The Velvet Vampire

Ow!

Ah!

You're a music lover, right?

Yeah.

Soon as I saw ya, I could tell.

You know, he used to sing on street corners.

Yeah.

I remember him when I was just a kid.

Yeah? - Yeah.

You're real easy to talk to, do you know that?

Yeah.

Hey, you come here often?

Whenever I want some ass.

Wow. That's kind of frightening, huh?

I get a lot of sensual energy from it.

You mean it's sexy?

Yeah.

I think he sculpts death.

Is that sexy?

That depends on your point of view.

Susan.

- Oh! - I'm glad you came.

Hi, Carl.

Have you all met?

We've met, but we haven't been introduced.

This is Susan Ritter.

And her husband.

How do you know that we're married?

I'm Diane.

- Diane, would you like a drink? - Yes.

Excuse us.

Lee?

I'd like one, too.

Sure.

Who is she? Diane?

Good customer.

Oh, you've cut yourself.

Oh, that's not me.

What do you mean it's not you?

It's from a cat.

I found him in the street bleeding and I-- I couldn't just leave him there,

so I took care of him.

Tell me about her.

I'd rather talk about you.

Well, how is he?

He's all right.

Hey.

I like you.

Guess what, honey?

Diane has invited us to her desert place for the weekend.

Oh, I'd love to have both of you.

Susie will love it. She's crazy about the sun.

Oh, you'll have all the sun you can handle.

Sounds cool, huh?

How's the water?

What do you want?

- Just passin' through. - Good.

'Cause this tub isn't big enough for both of us.

Come on. Move over and make some room.

- What the hell are you doing? - I'm still waiting for that drink.

What drink?

Oh, so that's it.

I forgot. So what's so wrong with that?

She's pretty, isn't she?

Susan, I only talked to her.

She probably has a great body.

Yeah, she probably has.

Well, you'll have a chance to find out, won't you?

All right, I'll tell ya what.

We'll forget the whole thing, and we'll stay home.

You're sure we took the right turn?

Check the map yourself.

I don't know, I-- I thought it'd look different than this,

more like Palm Springs.

Mm.

We haven't passed a car in miles.

I don't know what to tell ya.

How 'bout some service?

Sorry. Can't help ya.

All I want is some gas.

I don't give gas.

Look, is it such a big deal to get some gas around here?

Look, man, I'm a mechanic. I mean, I'm a trained person.

And trained people don't give gas.

Aw, shit.

You got a real smartass over there.

Gimme a couple of bucks worth.

Pretty deserted around here, huh?

The way the desert is.

Well, I'm-- I'm lookin' for a house that belongs to Diane...

What's her last name, honey?

How should I know?

Well, there can't be that many people around here.

You know the house?

Cash or charge?

Charge.

Can't you tell us how to get there?

Dead ahead. Then the first right.

I hope the desert doesn't do that to everybody.

I knew we shouldn't have come.

Well, there's plenty of sun. You can help your tan along.

I don't know. Maybe I should start back.

No, don't.

Why not?

It's too far.

Hear it?

A car.

Now, you're sure Amos will tow the car in?

Out here in the desert, we help each other.

It'll be taken care of.

How did you know where we were?

Just luck.

Well, the important thing is that you found us.

I'm sorry. I don't care for any.

I'll have Juan fix you a salad.

Oh, come on, Susie. Taste it.

I don't care for steak tartare.

Well, how can you tell if you haven't tried?

Lee, I have tried it. I just don't like the taste of raw meat.

Susan doesn't have to eat something she doesn't like.

Juan will fix you a salad.

Thank you, Diane.

You're right on time.

Always for a few bills.

Follow me.

Have you ever driven a dune buggy?

No, but I'd like to try.

No two are alike.

Take mine.

It's slow getting started.

At first, it takes a little manipulation.

But once it's warmed up, it really comes alive.

Then you have to watch out. It's hard to control.

Yeah. You have to give in.

And then you feel like it's driving you, as you move in rhythm with it.

Up and down, in and out, through the dunes.

Diane, I think I'd like to drive your buggy.

I think I can teach you how.

I think I've had enough.

I'm going to bed.

What do you do around here at night?

Sleep. Mostly.

Well, if there's nothing else, then--

I'll make it up to you tomorrow. I promise.

I'll hold you to that.

Good night, Diane.

The young man is here.

Will I like him?

He's the same age as Victor.

You're good to me, Juan.

Ow, baby!

Ooh, that hurts.

Um, I think you got the wrong guy.

If you don't want me, maybe you'll like him.

What was that?

Probably just a coyote.

It sounded almost human.

Sometimes they do.

Lee, I'm scared.

Come here.

Come on.

Lee.

What's the matter now?

This place, I don't know.

It's this-- this room, and that mirror over there.

It's almost as if someone were watching us.

Someone is.

Who?

You.

My own little voyeur.

Don't joke, Lee. I feel strange here.

Why? You've got a bodyguard.

I promise to take real good care of ya.

Please?

I just don't feel like it.

No!

What is it?

A dream. Nothing.

Well, come on. Tell me.

We were in bed, in the middle of the desert, making love,

and someone pulled you away.

What's wrong?

Well, I was having the same dream, but you were pushing me away.

Who is it?

Good morning. It's almost dawn.

And if you wanna see the desert, we have to get started early,

before the sun becomes too strong.

And be sure to cover yourselves up.

I don't wanna see the desert.

Susie, you don't wanna do anything.

Am I covered up enough, Diane?

Remember, this is the desert, and out here the sun can be destructive.