Kneeling before a grave, Lucas clutches a rose, mourning. (THE WORLD IS A STORM) Phineas narrates with the chorus, explaining his ancestors’ hunt for a creature who survives on blood. We flashback to Phineas chasing Lucas into his night-strewn hometown, shooting him with a crossbow. Day breaks and while searching for the injured creature, Phineas stumbles across the life he left behind: (LOVELY MORNIN) his brother, Richard, a rising Baron; his beloved niece, Justine, grown and marriageable; her maid, Sophia, Phineas’ long-ago paramour; and the crossbow bolt the creature dug from his body. (WHERE ARE YOU HIDING)

Lucas, “Count Delamark”, stumbles into his estate wounded and desperate (THE HUNGER) but refuses to take a victim so close to home. His servant suggests he attend a neighboring Lords’ ball anonymously—several foreigners here tonight, gone tomorrow.

Justine, Phineas’ niece, attends her coming out ball with Sophia cheering in the wings. She is driven to find love and her own match before Father condemns her to one. (POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE) Hunger sated, Lucas is fleeing the ballroom when he sees her. (MY FIRST) Bewildered by an instant connection, he fights his stirring heart and hope, putting her in a trance to draw near without detection. She breaks his hold—the only person to do so in 300 years. Before she can learn his name, he withdraws. (YOU HAVE TO KNOW) Phineas discovers Lucas’ unconscious victim and realizes the creature is parading as a nobleman. (WHERE ARE YOU HIDING REPRISE)

After weeks of travel to throw the hunter off his trail, Lucas returns home. Phineas intrudes on Lucas and his suspicions are deflected, leaving him questioning. Lucas’ servant hands him a letter and invitation from Justine. (MY FIRST REPRISE) He marvels. With only a brief meeting, she was driven enough to discover his alias? After three centuries of darkness, could this be love?

The nobles are astonished when the mysterious “Count Delamark” attends their party. Using a game of (CHARADES), Phineas hints at Lucas’ curse, but his brother, Richard, threatens to cut him off for accosting his guest—no more money, no more hunt. Lucas suspects Phineas is using his niece to expose the truth and, disappointed, excuses himself. Justine follows, begging him to stay. (TAKE MY HAND) She convinces him to pursue a relationship. Witnessing the pieces in play, Phineas resolves to stand back and watch until he finds proof for his brother. He places his ancestors’ journal in Justine’s path.

In the journal, Justine reads about an apothecary who administered a mystery elixir to a young man and turned him into a blood-drinking monster. (THE CURSE) Over weeks, Phineas drops clues about the creature while she and Lucas secretly court. Sophia narrates the time passage and flirts unsuccessfully with Phineas. (PERHAPS MAYBE) Smitten with Justine, Lucas prepares to confess his secret. She resolves to declare her love. Plotting to expose the creature, Phineas “accidentally” scrapes Justine before she leaves with Lucas, drawing a hint of blood.

Lucas drives them in a carriage, attempting to share the truth, but Justine beats him with a declaration of love. Overjoyed, Lucas leans to kiss her and smells her blood. Jerking back, he loses control of the carriage. They crash. Injured from protecting Justine, Lucas puts her in a trance, battling the temptation to drink from her. (ONE CUT) Arriving at the accident, Phineas determines he won’t risk Justine ever again—won’t let her go. Lucas realizes he must let her go.

Wrought by desperation, Lucas enters town and seizes the first living thing he finds. (NIGHT ATTACK)

The continuing attacks have Justine considering the journals’ contents. Phineas takes her to interrogate the latest victim—who was protected from the rain by Lucas’ cloak. (SOMETHING STRANGE) When Justine holds the cloak, snatches of memory from the carriage accident assault her. Sophia distracts Phineas flirtatiously so Justine can sneak away to confront Lucas.

When Justine arrives at Lucas’ estate, his servant draws the curtains, blocking the sunlight, and takes the cloak, confirming it’s his. Justine recalls his grave wounds from the accident, and now he is whole.(CONFESSION) She unwraps the evidence and he confesses his immortality and the price: blood. Shocked, Justine flees. Lucas tries to follow but is driven back by sunlight. Devastated, he prepares to abandon his estate. (MY DREAM)

Justine considers what she knows of Lucas, (WHO IS THIS MAN) fighting to hold onto the dream. Encouraged by Sophia, she decides she loves him no matter what. Lucas’ servant delivers a farewell letter, and she pursues him.

Justine finds Lucas on the road, confesses her love and begs him to make her immortal. He refuses. (THE HUNGER REPRISE) After he unfolds the horrors of immortality, she rebuts with a love that can last (FOREVER). While not convinced, he concedes to marry her in secret, to give her one lifetime, though not an eternity of damnation. (FOREVER REPRISE) Justine is appeased. She and Lucas are married in the night, but her search continues.

Justine discovers the key to immortality in the journal: ingesting the creatures’ blood. (THE CURSE REPRISE)

Phineas finally has the proof he needs—an eyewitness, one of the Count’s own servants. He presents the servant to his brother who refuses to believe until he confronts Justine about her “secret” courtship. (YOU DONT LOVE HIM) Horrified when she, stammering, confirms the accusations, he prepares to send her to France, promising to end the Count. With Sophia’s assistance, Justine escapes to warn Lucas. (FINAL HOUR)

Justine confronts Lucas in his estate, ready to flee with him. He refuses to take her, for Phineas will come after them and one or both may die. In their farewell kiss, she bites his lip and consumes his blood. He is horrified. She collapses in his arms (NEVER SAY GOODBYE) and hope springs as he realizes that to protect her, she must flee with him. Before he can act, a mob bursts in and drags him away. Phineas places a stake to Justine’s chest and raises his hammer. Heartbroken, he knows what he must do.

Trembling, the hunter joins the mob as they build and light a pyre around Lucas. (THE LIVING DEAD) An explosion, and Lucas is gone.

Lucas wakes as Phineas finishes tying him to a chair. “You will die by my hand, not theirs.” Enraged, Lucas breaks his bonds and he and Phineas swordfight. (MAN VS MONSTER) Lucas wins but spares Phineas.

A candlelit funeral. (EMPTY WORDS) Mourners depart the graveyard and Lucas places a single rose before Justine’s coffin, leaving himself exposed to Phineas, ready to die (back to the opening scene of the show). Rather than attack, Phineas confesses that Justine is his child, left to Richard when her mother died and his father swore him to the hunt. He couldn’t kill his daughter.

(NEVER SAY GOODBY REPRISE) Justine and Lucas are reunited. Phineas explains how he led the townspeople on false hunts for a time. Richard obsessed over the creature the rest of his days, dying at sea. Phineas married Sophia and they followed Lucas and Justine to the Americas, eventually becoming immortal as well. They will face the joys and hardships of ages together, forever. (FINALE)

CHARACTERS

Phineas Raybourne: The hunter, in his 40’s. Once a rebellious young man, he is now dedicated to his family’s cause. He has grown closer to catching the creature than any of his predecessors. Baritone.

Lucas Delamark: “Count Delamark,” an immortal who looks 20-30. Tall, dark, handsome. He drinks blood because he fears the grave, but 300 years ago, after discovering what he’d become, he vowed to never take another life. Thus, he leaves a trail of breathing victims in his wake and is always traveling to avoid detection. High Tenor.

Justine Raybourne: Only child and last of the Raybourne bloodline, sheltered and a little rebellious. She hopes to find freedom and love through marriage before Father decides for her. Soprano.

Sophia: Justine’s French maid and best friend who is a hopeless romantic and infatuated with Phineas. Cute, short, 30’s with great comedic timing. Mezzo Soprano.

Richard Raybourne: Phineas older brother, Justine’s father, a baron. Similar to Phineas in appearance but portlier. 40’s or 50’s. Bass.