ACT FOUR, SCENE SIX
SETTING: Downstairs, in Nick's apartment. Opella is in the middle of a huge mess and
seems to be searching for something. This is occurring simultaneously with the roof
situation.
OPELLA: (Aloud) I thought you might have left the evidence here while you went off, Natalie. (Ripping clothes off of hangers) I guess I was wrong. (Stopping) Which means I'm going to have to wait for you to get back. Which also means I'm going to be very, very angry when I see you. (Hearing a noise downstairs) Does that mean you're back? (Looking around wildly as he tries to calm himself) I must appear calm. She mustn't suspect anything until just the right time. (Heading downstairs) Natalie? (Pausing) Nick sent me over to check on you. I didn't think you'd be gone when I arrived, so I stayed here just to make sure you were okay.
NICK: (Transformed and leaping towards the other man) Liar!
They fight, moving throughout the apartment. Every time Nick scores a hit, Opella
strikes back. The fight moves closer to the elevator until they are right on it. Nick's back
is pushed against the wall and Opella draws the dirk ready to plunge it. Nick ducks
under the other man's arm as he swings. The knife strikes the panel and sparks fly into
Opella's face, stunning him. Nick takes the advantage and brings him to his knees. Just
as he is about to take his fill, he hears Natalie's scream from the elevator.
NICK: (Racing to the door) Nat! (Trying to punch the buttons) Nat! Can you hear me? (Pushing apart the doors) The controls are jammed. (Listening) It's going to take me a little while to get this working. Try to hold on for a little while longer. (Waiting for a response) Nat?
LACROIX: (Yelling through the elevator floor) I believe she's a little too preoccupied to speak with you at the moment, Nicholai. (Pausing) May I suggest that you get this thing moving as soon as you can?
NICK: (Shocked) LACROIX?
ACT FIVE, SCENE ONE
SETTING: Inside the elevator. Lacroix is pacing the small area as Natalie alternates
between moaning and trying to breath.
LACROIX: (Staring down at her) Must you make all of that racket?
NATALIE: (Irritated) Must you continuously walk around? On top of everything else I'm having to deal with, you're making me dizzy. (Choking back a scream) Oh, God!
LACROIX: (Reluctantly) You know, you'd feel a lot better if you didn't try to fight the pain. It's going to be there so you might as well just go with it.
NATALIE: (Irked) Let me guess. In one of your past aliases, you were the goddess of birth.
LACROIX: (Testily) I was only trying to help. (Looking up) Considering the circumstances you find yourself in, I would think you'd be a bit more grateful. (Eying her) At the least, less shrewish.
NATALIE: (In between the pain) Well, excuse me if I seem a little upset. I never pictured a vampire who hates my very existence to be delivering my children in even my wildest of dreams. (Screaming) Nick!
Back in the apartment, Nick is tying up Opella when he hears Natalie's screams.
NICK: (Running to the shaft) Natalie!
NATALIE: (Yelling back as the pain subsides) It's okay, Nick. (Looking at Lacroix) I know you probably never expected me to say this to you, but, (Pausing) thanks. That really did help. (Suddenly jerking) Omigod! (Panting) What is this?
LACROIX: (Lowering himself to her) The pain's changed, hasn't it?
NATALIE: (Nodding) It's ... like ... it's tearing at ... m...me. (Taking a deep breath and grabbing hold of his arm) Dear God, ... help me!
LACROIX: (Positioning her) I don't think he's listening ...
FLASHBACK
SETTING: The same place as before. A woman's screams can be heard as Lacroix and
Emma talk.
EMMA: (Panicking) Mamma sounds like she is dying. How can this be when you said you would help? (Jumping at another scream) I must go to her!
LACROIX: (Grabbing her) No! You would only succeed in distressing her further. (Reaching for his coat and handing it to her) I want you to go to Mrs. Babbage's and wait for me to call for you.
EMMA: (Unsure) But ...
LACROIX: Go now, Emma!
The girl reluctantly leaves and Lacroix walks back to the room where the screams have
subsided.
CONSTANCE: Ahh, Ilias. I thought you had left amidst the noise.
LACROIX: (Sitting beside her) I would never leave a lady when she needed me most. (Taking her hand) How goes it?
CONSTANCE: (Wincing) My son has decided to give his mother a small rest before he begins his serious work of being born. (Ruefully) I suppose I should be grateful for even the smallest of moments.
LACROIX: (Thinking) Constance, there is something I have wanted to ask you since I first came here.
CONSTANCE: (Sighing) What is that?
LACROIX: What would you say if I told you I could stop yours and Emma's pain and suffering for an eternity?
CONSTANCE: I would ask what bottle-cure you were selling? (Tiredly) Why?
LACROIX: I have a power that could take you and the girl away from this squalor that you have known and place you on the level of the gods. A power that would take you away from the mortal confines of life and love and send you on a path of limitless knowledge and pleasure.
CONSTANCE: (Clasping his hand to her heart) Then I would say, no matter how much I have grown to love you these few weeks, (Sadly) I have no wish to become a Vampyre.
LACROIX: (Jerking away in shock) What?
CONSTANCE: (Looking into his eyes) Did you not think I knew? (Wincing) I saw the hunger in your eyes when you thought I was not aware. I also heard the argument you had with Nicholas. (Taking a sharp breath) At first, I was afraid, but the longer I was with you, the more I knew you would do nothing to hurt us.
LACROIX: But, how were you so sure? I had to fight my urges at every turn not to take the matter out of your hands.
CONSTANCE: (Moaning as she tries to breath) Because..., within that ... hunger, I saw your ... your ....feelings for me. How could I doubt that? (Screaming) I ... do be ... believe ... the small one ... has had his rest. (Gasping and crying) He comes! (Screaming loudly) Dear God, ... help me!
LACROIX: (Helping) I don't think he's listening ...
SETTING: The present. Several officers are in the apartment including Tracy and Reese.
A technician is working on the elevator panel and Nick is pacing.
NICK: Why haven't we heard anything? (Punching the wall) What's going on in there?
REESE: (Putting his hand on Nick's shoulder) Take it easy, Knight. (Looking around) I'm sure with all of the activity that's been going on around here, anything they might have said was probably drowned out.
TRACY: (Moving to his side) Cap's right. (Motioning toward the elevator) I'm sure Nat and your friend are handling things just fine. (Smiling) You're probably worrying over nothing.
NICK: (Shaken) You don't understand. The history ...
TECHNICIAN: We've got it working. It's on it's way down.
Nick and the others move toward the elevator and wait for it to stop at the floor. When
it does stop, Nick takes a deep breath before he pulls the outer door open.
LACROIX: (Rising from the floor with a small bundle in his arms) Ahh, Nicholas. It is about time you were seeing to us. (Handing Nick the bundle) I do believe this is yours. (Motioning towards Natalie who holds a similar bundle) It would seem that you have a complete set awaiting your arrival.
NICK: (Awed as he stares down at the tiny baby) I ... (Moving to the woman) Nat? (Smoothing back her hair) Are you okay? (Kissing her forehead) You had me so worried.
NATALIE: I'm tired; more tired than I have ever been. (Beaming) But, I am so very happy. (Looking at the babies) I couldn't have made it without Lacroix.
TRACY: (Coming into the elevator ) Cap's gone to call for an ambulance and your friend is preparing to leave.
NICK: (Kissing Nat's head again) Will you stay with her for a moment, (Standing) I need to thank someone. (Walking out with the baby held close in his arms) Lacroix, wait!
LACROIX: (Bothered) What is it, Nicholas? Don't you think you've taken up enough of my time?
NICK: (Staring at him) I wanted to say thank you for everything you did for them. Nat said she couldn't have done it without you.
LACROIX: I'll remember that when I send you my bill.
NICK: (Shaking his head) Same old Lacroix, and yet, not the same. (Looking at him) Why? (Pausing) Why didn't you take what was yours when you had the chance?
LACROIX: (Drolly) You have been associating too much with the mortals. Now they have you questioning your good fortune. (Sighing as he turns away) Isn't it enough that I spared them? Why must you question it?
NICK: I don't know. (Pausing) I guess in this day of impossibilities becoming possible, I just needed to know your reasons. (Looking down at the baby) But, the more I think about it, the more I realize that wasn't important. (Smiling) Nat and the children are.
LACROIX: Then shouldn't you be with them? (Motioning him back to the others) Go. (Pausing) Go be with your own brand of immortality. (Watching him leave) And, I will go to mine.
He leaves.
ACT FIVE, SCENE TWO
SETTING: The Police station. A party is going on and it seems to be in full swing. Nick is
in the middle of the festivities.
REESE: (Picking up a present) This one's from the Reese family. (Smirking) If you or Natalie don't like it, blame my wife. She's got this new card from one of those shop at home services and she's been buying things left and right.
NICK: (Laughing) I'm sure we'll love it no matter what it is.
REESE: Well, at least pretend you liked it whenever you see her. It will save me a lot of stress.
NICK: (Understanding) I will. (Seeing Tracy enter) It's about time you showed up.
TRACY: (Out-of-breath) Why? Did I miss anything?
NICK: (Grinning) Just Vice singing off-colour lullabies. (Looking at her) Where've you been?
TRACY: I had to pick up your presents. (Kissing his cheek) It's not my fault that two somebodies I know decided to get married to celebrate the birth of their children. (Shrugging) Being the type of person that I am, I couldn't very well give a baby gift without a wedding one.
NICK: (Shaking his head) Heaven forbid. (Looking around) I wish Nat was here, she'd love this.
TRACY: I don't think she would have been in the party spirit considering the events of the last week. Besides, I'm sure her hands are full trying to rearrange her life to meet the twins' schedules. (Cocking her head) Speaking of the twins, have you guys picked any names for them?
REESE: It's not like there's any hurry. They've only been here for a week.
TRACY: (Ready to discuss) That doesn't matter. I was reading in one of those parenting magazines that even newborns need to have a sense of identity that comes with having a name. (Turning to Nick) You really should get on this to ensure that they begin their lives with strong emotional balances..
NICK: I don't think we'll have a problem with that. (Proudly) Nat and I decided on their names last night. (Pausing) My daughter's name is Alyssa Fleur de Brabant and my son's name is Zachary Don'Ian de Brabant.
REESE: (Surprised) Don'Ian? I've never heard that before.
NICK: We both wanted to honour Schanke, but Natalie refused to even contemplate Donald. So, we compromised and combined his name with her late brother's.
TRACY: But where did the de Brabant come from?
NICK: (Slyly) An old family name, I do believe.
ACT FIVE, SCENE THREE
SETTING: The apartment. It is almost the exact scene as before except now there are
two bassinets near the bed. Natalie is sleeping when a sudden wind hits the room.
Lacroix moves toward the bed, but a movement in one of the bassinets catches his eye.
He walks over to the closest one and just stares as first one baby awakens then the other.
NATALIE: (Moving beside him) They know.
LACROIX: Know what?
NATALIE: (Reaching to caress one baby then the other) Who and what you are. (Smiling at them) They knew when you arrived just like I did. (Pausing) They're not crying.
LACROIX: So? (Seeming bored) Is this some source of parental pride? If it is, I'm not the least bit interested.
NATALIE: Why am I not surprised? (Looking at him) You're very good at pretending none of what happened affected you. But I know better. (Nodding at the babies) And they know it. They know they can trust you; that's why they aren't crying.
LACROIX: (Patronizingly) Oh, so, what does the Witch think she knows?
NATALIE: (Moving back to the bed) The Witch was able to learn a great deal about Ilias "Lucien Lacroix." (Seeing his reaction to the name) Your helping me allowed me to see something that you had hidden very deep within you. (Empathizing) I am aware of what you lost.
LACROIX: I lost nothing! (Calming himself as he turns to her) Your "powers" must be fading without the children's influence.
NATALIE: (Impishly) I thought that would have been the case, (Shaking her head) but, I seem to have kept the little gifts I was endowed with. (Really mischievously) Would you like a demonstration?
LACROIX: (Trying to hide a smile) No. I trust your ... instincts. (Looking around) I noticed your beloved wasn't here. May I enquire as to where he is? I would have thought he wouldn't have left your side considering you gave him one of the things he craved most.
NATALIE: Actually, two of what he wanted. (Laughing) He's at the station. They decided to throw him a wedding reception/ baby shower. (Looking at him) To answer your question, I didn't really feel up to the party scene and I wasn't ready to leave my babies just yet. (Thinking for a minute) What happened to Constance?
LACROIX: (Surprised) How?
NATALIE: I told you. I learned a lot about you during our little adventure. (Patting the spot beside her) So, what happened to her?
LACROIX: (Looking at Nat and sitting down) Not that this is any of your concern, but ...
FLASHBACK
SETTING: The same dingy home, only empty. Lacroix is standing in the middle of the
front room when Nicholas rushes in.
NICK: (Looking around) What have you done? (Grabbing the other man' shirtfront) Where are they, Lacroix?
LACROIX: (Prying Nick's hands loose) Temper, temper, Nicholas. (Looking around) You should be thanking me for what I have done. (Gesturing around) I have taken them away from all of this.
NICK: (Running his hand through his hair) How could you? They were innocents, just people who needed a little help. (Frustrated) I could have helped them if you hadn't hindered my efforts.
LACROIX: Oh, come now, Nicholas. Haven't I helped them? (Wiping a finger across the dirty mantle) They no longer have to live with the muck and mire of this slum. They can do and be anyone and anything they now choose. I have given them a new life.
NICK: (To the house) I'm sorry for what I allowed to happen to you. (To Lacroix) If I were you, I'd stay far away from me for a while. (Leaving)
LACROIX: (Watching him leave) Poor, misguided fool. (Pausing) How can I ever convince you I did what was best for them? (He sits in one of the chairs and pulls a piece of paper out of his pocket) Only what was best. (Reading aloud) My Dearest Love, Ilias, ...
CONSTANCE: (Her voice superimposing over his) My Dearest Love, Ilias, I could not leave without telling you how very grateful I am for what you have done for us. Being what you are and still placing us first has renewed my faith in love. It could have been so easy for you to have done what you wanted when we were so vulnerable, but you sought to create a better place for us within this world. For that, I owe you so much more than my life. I have been blessed to have loved and been loved by two great men. The first gave me my children and the second, you, saved them. You will forever be in my heart and my son will grow with the knowledge of both of his fathers. Love eternally, Constance, Emma, and Ilias.
LACROIX: (His voice superimposing over hers) Love eternally, Constance, Emma, and Ilias. (Closing his eyes and kissing the letter) Go safely, my Love.
PRESENT
NATALIE: (Sighing and looking at him with compassion in her eyes) And Nick never knew?
LACROIX: I didn't want to tell him. (Standing) He had to believe that I was the cold and unfeeling teacher or he wouldn't have learned and he wouldn't have grown.
NATALIE: (Coming up behind him and touching his arm) I think, in both our ways, we were only wanting what was best for him. (Moving to the babies) I'm not saying that I like you or I accept what you do and I'm certainly not saying that I will stop fighting you at every turn. (Pausing) What I am saying ... is ... I won't keep you away from Nick ... or ... (Deeply) or your grandchildren.
LACROIX: (Perplexed) My ... grandchildren?
NATALIE: (Smiling) Besides Nick and I, who else has so many hopes and dreams for these tiny scraps of immortality?
LACROIX: (Walking back to them) I suppose, no one.
NATALIE: So, then it's settled. (Picking up one baby and placing it in Lacroix's arms and holding the other) Alyssa and Zachary have a Grandfather completely up to their as yet unknown talents.
LACROIX: (Looking intently at the little face) Nicholas is truly a lucky man. (Looking at Natalie with a new emotion flaming in his eyes) And I just hope he realizes just how much. (Walking toward the window and whispering to the baby) But, in case he doesn't, (Looking out the window) I will be there for your mother.
THE END!