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ACT ONE
Scene 1A
At the entrance to the mine, Willy's head is cocked toward the drainpipe. He listens to hot words between Teresa and Mike as Marceau hurries in. Bill tells Willy that Grimsley's engineers will have the Airjet drill set-up any minute. Noting the angry spate of words muffled in the drain, Marceau asks what's going on down there. Willy responds that Teresa Vetter's telling Mike a thing or two -- they lean down toward the pipe, listening.
At the same time, inside the shaft, Mike and Ed face Teresa, who's spitting like a cornered tigress. She says, "You tricked me! I didn't know everything I said could be heard at the other end of that pipe - that Chief Marceau and Bryan were taking everything down!" Mike tells her every word was heard - she'll be convicted of the murder of Victor Carlsen and the frame-up of Judy Marceau. Teresa tells him she'll deny it - she didn't know what she was saying - that Mike told her their last chance of getting out of the mine alive was gone. Mike says, "Maybe it is," and kneels down toward the opening of the drainpipe. He speaks into the opening, asking Willy how things are going up there. Willy says the drill will be in operation in a few minutes and asks how things are down there. Mike looks around appraisingly, saying, "Not so good, Willy. The pressure on the roof and walls seems to be getting worse." At the sound of a beam cracking Mike says, "I don't know how long we can last!" Willy tells him that once they get the drill into operation, they ought to be able to "drive away" to them in less than an hour. When they get to where they are, a shaft will be cut connecting the two tunnels. He then says that when the jet of high pressure air - the jet that does the digging - gets close to them they're going to feel a lot of heat and if it gets too hot they'll have to stop operations "'till things cool off."
The sound of a high-tension whine, which turns into the roar of a jet engine, can be heard. They've started drilling. Teresa savagely says, "If we do get out of her alive - everything I said about Victor's murder - I'll swear none of it is true, that you worked on my fears to force me to say what I did!" Mike and Ed exchange looks that reflect the anxiety that Teresa might just get away with a denial. There's an ominous creak of timber and a roof support sags dangerously! Mike looks at Teresa and says, "We're not out of here yet, Mrs. Vetter. They all stare up at the sagging support...
DISSOLVE
SECOND COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Scene 2A
In Austin Johnson's courthouse office, Mattie, Judith and Margie are together while Johnson is on the phone. He turns to tell them something and Winston enters. Johnson says he's just in time to hear the good news. The sergeant he's in touch with on the field telephone at the mine entrance says they've started drilling with the Stout Airjet Drill. Winston tells Margie there's a phone call for her in the next office - it's her father calling from the paper. Said he got the news of the cave-in some time ago, but it's taken him all this while to locate her. She says she'll go and tell him the good news and Winston says, "he sounded as if he could use it." As she reaches the door, Winston tells her not to over-do the "good" part of the news. They're not out of danger yet. Her face falls a little and she hurries out. Mattie and Judith look a little crushed too and Mattie turns to her husband and says, "But, Winston, didn't you say there was every hope that this new type of drill could get through to them?" He says, "It can - and it can do it without dangerous vibration that might trigger another cave-in - it's a high-pressure jet of air that cuts through shale and earth gently but quickly - but…there's the possibility of finding granite or hard rock in their path. Barring that, they should have a parallel tunnel dug along the one they're trapped in within an hour or so."
Judith is almost hysterical and says, "I can't bear this waiting! One minute we have hope, the next…I can't take it any more! When I think of Ed down there - tons of stone and dirt moving in on them - maybe crushing them this very minute!" Winston puts his arm around her and holds her soothingly. He tells her not to give up hope - and not to forget that Mike got a confession out of Mrs. Vetter - now Judy will go free! Judy turns to Mattie and wails, "Oh Mattie, Mattie. If only I could talk to him - tell him how sorry I am - tell him I love him and would gladly give my life in place of his --!" Winston turns to Johnson, holding his hand out for the phone. He speaks into the phone, asking the sergeant on the other end if it would be possible for Chief Marceau's daughter to talk to Ed Gibson. As he listens to the voice on the phone, his eyes turn to Judy. He says gently, "Maybe you will be able to tell Ed - what's in your heart." Judith's face is a complex of pain, sorrow and gratitude.
DISSOLVE
Scene 2B
In the dark interior of the tunnel, the distant, muffled roar and whine of the Airjet drill can be heard. Mike, Ed and Teresa are beginning to feel the effects of the radiated heat from the drill. Keeping a wary eye on the sagging roof beams, Mike hears Willy's voice calling faintly through the drainpipe. He crosses to the pipe -
Intercut
A radioman has joined Willy and Marceau at the entrance to the shaft. He's carrying a portable 75-meter transmitter and receiver. Speaking into the drainpipe, Willy says that they're going to try something - rig things so Judy Marceau can talk to Ed from Monticello. The field telephone has been brought in; it's a 75-meter portable transmitter and receiver. However, in order for them to hear each other the drill will need to be stopped. Hearing this Mike looks at Ed, who is yearning to talk to Judith, then at the roof and around at the walls. He says, "Okay we'll gamble. When you're ready - cut the drill," and then tells Ed to get ready at the pipe. Teresa screams, "Are you crazy?! It could mean the difference between life and death for us!" and starts toward Ed. Mike grabs her and she glares at him venomously.
DISSOLVE
THIRD COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT THREE
Scene 3A
A short time later Winston Grimsley is on the phone in Johnson's courthouse office. Judith and Mattie are standing nearby with their arms around each other, faces taut. Smiling gently, Winston turns to Judith and hands her the phone. He tells her not to start talking until she hears Ed's voice. She takes the phone, trembling and listens...
CUT TO
Scene 3B
The radioman holds the field phone down to the pipe opening. He looks at Marceau and nods. Marceau yells for the crew to cut the drill. The sound of the drill stops and there's silence. Leaning down, Bill's voice chokes as he says, "Go ahead - kids. . ."
CUT TO
Scene 3C
At the same time, inside the mine, Ed is down near the opening of the pipe. Mike stands nearby, keeping an eye on his wristwatch. In an intercut with 3A, Ed, his voice trembling, says, "Judy - can you hear me?" Her heart in her voice, Judy tells him she can hear him. Ed tells her everything's going to be all right - they're going to get out of there safe and sound. Tears streaming down her face, Judy tells Ed she loves him. Mike taps Ed on the shoulder, indicating his time is up. Breaking down, Judy tells him goodbye.
CUT TO
Scene 3D
At the entrance to the shaft Marceau and Willy are unashamedly moved. Bill turns and says savagely - "Start the drill again!" The drill starts up again and the three men just stand there - thinking, "it can be a crummy life sometimes" -
DISSOLVE
Scene 3E
Inside the mine, Mike, Ed and Teresa look and feel as if they were inside a blast furnace! The horrendous whine and roar of the Airjet drill finally gets to Teresa who, with sweat pouring down her face, screams, "Stop it, stop it, stop it!!!" Mike tells her to take it easy while Ed wonders which is worse - the noise - or the heat. In an effort to take their minds of the noise and intense heat, the two men begin to banter about their efforts to make the perfect cup of coffee. Teresa is nearly hysterical and can't believe these two guys are talking about coffee at a time like this. She stumbles to the drainpipe and screams into it, "Stop it! Stop the drill!" Marceau's voice is heard, "Mike -- ??" Mike crosses to the drainpipe and pushes Teresa aside. He speaks into the drainpipe and asks how close they are to them. Marceau answers they're very close, maybe a few more minutes if they can take it. Mike tells him they'll take it. There is the sound of cracking timber and then rubble crashes down from the roof. A large section of the roof falls and Teresa screams! As dust swirls around, obscuring everything, Ed's voice can be heard asking for Mike. The only response is the sound of the whine of the drill and the rumble of falling walls!!!
DISSOLVE
FOURTH COMMERCIAL BREAK
MID-BREAK BUMPER
LOCAL STATION IDENTIFICATION
ACT FOUR
Scene 4A
A short time later at Johnson's courthouse office, Mattie, Margie and Judy silently watch Grimsley as he stands holding the telephone. He shakes his head - nothing - and they wait…then he says into the phone, "Yes," and listens…He turns to the women and with a stark expression says, "They've drilled the parallel tunnel down to them. They're digging through right now. But there appears to have been - another cave-in." With a moan Judy turns into Mattie's arms and everyone looks tragic.
CUT TO
Scene 4B
At the same time, the mine is choked with rubble. Mike, Ed and Teresa are partially buried in it. The sound of the drill has stopped, but now the sound of picks and shovels can be heard. In a burst of super-human strength, Mike twists and pushes his way through the top of the rubble. He crawls to the portion of wall still remaining and with his last energy begins to claw at the wall -- he almost passes out. Ed brings his every ounce of remaining strength to break free but fails. He collapses - out cold! A spade breaks through the wall above them - then another. The opening in the wall begins to grow larger… larger… and then Willy shoves his head through. Behind him, Bill Marceau can be heard asking if they're still alive. Willy crawls in and examines the three still people. All three are breathing and he tells Bill they better get them out of there fast. They start pushing away rubble to extricate Mike and the others. As they rescue the last person, the entire roof collapses with a massive roar!
DISSOLVE
FIFTH COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FIVE
Scene 5A
At the courthouse office the scene is pretty much as before: Johnson and the three women are watching Winston, who is on the phone. Suddenly Winston responds into the phone, "Yes? Are you sure? Thank God!" He tells the group that the three have been reached - and they're alive! Everyone is all right - including Mrs. Vetter. He turns to Austin and tells him "You'll be prosecuting her for the murder of Victor Carlsen before long." Austin, a certain bitterness for what might have been, says, "Yes… I … expect I will." Margie turns to Judy and says, "Oh Judy - Judy isn't this the most wonderful…?" but stops. Judy is staring at the floor, a pale look on her face. Mattie tells her she doesn't look right and Judy says she's fine. When Mattie says they can be married now that it's all over, Judy says, "For now. Until the next time - and the time after that." She runs a hand over her face, looking wide-eyed and distraught at Mattie. She says, "To tell you the truth, I don't think I can go through this again." Rather stunned, Mattie and the others can only stare at her, as they wonder "what now?"
DISSOLVE
Scene 5B
At the entrance to the mine, Mike, Ed and Teresa are wrapped in blankets, sipping hot coffee while Willy and Bill stand in attendance. In the background there is the activity of clearing the scene - truck engines running, clink of shovels, murmur of voices, etc. Willy offers more coffee and Ed asks if Judy and everybody knows they're okay. Willy tells him the first thing he did when he had the chance was to let everyone know they were all okay - including the little lady who will now stand trial for murder in place of Judy. Teresa says she'll deny everything. That she was forced to say the things she did. She was hysterical - Mike himself said she was out of her head! They'll never make it stick. Mike says that at least he'll give it the old college try. Bill turns to Ed and says that with Judy free, the two of them can be married. Ed awkwardly says, "Uh…yes …I guess." He looks at Bill a bit bleakly then drops his eyes. Marceau looks at Mike and Willy his eyes framing the question, "What's he mean?" But Mike and Willy are as perplexed as he is. They all regard Ed quizzically, as Ed feels uneasy…
DISSOLVE
SIXTH COMMERCIAL
CLOSING BILLBOARD
Harry Kramer: "This is Harry Kramer inviting you to join us each weekday afternoon for THE EEEDDDGGGEE OF NIGHT."
