`LAST KNIGHT' aired May 13,1996 Directed by: Geriant Wyn Davies Written By; Michael Sadowski Production Design: Jacques Bradette Story Editor: Michael Sadowski Director of Photography: Bert Dunk A.S.C. C.S.C. Music by: Fred Mollin beginning prolog: opening scene as Lacoix speaks: "Life is a gift As sweet as a ripped peach" scene changes to Dr. Lora Hines filling a bath tub "As precious as a guilded jewel. I have never been able to understand the logic Of willfully surrendering such a treasure." scene changes to Lacoix "And what is there to gain? How dark can your existence be, When compared to an eternal void. Unless, of course, you have faith that there is something beyond. What do you see from where you stand? A bright light at the end of the tunnel? Is it a ray of hope? A glimmer of something better. Or will it burn you like the rising sun? Is that sound you're hearing the trumpeting of St. Peter's angels?" scene is changing back and forth from Hines as she prepares the tub to take her own life to Lacoix "Or the screams of men's low tortured souls? You can't answer that. Can you? Because you will never know the answer, till the deed is done. And is your faith, really that strong. I understand the need to move on. It is something that happens. And your time has truly come." Hines sets herself into the tub "I also understand that with the beauty of this life There comes pain and despair. No one is immune. But consider what is in your hands Don't trade a treasure for an empty box." Hines raises a knife while in the tub; cuts her wrists and falls into unconsciousness. End of prolog ACT ONE, SCENE ONE Tracy and Nick investigating the crime scene. Tracy: "Psychiatrist. I'm guessing nobody saw this coming." Nick: "Not even one of her closest friends. I guess you never really know your friends. Do you?" Tracy: "No, I guess not." Nick: "Tracy. Would you do me a favor? Finish up here. I want to get Nat out of here." Tracy: "Okay. Nick walks over to Nat and bends over to her Nick: "Come on, let's go." Nick and Nat leave Tracy: "Phheeww." with a sigh SCENE TWO Nat reads Lora Hines note to her to Nick Nat: "Do as I've asked, not as I've done. Don't let yourself become empty." "The first time I've lost someone to suicide. The first time I've had a suicide note addressed to me. A night of firsts. You . know, I think Dr. Lora Hines in there, was right on the money when she pegged me as a kindred spirit." Nick: "Nat. She took her own life. She must have had some pretty big problems." Nat: "You think so? You know Nick, I use to think suicide was a pretty big sacrilege. But I'm not so sure anymore." Nick: " Nat. Don't talk like that." Nat; " Why not? You've considered it yourself." Nick's thoughts flashback to his loft the day Nat was waiting there for him. Nat: "Playing it alittle close, aren't you?" Nick: "With seconds to spare." Nat: " Um..So we're feeling alittle self destructive." Nick...will you talk to me. It's like your living in a shell." Nick: "Alright... [pause] I've lost an old friend the other day." Nat: "How old?" Nick: "Two to three hundred years." Nat: "Old friend takes on a whole new meaning with you." Nick: "Yeah!" Nat: "Oh!...[looking at a doll] it's beautiful." Nick: "It was her's." "Erica loved life more than anyone I've ever known. She had this theory...When you stop contributing to life...When you become a burden. It's time to move on." Nat: "Suicide is never the answer." Nick: "Isn't it?" SCENE THREE The scene switches to Nat's lab. Nick is talking to Nat by the autopsy table. Nick: "Nat, maybe you shouldn't do the workup on this case." Nat: "You know, Lora never reached out in life to me for help. I owe her this much. To see that everything is properly done, now that she's gone. But you know what I can't handle? I think I know why she's done it and that scares me to death." SCENE FOUR The scene changes to Capt. Reese talking to Tracy at the precinct. Reese: "How's Nat holding up?" Tracy: "Not well. I think a suicide note addressed to her was a pretty mean thing to do. Nick's staying with her. Anyway, there's no suggestion of foul play and everyone seems satisfied that Lora Hines is a suicide, so..." Reese: " So" Tracy: "So, I was thinking of writing it up as such and knocking off early for the night. Captain, I feel something coming on." Reese: "Alright. The flu is going around. Tell you what. Go home, get some rest." A commotion in the back of the room interrupts their conversation. Reese turns to see. Reese: "What the hell?" Dawkins: "I'm not going back there. You can't take me back there. I'm not goin`" Reese: "What's this man's problem, officer?" Officer: "Transfer, Captain. Dawkins. We're holding him for pick-up." Reese: "Dawkins, I want you to wait here quietly with these officers." Dawkins: "I'm not going back." Reese: "Settle down or I'll have you cuffed and shackled. Do you understand me?" SCENE FIVE Scene returns to Nick and Nat in the corner's room. Nick: "Strange, isn't it? How something so personal becomes just another piece of evidence?" Nat: "Not for me. When she and I would get together some years ago. We'd talk for hours. About our careers, professional gossip. We slowly came to realize that we never really talked about ourselves. And you know why? There was nothing to tell. Our personal lives were non-existent. That was a bet of a depressing discovery. And we sought of lost touch after that. Her leaving me the note and her journal. She meant me to learn from her mistakes. It's my wake-up call, Nick. Time to get a life." Nick: "You've got me. It's not empty." Nat: "Not now. Six years ago. April 14." Nick: "What's that?" Nat: "The day they brought you in." SCENE SIX Natalie reflects back to that day in her office and the body bag that lay on the table. Nat: "Who is it and what happened?" Attendant: "They couldn't find any ID. People who saw him before the explosion said that..." Nat: "Explosion?" Attendant: "He tried to stop a gang robbery. Someone tossed him a pipe bomb for his trouble. He's a real mess. At least there's not much of a face to look at." Nat unzips the bag to expose Nick's face. Nat: "This isn't so bad. It's not so bad at all." Nat's phone rings. As she turns to answer, Nick's face begins to heal. Nat: "This guy looks like he barely cut himself shaving this morning." Nick's eyes flick open. Nat: startled "Oh....what the h...!!!" she drops the phone at the sight of Nick's eyes and fangs, as he sits up. Nat: "You, you were dead a minute ago." "What are you?" Nick: "You don't need to know" as he jumps off the table, and drinks from the blood bag Nick: "Something very different from you." the scene changes back to the lab. Nat: " My life changed that day. I don't want to end up like Lora , Nick." Nick: "I won't let you" Nat: "Well, then it's simple. You just have to love me as much as I love you." END OF ACT ONE ACT TWO, SCENE ONE Lacoix speaks. "Love,....it warps our senses. Twists our souls. Can take us past hope, past cure, past help. I know about love. It's anguish, it's pain. Heaven makes means to kill our joy, with love. And yet we must have it at any cost. But are you so inanimate That you will overlook your love of life? And you do love it. I've seen you smell the sea. Gaze at the stars at night. Be willing to sacrifice one mistress for another. Look into your heart Tell me you are willing to make the choice." SCENE TWO The scene opens with Nick and Nat talking. Nick: "I can't. You know I can't" Nat: "I've been wrong about allot of things in my life. But I'm not wrong about this. But what I feel for you, I'm asking for an end. For a resolution. I'm not willing to go on like this. We CAN be together." Nick: "I can't damned you into becoming what I am." Nat: "There is a way. I have faith in you, and whatever follows." {she sighs} SCENE THREE Nick thinks back to his wedding night with Alyssa. As Nick kisses her on the forehead, Lacoix enters in the background as to not have Nick notice him. Nick: "Alyssa,....Alyssa. It's time to wake up. Alyssa?" Lacoix: "Something wrong, Nicholas? Your love nest reaks of death. Oh well. Never mind. It's a subtle art but practice will make perfect. It was your first attempt, after all." Nick: "Lacoix, help me. Please?" Lacoix: "I can't Nicholas. I told you... DON'T......TAKE.....TOO....MUCH." Nick's thoughts return back to Nat at the office. Nick: "Natalie, it's just to much to ask." SCENE FOUR Scene returns to the precinct room. Dawkins breaks away from the officers' hold, grabs a gun and hostage. Tracy hide behind a column. Resse: "Everybody...hold up. Hold you're fire." Dawkins: "I'll kill her if you make me go back. I'll kill her. I'll kill her. Clerk: "Don't shoot. Please, don't shoot." Dawkins and his hostage move out of the room. Shots are heard. Resse: "You two. [he points to some officers near by]with me." Tracy goes of stage left. Reese follows Dawkins and his hostage. Hostage: "Please, don't hurt me. Please." Officer intercepts them in the hall. Dawkins pushes the hostage to him and yells: Dawkins: "I'M NOT GOING BACK.' {he flees the area.} Reese: [as he peruses him] "Stay with him. Let's go." Dawkins then cuts off the electric breakers. Reese: "What the hell?? {as the lights go out] He's gotta be in there somewhere." SCENE FIVE Scene returns to Nick and Natalie. Nick's cell phone rings and as he answers. Nick: "Knight." "I'm on my way." "There's a situation at the precinct. A guy with a gun. Nat,..I ..." Nat: "It's alright. We'll talk later." Nick leaves to go to help the Captain at the precinct. We then see Dawkins in the hallway Dawkins: "Kill me now. I'm not going back." {Dawkins is panicked and hurling the gun around} "I'm not going back. I can't go back." Tracy is quietly edging down the hall towards Dawkins, holding her gun in readiness. Dawkins: " Kill me now." Reese: {in the main room of the precinct] "Okay..man all the exits. Let's see if we can get a negotiator in here. And I want a swat team, just in case." Nick has arrived at the scene. He approaches Capt. Reese. Nick: "Where is he?" Reese: " He took a weapon off an officer. I guess he's hold up in the locker room. I'm goina let him make the first move." Nick: "Who is he?" Reese: " Dilbert Dawkins. He's a transfer. We're booking through." Nick: "I know him. I've arrested him." Dawkins: "I'm not going back there. I'm not going back." Nick: "Dawkins? Dawkins, it's okay. It's me..Detective Knight." Nick draws his gun. Tracy is hiding in the background. Nick and Resse are unaware of her presence. Dawkins: "Knight? You'd better tell them to get a big body bag. Cause that's the only way I'm goin' outa' here." Tracys cautiously moves behind a locker. Nick: "Dawkins. Listen to me. You really don't want to die. And I don't want you to hurt anyone. You wouldn't want to be responsible for that. Now would you?" Dawkins: "I'm tellin' you" Tracy slowly moves in alittle closer. Dawkins: "I'm not goin' back." {he puts the gun to his head] Nick: "Dawkins...Listen to me..[Nick stares at Dawkins. Heartbeats] "PUT..THE.. GUN..DOWN AT THE FLOOR.' {Dawkins stares, heartbeats continue] Nick: "Kneel down...and lay the gun very gently on the floor." {heartbeats continue, and Dawkins begins to react. SUDDENLY, Dawkins see Tracy in the backround and turns to Tracy yelling.... Dawkins: "NNNNNoooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!" He aims at Tracy, shoots. Nick ducks and turns into the Vampire. Tracy sees this and is startled by his new appearance. The gun goes off. Nick attacks Dawkins. Shots fired again. Tracy falls back against the wall. Nick grabs Dawkins as Tracy slumps and falls to the floor. Nick sees the blood trail on the wall behind from Tracy's wounds as she falls. Nick: "TRACY.......TRACY...' [as Nick rushes to her} "We need some help here." {he shouts] Tracy: "You could have trusted me." As she drops her head on to Nick's shoulder and then he sees her blood all over his right hand. END OF ACT TWO ACT THREE, SCENE ONE Lacoix in Nick's loft. "Haven't you tired of this incessant guilt? Hasn't it swayed you back? And stooped your shoulder to the point of throwing it off? You insist on taking responsibility for the actions and emotions of those around you. When they alone are truly responsible. It is so foolish, It is so unnecessary. It `s so mortal. And it must stop. This, and all else that has happen tonight Should make it clear to you." SCENE TWO At the hospital, the doctor is over seeing Tracy's condition. Doctor: "Pupils fixed and dilated. No response. BP is 80 over 60. Let's get her out of here. Tell ER I gave her 100mg of Liadcane at 23:45." The medical team rushes Tracy into the ER. SCENE THREE Nick and Capt Reese at the precinct's main office room. Reese: "Nick. Are you sure your okay?" Nick: "Captain...I didn't know." Reese: "Nick..she made her own call on this one. You can't go tellin' yourself it was your fault. Get that outa' your head, right now." EMS; " She took two bullets. Abdominal and there's a really bad head wound. I just can't say for sure right now." Captain Reese leaves Nick alone. SCENE FOUR Nick is posed at Tracy's bedside in the hospital. Capt. Reese comes in to the room. They stand at her bed. Reese: "They've done everything humanly possible. Now we just wait and see." "The civilian review board wants to talk to you. I've managed to put them off till morning. Dawkins didn't make it. Your gonna' take some heat on this one, Nick. It could get pretty rough." Nick: "I know. I'm okay." "She still has a fighting chance?" Reese: "Yeah. she does. Yeah. But..look. If she doesn't pull through. I'm just saying. I know what it's like to loose a partner." SCENE FIVE Nick thinks back to the night of the plane crash when Schanke and Cohen were on their way to the convention. The plane explodes and both are lost. {Black Budda, Season three. Show number 301 and 302} Tracy: [in Nick's car on patrol} "Oh..my God.!!" Nick: "Call it in." SCENE SIX Returning to the hospital scene. Reese: "Nothing on earth can ripe you apart like that. Hell. Nick, you know that. You lost Schanke. Nick: "Schanke" [as he remembers walking through the wreckage of the plane and sees Shanke's police ID} Reese: "There is life after this, when you get through. Remember that. I'm here if you need help. I gotta' go. " Resse leaves as Nick's attention returns to Tracy and recalling the crash scene that took Schanke and Cohen. SCENE SEVEN Nick: "I could have gone instead." Nat: "You know that's not true." Nick: "If I hadn't called him. If he hadn't gone away." Nat: "Nick... You can't blame yourself. You can't." SCENE EIGHT At Tracy's bedside, Nick leans over her and the Vampire heartbeats, fangs extend as Nat suddenly walks in... Nat: "NICK' [Nat shouts. Nicks turns towards her] Nick: "If she dies. It's my fault." Nat: "How do you know that's what she wants? And why is it so easy to consider bring her across and so impossible to consider bringing me?" Nick gets up and leaves the hospital room. SCENE NINE The scene reveals Nick entering the Raven as he sees Lacoix packing. Nick notices the bust of Lacoix . Lacoix: "Good evening, Nicholas." [as he packs] Nick: "Are you leaving?" Lacoix: "It's time. For both of us. We have come full circle to this life." Nick: "Lacoix. I'm in trouble." Lacoix; " Your partner? Is she?" Nick shakes his head `no' Nick: "But her chances aren't good." Lacoix: "Nicholas...don't you see. You've overstayed your welcome. The pain that you are causing your mortal friends is no longer acceptable to them. Those that do survive, will not allow their relationship with you to continue in the way that it was. They will demand change. And you will be compromised. One way or another." Nick: "Even if I wanted to leave, I couldn't. Too many loose ends to tie up." Lacoix: "I've seen you leave looser." Nick: "I just can't walk away. Natalie needs me. I have to be there for Tracy." Lacoix: "Nicholas...the time has come. I will be at your loft for your decision. Then I'm leaving. With or without you." Lacoix leaves Nickolas there. END ACT THREE ACT FOUR, SCENE ONE Lacoix at Nick's loft. "For all the things we are, there is a price to be paid. Love maybe tasted, but never savored. In our darkest moments, We may envy mortality, butnever aspire to it. Guilt is a poison And staying past our time is death. But it need not be. If we truly care for a mortal, Truly love one. Then we must go. Isn't that something you taught me?" As Lacoix looks to Nick, he reflects when he loved Nick's sister. SCENE TWO Nick: "If you bring her over, She becomes a killer. Cold blooded. Her purity inhilated." Lacoix: "Would you rather see this beauty weither to old age, and die?" Nick: "It is the beauty of her innocence that you love and that you will kill with the first taste of her blood. If you truly love Flo, Lacoix, you won't destroy that. You will not." Lacoix speaks to Flo softly; Lacoix: "Tis a great irony, is it not? That such a cold heart feels such pain." Lacoix kisses her softly on the forehead. SCENE THREE Back at Nick's loft Lacoix: "Leaving is the purest form of love." Nick reflects back to the beginning of the suicide. As Nat reads from Lora Hines' journal. Nat: "Everyone's pain is my problem, but mine is mine alone. I have solutions for all but none for myself. I have to stop and think, `Where am I? What am I doing? I'm going..I'm gone.'" She closes the journal just as the phone rings. "Lambert." SCENE FOUR Nick is in his car with the police call radio on. He hears... "Unit 211, proceed to 511 Wellington Street...possible..." as he reaches to shut it off. And then tunes in `The Night Crawler" He hears a female voice tell the listeners, "Well, he said it was time to move on." Nick's attention turns to the time he and Nat were in his loft... Nat: "So, you were just going to leave?" Nick: "It's been better that way in the past." Nat: "I had to find out from a desk sargeant. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel? There are people who care about you. Who love and depend on you." SCENE FIVE Nick reflects back to his encounter with Janette in "the Human Factor" Nick; `Did you really intend on never seeing me again? No explanations." Janette: "I thought it was best." Nick: "You were wrong." Janette: "Oh Nichola! I left because of you. Because of your quest for humanity. A vampire's heart must be cold. Immortality makes this so. Death is always around us but we must never allow it to touch us. We must not let the emotion of loss to infect us. Lacoix knew this and I agreed with you." Nick: "But..." Janette: "But, you after 800 years, could no longer live without your humanity. And I began to wonder if you might be right. Eight hundred years is a long time to live with a cold heart." SCENE SIX Nick driving his car, hears the announcer say, "I want to hear from all of you lonely hearts. I know there are allot of you out there. So get on the phone and talk to me." At Nick's loft, Natalie is waiting for him to arrive. When he walks in, she turns to him: Nat: "Tracy Vetter passed away twenty minutes ago." END OF ACT FOUR ACT FIVE, SCENE ONE At the hospital, Tracy's empty bed is removed. And we return to Nick talking to Natalie. Nick: " Lacoix thinks I'm a fool baring this guilt. Trying somehow to atone for what I have done. Maybe he's right. All it's ever done has caused pain and more death." Nat: "It's not true." Nick: "You see, Cohen, Schanke, and how many others through the centuries, of what I am?" Nat: "And how many lives you were able to save because of what you are. You've more than made up for what you've done in the past." Nick: "It's not enough. It's never enough.. I'm leaving tonight." Nat: "Not without me." Nick: "I'm leaving because of you. You don't want my love. It'll only destroy you." Nat: "There is a way. There is one cure we haven't tried. Janette became mortal by making love to Robert. Taking just alittle at a time." Nick: "It was allot more complicated than that, Nat." Nat: "I'm willing to take my chances." Nick: "Well, I'm not. What if I take too much? I'm not willing to live a life of eternal pain." Nat: "Is it any different than living a life of eternal regret? It's partly my choice too, Nick. Does Lacoix ever talk to you about faith?" Nick: "In what?" Nat: "In yourself. In an after life. I don't know. Who loves us no matter what we are or what we do." Nick: "Faith is a mortal folly, Nat." Nat: "His words or yours? Do you really believe that's true?" SCENE TWO Nick recalls his encounter with Joan of Arc Joan: "Nicholas." Nick: "Well, your a very different person from the last time we met. A heroine now." Joan: "A heretic, they say. After all." Nick: "Well, they do have a point. Why would God reveal His plans to a framer's daughter?" Joan: "Why did He send His only Son to us as a carpenter?" Nick: "And so you will die a martyr. I'm sure that would please you very much." Joan: "What would please me very much, is to be in Do Re Mi with my family." Nick: "So you are afraid of dying. Life isn't so everlasting, is it now? I can give it to you. A life that never ends. A power beyond your imagination." He leans to kiss her and she quickly moves away. Joan: "Don't" Nick: "Why throw your life away for the Church. For some pious old men who will lie to you. How can you do that?" Joan: "If giving my life is necessary to keep the Church strong. Then so be it. I will live on in the here after." Nick: "How can you be sure the God you are after will be waiting for you on the other side?" Joan: "Faith. Pure, simple, Faith." Joan exits stage right and we return to Nat at Nick's loft. SCENE THREE Nickolas is continuing his discussion with Natalie. Nick: "I'm not sure." Nat: "I will accept the sum of our existence can be measured in the few short years we are allowed to live here. It would make everything that we believe meaningless. It would make our whole lives meaningless. I know that that's true and so do you. You have faith, Nick. And if that's a mortal folly: then your the most mortal man I've ever known." Nick: "You cannot deny what I am>" Nat: "You cannot deny what's in your heart." Nick: "What are you saying?" Nat: "I have faith. There is a future for us. Here as we are or somewhere else. I believe in you. I trust in you. Make love to me Nick. Take just alittle at a time." Nick: "I'm afraid of what might happen." Nat: "I'm not afraid of death. Or of an eternity in darkness as long as I can spend it with you. All I have is faith and love. All I'm asking is for you to make love to me. I trust you." Nick clasps Nat's hands in his. Nick: "I won't leave you. What ever happens. We'll be together." He kisses her gently. The lips, hands [heartbeats begin, fangs,} and then he penetrates his fangs into Nat's neck. She begins to flash all his lives, feelings, killings and pass out. Nick leans over her as he gently lowers her body to the floor. Lacoix then appears. Lacoix: "Well...all that remains now is to turn out the lights on the way out. Unless, of course, you have decided to add her to our entourage? Oh Nicholas...you have thought this threw? Haven't you?" Nick: "I couldn't stop myself. I've taken too much." Lacoix: "There she lies, at the brink, Nicholas. Her fate is in your hands. Bring her across or let her die. You must decide." Nick: "Lacoix. Is it possible for a vampire to have faith?" Lacoix: "This is a strange question at this moment in time." Nick: "Have you ever had faith? In anything but yourself?" Lacoix: "I've seen too much." Nick: "Well then, maybe I haven't saw enough." Lacoix: "After nearly 800 years, Nicholas, be done with her. Time heals all. We must move on. You cannot deny what you are." Nick gently kisses Natalie. Nick: "I can't condemn her to this darkness." Lacoix: "A wise decision. We even have time for a burial. If you'd like." Nick stands up. Walks across the room and picks up a wood stake. He stands before the window, turns to look at Lacoix. Nick: "She had faith in me. In what's beyond. That we could have a life together. That this would be a beginning, not an end. I have that faith, too." Lacoix: "Don't be foolish, Nicholas. Life is a gift. As sweet as the freshest peach. As precious as the guilded jewel. I have never understood the logic, Of willfully surrendering such a treasure. What is there to gain? How dark can your existence be? When compared to an eternal void. Or do you have faith? That there is something beyond. What do you see from where you are? A bright light at the end of the tunnel? Is it a ray of hope? A glimmer of something better? Or will it burn you like the morning sun? Are the sound you hear , the trumpeting of St. Peter's angels? Or the screams of men's lost tortured souls? You can't answer that. Can you? Because you will never know the answer, Till after the deed is done. And is your faith really that strong?" Lacoix: "And so. In yours eyes, I'm the devil." Nick: "No....Not the devil." Lacoix: "What then?" Nick: "You are {in tears} my closest friend." Nick hands the stake to Lacoix. He then kneels over Nat and takes her hand in his. Lacoix: " Damned you, Nicholas!" AS Lacoix raises the stake over Nicholas, the scene changes to the outside of the loft and the sun rising to bring ................ THE END OF THE LAST KNIGHT