(seagulls cawing)
(distant foghorn blares)
JACK: I just don't know anymore.
It used to be so simple.
There was good and there was evil.
Now they're blending, mixing together.
You can't tell where one ends and the other begins.
I'm not sure I know the difference anymore.
For me the nightmares began just days ago.
But when did it start for him?
How long did it take him to lose his way?
What shattered everything he knew was right?
What are you thinking?
I'm thinking how much I wish our honeymoon could last forever.
It will.
My love.
(chuckles)
Did I tell you you look beautiful tonight?
Five times.
That many? Mm-hmm.
(chuckling)
But I didn't say it bothered me.
(flapping rustle)
(yelling)
Come.
Come to me.
(whispering): Yes.
Give yourself to me.
(hissing)
(gasps)
(snarls)
Michele.
(flapping rustle)
Michele!
(thunder crashing)
(phonograph powers up)
(slow ragtime jazz playing)
(mechanical creaking)
(chimes tinkling)
(thunder crashes)
JACK: For 20 years he hunted them,
learned their ways, watched their night rituals.
Like me, he learned the enemy,
followed them to their gathering places,
and saw them trap their prey.
Maybe that's what twisted him-- the hunt,
the desire to avenge what had happened
and stop it from ever happening again.
They hunted and he hunted them,
but on this night his obsession would merge with mine,
and I would join the hunt as well.
I've never seen you at the club before.
No, this is the first time I've been here.
I just moved to town last week.
Lucky me.
Where do you want to go?
I know a place close by.
(slow jazz playing distantly)
(siren wailing distantly)
I don't live far from here.
My place is around the corner.
I can't wait that long.
It's your party.
Hey, I, uh...
Come on.
What are you afraid of?
Hey, I admit this is a kick,
but why don't we go back to my place?
I like the night.
Then I guess I do, too.
(winces)
Sorry.
(both breathing heavily)
(hisses)
(screaming)
Die!
(both grunt)
(screams)
(snarls)
(screaming)
(flapping overhead)
(gasps)
(snarling)
(hissing and snarling)
(gasps)
(grunts)
(snarling continues)
(panting)
Hey.
Hey, what are you doing?
I need this. Put it back.
You don't understand.
I understand only too well.
(clicking)
(groans)
(hissing)
(groaning)
(gasps)
Oh, my God.
(snarling)
¶ ¶
PRIEST: Sorry, Mr. Marshak.
I know Father McDermott was a friend of yours.
I just don't understand it.
Why in God's name
would someone kill him over a cross?
Or anything else, for that matter.
Was the cross valuable, Father?
Yes, it was the Cross of Fire.
It was a relic from the Crusades.
He must have known about the knife.
Knife?
Yes, there was a knife built into the blade of the cross.
It was a common practice in the Middle Ages,
a form of protection for traveling monks.
How did a member of your congregation get hold of this?
Mr. Drake? I have no idea.
He died several years ago.
The cross was a donation in memoriam.
Can you describe Father McDermott's killer?
He had a beard, maybe mid-40s,
but he was wild looking.
Desperate. He hung onto that cross
as though his life depended on it.
(door chimes jangle)
Hey, guys, where have you been?
I ordered a pizza, got some cold beer.
I'm not hungry, Johnny.
(sighs)
What's the matter with him?
One of his friends died this morning.
I'm sorry.
Who was it?
Do you know Father McDermott from St. Mark's?
He was stabbed.
What?
He's real upset about it.
You think maybe it was one of our objects?
I don't know.
(distant sirens)
(music playing faintly from club)
Good evening, John.
Only members allowed.
I am a member.
Is that so?
That man that just went in-- he invited me.
Mr. Van Hellier is the owner of this club.
If you were a guest of his, I would have been informed.
Look, it's important. He's a friend of mine.
What's the problem, Johnny?
There's no problem.
Here.
Thanks.
Did you find him?
Drake, Walter G.
What did he buy?
The Cross of Fire.
You should have listened when you had the chance.
(screaming)
(flames crackling)
MAN: What happened?
(hissing)
Hey Mick, take a look at this.
Is that a fresh pot of coffee?
Yeah. Help yourself.
It's about a murder at the Neon Gargoyle last night.
"The doorman had earlier been seen trying
"to reason with a door crasher.
"Police are searching for a bearded man in his 40s
with graying... hair."
That's the same description
as the man who killed Father McDermott.
Check out how he died.
He was burned to death.
Burned? How?
They don't know. There was no trace
of any flammable substance.
MICKI: This says it was
the third murder in the area.
The night before last,
a woman was found stabbed to death
with some kind of a blunt instrument.
Who found the body?
JOHNNY: Evan Van Hellier.
He's the owner of the club.
You know, Father McDermott's church is in that area.
This could be tied in with that cross.
Maybe.
You two see if Father Finn can tell you anything more.
I'll try some questions on Mr. Van Hellier.
"Body was discovered by club owner Evan Van Hellier."
Evan Van Hellier.
(doorbell rings)
(woman singing opera aria)
(clears throat)
Oh. Good morning.
My name is Marshak.
Mr. Van Hellier?
Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Van Hellier isn't in at the moment.
Oh. I was hoping to talk to him.
Uh, could I wait? It is important.
I'm his assistant, Tom Baker.
Anything you have to say to him, you can say to me.
It's about the murder at his nightclub last night.
We've already issued a statement to the press.
I'm not from the press.
I think the killer also murdered a friend of mine, a priest.
So I would appreciate any information
Mr. Van Hellier can give me.
I questioned several patrons.
They provided the description of the killer.
Did any of them mention him carrying something unusual?
He may have been carrying a cross.
A cross?
It's thought that the killer also stole a medieval cross
from St. Mark's.
The Cross of Fire.
I'm sorry.
I've told you all I can.
If either of you do find out anything,
I would appreciate a phone call.
Of course... Mr. Marshak.
Sorry about your friend.
The Cross of Fire.
MICKI: Father Finn says the cross came from a Hungarian church
that bordered Transylvania.
Now, legend says,
it was used to bless a member of the congregation
who then offered himself to save the village from a vampire.
So you see, there's no proof
that the cross was used against vampires.
Its powers were just local superstition.
But one that Lewis could make come true
by selling it through the store.
Did you get to see Van Hellier?
No. No.
Couldn't get past his assistant.
The man's a recluse.
Apparently, no one gets to see him.
Jack, we know that the objects call out to their users.
What makes this one so important to the killer?
Well...
Maybe he's using it to kill vampires.
What makes you say that?
Well, it all fits with other bodies
that have been found near the club.
Among the ways you can kill a vampire are decapitation
or a stake through the heart.
That-That woman that was stabbed
with the blunt instrument.
JACK: So, now he's got
a very powerful weapon to use against them, hasn't he?
You two, go on down to the club,
keep an eye open for our friend with the beard.
You think he's gonna try again tonight?
They go out after dark.
Why wouldn't he?
MAN: Hey!
What are you doing here?
I've come to see Mr. Van Hellier.
He's not expecting any guests.
I've brought him something.
(clicks)
What is that?
(grunts)
(opera aria playing)
(music stops)
(resounding rumble)
You...
You bastard!
You killed my wife.
(gasps)
Who the hell are you?
(hissing)
(screams)
(flapping rustle)
(door creaking)
(hissing)
(screams)
(smoldering)
(panting)
Michele?!
(chains rattling)
(groaning)
(gasps)
Don't be afraid.
These things won't hurt you.
This will protect you.
I'll find a place for us after he's dead.
No!
Stay away from me.
I'm not the person you remember.
I never stopped loving you.
Release me! I spent 20
years hunting him down for what he did.
He destroyed our life.
Let me go!
I can't.
(grunting)
Micki.
I didn't expect you back so soon.
Jack, the club closed at 3:00.
Everybody went home.
You wouldn't believe the kind of weird people
that place attracts.
Yes, I would.
Some of them might have been vampires.
What are you talking about?
I've been doing some checking.
Other bodies have been found in the area
over the past few months.
Some of them have been drained of blood.
Yeah, but if they were really vampires,
why didn't they attack Johnny and I?
I can only assume that
they didn't want to expose their lair.
There's also a chance
that they didn't feed last night.
What do you mean?
Well, vampires can go for days with only one kill.
Sometimes they feed from one another.
I wonder if Van Hellier knows about them.
Micki, why don't you get some sleep?
You've had a long night.
Aren't you going to bed?
No, I want to do some writing.
It's Father Mc Dermott's funeral tomorrow afternoon.
They've asked me to do the eulogy.
Jack? Hmm?
Are you sure you're okay about all this?
(sighs)
No...
No, damn it Micki, I'm not.
We always think that we're doing the right thing.
People still die, don't they?
Jack, you have saved many people's lives.
Does that really make up for all the killing?
Yes. It does.
(car door closes)
She's here.
I can sense it.
Let's be quick.
It'll be dawn soon.
Now, remember, he's got the cross.
(grunts)
(distant thumping)
Evan?
(gasps)
Evan, get out!
(groaning)
You need blood...
No, Evan. Get out...
Here.
Drink.
(groans)
(strained grunting)
(groans) No...
Please, go!
Go!
(crying)
(moaning)
Evan, are you okay?
He's got the whole place fortified against me.
We've got to get her out of there.
But what about the old man?
You know, the one that came by with all the questions?
Maybe he can help.
BACHMAN: Michele?
(clattering)
It's all right. He's gone.
No!
I'm one of them now.
You have to let me go with him or I'll die.
No, you won't.
I won't let you die.
Nothing you can do will change things.
I won't lose you twice.
Once he's dead, you'll be free.
We'll start over.
I'm dying!
Can't you see that?
If you truly loved me, you'd let me go.
I can't.
Then feed me.
It was a beautiful service, Jack.
Yeah, he was a good man, Micki.
Father McDermott dedicated his life to helping others,
and then this.
Two years younger than I am, too.
I'll get out of this suit first.
I'm sorry, the store is closed right now.
You'll have to come back in the morning.
I'm Evan Van Hellier.
Is Mr. Marshak in?
(sighs)
Yes. Yes, as a matter of fact he is.
Please come in.
Thank you.
Sorry about the hour.
But Mr. Marshak was looking for some information,
and I think I can help.
Um, would you like a drink?
Not just yet.
Thanks.
Perhaps later we might...
Jack, this is Mr. Van Hellier.
Good evening.
My assistant tells me you're looking for a medieval cross.
Yes. You remember seeing it the night of the murder?
I may have seen it earlier.
I own a number of different properties,
including a warehouse down by River Street.
What's this got to do with...?
On the day of the killing,
I rented it to a man called Kurt Bachman.
He showed me a cross with a knife blade.
Did he?
A man in his mid-40s with a beard?
That's the man.
Did you tell this to the police?
No. At the time, it didn't seem important.
Well, maybe you could give us the address.
We'll go down, check it out.
This could be a good opportunity
to recover that cross.
Of course. It's 22 River Street.
Perhaps I can help in some way.
Uh, thank you, no. We'll be fine.
Very well, then.
Let me know how it works out.
Yes, of course.
Good night. JACK: Good night.
(door chimes jangling)
Jack, what are you doing?
Come on, Micki.
Where are we going?
First, we'll pick up Johnny
and then we're going down to the warehouse.
(indistinct conversation)
(distant siren wails)
¶ ¶
What the hell is this?
I paid you, didn't I?
She needs you more than I do.
¶ ¶
(gasps)
It's okay.
Don't be afraid.
(screams)
(panting)
¶ ¶
(thud)
(gasps) Someone's coming.
Kurt, don't!
Why do you want to save him?
Look what he's done to you.
He never hurt me.
He loves me.
Do you love him?
Kurt, he'll kill you!
(Micki grunts)
(panting)
(grunting and groaning)
Jack, he's getting away.
Never mind! Come on, let's get out of here!
MICHELE: What happened?
They took the cross.
Then go while you still have the chance.
Save yourself.
Not without you.
BAKER: They've got the cross.
Good. Let's go.
He's going to come for us now.
And I can't protect you.
I want to be with you forever.
No.
Please.
No.
Do it, Michele.
Do it.
Make me one of you.
Please?
(gasps, moans)
I don't believe this! You're more concerned about this cross
than what's going on in there!
If you mean I'm more concerned
about you two, then yes, you're right!
What are you talking about? Don't you know
that Van Hellier tricked us
into getting that cross away from Bachman?
So now we just let Van Hellier kill him?
We've done our job.
We've got the cross back.
The rest is no concern of ours.
Jack, without that cross,
Bachman is a sitting duck.
You can't save the whole world!
If you try, we won't be here in the morning.
I'd rather see another sunrise, all right?
Come on, get in!
JACK: Micki! No!
Micki!
EVAN: He's still here.
¶ ¶
(clanging)
(gasps)
(neck snapping, body thudding)
(hisses)
You made him one of us?
You lied to me, Evan.
You told me he was dead.
I gave you immortality.
Centuries together.
A life of ecstasy humans could never have.
(hisses)
(snarls)
(Evan screams)
(grunting and groaning)
(snarling)
(distant snarl)
(hisses)
No!
If you really love me,
you'll let him live.
Please...
(grunts)
(sighs)
(groans)
Evan...
(body thuds)
(gasps)
Evan?
(gasps)
(snarls)
(holy water sizzles, Bachman screams)
No!
(hisses)
Micki, Johnny, go! Go!
Get out!
(hisses)
(shuddering)
(flames crackling)
(glass breaks)
Come on.
(sobbing)
(echoing scream)
Any sign of him?
What time is it?
It's about 6:00.
I can't believe we helped a vampire get away.
Why don't you stay here?
You can sleep on the couch.
No. I-I'll wait up for Jack.
Micki, do you think he's okay?
He said some very strange things back there.
I don't know.
He had time to use the holy water on her.
Why'd he let her get away?
He let her live another day.
Whatever she does with that is up to her.
JACK: I wish I had their wisdom.
Some of them have lived thousands of years.
Seen the building of the pyramids,
the glory of the Roman Empire...
They must understand more than we do.
God help me. I almost envy them.