[GRADUALLY, A HEARTBEAT BEGINS TO BE HEARD. IT BECOMES STEADILY LOUDER, FASTER AND MORE INSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE SEQUENCE, MIXED WITH THE STATIC ALL THE WHILE. EDDIE’S BREATHING CAN BE HEARD, STEADILY MORE PANICKED.] [SUDDENLY, THE HEARTBEAT DISAPPEARS. FRANK AND SALLY APPEAR BEFORE EDDIE AND THEIR VOICES BECOME CLEAR.] FRANK: HELLO, MR. DEAR, I HEARD FROM SALLY THAT YOU’VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT DELIVERIES ALL MORNING. SALLY: ALL MORNING? MORE LIKE ALL DAY! I COULD SEE IT ALL FROM MY SPOT UP ON THE TREE! IT’S NOT EASY BEING THE MOST IMPORTANT DECOR OF HOMEWARMING… BUT I DO WHAT I MUST FOR THIS LITTLE NEIGHBORHOOD! [THE HEARTBEAT RETURNS] FRANK: I STILL DON’T KNOW WHO HELPED YOU GET UP THERE! WELL IF YOU’VE BEEN IN YOUR POST OFFICE ALL DAY, IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN YOU COULD IT, MR. DEAR? [SILENCE FROM EDDIE FOLLOWS, BUT IT IS OBVIOUS SOMETHING IS WRONG.] FRANK: (STILL STANDOFFISH, BUT A LITTLE MORE ANXIOUS.) …MR. DEAR? MR. DEAR, ARE YOU LISTENING? [SILENCE FROM EDDIE FOLLOWS.] FRANK: (CONCERN STARTS TO SHOW THROUGH AS HE GETS CLOSER TO EDDIE. THE TONE IS WORRIED, BUT IT BECOMES MORE DEMANDING.) MR. DEAR? MR. DEAR! EDDIE: (HE SOUNDS HAGGARD, DESPERATE, AND PANICKED. HE IS OVERWHELMED AND BABBLES AS THOUGH HE IS GOING TO START SOBBING OR SCREAMING.) WHAT. WHO. WHERE. FRANK: (WHISPERING BUT HARSH TONE.) EDDIE! (WHISPERING STILL, WITH A QUICKENED AND WORRIED TONE.) EDDIE, ARE YOU THERE? WHY AREN’T YOU ANSWERING? EDDIE?