ACT ONE - TEASER
Terrace at Llanfair. Meredith has introduced
amnesiac Tom Edwards to Anna Wolek. Tom believes that
he might recognize Anna.
MEREDITH: Try to remember, Anna. Have you ever
seen Tom before? It's very important.
ANNA: Well, I don't understand, Mr. Edwards.
Am I supposed to know you?
TOM: Well, when I first saw you, Miss Wolek,
I thought... - have you lived around here all your life?
ANNA: Oh, yeah... well not out here, I mean...in the city.
TOM: Haven't you even gone away to college or anything?
ANNA: No. No, I didn't go to college period.
TOM: I'm sorry to cross examine you like this, it's just that
--
MEREDITH: You see, Tom is a stranger in town, and naturally he'd
be surprised if he came across somebody he thought he knew...
TOM: You don't have to cover for me. You see, Miss Wolek - well, I'm trying to find a clue.
ANNA: A clue...?
TOM: To my life. A link. Something to help me remember. (A BEAT) I have no idea who I
am...
TAKE ANNA'S STARTLED REACTION, AND FADE OUT
OPENING TITLE
ACT TWO
Scene 1
Llanfair terrace.
Scene continued.
ANNA: I'll be in touch, all right? I'll let you know as soon
as I hear anything.
MEREDITH: And I'll let you know if I hear
anything...
ANNA: (kisses her on
the cheek) Alright... Say goodbye to Mr. Edwards for me, will ya'?
MEREDITH: I sure will...
ANNA: And listen, I don't think you ought to let him leave
without somebody talking to him...
MEREDITH: I'll wait till Father gets home. He'll decide what to
do...
ANNA: And if ya' need any help, I'm sure Jim would be glad to help...
MEREDITH: Okay, I'll remember.
ANNA: Okay, honey. Take care...
(ANNA GOES. MEREDITH WALKS INTO THE LORD LIBRARY WHERE TOM IS WAITING).
MEREDITH: Anna said to say goodbye.
TOM: I woulda come out, but I
felt...maybe you two wanted to talk alone. Wolek...
MEREDITH: That's Anna's last name. Do you know it?
TOM: No, no. I just realized that's... the name of the fellow
you were engaged to...isn't it? Larry Wolek.
MEREDITH: Yes...that's Anna's younger brother.
TOM: You seemed to still be friends in spite of the breakup.
MEREDITH: Well, Anna understands the circumstances.
TOM: She seemed like a very nice person.
MEREDITH: She's a wonderful person. I would have liked to have had
her as a sister-in-law.
TOM: Was this Larry - he must have been somebody pretty
special, too.
MEREDITH: Yes...he was. He is somebody very special... (a sad look)
Scene 2
Larry's hospital room at
JIM: So... Anna, Cathy, and I are going out to dinner.
LARRY: I guess Cathy's pretty happy about you and Anna, huh?
JIM: Absolutely delighted. Of course she's
been a big fan of Anna right from the beginning.(checks
watch) I don't want to waste too much more time. I don't want to keep my
womenfolk waiting...
LARRY: Well, sir...before you go...how
is Karen coming along?
JIM: There isn't too much that's new. You know that she
fainted just outside the nurse's station on the third floor. There are some
signs of accumulated fatigue. Low blood pressure. Unfavorable hemoglobin. That sort of
thing.
LARRY: But not traceable to the accident?
JIM: Not directly traceable...no.
LARRY: Dr. Craig... are there any
signs of miscarriage?
JIM: No physical symptoms.
LARRY: Well, now what does that mean?
JIM: Larry... you know Karen herself is convinced that she's
going to lose the baby...
LARRY: Yes sir, I know. She mentioned it to me when I saw her
earlier today.
JIM: If you saw her...then you know how wound up she is. And
this highly emotional state that she's managed to work herself into could...by
itself... cause her to miscarry. Of course all of this is a product of her fear
that she might lose you...
LARRY: So whaddya' suggest I do?
Assure her that I'll stick by her no matter what happens?
JIM: No, no... I'm not suggesting anything of the sort. I'm
just telling you that Karen feels...the only thing holding you together...is the child.
LARRY: She's right.
JIM: Of course, you are married to her.
LARRY: Yes, sir. But I wouldn't be if it weren't for that baby.
If she hadn't made me -- sir, it seems to me that that kind of marriage is --is
a mockery.
JIM: I would be inclined to agree with you, Larry.
LARRY: So whadda' I do? If the only
valid reason no longer exists...well...wouldn't it make some sort of sense to
dissolve that marriage?
JIM: I'm afraid that's a question you're going to have to
answer for yourself, Larry...
LARRY: I've already answered it. Look, marriage has to be based
on love, right? Well, nothing that's happened between Karen and me - certainly
not our marriage - can
any way alter the fact that I still love Meredith Lord...
Scene 3
The Lord library.
Meredith is deep in thought, a forlorn, lonely expression on her face.
Obviously she is thinking of Larry, too.
TOM: Well, maybe I shouldn't have brought up Larry's name.
I'm sorry.
MEREDITH: It's all right.
TOM: Obviously it isn't all right.
MEREDITH: Oh...I'm just being silly. It's all over between us, and
I'd better start getting used to the idea.
TOM: Is it over?
MEREDITH: He's married to somebody else...
TOM: I know...but - marriages have been known to break up.
MEREDITH: Not this one.
TOM: Why not?
MEREDITH: There's going to be a child.
TOM: Oh...I see.
MEREDITH: And Larry's not the sort of person to walk away from a
situation like that. I don't think you would be either.
TOM: Meredith, I may have already. For all I know,
I'm...married...with children.
MEREDITH: I don't think so.
TOM: Why not?
MEREDITH: Well, I can't imagine that you wouldn't remember
anything about them.
TOM: I don't even remember my name. Tom Edwards. Between the
two of us...we picked that one out of a hat. And if I can't remember who I am or
where I came from...well, there must be other blanks. Big,
important blanks.
MEREDITH: I suppose you're right. As soon as Father gets
home...we'll work on your problem.
[The SOUND of the from door opening and closing]
VICTOR'S VOICE: (offscreen) Meredith...
MEREDITH: We're in here, Father...
[Victor enters the room and presents Meredith a beautiful flower]
MEREDITH: Thank you... there's somebody here I'd like you to meet,
Father.
[Tom rises and turns to face imposing Victor. Victor steps into the library and scrutinizes the mysterious stranger.]
FADE OUT
ACT THREE
Scene 1
Llanfair library.
The three are now sitting.
MEREDITH: And that's about the whole story except that I persuaded
Tom to come back here and wait until you got home.
VICTOR: I see...
TOM: (rising to
leave) Well, I wanna thank you for your
hospitality...and for your kindness...but I'm not gonna
impose on you any longer. I'll just --
VICTOR: No, wait... There's no point waiting so long if you're
going to leave before we do anything about your situation.
TOM: Well, Mr. Lord... it isn't your responsibility. I don't
want to ask you to help...
VICTOR: You haven't asked.
Meredith volunteered our help...and rightly so. And, I intend to carry through.
MEREDITH: Tom, don't you see? We can't let you just walk out of
here without knowing where you're going to go or what you're going to do.
TOM: Well, if you're sure it's not... too much of an
inconvenience...
VICTOR: No, of course not. Now... let's start at the beginning.
You said you found yourself in the park this morning. Shortly before you
encountered Meredith?
TOM: That's right.
VICTOR: And you have no idea how you got there?
TOM: None whatever. My first consciousness was that... my
head hurt. My clothes were rumpled and dusty. Your daughter was kind enough to
find a change for me.
VICTOR: I see you went through your pockets and checked for
identification.
TOM: Nothing. Oh, there was a label inside my suit, but it
was a name brand... not a local store. Other than that...
nothing.
VICTOR: Well, I would imagine then that you were mugged. Perhaps knocked unconscious. And that whoever did it took
your wallet and whatever else that was in your pocket.
TOM: They certainly cleaned me out. Even my memory...
VICTOR: Well at least you know your name...that's a start.
MEREDITH: That's just it, Father. Tom Edwards is a name the two of
us kind of picked out of a hat...
VICTOR: Oh, I see. Well...you'll stay here with us, of course.
Until you get your bearings. Get your feet on the ground.
TOM: No, sir...I couldn't do that! Now really, I don't feel
that I should impose on you....
VICTOR: Oh, no...it's not an
imposition. (to Meredith) I think the apartment over
the garage would be suitable, don't you, my dear?
[Victor goes to the phone and dials]
MEREDITH: Oh, yes...it'll be fine. I'll tell
Felicia to clean it up. Get it in shape. Who are you calling, Father?
VICTOR: The police. They may have a missing person's report that
matches Tom's description. Hello...Lieutenant Neal, please... (to Meredith) I think it's better to go through somebody we
know...
MEREDITH: Yes...
VICTOR: (into phone) Yes...oh... well...will you ask him to call Victor Lord,
please? He has our number...Thank you... [hangs up]
He's out on an investigation, but they'll have him call us as soon as he
returns. (to Tom) Now... I
assume if you have any family around here...they would report you missing.
TOM: Well, I should think so. But I don't know if I have any
family anywhere.
MEREDITH: Where do you think he comes from, Father? I mean by the
accent.
VICTOR: Hmmmm. The
MEREDITH: Say something else, Tom.
TOM: I'm a little self conscious here...let's
see...(searching his mind, then) Four score and seven years ago our fathers
brought forth on this continent a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated
to the proposition that all men are created equal...
MEREDITH: (clapping)
Bravo!
VICTOR: I still don't detect any regional flavor...
TOM: Now where did I get that ?
MEREDITH: That's the
TOM: Well, I know...but
if I could remember that...you'd think I could recall my own name.
MEREDITH: Oh...that reminds me. Father, could we put his picture
in the paper?
VICTOR: Yes, of course. I'll have a photographer come out. We
can get it in the morning edition. Now...what else?
TOM: Mr. Lord, you've done enough...
VICTOR: Nonsense. Meredith
and I both need something to occupy our minds. You see...we've had a little
personal crisis in our family...
MEREDITH: I've already told him about Viki,
Father.
VICTOR: Well...then you understand why we have to keep busy. So
we don't sit around wringing our hands.
TOM: I don't know how to thank you, Sir.
VICTOR: You don't need to.
[Tom suddenly reaches his hand to the back of his head. His face is grave]
VICTOR: Are you in pain, son?
TOM: No...it's just a - a quick stab
back here. I guess your theory was right. I think somebody did conk me.
MEREDITH: Father, don't you think we should get a doctor for him?
VICTOR: Of course...why didn't I think of that? I'll call our
family doctor. Have him drop over.
TOM: No, really...I
don't want to be any bother.
MEREDITH: Would you stop worrying about all the trouble you're
putting us to. I'm sure Dr. Craig would be happy to take a look at you. As a
matter of fact, you met his fiance just a little
earlier.
TOM: I did...?
MEREDITH: Anna Wolek. She was on her way
to have dinner with him and his daughter...
VICTOR: (on the phone)
...I'd like to leave a message for Dr. Craig, please. Will you ask him to call
Victor Lord at his convenience? L-O-R-D...
[Tom walks to the fireplace and stares at the portrait of Eugenia Lord over the mantle, a perplexed look on his face]
Scene 2
A restaurant. Anna,
Jim, and Cathy are seated at a booth.
ANNA: So, Meredith ran into this young man
when she was in the park. When she realized he was lost - and I mean totally
lost...didn't know where he was...who he was... anything... she brought him
home.
CATHY: You mean he didn't
even know his own name?
ANNA: Well, he calls himself Tom Edwards, but they both told
me he just pulled that name out of the air...
CATHY: (to Jim) So...did you ever run across anything like this - outside of
movies and books and stuff...?
JIM: Oh...yes...honey, of course. Our big city hospitals have
cases of this kind quite frequently. No, amnesia is not a storybook thing. Quite a common medical occurrence. It can be induced by any
number of things. Finding the causes... in effect...opening the brain of the
person involved...now that can be difficult.
[The waiter is there with drinks]
JIM: Ahhh... there we are. (Points
to a cocktail) This one is for this young lady (indicates Anna). Ginger ale is
for that young lady (indicates Cathy). That one is mine. Thank you.
[The waiter leaves]
Now...I think a toast is in order. To us...the Craig family. (at Anna) Particularly to its newest member. To a bright, happy future for the three of us.
[They all raise their glasses and sip]
Now, then. If we're going to be married two weeks Thursday (to Cathy) - wasn't that the date you set...?
CATHY:
That's right...
JIM: We have a lot of plans to make--
ANNA: Oh, boy... I'll say we've have. I've got trousseau
shopping to do --
JIM: Now, now. Before you go ahead and buy any clothes...
don't you think we ought to decide where we're going on our honeymoon? What's
your pleasure, ma'am. Seashore? The
mountains? Perhaps a couple of weeks in
CATHY: (softly, a bit
disturbed) Honeymoon...?
JIM: Well, yes, dear... I realize that you didn't give us too
much time to plan...
CATHY: Oh, I thought --
JIM: What is it, honey?
CATHY: I don't know. I guess I just thought we'd be going to
the cabin by the lake for a couple of weeks...
JIM: Well, I'm sure we can manage that for a week or so later
in the summer, but first I think that Anna and I should have a proper
honeymoon. (to Anna) You know, I think
CATHY: (quickly) Well I can be her tennis partner...
JIM: Honey... this is a honeymoon .
It'll be just the two of us.
[Cathy is silent]
JIM: Well, that's the way honeymoons usually are, isn't
it...?
[Cathy attempts to speak, but clearly she's hurt and doesn't know what to say]
JIM: (to Anna) What do you think about
ANNA: Oh, I think
JIM: Good. Good. Then that's all settled. Now...let's see
what's good to eat. (Jim scans the menu). You girls like me to order for you,
or you want to order for yourself...?
[Cathy looks downward, a sad expression on her face. Anna takes a sip of her cocktail and glances at Cathy, aware that she is terribly disappointed]
ACT FOUR
Scene 1
Anna's apartment.
Anna is standing at the window, her apartment darkened,
She is deep in thought and stares blankly out the window. Her door is open, and
Sadie Gray walks by.
SADIE: That you, Anna?
ANNA: Oh, Sadie... come on in.
SADIE: I'm scared I might stumble over the furniture...
ANNA: I'm sorry, honey, Just
flip the light switch on...Would you like some coffee...maybe some iced tea?
SADIE: Oh, no thanks. I'm just getting back from a movie. I've gotta get up early in the morning. Did you have a good time
tonight?
ANNA: Yes, yeah, yeah. Had a very nice time.
SADIE: Well, you surely do look pretty...
ANNA: (turns to model her dress) Oh....
SADIE: You know...I hope
Dr. Craig appreciates what he's getting...
ANNA: Well...I think he does... but I'm not so sure about Miss
Catherine Craig, though...
SADIE: What's that? I thought the two of you were such big, big
buddies.
ANNA: Oh, yeah, but she hardly said a word to me comin' home in the car.
SADIE: Did you have an argument or something?
ANNA: Nope...
SADIE: Well, well, what happened?
ANNA: Sadie... you won't believe this, but while we were
having dinner, Jim and I were talking about our plans and Jim mentioned our
honeymoon. And when Cathy found out she wasn't included... she just sort of
froze up. She wouldn't touch her dinner and she hardly said a word to us the
rest of the evening.
SADIE: Well now...it's
started then...
ANNA: What has...?
SADIE: (straightforward)
Anna... didn't you think that Cathy would be jealous of you? I mean, at least
at first...
ANNA: Well...why should she be...?
SADIE: Why? Because you are marrying her
father.
ANNA: But that's exactly
what she wanted...
SADIE: Oh, no, no... She wanted you to be her mother...
ANNA: Well, alright then...
SADIE: She did not want
you to be her daddy's wife...
ANNA: Sadie, how can I be one without the other?
SADIE: You can't. And you know what...it's going to take her a
little time to figure that one out.
ANNA: Oh, boy. She's seventeen years old.
SADIE: Yeah, I know. But what somebody knows with the mind is
not always accepted with the heart.
ANNA: Sadie, what am I gonna do...?
SADIE: What are you gonna do!? You're gonna marry Dr.
Craig. I mean, you have a right to a life of your own, haven't you?
ANNA: Yes...
SADIE: Yeah, yeah...sure. This is just a passing thing with
Cathy. You know, in a few months --she won't believe you when you tell her how
she acted.
ANNA: (unconvinced) I hope you're right...
SADIE: I know I'm right. You just wait and see. You know
what...?
ANNA: Hmmm....?
SADIE: I think I'll have some of that coffee...You care to join
me?
ANNA: Yeah, sure...
[Anna wrings her hands, obviously still worried about Cathy]
Scene 2
The Lord library at
Llanfair. Jim is with Tom.
JIM: Actually, I just heard about you from Anna Wolek.
TOM: She's a very nice
lady, Dr, Craig.
JIM: Thank you, I think so...
TOM: She told you the whole story...?
JIM: Pretty much, I think. Of course I'd still like to have a
look at that head of yours. Take some x-rays. Perhaps you can stop by the
hospital tomorrow morning.
TOM: If you think it will help...
JIM: At least we can determine whether or not you have any
serious physical injuries. But for now...I'd still like to ask you just a few
questions...
TOM: All right, doctor. But I'm afraid you'd be wasting your
time.
JIM: Why, what do you mean...?
TOM: You can ask all the questions you like.
I just don't have any answers.
JIM: You really don't remember anything, do you?
TOM: Before this morning...nothing...Did you think I was putting
on some kind of act?
JIM: No...well - I wasn't sure. There are some people – opportunists -
who might be able to perpetrate a hoax of this kind...try to worm their way
into the confidence of a family like the Lords.
TOM: Believe me, Sir. I
didn't even know who Meredith Lord was until I met her in the park today. I
wish I could remember. It's strange... a couple of times this afternoon... I
seemed right on the edge of discovering --
JIM: Discovering what...?
TOM: I don't know. A face...a place...a
name. Some kind of a clue. Doctor - will I ever
found out?
JIM: Tom, these things
are usually temporary. At any moment, everything could click into place in your
mind.
TOM: But it could go on and on...
JIM: Well...it's unpredictable, of course. But we'll do
everything we can, and I'm sure - I'm sure we'll soon know who you are...
[TAKE TOM'S UNSURE REACTION AND,]
FADE OUT
ONE LIFE
TO LIVE
fashions courtesy of
OHRBACH'S
a presentation of
CREATIVE HORIZONS,
INC.