SCENE FIVE: CLAUDIA'S BEDROOM — SIX MONTHS LATER
Establishing Photograph: The townhouse.
(CLAUDIA'S bedroom is filled with dolls, delicate furniture and fancy clothes. She sits in a large chair as she plays with a delicate porcelain doll, humming to herself. LESTAT enters.)
[Lestat:]
Claudia… have you finished your lessons?
[Claudia:]
Hours ago.
[Lestat:]
Where is Monsieur Vallette? He'll want to be paid.
(CLAUDIA starts humming again.)
Claudia, where is the tutor?
[Claudia:]
Gone home.
[Lestat:]
He wouldn't have gone without his payment. [growing suspicious] Where is he, Claudia?
[Claudia:]
I told you, Lestat. He's gone home.
(LESTAT looks around the room. He sees a pile of pillows and a duvet on the floor behind the bedroom. He looks at CLAUDIA suspiciously, then pulls away the duvet… revealing the body of the tutor.)
[Lestat:]
Claudia!
(LOUIS enters playfully, holding something behind his back.)
[Louis:]
Claudia! I have a gift for you!
(He holds out porcelain doll.)
[Claudia:]
[less than enthusiastic] Oh, another doll.
(LOUIS sees LESTAT'S angry face.)
[Louis:]
What's happened?
(LESTAT steps aside and points to the tutor's body. LOUIS gasps.)
Claudia!
(She runs to LOUIS.)
[Claudia:]
I'm sorry, Louis. He was too harsh! Please don't be angry with me.
[Louis:]
You cannot keep doing this!
[Claudia:]
I'll never do it again. I promise.
[Lestat:]
That's what she said after both maids and the coachman!
[Louis:]
[gently] Claudia, darling… don't you understand that you've put us all at risk?
[Lestat:]
Of course she understands! She does it to spite us!
(CLAUDIA pretends to cry.)
[Louis:]
Why would she want to spite us?
[Lestat:]
[to Claudia] You know the rules of the house! I told you what would happen if you disobeyed us again!
(She pretends to cry louder.)
[Louis:]
Claudia, please stop crying. You'll ruin your dress.
[Lestat:]
She's not crying!
(He wipes her face with his hand and holds it up to LOUIS.)
See… no blood tears!
(CLAUDIA stops pretending abruptly. She glares at LESTAT.)
Song: I Want More
[Claudia:]
Don't chastise me I'm a child
Acting as a child does
You ply me with lifeless dolls
When what I want is blood
You took me from the streets
To complete this union
Do you expect some little saint?
Kneeling for communion
I want more, I want more
Look at you, you disapprove
Like two fussy mothers
Who are you to criticize
The habits of another
Did I rock the family boat
By dining on the help?
Aren't I just the little beast?
Well I can't stop myself
I want more, I want more, I want more
I want more I want more
I don't want their milk and honey
They can keep those fine herb teas
I don't need their chocolate hot and sweet
It's thick and red for me
For everyone that comes along
Knocking on death's door
Don't blame me it's your fault
That I want more
[Louis:]
You're right, darling. It's not your fault. It's Lestat's.
[Lestat:]
My fault!
[Louis:]
You're not loving enough to her.
[Lestat:]
Not loving enough! I bring her everything her cold little heart desires! And still she does this!
[Louis:]
Don't you see? She's trying to get your attention!
[Claudia:]
Look at me I'm so sweet
I'm innocent and charming
But all you see is some spoilt brat
A child so demanding
Don't fuss so, you both know
The rapture of the bite
It's not monstrous, it's just Claudia's
Healthy appetite
And I want more, I want more
Should I be the little miss?
And while away the hours
I think not, I'd rather hunt
Than cut up paper flowers
Thanks to you the things i do
Verge on the obscene
What a pair of hypocrites
Well, this cat wants her cream
I want more, I want more, I want more
I want more, I want more
[Lestat:]
You're too lenient.
[Louis:]
You 're too cold!
[Lestat:]
She needs to be punished!
[Louis:]
She needs love and kindness!
[Claudia:]
I'll wander through the streets at night
And find a charming couple
Who'd fear that such an angel lost
Could find herself in trouble
They can't resist my trembling lip
My eyes so filled with tears
They rest my head upon their necks
Oh dear
More, I want more, I want more
I don't want their milk and honey
They can keep those fine herb teas
I don't need their chocolate hot and sweet
It's thick and red for me
For everyone that comes along
Knocking on death's door
Don't blame me it's your fault
That I want more
I want more, I want more, I want more
I want more, I want more
(LESTAT notices a suspicious lump behind a curtain. He pulls it aside to reveal a dead slave boy.)
[Lestat/Louis:]
Claudia!
(The scene transforms to Claudia's bedroom.)