we?

LESTAT:

Where do you think, Louis? We're

in a nice filthy cemetery. Does

this make you happy? Is this

fitting and proper enough?

Louis laughs softly.

(CONTINUED)

36.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS:

We belong in hell.

LESTAT:

And what if there is no hell, or

they don't want us there? Ever

think 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.

LOUIS:

Why did you bother to save me?

You can make another. Someone

better than me.

LESTAT:

You're too strong. That's yourtrouble. You feel too deeply.

You see too much.

LOUIS:

You spoke of old ones, you saidin time they went mad. Is that

what will happen to you and tome?

LESTAT:

Some do, some don't. There are

legends of those who've livedfor a millennia. Why can't welive for eternity. We have the

chance!

Lestat pauses, perplexed, plunged into thought.

(CONTINUED)

37.

CONTINUED:

LOUIS:

I'm leaving you. I've

disappointed you, Lestat. And

there's no reason for me to

remain. You have no need of me.

You never did.

Lestat looks sad.

LESTAT:

(compassionately)

And where are you going? You

think you'll find others in the

New World? Or will you attempt

the voyage to Europe? Suppose

the ship sinks, Louis, and you

and your coffin are plunged to

the bottom of the sea. You won't

die, you know. You'll lie there,

struggling forever. And you'll

have forever to realize all your

questions were in vain.

Louis rises and moves to the door.

LOUIS:

I'm sorry I've failed you. I

told you I wanted it, and I was

wrong. I'm going. Where, how -

I don't know the answers. I'll

live from the blood of animals, I

swear it. I shall never take

another human life again. And

I'll search... for what I can't

say...

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

LOUIS:

There's nothing more you can

teach me, you've said so yourself.

LESTAT:

And you think there are others who

can teach you things? That you'll

find them? You don't understand

about the others. They're lone

predators, jealous of their

territory. They'll see you

coming. You'll be a mark.

LOUIS:

All of us lost... lone wolves.

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED:

LESTAT:

Now that is the truth. And all

we have is the companionship wecan give each other. That's all

anyone has, Louis. Go out, walk

the city streets, peer throughthe windows at the couples intheir beds.

Lestat takes Louis by the shoulders and tries to get him

to listen. He hovers like an angel whispering in Louis'

ear.

LESTAT:

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

Louis tries to remain resolute. Does not reply.

LESTAT:

We 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 from

other beasts of prey.

Louis looks at Lestat. Sincerely:

LOUIS:

Adieu, Lestat. I'm sorry.

LESTAT:

In the old world, they called itthe dark gift, Louis. And I

gave it to you.

LOUIS:

I know. Forgive me. It was all

an error, a tragic error from the

start.

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:

MAN:

Don't go that way, monsieur. It's

the plague, monsieur. Go back the

way 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 and

CRYING 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. He

walks 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.

CLAUDIA:

Monsieur, please, help us. We

have to get to the ship. Mypapa's waiting for us. Please,

monsieur, help me. Wake Mamma,

please.

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