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OPENING BILLBOARD
Harry Kramer: The Edddgggee of Night.
ACT ONE
Scene 1
It's late afternoon, Laurie Ann is asleep in her bedroom with a doll clutched in one arm and the rag doll Willy Bryan gave her in the other. Sara, her heart grieving, sits in a chair watching her daughter. Mike enters with a cup of coffee and hands it to her. He remarks on the lateness of the hour and goes to turn on a lamp. Sara starts to stop him, as she's afraid the light will wake Laurie Ann then says, "It's all right, I guess. It's hard to wake her now when she's sick like this." As Mike turns on the lamp he tries to soothe Sara by telling her that when Dr. Jacobs phoned earlier he confirmed that Laurie Ann's Paraneucleosis was definitely in it's early stages and that Dr. McShea, the specialist, would return to Monticello in four or five days. Sara nods and asks if her mother, Mattie, has arrived yet. Mike tells her that Mattie said she'd come straight over as soon as she got things cleared away so she could say as long as Sara needed her. They continue to console each other as Sara comments on Laurie Ann's symptoms, "It scares you - the illness - the way it affects her. A half hour ago she was wide awake, full of life and energy, all excited over that doll Willy brought her - and then - suddenly - she gets drowsy and falls asleep." Mike is frightened too but doesn't show it to Sara. He tries to reassure her by saying that Dr. Jacobs said Laurie Ann has a good chance of recovering. They hear a car pull up outside and Mike crosses to the window and looks out. It's Mattie and Winston. Mike tells Sara that while they're there he's going to take the opportunity to clear his desk at the office so he'll be free for the next few days. The only case he'll have to handle is Judy Marceau's. District Attorney Johnson is pushing for an early trial and if Judy's to have any chance at all for a strong defense against the charge of murdering Victor Carlsen, he has to keep trying to come up with something that will suggest she's innocent. As he starts to go down to let Mattie and Winston in Sara rises to go with him commenting that she has to hurry over to the Civic Center to arrange for someone to handle the things she's been doing there. She and Mike stand at the bed looking down at Laurie Anne and his arm goes around her. Sara thanks Mike for trying to cheer her up. He smiles softly at Sara saying, "You know you were right in what you said earlier in my office today. Two hearts are better than one." They smile encouragingly, fondly at each other and then, arms about each other they start to leave the room.
COMMERCIAL
ACT TWO
Scene 2A
A short time later in the Karr living room, Winston Grimsley is on the phone with the operator. "Yes, Dr. Burghardt is Surgeon-In-Chief at the Medical Foundation there - and if you can't reach him at the Foundation, they will certainly know where you can." As Sara comes down the stairs he tells her he's just placed a call to a Dr. Burghardt, one of the top surgeons in the country. He's having him flown in just as quickly as he can. Sara says there's no need for that because according to Dr. Jacobs, Dr. McShea is a specialist in in Paraneucleosis. Winston says he doesn't doubt Dr. McShea's reputation, but he knows Dr. Burghardt's! He wants him in attendance on his granddaughter! Mattie, who's entered from the kitchen wearing an apron and looking like she's taken over the household chores, says, "Winston, dear, you're all upset. You can't interfere with Dr. Jacobs' arrangements like this." Winston insists he's not interfering, he's trying to help. He wants to see that everything that can be done for that little girl of his is done. Sara, putting on her hat and coat, thanks Winston for all he wants to do but remains adamant in her confidence of Dr. Jacobs. Winston, getting a little worked up, says that he knows Dr. Burghardt's reputation and wants him there. He pulls a cigar from his pocket and chomps on it as Sara helplessly exchanges looks with Mattie. When she says that she has to go and will only be gone for about a half-hour, Mattie tells her she'll see to dinner and will keep a close watch on Laurie Ann. Sara mentions that they're low on coffee and she also has to get oranges - Dr. Jacobs says Laurie's to have the juice of two oranges every three hours. Dropping her voice as she throws a quick look in Winston's direction, Mattie says to Sara, "there are no rolls. Winston likes rolls at dinner and I think having them would help calm him down." Sara says she's never seen him like this and Mattie says, "I have -- once in Mexico on our honeymoon, when he first heard about Chief Marceau being accused of misfeasance in the office. When someone he loves is in trouble, he becomes - well, the way you see him now." With a grateful look at Winston Sara says, "What a man to have on your side when you're in trouble." As she leaves she tells Mattie that Mike probably won't make it for dinner as he's working late to clear things up at the office. Mattie says she'll make dinner for him too, just in case. Sara nods and starts out, then pauses as if to say something to Winston. When she sees that he's lost in thought she changes her mind and goes out. Mattie appraises Winston as he chomps on the end of his unlit cigar. Then, making her decision, she picks up a lighter and goes to him. She sparks the lighter and holds it out for him to light his cigar. Winston thanks her, but says that he's already smoked all the cigars his doctor allows in one day. Mattie tells him that under the circumstances, she thinks the doctor would rather he smoked it than ate it. She smiles gently as Winston lights his cigar, then as her gaze goes to the stairs - to Laurie Ann - her smile goes out.
Scene 2B
At the same time Mike enters his office and stands there a moment, in the dark. He sighs then turns on a lamp only to find Willy Bryan sprawled in a chair. Willy begins to come out of the doze he's been in as the light awakens him. He tells Mike he knew he was supposed to come back to clear his desk and wondered if he'd make him a cup of coffee. Mike, knowing Willy is supposed to be on a dinner date, tells him he hopes he hasn't cancelled it on his account. Willy just shrugs and tells him she was having roast chicken and he's a "southern-fried man" himself. Mike grins and turns away to make coffee. Willy asks him if there's anything new about Laurie Ann. Mike tells him they'd given her the doll he'd brought over earlier, and he'll be pleased to know she fell in love with it pronto. He goes on to say that she's calling it "Gloncle Willy" (that's how she pronounces "Uncle Willy"), then asks Willy if he minded if he "took his hair down" and talked to him. He tells Willy he's more depressed than ever before. He can't seem to shake the feeling he told him about earlier, a feeling of impending doom. Willy tries to reassure Mike that everyone has those feelings from time to time. Considering the news about Laurie Ann coming out of the blue like that, it's no wonder he feels that way. Mike tells Willy that until this thing is over he's pushing everything aside except the Marceau murder case. He's going to be depending on Willy and Ed Gibson for the next week or so to carry the ball - to keep digging for the evidence they need. Willie assure Mike that if the evidence exists, they'll find it. Mike nods and goes to get the coffee. He then invites Willy to come home with him for dinner. They smile at each other - but the shadow of impending trouble overcasts the smiles.
COMMERCIAL
ACT THREE
Scene 3A
Laurie Ann is asleep in her bedroom as Mattie enters and crosses to the bed. She looks at the little girl in a worried way. As she adjusts the covers she notices that one of the dolls has slipped from Laurie Ann's arms and she picks it up and starts to put it back. Then, thinking she'll disturb the child, she decides not to and places the doll on top of the dresser. She looks back at Laurie Ann and then leaves.
Scene 3B
Sara enters the Karr kitchen and Winston takes the bag of groceries from her. He tells her there's something he wants to tell her but before he can start Mattie enters the kitchen. She tells Sara that there's been no change in Laurie's condition. Fear darkens Sara's eyes as Winston again tells her there's something he wants to tell her. It's about the call he put through to Dr. Burghardt.
Scene 3C
Laurie Ann wakes up in her bedroom and becomes aware of her doll's absence. She looks around the room but can't see it on top of the dresser. She begins to whimper, "Gloncle Willy," and slips out of bed and heads toward the door.
COMMERCIAL
STATION BREAK
ACT FOUR
Scene 4A
In the Karr kitchen Winston is telling Sara that she has every reason to have complete confidence in Dr. McShea. There's no need to worry at all. Mattie reminds him that Sara wasn't the one who was worried, he was. When Sara thanks him again for contacting Dr. Burghardt, Winston tells her that Dr. Burghardt assured him that Dr. McShea was the finest man in his field. That he himself - Burghardt - couldn't hold a candle to him in this type of operation. Sara gives him a peck on the cheek and asks her mother to continue making dinner while she squeezed some orange juice for Laurie Ann. As Sara and Mattie proceed to their work, Winston offers his assistance but rather then helping, ends up getting in the way.
Scene 4B
Laurie Ann comes down the stairs into the Karr living room. She begins to search for her doll - looking under chairs, behind the pillows on the sofa. . .
Scene 4C
In the kitchen Mattie is at the stove, Sara is straining juice into a glass, and Winston's putting away groceries. Sara says that it's like living in a bad dream and Winston gently tells her that it's not a dream, but it's not the end of the world either. Laurie Ann's going to be all right. Mattie puts her arm around her daughter and tells her she knows how she feels. She felt the same way when Jack was sick as a baby. Winston then mentions that Louise was also sick as a little girl and her chances were worse than Laurie Ann's, but she pulled through. Sara's hope strengthens when she mentions that Dr. Jacobs told them that there was a chance for Laurie Ann because they caught this thing in the early stage. She picks up the glass of juice and starts to leave the kitchen. Mattie stops her and hands her a napkin.
Scene 4D
In the living room Laurie Ann is looking under the sofa. She doesn't see the doll there either. She gets up and crosses to the stairs to return to her room. She then spots the front door and looks at it a long moment. She goes to it and opens it. The sound of distant traffic enters the room as Laurie Ann goes out leaving the door ajar behind her. A moment or two later Sara enters the living room from the kitchen with the glass in her hand. She sees the door ajar and closes it then hurries up the stairs.
COMMERCIAL
ACT FIVE
Scene 5A
Seconds later Sara enters Laurie Ann's bedroom and turns on a lamp. She turns to see the bed empty. Puzzled, she quickly puts down the glass and napkin and looks around the room. Calling out, "Laurie Ann? Laurie Ann?" she hurries out.
Scene 5B
Sara flies down the stairs into the living room as Mattie and Winston hurry in from the kitchen. Sara, a note of panic in her voice asks, "Mother! Where is she?!" Mattie says she left her sound asleep in her bedroom and Sara screams that she isn't there. She's checked everywhere! Winston dashes for the stairs as Sara and Mattie look around the living room. Then, getting the same idea at once, they whirl around and look at the front door. Sara says, "The door! It was ajar when I went upstairs." She opens the door and looks out. She says, "There she is!!! Crossing the street!!! Sara flings herself out the door screaming, "Laurie Ann! Laurie Ann!" Mattie hurries to the door. The instant she reaches it she looks out and screams, "Sara! Sara, look out -- !!!" There are the sounds of a long screeching of car breaks and Sara's screams. Mattie stares in horror then sags, clutching the side of the door. In a voice so low it's scarcely heard - a voice pulsing in horrified disbelief, she says "…Sara…"
COMMERCIAL
ACT SIX
Scene 6A
Inside Mike's car Willy mentions that Mike had better slow down since they're coming to his corner. As he turns the corner they become aware of trouble up ahead. Mike says it's right in front of his house and peers ahead. Alarm sparking his voice he says, "Willy! Willy, I think -- !!!" Mike slams on the break and Willy sees what Mike sees. He and Mike leap from the car.
Scene 6B
Sara is sprawled unconscious in the glare of a car's headlights. There is the excited murmur of bystanders. Mattie can be heard saying, "No, no, the child's all right, see to my daughter!" Mike and Willie appear and Mike kneels beside Sara. He stares down at her, speechless. Willy stands on the other side of Sara as Mike looks tragically up at him.
COMMERCIAL
CLOSING BILLBOARD
Harry Kramer:This is Harry Kramer, inviting you to join us each weekday afternoon for THE EEEDDDGGGEE OF NIGHT.
