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Bob Dixon: Tide --America's wash day favorite presents...The Edge of Night!
OPENING BILLBOARD
ACT ONE
Marilyn and Harry are in Cora's room. Marilyn is breathing hard and steady, frightened by Harry's calm, menacing demeanor. She tells him that she knows this is the payoff. He doesn't have to explain. With an eye to Cora, unconscious on the floor, Harry asks if Marilyn isn't curious about what's happening. Sure, she replies. Harry explains that Cora won't know what happened - that she was drugged. Nor will anyone. "Except us," Marilyn intones quickly. Harry agrees, moving closer. Marilyn, growing steadily nervous with the situation asks what's going to happen next. "As I promised... the payoff," he explains. "It won't take long, " Harry assures her, his voice rife with murderous subtext. "I'm in a hurry, too." Marilyn asks if he means the bigshots downstairs, then realizes uneasily that no one else is there. She and Harry are alone in the house. Marilyn recounts their plot, how she was supposed to start an argument with Cora and embarrass Harry in front of important business associates. Harry agrees that Marilyn learned her part very well, but he decided to change the plans... to have a small, private gathering. Marilyn senses the carefully supressed violence in Harry's voice and realizes she is in mortal danger. She attempts to move toward the door, but Harry blocks her way. "Please stay, " he insists sardonically, "I promise you won't be bored. You'll find it very dramatic." Marilyn becomes hysterical with fear like a caged animal. She's changed her mind. She doesn't want any more to do this. Marilyn tries to push past him, but Harry grabs her forcefully. He tells her it's too bad, because in his little drama, Marilyn has the biggest part of all. Marilyn's eyes flash with stark terror.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Marilyn begs Harry to let her go, but he insists it won't take long, as he's in a big hurry, too. He teases her that her cold is very bad; she should be home in bed. If she stops interrupting him, her cold will soon be cured. Marilyn asks pleadingly if they can wait until tomorrow to talk. "No," Harry retorts. "I promised you an explanation, and I'm going to give you one." Marilyn insists uneasily that they talk tomorrow at the office. Harry tells her that in the past she has accused him of welching on his promises, but he intends to keep this one. Marilyn responds apologetically, "I didn't mean to." Harry reminds her he's given her a great deal: a mink stole, money, a convertible. She agrees she was wrong; he has been most generous to her. Harry tells her that he was generous, only she doesn't really think so. "I was generous, and patient...even when your greediness got the better of your common sense. I gave you what you wanted. You had me in the palm of your hand," he lectures.
Almost in tears, Marilyn again begs him to discuss it tomorrow, but Harry isn't listening. He reminds her how she knew that he wanted to marry Louise Grimsley and threatened to tell Louise's father if Harry didn't pay her. Desperate, Marilyn vows that she never would have gone to Winston. Harry continues, manic -almost delirious with repressed violence. He explains that he's "hungry to talk." He kept all his plans to himself, but promised to reveal it all to someone when the time was right. Now the time is right. He has pictured this scene with Marilyn many times. Harry speaks with increasing staccato as his anger rises to the surface. He tells Marilyn that she placed him in an uncomfortable position. But, she made one mistake: she miscalculated his priorities. His wealth is as important to him as Louise, and Marilyn wanted to milk him dry.
"You and everyone else have been very unkind to me," he snaps. "I have brains and ability. And, I'm generous and kind." Harry explains that people are unafair; he's never had respect and admiration. Marilyn attempts to reason with him, but Harry is lost in his own bubbling anger. He reveals he has never told these feelings to another living soul, but it's okay. He knows Marilyn isn't going to repeat them. "All my life I've felt rejected, " Harry laments, his body shaking with fury. He adds that it's because his brother George poisoned people against him. It wasn't what George said; it was his attitude. He made Harry feel "alone, and small, and unwanted." Harry says that he showed everyone, though. He made money. He's wealthy. "And where is George?" Harry asks sarcastically, "he's gone. Nobody knows where he is." Marilyn cannot stand much more. She continues to plead. Harry is now rabid with anger. He tells Marilyn she's going to get everything she wants...even the payoff. Marilyn recoils in horror at the hatred flashing in Harry's eyes. She struggles violently to break his grasp, begging him to let her go and stop looking at her like that. "Look at this room, " he orders. "It's the last room you'll ever see. And my voice is the last voice you'll ever hear..."
Trapped, certain her life is about to end, Marilyn quickly tries to reason with him. She warns Harry he'll never get away with it. Of course he will, Harry laughs. "With this, " he says, picking up Cora's empty whiskey bottle. "Her fingerprints will be found on this bottle. They'll know she invited you here." Marilyn argues that Cora didn't invite her, but Harry swiftly reminds her that she told everyone Cora did, including Jack. Marilyn then suggests that Harry will still be a suspect. He doesn't think so; he has double protection. Harry explains that he's in a very important meeting at the auditorium right now, surrounded by Monticello's most respected citizens. And, even if anyone does notice his brief absence, he has Louise as an alibi. She drove him to the house. She'll say that they had an important business meeting. No one will doubt the word of Winston Grimsley's daughter. Marilyn slowly moves backward, inching toward the bedroom closet. In a final, desperate effort to save her life, she screams that someone else knew Cora's invitation was rigged. But, it's too late. Harry moves toward her, his eyes blazing with murder. He slowly raises the bottle ready to strike a fatal blow to his helpless victim.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT THREE
In the car outside the Lane home, Louise is listening to a weather report on the radio. The announcer says that the rain is ending, and will turn to snow flurries as the temperatures drop. He advises caution as "the life you save may be your own." Harry comes out of the house and slides into the seat next to her. Louise wants to know if he got his notes. Exhausted from his task, he has forgotten the pretext of his visit. Louise's reaction prompts his quick recovery. He says that he found the notes. Louise responds impatiently that it certainly took him long enough. "Nine minutes," Harry snaps breathlessly. Louise wonders sarcastically if he times everything. Harry tells Louise to just go, quickly. She can't see outside the windshield, which has fogged up from the damp weather. Louise asks for Harry's handkerchief to clean the windshield. He reaches inside his pocket, but it isn't there. Suddenly, he realizes where it is. He must have left it in the house. Louise says there's a cloth in the dash compartment, but Harry panics and leaps from the car, going back inside, as Louise calls to him.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FOUR
Scene 4A
In the Lane home, Cora slowly awakens on her bedroom floor. Still groggy from the alcohol and sedatives, she manages to stand. She looks around the room, disoriented. Marilyn is no longer there.
Scene 4B
Louise and Harry arrive back at the City Auditorium. He assures her that she'll be happy. He'll teach her to love him deeply. After tonight, he feels as if there isn't anything in the world he can't accomplish...
Scene 4C
Back at the Lane home, the doorbell rings. Still unsteady, Cora stumbles slowly to the door. She opens it to find Sara and Mike. They note her slurred, clipped speech. Cora explains that she's alone, as Harry went to a meeting and Marie is at a church circle. Sara says that they can't visit long anyway. They're on their way to a delayed honeymoon, Mike adds. Sara tells Cora that she wants her to make a promise before she and Mike leave. Sara wants Cora to take a vacation with Mattie. Mattie has agreed to go if Cora does, but will not go alone. Cora says that she'll have to think about it. She realizes Mike and Sara have taken note of her disheveled appearance and odd speech. Cora states that she has a terrible headache and needs an aspirin. Sara asks where they keep the aspirin; she'll get it for Cora. Cora replies that it's in her purse, in her room, in the closet, but she's perfectly capable of getting it herself. She tells the couple to stay together; she doesn't want to separate newlyweds. Cora goes upstairs to her room. Moments later, Mike and Sara are startled by Cora's bloodcurdling scream. They race up the stairs and burst into the room. Cora screams hysterically over the bloodied body of Marilyn, who lies on the closet floor. Sara embraces Cora, who whimpers in hysteria. Mike instructs Sara to get Cora out of the room. As Sara leads her shaken aunt out, Mike surveys the crime scene. He calls the precinct, ordering an officer to have Harry picked up at the City Auditorium and brought home immediately. Mike asks to be transferred to homicide. He tells the sergeant on duty to send a team to Harry Lane's home at 215 Maple. Mrs. Lane has just discovered the body of Mr. Lane's secretary Marilyn Bollon. Mike continues to survey the scene for clues, noting the whiskey bottle as well as the time on Marilyn's watch, which was apparently smashed in the struggle.
Downstairs, Cora continues to cry and whimper in absolute hysteria. Mike asks her forcefully when she last saw Marilyn, but Cora cannot speak coherently. Mike attempts to calm her down, repeatedly calling her name. He wants to know if Marilyn came to see her. Despite her horror, Cora manages to force words out of her mouth. She can't remember if Marilyn came to see her... or even if she let Marilyn in the house. All she recalls is arguing, then she blacked out. Mike asks what she means when she says she blacked out. Cora tries to speak, but her words are mumbled through a filter of tears and shock. Mike tells Sara he's got to hear Cora's story before Harry and the homicide squad arrive. Sara is stunned. "The homicide squad...?" she asks in confusion. "Yes, Sara..." Mike says flatly, "It appears to me to be murder." Mike returns to Cora. He asks if anybody else was there; did anybody else come to see her? Cora has regained some composure and tries very hard to think. She tells Mike that she just can't remember. He asks if she knows what time Marilyn arrived. Cora looks at Mike and Sara, her eyes filled with shock and uncertainty. She simply cannot recall anything, and begins to lose control again. Mike gives her a moment to collect herself. "Listen, Aunt Cora. You've got to remember... you have to remember, " he orders, his voice grave with desperation.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
Bob Dixon: Watch this scene... from tomorrow's story.
TEASER
Cora is at police headquarters, ready to make a statement. She agrees that she has come forth voluntarily. The questioning detective reminds of her of her rights, and warns that anything she says can be used against her. Cora is unsure what he means. The detective informs her that her statements could be used against her in future proceedings, if she was indeed involved in the death of Marilyn Bollon. Cora is stunned by the implication...
CLOSING BILLBOARD
Bob Dixon: Tune in again tomorrow for The Edge of Night, created by Irving Vendig. The Edge of Night is brought to you by America's washday favorite -Tide. Watch Procter and Gamble's other half-hour dramatic series As the World Turns, each weekday afternoon over many of these same stations. This is Bob Dixon, inviting you to join us again tomorrow and every afternoon, Monday through Friday at this time, for The Edge of Night.
