Lizzie Borden Took an Ax (2014) - full transcript

Hello, Patty.

♪ I heard you threw
your man around

♪ Pick him up
just to let him down

♪ It's a shame, baby,
but I always knew

♪ Just the way you're gonna do

Incredible words today, Reverend.

Thank you very much.

♪ Just a psychotic girl
and I won't get lost... ♪

It's a beautiful day.

Oh, it's hot.

Did you see the new carriage
the Andersons have?



Father prefers we walk.

Mr. Borden, how is everything?

Fine, fine, fine.

Your daughters
are looking lovely.

Lovely?

If they're so lovely,
why don't I have many grandchildren by now?

Are we having the mutton again
for lunch today?

You don't have to eat it.

I do worry it's making us
all sick.

You will eat what's put in front of you,
or you won't eat at all.

May I please be excused?

No, Lizzie, you may not.

Excuse me, Father.

I've asked you not to make noise
while I'm in this room.



Pardon me.

What are you doing here, Sousa?

Don't you ever come to my house.

I need to pay my men.

You can't cheat us,
Mr. Borden. We've had enough.

You get paid for the work that you do,
not a penny more.

You're not gonna
get away with this.

Mrs. Borden,
the church is always short of funds.

♪ Fight the horde,
scratch the nails

♪ 'Ware the charging
lion's tails

♪ In all the blackest
of the blues

♪ I need a longer fuse
Whenever I... ♪

My father thinks he can forbid me
from going.

What will he do?
Lock you in your room?

Believe me,
he would if he could.

How is Emma doing?

I love my sister,
but she likes to hide her head in the sand.

I've always wanted more,

more than she's wanted.

I just wish I had the freedom

to live the life
I've always imagined.

Nothing wrong with dreaming,
Lizzie. Hmm.

It's difficult to dream in that place.

Sometimes, Alice,

I have a feeling that something
terrible is going to happen there.

What do you mean?

Well, my father
has so many enemies.

There have been so many
arguments and disputes.

I fear someone might try to hurt him.

Miss Borden,
your mother said that

we aren't to extend any more
credit to you without her permission.

Oh.

Well, how embarrassing.

I suppose I'll have to pay
the old-fashioned way.

That would be fine.

Thank you.

All ready, Miss Borden.

Wonderful.

I'll have Bridget
come by and pick it up.

Of course.

I hope you enjoy your party.

Thank you.

Father?

What are you doing?

Father's upset.

Did you steal a mirror
from the dress shop?

The owner said you took
a mirror from her store.

That's ridiculous.

Why do you lie to me, Lizzie?

I don't lie to you.

You lie to everyone.

So what did father do?

He paid, of course.

Could we have a moment, please?

It was an accident.

The mirror must have fallen
into the dress box.

Don't think you're going to
that party tonight.

Of course, I'm going.

Who will be your escort?

I am perfectly capable
of walking there on my own.

I don't need an escort.

I will not have you traipsing
about Fall River all alone at night.

You will not go unaccompanied.

Oh, Father.

I do love you so.

But I'm not that
little girl anymore.

No, no, no. The answer is no.

♪ Whoo, boy

♪ Whoo, boy

♪ Give me a shout,
so I'll be hypnotized

♪ With them swinging hips
and them workout thighs

♪ Oh, Lord, what's a man to do?

♪ Spent all my time at bars

♪ Trying to find
what I'm looking for

♪ But, baby, baby,
I still ain't found you

♪ Whoo, boy!

Lizzie! Alice.

Took you long enough.

Stanley Jefferies.

Lizzie Borden.
Are you actually here?

Think of me as a figment
of your imagination.

Lizzie, I don't know
much about you.

I've seen you at church,
but never had the chance to speak.

Aren't you a Sunday school teacher?

Only on Sundays.

Lizzie. Nance.

Lizzie Borden.

Come on,
I have some people I want you to meet.

♪ Whoo boy! ♪

Lizzie? Wake up.
You're wanted downstairs.

Lizzie,

there has, uh...

There's been a robbery.

Mrs. Borden's gold watch
and chain were taken

and, uh, $20 in cash.

The watch that my mother
gave me before she died.

That's terrible.

Do you have any idea
what might have happened?

Of course not.

Marshall.

Um...

As I was saying, Mr. Borden,
there seems to be no sign of forced entry.

And since your maid saw
or heard no one enter,

well, I'm inclined
to think that...

Yes?

Perhaps there's
another possible explanation.

Well, Marshall Fleet,
I want to thank you for your help,

and if we hear anything
more about the situation,

you'll be the first to know.

What do you have to say for yourself,
Lizzie?

Honestly, Father,
what are you thinking?

We don't see how anybody
else could have gotten in.

Oh, is that so?

How can she steal
from her own family?

I did not steal those items
from the house, Father.

Nor would I ever think to do so.

Don't walk away from me, Lizzie.

Let her go.
Why bother with her anymore?

You let me deal with my
daughter in my own way, please.

You let her accuse me of stealing?

In our house?

She's the thief.

The one stealing from you
and me and Emma.

She's bleeding you dry.

It's her family coming to you
for loans and handouts.

You bought them that beautiful house
on the hill,

while Emma and I are
prisoners in this horrible place.

You are blessed to have
a roof over your head.

I have prayed for you. I protected you.
I have paid for your fines.

And you have tested and shamed me
as a parent and a Christian.

Have you never felt grateful in your life?

You don't want me to become anything,
do you?

You just want me to stay here forever

with you.

No, that's... That's...

Preposterous. That's
preposterous. That's...

It looks handsome on you.

I remember the day
you gave it to me.

You'll find someone.

Someone smart enough to
see you for who you are.

To marry?

What if I don't
want to get married?

You want to grow old alone?

A spinster?

That's not what I meant.

Never mind.

Lizzie?

I'm leaving for Fairhaven.

My friend Greta had a baby,
so I'm going to make myself useful.

I shouldn't be more than a day or two.

Yes, you should stay a few days.

Lizzie, are you all right?

Perfectly.

Bridget, you've got to get these
windows clean before it gets too hot.

Yes, ma'am.

Hello?

Morning. Morning.

Bridget?

Since when do we
lock the dead bolt?

Was the door locked?

No, no, Bridget,

I just like to knock on
my own front door for a bit.

Beg your pardon, Mr. Borden.

Where is Mrs. Borden?

I'm not sure. Perhaps...

Mother went out.

She did?

She received a note
from a sick friend.

She must have
gone out to see her.

Oh.

Father?

Lizzie?

Lizzie, that's enough.

Are you all right?

Yes.

Why are you sweating so?

It's hot.

I'm glad you're home.

Father?

What?

Are you going to take a nap?

Yes.

Hello, Patty. Hello.

How are you? Fine, thank you.

Miss Lizzie?

Is something the matter?

Father is dead. Someone
came in and killed him.

Help!

Help!

Dr. Bowen, help!

Dr. Bowen, please!

Dr. Bowen!

Bridget. My goodness, what is it?

Mr. Borden. He's been killed.

Ladies.

Officers.

Would you like to
sit down, Miss Lizzie?

Would you get him some water,
please, Bridget?

Yes, ma'am.

Lizzie, what happened?

What's going on?

My father is dead.

What?

Someone came in and killed him.

Your father?

Oh, my God, Lizzie. Oh, my God.

Where is your mother?

Who?

Where is Mrs. Borden?

Oh. Uh...

She said she went out
to see a sick friend.

I didn't see her go.

Why don't you check upstairs?

The guest room.

Do you need the room cleared?

Gentlemen, we have to take
some pictures. Stand back, please.

Gentlemen, please.

Doctor.

I had no idea we could fit
so many people in this house.

Miss Lizzie.

I need to ask you some questions,
if I could?

I would like to know
what, if anything,

you know about
what happened here today.

I...

I was in the barn,
so I don't really know what happened.

And what were you doing in the barn?

I was looking for
my fishing tackle.

We are going fishing next week.

I ate a pear.

I beg pardon?

I ate a pear.

I ate three pears,

and then I came inside
and I saw my father.

Perhaps we should talk tomorrow

when you're in
a clearer frame of mind.

Yes?

My mind is pretty clear
right now.

If you could excuse me for one minute.

What are they going to do?

That is the medical examiner.
They need to examine him now.

In the dining room?

Yes. Please.

Miss Lizzie,
could you please show me your hands?

My apologies for this.

It is just a procedure for
anybody who was in the house.

I understand.

You're seeing if
there's blood on them.

Over.

Thank you.

Miss Lizzie, what is this stain?

Oh.

It's stew, I think.

Stew?

I see.

Arms up, please.

District Attorney Knowlton.

Marshall.

Who are all these people?

Neighbors. Word travels fast.

Has the Medical Examiner determined a time
of death yet?

He believes the lady was taken
at approximately 9:00 this morning,

the old man
perhaps an hour after that.

Was there a struggle?

The setting seems to be
undisturbed. Evidence of theft?

Not at first glance, no.

Marshall, get this area secure.

And get these people out of here

so we can conduct
a proper investigation.

You said she received
a note before she left?

Yes.

Do we have that note?

Do you have the note?

Why would I...

No. Bridget, do you?

No, ma'am.

It must be with Mrs. Borden.

Mrs. Borden is
your stepmother, correct?

Yes, she was.

Miss Borden, did you
love your stepmother?

How dare you ask that question?

Of course I did.

Marshall, must we
endure this inquisition?

Emma, it's okay.

Mr. Knowlton, what else
would you like to know?

Did you love your father?

This...

My father is a complicated man,

and he was known to be difficult,

but I loved him

like any daughter
would love her father.

Should we stay here tonight?

I'll stay with you both,
if you wish.

Thank you, Alice.

Why don't I have some food
brought over from my house?

We have some roast lamb.

I am rather hungry.

See you soon.

I suppose we should move now.

The Maplecroft house
is for sale.

Why are you
talking about this now?

You know, Lizzie,

that I'm always here
for you, to protect you.

Is there anything you want to tell me?

What would I want to tell you, Emma?

Why didn't you run

when you saw
someone had killed father?

Why would I run?

Did you know
the house was empty?

The madman could've
still been in the house,

he could have
killed you, Lizzie.

It didn't feel to me like
anyone else was in the house.

But how could you know that?

I told you what happened.

Do you think I'm hiding
something from you?

No, of course not.

Good.

I'm so glad.

You know why I didn't run?

Why?

Because I thought to myself,

"That's what killers do.
They run."

I didn't want to
look like a killer.

♪ Cuba moon, pitch-black sky

♪ Chasing smoke
on a thin white line

♪ I've got a dangerous...

One misused cleaver,
one broken ax handle,

one ax head without a handle, dusty.

Two larger axes, both war axes.

One ball-peen hammer,
one large pair of scissors.

♪ Oh, I've got a dangerous

♪ A dangerous, dangerous mind ♪

Good afternoon.
How may I help you?

My name is Andrew Jennings.

Mr. Jennings.

I was a friend and
associate of your father.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

We were having tea.

Oh, I'm disturbing you.

No, not at all. Join us.

I'm surprised we haven't met before,
Mr. Jennings.

The last I worked
for your father

was on the Wilson
Tanning and Dye case. Oh.

Well, that's too bad.

Those people said the most
terrible things about our father.

Yes, I remember now. You were his lawyer,
weren't you?

That's right. In fact,
I am counsel for the family.

I'm on retainer. So technically,
I am your lawyer.

But that was a criminal proceeding.

Are you a criminal lawyer?

Criminal law
is my expertise, yes.

Do I need a criminal lawyer?

You were present
during a murder.

I was not present.

The police, as you may imagine,
Miss Borden,

are under a great deal
of pressure to apprehend

the culprit of this terrible act,
to find someone to blame.

So tell me, Mr. Jennings,
who will they blame?

MAYOR COUGHLIN: So none
of these are the murder weapon?

No, Mr. Mayor,
they do not appear to have blood

or any other matter on them.

What about this day laborer,
Mr. Sousa?

He's being questioned right
now by the police in Tiverton.

Hmm.

What are your thoughts, Hosea?

We should look at the children.

The two daughters? Really?

Yes. If you consider
the order of the murders,

Mrs. Borden was killed
before Mr. Borden.

Why is that so crucial?

Because if Andrew
was to pass first,

the entire inheritance

would go to Abby Borden's family,
not the daughters.

MAYOR COUGHLIN: But wasn't
one of the sisters out of town?

Yes.

But Lizzie was home,

alone, in the house, the entire time.

Abby Borden was killed at 9:00,
Andrew at 11:00.

A violent crime scene.

Are we to believe a stranger
came into that house, killed Abby,

and hid for almost
two hours, unnoticed?

It's inconceivable.

Are you saying
that the girl did it?

Yes.

I think Lizzie Borden killed both
her parents with an ax, in cold blood.

We cannot bring these two
loving souls back to us,

but we can celebrate them by
living our lives the way they did,

with honor and dignity and piety.

I also ask that we, as a church,
as a community,

offer love and support to the poor,
stricken girls

left behind in this tragedy.

May they both be comforted

and may they both realize
how fully God is their refuge.

Amen.

Amen.

♪ All these troubles, Lord

♪ All these troubles, Lord

♪ All these troubles, Lord
They got me seeing blue...

Hold it.

♪ All these troubles, Lord

I'll go determine what this is about.

Gentlemen.

This is a private service.
What is the meaning of this?

No disrespect, Reverend,

but we've been instructed to
remove the bodies of the deceased.

REVEREND BUCK:
This is church property.

Reverend,
we have documents issued by the court

instructing us to
exhume these remains.

The bodies are to be
taken to Cambridge.

♪ Lord, Lord, Lord ♪

They're exhuming the bodies.

But how can this happen?
Are they not to be buried?

All right, I'm done.

Alice, would you mind reading?
My eyes are too tired.

"Reward offered. $5,000 reward.

"The above reward will be paid to anyone

"who may secure
the arrest and conviction

"of the person or persons

"who occasioned the death
of Andrew Borden and his wife.

"Signed Emma L. Borden
and Lizzie A. Borden."

Mr. Mayor.

Mayor. Good day, Mr. Mayor.

HILLIARD: Good afternoon, ladies.

This is Mayor Coughlin.

Your Honor, this is
Lizzie and Emma Borden.

It's a pleasure to meet you both

and please accept
my deepest condolences.

Thank you.

I'm here today to inform
you that the county coroner

has taken it under advisement

to open and conduct
an official inquiry

into the murder of your parents.

Your presence is requested
tomorrow morning at 9:00.

An officer will be sent to
escort you to the police station.

Very well. 9:00.

It's just a formality.
That's all.

And what about lunch?

We'll be done by lunch. Well...

And we'll get you home
right after.

Thank you, Mayor.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

Thank you.

The Mayor in our house.

What do you think of that?

Lizzie, stop!

Didn't you hear him? We have to
go to the police station tomorrow!

It's only a formality, Emma.

It's interesting. Interesting?

Don't you think? No, I do not!

Our parents are dead!

Good night, Emma.

Good night.

Look right.

Do you have anything
to say to the press?

The Herald wants to know.

Give me your full name.

Lizzie Andrew Borden.

What is your
date of birth, please?

July 19, 1860.

Your mother is not living?

No, sir. When did she die?

She died when I was
two years old.

You don't remember her, then?

No, sir.

Have you any idea how much your father
was worth?

No, sir.

Have you ever formed an opinion?

Never.

You have been on pleasant
terms with your stepmother?

Yes, sir.

Cordial?

That depends upon
one's idea of cordiality.

What dress did you wear the
day your parents were killed?

It was a blue
cotton dress with embroidery.

Do you know whether there was
any blood on that dress?

The Marshall checked it
for blood, I believe.

Marshall Hilliard?

Yes. When did he do this?

When you were all at the house.

You mean the day
your parents were killed?

That day, yes.

Well, there was blood found on that dress,
Miss Borden.

It was not brought to my attention.

Where is that dress now?

I have no idea.

At home, I suppose.

We'll need to see that dress in evidence.

What does that mean?

We will send a court officer
around to collect that dress

and admit it into evidence.

Lizzie? What are you doing?

What is that?

It's that dress.

Don't you need to bring that
to the police station?

This doesn't concern you, Emma.

Lizzie, you can't burn that
dress after they've asked for it!

They'll think
you're hiding something!

Just go back to bed!

Do you want to go to jail?

This will get you
in so much trouble!

Just go back to bed, Emma!

Excuse me, I'm here to speak with
the Staff Sergeant.

Go right in, Miss. Thank you.

We attempted to collect the item,

but the officer was told
it no longer existed.

No longer existed?

What does that mean?
She burned it. Your Honor,

she knowingly destroyed evidence
in order to conceal culpability.

We asked for the dress,
she destroyed it.

She didn't just throw it away.

She burned it.

That is enough to
convince me of her guilt.

Well, I'm just having a difficult
time believing she could do this.

Because she's a woman?

Insane asylums are full of insane
women. She's an insane woman.

She killed her parents.

So do you
want to formally charge her?

No, I want her to confess.

Don't be
too ambitious here, Hosea.

That woman hacked her
parents to death with an ax.

This is not about my ambition.

You are in the barn,

you are looking for a
tackle kit for a fishing trip

that is not going to
happen for another week.

And yet there is no
fishing tackle to be found

and neither Bridget Sullivan
nor your own sister

even know you own
a fishing tackle kit.

And while you're in there,

you stop to eat,

not one, but three pears,
in a hot and dusty barn,

ext to a filthy pigeon coop.

Did you go into the basement that morning?

No.

Did you get an ax
from the basement?

No, sir.

Did you go upstairs and have
an argument with Abby Borden?

No.

Did you conspire with others

to do away with your own parents

in order to inherit
their estate?

Absolutely not!

Did you see your father's face,
dead on that sofa?

Did you see his face?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Did you feel sorrow for the man?

I... I was in a state of shock.

Remorse?

Remorse?

I don't understand.

Remorse because of the fact
you slaughtered the man with an ax.

Stop it! Stop saying that!

You are a murderer.
You lied to this assembly...

These accusations are
slanderous and unfounded.

Just please stop.

You destroyed
evidence. Just stop.

And you killed
both your own parents

in order to garner their estate.

Please stop. Just stop!

Compel this man to stop!

Counsel.

Ma'am. You startled me.

Sorry, Bridget.

I understand
the police spoke to you

for quite some time
after I left the station.

They did, ma'am.

They wanted to know my
whereabouts at the time of the...

On that day.

What did you tell them?

I told them I was
cleaning windows and such.

Did they ask you
if you thought I did it?

I told them there was no way
that you would ever do such a thing.

I appreciate that.

Bridget,
things are different around the house now.

With money being what it is,

Emma and I can't afford to
keep you on any longer.

There are enough funds here.

It's three months' wages.

Are you letting me go,
Miss Lizzie?

That is what I'm saying, yes.

You must be quite exhausted.

It was a very long session,
Dr. Bowen.

From 9:00 till noon. Mmm-hmm.

Well, now you can get some rest.

What is that exactly?

It's just morphine.

I'd never been in
a police station before.

These small doses are for you.

You use them if the
anxiety is too great.

No more than two a day. Very good.

Thank you, Doctor.

Emma?

Do you think there really
was blood on my dress?

I don't know, Lizzie.

Here. Just try and rest.

Just try and rest.

Hello?

♪ Oh, look up, look down

♪ Look out, look all around

♪ Shook up, shot down, shook out

♪ Shake it all around

The New York Times. What
can you tell us about the case?

♪ Yeah, mama,
shake it, baby, now

♪ Yeah, mama,
shake it, baby, now

♪ Yeah, mama,
shake it, baby, now... ♪

KNOWLTON: Did you eat breakfast
that morning?

Did you eat breakfast
that morning in the barn?

You said you were eating
in the barn, correct?

I was eating, so yes. Yes, I was eating.

KNOWLTON: Then what did you do?

I asked her to draw the curtains
because the sun was so hot.

Asked who?

It must have been Mrs. Borden.

Are you sure you were in the
kitchen when your father returned?

When he returned, I was upstairs.

Miss Borden, you have
told us several times

that you were downstairs
when your father came home.

I don't know what I've said.

I have been asked
so many questions,

and I'm so confused.

So you were upstairs.
Were you with Mrs. Borden?

I don't know a thing anymore.

Were you with Bridget?
No. No. Bridget was outside.

Did you see your mother
upstairs? Your Honor, please.

Did you see
your mother upstairs?

Miss Borden,
did you love your mother?

She's not my mother!

Lizzie. Miss Lizzie,
Judge Blaisdell sent me.

"Lizzie A. Borden,
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts complains

"that you did, feloniously
and with malice aforethought,

"make assault with a
certain sharp instrument

"in and upon the head
of Andrew J. Borden."

Please, stop.
What exactly does this mean?

We have to take you
into custody.

Under whose authority?
I was sent by court decree.

You know what they think.

Your attorney, Mr. Jennings,
is waiting for you.

♪ When the aim is low
When the shot is wide

♪ You got to set your shoulder

♪ Keep 'em satisfied

♪ And the honey flows
And the black is white

♪ You got to lock and load

♪ And leave your soul behind ♪

Why is this happening?

Lizzie, you are under arrest.

They're officially
filing charges.

They believe
you killed your parents.

How could they believe that?

The prosecutor
is very determined.

And why have I been brought
all the way out to this place?

Because Fall River has no
facility for housing female prisoners.

You'll be taken care of here.

We'll bring you what you need,
meals, anything.

And what will happen to me now?

Are you telling me I was arrested because
I burned an old dress?

No. But they think
the act is enough

to show intention and motive.

They looked at it once.
I was never told to keep it.

Of course not. It is not evidence,
not admissible.

It provides no insight.
It proves nothing.

It's that act of burning the dress,
Lizzie, that created suspicion.

Can they keep lying about me?

Everything they say is a lie.

All they have are
the stories they create.

Your statement at the inquest
is not admissible at trial.

Everything I said?
Not admissible at trial.

They didn't advise you
of your rights.

They thought you would confess.

Why would I do that? Exactly.

We have the truth on our side
and we have the law on our side.

But you need to think about this.

Your case is now headline news.

Everything you say,
your every move,

will be examined and dissected,

and you will be judged
by your actions.

I hate this photograph of me.

Do you understand the
gravity of these charges?

The penalty
for this crime is death.

But I am innocent.

I'm innocent!

MAN 1: There she is! MAN 2: Comment.

MAN 3: The Boston Globe
has a question for you.

There she is!

She couldn't possibly have done it.

She's pretty.

She couldn't kill anybody.

Are you well, Lizzie? I'm fine.

Upon the fourth day of August,

an old man and woman,
husband and wife,

each without
a known enemy in the world

and in their own home,

upon a frequented street in the
most populous city in this county,

were first one, then after an interval of
almost two hours, another,

severally killed by unlawful human agency.

Fact

and fiction have furnished many
astounding examples of crime

that have shocked the senses and staggered
the reason of men.

Yet, I think not one

has ever surpassed
the mystery of this case.

Today,

this woman of good social position
and unquestionable character,

a member of a Christian church,
active in its good works,

the very own daughter
of one of the victims,

sits before you in this court,

charged by the Grand Jury

with these crimes.

The brutal,

indeed savage character of the crime,
the audacity of its location,

and the extraordinary accusation

that the youngest daughter
of one of the victims

is the insane fiend
who carried out this act.

KNOWLTON: It was an incredible crime,

a bloody and unthinkable crime.

Because the cold merciful
fact that confronts us

is that it was
committed by a woman.

You might come to believe that

only a feral thing could
dispatch their own forbearers

with such malice and impunity.

You might wonder what kind
of dark heart resides in that soul.

But I am telling you, that dark heart is in
this room right now.

She did not strike her father one time.

Not once.

Not twice.

Not even three times.

But 11 times in the face,
with an ax.

Harry?

We're going to take a short recess.

I'll see counsel in my chambers.

Your Honor,
look at the facts of the murder.

Female victim, struck numerous
times with an ax, nothing taken.

The killer hid inside the house.

Same time of day. It's
the same modus operandi.

And our suspect
was locked away in prison.

We don't know all the facts. We don't
know if that was a crime of passion.

We don't know anything.

The state has spent months
building a case against this woman.

We can't just stop this
trial because of a similarity.

And so the idea
being presented here

is that there is yet another ax
murderer loose in this very same city?

JUDGE BLAISDELL:
I agree with Mr. Knowlton.

The machinery we have impelled
cannot be ground to a stop.

The case will go on.

And Miss Borden will be tried in
the matter of which she was accused.

The prosecution calls
Miss Bridget Sullivan.

Do you swear to tell the whole truth

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do.

You mentioned something
when we had our interview

that I thought was interesting.

You said, in all the years
you worked there,

you never saw Lizzie
give her father a gift.

Is that a true statement?

No. She gave him a ring.

A ring. It was from her high school,
I believe.

Other than this ring,

did you ever see her give her
father anything as far as you know?

They weren't that kind of family.

What kind of family were they?

Your Honor,
is the witness expected

to answer such a broad question?

Counsel.

You were present on the
morning of the murders?

I was there.

We have established
that Mrs. Borden

was killed around 9:30
that morning.

Was Lizzie present at that time?

At 9:30?

Around that time, yes.

And then around 10:30,
when Mr. Borden came home,

you saw Lizzie
at that time also, correct?

Yes.

Was this when you
had the discussion

about Mrs. Borden's whereabouts?

Yes.

She simply said that she had
to visit a friend who was sick

and you were to
finish the windows.

Summoned by a sick friend.

Was the friend named? No, sir.

Did Lizzie show you the note?

No.

Did Mrs. Borden
have a lot of friends?

Not many. Not many or not any?

Maybe one.

Has she been known
to help people in need?

Not especially.

So while you were being told

Mrs. Borden was out attending
to her sick friend,

the reality was, Mrs. Borden was
laying dead in that guest room upstairs.

Is that correct?

Yes.

I was upstairs

looking out their window
and saw her walk out back

and place the dress into a pot
they had in the yard.

Did she burn the dress?

Yes.

Was there any reason given?

No.

Your report indicates that you
saw a small stain on her dress.

I did.

But you determined
that it was not blood.

I saw a small stain that looked old

and did not appear to be blood.

What did you do
when you observed the stain?

I asked Miss Borden
about the stain

and she told me she
thought it was from a stew.

And that was
all you needed to hear?

Feet away from two deceased souls,
both violently murdered,

that this possible blood stain was stew,
and you left it at that?

Would you explain, for the jury,

the basic nature of your duties

when you arrive,
92 Second Street, Mr. Hilliard?

I secure the area known as the crime scene,
in this case, the house,

and I conduct interviews with
anybody who might have been present,

uh, what is known as
the eyewitness.

Did you interview Miss Borden?

I did.

What did she witness,
according to her statement?

She discovered
the body of Andrew Borden.

She found her own father, dead.

Did you examine Miss Borden on your arrival

for any marks or for
any blood on her person?

Yes, I examined her for blood or injury.

Miss Lizzie,
could you please show me your hands?

JENNINGS: And you found neither?

I did not.

The records do indicate
that you did find a small stain.

The nature of the assault

would have produced much
more blood than a single stain.

Unsolicited!

Can the testimony adhere to what
is known and not what is assumed?

Is this your first visit to
a violent crime scene?

It is not.

And is it your opinion
that a bloody crime scene

is likely to produce a situation

in which blood would be found
on the perpetrator?

That is often the case, yes.

Did you, on arrival
to 92 Second Street,

find any evidence of blood
on anyone in the house?

I did not. Thank you.

Did Lizzie Borden
visit your pharmacy

in the days leading up
to her parents' deaths?

She did.

What did she wish to procure?

Potassium cyanide,
a very toxic poison.

Excuse me, Mr. Bence. Will this
powder kill the rats in my attic?

She indicated that it was for
a vermin problem.

The Bordens experienced
extreme gastrointestinal distress

prior to their deaths.

Could that be the result
of cyanide poisoning?

It could, yes.

Mr. Bence, did you sell any
potassium cyanide to Miss Borden?

No. I did not.

Did either Abby or Andrew Borden

show any signs of
a defensive wound?

Neither did.

No marks or cuts on their hands?

No, none at all.

Anything to show that
they fought for their lives?

No.

Can it be ascertained that
the first blow to Andrew Borden

was enough to kill him?

Yes.

Evidence of incised
wound 4 inches long,

beginning at the cavity
of the left eye,

reaching to lower
edge of lower jaw,

cutting through nose, upper lip,
lower lip, and slightly into bone.

So the first strike
was the fatal strike?

In my opinion, yes.

And how many times
was he struck?

Eleven.

So a single strike with an ax killed him,
and then 10 more times.

Your post mortem report from
the scene of the crime indicates that

you found that Abby Borden
died around 9:30 in the morning

and Andrew close to 11:00.

How can you make such a determination?

Well, judging by
the state of rigor,

the condition of the wounds,
and the texture of the blood,

I would say more than an
hour passed between each act.

So the picture that's starting
to form seems to emerge thusly.

Someone killed Abby
Borden with incredible violence.

Then paused,

somehow, somewhere,

for almost two hours.

Then managed to repeat
the crime on a second victim.

All without being detected by two women

who were in
and around the house.

Your Honor, as you know,
we've had the bodies exhumed

and the certain parts have been preserved

to be brought here

for your consideration.

Order! Lizzie!

Order!

Order in the court. Order!

There are three exterior doors.

The front door,
leading directly from the sidewalk.

All right.

At approximately 11:00 a.m.,
someone stepped up to Andrew Borden

and struck him 11 times
with a hatchet-like weapon.

The blows left a 4-inch
gash through his temple

and cut into the bone of
his upper and lower jaw.

Thank you.

I've sent Alice Russell a note advising her

she's no longer welcome
in our home.

They're having me testify today.

Mr. Knowlton will try to
intimidate you. Prepare yourself.

I'm nervous. I don't... I don't want to
say anything wrong.

What could you possibly say?
That I'm capable of murder?

No one in this town thinks
I'm capable of anything.

Just tell them the truth.

Good morning, Emma.

Would you,
for the members of the court,

describe your relationship
to the defendant?

She is my younger sister.

Has Lizzie ever shown
violent tendencies

or irrational tendencies in her life?

Never.

Well, then how would
you describe her?

Kind, gentle, devoted.

She is deeply involved in the
church and in the volunteer service.

And how would you describe
her relationship with your parents?

She was a good daughter to them.
Obedient, respectful, loving.

Is this the ring your father wore
on his fourth finger?

Yes, sir.

Did Lizzie give it to him? Yes.

Did he wear it often?

He never took it off.

Did your father love Lizzie?

Very much.

Did Lizzie love your father?

Of course.

Do you believe your sister
murdered your parents?

No.

I do not.

Thank you.

You said, "Of course,"
your sister loved your father,

because one assumes
a man's child loves him.

But Bridget Sullivan,
in the house for five years,

testified that Lizzie never
bought him anything, ever.

Bridget Sullivan is not the
most reliable person in the world.

Did she lie
on the witness stand?

She didn't see everything
that happened with our family.

I suppose not.

I want to ask you

about the night

of September 15th,

when your sister burned a dress.

Yes.

You were with her when
she was destroying the dress?

I was.

Did she tell you why she
was destroying the dress?

We both agreed the dress
needed to be discarded.

You both agreed? Yes.

It brought back
too many terrible memories.

We hated having it in the house.

So I said to her,
"Let's get rid of the thing."

Lizzie, you can't burn that dress
after they've asked for it.

They'll think
you're hiding something.

Were you made aware that the
police inquest wanted to see that dress?

Not until the next day.

Lizzie did not mention it?

Just go back to bed.

No.

I gave her
those exact instructions

on the day
the dress was destroyed.

Did you or did you not conspire

to destroy that dress because
you knew there was blood on it?

No, I did not.

Did you or did you not
burn that dress

to destroy evidence of
your parents' murder?

No, I did not.

If Lizzie did
something that was wrong

by burning that dress,
then it was my fault.

I told her to do it.

Why did you tell her to do it?

Because it was old and
terrible and we wanted it gone.

Because it was old and terrible

and you wanted it gone.

REPORTER 1: Emma!

REPORTER 2: Tell us the truth,
Miss Borden.

REPORTER 1:
What did you tell them?

WOMAN 1: Emma! What's happening?

WOMAN 2: Is Lizzie guilty?

It was a terrible crime.

An impossible crime.

But it was committed.

Mrs. Borden had been slain

by some sharp
and terrible instrument,

inflicting on her
defenseless head

18 blows,

13 crushing through the skull.

The prisoner
before you at the bar

is a woman.

It is hard to conceive

that a woman could be guilty
of this crime.

I need say nothing with regard to
the blood, for there was no blood found.

I need say nothing with
regard to the physical evidence,

because there is no physical evidence.

There is not one particle
of direct evidence

linking Lizzie Andrew Borden
to this crime.

No thief did this.

No random assailant.

There was nothing in these blows

but hatred, hatred
and a desire to kill.

We have heard testimony

of a stranger who was
seen about the household

on the day of the murder.

They have produced no suspect.

But the mere fact that persons
unknown had access to the property

is more than enough to
introduce an element of doubt.

If you can even conceive

of any other hypothesis
in which it is possible

that someone else did this deed,

then you

have a reasonable
doubt in your mind.

Lizzie Borden, loving daughter,

ever went up those stairs,
never went up those stairs that morning.

Something else went up those stairs.

Something unholy and devoid of feeling.

Something we cannot
fathom with our own minds.

That was the Lizzie Borden
who pursued that poor woman

up the stairs to her death,

and then waited, weapon in hand,

for the appropriate moment

and did the same to her father.

To find this defendant

equal to that enormity,

her heart so blackened
with depravity,

her very existence such a
web of violence and crime

is to find this tender young lass guilty.

But to do that, you, gentlemen of the jury,

you must allow your minds

to consider her
not just a brute,

but a deeply, pathologically
depraved butcher.

JUDGE BLAISDELL:
Miss Lizzie Andrew Borden,

although you have now been
heard from fully through your counsel,

it is your privilege to add any words

you may desire to say
in person to the jury.

I'm innocent.

I leave it to my counsel
to speak for me.

Very well.

Now, gentlemen,
the case is committed into your hands.

This court now stands adjourned
until verdict.

An hour and 10 minutes.
They must have known all along.

She will hang.

All rise.

Is it a bad sign that
they are back so soon?

We must maintain our composure.

Lizzie Andrew Borden, stand up.

Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed
upon your verdict?

We have.

Please return
the paper to the court.

Mr. Foreman, look upon the prisoner.

Prisoner, look upon the foreman.

What say you, Mr. Foreman,
of the charge against Lizzie Andrew Borden?

Not guilty.

Order! Order, please!

Business of this court
is concluded.

♪ Them black-eyed dogs are out

♪ Go in ahead

♪ I just seen you

♪ In the eye of the storm ♪

REPORTER:
Will you stay in this town?

Morning, ladies. Morning, Marshall.

You are not welcome.

"Take courage,
my children, cry to God

"and he will deliver you from
the power and hand of the enemy.

"For I have put my hope in
the Everlasting to save you,

"because of the mercy
that will soon come to you

"from your everlasting Savior.

"For I sent you out
with sorrow and weeping,

"but God will give you
back to me

"with joy and gladness forever."

Drink up, everyone. It's almost New Year.

Nance, I'm so glad you made it.

How could I miss it?
I've missed you.

Ten...

Nine, eight, seven, six, five,

four, three, two, one!

Happy New Year!

Is this really the life you want?

Why are you so upset?

I just can't believe how
cavalier you can be sometimes.

What am I being cavalier about?

Those people, they're not
your friends, Lizzie.

Nonsense. They aren't
here because they like you.

You're a carnival attraction
to them.

They think you got away
with murder.

What do you think?

Please.

Do you want to know?
Lizzie, stop.

Lizzie?

Miss Lizzie?

Is something the matter?

Father is dead. Someone
came in and killed him.

♪ When she saw what she had done

♪ Gave her father forty-one

♪ Lizzie Borden took an ax

♪ Gave her mother 40 whacks