ACT ONE
AT THE BANNER, MARCY WADE GATHERS HER NIKI SMITH CLOTHES AND PROCEEDS WITH A PLAN TO MURDER VINCE WOLEK.
Marcy: "My, my, Niki. You sure do come on strong, don't you? Not a very classy dress. Well, I'm gonna burn it later, anyway... so it doesn't matter. (MARCY ENVISIONS HERSELF IN NIKI SMITH ATTIRE AND MIMES NIKI'S VOICE) Hiya, Ernie. Remember me? Niki Smith.(PLEASED WITH THE EFFECT, SHE CONTINUES) Okay. We better get that note written. Now... first I get dressed as Niki. Go to Ernie's bar. Let Ernie see me, and tell him I'm calling Vince. Call Vince to meet me. Get out of Niki's clothes. Burn them. Meet Vince... and then... I kill him... (MARCY DICTATES THE NOTE AS SHE WRITES) I have to get rid of Vinnie. He's turned against me. Niki. (SHE FOLDS THE PAPER, PLACING IT IN AN ENVELOPE) Now... I'll pin this to his body and keep it from blowing away. Marcy... you do think of everything." (THERE ARE KNOCKS AT THE DOOR. MARCY IS STARTLED BY THE INTERRUPTION OF HER CAREFULLY ORCHESTRATED PLANS).
OPENING TITLE
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT TWO
Scene 1
The trucking garage.
Vince: "C'mon, Niki. Call if you're gonna call, will ya'. (THE PHONE RINGS. VINNIE PICKS IT UP QUICKLY) Yeah, this is Vince. Aw, what happened now? Alright. Alright. I'll have another truck over there in a little while... I don't know. As soon as I can... (FIRM) I told you...as soon as I can! Whaddya' want me to do? Give you the exact time to the second? Hey, don't tell me who to hire for my drivers... ya' hear me? You run your business. I'll run mine. Hey, look... will ya' get off the phone-- I'm expecting a call... Aw...drop dead...." (VINNIE HANGS UP THE PHONE, THEN HAS A FLASHBACK TO HIS MEETING WITH STEVE BURKE)
[FLASHBACK
Steve: "Please... let me go in your place."
Vince: "Wait a minute. You think if I go and see her I'm gonna foul things up... is that it?"
Steve: "No... that's not it--"
Vince: "You don't trust me to do the right thing... do 'ya?"
Steve: "Vinnie, for heaven's sake--"
Vince: "Wait. You think if I go and I see Niki...that I'm gonna let her talk me out of everything..huh?
Steve: "No... that's not it at all."
Vince: "Then why don't you want me to go and see her? I know her better than anybody else. If anybody can get to her... I can."
Steve: "I just told you, Vinny. Because I have this feeling... I have this feeling that if I go... if we surprise her... we'll be able to take advantage of that and use it to our advantage."
Vince: "I don't believe you. You don't trust me!"
Steve: "Of course I trust you..."
Vince: "Then I'm the one who goes... yes or no?"
Steve: "Okay... you go. It was just an idea."
Vince: "It's ok. Steve... I'll do the right thing."
END OF FLASHBACK]
Vince: "The right thing... What's the right thing with that nutty Niki? When she finds out I'm all for Steve and Viki getting married now, she's gonna bust her gut. And then I gotta convince her to leave Viki alone. How the heck am I gonna do that? How the heck am I ever gonna get her to listen to me? Niki... call if you're gonna call...please. I can't take this waitin' no more."
Scene 2
The Banner.
Marcy: (TO HERSELF AS THE KNOCKING CONTINUES AT HER DOOR) "Maybe they'll go away...whoever they are. If I don't move, and they don't hear anything, maybe they'll go away." (THE KNOCKING CONTINUES, STRONGER)
Cathy (off screen): "Marcy...are you in there? It's Cathy Craig. Marcy, are you in there?
(MARCY HEARS THEM TRYING TO OPEN THE LOCKED DOOR. SHE MOVES CLOSER AND LISTENS)
Marcy: "Who is it?"
Cathy (off screen): "Marcy, it's Cathy Craig and Jack Lawson. Are you all right?"
Marcy: "Oh...ah...just a second, Cathy." (MARCY DASHES ABOUT THE ROOM, TRYING TO HIDE ALL EVIDENCE OF HER PLOT) "Coming..."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT THREE
Scene 1
The Banner.
Marcy: "One second, Cathy!" (MARCY CONTINUES TO TIDY THE ROOM) "One second." (NOW COMPOSED, SHE GOES TO THE DOOR AND OPENS IT) "Hi."
Cathy: "Are you alright?"
Marcy: " Yes, sure...Come on in."
Jack: "We were getting a little worried there."
Marcy: "Why's that?"
Jack: "We saw Carla on the stairs and she said that you were up here...but we kept knocking..."
Marcy: "I'm sorry. Were you knocking long?"
Cathy: "No...not too long, Marcy.
Marcy: "Well...I was taking a nap, and I guess I didn't hear you. What are you two doing up here anyway?
Cathy: "Jack and I are working on a last minute assignment Mr. Burke gave us. We have to find out how many eighteen-year-olds voted in the last election. And we have to make all these charts up, Marcy... and the statistics we need are in a report that Mr. Burke forgot to give us.
Marcy: "Oh..."
Jack: "Well, the report's got to be in tomorrow, and we looked for the report in the files... but we can't find it anywhere. So we figured it was in Mr. Burke's desk...and to get in there we need the key..."
Marcy: "I'm sorry. I wish you'd phoned before you came. I can't help you. You see, Mr. Burke and Mrs. Riley are the only people who have a key to that desk.
Jack: "Really? We figured since you were the secretary..."
Marcy: "No... he keeps some personal things in his desk, and he values his privacy. That's the way it should be...right?"
Cathy: "Oh, I see."
Jack: "How are we going to get a hold of that report?
Cathy: "Yeah..."
Marcy: "Oh...hey...I'm the one who goofed. Before he went to Chicago to the convention, he asked me to give you the report, and I forgot. Okay, listen... it's in my desk, and it's in the lower right-hand drawer. Go get it."
Jack: "Okay. Thanks a lot."
Marcy: "Sorry. I usually don't forget things like that. I've been under a bit of a strain lately..."
Jack: "Really? Is anything wrong?"
Marcy: "No...not really. I just worked all day with Mrs. Riley.
Cathy: "How is she?"
Marcy: "She's fine considering everything..."
Cathy: "What do you mean, Marcy?"
Marcy: "Oh...I don't want to give the wrong impression. I probably shouldn't say anymore... (INDICATING THE REPORT) "Lower right-hand drawer...right? I'm sorry. I hope my forgetfulness hasn't held you up too long."
Jack: "We can make up the time now that we know where it is..."
Marcy: "Listen...please don't say anything about Mrs. Riley. You know how rumors start around the paper, and before you know it... she'd be having a total breakdown. We don't want that, right?
Cathy: "No, of course not."
Marcy: "Okay, bye-bye..."
Jack: "Bye."
Cathy: "Bye, Marcy..."
(MARCY SEES THEM OUT THE DOOR, THEN SHIFTS BACK INTO HER PLAN)
Marcy: "I've got to get started before Vince gives up waiting for Niki Smith's call. He's got to be there..."
Scene 2
The garage.
(VINNIE COMES BACK INTO THE GARAGE AND FINDS JERRY USING THE TELEPHONE)
Vince: "What are you doin'?!"
Jerry: "Oh...the number two rig won't start.
Vince: "So...?"
Jerry: "So... we got that Brine's delivery to Harrisburg, and I gotta get a rental job now..."
Vince: "Well, use the payphone down the corner...I'm expectin' an important call..." (VINNIE GRABS THE RECEIVER FROM HIS HAND AND HANGS IT UP)
Jerry: "What...?"
Vince: "You heard me..."
Jerry" "Vinnie, I told you I got a burnt out starter. I gotta get another right away..."
Vince: "What are you waitin' tryin' to talk to me for... get to the phone..."
Jerry: "There's a phone right here..." (HE PICKS IT UP)
Vince: (Grabbing the phone again) "I told you I'm expectin' an important call..."
Jerry" "What's more important than business...? The Brine's stuff is already late..."
Vince: "Then get to the payphone..."
Jerry: "Vinnie, what the heck is the matter with you?"
Vince: "Jerry, get outta here, will ya'..."
Jerry: "Vinnie, the day that I went into business with you--"
Vince: "Yeah...?"
Jerry: "One of these days Vinnie... so help me I'm gonna throw you right through the window..."
Vince: "Alright...! (JERRY EXITS IN ANGER) I need that..."
Scene 3
The Banner.
(MARCY, NOW DRESSED AS NIKI, GATHERS HER OWN CLOTHES)
Marcy: "And these to change into after I've been to Ernie's. And now a note for Carla. (MARCY DICTATES THE NOTE) Carla...I had to leave for the reasons I told you...Don't saanything to anyone...(THE NOTE IS COMPLETE) Here I come, Vinnie baby... First and last meeting..."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FOUR
Scene 1
Jack and Cathy are having dinner.
Cathy: "This is so hot."
Jack: "Give it a chance to cool off."
Cathy: "Oh, come on...We don't have that kind of time..."
Jack: "Gotta eat."
Cathy: "No one's going to ask whether we ate or not if we don't get this assignment finished on time."
Jack: (Imitating Humphrey Bogart) "It'll be in on time, Schweetheart... We're that world famous reporting team, remember."
Cathy: "Jack, did you notice how nervous Marcy was?"
Jack: "Nervous...?"
Cathy: "Oh, wow... she was so uptight."
Jack: "Well, maybe she was...but she told us why."
Cathy: "I know. But no matter how hectic things get at the office...Marcy always keeps her cool. I have never seen her like that before."
Jack: "You think there's something wrong with Mrs. Riley?"
Cathy: "Maybe...but I don't want to be one of those people Marcy says starts rumors."
Jack: "You're not going to tell anybody... are you?"
Cathy: "Of course not."
Jack: "Has your father said something to make you believe that there's something wrong?"
Cathy: "No, but he can't be up on everything. Maybe I should just mention to him how worried Marcy looked."
Jack: "Maybe you should just stay out of the whole thing."
Cathy: "Well, I won't say anything more to him than that. I mean, if he thinks it's worth going into...fine. If he doesn't... no harm done..."
Jack: "Okay."
Cathy: "Marcy looked really worried. I mean, I have never seen her like that before. It's really funny..."
Scene 2
Ernie's Bar.
Louie: "Hey...Ernie..."
Ernie: "Yeah...?"
Louie: (Drunk, slurring his words) "Give me another drink here..."
Ernie: "No."
Louie: "Awww, c'mon, Ernie. Give us just one."
Ernie: "Nah...that's it."
Louie: "Ernie... ain't I a good customer of yours?"
Ernie: "Too good."
Louie: "Ernie...now listen, man..."
Ernie: " Listen. Why don't you go home, Louie?"
Louie: "Whaddya' think I'm hangin' around here for? I don't wanna go home..."
Ernie: "Then why don't you shut up?"
Louie: "Look...Ernie..."
Ernie: "You want me to throw you outta here?"
(LOUIE RELENTS. MARCY, DRESSED AS NIKI, ENTERS AND SLIDES UP TO THE BAR)
Ernie: "What'll it be?"
Marcy: "Bourbon and water."
(ERNIE MIXES THE DRINK)
Marcy: "How ya' been?"
Ernie: "No complaints. How 'bout yourself?"
Marcy: "You don't remember me...do you?"
Ernie: (LOOKS AT HER MORE CLOSELY, BUT THERE'S NO RECOGNITION) "You know how it is...a lot of people coming in and out of here."
Marcy: "Yeah...sure."
(ERNIE BRINGS HER THE DRINK)
Ernie: "There you are."
Marcy: "You seen Vinnie Wolek lately?"
Ernie: "Yeah, he comes around once in a while."
Marcy: "You give him my message last time?"
Ernie: "Message...?"
Marcy: "Yeah..."
Ernie: (Unsure of who she is) Ah...I don't know... What kind of a message...?"
Marcy: "Once upon a time...there was this girl who came into this bar and she sees this nice guy...this bartender...Ernie. You with me so far?"
Ernie: "Yeah, I think so."
Louie: (interrupting, leaning closer to Marcy) "I'm...I'm with you, too, honey..."
Ernie: "Butt out, will you Louie...?"
Marcy: "So... she says to this nice guy Ernie...this bartender...she says, 'Would you give Vinnie Wolek a message for me?' And this girl's name was... Niki Smith."
Ernie: (trying to remember) "Niki Smith."
Louie: (infatuated) "Niki Smith..."
Marcy: "Yeah..."
Louie: "Niki Smith...that's a nice name..."
Ernie: "Oh...Niki Smith...of course, that's you! Of course...sorry..."
Marcy: (teasing, flirtatious) "I should hope so."
Ernie: "I must be getting old."
Marcy: (giggling) "That's alright. You remembered anyway...and that's what counts. (HANDS HIM MONEY) Have a drink on that."
Ernie: "Okay...thanks."
Louie: (leaning closer) "Hey...me, too...huh."
Ernie: "Louie...you take it easy, will you?"
(LOUIE GIVES IN)
Ernie: "So...how ya' been?"
Marcy: "Just kind of groovin' away."
Ernie: "Yeah, I remember now. I gave Vinnie that message...I'm sure I did."
Marcy: "Well...see I've kinda been...out of touch for a while.
Ernie: "Oh... You live around here?"
Marcy: "Not too far."
Ernie: "Why don't you drop in once in a while? You know, on Saturday nights we've got a good crowd...lotta laughs..."
Marcy: "Maybe I will."
Ernie: "Nothing stopping you."
Marcy: "Yeah...well. See I haven't been able to get out too much lately. I'm gonna change that, though."
Ernie: "Good."
Marcy: "Yeah... 'cause pretty soon I'm gonna be gettin' out a lot. And I mean a lot! One day...when everything's right... You know what I mean? When everything's right, I'm gonna come out...and I'm gonna stay out...for good. And that's when you're gonna see some action, Ernie (SHE GIGGLES GLEEFULLY)"
Ernie: " Great. Hey...look. I don't want to bust in or anything, you know...if you and Vinnie got anything going. But you said you hadn't seen him in a while... so like I said...why don't you come on out?"
Marcy: "Oh, Ernie! That's nice. You know, that's really nice. I could really groove on something like that. Yeah...but you know...cause Vinnie and I...I gotta meet him tonight."
Ernie: "You do?"
Marcy: "Yeah...we got a date."
Ernie: "I thought you said you've been out of touch..."
Marcy: "Yeah...well...I called him."
Ernie: (unhappy) "Oh..."
Marcy: "In fact I gotta call him again and make sure he knows where to meet me, you know. Cause, boy , this is one date... I don't wanna miss..."
COMMERCIAL BREAK
ACT FIVE
Scene 1
Continuation of the Jack and Cathy scene.
Jack: "If there is something wrong with Mrs. Riley, how is it going to effect her marriage to Steve Burke?"
Cathy: "I know."
Jack: "It would be something, wouldn't it... if they had to call off the marriage twice."
Cathy: "Oh that would be so terrible for them."
Jack: "Bad luck doing it once, I know."
Cathy: "Yeah..."
Jack: "Cathy...remember that dance I asked you to...? Do you still intend to go with me?"
Cathy: "Sure. Unless you'd rather take somebody else."
Jack: "If I wanted to take somebody else, I would have asked somebody else. You're still feeling the same way, though...aren't you?
Cathy: "About what?"
Jack: "You feel uncomfortable because you're going out with me and you're Julie's friend."
Cathy: "Yes."
Jack: "No sense in that, you know."
Cathy: "I think there's a lot of sense in it, Jack. I mean, you were going to marry her once...remember?"
Jack: "Yes, I was going to marry her, but that's over now...and everybody knows it except you. Nobody else has any trouble with it. So maybe it's really something else. Maybe you're afraid that if you let your guard down and start going out with me... and we begin to have some good times... you're afraid that I will...ask you to live with me."
(CATHY IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE TRUTH)
Scene 2
Ernie's Bar. Marcy is going for the phone.
Marcy: "Hey, listen...that's the phone over there...right?"
Louie: (more intoxicated) "Hey...where...where are you goin', honey? Can...can I help you?"
Ernie: "Louie!"
Marcy: "No thanks..."
(MARCY STARTS TO HEAD TOWARD THE PHONE, BUT LOUIE BLOCKS HER PATH)
Louie: "I'll...I'll have another drink then...huh..."
Marcy: "Please get out of my way..."
Louie: "Just one little drink..."
Ernie: "Louie, would you cool it...?"
Louie: (GRABS MARCY ARM) "Look...look..I'll come to your place--"
Ernie: "Not again...!"
Marcy: (STRUGGLING TO GET AWAY) "Leave... get your hairy arms off of me!"
Ernie: "Alright...alright...C'mon, Louie... that's it...time to go home...!"
(ERNIE RESTRAINS LOUIE AND FORCES HIM OUT THE DOOR ONTO THE DOCK)
Louie: "Ernie...I've been here for fifteen years..."
Ernie: "Right...goodnight..." (HE SLAMS THE DOOR SHUT) I'm sorry about that..."
Marcy: "It's okay, Ernie. Thanks a lot."
Ernie: "Don't mention it. He's a louse... that Louie. Don't worry... he won't be back any more tonight."
Marcy: "Okay..."
(MARCY MOVES TO THE PAY PHONE AND DIALS VINCE'S NUMBER, READY TO COMPLETE HER DEADLY PLOT)
BLACKOUT
COMMERCIAL BREAK
CLOSING CREDITS:
ONE LIFE
TO LIVE
created by
AGNES NIXON
produced by
DORIS QUINLAN
directed by
DAVID PRESSMAN
story by
GORRUSSELL
written by
GORDON RUSSELL
TED DAZAN
Cathy Craig
JANE ALICE BRANDON
Steven Burke
BERNARD GRANT
Marcie Wade MacKenzie
FRANCESCA JAMES
Vince Wolek
ANTONY PONZINI
Jack Lawson
DAVID SNELL
Ernie
PAUL LARSON