THE EDGE OF NIGHT
Airdate: Tuesday, January 29, 1980
Transcript By: Mark Faulkner
ACT ONE
Scene A
Lobby of Margo's highrise apartment.
[Draper hurriedly enters the building, his face hard and angry.]
OSCAR
Oh... hi there, Mr. Scott. You just missed your mother-in-law by two seconds. She just got in and went upstairs.
DRAPER
(stern) Thanks... (he goes to the elevator and punches the button).
OSCAR
Said you were expected... you were to go right up.
DRAPER
(barely controlling his anger) That's just what I'm going to do, Oscar.
OSCAR
(flatly) Right...
[Draper enters the elevator just as Dennis, the doorman from the previous shift, walks by in his street clothes.]
DENNIS
(a sigh of exhaustion) Well...good night, Oscar.
OSCAR
Good night, Dennis. Hey... (indicates the elevator) You see that one? The private elevator...
DENNIS
Who was he?
OSCAR
Mrs. Dorn's son-in-law Draper Scott. And didn't he look like the wrath of God...? Well...I'll see you later...
DENNIS
Goodnight.
CUT TO:
Scene B
Margo's penthouse
[The elevator doors open, and Draper steps out.]
DRAPER
Margo!
[Draper surveys the darkened room. The door leading to the terrace is open. A surge of cold wind rushes in with a howl, the curtains billowing wildly. Draper approaches the terrace door then notices Margo lying in a crumpled heap behind the sofa. A trickle of blood smears her forehead. Next to her body is a bloodied fireplace poker.]
DRAPER
Oh, my God... Margo...
[He kneels over her body, stunned --unsure what to do-- then rushes to the phone on the bar and dials]
DRAPER
Hello... I need an ambulance right away. (A BEAT) 123 Rivershore Drive... Dorn. D-O-R-N...Margo Dorn --it's in the penthouse... (A BEAT) She's in very bad shape...she has a head injury...I don't know if she's dead or alive...it looks like murder... (A BEAT) Scott. Draper Scott. Yeah...I'll be here...and hurry!
[As Draper hangs up, he hears a noise from the terrace. He grabs another fireplace poker from the stand and cautiously approaches the terrace doors. He steps through the billowing drapes. The terrace is desolate except for the continued howl of icy wind. Draper steps back into the apartment and surveys the room for signs of an intruder.]
DRAPER
Whoever did this might still be here...
DISSOLVE TO
OPENING TITLE
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Scene A
Nicole's living room.
[Nicole is pacing the floor anxiously. April enters from the kitchen, startling Nicole.]
APRIL
Oh...Nicole...I'm sorry...
NICOLE
So glad I'm not alone tonight.
APRIL
Do you know...if anyone had ever told me that you and I would be sitting here...worrying about where our husbands were and what they were doing I woulda told them that they were nuts...
NICOLE
You know where Draper is, and you know what he's doing.
APRIL
(sarcastic) Yeah...I know where he is...Speaking of that...I'm surprised we can't hear the argument over here. I mean, you're not too far from Margo's.
NICOLE
Draper has every right to be very angry.
APRIL
I know he does. I should have gone with him. I woulda been able to tone down his anger, but no, no, no...this was his argument... just between him and Margo...I'd just be in the middle.
NICOLE
You know, this might be the best thing. For Draper to get this all of his chest...once and for all.
APRIL
Maybe... I don't know. He doesn't stay angry for long. But, I'm real worried about it this time. Nicole, you have no idea the...ugly things I thought of when he stormed out the door. I even imagined that I saw -- [she stops at the thought of the image]
NICOLE
What...?
APRIL
Nothing...nothing. I don't want to talk about it.
NICOLE
Well...you know...in about three months...you are going to be getting a whole new life.
APRIL
(lightly) Yeah...how do you expect that?
NICOLE
In about three months you're going to be a mommy...and Draper's going to be a daddy...and Margo's going to be a grandma... I think that's going to make all the difference in the world.
APRIL
Oh...I really hope so...
NICOLE
Wish there was something in my life that could make a difference.
APRIL
Nicole, I can't tell you how awful I feel about what's happening between you and Miles. I just wish there were something I could do...or at least something I could say...Frankly, I just don't understand it.
NICOLE
I don't understand it either. At least there's a rational reason for Draper's behavior. I can't say the same thing for Miles.
APRIL
You know, this may sound really off the wall...but I can't help-- Nicole... I just have a feeling you're keeping something from me.
NICOLE
Yeah, there is something...Maybe I should tell you. (A beat) Miles is responsible for this (indicates the bandage on her forehead). Indirectly...I was running up the stairs, and he grabbed my arm...and that's when I lost my balance...and that's when I tripped...and that's when I fell.
APRIL
Nicole, did he push you...?
NICOLE
(insistent) No...no...It was an accident. It was just a crazy argument. Where did he get this idea about me and Derek...? I don't know...And you realize...that my husband doesn't want to be around me because he's afarid that he might hurt me.
APRIL
Oh, no...
NICOLE
He is so frightened. It's as if -he doesn't know what's happening to him either.
APRIL
Miles thinks he's losing his mind...doesn't he?
TAKE NICOLE'S REACTION, AND
CUT TO:
Scene B
Steve Guthrie's apartment.
[Steve enters the apartment and calls to Miles, but doesn't get a response.]
STEVE
Not here. Well, that's gratitude for you.
[Miles enters through the front door]
MILES
(nervous, unsteady) You still open for business...?
STEVE
Sure...hey, c'mon in... When you weren't here, I assumed you were feeling better, but you still don't look so hot.
MILES
Probably feel worse than I look...if that's possible.
STEVE
(short) If you weren't feeling better... why did you leave?
MILES
I, ah... I thought maybe some fresh air would do me some good.
STEVE
You left your coat. You coulda caught pneumonia...you know that?
MILES
Thought maybe I could clear out the cobwebs...
STEVE
Where'd you go?
MILES
(smiles anxiously) I guess maybe the remedy didn't work... I don't have the slighest idea...
DISSOLVE TO:
Scene C
Margo's penthouse.
[Two police officers are on the scene, with medical personnel. A plainclothes officer is questioning Draper while the EMT workers attend to Margo.]
DRAPER
Look...I told you... I came in, and I saw Margo lying on the floor. That's it.
DWYER
Just a few more questions, Mr. Scott. Is it true that when you called the police emergency number you used the word "murder" to describe what happened here?
DRAPER
(A beat) Yeah...yeah, I guess I did...I was reacting more than I was thinking.
DWYER
(dryly) I see...
DRAPER
Look, I'm a criminal attorney...I walk in...I see a woman with a bloodied head, a bloodstained poker lying next to her... (agitated) What the hell am I supposed to think...?
DWYER
There doesn't appear to be any signs of a struggle or even that a robbery took place. Look, we'll be checking in to those possibilities later on, of course. But...did you notice anything else?
DRAPER
Ah...yeah...I --I heard something...something on the porch...on the terrace. I went out and searched it. I searched the whole house.
DWYER
Well, what did you find?
DRAPER
It was empty. I was the only one here.
[Draper and the officer stare at one another. Draper uneasily realizes the implications of his statement]
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT THREE
Scene A
Steve's apartment.
[Steve brings Miles a steaming cup of coffee.]
STEVE
Here...drink this. Be careful, it's hot.
MILES
You know... coffee doesn't have any medical value at all for curing hangovers...you know that...
STEVE
No...I didn't know that. But you still need something to take the chill outta your bones. You're very lucky. You coulda been mugged out there.
MILES
You're a good friend, Steve...taking care of me like this.
STEVE
Nah... you woulda done the same for me.
MILES
No...I don't mean just the coffee and the use of the sofa.
STEVE
The coffee tastes like mud, and the sofa's kinda lumpy...
MILES
I meant the way you got me --out of my office with nobody seeing me in the condition I was in.
STEVE
Well, I didn't think you were in any condition to see patients.
MILES
If any of them had seen me... I might have lost my practice. Then I would have lost a lot more than I already have...
STEVE
Hey, don't worry about it. Nobody's gonna find out. You're not gonna do this again, I hope...
MILES
Why'd you come by my office? Were you sick or something?
STEVE
Me? No, I'm fine. I wanted to... ask you about Nicole.
MILES
(bitter) Popular lady...What'd you want to know?
STEVE
I heard she had an accident.
MILES
(uneasy) Yeah, she fell on the stairs...
STEVE
What happened?
MILES
She... she was... going up to look in on Adam... he was crying, and...she was in too much of a hurry...and she tripped...and she...fell.
STEVE
That's all that happened?
MILES
(breathing hard) It's not going to happen again, Steve...
STEVE
I don't understand. Whaddya mean?
MILES
I mean I've taken care of it. She...she won't be that clumsy again.
STEVE
Miles, now was it because of Nicole that you were drinking? (he doesn't respond) Miles...Miles...I said was it because of what happened with Nicole that you --hit the bottle? I can understand how it got you upset.
MILES
(a beat) The bottle...? It's funny... I --I don't remember having any more than one drink.
[Steve's phone ring. He leaves Miles to answer it.]
STEVE
Hello...
DWYER'S VOICE
Steve Guthrie?
STEVE
Yeah, this is Steve Guthrie.
DWYER'S VOICE
I'm glad I caught you in... This is Sam Dwyer of the plainclothes squad.
STEVE
Sam...how are ya?
DWYER
I'm fine, but a friend of yours is in the middle of a very touchy situation, and I thought maybe you'd like to know.
STEVE'S VOICE
Yeah, what friend?
DWYER
His name is Draper Scott.
STEVE'S VOICE
Draper...? Oh, what's the matter...he need some legal advice?
DWYER
No, we're at Margo Dorn's apartment. Pretty nice place execpt for the bloodstains on the carpet.
STEVE
Bloodstains? What happened...is Draper alright?
DWYER'S VOICE
Well, he's okay...but Mrs. Dorn's in pretty bad shape...Someone tried to murder her...
STEVE
You said tried...? She's still alive?
DWYER
Yeah...but someone put a very nasty dent in her head with a fireplace tool. The docs are working on her, but it ... doesn't look good.
STEVE'S VOICE
Sam... do you know who did it?
DWYER
Nah, not yet.
STEVE'S VOICE
Well...how does Draper fit in the picture?
DWYER
Mr. Scott discovered the body. Look, I've got a lot of questions for him, but he's in --pretty shaken up condition.
STEVE
You would be too if you walked into a scene like that.
DWYER
Well...I thought maybe if he had a friendly face...you know...something that could relax him --make him feel a little easier about things.
STEVE
Yeah. Yeah, I understand. Sure. I'm on my way over.
[Steve hangs up.]
STEVE
Miles, I gotta head over to Margo's... (he notices that Miles is out cold) I'll tell him when I get back. Poor Miles...that's all he needs...more bad news.
[Steve exits]
CUT TO:
Scene B
Margo's penthouse.
[Oscar has arrived upstairs for police questioning]
OSCAR
It's... it's so hard to think at a time like this. She was so... I mean, oh...she was a lovely woman, Mrs. Dorn. Who would want to do such a horrible thing?
DWYER
That's what I'm trying to find out...
OSCAR
I wanna help --I wanna help you more, but I...can't think of anything that I haven't already told you.
DWYER
You're sure about the time sequence?
OSCAR
(snippy) Detective... it is my job to keep track of who comes and goes in this building. And I happen to be very good at my job.
DWYER
I'm sure you are, but when these things happen...people get upset and sometimes they become a bit confused.
OSCAR
Well, I am not confused, sir! Mrs. --
DWYER
Dorn...
OSCAR
Dorn...arrived not more than a minute before Mr. Scott. She said... she said he was expected and I should send him right upstairs, and that is just what I did.
DWYER
And nobody else could have been in this apartment...?
OSCAR
(annoyed) When Mr. Scott arrived, Mrs. Dorn was alone . And that is the truth. So help me...
TAKE DWYER'S REACTION, AND
CUT TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FOUR
Scene A
Nicole's living room.
[Nicole is on the phone.]
NICOLE
No...no, it's me again... Right, okay...If he does call just give him the message...Goodnight. (hangs up, then to April) He hasn't come back to his office. I seem to be best friend's with his answering service.
APRIL
What about his hotel?
NICOLE
I've left six messages with the Monticello Arms. When he comes in, they're sure to give it to him...
APRIl
He probably just went to a movie or something. Anything to get his mind off...
NICOLE
You know what I'm afaid of? He's gotten these messages... he just doesn't want to talk to me...
APRIL
No, Nicole...he wouldn't do that. Miles loves you. He wouldn't worry you needlessly.
NICOLE
I suppose so.
APRIL
I'm thinking of using this phone myself. Calling Margo and finding out what's going on over there.
NICOLE
Why don't you...?
APRIL
I don't know. Maybe I'm afraid that maybe Draper will think that I'm interfering.
NICOLE
The argument may be over by now. Maybe they've kissed. Made up.
APRIL
But then again...maybe if I do call...I might interrupt the tension...
NICOLE
Well, I think you should at least call and tell Draper that you're here in case he decides to go home...
APRIL
That's true...
NICOLE
Well...
APRIL
Yeah, I wouldn't want Draper to go home to an empty house. (she dials the number)
CUT TO:
Scene B
The phone ringing in Margo's apartment.
DWYER
Why don't you answer that, Mr. Scott?
[Draper, dazed, walks to the bar and picks up the receiver]
DRAPER
(slowly) Ah... hello...
APRIL'S VOICE
Draper...
DRAPER
Oh... April.
APRIL'S VOICE
Why did you answer the phone, where's Margo?
DRAPER
Ah...look...Margo can't come to the phone right now, honey...
APRIL'S VOICE
Oh...well...you don't sound angry.
DRAPER'S VOICE
I'm -I'm not angry. Ah...we didn't argue...
APRIL
Good. But on the same hand you don't exactly sound...right...
DRAPER'S VOICE
(very long beat) Honey...something happened...
APRIL
What happened? Tell me...
DRAPER
I don't know... I mean, it's not all clear yet.
APRIL
Draper...you're not making any sense. Would you please put Margo on the phone, I want to talk to her ...
[Draper can't continue. He hands the phone over to Steve.]
APRIL'S VOICE
Hello...
STEVE
Hello, April. It's Steve Guthrie.
APRIL'S VOICE
Steve, what are you doing there?
STEVE
I'm here on official business--
APRIL
(overlapping) What are you talking about?
STEVE'S VOICE
April, I know this is a shock, but your mother's been seriously injured...
APRIL
No, that isn't true...!
STEVE
Look, try to stay calm...okay?
APRIL
Is she going to be alright? She is, isn't she!?
STEVE
April, she sustained a very severe head injury. The medics are trying to work on her now.
APRIL
I'm coming right over there...
STEVE
Now, April. When Draper got here, he found your mother unconscious, lying on the floor. He's the one who notified us. We're just trying to put the pieces together right now. I guarnatee you, we will find who did this.
APRIL
I'm coming over...
STEVE
April, there's nothing you can do...
APRIL
I have to be with my mother, Steve.
STEVE
April, listen. They're gonna take Margo to the hospital very shortly. You're in no condition to drive over... no state of mind at all. Look, I'll send Deborah over to pick you up. Alright?
APRIL
I'm at Nicole's...
STEVE
Alright. (he hangs up)
DRAPER
Thanks, Steve...I couldn't talk to her right now.
STEVE
No matter how many times you have to tell somebody that, you never get used to it...
DRAPER
I really appreciate it...
[Draper extends his hand; Steve notices it is covered with dark soot]
STEVE
Draper... Draper, your hands are filthy. How'd they get that way...?
TAKE DRAPER'S STARTLED REACTION, AND
CUT TO:
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FIVE
Margo's penthouse.
DRAPER
Steve it...it must have been that fireplace tool I picked up.
STEVE
Wait a minute...you picked up that fireplace tool...!?
DRAPER
Ah...no...not that one. Ah...this one. (He goes to the fireplace rack and picks the fireplace tool he used earlier) I put it back in the rack...
STEVE
(low tones) Draper... what were you doing with this?
DRAPER
I was protecting myself. It occurred to me that whoever did this to Margo was probably still in the apartment... so I ...I checked it out, Steve. I guess I forgot to tell Dwyer...
STEVE
Draper, what were you doing here?
DRAPER
I --I had a... I had an appointment to see Margo.
STEVE
What about?
DRAPER
She got me angry about something. I came to confront her. (agitated) It's personal...
STEVE
I see... Draper, will you relax and tell me what the hell you were doing over here?
DRAPER
(long beat) Yeah...Margo did something to me. I --I wanted to come over and confront her. I was angry, Steve.
STEVE
You were gonna tell her how you felt...
DRAPER
Yeah...in no uncertain terms.
STEVE
Draper, do you know that Margo got here just minutes before you arrived?
DRAPER
Yeah... I know it. I was downstairs waiting for her in the car. I saw her come in. I came in right after her...
STEVE
The doorman says that you came in the elevator right there... a minute after she got into this apartment...that you're the only one who could've been here.
DRAPER
Wait a second, Steve...If I didn't know you any better, I'd think you were trying to make it sound like I'm the one who did this.
STEVE
No, no. I'm not saying that...
[Dwyer approaches them]
DWYER
That portable respirator finally did the trick. Mrs. Dorn's breathing on her own now.
DRAPER
Thank God. Look, when she comes around, she'll tell you what happened.
DWYER
She hasn't regained consciousness. She's alive...but just barely...
STEVE
(gravely) Well, let's hope they keep her breathing...that's the only way we're gonna find out what really happened...
THE CAMERA PANS TO DRAPER THEN TO MARGO'S MOTIONLESS BODY
FADE OUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK
CLOSING CREDITS
