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TEASER

In the front hall of Orchard Hill, John Lambert is tying a blindfold on Louise. She asks where her husband is, as the grandfather clock chimes. Lambert looks up at the clock and tells her he's alive...if you'd call it that. Lambert tells her that he doesn't have time to answer questions. Her father is going to call in less than two hours - and some friends are waiting for them - with her husband- but they won't wait forever. He warns Louise not to try to get away-- to do everything he says unless she'd rather he tie her hand and foot, too. She's not to make any kind of trouble, if she does, her husband will be dead in ten minutes. She nods tremulously as he turns her toward the door and guides her through it.
OPENING BILLBOARD
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT ONE

IN Ursula's lab Kilborn is waiting with lessening patienece. He looks at his watch as Ursula enters. She tells him that Phil will live, but it won't do them any good if Lambert gets drunk and decides to do away with Louise Capice. Ursula tells Kilborn how Lambert looked when he discharged her as his nurse earlier that evening...his look was animal. She doesn't think they can count too much on having him under control. Kilborn tells her to call the Capice home to see if Lambert's still there. Ursula calls and is told by Vivian that "Mr. Capice" (Lambert) left about an hour ago. Kilborn says he did tell Lambert to drive around until he was sure he wasn't being followed, and he also had to get Louise to talk to her father. Ursula, still fearful that Lambert is out of control, asks what they'll do if he doesn't show up. Kilborn tells her she'll still have time to start off on a vacation, and Ursula goes to him and pets him tenderly saying, "Not alone, Kilborn." Kilborn takes her hand and holds it.
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT TWO

SCENE 2A
In the Pollock living room Nancy is alone, flipping through the pages of a catalog when the doorbell rings. She opens the door to Mike, who looks at his watch and asks if it's too late. Nancy says no and lets him in. As Mike sits down, Nancy notices that he seems tired and worried. To lighten his burden, she tells him that she has good news about her brother Lee. Ted Grant, the owner of the car Lee was driving, knows a man who knows a man, who knows the owner of the car Lee hit, and he may be willing to drop the charges. She says Ted thinks the police may not press the charge against Lee for leaving the scene of the accident... which he really didn't. This doesn't impress Mike as being good news, and he tells Nancy that her friend Mr. Grant may be too optimistic. Mike says he wants to talk to the girl who was in the car with Lee the night of the accident. Nancy comments that Mike obviously doesn't think Lee is telling the truth. Mike says, "No, Nancy. Not all of it." In order to avoid an argument, Nancy goes to the kitchen to get them some coffee.

SCENE 2B
Back at the lab, Kilborn is peering out the window, anxious but calm. Ursula is on the phone. As she puts it down, she tells Kilborn that Lambert drove into the garage and is coming up the private entrance. They exit immediately so as not to chance Louise seeing them. Lambert and a blindfolded Louise enter the lab. Lambert goes to a closed door, opens it, and leads a frightened Louise toward it. He shoves her into the room, closes the door, and locks it. Kilborn and Ursula re-enter the room. Kilborn tells Lambert it would have been very stupid to kill Mrs. Capice. Lambert informs them that she knows he's not Phil, and she was going to call Mike Karr. He got to her in time; she'd only spoken to her stepmother and was able to speak a few words before he cut her off.He says there's one thing, though. Louise's father Winston is worried about her. Worried about how her "husband is treating her." She's supposed to phone him in an hour, or he'll probably come over and start taking the place apart, board by board. Kilborn says an hour is more than enough time. They'll get back to Mr. Grimsley, but first, they have a great deal to do. He tells Lambert they both want something from Mrs. Capice, her cooperation-- or rather, her assurance that she'll be silent. He'll get the satisfaction concerning her father, and Lambert will get money and power. The fact that Louise knows her husband is in mortal danger is the key. She'll need to understand that the minute she stops cooperating, her husband will cease to live. They must tell her that it's only necessary that she play the masquerade in public, and naturally, she must not know that Dr. Bauer and himself are involved. Lambert asks what the "routine" is. Kilborn tells him that they've made arrangements for Mrs. Capice to see her husband, and afterward, Lambert will tell her the conditions under which she can keep him alive. Lambert is disturbed by the complications of two Philip Capices, and Kilborn says that they'll work that out.

COMMERCIAL BREAK
STATION BREAK

ACT THREE

SCENE 3A
As Nancy is serving coffee to Mike, he says he hopes she wasn't offended by what he said about Lee. Nancy remarks that she's just glad to have Mike there in warm companionship. Mike starts to ramble on about the legal profession being one of endless questions. Not really talking to Nancy, but thinking aloud, he asks why an honorable man with everything he could want out of life betray those who love and trust him. Why an honest man of thirty-five could be a crook at thirty-six? Nancy shrugs and says, "I'd say he wasn't." Mike asks her to explain. Nancy replies, "A rose bush that's supposed to bear white flowers shouldn't have red ones." Nancy goes on about her mother's rose bushes, and the problems they've had identifying them. Once they thought they'd planted a Madame Recamier rose bush, and it came up Ginger Fragrants-- they were tagged wrong. Listening to her, Mike starts thinking... a fantastic idea germinating. He says, "Dishonesty can't be the flower of an honest plant. The man I know to be honest wouldn't...couldn't...be a criminal, no matter what the evidence is. I couldn't believe it, and now I think I know why." He turns to Nancy. "You said it, Nancy. You said it. The tags are mixed!" He asks Nancy if he can use her phone, and before she can answer yes, he strides to the phone and dials.

SCENE 3B
In the lab, Ursula and Kilborn are arranging hospital screens in a closed off area. Lambert is chain smoking, aloof from the preparations going on. He's not entirely happy about the possible sequel to the new phases of the situations. Kilborn tells Ursula to "bring him in." He tells Lambert that Louise must think she'll have her husband back, otherwise she'd crack. Ursula wheels Phil, on a stretcher-table, into the room. Kilborn tells Lambert that when he brings Louise into the room, he must tell her that Phil's been very sick, but he will live... if he has anything to live for. She'll know what he means. Kilborn says that he and Ursula will be out of sight, but not out of earshot, and they exit. Lambert snuffs out his cigarette and unlocks the door to Louise's room. He removes the blindfold and says to her, "Come on, I've got something to show you."
COMMERCIAL BREAK

ACT FOUR

CLOSING BILLBOARD
HARRY KRAMER:This is Harry Kramer, inviting you to join us each weekday afternoon for "THE EEEDDDGGGEE OF NIGHT."