Season 2, Episode 2

Probably Not Golden Girls

[The VHS tape. April 10, 1993. Caroline is flipping through the pages of her journal]

CAROLINE

So. We’re back to how it all started. This isn’t my first time dealing with one of these, and I highly doubt it will be the last. Ever since the incident with her, they seem to have a sort of vendetta against me. I’ve come to the conclusion that they think of her as some sort of… higher being. But for what reason… I’m not sure.

CAROLINE (Cont.)

I’m still debating on whether or not I want to tell Alphonse what I’ve been up to. I know that I should. We moved all the way here, he said he wants to marry me. It would be impossible to keep it from him forever. But to be frank, I should have told him before any of that happened. If he reacts badly…. [She sighs] He said he wants children. I haven’t thought about that possibility in a long time, not since I started with all of this. I like the idea. It feels… comfortable. I could see the two of us, helping with homework, patching up scraped knees. But what kind of life is this for a family? Always being hunted, never knowing when or what the next attack will be?

CAROLINE (Cont.)

There are plenty of things in this world that, if they want you dead, chances are you will be. I would take getting mauled by a wild animal over being killed by something else any day. Animals kill either for food or self-defense. Either way, they want it to be over as quickly as possible. They don’t have a sense of vengeance, they don’t know sadism. They won’t let you bleed out slowly simply so they can watch every moment of it. 

I’m used to that threat. I can take care of myself. Alphonse, though…. He doesn’t know what he’d be getting into. If anything were to happen, he’d be as good as dead, he wouldn’t last thirty seconds. Which isn’t anything against him, of course. But it takes practice and a lot of research to even have a chance if things ever go wrong. I don’t want him to have to learn. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Least of all him.

CAROLINE (Cont.)

Look at me. [She laughs a bit] Acting like this is some diary. Gott, was ist los mit mir?*

*God, what is wrong with me?

CAROLINE (Cont.)

I’ve been suspicious of the man down the street for some time now. He moved in about eight months ago, and has been… exceedingly friendly. The first murder happened a week later. Add that to the fact that the earliest I have ever seen him outside is at dusk, and I was starting to build a case. ...I should gather more evidence before I do anything rash. But he’s made it personal now. I cannot wait any longer. I’m sure if I’m correct, he will let me know. They’re arrogant like that, every one of them. I'm not sure if that's something that happens when they change due to something biological, or if they think so highly of themselves simply because they have yet to meet anyone who can convince them otherwise. That is to say, they have yet to meet me.

[As if on cue, there is a knock at the door. Caroline curses in German, and we hear her close the journal and shove it in a drawer before greeting the visitor]

RUTHVEN

Miss Beaufort.

CAROLINE

Mr. Ruthven, I’m glad you could make it.

RUTHVEN

I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Though I’m a bit early, I hope I’m not intruding.

CAROLINE

No, of course not. Not at all.

RUTHVEN

[After a beat]

May I… come in?

CAROLINE

[Hesitant, but clearly trying to hide it]

...Of course.

RUTHVEN

Will Mr Frankenstein be joining us this evening?

CAROLINE

No, Alphonse is in Worcester for the weekend on business.

RUTHVEN

That’s too bad, I was looking forward to seeing him. Strange that it would happen this weekend, what with your plans and all. I also can’t help but notice that this ”dinner party” seems to be missing some very important aspects. Namely dinner and guests. And with your fiance out of town… well, Miss Beaufort, I’m getting the feeling that you had something else in mind.

CAROLINE

[Dark]

Yes, I did. [Beat.] Mr Ruthven, if you don’t mind? Whatever happened to that friend of yours? Aubrey, was it?

RUTHVEN

Well, I’m not sure. I’ve been calling her, but she hasn’t been answering. And it doesn’t seem like she’s been home in quite some time. She's always been fond of traveling, but I'll admit, I'm worried. But then, she's a smart girl. I'm sure she'll be fine.

[Caroline pulls out a photograph]

CAROLINE

And do you know these people?

RUTHVEN

Well, that one is quite obviously you--

CAROLINE

[More agitated]

And what about her? 

RUTHVEN

Do you think I should recognize her?

CAROLINE

Her name is Laura. Aubrey’s girlfriend. She disappeared two months ago. No note, no calls, nothing. Just blood on her bedroom floor. 

RUTHVEN

I suppose that potentially sheds some light on what may have happened to Aubrey. It seems the two of you were friends, I'm terribly sorry. Though I can’t help but notice that you seem rather accusatory. 

CAROLINE

...And what about the blonde one? Do you know who she is?

RUTHVEN

[Finally letting the facade drop, sounding much more menacing]

Caroline, my dear, why do you bother asking questions you so obviously know the answers to? Do you just want to hear me say it? Of course I know who she is. But more than that, I know what she is. 

CAROLINE

Well, dead, for starters.

RUTHVEN

Are you so sure of that?

CAROLINE

What?

RUTHVEN

I’m aware that you have dealt with plenty of my kind over the years. But what about hers?

CAROLINE

Her-- What are you talking about?

RUTHVEN

You know how to kill me. You know how to kill others like me. But my dear, she is unlike anything else in this world. There are a small handful of beings similar, of course, but nothing quite the same. Perhaps you should have asked Vordenburg just a few more questions before you two parted ways. If that is still the name they go by these days, of course.

CAROLINE

What was she?

RUTHVEN

She is something older, something whispered about in the darkest corners of the world by my kind. And yours, too. Something that unimaginable numbers of creatures have encountered, whether or not they ever realize. A bargaining chip, a force of terror. She is emptiness, and desperation, and the pit in your stomach when you come to terms with the fact that you no longer have enough supplies to live.

CAROLINE

I never did like metaphors. 

RUTHVEN

Nor am I telling one. I must say, I'm surprised that you haven't pieced it together yet. You had plenty of time. I know all about your history with her, dear.

CAROLINE

How?

RUTHVEN

I have my sources. Friends in high places. Or… low places, I suppose. 

CAROLINE

I am willing to let you walk out of here alive, but only if you give me straight answers.

RUTHVEN

Oh, you'll let me? [Laughs] Dear, you overestimate yourself. You think yourself an expert, but you have yet to even scratch the surface. You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into. You caught a glimpse behind the curtain and think that you know all the secrets the world has to offer. You’re not running this show, Caroline, you’re a puppet in it. And once you find out just who is tugging at your strings? You’ll wish it was as simple as you currently think it to be. It’s not black and white, good vs evil, vampires vs humanity. It never has been. And it never will be. You’ll learn that soon enough. And so will your lineage for generations to come.

[He tears the photograph]

I think I'll keep this. It will be nice to have it until she comes back.

CAROLINE

When she-- No. No, I don't care about all of that. Tell me. Where is Laura Ianthe?

RUTHVEN

Closer than you think. 

CAROLINE

What?

[A beat, and Ruthven gives a small dark laugh as he approaches the camera]

Hey, get away from--

[There is the sound of shattering glass, followed by Caroline making a sound of effort as she presumably stabs Ruthven, who lets out a sound far more animal than human. The chaos quickly cuts off as the tape ends]

VICTOR

...Dude, I think I’m gonna pass out.

HENRY

You good?

VICTOR
I just watched a mysterious videotape of my dead mom stabbing a man, take a guess.

HENRY

Yeah, that’s…. That’s a lot to take in. 

VICTOR

This is…. [He lets out a breath, sounding more annoyed than anything] God, vampires are real, aren’t they?

HENRY

Looks that way. Unless your mom was into making super graphic short films.

VICTOR

Highly doubt that. Vampires, secret double lives.... Elliot would be in his glory right now. [He laughs, but falters as Henry remains silent] ...Sorry.

HENRY

No. No, it’s fine. Ruthven might still be alive, if we can track him down, he might know something.

VICTOR

...We’re going to track down the evil vampire.

HENRY

You got any better ideas?

VICTOR

Just one.

HENRY

Okay. Hit me, smart guy.

VICTOR

He mentioned someone else. Vordenburg. Seems like they probably know something, too. Including how to kill them. Because I get the feeling it’s not as simple as it is in the movies.

HENRY

Never is with you.

VICTOR

[Laughs] 

Shut up.

HENRY

...Victor, who do you think sent you the tape?

VICTOR

Man, how should I know? That’s just one more thing to tack onto my laundry list of questions. For all I know, it just appeared on its own. 

HENRY

Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to ever happen to you.

VICTOR
Are you kidding me? That wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to happen to me today.

HENRY

[A beat, then a moment of realization] 

Wait. Where's the remote? 

VICTOR

Uh, here? Why?

[The tape rewinds and plays a specific part back again]

CAROLINE

I don't care about that. Tell me. Where is Laura Ianthe?

RUTHVEN

Closer than you think. 

HENRY

Shit!

[He begins dialing a phone]

VICTOR

Wait, what? What’re you doing?

HENRY

[Panic in his voice]

I’m calling Christine.

VICTOR

Why, what’s wrong?

HENRY

She’s with that reporter right now.

VICTOR

Okay, and? Talk to me, Clerval, what’s going on?

HENRY

She told me a couple weeks ago. The reporter’s name is Laura Ianthe.