Queen of the Damned Page #16

82.

128 EXT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS ACTION 128

Lestat stares out at the ominous night. As Maudy and theband continue to play, the wolflike HOWLS in the nightget LOUDER. And beneath it all, a DEEP PULSE BEATS. The

song comes to an end. Lestat turns, gazes back at theband THROUGH the window, at their excitement. He comes

back inside.

129 INT. HOUSE - CONTINUOUS ACTION 129

Roger now stands there, a nervous look on his face.

ROGER:

The... girls you asked for, Lestat.

They're here, in the guest wing.

Ah.

LESTAT:

Yes.

Lestat gazes in that direction, pensive.

ROGER:

I was uh... just gonna go catch amovie at the Chinese. I don't

suppose you'd all want to...

Lestat smiles at the clumsy attempt to protect the girls.

LESTAT:

No, thank you, Roger.

entertain ourselves.

We'll

As Roger leads Lestat to the guest room, he can hearFAINT GIGGLING. Lestat turns back to the night. The

PULSE of Akasha still ECHOES in his ears.

130 INT. GUEST WING - JUST AFTER 130

Roger and Lestat walk in.

nervously.

A young GROUPIE giggles

GROUPIE #3

Oh my God, it's him!

him...

It's really

She turns in paroxysm of excitement to the girl next toher. Lestat stares, taken aback. It is Jesse. Dressed

in Goth gear. Jesse stares back at Lestat brazenly. A

long moment.

LESTAT:

Perhaps you would like a tourof the place... first.

(CONTINUED)

83.

130 CONTINUED:
130

GROUPIE #3

Oh yeah, wow, we'd love that.

LESTAT:

Roger... would you be so kind?

ROGER:

(surprised, relieved)

Sure. Right this way, girls.

As they start off, Lestat puts up his hand, points toJesse.

LESTAT:

Roger. Not that one. Leave her

to me...

The other groupie pouts, disappointed. She goes outwith Roger. Lestat turns to Jesse... considers her...

LESTAT:

You must be very keen to die.

Jesse's heart pounds with terror.

LESTAT:

The Talamascans have become quitestealthy. I didn't know

infiltration was quite their style.

JESSE:

It's not. I... I came on my own.

He stares at her, taking her in.

LESTAT:

How did you find me?

JESSE:

I've been tracking your managerfor days...

(gesturing to her

Goth outfit)

Then I figured out you simplyhave to look the part.

LESTAT:

Clever librarian... You should

know, based on all your research,

that groupies don't ever findtheir way out of here again.

(CONTINUED)

84.

130 CONTINUED:
(2) 130

JESSE:

I'm not a groupie...

Lestat gazes at Jesse's pulsing jugular. He stepscloser.

LESTAT:

Then why are you following me?

What do you want?

JESSE:

(terrified, ina whisper)

Are you granting wishes?

LESTAT:

(smiles, in a whisper

playing with her)

Last wishes. What's yours?

JESSE:

Show me what it's like to be you.

That's my last wish. Grant it,

Lestat.

He stares at her, feeling some connection with thisstrange mortal girl. She stares at him with penetrating

eyes. He again finds himself drawn to her. Tries to

fight it.

LESTAT:

(turning away)

I don't have time for this.

JESSE:

All a vampire has is time.

LESTAT:

Maybe not.

JESSE:

(softly)

Right. The covens are coming for

you.

(softly)

I understand why you're doing it.

You have to be who you are, nomatter what happens.

He turns, gazes at her. She steps forward.

(CONTINUED)

85.

130 CONTINUED:
(3) 130

JESSE:

But how are you spending what maybe your last night on Earth,

Lestat? As you always have...

Alone.

Jesse takes a breath, crosses to him, stands very close,

stares up into his eyes. He stares down at her, amazed,

his heart pounding. He breathes in her hair, the scent

of her skin.

JESSE:

Don't kill me yet. Let's spendour last nights together. Share

it with me. Show me what it's

like to be you.

LESTAT:

You don't know what you're asking!

I don't know what's in that

librarian's head of yours, but it'snot what you think.

JESSE:

That's right. You don't know

what's in my head, Lestat. Do

you want to?

LESTAT:

I'll know when I kill you.

JESSE:

Gee, Lestat, that's a great way toget to know someone. Here. I'll

give you a preview. Comingattractions. This is what you'llfind.

She crosses to him, stands close.

JESSE:

I have this recurring dream thatI'm a child and I'm living inthis big house filled withvampires. And every night when Igo to sleep, I wish to God thesame thing... you know what thatis, Lestat?

He gazes at her. She leans forward.

(CONTINUED)

86.

130 CONTINUED:
(4) 130

JESSE:

That I will have the dream again...

Because in the dream I'm happy.

And the dream is more real than mylife... I don't know how, but I

know you, Lestat... My life is abig mystery and you, you have the

answer...

He gazes at her, being taken in, tries to resist it.

Jesse moves even closer. He stares down at her, the

softness of her skin, her penetrating gaze, the heatof her body.

JESSE:

I can't go on pretending this lifeof mine is real. I can't live a

lie... I'm just like you Lestat.

We're the same...

LESTAT:

(softly)

Are we? I seek the light. You

seek the shadows.

JESSE:

No. We're looking for exactly thesame thing. You know it...

Please. Show me.

He stares at her. Her eyes gazing directly intohis... Suddenly...

LESTAT:

Alright!

Jesse breaks into a smile.

LESTAT:

This may be painful for a mortal.

You're still attached to your skin.

JESSE:

(an excited whisper)

I don't care.

LESTAT:

Close your eyes. Don't breathe.

Her heart pounding, fluttering her eyes closed, Jesseholds one deep, hesitant breath and... Flash!-- with

preternatural speed!-

87.

131 LESTAT AND JESSE 131

whisk through the night, flashing past trees andhouses. Opening her eyes for a moment, Jesse watchesthe world whiz past her at incredible speed andsuddenly!-- they stop on a dime.

Jesse gasps, catching her breath to find herself atHollywood's highest peak overlooking the city layingout before her like a glimmering blanket.

132 EXT. GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY - NIGHT 132

Looking out over the observatory's ledge, Jesse can'tbelieve what's just happened. She laughs, intoxicated bythe experience.

JESSE:

Do that again!

Lestat laughs, impressed by her bravado. Her trust. For

a moment she laughs like a child. Then they look at eachother deeply, feeling something. He wants to kiss her.

She knows it. He turns away.

LESTAT:

And now for my next trick.

Lestat pulls out a knife, quickly slices his arm open.

Jesse gazes at his blood dripping down his arm, somethingstirring in her. Magically, the wound heals up. She

stares, impressed.

Did it hurt?

JESSE:

LESTAT:

Yes. For just a moment. But as

the pain is more intense for us,

so is ecstacy.

(gazes at her)

You see, we love our victims.

Love?

JESSE:

I thought it was the blood.

LESTAT:

No, although the taste is so richand sweet. Love is the essence of

the dark gift. The connection is

so much more satisfying, brief asit is, than anything else.

(CONTINUED)

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