Last Act (LA)

Weg zur Unsterblichkeit

Week starting May 17th, 1992

Brad Wright

Rene Bonniere

Torri Higginson as Erica Bentley

The prologue opens with Marilyn (a hospital resident) trying to save a patient in the emergency room. The patient dies. In the locker room, she expresses how tired she is. A fellow doctor tries to relax her. Marilyn takes a shower and someone whom she knows surprises her. The person slits her wrists and kills her.

After the opening credits, we see Erica walking into the harbor park. She sits on a park bench, watching the sky turn lighter. When the sun rises, she sizzles and bursts into flames. All that remains are her clothes.

Later, at the precinct, Stonetree questions Nick, asking what's wrong with him. He asks if Nick is constipated. Nick has eight cases outstanding.

When Nick and Schanke investigate the empty clothes in the park, Nick finds Erica's ring. He knows her. He remembers them being together on the stage and as vampire lovers.

Nick and Schanke investigate Marilyn's death. They meet her fiancé at the hospital. Later, Nick and Nat discuss the possibility of murder. He's going to make certain if it was suicide. At the loft, Nick thinks he hears Erica's voice, asking if he is a burden. He raises the blinds and sticks his finger in the sun until it sizzles. Erica appears and invites him into the light.

During his investigation, Nick finds that Marilyn was full of life. He meets Dean, a terminally ill patient, who had a special relationship with Marilyn. Later, Stonetree considers giving half of Nick's load to someone else. Nick convinces him to give another day on the suicide case. He needs it. In the Raven, Janette and Nick talk about Erica, her desire to die.

They go to Erica's apartment. It's ill-kept and depressing. A young girl comes in and tells them about Erica's new play called "Last Act".

Nick returns to the loft feeling self destructive. Nick frightens Nat by being careless around the sun. Nat tells him he doesn't want to die anymore than Marilyn did. She was pregnant. Schanke comes in. He raids the refrigerator, but only finds the green bottles. He wonders if they should talk about a drinking problem. He doesn't understand why being pregnant is a motive.

Schanke goes to Marilyn's apartment and talks with Marilyn's fiancé, Carl. Carl describes her as depressed. He's surprised about the baby. At the precinct, Stonetree is pleased to see Nick fired up. Later, Nick goes to the theater to see Erica's play. The theme about "Last Act" is about living life to the fullest. Meanwhile, someone overdoses Dean, the patient. He doesn't die. Nick and Schanke talk to him and find out that the baby is his. It's Marilyn's way to make Dean immortal.

Stonetree wants to know what's going on. Schanke says they're setting a trap. Carl is told that Marilyn might have been murdered and that they suspect Dean. Dean says that the baby is his. Later, Nick takes Dean's place in the hospital room. Erica appears, wanting Nick to join her. Nick declares that he still finds life exciting. If he dies, it won't be by his hand. A garbed figure stabs Nick. It's Carl. Nick chases him out of the room. Nick catches him and hangs him out of the window. Schanke convinces Nick to bring Carl back in.

In the epilogue (tag), Nick, Nat, and Schanke are at the theater. They discuss "Last Act." When the young actress comes out, Nick gives her Erica's ring. Schanke wants to leave. He had fallen asleep.

Flashbacks center on Nick and Erica. Nick remembers he and Erica on stage, performing. Afterwards, they share vampire intimacy in a bedchamber. Erica talks of giving to life. She says that mortals have immortality through their children.

This is one of my favorites. It shows Nick's struggle between mortality and immortality at one of it's strongest moments. Nick suffers from very human frustrations. He questions life and his worth in it. Nat plays a strong person while convincing Nick that he gives to life everyday. His ultimate decision is that he loves life and still has something to give.

FoDs	He follows Nick's lead even though he has questions of his own. Schanke's obsession with food and short-liners liven the otherwise solemn theme of life and death.
NatPackers	Being strong for Nick. She convinces him that he is contributing to life.
Knighties	In his last scene with Erica, he tell her that he still finds life exciting. He has more to give. If he dies, it won't be by his own hand. He still believes that he can become mortal.
Dark-Knighties	Nick vamps out and is tempted to drop Carl.

Stonetree to Nick:	"You constipated . . . or something?"
Stonetree about Nick:	"Cop doing his job with some passion."
Janette about Erica's apartment:	"If I had known, I would've offered her my decorator."
Nat to Nick:	"Old friend takes on a whole new meaning with you."
Schanke to Stonetree:	"I think we're setting a trap."
Schanke:	"Besides, think of the paperwork if you drop him."
In the last scene:	Schanke: "Did I miss something? What'd I miss?" Nat: "Only the middle ages." Schanke: "D@#m! Were they funny?" Nick: (to Nat) "I enjoyed them."

• Schanke getting out of the car, eating, at Carl's apartment.
• Inside of Carl and Marilyn's apartment. Carl removing cat from table. Discussion of apartment. It's very light, feminine. Carl says it's very Marilyn.

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