Lured Innocence (2000) - full transcript

♪♪

[ Starts Engine ]

[ Typing, Speaking Softly ]

[ Typing Continues ]

- HEY. - YOU'RE FROM MISSISSIPPI, RIGHT ?

YEAH. YEAH, THAT'S MY HOMETOWN. RIVERMORE ?

I THOUGHT THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID. TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

ELSIE ?

- ELSIE TOWNSEND. - YOU KNOW HER ?

- YEAH. - HOW WELL ?

SHE WAS IN MY SISTER'S CLASS. THEY WERE GOOD FRIENDS.



THIS IS PERFECT. YOU KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG STORY, RIGHT ?

HUGE. [ Man ] TOLBERT !

GET GOING, MAN. BET HE WANTS YOU ON IT.

I ALREADY TOLD HIM YOU WERE FROM MISSISSIPPI.

[ Chuckles ]

WELL ? YOU'RE RIGHT. HE WANTS ME ON IT.

THERE YOU GO.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU ? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE EXCITED.

I KNOW I SHOULD BE, BUT-- DAMN IT, TOLBERT !

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS COVER THE TRIAL.

YOU PUT YOUR NAME UP THERE AND HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WILL READ IT.

IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE. WHAT ARE YOU-- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ?

THIS IS THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME. IT WILL MAKE YOU.

LOOK, TOLBERT, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ERIC SANDERSON'S WIFE.



LOOK, I APPRECIATE YOU TRYING TO HELP ME,

BUT ELSIE AND I...

[ Sighs ] WERE CLOSE.

AND HERE I AM DIGGING UP GOD KNOWS WHAT.

SO, I'M SORRY, BUT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

[ Tolbert ] WHAT I DIDN'T TELL HARRY...

WAS THAT I WAS IN LOVE WITH HER.

IN A WAY, I STILL AM.

ELSIE'S JUST...

NOT SOMEONE YOU FORGET.

I STILL THINK ABOUT HER EVERY DAY.

WHEN I GOT TO MISSISSIPPI,

IT WAS ALREADY LATE IN THE DAY.

BUT THE AIR WAS STILL HOT... STEAMY.

[ Man ] HEY, ELDEN. HEY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

[ Elden ] THEN COMING INTO TOWN, MEMORIES OF THAT SUMMER CAME BACK TO ME:

THE INCESSANT SOUND OF CICADAS FILLING THE AIR ALL NIGHT.

HOW COULD ELSIE BE INVOLVED IN A MURDER ?

I WAS STILL IN SHOCK. I HAD TO FIND OUT.

THE MOST LOGICAL PLACE TO START WAS JERRY'S CAFE...

WHERE ELSIE WORKED.

I'D TALK TO MOLLY.

HI, ELDEN. SAME AS DAD, HUH ?

HI, ELDEN. NICE SEEING YOU.

ELDEN TOLBERT ? JESUS, LOOK AT YOU.

HOW YOU DOING, JERRY ? WHAT BRINGS YOU BACK TO RIVERMORE ?

[ Sighs ]

I KNOW. YOU'RE GONNA TESTIFY, AREN'T YOU ?

ACTUALLY, I'M COVERING THE TRIAL FOR A PHOENIX PAPER.

THAT'S RIGHT. ELSIE MARRIED THAT REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER, DIDN'T SHE ?

MUST BE A BIG DEAL OUT THERE, HUH ? YEAH, THE BIGGEST.

IT'S A SHAME THE WAY THEY'RE DRAGGING HER THROUGH THE MUD.

SOME COFFEE, ELDEN ? SURE.

LISTEN, IS MOLLY AROUND ? NO.

I GAVE MOLLY SOME TIME OFF. SHE'S GONNA BE OUR STAR WITNESS. OH, YEAH ?

[ Man ] HOW YOU DOING, BUBBA ? SEE YOU.

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE GRAB A CHAIR, ALL RIGHT ?

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER. OKAY. BYE, SANDY.

CHRIST.

WHAT ?

THOSE ARE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO USED TO FROWN ON ELSIE.

[ Sandy ] I REMEMBER.

IT'S FUNNY HOW THINGS CHANGE WHEN YOU MARRY MONEY.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME. PEOPLE FORGET.

TRUE ENOUGH.

NOTHING'S CHANGED. NO.

I VOTED FOR HIM. YEAH, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

NOT THAT I HAD A CHOICE.

[ Customer ] SAY, ELSIE ?

THERE'S A NEW MOVIE, DIE HARD, PLAYING IN TOWN.

YOU HEARD ABOUT IT ? YEAH.

YOU WANNA CHECK IT OUT SATURDAY MAYBE ?

NO, BUT THANKS ANYWAY.

I'M TELLING YOU,

HE SAID HE SAW HER WITH NOTHING ON.

NO WAY. MY BROTHER AIN'T THE TYPE TO SAY SOMETHING THAT AIN'T TRUE.

THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN LOOK...

RIGHT INTO HER BEDROOM.

IT'S A TREE OR SOMETHING, AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE GOT TO FIND OUT.

[ Boys Laughing ] OH, YEAH.

[ Laughing Continues ]

♪ GIRL, THEY WANTED JUST A PIECE OF YOU ♪

♪ THEY LOVED TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FORTUNE AND FAME ♪

♪ OH, BUT I CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH YOU ♪

♪ I ONCE BELIEVED YOU ♪

♪ TALK OF THE TOWN ♪ ♪ IT'S JUST A FANTASY ♪♪

LOOK, I TOLD YOU I'D SET UP AND THAT'S ALL.

[ Jerry ] YOU CAN'T LEAVE MOLLY LIKE THIS. SHE'S ALONE.

SORRY. YOU WALK OUT OF HERE AND--

LET IT GO, JERRY. YOU CAN'T MAKE HER.

LOOK, SHE DIDN'T DO IT LAST YEAR NEITHER, REMEMBER ?

SHE DIDN'T ? YOU FORGOT ?

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT GIRL ?

JERRY, THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HER.

HERE, LOOK AT THEM.

MOST OF THEM KIDS WILL BE GOING OFF TO OTHER PLACES. SO ?

WHAT I'M SAYING IS ELSIE COULD HAVE GONE OFF TOO...

A FEW YEARS BACK...

IF HER DADDY HADN'T DIED SO SUDDEN.

PUT YOURSELF IN HER SHOES, JERRY.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM DANCING AWAY...

WHEN YOU COULD BE IN COLLEGE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW ?

HEY, ELSIE. HOW WAS IT ?

IT WAS FINE, MA. YOU HAVE DINNER ?

YEAH, I HAD SOMETHING.

I MADE A CHICKEN CASSEROLE TONIGHT.

IF YOU WANT, I CAN HEAT IT UP FOR YOU.

JUST TAKING A BATH, MA.

ALL RIGHT.

[ Mother ] YOU ALL RIGHT, ELSIE ?

YEAH, MA. I'M FINE.

JUST FINE.

I'M GONNA RUN TO THE POST OFFICE. OKAY.

OH, TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR ME, WILL YOU ?

HE'S A REGULAR OF MINE. WHAT'S HIS NAME ?

RICK CHAMBERS. YOU KNOW, HE'S MARRIED TO THE JUDGE'S DAUGHTER.

OH. HE COMES IN FROM CALIFORNIA, RIGHT ?

HE'S JUST HERE A FEW WEEKS AND SWEEPS HER OFF HER FEET.

IT WAS A BIG SCANDAL BACK THEN.

BUT THAT WAS BEFORE YOUR TIME.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK, OKAY ?

REGULAR.

[ Pouring Coffee ]

THANKS. WHAT'S YOUR NAME ?

ELSIE. ELSIE.

I'VE SEEN YOU AROUND HERE FOR A LONG TIME AND NEVER KNEW YOUR NAME.

I'VE KNOWN MOLLY FOR AGES.

BUT I NEVER COULD GET MY NERVE UP TO ASK HER WHAT YOUR NAME WAS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ? WHAT DO I MEAN ?

YEAH. OKAY, OKAY.

I'M SORRY.

THAT DIDN'T COME OUT RIGHT, DID IT ?

MY WIFE SAYS EVERYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF MY MOUTH, COMES OUT WRONG.

[ Laughs ]

YEAH.

YOU LIKE MUSICALS ? MUSICALS ?

YEAH. I GOT THESE--

THIS HERE IS FOR... FANTASTICKS.

IT'S COMING TO TOWN. YOU HEARD ABOUT THAT ? MM-HMM.

HERE, I WANT TO GIVE YOU THESE. MY WIFE'S TOO SICK TO GO.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK MOLLY ? I'M SURE SHE'D LOVE TO GO.

I ALREADY DID. SHE'S GOT SOME SCHOOL THING.

OH, RIGHT. TAKE ANYONE YOU WANT.

IT'S A SHAME TO WASTE TWO PERFECTLY GOOD TICKETS.

THANKS, BUT I DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO TAKE ME ANYWAY.

WELL...

MIND IF I DO ?

I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

GREAT. WE'LL HAVE A GOOD TIME.

WATCH YOUR STEP. [ Sighs ] IT'S NICE TO BE OUT AGAIN.

YOU MAKE IT SOUND LIKE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT IN AGES.

THAT'S BECAUSE I HAVEN'T.

I THOUGHT MEN WOULD BE LINED UP FOR BLOCKS TO ASK YOU OUT.

THEY ARE. I JUST HAVEN'T FOUND THE LOCALS ALL THAT INTERESTING.

THE YOUNG ONES, ANYWAY.

AND THE OLD ONES LIKE ME--

THEY'RE ALREADY MARRIED, RIGHT ? [ Laughs ]

MIND IF WE GO FOR A DRINK BEFORE WE GO HOME ?

GOOD.

ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME BELIEVE YOU DON'T HAVE A BOYFRIEND ?

I USED TO HAVE A BOYFRIEND.

HE WAS A GRADUATE STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY.

HE TOOK ME PLACES:

CONCERTS, OLD MOVIES, THOSE FOREIGN ONES.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM ? HE GOT A JOB IN NEW YORK. BUFFALO.

HE WANTED ME TO GO WITH HIM, BUT--

WHY DIDN'T YOU ? I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF MY MOTHER. SHE WAS SICK.

JESUS, YOU AND ME.

I'VE BEEN TAKING CARE OF MY WIFE...

[ Sighs ] FOR A LONG TIME.

REALLY ? WHAT'S THE MATTER ?

HEART. HMM.

YEAH, IT'S BEEN A LONG STRUGGLE. I'M SORRY.

YEAH.

CARING FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S SICK--

THAT AIN'T LIVING. I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

NO, IT AIN'T.

♪♪ [ Slow ]

HEY, UH...

YOU WANT TO DANCE ?

SURE.

♪♪

♪ CROWDED ROOM FILLED WITH LAUGHTER ♪

♪ ANOTHER NEW YEAR ♪

♪ CHAMPAGNE ON ICE ♪

♪ ALL IT TAKES IS ONE MENTION OF YOU ♪

♪ AND I'M CLOSING MY EYES ♪

♪ TRAVELING BACK ♪

♪ TO YOUR KISSES ♪

♪ RECREATING THE LOVE WE MADE ♪

♪ AND WHEN I THINK I CAN STILL ♪♪

[ Sighs ] HERE WE ARE.

YEAH.

THANK YOU. I HAD A LOVELY EVENING.

GOOD. HMM.

[ Both Laugh ]

[ Sighs ] WELL--

[ Both Moaning Loudly ]

N-N-NOT IN HERE. NOT TONIGHT. I KNOW A PLACE.

BUT I WANT TO SEE YOU. I'VE GOT TO GET BACK.

I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

[ Panting ] CALL ME.

OKAY ? ALL RIGHT.

I WILL. OKAY.

[ Car Door Opens, Closes ]

[ Sighing ] OH, GOD.

[ Typing ] ELSIE TOWNSEND...

WAS A GODDESS...

OF OUR--

[ Woman ] ELDEN, SALLY'S HERE.

OKAY. [ Pulls Paper From Typewriter ]

YEAH ?

- HI. - HEY. WHAT'S UP ?

I'VE GOT A CAR.

I THOUGHT WE MIGHT DRIVE OUT TO TWIN LAKES.

SOUNDS GOOD.

IT'S ALL RIGHT, ELDEN. YOUR MOTHER TOLD ME. TOLD YOU WHAT ?

THAT IT HAPPENED TO HER WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL.

THE SAME THING.

WE'RE GOING TO BE FRIENDS, OKAY ?

LOOK... I'M SORRY.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

PLEASE. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

NO ONE FAINTED ON ME BEFORE.

I THOUGHT-- YOU THOUGHT WHAT ?

THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME. WITH YOU ?

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU, OKAY ?

I-I-I DRANK TOO MUCH. THAT'S ALL.

SO... WE'RE STILL ON, RIGHT ?

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO FAINT ?

SALLY.

[ Boys ] YOU ARE LYING. NO, I'M NOT.

WELL, THEN, WHO ? HUH ?

DEWEY, I KNOW YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO PROVOKE ME INTO GIVING YOU ALL THE NASTY DETAILS,

BUT I AIN'T FALLING INTO THAT TRAP.

THAT'S 'CAUSE YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOTHING.

THE TRUTH IS, YOU HAVEN'T HAD SEX. THAT'S WHY.

WILL YOU GROW UP ?

GOD, THE MORE YOU TALK ABOUT IT, THE MORE OBVIOUS IT IS IT'S YOU WHO AIN'T HAD SEX !

THAT AIN'T SO. I TOLD YOU, I'VE HAD A LOT.

I JUST HAVEN'T HAD IT RECENTLY, THAT'S ALL.

LIKE THAT GUY OVER HERE-- [ Groaning ] OH, JEEZ !

[ Laughing, Hooting ] GET HIM !

GET HIM, ELDEN ! GET HIM !

- ELSIE ? - OH, HI, ELDEN.

- HEY, MR. CHAMBERS. - HEY.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ?

JUST WALKING. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ?

OH, I WAS THINKING OF BUYING A CAR FROM MR. CHAMBERS.

OH, YEAH ?

LISTEN, MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO BUY HER CAR.

I BET SHE'D LET YOU HAVE IT VERY CHEAP.

I'D LIKE TO, BUT THIS IS MY LAST SUMMER HERE, SO--

OH, YEAH ? WHERE YOU GOING ?

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA.

HEY, THAT'S GREAT. YEAH, GREAT.

I'D LOVE TO BE GOING TO SOME FAR-OFF PLACE.

[ Sighs ] [ Rick ] LISTEN.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. YEAH, THANKS.

I'LL SEE YOU, ELSIE. OKAY, ELDEN.

GOOD LUCK WITH THE CAR.

[ Ringing ] JERRY'S.

YEAH, HOLD ON.

ELSIE ? FOR YOU.

HELLO ?

WASN'T THAT RICK ? YEAH.

WH-WHAT DID HE WANT ? I DON'T KNOW.

HE WANTS TO TAKE ME OUT. WHAT ? BUT HE'S MARRIED.

I KNOW. HE WAS KIND OF PERSUASIVE.

HE HAS TICKETS TO A SHOW. HIS WIFE IS SICK. SHE DOESN'T WANT TO GO.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO OUT WITH HIM, ARE YOU ?

I HAVEN'T MADE UP MY MIND YET. LISTEN, HONEY.

BETTER WATCH OUT FOR THE GUY, YOU HEAR ?

MARRIED MEN ARE ALL ALIKE.

THEY ALL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU.

BELIEVE YOU ME. I'M TALKING FROM MY OWN EXPERIENCE.

JUST DON'T GET STUCK IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

THERE'S SO MUCH GOING FOR YOU, HON. LOOK AT YOU.

YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL. [ Scoffs ]

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE LUCKY YOU'RE SO NICE.

[ Gasps ]

RICK. YOU DARN NEAR SCARED ME TO DEATH.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE ? I GOT YOU A LITTLE CD PLAYER.

THE WHOLE SETUP. HERE, TAKE THIS.

GOT YOU THE SPEAKERS AND EVERYTHING.

RICK. THEY SAY THESE ARE REALLY GOOD SPEAKERS.

[ Laughs ] YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THIS.

HEY, YOU'RE A MUSIC LOVER. YOU NEED A GOOD SYSTEM.

I KNOW... BUT--

ARE YOU GONNA ASK ME IN ?

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO PUT ALL THAT TOGETHER.

OH, REALLY ? YEAH.

WELL, MY MA IS AWAKE IN THE LIVING ROOM,

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

[ Whispers ] WE'LL HAVE TO BE VERY QUIET.

WHAT ARE YOU-- SHH. SHH. BE QUIET.

JESUS. QUIET.

SHH.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU. HEY.

[ Panting ]

[ Rick Grunting, Moaning ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Whimpers, Sighs ]

[ Dewey ] HEY, IT WASN'T ME, MAN. I SWEAR TO YOU.

- SALLY'S DOING IT. - NO, SHE ISN'T.

I'M TELLING YOU, IT'S SALLY.

THEN I'LL ASK SALLY MYSELF. I'LL ASK HER RIGHT NOW.

I'LL ASK HER IF SHE'S DOING IT DIRECTLY.

I'M JUST SAYING IT AIN'T ME WHO'S SPREADING IT AROUND.

NOW, HOW THE HELL DO YOU GO--

- [ Dewey Yelling ] - CUT IT OUT !

HERE.

THANKS.

YOU ALL RIGHT ?

YEAH.

SORRY. IT'S OKAY.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT YOU AND RICK.

IT'S A SMALL TOWN, HONEY. YOU GOTTA BE REAL CAREFUL.

EVERYONE KNOWS THE GUY IS MARRIED AND ALL.

[ Sighs ]

THINGS COULD GET DOWNRIGHT UGLY, REAL BAD.

BESIDES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING PLAYING AROUND WITH A GUY LIKE RICK CHAMBERS.

HE AIN'T YOUR TYPE, HON. HE'S--

[ Sighs ]

[ Kissing ]

[ Moaning ] OH, YEAH.

OH, YES.

[ Moaning ] OH, YES. OH, YES.

[ Continues Moaning ]

OH, GOD. OH, YEAH.

OH, YEAH. [ Grunting ]

HEY, ELSIE.

OH, HI, ELDEN.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? I JUST CAME DOWN TO GET SOME TYPING PAPER.

LET ME TAKE THOSE.

THANKS.

SO, WHEN YOU LEAVING ?

THE 31st. THE 31st.

YEAH, MY PARENTS ARE GOING TOO.

YOUR FAMILY'S REAL SERIOUS ABOUT MOVING OUT THERE.

YEAH. [ Sighs ]

WHAT ARE YOU STARING AT ? YOU THINK WE'RE SOME FREAK SHOW ?

[ Elsie ] ELDEN, DON'T BE RUDE.

SHE WAS THE ONE BEING RUDE. SHE WAS STARING AT US.

DON'T MIND THEM. THEY'RE NOT STARING AT YOU, THEY'RE STARING AT ME.

IT'S ABOUT YOU AND MR. CHAMBERS, ISN'T IT ?

HE TOOK ME SOME PLACES, AND NOW EVERYBODY'S TALKING.

I HATE IT. I HATE THIS PLACE.

I JUST WANT TO GET AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE.

SO... WHAT WAS THE FRACAS ABOUT THE OTHER DAY ?

YOU AND DEWEY ?

OH... NOTHING.

COME ON, ELDEN. I TOLD YOU MY TROUBLES.

BUT YOU HAVE TO PROMISE NOT TO TELL ANYBODY. I PROMISE.

AND PROMISE NOT TO LAUGH. I SWEAR.

WELL... SALLY JENKINS AND I HAVE BEEN GOING STEADY.

AND, UH... NOTHING SERIOUS, JUST KISSING AND STUFF.

BUT THE OTHER DAY THERE WAS THIS PARTY AT THIS GIRL MINNIE'S HOUSE.

IT WAS A GOING-AWAY PARTY. ABOUT TWO DOZEN OR SO OF US WERE THERE.

WE WERE ALL DRINKING BEER AND STUFF,

AND SALLY TOOK ME UP TO MINNIE'S ROOM.

SHE SAID MINNIE KNEW ABOUT IT, YOU KNOW ?

YEAH ?

WELL... I SORT OF BLACKED OUT.

[ Giggling ] I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT.

I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA LAUGH. I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY, REALLY.

LOOK... I HAD A LOT OF EMBARRASSING MOMENTS LIKE THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

REALLY ? YEAH, GIRLS DO.

MAYBE NOTHING AS DRAMATIC AS YOURS, BUT MAGNIFIED IN THEIR HEADS.

ANYWAY... IT'S NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF.

IT'S SOME KIND OF HEREDITARY THING.

IT HAPPENED TO MY MOM WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER TOO. REALLY ?

YEAH, BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I DRINK TOO MUCH,

SO I'LL BE ALL RIGHT IF I'M CAREFUL.

HEY, MY SISTER USED TO HAVE THE SAME POSTER.

YEAH, WE BOUGHT IT AT THE SAME PLACE.

IT'S ABOUT TWO GUYS, AND THE POOR ONE KILLS THE RICH ONE...

AND STEALS THE RICH ONE'S GIRLFRIEND ?

YEAH, A REAL SHOCKER. OH, HI, MRS. TOWNSEND.

HI. MA, YOU REMEMBER ELDEN, DOROTHY'S BROTHER.

OH, YEAH, DOROTHY. HOW IS SHE ? SHE'S REAL GOOD.

WELL... WOULD YOU LIKE SOMETHING TO DRINK, HONEY ? NO, NO, NO.

THANKS, BUT I GOTTA GET GOING ANYWAY. OH.

THANKS FOR HELPING. NO SWEAT.

MAKE SURE AND SAY GOOD-BYE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, OKAY ?

I WILL.

MAYBE WE COULD HAVE DINNER OR SOMETHING.

YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

I WISH I HAD A LOT OF MONEY.

WHY, ALL OF THE SUDDEN ?

SO I COULD GIVE YOU SOME. THEN YOU COULD GO AWAY.

ELDEN, THAT'S THE NICEST THING ANYONE'S EVER SAID TO ME.

[ Phone Ringing ]

JERRY'S. YEAH, HOLD ON.

ELSIE, FOR YOU.

HELLO ?

OH, HI. YEAH.

SURE.

A HALF HOUR. YEAH, I-I KNOW THE PLACE.

[ Woman ] PLEASE SIT DOWN. [ Clears Throat ]

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

[ Waiter Approaching ] AND WHAT CAN I GET YOU ?

GIN AND TONIC.

CUTE OUTFIT.

[ Sighs ]

OBNOXIOUS, ISN'T HE ?

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN SEEING MY-- YOU'VE BEEN SEEING RICK.

I CAN SEE WHY HE'S BEEN ACTING THE WAY HE HAS.

YOU'RE SO YOUNG AND... LOVELY.

HE MARRIED ME FOR MONEY.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT. IT'S NOT KIND, BUT--

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE AND THINGS DON'T ALWAYS WIND UP AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

HERE YOU GO. ANYTHING FOR YOU, MA'AM ?

NO, THANK YOU. OF COURSE.

HE FINALLY WOUND UP...

MANAGING WHAT MY FATHER LEFT ME, WHICH ISN'T MUCH.

I HAVE A HEART PROBLEM, AND MY FATHER WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'D BE--

THAT I WOULD BE WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

SO HE PUT THE PROPERTY IN A TRUST.

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY, MRS.-- MARTHA.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BEAT AROUND THE BUSH... MARTHA.

HE TOLD ME THAT IF I DON'T GIVE HIM A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY, HE'S GONNA LOSE YOU.

I DON'T HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY TO GIVE HIM.

LET'S GET ONE THING CLEAR.

I DIDN'T GET INVOLVED WITH HIM FOR THE MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY-- AND I DIDN'T ASK HIM TO COME UP WITH ANY MONEY EITHER.

IT'S ALL IN HIS HEAD. NOW, EXCUSE ME.

PLEASE, WE CAN TALK IN MY CAR.

HE'S BEEN ACTING... REAL CRAZY LATELY;

COMING HOME DRUNK, ALL AGGRESSIVE...

SO FULL OF RAGE TOWARDS ME.

HE'S BEEN DROPPING LITTLE HINTS,

BUT I'VE BEEN READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

HE WANTS ME DEAD.

THAT WAY HE CAN LEGALLY DISPOSE OF THE PROPERTIES AND BE WITH YOU.

I'M SO-- I'M SO SCARED.

[ Crying ] I'M IN TERROR OF MY LIFE.

[ Continues Crying ]

- YOU CAN ALWAYS DIVORCE HIM. - NO, HE WANTS ALL THE MONEY.

THAT WAY HE CAN HAVE YOU. OH, ELSIE, HE'LL KILL ME.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO, MARTHA ? I TOLD HIM...

I COULD GIVE HIM $100,000, BUT HE SAID NO.

CAN'T YOU TALK TO HIM ? HE'LL LISTEN TO YOU.

BUT I DON'T WANT HIM EITHER.

WHAT ? WHAT ARE YOU SAYING ?

LOOK... HE GOT ME WHEN I WAS LONELY. THAT'S ALL.

BUT... I THOUGHT YOU LOVED HIM.

THAT'S WHAT HE THINKS. I KNOW THAT'S WHAT HE THINKS.

SURE, HE GOT UNDER MY SKIN. I'M NOT DENYING THAT.

BUT NOW I WANT TO BREATHE. DO YOU HEAR ME ?

I WANT TO BREATHE. NO.

MY GOD-- [ Sighs ]

IF YOU LEAVE HIM, HE'LL BLAME ME. I KNOW HE WILL.

I'M JUST AS SCARED AS YOU ARE.

IT'S HIS EYES. THEY JUST DON'T LET YOU GO.

I KNOW. I'VE SEEN IT.

OH, JESUS, I SEE.

YOU'RE SO BEAUTIFUL.

HE'S NEVER GONNA LET YOU GO.

HE'LL TRACK YOU DOWN. YOU'RE NEVER GONNA LEAVE HIM.

HERE, I WAS HOPING YOU WOULD HELP ME GET HIM OUT OF MY LIFE SOMEHOW.

[ Sighs ]

WE CAN STILL DO THAT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ?

WE CAN STILL GET HIM OUT OF THE WAY.

I JUST HAVE TO THINK.

[ Cicadas Buzzing ]

WE GOTTA GET RID OF HER.

[ Sighs ] WHO ?

MY WIFE.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR WIFE ?

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING.

I WASN'T THINKING ABOUT YOUR WIFE.

NO, BUT YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT FARAWAY PLACES.

PEOPLE ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT US. I KNOW THAT.

YOU HATE THAT.

YOU JUST WANT TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL.

JUST A MINUTE AGO,

I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE GONNA SAY.

YOU WERE ABOUT TO SAY IT'S NOT GONNA WORK OUT WITH YOU AND ME.

WEREN'T YOU ?

AND I'M GONNA HAVE TO COME UP WITH SOME MONEY REAL FAST, DON'T I ?

YOU NEED A SAFE PLACE TO PUT YOUR MOTHER,

A PLACE WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY,

IF I DON'T COME UP WITH MONEY FAST, I'M GONNA LOSE YOU, AREN'T I ?

BUT...

IF SHE DIES--

YEAH, EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT AND, UH...

SHE'LL LEAVE ME ALL THAT MONEY, RIGHT ?

YEAH, I KNOW I'M RIGHT.

RICK ?

RICK, IS THAT YOU ?

RICK ?

[ Clock Ticking ]

- [ Meows ] - THERE YOU ARE.

[ Cat Meowing ]

YOU NAUGHTY BOY. YOU NAUGHTY BOY.

[ Fastens Chain Lock ]

[ Meows ]

[ Mumbles ]

[ Gasps ] [ Meows ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Gasping ]

[ Continues Gasping ]

[ Gasping, Slower ]

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME ?

TO REMIND YOU THAT IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT CUTTING ME OUT,

YOU'RE FUCKING WRONG, AND I'LL KILL YOU.

YOU KNOW THAT ? YEAH, I KNOW THAT.

THAT'S WHY I WENT TO SEE LERNA, TO SEE HOW MUCH I CAN GIVE YOU.

AND ?

$100,000... C-CASH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO WITH 100,000, HUH ?

NOTHING !

TRY NOTHING !

[ Stammering ] WELL... THAT'S--

THAT'S ALL HE CAN MANAGE.

HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO DO BETTER. DO YOU HEAR ME ?

I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE FUCKING LIFE TAKING CARE OF YOU !

I DESERVE BETTER ! I WANT TO BE FREE !

I KNOW.

[ Gasping ] YOU TOLD ME.

I KNOW YOU AND I ARE NO LONGER GOOD FOR EACH OTHER.

I CAN'T LOSE HER, MARTHA.

I CAN'T LOSE ELSIE !

[ Crying ] WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT ?

[ Yelling ] GET THE MONEY ! JUST GET IT !

[ Martha Crying ]

THEY SAY THEY SAW YOU AND RICK AGAIN LAST NIGHT.

THEY SAY HE WAS DRUNK. THEY SAY HE MADE A MESS OF THE PLACE.

WHAT'S GOING ON, ELSIE ?

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HEARD SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I DON'T KNOW, MOLLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

THIS WHOLE THING'S JUST GETTING WAY OUT OF HAND. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT TO DO. YOU GOTTA BE STRONG, HONEY.

YOU GOTTA BE ABLE TO SAY NO. YOU HEAR ME, HON ?

COME ON. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, YOU KNOW ?

[ Thunderclap ]

[ Gasping ]

OH, YOU FRIGHTENED ME.

SO, DID YOU GET THE INSURANCE STRAIGHTENED OUT ?

I WAS VERY CLEVER.

YEAH, I ASKED FOR AN INCREASE ON MINE FIRST.

THE INSURANCE MAN BROUGHT IT UP ON HIS OWN.

HE SAID, "PERHAPS YOUR HUSBAND SHOULD HAVE AN INCREASE ON HIS TOO."

SMART, MARTHA. REAL SMART. YEAH, IT WORKED OUT REAL FINE.

I'M PROUD OF YOU. [ Laughs ]

OKAY. WE'RE SET.

WE'LL DO IT TOMORROW NIGHT THEN.

OH, I DON'T-- TOMORROW NIGHT ?

I-- TOMORROW I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT...

AT THE HOSPITAL AT DALTON.

IT'S A LONG WAY OFF. RICK'S GOT TO TAKE ME THERE. NO, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

HAVE DINNER WITH HIM ON THE WAY HOME.

THE MAIN THING IS... HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SEE HIM DRUNK.

THAT'S ALL.

BUT BE BACK BY 12:30.

MARTHA. YOU'RE GONNA BE THERE.

DON'T WORRY. JUST DO WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED.

MARTHA, WE AGREE.

I'M DOING THE DIRTY WORK, RIGHT ?

[ Sighs ] SO DON'T WORRY.

[ Sighs ] YOU CAN'T BACK OUT ON ME.

[ Thunderclap ]

NO.

[ Phone Rings ]

[ Mother ] ELSIE ?

I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

REMEMBER, UM... YOU MENTIONED ABOUT DINNER ?

YOU WOULD ?

GREAT.

YEAH, YEAH. DINGHIMS. FINE.

OKAY. I'LL BE THERE.

YES.

[ Rick Groaning ]

[ Martha Shudders ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Coughing ]

[ Labored Breathing ]

[ Gasping ]

WHERE IS HE ?

HE'S IN THE... LIVING ROOM, SLEEPING.

AND THE TUB ? LIKE YOU TOLD ME.

[ Water Running ]

[ Turns Off Water ]

COME ON.

LET'S GET THIS OVER WITH BEFORE HE WAKES UP.

[ Whispers ] COME ON, COME ON.

GET HIS LEGS. GET HIS LEGS.

[ Elsie Whispering ] THAT'S IT. THAT'S IT. OKAY.

[ Continues Whispering ] LET'S GO. HURRY !

[ Women Grunting ]

[ Elsie ] SHH. COME ON.

[ Whispering ] GET THIS SIDE NOW. NOW !

LET'S GO. LET'S GO.

[ Women Straining ]

[ Rick Groans ] [ Gasps ]

[ Softly ] HE'LL WAKE UP ANYWAY. NOW !

[ Gasping ] HOLD ONTO HIS LEGS !

[ Screams, Gasps ]

[ Panting ]

[ Shuddering ]

LOOK, YOU BETTER TAKE HIS CLOTHES OFF BEFORE HIS BODY GETS STIFF.

[ Liquid Pouring ]

[ Sets Down Glass ]

LOOK, I DID MY PART. ALL RIGHT ?

I SAID I WOULD, AND I DID.

I DID THE HARD PART. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN, MARTHA.

WE AGREED.

LOOK... HE'S DEAD.

HE'S NOT GONNA BITE YOU.

NOT ANYMORE.

DEAD MEN CAN'T HURT YOU, HONEY.

NOT ANYMORE.

OR DO YOU WANT ME TO LEAVE ?

NO. [ Gasps ]

NO.

[ Softly ] GO. THAT'S RIGHT, GO.

YOU CAN DO IT.

[ Gasping ]

[ Continues Gasping ]

[ Groans ]

- WELL ? - [ Elsie ] DEAD.

[ Chuckling ]

OKAY, TAKE YOUR WET CLOTHES OFF IN THE TUB.

WHAT'S GOING ON ? I DON'T WANT TO GET WATER ON THE FLOOR.

WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD NOW.

[ Softly ] FUCK !

NOW YOU GOT TO CALL EMERGENCY.

HEY. HEY. RICK, NOT YET, BABY. NOT YET.

BABY, I AM SO HORNY. COME ON, LET'S GO.

COME ON. NOT NOW. WE DON'T HAVE TIME.

WAIT. WE'VE GOT TIME. NO, NO, NO. WOULD YOU JUST SIT DOWN ?

SIT DOWN. OH, COME ON.

NOW, LISTEN TO ME. REMEMBER, YOU WIFE JUST HAD A HEART ATTACK, OKAY ?

CALL. BUT--

OH, DAMN.

OKAY.

[ Dialing ]

[ Gasps ]

[ Elden ] THEN WHAT HAPPENED ?

I SOLD... ALMOST ALL OF THE PROPERTIES.

MARTHA WAS RIGHT. I DIDN'T GET MUCH.

BUT YOU GOT THE INSURANCE MONEY, RIGHT ?

YEAH. IT TOOK LONGER THAN WE HOPED,

BUT I GOT IT, ALL RIGHT.

WHAT'D YOU DO WITH THE MONEY ?

WE HAD TO FIND A PLACE FOR ELSIE'S MOTHER.

FOUND A GOOD PLACE DOWN IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

WE MOVED HER OUT THERE,

AND THEN... WE WENT OFF TO EUROPE.

EUROPE ? OH, YEAH. HAD A GREAT TIME IN PARIS.

WHAT A PLACE THAT WAS.

[ Chuckles ] YEAH.

THEN WE WENT OFF AGAIN TO MEXICO,

AND THAT'S WHERE SHE MET THIS ASSHOLE FROM ARIZONA.

SHIT. DO YOU KNOW THE REASON SHE WENT OFF WITH THAT GUY ?

WHY ? BECAUSE HE SAID HE WOULD MARRY HER.

HECK, IF, UH... IF THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED...

I-I WOULD HAVE MARRIED HER.

BUT I GUESS SHE JUST COULDN'T LOOK AT THE TRUTH.

STARING AT ME, DAY IN AND DAY OUT,

KNOWING THAT I KNEW...

THAT THE WHOLE THING WAS HER OWN IDEA.

SHE CAME UP WITH IT ? WELL, ACTUALLY,

SHE SAID THAT SHE GOT IT FROM A MOVIE;

A FAMOUS FRENCH ONE CALLED...

DIABOLIQUE.

DIABOLIQUE. YEAH, I THINK SO. YEAH.

HEY, ANYWAY... IT WORKED, RIGHT ?

[ Chuckles ] IT WORKED.

MR. TOLBERT ? I'M BILL BECKMAN.

I WORK FOR MR. SHELBY, LEGAL COUNSEL FOR MRS. SANDERSON.

YEAH, RIGHT.

I'M SORRY WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU EARLIER,

BUT THERE'S BEEN A MIX-UP OF SORTS IN TRYING TO TRACK YOU DOWN.

I'VE BEEN HERE ALL ALONG.

WELL, ANYWAY, WE NEED YOU TO TESTIFY FOR US.

- [ Unfolds Paper ] TESTIFY ? - WHY, YES, FOR THE DEFENSE.

WHAT ? WH-WHAT DO YOU MEAN ?

[ Sighs ] I-I GET THE POINT.

THAT MAKES YOU KIND OF USELESS TO ME.

[ Sighs ] I KNOW YOU DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.

YEAH, YEAH. SURE. OKAY.

[ Hangs Receiver Up ] DAMN IT ! HARRY !

HAVE YOU SEEN HER ?

YEAH. WHAT'D SHE SAY ?

I HAVEN'T GOT A CHANCE TO INTERVIEW HER YET.

ANYWAY, SANDERSON AND ELSIE SETTLED IN SCOTTSDALE.

RICK FOLLOWED HER THERE. HE WAS OBSESSIVE. YOU KNOW THE KIND.

SO, SANDERSON RETALIATED WITH A RESTRAINING ORDER,

AND THAT'S WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

WHAT ACCIDENT ? THE CAR ACCIDENT.

VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER WITH A... BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL...

THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE DOW JONES HAPPY.

SO SANDERSON MADE SURE HE'D GET A LONG-TERM CONVICTION,

AND I GUESS THAT'S WHEN RICK DECIDED TO SPILL HIS GUTS AND TAKE HER DOWN WITH HIM.

IF I CAN'T HAVE HER, YOU CAN'T HAVE HER, HUH ? YEAH, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

GUY SOUNDS LIKE A REAL WACKO.

WAIT TILL YOU SEE ELSIE. A LOT OF GUYS WOULD GO WACKO OVER HER.

THE PROSECUTION NEVER WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT UP FOR TRIAL IN THE FIRST PLACE...

IF ALL THEY HAD WAS RICK.

BUT WHEN MARTHA'S BROTHER DUG UP THESE PEOPLE AND STARTED MATCHING THEM WITH THE STORY,

THEY REALIZED MAYBE THEY HAD A CASE.

OKAY. OKAY, I GOT THE PICTURE, BUT HOW DO YOU FIT IN ?

I WAS WITH HER THAT NIGHT. WHAT ?

YEAH, YOU HEARD RIGHT.

[ Sighs ]

JESUS.

NO, I-I-I DON'T GET THIS.

I MEAN, YOU COVERED THE TRIAL FROM DAY ONE.

THE DATE'S NEVER COME UP ? IT DID.

IT WAS MENTIONED THREE TIMES IN THE TRANSCRIPTS, BUT SOMEHOW I ASSUMED--

[ Sighs ] [ Sighs ]

LOOK, I DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T MAKE THE CONNECTION.

I MEAN, MAYBE I ASSUMED IT WAS AFTER I LEFT TOWN.

IT WAS A LONG TIME AGO, YOU KNOW ?

ALL I COULD REMEMBER WAS THAT I LEFT RIGHT BEFORE THE START OF A LONG LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

BUT IF YOU WERE WITH HER, SHE'S INNOCENT.

YEAH.

YEAH, WHAT ?

COME ON. WHAT THE FUCK REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT ?

I CALLED HER THAT DAY...

AT THE COFFEE SHOP.

[ Elsie ] SO, WHAT TIME ARE YOU LEAVING TOMORROW ? [ Elden ] EARLY IN THE MORNING.

WE RENTED A VAN AND A TRUCK.

YOU DRIVING ALL THE WAY ? YEAH, WE'RE MOVING ALL OUR STUFF.

WE'RE GONNA STORE IT AT MY SISTER'S PLACE. I SEE.

I ENVY YOU.

YOU COULD ALWAYS COME AND SEE US. DOROTHY WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU.

YEAH, I'D LOVE TO SEE HER.

THANKS FOR DINNER.

OH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

YES, IT WAS NICE, WASN'T IT ?

YEAH.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS.

YES, I'LL REMEMBER IT TOO.

[ Fumbling In Purse ]

ELSIE ? YES ?

UH...

[ Scoffs ]

COME ON, ELDEN.

LISTEN...

TOMORROW YOU'RE LEAVING, RIGHT ?

SO YOU CAN TELL ME ANYTHING YOU WANT.

YOU NEVER HAVE TO SEE ME AGAIN.

YEAH.

WELL...

I GUESS I WANTED TO SAY...

THAT I ALWAYS LOVED YOU.

YOU HAVE ?

YEAH.

WELL... THAT WASN'T SO HARD, WAS IT ?

NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THAT OFF YOUR CHEST ?

[ Laughs ] I GUESS NOT.

WHO ELSE DID YOU TELL ? DEWEY ? SANDY ?

NO, NOBODY. OH, SO IT WAS A BIG SECRET THEN.

YEAH.

ELDEN ?

DO YOU WANT TO KISS ME ?

[ Keys Jingling ]

[ Puts Keys In Ignition, Starts Engine ]

HERE. YOU DRIVE.

SLIDE OVER.

WHERE ? WHEREVER YOU WANT TO GO.

PUT YOUR ARM AROUND ME.

THERE. THAT'S BETTER.

[ Whispers ] I'M GONNA GET SOMETHING TO DRINK.

[ Door Closes ]

I'M THIRSTY. WHAT ABOUT YOU ?

YEAH.

WAIT.

WHAT'S THAT ? VODKA.

[ Taps Elden's Glass ]

YOU WERE THIRSTY, WEREN'T YOU ?

TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF AND GET UNDER THE COVERS.

[ Sighs ]

I SET THE ALARM IN CASE WE FALL ASLEEP.

[ Gasps ]

ELDEN ? ELDEN ?

[ Clock Ticking ]

HI.

[ Ticking Continues ]

I CONKED OUT, DIDN'T I ?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN ?

I PASSED OUT, DIDN'T I ?

I THOUGHT YOU WERE SLEEPING.

YOU CAME INSIDE OF ME.

YOU... REMEMBER ?

I THINK SO.

OH, ELDEN...

TELL ME YOU LOVE ME.

I LOVE YOU.

KISS ME.

I'LL DROP YOU OFF HERE AND NOBODY WILL KNOW.

BYE.

[ Engine Starts ]

WOW.

[ Chuckling ]

I ONLY WISH MY FIRST LAY WAS THAT GREAT.

[ Sighs ] HEY, THAT CONFIRMS IT.

I MEAN, SHE'S INNOCENT. THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT, RIGHT ?

UNLESS SHE COULD HAVE DONE THAT IN HALF AN HOUR.

COULD SHE ?

COULD SHE HAVE DONE ALL THAT ? NO. NO WAY.

DRIVING BACK AND FORTH ALONE WOULD HAVE TAKEN HER THAT LONG. THEN WHAT'S BOTHERING YOU ?

I'VE ALWAYS HAD IN THE BACK OF MY MIND-- WHAT ?

JUST BEFORE I CAME TO, I FELT LIKE MAYBE SOMEBODY CAME IN THE ROOM,

SLIPPED IN BED NEXT TO ME. JESUS, TOLBERT, WHICH IS IT ?

DID IT HAPPEN OR NOT ?

THAT'S THE THING.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

[ Reporters Clamoring ]

[ Clamoring Continues ]

[ Reporters Chattering, Shutters Clicking ] BACK UP, BACK UP.

JESUS, SHE'S GORGEOUS.

I TOLD YOU.

[ Reporters Continue Clamoring ]

[ Reporter #1 ] JUST A MOMENT OF YOUR TIME, MRS. SANDERSON.

[ Reporter #2 ] WHY HAS YOUR ATTORNEY NOW DECIDED--

HEY. HEY. WHERE YOU GOING ?

TO SEE RICK CHAMBERS.

WHEN ARE THEY CALLING YOU ? [ Sighs ] THIS AFTERNOON.

I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT GUY MYSELF. I KNOW, BUT--

STAY WITH IT. YOU'RE THE REPORTER NOW.

[ Footsteps Departing ]

HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING ? [ Door Closes ]

[ Elden ] I'VE BEEN CALLED TO TESTIFY.

YOU ? YEAH.

ABOUT WHAT ?

ABOUT THAT NIGHT.

BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH HER THAT NIGHT, DID YOU ?

[ Swallows Hard ] I WAS WITH HER THAT NIGHT.

I WAS WITH HER FROM 8:00 IN THE EVENING TILL 6:00 IN THE MORNING.

I KNOW THAT'S HARD FOR YOU TO BELIEVE, BUT I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.

I WAS WITH HER ALL THAT TIME, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3:00.

WH-WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3:00 ?

- I BLACKED OUT. - [ Laughing ]

NO, NO, DON'T GET MAD. I DIDN'T MEAN TO LAUGH AT YOU.

I'M LAUGHING AT MYSELF.

I MEAN, GOD--

WELL, I'M DONE IN. I MEAN, THAT'S IT.

SHE WON.

SHE HAD A PERFECT OUT IN YOU.

I'M JUST TELLING YOU THE TRUTH. I'LL DO THE SAME ON THE WITNESS STAND.

HEY, HEY, I BELIEVE YOU. I BELIEVE YOU.

OH, I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED.

AH, JESUS, I CAN SEE IT NOW.

GOD, THAT LITTLE BRAIN OF HERS THINKING, SPINNING...

ON THOSE HOT, SWEATY,

STIFLING SUMMER NIGHTS.

OH, MAN. OH, SHE'S JUST WAITING AND WAITING...

IN THAT FUCKING UNBEARABLE PLACE.

AND THEN, HEY, HERE WE COME, YOU AND ME, AND SHE'S GONNA BE FREE.

AND THAT'S IT, THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED:

TO BE FREE.

[ Chuckles ] YEAH.

[ Clicks Tongue, Sighs ]

SO DID YOU FUCK HER ?

HUH ? YOU KNOW, COME ON. DID YOU MAKE LOVE ?

GOOD. NOW, YOU KNOW, HUH ?

YEAH, YOU KNOW WHY I DID WHAT I DID.

IT GETS LONELY SOMETIMES WHEN NOBODY UNDERSTANDS WHAT YOU WENT THROUGH.

I MEAN, SOMETIMES, HUH...

SHE DOESN'T EVEN MOVE.

SHE JUST LAYS THERE, AND I CAN SEE HER FACE SLOWLY TURNING PINK.

AND HER EAR LOBES ARE BLUSHING.

AND I CAN SEE IN HER FACE THAT SHE'S FEELING MY PRICK INSIDE HER...

EXPLODING !

[ Laughing ]

OH, MAN. FUCK GOD !

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ? FUCK HIM, MAN.

GOD'S NOTHING BUT A PRICKLESS SHIT ! [ Laughs ]

YOU KNOW WHY I CAME HERE ?

YOU WANT TO KNOW IF... THE THING REALLY HAPPENED.

YEAH. IT HAPPENED JUST THE WAY I SAID IT HAPPENED.

I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT TIME TO WHAT TIME,

BUT I CAN TELL YOU...

IT WAS 3:00 IN THE MORNING WHEN THE AMBULANCE FINALLY CAME.

HEY, KID, DON'T MAKE SUCH A LONG FACE.

YOU CALL THEM AS YOU SEE THEM, RIGHT ?

THAT'S THE SYSTEM, THE AMERICAN WAY.

YEAH.

AND IF SHE GETS AWAY WITH IT...

HECK, THE MORE POWER TO HER.

BECAUSE SHE DESERVES IT.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN ?

SHE'S SO WONDERFUL.

I MEAN, SHE DESERVES IT.

SO THAT'S IT.

AND THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.

HEY, KID,

COME BACK AND SEE ME SOMETIME, WILL YOU ?

WE CAN COMPARE NOTES ON ALL THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES.

JESUS. THIS GUY CHUCK MULLIGAN-- RIGHT, MARTHA'S BROTHER.

YEAH. ONE SCARY BASTARD. WHAT DID HE DO ?

THE GUY ACTUALLY DUG UP HER OLD CAR, AND HE FOUND THE SKI MASK.

WHAT SKI MASK ?

THE ONE THAT SUPPOSEDLY SCARED THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF CHAMBER'S WIFE.

THE COURTROOM WAS BUG-EYED WHEN THAT THING WAS INTRODUCED.

THE THING IS, THEY PUT YOUR ELSIE ON THE STAND,

AND THEY DID NOT MAKE HER LOOK GOOD AT ALL.

MAXWELL STRONG, THE LEAD PROSECUTOR, IS ONE AMBITIOUS SON OF A BITCH.

HER LAWYER KEEPS PUTTING UP OBJECTIONS, BUT IT'S AFTER THE FACT.

I THINK HE'S COUNTING ON YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED ?

YOU THINK SHE'S GUILTY OR NOT ? YOU OUGHT TO KNOW BY NOW.

I DON'T.

IT'S GONNA BE UP TO THE JURORS, WHAT THEY THINK.

[ Sighs ] I FEEL SICK, HARRY.

[ Exhales ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED IN THOSE 30 MINUTES ?

WAS IT 30 MINUTES ?

I HAVE TO SAY WHAT I KNOW, AND I HAVE TO SAY WHAT I DON'T KNOW.

[ Sighs ] JESUS, HARRY, I REALLY FEEL SICK.

NOW THEN, WHAT HAPPENED NEXT ?

WE TALKED IN THE CAR.

[ Defense Attorney ] JUST TALKED ?

- WE KISSED. - THEN WHAT HAPPENED ?

WE, UH... WE TOOK A DRIVE. WE PULLED OFF AT A ROADSIDE JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

AND YOU TALKED THERE AS WELL ?

[ Elden ] YES.

-AND THEN ? -THEN WE WENT BACK TO HER HOUSE.

- TO HER BEDROOM, I BELIEVE. - YES.

AND DID YOU MAKE LOVE TO HER ?

YES.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

AT WHAT TIME DID YOU LEAVE MRS. SANDERSON'S HOUSE ?

[ Sighs ] IT WAS 5:30 THE NEXT MORNING. SHE DROVE ME BACK.

SO, IN SUMMING UP THE EVENTS OF AUGUST 30, 1989,

YOU SPENT THE ENTIRE NIGHT WITH ELSIE SANDERSON...

FROM 8:00 IN THE EVENING UNTIL 5:30 THE NEXT MORNING.

- ESSENTIALLY, YES. - WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "ESSENTIALLY" ?

I BLACKED OUT.

YOU MEAN, YOU FAINTED ? YES.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN THIS OCCURRED ?

WE WERE IN BED. [ Spectators Murmuring ]

[ Defense Attorney ] HOW LONG DID THIS BLACKOUT LAST ? HALF AN HOUR.

WHY ARE YOU SO SURE THAT IT WAS ONLY HALF AN HOUR ?

BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT THERE, SHE SET THE ALARM CLOCK.

I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY IN THE MORNING, AND SHE WAS AFRAID WE MIGHT OVERSLEEP.

I SEE. WHAT TIME WAS IT WHEN SHE SET THE CLOCK ? DID YOU SEE THE TIME ?

YES, SIR, 2:30 IN THE MORNING .

WHEN YOU CAME OUT OF YOUR BLACKOUT, DID YOU SEE THE TIME ? YES, SIR, 3:00 A.M.

SO, TO RECAP,

YOU CAN ACCOUNT FOR ELSIE SANDERSON'S WHEREABOUTS...

FROM 8:00 IN THE EVENING UNTIL 5:30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING,

WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3:00 A.M.

- IS THAT CORRECT ? - YES, SIR, THAT'S CORRECT.

- SHE FIXED THE CLOCK ! - [ Judge Pounding Gavel ]

[ Judge ] ORDER ! DAMN IT, CAN'T YOU SEE IT ? SHE FIXED IT !

DON'T LET HER FOOL YOU. DON'T LET HER FOOL YOU !

SHE'S JUST USING YOU, MAN ! GET OFF ME !

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, YOUR HONOR.

DEFENSE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO RECALL.

THANK YOU, MR. TOLBERT.

WELL... YOU HAVE JUST EXONERATED YOUR FRIEND, MRS. SANDERSON. YOU KNOW THAT ?

- IF YOU SAY SO. - WHY IF I SAY SO ?

- I THOUGHT THE JURY WERE THE ONES WHO DECIDE THAT. - TRUE ENOUGH.

BUT YOU STILL HAVEN'T ANSWERED MY QUESTION...

BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T SURE ABOUT THAT HALF AN HOUR, WERE YOU ?

MATTER OF FACT, YOU'RE NOT SURE THAT 2:30 WAS THE RIGHT TIME.

- I'M VERY SURE OF WHAT I SAW. - SHE SET THE ALARM IN FRONT OF YOU ?

NO. NO ?

- WHERE WAS THE CLOCK ? - SHE BROUGHT IT IN FROM THE BATHROOM.

SO SHE COULD HAVE SET THE TIME IN THE BATHROOM. REAL TIME COULD'VE BEEN 1:00 OR 12:30.

YOU SIMPLY DON'T KNOW.

ABOUT THIS FAINTING SPELL--

HAD ANYTHING OF THE SORT EVER HAPPENED TO YOU...

PRIOR TO YOUR AFFAIR WITH MRS. SANDERSON ?

YES, IT HAD, AND IT WASN'T AN AFFAIR.

JUST ANSWER THE QUESTIONS, PLEASE. WHEN DID IT HAPPEN ?

A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. I HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK.

SO, IT'S RELATED TO SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND ALCOHOL ?

- YES. - MY SYMPATHIES.

NOW, DID MRS. SANDERSON KNOW ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM ?

YES, WE DISCUSSED IT. SO SHE KNEW IN DETAIL THAT IT WAS ALCOHOL-INDUCED ?

OBJECTION. THERE IS NO MEDICAL EVIDENCE THAT IT WAS ALCOHOL-INDUCED.

- REPHRASE, COUNSELOR. - ALCOHOL-RELATED.

YES.

DID YOU HAVE ANY ALCOHOL THAT NIGHT, DURING DINNER PERHAPS ?

YES. HOW MUCH ?

- TWO BOTTLES OF WINE. - TWO BOTTLES OF WINE, YOU SAY ?

YEAH, WELL, WE WERE THERE A LONG TIME.

HOW ABOUT IN THE CAR ? NO.

- IN THE BEDROOM ? - YES.

HOW MUCH ?

TWO GLASSES OF VODKA AND ORANGE JUICE AND--

- AND ? - AND A SWIG OF VODKA, I GUESS.

BUT IF YOU KNEW YOU HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHY DID YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DRINK ?

BECAUSE I HAD A LOT AT THE RESTAURANT AND NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE IN THE CAR.

SO, I-I FIGURED... I'D OVERCOME THE THING SOMEHOW.

BESIDES, I WAS VERY THIRSTY.

THIRSTY FOR ORANGE JUICE MAYBE, BUT A SWIG OF VODKA ? COME ON.

DID SHE DARE YOU ?

SHOVE THE BOTTLE IN YOUR FACE AND DARE YOU TO BE A MAN ?

NO, IT WASN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL !

YOU TELL ME HOW IT WAS, PRECISELY.

SHE PASSED IT TO ME FROM HER MOUTH.

[ Spectators Murmuring, Gavel Pounding ]

WELL, THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

I MEAN, SHE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO CHALLENGE YOU.

SHE JUST SHOVED IT DOWN YOUR MOUTH BECAUSE SHE KNEW YOU WOULD HAVE A FAINTING SPELL !

- OBJECTION ! THIS IS TOTALLY SPECULATIVE ! - IT WASN'T LIKE THAT AT ALL.

[ Judge Pounds Gavel ] ORDER.

IF YOU HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, MR. STRONG, WE'LL TAKE A RECESS HERE.

UH, IF I MAY, YOUR HONOR, I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, THEN I'M FINISHED.

PROCEED THEN.

- YOU'RE A JOURNALIST, AREN'T YOU ? - YES.

AND YOU COVERED THIS TRIAL FROM ITS BEGINNING UNTIL TODAY ? YES.

YOU ALREADY TESTIFIED THAT YOU REMEMBER THE DATE AUGUST 30...

BECAUSE YOU WERE LEAVING TO GO TO YOUR COLLEGE THE NEXT DAY.

YES.

BUT THE DATE OF THIS ALLEGED INCIDENT...

HAS BEEN MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS TRIAL, WAS IT NOT ?

YES.

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU COME FORWARD UNTIL TODAY...

TO SAY THAT I WAS WITH THIS WOMAN...

AND THAT SHE'S INNOCENT BECAUSE I WAS WITH HER THAT NIGHT ?

- I DON'T KNOW. - YOU COULD'VE SAVED US A WHOLE LOT OF GRIEF.

YOU COULD'VE SAVED US A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY. WHY DIDN'T YOU COME FORWARD EARLIER ?

I DON'T KNOW ! WAS IT BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO KEEP YOUR MEMORIES...

OF MRS. SANDERSON THE WAY YOU WANTED THEM ?

OR WAS IT BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T STAND TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR MEMORIES...

WERE, IN FACT, THE COVER-UP OF THIS HORRIBLE CRIME ?

- I DON'T KNOW ! - YOU DON'T KNOW ?

[ Scoffs ] YOU DON'T KNOW ? YOU CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE ?

WHAT ELSE ARE YOU DOING TO PROTECT THIS WOMAN ?

HOW MANY LIES WILL YOU TELL TO PROTECT HER ? DAMN IT !

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE TRUTH ! [ Gavel Pounding ]

YOU PULL A STUNT LIKE THAT AGAIN, I'LL KICK YOU OUT OF HERE. HEAR ME ?

I APOLOGIZE, YOUR HONOR. THIS COURT IS RECESSED...

TILL TOMORROW, 9:00 A.M. [ Pounds Gavel ]

[ Sighs ]

[ Reporters Clamoring, Shutters Clicking ]

[ Clamoring, Clicking Continue ]

[ Bodyguard ] LEAVE HER ALONE. BACK AWAY. BACK AWAY.

[ Continue Clamoring ]

[ Clamoring Continues ]

[ Limo Departing ]

BUT, IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS, HOW CAN YOU BE SO CONFIDENT ?

I'M CONFIDENT BECAUSE SHE'S INNOCENT...

OF SUCH VILE AND INSIDIOUS INTENT.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.

[ Reporters Clamoring ] NO MORE QUESTIONS.

I MADE A MESS, DIDN'T I ?

HEY, MAN, YOU WERE JUST BEING HONEST, OBJECTIVE.

[ Sighs ]

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE VERDICT'S GONNA BE ?

WELL, I KNOW ONE THING.

WHEN YOU SAID SHE PUT THE VODKA RIGHT IN YOUR MOUTH,

THAT HAD A BIG IMPACT ON THE JURORS.

I WAS WATCHING THEIR FACES AND...

THEY DID NOT LIKE THAT A BIT.

[ Sighs ]

DID ELSIE SANDERSON CALL YOU TO HAVE DINNER ?

NO, I DID. I CALLED HER TO SAY GOOD-BYE.

I SEE.

AND SHE SUGGESTED THAT YOU TWO GO OUT FOR DINNER ?

NO, I-- I, UM, REMINDED HER THAT WE HAD...

TALKED ABOUT IT A WHILE BACK.

"A WHILE BACK" ? I SEE.

AND YOU SAY YOU REMINDED HER ?

AND SHE AGREED TO GO OUT TO DINNER WITH YOU THAT EVENING ?

YES. I SEE.

I HAVE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THANK YOU, MR. TOLBERT. YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

[ Defense Attorney ] NOW, MR. TOLBERT'S TESTIMONY WAS FORTHCOMING,

AND HE IS TO BE COMMENDED FOR HIS EFFORT TO BE TRUTHFUL,

THOUGH DESCRIBING SOME OF THOSE EVENTS MUST HAVE BEEN PAINFUL REMINDERS OF HIS YOUTH.

YET, THE PROSECUTION HAS TWISTED THIS YOUNG MAN'S HONESTY.

THEY CONTEND THAT HIS TESTIMONY IS NOTHING MORE THAN...

A DIABOLICAL PLOT DESIGNED TO ESTABLISH AN ALIBI FOR MRS. SANDERSON.

THE PROSECUTION HAS SPECULATED THAT MRS. SANDERSON...

HAD SET THE YOUNG TOLBERT UP,

FED HIM VODKA TO INDUCE HIS BLACKOUT...

AND MANIPULATED TIME.

BUT YOU'VE ALSO HEARD FROM MR. TOLBERT...

THAT ANY OF THESE SPECULATIONS WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN PLACE...

IF HE HIMSELF HAD NOT CALLED MRS. SANDERSON THAT AFTERNOON.

NO DINNER, NO EMBRACE,

NO DRINKS,

AND, THEREFORE, NO BLACKOUT.

THE UNIMPEACHABLE PROOF OF HER INNOCENCE...

LIES IN THESE VERY FACTS.

SO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THE PROSECUTION MAY SPECULATE UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER,

BUT RIGHT NOW, IN THIS COURTROOM,

THE FACTS REMAIN...

THAT ON AUGUST 30 OF 1989,

ELSIE SANDERSON WAS WITH YOUNG ELDEN TOLBERT...

FROM 8:00 IN THE EVENING UNTIL 5:30 THE FOLLOWING MORNING.

AND IF HE, MR. TOLBERT, HAD NOT TELEPHONED MRS. SANDERSON BEFOREHAND,

THESE EVENTS WOULD NEVER HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

I LEAVE THESE FACTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

TO YOUR GOOD COMMON SENSE.

THANK YOU.

NOT GUILTY.

GUESS THAT GUY WASN'T SO BAD AFTER ALL.

GUESS NOT.

WHERE YOU GOING FROM HERE ? TO SEE MY COUSIN, I GUESS.

DROP ME OFF AT THE AIRPORT ON THE WAY ? [ Reporter Clamoring ]

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE VERDICT ? I'M GRATIFIED.

YES, OF COURSE. [ Reporter #2 ] WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS NOW, MR. SANDERSON ?

[ Shutters Clicking ]

[ Whispering ]

WE'RE PLANNING TO GO DOWN TO ARGENTINA, MAYBE BUY SOME HORSES DOWN THERE.

WE HAVE A LITTLE SPREAD IN ARIZONA.

WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SETTING UP A NICE HOME, MAYBE A FAMILY.

I'M SORRY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH ALL THAT.

I'M GLAD EVERYTHING TURNED OUT OKAY.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU, ELDEN.

[ Reporters Clamoring ]

[ Elden ] IF I HADN'T CALLED HER THAT AFTERNOON--

WELL, THAT'S WHAT THE DEFENSE SAYS.

THE LAWYER RESTED HIS WHOLE CASE ON IT.

BUT SHE COULD HAVE ALWAYS COUNTED ON ME TO CALL HER THAT DAY.

SHE KNEW I WOULD NEVER HAVE GONE OFF WITHOUT SAYING GOOD-BYE.

BUT LIKE RICK SAYS...

IF SHE GETS AWAY WITH IT...

MORE POWER TO HER.

SHE'S SO WONDERFUL.

WHOEVER'S TELLING THE TRUTH, THE FACT IS,

WE BOTH SPENT THE NIGHT WITH THE SAME WOMAN AND CAME AWAY WITH DIFFERENT RECOLLECTIONS.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE:

WHEN IT COMES TO LOVE,

NO TWO MEMORIES ARE THE SAME.

CLOSED-CAPTIONED BY CAPTIONS, INC. LOS ANGELES