Mommy's Day (1997) - full transcript
The homicidal matriarch will let nothing stand in the way of a reunion with her daughter.
(exciting music)
(letters thumping)
(dramatic music)
(horns honking)
(light piano music)
♪ Mommy's day, mommy's day
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ Kids at play, moms all stay
♪ Far away from
their mommy's day ♪
♪ In the sun, happy fun
♪ Under mommy's care
♪ In the light, it's all right
♪ Mommy's always there
♪ Now I lay me down to pray
♪ And so I stray
from my mommy's day ♪
♪ Lovely day, in every way
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ In the night, it's all
right mommy's always there ♪
♪ Morning comes when the sun
♪ Play and answers pray
♪ Now I lay me down to pray
♪ I stole my strength
from my mommy's strength ♪
♪ All the day, in every way
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ Everyday, everyday, everyday
should be mommy's day ♪
(inaudible chattering)
(piano music)
♪ Amazing grace
- I think this is a mistake.
♪ How sweet the sound
- Not letting her see
her mother, that
would be a mistake.
- [Beth] She's a monster.
Why put Jessica
Ann through this?
- This is Jessie's mother
we're talking about.
And your sister.
- She tried to kill
that little girl.
- I know, I know,
she's a sick woman.
Still, if I had my way they
wouldn't be doing this.
- It's what they
do to rabid dogs.
- Beth, your sister
dies this afternoon.
She wants to say "Goodbye"
to her daughter and you.
Are you going to deny her that?
Beth, look at me.
The woman I married
wasn't cruel.
In fact, the woman I married
is a sucker for sad movies.
Now, think about where we are.
- You're right,
you're always right.
- Ooh, think about where we are.
- Here we have some cookies
on the table for you downstairs.
(pensive music)
Hey, slow down all
of you, be careful.
- If you wanna stay.
- Well, no, I'm not hungry.
I don't have to watch
them kill her do I?
- No, of course not.
- Good.
I'm not up for that.
- Well, it won't hurt honey.
They just give her a shot.
- Nothing is worse than a shot.
(alarm buzzing)
(door slamming)
- I appreciate your efforts
on my client's behave Dr. Price.
(door buzzing)
With this new
antipsychotic drug,
Mrs. Sterling could lead
a normal productive life.
- Look, we're dealing
with a reactionary,
lame duck governor.
He doesn't want to be remembered
as a guy who reprieved
a killer mommy.
- A month from now
we could be dealing
with a whole new administration.
Ekhardt, if we could
just buy some time.
- Time for her runs
out in about one hour.
(door buzzing)
Got to hand it to
her, not a crack
in that mask of hers even now.
- Don't kid yourself.
You know her sister
hasn't let her see
that little girl in months.
Her daughter means
everything to Mrs. Sterling.
- Why blame her sister?
That child's mother saw
her kill a man right
in front of her.
- Oh oh, is this
the way you tried
to turn the governor around?
- Don't kid yourself.
Without Jessica Ann's testimony,
mommy would've walked.
They didn't even charge
her for the other murders.
- Hmm.
(pensive music)
Do you think she killed them?
Two husbands.
A teacher the, the one
who denied her daughter
the outstanding award,
and a, and a janitor.
- Don't ask me to
betray my client,
and I won't ask you
to betray yours.
- Ekhardt, if she's the
monster everybody says she is,
then why do we both care
about what happens to her.
- Because she's
the damnedest case
either one of us ever had.
- Well, looks like the
governor didn't name
Mrs. Sterling
"Mother of the Year."
- Nobody likes a
sore winner, March.
You really relish
seeing a woman die?
- Yes.
This one I do.
- She, she in the chamber.
- No no no, she's in visitation.
Saying "Goodbye"
to her daughter.
Very touching scene,
right Lieutenant?
Between a mother and a
child she tried to strangle.
- Oh, stop by my
office, Anderson.
You two, March.
I'll get both you
guys in group therapy.
There's no charge.
(tense music)
- I know there's nothing
I can say to make it up
to either of you, but I've
had a lot of time to think,
and when I look back on
my life I see two people
that mean a lot to me. (sighing)
Beth, you were always there.
Thank-you.
(sighing) Jessica Ann, I,
I know you think I
was gonna hurt you.
- You didn't hurt me, much.
- When I saw your
face in the moonlight,
I couldn't hurt you, I
could never hurt you.
You're a part of me.
- I know mommy.
- And I'm a part of you.
And I still will be,
even if I'm gone.
- I know mommy, I know.
- It's time, I'm sorry.
- Who's your best friend?
- You are mommy.
- Who loves you more than
anything on god's green earth?
- You mommy.
- That's right, that's right.
Don't ever forget it.
- I won't mommy.
- Let's go.
- Paul.
- Yes?
- I er, I know I haven't
been very warm to you.
- Oh, why should you be.
I make a small fortune
writing your story,
then steal your sister from you.
- This was your doing
today, wasn't it?
Talking Beth into letting
me say, "Goodbye."
- Yes.
- Thank-you for that.
- Oh hell, it'll make a great
scene if I write the sequel.
- Looks like a short sequel.
(chattering)
- Come on.
(typewriter clattering)
- What did she say to you?
- Goodbye.
- Are they gonna
kill her in there?
- Oh no honey.
They take her to another
room called the er,
the lethal injection chamber.
Different states do
it different ways.
Do you know what a drip is?
- Yeah, him.
- Right, you have a point.
Anyway, in er, in some
states they put an IV
in the person's arm and then
in the hanging plastic
bag they put er...
- Poison?
Well, what do they
do in this state?
- Well, it's like you said,
er, they give her a shot,
and you're right, I'm sure
it hurts like all shots hurt,
and then she goes to sleep.
- And never wakes up.
- Yes.
(sad music)
- I know she did bad things.
Oh I know she did bad things,
but I don't want her to die.
- I know you don't honey.
- I prayed and prayed
they wouldn't kill her.
I prayed and prayed.
Do you think god heard?
- I'm sure he heard.
- But did he listen?
(trolley rattling)
- Neal.
- Anything I can do for you?
- The envelope.
- Yeah.
- I gave you.
- Hmm.
- It's a list of
safe deposit boxes.
Put everything into a
trust fund for Jessica Ann.
- Done.
(sighing)
- Well, in this state
you have the right
to have your personal
physician present.
You want me to--
- Ah, no, no John.
I don't want you to see this.
Thank-you for what you
attempted to do, both of you.
(somber music)
(heart beating)
(door clicking)
- I understand you
declined the chaplain.
- I'm at peace with myself.
- It's more than I can say.
- I'm a baptist, but thanks.
- The warden has to read
something, officially.
- Mrs. Sterling. (coughing)
"In the name of the people,
and the governor of this state,
"we carry out
sentence on this day
"of May 17th for the
capital crime of murder."
May god have mercy on your soul.
- And yours.
(door clattering)
(ominous music)
(bag creaking)
(plastic gloves snapping)
(tense music)
(bottles clattering)
if you don't mind my saying so,
you seem a little bit nervous.
- This will be over quickly.
Don't make it any
harder on yourself
than it has to be.
- This is your first time.
- Please.
- Mine too.
Afraid of infection?
- Please, I prefer we not talk.
(liquid squelching)
(tense music)
- Don't, doctor, erm, I
moment please, please.
I erm, I need to pray.
(choir music)
I have to pray.
- All right.
- Just, unstrap my hands
so I can fold my hands.
And bow my head
and pray properly.
- I can't, that's,
it's impossible.
- Oh please, please
doctor, I, I have to pray.
I really, I need to pray.
Don't send me into darkness
without the word
of god to guide me.
- I just can't.
- Oh please. (crying)
Doctor, tonight when
you try and go to sleep,
remember me, doctor.
Remember the woman you murdered,
whose pitiful last
request, you refuse.
(door buzzing)
(dramatic music)
I'm going to need a chauffeur.
Any volunteers.
- You're not walking
out of here, you stop right now.
- The boys at med
school are going
to have a familiar cadaver.
- Don't do this.
- Neal, I think from here on
out I'll handle my own defense.
Dr. Price, are you
up for driving?
- I I--
- Mrs. Sterling.
Mrs. Sterling.
(gun firing)
- Ow, ah.
- Don't just stand there,
she need immediate attention.
- What's wrong, you okay.
(prison alarm wailing)
- Now, na, never better.
What, looks like your client
bought herself a reprieve
after all, Mr. Ekhardt.
- You know the law lieutenant.
- Yeah, can't execute a prisoner
until and unless they're
perfectly healthy.
It wouldn't be civilized.
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
(birds twittering)
(tannoy sounding)
(voice inaudible)
- [Doctor] This is just a
local to make the insertion
of the implant itself painless.
- Will there be a scar, doctor?
- Hmm, a tiny one, and a bit
of a bump on your forearm
where the flexible silicone
rod is tucked under the skin.
Now you understand, your
medication will be released
continuously in a
small, measured douse.
It's kind of like a
time-release cold capsule.
- Will I still be me?
- Hmm, you're still you.
- New and improved, like
a laundry detergent.
- You're violent behavior
has a biochemical basis.
The anti-psychotic
drug short-circuits
your aggressive impulses.
- Oh, I've always liked
designer clothing.
Now, I'll have a designer brain.
My wardrobe will be complete.
- You had a choice,
lethal injection
or that implant in your arm.
And you're still very
much a trial case,
a a social experiment.
- A guineapig.
- A live one.
Look, if this doesn't
work, or if you get cute
and remove that implant,
your next shot will be back
at state prison, or from
that police sergeant's gun.
- Is it my fault his friend,
Lieutenant March had a stroke?
- After the stress of
your attempted jailbreaks,
Sergeant Anderson
certainly thinks so yes.
- John, don't think
I'm ungrateful.
(pensive music)
I know what you've done for me.
You saved my life.
- Now, do you have
any questions about
how the implant's going to work?
- Well, I'm gonna have a better
sense of right and wrong.
Hmm, you know, no man's ever
thought I needed
implants before.
- I can believe that.
But you will have more
normal emotional responses.
- Like you?
- Yes.
Now you have the address
of that halfway house.
- Hmm.
What about my daughter?
How often can I see my daughter?
- You er, you can't.
- What?
- I was hoping
with the implant would have
more time to mellow you out.
- What do you mean, I
can't see my daughter?
She's my daughter.
- Your sister got a court order.
It's a restraining order.
You're not to see Jessica Ann.
(chair squeaking)
Look I'm sorry darling.
Maybe in time we can
turn this around.
I don't know, talk
to your attorney.
Are you all right.
- I, (sighing) I think so.
- Are you crying?
(upbeat music)
(audience clapping)
- Paula Sands live, where
your opinions count.
And here's the first lady of
daytime talk, Paula Sands.
(audience applauding)
- Thank-you Brad,
studio audience.
Today on the show we have a
serious, even troubling topic.
I'm sure you all remember the
so-called killer mommy case
that captured so much
attention not long ago.
Well yesterday, the woman
convicted of murdering her lover
when she discovered he was
an insurance investigator
looking into the mysterious
death of her husband,
the woman who murdered her lover
in front of her 11
year old daughter,
a woman who police claim,
though it was never proven,
tried to murder
her own little girl
to silence her as a witness.
That woman, that mother
was released yesterday.
And we have with us
today, as our guest,
Jolene Jones, the sister
of one of Mrs. Sterling's
alleged victims, a
janitor at McKinley School
who died of electrocution.
Along with Ms. Jones,
Paul Conway is also here.
He is the author of numerous
successful true crime books
including "Conversations
with Killers,
"True Stories of
Murder for Hire."
And of course, his bestseller,
this one right here,
16 weeks on the bestseller
list, "The Mommy Murders."
Mr. Conway, it's nice
to have you here today.
- Thank-you, it's my pleasure.
- You are here not
so much as an expert
on this case today,
but as a representative
of Mrs. Sterling's family,
you are indeed married
to the sister of this
convicted killer.
- Yes, that's correct.
I met the entire family
while I was doing research
on this case, and
erm, my book erm,
which just came out in
paperback by the way.
It tries to deal compassionately
with this tragedy.
- (laughing) I'll tell you
about tragedy, you (beeping)
What's tragic is my sister
getting her (beeping) fried.
- Thank god for
seven second delay.
- Thank the FCC.
This is great television.
- Excuse me Mrs. Sterling
was never charged
for that offense.
- Oh, but your book
indicates her probable guilt.
- Probably my (beeping)
that psycho bitch is walking
the streets and my sister
is six feet (beeping) under.
- Now wait a second,
wait a second,
if your sister was
indeed murdered,
and not killed in an
unfortunate accident,
as the coroner ruled, well
then she was a blackmailer
who was--
- Oh wait a second.
What, what are you
saying, that she got
what was coming to her?
Lousy piece of
New York (beeping)
You're making piles of money
off my poor dead sister.
You're getting rich off
other people's tragedies.
(television clicking)
- I told you we weren't
going to watch that.
- Maybe you're not interested
but I wanted to see Paul.
- He didn't want you
watching either did he?
You heard him say things
might get out of hand.
- That's why I
wanted to watch it.
- I won't have you talking
to me in that tone.
- You're not my mother.
- No but I never tried
to kill you either.
(Jessica Ann sighing)
I'm sorry.
- It's okay, but I'm
not a little kid.
I have a right to know
what people are saying
about me and mommy.
- And there's something else
you have a right to know.
It's what the court thinks
about you and your mommy.
- What do you mean?
- The court has decided that you
and your mother shouldn't
have any contact for awhile,
at least not until
they're sure she's better.
- I can't even
see my own mother?
- Do you want to?
- I don't know.
- That's a healthy
attitude, Jessie.
- Huh, it should be up
to me not some judge.
- I'm your guardian now, Jessie,
your legal parent, and
frankly it's up to me.
- If I wanted to see mommy or
talk to her, you'd stop me?
- When you're 18 you
can decide for yourself
if you want a relationship
with the woman
who killed your
father and stepfather.
As long as you're
my responsibility,
I can't allow you near her.
- Great, two psycho moms.
(jingling music)
(birds twittering)
(people chattering)
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
- Getting settled?
- (gasping) Yes.
- Who checked you in, Mary?
- Why yes.
- I look familiar
to you, don't I?
- Actually you do.
I'm sorry, it's this medication,
I'm not quite myself.
- I'm Mrs. Evans, I used to
be your daughter's principal
over at McKinley.
- Oh.
- A lovely child.
- Of course, Mrs.
Evans, how silly of me.
- I retired at the end
of last school year
and now I'm helping out
here at the halfway house.
- Good for you.
- Yes isn't it.
I wanted to welcome
you and to let you know
that I'll be watching you.
- Watching?
- Mrs. Withers,
the teacher, she was
a wonderful woman,
and one of my best friends.
- Okay, that was an accident.
- I know dear, you're
innocent, like OJ.
(ominous music)
I just wanted you
to know that it would give
me the greatest satisfaction
to see you back on death
row where you belong.
Good afternoon.
(lively music)
♪ Look so pretty in
your lace and dress ♪
- I think you're dead
wrong about this Beth.
- I won't have Jessie
anywhere near that woman.
- Personally I think it would
be good for both of them.
They both have a lot
of healing to do.
- You're not the
one who walked away
from that little
girl and left her
in the care of a sociopath.
- Well honey, there was
nothing you could do.
You had no legal
right to intervene.
- I had a moral responsibility.
I knew my sister was
potentially dangerous,
and yet I left that
child in harm's way
because I was too afraid
to stand up to her.
Well, I'm not afraid now.
- I don't wanna
argue about this.
I'm just expressing an opinion.
You know, I'm Jessica
Ann's legal guardian too.
- I know, I'm sorry.
- [Paul] I tell you for a
beginner she's really very good.
She's got a lot of poise.
- [Beth] I don't know if
this is so good for her.
- [Paul] Why, are you crazy?
- Every day she comes
here to practice.
She's obsessed.
- Hmm, some obsessions
can be healthy.
I, for example, am
obsessed with you.
(chattering)
- Oops.
- Are you about ready to go?
- Can't I stay awhile?
Lessons don't start 'til six.
- Sure, we'll pick you up then.
- Aren't you going to
watch me some more?
- Too cold for us non-Eskimos.
We'll see you at six honey.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
- [John] You didn't talk to her?
- I just watched from afar.
- Well, I can't encourage
you to talk to her.
Much as I, I personally
think that's a healthy thing,
but to do so would
be jeopardizing your
outpatient status.
- You mean, they'll throw
me back on death row.
- Yes.
There are a lot of
people out there
who want to see you fail.
- Really?
I hadn't noticed.
- You want me to
have you transferred
to another halfway house?
- Does a change of
venue really matter
in a case this notorious?
No thank-you.
- You know, I would do anything
within my power to do for you.
- Well then, help me
get my daughter back.
- Oh custody is out
of the question.
- No no, not custody,
I just wanna see her.
And I wanna talk to her.
I want Jessica
Ann not to hate me
and I know Beth is saying
terrible, hurtful things.
- Now look, just keep that
pretty little nose clean,
and how knows in six
months, or a year.
- Please.
- Something wrong?
- I, I I just don't er,
(sighing) I just
don't feel that way
about you anymore doctor.
Is that going to be a problem?
- No.
Not at all.
(frogs chirping)
(door knocking)
- Got a sec, pal?
- Er, sure, come on in.
(light music)
I saw you on TV today,
until Beth shut it off.
- Oh, I heard.
She's a little er, uptight.
- You think.
- Do me a favor, cut
her some slack will you.
- Huh, she told me
I can't see mommy
or to talk to her
or anything ever.
- Ever?
- Tsk, well same
as, 'til I'm 18.
- I think you're right
wanting to understand
and forgive your mommy.
- Really?
Well, why can't we just
invite her over sometime,
and just see how she's doing?
- You miss her.
- Well, she is my mother.
- Hmm, someday I'll get you
two back together, I promise.
But until then you
have to do me a favor.
- What Paul?
- Well, you have to put up with
your Aunt Beth's commandment
about seeing your mother.
You do that for now and
I'll work on later, okay?
- Okay.
- Aunt Beth knows
that you love her, but she
needs more from you Jessica.
She needs your respect.
- Why?
- Because she hasn't
really learned
to respect herself yet.
Okay, we got a deal.
Goodnight pal.
(rink noise crackling)
- Goodnight.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
- You look so beautiful
out there, so graceful.
- I asked you once if
I could take lessons,
but you said it
was too dangerous.
- I know, your mother's
made some mistakes dear.
- Huh, we're not
supposed to talk.
- Do you think that should be
anyone's decision but ours?
- No, but I don't want to get
either one of us in trouble.
- (sighing) How are
you doing in school?
- Okay I guess.
- What about your
last report card?
Any Bs?
- No, just As.
- Did they give an
outstanding student award?
- No, they stopped doing that.
I have to go.
I have a private lesson.
- I'm proud of you.
- Excuse me, you're Mrs.
Sterling aren't you,
Jessica Ann's mother?
- Er, yes.
- Do me a favor, Jessica Ann,
go practice our
axels for awhile.
- Practice hard dear.
- [Instructor] Parental interest
is something I encourage.
- Well, I'm glad to hear that.
- Normally, but I know all
about you Mrs. Sterling.
I know about the
restraining order.
- I, I just wanted to
watch my little girl skate.
- Jessica Ann is in
training, Mrs. Sterling,
for her first competition.
She doesn't need this
kind of pressure.
- I wasn't hurting anything.
- I don't want to see
you in here again.
If I do, I'll report
you, understood?
- She's my daughter, daughter,
daughter, daughter, daughter.
(pensive music)
(horn honking)
(traffic rumbling)
(skates rumbling)
(ominous music)
- How long are you gonna work
out in here tonight anyway?
- About an hour or so.
- Turn the lights
out yourself then.
(dramatic music)
(ice crinkling)
- What the hell
are you doing here?
Get off the ice.
(dramatic music)
(blade smashing)
- (sighing) Oh you had
nothing to do with this.
- Why would I harm a
person I barely knew?
- (sighing) When it comes
to shopping for murder,
you're something of
an impulse buyer.
- I hope this doesn't impede
Jessica Ann's progress
with her skating.
She has a competition
coming up, you know.
- You were seen
talking with her.
- I was there in the
afternoon, just watching.
- I have witness
statements Mrs. Sterling.
- I merely told Jessica
Ann that we shouldn't talk,
that the court didn't
want us to have contact.
- But you did have contact!
- There was an
inch of plexiglass
separating us Sergeant.
- It's gonna have to be
reported to the court.
- Don't you report all
murders to the court?
- I am talking about
seeing your daughter.
- Sergeant, a man is dead.
And you're concerned
about keeping
a mother from her daughter.
Where are your values?
- And where were you at
the time of the murder?
Let's cut the
chitchat here lady.
- Haven't you heard?
I have an implant
that makes me behave.
- You got an implant?
I tell you what I think.
I think you implanted
that hockey skate
into that instructor's back
37 times, that's what I think.
And I think that you could use
a better placed 38
caliber implant.
That is what I think.
- How is Lieutenant March?
- He's paralyzed, he's
a damned vegetable.
He's keeping company
with the drool cup.
- Pity, such a lovely man.
Close the door on your
way out will you sergeant.
I treasure what little
privacy I have in this place.
(people chattering)
- Sure.
- Jessie, I have some
very troubling news.
- What is it?
- Your skating
instructor, last night--
(tense music)
- What?
- Sergeant Anderson was here
and he wanted to talk to you,
but I put him off.
- What?
Why, I'm not a baby.
- I know, but you've
been through so much.
- Is mommy all right?
- Oh, she's all right,
all right physically.
- Did something happen
to my skating instructor?
- Yes.
- An accident?
- Not an accident, murder.
- Oh no.
- Ah, Jessie, I'm
sorry, I'm so sorry.
- What happened?
- It's too horrible.
- What happened?
- Multiple stab wounds
with, with a skate.
- You think mommy did this?
- You spoke to her yesterday
didn't you, at the rink.
- Yeah, she was there watching.
I wasn't gonna pretend
she didn't exist.
- [Beth] Your mother had words
with your skating instructor.
- Not really.
He just told mommy
not to come around,
'cause of the court order.
- Jessie, there are witnesses.
- To the murder?
- No, to you two talking.
Your mother screaming at you.
- She didn't do this.
- How can you be so certain?
- I just am.
- She's probably going
to be back in prison very soon.
But in the meantime, under
no circumstances are you
to have any contact with her.
- But Aunt Beth!
- If she walks up to you,
walk away, do you understand?
Walk away.
- Woo woo woo, detective, it's
a physiological impossibility
that Mrs. Sterling
committed that murder
with that antipsychotic
implant in her arm.
- How do you know
it is in her arm?
- Because I saw
her this morning.
Look, this is a rod
underneath the flesh.
It's surgically implanted and
replaced on a yearly basis.
It doesn't come with a zipper.
- Oh, that's cute.
Why are you standing
up for this woman?
- Ah.
- Huh?
Ever stopped to
consider that er,
maybe this isn't a matter
of science or medicine?
Maybe little mommy here doesn't
have a chemical deficiency
in her brain but she has got
a blackness in her heart.
- Are you looking for a vampire
to drive a stake through?
This is a woman with an illness.
- Yeah yeah, and
I've got the cure.
- Well, you'd make a fine
frontier marshal there Max,
just not a very good detective.
- Nah, what are
you talking about?
- The viciousness of
this crime doesn't begin
to match Mrs. Sterling's
psychological profile.
- Look, John she commits
two kinds of murders.
Her calculated black
widow style sendoffs
of her wealthy husbands, and
her spur of the moment murders
of people standing between
her and what she wants.
- And a skating instructor
stood between her
and her precious daughter?
- Bingo.
- You're forgetting one thing
detective, Mrs. Sterling
is not sadistic.
She takes no
pleasure in killing.
She simply removes obstacles
as cleanly as possible.
And you blame her for
your partner's misfortune.
- You bet your ass,
you stop right there.
He had a stroke.
- And did Mrs. Sterling
force-feed him four packs
of cigarettes a
day for 40 years?
Or are you just a little
bit more interested
in putting mommy away than
you are in finding out
who's really responsible
for this killing?
- You think?
(school belling ringing)
(chattering)
(doors banging)
- Are you okay?
- Sure.
- Are you ready for
the history test?
- I guess.
- You shouldn't listen
to what kids say.
- Who says I listen?
- Nobody, I just thought at
lunch you might have heard
this kid--
- What?
- Just don't pay any
attention to them, that's all.
- (sighing) Whatever.
- Jessica Ann, I, I'm sorry
I didn't meant to
scare you, honey.
- You're not
supposed to be here.
- I had to see you.
- I'm not supposed to see you.
You're gonna go back to jail.
- That's why we have to talk.
You know, your skating
instructor, that
terrible accident.
- It wasn't an accident.
You don't accidentally get
stabbed a hundred times.
- I didn't do.
I didn't do it, you
have to believe me.
- I do.
- You do?
Do you really?
- You'd have stabbed him
once, and maybe choked him.
- Oh my god.
You hate me, don't you?
- No, I don't hate you.
- Jessica Ann, who's
your next class?
- Er, first floor west wing.
- Then you better move along.
You're Mrs. Sterling aren't you?
You're not supposed to
be seeing your daughter.
- I wouldn't do
that if I were you.
- So, that's your old lady, huh?
What'd they do, let
her out of the nuthouse
for the afternoon.
(kids laughing)
Must be pretty cool
having a serial mom.
- Yeah, maybe it
runs in the family.
Maybe I'll kill
you, in your sleep.
- Jessica Ann.
Oh wait a minute, wait a minute,
I just, I want to talk
to you for a second.
Ha ha, I tell you, you really
got in that kid's fact.
That was good.
They sport you today, huh?
Hey, do you want a piece of gum?
- No, my mother didn't
get my teeth straightened
so I could ruin them.
- No no, don't chew gum, no
not with braces and stuff.
(laughing) Hey listen,
do you remember me?
- You work with
Lieutenant March.
- Yeah well, I did
'til he got sick.
Your mom had a hand in that one.
- I'm sorry he's sick
but my mother had nothing
to do with it.
Excuse me I have to--
- no, no wait a minute,
wait up, now wait a minute,
I just want to talk to you,
just want to talk to you
for a couple of seconds.
A couple of questions here.
Number one have you talked
to your mother lately?
- You mean you didn't
see us just now?
Aren't you following
us around hiding
behind the bushes and stuff?
- (laughing) Well, as
a matter of fact I am.
Talked to her yesterday
too didn't you?
- You know I did,
at the skating rink.
Mommy and my instructor
got in a little tiff,
but nothing mommy
would kill over.
- You sure about
that, Jessica Ann?
- Well, I'm sure of one thing.
- You are, what's that?
- They ought to stick one
of those things in your arm,
you're the nut.
(feet thumping)
(Anderson laughing)
- Smart kid, smart kid.
(school bell ringing)
- Thank-you for giving me
this opportunity
to tell my side.
- Well, we think you've
gotten a raw deal
in the media, and we're
here to balance that out.
- And er, I won't have to answer
any questions from
er, from them.
- No no, this is just a simple
one-on-one interview with Paula.
She's on your side,
we're all on your side.
- And er, no surprises.
- The only surprise
is how it's gonna feel
to be vindicated.
Let's go, have a seat.
- Mrs. Sterling.
- Hello.
- Hello, so nice
to have you here.
- Very nice to meet you.
- Please have a seat, please.
- Thank-you.
(jingling music)
(audience applauding)
- It's Paula Sands Live,
where your opinions count,
and here's the first lady
of daytime talk, Paula Sands.
- Thanks as always Brad,
welcome studio audience.
We do have a remarkable
guest on the show today.
And I still don't know how my
producer pulled this one off
but sitting right next
to me is, forgive me,
the killer mommy you've
heard so much about.
(audience mumbling)
Mrs. Sterling, it must be
painful to be characterized
by such a cruel phrase.
Tell us what it's like to
be inside this media storm?
- Well I'm, I'm living
a very quiet life.
I'm er, in a halfway house.
- You're in an
experimental program,
some kind of new medication.
- Yes, yes.
- I don't know if you're
free to speak about this,
I don't know what your
attorney has advised you.
- Oh, he advised
me not to appear.
- But there's been
another murder.
And we know that you are once
again under investigation.
- That's partly why I'm here.
I am absolutely positively
100% innocent of that crime.
(audience groaning)
- No way!
- Get real!
- Boo!
- Please, please audience,
you can see the kind of er,
strong feelings
you engender here,
and maybe you're not convincing
our studio audience
Mrs. Sterling.
- There's really only one
person I want to convince,
and it's a person who's
being kept away from me.
It's my daughter.
- Well, I know that our
audience is just dying
to ask some questions of you,
so Brad, you have
our first question
from the studio audience.
- You say you want your
daughter's attention.
Is that why maybe you
tried to strangle her?
- I was told there
wouldn't be any questions
from the audience.
- Oh Mrs. Sterling,
I don't know where you
got that impression
but if you watch this
show, this is our format.
- No, but I'm--
- Brad another question
from the audience.
- Not comfortable with this.
- Now, you say you
love your daughter.
Well girlfriend, you better
get your stuff together
before you start laying
your own personal trip
on her head, you hear what
I'm saying, girlfriend.
- I would never
hurt my daughter.
I, I love my daughter,
more than life itself.
- People like you
don't deserve to live.
Lethal injection is
too damn good for you.
They ought to hang
your snooty ass.
- Er that really
isn't a question.
Mrs. Sterling, you can
see the strong feelings
that you bring up
in our audience.
- I was promised that there
would not be any questions
from the audience.
- Let's bring out
our second guest for today.
In fact, you've seen her
before on this program.
She has her own strong
feelings about this subject.
Jolene Jones, the sister of one
of Mrs. Sterling's
alleged victims.
- [Mrs. Sterling] I will
not be part of this.
- Hey, don't you try to crawl
away, you murdering (beeping)
You are gonna sit
here and face the
(beeping) music this time.
Ah, come on, look at me,
huh, what are you, afraid?
Look at me.
You killed my sister.
Some day you are
gonna pay for it.
You are gonna (beeping) pay.
- We'll be right back after
this word from our sponsor.
Happy Family Dairy.
Jerry.
- Yes Paula.
- Jerry, did Mrs. Sterling
know that she was going to take
those questions
from the audience,
and that she was appearing
with Miss. Jones?
- Our guests don't get
to dictate the terms
of their appearance, Paula.
- Yes, I know but--
- You are a liar,
and a heal.
- Well, you are a
murdering bitch.
- Stay away from me.
- Ah what, are you
gonna fry me too.
- It shut your sister up.
- Listen to me you
psycho bitch, ow, god!
- Yeah, how would ladies
feel about repeating
this one on camera?
- You're lucky I'm mellowed out.
- Stand by.
- On in three.
(chattering)
- Welcome back, and a reminder
that on tomorrow's
show born again,
full-bodied tattooed bikers.
- You need me Jerry?
- Yeah, can you see if
Phil's got that memo ready.
Rating book came in today.
- You got it.
- Oh, and while
you're at it, can you get
rid of some of this garbage.
Film, noir theater,
who's idea was this?
(heels clanking)
- What was the
idea today, Jerry?
- Ratings.
I just sent Chris
after the latest.
You'll see.
- I thought we had
an understanding,
no more ambushing the guests.
- That woman is not a guest.
She is an ambush.
- You got her on the show
under false pretenses.
Nevermind the right
or wrong of that.
Word gets out I can't be
trusted, we're finished.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
You want to wait for
the ratings memo?
- You are a heal Jerry.
Which must come in handy the
way you walk all over people.
I'll be in my office.
(heels clanking)
(pensive music)
- Paula?
(scaffolding clanking)
(suspenseful music)
(equipment scraping)
(dramatic music)
(light crashing)
Oh.
Oh.
Hmm.
(heel scraping)
(heels clicking)
- Everyone thinks you're a
heal Jerry, a heel for a heal.
(ominous music)
(flesh squelching)
(pensive music)
- Jerry, here's your--
Oh woo, woo woo.
(death music)
(light music)
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all right now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
♪ I wouldn't be stuck
here with a hungry kid ♪
♪ In a broken down house
- Paul Conway please.
His publisher, Joseph Pitman,
suggested that I call.
Yeah sure.
♪ If I could spare
♪ I'd have it all by now
(lighter clicking)
(phone beeping)
- Hello?
- Mr. Conway.
This is Jolene Jones calling.
Yeah, that would be me.
Listen, it's erm, it's
vital that I see you.
No, I don't think we should
discuss this on the phone
but er, trust me, this is a
potentially lucrative venture.
Eight o'clock is fine.
Okay, see you then.
(radio squawking)
(keys clattering)
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
it wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all right now ♪
- Not tonight.
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have wheels on my car ♪
♪ Instead of the ones
underneath my house ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
- Hmm, honey bun, you
just hit the lotto.
♪ I just wouldn't care
- Ah look, witnesses saw
you lose your temper,
they saw you physically
assault the murder victim.
- I didn't assault him.
I just warned him.
- You choked him.
- I got his attention.
Well, he won't be bringing
charges now, will he?
- It's kind of a
short fuse, isn't it?
For someone who
supposedly getting
the violence
medicated out of her.
(dramatic music)
- A sudden impulse can get the
best of any of us sergeant.
Do you know what they did to
me on that television program?
- Yeah, yeah, I know.
- Are you gonna arrest me?
- No.
I don't have enough, and anyway.
- Some of the bite has gone
out of your bark, sergeant.
- Look, your shrink thinks
that these murders
aren't your style.
- What do you think?
- I think that if you decided
to kill this sleazeball,
you erm, wouldn't
have tipped your hand
in front of a studio audience,
and you wouldn't have
gouged his eyes out
with that spiked heel either.
Too messy.
- If I were the
person you think I am.
And of course I'm not.
I'm completely innocent.
Never have and never would
intentionally kill anyone.
- Never?
- I'd have made it
look like an accident.
I'd have made sure the falling
light put his lights out.
If I were the person
you think I am.
- Well, you, me and
your head doctor know
that this M.O. is
all wrong for you.
But it doesn't mean
that you're not gonna
wind up taking the fall.
- But I, I didn't
do these murders.
(pensive music)
- No no no no no, you never
killed anybody remember.
You're just a
poor, innocent mom.
Though somebody is trying to
put in a very very fancy frame.
(radio crackling)
(keyboard clanking)
- [Jolene] Thank-you
Mrs. Conway.
You have a lovely home.
- Thank-you.
Let me know if
you need anything.
- [Paul] Please, sit
down, Miss. Jones.
- Oh no, don't be so formal.
Call me Jolene hmm.
Listen, do you mind if I smoke?
- Actually yes.
My wife doesn't allow
smoking in this house.
- Well, I would've
thought maybe you were
in charge around here.
I mean it was your
mommy book that paid
for all this, hmm.
- Miss Jones, er Jolene,
I'm on a deadline.
Out of curtesy to your
and your late sister--
- Oh oh, my late
sister was trash.
I mean I think she was
a les or something.
Now me, well I have more
conventional tastes.
- Hmm, please, lets
get to the point.
- Well the point is, reality
don't count for nothing.
Appearance is all.
You know, doesn't matter if me
and my late sister ain't
spoke since high school.
- Well why don't you
tell me what does matter.
(phone clicking)
- Come on mommy, please.
Mommy, mommy, I just
saw that terrible woman.
- Yes, she could be the
one doing this to mommy.
Dear, it means so much to
me you calling me like this.
Bye sweetheart.
(phone clattering)
- [Jolene] I'm an
author too, you know.
- [Paul] Really?
- I wasn't lying
about your publisher.
Him and five others.
They all want me.
- For what?
- Well, as soon as they nail
your loony sister-in-law
for these new murders,
there's going to be room
for a new mommy book
on the bestseller list.
- And you're going to write it?
- Why don't we
write it, together?
- Ooh, I get it.
With your charisma,
the talk show circuit,
my name next to
yours on the cover.
- Sequel to a bestseller.
You know, I bet we'd work
really well together.
- You know, I just
thought of something.
- What's that?
- My wife doesn't allow
animals in this house either.
You better go.
- I don't need you to do this.
This was just
professional curtesy.
(radio squawking)
Listen, do we really
need that jerk?
Good, I didn't think so.
A ghostwriter?
What do you mean,
like Stephen King?
Oh, oh, all I do is
talk into a tape, okay.
How much do we have to pay?
Really?
Huh, no I hadn't
thought of that.
You know, I guess
Conway would've taken
a pretty big bite.
You know, and that
bestseller and all.
Ah, so we're better off.
Well all right,
when do we start?
Ah, baby I was born ready.
Okay, okay, bye-bye.
Ah, who needs you,
you stuck up jerk.
"My wife don't allow no
smoking in the house."
Yeah, I bet that
ain't the only thing.
Money money money money
money money money money money
money money money money
money money money money money
money money money money
money money money money.
(rings scraping)
(water gushing)
(tense music)
(pensive music)
(suspenseful music)
(lively cassette music)
(sparks zapping)
(water gushing)
(light music)
- [Mrs. Sterling] Jessica
Ann, wake up dear, wake up.
- Mommy?
- I'm, I'm leaving.
- Leaving?
- We both know that somebody's
making this look like mommy.
So I erm, I have some money
hidden under a new name,
and I'm gonna leave the country.
- Will I ever see you?
- No no no, I want
you to come with me.
- Oh mommy.
- Please, Jessica Ann,
we can start over.
Clean, fresh, a second chance.
- Mommy.
(switch clicking)
(Jessica gasping)
- I want you out of here.
Now.
- But Beth, she's my baby.
- Do you want me to
call the police myself?
- Beth, Beth, I don't
think you better.
Ladies, let's talk, come on.
With all that's been going
on, I've been listening
to the police
scanner in my office.
- What's happened now?
- Jolene Jones
has been murdered.
- It's my fault, I
shouldn't have called you.
I'm so sorry.
- Oh no, no, baby,
I didn't do this.
You, you've got to believe me.
- There's a warrant
out for your arrest.
- What happened?
- [Paul] She was electrocuted.
- Oh, no I didn't do this.
I swear to god,
I didn't do this.
I haven't been
committing these murders.
I'm innocent.
Please, please you
have to believe me.
- Well, I think it's time
we talked to your attorney.
(phone clicking)
You remember his home
telephone number?
- Yeah.
(phone beeping)
(phone ringing)
Ah,
oh.
- This is Neal Ekhardt.
- It's his machine.
- I'm out of town,
but I will be
checking my messages.
(machine beeping)
- Should I er,
should I leave a message?
Can I have him call me here?
Ah Neal, this, you
know who this is.
I'm, I'm, it's
urgent that we talk.
I'm at my sister's.
Okay.
(phone beeping)
(puffing) Thank-you.
Can I erm, can I use the
spare bedroom? (sobbing)
(ominous music)
(dramatic music)
(door thumping)
(engine revving)
(pensive music)
(dramatic music)
- What?
- They're gone.
- Gone?
- No no, no I don't think the
girl's in any danger at all.
No, listen Mrs. Conway,
shh, listen, shh please.
Now we both know she
loves this little girl.
She's not going to
do anything to her.
I'm gonna put an APB
out on both of them.
Yeah, I.
I know, I know that!
Last time she tried to
leave the country, I know.
No look please, listen to me.
I need you to do
something for me.
Are you listening?
- Yes.
Yes.
A photo.
Yes sergeant, I'll
be right down.
He needs a photo of
Jessica Ann to distribute.
He already has one of my sister.
- Hmm, here, you go,
I'll watch the phone.
Bye honey.
(Paul sighing)
(cup clinking)
(Paul sighing)
(phone ringing)
(keys jingling)
(door clattering)
- I know.
- [Woman] I've got the brat.
- You know what
you've got to do.
- I want more.
- More what?
- [Woman] More,
what do you think.
Money dick weed.
You want the kid dead,
I want a percentage.
- A percentage.
- You're gonna make
a bundle off of
this little sequel you got.
I'm the one doing stunt work.
I want it in writing,
a piece of the book,
the movie, who knows,
maybe they'll do a CD-ROM,
mommy chasing baby around
with a butcher knife.
- You want a murder
contract in writing?
Are you completely
out of your mind?
- I'm a consulted, I
want it in writing,
and I want it now.
- Where are you?
- Where we made the first
money drop, remember.
Won't take you half an hour.
At least it better not.
(phone clanking)
(phone clicking)
(phone clanking)
(dramatic music)
(drawer handles clattering)
(gun clicking)
(chain clattering)
- Oh.
(tense music)
- What are you doing here?
Beth's out looking for you.
We thought you took Jessica Ann.
The police are looking for you.
- I heard you on the phone.
I know you've been framing me.
I'd have known a lot sooner
if it hadn't been for this.
- You don't understand.
I'm involved in a
sting operation.
Let me explain.
- Oh, I wish I had
time to listen.
You really are an
imaginative writer.
But I have to help my daughter.
- Oh, this isn't the
ending I had in mind.
(ominous music)
But it'll work.
- You know you may find it
harder to actually kill someone,
than to just write about
it or hire a killer.
It takes a special kind
of person to take a life.
(grunting)
(gasping)
Don't you know the sequel is
never as good as the original.
(crashing)
(computer sparking)
(electricity zapping)
(glass exploding)
(pensive music)
(tense music)
(ominous music)
(exciting music)
(water rushing)
- Ah!
- Thanks for running.
I wondered if killing a kid
would kind of get to me.
But you causing me this
much trouble helps.
Your uncle said I
should strangle you,
to make it look more
like your mommy did it.
It's just not my style.
- Oh please.
- Why don't you pick
on somebody your own size.
- Help, mommy!
(feet thumping)
Ow.
(tense music)
- You know, imitation is the
sincerest form of plagiarism.
- I'm walking out of here.
You keep your distance, maybe
the kid keeps breathing.
- You let her go
and I'll you go.
I have nothing against you.
- Nothing against me.
- Mommy!
- I know you're just
a working whore.
By the way, you're out of a job.
I'm afraid I just
punched your meal ticket.
(dramatic music)
- Agh!
(suspenseful music)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(knife whipping)
- Ow.
- Mommy.
(gun firing)
(wood splintering)
(water gushing)
(dramatic music)
- Oh.
(somber music)
(Jessica sniffling)
- Who is your best friend?
- You are.
- Who loves you more than
anything on god's green earth?
- You do.
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
(sirens wailing)
- [Anderson] Yeah, her
name was Glenna Cole.
Conway interviewed her for
his contract killer book.
- That's nice.
- (laughing) Nice?
- Well, I'm happy
for your sergeant,
tying up these loose ends.
- How's your sister doing?
- Hmm, she's home,
but under sedation.
Such an awful shock.
I'm going to be
moving in shortly.
And she thinks she's well enough
to attend Jessica Ann's
staking competition.
- Is your new implant in place?
- Yes.
No need to worry.
- I guess I owe you an apology.
Huh, but I should
tell you though,
that even your doctor
admitted something to me.
- Really?
- Oh yeah.
That last killing.
Jolene Jones.
That one really
did fit your M.O.
- But now, I thought
you had cleared
all those murders off the books?
- Yeah we did.
So I guess only Jolene
Jones herself can
identify her killer huh?
- It's a pity you can't ask her.
(spectators applauding)
I was afraid they were
gonna give first place
to that little Asian girl,
just to be politically correct.
They're lucky they
did the right thing.
(upbeat music)
(lyrics drowned
out by applauding)
♪ Behaves like an angel
but she moves like ice ♪
♪ She'll threaten you down
♪ She's all sugar and ice
♪ Note she could be smiling,
chill you with a frown ♪
♪ Build you way up,
bring you back down ♪
♪ Little ice princess
spraying mist as she goes ♪
♪ Lay a shining silver
over those that got froze ♪
♪ Little ice princess, she's
my little ice princess ♪
♪ She's my little ice princess
♪ Hmm my little ice princess
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair, I
wouldn't shed a tear ♪
♪ For the things I did
but got through somehow ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ We had a fixer upper
in a nice neighborhood ♪
♪ Close to shopping and
the schools were good ♪
♪ Looked right at you
what other man couldn't ♪
♪ Never realized that the
love of mine wouldn't ♪
♪ If life was fair, he'd
have it all right now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ I just wouldn't care
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
it wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have wheels on my car ♪
♪ Instead of on the ones
underneath my house ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ I just wouldn't care
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ Incoming nation
shocked the nation ♪
♪ Thought should take
some total stimulation ♪
♪ Well, you put it
across the board ♪
♪ And knees began to quicker
♪ You march us in and the
mind starts to shiver ♪
♪ And that old world single
in the act in the cellar ♪
♪ Got the out of the
dance of the shockabilly ♪
♪ Woo
♪ Well compare the young
blood against the bone ♪
♪ Your knees begin to quiver
♪ You march yourself around,
your mind is going to shiver ♪
♪ Down that old root cellar
♪ Got out and the fool
and the shockabilly ♪
♪ Oh dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Oh dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Dance dance dance
dance dance dance ♪
♪ Dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
(zooming music)
(letters thumping)
(dramatic music)
(horns honking)
(light piano music)
♪ Mommy's day, mommy's day
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ Kids at play, moms all stay
♪ Far away from
their mommy's day ♪
♪ In the sun, happy fun
♪ Under mommy's care
♪ In the light, it's all right
♪ Mommy's always there
♪ Now I lay me down to pray
♪ And so I stray
from my mommy's day ♪
♪ Lovely day, in every way
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ In the night, it's all
right mommy's always there ♪
♪ Morning comes when the sun
♪ Play and answers pray
♪ Now I lay me down to pray
♪ I stole my strength
from my mommy's strength ♪
♪ All the day, in every way
♪ Every day should
be mommy's day ♪
♪ Everyday, everyday, everyday
should be mommy's day ♪
(inaudible chattering)
(piano music)
♪ Amazing grace
- I think this is a mistake.
♪ How sweet the sound
- Not letting her see
her mother, that
would be a mistake.
- [Beth] She's a monster.
Why put Jessica
Ann through this?
- This is Jessie's mother
we're talking about.
And your sister.
- She tried to kill
that little girl.
- I know, I know,
she's a sick woman.
Still, if I had my way they
wouldn't be doing this.
- It's what they
do to rabid dogs.
- Beth, your sister
dies this afternoon.
She wants to say "Goodbye"
to her daughter and you.
Are you going to deny her that?
Beth, look at me.
The woman I married
wasn't cruel.
In fact, the woman I married
is a sucker for sad movies.
Now, think about where we are.
- You're right,
you're always right.
- Ooh, think about where we are.
- Here we have some cookies
on the table for you downstairs.
(pensive music)
Hey, slow down all
of you, be careful.
- If you wanna stay.
- Well, no, I'm not hungry.
I don't have to watch
them kill her do I?
- No, of course not.
- Good.
I'm not up for that.
- Well, it won't hurt honey.
They just give her a shot.
- Nothing is worse than a shot.
(alarm buzzing)
(door slamming)
- I appreciate your efforts
on my client's behave Dr. Price.
(door buzzing)
With this new
antipsychotic drug,
Mrs. Sterling could lead
a normal productive life.
- Look, we're dealing
with a reactionary,
lame duck governor.
He doesn't want to be remembered
as a guy who reprieved
a killer mommy.
- A month from now
we could be dealing
with a whole new administration.
Ekhardt, if we could
just buy some time.
- Time for her runs
out in about one hour.
(door buzzing)
Got to hand it to
her, not a crack
in that mask of hers even now.
- Don't kid yourself.
You know her sister
hasn't let her see
that little girl in months.
Her daughter means
everything to Mrs. Sterling.
- Why blame her sister?
That child's mother saw
her kill a man right
in front of her.
- Oh oh, is this
the way you tried
to turn the governor around?
- Don't kid yourself.
Without Jessica Ann's testimony,
mommy would've walked.
They didn't even charge
her for the other murders.
- Hmm.
(pensive music)
Do you think she killed them?
Two husbands.
A teacher the, the one
who denied her daughter
the outstanding award,
and a, and a janitor.
- Don't ask me to
betray my client,
and I won't ask you
to betray yours.
- Ekhardt, if she's the
monster everybody says she is,
then why do we both care
about what happens to her.
- Because she's
the damnedest case
either one of us ever had.
- Well, looks like the
governor didn't name
Mrs. Sterling
"Mother of the Year."
- Nobody likes a
sore winner, March.
You really relish
seeing a woman die?
- Yes.
This one I do.
- She, she in the chamber.
- No no no, she's in visitation.
Saying "Goodbye"
to her daughter.
Very touching scene,
right Lieutenant?
Between a mother and a
child she tried to strangle.
- Oh, stop by my
office, Anderson.
You two, March.
I'll get both you
guys in group therapy.
There's no charge.
(tense music)
- I know there's nothing
I can say to make it up
to either of you, but I've
had a lot of time to think,
and when I look back on
my life I see two people
that mean a lot to me. (sighing)
Beth, you were always there.
Thank-you.
(sighing) Jessica Ann, I,
I know you think I
was gonna hurt you.
- You didn't hurt me, much.
- When I saw your
face in the moonlight,
I couldn't hurt you, I
could never hurt you.
You're a part of me.
- I know mommy.
- And I'm a part of you.
And I still will be,
even if I'm gone.
- I know mommy, I know.
- It's time, I'm sorry.
- Who's your best friend?
- You are mommy.
- Who loves you more than
anything on god's green earth?
- You mommy.
- That's right, that's right.
Don't ever forget it.
- I won't mommy.
- Let's go.
- Paul.
- Yes?
- I er, I know I haven't
been very warm to you.
- Oh, why should you be.
I make a small fortune
writing your story,
then steal your sister from you.
- This was your doing
today, wasn't it?
Talking Beth into letting
me say, "Goodbye."
- Yes.
- Thank-you for that.
- Oh hell, it'll make a great
scene if I write the sequel.
- Looks like a short sequel.
(chattering)
- Come on.
(typewriter clattering)
- What did she say to you?
- Goodbye.
- Are they gonna
kill her in there?
- Oh no honey.
They take her to another
room called the er,
the lethal injection chamber.
Different states do
it different ways.
Do you know what a drip is?
- Yeah, him.
- Right, you have a point.
Anyway, in er, in some
states they put an IV
in the person's arm and then
in the hanging plastic
bag they put er...
- Poison?
Well, what do they
do in this state?
- Well, it's like you said,
er, they give her a shot,
and you're right, I'm sure
it hurts like all shots hurt,
and then she goes to sleep.
- And never wakes up.
- Yes.
(sad music)
- I know she did bad things.
Oh I know she did bad things,
but I don't want her to die.
- I know you don't honey.
- I prayed and prayed
they wouldn't kill her.
I prayed and prayed.
Do you think god heard?
- I'm sure he heard.
- But did he listen?
(trolley rattling)
- Neal.
- Anything I can do for you?
- The envelope.
- Yeah.
- I gave you.
- Hmm.
- It's a list of
safe deposit boxes.
Put everything into a
trust fund for Jessica Ann.
- Done.
(sighing)
- Well, in this state
you have the right
to have your personal
physician present.
You want me to--
- Ah, no, no John.
I don't want you to see this.
Thank-you for what you
attempted to do, both of you.
(somber music)
(heart beating)
(door clicking)
- I understand you
declined the chaplain.
- I'm at peace with myself.
- It's more than I can say.
- I'm a baptist, but thanks.
- The warden has to read
something, officially.
- Mrs. Sterling. (coughing)
"In the name of the people,
and the governor of this state,
"we carry out
sentence on this day
"of May 17th for the
capital crime of murder."
May god have mercy on your soul.
- And yours.
(door clattering)
(ominous music)
(bag creaking)
(plastic gloves snapping)
(tense music)
(bottles clattering)
if you don't mind my saying so,
you seem a little bit nervous.
- This will be over quickly.
Don't make it any
harder on yourself
than it has to be.
- This is your first time.
- Please.
- Mine too.
Afraid of infection?
- Please, I prefer we not talk.
(liquid squelching)
(tense music)
- Don't, doctor, erm, I
moment please, please.
I erm, I need to pray.
(choir music)
I have to pray.
- All right.
- Just, unstrap my hands
so I can fold my hands.
And bow my head
and pray properly.
- I can't, that's,
it's impossible.
- Oh please, please
doctor, I, I have to pray.
I really, I need to pray.
Don't send me into darkness
without the word
of god to guide me.
- I just can't.
- Oh please. (crying)
Doctor, tonight when
you try and go to sleep,
remember me, doctor.
Remember the woman you murdered,
whose pitiful last
request, you refuse.
(door buzzing)
(dramatic music)
I'm going to need a chauffeur.
Any volunteers.
- You're not walking
out of here, you stop right now.
- The boys at med
school are going
to have a familiar cadaver.
- Don't do this.
- Neal, I think from here on
out I'll handle my own defense.
Dr. Price, are you
up for driving?
- I I--
- Mrs. Sterling.
Mrs. Sterling.
(gun firing)
- Ow, ah.
- Don't just stand there,
she need immediate attention.
- What's wrong, you okay.
(prison alarm wailing)
- Now, na, never better.
What, looks like your client
bought herself a reprieve
after all, Mr. Ekhardt.
- You know the law lieutenant.
- Yeah, can't execute a prisoner
until and unless they're
perfectly healthy.
It wouldn't be civilized.
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
(birds twittering)
(tannoy sounding)
(voice inaudible)
- [Doctor] This is just a
local to make the insertion
of the implant itself painless.
- Will there be a scar, doctor?
- Hmm, a tiny one, and a bit
of a bump on your forearm
where the flexible silicone
rod is tucked under the skin.
Now you understand, your
medication will be released
continuously in a
small, measured douse.
It's kind of like a
time-release cold capsule.
- Will I still be me?
- Hmm, you're still you.
- New and improved, like
a laundry detergent.
- You're violent behavior
has a biochemical basis.
The anti-psychotic
drug short-circuits
your aggressive impulses.
- Oh, I've always liked
designer clothing.
Now, I'll have a designer brain.
My wardrobe will be complete.
- You had a choice,
lethal injection
or that implant in your arm.
And you're still very
much a trial case,
a a social experiment.
- A guineapig.
- A live one.
Look, if this doesn't
work, or if you get cute
and remove that implant,
your next shot will be back
at state prison, or from
that police sergeant's gun.
- Is it my fault his friend,
Lieutenant March had a stroke?
- After the stress of
your attempted jailbreaks,
Sergeant Anderson
certainly thinks so yes.
- John, don't think
I'm ungrateful.
(pensive music)
I know what you've done for me.
You saved my life.
- Now, do you have
any questions about
how the implant's going to work?
- Well, I'm gonna have a better
sense of right and wrong.
Hmm, you know, no man's ever
thought I needed
implants before.
- I can believe that.
But you will have more
normal emotional responses.
- Like you?
- Yes.
Now you have the address
of that halfway house.
- Hmm.
What about my daughter?
How often can I see my daughter?
- You er, you can't.
- What?
- I was hoping
with the implant would have
more time to mellow you out.
- What do you mean, I
can't see my daughter?
She's my daughter.
- Your sister got a court order.
It's a restraining order.
You're not to see Jessica Ann.
(chair squeaking)
Look I'm sorry darling.
Maybe in time we can
turn this around.
I don't know, talk
to your attorney.
Are you all right.
- I, (sighing) I think so.
- Are you crying?
(upbeat music)
(audience clapping)
- Paula Sands live, where
your opinions count.
And here's the first lady of
daytime talk, Paula Sands.
(audience applauding)
- Thank-you Brad,
studio audience.
Today on the show we have a
serious, even troubling topic.
I'm sure you all remember the
so-called killer mommy case
that captured so much
attention not long ago.
Well yesterday, the woman
convicted of murdering her lover
when she discovered he was
an insurance investigator
looking into the mysterious
death of her husband,
the woman who murdered her lover
in front of her 11
year old daughter,
a woman who police claim,
though it was never proven,
tried to murder
her own little girl
to silence her as a witness.
That woman, that mother
was released yesterday.
And we have with us
today, as our guest,
Jolene Jones, the sister
of one of Mrs. Sterling's
alleged victims, a
janitor at McKinley School
who died of electrocution.
Along with Ms. Jones,
Paul Conway is also here.
He is the author of numerous
successful true crime books
including "Conversations
with Killers,
"True Stories of
Murder for Hire."
And of course, his bestseller,
this one right here,
16 weeks on the bestseller
list, "The Mommy Murders."
Mr. Conway, it's nice
to have you here today.
- Thank-you, it's my pleasure.
- You are here not
so much as an expert
on this case today,
but as a representative
of Mrs. Sterling's family,
you are indeed married
to the sister of this
convicted killer.
- Yes, that's correct.
I met the entire family
while I was doing research
on this case, and
erm, my book erm,
which just came out in
paperback by the way.
It tries to deal compassionately
with this tragedy.
- (laughing) I'll tell you
about tragedy, you (beeping)
What's tragic is my sister
getting her (beeping) fried.
- Thank god for
seven second delay.
- Thank the FCC.
This is great television.
- Excuse me Mrs. Sterling
was never charged
for that offense.
- Oh, but your book
indicates her probable guilt.
- Probably my (beeping)
that psycho bitch is walking
the streets and my sister
is six feet (beeping) under.
- Now wait a second,
wait a second,
if your sister was
indeed murdered,
and not killed in an
unfortunate accident,
as the coroner ruled, well
then she was a blackmailer
who was--
- Oh wait a second.
What, what are you
saying, that she got
what was coming to her?
Lousy piece of
New York (beeping)
You're making piles of money
off my poor dead sister.
You're getting rich off
other people's tragedies.
(television clicking)
- I told you we weren't
going to watch that.
- Maybe you're not interested
but I wanted to see Paul.
- He didn't want you
watching either did he?
You heard him say things
might get out of hand.
- That's why I
wanted to watch it.
- I won't have you talking
to me in that tone.
- You're not my mother.
- No but I never tried
to kill you either.
(Jessica Ann sighing)
I'm sorry.
- It's okay, but I'm
not a little kid.
I have a right to know
what people are saying
about me and mommy.
- And there's something else
you have a right to know.
It's what the court thinks
about you and your mommy.
- What do you mean?
- The court has decided that you
and your mother shouldn't
have any contact for awhile,
at least not until
they're sure she's better.
- I can't even
see my own mother?
- Do you want to?
- I don't know.
- That's a healthy
attitude, Jessie.
- Huh, it should be up
to me not some judge.
- I'm your guardian now, Jessie,
your legal parent, and
frankly it's up to me.
- If I wanted to see mommy or
talk to her, you'd stop me?
- When you're 18 you
can decide for yourself
if you want a relationship
with the woman
who killed your
father and stepfather.
As long as you're
my responsibility,
I can't allow you near her.
- Great, two psycho moms.
(jingling music)
(birds twittering)
(people chattering)
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
- Getting settled?
- (gasping) Yes.
- Who checked you in, Mary?
- Why yes.
- I look familiar
to you, don't I?
- Actually you do.
I'm sorry, it's this medication,
I'm not quite myself.
- I'm Mrs. Evans, I used to
be your daughter's principal
over at McKinley.
- Oh.
- A lovely child.
- Of course, Mrs.
Evans, how silly of me.
- I retired at the end
of last school year
and now I'm helping out
here at the halfway house.
- Good for you.
- Yes isn't it.
I wanted to welcome
you and to let you know
that I'll be watching you.
- Watching?
- Mrs. Withers,
the teacher, she was
a wonderful woman,
and one of my best friends.
- Okay, that was an accident.
- I know dear, you're
innocent, like OJ.
(ominous music)
I just wanted you
to know that it would give
me the greatest satisfaction
to see you back on death
row where you belong.
Good afternoon.
(lively music)
♪ Look so pretty in
your lace and dress ♪
- I think you're dead
wrong about this Beth.
- I won't have Jessie
anywhere near that woman.
- Personally I think it would
be good for both of them.
They both have a lot
of healing to do.
- You're not the
one who walked away
from that little
girl and left her
in the care of a sociopath.
- Well honey, there was
nothing you could do.
You had no legal
right to intervene.
- I had a moral responsibility.
I knew my sister was
potentially dangerous,
and yet I left that
child in harm's way
because I was too afraid
to stand up to her.
Well, I'm not afraid now.
- I don't wanna
argue about this.
I'm just expressing an opinion.
You know, I'm Jessica
Ann's legal guardian too.
- I know, I'm sorry.
- [Paul] I tell you for a
beginner she's really very good.
She's got a lot of poise.
- [Beth] I don't know if
this is so good for her.
- [Paul] Why, are you crazy?
- Every day she comes
here to practice.
She's obsessed.
- Hmm, some obsessions
can be healthy.
I, for example, am
obsessed with you.
(chattering)
- Oops.
- Are you about ready to go?
- Can't I stay awhile?
Lessons don't start 'til six.
- Sure, we'll pick you up then.
- Aren't you going to
watch me some more?
- Too cold for us non-Eskimos.
We'll see you at six honey.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
(suspenseful music)
- [John] You didn't talk to her?
- I just watched from afar.
- Well, I can't encourage
you to talk to her.
Much as I, I personally
think that's a healthy thing,
but to do so would
be jeopardizing your
outpatient status.
- You mean, they'll throw
me back on death row.
- Yes.
There are a lot of
people out there
who want to see you fail.
- Really?
I hadn't noticed.
- You want me to
have you transferred
to another halfway house?
- Does a change of
venue really matter
in a case this notorious?
No thank-you.
- You know, I would do anything
within my power to do for you.
- Well then, help me
get my daughter back.
- Oh custody is out
of the question.
- No no, not custody,
I just wanna see her.
And I wanna talk to her.
I want Jessica
Ann not to hate me
and I know Beth is saying
terrible, hurtful things.
- Now look, just keep that
pretty little nose clean,
and how knows in six
months, or a year.
- Please.
- Something wrong?
- I, I I just don't er,
(sighing) I just
don't feel that way
about you anymore doctor.
Is that going to be a problem?
- No.
Not at all.
(frogs chirping)
(door knocking)
- Got a sec, pal?
- Er, sure, come on in.
(light music)
I saw you on TV today,
until Beth shut it off.
- Oh, I heard.
She's a little er, uptight.
- You think.
- Do me a favor, cut
her some slack will you.
- Huh, she told me
I can't see mommy
or to talk to her
or anything ever.
- Ever?
- Tsk, well same
as, 'til I'm 18.
- I think you're right
wanting to understand
and forgive your mommy.
- Really?
Well, why can't we just
invite her over sometime,
and just see how she's doing?
- You miss her.
- Well, she is my mother.
- Hmm, someday I'll get you
two back together, I promise.
But until then you
have to do me a favor.
- What Paul?
- Well, you have to put up with
your Aunt Beth's commandment
about seeing your mother.
You do that for now and
I'll work on later, okay?
- Okay.
- Aunt Beth knows
that you love her, but she
needs more from you Jessica.
She needs your respect.
- Why?
- Because she hasn't
really learned
to respect herself yet.
Okay, we got a deal.
Goodnight pal.
(rink noise crackling)
- Goodnight.
(chattering)
(ominous music)
- You look so beautiful
out there, so graceful.
- I asked you once if
I could take lessons,
but you said it
was too dangerous.
- I know, your mother's
made some mistakes dear.
- Huh, we're not
supposed to talk.
- Do you think that should be
anyone's decision but ours?
- No, but I don't want to get
either one of us in trouble.
- (sighing) How are
you doing in school?
- Okay I guess.
- What about your
last report card?
Any Bs?
- No, just As.
- Did they give an
outstanding student award?
- No, they stopped doing that.
I have to go.
I have a private lesson.
- I'm proud of you.
- Excuse me, you're Mrs.
Sterling aren't you,
Jessica Ann's mother?
- Er, yes.
- Do me a favor, Jessica Ann,
go practice our
axels for awhile.
- Practice hard dear.
- [Instructor] Parental interest
is something I encourage.
- Well, I'm glad to hear that.
- Normally, but I know all
about you Mrs. Sterling.
I know about the
restraining order.
- I, I just wanted to
watch my little girl skate.
- Jessica Ann is in
training, Mrs. Sterling,
for her first competition.
She doesn't need this
kind of pressure.
- I wasn't hurting anything.
- I don't want to see
you in here again.
If I do, I'll report
you, understood?
- She's my daughter, daughter,
daughter, daughter, daughter.
(pensive music)
(horn honking)
(traffic rumbling)
(skates rumbling)
(ominous music)
- How long are you gonna work
out in here tonight anyway?
- About an hour or so.
- Turn the lights
out yourself then.
(dramatic music)
(ice crinkling)
- What the hell
are you doing here?
Get off the ice.
(dramatic music)
(blade smashing)
- (sighing) Oh you had
nothing to do with this.
- Why would I harm a
person I barely knew?
- (sighing) When it comes
to shopping for murder,
you're something of
an impulse buyer.
- I hope this doesn't impede
Jessica Ann's progress
with her skating.
She has a competition
coming up, you know.
- You were seen
talking with her.
- I was there in the
afternoon, just watching.
- I have witness
statements Mrs. Sterling.
- I merely told Jessica
Ann that we shouldn't talk,
that the court didn't
want us to have contact.
- But you did have contact!
- There was an
inch of plexiglass
separating us Sergeant.
- It's gonna have to be
reported to the court.
- Don't you report all
murders to the court?
- I am talking about
seeing your daughter.
- Sergeant, a man is dead.
And you're concerned
about keeping
a mother from her daughter.
Where are your values?
- And where were you at
the time of the murder?
Let's cut the
chitchat here lady.
- Haven't you heard?
I have an implant
that makes me behave.
- You got an implant?
I tell you what I think.
I think you implanted
that hockey skate
into that instructor's back
37 times, that's what I think.
And I think that you could use
a better placed 38
caliber implant.
That is what I think.
- How is Lieutenant March?
- He's paralyzed, he's
a damned vegetable.
He's keeping company
with the drool cup.
- Pity, such a lovely man.
Close the door on your
way out will you sergeant.
I treasure what little
privacy I have in this place.
(people chattering)
- Sure.
- Jessie, I have some
very troubling news.
- What is it?
- Your skating
instructor, last night--
(tense music)
- What?
- Sergeant Anderson was here
and he wanted to talk to you,
but I put him off.
- What?
Why, I'm not a baby.
- I know, but you've
been through so much.
- Is mommy all right?
- Oh, she's all right,
all right physically.
- Did something happen
to my skating instructor?
- Yes.
- An accident?
- Not an accident, murder.
- Oh no.
- Ah, Jessie, I'm
sorry, I'm so sorry.
- What happened?
- It's too horrible.
- What happened?
- Multiple stab wounds
with, with a skate.
- You think mommy did this?
- You spoke to her yesterday
didn't you, at the rink.
- Yeah, she was there watching.
I wasn't gonna pretend
she didn't exist.
- [Beth] Your mother had words
with your skating instructor.
- Not really.
He just told mommy
not to come around,
'cause of the court order.
- Jessie, there are witnesses.
- To the murder?
- No, to you two talking.
Your mother screaming at you.
- She didn't do this.
- How can you be so certain?
- I just am.
- She's probably going
to be back in prison very soon.
But in the meantime, under
no circumstances are you
to have any contact with her.
- But Aunt Beth!
- If she walks up to you,
walk away, do you understand?
Walk away.
- Woo woo woo, detective, it's
a physiological impossibility
that Mrs. Sterling
committed that murder
with that antipsychotic
implant in her arm.
- How do you know
it is in her arm?
- Because I saw
her this morning.
Look, this is a rod
underneath the flesh.
It's surgically implanted and
replaced on a yearly basis.
It doesn't come with a zipper.
- Oh, that's cute.
Why are you standing
up for this woman?
- Ah.
- Huh?
Ever stopped to
consider that er,
maybe this isn't a matter
of science or medicine?
Maybe little mommy here doesn't
have a chemical deficiency
in her brain but she has got
a blackness in her heart.
- Are you looking for a vampire
to drive a stake through?
This is a woman with an illness.
- Yeah yeah, and
I've got the cure.
- Well, you'd make a fine
frontier marshal there Max,
just not a very good detective.
- Nah, what are
you talking about?
- The viciousness of
this crime doesn't begin
to match Mrs. Sterling's
psychological profile.
- Look, John she commits
two kinds of murders.
Her calculated black
widow style sendoffs
of her wealthy husbands, and
her spur of the moment murders
of people standing between
her and what she wants.
- And a skating instructor
stood between her
and her precious daughter?
- Bingo.
- You're forgetting one thing
detective, Mrs. Sterling
is not sadistic.
She takes no
pleasure in killing.
She simply removes obstacles
as cleanly as possible.
And you blame her for
your partner's misfortune.
- You bet your ass,
you stop right there.
He had a stroke.
- And did Mrs. Sterling
force-feed him four packs
of cigarettes a
day for 40 years?
Or are you just a little
bit more interested
in putting mommy away than
you are in finding out
who's really responsible
for this killing?
- You think?
(school belling ringing)
(chattering)
(doors banging)
- Are you okay?
- Sure.
- Are you ready for
the history test?
- I guess.
- You shouldn't listen
to what kids say.
- Who says I listen?
- Nobody, I just thought at
lunch you might have heard
this kid--
- What?
- Just don't pay any
attention to them, that's all.
- (sighing) Whatever.
- Jessica Ann, I, I'm sorry
I didn't meant to
scare you, honey.
- You're not
supposed to be here.
- I had to see you.
- I'm not supposed to see you.
You're gonna go back to jail.
- That's why we have to talk.
You know, your skating
instructor, that
terrible accident.
- It wasn't an accident.
You don't accidentally get
stabbed a hundred times.
- I didn't do.
I didn't do it, you
have to believe me.
- I do.
- You do?
Do you really?
- You'd have stabbed him
once, and maybe choked him.
- Oh my god.
You hate me, don't you?
- No, I don't hate you.
- Jessica Ann, who's
your next class?
- Er, first floor west wing.
- Then you better move along.
You're Mrs. Sterling aren't you?
You're not supposed to
be seeing your daughter.
- I wouldn't do
that if I were you.
- So, that's your old lady, huh?
What'd they do, let
her out of the nuthouse
for the afternoon.
(kids laughing)
Must be pretty cool
having a serial mom.
- Yeah, maybe it
runs in the family.
Maybe I'll kill
you, in your sleep.
- Jessica Ann.
Oh wait a minute, wait a minute,
I just, I want to talk
to you for a second.
Ha ha, I tell you, you really
got in that kid's fact.
That was good.
They sport you today, huh?
Hey, do you want a piece of gum?
- No, my mother didn't
get my teeth straightened
so I could ruin them.
- No no, don't chew gum, no
not with braces and stuff.
(laughing) Hey listen,
do you remember me?
- You work with
Lieutenant March.
- Yeah well, I did
'til he got sick.
Your mom had a hand in that one.
- I'm sorry he's sick
but my mother had nothing
to do with it.
Excuse me I have to--
- no, no wait a minute,
wait up, now wait a minute,
I just want to talk to you,
just want to talk to you
for a couple of seconds.
A couple of questions here.
Number one have you talked
to your mother lately?
- You mean you didn't
see us just now?
Aren't you following
us around hiding
behind the bushes and stuff?
- (laughing) Well, as
a matter of fact I am.
Talked to her yesterday
too didn't you?
- You know I did,
at the skating rink.
Mommy and my instructor
got in a little tiff,
but nothing mommy
would kill over.
- You sure about
that, Jessica Ann?
- Well, I'm sure of one thing.
- You are, what's that?
- They ought to stick one
of those things in your arm,
you're the nut.
(feet thumping)
(Anderson laughing)
- Smart kid, smart kid.
(school bell ringing)
- Thank-you for giving me
this opportunity
to tell my side.
- Well, we think you've
gotten a raw deal
in the media, and we're
here to balance that out.
- And er, I won't have to answer
any questions from
er, from them.
- No no, this is just a simple
one-on-one interview with Paula.
She's on your side,
we're all on your side.
- And er, no surprises.
- The only surprise
is how it's gonna feel
to be vindicated.
Let's go, have a seat.
- Mrs. Sterling.
- Hello.
- Hello, so nice
to have you here.
- Very nice to meet you.
- Please have a seat, please.
- Thank-you.
(jingling music)
(audience applauding)
- It's Paula Sands Live,
where your opinions count,
and here's the first lady
of daytime talk, Paula Sands.
- Thanks as always Brad,
welcome studio audience.
We do have a remarkable
guest on the show today.
And I still don't know how my
producer pulled this one off
but sitting right next
to me is, forgive me,
the killer mommy you've
heard so much about.
(audience mumbling)
Mrs. Sterling, it must be
painful to be characterized
by such a cruel phrase.
Tell us what it's like to
be inside this media storm?
- Well I'm, I'm living
a very quiet life.
I'm er, in a halfway house.
- You're in an
experimental program,
some kind of new medication.
- Yes, yes.
- I don't know if you're
free to speak about this,
I don't know what your
attorney has advised you.
- Oh, he advised
me not to appear.
- But there's been
another murder.
And we know that you are once
again under investigation.
- That's partly why I'm here.
I am absolutely positively
100% innocent of that crime.
(audience groaning)
- No way!
- Get real!
- Boo!
- Please, please audience,
you can see the kind of er,
strong feelings
you engender here,
and maybe you're not convincing
our studio audience
Mrs. Sterling.
- There's really only one
person I want to convince,
and it's a person who's
being kept away from me.
It's my daughter.
- Well, I know that our
audience is just dying
to ask some questions of you,
so Brad, you have
our first question
from the studio audience.
- You say you want your
daughter's attention.
Is that why maybe you
tried to strangle her?
- I was told there
wouldn't be any questions
from the audience.
- Oh Mrs. Sterling,
I don't know where you
got that impression
but if you watch this
show, this is our format.
- No, but I'm--
- Brad another question
from the audience.
- Not comfortable with this.
- Now, you say you
love your daughter.
Well girlfriend, you better
get your stuff together
before you start laying
your own personal trip
on her head, you hear what
I'm saying, girlfriend.
- I would never
hurt my daughter.
I, I love my daughter,
more than life itself.
- People like you
don't deserve to live.
Lethal injection is
too damn good for you.
They ought to hang
your snooty ass.
- Er that really
isn't a question.
Mrs. Sterling, you can
see the strong feelings
that you bring up
in our audience.
- I was promised that there
would not be any questions
from the audience.
- Let's bring out
our second guest for today.
In fact, you've seen her
before on this program.
She has her own strong
feelings about this subject.
Jolene Jones, the sister of one
of Mrs. Sterling's
alleged victims.
- [Mrs. Sterling] I will
not be part of this.
- Hey, don't you try to crawl
away, you murdering (beeping)
You are gonna sit
here and face the
(beeping) music this time.
Ah, come on, look at me,
huh, what are you, afraid?
Look at me.
You killed my sister.
Some day you are
gonna pay for it.
You are gonna (beeping) pay.
- We'll be right back after
this word from our sponsor.
Happy Family Dairy.
Jerry.
- Yes Paula.
- Jerry, did Mrs. Sterling
know that she was going to take
those questions
from the audience,
and that she was appearing
with Miss. Jones?
- Our guests don't get
to dictate the terms
of their appearance, Paula.
- Yes, I know but--
- You are a liar,
and a heal.
- Well, you are a
murdering bitch.
- Stay away from me.
- Ah what, are you
gonna fry me too.
- It shut your sister up.
- Listen to me you
psycho bitch, ow, god!
- Yeah, how would ladies
feel about repeating
this one on camera?
- You're lucky I'm mellowed out.
- Stand by.
- On in three.
(chattering)
- Welcome back, and a reminder
that on tomorrow's
show born again,
full-bodied tattooed bikers.
- You need me Jerry?
- Yeah, can you see if
Phil's got that memo ready.
Rating book came in today.
- You got it.
- Oh, and while
you're at it, can you get
rid of some of this garbage.
Film, noir theater,
who's idea was this?
(heels clanking)
- What was the
idea today, Jerry?
- Ratings.
I just sent Chris
after the latest.
You'll see.
- I thought we had
an understanding,
no more ambushing the guests.
- That woman is not a guest.
She is an ambush.
- You got her on the show
under false pretenses.
Nevermind the right
or wrong of that.
Word gets out I can't be
trusted, we're finished.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
You want to wait for
the ratings memo?
- You are a heal Jerry.
Which must come in handy the
way you walk all over people.
I'll be in my office.
(heels clanking)
(pensive music)
- Paula?
(scaffolding clanking)
(suspenseful music)
(equipment scraping)
(dramatic music)
(light crashing)
Oh.
Oh.
Hmm.
(heel scraping)
(heels clicking)
- Everyone thinks you're a
heal Jerry, a heel for a heal.
(ominous music)
(flesh squelching)
(pensive music)
- Jerry, here's your--
Oh woo, woo woo.
(death music)
(light music)
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all right now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
♪ I wouldn't be stuck
here with a hungry kid ♪
♪ In a broken down house
- Paul Conway please.
His publisher, Joseph Pitman,
suggested that I call.
Yeah sure.
♪ If I could spare
♪ I'd have it all by now
(lighter clicking)
(phone beeping)
- Hello?
- Mr. Conway.
This is Jolene Jones calling.
Yeah, that would be me.
Listen, it's erm, it's
vital that I see you.
No, I don't think we should
discuss this on the phone
but er, trust me, this is a
potentially lucrative venture.
Eight o'clock is fine.
Okay, see you then.
(radio squawking)
(keys clattering)
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
it wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all right now ♪
- Not tonight.
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have wheels on my car ♪
♪ Instead of the ones
underneath my house ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
- Hmm, honey bun, you
just hit the lotto.
♪ I just wouldn't care
- Ah look, witnesses saw
you lose your temper,
they saw you physically
assault the murder victim.
- I didn't assault him.
I just warned him.
- You choked him.
- I got his attention.
Well, he won't be bringing
charges now, will he?
- It's kind of a
short fuse, isn't it?
For someone who
supposedly getting
the violence
medicated out of her.
(dramatic music)
- A sudden impulse can get the
best of any of us sergeant.
Do you know what they did to
me on that television program?
- Yeah, yeah, I know.
- Are you gonna arrest me?
- No.
I don't have enough, and anyway.
- Some of the bite has gone
out of your bark, sergeant.
- Look, your shrink thinks
that these murders
aren't your style.
- What do you think?
- I think that if you decided
to kill this sleazeball,
you erm, wouldn't
have tipped your hand
in front of a studio audience,
and you wouldn't have
gouged his eyes out
with that spiked heel either.
Too messy.
- If I were the
person you think I am.
And of course I'm not.
I'm completely innocent.
Never have and never would
intentionally kill anyone.
- Never?
- I'd have made it
look like an accident.
I'd have made sure the falling
light put his lights out.
If I were the person
you think I am.
- Well, you, me and
your head doctor know
that this M.O. is
all wrong for you.
But it doesn't mean
that you're not gonna
wind up taking the fall.
- But I, I didn't
do these murders.
(pensive music)
- No no no no no, you never
killed anybody remember.
You're just a
poor, innocent mom.
Though somebody is trying to
put in a very very fancy frame.
(radio crackling)
(keyboard clanking)
- [Jolene] Thank-you
Mrs. Conway.
You have a lovely home.
- Thank-you.
Let me know if
you need anything.
- [Paul] Please, sit
down, Miss. Jones.
- Oh no, don't be so formal.
Call me Jolene hmm.
Listen, do you mind if I smoke?
- Actually yes.
My wife doesn't allow
smoking in this house.
- Well, I would've
thought maybe you were
in charge around here.
I mean it was your
mommy book that paid
for all this, hmm.
- Miss Jones, er Jolene,
I'm on a deadline.
Out of curtesy to your
and your late sister--
- Oh oh, my late
sister was trash.
I mean I think she was
a les or something.
Now me, well I have more
conventional tastes.
- Hmm, please, lets
get to the point.
- Well the point is, reality
don't count for nothing.
Appearance is all.
You know, doesn't matter if me
and my late sister ain't
spoke since high school.
- Well why don't you
tell me what does matter.
(phone clicking)
- Come on mommy, please.
Mommy, mommy, I just
saw that terrible woman.
- Yes, she could be the
one doing this to mommy.
Dear, it means so much to
me you calling me like this.
Bye sweetheart.
(phone clattering)
- [Jolene] I'm an
author too, you know.
- [Paul] Really?
- I wasn't lying
about your publisher.
Him and five others.
They all want me.
- For what?
- Well, as soon as they nail
your loony sister-in-law
for these new murders,
there's going to be room
for a new mommy book
on the bestseller list.
- And you're going to write it?
- Why don't we
write it, together?
- Ooh, I get it.
With your charisma,
the talk show circuit,
my name next to
yours on the cover.
- Sequel to a bestseller.
You know, I bet we'd work
really well together.
- You know, I just
thought of something.
- What's that?
- My wife doesn't allow
animals in this house either.
You better go.
- I don't need you to do this.
This was just
professional curtesy.
(radio squawking)
Listen, do we really
need that jerk?
Good, I didn't think so.
A ghostwriter?
What do you mean,
like Stephen King?
Oh, oh, all I do is
talk into a tape, okay.
How much do we have to pay?
Really?
Huh, no I hadn't
thought of that.
You know, I guess
Conway would've taken
a pretty big bite.
You know, and that
bestseller and all.
Ah, so we're better off.
Well all right,
when do we start?
Ah, baby I was born ready.
Okay, okay, bye-bye.
Ah, who needs you,
you stuck up jerk.
"My wife don't allow no
smoking in the house."
Yeah, I bet that
ain't the only thing.
Money money money money
money money money money money
money money money money
money money money money money
money money money money
money money money money.
(rings scraping)
(water gushing)
(tense music)
(pensive music)
(suspenseful music)
(lively cassette music)
(sparks zapping)
(water gushing)
(light music)
- [Mrs. Sterling] Jessica
Ann, wake up dear, wake up.
- Mommy?
- I'm, I'm leaving.
- Leaving?
- We both know that somebody's
making this look like mommy.
So I erm, I have some money
hidden under a new name,
and I'm gonna leave the country.
- Will I ever see you?
- No no no, I want
you to come with me.
- Oh mommy.
- Please, Jessica Ann,
we can start over.
Clean, fresh, a second chance.
- Mommy.
(switch clicking)
(Jessica gasping)
- I want you out of here.
Now.
- But Beth, she's my baby.
- Do you want me to
call the police myself?
- Beth, Beth, I don't
think you better.
Ladies, let's talk, come on.
With all that's been going
on, I've been listening
to the police
scanner in my office.
- What's happened now?
- Jolene Jones
has been murdered.
- It's my fault, I
shouldn't have called you.
I'm so sorry.
- Oh no, no, baby,
I didn't do this.
You, you've got to believe me.
- There's a warrant
out for your arrest.
- What happened?
- [Paul] She was electrocuted.
- Oh, no I didn't do this.
I swear to god,
I didn't do this.
I haven't been
committing these murders.
I'm innocent.
Please, please you
have to believe me.
- Well, I think it's time
we talked to your attorney.
(phone clicking)
You remember his home
telephone number?
- Yeah.
(phone beeping)
(phone ringing)
Ah,
oh.
- This is Neal Ekhardt.
- It's his machine.
- I'm out of town,
but I will be
checking my messages.
(machine beeping)
- Should I er,
should I leave a message?
Can I have him call me here?
Ah Neal, this, you
know who this is.
I'm, I'm, it's
urgent that we talk.
I'm at my sister's.
Okay.
(phone beeping)
(puffing) Thank-you.
Can I erm, can I use the
spare bedroom? (sobbing)
(ominous music)
(dramatic music)
(door thumping)
(engine revving)
(pensive music)
(dramatic music)
- What?
- They're gone.
- Gone?
- No no, no I don't think the
girl's in any danger at all.
No, listen Mrs. Conway,
shh, listen, shh please.
Now we both know she
loves this little girl.
She's not going to
do anything to her.
I'm gonna put an APB
out on both of them.
Yeah, I.
I know, I know that!
Last time she tried to
leave the country, I know.
No look please, listen to me.
I need you to do
something for me.
Are you listening?
- Yes.
Yes.
A photo.
Yes sergeant, I'll
be right down.
He needs a photo of
Jessica Ann to distribute.
He already has one of my sister.
- Hmm, here, you go,
I'll watch the phone.
Bye honey.
(Paul sighing)
(cup clinking)
(Paul sighing)
(phone ringing)
(keys jingling)
(door clattering)
- I know.
- [Woman] I've got the brat.
- You know what
you've got to do.
- I want more.
- More what?
- [Woman] More,
what do you think.
Money dick weed.
You want the kid dead,
I want a percentage.
- A percentage.
- You're gonna make
a bundle off of
this little sequel you got.
I'm the one doing stunt work.
I want it in writing,
a piece of the book,
the movie, who knows,
maybe they'll do a CD-ROM,
mommy chasing baby around
with a butcher knife.
- You want a murder
contract in writing?
Are you completely
out of your mind?
- I'm a consulted, I
want it in writing,
and I want it now.
- Where are you?
- Where we made the first
money drop, remember.
Won't take you half an hour.
At least it better not.
(phone clanking)
(phone clicking)
(phone clanking)
(dramatic music)
(drawer handles clattering)
(gun clicking)
(chain clattering)
- Oh.
(tense music)
- What are you doing here?
Beth's out looking for you.
We thought you took Jessica Ann.
The police are looking for you.
- I heard you on the phone.
I know you've been framing me.
I'd have known a lot sooner
if it hadn't been for this.
- You don't understand.
I'm involved in a
sting operation.
Let me explain.
- Oh, I wish I had
time to listen.
You really are an
imaginative writer.
But I have to help my daughter.
- Oh, this isn't the
ending I had in mind.
(ominous music)
But it'll work.
- You know you may find it
harder to actually kill someone,
than to just write about
it or hire a killer.
It takes a special kind
of person to take a life.
(grunting)
(gasping)
Don't you know the sequel is
never as good as the original.
(crashing)
(computer sparking)
(electricity zapping)
(glass exploding)
(pensive music)
(tense music)
(ominous music)
(exciting music)
(water rushing)
- Ah!
- Thanks for running.
I wondered if killing a kid
would kind of get to me.
But you causing me this
much trouble helps.
Your uncle said I
should strangle you,
to make it look more
like your mommy did it.
It's just not my style.
- Oh please.
- Why don't you pick
on somebody your own size.
- Help, mommy!
(feet thumping)
Ow.
(tense music)
- You know, imitation is the
sincerest form of plagiarism.
- I'm walking out of here.
You keep your distance, maybe
the kid keeps breathing.
- You let her go
and I'll you go.
I have nothing against you.
- Nothing against me.
- Mommy!
- I know you're just
a working whore.
By the way, you're out of a job.
I'm afraid I just
punched your meal ticket.
(dramatic music)
- Agh!
(suspenseful music)
(gun firing)
(grunting)
(knife whipping)
- Ow.
- Mommy.
(gun firing)
(wood splintering)
(water gushing)
(dramatic music)
- Oh.
(somber music)
(Jessica sniffling)
- Who is your best friend?
- You are.
- Who loves you more than
anything on god's green earth?
- You do.
(Mrs. Sterling sighing)
(sirens wailing)
- [Anderson] Yeah, her
name was Glenna Cole.
Conway interviewed her for
his contract killer book.
- That's nice.
- (laughing) Nice?
- Well, I'm happy
for your sergeant,
tying up these loose ends.
- How's your sister doing?
- Hmm, she's home,
but under sedation.
Such an awful shock.
I'm going to be
moving in shortly.
And she thinks she's well enough
to attend Jessica Ann's
staking competition.
- Is your new implant in place?
- Yes.
No need to worry.
- I guess I owe you an apology.
Huh, but I should
tell you though,
that even your doctor
admitted something to me.
- Really?
- Oh yeah.
That last killing.
Jolene Jones.
That one really
did fit your M.O.
- But now, I thought
you had cleared
all those murders off the books?
- Yeah we did.
So I guess only Jolene
Jones herself can
identify her killer huh?
- It's a pity you can't ask her.
(spectators applauding)
I was afraid they were
gonna give first place
to that little Asian girl,
just to be politically correct.
They're lucky they
did the right thing.
(upbeat music)
(lyrics drowned
out by applauding)
♪ Behaves like an angel
but she moves like ice ♪
♪ She'll threaten you down
♪ She's all sugar and ice
♪ Note she could be smiling,
chill you with a frown ♪
♪ Build you way up,
bring you back down ♪
♪ Little ice princess
spraying mist as she goes ♪
♪ Lay a shining silver
over those that got froze ♪
♪ Little ice princess, she's
my little ice princess ♪
♪ She's my little ice princess
♪ Hmm my little ice princess
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair, I
wouldn't shed a tear ♪
♪ For the things I did
but got through somehow ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ We had a fixer upper
in a nice neighborhood ♪
♪ Close to shopping and
the schools were good ♪
♪ Looked right at you
what other man couldn't ♪
♪ Never realized that the
love of mine wouldn't ♪
♪ If life was fair, he'd
have it all right now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ I just wouldn't care
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
it wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have wheels on my car ♪
♪ Instead of on the ones
underneath my house ♪
♪ If life was fair, I'd
have it all by now ♪
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ I just wouldn't care
♪ If life was fair,
if life was fair ♪
♪ It just wouldn't matter that
wasn't on a silver platter ♪
♪ Incoming nation
shocked the nation ♪
♪ Thought should take
some total stimulation ♪
♪ Well, you put it
across the board ♪
♪ And knees began to quicker
♪ You march us in and the
mind starts to shiver ♪
♪ And that old world single
in the act in the cellar ♪
♪ Got the out of the
dance of the shockabilly ♪
♪ Woo
♪ Well compare the young
blood against the bone ♪
♪ Your knees begin to quiver
♪ You march yourself around,
your mind is going to shiver ♪
♪ Down that old root cellar
♪ Got out and the fool
and the shockabilly ♪
♪ Oh dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Oh dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
♪ Dance dance dance
dance dance dance ♪
♪ Dance the shockabilly,
dance the shockabilly ♪
(zooming music)