The Edge of Night
Airdate: Tuesday, January 23, 1979
Transcript By: Mark Faulkner
ACT ONE
Gus' bedroom at the house in Mayfield.
MILES
Tina's told me about the improvement in your condition, Gus. I'm very glad.
GUS
It -it isn't all that wonderful.
MILES
At least you're able to get around a bit now. You're able to talk. That's quite a difference from what I saw in this room not more than a few weeks ago.
GUS
Yes...I -I suppose that's true.
MILES
I'm glad you're better for another reason. I have something important to talk to you about. It helps to know you're going to be able to respond.
GUS
(short) What? What is it?
MILES
It's about Denise. [Gus looks away] Oh, yes?I know that's a painful subject. Let me assure you it's even more painful for my sister.
GUS
Yes...yes, I know.
MILES
She's still in prison, Gus. For a crime she didn't commit. (BEAT) I know she's innocent because I know who killed your daughter.
GUS
(incredulous) Someone's...someone's confessed?
MILES
No,we haven't been able to get a confession. I'm hoping to get one soon.
GUS
But...but who, Miles?
MILES
Well, it just seemed unthinkable at first. There was a question of motive that was unclear. The method. But most of all, we just couldn't figure out how somebody commits murder when they're in a state of total paralysis.
TAKE GUS' STARTLED REACTION, AND
DISSOLVE TO:
OPENING TITLE
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Gus' bedroom.
MILES
There's only one answer to that last question, Gus. There was no paralysis. It was all a disguise...a performance. A damn good one, too...worthy of an ex-physician who's seen many such cases -you have seen a lot of stroke victims, haven't you?
GUS
Miles,what are you saying? You can't believe that I would --
MILES
(overlapping) That's how you were able to make this partial recovery of yours so rapidly. Tell me about your wheelchair, though,Gus. You don't really need this thing, do ya?
GUS
I can't walk, I swear it!
MILES
It's for Tina's benefit, isn't it? Tina and the rest of the world's...so your complete recovery won't look too rapid. That would create suspicion, wouldn't it?
GUS
Miles, you can't believe that. You've known me for years.
MILES
Yeah, I hardly knew you that day you came back from the Clairmont with your face all twisted at the side. Looked like such a severe stroke. And yet you insisted on coming home from the hospital instead of staying there for treatment. Somehow you were able to give the orders and have them bring you back here to your bedroom...and they obeyed you. By God, yes, it's your hospital, isn't it!?
GUS
Miles, you cannot believe I would do such a thing.
MILES
Listen, I know you had a seizure of some kind, Gus. I saw the reaction in your retinas...in your skin. The trembling in your hands. Something happened to you, but it wasn't a massive stroke, was it? You woke up in that hospital. You knew you were ill, but you also knew that you weren't paralyzed. Yet for some reason you decided to pretend you were. (A BEAT) Why, Gus? What was the idea? Did you have this murder in mind even then?
GUS
No,no. I swear it. You have it all wrong --
MILES
(overlapping) You had something in mind, didn't you? You thought that there was some advantage to having everybody think that you were helpless. What was the idea, Gus!?
GUS
I was not what you think...no!
MILES
Then it is true...you were faking? (Gus is silent. Miles grabs him by the collar, furious) Gus, tell me the truth, dammit...or you want me to yank you to your feet and force you to stand!?
GUS
(screaming) All right?!!! (A beat) It's true.God help me, I was faking.
MILES
Why?
GUS
Because I didn't know what else to do. Because I didn't know what else would distract Denise from that horrible scheme of hers.
MILES
What scheme was that?
GUS
That grisly plan she had... to take you with her to the grave?
MILES
(stunned) My God!
GUS
That's why I did it, Miles. You see, when Denise found out that she was really going to die...that her pretended terminal illness was real...she told me -she told me that she wouldn't be the only one to leave this world.
MILES
Oh, Gus. That was probably an empty threat.
GUS
(sure) No...no it wasn't. She meant it. You remember the day you came in to talk to her...the day I had my seizure? She was trying to poison you.
MILES
That can't be true...
GUS
Oh, yes. Yes, it is. You remember when you left the room, and I was left alone with Denise?
[They begin to remember the scene in flashback. Denise and Gus are alone in his study]
DENISE
...leave me alone.
GUS
You meant what you told me when Miles left here the first time...if you had to die, he had to die?
DENISE
Yes, I meant it! And I would have succeeded if you hadn't interfered!
GUS
You were going to poison him! With what!? I said, "with what?"! Where is it? (notices his open cabinet) My God! Have you gotten into my drugs!?
DENISE
Oh, get out of here, Daddy...leave me alone...
GUS
What kind of a monster have you turned into, Denise? My God, I knew you were sick, but are you mad, as well?
DENISE
I don't care anymore. I AM DYING! Why should anything matter to me!?
GUS
Don't you believe in anything? Don't you believe in hell!?
DENISE
(sarcastic) Yes, I believe in hell...I'm living in it...
GUS
Oh, Denise...my god! How'm I gonna stop you once and for all -
DENISE
Don't touch me! You've ruined the only thing I wanted at this point... to see Miles dead!
GUS
Denise... I -- (Gus cries out in pain and clutches his temple with a violent seizure, then collapses to the floor unconscious)
DENISE
Daddy?
[The flashback ends, and we are back in the present]
GUS
It was a seizure...but I wasn't paralyzed. When I came to I had a monstrous headache. And something much, much worse. The realization of the nightmare I would face when I got back home. It was then I thought -that perhaps-perhaps if Denise were distracted. If she had something else to worry about besides her illness and her thoughts of vengeance.
MILES
So you pretended total paralysis, and you got away with it?
GUS
Yes. When I got home, Denise was far too weak for any overt attempts at murder. But...she had another scheme that was even more frightening.
[Gus begins to remember another flashback. He is in bed, pretending paralysis. Denise hovers above him]
DENISE
...hundreds of ways to commit murder. Murder without punishment...that was the extraordinary part. I'd already gotten a death sentence. I could have done anything...anything. (A beat) It's too late now. I'm too tired, too weak. I'm gonna have to spend all of my time in bed now, and I know I'm just gonna get weaker. It doesn't mean I'm giving up. Just because he's out of reach doesn't mean I'm gonna leave this world without making Miles suffer the way he made me suffer. I know what I'm gonna do, Daddy. I've got it all figured out what to do, and I won't even have to lay a finger on him. It's really the perfect solution. It's the perfect solution for both of us...
[The flashback ends, and we are in the present]
MILES
Gus, are you saying Denise told you what she planned to do and you did nothing about it!?
GUS
I swore to myself I wouldn't let it happen, Miles. I thought the best thing to do was wait...wait until I knew more...
[Gus recalls more of Denise's plan in flashback]
DENISE
First of all...I'm not gonna die from this stupid disease. I'm not going to wait around for it to get worse and worse. For the pain to become more unbearable than it already is. You know that painkiller that you prescribed for me -those injections -I read up on that stuff and I know exactly how much it would take to put me away really very quickly. (A beat) In goes the needle, and it's all over. I'm sure that you do not blame me for wanting a quick end. But -that isn't all that there is to my plan...there's really much more. You see, I don't intend to be blamed. (A beat) But Miles will be. My darling husband is going to administer this overdose deliberately...
[Flashback ends]
MILES
So it was true? She did plan to murder herself and blame me? That's not quite how it turned out, is it, Gus? Well, suppose you start telling me what did happen?
TAKE GUS, AND
FADE OUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT THREE
Gus' bedroom, continued.
GUS
Denise wanted to get your fingerprints on that hypodermic. And then -after you'd left- she was going to take that same syringe and inject herself with an overdose.
MILES
But, it didn't work that way, did it, Gus? How did it work?
GUS
It was just as April said...
[Flashback begins the day of Denise's death. April has confronted her in Denise's bedroom]
APRIL
...you managed to be alone with my brother, didn't you? You can't fool me, Denise. I know you're planning something treacherous.
DENISE
For God's sake?!
APRIL
I know how your mind works. You're probably thinking that because you can't have him...nobody can. That's why you asked him up here, isn't it? It's because you want to kill him.
DENISE
I've heard enough of your nonsense. Now get out...
APRIL
Oh, I'll get out. I'll get out of this room. And I'll even get out of this house. But I am going to sit on that stoop outside and I'm going to wait for my brother to arrive, and I'm going to make sure that he never steps foot inside this house ever again!
DENISE
Don't be ridiculous...
APRIL
You can't stop me...
DENISE
(rising from the bed) I certainly can. (Denise staggers toward April, barely able to move, and then she collapses ).
[Cut back to the present]
GUS
I heard the sound of Denise's cry for help. That was when I decided that I could not remain in my room any longer. I had to take a chance... leave my bed...my paralysis...and listen outside Denise's bedroom door.
[In flashback, we see Gus shuffling down the hallway outside Denise's room]
MILES
The shuffling feet?
GUS
What?
MILES
The shuffling feet. That's what April heard in her vision. She heard you, Gus.br>
FADE OUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FOUR
Gus' bedroom, continued.
GUS
I had to find out what was happening in there... Denise's bedroom.
MILES
And what was happening?
GUS
Denise had fainted...
[Flashback begins immediately following Denise's collapse. A concerned April attempts to help her]
APRIL
Denise?Denise. Oh, God...she looks dead. Denise! (Denise begins to mumble as comes back to consciousness). You're alive. Denise, you scared me -I thought you were dead. Come on, wake up. Wake up. C'mon, get up. (April helps Denise to her feet and walks her to the bed).
DENISE
Oh, it hurts, it hurts. (By now they are to the bed) Oh...oh, what happened?
APRIL
You really are sick?
DENISE
Oh...oh, now you realize it.
APRIL
Look -look, is there... why'd you let that nurse go? You look bad!
DENISE
I'm such a danger. I'm such a terrible danger to Miles. Look at me. I look like I could hurt somebody?
APRIL
(softly) No...no, you don't.
DENISE
Oh, I can't stand this pain!
APRIL
Well, is there something I can give you? A pill?
DENISE
(fighting the pain) No. Nothing helps. Just that shot. The only thing.
APRIL
(April sees the filled syringe on the bedside table) Ah...what's in it??
DENISE
Just a painkiller. It's the only one that works. April, do you think you could -could you give it to me? (crying) I can't stand this pain...
APRIL
Denise, I've never given anyone an injection before.
DENISE
Oh, I'm too weak...
APRIL
Denise, I want to help -but I can't.
DENISE
April, you've been in hospitals. Your brother's a doctor. You've had hundreds of shots yourself...
APRIL
I've never given one before, Denise. Don't ask me to do this! Look, I'll -I'll call someone.
DENISE
I can't wait. God...
APRIL
(quietly) I can't.
DENISE
Yes, you can.I'll tell you how. It's simple. (April picks up the syringe) Now, just push that thing. (April pushes the plunger slightly) No, no...more. You have to get the air out. That's it. (April pushes until some of the medicine squirts out of the needle). There. Now, just put the needle right there. (Denise indicates her arm. April places the needle against Denise's arm) Just press very slowly. (April breaks the skin with the needle, but she is nervous, shaking.) Come on, April, come on...
APRIL
I can't! (She removes the needle and puts the syringe back on the table).
DENISE
Don't get squeamish...
APRIL
There's gotta be some other way.
DENISE
I think I'm gonna die...
APRIL
I'll -ah, I'll call the Clairmont. I'll get an ambulance over here. (April goes to the phone and attempts to dial, unaware that Denise has disconnected the phone line) Come on, come on!
DENISE
Please, April...
APRIL
The phone's dead.
DENISE
Please just give me that shot.
APRIL
Sorry, I have to get someone. Denise, I'll go and I'll get someone. I'll bring back some help. I'll be back.
DENISE
(wailing) No, don't go...no, don't go...don't go --
[Flashback ends]
MILES
Then what happened, Gus? (Gus remains silent) Go on! (a beat) All right. Shall I tell you? You went into the bedroom.
GUS
Yes, I went inside. I had to Miles, my little girl was suffering in there. And then...and then I knew what I had to do. For her sake -and yes, for yours.
[Begin flashback. Gus enters Denise's bedroom after April has left]
DENISE
(stunned) Daddy!
GUS
You're in pain, my child.
DENISE
But you're walking. You're paralyzed.
GUS
Don't worry about me. I'm better now. Your need has cured me.
DENISE
Oh, Daddy. Thank God. Please, please give me an injection. April couldn't, and I can't myself...I'm too weak.
GUS
Yes, yes, child. I understand.
DENISE
Please hurry, because Miles is coming. He's going to be here any minute, and I can't let him see me like this. I've got to be -
GUS
Yes, yes, Denise. I know.
DENISE
My God, what a miracle. Daddy, you know only a few days ago...you couldn't move at all. You couldn't move. I don't understand...
GUS
(throughout this he has taken out a clean syringe and filled it with a lethal dose of Denise's painkiller) Miracles can still happen, Denise. To all of us.
DENISE
That's what I need... a miracle.
GUS
There's always room for one more, Denise. And there's still hope.
DENISE
All I'll settle for now is just -relief from this -- awful pain.
GUS
There won't be any more pain after this. I promise you. No...no more pain. (Gus administers the injection)
DENISE
Thank you, Daddy...
[Flashback ends]
GUS
She would have done it herself. Don't you see, Miles? She would have done it, and you would have been blamed. What I did -was to save you...and to save my daughter's soul.
MILES
(a beat) And what about April, Gus? What about her?
TAKE GUS' SAD REACTION, AND
FADE OUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FIVE
Gus' bedroom, continued.
GUS
Miles, I swear to you. I never thought anyone else would be blamed for what I did.
MILES
But someone else was blamed! Why didn't you come forward, Gus?
GUS
I kept waiting. Waiting and hoping that the charges against April would be dropped. I was so sure Mike Karr could be able to get her off.
MILES
How could he do that when the evidence was damning against her?
GUS
Miles, I swear. I took a fresh hypodermic from that drawer, and I filled it. I had no idea there was another syringe with her fingerprints -
MILES
But you heard about it later, didn't you!?
GUS
I thought they'd come up with something else. I never thought that anyone could think that an innocent child like April could do such a thing --
MILES
That innocent child is in Warmdale Prison right now, suffering the tortures of the damned.
GUS
I thought they might decide that Denise had committed suicide.
MILES
What about... what about after the trial started, Gus? Why didn't you come forward then!?
GUS
Miles, I'm an old man... and I'm sick. Don't you know what it would have done to me to give myself up to the police...to go to prison?
MILES
So it was perfectly all right for April to go in your place, was it?
GUS
I know it was a...cowardly thing to do?
MILES
That's right, you've never been known for your courage, have you, Gus? You never even had the nerve to lance a boil, that's why you quit your medical practice. I'm surprised you had the courage to give Denise the overdose!
GUS
I didn't want April to suffer! I don't want anyone to suffer --
MILES
Yeah, but mostly yourself?
GUS
(anxious) That's not true! I have suffered... if only you knew! And it's not true about this wheelchair. It's not pretense. I've been sick. Very sick indeed, and I --I feel sick right now. Right now! (Gus suddenly clutches his chest in agony and cries out with each sudden stroke of pain)
MILES
Gus! Gus? Gus!!! For the love of God, don't die now!
TAKE GUS, GASPING FOR BREATH, AND
FADE TO BLACK
COMMERCIAL BREAK
THE EDGE
OF NIGHT
Written By:
HENRY SLESAR
Associate Writer
STEVE LEHRMAN
Directed By
JOHN SEDWICK
A PRESENTATION
of
PROCTER & GAMBLE
PRODUCTIONS
