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SYNOPSIS
by Linda Wolverton
ACT ONE
Lestat, a young, independent and strong-willed aristocrat, is an
outsider in his own family. When his mother, Gabrielle, urges him to
escape their oppressive way of life, Lestat runs away to Paris to
reunite with his childhood friend, Nicolas.
On his first night in
Paris, the vampire Magnus snatches Lestat from his mortal life and
gives him the Dark Gift of immortality. Magnus then throws himself
into a fire leaving Lestat with no one to guide him in his new
existence. Lestat refuses to be doomed by the situation, but he is
caught in a moral dilemma because he is a moral man who now must
kill to live.
As a vampire, Lestat suffers from loneliness, but he
will not make Nicolas into a vampire because he loves him. He does,
however, give his mother the Dark Gift on her deathbed.
Lestat and
Gabrielle encounter the vampire Armand who controls a small coven of
vampires who have made their home underground to hide from the wrath
of God. Lestat convinces Armand's followers that they needn't hide
in the shadows in order to survive, and so the coven deserts Armand,
abandoning their miserable existence for a life in the theater. In
retaliation, Armand takes Nicolas and threatens to make him into a
vampire. Lestat begs Armand to release Nicolas, and eventually he
concedes. Nicolas, now aware of Lestat's condition, convinces Lestat
to grant him immortality, but he does not have the mental stamina
for the vampire life and he sinks into an almost catatonic state.
Lestat believes that Armand's maker, the ancient vampire Marius,
will be able to help revive Nicolas. Lestat and Gabirelle journey
through Europe, Greece and Egypt, with Nicolas in tow, in search of
Marius. Gabrielle decides to be free of all mortal ties and she
leaves Lestat for the natural world beyond mankind. Just as Lestat
is preparing to continue the journey, Nicolas begs to be released.
Out of compassion and pity, Lestat puts Nicolas into the fire. As
Nicolas perishes, the sky opens up and Marius appears beckoning
Lestat.
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