Queen of the Damned

FADE IN:

1 EXT. LAFAYETTE CEMETERY (NEW ORLEANS) - NIGHT 1

An empty breeze blows across a deserted cemetery. We

hear the sound of FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING, then nineteenth-

century boots ENTER FRAME. We FOLLOW them strolling pastthe headstones and mausoleums. The sound of a HORSE and

CARRIAGE ECHOES in the distance.

VOICE (V.O.)

There comes a time for every vampirewhen the idea of eternity becomesmomentarily unbearable...

As we REACH an old stone tomb, the boots leap up and OUTOF FRAME. PAN UP to reveal:

A FIGURE stands steadily atop the roof of the tomb,

silhouetted against the moon like a large, black bird.

VOICE (V.O.)

The wounds suffered from love and

failed friendships don't heal likea human's, but seem to only gapelarger. The longing to be mortalreturns, a longing for finiteness.

A beat as the indistinct figure gazes out at the night...

CUT TO:

2

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3

OMITTED 2

&

3

4 EXT. TOMB - CONTINUOUS ACTION 4

The figure enters an alabaster tomb and closes the door.

VOICE (V.O.)

In 1883 I suffered such a spelland decided to cease feeding onblood. Just lie in the earth and

let time return to its natural

state...

As the WIND PICKS UP, the LEAVES of a fledgling vinegrowing up the side of the tomb begin to RATTLE FASTERand FASTER, until curiously, time seems to speed up.

Night passes to day and back to night. Shadows from the

sun and moon drift across the tomb. As days and monthsfly by, the vine winds and grows in circuitous patternsall around the tomb.

(CONTINUED)

2.

44

CONTINUED:

VOICE (V.O.)

I had hoped the sounds of thepassing eras would fade out, and akind of death might happen. A

kind of forgetting where I wouldbe healed from my wounds.

The CLIP-CLOP of HORSES and the SQUEAK of PERAMBULATORS

DISSOLVE INTO the THUMP and SCRAPE of INDUSTRIAL ENGINES.

VOICE (V.O.)

But as I lay there, the soundsdidn't fade but grew with theworld.

The BUZZ of PROP ENGINES MELT INTO the sound of a JET

STREAMING overhead. CARS, MACHINES, RADIO BROADCASTS

MERGE INTO a medley of MUSIC from this century -- JACKBENNY, MUDDY WATERS, ELVIS, HENDRIX, SEX PISTOLS.

VOICE (V.O.)

And gradually the world didn'tsound like the place I had left,

but something different...

better...

As we DRAW CLOSER TO the now vine-covered tomb, SOUNDS of

the '70s, '80s, '90s PERSIST...

VOICE (V.O.)

A new fearless attitude had

possessed the world, brave andGodless. I began to wonder if itwas not time to resurrect. But

the thing that eventually broughtme back -- the decisive thingreally -- came like a bolt out ofthe blue.

GUITARS STRIKE, DRUMS CRACK and the MUSIC SLAMS OUT, raw

and dark.

55

SERIES OF GLIMPSES

Slender hands with long, painted nails, Gothic rings, anda half-pound of silver bracelets play their instruments.

Long hair, body piercings, Celtic tattoos, and brightly- colorednylons show a lot of pale, smooth flesh. In the

confusion of glimpses, it's hard to tell who's a boy orgirl, but they're all young and beautiful. Breaking inon the CACOPHONY of MUSIC COMES ONE GUITAR CLOSER and

LOUDER than the rest.

(CONTINUED)

3.

5 CONTINUED:
5

A SCRAPING ROAR, like a bandsaw being twisted into themost gorgeous, powerful chords, almost religious in itsemotion.

VOICE (V.O.)

A music so sublime, so deeplyvampiric, I had no doubt it couldbe heard in Hades. I had no

choice... it summoned me.

An ULTRA-FAST TECHNO BEAT BEGINS and the FULL-SOUND of a

BAND RUSHES in, creating a sense of vertigo with its

energy.

6 INT. TOMB 6

The BAND'S sounds ECHO about the stone chamber, thrumminga deep, life-giving pulse. Suddenly, the LID of aSARCOPHAGUS SCRAPES and slides to one side.

7 EXT. LAFAYETTE CEMETERY (NEW ORLEANS) - NIGHT 7

The Figure re-emerges from the tomb, his cape now intatters -- posture bent. He creeps across the cemeteryin unnatural, staccato movements as if hindered by thephysics of distance and time. All the while the SONG

plays, drawing the figure toward it.

8 EXT. FRENCH QUARTER - NIGHT 8

The Figure moves through the shadows avoiding the spillof yellow light from the street lamps. Stopping in adarkened alleyway, he gasps for air, exhausted by his movements.

He listens again to the mesmeric TUNE of theband in the distance, when -- From down the alley, avoice...

VOICE #2 (O.S.)

(in French; subtitled)

Need a fix?

9 CLOSE ON FIGURE'S EYES 9

staring hungrily at...

10 BACK TO SCENE 10

A MAN proffering a little parcel wrapped in foil.

(CONTINUED)

4.

10 CONTINUED:
10

Pulling deeper into the shadows, the caped Figure beckonsthe dealer over. The man approaches when -- With a wildanimal cry, the Figure lunges like a phantom -- A flash of teeth-- The Dealer is on the ground -- the Figure setupon him. OVER this scene the BAND'S SONG RUSHES IN LOUD again,

reaching an incredible CRESCENDO as the violentfrenzy continues!-- the monster gnawing at the Dealer'sneck.

11 CLOSE ON FIGURE'S HAND 11

Its vein refilling with the flow of warm blood -- skinregaining a youthful tautness.

12 WIDER 12

Rising from his victim we see for the first time therevitalized face of this creature, a mane of blond hair

frames the beautiful features of the VAMPIRE LESTAT -his

bulbous lips glistening red.

LESTAT (V.O.)

Whether it was that first meal,

the music, or the 100 years of

rest, I'm not sure, but suddenly I

was feeling better than ever. My

appetite for living was voracious.

My hearing so exact I could locate

precisely the source of the

music...

13 EXT. NEW ORLEANS HOUSE - NIGHT 13

In the street, Lestat emerges from the shadows in thedealer's snug-fitting leather outfit. He looks up at anextremely run-down flophouse...

LESTAT (V.O.)

My old house.

High in the attic, a single window glows with dim light.

The source of the MUSIC. The whole house is shaking fromthe sound of the BAND playing upstairs.

14 INT. ATTIC - JUST AFTER 14

The room booms with music, speakers stacked high on allsides, literally shaking the house to its foundations.

(CONTINUED)

5.

14 CONTINUED:
14

REVEAL the band members of Satan's Night Out. JAMES,

ALEX and MAUDY stare at each other as if in some tantric

trance, as they play their music -- Alex's long fingersclimbing up and down his guitar, Maudy's waifish bodysensually curls around her keyboard, the waves of musicflowing through them while James, on drums, drives themfurther into it.

LESTAT (V.O.)

It was hard to believe these

beings were mortal -- so confidentin their skin. Everything in mybody wanted to be with them. I

couldn't help myself.

Then, from somewhere in the room, an ANGELIC VOICE beginsto hum the most hypnotic melody over the tune, melding inexquisite harmony. Arching her neck in some higherecstasy, Maudy looks across the makeshift studio andsuddenly stops playing.

ALEX:

What the hell, Maudy.

Seeing Maudy's stunned face, Alex and James turn to seeLestat perched like a raven on top of the stack ofspeakers, eyes closed, still humming to the fading reverbof the guitars. Slowly opening his cool grey eyes -

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