A More Permanent Hell (AMPH)

Leben ist schlimmer als sterben

Week starting April 30th, 1995

Ron Taylor

John Kapelos

Sharon Bernbaum as Marybeth Ellis

The teaser begins with Dr. Carter looking at data on a computer. She is not very happy at what she sees. The two other scientists walk outside the observatory to talk. The woman, Dr. Ellis, says she must tell her husband, but the man, Dr. Paul Dana, asks what she will tell him? They hear a loud noise from within and rush inside.

Nick and Schanke arrive on the scene with Schanke telling Nick he should invest his money. Natalie is standing over what appears to be a suicide. When questioned by the detectives, Drs. Ellis and Dana tell about the asteroid they have tracked heading towards Earth. They say it will hit the planet within three months, and it will 'destroy life on this planet as we know it.'

As Nick and Schanke drive back to the station, they ruminate on this news and how it will affect the world. Lighthearted to the end, Schanke says it must be a joke. Arriving at the station, Schanke calls home to tell Myra he loves her. While Nick talks with the captain about her feelings of helplessness. Nick puts forth the idea that Dr. Carter's death may not be a suicide. Cohen gives him two days.

The detectives stop by at the ME's office and Natalie confirms that Dr. Carter did in fact fire the weapon. All the evidence leans towards suicide. At the morgue, Schanke brings up the question of what will happen when people find out. Schanke leaves Nick to comfort Natalie. Off Natalie, we see a uniformed cop on the phone obviously telling someone the "news" he heard at the observatory.

Morning finds Nick watching television, as all the drama begins to unfold around the world. Panic is occurring on the streets. Natalie calls to tell him there is more bad news and asks him to come as soon as possible. At the morgue, she shows Nick several bodies that have obviously been attacked by vampires.

At the station, Cohen informs the night shift that they are only at 1/3 strength and everyone gets street duty. Nick persuades her to give him one more day on the Carter case. Schanke informs Nick and Cohen that he made $5000 on the market when his cousin sold before it began to plummet. He then says the market has been closed. Cohen says all the currency markets are collapsing. After she leaves, Schanke confesses in Nick about his inability to protect Myra and Jenny.

While patrolling the streets, Nick comes across a young vampire who has designs on a mortal woman and scares him off. He then pays a visit to the Raven. Nick talks to Janette about the vampire community losing some of its control. She brings up the question of what will happen to them when the mortals are gone.

Natalie comes to the station and asks Schanke about the Carter case. She asks him about Nick and then about what he plans to do until 'the end.' When Schanke asks her, she says she isn't so sure that what Dr. Carter did was wrong. Then she suddenly gets happy and says she doesn't have to die.

Nick goes to see Dr. Ellis and questions her. He finds out her husband, who works with investments and real estate, is away in New York on business. She tells more about the fact that Dr. Carter was exhausted and ripe for suicide.

At the end of shift, Nick tells Schanke to give his love to Myra and Jenny. Schanke informs Nick about Natalie's visit and tells him to give her a call. Nick goes to the coroner's office and discovers why Natalie has suddenly had a change of heart about the end of the world. She wants Nick to bring her across. Nick refuses, saying that vampires may not even survive.

Nick arrives home to discover Lacroix in his loft. After some biting comments, Nick asks what Lacroix wants. Lacroix replies: companionship. He then tells Nick what will happen to the vampires in the wake of the asteroid - the young will eventually starve, while the ancients, like Lacroix will linger for some time... alone. He also remarks on how much the vampires rely on the mortals for much more than just food.

Natalie is at the Raven. Janette spots her and gives her coffee and tells her to go home.

Nick shows up at the precinct to discover the army has taken control of the law enforcement. He asks Schanke where Natalie is. Schanke says he doesn't know, but he does say that the stock market has been reopened. When Schanke says "there are people making money on this" Nick has an epiphany. He calls Schanke's cousin, the broker.

Meanwhile, at the Raven, Natalie meets up with the 'wayward' vampire Nick stopped earlier. She asks him to bring her across and takes him to her apartment.

Nick and Schanke discover something in the computer at the observatory and pay a visit to Dr. Ellis. Nick puts forth that her statements didn't match. He also tells her that they found a financial program in the computer at the observatory, and a modem set to dial her husband's office in New York. Dr. Ellis confesses that the asteroid was all a plan to make money in the stock market.

Nick receives a call from Janette, telling that Natalie is in trouble. He tells her the asteroid was fake. Nick flies to Natalie's apartment to find her trapped in her bedroom, about to be attacked by the vampire, Spark. The two vampires fight and Nick kills Spark. He then comforts Natalie, telling her it was all a hoax.

Then following evening finds the entire station celebrating the news. Natalie arrives and she and Nick talk. She asks why he didn't stay, and he says he didn't think she wanted him to. She reluctantly admits he was right and then leaves.

In this flashback we know the exact date and location - 24 August AD 79, Pompeii. It probably also encompasses a few days previous. Lacroix, known as Lucius, is a general in the Roman army. He has just returned from a conquest to find his daughter, Divia, has been sick and then miraculously healed.

When Vesuvius erupts, he at first declares that not even the great mountain can destroy him. When the end is inevitable, though, Divia offers him immortality and he chooses 'to live.'

Lacroix first tells the 'story' about an asteroid hitting the earth in 1908, creating a shockwave that circumnavigated the earth twice. But he goes on to say that the current asteroid will be mush more destructive: killing all plant, animal and human life. What about the 'non-human' life?

The final part of the monologue is about how life will always find a way to cheat death. Perhaps saying that vampires, especially the ancients, cannot be killed - even by a catastrophic event.

All in all, I think this was one of the better episodes. It is kind of strange that Nick, who usually seems to be the one who goes out on a limb with things, is the only one with his feet grounded in this episode. He seems to be the only one who isn't going nuts about the asteroid. Also, I love the interaction between the characters and how the idea of eminent destruction affects them all. There are two scenes which show this perfectly. First is the scene in which Natalie asks Nick to bring her across. To begin with, the sexual tension in that room can be cut with a knife! I really wanted Nick to give in even though I knew it was not really the best thing to do. The second is when Lacroix visits Nick at his loft. The ordinarily cold and unfeeling Lacroix opens his heart to Nick and shows some vulnerability. We get to see that he really does care for Nick and Janette and does not want to live without them.

Cousins	Ahhh, you're gonna love this. This episode explores Lacroix as a mortal general in Pompeii. There is the 'oh, so lovely' toga sleeping scene, and many more.
Dark Knighties	Well, ok so Nick isn't actually giving into his vampire side, per se, but he is giving support to Lacroix. The two are quite cordial in the scene in Nick's loft.
Diviants	Well this being one of the two episodes in which she actually appears, of course this would appeal to you.
Nick&NatPackers	The scene in which Natalie asks Nick to bring her across is great, although unfulfilling.

Schanke:	"You're not going to be young forever, Knight."
Divia & Lacroix:	(at different times) "Life will always find a way to cheat death."
Divia & Lacroix:	Divia: "Live or die, general. What is your decision?" Lacroix: "To live, Divia. To live."
Nick & Lacroix:	Nick: "So who is the more powerful in the end - the hunter or the hunted?" Lacroix: "I don't know. Perhaps there is a power greater than both." Nick: "And the possibility frightens you doesn't it?" Lacroix: "But what kind of god is it that can create such perversity, that can make such torture."

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