Stage Fright Page #3

with your mother.

I appreciate you, Father. You and

Captain Kidd are my favorite heroes.

My child, I am not deceived.

If there's one thing I cannot bear,

it's insincerity.

But you've got to help him.

You will help him, won't you?

He's lonely. He hasn't got any friends

but me, and maybe you.

- You will help him, won't you?

- He hasn't got me...

...yet.

You're just dying to get into a part of this,

and you know you are.

A part in this melodramatic play,

you mean?

That's the way you're treating it, Eve.

As though it were a play

you were acting in at the Academy.

Everything seems a fine acting role

when you're stage-struck...

...doesn't it, my dear?

Here you have a plot,

an interesting cast...

...even a costume,

little the worse for wear.

Unfortunately, Eve,

in this real and earnest life...

...we must face the situation

and all its bearings.

Yes.

What do you mean?

Well, Miss Charlotte Inwood

appears to be an expert in garden paths.

I think she's led your young friend

up the garden path.

I think we should hesitate

before we follow him.

- But why?

- I don't know how this bloodstain...

...got onto this dress, but I do know that

somebody smeared it on deliberately.

But why should they do that?

Well, Miss Inwood is an actress,

a very good one.

She has an eye

for an emotional situation.

Supposing she wanted our somnolent

young friend to go to her house...

...and be spotted there.

Well, this sanguinary garment

would provide a very plausible reason.

A very plausible reason indeed.

So that's why she didn't change her dress

before she went to his rooms.

Well, I cannot imagine Miss Inwood

going to see her young man...

Or your young man, whose ever young man

he is, in this nasty, messy condition.

No. This dress is a clue, my dear,

a very important clue.

And though it grieves me, of all people,

to have to say it, Eve...

...I think we should go to the police.

Jonathan! Jonathan, wake up.

Jonathan, how far do you think

you could trust Charlotte?

I'd trust her with my life.

What do you mean?

This bloodstain was put here deliberately.

Don't be ridiculous. You're trying to turn me

against Charlotte, but you can't.

What's this doing here, anyhow?

It should have been destroyed hours ago!

Fool! There goes the evidence

that could've helped you.

I'm doing all this for Charlotte's sake.

You're just jealous of her!

Young man, I'd remind you

you're my daughter's guest.

I'd like better manners from you.

Oh, I am sorry, Eve.

Please forgive me.

I lost my head for a moment.

I can hardly think.

I'm almost dead for want of sleep.

I wonder, would it be too much trouble

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes