SCENE SIX: RENAUD'S HOUSE OF THESPIANS — THREE WEEKS LATER
Establishing Photograph: Renaud's House of Thespians with no crowds out front.
(Two of the female players, JEANETTE and LUCHINA, sit backstage, trying to console NICOLAS who has fallen into deep despair.)
[Nicolas:]
I know why he left me, I was slipping down.
(LESTAT appears, eavesdropping on their conversation.)
[Jeanette:]
What do you mean?
[Nicolas:]
I'm sure you've heard the story of the wolves.
[Luchina:]
Oh yes.
[Nicolas:]
He didn't just kill those wolves. He vanquished them. Lestat rises. He always rises. And I was slipping down into a dark place.
(LESTAT can see and hear NICOLAS' thoughts: a deep, dark chasm.)
[Lestat:]
But I was there to hold you up.
[Nicolas:]
I think he was tired of holding me up.
[Lestat:]
No. I could have held you forever.
[Jeanette:]
Nicolas, you have to stop thinking this way. His disappearance may have had nothing to do with you.
[Luchina:]
Something might have happened to him. You don't know.
(LUCHINA 's thoughts: a drowned LESTAT floating in the Seine.)
[Nicolas:]
[lost in despair] He couldn't rise. Not with me.
[Lestat:]
This is torturous. I have to help him. I have put an end to this!
(LESTAT goes off.)
[Jeanette:]
Nicolas, he has been gone for over three weeks. He's probably not coming back. You need to start thinking about life without him.
[Nicolas:]
[despairing] There is nothing without him.
[Lestat:]
I'm just over a fever. Please, the light hurts my eyes.
(They freeze, stunned to hear his voice. NICOLAS rises as LESTAT strides in dressed in fine, expensive clothes.)
[Nicolas:]
Lestat!
(NICOLAS' face fills with joy. He rushes to hug LESTAT. But LESTAT pulls away, keeping the girls between them. NICOLAS is shocked by his cold demeanor.)
[Luchina:]
What happened to you? Where have you been?
[Lestat:]
I've been ill.
[Nicolas:]
But why didn't you contact me?
[Lestat:]
I met a woman at the Opera. An heiress. We were married in Deauville.
[Nicolas:]
[stunned] Married.
(LESTAT can hear NICOLAS' thoughts: A woman! An image of an elegant woman at the Opera.)
[Lestat:]
I fell ill there. It's taken this long for me to regain my strength.
[Jeanette:]
You're pale, but otherwise, marriage agrees with you. The clothes are beautiful!
[Lestat:]
I've had to give up the actor's life. But I'll always love this theatre and I want to be certain it will never close. So I've decided to purchase it from Renaud. [to Nicolas.] Now you will always have a place to play your violin.
(NICOLAS' thoughts: angrily smashing his violin.)
[Stage Manager:]
Two minutes! On stage, everyone.
(The girls hug LESTAT and go out. He fights himself to keep from going to NICOLAS.)
[Lestat:]
I'm sorry if I've caused you pain, Nicolas. It was never my intention.
[Nicolas:]
[angrily] What as your intention? You disappear for weeks without a word. I thought you might be dead. And then suddenly you stride back in with the news that you're married! How could you do this?
[Lestat:]
My life took an unexpected turn. I don't blame you for being angry.
[Nicolas:]
But you've changed. I hardly recognize you.
[Lestat:]
[abruptly] I've stayed too long.
[Nicolas:]
Wait. I've been trying to' contact you for another reason. Your mother is coming to Paris. She's been desperate to find you.
[Lestat:]
[alarmed] When? When is she coming?
[Nicolas:]
She'll arrive tomorrow. At the Grand Hommes on Isle St. Louis.
[Lestat:]
Meet her there for me, will you?
[Nicolas:]
Why?
[Lestat:]
Please, Nicolas. Tell her I'll come to her tomorrow night.
[Nicolas:]
Lestat, she's very ill. She may not be able to wait that long.
[Lestat:]
Then sit with her… all day. Do this for me, Nicolas.
[Nicolas:]
Why? Lestat, what is wrong with you?
[Lestat:]
See that she waits for me. Please!
(LESTAT rushes out, struggling with himself.)
Song: The Thirst (Reprise)
[Lestat:]
I can't believe this demon seed
That robs me of the sun
Would still allow my pulse to race
And let me love someone
It is indeed a cruel joke
That my emotions churn inside
That passions whispered voices say
He could be yours should you decide
But wait I cannot share this fate
Such selfish thought I'll push aside
Even though to drink his world
Rages in me with desire
And if some shred of decency
Can curb this longing in my heart
I'll fight the will to make him mine
And keep my distance in the dark
(He starts to move off, but he hears a sound behind him. He turns back feeling some kind of presence there. After a moment, he continues off.)