102.

180       CONTINUED:

PANDORA
(wistful, to Armand)
It's just like Nero's day.

They scan the horizon, the darkening sky.

ARMAND
She won't come here.

KHAYMAN
Akasha will come. She'll not be
able to resist this...

The crowd begins to clap -- drums from different circles begin to impatiently beat into one deafening rhythm.

181       INT. BACKSTAGE (TENT CITY) - NIGHT

Backstage is all abuzz with pre-show energy; press everywhere. Roger still worrying and sweating.

James, Louisa, Alex and Maudy sit in their own circle, jamming with their unplugged instruments, psyching themselves up for the biggest night of their lives.

182       INT. LESTAT'S HONEY-WAGON - NIGHT

Lestat stretches out with his eyes closed as the sounds of the DRUMMING crowd begin to make the whole van shudder.

Suddenly opening his eyes he sees Marius standing before him.

MARIUS
Impressive, in an infantile sort
of way. Reminds me of mad old
Druids running around chanting in
the forest. Very primitive stuff.

LESTAT
You're too old to understand.

They share doleful smiles.

MARIUS
The truest words you've spoken.
You certainly know how to put on a
show.

LESTAT
I hope you bought a ticket.

(CONTINUED)

103.

182       CONTINUED:

Marius laughs.

MARIUS
This is what you've always wanted.

LESTAT
With all my heart.

MARIUS
I've always enjoyed your company,
Lestat.

LESTAT
Then stick around.

MARIUS
(hesitantly)
There's still time to leave.

LESTAT
And disappoint my fans?

MARIUS
Yes, maybe even me.

Lestat smiles, appreciates the sentiment.

MARIUS
Give me a yell from hell, won't
you?

LESTAT
When I think of you.

MARIUS
Good-bye, Lestat.

Lestat just closes his eyes again and listens to the call of his name from the CROWD. Lestat opens his eyes again. Marius has gone.

Roger pops his head in.

ROGER
They're getting pretty worked up
out there.

183       INT. BACKSTAGE (TENT CITY) - NIGHT

Lestat emerges from his honey-wagon, splendid in his concert costume. He looks ready for business, whatever may happen.

(CONTINUED)

104.

183       CONTINUED:

The band look at each other, then look to Lestat. This is the moment. He smiles like a father at them.

LESTAT
Come on, children.

Alex, Maudy, Louisa and James start beating out the rhythm with the CROWD as they move through the van. The DRUM-BEATS rise to a CRESCENDO.

184       EXT. CONCERT AREA - NIGHT

Jesse still makes her way through the throng, edging closer to the stage. Suddenly -- the torches go out sending the place into utter darkness.

A stunned moment...

The place goes berserk. We see the dim figures of the band take their places.

Jesse pushes desperately toward the front.

185       INT. BACK STAGE (TENT CITY) - NIGHT

Lestat readies himself as he scans the valley from behind a speaker, and sees...

186       LESTAT'S POV - VAMPIRES

wait here and there in the audience, ready to attack.

187       BACK TO LESTAT

Who smiles to himself.

188       BACK IN CROWD

"BOOM," the TORCHES relight and an enormous CHORD surges through the crowd louder than a jet on takeoff.

The mass surges forward, bringing Jesse with it, toward the stage as...

The stage lights up in a huge halo of blood-red light.

The band plays a hypnotic tune that would put the devil in a spell, as...

(CONTINUED)

105.

188       CONTINUED:

We wait for Lestat.

The band keeps playing the pounding cadence, as...

The audience doesn't see Lestat anywhere and cheers over the sound, and it seems as if the whole of Death Valley is shaking, when...

Lestat appears above the stage, inhumanly levitating and...

LESTAT
I'm so glad I decided to rise...
(shouting)
After tonight, Death Valley will
live up to its name!

The place erupts into one solid scream as the band kicks it in.

He swoops down through the air over the stage and into their very midst.

Lestat takes the microphone and leans his lips into it, letting his voice soar into an inhuman note, literally filling the valley like a demon demanding heaven be replaced with hell.

189       AT BACK OF CONCERT - MIXING BOARD

TWO STUDIO ENGINEERS sit dazed.

ENGINEER #1
(Cockney accent)
Could we turn it down a tad?

The Second Engineer looks to the mixing panel.

ENGINEER #2
His mic's not even up.

They stare, dumbfounded.

190       BACK TO CONCERT

The pulsing strain moves into a faster beat as the whole place resonates with the most incredible harmonics, the energy throbbing, the crowd almost genuflecting in front of this papal devil. All move and sway except for...

(CONTINUED

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?

(CONTINUED

220       CONTINUED:

AKASHA
(puzzled)
Why not?

Lestat is furious.

LESTAT
This is the reason you have risen?

AKASHA
They believed in nothing, now they
are nothing. But you and I will
change all that. We will give the
world something to believe in.

Suddenly, Akasha is beside him pulling him tighter to her.

AKASHA
Come, my king. We have a score to
settle.

Lestat gasps as they swiftly fly up into the darkness.

221       INT. MAHARET'S MANSION - GRANDE HALL - NIGHT

The Ancient Ones sit waiting.

MARIUS
She comes...

The whole place begins to SHAKE and...

KHAYMAN
Maharet...

Khayman draws Maharet aside.

MAHARET
Yes, Khayman.

KHAYMAN
What are you planning?

Looking into each other's eyes -- a secret message passes between them. Khayman's mouth falls open as he shakes his head...

KHAYMAN
No...

Maharet touches Khayman tenderly on the cheek.

(CONTINUED)

122.

221       CONTINUED:

MAHARET
There is no other way...

A shadow passes over the Ancients' faces as...

The WINDOWS along one side of the hall EXPLODE with a startling GUST.

The Ancient Ones look up to see...

Akasha's silhouette looming, dark and foreboding.

AKASHA
My children... it warms my heart
to see you all gathered, plotting
against me.

They trade glances and begin to fan out around the room.

MAHARET
Akasha.

AKASHA
Maharet, you're looking very well.
You will address my king first...

Lestat enters, his possessed eyes showing only evil.

Unable to help herself...

JESSE
Lestat!

He turns slowly to the corner where she sits.

They lock eyes.

Lestat's face stares cold and hard.

JESSE
What has she done to you?

Taking his arm, Akasha draws Lestat to her.

The Ancient vampires subtly position themselves under the medieval weapons hanging on the walls, as Marius moves towards his son.

MARIUS
Lestat. Stand away.

Marius looks for some recognition in Lestat's eyes. There is none.

(CONTINUED)

123.

221       CONTINUED:    (2)

The Ancient One's eyes warn all to wait for the right moment.

KHAYMAN
Akasha. The world has changed
since you reigned.

AKASHA
Then we shall change it back.

MAHARET
We've found other ways to co-
exist.

AKASHA
Yes, In the shadows. In silence.
In shame. All for what? For
respect of mortals? They are
nothing to us. They are only...
food.

She casts a dangerous eye towards Jesse. Maharet instinctively moves forward to protect her.

AKASHA
Poor Maharet. Still trying to
hold onto what I took from you.

Maharet doesn't even flinch.

MARIUS
Akasha, please... There is so much
more. Let us show you the world.

AKASHA
Oh, I've been listening for a
long, long time. And all I can
hear is ignorance and stupidity.

MARIUS
There's still a long way to go,
but mortals have learned.

AKASHA
They have learned more efficient
ways to slaughter. Nothing more.
(venomous)
You think you can change my will?
I'm tired of this... discussion.
Join me, or die.

MAHARET
We will not.

(CONTINUED)

124.

221       CONTINUED:    (3)

AKASHA
I want to hear it from every one
of you. What will it be?

Akasha scans the faces of the Ancient Ones staring deep into their souls when...

Marius steps forward -- the very face of bravery.

MARIUS
We will not.

Khayman speaks up as well.

KHAYMAN
No, Mother, we will not.

ALL OLD ONES
We will not.

Akasha is beyond fury, yet she keeps her temper under control and smiles to Lestat.

AKASHA
What do you think, my king.

Stealing himself he looks back to Akasha.

LESTAT
I'm bored with these old relics.
Let's you and I leave here and
take our pleasure without all this
whining.

AKASHA
You need something to steel your
nerves?

Smiling, she bites her lip, letting a drop of blood glisten there, tempting Lestat.

AKASHA
Do you love me?

He draws closer.

Jesse stares in mortified jealousy.

LESTAT
Yes...

Akasha and Lestat's mouths almost meet when Akasha pulls away.

(CONTINUED)

125.

221       CONTINUED:    (4)

AKASHA
There is no such thing as love.
Only proofs of love.

Akasha slowly turns to Jesse.

AKASHA
Kill her.

Lestat keeps his composure, ever careful.

LESTAT
She's nothing to me...

AKASHA
Just the same, I'd like you to
kill her. For me.

Maharet steps between Lestat and Jesse.

MAHARET
You will not touch her!

Akasha flicks her wrist...

Maharet is hurled against a pillar, pinned by Akasha's hand.

AKASHA
You still think to challenge me,
Maharet?

MAHARET
I beg you, spare this child.

Lestat doesn't make a move one way or another.

AKASHA
Now.

Maharet struggles but Akasha is too strong.

Stepping forward.

JESSE
It's all right, Maharet.

Maharet stops, standing fixed with the sound of Jesse's newly strong and calm voice.

Jesse looks to Lestat and sees his face secretly searching for some way out, some way to save her. She looks straight into his dark irises, her gaze absolutely unwavering.

(CONTINUED)

126.

221       CONTINUED:    (5)

JESSE
I'm not afraid. It's what I want.

Lestat now makes the connection. He begins to advance, seemingly with a killer gait, but we know better as...

Jesse keeps her gaze steady into Lestat's.

AKASHA
(smirking)
How sweet...

Lestat moves closer and closer to her as...

Jesse watches him with absolute trust, absolute love, and it seems to us that...

Lestat returns the love and trust, and though his face wears a dangerous mask, his look lets her know he understands. He reaches her.

Maharet flies across the room, but Akasha meets her halfway. Grabs her by the hair. Maharet struggles but Akasha is much more powerful.

Jesse offers up her neck to his bite. Maharet looks away and Akasha looks pleased as...

Lestat sinks his teeth into Jesse's neck.

Jesse gasps with the bite, but then relaxes and even puts her arm around Lestat as he draws her into him, draining her of her very life-force as she holds him.

With that Maharet's great family mural begins to weep blood from every name.

It's a murder to everyone's eyes, especially...

Maharet, who for the first time in centuries, looks like she just might shed a tear, then she sees...

Akasha staring straight at her, waiting for her to break.

Maharet steels herself and refuses to look away from Akasha's cruel gaze as...

Lestat brings Jesse down to the hearth rug in front of the fire and lays her onto what is surely her death-bed.

To our eyes, it's a lover's embrace.

Lestat drinks and drinks and...

(CONTINUED)

127.

221       CONTINUED:    (6)

Jesse sighs with intimacy, clutching his neck and back, and drawing his bite deeper into her flesh. She slowly crumples to the floor, being drawn down until finally...

Jesse lies on the floor, eyes closed and pale...

To all appearances, dead.

222       BACK TO SCENE

Maharet offers Lestat a killing look, as Akasha offers him the kindest of smiles.

AKASHA
You've just earned your crown.

Lestat smiles with a blood-stained mouth. Walking back to Akasha.

LESTAT
And now for my reward.

Akasha approaches Lestat and offers him her vein. She looks scornfully at the others as he cradles her wrist and...

Sinks his teeth into its original font. He drinks as Akasha gasps with pleasure at giving so much pleasure to him. She keeps smiling to the others.

Lestat doesn't stop drinking. Akasha looks back to him, her face changing.

AKASHA
That's enough, Lestat.

Still Lestat doesn't stop.

AKASHA
Lestat. Enough. Stop!

Lestat grabs onto Akasha and clamps her down even harder...

Locking eyes with her in a death challenge.

Akasha fights like hell, thrashing this way and that to release herself from Lestat and to throw him off, and would but...

MAHARET
Now!

Akasha looks up gasping in time to see...

(CONTINUED)

128.

222       CONTINUED:

Mael flying towards her...

Akasha lets out a hiss...

Which causes Mael to ignite in mid-air. He CRASHES through the GLASS.

Mael's skin bubbles...

Mael screams, the veins in his face rise up and explode as if his blood were burning acid...

Pandora flies towards Akasha, but not quick enough. She is also burned horribly from the inside. She falls to the ground and crawls along as she is eaten by fire from the inside out.

Akasha smiles but turns to see...

Khayman... Armand... Marius... flying at her.

They swarm over Akasha. She rises into the air, but they hang on, forming a flying mass of flailing limbs.

The THUMP of Akasha's HEART accelerates as they drain her dry...

Her golden skin turns deathly blue white...

Maharet watches as they are flung around by Akasha's great strength, but they all hold on, until the thrashing begins to subside. They finally pull back to reveal...

223       AKASHA

frozen in horror as her face transforms back to its frozen statue state. there's no blood left to flow from gaping holes in her flesh... she is both pathetic and horrifying.

AKASHA
You kill me, you kill yourselves.

The Ancient Ones wipe their mouths, intoxicated with the blood, swooning even as Akasha swoons.

AKASHA
Lestat, my king...

Lestat stares at Akasha -- he's no longer under her power, and yet feels remorseful at his betrayal. He moves towards her as she struggles to rise...

(CONTINUED)

129.

223       CONTINUED:

MARIUS
Lestat, no!

Suddenly, Akasha rises, her eyes flare green...

Lestat cries out as smoke rises from his limbs... In agony, he stares at his own hands...

224       LESTAT'S POV - HIS HANDS

The veins become transparent under his skin as the blue blood turns into a seething black mess...

He screams, staggers towards Akasha, as the skin on his face bubbles and burns.

Even as he burns, Lestat bites into Akasha's throat, this time for the kill.

Akasha slowly sinks to the ground, real fear in her eyes as her strength vanishes.

MAHARET
Wait! You must stop!

Lestat pulls away, leaving Akasha hanging in a twisted, unnatural angle. Akasha lets out a frightening hiss and rises up towards Lestat for one last desperate attack.

Maharet is suddenly in her way. Her fangs bared...

Maharet sinks her fangs into Akasha's neck. Akasha struggles but this time she cannot even rise up...

Akasha's skin begins to harden back to stone. A HOWLING sound as if from hell itself fills the room.

The Ancient Ones step back in awe...

Lestat sits up, burned but still alive to see...

Akasha, as her skin returns to marble.

CRACKS multiply, becoming fissures.

Finally, AKASHA literally falls to pieces, SMASHING on the stone floor like porcelain.

The Ancient Ones look at each other then stop in shock as they see...

130.

225       MAHARET

as a whiteness spreads across her face and skin like a fast-creeping disease...

Khayman is staring, mouth open, moving towards Maharet.

KHAYMAN
Maharet...

Marius is struck dumb with wonder...

226       ARMAND

also stares...

227       MAHARET

has now become a statue, as Akasha was...

Khayman kneels, touches Maharet's face but there is no response, no movement.

KHAYMAN
She... gave herself for us.

PANDORA
Is she... dead?

KHAYMAN
No, she sleeps. She sleeps, and
dreams of us.

Khayman stoops to Maharet and whispers in her ear.

KHAYMAN
I will care for you always.

ARMAND
Behold, our queen...

But Lestat is only concerned about Jesse as he's instantly to her and picks up her lifeless head.

Lestat takes a dagger from the floor and slices his wrist.

He brings the open vein to Jesse's mouth, but she's not moving. Lestat bends down to her ear and whispers.

LESTAT
Drink deep and live.

(CONTINUED)

CONCLUSION:

Jesse's lips move at the taste of Lestat's blood and she begins to drink. Lestat cradles her as she is revived. He looks into her eyes, 'Drink, my love'...

Suddenly, Jesse screams and convulses as her body begins to die. Lestat conforts her as the others look on impassively.

Jesse asks if her body is dying, Lestat nods. She gasps again as pain courses through her body. Their eyes are locked together.

Lestat - 'I will never leave you again'

INT. TALBOT'S OFFICE. CONTINOUS ACTION

David sits at his desk covered with news clippings. There are images from the concert, and headlines such as 'Mass Hysteria' and 'Rock'n' Roll nightmare. There are images of Maudy, Louisa, James and Alex with the headline 'Band starts World Tour... but where is Lestat?'

Another headline - 'Lestat's Mystery Woman' - a shot of Jesse onstage with Lestat.

Jesse - "You're not going to start collecting paintings of me now, are you?"

Talbot looks up to see Jesse and Lestat, says her name, sees the change in her instantly...

Shocked, Talbot says Jesse's name again, but she only smiles.

Jesse introduces Lestat. Talbot looks at him, fear in his eyes.

Talbot - "How do you do?"
Lestat - "Charmed, I'm sure."

Jesse explains that they've come to say goodbye.

Talbot stands, shaking, trying to comprehend the situation.

Talbot - "I failed you, didn't I?"
Jesse - "David, please don't be sad. I'm where I belong."

Lestat looks lovingly to Jesse. A flicker of curiousity crosses Talbot's face.

Talbot - "Excuse me for asking but..."
Jesse - "What's it like?"
Talbot - "Yes."
Jesse - "Do you want to find out?"

Talbot considers the offer, the possibilities, but declines concluding he's 'too old to live forever'.

Lestat turns to Jesse - "Shall we?"
Talbot - "Take care of her, Lestat"
Lestat - "As you would"

Talbot looks to Jesse, his once spiritual daughter, "Goodbye Jesse".

Talbot closes his eyes to shut out a tear. Jesse is at his side and leans down to whisper in his ear - "Goodbye, dear friend."

Talbot opens his eyes, goes to say something, but they're gone.

EXT. LONDON SKYLINE - NIGHT

We fly across the sky, dip down to the city below. Amongst the crowd, two figures zipping through the streets at that strange preternatural speed. Zooming down on the two we see that they are Lestat and Jesse. Stopping on a corner street, they hold hands and... vanish into the night.

THE END