Collinsport. As Peter Cairo has brought news that Samantha Evans is really Samantha Collins. Nichole Collins finds herself alone once again. She has had to break off her relationship with Sam Evans owing to the fact they are cousins. And so, as she had when she once arrived at Collinsport, she finds herself returning to Eagle Hill Cemetery to contemplate, not only recent events, but to think about her future. And yet, even here in the loneliness of the graveyard, Nikki Collins will find there is very little separation from the world of the living.
The hush sounds of night. Outside the sepulcher the entire world seems to have suddenly gone quite the winter having even tamed the insects that normally sing to the darkness. Samantha stretches out in the tomb, studying the wood grain of the shelf above her. Her breath now slow white plumes between her slightly parted lips.
A cold wind blows across the graves to slitter past the tombstones. Stray leaves having at last given up the stubborn struggle to cling to the all but nude limbs, scamper across the brown grass and come to rest against the cold stones. The clouds above seem to be racing racing to the end of the world? Nikki thinks as she slowly walks up the incline to Eagle Hill Cemetery. The moon appears and disappears in the rapid transit of the clouds.
Samantha contemplates closing the sepulcher doors a bit more, but decides against it, finding the breeze refreshing even though it is a cold Maine night. Is she punishing herself for having allowed herself the foolish thought of being able to have a normal life, to find someone and maintain a relationship Nikki? She sighs. How could she have allowed herself to fall this far, this fast and . . . normal what was she even thinking, was she as crazy as some believed her to be? A normal relationship. The woman was a vampire. And vampires dont exist except here they do and they are beautiful.
A leisurely saunter and Nikki makes her way along the crooked path.
Samantha pulls out her knife and begins some idle tracing on the woodwork, an unexpected pattern forming
Somewhere off in the distance a dog attuned perhaps to Nikki’s mood howls into the night.
Samantha jumps and freezesdogs, how she hates dogs . . . her eyes wide in listening for the source of the howls trying to judge the distance, the direction.
The dog is answered now from a pack off towards the east.
Samantha rolls off the shelf stealthily moving to the door to close it something she should have done earlier to help contain some warm from her body here in the house of the dead.
One slow foot after another, the hem of her great coat all but dragging the ground Nikki approaches the old rusted gates of the cemetery.
Creeeeeeeeeek complains the old hinges as the gate opens to her touch. Cold metal and dried blood hued rust.
Samantha begins closing the sepulcher doors, now more alarmed from the sound of the gate opening, and cursing the grating sound of metal on stone.
It has been a long time since Nikki ventured out into the graveyard. Once she came every night to sit in contemplation within the old sepulcher — her fortress of solitude. She needs time to think, to sort out her emotions shes lost having Sam there to comfort her, lost her warmth and she finds herself conflicted as another has awakened her desire.
D*****t close already, Samantha curses under her white puffing breaths as she strains to close the painfully slow doors.
As she walks closer to the marble temple erected to the dead, Nikki stops. Her sapphire eyes narrow as she hears the slow movement of the doors.
All the dogs are howling!
Samantha focuses on not panicking as the door picks up some momentum, yes; its almost there.
“What are you doing? Nikki asks, seemingly of the sepulcher.
She pauses now hearing Miss Nikki’s voice and stopping, pokes her head out from behind the stone door.
“Samantha?”
Samantha sighs and smiles in relief, Oh, it is you Miss Nikki?”
“Not to ask why you are in the cemetery at night, but what are you doing in this old family crypt?”
Umm” Not at all certain how she is going to take her answer, or how it is going to sound since they all think her crazy to begin with, I slept here before you put the bed in the office for me. Sometimes I like to come back here to think.
Braced for the usual response, she does not get it, or any in fact as she watches Nikki lowering her head to enter and steps into the crypt. Her bright blue eyes shining in the darkness as she slowly walks over and takes her own familiar seat.
Samantha doesnt say anything, does not want to break this mood the two of them alone, and she settles next to her.
I used to come here almost every night when I first arrived at Collinwood.” Nikki sighs after a long moment of silence. “A lot has changed.”
Samantha nods, cuts a glance to the breathtaking blonde woman beside her, Why did you stop?
“I figured out that I was not of the dead . . . but of the undead.” Nikki says her voice filled with reflection. With a lazily hand she points outside, “I met Esther here you know.”
Samantha sits and pulls her knees up to her chin, watching her lips as she talks aware now of how much she loves watching her lips when she talks that lovely British accent, Did you?
“Yes I was in here . . . alone. I had the night before gone too long without . . . without eating, She flinches at the word, aware of what Samantha must think, Without blood . . . and I almost attacked Elanor.”
Samantha sits looking at her.
“I came here because I felt myself to be a monster.”
With a nod, Samantha looks down.
“And then I heard someone saying a prayer for the dead. It was Esther. Here to see her grandmother.” She turns her head slowly to look at her, “I have never told anyone, but I think she knew what I was that night long before I told her.”
Samantha nods, More than likely. Esther is very smart.
“She wasn’t afraid of me . . . and we became friends.” Nikki continues reflecting, “We started Collins Investigations together. It seems like it was only days ago.”
Samantha remembers after the bar fight, the conversation she had with Esther. Of course Sam doesnt believe in fate or doesnt want to believe in fate. Or there might be some reason she was here in Collinsport was here sitting in a sepulcher with a vampire she so wanted to kiss.
“But to answer your question why I stopped coming here. Rhyaad and Esther helped me understand that I can only be a monster if I want to be.”
They sit alone now in silence.
I have heard there was an incident between you two what happened?” Nikki asks
Nothingjust some stupid dogs again.
“Dogs? Oh, you mean the day they were chasing you at the Old House?”
I suppose she told you about it
It was very nice of you to have brought her a sandwich, Sam.”
Samantha blushes in the darkness.
“I am more concerned about an incident Rhyaad told me happened at the Blue Whale.” Nikki sits back and takes a deep breath of the night.
Samantha looks over at her, her chin resting on her knees, legs still curled up, Mmm. Which one?
“Esther tells me she thinks she may have said something to hurt you, and she was sorry for having said it.”
Samantha blinks trying to remember, My first attempt at apologizing to her?
“I am not certain, a night Rhyaad tells be he was dancing with a rather handsome boy and Esther was drinking before we went to Bangor to check on Noah.”
Samantha nods remembering the night-
Well, she did upset me that night. She admits, So I did something kindawrong.
“Yes?”
I told the barkeep to put everything I drank on Esthers tab.
Nikki rests her head back on the sepulchers stone wall, “I can tell you she told me was very sorry the next day.”
I’m sorry, She murmurs, then looks at Nikki, She was?
“Please understand I would like you and Esther to be able to work together. I need you to work together.”
Samantha nods.
You each mean a lot ot me.
Samantha brightens at the statement.
“This place has odd memories for me.” Nikki says looking around the old crypt.
It has some recent ones for me.
Samanthas heart accelerates a beat as Nikki places a hand upon her hers and smiles.
A car drives up to the cemetery gates, and Dr. Artemis, from the Miskatonic University Library, gets out and takes a look around.
Esther walking along the cut through the woods, the path that leads from the Old House to the Cemetery holds her arms across her chest for warmth: The Weather says it’s a f***ing 1 degree. . . F***ing one degree Fahrenheit, and I’m still traipsing about . . . She mutters to herself, her breath escaping in white puffs.
Dr. Artemis reaches into his car and takes out his overcoat and pulls it on and buttons it against the cold Maine night. Brrr . . .
Samantha leans over and rests her head on Nikkis shoulder and is thrilled that Nikki presses her own head back against hers.
Esther still a ways away from the cemetery thought she can see it now in the clearing, in the moonlight as the clouds scurry past, and she continues her march. Why does Nikki feel a need to come out here why does she feel the need to assure she is all right. If anyone should be safe in a graveyard it should be Nikki
Hello? Is there someone there? Dr. Artemis calls out.
Nikki hears the voice of Dr. Artemis? She sits forward.
A tall, darkly handsome man stood near a tall tombstone and tapped his hand atop a slab whilst waiting for something particularly interesting to happen.
“Dr. Artemis, is that you?” Nikki asks stepping out of the crypt.
Samantha falls over as Nikki suddenly moves, Aiiee. She has yet to get used to how fast that woman can move when she wants to
Dr. Artemis trudges closer to the gates, Miss Collins??
Samantha clambers of the sepulcher following her.
Tony Richardson turns to look at the source of the voices.
“My goodness Doctor, it is a bit cold for you to be out tonight.”
Esther making her way along the uneven ground, mumbles something to herself, and draws her coat closer and trudges on.
Yes. It certainly is. He says, his teeth chattering.
Tony Redgrave pulls out his lighter and a cigarette and lights up, taking a quick puff.
Nikki strides over to the gates and opens one.
Samantha chuckles to herself seeing the Doctor, looking very uncomfortable out here.
Thank you, Miss Collins. He says.
Tony shakes his head, Oi. You make enough noise to wake the half dead.
The Doctor enters through the open gate. He gives a slightly look to Nikki and Samantha as she is exiting the sepulcher, Oh. Miss Brook. I didn’t know you were here.
Samantha continues to chuckles happy to let him think what he will.
“Yes, I was surprised to find her here.” Nikki replies.
Dr. Artemis turns now and looks at the approaching man, Who are you??!
Tony climbs the wall deftly and perches atop and takes a drag from his cigarette, but he does not respond to the Doctors question.
I often come here Samantha explains and turns to look at the man up on the wall.
Tony Redgrave. May have heard of me. And puffs on his cigarette.
No. The Doctor and Samantha both reply.
I haven’t. The Doctor continues, Miss Collins, who is this man?
“Are you new to Collinsport?” She asks the man atop the old cemetery wall.
Samantha frowns as his name rings no bells with her also.
Passed through Arkham a while back. Trish mentioned you. He tells the Doctor.
Trish? Artemis uncertain.
Carmilla? Styrian deal? Ring any bells?
. . . Oh. The Doctor nods.
“Ah, Arkham.” Nikki nods, unaware of Mr. Redgrave, or Trish or what the Styrian deal is or was or why he was in Collinsport in Eagle Hill Cemetery.
And which side were you on? The Doctor asks now flatly.
Contract soldier for the EUMO during the final stages of the conflict.
Dr. Artemis nods none to approvingly, Mercenary.
Mercenary And Samantha spits at the word.
I prefer “Hunter of Fortune” myself. Redgrave replied evenly.
“Passing through Collinsport? Or are you here on business?” Nikki asks.
Samantha eyes him keenly not at all certain he was trustworthy enough to be talking to in the middle of the night in a graveyard.
Looking for a guy. Name of “Kang”.
Esther out of breath, finds even ground as she sees the graveyard. Sees the people, and says to herself, Of course you would . . . yet another of these endless mercenaries that seem to find their way and having to pass through some small town in Maine with a population of 2,500.
Ures Kang?
“Yes, he seems to have disappeared, he was a client of mine at one time.” Nikki recognizes the name.
Ures Kang. Redgrave nods
DrArtemis looks at Nikki.
Samantha seeing the look tries to adjust her shoe.
Nikki looks at the Doctor, with a nonchalant shrug, Yes, he wanted us to find an artifact for himand then Task Force 141 came and asked me to actually locate it as they wanted to capture him taking possession of it.
The Task Force is defunct, isn’t it? The Doctor states.
The 141? Losers tried to kill me a while back. Redgrave says and flicks ashes into the cold wind.
“But, I think he figured out the ruse and so, he has not been in Collinsport that I am aware of in some time.” Nikki adds.
But then again. Who hasn’t?
Tired to kill you? Nikk asks.
Ne nods.
Samantha raises a hand, I havent
Dr. Artemis smiles slightly at Sams quip.
Nikki nods, Sam, you were under contract with General South, weren’t you?”
She nods, I was. Am. Not sure havent heard anything in awhile.
Esther approaches the gates of the cemetery, finally.
Is Task Force 141 still active? Nikki asks the Doctor.
Miss Brook, I would advise against having anything to do with that man. The Doctor tells Samantha evenly.
“I have told her the same thing Doctor.”
Last I heard, the good General was chilling in Nicaragua, trying to put together something. Redgrave answered her question and took a drag off the cigarette, the tip glowing red.
The UN has ordered them disbanded after they were discovered committing crimes against humanity in Africa. Dr. Artemis tells Nikki, shivering.
Hunting witch doctors? Sam asks.
“Oh, well, read that man’s speech, you knew that was coming.” Nikki says coldly.
I know because I reported their actions to the UN. The Doctor adds.
Umm Miss Nikki… Sam says, I wanna keep the contract for now, if that is okay.
Some chick down at the UN seems to consider him a serious threat. Redgrave nods, The kind you get demon hunters to track down.
Esther yells over to the gates, I hope some’uns got a bonfire! ‘s cold enough to freeze the balls of a brass moneky!
Who’s that?! Artemis squints into the darkness.
“Well, I would perhaps frame it Sam, but I am not sure how good it still is — based on what the Doctor just said.” Nikki turns to Sam with a wry smile.
Niiki smiles at the Doctor, “And that would be Esther!”
Miss Friedman. Of course. I should have known. Hello, Miss Friedman. Nice to see you again.
Esther comes to the gate and looks at them, and glances up at the man sitting on the stonewall, N one should be outside on a night like tonight. Yer F***in’ toes’ll freeze off.
Speaking of fire, these censers aren’t putting out much heat. Artemis notices.
“You know Doctor, this is fortuitous . . . we had just been discussing getting in touch with you.” Nikki tells him.
Oh?
I saw a car or two in the parking lot? At the risk of bein’ rude, could we all pile in there and talk this out? Esther asks huddled in her coat.
Samantha walks back into the tomb and comes back with some wood and has a fire going absurdly quickly, How is that?
“Yes, we have a very cryptic poem that needs to be deciphered.” Nikki replies watching Sam working on the fire.
I know a tavern nearby that must be warmer than this… The Doctor suggests now. But why are you out here tonight, Miss Collins?
AHhh, Nik, Esther says, Its a poem that should not be discussed in a public place with, she looks up at Redgrave, strangers on the wall.
’Oh, yes, the Whaleperhaps we should go there, I am sure it is far warmer than this old graveyard at night.”
Yes. Rhyaad de’Annar mentioned something about a document he wanted translated. That’s why I am here in Collinsport. The Doctor says, but does not explain why he decided to stop at the cemetery at night, and nIkki does not ask at the moment.
Samantha stops partway into opening a bag of marshmallows she has removed from the crypt.
No Nik. Not the Whale. Esther says, shaking her head.
Nikki stops for a moment, as if she hears something.
Is it closed for health code violations? The Doctor asks Esther.
Remember what happened in th’ teaplace. Not public. A small meeting in yer house will do just fine.
The sound a footsteps in gravel can be heard.
Dr. Artemis turns as he hears the footsteps.
There is now the sound of a car door shutting.
Esther turns around to look out the gate, and slings her shotgun off her shoulder.
A motor starts.
Dr. Artemis whispers, Someone’s coming.
Tires on gravel as a car pulls away.
No. Going. He corrects.
Someone’s leaving! Esther rushes to the gate,
Dr. Artemis follows quickly behind her.
Tony Redgrave hops off the wall and stomps out his cigarette.
“Someone was here, listening.’ Nikki says looking at Esther.
Samantha looks back and banks the fire.
Dr. Artemis watches to see the car pulling away into the night.
Esther peers at the car, trying to see a plate.
Samantha looks up at Nikki, Good thing we didnt say anything important.
It was a black Mercedes. I was too far away to see the plates.
Esther re-slings her shotgun, You move pretty quick Doctor.
“Did you see who it was?” Nikki asks.
No. Sorry Nik. Esther says, and then adds, But, illustrating my point, this is not a safe place, and neither is the Whale.
“Sorry, Doctor, we are a bit jumpy these days, someone tried to abduct Esther and then the other night two snipers tried to shoot her.” Nikki explains,
Really? The Doctor looks at Esther. Then yes. Let’s depart post haste.
Cue Music and End of Episode