Forever Knight (1992) s02e25 Episode Script
Close Call
[SIREN WAILING.]
[PANTING.]
[TIRES SQUEALING.]
[WHOOSHING.]
Freeze! Nick? [GUNSHOTS.]
[CRIES OUT.]
[GROANING.]
Schank! [WHOOSHING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SIRENS WAILING.]
[.]
NARRATOR: He was brought across in 1228.
Preyed on humans for their blood.
Now, he wants to be mortal again To repay society for his sins To emerge from his world of darkness From his endless forever night.
[GROWLS.]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Since when did the Academy start teaching cops to fly? It's not humanly possible that you were there before me.
Schank? What? Listen to me.
Look at me.
What? [HEART BEATING.]
Forget what you saw.
You didn't see anyone or anything flying.
Do you understand? I understand.
Now, let's get out of here.
You're going to drop me off and take my car for the day.
See if you can get it washed.
[BEATING STOPS.]
Listen, you were right in my line of fire.
I can't believe you did that-- It's lucky you're a crack shot.
[EXASPERATED SIGH.]
You okay with this now? The shoot? It was him or me, Nick.
I had to take him down.
No, I mean emotionally, Schank.
Yeah, it was a piece of cake with a rose on it.
Sun's coming up.
I've got to get home.
I'll drop you off.
How are you going to do that, huh? I mean, your car's in the shop.
How are you going to get home? I'll take the Caddy, and I'll drop you off at home, and I'll pick you up at work tonight.
Oh, hell, I'll even wash it for you.
Oh, that sounds like a good deal.
You drive.
I'll ride.
In the trunk.
In the trunk? Come on, Nick, you're not that allergic to sunshine.
A tad will do you good.
What's a little sunburn? Listen, I don't tan, I don't burn.
I implode.
Do you mind, Schank? [CLOSES TRUNK.]
SCHANKE: You know, why don't you drive a nice, clean city car, huh? A regular beater.
You're Joe Cool, but-- Trunk space.
Trunk space? Mm.
The 1962 Cadillac has more trunk space than any car made in the last 30 years.
Trunk space? Right.
I knew that.
Whatever gets you through the day.
I took him home in the trunk of his car like he was so many groceries.
I'm telling you, Natalie, he is just too weird.
Nick has to protect himself, Schank.
Sign there.
Sometimes that means doing desperate things.
And here and here and way down there.
If I sold my soul to the devil, he wouldn't make me sign so many forms.
Officer-involved shooting always means a lot more book work, Schank.
How are you doing, by the way? Oh, you sound just like Nick.
He's worried about my emotional state.
You know, between you, me, and the lamppost, I'm a little ticked off at the guy.
Yeah? Listen, in all the time you've known him, have you ever had a feeling about him? A feeling? Yeah, like he's Like he's different.
A candidate for the laughing academy, perhaps? A psycho? Aside from the fact that I drove him home this morning in the trunk of his car, I have the distinct thought that Nick Knight is a little too gallant under fire.
[MACHINE GUN FIRE.]
Son of a-- [GRUNTS.]
Oh, my leg! [PANTING.]
No! NATALIE: Schank.
[SIGHS.]
I'm telling you, Natalie, he's getting real scary.
He acts like he's got nothing to lose.
Maybe he thinks he never can be killed or he's never going to die.
Oh, come on, he's not all that irresponsible.
He all but flew in front of my gun to make that collar, and I still don't know how he did it.
As a matter of fact, I ride with him every night, I put my life in his hands, and I really don't know that much about him, do I? Look, it's been a long night, Schank.
Maybe you should go home and crash.
I do not want a partner who's an occupational safety hazard.
If he's a certifiable nutcase, I think I deserve to know now! Yeah.
As a matter of fact, I'm going to start asking some hard questions, find out exactly who this Detective Nick Knight really is.
Schank, wait! [TELEPHONE RINGING.]
[RINGING.]
[TAPE REWINDING.]
[BEEPS.]
Yeah, Nick Knight.
I'm either in bed or incommunicado-- [TAPE STOPS.]
[TAPE CLICKING.]
Hello? Hello! Nick? [SIGHS.]
[DIAL TONE HUMS.]
[DIALING.]
[BUSY SIGNAL BEEPING.]
[TELEPHONE RINGING.]
SCHANKE: Come on, Nick.
Come on.
Answer your damn phone, Nick.
[SIGHS.]
Checking up on your partner? Yeah, he's not answering.
He knows I got it in for him.
Oh, really? You know, he's really starting to bug me.
[CHUCKLES.]
He's always got to be the first one in, first cop in on the scene.
He hits every beach like it's Normandy.
MAN: Shut up! [WOMAN SCREAMING AND CRYING.]
[WOMAN SOBBING.]
Metro Police.
Release the girl and respond.
MAN: I'm going to kill her.
No! I said I'll kill her! [AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE.]
[WOMAN SOBBING.]
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! It's gotta be a Mac-10 or an Uzi.
Back wall near the window.
He's got the girl in front of him.
Don't shoot.
You-- You can see in there? Try to get him to talk.
I'm going around.
Around? Now, what the hell's "around"? SCHANKE: If you don't tell me what you want, how do I know what to give you? You won't get it, you know! I'm gonna kill her! I have to do this.
You son of a bitch.
You have it.
You lied to me.
I know you have it.
I know you have it.
I have it, I have it.
Just cool out.
I know you do.
No! [GLASS SHATTERS.]
You know, I must have worked and he is the first cop in on the scene.
I'm Lieutenant Tortoise, he's Detective Hare.
Schanke are you all right about last night? I'm fine.
The guy killed a security guard in cold blood.
I'm more than fine.
Detective, I've been where you are.
Nobody's as tough as you're pretending to be right now.
Don't get all soft and runny on me, captain.
I can cope.
Nothing sticks to Teflon Don.
See me later if it hits you.
Oh, and don't forget your completed officer-involved shooting report.
We got a positive ID on your perp, by the way.
I sent some uniforms over to do the follow-up.
The follow-up? You know, get some background, notify the family.
[SIGHS.]
[GUNSHOTS.]
[CRIES OUT.]
Freeze! You know, I can really see you two together.
You must have been really something once.
'Twas a very long time ago.
I know when.
In college, right? No, actually, it was closer to the Renaissance.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
[BUZZING.]
KNIGHT: You drive.
I'll ride.
In the trunk.
Hello? Hello? Janette? Anybody home? Yodel-ay-hee-hoo.
Aloha.
And I thought this place was spooky at night.
[ROCK MUSIC BLARING.]
Want to dance? Or, uh, maybe something else? Well, yeah, I Sure, I I need you to understand I'm a lover who'd hate to see So, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this? It's a life.
Oh.
I can't believe I'm actually dancing to this stuff.
And what else goes with dancing? I don't know, uh Dining? [LAUGHING.]
I was thinking of something else.
Oh, ho Honey, baby, sugar, I think your plumbing needs a little flushing.
Don't you? That's how I'm going to treat my patients.
[MOANS.]
Take slow, easy breaths, killer.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
We don't want your blood to boil.
[PANTING.]
It spoils the taste.
[GROANS.]
It's okay, breathe.
[HEART BEATING.]
I'm going to cure you, you macho dog.
[SNARLING.]
Alma! [STAMMERING.]
Just get out of here.
Alma's not the kind of woman that you want to play around with.
The consequences could have proved fatal.
What, you mean she might have I could have caught something like-- Let's just say that you would become a permanent member of the night shift.
Oh, God.
[CRIES OUT.]
Never, ever come back to this club, Mr.
Schanke.
Believe me, I'm doing you a favor.
Janette? [DOOR CREAKING.]
Hello.
Hello? [THUMP.]
Ow.
You knew each other in college, right? Huh? No, actually, it was closer to the Renaissance.
[LOW GROWL.]
It can't be.
It isn't.
[CRIES OUT.]
What are you doing here? It's about Nick.
I can explain.
I'm really, really sorry, but I can explain.
[CHUCKLES.]
This better be very good.
SCHANKE: Your grandparents? JANETTE: Yes.
The resemblance is amazing, isn't it? Yeah.
So, in fact, Nicholas is the subject of your latest investigation? Yes.
I came to talk to you, Janette, because you're his friend.
I mean, you have some serious history.
Your families go back a hundred years.
Oh, yes.
I-- I'm really concerned about Nick.
Something's not quite right about him, something weird.
Nicholas? Weird, you say? Yeah.
I mean, in all the time that you've known him, have you witnessed any sort of bizarre things that he's done? Any sort of suicidal behavior? Like hijacking a city bus, for example? Knight, what the hell? Knight! [BRAKES SCREECHING.]
Hey, Nick! [CARS HONKING.]
All right, keep your pants on! What the hell do you think you're doing? Police officer.
I don't care if you're Mother Teresa on a pizza run! I've got a busload of people here, and you almost turned them into roadkill! Get back in the bus.
This is police business.
Back in the bus! This is police business, isn't it? What about my schedule? I will-- SCHANKE: I remember how strange he was after.
He wouldn't talk about it at all.
I mean, he does these outlandish things, and then when I ask him questions about it, he ignores me totally, like last night.
Hmm.
Last night? Yeah, we got caught in a shootout downtown.
Guy wouldn't be taken alive, so I had to eighty-six him.
How many? I had to kill him to stop him, and I almost killed Nick in the process.
Oh, dear.
Now, I had the perp cornered, right? And Nick just flew right in there like Do you know anything about this "Nightcrawler" guy? Nick's a big fan of his, and I was wondering if-- Detective Schanke listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Don'tprobe into Nicholas' affairs.
Don'tprobe.
Go back to work.
Forget you were here.
Don't.
Take the night off.
You need a rest.
Need a rest.
Need a rest.
You're under arrest.
Anything you say will be used against you in a court Janette? Wh-what--? Have I been here a while? What the? Oh, excuse me.
You parked this here? What? Did you park this here? Yeah.
Yeah, I Yeah, I think I parked Yeah, I did.
Could I see your license? Yeah.
You're a cop? Yeah, yeah, right, I'm a-- I'm a I'm a cop.
So this is your car? No No, it's not.
Well, then, I'd like to see the registration.
Yeah, yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's gotta be here somewhere.
Really, it does.
Ah.
Jackpot.
Look at that.
An old New York driver's license.
"Nicholas Forrester.
" Registration, right.
I'll get it.
[CHUCKLES.]
Let me work on it, okay? So it's Nick's car and I, uh, got a parking ticket.
Oh, you find that funny, Vera? Why don't you just fax his registration over to Traffic, okay? And while I got you, can you run an archive check for me? It's a New York license, F33275 I2912 53051, expires 1963.
Get all the particulars: passport, uh, birth certificate, all that stuff.
I owe you some doughnut holes, Vera.
And don't tell Nick about the parking ticket, okay? Love ya.
[SIGHS.]
Detective Schanke, are you still here? Same as you, captain.
I'm always here.
What about your report? Almost finished.
Leave it, go home.
[YAWNS.]
You look like you've been awake for a week.
JANETTE: Listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Don't probe into Nicholas' affairs.
KNIGHT: Forget what you saw.
You didn't see anyone or anything flying.
Do you understand? You need a rest.
Forget what you saw.
Forget you were here.
See if you can get it washed.
JANETTE: You need a rest, rest, rest VERA: Detective Schanke.
Hey, your wife called for you.
I have to wash the car! What? I have to forget about flying.
Schanke, are you all right? Hi.
Oh, Vera.
Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm fine, really.
Here's the follow-up on that archive I pulled for you.
You really look sleepy.
Yeah.
You should go home.
Please.
Hi, Myra.
Listen, baby-- No, I'm fine, I'm really fine.
I know I'm late.
I might be later.
Something important just came in.
I'm telling you, Natalie, she hypnotized me.
Nick too.
She hypnotized Nick? No, no, no, no, Nick did it to me.
Okay.
Okay, I'll bite.
Why? I don't know.
It worked.
They made me forget, and that's all I remember.
Schank, go home, have a hot bath, and take two of these-- No, you don't understand.
I do not want to sleep.
I have been sleeping for a long time.
I used to overlook stuff, make excuses for him, but now I am not so sure.
How long have you known Detective Knight? I don't know, a year maybe.
Does he seem sort of eccentric to you? Nick? Eccentric? You mean the skin-condition thing? That, yes.
You mean the only-ever- working-night-shift thing? You mean the fact that he has no family and shies away from social functions like bowling and other stuff with the cops? Still hasn't bought me one meal? Never seems to eat himself, not even doughnuts? Eccentric? Nah! MAN: You're not going to believe this.
He's got a sun bed up there.
He's got a sun bed? I thought he was allergic to the sun or something.
Oh, he is.
I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this, you know.
Well Knight does have his, uh, eccentric side, but that still doesn't make-- Hey, uh, does anyone know why this guy would have blood in his refrigerator? Blood? Yeah, it's blood.
Blood? Get you anything, detective? Some coffee? Sandwich from the deli? Doughnut holes? You really look beat.
No, thanks, Vera.
Geez, you must be working on something real important to be here during the day.
Must be some case.
What? Are those the clues? "John Doe 199," huh? "Allergic to sun.
"Hypnotize.
Needs blood.
" Oh, you're looking for a vampire, right? SCHANKE: "The vampire can move among mortals, "but only by night.
"He can never see daylight, for the sun will incinerate him.
" KNIGHT: Can we get out of here, please? Nice outfit.
Don't you think you're overreacting a little to this ozone thing? Not really.
Drive.
In the trunk? Come on, Nick.
You're not that allergic to sunshine.
A tad will do you good.
What's a little sunburn? Listen, I don't tan.
I don't burn.
I implode.
"He is gifted with extraordinary powers, incredible strength and physical prowess.
" Police! Nick! Bring him back in! Please! [GROWLING.]
He doesn't deserve to live, Schanke.
[MAN GROANS.]
Nick, you solved this thing.
Besides, think of the paperwork if you drop him.
Keep him away from me! He's-- He's a monster! Get him out of here.
"Has the ability to fly and move more quickly than the eye can perceive.
" [WHOOSHING.]
"The ability to persuade through mesmerism.
" Listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Look at me.
Detective Schanke, listen to me.
They made me forget, and that's all I remember.
"And he must nourish these skills "with ever-increasing supplies of fresh blood.
" Just taste it.
You can't deny what you are.
You need it.
Hey, Knight! Knight! This is truly pathetic.
[SIGHS.]
Should we be talking about an alcohol problem here? Uh, they were presents.
Presents.
Left over from Christmas.
Uh, and my last birthday party.
Gifts.
Yeah.
Well, for your information, red wine is not supposed to be refrigerated.
Oh.
Oh.
Knight does have his, uh, eccentric side, but that still doesn't make him-- Hey, uh, does anyone know why this guy would have blood in his refrigerator? Blood? Yeah, blood.
"For all intents and purposes, he is immortal, "coursing through the ages, "assuming then disposing of identities as easily as mere mortals change clothing.
" KNIGHT: It's good you're back.
I'm glad you're here, Schank.
Nick, I don't know what to say.
I've been a real ass.
Call it temporary insanity, huh? You know how sometimes you get so full of one life, you want another? Yeah, yeah, I've been there, I've done that.
"Different identities, different careers, "always searching and always moving.
"Vampires fear symbols of redemption, such as crosses.
" Nick, I was just thanking him for the beautiful gift he gave me.
See? [TIRES SQUEALING.]
"Vampires often form loose societies "with others of their kind, "other vampires "who travel the lonely road through time with them.
" Your grandparents? "Vampires recruit new members of their society "from among their mortal acquaintances.
"These new vampires often maintain "an unfailing allegiance over time "to their master vampire, "the vampire who brought them across "into the perpetually dark, godless world of the undead.
" LACROIX [OVER RADIO.]
: However worthless you feel, my friend, however bleak it all seems, in the end, you can come to me.
You'll always have something that I value, a part of you that I will always welcome.
Trust me.
Because I am the Nightcrawler.
Why do you listen to that creep? It's an acquired taste.
[HEART BEATING.]
Have you been to a barbecue or something? SCHANKE: "Vampires often maintain "an unfailing allegiance over time to their master vampire.
" [BEEPS.]
Janette? Is something wrong? You better hope not.
Hello? Yodel-ay-hee-hoo? Aloha? Hello? Anybody home? [SIGHS.]
[GASPS.]
What, are you trying to give me a heart attack? Maybe.
What, you people make a habit of sneaking up all the time? Wepeople? Then he asked about the Nightcrawler.
He made the connection somehow.
What do we do if he confronts Lacroix with his suspicions? You said you fixed it.
I said I hope I fixed it.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
It's open! Schank, is that you? Nick, we have a problem.
Yeah, I know.
Uh, Janette told me.
Look, we'll find him and we'll deal with it.
LACROIX: So welcome once again, children of the night.
I'm here to share myself with you.
Will you share yourselves with me? [SIGHS.]
Okay.
I'm here because I wa Want to talk about Nicholas.
What do you want to know? Okay.
Is he a? [COUGHS.]
Is he a vampire? Are you? You tell me.
Okay, I know.
I know this is gonna sound crazy, but lately, there's been a lot of weird stuff that just hasn't been adding up.
Nick rides in the trunk, he can't go out in the sun.
One minute, he's here, the next minute, he's gone like a bat.
Did you know [LAUGHS.]
get this, that we found blood in his icebox? Human blood? No, he had blood from a steer.
[GROANS.]
I know, my sentiments exactly.
That's what I said.
He says he uses it for painting.
Raphael showed him that.
Huh? Tell me, detective, what has changed in you to make these things so suddenly apparent? Please.
Thanks.
I don't know.
I do know I had a real bad night last night.
I know the feeling well.
Do you? Got into a firefight.
Nick was there.
He could tell you all about it.
I had to waste a guy.
Awful thing to waste people.
It is.
I killed him.
I had no choice.
And how did you feel, Detective Schanke? How did it make me feel? Not real good, I can tell you.
I found out after that the guy had a family, you know? Maybe he was rotten to them, but I know that somewhere, some kid is thinking about his dad, wondering what happened, wondering what life's going to be like without him.
No, no, no, no, no.
When you killed this man, did you feel a surge of strength within you? A burst of adrenaline? No! No, it wasn't anything like that.
No matter what anybody says, it wasn't anything like that.
Well, I got to admit, my heart was beating like a rabbit.
The guy did have the draw on me.
You know, it would've been curtains if If If Nick wasn't there to save my ass.
Oh.
Geez.
Have I been an idiot.
Been running around all day, butting my nose into Nick's affairs when the guy saved my life.
I'm a first-class fool.
You're tired, detective.
Under tremendous stress.
Stress and trauma.
Any shock to the system will play on the imagination, fill us with bizarre obsessions, fantasies, if you like.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Go home, detective.
Go home to your family and let Nicholas be with his Us.
Janette and myself.
We're the only family Nick has ever had.
What are you saying, that he's adopted? In a manner of speaking, yes.
And, uh Well, he's not a [CHUCKLES.]
What do you think? Really? I think I need a drink.
[YAWNING.]
Listen, uh I just want to thank you for, um, talking to me, Mr.
, uh Mr.
, uh Nightcrawler.
Only a real pleasure Don.
And, uh, please, don't, uh, tell Nick about this, ever.
Detective, you asked me if Nicholas is different.
Au contraire.
The Nicholas that I know is very much like you.
He doesn't like to kill people, either.
Thanks.
Damn.
Can I help you, Dr.
Lambert? Captain, have you heard from Nick or Schanke? Schanke booked-off sick.
It's the best thing, after all he's been through.
No word from Knight yet.
You don't happen to know if Schanke went straight home, do you? He said he had something really important to do.
I told him just go home, but he insisted it was really important.
Is anything wrong, doctor? No.
No, I Well, actually, I talked to Schanke earlier about the shooting and And everything, and he, uh He seemed a bit weird about it.
I noticed it too.
I'm sure he'll be fine.
I hope so.
Wherever he is.
[BIRDS TWEETING.]
[WATER SPLASHING.]
[.]
[PANTING.]
[TIRES SQUEALING.]
[WHOOSHING.]
Freeze! Nick? [GUNSHOTS.]
[CRIES OUT.]
[GROANING.]
Schank! [WHOOSHING.]
[GRUNTS.]
[SIRENS WAILING.]
[.]
NARRATOR: He was brought across in 1228.
Preyed on humans for their blood.
Now, he wants to be mortal again To repay society for his sins To emerge from his world of darkness From his endless forever night.
[GROWLS.]
[POLICE RADIO CHATTER.]
Since when did the Academy start teaching cops to fly? It's not humanly possible that you were there before me.
Schank? What? Listen to me.
Look at me.
What? [HEART BEATING.]
Forget what you saw.
You didn't see anyone or anything flying.
Do you understand? I understand.
Now, let's get out of here.
You're going to drop me off and take my car for the day.
See if you can get it washed.
[BEATING STOPS.]
Listen, you were right in my line of fire.
I can't believe you did that-- It's lucky you're a crack shot.
[EXASPERATED SIGH.]
You okay with this now? The shoot? It was him or me, Nick.
I had to take him down.
No, I mean emotionally, Schank.
Yeah, it was a piece of cake with a rose on it.
Sun's coming up.
I've got to get home.
I'll drop you off.
How are you going to do that, huh? I mean, your car's in the shop.
How are you going to get home? I'll take the Caddy, and I'll drop you off at home, and I'll pick you up at work tonight.
Oh, hell, I'll even wash it for you.
Oh, that sounds like a good deal.
You drive.
I'll ride.
In the trunk.
In the trunk? Come on, Nick, you're not that allergic to sunshine.
A tad will do you good.
What's a little sunburn? Listen, I don't tan, I don't burn.
I implode.
Do you mind, Schank? [CLOSES TRUNK.]
SCHANKE: You know, why don't you drive a nice, clean city car, huh? A regular beater.
You're Joe Cool, but-- Trunk space.
Trunk space? Mm.
The 1962 Cadillac has more trunk space than any car made in the last 30 years.
Trunk space? Right.
I knew that.
Whatever gets you through the day.
I took him home in the trunk of his car like he was so many groceries.
I'm telling you, Natalie, he is just too weird.
Nick has to protect himself, Schank.
Sign there.
Sometimes that means doing desperate things.
And here and here and way down there.
If I sold my soul to the devil, he wouldn't make me sign so many forms.
Officer-involved shooting always means a lot more book work, Schank.
How are you doing, by the way? Oh, you sound just like Nick.
He's worried about my emotional state.
You know, between you, me, and the lamppost, I'm a little ticked off at the guy.
Yeah? Listen, in all the time you've known him, have you ever had a feeling about him? A feeling? Yeah, like he's Like he's different.
A candidate for the laughing academy, perhaps? A psycho? Aside from the fact that I drove him home this morning in the trunk of his car, I have the distinct thought that Nick Knight is a little too gallant under fire.
[MACHINE GUN FIRE.]
Son of a-- [GRUNTS.]
Oh, my leg! [PANTING.]
No! NATALIE: Schank.
[SIGHS.]
I'm telling you, Natalie, he's getting real scary.
He acts like he's got nothing to lose.
Maybe he thinks he never can be killed or he's never going to die.
Oh, come on, he's not all that irresponsible.
He all but flew in front of my gun to make that collar, and I still don't know how he did it.
As a matter of fact, I ride with him every night, I put my life in his hands, and I really don't know that much about him, do I? Look, it's been a long night, Schank.
Maybe you should go home and crash.
I do not want a partner who's an occupational safety hazard.
If he's a certifiable nutcase, I think I deserve to know now! Yeah.
As a matter of fact, I'm going to start asking some hard questions, find out exactly who this Detective Nick Knight really is.
Schank, wait! [TELEPHONE RINGING.]
[RINGING.]
[TAPE REWINDING.]
[BEEPS.]
Yeah, Nick Knight.
I'm either in bed or incommunicado-- [TAPE STOPS.]
[TAPE CLICKING.]
Hello? Hello! Nick? [SIGHS.]
[DIAL TONE HUMS.]
[DIALING.]
[BUSY SIGNAL BEEPING.]
[TELEPHONE RINGING.]
SCHANKE: Come on, Nick.
Come on.
Answer your damn phone, Nick.
[SIGHS.]
Checking up on your partner? Yeah, he's not answering.
He knows I got it in for him.
Oh, really? You know, he's really starting to bug me.
[CHUCKLES.]
He's always got to be the first one in, first cop in on the scene.
He hits every beach like it's Normandy.
MAN: Shut up! [WOMAN SCREAMING AND CRYING.]
[WOMAN SOBBING.]
Metro Police.
Release the girl and respond.
MAN: I'm going to kill her.
No! I said I'll kill her! [AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE.]
[WOMAN SOBBING.]
Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! It's gotta be a Mac-10 or an Uzi.
Back wall near the window.
He's got the girl in front of him.
Don't shoot.
You-- You can see in there? Try to get him to talk.
I'm going around.
Around? Now, what the hell's "around"? SCHANKE: If you don't tell me what you want, how do I know what to give you? You won't get it, you know! I'm gonna kill her! I have to do this.
You son of a bitch.
You have it.
You lied to me.
I know you have it.
I know you have it.
I have it, I have it.
Just cool out.
I know you do.
No! [GLASS SHATTERS.]
You know, I must have worked and he is the first cop in on the scene.
I'm Lieutenant Tortoise, he's Detective Hare.
Schanke are you all right about last night? I'm fine.
The guy killed a security guard in cold blood.
I'm more than fine.
Detective, I've been where you are.
Nobody's as tough as you're pretending to be right now.
Don't get all soft and runny on me, captain.
I can cope.
Nothing sticks to Teflon Don.
See me later if it hits you.
Oh, and don't forget your completed officer-involved shooting report.
We got a positive ID on your perp, by the way.
I sent some uniforms over to do the follow-up.
The follow-up? You know, get some background, notify the family.
[SIGHS.]
[GUNSHOTS.]
[CRIES OUT.]
Freeze! You know, I can really see you two together.
You must have been really something once.
'Twas a very long time ago.
I know when.
In college, right? No, actually, it was closer to the Renaissance.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
[BUZZING.]
KNIGHT: You drive.
I'll ride.
In the trunk.
Hello? Hello? Janette? Anybody home? Yodel-ay-hee-hoo.
Aloha.
And I thought this place was spooky at night.
[ROCK MUSIC BLARING.]
Want to dance? Or, uh, maybe something else? Well, yeah, I Sure, I I need you to understand I'm a lover who'd hate to see So, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this? It's a life.
Oh.
I can't believe I'm actually dancing to this stuff.
And what else goes with dancing? I don't know, uh Dining? [LAUGHING.]
I was thinking of something else.
Oh, ho Honey, baby, sugar, I think your plumbing needs a little flushing.
Don't you? That's how I'm going to treat my patients.
[MOANS.]
Take slow, easy breaths, killer.
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
We don't want your blood to boil.
[PANTING.]
It spoils the taste.
[GROANS.]
It's okay, breathe.
[HEART BEATING.]
I'm going to cure you, you macho dog.
[SNARLING.]
Alma! [STAMMERING.]
Just get out of here.
Alma's not the kind of woman that you want to play around with.
The consequences could have proved fatal.
What, you mean she might have I could have caught something like-- Let's just say that you would become a permanent member of the night shift.
Oh, God.
[CRIES OUT.]
Never, ever come back to this club, Mr.
Schanke.
Believe me, I'm doing you a favor.
Janette? [DOOR CREAKING.]
Hello.
Hello? [THUMP.]
Ow.
You knew each other in college, right? Huh? No, actually, it was closer to the Renaissance.
[LOW GROWL.]
It can't be.
It isn't.
[CRIES OUT.]
What are you doing here? It's about Nick.
I can explain.
I'm really, really sorry, but I can explain.
[CHUCKLES.]
This better be very good.
SCHANKE: Your grandparents? JANETTE: Yes.
The resemblance is amazing, isn't it? Yeah.
So, in fact, Nicholas is the subject of your latest investigation? Yes.
I came to talk to you, Janette, because you're his friend.
I mean, you have some serious history.
Your families go back a hundred years.
Oh, yes.
I-- I'm really concerned about Nick.
Something's not quite right about him, something weird.
Nicholas? Weird, you say? Yeah.
I mean, in all the time that you've known him, have you witnessed any sort of bizarre things that he's done? Any sort of suicidal behavior? Like hijacking a city bus, for example? Knight, what the hell? Knight! [BRAKES SCREECHING.]
Hey, Nick! [CARS HONKING.]
All right, keep your pants on! What the hell do you think you're doing? Police officer.
I don't care if you're Mother Teresa on a pizza run! I've got a busload of people here, and you almost turned them into roadkill! Get back in the bus.
This is police business.
Back in the bus! This is police business, isn't it? What about my schedule? I will-- SCHANKE: I remember how strange he was after.
He wouldn't talk about it at all.
I mean, he does these outlandish things, and then when I ask him questions about it, he ignores me totally, like last night.
Hmm.
Last night? Yeah, we got caught in a shootout downtown.
Guy wouldn't be taken alive, so I had to eighty-six him.
How many? I had to kill him to stop him, and I almost killed Nick in the process.
Oh, dear.
Now, I had the perp cornered, right? And Nick just flew right in there like Do you know anything about this "Nightcrawler" guy? Nick's a big fan of his, and I was wondering if-- Detective Schanke listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Don'tprobe into Nicholas' affairs.
Don'tprobe.
Go back to work.
Forget you were here.
Don't.
Take the night off.
You need a rest.
Need a rest.
Need a rest.
You're under arrest.
Anything you say will be used against you in a court Janette? Wh-what--? Have I been here a while? What the? Oh, excuse me.
You parked this here? What? Did you park this here? Yeah.
Yeah, I Yeah, I think I parked Yeah, I did.
Could I see your license? Yeah.
You're a cop? Yeah, yeah, right, I'm a-- I'm a I'm a cop.
So this is your car? No No, it's not.
Well, then, I'd like to see the registration.
Yeah, yeah.
[CHUCKLES.]
It's gotta be here somewhere.
Really, it does.
Ah.
Jackpot.
Look at that.
An old New York driver's license.
"Nicholas Forrester.
" Registration, right.
I'll get it.
[CHUCKLES.]
Let me work on it, okay? So it's Nick's car and I, uh, got a parking ticket.
Oh, you find that funny, Vera? Why don't you just fax his registration over to Traffic, okay? And while I got you, can you run an archive check for me? It's a New York license, F33275 I2912 53051, expires 1963.
Get all the particulars: passport, uh, birth certificate, all that stuff.
I owe you some doughnut holes, Vera.
And don't tell Nick about the parking ticket, okay? Love ya.
[SIGHS.]
Detective Schanke, are you still here? Same as you, captain.
I'm always here.
What about your report? Almost finished.
Leave it, go home.
[YAWNS.]
You look like you've been awake for a week.
JANETTE: Listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Don't probe into Nicholas' affairs.
KNIGHT: Forget what you saw.
You didn't see anyone or anything flying.
Do you understand? You need a rest.
Forget what you saw.
Forget you were here.
See if you can get it washed.
JANETTE: You need a rest, rest, rest VERA: Detective Schanke.
Hey, your wife called for you.
I have to wash the car! What? I have to forget about flying.
Schanke, are you all right? Hi.
Oh, Vera.
Yeah, I'm fine.
I'm fine, really.
Here's the follow-up on that archive I pulled for you.
You really look sleepy.
Yeah.
You should go home.
Please.
Hi, Myra.
Listen, baby-- No, I'm fine, I'm really fine.
I know I'm late.
I might be later.
Something important just came in.
I'm telling you, Natalie, she hypnotized me.
Nick too.
She hypnotized Nick? No, no, no, no, Nick did it to me.
Okay.
Okay, I'll bite.
Why? I don't know.
It worked.
They made me forget, and that's all I remember.
Schank, go home, have a hot bath, and take two of these-- No, you don't understand.
I do not want to sleep.
I have been sleeping for a long time.
I used to overlook stuff, make excuses for him, but now I am not so sure.
How long have you known Detective Knight? I don't know, a year maybe.
Does he seem sort of eccentric to you? Nick? Eccentric? You mean the skin-condition thing? That, yes.
You mean the only-ever- working-night-shift thing? You mean the fact that he has no family and shies away from social functions like bowling and other stuff with the cops? Still hasn't bought me one meal? Never seems to eat himself, not even doughnuts? Eccentric? Nah! MAN: You're not going to believe this.
He's got a sun bed up there.
He's got a sun bed? I thought he was allergic to the sun or something.
Oh, he is.
I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this, you know.
Well Knight does have his, uh, eccentric side, but that still doesn't make-- Hey, uh, does anyone know why this guy would have blood in his refrigerator? Blood? Yeah, it's blood.
Blood? Get you anything, detective? Some coffee? Sandwich from the deli? Doughnut holes? You really look beat.
No, thanks, Vera.
Geez, you must be working on something real important to be here during the day.
Must be some case.
What? Are those the clues? "John Doe 199," huh? "Allergic to sun.
"Hypnotize.
Needs blood.
" Oh, you're looking for a vampire, right? SCHANKE: "The vampire can move among mortals, "but only by night.
"He can never see daylight, for the sun will incinerate him.
" KNIGHT: Can we get out of here, please? Nice outfit.
Don't you think you're overreacting a little to this ozone thing? Not really.
Drive.
In the trunk? Come on, Nick.
You're not that allergic to sunshine.
A tad will do you good.
What's a little sunburn? Listen, I don't tan.
I don't burn.
I implode.
"He is gifted with extraordinary powers, incredible strength and physical prowess.
" Police! Nick! Bring him back in! Please! [GROWLING.]
He doesn't deserve to live, Schanke.
[MAN GROANS.]
Nick, you solved this thing.
Besides, think of the paperwork if you drop him.
Keep him away from me! He's-- He's a monster! Get him out of here.
"Has the ability to fly and move more quickly than the eye can perceive.
" [WHOOSHING.]
"The ability to persuade through mesmerism.
" Listen to me.
[HEART BEATING.]
Look at me.
Detective Schanke, listen to me.
They made me forget, and that's all I remember.
"And he must nourish these skills "with ever-increasing supplies of fresh blood.
" Just taste it.
You can't deny what you are.
You need it.
Hey, Knight! Knight! This is truly pathetic.
[SIGHS.]
Should we be talking about an alcohol problem here? Uh, they were presents.
Presents.
Left over from Christmas.
Uh, and my last birthday party.
Gifts.
Yeah.
Well, for your information, red wine is not supposed to be refrigerated.
Oh.
Oh.
Knight does have his, uh, eccentric side, but that still doesn't make him-- Hey, uh, does anyone know why this guy would have blood in his refrigerator? Blood? Yeah, blood.
"For all intents and purposes, he is immortal, "coursing through the ages, "assuming then disposing of identities as easily as mere mortals change clothing.
" KNIGHT: It's good you're back.
I'm glad you're here, Schank.
Nick, I don't know what to say.
I've been a real ass.
Call it temporary insanity, huh? You know how sometimes you get so full of one life, you want another? Yeah, yeah, I've been there, I've done that.
"Different identities, different careers, "always searching and always moving.
"Vampires fear symbols of redemption, such as crosses.
" Nick, I was just thanking him for the beautiful gift he gave me.
See? [TIRES SQUEALING.]
"Vampires often form loose societies "with others of their kind, "other vampires "who travel the lonely road through time with them.
" Your grandparents? "Vampires recruit new members of their society "from among their mortal acquaintances.
"These new vampires often maintain "an unfailing allegiance over time "to their master vampire, "the vampire who brought them across "into the perpetually dark, godless world of the undead.
" LACROIX [OVER RADIO.]
: However worthless you feel, my friend, however bleak it all seems, in the end, you can come to me.
You'll always have something that I value, a part of you that I will always welcome.
Trust me.
Because I am the Nightcrawler.
Why do you listen to that creep? It's an acquired taste.
[HEART BEATING.]
Have you been to a barbecue or something? SCHANKE: "Vampires often maintain "an unfailing allegiance over time to their master vampire.
" [BEEPS.]
Janette? Is something wrong? You better hope not.
Hello? Yodel-ay-hee-hoo? Aloha? Hello? Anybody home? [SIGHS.]
[GASPS.]
What, are you trying to give me a heart attack? Maybe.
What, you people make a habit of sneaking up all the time? Wepeople? Then he asked about the Nightcrawler.
He made the connection somehow.
What do we do if he confronts Lacroix with his suspicions? You said you fixed it.
I said I hope I fixed it.
[KNOCKING AT DOOR.]
It's open! Schank, is that you? Nick, we have a problem.
Yeah, I know.
Uh, Janette told me.
Look, we'll find him and we'll deal with it.
LACROIX: So welcome once again, children of the night.
I'm here to share myself with you.
Will you share yourselves with me? [SIGHS.]
Okay.
I'm here because I wa Want to talk about Nicholas.
What do you want to know? Okay.
Is he a? [COUGHS.]
Is he a vampire? Are you? You tell me.
Okay, I know.
I know this is gonna sound crazy, but lately, there's been a lot of weird stuff that just hasn't been adding up.
Nick rides in the trunk, he can't go out in the sun.
One minute, he's here, the next minute, he's gone like a bat.
Did you know [LAUGHS.]
get this, that we found blood in his icebox? Human blood? No, he had blood from a steer.
[GROANS.]
I know, my sentiments exactly.
That's what I said.
He says he uses it for painting.
Raphael showed him that.
Huh? Tell me, detective, what has changed in you to make these things so suddenly apparent? Please.
Thanks.
I don't know.
I do know I had a real bad night last night.
I know the feeling well.
Do you? Got into a firefight.
Nick was there.
He could tell you all about it.
I had to waste a guy.
Awful thing to waste people.
It is.
I killed him.
I had no choice.
And how did you feel, Detective Schanke? How did it make me feel? Not real good, I can tell you.
I found out after that the guy had a family, you know? Maybe he was rotten to them, but I know that somewhere, some kid is thinking about his dad, wondering what happened, wondering what life's going to be like without him.
No, no, no, no, no.
When you killed this man, did you feel a surge of strength within you? A burst of adrenaline? No! No, it wasn't anything like that.
No matter what anybody says, it wasn't anything like that.
Well, I got to admit, my heart was beating like a rabbit.
The guy did have the draw on me.
You know, it would've been curtains if If If Nick wasn't there to save my ass.
Oh.
Geez.
Have I been an idiot.
Been running around all day, butting my nose into Nick's affairs when the guy saved my life.
I'm a first-class fool.
You're tired, detective.
Under tremendous stress.
Stress and trauma.
Any shock to the system will play on the imagination, fill us with bizarre obsessions, fantasies, if you like.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Go home, detective.
Go home to your family and let Nicholas be with his Us.
Janette and myself.
We're the only family Nick has ever had.
What are you saying, that he's adopted? In a manner of speaking, yes.
And, uh Well, he's not a [CHUCKLES.]
What do you think? Really? I think I need a drink.
[YAWNING.]
Listen, uh I just want to thank you for, um, talking to me, Mr.
, uh Mr.
, uh Nightcrawler.
Only a real pleasure Don.
And, uh, please, don't, uh, tell Nick about this, ever.
Detective, you asked me if Nicholas is different.
Au contraire.
The Nicholas that I know is very much like you.
He doesn't like to kill people, either.
Thanks.
Damn.
Can I help you, Dr.
Lambert? Captain, have you heard from Nick or Schanke? Schanke booked-off sick.
It's the best thing, after all he's been through.
No word from Knight yet.
You don't happen to know if Schanke went straight home, do you? He said he had something really important to do.
I told him just go home, but he insisted it was really important.
Is anything wrong, doctor? No.
No, I Well, actually, I talked to Schanke earlier about the shooting and And everything, and he, uh He seemed a bit weird about it.
I noticed it too.
I'm sure he'll be fine.
I hope so.
Wherever he is.
[BIRDS TWEETING.]
[WATER SPLASHING.]
[.]