There are consequences for breaking the rules, even for vampires in Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire. In “I Could Not Prevent It,” Louis (Jacob Anderson) and Claudia (Delainey Hayles) are put on trial for violating the Sacred Vampire Laws. Armand (Assad Zaman) betrayed Louis last week when Santiago and the theater coven took Louis, Claudia and Madeleine (Roxane Duran) into custody for breaking the coveted Vampire Laws. It was revealed at the end of the episode that Lestat (Sam Reid) is alive and waiting to face his fledglings.
THE TRIAL BEGINS
Louis recalls the incident as an abduction. He was hooded and tried hard to fight back. He was also apprehensive about Claudia and whether or not she was still alive. The coven took Louis back to the theater where they hypnotized Madeleine and tortured Claudia. Louis tried to get to her, but they knocked him out. When he woke up, they were onstage before a crowd of mortals.
The trial was a well-planned production. Louis says he, Claudia and Madeleine were props. Santiago (Ben Daniels) hosted the trial as the prosecution. Some of the coven members were dressed as judges. The primary evidence was Claudia’s diaries. Santiago read passages from the diaries to make his case. They painted Louis and Claudia as villains with murderous intentions. Claudia and Louis tried to speak in their defense, but the judges silenced them by using their powers to disorient them. The coven also cut their ankle tendons so the accused couldn’t run or attack the coven.
Louis and Claudia were being charged with the murders of Antoinette Brown and Lestat de Lioncourt and for violating several Vampiric Laws. Santiago compelled the audience to boo anytime Claudia or Louis spoke up. It was anything but a fair trial. Madeleine was silent through the entire production, still hypnotized by Santiago. And to make things worse, the star witness revealed himself, causing Claudia and Louis to freeze in disbelief and fear.
LESTAT’S POINT OF VIEW
Up until now, we’ve heard Louis’s side about his relationship with Lestat. Now it was Lestat’s turn to tell his side. Only, his side was written by the coven. Lestat called the production a love story, with an animated technicolor film to accompany it. They painted Louis as a predator and Claudia as a relentless killer. Lestat focused on his love for Louis and the heartache of being rejected by the only vampire he loved. Louis didn’t speak. He only watched the audience’s reaction to Lestat’s story. At one point he looked for Armand and saw him sitting in a box, guarded by one of the coven members. Louis said Armand was just as much a prisoner as he was. He was sure that Armand was trying to find a way to save him.
Then Lestat focused on Claudia. First, he gave the audience a clear picture of how lonely he was because Louis would not return his affections. He made the audience feel sympathy for his loneliness, justifying his reasons for giving Claudia the Dark Gift. He told the audience that Louis begged him to turn Claudia, despite Lestat’s protest. Lestat said he told Louis that it was forbidden to give the Dark Gift to children. He said she would be crippled and a lapdog. Louis said she could be their daughter and he promised never to leave Lestat. Lestat still refused because he knew the Laws.
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Louis begged Lestat to turn her, promising to be anything Lestat wanted. He cried at Lestat’s feet. Lestat told Louis that he would regret it for the rest of his life before draining Claudia. Lestat told the audience that he made Claudia into a vampire for Louis. He broke the second law and when the jury sentences Claudia and Louis, they should sentence him too. Santiago defends Lestat, saying he was manipulated. Onstage, Louis protested saying it’s not how it happened. But, Louis tells Daniel (Eric Bogosian) … Lestat was right. It is how that night happened. He says he downplayed his role in turning Claudia and Daniel should use Lestat’s version in his book. Louis apologizes for getting it wrong. Louis sees Lestat sitting in the penthouse, talking about Claudia. He’s onstage as well in Louis’ memories.
THE TURNING POINT
Lestat said Claudia was an unforeseen joy, a formidable fledgling and congenial companion. They were happy until Claudia became wild. Lestat was right. Claudia caused havoc until she ran away. She was gone for seven years and Louis became depressed, missing her. He withdrew from Lestat again and that’s why Lestat turned to Antoinette Brown. When Claudia returned, Lestat said Claudia saw the fragile state of his relationship with Louis. She asked Louis to abandon Lestat and travel with her to Europe. The crowd booed.
The next part was very emotional for Lestat. He talked about how he and Louis fought. About that night he dropped Louis to the ground. Lestat goes off script, saying they had seven years of pent-up frustration. Claudia’s request made Lestat angry. His children wanted to abandon him. And even worse, his love no longer loved him. He grabbed Louis flew into the air and then dropped Louis. He broke Louis to hurt him the way Louis had hurt Lestat. Santiago defended Lestat’s actions, saying he had ancient blood in him, making him stronger than most vampires. While he spoke, Lestat began to cry. He said he couldn’t persuade Louis to return his affections and he couldn’t force Louis to love him. So he broke Louis. Lestat turned to Louis, crying and apologized.
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Daniel asks Louis if Lestat’s apology moved him. It didn’t. Louis knew Lestat too well. Lestat tried to play on his emotions. Armand said Lestat plays with people until you are left with no sense of what is and what is not. Louis wasn’t thinking about Lestat’s sincerity, he only thought that he was going to die. But Claudia had something to say.
A CONFESSION
Claudia stood up and said they poisoned Lestat but he’s not dead. She tried to say she was sorry, but the coven silenced her. Claudia was able to tell Lestat that he had to accept her apology. When she regained control of her mind, she said she realized this trial wasn’t about her. It’s another chapter in the stormy romance between Lestat and Louis. Madeleine woke from her trance and asked if they were on trial. Claudia said it wasn’t a trial. It was a stoning. Louis says the audience got quiet after that.
Armand said the trial continued with the technicolor film. Lestat recovered from his emotional outburst, finishing his tale of betrayal. He followed the script, painting Claudia and Louis as diabolical children. The audience was hypnotized by Lestat and Santiago again to react like an angry mob. Santiago revealed how they reached across the ocean to wake Lestat. Claudia confessed and Louis couldn’t move. Lestat would have his vengeance.
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A DECISION IS MADE
Daniel continues his interview with the vampires at dinner. Louis gets agitated just thinking about the next part. He throws his bowl of blood at the wall, saying it’s hard. With help from Armand, they continue. The time had come to judge and sentence the vampires for their crimes. The audience served as the jury, even though they were being controlled by Santiago. Madeleine’s only crime was that she was made without the consent of the coven master … Santiago. The judges determined that Madeleine should be given the option to join the coven. Madeleine chose to stand by Claudia’s side. The jury found the Vampire Madeleine guilty of the heretical desecration of Vampiric Law and sentenced her to death.
The Vampire Claudia was found guilty of the heretical desecration of Vampiric Law one, three, four and five; the murder of the vampire Antoinette Brown; and the attempted murder of Lestat de Lioncourt. She was also sentenced to death. Claudia asks for a final request. Santiago said no, but Lestat told him to allow it. She asked a man in the back to remove his top hat. Then Claudia addressed the crowd, saying she knew all of their faces. She vowed to come back and kill all of them.
The vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac was found guilty of the heretical desecration of Vampiric Law one, two and four; the murder of the vampire Antoinette Brown; and the attempted murder of Lestat de Lioncourt. When Santiago asked for the sentence, the jury could not say the word “death.” Instead they shouted, ‘banishment.’ Louis tells Daniel that it was Armand who saved him. Armand says it took all of his strength to save Louis, but he could not save Claudia. Armand says he could not prevent it.
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A FATE WORSE THAN DEATH
Santiago was annoyed, saying banishment was not an option. But he considered it worse than death and the coven took Louis off-stage. Telepathically, Santiago told the cove to take Louis and lock him up tight. Louis tried to fight the coven to hold onto Claudia. Claudia screamed his name as they pulled him away. The coven drug him downstairs and put him in a coven filled with rocks. Louis fought back the entire time, but could not get away from them. They buried Louis alive.
Armand has to tell Daniel what happened next. Claudia and Madeleine were brought front and center, holding each other. It was 1:29 in the afternoon. He hypnotized the audience telling them that what they were about to see was fake. Santiago flew off stage while the audience cheered. There was a skylight in the ceiling. When it was opened, the sun shined down on Claudia and Madeleine. They started burning immediately. Madeleine screamed, holding onto Claudia. She was the first to succumb to the sun. Claudia began to sing her Baby Lou song before screaming in pain from the sun. She turned and looked at Lestat, crying, before she faded away into ashes. Downstairs, Louis cried out from his tomb. And when the production was over, Santiago dug out Claudia’s dress and took it backstage with him.
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