Previously, Dorothy Sherwood had arrived at boyfriend Russell Gault's house seeking solace after her encounter with Victor Pearce, who molested her mother Loretta in the park the day before. But fear gave way to passion between the police officer and the accountant, and the two ended up making love.

The couple is asleep in each other's arms in Russell's bedroom. Russell begins to wake up though and he kisses Dorothy's forehead. The phone rings, and he picks it up.

Russell: Hello.

"Russell, this is Sheila."

Russell: Hi Sheila. What's up?

Sheila: I know this is you day off, but Wade is home sick and something arrived in the mail down here earlier this afternoon and the station is buzzing.

Russell: What is it?

Sheila: Well, I did the mail today and a note was in with the bundle.

Russell: Yeah? What did the note say?

Sheila: It was one of those notes that had the letters cut out of magazines, and they're glued to a red piece of paper. I'll read it to you. It's pretty disturbing. (She gets the note and begins reading).

To ALL THE GIRLS AND BOYS IN BLUE

Something wicked this way is coming to you

I've waited so long

BLOOD WILL SOON SHED

WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO END UP DEAD?

The Summer of TERROR is coming...

Russell: Holy Mother of God. (Dorothy is now awake, and grabs his shoulder with a worried look on her face). Could it be the Night Prowler?

Sheila: I don't know. We're going to have the paper analyzed. Officer Phox and I are heading down to the lab in Baltimore.

Russell: Do you need me to come down?

Sheila: I think you'd better Russell. We've alerted the TV station, and Suzanne Haines is on her way to do an interview. You're the best one to talk to her.

Russell: Okay, I'll come. Christ, when is it going to end?

Sheila: I'd hate to think we have another nut loose in town. The past year was full of them wasn't it?

Russell: You said it. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Goodbye. (Hangs up the phone)

Dorothy: What's going on?

Russell (getting out of bed): I hate to end this wonderful afternoon, but something came up.

Dorothy: The Night Prowler?

Russell: I don't know honey. The station got a note made to look like a ransom note with some sick poem on it. (Dorothy's eyes widen) Look, I have to get dressed. You can stay here if you like. I'll be down at the station for some time. (He kisses her). You're great you know that?

Dorothy: Ditto. See you later. (Pause) Russell?

Russell: What is it love?

Dorothy: I think I'll head to Tess and Paul's. Will you call me there are soon as you hear something? I don't want to be alone.

Russell: Okay. Be careful Dorothy.

Meanwhile, Sam Granger, Janet MacDonald, and the rest of WBRE are preparing for the evening news broadcast when a young man enters the studio holding a small package. Sam and Janet walk over to the man, curious.

Sam: What do you have there Chris?

Chris: I don't know. I was talking to Toni at the reception desk and she asked me to bring this box into the studio. She said somebody must have left it there while she was in the ladies' room. I already shook it to make sure it wasn't a bomb. Want me to open it?

Janet: I don't see any harm, after all it's addressed to WBRE and not anyone in particular.

Sam: Go for it Chris.

Chris: Okay.

He carefully opens the left side of the package, and out comes a small lavender box. He opens the box, and his face fills with shock.

Chris: Oh my God! Take a look at this!

Sam and Janet peer into the box. Janet gasps and clings to Sam.

Janet: How horrible!

Inside the box is a Barbie doll, dressed in a lavender nightgown stained with drops of what appear to be blood. The doll's neck has a red slash across it.

Sam: That's disgusting. Is there anything else with it?

Chris: There's a red piece of paper underneath the doll.

Sam: We'd better use a tissue to open the paper. Then we'll take it to the police station for evidence. He goes to an empty desk and grabs a tissue from the box. He walks back to Chris and Janet and takes the lavender box. Sam carefully removes the doll and with the other hand, uses the tissue to retrieve the note. Chris gets another tissue and takes the doll from Sam. Sam opens up the red paper.

Sam: Somebody has cut letters out of magazines to make it look like a ransom note. (He begins reading).

TO THE GIRLS AND GUYS OF WBRE

Pretty soon you all will see

THE HORROR THAT I"LL SOON BRING TO YOUR TOWN

Revenge will be mine

The blood will soon flow

WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO GO?

THE SUMMER OF TERROR IS COMING...

Sam looks up and sees Janet trembling and Chris wide eyed.

Sam: God! That's pretty frightening. I'd better take this down to Suzanne at the station.

Janet: Are you going to show that thing live on the air? What if the person who sent this will be watching?

Sam: Let the psycho watch. If this is for real, we have to alert the citizens of Breckenridge that a possible murderer might be on the loose. Janet, do you think you'll be okay tonight at the anchor desk? If not, I can get Evan to take your place.

Janet: Thank you Sam, but I'll be fine. It's just that I left L.A. because we'd have a lot of sickos send notes like this all the time...I didn't think it could happen here.

Sam: Nuts are everywhere Janet. But maybe this time we'll be able to stop this one before he actually hurts someone. (He folds up the note and lays it back in the box. Chris sets the doll on top, and Sam closes the box).

Sam: I'm going to the station now with this box. Chris, make sure Janet calms down before we go on the air.

Chris: I will Sam.

Sam: I'll see you later. I guess I have to tell everyone about our little present. (He walks away)

Chris: I'll take you back to your dressing room Janet. We have an hour and a half before you go on. Get some rest.

Janet: That sounds like a good idea. I'll see if the script is done too, and look over that. (They begin heading towards the dressing rooms. Janet has the image of the blood spattered doll still in her mind).

Janet (to herself): That looks like one of my Barbie dolls I had as a child. And lavender is my favorite color too. Oh dear Lord, I hope that package wasn't actually meant for me. Has someone found out my secret?

At Kane Garrett's condo, he is looking out the window at the lowering sun. His sister Ingrid Grimes is still there, sitting on the couch. She had arrived to warn Kane about revealing a secret from their past to their family, and Kane thought it was time to tell everyone about it. The siblings are silent, then the doorbell rings. Kane goes to answer it.

Kane: Paul! Come in. (Paul Harper enters, and Kane gives his son a hug)

Paul: Hi Dad. I came to tell Aunt Ingrid we found a lot of things for the community yard sale.

Ingrid: Oh that's wonderful Paul.

Paul: I don't know if those cocktail dresses will go over real well though. Maybe if you took the shoulder pads out of them.

Ingrid (laughs nervously): I know, they're really cartoonish now aren't they?

Paul: Something isn't right here.

Kane: What do you mean son?

Paul: I can feel the tension in here. It's so thick you could cut the room with a butcher knife. Did something happen before I came?

Kane: Ingrid is still a little on edge because of the Night Prowler.

Paul: I can understand that. Hopefully the cops will catch him soon. Russell said he had a lead.

Ingrid: That's a relief.

Kane: I have a headache. I'm going to take some asprin and I'll be right back. (He heads for his bedroom)

Paul: Aunt Ingrid, Uncle Marcus and I found a metal tin today that fell out of the closet. We saw some letters of yours, but we didn't look at them. We put the tin right back where we found it, but I am curious. Were those letters you wrote to Dad about me?

Ingrid: Yes, and also letters I wrote to my parents explaining to them how happy I was with Marcus and that they shouldn't have felt so angry with me for leaving home.

Paul: Uncle Marcus told me your parents---my grandfather and grandmother---were cold people. Is that true?

Ingrid: Yes that's true. I don't think they really knew how to be affectionate and supporting. Father was in the military, everything was supposed to be very structured and orderly, and if something got out of order, he'd become angry.

Paul: Did he hit you and Dad?

Ingrid: Yes, but I really don't want to talk about it now---(Sound of breaking glass from Kane's room) What was that?

Paul: I don't know, let's go see.

The two run into the bedroom and see Kane crumpled on the floor, holding his head. Next to him is a shattered picture of a pretty blonde woman wearing a sad smile.

Paul: Dad, are you alright? Dad!

Ingrid: Kane say something for God sakes!

Kane looks up at his son and his sister with a look of fury in his eyes.

Kane: Just leave me alone!

Paul: Dad---

Kane: Dammit, both of you leave now! (He stands up, clutching his head)

Ingrid: What's gotten into you all of a sudden? I think you need to go to the hospital.

Kane: I'm fine! It's just that I get these terrible migraines sometimes. Really, I'll be fine in a bit. I don't need any babying.

Paul: Okay, I'm going. I have to help Tess clean out her closet for the yard sale anyway. I'll call you later Dad. (He heads out of the room)

Ingrid (after making sure Paul can't hear): What the hell was that all about? Why did you speak to your son that way?

Kane: Oh God Ingy, I didn't mean to yell at him or you like that. It's just---oh God, I think I'm cracking up all over again. (He looks at the broken picture) Gretchen, oh no! (He drops down and begins picking up the pieces of the frame).

Ingrid: I think you should come back to the mansion with me. You shouldn't be alone right now, and we can talk some more about, well you know.

Kane: This is the last thing I need right now Ingy, to go crazy again. What if I lose control and---

Ingrid: That's not going to happen anymore Kane. You're around people that love you, and everything will be good again. But if you tell everyone about what happened all those years ago, you're setting yourself up for another breakdown...

A few hours later, 6:00 p.m.

Janet is now at the anchor desk, beginning to report about the threatening notes both WBRE and the police station received today. She is calm and composed.

A mystery person is standing in front of a television set in a darkened living room, their black gloved hands balling into fists.

The person walks over to a small table that has Barbie dolls and other dolls on it. The dolls are very old and worn. The person takes a huge knife sitting next to one of the dolls, grabs a Barbie, and begins angrily chopping off its long blonde hair...

Next on Come Nightfall:

The police station and WBRE get terrifying phone calls.

Paul tells Tess and Dorothy about Kane's sudden outburst.

Kane gets an idea concerning his loved ones.

Victor's wrath proves dangerous for Brody.

Sheila Tandy was played by Amy Carlson.
Sam Granger was played by John de Lancie.
Chris was played by Bryan Datillo.

THIS HAS BEEN COME NIGHTFALL

BY BREE PERRY

COPYRIGHT 2001