Helter Skelter (2004) - full transcript

( sniffs )

So is he coming or what?

He'll be here.

I hope.

He's going
to straighten this all out.

He wants his money.

What money, man?

He says you have money.

He wants it.

Bobby,
if I had any frickin' money,

I would have given it to you



the first time you hit me,
all right?

You know?

( car approaches )

( car stops )

( car door opens )

Charlie, hey.

What's going on, man?

( yells )

( cries out in pain )

( moaning )

Here's what you're
going to do,

unless you want to
lose your other ear.

Hmm? What's that?
No, no.

You're going to sign over
everything you have to us.



Now what is everything?

Everything means everything.

Everywhere you
happen to look.

Oh, there's a house, that
must be part of everything...

we'll take that.

Is that a car outside?
We'll take that, too.

Everything.

Now, I want that money
that you owe me,

and if you don't pay
me what you owe me,

then I'll pay you
what you owe me.

O-Okay.

Okay, okay.

( crying ):
Okay.

Charlie.

Okay. Okay. Okay.

( man cries out in fear )

( man whimpers, pants )

Here, take... take it.

That's it.

That's the house.

That's the car.

That's all I got,
I-I swear.

There's no money.

That's it, man.

( groans )

BOBBY:
We ain't going
to get nothing out of him.

And we can't just
leave him there.

He'll call the police.

Well, you know what to do.

( engine starting )

MAN:
Bobby, no.

Don't do this, man.

Bobby, don't do it.

Don't do it, man!
No! No!

( "Helter Skelter"
rock intro plays )

* When I get to the bottom *

* I go back
to the top of the slide *

* Where I stop, and I turn,
and I go for a ride *

* Till I get to the bottom,
and I see you again *

* Yeah, yeah, yeah *

* Do you,
don't you want me to love you? *

* I'm coming down fast,
but I'm miles above you *

* Tell me, tell me, tell me *

* Come on, tell me the answer *

* Well, you may be a lover,
but you ain't no dancer *

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Yeah! *

* A-Will you,
won't you want me to make you? *

* Ah... *

* I'm coming down fast,
but don't let me break you *

* Ah... *

* Tell me, tell me,
tell me the answer *

* You may be a lover,
but you ain't no dancer *

* That's right! *

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Ah! *

* Look out,
'cause here she come *

* Ah... *

* When I get to the bottom *

* I go back
to the top of the slide *

* And I stop, and I turn,
and I go for a ride *

* And I get to the bottom,
and I see you again *

* Yeah, yeah, yeah *

* Well, do you, don't you *

* Want me to make you? *

* I'm coming down fast,
but don't let me break you *

* Tell me, tell me,
tell me your answer *

* You may be a lover,
but you ain't no dancer... *

It's like being
in a movie.

Yeah, Charlie has a deal
with the owner.

And we help him
run the place.

There's about 25 of
us here altogether.

Charlie takes real
good care of us.

He's like our savior.

When do I meet Charlie?

I don't know.

And don't ask.

He'll find you.

Thanks for telling me
about this place, Gypsy.

I had
nowhere else to go.

Sure.

Hey, guys.

Hi.
Hey.

This is Linda.

Hi.

Linda, Sadie...

....Katie, Paul.

Hey.

And Tex over there.

What's her name?

Tanya.

She's beautiful.

Thank you.

We'll see you at dinner.

( Tanya crying )

Don't worry.

She'll be
with all the other kids.

See, Charlie wants all the
children raised by everybody,

not just the mother
or the father.

He says that that's how
we get rid of the ego

that parents put in their kids.

Come on.

Bye.

Hey, George.

( kisses )

Hey, Squeaky.

Hi.

This here is Linda.

Howdy.

She's going to be
staying with us.

Linda, this is
George Spahn.

He's the owner
of the ranch.

And this is Squeaky.

She's like his
Seeing Eye dog.

Um, I-I wanted a few things
out of that.

Oh, what's yours is ours,
and what's ours is yours.

Do you have any credit cards?

No.

Driver's license?
Yeah.

I wanted that picture
of my mother.

No, you don't.

Welcome to the family.

( plays rock tune )

( laughter, whooping )

Man, I guess I goofed
that one up too, didn't I?

Listen, I can play, man.
I can play.

I just, I'm not used
to all these... Whoa!

microphone-type things

pointing at you
while you play, man.

Dennis...

where'd you find this guy?

He found me.

Let him and his pack
live with me for a while.

It got too crazy though.

Kicked him out?

I had to move out.

Bought a new house.

My manager
got rid of him eventually.

Give him some happy right now.

( laughter )

Has he done anything?

Eh, we put one of his songs
on our 20/20 album.

"B" side of a single.

Didn't make much noise.

I feel that happy.

Okay, now, Rosie...

Was he really in prison?

Major.

Got out a couple years ago.

Is he dangerous?

Look at his eyes, you tell me.

People will love him
for that alone.

MANSON:
Hey, listen, let me explain
something to you, man.

See, I wrote about a couple
hundred songs, you know?

And then I get down here,

and I just, ( whistles )
you know, kind of forgot...

Charlie, this is Terry Melcher.

He manages some
great bands.

I've heard a lot
about you, Charlie.

Oh, man, man.

I wish someone
would have let me know

that you were
coming down, man.

This is what
I'm trying to do, man.

See, I'm just trying
to take that sound

and kind of stretch it out.

So maybe we could
come and play it back

and look in there

and see
if there's something

that kind of looks
like a song in there

and-and get it out, man.

'Cause I've got
to get an album out.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

What's the rush, Charlie?

How about I got plans.

I got a message.

How about you know
what I got, man.

You know what
I'm talking about

and you know,
"wouldn't it be nice,"

as you would say, Mr. Beach Boy,

if I didn't have
any of my words
changed this time.

We made your song better,
Charlie.

Oh, no, see,
you made my song bomb.

See, you only had the
"B" right there, Beach Boy.

You know, by the way,
the official title of that song,

you know, we like to call that
"Dennis Wilson is a Real Wussy."

( laughs ):
Whoa.

You'd think he'd be happy

having a tune on a
Beach Boys album,
but not Charlie.

Look, I'll tell you what.

We'll get some people together,

we'll have them
out to the ranch, you can play,

they can see
what you're all about.

Well, what kind of people
are you talking about?

You mean
record type guys?

Yeah, absolutely.

You can tell them
some of your prison stories.

They'll love that.

Hey, maybe Terry will come.

Uh, if I can.

Um, don't count on it.

Nice to meet you, Charlie.

I'm going to count
on it, absolutely.

Don't count on it.

Well, if I could...

How about absolutely Thursday?
Take care, okay.

How about
absolutely, uh...?

Uh, I-I got a busy week.

Bring them contracts.

( plays simple chords )

Well, I heard something about,
what was it, uh, Thursday?

( strums guitar )

( indistinct radio
transmission )

MAN:
His friends missed him

at some bagpipe parade
in Santa Monica.

Bagpipe parade?

Well, that could
certainly explain

getting stabbed to death.

I.D.?

Uh... Gary Hinman,
music teacher.

Multiple stab wounds
in the chest,

and his left ear
has been cut off.

Oh, yeah, and the neighbor
says his car is missing.

Is that blood?

It's being tested,
but yeah, it is.

Black Panthers?

( officer sighs )

( dog barking )

( coyotes yapping )

Open wide.

( indistinct talking, laughing )

No, not yet.

We have to wait
till the dogs eat

before the girls do.

Why?

( playing simple tune )

( music stops )

( speaks gibberish )

Is that
what you said?

That word, "Wh...?"

I can't even get it
out of my mouth.

Gypsy, help me out.

She said, "Why?"

That word.

There's no such thing
as that word here.

"Why" is banned.

"Why" don't belong here.

"Why" is just... ( gibberish ).

How come
you don't know that?

She just came today, Charlie.

Well, why don't
you tell me about it?

I split up
with my husband.

( clears throat )

Actually, he dumped us...
me and my daughter.

We were all going to go
down to South America.

Where you been living?

Well, we were staying
in some pretty cool communes

in New Mexico,
and then we came down here.

So what are you looking for,
woman, hmm?

Wait, let me think.

Uh, Jesus, maybe?

( laughter )

You looking
for ol' JC?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Well, if you're looking

to do your looking around
here...

Excuse me, darling.

...you're going to have
to bring us something.

Bring you what?

Well, I don't know.

You got to look
around you, hmm?

And don't look
from here.

You got to look
from right here.

Look out there.

Look at the
people you know.

You see them
out there?

What do they
have, hmm?

Look at all
they have and
ask yourself,

from here,

you really
think they need
all of that?

All those
dollar bills

and all
them cars?

Candy.

So, let your heart
bring us something

that will show
us your heart.

( quiet giggling )

We met the Beach Boys today.

One of the
Beach Boys...

Dennis Wilson.

Is that the one
that sings real...

* High? *
( laughter )

They all sing real high, Sadie.

( laughter )

Well, it was a Beach Boy anyway.

Who was the other guy?

Doris Day's son.

Really?

Terry Melcher.

He's a big
record producer.

Him and Dennis
Wilson are going

to make
Charlie a star.

( guitar strumming )

I think we should get Doris Day
to come out here for a few days.

She'll forget
all about Rock Hudson.

( laughter )

( Manson plays simple melody )

( whispering ):
And that thought
that you're carrying...

the one about your father...

it's a very heavy thought.

And it's still holding you back,

'cause you're still giving it
the reins.

( whispering ):
It's my stepfather.

He hates me.

How did you know?

Well, you can't hide
from me, you see?

I... I feel disposable.

I'm... I'm...

I mean, my husband, my father...

I don't really fit anywhere.

Well, how long are you going
to keep playing your part

in their game?

Your disposable role
in the game

that they're playing
with your life.

You... you're not disposable.

Look at you.

You're valuable.

You're the most valuable
and perfect thing in this world.

You don't mean that.

You think I don't know
what it feels like

to be looked through?

To be thrown away?

That's why

we take care of each other.

See, I know who you are.

I can see you inside and out.

All your beauty.

All of your own beauty, you see?

Now,

can you see mine?

I think so.

Come to now.

Now, where I am your husband
now.

Where I am your father now.

Where I swear to you, you...

You will never,
never be thrown away again.

I feel like
you can see inside of me.

( siren blaring )

Both hands
on the wheel

where I can see
them, please.

Step out of
the vehicle!

Step out of the vehicle!

Turn around and put
your hands on the hood.

Do you know
you're driving a dead guy's car?

( crickets chirping )

( coyote howling )

( woman laughing )

Charlie?

Linda has something
she wants to give to you.

It's $5,000 I took
from my ex-husband's friend.

The first time
I ever stole anything.

I did it for you.

You...

You did good.

( laughter and whooping )

Now, did she steal?

ALL:
No.

And why not?

ALL:
Because...

everything belongs

to everybody.

( cheering )

Yeah.

All right.

Ooh.

( scattered laughter )

( coyote howls in distance )

( whispering ):
Come on!

Creepy crawl.

( spooky rock music playing )

( laughter )

( distorted electric
guitar chords )

* *

* *

* *

MANSON:
It's coming.

Damn right.

Black man's been
on the bottom too long.

It's Whitey's turn now.

Helter Skelter,
get ready.

What time did he call?

I don't know.

There's no
clocks here.

Sadie took
my watch.

I just heard the
phone ringing,

so I picked it up.

Did he say anything else?

Just that he was
going to stay quiet.

What are you
guys talking
about?

Bobby got arrested yesterday
in Gary's car.

Does Charlie
know?

( loud clattering )

He ain't coming, Charlie.

I thought he
would be here

with all them
record-type guys.

Well, I don't see him.

Do you?

You remember
where he lives?

Yeah.

Dropped him off that night
in Dennis' car.

Well, let's go.

WOMAN:
Sharon, you're surrounded

by people all the time
on the movie set.

Don't you want some privacy?

I don't want to argue
with you about it.

Look, you were nice enough

to let us stay here

while you were
in Europe, but I...

There is plenty of
room for both of you.

But when Roman gets home,

you should have the place
to yourself again.

Roman loves
you and Voytek.

He wants
you to stay.

And I love Roman's movies.

And I would never do anything
to upset him,

so wherefore we'll stay.

( laughs )

Therefore.

Your English is awful.

My English gets
better by the day,

and soon,
it will outrank yours,

and people will
think that I am
the rich heiress.

Oh, hell, your English
gets better by the hour.

Well, Roman sure does love
a crowd.

He doesn't mind
Jay spending so much time here?

Oh, Jay and I are over.

Roman knows that.

But does Jay know that?

Jay is... Jay.

( laughs )
( knocking )

Oh, that might be
Roman's trunks.

This late?

( knocking continues )

( crickets chirping )

So?

Oh, I'm sorry.

I didn't see you standing there.

I'm looking
for Terry.

Who?

Terry. Terry Melcher and...

Terry Melcher?

He doesn't live here
for months anymore.

Terry doesn't live here anymore.

That is what I just said.

Who are you to come
to the gate like that?

Terry?!

Hey!

I said
there is no Terry here.

Terry!
Hey.

Terry, Terry, Terry!

Hey!

Who is it?

Nobody.

No Melcher here.

Good night.

( siren wailing )

( rustling )

SADIE:
You wouldn't believe
what they throw away.

Like, if nobody
orders French fries

an hour after they're made,
they throw them out.

It's like a law or something.

How's this?

Oh, excellent.

Roughage.

I don't know
what we're going to do

when we get to the desert.

I guess Charlie's
got it figured out.

Is Charlie really
taking us to the desert?

Yup, after
Helter Skelter comes down.

What's that?

Charlie only talks
about it with the guys,

but I know it's going to be
a war between the blacks

and the whites and the blacks
are going to start it,

but we'll be in
the desert by then.

How long have you
known Charlie?

Oh, I met The Soul in
San Francisco on the Haight.

I was dancing
in a boobie bar,

and I met him on the street.

He sang songs to me.

I would love
to hear him sing.

He gave me the name Sadie.

You're in love
with him already.

Aren't you?

Charlie is love.

I once saw him
pick up a dead bird

and breathe on it,
and the bird flew away.

He changes you.

Before I met him,
I was like totally lost.

I didn't
even know

what I was here for.

I hated everybody
and now I love everybody.

That's what Charlie gave me.

That's what
he gives everybody.

He just fills up
the empty spaces.

Do you know he's Jesus?

( gasps )

Charlie.

Hey, man.
Knock, okay?

Nobody showed.

Nobody showed.

We waited and waited.

What the hell are you
talking about, Charlie?

Let's see now, when was that?

Oh, Thursday, yes.

Someone, someone was supposed
to be coming by Thursday.

No one made
any promises, man.

Talk to Melcher again about it,
if you think that will help.

Oh, Melcher,

yeah, that was his name.

Well, I can't
get to him, Dennis.

So here I am again.

Here I am as your brother,
once again,

asking you, can... would you call
him for me, again?

I'll give him one more chance.

It'll be no problem.

Look, I did what I could.

I got you on tape, didn't I?

Well, yeah, maybe you
got me on a demo tape, man,

but where is the deal?

Where is the album?

Where is that album
you know I got to get out?

What do you want me to do,
Charlie?

How 'bout doing
what you said

you'd do, Mr. Beach Boy.

I didn't make any promises.

Maybe you scared
Melcher away.

Well, I'll tell you what.

I got a new song for you.

It's called, uh,
"I Need $1,500."

Forget it, man.

You cost me thousands already.

I had to move out of my house
'cause you guys wrecked it.

The way I see it,

you thought
you'd take my music,

my music, tie it up
in a little Beach Boys bow,

turn around and say,
"Oh, Charlie, no, no.

You don't have
any money coming."

( clinking )

"You don't have
any money coming."

Is that right?

What the hell
is this?

That's for you.

No, no, you go ahead,
you take that.

And every time
you look at that,

I just want you to think,

"Oh, that's right.

Isn't it nice that
I'm still alive."

Hey, I tried to help you, man.

It's not my fault
that everyone thinks

you're some ungrateful,
ex-con, pimp novelty act.

Melcher doesn't
want to have anything

to do with you
either, Charlie.

Just stay the hell
away from all of us!

( acoustic guitar plays )

MAN:
How do we
get everybody

to the bottomless
pit, Charlie?

* Oh... how do we get
to the bottomless pit *

( chuckling )

Going to build a road right
through Devil's Canyon.

By then we'll have
enough dune buggies

and everything else
will be ready.

When is Helter Skelter
going to start?

Well, that's what the Beatles
been trying to tell us.

That's a message they want me
to get out in my album.

Now I got to find another way
to get it started.

Are we still getting
Bobby out of jail, Charlie?

( acoustic guitar strums )

We're not talking about
Bobby right now, are we?

It's all right.

He's only giving
her what she wants.

Tex, meet me in the saloon
after dinner.

It's time.

Time for you to take
little Blackie by the hand

and show him how to
kill some piggies.

I want you to go on
up to where Terry
Melcher used to live.

They got movie
stars there now.

Kill everybody
in the house.

Gruesome as you can.

Sadie, Linda, Katie.

You're going to go with Tex

and do what he tells you to do,
okay?

Now is the time.

Helter Skelter.

I want you to wrap
these in a rag.

If we get stopped,

you throw them out.

But we're just going
on a creepy crawl, right?

Oh, definitely.

Here.

Hold up.

I want you to leave
a sign, okay?

You girls know
what to write.

Something witchy.

TATE:
I want you home
for your birthday.

POLANSKI:
Maybe Tuesday

if I can get the visa.

Why?

What do you have planned
for my birthday?

Some, uh...

You'll see.

Not until you...

Okay, be like that.

Don't tell me, eh?

I enrolled you in a class.

In what?

Expectant fathers class.

Oh, please.

Don't make me do it.

You'll love it.

What are you doing tonight?

Gibby and Voytek are still here,
and Jay just came by, so...

Oh, my competition.

Never.

You have no competition.

You know that.

I know this.

I know this, baby.

Are you lonely over there?

Lonely for you.

That's all.

Really?

That's all?

I only want to play with you.

And my boy.

Call me tomorrow?

Of course.

I love you.

I love you, too.

Bye.

Bye.

Is Roman on his way?

As soon as he gets his visa.

Probably Tuesday.

I have to get some sleep.

I'm flying up to my mom's

for her birthday
in the morning.

I can't tell you how
sorry I am to miss that.

I know.

It's much more important
for you to sleep late

and test the
pool temperature.

( car approaching )

( dog barking )

Hey, Bill, how's life
as a caretaker treating you?

Oh, yeah,
really glamorous.

I can only stay
a few minutes, man.

You want a drink?

Oh, yeah, sure.

So, you ever see
Sharon Tate

out by the pool?

( cable whips and clatters )

( car doors close )

I can't stand this heat.

It's supposed to break Monday.

Roman will miss it.

Lucky guy.

Do you think Roman knows
how lucky he is?

He knows we're both lucky.

We were almost lucky once,

weren't we?

I wonder...

Jay, don't.

Just... Just don't.

I'm just being theoretical.

When we were together in London.

Have you ever wondered
what would have happened

if I had never come back to LA
when I did?

What would have happened
if you had never met Roman?

What would happen
if fish could fly?

* When fishes can fly
and the seas do run dry *

* 'Tis then
that you'll marry I. *

Hmm.

Listen to me.

( chuckling )

I must be drunk.

You better not drive home
tonight.

Get down.

Something wrong
with the gate?

Oh, no, don't!
Don't hurt me, I...!

( whispering ):
Bang. We gotcha.

Come on.

Go around the side.

See if there's an
open door or window.

There's nothing open.

( dog barking in distance )

Go back and wait by the car.

Linda!

Give me your knife.

Listen for sounds.

( gunshot )
( woman screaming )

WOMAN:
What are you going to do
with him?!

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

( voice distorted ):
Sadie, make it stop!

( voice distorted ):
It's too late.

It's too late.

I lost my knife.

( screaming )

( engine starts )

What in the hell do you think
you're doing?

You don't do anything
unless I tell you to.

Move over.

Oh, my head is killing me.

That son of a bitch
wouldn't let go of my hair.

I thought my hand
was going to break

every time I hit bone
with that damn knife.

( coyote howling
in distance )

Well?

There was a lot of panic.

It was real messy.

There were bodies
lying all over the place...

but everyone's dead.

Do you have any remorse?

Go to bed and don't say anything
to the others.

( siren blaring )

WOMAN ( crying ):
There was blood everywhere!

Then-then they found...

They could still be...

They killed her. She's pregnant,
and-and they killed her!

They killed her.
I can't go back.

Everybody's dead.

( siren wailing )

( dog barking )

( dog yipping )

( yipping continues )

Freeze!
What? What? What?

Don't move!

What? What's the matter?

( sirens approaching
in distance )

( all talking at once )

What is it
going to take?
I think that, uh...

Just tell me what...
Can you tell me he wants?

I don't know
what he wants.
( phone rings )

Hey, listen, Roman.
I think it's
ridiculous.

To have dolphins talking
to each other like humans.

I mean, the audience
is going to laugh at us, okay?

It's stupid. Yes?

Oh, hi, Bill. How are you?

Which house?

What are you...

( phone chime rattles )

( gasps )

( sobbing )

( screaming ):
No! No! No!

Come on! The news is on
in the trailer!

REPORTER:
Shockwaves
all over the Southland

as the five victims
of the Bel Air slayings

have been identified.

They are:
Steven Earl Parent, 18,

who was visiting the caretaker
on the property,

Voytek Frykowski, 32,

Abigail Folger,
the Folger coffee heiress, 25,
( family members cheering )

Jay Sebring, 35, famous
hairstylist to the stars,

and actress Sharon Tate, star of
the movie Valley of the Dolls,

wife of film director
Roman Polanski

and eight months pregnant
with their child.

Polanski was not in the house
last night

as he is in London
working on a film.

Detectives on the scene
commented

that the murders
appeared to be ritualistic.

Details are sketchy,
but the caretaker,

William Garretson,
has been taken into custody.

( frogs croaking )

I just didn't expect it.
That's all.

I mean...

God, I feel sick.

I don't know what to do.

You have to trust
The Soul.

But how can
this be right?

It's what we have to do.

But... but, I mean,
you didn't even know them.

How could you do that?

Doesn't it bother you?

We know
what they stand for.

They're the Man.

They're the authority,
right?

They're part of the system
that kills millions,

and they never even get
their hands dirty.

But they were young.

They were like us...
and she was p...

( sniffles ):
...she was pregnant.

Look, death
is just an illusion anyway.

It's just a thought.

It has no meaning.

It's something
you're doing for them,

not to them.

You really believe that?

It's true.

It's ugly, but it's true.

I think it's beautiful.

Well, I could never do it.

You don't know that.

You don't know what you can do,
what anybody can do.

You know what I feel?

What?

Hungry.

That's all.

Me too.

You'll learn.

The more you do it,
the more you like it.

( sniffles )

Don't cry for them.

We released them.

We made them come to now.

Listen to what Charlie says.

There is no good,
no evil.

Nothing is wrong.
Nothing is right.

Charlie wouldn't take us
this far to let us fail.

There's a plan.

You just can't know
what it is yet.

No sense makes sense.

Remember that.

I'm Thomas Naguchi,

Los Angeles
County Coroner.

This is August 9, 1969.

Sharon Marie Polanski:
female Caucasian, 26 years,

five-three, 135 pounds.

Blonde hair, hazel eyes.

Subject's supine.

Arms parallel,
legs extended.

Hey, Jerry, you
caught the Tate case?

Oh, yeah, I've got my pockets
filled up with this one.

What brings sheriffs
to town?

Uh, look, just
so you know,

last month, uh,
we found a stiff

out in Malibu,
stabbed to death.

And just like yours.

There was something written
on the wall

in the vic's blood:
"political piggy."

At first we thought
it might be tied in

with the Black Panthers,
but then a few days later,

we took in this hippie kid
driving the vic's car.

We found the knife, blood
on the clothes, all of that.

Prints all match.

So what?

He had to be in jail
when my people got offed.

Well, we don't think
he was the only one

involved with
our body.

This kid was living
up at Spahn Ranch,

that movie place
in Chatsworth.

They got a commune or something,
all these hippies.

There's a guy who runs them.

He says he's Jesus,

as in Christ.

And maybe there's
something...

Well, look, uh, thanks, guys,

but we like drugs for this.

A burn, freak out, something.

We found coke and weed all over
the house and in Sebring's car.

Nice freaking Porsche,
by the way.

Cream puff.

Well, these are similar
kinds of murders,

don't you think?

Ton of stab wounds
in both cases,

messages left
at both scenes,

both printed in
the vic's blood,

and in both,
there's the word "pig."

You guys do good work.

Now, if you don't hear from us
in a week or so,

that means
we've squared everything away.

Right.

Dad, can you slow down
a little?

There's a kid on a pogo stick
about to pass us.

Everybody's
a comedian.

I can't do
my usual 90 miles an hour

trailing this thing behind me,
now can I?

Yeah, stop torturing
your father, Suzanne.

Yeah, your mother needs
no help in that department.

REPORTER ( over radio ):
Top stories this hour:
Hey.

Police sources say drugs were
found at the Tate murder scene,

and detectives grilled prime
suspect William Garretson today

for several hours.

But first, here's Chip
with traffic and weather.

Oh, it's unbelievable.

The world could come to an end,

but they've got to do traffic
and weather first.

Those poor people.
Can you imagine?

That girl at the lake said they
were all, like,

devil worshipers
or something.
Yeah. I hate to say it,

but you almost hope
it is something like that,

something that-that could
explain it.

Oh, please, Ro, I'm sick
of hearing about it already.

Oh, come on, Leno.

That's a terrible thing
that happened to those people.

I know, I know,

but, uh, there must be
something else

that happened
in the world today.

Uh, I-I mean, did the war stop?

Did, uh, Nixon take the day off?

I mean
something, what?

You know, they said
Roman Polanski's

whole family was killed
by the Nazis in Poland.

All their fame, all their money.

Look what happens.

LENO:
Good-bye, honey.

RO:
Bye, sweetheart. We love you.

LENO:
Love you.
I love you, too.

RO:
Don't forget to lock your door.

SUZANNE:
I won't.

LENO:
Good night!

Last night, it wasn't
cool last night.

It was messy.

Way too messy all
the way around.

So I'm going to
have to show you
how it's done.

Going to split up
in two groups tonight.

Going to have
to jump-start Helter Skelter.

This looks like
as good a house as any.

You scared?

Are you?

Whatever will
be, will be.

* Que sera, sera *

ALL:
* Whatever will be, will be *

* The future's not ours
to see *

* Que sera, sera *

* Que sera, sera... *

There now.

Now, as long as you cooperate,

long as you play along,

nobody gets hurt.

You see?

You understand?

What do you want?

Okay, Tex, Katie
and Leslie,

you go inside.

There's two people.

I've got them tied
up, and they're calm.

All right?

Now, last night, you
let them people know

that you were
going to kill them.

That's what caused
all the panic, see?

These people... don't need
to let them know nothing, okay?

Just maintain, play
it cool and casual.

Kind of like
you live here,
all right?

All right, get your clothes.

You go in there,

and I want you
to paint a painting for me.

And the painting
that I'm looking for

is more gruesome
than anybody's ever seen.

That's the title
of that painting, all right?

All right.

Hitchhike back
to the ranch when you're done.

Off you go.

Whoo, Whoo, Whoo.

Hey, wipe this
for prints.

Take the change.

You do it now.

( engine starting )

Hey, hey.

Did you do what
I told you?

I hid the wallet
behind the toilet.

Good girl,
good girl.

Now see, some
Blackie's going
to find that,

take himself
out on the town

with Whitey's
credit card line,

then get busted and
blamed, you see?

You did good.

Let's go.

Oh, yay!

Thanks, Dad!

Yeah, Dad.

One more word out
of you, Little Johnny,

and I'm going to be
pulling over right now.

No, Dad, no!
You hear?

No, Dad!

I'm serious.
No!

One more sound
in this car...

( hysterical laughter )

...there's gonna
be hell to pay.

There's gonna be
some hell to pay.

You ever had your...?

You ever have yourself
an ass-whuppin'?

No, Daddy.

Well, you just

circle your calendar.

Today is the day.

Today is the day.

Who's got my keys?

Who's got my keys?
You got my keys?

Who's got your keys, Dad?
Oh, I got my keys.

( crying )

( Linda crying )

It's funny, that's all.

( sniffs )

( engine starting )

Well, all right.

Here we go.

MANSON:
So, how old are you,
little sister?

Nineteen.

Well, I'm 34.

And more than
half of that 34,

that's how long I
been in prison.

And you know what
one half of 34 years

in prison gave me?

What?

Prison gave
me fear.

Prison gave me
the gift of fear.

You see, I found
out that fear
keeps you alive,

protects you,

teaches you things.

All right?

If, if you can learn
to face your fear

and learn to
live with it.

Now, you think

you can get up on this
world and do that?

I don't know.

That's it.

That's it,
come on.

I want you to
face your fear

and kill me.

What?

Face your fear.

Kill me now.

It means nothing.

I'm not you, Charlie.

( sniffles )

( gasps )

Well, maybe I should
kill you then.

You see, death... that's
just an illusion, death.

Listen now:
love fear, okay?

Love fear.
You feel that?

Love fear.

Receive it, give it.

It's your only
weapon in this world,

it's your only
defense in this life.

What about love?

Is-Is there
love outside?

There's no
love outside.

Didn't the world prove
that to you already?

I'm pregnant, Charlie.

I'm not exactly sure
who the father is.

That's-That's
beautiful!

That's beautiful!

That's another life.

Another life
with no program.

No ego.

Listen, all your
love needs...

All your love needs
is you got to trust.

Trust yourself.

Trust my love.

Come to now.

Come to now,

where no sense
suddenly makes sense.

You see, no sense
makes sense.

No sense makes sense.

No sense
makes sense.

( woman crying )

The son and daughter
found the body

of the stepfather
about an hour ago.

The mother's
in the bedroom.

That what I think it is?

Yup.

And, uh...

There's water
in the bathroom.

Towels are wet.

I think the killer
took a shower.

Then had a snack.

Mm-hmm.

( camera shutter clicks )

In the wake of last night's
brutal Benedict Canyon killings,

there are two more murders
to report tonight.

( group cheering )

Los Feliz residents
Leno LaBianca, 44,

and his wife Rosemary, 38,

were found stabbed
and mutilated in their home.

Police, at this hour,
have not confirmed

whether or not
the murders are connected.

As the only suspect
in the Tate murders,

William Garretson was released
after passing a polygraph.

A second set of brutal ritual
killings in as many days

has the Los Angeles area caught
in a vice grip of fear.

We don't see any connection

between this murder
and the others.

They're too widely removed.

We just don't see
any connection.

For now, we are treating these
as unrelated murders.

( reporters clamoring )

Mr. Polanski!
Mr. Polanski!

Mr. Polanski!

( clamoring continues )

( door squeaking )

Where are you going?

Away.

I'm taking Tanya.

They won't let you go.

Not now.

I have to.

I thought he was Jesus.

So did I.

But guess what?

He's not.

Don't have your baby here
with these people.

Get out.

He'll hurt
my parents.

He knows where they live.

( anxious breathing )

I have to tell him, you know?

I know.

But can't you just wait
until we're gone?

Just a few hours?

Okay.

( crying quietly )

( indistinct conversation )

( birds chirping )

What's up?

Nothing.

I, um...

I just wanted to see

if I could spend a little time
alone with Tanya.

You strung out, or what?

Yeah, I guess so.

You probably shouldn't
be alone with her, then.

Charlie doesn't
like that anyway.

I know.

Looks like she's
having fun.

Leave her be.

I wanted to go inside.

Just for a look.

May I?

These Hollywood people,

they bring all this
on themselves.

It's all sex and drugs
with them.

What do they expect?

Me, personally, I think

it's all these weird movies
Polanski makes.

You see the one where Mia Farrow
gets knocked up by the devil?

In the meantime, Roman Polanski
is so grief stricken

that he cannot speak,
and is near collapse.

And get this... Polanski was out
night clubbing days later

with a bunch
of airline stewardesses.

This is the kind of movie trash
we're dealing with here.

It was Polish secret police.

They were after Roman for years
because he defected from Poland.

REPORTER:
Sources close
to the investigation say

there had been a wild party here

at the Tate house attended by

some of the biggest freaks
and weirdoes in Hollywood.

I have to speak out...

against this multitude
of slanders

that you reporters write.

For selfish reason, you write...

unbearable for me...

terrible things about my wife.

All of you know
how beautiful she was.

But only a few of you know
how good she was.

Sharon

did not use dope.

While she was pregnant,

she wouldn't even have
a glass of wine.

There was no marriage trouble.

There were no orgies.

The last few years
I spend with her...

were the only time
of true happiness in my life.

( reporters clamoring )

MANSON:
Now, when the revolution starts,

we'll go right over them
Santa Susanna Mountains

like a flock of birds
and cut across the Mojave.

When Blackie starts
slaughtering Whitey,

we'll go clear
to Death Valley

without having to cross
any highways, you see?

What about the pit?

Well, we're going to have
to search for the entrance.

I'll be able to really
start seeing things,

start tuning things in,
once we get out there.

It's in Devil's Canyon,
I know that,

but it might be underwater.

Wait, wait, wait.

Water in the desert?

I'll take that by you again.

The Devil's Hole
in Devil's Canyon... underwater.

That's where I think
the entrance is, Joey.

Bottomless pit
through The Devil's Hole.

I'm with you, Chuck.

Do I look like...
a Chuck to you?

A Chuck?

Chuck.

Hiya, Chuck.

Is that what I look like to you?

No. No, you don't.

Died on the cross for you,
of all things.

Didn't do you much good, did it?

By the end of the week,

we should have everything
moved up to Devil's Canyon,

and we'll make a trail
right to Devil's Hole.

Charlie, Linda's gone.

So is her stuff.

Where's the kid?

Here.

That's okay, then.

The kid's here,
so she'll come here.

And when she's here,
we'll make her come to now.

( helicopter approaching )

Oh, man!

( sirens blaring )

Move it, ladies!

Let's go! Move it!

Okay. You are all under arrest.

Here is our warrant.

It is for possession
of stolen vehicles,

dune buggies
and firearms.

You have the right
to remain silent.

Anything you say
can and will be
used against you

in a court of law.

The evidence for violations
of Section 487.3

of the California Penal Code,
is deemed insufficient.

In addition, it is found
that the search warrant

for the Spahn Ranch was executed
two days prior to the raid,

and is therefore
not legally in force.

Dismissed.

( cheering and whooping )

They got all the guns.

Took all the cars,
all the buggies.

They took all our
credit cards and I.D.'s.

They cleaned us out.

It don't matter.

We'll steal some
more starting tomorrow.

Bruce, how we
doing in Barker?

I got almost everything
out there, Charlie...

half a dozen dune buggies
and the big bus.

Then we're late
for the desert.

Let's be ready.

( phone ringing )

WOMAN:
Hello?

Gypsy, it's Linda.

Where are you?

I found my ex-husband.

We're staying in New Mexico.

I can't believe you left Tanya.

I had to.

I couldn't stay there
another minute. I mean...

Charlie wouldn't hurt a child,
right?

Look, man, we got raided.

All the kids were taken in
by Social Services.

MANSON:
You see how
spiritualism

scares these people?

So they send
their machines

to dig holes to confuse us,

to make it harder for us
to find the entrance to the pit.

Well, we'll burn 'em down
wherever we find 'em.

Let's go!

Get down! Everybody down!

Out, out, out!

Come on, let's go, move it!

Move it!

( yelling continues )

Let's go!

Everybody outside!

Get out! Move it!

Let's go, let's go!

Everybody outside!

( sirens wailing )

( man whooping )

Please, get us
out of here.

These people are crazy.

They're going to kill us.

( sobbing )

Get the hell out of there!

Let's go! Get out!

Oh, man.

Hey, uh, remind me
never to try that again, man.

Who the hell are you?

Charlie Manson.

Good.
You're under arrest for arson.

You did the right thing,
Kitty.

Look, I don't understand
what's happening.

I just wanted
to get away from Charlie.

I didn't do anything wrong.

Kitty, we're investigating
the murder of Gary Hinman.

Officer Pursell
here called

and told us you're Bobby
Beausoleil's girlfriend.

We're holding Beausoleil
for the murder of Hinman.

You know that, right?

Kitty, were you
there that day?

No.
We think you were,

Kitty.
We think you helped

your boyfriend
off Hinman.

No!

I... swear.

We know there were

other people involved.

If you help us,
you help yourself.

Look, all I know
is what I heard.

Spit it out, Kitty.

I heard that... Charlie
sent Bobby and Sadie

to go see Hinman
to get some money from him.

There was, like, a fight,
and he got killed.

And who's Sadie?

Sadie Mae Glutz.

She's one of Charlie's girls.

And then,
uh, later on,

Sadie told me
something about...

how she and some other girls
got in a fight

with a guy who pulled her hair,

and she stabbed him, like,
three or four times in the leg.

So Hinman wouldn't
give up the money?

Nope, and he was going
through some changes

about losing his ear...

and then Bobby
stabbed him.

He didn't want to die, though.

That's for sure.

We were on our way out,

and we heard him all gurgling
and moaning,

so Bobby went back in and
stabbed him again until he died.

You wrote something on the wall?

Yeah, and Bobby put
a paw print there, too,

so it'd look
like the Black Panthers did it.

Your real name
is Susan Atkins, right?

Used to be.

Charlie gave me the name Sadie,
so that's who I am.

Okeydokey.

Well, uh... Sadie, Susan,
whatever... tell you what.

We're just going to go ahead
and book you

on suspicion of the murder
of Gary Hinman.

Far out.

Writing look
familiar?
Hell, yeah.

And you went to the Tate
detectives on this?

The day after.

They told us they had
this figured for drugs,

and that was that.

Unbelievable.
Hey, no offense,

Sherlock, but
you guys waited

two months before
you called us

to see if we had
any similar murders.

What's the matter, LAPD
don't need sheriffs?

Knock it off, there's enough
politics on this thing already.

So, we got Kitty what's-her-face

implicating Manson
on the Hinman murder.

Sadie,

implicating herself.

Three separate murder scenes.

Knives at all three.

A savage stabbing
looking like a crazy stabbing.

Writing on the walls
at all three scenes.

All in the victims' blood,
similar messages.

One more thing.

Sadie told Kitty that
she got into a fight

with a man who
pulled her hair.

She stabbed him
three or four
times in the leg.

So?

So, Gary Hinman was not
stabbed in the legs.

But Voytek Frykowski was.

Mr. Manson,
we're investigating

the LaBianca homicides
in Los Angeles,

which I'm sure
you've heard about.

Anything you can tell us
on that?

No.

How 'bout the Tate homicides?

Know anything about those?

Well, no.

Do you?

Well, it's a steep
learning curve,

I'll tell you that.

( chuckling )

Murders, my goodness.

No, I don't know nothing
about no murders.

I'm being held for...
let's see...

alphabetically:
arson and auto theft.

The people who were
arrested with you,
Mr. Manson...

Yeah, how 'bout them?
Where are they?

Most have been released
or bailed out.

Think someone will show up
with your bail?

Well, you know, you never can
tell about that, can you?

Think anybody living with you on
the ranch might know something?

Yeah.

Really?

Yeah.

You got a pen and paper?

( laughs )

Got you good.

Now, did you see

how serious he took
out that notepad?

Did you see that?

That's funny.

Yeah. Well, now,
is there anything else

I can do for you gentlemen?

( indistinct announcement
over P.A. )

Hi, Mom.

Give me my girl.

Hey...

Hey, there's
my pretty girl.

Oh, look at you.

You're getting so big.
I missed you. I know.

I didn't know
if I'd ever see you again.

I'm sorry.

You look different.

What happened to you?

What happened to you
out there?

I'm definitely not worried
about the cops.

I mean, they just suck.
Stupid, man.

If they're so stupid,
why are we in here?

They got me
in the wrong murder.

How's that for stupid?

There's this case right now...
they're so far off,

they don't even know
what's happening.

What case?

That thing

up in Benedict Canyon.

Benedict Canyon.

You don't mean Sharon Tate?

Well, you know who did it,
don't you?

You're looking at her.

Yeah, right.
I did.

There were three
other people with us,

but I killed the Polish guy.

I think they said
that it was, uh,

probably a drug
thing or something.

The paper's worse than the cops.

I heard one that said
there were hoods

on their heads.

Stupid, man.

There weren't any hoods.

You're saying
that you killed Sharon Tate...

and the others?

We all did our fair share.

I did stab Sharon, though.

"Please don't kill me.

"I want to live.

I want to have my baby."

She was the last to die.

She had to watch the others.

I was going to cut
the baby out of her, but...

Well, it's a long story,
but believe me,

there's going to be plenty more.

We've already killed
11 people so far.

We're going to travel
the whole country

and we're going
to kill families

in all those
little small towns,

and then we're going to move on
and we're going to kill again,

and it's all being planned.

But anyway, when I was finished
with Sharon, I had

all this blood on my hands,
so I tasted it.

Wow, what a trip.

To taste death yet give life.

Have you ever tasted blood?

No.

OFFICER:
You're a hard man
to find, Joey.

You gang guys ought
to publish your own
phone book, you know?

List of what street
corners or flophouses

you sleep in.
What am I doing here?

We talked to a
girl who was in
the Manson Family,

said you were
close to Charlie,

knew a lot
about what was going on.

So?

Let me tell you, Joey.

We really like Manson
in this group

for those Tate/LaBianca murders.

You got something

to help us with that,

we'll help you back.

Well, I'll tell you,
the thing is, is this:

is I got a Federal beef
for smuggling weed into Mexico,

and, uh, also got
a firearms beef

which is Fed, too, so...

Look, you level with us,

we go out for you 100%.

Poof. All gone.

Okay, let me ask you this:

You ever get a dead body
with his ear cut off?

What about him?

JOEY:
Charlie bragged to me
one time

about he put the chop
on some guy,

that he used a sword
to cut his ear off.

Give me some more.

Okay.

Um, was there anybody
ever got their fridge wrote on?

Charlie was saying something

about someone writing something

on a refrigerator...
in blood, he said.

What was it?

Something about pigs.

Something like that.

Do you remember anything
about the night of August 8?

It's hard, 'cause they didn't
have any, uh, calendars

in there... no clocks, either.

There was this one night
everybody went out.

You got to give me
a date.

About two weeks before I got
arrested at the ranch.

So, I seen Charlie
in the morning,

and, uh... I says to him,

"Where did everybody go
last night?"

and, uh, he says...

We knocked off five pigs
last night.

( keys rattling )

( lock buzzes )

I am pleased to be able
to announce to you

that after some 8,750 hours
of police work,

the Los Angeles
Police Department

has solved the Tate case.

Warrants have been issued for
the arrest of three individuals:

Charles "Tex" Watson, 24,
who fled the state

after the murders
and is now in custody

in McKinney, Texas,

Patricia Krenwinkel,
21, also known as Katie,

who is currently
in custody,

and Linda Kasabian,

age and present whereabouts
unknown.

We anticipate at least
two other people

will be named in
indictments from
the grand jury.

Uh, these individuals,
we believe,

were also involved in the deaths
of Rosemary and Leno LaBianca.

( Linda crying )

MOTHER:
You can tell me.

Just tell me
what happened.

Hey, Linda...

( crying )

( clanking )

( lock buzzes )

Vincent Bugliosi,
Deputy DA,

please meet Susan Atkins.

Accused murderess.

Miss Atkins.

Sadie.

Of course.

Your lawyer explained to you
that the State of California

is offering you
a reduced sentence

based on
your truthful testimony?

He said
I didn't have much choice.

He told me you're not
too happy about it either.

He'd be right about that.

How come?

Well, Sadie, according
to your statement,

you helped kill Gary Hinman,

and you personally
stabbed Sharon Tate.

You wouldn't be
my first choice

for a reduced sentence.

Bosses upstairs, right?

Something like that.

Bummer.

Well, what do you want me to do?

First, you testify
to the grand jury,

then at the trial.

I heard them say

you're the prosecutor
with heart, is that true?

I doubt it.

My lawyer says
you're the biggest gun

in the DA's Office.

That's why
they assigned you.

Says you won
20 murder trials in a row.

I came to talk about you, Sadie.

You know, Charlie's
looking at us right now,

and he can hear
everything we're saying.

Charlie's in jail up in Inyo.

I liked it better
when were talking about you.

Would you kill
for Charlie?

You want to kill us,
don't you?

You want to give us
the death penalty.

You're just a right-wing
Republican like Nixon

who wants to see us all die.

Do you believe Charles Manson
is Jesus Christ?

He's my personal savior.

Besides, he has to be
who he says he is.

Why?

Because, if he isn't,

then who are we then,
nothing? No.

He's The Soul.

No doubt about it.

Tell me what happened
those nights.

Tell me what went on
in those houses.

Miss Atkins, I have here
a photograph of the Rambler

driven by Steven Parent
that night.

Is this the car you saw?

It looks similar to it, yes.

Is this the person you saw
Tex Watson shoot and kill?

That is the thing
I saw in the car.

( gasping, murmuring )

When you say "thing,"

you are referring
to a human being?

Yes, human being.

After you helped Tex
move the car,

you approached the house?

Hey, what time is it?

Be quiet.

Don't move, or you're dead.

Who are you?

What are you doing here?

I'm the devil,
( cocks gun hammer )

and I'm here
to do the devil's business.

Check for anybody else.

( talking quietly )

There's three more people.

I don't understand this.

Wh-What do you want?

Go get them.

Don't say a word.

Get up
and go into the living room.

Go!

Get up and go
into the living room.

( gasps )
Who are...?

Don't ask
any questions.

Just do what I say.

Go.

What are you doing here?

Shut up.

Lay on your stomachs
on the floor.

Can't you see that
she's pregnant?

Let her sit down.

( gunshot )

( screaming )

Shut up.

Whose got money?

I do.

In my bedroom.

Do you want the credit cards?

No.

( crying )
What're you going to do?

( screaming )

( screaming )

Someone's going
for a ride.

You're all going to die.

Please.

Please don't.

( screaming )

( gunshots )

( screaming )

He crawled outside.

He won't die.

Kill her.

Please, don't kill me.

Look bitch,
I've no mercy for you.

Please let me live
so I can have my baby.

( screaming )

I give up.

Take me.

I'm already dead.

( distorted ):
Write something.

( gasping )

Take the baby.

Cut... cut the baby out.

Save the baby.

I can't.

BUGLIOSI:
For the record, Steven Parent
was shot four times.

Jay Sebring was shot once
and stabbed seven times.

Voytek Frykowski was shot twice,
struck over the head

with a blunt object 13 times,
and stabbed 51 times.

Abigail Folger
was stabbed 28 times.

Sharon Tate
was stabbed 16 times.

You all right?

I'll be out there
before the baby's born,

as soon as I can get
the money together.

You'll be okay with Tanya?

I know what it's like to
have a little baby girl.

What are they going
to do to me, Mom?

Come on, let's go.

Don't come in with me.

Please.

( wind blowing gently )

( keys jangling )

So, how many lifetimes
do you think you can hold me

for arson and auto theft?

( keys jangling )

BUGLIOSI:
Miss Atkins?

You're at the LaBianca house,

and Manson just said he had
the people tied up and...?

Right, and then
Charlie told Tex,

Katie and Leslie
to go inside.

Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel
and Leslie Van Houten?

Yes.

Did you go inside?

No.

Do you know what happened
at 3301 Waverly Drive?

Yes.

How?

Katie told me that night,
when she got back to the ranch.

It's going to be
all right, sweetheart. Just...

No, no, no.

What are you...?

Hey! No! Leave...
Leave...

Leave her...
No.

Leave her. They said

they wouldn't hurt...

Leave her.

Hey, what are you doing?

Please, save me! Leno! Leno!

( screaming )

Stop it.

( screaming )

Come on.

Charlie says we all
have to do it.

( laughing )

* Voices always forever
is one, is one, is one *

* Inside yourself
for your father... *

Hello.

That one's for you.
That one's for you.

He's a cutie, huh?

BUGLIOSI:
Miss Atkins,

did Charlie ever use
the words "Helter Skelter"?

Yes.

What did
"Helter Skelter" mean

to you
and the Family?

Helter Skelter
will be the last war

on the face of the earth.

It'll be all the wars
that have ever been fought,

built one on top of the other.

Something no man
can conceive of

in his imagination.

For the record, Mr. Foreman,

Leno LaBianca
had 12 stab wounds,

plus 14 puncture wounds,

made by a
double-tined fork.

Rosemary LaBianca
had 41 separate stab wounds.

That's all for this witness.

The Los Angeles
County Grand Jury

has returned
the following indictments:

Charles Manson,
Charles "Tex" Watson,

Patricia "Katie" Krenwinkel,
Susan "Sadie" Atkins

and Linda Kasabian

for seven counts of murder

and one count of conspiracy
to commit murder, each.

Leslie Van Houten,
two counts of murder

and one count of conspiracy
to commit murder.

We look forward to going
to trial on this case.

Thank you.

What are you
doing here, Dad?

Are you eating?

Are they...?

They keep you safe in here?

Sure.

Safe.

Is it true?

Did you do these things?

Why does it matter?

( sobbing )

Why?

What happened to you?

Was it something I did?

Was it something I didn't do?

Didn't you know
that I love you, Pat?

Didn't I show it?

What did I do wrong?

* Inside yourself
for your father *

* All is love, all is love *

* All is one *

* Time to grow time
from behind you *

* The illusion has been
just a dream *

* The Valley of Death
and they'll find you *

* Now is one
on a sunshine beam *

* So bring
on the young confections *

* For their life
will surely be *

* No cloaks or fear or hunger *

* You can see, you can see,
you can see... *

JUDGE:
The defense requests
a postponement

until December 22
to enter a plea.

Do the People object?

No, Your Honor.

( quietly ):
The People rejoice.

We need all the time
we can get.

Okay, motion
granted.

Let's have all
parties back here

December 22,
9:00 a.m. sharp.

That never happened before.

What?

Need all the
paperwork a
week before...

My watch
stopped, dead.

And I mean
that, gentlemen.

Not the night
before.

Now, uh,

Mr. Manson,
I understand, uh,

you have a personal
request of the court?

Uh, Judge, uh,

I would like to have
my public defender dismissed.

You see, 'cause I don't know
what crowd he's playing for,

but I'm playing for my life.

I think he might be
playing for money,

but I'm playing for keeps,

and that's something
you can't buy.

So I'm going to have
to defend myself.

Interesting.

But I don't know
if you're competent

to proceed in pro per.

Well, Your Honor,
how can your court expect me

to give up my voice
in this matter?

If I can't speak
in my own defense,

it ties my hands
way behind my back.

It ties my hands
back to China.

JUDGE:
You'd be making

a huge mistake, Mr. Manson.

( tittering )

What do you say heretofore

we let the record reflect
and remind us

that it is my right.

Mr. Manson, I'm imploring you
not to take this step.

And I am imploring you

that I would like
to represent myself.

It's the only way.

It is in the opinion
of this court,

a sad and tragic mistake
you're making

by taking this action,

but I can't talk you out of it.

Mr. Manson,
you're your own attorney.

( gavel bangs )

JUDGE:
This case is adjourned
until December 22.

Uh, all right, will counsel
for Driscoll v. California

please approach the bench?

Your hands are shaking,
Charlie.

What's the matter?
Are you scared of me?

Uh, no. Not really.

I kind of think you're
a pretty fair man.

I'm going to give you
a fair trial, Charlie,

but I am going to convict you.

I'm really looking forward
to talking to you

on the witness stand.

I suppose you're going
to tell me how come?

There's a lot of things
I'm curious about.

Like what?

Well, for one thing,
I'd really like to know

where you get the crazy idea

that other people
don't want to live?

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Helter Skelter *

* Aah! *

* Everyone... *

I fell in love
with Charlie Manson

the first time I saw his cherub
face and sparkling eyes on TV.

His words encourage
and inspire us.

( melody continues )

We think Charles Manson
is really, like,

the death of the hippie.

I mean, this guy doesn't stand
for anything that we believe in.

But we're totally lumped in
with him and his psycho family.

Whoa, whoa!
Man, I ain't no hippie, man.

I hate the hippie.

So how can I be a hippie
if I hate the hippie, man?

See that? Don't try to push
that off on me, man.

See, I never wanted
to be a hippie

because I never
wanted to be weak.

Weak, that's right,
weak like, oh,

oh, "flower power,"
"smile on your brother"

and "live and let live"
and all that crap.

It's a thousand illusions, man,
it's an excuse...

for not facing the truth
of life.

But I know the truth of life

and, brother,
I am not afraid to face it.

I am not afraid to inflict it.

BUGLIOSI:
The Sheriff's Office says

half a dozen kids a day
show up at Spahn

to join the family.

Great, Girl Scouts
and the 4-H Club

must be taking a huge hit.

Manson is more powerful
behind bars than he was out.

Listen to this.

Tex Watson,
sports editor

for his high school
yearbook,

Patricia Krenwinkel,
Campfire Girl,

member of the
Audubon Society,

Leslie Van Houten,
treasurer of her high school,

homecoming princess,
sang in the church choir.

How did these kids
end up stabbing people

with knives and forks 169 times?

Drugs? Who knows?

The why is not our problem.
We don't have to prove motive.

But in this one,
without the why

we don't have a case
against Manson.

Now, if Manson had actually
participated in these murders,

if he was actually there,

then the motive
would be irrelevant.

It could be about Dodger
tickets, it wouldn't matter,

because he was there
and he did it.

But he wasn't there.

He didn't personally
kill anyone,

but he ordered
them to be killed.

Now, if we can't prove why

he would order anyone else
to commit these murders,

that's a reasonable
doubt case.

So why did he order them?

Everyone says Manson
talked about a war

called Helter Skelter.

He mentioned it
to the murderers

before they left
for Tate.

And it was written on the
refrigerator at LaBianca.

Misspelled.

Probably just
stupidity.

We're not talking about
Rhodes Scholars here.

But if we can tie this
Helter Skelter idea
to the murders,

and then tie Manson
to the words "Helter Skelter"

written at the crime scene,

that's the same as
finding his fingerprints.

It sounds like a stretch to me.

Aaron, if we only nail Tex
and the girls and not Manson,

this will not be
a successful prosecution.

This is going to ruin
my reputation,

being seen with
a guy in a suit.

My leathers
are all being cleaned.

Right.

Joey, what can you tell me
about Helter Skelter?

Charlie got all his
beliefs from two places...

The Bible
and the Beatles.

The White Album?

He believed the Beatles
were talking directly to him.

The Beatles are talking to you?

"You say you
got a real solution.

Well, you know,
we'd all love to see the plan."

There it is right there.

Who you think
they're talking to?

Revolution #9.

Take that by you again.

Revolution #9.

They're telling me to look,
where?

Where? In your bottle?
In the Bible, man.

In the Bible.

Check it out,
check it out.

Revelation #9.

See the part about
the four angels.

Four angels.

Their faces were as
the faces of men.

They had hair
as the hair of women.

Now who do you think
they're talking about?

Your mother in Russia?

Talking about
the Beatles, man.

Out of the mouths
of the four angels

issued fire and brimstone.

Breastplates of Iron.

Hey, see that?
Breastplates of Iron.

Oh, electric guitars.

Read verse 15.

"And the four angels
were loosed,

"which were prepared for
an hour and a day

"and a month and a year,

for to slay the third
part of men."

Helter Skelter.

One third of mankind
will die. Whitey.

All the Whitey

is that one third.

Everybody believed it?
The whole family?

Hook, line and
sinker, man.

They used to spend
days in the desert
looking for the hole

that led to the
bottomless pit.

You know, so they'd
know where to hide out

when Helter Skelter
started.

Did Manson ever say
anything to you

that made you feel
Helter Skelter

was tied in to
the Tate-LaBianca killings?

Not at the time, but looking
back on it, you know...

I don't know, Joey.

There was this feeling
on the ranch,

like people getting impatient,
Charlie, especially.

When was this
Helter Skelter going
to start, right?

And then one day,
right before the
cops raided Spahn

and arrested
everybody...

But after the murders?
Right.

I went up to Charlie
and I says,

"What's with Helter Skelter,
man?"

You know, like,
kidding around with him.

I had to show Blackie
how to do it.

So Helter Skelter
is a race war.

The blacks will destroy
the whites.

Except for Charlie
and the family,

because they'll be
hiding in the desert.

So he orders the
Tate-LaBianca killings,

thinking blacks
will be blamed

and that will start
the war.

That's
Helter Skelter, man.

I still don't get
one thing.

What does Manson
get out of it?

Is he just a swell guy

who wants to help out
the black man?

Hell, no.

Charlie hates blacks.

He hates Jews.
He even hates women.

He once told me that women
were slaves with no souls.

No, whatever it is,

it ain't for the
benefit of mankind.

It's for the benefit
of Charlie.

How? How does it
benefit him?

I don't know.

Who would?

Paul Watkins.

He left the ranch right
before the murders started,

but he spent a lot of time
with Charlie in the desert.

You think you knew Manson
better than the others?

I lived with him
for one year straight.

I know Charlie.

I became Charlie.

Everything that I once was,
was Charlie.

There was nothing left
of me anymore.

And all the people
in the family?

There's nothing left
of them anymore.

They're all Charlie, too.

You seem like a solid guy,
Paul, a smart guy.

Why did you stay so long?

I thought Charlie
was Christ.

What did he tell you
about Helter Skelter?

Helter Skelter...
stay with me now.

Helter Skelter begins

with a black man going
into white people's homes,

ripping them off,
killing them off.

And Blackie
will wipe out Whitey,

cut up piggy bodies,
take that piggy blood,

put it all over
all the piggy walls.

Now I got an idea
this might make the White man

a little unhappy.

There will be revolution.
There will be revelation.

Blackie will rise,

oh, and bye-bye, Whitey.

Then Blackie will be on top.

In the meantime, we,
you and me, we, will be hiding

all the wiser in the desert
in the bottomless pit.

Oh, but what did I tell you

about Blackie having himself
a little problem?

See, Blackie's
going to find out.

Oh, no!

He can only do

what the white man
taught him how to do.

He can only do what
the white man would let him.

And I'll say, and scratch
Blackie's little head like that,

his fearful, fuzzy head,
and I'll say "That's all right.

"That's all right. You just...

"you just go on over there.

Do whatever
you think is useful."

And then the black man,
even without Whitey,

the black man will be right back
where he will always be.

And it will be my world then.

My world.

So Manson was going
to rule the planet?

The thing about Charlie is,
he was always preaching love.

Charlie had no idea
what love was.

Charlie was so far from love,
it wasn't even funny.

Death is Charlie's trip.

It really is.

More fan mail, Charlie.

It's love mail, man.

These are people
who know what's right.

Let me know if you
get any naked pictures.

Rock 11.

You've got a visitor.

You know, the pigs here

aren't real bad, man.

They're just real dumb.

( chuckling )

So, I just play a little dumber,

and they start thinking
they're pretty smart.

And the dumber they think
you are, the better they feel

and the more they let you slide.

So you going
to beat this thing, Charlie?

Well, what do you
think they got, man?

I wasn't there so they
can't tie me to anything.

So they got
nothing, right?

And no matter what,
them girls will
take the rap.

You don't worry about it.

You just make sure

that everybody at the ranch...

Or you know what to do about it.

What about Sadie?

Oh, you mean,
that stupid bitch?

Yeah, I'm going to have
to shut her up.

Uh, Your Honor,

the Sheriff and the DA sitting
somewhere over there,

they are denying
me my rights.

Would you believe that?

Mr. Bugliosi and Mr. Stovitz

have been very fair with you,
Mr. Manson.

Well, but see now,
I was going to ask him

if he wouldn't mind just calling
the whole thing off.

( laughter )

I think it might save us
a whole lot of trouble.

JUDGE KEENE:
And disappoint all these people?

Never, Mr. Manson.

Good one, Your Honor.

That's good.

( chuckles )

But for example, okay,
if, if I'm to properly mount

the proper type of defense,
it behooves me

to be able to interview Linda
Kasabian and Sadie Mae Glutz.

But their lawyers,
oh, they're denying me, too.

Would you believe that?

They have that right.

Yeah, well, see,
but I got this message now.

Uh, see, Sadie says
that the DA over there

made her say everything
she said, so therefore,

she would like very much to, to,
to put...

What is the word there?

I give up, what is the word?

Bugliosi,
can you help me out?

Recant?

That's it.

She would like to recant
the whole crazy confession.

She's not going
to testify.

Now, one more motion
here, Your Honor.

Where's my motion?

Here's my motion.

Okay, Charles Manson,
also known as Jesus Christ,

prisoner and the Family
of the Infinite Soul, are filing

this motion on behalf
of Manson-Christ,

charging that the sheriff
is depriving me

of my every last spiritual,
mental, physical

and molecular liberty
in an inconstitutional manner,

not in harmony
with man's or God's law.

Asking that I be released
as of now.

WOMAN:
Right on, Charlie!

Heretofore, forthwith,
and all that, right about now!

Mr. Manson,
you're wasting the court's time.

Is that a no, Your Honor?

I'm appalled
at your outlandish requests

and nonsensical motions.

It is abundantly clear to me

that you're incapable of acting
as your own lawyer.

Well, Your Honor, if there
was any Christian justice,

someone would cut your head off!

Yeah, you. You can kill me now!

Come on! Kill me right now!

Yeah, oh, yeah, you can kill me!

Oh, yes, you can!
But, oh, no!

You can't give me no attorney.

Yeah, yeah.

So you think I'm on trial!

Well, this court is on trial.

This court is out of order.
This court is out of God!

Mr. Manson, your status
as acting as your own attorney

is now vacated.

( banging gavel )
Mr. Manson.

( banging continues )

( all yelling )

( Manson protesting )

Quiet!

( all yelling )

( gavel banging )

( chanting ):
You are a mockery of justice.

You are a joke.

You are a mockery of justice.
You are a joke.

Silence!

Kill me a thousand times!

Piggy!

( gavel banging )

He tries to pass
himself off

as an innocent buffoon
in the courtroom,

but he's completely
controlling the defense.

And now he got to Sadie.

What's happening
with Tex Watson?

Still in jail in Texas
fighting extradition.

We're looking
at a separate trial
for him for sure.

You're just trying
to cheer me up.

I can't believe this.

We've got Manson tied
to Helter Skelter.

We've got the motive,

but with no witness,
we're dead in the water.

Linda?

When can I talk
to somebody?

Not just yet.

I have
to get rid of this.

I can't keep this inside.

We have to wait.

Let them offer you a deal.

I just want
to tell it.

You will go to prison, Linda.

This prosecutor
is very, very good

and he's seeking
the death penalty.

I don't care about that.

You saw and
heard things

that will help put
those people away,

but you didn't hurt anyone.

They will give you immunity
if we ask for it.

They need you now.
Believe me.

Let me call Bugliosi
and talk to him about immunity.

( dogs barking )

What's the matter, Linda?

Why couldn't they have
been here that night?

You ready to walk us
through what happened?

( barking continues )

( groaning )

( baby crying )

It's a boy.

A little baby boy.

( baby crying )

Not yet, please?

It's okay.
He'll never know.

He'll never know.

He's beautiful.
He's pure.

This will never,
never touch him.

He'll be waiting
for you.

You wanted to say something
to me, Charlie?

I'm a busy man
these days

with the trial
starting tomorrow.

Well, I just wanted you
to let you know

I don't really care
about any of this.

I have X'd myself
from your world.

'Cause see,
in your world,

you think I'm bad

or whatever it is
you need me to be for you,

but in my world,
I didn't kill nobody.

I know.

You programmed your followers
to do it for you.

Come on, Bugliosi.
Come on.

I had no influence
over them kids.

Their parents had them
way before I did.

Your schools had them
by the throat.

Your TVs and your movies,
oh, but look at you over there,

trying so hard
to believe,

that, oh, I had all the
influence over them kids.

I showed them the way
back to themselves.

That's all.

You controlled those kids,
and you know it.

The way back to themselves.

And yeah, for this, yeah,

I know they would
die for me for this,

but I didn't ask nobody
to kill for me.

You see, your kids,
they came to me

with all your disease
already up inside
their head.

How do you feel
about that, huh?

That's right. Your kids.

The ones you threw away.

Well, these outcasts,
they come to me, and I do what?

I free them.

How terrible! I freed them

from society, their parents.

I freed them from themselves.

You disposed of them.

I picked them up by the roadside
and I say to them,

"Now, whatever you do for your
brothers and sisters is good,

as long as you do it
with a good thought."

That's right.

Do as your love tells you to do.

Oh, but I see now,
you can't see that

as being love,
can you?

No, you got to call that dirty.

You've got to say, "Oh,
that's dirty, oh, my child.

"My child is a criminal.
My child is a crook.

My child, my child."
But it's not my child.

Well, that's why
they come to me.

That's why they stay,

and that's why
they would die for me.

Well, I think they're all going
to get their wish, Charlie.

And you're going
to lead the way.

Well, there are plenty more
coming, Bugliosi, you see?

And it don't really matter
when you kill me

because I'll always be around.

You see, ready
to pull them back in.

That's right.

Take me to the gas chamber
right now.

Say, "Get in there
and sit down, son.

Give us your life again,"

and there will still
be someone just like me

who will reach out

and pull your children
from the garbage heap

that you made for them.

You!

You remember that,
Bugliosi.

The world better
remember that

when they're
feeding on them,

when they're drunk
on their blood, man!

The world better remember
their children

when their children come
after them with knives!

You! You remember that!

BUGLIOSI:
You'll stay isolated
from the general population

from now on.

You'll be safe.

Are you going to be okay
facing Manson in court?

Are you still in love with him?

Some of the things he said
were true.

But he's really good
at taking the truth

and making a lie out of it.

I guess I'll go.

You need anything else?

No.

What did you name your son?

Angel.

Do you have a family?

Kids?

Yeah.

You have a nice life.

Yeah, I do.

You will too, Linda.

When this is all done,
you can start over.

You'll be free.