Episode Report Card Cindy McLennan: A | 471 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Nothing But The Dead Of Night Back In Our Little Town
By Cindy McLennan | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 2012.01.12
Caroline's Room: Klaus walks in alone. Liz and Matt are nowhere in sight. Are you kidding me? Ugh. Whatever. It works out well, because this is a beautiful scene coming up, and it should be just between Klaus and Caroline, but I so can't buy that both Liz and Matt aren't hovering at the doorway, that it takes me out of the moment. Let's start anew, shall we?
Caroline's Room: When Klaus enters, Caroline opens her eyes. Her voice is small, sweet. "Are you going to kill me?" Klaus: "On your birthday? Do you really think that low of me?" Caroline: "Yes." Klaus moves closer and pulls back the blanket to examine her wound. He apologizes, telling her, "You're what's known as collateral damage. It's nothing personal. He notices the charm bracelet around her wrist and fingers what I believe is the football helmet charm. His voice is nearly a whisper, now. "I love birthdays." Caroline: "Yeah. Aren't you like... a billion, or something?" I am compelled (oops) to transcribe everything Klaus says, because this scene touches me more deeply than it ought. (Cut that out, Scene. I'm married, and my husband is watching.)
Klaus smiles. "Well, you have to adjust your perception of time, when you become a vampire, Caroline. Celebrate the fact that you're no longer bound by trivial human conventions. You're free." Caroline says, "No. I'm dying." Klaus sits down on her bed and whispers, "And I could let you die, if that's what you want. If you really believe your existence has no meaning... I've thought about it myself, once or twice, over the centuries, truth be told. But I'll let you in on a little secret. There's a whole world out there waiting for you -- great cities, and art, and music..." He fondles her charm bracelet, again. "...Genuine beauty, and you can have all of it. You can have a thousand more birthdays. All you have to do is ask." Caroline's eyes flutter to hold back the tears. "I don't want to die." Tears are poised at the rim of Klaus's eyes, ready to spill. He tilts his head, bares his right wrist, while he lifts Caroline's head with his left hand. She gasps. He moves his wrist to her mouth. "There you go, sweetheart. Have at it." Caroline sinks her teeth into his flesh. The vampire veins appear under her eyes, but they're faint at first. Klaus whispers, "Happy Birthday, Caroline." As Caroline continues to drink, the whites of her eyes turn red.