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ACT ONE
The scene opens with Teresa Vetter driving D.A. Austin Johnson’s car at top speed. She is listening to the car radio as rain streams down the windshield. Her eyes slide to her purse on the seat beside her, a gun exposed half out of the bag. The voice on the radio intones, “local and state police are on the lookout for the missing District Attorney and the woman with him who stands accused of murder…” Teresa snaps off the radio as the announcer continues that Mrs. Vetter had been taken into custody and was on the verge of being accused of murdering the socially prominent Victor Carlsen. Talking and smiling to herself, Teresa says that soon she’ll have her hands on the getaway money Victor hid in the abandoned mine on the Carlsen farm. Her smile fades and she runs her hand over her brow and cheek in a motion of tiredness. She settles down to the drive ahead.
COMMERCIAL
ACT TWO
Scene 2A
Ed is on the phone in Johnson’s courthouse office as Mike enters. He holds the phone under his ear and tells Mike that Johnson went through a traffic light and was almost stopped but the cop on duty saw the “D.A.” on the license plate and allowed the car to go on. Just as Ed says this Chief Marceau, Judith, Margie and Willy enter. Willy asks how Teresa managed to make a get away. According to Johnson’s secretary, Mike says, she was told to phone the basement garage and order his car. He believes that Mrs. Vetter must have had a gun concealed someplace – pointed straight at Johnson. He breaks off as Ed urgently speaks again into the phone saying, “Where’s Johnson now?” Hearing this Marceau grabs the phone. Ed explains to the group that Austin jumped out of the car when it was stopped at a traffic light and Teresa slid behind the wheel, taking off at top speed. Marceau hangs up and tells them Johnson’s car was spotted heading west on Jefferson Boulevard about twenty minutes ago. Mike wonders aloud where she’s headed and Willy says that depending on if she keeps heading west she’ll run into Route 122 which runs through what used to be lead mining country – all farms now. Marceau snaps his fingers as a thought comes to him. He says to Judith, “Didn’t you tell me once that the Carlsen’s owned a farm out in Lortz Valley?” When she says yes, he tells Mike that Lortz Valley is west of the city and Route 122 would take Vetter right there. Mike agrees that she might be hoping to hide out there for a day or two ‘till things cool off. He asks Judith if she’s ever been to the farm and she answers that Victor took her there once, to see the prized stock – and an abandoned mine shaft. Mike and Willy decide to drive out to the Carlsen farm and Ed says he’s going with them. Willy tries to stop him saying, “This babe’s got a gun…and you’ll be tying the knot soon. Judy doesn’t want a husband with holes in him – upsets a woman.” Not to be dissuaded, Ed says he’s going. Marceau says he’ll stay behind “to mind the store,” and as the three men leave the room Judith says to Ed, “Darling, be careful! She’s got a gun and, remember, she is a murderess!” Ed kisses her and tells her not to worry. The men leave the room and Margie goes to Judith and puts her arm around her. Marceau watches them and smiles, but grimly – worriedly.
DISSOLVE
Scene 2B
At a weather battered, time broken wooden structure forming the entrance to an abandoned mine an old man sits just inside the entrance. He’s wearing a wet poncho and smokes an old charred pipe as he stares ruminatively at the pouring rain outside. The sound of a car screeching to a stop is heard but the man watches without much expression. Teresa hurries into the entrance and stops as she sees the old man. Eyeing him she says, “We’ve met before, haven’t we? Aren’t you the man who takes care of the stock or something?” The man answers affirmatively and introduces himself as John Weaver – herd boss. He then says, “Teresa Vetter – Victor Carlsen’s business partner – that’s you.” After a few pleasantries, Teresa tells Weaver that she needs his help, “There’s something back in this old mine shaft that I’ve got to get.” She tells him that there was something of hers Mr. Carlsen was keeping for her before he died – a leather satchel containing some things of value, “he told me that he’d hid the satchel back in the mine for safe-keeping.” Weaver comments on the strangeness of this since the old mine is about the un-safest place to put anything. He says that anyone who’d take a chance and enter that mine after it being abandoned all these years “ain’t got sense enough t’come in out’n the rain” and declines Teresa’s offer of money for his help. Angered, she says she’ll do it herself and asks to use his flashlight. He hands it to her and tells her to be careful where she walks back in there. She starts away and he shakes his head, looking after her.
DISSOLVE
THIRD COMMERCIAL
ACT THREE
In the mineshaft Teresa appears, holding the flashlight up to spread it’s sputtering light. Walking in high- heels over the rubble and debris is difficult and she turns an ankle. She grimaces and comes to a stop. While she pauses to collect herself she suddenly hears the squeaking and scurrying of rats! Swallowing hard in disgust and fear Teresa summons her courage and starts again. She takes a few steps and stops again as she hears the sound of timber cracking – stones and dirt trickle down the wall. Instinctively she hunches over and looks up at the ceiling fearfully and then hears a long, cracking groan from a roof support. She stands – frozen!
DISSOLVE
STATION BREAK
ACT FOUR
Teresa straightens up and takes another few steps into the tunnel. Moving the flashlight this way and that, searching. Then, she sees what she’s after. The satchel is lying on a shelf of rock, worn with time and rotted with dampness. Cobwebs cover it. Teresa picks her way to the satchel and reaches for it. As she starts to pull it off the shelf, the moldy leather tears and packets of greenbacks stand revealed. With more pains, being careful not to tear the leather further, she gets the satchel off the shelf and tucks it under her arm. As she turns to start out of the tunnel the ominous sound of cracking timber and falling rubble stops her in her tracks. Teetering on the edge of fear she waits, then starts. Again she stops short as the distant sound of screeching car breaks is heard outside the shaft. Fear lashes across Teresa’s face!
DISSOLVE
FOURTH COMMERCIAL
ACT FIVE
Scene 5A
At the entrance of the mineshaft Mike, Willy and Ed are talking to Weaver. He seems undisturbed as he tells them Teresa is “where she oughtn’t to be,” jerking his thumb back in the direction of the mineshaft. Ed starts into the mine at once but Weaver tells him he shouldn’t go back into that shaft. There’s nowhere for Teresa to go so, “if you fellers are so almighty anxious t’talk to the lady, whyn’t you wait ‘till she comes out?” When Mike says there could be another exit Weaver says there was one for emergencies, but it caved in. Mike tells Willy to look for a flashlight in Marceau’s emergency kit and then asks Weaver how long it’s been since the mine’s been worked and is told 20, maybe 30 years. He grunts and asks Weaver if he knows why the Vetter woman was so anxious to go in. Weaver tells him that she said Victor Carlsen hid something of value of hers back in there and she had to get it. Willy returns with a flashlight and hands it to Mike. Mike tells him to call headquarters and brief them on where they are and what they’re doing. He and Ed turn and enter the tunnel.
DISSOLVE
Scene 5B
Judith, Margie and Marceau are in Johnson’s courthouse office. Marceau is on the phone and can see the worried look in Judith’s eyes. She says there’s no need for Ed to risk his life like this. He resigned his Lieutenancy and isn’t on the force any more. Marceau comments that Mike Karr isn’t on the force either – but he’s risking his life. Judy comments that it all doesn’t make sense and Marceau says that love never does make much sense. When Judy asks him what he means he tells her that Ed loves her and Mike does too, but in a different way. If he hadn’t felt the way he does he wouldn’t have defended her against almost impossible odds. What those two have done for her makes about as much sense as – a miracle. In fact, that’s just about what they’ve performed together – a minor miracle – and because they feel about her as they do they’re trying to make sure that the miracle pays off. Not leaving it to anybody else – but making sure, by doing it themselves. Turning back to the phone he says a few words into the receiver, then regards Judith and Margie somberly. He tells them that Willie just contacted headquarters – they’ve followed Teresa Vetter to an abandoned mine on the Carlsen farm and all he knows is that Mike and Ed have gone into the mine after her. Judith turns away and Margie quickly goes to comfort her. Marceau frowns and gnaws a corner of his lip.
DISSOLVE
FIFTH COMMERCIAL
ACT SIX
Scene 6A
At the entrance to the mine Weaver is seated, expressionlessly puffing on his charred pipe. Willy starts to fill his pipe as Weaver eyes him a moment or two. He asks Willy why he doesn’t “set.” Willy tells him there’s nothing to “set” on. Weaver gets up and crosses to the side of the entrance. He picks up a piece of tile – drainage tile about two feet long, with a cuff that fits into another and similar piece. He doesn’t just simply pick it up, but pulls it away from an adjoining tile that is half buried under rubble. He brings it and up-ends it near Willy. Willy eyes the tile wryly and says, “You expect me to set on that?” Weaver shrugs and tells him to stand. Willy decides he’ll “set” and does. He lights his pipe and he and Weaver just “set” – smoking and looking out at the rain.
DISSOLVE
Scene 6B
Inside the shaft Teresa waits and listens alertly. The distant and muffled sound of feet kicking rubble can be heard and the nerves tighten in her face. Then she hears Mike’s voice, closer. She hears him tell Ed the ceiling beams look pretty shaky. Careful not to kick any of the supporting uprights. He says that the whole roof could cave in without a second’s notice. Suddenly the rumble of a cave-in is heard!
Scene 6C
Mike and Ed are standing in a haze of dust looking upward. Mike throws the beam of his flashlight up and says that most of the roof looks to be holding. He begins to whisper, saying that maybe they’d better do as little talking as possible. Maybe the vibrations of their voices can cause little cave-ins. Around a slight bend from Mike and Ed, Teresa is on the alert – waiting. She hears Mike’s voice say, “Ed – look.” She quickly puts the flashlight down on the floor, taking most of the light away from her face. She then puts down the satchel as well. She straightens, opens her purse, and takes out the .38. The kicking and crunching of rubble grows louder as Mike and Ed get closer. Teresa’s lips suddenly curl in a vicious smile and her eyes gleam as she sees them. Carefully she raises the gun and takes aim.
DISSOLVE
SIXTH COMMERCIAL
CLOSING BILLBOARD
Harry Kramer: "This is Harry Kramer inviting you to join us each weekday afternoon for THE EEEDDDGGGEE OF NIGHT."
