190
CONTINUED
Jesse, who stares enraptured, drawing toward the stage unconsciously, managing
to maneuver closer and closer to...
Lestat, who commands the place with his ECHOING VOICE.
Jesse keeps moving forward, squeezing through bodies and finds herself...
Right under Lestat, who holds the place in the palm of his hand.
Lestat's dark soul seems ready to burst as he moves his voice into an even
higher unworldly octave, and then...
191
LESTAT'S POV
The vampires move through the crowd,
Goth girls in the front row, weeping...
Maudy, James, Louisa and Alex off in the clouds, playing the best music of their
lives.
The place has gone wild, living off its energy now, as waves of sound bounce
through the valley and up into the night sky.
192
BACK TO SCENE
LESTAT
You want more?!
The crowd
screams...
CROWD
Yes!
LESTAT
This one's for those who've come
for me!
All yell that
they have, but the covens know it's for them.
Lestat launches the band into a new number that makes the previous song seem
like a lullaby. He eyes the coven-assassins here and there and sings straight to
them.
His lyrics challenging the assassins, flaunting them with satire.
(CONTINUED)
107.
192
CONTINUED
The covens need no more encouragement as they begin to move through the crowd
toward the stage.
We RISE UP OVER the crowd to see a dozen assassins snaking at preternatural
speed, unseen to all except us in our inhuman vantage.
CUT TO:
193
INT. BACKSTAGE (TENT CITY) - NIGHT
Marius spies the covens slipping through the crowd at a strange velocity. Sizing
the danger, he looks to Lestat to warn him, but...
194
BACK TO STAGE
Lestat knows well enough as the assassins move in.
The assassins approach closer -- Lestat assaults with relentless lyrics...
Reaching the stage, they are suddenly on it -- roadies run in and are
immediately cast aside by inhuman powers.
We SPEED INTO VAMPIRE TIME as...
The assassins draw knives and lunge.
Lestat does an acrobatic leap, dodging the knives. He rips the microphone from
the stand and holds it up just in time...
... as an assassin is impaled. the assassin squirms and convulses...
The crowd goes insane...
Lestat snarls at the audience as if this really were part of the performance...
The assassins attack again...
Marius, despite himself, flies over equipment and roadies up into the air,
and...
195
ON STAGE
He lands square in the middle of the fray...
BACK TO MORTAL TIME
(CONTINUED)
108.
195
CONTINUED:
The crowd cheers at the sudden appearance of the figure on stage, loving the
show.
The band keeps playing.
Marius slices two of the assassins with a knife.
Lestat is struck down, his singing stopped.
CUT TO:
196
ANCIENT VAMPIRES
watch from their rocks.
PANDORA
There are too many of them!
Armand holds
Pandora's arm firmly, enjoying the show.
ARMAND
Good...!
197
BACK TO STAGE
Assassins corner Lestat and Marius -- blades reflecting the spotlight. Lestat
raises his arms for the crowd.
MARIUS
Enjoying yourself?
LESTAT
Absolutely.
The crowd
jeers now.
Lestat looks to Maudy and the band.
LESTAT
Get out of here!
The band
scamper off stage as the assassins fly past...
Jesse looks up at Lestat on stage. She joins the screaming crowds.
JESSE
Lestat!
She is pulled
around by a dark figure -- it is one of the Punk Vampires from the bar. He
recognizes her, smiles. He holds her, is about to bite...
(CONTINUED)
109.
197
CONTINUED
Suddenly, Mael is beside her. He wraps his arms around her... WHOOSH.
198
JESSE'S POV
Travelling through the crowd with Mael at VAMPIRE SPEED. The sea of painted
faces SLOW DOWN.
199
JESSE
held tight in Mael's arms, stares wide-eyed...
200
BACK TO STAGE
The killer vampires make their final move, when...
One after the other they spontaneously combust, body after body turning
hot-white to black ash and drift up into the air like strange supernatural kites.
Maudy, Alex, Louisa and James down their instruments and run -- the REVERB from
their GUITARS WHISTLES into a DEAFENING PITCH.
The crowd hollers and screams, not quite believing what they saw or how it was
done when...
Down in the throng, vampires also begin to combust -- hot flashes of white
exploding throughout the crowd, turning into black paper dolls -- wafting up
over the valley -- crumbling into fluttering puffs of soot.
Panic takes over the mass of people, running in all directions, trying to escape
this mysterious fate.
201
LESTAT
stands in wonder as Marius stares up high into the darkness.
MARIUS
(soft, to himself)
Akasha.
The valley
fills with burning "kites" floating like black ghosts.
Khayman, Pandora and Armand are now moving through the crowd, looking up at the
sky.
KHAYMAN
She is here...
110.
202
INT. BACKSTAGE (TENT CITY) - MEANWHILE
Roger is trying to manage the building chaos backstage as the FIRE MARSHALL and
several firemen follow after him.
FIRE MARSHALL
You don't have a permit for any of
these stunts!
ROGER
I told you I don't know anything
about it!
A
WALKIE-TALKIE distracts the Fire Marshall long enough to allow Roger to run.
ROGER
Last time I work for a bloody
vampire...
Looking up at
the sky, he stares in awe...
There is a low powerful RUMBLE...
Dark storm clouds boil and tumble above the stage...
The mortal crowd looks around, distracted from their panic, as they sense
something truly awesome...
203
LESTAT
senses it too. He looks up, not knowing from which direction the attack will
come...
The STAGE starts to SHUDDER and SHAKE violently...
Marius moves back towards Lestat...
MARIUS
Lestat!
the WOODEN
PLATFORM beneath Lestat begins to BUCKLE under his feet. Fragments of WOOD
EXPLODE upwards around Lestat. Marius loses his balance and staggers
backwards...
Akasha rises up through the stage. Beautiful and terrifying. Her green eyes glow
as she smiles at Lestat.
Lestat is dumbstruck. Suddenly, a great force throws him towards her. He stares
as he finds himself in Akasha's arms. she smiles and raises her face to the
sky...
The crowd stare in awe...
(CONTINUED)
111.
203
CONTINUED:
Roger... the Fire Marshall... the band... everyone is frozen...
Even the Ancient Ones are stunned to see their Queen come to life...
KHAYMAN
Come!
Khayman speeds
through the crowd, with Pandora and Armand behind... but they are too late.
Akasha and Lestat shoot up into the air... SCAFFOLDS COLLAPSE in an EXPLOSION of
ELECTRICAL SPARKS...
The Ancient Ones stop and stare up into the sky as...
Akasha and Lestat vanish.
204
EXT. SKY - EVENING
In a blur, Lestat is whisked up into the dark clouds.
BLACKNESS.
205
EXT. HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Lestat opens his eyes and finds himself at the base of the enormous letters.
Lestat whirls around to suddenly see behind him...
Akasha in an extravagant Egyptian robe, its sheer cloth of gold draping her
godly form.
Lestat is awestruck. Akasha come to life...
LESTAT
Akasha...
Akasha still
says nothing -- she advances with a luscious, curling smile.
AKASHA
Why so surprised, my love? You
called, and I have come.
Lestat is
awestruck. There is such an unearthly power in Akasha's voice. Everything seems
to HUM and VIBRATE with her every breath. Akasha approaches...
(CONTINUED)
112.
205
CONTINUED:
AKASHA
Never fear me, Lestat. Your
wishes have all come true.
LESTAT
My wishes...?
AKASHA
You have yearned for a companion
to share eternity. You have cried
out to the world. I have answered
your call.
Akasha spreads
her arms. Lestat is seized by an unseen force and thrown into Akasha's arms. She
smiles as he gasps for air.
AKASHA
You think that little mortal girl
can satisfy you. I know you,
Lestat. I know that you crave to
have the world at your feet. Now,
I have come to give it to you.
Akasha bites
her own lip.
Blood trickles slightly across her chin.
Lestat stares at the blood, yearns towards it, as the PULSE of her BLOOD
INCREASES...
Akasha rises above him and...
Hovers over Lestat, letting a single drop of blood...
Spills into his mouth.
Lestat levitates above the ground to meet her as...
Akasha hovers higher drawing him into the sky until...
Their mouths finally meet and her blood flows freely into him.
Flashes of brilliant light strobe over them as Lestat sucks. There's a powerful
RUSH of WIND that engulfs them as they spin together, detached from time and
space.
206
FLASH CUTS
The Great SPHINX CRUMBLING, Pyramids, stars streaking across the sky, all
INTERCUT WITH Akasha's golden skin, her body taut and arching.
(CONTINUED)
113.
206
CONTINUED:
Lestat falls back in ecstasy. He shakes out his body and lets out a howl of
pleasure -- feels his arms, his chest, his groin as Akasha's blood courses
through his veins.
Akasha watches and waits. Finally Lestat grins boyishly through bloody teeth and
wipes his lips with the back of his hand.
LESTAT
Can we try that again?
Akasha smiles
in that strange statue-like way then throws back her head and opens her mouth
with a deafening howl of laughter. The GROUND RUMBLES and her laughter
multiplies as it REVERBERATES LOUDER and LOUDER.
Lestat grimaces and has to cover his ears it's so painful. He steps up and puts
a finger to her lips.
LESTAT
Give me the world.
Akasha's mouth
spreads into a smile and she yanks him up into the air and off...
... into the night.
207
INT. MAHARET DESERT MANSION - GARDEN
Jesse wanders through the moonlit garden. Something looks different - there are
forms -- statues in the shadows. Jesse's eyes widen in terror as the statues
come to life: Armand, Pandora, Khayman
ARMAND
Why is this mortal here?
MAEL
I was instructed to bring her.
Marius moves
out from a wall -- as if he were completely camouflaged.
MARIUS
By whom? Why have we been
summoned here?
Pandora is
beside Jesse, touching her curls...
PANDORA
She is Lestat's plaything. She
might be of use.
(CONTINUED)
114.
207
CONTINUED:
Jesse looks around, eyes agog, surrounded.
MAHARET (O.S.)
Leave her alone, Pandora.
Jesse spins to
see Maharet beside her. Pandora gives a sulky hiss and slips backwards.
MAHARET
I have tried to keep you from
this.
She puts her
arm around Jesse.
ARMAND
And what is she to you?
MAHARET
She is of my blood.
The other
Ancients look confused. Only Khayman remains frozen, inscrutable.
MAHARET
My mortal blood.
MARIUS
How is this possible?
208
INT. MAHARET DESERT MANSION - GRANDE HALL - NIGHT
Jesse watches from a distance as Maharet, Khayman, Pandora, Armand, Mael and the
Druid and Marius are gathered before Maharet's "Great Family Tree."
MAHARET
... since my sister's death, I
have watched, I have guided and
cared for my human family,
generations beyond memory...
CAMERA SWEEPS
OVER the endless lines, the rows of names that stretch down the stone wall --
ACROSS the floor, filling room after room.
They all stare, moved...
PANDORA
... But this cannot be...
ARMAND
It is... beyond words...
(CONTINUED)
115.
208
CONTINUED:
MARIUS
Yes.
Marius turns
back to Maharet, points.
MARIUS
This...! This is why we must
fight Akasha. For the sake of
your Great Family.
MAHARET
For the sake of all mortals. She
must be stopped, or the mortal
world will end.
The Ancients
fall silent as the significance of this sinks in.
MARIUS
But how? How can we stop her?
PANDORA
It's impossible.
MAHARET
There might be a way. Khayman...
KHAYMAN
When she opens herself to give her
blood, she is vulnerable.
MARIUS
(realizing)
As we all are... but still, she is
so powerful...
MAHARET
Not so much more powerful than
Khayman or myself. We have her
blood in our veins.
ARMAND
You think you can destroy her?
MAHARET
We all hear her because we are all
connected. If we combine our
efforts, it might be enough.
MARIUS
Then so be it.
(CONTINUED)
116.
208
CONTINUED: (2)
ARMAND
If we destroy her, if we can
destroy her, we will all die.
MARIUS
We have no choice.
ARMAND
And if it doesn't work?
MARIUS
Then we shall die anyway.
Marius looks
around, determined, challenging each of the immortals. One at a time, they nod,
understanding the sacrifice they will have to make.
PANDORA
And what of the brat prince?
MAHARET
Lestat has joined with Akasha as
we speak.
Marius lowers
his head, knowing Maharet is right.
MARIUS
Yes...
JESSE
What are you saying?
They turn to
Jesse, as if they had forgotten she could speak.
JESSE
You're going to kill him.
MAHARET
Lestat is lost to us now.
PANDORA
Listen to your Auntie. These
mixed marriages never work.
Pandora
chuckles until Maharet stops her with her coldest glare.
ARMAND
This is a stupid waste of time.
Maharet turns
on Armand and Pandora -- there's a deep RUMBLE. They back away.
(CONTINUED)
117.
208
CONTINUED: (3)
MAHARET
Show respect, little ones.
(to Jesse)
Jesse, if you wish to remain with
me now, you must not speak.
Jesse bows her
head.
MAHARET
If Lestat has joined with her,
then there is no hope.
CUT TO:
209
LESTAT
Beaming with a possessed look, his eyes brimming with visions.
Lestat opens his eyes and sees an island approaching. In the distance lights
sparkle as an enormous plantation villa is revealed, nestled into the far shore.
CUT TO:
210
EXT. AKASHA'S PLANTATION VILLA - NIGHT
Lestat and Akasha stand on a cliff-top. WIND RIPS through the trees. The steps
leading back to the house are lined with torches. Everywhere, there are torches,
and a million candles light the vast house.
Lestat and Akasha glide past the forest of exotic flowers... past the fountains
and statues -- up the steps to the open French doors. Long white curtains billow
in the sea wind.
LESTAT
Where are we?
AKASHA
We are home.
LESTAT
You live here?
AKASHA
We live everywhere and anywhere we
choose. The world is our garden.
118.
211
INT. AKASHA'S PLANTATION VILLA - NIGHT
Lestat steps in through billowing curtains, stops...
There are three West Indian girls, young voluptuous, beautiful, dressed in
simple working clothes and traditional head-wraps. They stare at Lestat,
nervous, yet fascinated. They move towards him.
Lestat finds himself surrounded by hands, touching him, reaching beneath his
shirt, pulling his clothes from his body. Lestat swoons, closes his eyes,
smiles.
LESTAT
So warm...
Sniffs their
skin...
LESTAT
... their blood...
AKASHA
... yes...
LESTAT
... they're mortal...
AKASHA
... of course. They serve the
living Goddess, and her consort...
they find you beautiful, Lestat.
You are a God in their eyes.
DISSOLVE TO:
212
SERIES OF SHOTS
... golden dark hands pull clothes away from Lestat's white skin...
... breasts strain through white linen as they press themselves closer to him...
... the surface of water, scented with red rose petals. Lestat's white skin
breaks the surface.
... Lestat is lowered into the bath, his skin alive with the dancing candles
reflected in the water...
... the water laps gently -- strange sighs of pleasure as girls' hands caress
Lestat's torso...
... their hands reach down lower and lower through the water...
(CONTINUED)
119.
212
CONTINUED:
... Lestat's eyes remain closed but his mouth opens...
Now it's Akasha kissing him. Lestat responds, but his eyes sneak a peak...
Akasha smiles -- takes his head in her hands -- she kisses him, pushes him back
-- he tries to resist -- he can't, startled by her strength...
Akasha kisses his neck... his chest... bites...
Lestat arches in ecstasy...
Akasha rises up from his breast, blood on her lips, smiles, goes back down and
drinks.
DISSOLVE TO:
213
AKASHA AND LESTAT
now moved to the bed, surrounded by the fine nets...
... kissing, probing each other's bodies floating above the bed...
Akasha rolls him over -- smiles down at him -- a fang exposed... She draws her
wrist across her mouth...
... a globule of blood smacks Lestat's open lips...
214
FLASH
A thousand images in a second.
Lestat jolted as if by a million volts.
... blood smears their bodies -- they bathe in it.
215
CLOSE ON LESTAT
the most lascivious smile spreading over his face, even as the waves of pleasure
still coarse through him, causing his mouth to twitch and tremble. He closes his
eyes...
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
216 LESTAT
opens his eyes.
(CONTINUED)
120.
216
CONTINUED:
He sits up alone in the canopied bed, disorientated. Akasha is nowhere to be
seen. He looks around and gasps...
... the servant girls' bodies, now grey with death, lie decorated around the
edge of the bath...
... the roses are now black and the water is coloured a rich deep red...
217
INT. PLANTATION HOUSE - HALLWAY
Lestat steps into the hallway, which is now sprinkled with dead bodies -- both
servants formally dressed, and guests in white tropical evening dress...
218
INT. PLANTATION HOUSE - DINING HALL - CONTINUOUS ACTION
The candles have all melted, forming pools that spread across the lace cloth.
Food sits uneaten on plates. Thirty dead bodies sitting around the table, some
slumped onto their food, some freezing sitting up in death...
Lestat moves through the room -- a feeling of dread spreading... we FOLLOW as he
MOVES INTO the...
219
EXT. PLANTATION HOUSE - GARDEN - CONTINUOUS ACTION
--- out the French windows onto the lawn which is now a field of dead bodies,
mostly servants and villagers...
220
EXT. BEACH - CONTINUOUS ACTION - NIGHT
Bodies move as the surf carries them forward and backwards like driftwood.
Lestat's feet step down the wooden stairs through more bodies, and onto the
sand...
We TILT UP to reveal the beach covered with dead bodies as far as the eye can
see...
AKASHA
Behold our Kingdom.
Lestat looks
up to see Akasha standing on the cliff above him.
LESTAT
Why?