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Harry Kramer:Theee Edgggge of Night.
ACT ONE
SCENE 1A
Phil Capice is sitting alone in his living room munching the last of a sandwich. He is frowning in deep thought as Louise enters from the bedroom carrying an empty baby bottle. She asks Phil if he'd like some more coffee but he doesn't appear to hear her. He pushes back from the table and gestures for her to come to him. As she crosses to him he says, "I've been wondering if I did the right thing." Louise looks at him questioningly and he continues, "Maybe I should have done as you suggested - gone to Ed now and exposed Reno, Harrison, Haven - the whole rat's nest." He says that they won't have long to wait now. The heroin will be unloaded in the warehouse tonight and then he can go to Ed and put all the cards on the table, "Then they'll all be nailed -- and maybe me with them." Louise says Reno forced him to obey his orders. He was only pretending to go along with him. Phil says he hopes the court will have that view of it especially in the face of all the evidence. He says they have to face the possibility that the court won't believe him. That once he goes to Ed there's no turning back. He tells Louise to phone Ed and set up an appointment for the next morning. He has to go to the warehouse right away and get the unloading underway. As they kiss, the door buzzer sounds. Louise crosses into the foyer and then returns with a package, examining it quizzically. It's a package from Capitol City addressed to "Miss Sara Louise Capice." Phil looks at it and notes the words "don't open 'till Christmas." Louise says it's from Mike, a Christmas present for - Sara. Phil suddenly looks down and Louise, noting his mood, goes to him. Phil says, "I wonder what kind of Christmas it'll be for us." Louise runs her hand up along his shoulder and lays her cheek against his arm. . .
SCENE 1B
At the same time, Ursula Bauer, Scofield Kilborn and Sam Haven are in Ursula's apartment. Ursula sips her drink as an angry Kilborn impatiently watches Sam as he talks on the phone. Sam catches Kilborn's eye and hangs up. Kilborn tells him to get over to the warehouse at once. He wants him to learn why Gerry Harrison believes Capice is double-crossing Reno. Sam can see from Kilborn's face that he'd better exit fast - and he does as Kilborn smolders. Ursula comments that Kilborn is letting this upset him far too much and Kilborn snaps, "Of course it upsets me! Capice is the key to all my plans. If he slips away. . ." Ursula says he (Phil) hasn't slipped away. He has too much to lose. Kilborn seethes as Ursula stares him down.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Scene 2A
In the Gibson living room Judy is on the phone. She's calling the medical laboratory seeking results of a "rabbit test." As she waits expectantly Ed enters from outdoors and she nearly flips. She wants to keep her possible good news from him until she's definitely sure. Ed crosses to her and kisses her and Judy gives him a quick smile and turns away with the phone. Puzzled, he looks at her, as Judy says into the phone, "Not yet? Well, thank you," and hangs up. Ed asks why all the secrecy and Judy responds that she was trying to find out if a certain Christmas present had arrived yet. Ed asks about Margie and Judy tells him she's out shopping. Judy then says she heard what happened at the Patrician Club and wonders if Ed now has the evidence he needs to arrest Casey Reno and the others. Ed says the information they have is circumstantial, but very strong. Judy asks if that means they're ready to move in and arrest them all - Reno, Harrison. . .and Phil Capice. Ed answers yes, but doesn't know when - whether to hit them right after the stuff's unloaded and stored in Phil's warehouse or wait until they can nab the distributors as well. Judy asks what will happen to Phil and then says that at least Louise will have the baby. As she says this, she notes a flicker in Ed's eyes. She questions Ed and he says that Sara Louise is a foster child right now and all adoption regulations require that if the foster parents are found to be unfit the child can be taken from them. The thought of this makes Judy miserable and Ed takes her in his arms to comfort her. The phone rings and Judy hurries to it, hoping it's the medical lab. She answers and Louise asks if Ed is home. Ed takes the phone and Louise comes straight to the point. Phillip and she would like to see him as early as possible tomorrow. Ed asks if they want to consult him professionally and Louise says yes. As hope flames in his eyes he asks what about and Louise tells him it's serious and important, and she and Phil want to talk to him together. They set a time for 9:00 the next morning and hang up. Ed thinks for a minute and says he'd better see them tonight! Judy asks what the call was about and Ed tells her the Capice's want to consult with him professionally. She asks him if he thinks Phil wants to confess and Ed says that he hopes so, as a confession - turning State's Evidence could go a long way. Judy watches as he hurries out. The phone rings again and she runs expectantly to it. She answers and her expectancy evaporates, it's a wrong number! Judy hangs up and mutters, "Ohhh - rabbits!"
SCENE 2B
Gerry Harrison and Sam Haven are in Gerry's office at Capice Impex. The tape recorder with the tape Gerry dubbed is on his desk. Sam is regarding Gerry incredulously. Gerry taps the tape telling him it's right there on the tape. Proof that Capice is going to double-cross Reno. He says that Capice has been doing a lot of recording lately - dictating into one of these tape recorders, and locking the tapes in a cabinet in his office! He says that he got suspicious and got a hold of the last tape he dictated. He tells Sam that he made a copy of Phil's tape and when he played it back and heard. . .he starts the machine and tells Sam he has to hear it for himself. They begin to listen to the tape and Gerry moves behind his desk. He faces Sam and sees, over Sam's shoulder, Phil standing in the door!
COMMERCIAL
STATION BREAK
ACT THREE
SCENE 3A
Louise is setting an artificial Christmas tree on a table in their living room and is arranging things around it. Her mood is one of determined effort to partake in the Christmas spirit that is touched with sadness. The door buzzer sounds and Louise crosses into the foyer. Ed Gibson is at the door asking for Phil and Louise tells him she hadn't expected to see him until tomorrow. He tells her that she sounded troubled on the phone and he thought it would be a good idea if he got together with them tonight instead of tomorrow morning. Louise tells him that if Phil were there she's sure he'd talk to him now. She warmly tells him that Phil will be gratified to hear Ed was interested enough to come over. Ed tells her they're all friends. Louise asks about Judy and Margie and Ed says they're both doing well. He tells her that Dr. Southard says there's a good chance of Margie recovering her sight. Starting to feel uncomfortable, Ed starts to leave and Louise asks him if he'd like to see Sara. She's still awake and playing in her crib. A shadow passes over Ed's face and Louise realizes what she said. She apologizes and Ed wryly chuckles. He says it's all right - just guesses that spot in his heart will always be sore. He tells her hopefully that the doctor says Judy is able to have another baby. Dozens if she wants them! Louise laughs and tells him to watch out, that may happen! Together they start for the nursery.
SCENE 3B
In Gerry's office Gerry is all but concealing the fact that he's in a cold sweat. Sam, however, is cool as he blandly explains that Casey thought it'd be a good idea if he just dropped in and checked to be sure that everything's running smoothly. Phil coldly tells him he can go back and tell him it is. Sam asks if he'll be unloading the "Morning Star" in a couple of hours. When Phil responds possibly sooner, Sam asks, "Then you'll have the - uh - "horse" in the barn, so to speak, before morning?" Phil tells him yes; the heroin will be safely stored in the warehouse by then. Sam asks him about the transfer to the paint factory Doc Axelrod's using as a front and Phil tells him he has a plan worked out for that. Sam tells Phil he's on the ball and Phil dryly thanks him and leaves, telling them he's taking a last look around the warehouse. After he exits Gerry sighs with relief. Sam impatiently snaps his fingers telling Gerry to get on with playing the tape.
COMMERCIAL
ACT FOUR
Gerry squints up at Sam and starts the tape. They hear Phil's recorded voice: "Phillip Capice speaking, continuing this record of information with respect to the narcotics operation in Monticello. . . Tape number seven. . . Casey Reno has given me a signed authorization I am to present to J. N. Axelrod who runs a paint factory as a front for the drug racket. This authorization will be assurance to Axelrod that he can deal with me when I transport the heroin from the warehouse to the so-called paint factory. The paint factory is, of course, the hideout where the heroin will be cut, packaged and given to the pushers for distribution. Now that I have this information, it seems to me I'm about ready to move ahead with my over-all plan to . . ." The tape ends. Gerry says he must have walked in on Phil dictating and that's why the tape ends when it does. Sam comments that had Gerry been 30 seconds later, they might have gotten a line on what Phil's plan is. Gerry says it's clear, Phil's going to put the screws to Casey - threaten to go to the cops and squeal unless Casey comes through with plenty of cash and lets him off the hook. Sam agrees it's possible and tells Gerry to give him the tape. Gerry says he'll take it to Casey and Sam tells him he'll be busy unloading heroin. Reluctantly, Gerry hands over the tape but tells Sam not to try to cop the credit for pulling the plug on Capice. He wants what's coming to him. Sam tells him he'll get everything that's coming to him. He grins, "I personally guarantee it." Gerry isn't altogether sure he likes the grin.
COMMERCIAL
ACT FIVE
Scene 5A
A short time later Louise is arranging a Christmas setting around the tree when the phone rings. She answers and Phil is on the other end. He's on a wall phone at the warehouse. She asks him if anything's wrong and he tells her everything is running on schedule but he's having second thoughts about seeing Ed tomorrow. Disappointed, Louise asks why. Phil tells her that once he blows the lid off this narcotics operation they're going to find themselves in the middle of a lot of trouble. Since they don't know what's going to happen afterward, he's decided to do what he can to make this a happy Christmas for them all - he wants to tell Ed after Christmas. Louise starts to choke up and tells him Ed was there a little while ago, he came over because she sounded troubled on the phone. Phil is touched at Ed's thoughtfulness but insists on telling him after Christmas. Louise agrees and Phil softly wishes her a Merry Christmas. The phone goes dead and she hangs up. She stands in thought then chokes up, brushing the mist from her eyes. She goes back to the Christmas tree, tries to get back into arranging but breaks up.
SCENE 5B
Kilborn, thinking deeply, sits and stares at the tropical fish in a tank in Ursula's apartment. Ursula watches him and starts to say something then decides not to disturb him as the door buzzer sounds. She crosses to the door and admits Sam. He says Harrison was right, Capice is up to something. Ursula and Sam look at Kilborn who hasn't moved. She asks Sam what he's holding and he tells her it's a tape recording. Something Capice dictated and Harrison got his hands on. It proves Capice is planning to double-cross Reno. Again Ursula looks at Kilborn waiting for his reaction. When there isn't one, Sam raises his shoulders in a gesture of "what gives?" She shakes her head for him to be quiet and takes the initiative and crosses to the phone saying she'll have a recorder sent in to play the tape. Her eyes and Sam's are held by the silent, motionless figure of Kilborn. There is a feeling of strangeness in the air -- something strange and frightening about Kilborn's silence and immobility. As Ursula talks into the phone, she views Kilborn from the other side of the tank of water, his eyes - distorted by the water's refraction -- are those of a madman. . . a madman who, for the moment, is in another world. . . a world of hate and revenge.
COMMERCIAL
CLOSING TITLE
HARRY KRAMER: This is Harry Kramer inviting you to join us again Monday for THE EEEDDDGGGEEE OF NIGHT.
