Wait Until Dark Audition for Susy and Carlino Audition Selection #6

Transcription

1 Wait Until Dark Audition for Susy and Carlino Audition Selection #6 Act 2 Scene 1 Script pages SUSY is now aware that something very bad is going on. At this point, she doesn t realize MIKE is involved in the plot, and still believes he is an ally. She suspects that CARLINO is trying to get the doll to use as evidence against SAM (so he can charge SAM with Lisa s murder) and that ROAT is also a detective working with CARLINO. Just minutes ago, GLORIA confessed to SUSY that she took the doll and that she has now brought it back to the apartment. SUSY tells GLORIA to hide the doll in the garbage pail under the garbage bag, and enlists GLORIA s assistance in figuring out who these men really are. GLORIA tells SUSY that CARLINO has just emerged from the Volkswagen across the street, and that he is now peering into the basement window; SUSY knows CARLINO s next move will be to knock on the door and question her again. Now that she knows how important the doll is to SAM s freedom and now that she knows the doll is hidden only a few feet away she has decided to be far less cooperative with CARLINO. As CARLINO makes his way to the back door, SUSY asks GLORIA to go upstairs to her own apartment and watch the Volkswagen and the phone booth next to it, and she s instructed GLORIA to call her, let the phone ring twice, and then hang up the minute anyone from the vehicle emerges from the phone booth after making a call. Before GLORIA can slip upstairs to her spy perch, CARLINO rings the doorbell. SUSY tells GLORIA to hide in the pantry closet under the stairs. As GLORIA positions herself in her closet hiding place, SUSY tells CARLINO she s on the phone. Once GLORIA is hidden, SUSY goes to the door, opens it, and immediately begins herding CARLINO into the bedroom. I m sorry I kept you waiting. And I m so glad you came, because some kids were playing out at the back, and I think they ve broken a window in the bathroom. Would you mind taking a look? I ve got more important things to do, Mrs. Hendrix. It would only take you a moment... if you would, please. (After a very careful glance around the room, CARLINO follows SUSY into the bedroom. Once he is in there, SUSY backs into the bedroom doorway so that we [and GLORIA] can see her.

2 (Offstage.) There s nothing wrong with the bathroom window. (GLORIA peeps out of the stair closet, then moves out, closes the door and creeps up the stair and exits by the hall door. On her way past SUSY, she pats her on the back so SUSY knows she s exiting the room. SUSY then moves back into the bedroom.) (Offstage.) How about this window then? (Offstage.) It s okay. (As she enters from bedroom.) Oh I m sure I heard some glass breaking somewhere. Well, thanks for looking, anyway. Was there something you wanted to ask me? (Entering.) I understand that a Mr. Roat called on you just now. Yes, he did. I thought you should know that the woman who was murdered outside here last night was his wife. Oh. (Accusingly.) You don t seem very surprised to hear that. Well, from the way her husband behaved on the phone, I guessed something had happened. (CARLINO moves around the room for several seconds, looking at the open closets, etc.) You seem to have been searching for something since I was here last, Mrs. Hendrix. Yes I was trying to find some bags for the vacuum cleaner. Oh some bags for the vacuum cleaner well, maybe I can find them for you. (He starts to search in closets, etc.) No, please don t bother. (As CARLINO talks, he searches inside the washing machine, rummaging amongst the clothes and towels.) No bother at all... you know, the other day, my wife lost her only can opener... and you ll never guess where I found it... (Immediately.) In the washing machine?

3 (Turning, surprised.) That s right! Just thought you might have done the same thing. Thank you. But I d rather you didn t look for them now. Are you sure you weren t looking for something else, Mrs. Hendrix? (No reply.) Are you sure you weren t looking... for a doll? A doll? I don t know what you mean... A doll that your husband brought back from Canada... and which Mrs. Roat came here to collect the other night. My husband never knew Mrs. Roat. We know he did. Mr. Roat now recognizes your husband from a photograph that his father has. You mean which he stole from our bedroom? And the old man remembers seeing your husband and Mrs. Roat together several times. (No reply. He crosses slowly to the safe, watching SUSY closely.) Now, where else might that doll be? In this safe, perhaps? Why would my husband have to put a doll in there? And if he did, you couldn t open it anyway, could you? (After a pause.) As it so happens, I could. (Surprised.) You could? Then will you open it? For you? Now? Certainly not! You ll need a warrant for that, and you know it. Oh, we ll have a warrant in no time.

4 Then you ll have to blast it open! You ll get no help from me! It won t take us twenty minutes to drill that open, and before your husband gets back. (He starts to go up the stairs, then turns.) And in the meantime, you are not to leave this house. (Just as he reaches the door.) Oh, Sergeant is Mr. Roat still at the Sixth Precinct? (Surprised that she s attached a real police station to their fictitious story.) He s probably left there by now. Why? I just wanted to tell him something that is very important... could you give me his phone number, please? His phone number? Now, you re not going to tell me he didn t give it to you. Well, of course he did but I don t have it on me. Maybe you can get it from Information. He lives in Scarsdale. I ve already tried, and it s not listed. Oh I know how I can get it. (She goes to the phone and starts to dial.) What are you doing? (As she dials.) They ll put me through to the Sixth Precinct and they can tell me Mr. Roat s phone number. (CARLINO hurries to phone.) Look that s only for police emergencies I can dial my office direct. It s just possible he may still be there. Thank you. (She hangs up. CARLINO takes up phone and dials carefully from his notebook.) (Into phone.) Carlino... is Mr. Roat still there?... No, the son... Mrs. Hendrix wants to speak to him. (He puts the phone into her hand.) Thank you. (Into phone.) Mr. Roat?... My husband s friend, Mr. Talman, has just phoned a lawyer, and he has advised us that, if your father makes any

5 more accusations against my husband, he will take immediate action... do you understand what I m saying?... Thank you Mr. Roat. (SUSY hangs up. CARLINO, who has been watching her side of the conversation with obvious amusement, now starts up the stairs.) (As he goes.) That lawyer friend isn t going to stop me, Mrs. Hendrix. And I ll be right back with... (Just as CARLINO reaches the door, the phone starts to ring and he turns and starts down the stairs as though expecting that it may be for him. SUSY lets it ring exactly twice, and then picks it up.) That might be for me. (Into the phone.) Hello... (A long pause as she listens. Then, as though puzzled:)... There s no answer... they must have hung up. (She hangs up. CARLINO goes again to hall door and opens it.) I ll be right back, Mrs. Hendrix with a search warrant. I ll be here.