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TRANSCRIPT:
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Act One

In Henry’s Penthouse Vicki lays passed out on the couch while Henry sits on a nearby coffee table looking through her purse.

Henry: Victoria Nelson, PI. Cute.

Vicki wakes up slowly, looking at Henry for a moment before getting up. She reaches for him but collapses into his arms instead. He eases her back onto the couch.

Vicki: You son of a bitch. Ugh.

Henry: Easy, easy, easy. I was just trying to protect myself, perhaps a bit too forcefully.

Vicki: You think?

Henry: I didn’t have time to pick up your glasses. I see you carry an extra pair.

Vicki: Thank you.

Henry: Now I know you won’t believe me but I don’t want to hurt you.

Vicki: Yeah you’ve got a funny way of showing it.

Henry: I wasn’t the one threatening the other’s dental work. My smile’s my best feature.

Vicki: I’ve never met a vain serial killer.

Henry: I didn’t kill that woman. I was trying to stop it.

Vicki: Yeah and why would I believe that?

Henry: You were there, you must have seen it.

Vicki: I saw something. I don’t know what I saw.

Henry: The problem with your eyes… It’s more than just bad vision.

Vicki: Yeah it’s called Retinitis Pigmentosa. It’s a progressive loss of visual function. It starts with night blindness, then your vision tunnels, so that it feels like you’re looking through a straw. Next stop: Blindness. And to top it off I’m near sighted.

Henry: People with that condition might want to stay away from night time stakeouts.

Vicki: Yeah are we going to talk about my vision or are you going to tell me what it was I’m supposed to have seen.

Henry: Okay. It was a demon.

Vicki: Demon. Sure, why not?

Henry: You’re taking this rather calmly.

Vicki: Well I’d be more concerned if I actually believed it.

Henry: I suppose I wouldn’t either. So, how did you wind up there?

Vicki: I wa… (chuckles) I’m busting your chops for talking about demons and I was out hunting a vampire. (Henry laughs) Yeah, I know.

Henry: I’m going to let you in on a little secret okay?

Vicki: You believe in Vampires.

Henry: I am a Vampire.

Vicki: You didn’t try and kill me.

Henry: Was I supposed to?

Vicki: Isn’t that what Vampires do?

Henry: And I suppose you also thought that Garlic and Silver Crosses would hurt them? Call me old fashioned but… I’m pretty religious (Henry holds up a cross he wears on his wrist).

Vicki: Okay. Say you are a vampire Mr…

Henry: Henry… Fitzroy.

Vicki: Fitzroy.

Henry offers Vicki his hand and she takes it, pulling away as she notices how cool it is to the touch.

Vicki: Why would you be trying to stop another bloodsucker that’s hardly professional courtesy is it?

Henry: I couldn’t have something like that running around town terrifying the masses now could I? Next thing you know the villagers are out with their stakes and their torches…

Vicki: That happen much?

Henry: Often enough.

Vicki: Really?

Henry: Really. I’ve lived a long time. Almost 500 years.

Vicki: Wow. Yeah, I wouldn’t have pegged you a day over 450.

Henry: I use a great moisturizer. You know it’s a shame you’re not the more trusting type Vicki.

Henry gets up and grabs a knife causing Vicki to jump off the couch rather nervously. He plunges it into the palm of his hand and then pulls it out again.

Vicki: Uh… that’s a nice trick.

Henry: (deep voiced) It’s not a trick Victoria. I’m telling the truth.

Holding his hand palm toward her Henry allows Vicki to watch his hand heal.

Vicki: That’s what I’m afraid of.

Meanwhile, at the scene of Cassie’s murder, Mike and Dave arrive.

Dave: The wounds are exactly the same but, she hasn’t lost the same amount of blood.

Mike: Whoever killed her didn’t have time to take it.

Dave: Right. The radio car was on the scene about a minute after they heard the screams.

Mike: Yeah? They get a look at the guy?

Dave: Well, uniform thought he saw something before he flipped the light on.

Mike: What makes me think I’m not going to like this?

Dave: Well, he thought it looked like a man in black carrying a woman. There’s another thing.

Dave reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out Vicki’s glasses, handing them to Mike.

Dave: They found these.

Mike: God-dammit.

Mike reaches quickly into his pocket and retrieves his cell phone and making a call to Vicki, only to get her voicemail.

Vicki’s Voice: This is Vicki, leave a message.

Mike: Vicki, it’s me. Where the hell are you? Call me as soon as you get this.

Back at Henry’s penthouse Vicki is starting to get agitated.

Vicki: Why did you bring me here?

Henry: If you had a more compliant personality, I could have made you forget what you saw. But considering you’re so…

Vicki: Strong-Willed?

Henry: Try hard-headed I had two options, I could eliminate you. Or I could trust you.

As Henry speaks he picks up Vicki’s baton and hands it to her. She collapses it as she replies.

Vicki: Trusting’s good.

Henry: If I sense I can’t trust you, I can still eliminate you before you do me any harm.

Vicki: Oh, just because you got in a lucky shot doesn’t mean I’m easy to kill.

Henry moves so fast he’s at her throat before she can finish the sentence.

Henry: Everybody’s easy to kill.

Vicki is stunned as Henry moves away but quickly recovers.

Vicki: Why me?

Henry: You’re a private investigator. And you were good enough to find him the same time I did. The demon hunts nights as do I. But there’s a human who’s calling him up and chance are he’s living his life by day.

Vicki: You want to team up?

Henry: Until the demon’s stopped.

Vicki: (sighs) Uh, I gotta think about this.

Henry: Come to me tomorrow night with your answer.

Henry shows her to the door but stops her before she can leave.

Henry: And Vicki, I may be the only one who can stop this demon. Don’t even think of giving up my secret.

Vicki: Who’d believe me?

As the sun rises Vicki returns to her office to find Mike waiting for her. He’s talking on the phone as she enters (conversation muted) and Vicki, unsure of who it might be drops her things and enters the room, baton raised for defense, only to find Mike sitting at her desk.

Vicki: Should I call the cops or do you just want to arrest yourself?

Mike: Hey, I’ve been up all night looking for you.

Vicki: God, you sound like my mother. How the hell did you get in here?

Mike: Showed the super my badge, it works wonders. (gestures to the baton) Are you going to use that or what?

Vicki: You know what? I haven’t decided yet. So why… why were you looking for me?

Mike: Uniforms saw a woman being taken from the scene of a homicide last night. (pulls out Vicki’s dropped glasses) You were there. You are messing around with my investigation.

Vicki: It’s my investigation too.

Mike: No. Vicki you’re wandering around half-blind looking for somebody who’s already killed four people. That’s a good way of becoming number five.

Vicki stays silent and Mike finally sighs and grabs his suit coat.

Mike: Aw, you know what? I’m, uh… I’m just happy that you’re alive, all right? Talk to you later.

Vicki sighs as Mike leaves her office.

At the university Norman is hanging around in his stolen Porsche as two girls pass by. He barks at them

Norman: Ruff!

Girls: Huh? Eww…

Norman watches cockily as they run away.

At the station, Mike is pulled in to his supervisor’s office. She hands him the paper.

Crowley: You said you had this covered.

Mike: Uh… we’re on it okay?

Crowley: And the chief is on me. The mayor is on him and the papers are on all of us!

Mike: All right look we found a pattern to the crimes. Looks like there’s some kind of Satanist agenda here.

Crowley: Great. Even if we break it it’s going to make news for the next ten years. I want this freak taken down. And fast.

Mike: We done?

Crowley: One more thing. I heard Vicki Nelson’s got her nose in this.

Mike: Nah. No she’s working a separate investigation.

Crowley: That’s not what I heard. We can’t afford her anywhere near this. She’s a wildcard.

Mike: Vicki cleared just about every homicide she ever pulled. We’d be lucky to have her on this.

Crowley: You do not want to stake your career on that statement Celluci.

Vicki comes back to Henry’s just after dark as he’s working on his graphic novel. He gets up to let her in.

Vicki: I guess we’re working together.

Henry smiles as he shuts the door behind her. Vicki, meanwhile, has found his work and a painting of Henry VIII

Vicki: History buff?

Henry: Family photo.

Vicki: Right.

Henry: You believe I’m a vampire but you don’t believe I had a father?

Vicki: And he just happened to be one of the most famous figures in history.  (recognizes what that means) That would make you Henry, Duke of Richmond.

Henry: You surprise me again. How did you know that?

Vicki: I have a minor in History.

Henry: (chuckles) Hmm, I learned mine the hard way. I lived through it.

Vicki: So, how did you end up drawing comic books?

Henry: Graphic Novels. Art and Literature have always been my passions. I finally found a medium where I could fully realize the both of them.

Vicki: This is going to take some getting used to. Okay partner. Why don’t we start by you telling me how you know so much about demons?

Henry: London in the 1890’s. They called themselves the hellfire club. Rich men and women who went to any length to relieve the boredom of their pampered lives.

As Henry speaks we see a flashback to the ritual that called Astaroth and how Henry obtained the Grimoire.

O’Mara: Mr. Fitzroy. I’ve heard so much about you.

Henry: The club gave them the sense that they were being wicked. They had no idea.

O’Mara: Welcome

Henry: And that’s when the evil at the center of it all came out to play.

O’Mara: Nomini Diabolos nostarum diem tier…

Henry: O’Mara was performing a ritual. I didn’t know if it was real or not but I knew he was trifling with something better left alone.

O’Mara: Obae Dirae…

As O’Mara completes the ritual in the flashback Astaroth appears in the center of the pentagram.

Astaroth: Why?

O’Mara: I demand your service!

Astaroth: What do you demand?

O’Mara: Eternal life!

Astaroth: And what do you offer in return?

O’Mara: Blood. And a soul. A nightwalker in our midst! Take him and give me his power!

Astaroth: Oh, yes. You shall have your power, and I shall be free.

Astaroth tries to take Henry but Henry fights off the club members and throws the sharp point of a lit torch at O’Mara, killing him. Without the blood being offered to him Astaroth can not come through and Henry sends him back to hell.

Astaroth: Finish the ritual nightwalker. Use his blood to bring me through. The power will be yours, anything you want.

Henry: All I want right now is for you to go to hell!

Astaroth: We will meet again, Nightwalker.

Henry: I took the Grimoire so that none of O’Mara’s followers would use it again. It was the smell of one of the crime scenes that gave it away. The worst kind of corruption imaginable.

Vicki: Well I guess demonology is not for people with sensitive noses.

Henry: Once the demon touches them their minds are so broken they don’t even know the difference. Whoever’s called this demon still thinks he’s in control.

Vicki: Well, if this guy’s not calling the shots, then what does the demon want?

Henry: The thing I saw last night was a minor demon. His job is to open a door to bring a much more powerful demon through. Once the pentagram is complete all it takes is one more sacrifice to open that door.

Vicki: Are you sure about this?

Henry: His master is Astaroth. The same demon I fought 100 years ago.

Vicki: Great. And what, pray-tell, uh happens at Astaroth’s coming out party?

Henry: That’s when all hell breaks loose.

 

Act Two

Vicki and Henry are still at his penthouse, continuing to strategize about how to stop Astaroth.

Vicki: So for those of us, who skipped Demonology 101, define all hell breaks loose.

Henry: Pure evil unleashed on earth.

Vicki: Like what? Wars?

Henry: Of biblical proportions. Death, pestilence and despair ruling for 1000 years. Most will become corrupt and fall sway to the dark forces. Those who don’t will die horribly.

Vicki: You know, don’t go painting it all rosy colored for my benefit.

Henry: Demons have escaped in the past.

Vicki: Well… why haven’t I heard of this?

Henry: You’ve heard of their work. The slave trade, the Black Death, Stalin’s atrocities in Russia.

Vicki: Okay. So if we stop the one who’s calling the demons do we stop the demon?

Henry: If we get to it in time. The trick is finding him.

Vicki: Where do we start?

Henry: Well the demon from last night can only offer material goods.

Vicki: Well we can’t just go looking at every newly rich person in town.

Henry: Well the demon can’t create the goods. He has to steal them. From somewhere close to where he’s going to deliver them.

Vicki: Well I guess we know what I’m doing. How about you?

Henry: Now it’s time for me to take a nap.

Vicki: Oh… (chuckles) okay.

Henry: Victoria.

Vicki: Vicki. Victoria was an overweight queen.

Henry: She wore it well though. Trust me. I wanted to thank you for your help. I haven’t met anyone quite like you in over a lifetime.

Vicki: Well you know 500 years old or not, you and I start hanging out together and people will say I’m robbing the cradle.

Henry: I’m willing to take that chance if you are.

Vicki: Must be that vampire magnetism I find so tempting.

Henry: My powers of persuasion don’t work on you.

Vicki: Then I guess it’s just you.

Vicki and Henry share a long, intense look for a moment, and then she slowly puts on her glasses.

Vicki: Past your bedtime isn’t it?

Vicki leaves Henry to his sleep and heads back to her office where she has a meeting with Coreen.

Coreen: So you found the vampire?

Vicki: Know what? I can honestly tell you it’s not a vampire.

Coreen: You’re as bad as the police. Look I threw the I-Ching, consulted my spiritualist. How much more proof do you need? I know a vampire did it and so do you.

Vicki: Coreen-

Coreen: If you won’t help me prove it, I’ll do it myself.

An exasperated Vicki throws her hands up as Coreen stalks out of her office and returns to the University Pub. Norman is there having a beer as another patron cruelly teases Coreen about her beliefs.

Guy: Seen any vampires lately, Coreen?

Coreen: I don’t have time for this.

Guy: Maybe it was a giant mosquito.

Girl: Hey it was her boyfriend man, give her a break.

Coreen: It was a vampire and I’m going to prove it.

The couple gets up to leave and as the girl passes by Coreen she offers a parting shot.

Girl: Coreen? Get yourself some help.

As Coreen starts back to work, Norman picks up his brand new camera and starts snapping her picture. Norman hides his camera as Coreen walks past, oblivious to his interest in her.

Vicki, meanwhile, has headed down to the cop shop where she’s going over the police records on theft in search of Astaroth’s human helper.

Sergeant: That’s the theft reports from the last week. More in the last couple weeks than the whole month, uh, before. Uh, keep that stuff in order or you’re going to have some filing to do too.

Vicki: Yeah, it’s like I never left.

Sergeant: It’s good to see you around again Vick.

Vicki: Yeah, you too.

Vicki sits down and gets ready to dig into the reports. The Sergeant leaves her alone with her work but Mike wanders in, curious as to what she’s up to.

Mike: Hey.

Vicki: Hey.

Mike: Still searching for your vampire?

Vicki: Not a vampire. (under her breath) It’s definitely not a vampire.

Mike: Since when?

Vicki: I was just… messing with you. Come on, who believes in vampires?

Mike: Well, you were all over me about it yesterday, weren’t you?

Vicki: (laughing) Oh, ho, ho. Mike, you’re out of practice. What? You… you don’t even know when I’m playing you anymore?

Mike: So what’s this?

Vicki: Uh… I’ve walked away from the homicide. I’ve uh… got to trace a stolen Mercedes for a bail bondsman.

Mike: (not buying it) Really?

Vicki: Um-hmm.

Mike: Vicki Nelson, walking away from a case just like that huh?

Vicki: Yup. Other paying clients waiting for service.

Mike: Well. Good luck to you then.

Vicki: Thanks. (looks up at him innocently) Nice tie.

Mike still is unsure but hesitantly walks away from her. Vicki looks after him for a moment before returning to her files.

Norman, meanwhile, has once again called “his” demon.

Norman: Look, if you didn’t get the blood you needed, that’s your problem.

Norman talks to the demon in Latin for a moment (not caught by my closed captioning device) before returning to English

Norman: You’re supposed to be SO powerful. You let him stop you.

Demon: Unforeseen circumstances. It won’t happen again. Not when the one after me arrives.

Norman: And you are sure he will serve me?

Demon: Every wish, every whim, every dream, every… desire. You’re the master.

Norman: That’s right. Go. Go run off and do whatever you got to do. I just want her to be MINE.

The demon disappears as Norman watches.

Vicki has returned to Henry’s penthouse and they go over her findings on the thefts.

Vicki: I’ve ID’d a number of thefts that seem kind of hinky. Stuff stolen from a locked room. A Porsche taken from a showroom full of people.  Cash taken from a bank vault that had a time lock.

Henry: Child’s play for a demon

Vicki: Well, all of them are around the University Annex. I mean, chances are good that our target is right in the center. I mean our demon caller might even be a student.

Henry: That’s still too big an area.

Vicki: Well unless you have a demon GPS around here somewhere this is all we have.

Henry: I was hoping not to have to do this.

Vicki: What do you mean? You actually have a demon GPS?

Henry: I have always avoided contact with the dark arts. Although what I’m going to do isn’t much more than a parlor trick it is still repugnant. Do you want to leave?

Vicki: I’m always up for a good trick.

A few minutes later, flowers and incense burn in a bowl as Henry chants in Latin while standing before a mirror.

Henry: Sector, demonium, sanguis, nunc!

Vicki: Hey, I can see you. Man, another vampire myth blown to bits!

Henry: That’s not what we need it to show. I took this from the demon in the park. (Speaking to the mirror) This is the one we seek.

Henry drops the bat wing into the burning bowl as he talks to the mirror.

Henry: We need to know where it will strike next.

Henry and Vicki’s images in the mirror fade and a picture of the demon’s location shows up in the mirror.

Henry: I know where that is.

Vicki: It looks like a city park. There could be 20 places like that.

Henry: Demons aren’t the only ones who hunt lonely places at night. I know this city. It’s by Queen’s park.

Vicki: All right then, let’s go.

Henry puts a handkerchief over the bowl and the mirror returns to normal. They head out to Queen’s park, walking it and waiting for the demon to attack.

Vicki: Too bad that spell didn’t tell us when he was going to strike.

Henry: He won’t waste any time. He’ll take his last sacrifice tonight.

Vicki: You love it don’t you? The night? All… this.

Henry: It’s what I am. It’s what I’ve been for a long time.

Vicki: Speaking of which… how exactly does one become a vampire?

Henry: Vacation in Transylvania.

Vicki: Come on. I-I’m serious.

Henry: It was a woman. Christina. We met at my father’s court. She was only there during the evenings and she wouldn’t let me see her during the day. I Suppose you love someone so much you just shut off your rational mind.

Vicki: Yeah, I’m familiar with the phenomenon. So she… she fed on you?

Henry: That’s one reason to take a mortal lover.

Vicki: Didn’t you notice the marks on your neck?

Henry: My neck wasn’t the only place she put her mouth.

Vicki: Oh.

Henry: Then, after about a year, she finally confessed to me what she was. People in the court had become suspicious and she had to move on. I begged her to turn me.

Vicki: What… you wanted to become a vampire?

Henry: I wanted to be like her. I wanted to be… I wanted to be with her forever.

Vicki: Forever’s a long time.

Henry: She warned me that two vampires couldn’t share the same hunting grounds but I didn’t believe her. I told her that true love would prevail. She drank my blood and I drank hers. I died and returned from death. She showed me the ways of the night. Our lovemaking was like we were on fire.

Vicki: You should work in recruitment.

Henry: Then shortly after a year, I was feeding on a woman I’d met at the tavern. Christina was suddenly there. Angry. Vicious.

Vicki: Jealous.

Henry: It was the territorial instinct she had warned me about. We almost killed each other, and then she was gone.

Vicki: I’m sorry.

Henry: I should have listened to her. I’d have lost her anyway but still…

Vicki: You never saw her again?

Henry: You live long enough everything comes around again.

They are interrupted by a man’s screams and run towards the noise. The demon has cornered two skateboarders, one is down, already dead and the demon has the second by his lapels.

Demon: I needed your friend’s blood, but I’ve never been able to refuse a second round.

The demon goes in for the attack but Henry catches him in a flying tackle before he can make the kill. They fight at high speed for a few moments before the demon manages to use his fingernail like weapon to slash Henry across the chest, sending him sprawling onto his back, breathing heavily. Vicki has approached the second skateboarder who is coughing.

Vicki: Are you okay?

Skateboarder: Yeah. What the hell are those things?

Vicki: You know what? You really don’t want to know. But you might want to get out of here. Now, come on, go!

The kid takes off running and Vicki unsheathes her baton, going after the demon who is taunting Henry.

Demon: You see? We’re stronger. When the master arrives, you’ll suffer.

Vicki makes her attack and the demon fends her off allowing Henry to get up and return to the battle. Vicki gets knocked down and the demon and Henry fight before Henry gets thrown into the fence. The demon follows him in and gets a few more slashes in at Henry’s chest before Henry throws him over the fence and collapses. The demon laughs maniacally as he disappears. Vicki rushes over to Henry who’s growling in pain.

Vicki: Henry? Henry? Oh my god. You’re okay right? You’re okay? Come on you just heal right? You just heal? You can do it. Come on, you’re okay.

Henry: I need… I need to fe- I need to feed. I need to…

Henry continues to breathe heavily and growl in pain as Vicki pulls her jacket sleeve up and takes off her glasses before offering Henry her wrist. Vicki moans as Henry feeds on her for a few moments before pushing her wrist away.

Henry: (echoes) Enough! Enough!

Henry recovers a little, his eyes and teeth returning to normal as he looks around.

Henry: I got to go home. I need to go. Take me home.

Vicki helps Henry to his feet and puts her arm around him, leading him away from the scene.

 

Act Three

Vicki helps a still injured Henry back to his penthouse and past who looks up at them in alarm.

Greg: Mr. Fitzroy?

Vicki waves Greg off and Henry just looks back as Vicki helps him into the elevator. Once in the penthouse Vicki helps Henry to bed and looks at him worriedly as he continues to growl and move about painfully. He struggles to breathe as Vicki watches, helpless.

Vicki: Come on…

As the night wears on Henry falls into a painful sleep. With dawn’s approach, he comes to and begins to thrash about in pain again. This wakes Vicki who has been dozing next to him.

Vicki: Henry… Henry! Are you ok? What… what?

Henry wheezes one last time and slips into the deep sleep of daylight. Vicki checks for breath and a pulse but then just looks at him worriedly, not sure what to do next.

Mike and Dave have arrived at the crime scene and are questioning the surviving skateboarder.

Skateboarder: So we’re skatin’ nation on that right? Bust some sweet backside air. And we’re thrashed. I mean stoked but thrashed. So then we come walking back through the park. All of a sudden, Bam! This thing jumps on my buddy, Chad, and then hits my head busting a south shore birthday.

Mike: What the hell did you just say?

Dave: Man… English!

Skateboarder: Dude, look, I don’t know who this guy was all right? He was just scary and strong. I mean, check it. This is seven ply maple hard wood. He sliced through it like it was cheese.

Mike: And then he just… let you go?

Skateboarder: Nah, that’s when the other dude came.

Dave: Oh, yeah, another guy with like, uh, big teeth and leather wings.

Skateboarder: No, no, he was just this dude. He went all like Bruce Lee on this thing, man. I mean you should have seen it, like faster than you could see. Brother and the chick? Oh.

Mike: Wait a minute… don’t tell me. Glasses, blonde, good-looking.

Skateboarder: Oh yeah hot! Yeah, the first guy laid the smack-down on her too.

Mike: W-Wait a second. Is she all right?

Skateboarder: I don’t know man. First chance I saw … pfft, I was out of there.

Mike: All right I’ll tell you what. Make sure that this officer has your information and we’ll be in touch with you soon, all right?

Skateboarder: My buddy, Chad, is he…

Mike: We’re going to be in touch with you, thank you.

Mike and Dave walk a bit away as the skateboarder talks to a nearby officer.

Dave: Best bet at finding this guy and the poor guy’s a space case.

At the penthouse, Greg is watching the news and fashioning a stake as he remembers how Henry looked when he came home.

Newscaster: Another murder last evening by Metro’s Vampire Killer brings the death toll to five. Now few details are available at this time but sources suggest that, although he did escape, the killer may have been injured in the encounter. Keep it here on your local news for complete coverage of this developing story and we’ll continue to bring you…

Back at the crime scene Mike is again trying to get hold of Vicki.

Mike: Vicki, it’s me. I’ve left messages at your office, your home and your cell. Call me as soon as you get this.

In the building lobby Greg has finished sharpening his stake. He looks at it for a moment and then grabs a croquet mallet and gets up, knowing what he has to do.

As the afternoon wears on, Henry still sleeps deeply as Vicki watches. The deep wounds on his chest have healed to surface scratches and Vicki traces them before stroking a hand down his cool cheek. She hears Greg’s knock at the door.

Greg: Mr. Fitzroy?

She thinks for a moment and then gets up and goes to the door, looking through it to see Greg on the other side.

Vicki: Oh, crap.

Greg, meanwhile, decides to get out his keys but before he can open the door, stake and mallet in hand, Vicki opens it for him having taken off her blouse and donning one of Henry’s robes.

Vicki: Hi.

A shocked Greg tries to cover, lowering the mallet and stake and smiling.

Greg: Oh, hi.

Vicki: Can I help you?

Greg: Umm… I was… just… just… I was just checking in. I was worried about Mr. Fitzroy.

Vicki: Oh, that’s so sweet of you. Henry’s… umm… Henry’s fine. Hey babe, it’s just the doorman. (lowered voice) Henry’s a little bit, tied up, right now.

Greg: Oh, yeah. Oh, I’m sorry… I… uh uh absolutely. I… I-I didn’t want to disturb anything… anyone!

Vicki: It’s ok.

Greg: Sure.

Vicki: But, um, you have yourself a good night all right?

Greg: Thank you. You too.

Vicki: Thanks.

Greg: okay.

Vicki: bye.

Vicki closes the door on Greg and breathes a sigh of relief. On the other side Greg, disgusted with himself, takes his stake and mallet and makes his way back downstairs.

Greg: What am I, an idiot?

Vicki returns to Henry’s bedside, shedding the robe and putting her blouse back on as Henry wakes. She turns, catching sight of him as he watches her dress.

Vicki: How long have you been awake?

Henry: Long enough.

Vicki: Yeah, well, get dressed. We’ve got a lot of work to do.

Henry: You’re beautiful.

Vicki: (Rolls her eyes) Chop, chop mister.

Vicki and Henry go to the University and are standing outside as they wait for Professor Sagara.

Vicki: So I guess it shouldn’t really be a surprise that a professor of the occult works late.

Henry: She’s a bit of a nighthawk herself. I’ve consulted for her on various matters over the years.

Vicki: Hmm. Does she know… what you are?

Henry: She’s been a good friend.

Sagara: Henry. We’ve missed you. So this is your new friend.

Vicki: Hi, Vicki Nelson. Private Investigator.

Henry: We’re working together on something. Sorry to keep you late but we need some information about a student.

Sagara: Anything, Henry. You know that.

Henry: We believe a student at the university might have taken an interest in demonology.

Sagara: Ahh, a more than academic interest. (chuckles) Every year there’s a few. They play one too many games of Dungeons and Dragons and then they start looking into places they have no business.

Vicki: Hmm. Can you get us names? Uh, current students? Anyone, perhaps, from previous years?

Sagara: If you give me an hour I could fax you seven or eight names you might want to check out.

Vicki: All right, here’s my card, fax number.

Sagara: Henry, I hope nobody’s gotten into trouble because of this stuff.

Vicki walks a little away from them as her cell phone rings and she answers Mike’s call.

Vicki: Vicki Nelson.

Mike: Vick, it’s me.

Vicki: Hey Mike. How’s it going?

Mike: I’ve got a body at the skate park.

Vicki: Skate park? (blows out a breath) Yeah, no I have no idea.

Mike: This kid says you were there. You want to come in for a line up?

Henry approaches, having said goodnight to Dr. Sagara. He watches as Vicki tries to get Mike to back off.

Vicki: Oh, well, that sounds like a … like a really good time but um… I’m, I’m kind of busy tonight.

The camera switches to show Mike, concerned and frustrated at the station. Then it switches back and forth between the two scenes as Mike and Vicki continue their fight by phone. Henry watches quietly but intently.

Mike: Oh, come on Vicki, talk to me. Tell me what the hell is going on. Let me help you.

Vicki: Listen, I’m getting a list of names that I have to run and uh… I think one of them might be our killer.

Mike: All right, don’t tell me. One of them’s a Vampire.

Vicki: Uh… it’s actually worse than that.

Mike: Oh… Vicki.

Vicki: Mike, listen. I don’t expect you to believe me but you asked me to keep you in the loop on this and that’s what I’m doing. All right? I’m not going crazy. (Vicki looks at Henry for a moment) At least I don’t think I am.

Mike: (In his office, not looking remotely happy) All right. Fax it over and I’ll see what I can do.

Vicki: Okay. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Mike: Yeah.

Vicki and Mike hang up, both upset.

Henry: This cop, Mike. There’s a story there.

Vicki: A long and twisted one.

Henry: You still care about him?

Vicki: Professional curiosity as a writer?

Henry: You could say that.

Vicki: (shrugs) I don’t know what’s between me and him anymore.

Henry: Speaking professionally? That’s pretty common.

They look at each other for a moment before Henry takes out his pocket watch and checks it.

Henry: I’ve got to go. If you find our man before tomorrow night don’t try to take him yourself. Wait for me.

Vicki: And what should I tell him. Just to… stop killing for a little while?

Henry: Bravery is a powerfully attractive trait in a woman. Stupidity is not. I’ll call you.

During the afternoon, Vicki gets a phone call from Mike about the list she faxed over.

Vicki: Travis McDonald. 30 Edith St. Got it. Okay, you know what? As you go through the list be on the lookout for anyone with a fancy red Porsche okay? (She listens for a moment) … do anything stupid. Mike! Come on. You know me better than that. (pause) All right, I’ll talk to you. Bye.

At the University Coreen is walking on campus but is stopped by Norman as he hops out of his car.

Norman: Hi. You’re uh… Coreen right? Yeah I’m uh… Norman. From the uh… the pub. Big tipper? Remember?

Coreen: Yeah.

Norman: Yeah.

Coreen: Hey, what’s up?

Norman: Well I heard you talking to those people the other day. About how you were looking for that Vampire?

Coreen: You know what? I don’t need anybody else to make fun of me right now.

Norman: No no no, I don’t want to make fun of you. No no no, I believe you. There are supernatural forces at play here.

Coreen: You’re serious?

Norman: MmHmm. I can prove it to you. Hey, you’re the only person who will believe me Coreen.

Coreen: You know who killed him?

Norman: Yeah.

Coreen: What proof do you have?

Norman: I’ll answer all your questions but uh, I can’t do it here. All the proof is back at my place. Come on, let’s go.

Coreen watches as he gets into his car, hesitant about coming along. She gets out her phone.

Norman: Hey that’s cool. You don’t want to come, that’s fine. You know, I called the police; they didn’t want to listen… I thought you’d understand.

Coreen: No, it’s… all right. Just… give me a minute okay?

Norman: Sure.

Coreen walks around to the passenger side of the car as she makes a call to Vicki.

Vicki’s Voice: This is Vicki, beep’s coming. Leave a message.

Coreen: Vicki. It’s Coreen. I met this guy named Norman. He says he knows about Ian’s murder and the vampire. I’m going to his place. I’ll call you if I get anything.

As she talks, Norman watches her, putting the top up on the Porsche. She gets in alongside side him, still plenty nervous.

Norman: You all set? You know, Coreen, I’ve waited for somebody like you for a long time. Somebody who I could really talk to. Somebody who cared about the same things I do. Like vintage computers, medieval fairs…

Coreen: You know what Norman? Can we make this quick? I mean, I have to meet somebody.

Coreen screams as Norman places a cloth over her face, drugging her into unconsciousness.

Norman: Don’t worry. I’m the only friend you’re ever going to need Coreen.

Dave and Mike are investigating the list Vicki faxed over.

Mike: Thank you.

Dave: So these are the candidates for our serial killer? Half these kids haven’t left their bedroom this month.

Mike: Somebody on that list is our guy Dave.

Dave: Mike, that last guy’s mom still cuts his crusts off.

Mike: And I know Vicki. If somebody on that list isn’t our guy then he’s a witness. So who’s next?

Back at Norman’s loft, Coreen is awake once again but this time tied to a chair in the room where Norman calls his demons. He puts his arms around her from behind.

Norman: Nobody believed me. But that’s all changing now, isn’t it? And soon, you’re going to see for yourself.

Coreen: See what?

Norman: A demon. But not just a demon. This time, I’m going to call a Demon Lord.

Coreen: What are you going to do?

Norman: Well, it’s a ritual. You know how it is, you, uh, call up a demon. Something’s going to die, right?

Coreen is crying and looks away.

Norman: Aw, no, no, no, no. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, you know, not you. Not you. Well, you know, some of those people had to die. They had it coming. But when I chose your boyfriend, what was his name?

Coreen: (looking back at him, shocked) Ian!

Norman: Yeah, whatever.

Coreen: You killed Ian?

Norman: Well, I did it so we could be together. I did! I did it so we could be together. And when I call that Demon Lord and he serves me? You’re going to be my Queen.

Norman kisses Coreen on the cheek and she pulls away as he gets up, going back over to his altar. Undoing his bandages, he cuts his hand and lets the blood drip.

Norman: All right. You ready? Let’s get this show on the road.

Vicki’s in a cab, running down names as she checks her messages, listening to Coreen’s.

Coreen’s Voice: Vicki. It’s Coreen. I met this guy named Norman. He says he knows about Ian’s murder and the vampire. I’m going to his place. I’ll call you if I get anything.

Vicki quickly checks her list and hangs up her phone, immediately dialing another numbers.

Vicki: What? Oh shoot! Henry it’s me. I’ve got our guy. His name is Norman Bridewell. 52 Lunnigan Ave. I’m on my way. Get there as soon as you wake up.

Hanging up, she shoots the driver a look and gathers her things together.

Vicki: 52 Lunnigan.

Arriving at Norman’s Vicki walks in cautiously, her baton at the ready. Looking in to the room she sees Coreen, tied up and gagged. Immediately she goes to her as Coreen shakes her head and screams.

Vicki: Don’t worry; I’m going to get you out of here.

Norman, meanwhile, steps out of his hiding place and sneaks up on Vicki, whacking her in the back of the head and knocking her out. Norman looks at Coreen and grins.

Norman: I think we found our final sacrifice.

 

Act Four

At his penthouse Henry paces as he checks his message from Vicki.

Vicki’s Voice: Henry it’s me. I’ve got our guy. His name is Norman Bridewell. 52 Lunnigan Ave. I’m on my way. Get there as soon as you wake up.

Hanging up the phone he grabs the grimoire and hurries out of the penthouse. At Norman’s loft Vicki is tied up on the floor, Norman chanting in Latin as he paints a symbol on each of her wrists.

Norman: See, I need another life to bring the Demon Lord. I was going to order a pizza delivery guy but uh… you’re so much better. You know, she’s like part of the family.

Vicki: Yeah, well next time leave me off the list for the reunion.

Norman leans down close to Vicki and growls the calling incantation at her, throwing his blood into the center of the pentagram and the demon he’s been calling appears.

Norman: Took you long enough to get here.

Demon: Sorry

Norman: See? You couldn’t even find a proper sacrifice so uh... I had to find my own.

Demon: (leaning down he looks at Vicki) Lord Astaroth will be pleased.

Vicki: Don’t listen to him. He’s using you. He’s trying to mess with your head.

Norman: What are you talking about? You don’t even know him. For all you know, he’s a nice guy. Look at him, right?

Norman leans a little closer to the demon.

Norman: All right, so tell me. What do I got to say to get him here?

The Demon whispers the incantation to Norman and he repeats it.

Norman: Mihi ut Ego may proficio meus votum terminus!

Vicki screams as the symbols on her arms light up and burn into her skin.

Demon: He’s here…

In the center of the pentagram the demon disappears and the room begins to shake and fall dark. Astaroth appears before them, lifting his hood.

Astaroth: Finally.

Norman: Finally is right. I’ve been waiting a long time.

Astaroth: You were the one who called me?

Norman: Yes

Astaroth: Quickly perform the sacrifice so I can fully enter this plane and then you will have what you wish.

Norman: That’s what I’m talking about man!

Vicki: Norman! Norman, he’s lying! He’s not going to give you anything! He’s going to kill you. He’s going to kill all of us!

Norman: Shut up! Does this happen much in sacrifices because I think she could be a little bit more co-operative.

Norman goes for the kill as Coreen watches, horrified and Vicki continues to struggle. Henry rushes into the room surprising everyone. Putting his hand out to Astaroth he chants from the grimoire.

Henry: Nullus evoco manus infeernum. Ego expello vos ut unde vos venit.

Astaroth reaches out for the grimoire, pulling it and Henry towards him trying to stop the chant before it can be completed. Norman and Coreen look on, horrified as Henry and Astaroth fight for the grimoire.

Henry: In i universitas. Ego expello vos. Tergum ut abyssus.

Astaroth: (Weakening) No! Kill her!

Norman hesitates for a moment then raises the knife again, Coreen fighting off the gag and trying to get free.

Henry: Eictio nunc!

Vicki fights free of the ropes around her ankles and uses her foot to try to scrape away the chalk and break the pentagram. She gets to her feet as Astaroth screams.

Astaroth: No!

As Astaroth weakens and begins to disappear he reaches out, snatching up Norman to take with him.

Norman: Aw, crap. Ahhh!

Mike runs up the stairs, gun drawn, as Astaroth looks at Henry.

Astaroth: Eternity is long. I will be back for you.

Everyone watches Astaroth disappear. Vicki and Coreen are trying to catch their breath as Mike just looks on for a moment confused before helping to untie Coreen. Vicki walks over to Henry and he undoes the ropes on her wrist.

Coreen: My hands.

Henry and Mike size each other up for a moment from across the room as Vicki stands next to Henry, rubbing at the symbols burned into her wrists.

Vicki: It won’t come off.

Henry: We can’t worry about that now. You’re ok, let’s get out of here.

Mike: Vicki what the hell did I just see?

Vicki: It’s a really long story. But I’m sure glad I’m not the one writing the report.

Coreen just walks around trying to get her bearings and Vicki approaches Mike as Henry grabs the grimoire. Henry and Mike stare each other down for a long moment and then Henry leaves.

In the light of day Coreen comes to see Vicki as Vicki unpacks in her office.

Coreen: Vicki I can’t thank you enough. Not just for finding Ian’s killer but for proving to me there really are vampires.

Vicki: (blasé) Uh, who said there really are vampires?

Coreen: Henry. I saw him, remember? The eyes, the teeth, all the rest?

Vicki: Well I think it would be better for all concerned if you just… never mentioned that ever again.

Coreen: I agree. Nobody would believe me. But now that I know I will be a great assistant for you.

Vicki: What?

Coreen: (holding up the help wanted sign) Look, I haven’t been to class in two months so school’s not an issue. I can help you. Plus, it’ll help keep me quiet about what I’ve seen.

Vicki: (laughs and thinks about it for a minute) $500 a week. No benefits unless you count bad coffee.

Coreen: Thank you!

Vicki: Oh!

Coreen gives Vicki a big hug before stepping back.

Coreen: Thank you.

Vicki: Don’t ever do that again.

Coreen backs off and begins to help Vicki unpack.

Night time, Vicki mills about outside what appears to be the University as Henry appears behind her.

Vicki: Hey.

Henry: I wanted to thank you for your help, Vicki. You’re a great detective.

Vicki: Thanks. Though it was uh… it was weird working with you. But I enjoyed it.

Henry: Good. This won’t be the end for us.

Vicki: No?

Henry: You gave me your blood. You’re part of me now.

Vicki: You know, feel free to call me if you need to hunt down any demons, or anything.

Henry: Vicki, speaking of demons…

Vicki: Ah, yeah, these right?

Vicki shows him her bandaged wrists and Henry takes both her wrists in his hands, rubbing the bandages lightly.

Henry: I don’t know what they mean… if they mean anything at all.

Vicki: But you’re worried. That I may have just agreed to go steady with a demon.

Henry: All I know is that Astaroth is an enemy of both of us now.

Vicki: Then I guess we’d better stay in touch.

Mike calls out to Vicki as he approaches and she turns towards him. Then she turns back towards Henry to warn him but he’s already disappeared.

Mike: Vicki

Vicki: You’d better…

Mike: (laughing) Talking to yourself again?

Vicki: You know me.

Mike: Ahh.

Vicki: I was just, enjoying the night air.

Mike: Hmm, you’re shivering. It’s not that cold.

Vicki: Hmm, maybe it’s not the cold.

Mike: Ooh, well, come on.

Mike puts his arm around her to lead her away. Vicki shrugs it off. As they walk away Henry has returned to watch them.

Vicki: What’s with the arm?

Mike: Uh, sorry, it’s just me.

Their conversation fades away as Henry continues to watch.

End Blood Price

== BLOOD TIES ==
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