Episode 76

Previously:

Both WBRE and the police station were sent notes threatening bloodshed.

Janet wondered if the note was meant for her.

Kane’s outburst caught Paul and Ingrid off guard.

A mystery person began cutting off the hair of a Barbie doll while watching Janet.

And now, onto this week’s episode…

Chris the intern is sitting at his desk inside the newsroom at WBRE watching the six o’clock news broadcast. Janet has just started introducing the report on the threatening notes. As she is cutting to Suzanne Haines, who’s standing outside the police station, the phone rings at Chris’ desk. He picks up the receiver.

Chris: Good evening, this is Chris at WBRE.

A high- pitched electronic voice that sounds like one of the Chipmunks talking through a fan blade, speaks up.

Voice: If I were you I’d tell the blonde to stop this story now!

Chris (in shock): What? Who is this?

Voice: Stop the story. Those notes I sent were not supposed to be made public!

Chris: Wait a minute---you wrote those notes?

Voice: The summer of terror is coming---but I’ll start it sooner if you don’t tell Janet to end this story---now!

Chris: It’s too late. Pretty soon the town will know a psycho’s on the loose. There’s nothing you can do.

At this point, others in the newsroom have begun to gather around Chris’ desk, their faces filled with curiosity and excitement.

Voice: I can do anything I want! And I’m warning you, if someone doesn’t tell Janet to kill this story, I’ll kill all of you by planting a bomb at the station! A few more dead bodies won’t bother me. (The voice begins cackling demonically, then there’s a click).

Chris drops the phone and looks at his colleagues.

Chris: I’ve got to tell Janet to stop the report! The nut who sent those notes threatened to blow up the station!

Outside the police station, Suzanne Haines is interviewing Russell Gault about the notes when Janet interrupts her back at the studio with news of the phone call from the note sender. Suzanne’s stomach instantly knots up, but she keeps her calm.

Suzanne: We have breaking news from back at the station. I just got word from Janet MacDonald the anonymous note sender has called the station and threatened to blow it up if we don’t stop this live report. An intern took the call at approximately 6:02 p.m. and said the caller’s voice was high-pitched and electronic. The person may be using some kind of voice distorter. Again, WBRE has received a phone call from who appears to be the person who sent threatening notes to the police station and the TV station predicting murders this summer. This is Suzanne Haines, live from the Breckenridge Police Department. We’ll have more later tonight at eleven. Back to you Janet.

Paul Harper, his wife Tess, and his sister-in-law Dorothy Sherwood are watching the news at Paul and Tess’ house. All three are sitting on the sofa, leaning toward the TV in amazement. Paul gets up and looks out the living room window, shaking his head. Tess stands up and goes to him, worried.

Tess: I know what you’re thinking honey. I can’t believe another psycho is loose in Breckenridge either.

Paul: Oh it’s more than that Tess. I saw Dad today, and he totally freaked out. I don’t know what came over him.

Tess: Is that’s what been bothering you today?

Paul: I’ve never seen him so angry before, but there’s something else too. Aunt Ingrid was there, and I could have sworn those two were talking about something they didn’t want me to know before I came.

Dorothy (getting up and walking over to the couple): You said their childhood wasn’t the best. Maybe they were bringing up old wounds and didn’t want to worry you.

Paul: Maybe, but I know there’s more to it. Otherwise, Dad wouldn’t have gone crazy like he did.

Tess (gently): Sweetie, you’ve only known your dad for a short time. There are lots of things you still have to learn about him.

Paul: You’re right. You’re right, as always. (He wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead) I really should talk with him more. I don’t really have any idea what he was like after he was forced to give me up.

Meanwhile, at the Grimes mansion, Kane Garrett and Ingrid Grimes are in the den, also watching the news.

Ingrid (reacting to Suzanne’s report): What else is going to happen in this town?

Kane: Hopefully it’s all a prank.

Ingrid: Nothing is a prank in Breckenridge. Joanna, Quentin, and Drennen have convinced me of that.

Kane: After my outburst today, I’m in good company.

Ingrid: You are not crazy Kane. Everyone has their ups and downs.

Kane: Paul must think I’m a basket case for the way I screamed at him. I need to apologize to him.

Ingrid: Maybe you could invite him to lunch.

Kane: I’ve been thinking. After my little rant, I thought I should take Valerie, Zoe, Amaya, Paul, and Tess someplace for a family getaway. Valerie’s tired of being stuck at home all the time, and while the girls do their thing, Paul and I could really talk, man to man.

Ingrid: That sounds wonderful but---

Kane: But you don’t want me telling Paul everything.

Ingrid: Not right now.

Kane: I have to Ingy. I have to clear my head and my conscience. You can’t bottle up the past because one day it will explode. I don’t want this to become a mess I’ll be cleaning up for the rest of my life.

Suzanne and Russell are now inside the police station after ending the report. Suzanne is drinking coffee and sitting across from Russell’s desk, frustrated.

Suzanne: Damn that nut!

Russell: Pretty clever of him to get the story shot down. Of course, we were probably a bit hasty to broadcast it to the entire town.

Suzanne (sighing): Probably, but think about it Russell---look what happened last year with Joanna Harper, Quentin Michaels, Drennen Talbot---after a while, people are going to get angry about their city being taken over by psychos. And the first group they’d direct their anger at is the police. By showing these notes, people will think you’re doing something.

Russell: Breckenridge, the town for psychos. Pretty soon we’ll give Monticello a run for its money.

Suzanne (eyebrows arching): Monticello?

Russell: The town on the soap opera Edge of Night. There was a psycho loose on there just about every day.

Suzanne: Oh well, I wouldn’t have known that. The only soaps I watch are One Life To Live and Cordial Deception. (The phone rings at Russell’s desk)

Russell (picking it up): Breckenridge police, Lieutenant Gault.

Voice: Well, well, well, so I get to speak to the illustrious Lieutenant Gault.

Russell (realizing it’s the weird voice of the WBRE caller): Jesus! (Covers the mouthpiece and mouths to Suzanne “It’s the caller!” Suzanne jumps up and grabs the cameraman, who’s at the water cooler. Russell gets back on the phone) You’re playing a sick game, and it’s time to end it!

Voice: But Lieutenant Gault, the game is just starting! I’ve waited too long for my revenge, and nobody is going to stop me! Just like I told the TV station, you interfere with my plans, and I’ll blow you up too!

Russell (hotly): You whacked out son-of-a-bitch!

Voice: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! (Hangs up)

Russell slams down the phone and looks up at Suzanne and her cameraman in disbelief.

Russell: Tell me you’re not going to air me talking to this creep on the news tonight! If you do, it might really set him off!

At Brody and Victor Pearce’s apartment, Victor is in the kitchen drinking a beer. He’s in a foul mood as usual.

Victor: Brody! What the hell are you doing?

After a few seconds, his son comes out.

Brody: I was on the phone.

Victor: Well now that you’re off, you need to go out and bring us back some good stuff. And don’t leave any evidence behind this time!

Brody: No.

Victor (becoming enraged): What the hell did you just say?

Brody: You heard me. I’m done robbing houses for you. You want it so badly, break in yourself!

Victor (inching closer): Don’t you backtalk me!

Brody (holding his ground): I said no and I mean it. I think you’re sick, making me commit burglary because you feel rich people owe you something. You try and force me to do it again, I’ll go to the police and tell them everything---that you made me rob those houses---and that you were the one who robbed those houses twenty-two years ago. (Victor seethes) And I’m sure the police would also love to know about Loretta Sherwood. Larry hasn’t spoken to me for weeks. (He pauses to enjoy watching his father get angrier and angrier) So what’s it going to be---Dad?

Victor: You bastard. (He smacks his son hard across the face).

Brody flinches but only for a second. He expected this slap. Blood trickles out of his mouth and he wipes it off with his wrist. He stands there, cool as a cucumber, staring his father straight in the eye.

Brody: I guess this means I’m going to the police. I wonder what it’s going to be like, both of us being in the same jail. (He turns away and begins heading for the door).

Victor becomes desperate, and he grabs a butcher knife from a kitchen drawer. He races toward Brody with the knife raised, eyes ablaze with fury…

Next on Come Nightfall:

A bleeding Brody runs into the diner for help.

Roark and Larry go after Victor.

Janet gets a phone call from the mysterious note sender.

Paul arrives at the Grimes mansion and comes face to face with Kane.

THIS HAS BEEN COME NIGHTFALL

BY BREE PERRY