The Price of a Broken Heart (1999) - full transcript

AND NOW, THE 6:00 EDITION OF
GREENSBORO'S AWARD-WINNING...

♪ NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

♪ I PRAY THE LORD
HIS SOUL TO KEEP ♪

♪ KEEP IT AWAY
FROM MY BACK DOOR ♪

♪ I CAN'T TAKE THIS CRAP
NO MORE ♪

♪ I KNOW SOMEDAY

♪ I'LL GET AWAY

AND COMING UP A LITTLE LATER
IN OUR BROADCAST,

WE'LL HAVE AN UPDATE ON
THEHUTELMYER vs COX LAWSUIT.

♪ STUMBLE IN 'BOUT 3:00 A.M.

♪ FOUND YOUR WAY
BACK HOME AGAIN ♪



♪ THAT'S THE WAY
YOU'LL CATCH YOUR DEATH ♪

♪ A THOUSAND WOMEN
ON YOUR BREATH ♪

♪ I KNOW SOMEDAY

♪ I'LL GET AWAY

AND NOW TO YOU, VIRGINIA.

OUR TOP STORY
ON THIS 6:00 NEWS --

A JURY OF NINE WOMEN
AND THREE MEN

IN NEARBY
BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA,

HAS SPENT THE AFTERNOON
DELIBERATING

IN THE CASE
OFHUTELMYER vs COX.

WE'RE EXPECTING A VERDICT
ANYTIME NOW

IN THIS LANDMARK CASE

THAT HAS ATTRACTED
NATIONAL ATTENTION.

BURLINGTON RESIDENT
DOROTHY HUTELMYER



IS SUING LYNNE COX
FOR ALIENATION OF AFFECTION,

A LAW ON THE BOOKS
IN HALF A DOZEN STATES,

INCLUDING NORTH CAROLINA.

THE QUESTION BEFORE THE JURY --

DID LYNNE COX DELIBERATELY SEEK

TO DESTROY
DOT HUTELMYER'S MARRIAGE

BY PURSUING HER HUSBAND,
JOSEPH?

WE SPOKE WITH DOT HUTELMYER
AT HER HOME IN BURLINGTON

EARLIER THIS WEEK.

I'M SUING BECAUSE I NEEDED
TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF.

I WANTED TO TELL THIS WOMAN
THAT IT IS WRONG

TO COME INTO MY MARRIAGE
AND BREAK IT UP.

HEY THERE, FAYE.

LET'S SEE,

I'LL HAVE A MEAT, TWO SIDES,
SWEET TEA, AND SOME BISCUITS.

DID YOU HEAR THAT, PHIL?

MEAT, TWO SIDES, BISCUITS.

WE'LL BE BACK LATER IF THERE
ARE ANY LATE-BREAKING...

WHAT YOU ALL LOOKING AT?

WE'RE WAITING ON THE VERDICT
IN THE DOT HUTELMYER CASE.

WHO THE HECK
IS DOT HUTELMYER?

DIDN'T YOU SEE HER
ON "OPRAH"?

"OPRAH"?

SHE'S SUING LYNNE COX
FOR STEALING HER HUSBAND.

YOU CAN SUE SOMEBODY FOR THAT?

YEAH.
YOU CAN IN NORTH CAROLINA.

W-W-WAIT A MINUTE NOW.

THE HUSBAND'S
THE ONE WHO CHEATED.

HE'S THE ONE OUGHT TO BE SUED.

YOU CAN ONLY SUE HIM
FOR ALIMONY.

THIS LAW -- IT ONLY WORKS
ON THE OTHER WOMAN.

OR THE OTHER MAN.

CAN I GET ANOTHER ONE?

YEAH, TOO BAD
DOT DIDN'T HANDLE IT

THE WAY THEY DID
IN THE OLD DAYS --

TAKE A NICE LITTLE RIFLE

AND GUT-SHOT THE WOMAN
WHO TOOK HER MAN.

OH, PLEASE, BUBBA.

THERE WOULDN'T BE A JURY
IN THE WORLD

THAT WOULD CONVICT HER.

HOW YOU GONNA SUE SOMEBODY
FOR A BROKEN HEART?

NEXT THING, FOLKS WILL BE SUING
OVER HURT FEELINGS.

FINALLY,
SOMEBODY WHO AGREES WITH ME.

WHAT DO YOU CALL YOURSELF?

I'M BURKE.

HI, BURKE. I'M SUSAN.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU, TOO.

THIS LAW IS GOING
TO SET WOMEN BACK 200 YEARS,

BACK TO THE TIME
WHEN IT WAS WRITTEN.

A LITTLE OUTDATED.

WE'VE GOT ONE WOMAN --
THE VIRTUOUS VICTIM --

AND THE OTHER --
THE EVIL SPIDER LADY --

WHO LURES THE INNOCENT MALE
INTO HER WEB.

LOOK, I'M THE ONLY ONE
OF ALL OF YOU

THAT WAS IN THAT COURTROOM
EVERY MINUTE OF THE TRIAL.

TOOK TIME OFF TO DO IT.

AND I AM TELLING YOU,

I THINK LYNNE COX
SET OUT TO STEAL DOT'S MAN.

THAT GIRL
IS TELLING THE TRUTH.

WELL, AS MY MAMA USED TO SAY,

"UNLESS YOU'RE THE THIRD HEAD
ON THE PILLOW,

IT'S HARD TO SAY
WHO'S SLEEPING WITH WHO."

BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU

ALL THE EVIDENCE I HEARD
PROVED THIS MUCH FOR SURE.

FOR A REAL LONG TIME,
JOE AND DOT WERE IN LOVE.

THEY FELL IN LOVE
ON A BLIND DATE.

WHAT DID YOU
TELL HIM ABOUT ME?

JUST THAT YOU TWO

WERE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT
FOR EACH OTHER.

OH, I'M KIDDING.

OH, HERE HE COMES --
THE ONE WITH SPENCE.

HI, SPENCE.

HEY, JOE.

HI.

THIS IS DOT.

HI.HI.

LET'S DANCE.

PHYLLIS TELLS ME
YOU'RE IN INSURANCE.

I STARTED WORKING THE DAY
AFTER I GRADUATED COLLEGE.

IS THAT INTERESTING WORK?

WELL, IT ISN'T FLASHY,

BUT I THINK
I CAN MAKE A CAREER OF IT.

I BET YOU COULD.

REALLY?

YEAH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE?

YES.

♪ THEY ASK ME ♪

♪HOW I KNEW♪

♪ MY TRUE LOVE WAS TRUE♪

♪ OH-OOH♪

♪ I, OF COURSE, REPLIED♪

♪ SOMETHING HERE INSIDE ♪

♪ CANNOT BE DENIED♪

♪ NOW,
LAUGHING FRIENDS DERIDE ♪

♪ TEARS I CANNOT HIDE♪

♪ OH-OOH♪

♪ SO I SMILE AND SAY♪

♪ WHEN A LOVELY FLAME DIES ♪

♪ SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES♪

♪ SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES♪

♪ SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES♪

♪ SMOKE GETS ♪

♪ IN YOUR

♪ EYES♪

HEY, EVERY MARRIAGE,
EVEN THE BAD ONES,

START OUT HAPPY, DON'T THEY?

MAYBE SOMETHING CHANGED
BETWEEN DOT AND JOE,

AND DOT JUST DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

WHO HAS THE SAME PASSION
IN THEIR MARRIAGE

THAT THEY HAD
IN THE BEGINNING?

ME.

THEN HOW COME YOU'RE
ON THE ROAD EVERY NIGHT

INSTEAD OF AT HOME
WITH YOUR WIFE?

THAT'S HOW I KEEP
THE PASSION IN MY MARRIAGE.

BUT WHAT IS
A HAPPYMARRIAGE ANYWAY?

WELL, TONS OF WITNESSES
TESTIFIED

AT HOW HAPPY THEY THOUGHT
JOE AND DOT WERE.

JOE WASN'T HAPPY,

OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE GONE AND
GOT HIS AFFECTIONS ALIENATED.

I'LL TELL YOU HOW YOU ALIENATE
SOMEONE'S AFFECTIONS...

STEP BY LYING STEP.

LYNNE, CAN YOU, UH,
YOU KNOW, FILE --

YES, SIR.

GUYS, WE ARE GOING
TO CRESSWELL'S

TO HAVE SOME EGGNOG.

SHALL WE SAVE YOU A SEAT?

JUST PUTTING THINGS TO BED
FOR THE HOLIDAYS, BUT YEAH.

MIKE?

YEAH.

LAURETTE, ORDER ME SOMETHING

LONG, STRONG,
AND HOLD THE DAIRY ON MINE.

You think
we should invite Lynne?

She isJoe's secretary now.

We could get
to know her better.

No. She does notlook
like the partying type.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

CAN I SEE YOU
IN MY OFFICE?

YES, SIR.

LYNNE, I THINK IT'S OKAY
FOR YOU TO CALL ME JOE.

YES, SIR, J-JOE.

I MEAN, YES, JOE.

I'D LIKE TO SEND FLOWERS
TO MY WIFE.

SHE WORKED SO HARD
ON THE COVERED-DISH SOCIAL

FOR THE BOYS'
BASKETBALL LEAGUE.

ROSES MAYBE, BUT NOT RED.

I SAVE THOSE
FOR ANNIVERSARIES.

MAYBE THOSE LITTLE PINK ONES.

WHAT ARE THOSE CALLED?

THEY'RE CALLED SWEET --

SWEETHEART ROSES.

SOMETHING WRONG?

I'M SORRY.

THIS IS VERY UNBUSINESSLIKE,
AND I APOLOGIZE.

I'M JUST GOING
TO ORDER THE FLOWERS, AND --

NO, REALLY, REALLY,
YOU KNOW.

IS SOMETHING THE MATTER?

I JUST WISH
THAT MY HUSBAND WERE MORE...

IT'S JUST SO NICE THAT YOU SEND
YOUR WIFE GIFTS LIKE THAT.

HE'S -- HE'S JUST NOT
WARM AND AFFECTIONATE

THE WAY THAT YOU SEEM TO BE
WITH YOUR WIFE.

AND HE'S GOT VERY STRONG
BELIEFS ABOUT RELIGION.

AND HE DOESN'T BELIEVE
IN SANTA CLAUS

OR GIVING GIFTS
TO ME OR THE KIDS.

SO IT'S JUST NOT THE GREATEST
TIME OF YEAR FOR ME.

LISTEN, I GOT AN IDEA.

WHY DON'T YOU AND YOUR KIDS

COME TO
A LITTLE CHRISTMAS PARTY

THAT DOT AND I ARE HAVING?

YOUR KIDS COULD HELP DECORATE
THE TREE.

IT'S NOT THE SAME
AS HAVING YOUR OWN,

BUT IT'S SOMETHING.

AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE
THE LIBERTY

OF GETTING EACH OF THEM
A LITTLE GIFT.

Really?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MY KIDS ARE GOING TO BE --
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SO HAPPY.

THANK YOU, SIR.
I APPRECIATE IT.

HI!

LYNNE, I'M SO GLAD
YOU COULD MAKE IT.

THANK YOU.

LYNNE!

THIS IS MY HUSBAND,
CHIPPER COX.

HI, CHIPPER.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.

AND I THINK YOU KNOW
MATTHEW AND SARAH.

HI, KIDS.

BOYS, COME IN HERE.

HEY, BOYS,
COME ON, COME ON.

MATTHEW, YOU GO TO SCHOOL
WITH KEITH?

MM-HMM. YEAH.

I THINK WE'VE GOT
SOMETHING FOR YOU.

LET'S SEE WHAT WE CAN FIND.

YOU KNOW WE DON'T CELEBRATE
CHRISTMAS THIS WAY.

YOU KNEW ABOUT THIS,
DIDN'T YOU?

I KNEW THAT THERE MIGHT BE
SOME PRESENTS --

SHOULD I TALK TO HIM?

NO, HE'LL BE FINE.

YOU ENJOY YOUR PARTY.

GO ON.

Joe: WE ARE GOING TO DO
FOR OUR NEXT SELECTION...

"COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL."

1...2...3.

♪ OH, COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL

♪ JOYFUL AND TRIUMPHANT

♪ OH, COME, YE

♪ OH, COME, YE

♪ TO BETHLEHEM

♪ COME AND BEHOLD HIM

♪ BORN THE KING OF ANGELS

♪ OH, COME, LET US ADORE HIM

♪ OH, COME, LET US ADORE HIM

♪ OH, COME, LET US ADORE HIM

♪ CHRIST, THE LORD

WHOO!

HEY, HON.

WHERE'S THE BOYS?

UPSTAIRS.

DID YOU HAVE
A ROUGH DAY?

A LOT OF POLICIES
ON LONG HAUL.

THAT'S ALL.

ONE OF THESE DAYS

YOU'RE REALLY GONNA
HAVE TO EXPLAIN TO ME

WHAT IT IS THAT YOU DO.

OH, THAT'S SIMPLE.

I AM THE NEW PRESIDENT

OF THE BURLINGTON BRANCH
OF WINWOOD INSURANCE.

JOE!

YEAH!

THAT'S INCREDIBLE!

BOYS!

LISTEN, I WANT YOU
TO GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY

AND FIND US A BIGGER HOUSE
TO LIVE IN.

SOMETHING WHITE, MAYBE,
WITH A LINCOLN BEDROOM?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

YEAH!

OH, HONEY,
I AM SO PROUD OF YOU.

WELL, I COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT
WITHOUT YOU, DOT.

I LOVE YOU.

I LOVE YOU.

WHAT?

GUESS WHO'S THE NEW PRESIDENT
OF WINWOOD INSURANCE?

WHOO!YAY!

THAT IS SO AWESOME!

I KNOW, I KNOW!

OH, HERE HE COMES.

HERE HE COMES!

THANK YOU!

Man:
DON'T FORGET TO WRITE!

Man #2:
NO MORE "JOE"!

LYNNE?

WOW!

CONGRATULATIONS
ON YOUR PROMOTION.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU KEEPING ME ON

AS YOUR
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT.

WELL, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU.

THAT'S QUITE A CHANGE.
WHAT HAPPENED?

CHIPPER AND I SEPARATED.

DON'T SAY, "SORRY."
EVERYBODY SAYS, "SORRY."

AND THE TRUTH IS

IT'S REALLY THE BEST THING
THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME.

SO IT'S TIME FOR A NEW YOU?

WELL, I WENT FROM PLEASING
MY PARENTS TO PLEASING CHIPPER.

AND I JUST THINK IT'S TIME
FOR ME TO THINK ABOUT MYSELF.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK YOU LOOK GREAT.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GET STARTED.

I AM READY, WILLING,
AND ABLE,

MR. PRESIDENT.

HMM.

AREN'T YOU GUYS
GOING TO GIVE HIM HIS CARD?

LYNNE COX IS IN THERE.

BOY, IS SHE IN THERE.

WHO CARES IF LYNNE COX
IS SITTING IN THERE?

YOU SHOULD SEE
HOWSHE'S SITTING.

LYNNE COX IS IN HIS OFFICE?

DID YOU SEE HER WHEN
SHE WALKED IN THIS MORNING?

I WOULDN'T HAVE RECOGNIZED HER
IN A MILLION YEARS

IF SHE HADN'T TALKED
RIGHT TO ME.

SHE'S HAD A LITTLE CHEMICAL
ASSISTANCE WITH HER HAIR COLOR.

THAT SKIRT ISN'T 3 INCHES
LONGER THAN HER JACKET.

SKORT.

WHAT?
IT'S NOT A SKIRT.

IT'S A SKORT --
HALF SKIRT, HALF SHORTS.

DON'T WE HAVE A DRESS CODE
IN THIS OFFICE?

GOD, I HOPE NOT.

HEY!

OH, HI.

OH, I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU PICKING ME UP.

I KNOW YOU MUST BE
PRESSED FOR TIME

WITH YOUR RECENT PROMOTION
AND ALL.

I HATE DOING LONG DRIVES ALONE

TO ALL
THESE OUT-OF-TOWN MEETINGS.

THIS WAY WE CAN TALK
ABOUT THE OFFICE PARTICIPATION

IN THE MARCH OF DIMES THING
BEFORE WE GET THERE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

I CAN TAKE SOME NOTES
WHILE WE'RE IN THE CAR.

OH, HEY, RELAX.

NOT --
NOT JUST RIGHT THIS SECOND.

WE GOT A 4-HOUR DRIVE.

YOU SURE?

YEAH.

LET'S GO.

OKAY, I'M GONNA WATCH
ERIC'S GAME,

AND THAT SHOULD BE OVER ABOUT
THE SAME TIME AS YOUR LESSON.

BUT IF I'M LATE,
YOU WAIT ON THE INSIDE FOR ME,

AND THAT WAY I DON'T WORRY.

MOM,
WHEN WILL DAD BE BACK?

HONEY, HE'LL BE BACK
LATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

AND I KNOW HE HATES
TO MISS YOUR GAME,

BUT I'LL JUST HAVE TO SCREAM
EXTRA LOUD!

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW HAPPY
I AM TO BE ON MY OWN.

I MEAN, EVEN THOUGH
IT'S HARD ON MY KIDS,

GOING BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN US,

I THINK IT'S BETTER THAN LIVING
IN AN UNHAPPY HOUSEHOLD.

I SHOULD HAVE ENDED THIS THING
A LONG TIME AGO.

IT'S FUNNY
HOW YOU AVOID SOMETHING.

IT SEEMS SO SCARY --
THE ANTICIPATION.

THEN, WHEN IT FINALLY HAPPENS,
IT'S SUCH A RELIEF.

I MEAN, YOU WONDER WHY
YOU WERE SCARED AT ALL.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT,

HAVING THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
AND ALL.

MY MARRIAGE ISN'T PERFECT.

WHAT PROBLEMS COULD YOU
AND DOT POSSIBLY HAVE?

OH, NOTHING MUCH.

I GUESS WE'RE BOTH A LITTLE
OVERLY INVOLVED WITH THE KIDS.

WE DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME
FOR JUST THE TWO OF US.

THAT WILL CHANGE
ONCE THE BOYS GET OLDER.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK.

OF COURSE, SOMETIMES PEOPLE
WHOSE LIVES CENTER ON THEIR KIDS

FIND THAT WHEN
THEIR KIDS LEAVE,

THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
IN COMMON ANYMORE.

DOT AND I HAVE A LOT IN COMMON
ASIDE FROM THE KIDS.

SHE UNDERSTANDS YOUR WORK,
HUH?

WELL, SEE, THAT'S KIND
OF A RUNNING JOKE WITH US.

SHE NEVER DID UNDERSTAND
EXACTLY WHAT IT IS THAT I DO.

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.

THAT IS EXACTLY
HOW IT WAS WITH ME AND CHIPPER.

WE COULDN'T TALK
ABOUT ANY WORK-RELATED THINGS,

NOT THE WAY
THAT YOU AND I TALK.

WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE.

WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

DOT AND I...
UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

THAT'S GOOD.

THAT'S GOOD
THAT YOU CAN TALK TO DOT.

AND I MEAN, MAYBE, WHO KNOWS,

MAYBE YOU'LL BE ABLE
TO WORK THINGS OUT.

HOPE YOU HAVE MORE LUCK
THAN CHIPPER AND I DID.

SOME PEOPLE SAY
THAT A MARRIAGE WITH PROBLEMS

IS LIKE STALE BREAD.

YOU JUST CAN'T
MAKE IT FRESH AGAIN.

I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE THEY'RE WRONG.

...SAY THEY WENT
TO THE FAR EAST

LOOKING FOR TRADE AND
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

A CONTINGENT
OF BUSINESS LEADERS...

YOU THINK THEY'LL REACH
A VERDICT TODAY?

I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP TONIGHT

NOT KNOWING HOW THIS
IS GOING TO TURN OUT.

OH, LET'S BE HONEST.

WE'RE NOT CURIOUS
ABOUT THIS CASE

BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE
WHO'S GUILTY.

ONCE A LAWYER,
ALWAYS A LAWYER.

THE REASON WE'RE INTERESTED
AND THE REASON THE GOSSIP FLEW

IS BECAUSE OF A LITTLE
3-LETTER WORD SPELLED S-E-X.

WHAT IS IT
WITH EVERYBODY'S OBSESSION

WITH EVERYBODY ELSE'S SEX LIFE?

OH, SUSAN, COME ON!

WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO KNOW

THAT ELVIS WOULDN'T SLEEP
WITH WOMEN WHO HAD KIDS?

OR THAT FRANK GIFFORD
COULD BE SEDUCED

BY A FORMER FLIGHT ATTENDANT?

ME! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.

KATHIE LEE DIDN'T SUE
THE WOMAN WHO SEDUCED FRANK.

NO ALIENATION OF AFFECTION CASE
AIMED AT HER, RIGHT?

I MEAN, HOW MUCH AFFECTION
COULD THERE HAVE BEEN

TO ALIENATE
BETWEEN JOE AND DOT?

YOU SAID IT YOURSELF, FAYE.

THEY HADN'T HAD SEX FOR YEARS.

THERE'S MORE TO MARRIAGE
THAN SEX.

YOU CAN HAVE MARRIAGE
AND AFFECTION WITHOUT SEX.

YOU COULD,BUT WHY
IN GOD'S NAME WOULD YOU WANT TO?

I THINK IF THERE'S NO SEX,

THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD INDICATION
THAT THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG.

WHO SAID THERE WAS NO SEX?

HIS STORY AND HER STORY ARE
PRETTY DIFFERENT ON THAT ISSUE.

WELL, WHEN IT COMES
TO MEN AND WOMEN AND SEX,

AREN'T THE STORIES
ALWAYS DIFFERENT?

WHAT WAS
YOUR SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP LIKE

UP UNTIL THE EARLY '90s?

I WOULD SAY WE HAD
A GOOD SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP.

UM, WE HAD SEX
ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK.

NOW, AT SOME POINT,
DID THAT EVER CHANGE?

YES, AROUND, UM,
THE EARLY '90s -- '92ish --

I NOTICED THAT JOE

JUST DIDN'T SEEM
AS INTERESTED IN HAVING SEX.

OKAY.

AND HAD ANYTHING HAPPENED
AROUND THAT TIME

WITH RESPECT TO HIS JOB?

YES, HE GOT PROMOTED
TO PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.

DO YOU REMEMBER
THE KIND OF RESPONSES

YOU WERE GETTING FROM HIM
ABOUT SEX?

WELL, HE --
HE WOULD, UM --

HE WOULD JUST
TURN OVER AND SAY,

"I'M NOT INTERESTED."

AND SOMETIMES
I WOULD WAKE HIM UP,

AND HE'D SAY,
"OH, YOU WOKE ME UP.

NOW I WON'T BE ABLE
TO SLEEP."

THAT KIND OF A THING.

WHAT'S THE MATTER, HONEY?

TOUGH DAY AT WORK.

RUMORS ARE FLYING
THAT WE MAY GET BOUGHT.

I'M NOT SURE
HOW SECURE MY JOB IS.

YOU'RE JUST A WORRIER.

HMM.

I THINK I'M GOING TO SLEEP
ON THE SOFA.

SINCE WHEN IS THAT SOMETHING
HUSBANDS VOLUNTEER FOR?

I'M TIRED.

MY HEAD IS SPINNING.

I DON'T WANT TO TOSS AND TURN
AND KEEP YOU UP.

I LOVE YOU.

Dot: AND SOMETIMES
WHEN I WAS REAL LONELY,

I'D GO DOWN
AND LAY BY HIM ON THE COUCH.

BUT IT WAS KIND OF NARROW.

AND THE THING WAS,
I FELT I REALLY UNDERSTOOD

IF THAT'S THE WAY HE WAS,
IT WAS OKAY WITH ME.

I WAS HIS WIFE.

I WAS DEVOTED TO HIM.

I WANTED TO SUPPORT HIM.

I FIGURED I HAD THE REST
OF MY LIFE WITH HIM,

AND IF THAT'S HOW HE WANTED IT,
THAT WAS OKAY WITH ME.

I LOVED HIM
JUST THE WAY HE WAS.

TELL THE JURY
WHAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WAS LIKE

WITH YOUR WIFE IN THE EARLY
YEARS OF YOUR MARRIAGE.

IT WAS -- IT WAS GOOD.

IT WAS A MARRIAGE WHERE WE BOTH
GOT ALONG WITH EACH OTHER.

WE BOTH LIKED DOING
A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS.

IN THE '80s,
OUR CHILDREN WERE BORN,

AND THAT TAKES UP
A LOT OF YOUR TIME.

DID THE CHANGE OCCUR
IN THE MID-'80s OR LATER?

MORE TOWARD THE LATE '80s,
WHEN IT APPEARED THAT...

THAT DOT WASN'T INTERESTED
IN ME ANYMORE

AND ALL OF HER FOCUS
WAS ON THE CHILDREN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER,

WE REALLY DIDN'T.

IF I GOT CLOSE,

IT WAS, I WAS CONFINING HER
OR SMOTHERING HER.

IT WAS TOO HOT,
OR IT WAS TOO COLD,

OR SHE WAS TOO TIRED.

Is there any truth to that?

My gosh, we were married
for 18 years.

I must have said no sometimes,
but it wasn't like that!

NOW, WOULD YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE
FOR THE COURT, THE JURY,

WHAT YOUR
RELATIONSHIP WAS LIKE

WITH YOUR WIFE, DOT HUTELMYER,

IN THE EARLY '90s?

THERE WAS VERY LITTLE
PHYSICAL RELATIONSHIP.

SHE MADE AN ATTEMPT

ON THE NIGHT SHE TOOK ME
TO A HOTEL FOR OUR ANNIVERSARY.

SHE SURPRISED ME
FOR OUR 14th ANNIVERSARY.

OFFICIALLY UNPACKED.

EVERYTHING IS IN ITS PLACE.

WOW!

BABYSITTER FOR THE BOYS.
EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.

REALLY?
YOU DID THAT?

I AM SURPRISED.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.

Thank you.

WELL...

LOOK AT THAT
PAY-PER-VIEW!

OH, THAT'S ONE
OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES.

THAT'S $7.

THIS IS REALLY COMPLICATED,
HONEY.

YOU'LL HAVE TO
FIGURE THIS OUT.

DO YOU WANT SOME CHAMPAGNE?

UM...YEAH!

OH, DEAR, WE'RE GONNA
HAVE TO OPEN THAT OUTSIDE,

OR WE MIGHT GET IT
ALL OVER THE ROOM.

IT'S HOT IN HERE,
DON'T YOU THINK?

I WONDER WHERE
THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS.

DOT!

DID YOU HAVE SEX
WITH YOUR WIFE THAT NIGHT?

NO, SIR.

I DID NOT.

WHENEVER WE WENT AWAY,
WE MADE LOVE BEFORE WE UNPACKED.

♪ HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US

IT'S BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME.

YEAH.

AND I RENTED THE ROOM
FOR THE NIGHT

JUST FOR THE TWO OF US.

AND I GOT THE BOYS A SITTER.

AND I DIDN'T DO THAT SO WE
COULD GET A $5 BAG OF CHIPS

FROM THE MINI BAR.

OH, YEAH?

DID YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND
HAVE SEX THAT NIGHT?

YES.
YES, WE DID.

HE SAYS THEY DIDN'T HAVE SEX.

SHE SAYS THEY DID.

THEY BOTH CAN'T BE TELLING
THE TRUTH.

MAYBE HE STARTED
HAVING SEX WITH LYNNE

BECAUSE DOT STOPPED HAVING SEX
WITH HIM.

THAT'S WHAT THE JURY HAS TO
DECIDE -- WHO SEDUCED WHO.

WHOM.

HEY, HOLD ON A SECOND.
HERE IT IS.

ALTHOUGH DINNER
HAS BEEN SENT IN,

INDICATING
AN EXTENDED SESSION...

Burke:
WELL, NO NEWS IS NONEWS.

YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW
WHO STOPPED SLEEPING

WITH WHO, WHAT,
WHERE, OR WHEN.

BUT ACCORDING
TO THE OFFICE WORKERS

THAT TESTIFIED FOR DOT,

IT WAS THE MAIN TOPIC
OF CONVERSATION AT WINWOOD.

JOE, I NEED YOU TO LOOK
THESE OVER AND APPROVE THEM.

I'M GOING TO LUNCH.

WELL, SEE, I REALLY NEED THEM
APPROVED BADLY.

JUST PUT THEM ON MY DESK.

WELL, NO,
THAT WOULD BE AFTER LUNCH.

I NEED THE STUFF BEFORE LUNCH,
BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE...NOW.

5...4...3...

I'M GOING TO LUNCH,
GLORIA.

MM-HMM.

3...2...1...BINGO.

Mike: SO, YOU THINK
THEY'RE DOING IT YET?

I BET JOE'S GREAT IN BED.

HE'S GOT THAT BURNING LOOK.

THAT'S JUST INDIGESTION
ABOUT THE TAKEOVER RUMORS.

THE ONLY THING LYNNE COX
IS BURNING UP OVER

IS HIS $200,000 SALARY.

YOU THINK THEY TALK BUSINESS

WHILE THEY'RE...DOING IT?

MAYBE TALKING BUSINESS
ISIT FOR THEM.

KATIE, KIDNAP A CLUE, HONEY.

WELL, FOR SOME PEOPLE
IT IS.

NOT A WHOLE LOT OF BUSINESS
GOING ON THERE.

WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED
JOE WOULD BE A SUCKER

FOR A SHORT SKIRT?

DO YOU KNOW ROBIN BOONE?

YES.

ALL RIGHT.

HOW ABOUT LIBBY SMITH,
VICKIE MINOR, SARAH LITTLE,

SHERRY McKEEL, EVELYN DAYE?

YES,
THEY'RE ALL COWORKERS.

OKAY.

AND THEY ALL WORE SKIRTS
THAT WERE ABOUT AS SHORT AS,

OR THE SAME AS, THE SKIRTS
MS. COX, NOW HUTELMYER,

WORE FROM TIME TO TIME.

DIDN'T THEY?

I SUPPOSE SO, YES.

OKAY.

NOW THIS IS A STRANGE QUESTION.

DID ANYBODY ELSE --
DID ANY OF THE WOMEN THERE --

DID THEY EVER DO ANYTHING
TO THEIR HAIR?

LIKE -- LIKE COLOR IT?

MM-HMM.

YES, I'M SURE THEY DID.

HUMAN NATURE BEING WHAT IT IS.

BEING WHAT IT IS.

I WAS EMPLOYED
WITH WINWOOD INSURANCE,

WHERE JOE WAS PRESIDENT.

DO YOU REMEMBER AN OCCASION
DRIVING BY THE WINWOOD OFFICES

IN THE EVENING
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO?

YES, I DO.

IT WAS AROUND
8:00, 8:30 AT NIGHT,

AND JOE AND LYNNE'S CARS
WERE THE ONLY ONES THERE.

OH, MY GOD!

DO YOU REMEMBER A PARTICULAR
RECEPTION AT A CONFERENCE

YOU AND YOUR COWORKERS
ATTENDED?

YES, I DO.

IT WAS IN GREENSBORO.

I THINK IT WAS JULY BECAUSE
I REMEMBER HOW HOT IT WAS.

THE LOSS OF
THE ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT HURTS,

BUT I DON'T SEE IT
AS A LONG-TERM PROBLEM.

AS LONG AS WE KEEP WRITING,

I THINK
WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU REMEMBER PUTTING YOUR
HAND IN JOE HUTELMYER'S GLASS?

I RECALL REACHING IN
AND TAKING ICE OUT OF A GLASS,

BUT I ALSO RECALL THERE WERE
ABOUT THREE OTHER PEOPLE

AROUND US
DOING THE SAME THING.

DID THEY ALL GET THEIR HANDS
IN THERE AT THE SAME TIME?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I'LL GET A BETTER IDEA
WHERE WE ARE

WHEN I MEET WITH THE BIG GUYS
THIS WEEKEND.

YOU GOT
ANOTHER MEETING, HUH?

I DON'T SEE HOW YOU STAND
ALL THAT TRAVELING, BOY.

IF I WAS AWAY FROM MY WIFE
THAT LONG, WHOO!

YOU WERE SECRETARY
TO DON SANGREN,

THE PRESIDENT PRIOR
TO JOE HUTELMYER, FOR HOW LONG?

17 YEARS.

DID YOU EVER GO OUT OF STATE
ON COMPANY BUSINESS?

NO, SIR.

DID YOU EVER TRAVEL TO ANY
CONVENTIONS WITH MR. SANGREN?

NO, SIR.

DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING,
WITH RESPECT TO LYNNE,

WHEN MR. HUTELMYER
WOULD BE OUT OF TOWN?

YES, THEY TRAVELED
THE SAME TIMES.

DO YOU THINK ANYBODY SUSPECTED
THAT I WAS HERE WITH YOU?

I DON'T THINK SO.

I THINK YOU LIKE THIS.

I THINK YOU LIKE
LIVING DANGEROUSLY, DON'T YOU?

Yeah.

HEY, LISTEN, THAT MEETING
STARTS IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES!

TAKE ME WITH YOU.

HUH?

TAKE ME WITH YOU, HUH?

THIS MEETING
IS FOR TOP PRODUCERS ONLY.

LOOK, I FEEL TERRIBLE MAKING
YOU SNEAK AROUND LIKE THIS,

BUT I JUST COULD NOT COME UP
WITH A PLAUSIBLE REASON

FOR YOU TO BE HERE.

HOW ABOUT THAT YOU LOVE ME?
IS THAT A PLAUSIBLE REASON?

LYNNE, IT'S NOT LIKE THAT.

YOU...

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER
I CAN GO ON LIKE THIS.

I'M NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER.

I HAVE TO THINK
ABOUT MY FUTURE.

I'M NOT GOING TO BE MARRIED
FOREVER.

EVENTUALLY MY KIDS
ARE GOING TO MOVE OUT.

AND MINE WILL, TOO, AND I DON'T
WANT TO BE ALONE WHEN THEY DO.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS,
JOE.

YOU -- YOU CAN'T BE SNEAKING
AROUND IN HOTEL ROOMS WITH ME

AND THEN RUN BACK
TO YOUR REAL LIFE.

I GOT AN APARTMENT --
A RENTED ONE -- FOR MYSELF,

AS SORT OF A FIRST STEP
TOWARDS MOVING OUT.

I WAS GOING TO SURPRISE YOU.

LOOK, I'LL CALL DOT

AND TELL HER THE TRIP
WAS EXTENDED BY A DAY, OKAY?

OKAY, BABY?

MMM.

Yeah.

HELLO?

Dot?

HI, HONEY!

IT'S YOUR DAD.
SETTLE DOWN.

HI.
WE MISS YOU.

YOU SHOULD SEE ERIC'S COSTUME

FOR THE SCHOOL PLAY
TOMORROW NIGHT.

I, uh --
I can't be there.

YOU CAN'T?

He'll be so disappointed.

I JUST DON'T THINK I'M GOING
TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT, DOT.

UH, HEY,
CAN I TALK TO THE KIDS?

Uh-huh, just a minute.

IT'S YOUR DAD.
HE HAS TO WORK TOMORROW.

HELLO?

Hey, buddy!
How are you?

ALL RIGHT.

MISS YOU.

Oh, I miss you, too.

LISTEN, I DON'T THINK
I'M GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT

TO YOUR PLAY.

I love you, Joe.

OKAY.

WELL, UM, I'LL TELL YOU
ABOUT IT THEN.

OKAY. 'BYE.

'BYE.

I love you.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.
'BYE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
WE EVEN GOT CABLE.

CONGRATULATIONS,
MR. HUTELMYER.

I'M PROUD OF YOU.

I ORDERED AN EXTRA SET
OF KEYS FOR YOU,

AND THE MICROWAVE ARRIVES
ON FRIDAY.

WHERE'S THE PHONE?

I BETTER CALL CHIPPER

AND MAKE SURE HE'S GOING
TO PICK UP THE KIDS.

UH, I HADN'T GOT AROUND
TO THAT YET.

OH.

WELL, LET'S HOPE
WE DON'T HAVE TO CALL 911.

THANK YOU.

I LOVE IT.

Burke: OF COURSE
HE DIDN'T PUT A PHONE IN.

'CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT LYNNE
CHECKING TO SEE

IF HE WAS THERE AT NIGHT.

I DON'T THINK HE EVER DID
MOVE OUT OF HIS HOUSE.

THE NIGHTS HE SPENT THERE,

HE JUST TOLD DOT
HE WAS OUT OF TOWN.

THAT'S IF HE EVER TOLD LYNNE

HE WAS SEPARATED
IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I MEAN, MAYBE THAT APARTMENT WAS
A LITTLE LOVE NEST IS ALL.

WHY ARE WE ALL SO READY
TO BLAME THE WOMAN?

HE WAS LYNNE'S BOSS, RIGHT?

HE WAS THE ONE IN THE POWER
AND ALL THE CONTROL.

MAYBE HE INSISTED SHE GO
ON ALL THOSE BUSINESS TRIPS.

MAYBE HE DANGLED
THOSE PROMOTIONS IN FRONT OF HER

TO GET HER
TO GO TO BED WITH HIM.

WE BLAME THE WOMAN,
AND HE'S OFF THE HOOK, RIGHT?

DO YOU GUYS EVEN GET
WHAT THIS LAW WAS INTENDED FOR?

IT WAS WRITTEN
ABOUT 200 YEARS AGO

WHEN A WOMAN WAS CONSIDERED
A MAN'S PROPERTY,

LIKE A TRACTOR OR A HORSE.

IT WAS WRITTEN SO THAT
A MAN COULD RECLAIM HIS WIFE --

HIS PROPERTY -- IF SHE RAN OFF
WITH ANOTHER MAN.

DO YOU EVER TAKE A BREATH?

WELL, WHATEVER IT WAS
JOE TOLD LYNNE,

SEEMS LIKE IT ALL
FELL APART BY THANKSGIVING.

IN FACT, EVERY THANKSGIVING.

ALL TOGETHER AS A TEAM!

OH, MY GOD!
LOOK AT IT!

NOW THAT
IS A HANDSOME BIRD.

WHERE'S THE BREAD?
BOYS?

HE FORGOT IT.

NO, YOUDID.

NOW, NOW.
SETTLE DOWN.

I AM SO GLAD
TO HAVE JOE HOME WITH US.

HE'S BEEN WORKING SO HARD,
WE'VE BARELY SEEN HIM ALL YEAR.

HE GETS HOME JUST IN TIME
TO TUCK THE BOYS IN.

HE GOES RIGHT BACK
TO THE OFFICE.

I WANTED HIM TO SEE
WHAT HE'S BEEN MISSING.

COULD YOU SAY THE GRACE?

SURE.

WE THANK GOD
FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS

THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN
TO THIS FAMILY.

WE THANK GOD
FOR OUR PARENTS, OUR CHILDREN,

OUR FRIENDS, OUR MATES.

AMEN.

Eric: CAN WE EAT?

YEAH, LET'S EAT.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE.

Joe:
COULD YOU PASS THOSE ROLLS?

MY GOODNESS,
THEY LOOK DELICIOUS!

OKAY,
STOP SQUIRMING AROUND.

YOU PACK YOUR TOOTHBRUSH?

YEAH, MOM.

WHAT IF DAD MAKES US
EAT HIS RHUBARB PIE?

TELL HIM
YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO IT, OKAY?

HAVE A GOOD THANKSGIVING.

I LOVE YOU, MOM.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

I'M SHOOTING, I'M DRIVING.
AAH!

WHOO!

WHOO!

WAIT. I SHOT IT IN.
COME ON.

NO!

HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YAY!

WHOO! WHOO!

SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE NONE OF YOU

ARE GONNA BE PICKED UP
BY THE NBA, LET'S DO HOMEWORK.

HOMEWORK!

Joe: OH, BOY, HOMEWORK!

YEAH, WE BEAT DAD.

WHOO!

HEY!

AHH!

UH, I HAVE TO HEAD BACK TO
THE OFFICE FOR A COUPLE HOURS.

JOE, THAT'S THE THIRD NIGHT
THIS WEEK.

WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVING OUT
OF THE WINWOOD BUILDING

INTO THE INTEGON BUILDING,

AND I HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER
SOME COST PROJECTIONS.

DO YOU WANT ME TO WAIT UP,
AND WE CAN WATCH A MOVIE?

I'M NOT SURE
HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE.

IF YOU'RE HAVING FUN IN THERE,
YOU'RE IN BIG TROUBLE!

HOMEWORK!

WELL...

I MISS YOU, JOE.

UH, I CHANGED MY MIND.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY?

I CAN'T.

BUT PICK OUT A MOVIE,

AND WE'LL WATCH SOME OF IT
WHEN I GET BACK.

OKAY.

OKAY.

LYNNE?

HMM?

YOU AWAKE?

UNH-UNH.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

CHRISTMAS IS COMING.

IT'LL DO THAT EVERY YEAR,
SWEETIE.

I MADE A MISTAKE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I'M GIVING UP THIS APARTMENT.

I JUST CAN'T STAND THE THOUGHT
OF BEING WITHOUT MY BOYS.

OH, REALLY?

Yeah. I'm sorry.

I HOPE YOU DON'T THINK THAT
I'M GOING TO SIT AROUND HERE

WAITING FOR YOU
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

FROM NOVEMBER OF EVERY YEAR
UNTIL AFTER NEW YEAR'S,

MR. HUTELMYER AND I
DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER

BECAUSE HE ALWAYS
BROKE MY HEART

BY TELLING ME THAT HE WAS
GOING BACK TO HIS WIFE

BECAUSE THE HOLIDAYS
WERE THERE,

AND HE WANTED TO BE WITH HIS --
WITH HIS SONS.

AND DURING THAT TIME,

MR. HUTELMYER AND I
DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER.

I MEAN, OTHER THAN

WHEN WE HAD TO SEE EACH OTHER
AT THE OFFICE.

BUT YOU WENT OVER
TO THE COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY

IN '94, DID YOU NOT?

YES, WITH LOTS
OF OTHER PEOPLE.

AND DOROTHY HUTELMYER
WAS THERE WITH HER HUSBAND.

YES.

BY THE TIME
OF THE CHRISTMAS PARTY,

HE HAD ALREADY TOLD ME
THAT HE'D MOVED BACK,

THAT HE WAS LIVING
WITH HER AGAIN.

HO, HO, HO!

GLORIA PAULSEN, COME ON DOWN!

YAY!
WHOO!WHOO!

LYNNE COX.

DO WE HAVE A LYNNE COX?

Man: MERRY CHRISTMAS.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING,
SANTA.

JOE, DON'T FORGET THE KIDS.

They've been so patient.

Oh.

HO, HO, HO!

COME ON, GATHER AROUND,
GATHER AROUND.

HERE YOU GO!
COME ON.

LYNNE.

MIKE.

WHERE'S
YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT?

CHILDREN, COME ON!

LYNNE?

YES, SIR?

COULD YOU BRING ME
THE HUXTABLE FILE, PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

UM...

HOW WAS YOUR HOLIDAYS?

IS THERE SOME OFFICE BUSINESS

THAT YOU WANTED
TO DISCUSS WITH ME?

PLEASE, OPEN IT.

LYNNE, I MADE A MISTAKE.

I NEED YOU.

I WAS MISERABLE
OVER CHRISTMAS.

I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
EVERY SECOND.

I, UH --
I GOT THE APARTMENT BACK,

AND I'M GOING TO SEE
AN ATTORNEY.

I'M GOING TO GET
A SEPARATION AGREEMENT.

DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
MEET ME TONIGHT AFTER WORK

AT THE APARTMENT?

THEY'RE KISSING!

WHO?

JOE AND LYNNE.

WHAT'S GOING ON, GIRLS?

GLORIA JUST SAW JOE AND LYNNE
KISSING IN THE OFFICE.

I THINK WE SHOULD FINALLY
TELL HIS WIFE.

ME, TOO.

JOE IS OUR PAYCHECK.

YOU REALIZE HOW FAST

WE'LL BE LOOKING
FOR ANOTHER JOB IF WE TALK?

I THINK WE SHOULD KEEP
OUR MOUTHS SHUT.

SOMETHING JUICY'S
GOING DOWN HERE.

I CAN FEEL IT.

WHO'S DOING IT WITH WHO?

JOE AND LYNNE.

WE'RE JUST GUESSING
ON THAT.

HELLO!
I JUST SAW THEM KISSING.

HERE THEY COME!

Joe:
OKAY, EVERYBODY, LISTEN UP.

GATHER AROUND.

COME ON, COME ON.

I HAVE A COUPLE PROMOTIONS
I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE.

MIKE, HERE, WILL BE
OUR NEW HEAD OF SALES.

WHOO!
MIKE, THAT'S GREAT!

WAY TO GO, MIKE!

AND ANOTHER PROMOTION
FOR LYNNE COX.

SHE WILL GO
FROM DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES

TO V.P. OF COMPUTERS
AND COMMUNICATIONS.

OKAY, EVERYBODY,
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

LAURETTE'S BEEN HERE
20 YEARS.

SHE SHOULD HAVE THAT JOB.

LYNNE
IS THE ONLY V.P. I KNOW

THAT STILL ANSWERS
HER BOSS'S PHONE.

OKAY, NOW I THINK WE COULD CALL
THE HOME OFFICE

AND LET THEM IN
ON THESE SHENANIGANS.

AND WHAT ARE WE
GOING TO TELL THEM?

THAT WE CAN'T DO OUR WORK

BECAUSE WE'RE SPECULATING
ABOUT THE BOSS'S LIBIDO?

NO, I THINK I'LL KEEP MY JOB,
THANK YOU.

POOR DOT.

IN THE 20-SOME YEARS
YOU WORKED THERE,

ARE YOU AWARE OF ANY FEMALE
WITH ONLY A HIGH-SCHOOL DEGREE

GOING UP
AS QUICKLY AS MS. COX?

NO, SIR.

YOU WERE THE LEAD PHOTOGRAPH
AND INTERVIEW

IN A MAGAZINE ARTICLE,
WERE YOU NOT?

AN ARTICLE THAT DEALT

WITH THE RISE OF WOMEN
IN THE WORK FORCE.

YES, I WAS.

IS THIS YOU?

YES, IT IS.

WELL, YOU'RE NOT WEARING
GLASSES THERE, ARE YOU?

I WAS WEARING MY CONTACTS
AT THE TIME.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH DISTANCE
VISION WHEN I WEAR CONTACTS.

WOULD YOU HOLD THIS UP
SO THE JURY CAN SEE

HOW YOU APPEARED IN THE OFFICE

AND HOW YOU ARE DRESSING HERE
FOR THIS TRIAL?

EXCUSE ME?

IF YOU WOULD,

JUST COME DOWN

SO THE JURY CAN SEE HOW
YOU WERE DRESSING AT THE OFFICE,

AS OPPOSED TO HOW
YOU ARE DRESSED FOR THIS TRIAL.

YOUR HONOR, I OBJECT.

OBJECTION OVERRULED.

DIDN'T I TELL YOU LYNNE WAS
PLAYING THAT JURY FOR A FOOL?

NOT WEARING HER CONTACT LENS.

WHAT THE HECK
DID SHE TAKE THEM FOR?

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT HER TO DO --

SHOW UP IN COURT
WITH FISHNET STOCKINGS,

A PUSH-UP BRA, AND STILETTOS?

IF THE STILETTO FITS.

I WISH YOU ALL
WOULD GET OFF LYNNE.

WHAT ABOUT JOE?

Faye:
DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED.

I MEAN, WHAT KIND OF MAN
CALLS HIS WIFE,

TELLS HER HE'S OFF
ON A BUSINESS TRIP,

DOESN'T COME HOME FOR DAYS,

AND THEN, FINALLY DROPS BY
JUST TO SEND HER OFF

SO HE CAN PLAY HOUSE
WITH LYNNE?

Dot: JOE?

YEAH?

BILLS ARE ON THE SIDEBOARD.
MUST BE PAID!

DON'T FORGET.

LET'S GO, BOYS!

COME ON, GUYS.
LET'S GO.

GOT EVERYTHING?

HEY, LISTEN.
HEY, HEY, HEY!

PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR MOM.
ALL RIGHT?

SEE YA, DAD.

YOU'RE A SWEETIE.
GO ON.

HONEY, MY PARENTS
ARE REALLY GONNA MISS YOU.

AND WHO'S DAD GONNA COMPLAIN TO
ABOUT MOM'S COOKING?

YOU THINK THE BOYS
ARE OLD ENOUGH FOR THAT?

HONEY, DON'T YOU THINK
YOU COULD COME DOWN

AND JUST JOIN US
FOR THE WEEKEND?

OH, I'D LOVE TO.

I AM SO SWAMPED AT WORK.
I JUST CAN'T.

I MADE A MEAT LOAF,

AND THERE'S A BIG BOWL
OF POTATO SALAD

IN THE REFRIGERATOR.

AND FRIED CHICKEN, OKAY?

NO APPLAUSE.
JUST THROW MONEY.

'BYE.

BYE-BYE.
HAVE FUN.

MAY I SPEAK TO LAURETTE,
PLEASE?

HEY, BABE, IT'S ME.
LISTEN TO THIS.

JOE HUTELMYER AND LYNNE COX
JUST LEFT HIS HOUSE TOGETHER.

AND I THINK SHE MUST HAVE SPENT
THE NIGHT THERE,

BECAUSE HIS
WAS THE ONLY CAR THERE.

DOT AND THE KIDS
ARE AT HER MOM'S.

TALK ABOUT NERVE!

DOT'S BACK IS TURNED
FOR ONE SECOND.

RAE ANN KELLY
LIVES NEXT DOOR TO LYNNE.

AND WHEN SHE WAS AT HOME
ALL THAT TIME WITH THAT CANCER,

SHE WAS WATCHING
OUT THE WINDOW.

AND SHE SAID SHE SAW JOE'S CAR
THERE ALMOST EVERY NIGHT.

AND...

And sometimes
until the morning.

JOE HUTELMYER'S
A $200,000-A-YEAR GUY.

HE CAN'T BE DUMB ENOUGH
JUST TO PARK HIS CAR

RIGHT OUT FRONT OF LYNNE'S HOUSE
AT NIGHT IN PLAIN SIGHT.

NOT THAT
IT'S ANY OF MY BUSINESS.

AND WE ALL KNOW WE'RE NOT
TO LIE, TO STEAL, TO KILL.

BUT TODAY I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER SINS --

THE ONES WE DON'TCALL SINS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GOSSIP.

GOSSIP IS AN EVIL.

IF SOMEONE COMES TO YOU
WITH GOSSIP ABOUT ANOTHER...

Do you think
she has any idea?

Clueless.

...AND DO NOT FAN THE FLAMES
BY REPEATING IT.

PLEASE REMEMBER --

YOU HAVE THE POWER OF LIFE
AND DEATH IN YOUR TONGUE.

YOU CAN SPEAK LIFE,
OR YOU CAN SPEAK DEATH.

AMEN.

I heard his car
is in Lynne's driveway

till 2:00 or 3:00 a.m.

I heard it was there
till the morning.

WHEN WE GOSSIP,

WE HURT BOTH THOSE
WE GOSSIP ABOUT AND OURSELVES.

That's the best sermon
I ever heard.

THAT'S RIGHT, FOLKS.

THERE'S ONLY 12 SHOPPING DAYS
LEFT TILL CHRISTMAS.

SO, WHAT WOULD YOU
LIKE ME TO GET YOU

FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY, HONEY?

WHAT'S WRONG?

I DON'T KNOW.

MY KIDS, THE HOLIDAYS --
JUST REALLY A HARD TIME FOR ME.

I THINK THAT'S JUST BECAUSE
YOU KEEP PROLONGING THE AGONY.

YOU JUST GOT TO TELL DOT
THAT YOU WANT A DIVORCE

AND SPEND THE HOLIDAYS
WITH ME.

MY KIDS.

YEAH, I GOT KIDS, TOO.

AND EVERY TIME I COME OVER HERE
TO BE WITH YOU,

I HAVE TO PAWN THEM OFF
ON CHIPPER

OR MY NEIGHBOR OR SOMEONE.

IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME, EITHER,
BUT KIDS SURVIVE DIVORCE, JOE.

MINE DID, AND YOURS WILL, TOO.

I-I JUST REALLY FEEL

THAT I NEED TO SEE MY KIDS
OVER THE HOLIDAY.

YOU'RE GOING TO KILL ME,
I KNOW, AND I DON'T BLAME YOU.

OH, GOD!

I-I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU
ARE DOING THIS TO ME

THREE YEARS IN A ROW!

I'M SORRY.

DOT?

KIDS?

DOT?

SURPRISE!SURPRISE!SURPRISE!

HEY, JOE!

I FLEW THEM IN
FOR YOUR 40th!

ARE YOU SURPRISED?

WOW!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY.

OH!
OH!OH!

MAKE A WISH, HONEY.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
I'VE GOT A 40-YEAR-OLD SON.

AND IN JUST A FEW YEARS,

THESE YOUNG FELLOWS HERE
WILL BE OUT ON THEIR OWN,

AND THEN I'LL KNOW
I'M GOOD AND OLD.

I THINK HE LOOKS
PRETTY DARN GOOD

FOR A GERIATRIC PATIENT.

I'M, UH --
I'M GOING TO BE RIGHT BACK.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING, HONEY?

I LEFT THE DONNER FILE
AT THE OFFICE.

IT'S DUE TOMORROW.

I WAS GOING TO WORK ON IT
AT HOME.

WELL, CAN'T IT WAIT?
IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY.

HONEY, I MADE A COMMITMENT.

FOR GOD'S SAKES, JOE,
TAKE ONE NIGHT OFF.

I'll be back
before you know I'm gone.

EVERYONE,
PLEASE START WITHOUT ME.

WELL, THIS IS JUST GREAT.

NOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO TALK
ABOUT HIM BEHIND HIS BACK.

I'M GOING TO GO FINISH
MY HOMEWORK.

YEAH. ME, TOO.

IT'S A SHAME HE HAS TO BE
AT THE OFFICE SO MUCH.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE KEEP A LOT OF OLD PHOTOS
OF HIM AROUND.

THAT WAY WE RECOGNIZE HIM
WHEN HE DOES COME HOME.

LYNNE, PLEASE.

PICK UP.

COME ON, I KNOW YOU'RE THERE.

YOU'RE SCREENING YOUR CALLS,
RIGHT?

LYNNE.

FOR GOD'S SAKES, LYNNE!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!

AND I-I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE
MY LIFE WITH DOT

WITHOUT MY BOYS.

AND MY BOYS ARE GROWING UP
SO FAST.

I'M 40 YEARS OLD,
AND I-I-I'M A MESS.

PICK UP! PLEASE!

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, LYNNE.

UGH.

LYNNE!

I AM BEGGING YOU!

I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE.

JUST --
I JUST WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

THAT'S ALL.

I WANT TO --
I WANT TO HAVE LUNCH WITH YOU.

LYNNE, I'M BEGGING YOU!

I BOUGHT A WEDDING RING.

I WANT TO MARRY YOU.

YES.

OH, YES, JOE!

I LOVE YOU.

ANY REASON YOU'RE NOT WEARING
THAT RING FOR THE JURY TODAY?

THE REASON I'M NOT WEARING IT
IS MY FINGERS ARE SWOLLEN,

AND, QUITE FRANKLY,
I COULDN'T EVEN GET IT ON.

OH.

SO YOU HAVE TROUBLE WITH
YOUR EYES ANDYOUR FINGERS.

YES,
IT'S VERY WARM IN HERE.

MY FINGER --
MY HANDS ARE SWOLLEN.

HI, HONEY, YOU'RE HOME.

CAN I MAKE YOU
A TUNA-FISH SANDWICH?

NO, THANKS.

UM, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT SOMETHING.

WHAT IS IT?

UH, I DON'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOU THIS,

BUT I, UH --
I CAN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE.

AND I'M LEAVING YOU, DOT.

I WANT A DIVORCE.

A DIVORCE?

I PUT YOU SECOND --
SOMETIMES THIRD --

AND I CAN'T...

I-I WOULDN'T BLAME YOU
IF YOU HATED ME.

HOW COULD I HATE YOU?

I LOVE YOU.

LATELY
I'VE BEEN FEELING SICK,

AND I'VE HAD
A LOT OF HEADACHES

AND A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON.

WHAT'S WRONG?

I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S WRONG.

YOU CAN'T JUST WALK IN HERE
AND TELL ME YOU'RE LEAVING.

I CAN'T STAY.
I-I CAN'T STAY.

JOE,
WHAT ABOUT ME AND THE KIDS?

NOTHING WILL CHANGE
FOR YOU AND THE CHILDREN.

I'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

LISTEN, I-I HAVE
AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN ATTORNEY.

I SHOULD GO.

GO?

I CAN'T BELIEVE
THIS IS HAPPENING.

YOU CAN'T JUST WALK IN HERE
AND TELL ME YOU'RE LEAVING.

WE HAVE A FAMILY!

WE'RE GOING ON A FAMILY
SKI TRIP IN FOUR DAYS.

THE BOYS WILL NOTICE
THAT YOU'RE NOT THERE.

WE WILL GO TO THE HOTEL.

WE'LL GET SEPARATE ROOMS --
WHATEVER.

BUT WE'LL WORK THIS OUT.

JOE, YOU'RE JUST WORKING
TOO HARD.

NO.

NO.

JOE, YOU AT LEAST
HAVE TO COME BACK

AND TELL THE CHILDREN
WHY YOU'RE LEAVING.

I WILL, I WILL.

I'M...

I SHOULD GO.

JOE?

JOE?

JOE?

DID JOE RETURN THE NEXT DAY
TO TALK TO THE CHILDREN?

NO. NO, HE DIDN'T.

AND I HAD DECIDED I WASN'T
GONNA TELL ANYONEABOUT JOE

UNTIL WE TOLD THE BOYS.

I COULDN'T TELL THE BOYS
WITHOUT JOE BEING THERE,

BECAUSE
HE NEEDED TO BE THERE

TO ASSURE THEM
THAT HE LOVED THEM

AND IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT.

I DIDN'T WANT TO TELL
THE BOYS ABOUT JOE

WHILE THE CHRISTMAS
DECORATIONS WERE UP,

BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID
THEY'D ALWAYS ASSOCIATE

CHRISTMAS
WITH SOMETHING SAD.

I GOT TO...

TELL YOU GUYS
SOMETHING, OKAY?

AND...THERE'S NO --

THERE'S NO GOOD WAY --
THERE'S NO GENTLE --

THERE'S NO NICE WAY
TO TELL YOU

WHAT I HAVE TO TELL YOU.

SO I'M GONNA SAY IT OUT,
OKAY?

UM...

YOUR DADDY HAS LEFT US.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT I WILL ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE

IF I CAN, OKAY?

WE'RE GONNA BE
ALL RIGHT, NOW.

WE'RE GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

B-BUT IS HE EVER COMING BACK
TO LIVE WITH US?

NO.

I DON'T THINK SO.

BUT HE'S STILL GONNA SEE
YOU BOYS ALL THE TIME.

SO, ARE YOU GUYS GETTING
A DIVORCE OR SOMETHING?

YEAH, I GUESS IF THINGS
DON'T GET BETTER WE ARE.

BUT...

WHY?

I THOUGHT YOU GUYS WERE --
WERE HAPPY.

I THOUGHT --

I THOUGHT WE ALL
WERE JUST HAPPY.

WHAT HAPPENED?

I DON'T KNOW, ERIC.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT.

I GOT --
I GOT A NUMBER HERE.

IT'S YOUR DADDY'S NUMBER.

YOU BE MY BIG GUY, NOW,
AND GO CALL YOUR DADDY,

AND I'M SURE HE'LL ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.

OKAY?

GO CALL YOUR DADDY.

GO ON, OKAY?

Keith: It's true?

Aren't you gonna come back?

THIS DOESN'T CHANGE ANYTHING
BETWEEN THE THREE OF US.

THIS IS BETWEEN
YOUR MOTHER AND ME.

I, UH -- I JUST DON'T LOVE

your mother anymore the way
a husband loves a wife.

SO, I'M GONNA COME
AND SEE YOU GUYS SOON.

OKAY?

Everything's gonna be
all right.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY. UH...

WHAT DO YOU SAY WE GET
PACKED FOR THAT SKI TRIP?

WE STILL GOING?

YEAH, WE'RE STILL GOING.

COME ON, BABY.

IT'S GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.

DO YOU REMEMBER
IN "TOM SAWYER"

WHEN EVERYBODY THOUGHT
TOM DROWNED,

BUT HE DIDN'T,
AND HE --

AND HE COMES BACK?

I...

I JUST KEEP HOPING

THAT'S THE WAY
IT'S GONNA BE WITH DAD.

ME, TOO, HONEY.

ME, TOO.

WHEN WE GOT BACK
FROM THAT SKI TRIP,

HONESTLY, I JUST --

I COULDN'T KEEP IT IN
ANYMORE.

I DECIDED I WAS JUST GONNA TELL THE VERY FIRST PERSON I SAW.

MY NEIGHBOR NANCY
WAS THE LUCKY VICTIM.

THE WHOLE THING IS SO WEIRD.

HE KEPT SAYING HE WAS SICK,

WHICH IS
REALLY OUT OF CHARACTER.

I MEAN, I AM STANDING THERE
IN MY OWN KITCHEN,

MAKING A TUNA-FISH SANDWICH,

AND MY HUSBAND WALKS IN
AND TELLS ME HE'S LEAVING.

EVEN THE THOUGHT OF TUNA FISH
MAKES ME SICK NOW.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN
IN A CAR ACCIDENT,

AND THE WHOLE THING
KEEPS PLAYING OVER

IN YOUR MIND REAL SLOW?

AND YOU KEEP TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT

WAYS YOU MIGHT HAVE
AVOIDED IT.

THAT IS WHAT MY WHOLE
MARRIAGE FEELS LIKE.

I KEEP GOING OVER IT
IN MY HEAD,

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
HOW WE GOT TO WHERE WE ARE,

AND HONEST TO GOD, NANCY,

I DO NOT KNOW HOW
MY WHOLE LIFE GOT TOTALED.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES
WHEN THIS HAPPENS,

THERE'S
ANOTHER WOMAN INVOLVED.

NOT JOE. NO.

IF I WERE YOU, I'D HIRE
A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR.

A PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR?

MM-HMM.

WELL, FOR HEAVEN'S --

DOROTHY HUTELMYER?

IT'S KATIE.

I WORK AT WINWOOD
WITH YOUR HUSBAND, JOE.

YES, HOW ARE YOU?

I'm fine.

BUT WE ALL HEARD HERE

THAT THE NEWS IS OUT NOW
ABOUT JOE AND LYNNE,

AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY
WE'RE SORRY WE NEVER TOLD YOU,

BUT WE WERE ALL KIND OF
WORRIED ABOUT OUR JOBS.

And then it went on
for so long --

I mean, three years
is foreverfor an affair --

HE WAS SEEING HER FOR --

THREE YEARS.

AT THE VERY LEAST,
THE WHOLE SITUATION

HAS BEEN A DISTRACTION
FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES.

AT THE WORST,
YOU'VE SADDLED US

WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR
A HUGE SEXUAL-HARASSMENT CASE.

I THINK THE BEST THING
FOR EVERYONE

WOULD BE FOR YOU TO LEAVE.

JOE, YOU'RE A SMART GUY.

HOW COULD YOU DO
SOMETHING SO STUPID?

THERE'S NO WAY
THIS OFFICE CAN FUNCTION

WITH THE CONTINUED PRESENCE
OF YOU AND MR. HUTELMYER.

HOWEVER, WE ARE PREPARED
TO OFFER YOU

A RICH SEVERANCE PACKAGE

IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR
AGREEING TO HOLD THIS COMPANY

AND MR. JOSEPH P. HUTELMYER

HARMLESS OF ANY
SEXUAL-HARASSMENT CHARGES

NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU
LADIES FOR MEETING ME TODAY.

IT'S VERY EMBARRASSING.

I HAVE SOME --
SOME QUESTIONS.

MY CHILDREN GO TO SCHOOL
WITH HER CHILDREN,

FOR GOD'S SAKES,
AND I SORT OF NEED TO KNOW

BEFORE MY CHILDREN.

LYNNE TOTALLY CHANGED
THE WAY SHE LOOKED,

STARTED FLIRTING AROUND.

YOU MEAN WHEN SHE
FIRST CAME TO THE COMPANY?

I MEAN THE MINUTE
YOUR HUSBAND BECAME

PRESIDENT OF THE COMPANY.

SHE STARTED HANGING OUT IN
HIS OFFICE ALL DAY LONG --

THE WHOLE TIME.

DID SHE GO
ON THE BUSINESS TRIPS?

MM-HMM. ALL OF THEM.

SHE WENT ON
ALL THE TRIPS WITH HIM.

WHEN SHE WASN'T HAVING HIM
OVER TO HER HOUSE

ALL HOURS
OF THE DAY ANDNIGHT.

YOU OKAY, HONEY?

YOU WANT A FRY?

KEEP YOUR STRENGTH UP?

SURE.

WELL, THAT'S, UH --
THAT'S THAT, THEN.

I THINK WE GOT
A PRETTY FAIR SETTLEMENT.

I HAD A GOOD MARRIAGE,
A SOLID MARRIAGE,

UNTIL THAT WOMAN WALKED IN
AND DESTROYED IT!

WHAT,
YOU WANT ME TO BE HAPPY

BECAUSE JOE GAVE ME ALIMONY?

WELL, BELIEVE ME,
I AM NOTHAPPY.

THERE IS NOTHING FAIR
ABOUT ANY OF THIS!

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?

WHAT COULD SHE HAVE DONE
TO MAKE YOU DO THIS?

LOOK, DOT,
IT JUST SORT OF HAPPENED.

"IT JUST SORT OF HAPPENED"
FOR THREE YEARS?

LYNNE, GO WAIT IN THE CAR.

I DON'T WANT YOU
SUBJECTED TO THIS.

YOU DON'T WANT HER
SUBJECTED TO THIS?

YOU'RE MARRIED TO ME
FOR 18 YEARS,

AND YOU DON'T WANT HER
SUBJECTED TO THIS?

AND YOU!
YOU'RE A DAMN THIEF!

YOU COME INTO MY HOME
AND YOU STEAL MY HUSBAND.

I WELCOMEDYOU INTO MY HOME,
AND YOU DESTROYED IT!

COME BACK HERE.
I'M TALKING TO YOU!

DOT, YOU'RE MAKING
A FOOL OF YOURSELF!

NO, I THINK
YOU DID THAT FORME!

Look -- isn't that
Dot Hutelmyer?

ATTENTION, SHOPPERS.

WE'RE HAVING A SPECIAL
TODAY ON SOFT DRINKS.

BUY ANY SIX-PACK
AND GET ANOTHER FOR HALF PRICE.

THANK YOU.

HI.

HI.

ATTENTION, SHOPPERS,
THIS IS DOT HUTELMYER,

AND, YES, I AM DIVORCED NOW.

YES, MY HUSBAND LEFT ME
FOR LYNNE COX,

AND THEY HAD AN AFFAIR
FOR YEARS.

IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING
YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK ME

OR SAY TO ME,

COULD YOU PLEASE COME
TO CHECKOUT AISLE 3

AND SAY IT TO MY FACE?
THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO SAY --

WHAT?

I THINK WHAT LYNNE COX DID
WAS TERRIBLE.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

IT JUST FELT SO GOOD
TO HEAR HER SAY

WHAT LYNNE COX DID WAS WRONG.

I WILL SHOUT IT FROM
THE ROOFTOPS IF YOU WANT.

AND I WANT EVERYBODY TO STOP
CALLING ME "POOR DOT."

THEY OUGHT TO PUT IT
ON MY LICENSE OR SOMETHING --

POOR DOT HUTELMYER,
5'5".

AND I KNOW
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO FEEL

SOME CLOSURE
AFTER A DIVORCE,

BUT I --

I DON'T.

SUE HER.

SUE HER?

SUE HER FOR WHAT,
GRAND THEFT HUSBAND?

I DON'T KNOW.

PEOPLE SUE EACH OTHER
FOR EVERYTHING.

THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING
YOU COULD SUE HER FOR.

WELL, EVEN IF I COULDSUE
HER FOR SOMETHING,

THAT WOULD MEAN EXPOSING
THE BOYS TO COURT,

AND I COULDN'T DO THAT.

I AM RAISING SONS, TOO.

I WANT THEM TO KNOW
THAT PEOPLE

HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES
FOR BEING A JERK.

THAT'S THE WORST PART.

JOE WASN'T A JERK.

HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

I HAD A GOOD MARRIAGE.

I WANT THE WORLD
TO KNOW THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

BUT I HAD A GOOD MARRIAGE
TO A GOOD MAN

UNTIL LYNNE COX
TOOK THAT ALL APART.

I'M SORRY.

HONEY...

IT'S OKAY TO FALL APART
WHEN YOUR MARRIAGE DOES.

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

I DON'T WANT
TO FALL APART.

I WANT TO DOSOMETHING.

I WANT TO SUE LYNNE COX
FOR ALIENATION OF AFFECTION

AS PRESCRIBED BY THE A.L.R.,

SECTION 12, VOLUME 2,
PAGE 807.

MRS. HUTELMYER,

I HAVE TO TELL YOU,

THESE TYPES OF CASES
CAN BE DIFFICULT TO WIN.

WE NOT ONLY HAVE TO PROVE
YOU HAD A HAPPY MARRIAGE --

A DIFFICULT THING
TO DEMONSTRATE --

BUT ALSO THAT MS. COX
INTENTIONALLY SET OUT

TO TAMPER WITH THAT.

I UNDERSTAND THAT,
MR. WALKER.

AND I KNOW THAT
A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK

JOE WOULDN'T HAVE LEFT
IF THERE HADN'T BEEN

SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE
MARRIAGE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BUT ONLY ME, JOE, AND
MY BOYS LIVED IN THAT HOUSE,

AND ONLY I KNOW IN MY HEART
WHAT IS TRUE --

THAT WE HAD A GOOD
AND SOLID MARRIAGE

UNTIL THAT WOMAN
CAME ALONG.

IT WILL MEAN THE AIRING

OF A LOT OF DIRTY LAUNDRY
IN PUBLIC.

YOUR SEX LIFE WITH YOUR
HUSBAND WILL BE DISCUSSED --

ALMOST ANYTHING TO DO WITH
YOUR MARRIAGE IS FAIR GAME.

ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT
YOUR FAMILY SUBJECTED TO THAT?

I HAVE DEVOTED MY LIFE
TO MY FAMILY, MR. WALKER.

I DO NOT INTEND
TO TURN BACK NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

LOOK AT THIS.

SHE IS SUING ME!

THAT BITCH OF AN EX-WIFE
OF YOURS IS SUING ME!

DOT, PLEASE DON'T DO THIS.

IT ISN'T FAIR
TO DRAG LYNNE OVER THE COALS.

I'M THE ONE WHO DID WRONG,
AND I KNOW IT.

I CAN'T HELP THAT I FELL
IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

I HAD NO CONTROL
OVER THAT PART,

BUT I HANDLED THE WHOLE
THING REALLY HORRIBLY,

AND I'M SORRY,

BUT I JUST DON'T SEE WHAT
YOU HOPE TO GAIN FROM THIS.

LYNNE WAS FIRED, TOO.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET
MUCH MONEY OUT OF HER.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT MONEY.

I DON'T CARE
IF I GET A PENNY, JOE.

I JUST WANT SOMEONE
TO AGREE WITH ME

THAT WHAT LYNNE DID
WAS WRONG.

HOW CAN YOU DRAG OUR...
dirty laundry

OUT INTO OPEN COURT
IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE TOWN?

I THINK YOUARE
THE LAST PERSON IN THE WORLD

THAT SHOULD BE ASKING ME
"HOW COULD I"ABOUT ANYTHING.

ISN'T THERE ANY WAY

THAT WE CAN WORK
THIS THING OUT BETWEEN US?

OH, I WISH YOU'D ASKED ME
THAT THREE YEARS AGO.

DOT...

I'M SORRY.

NOW, LYNNE,
IN THE DIVORCE DECREE

BETWEEN THE HUTELMYERS,

YOU WERE ACCUSED
OF INTERFERING

WITH THE LOVING MARITAL
RELATIONSHIP WHICH EXISTED

BETWEEN THE PLAINTIFF
AND JOSEPH PETER HUTELMYER.

BY YOUR ACTIONS AND CONDUCT
AND ENTICEMENTS,

YOU INDUCED
JOSEPH PETER HUTELMYER

TO LEAVE HIS MARITAL HOME.

YOU ALIENATED AND DESTROYED

A LOVE AND AFFECTION
THAT PREVIOUSLY EXISTED

BETWEEN THE PLAINTIFF
AND JOSEPH HUTELMYER,

AND SEDUCED
JOSEPH PETER HUTELMYER.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE
TO THESE ALLEGATIONS?

I DENY THEM.

YOU DENY THEM?

YOU DENY EVERYONE OF THEM?

SHE STATED
THAT SHE DENIED THEM.

I DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT I INDUCED HIM

TO LEAVE THE MARITAL HOME.

I THINK HE WAS ALREADY GONE,

AND I DO NOT BELIEVE
THAT I SEDUCED HIM.

I DO NOT TAKE
FULL RESPONSIBILITY

FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

AND UNTIL DOT CAN
ACKNOWLEDGE THAT SHE SHARES

IN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
BREAKDOWN OF THIS MARRIAGE,

SHE CAN NEVER GET ON
WITH HER LIFE.

WELL, THANK YOU, DR. LYNNE.

EVEN IF JOE SEDUCED HER
AND NOT VICE VERSA,

SHE HAD NO RIGHT
TO BLAME IT ON DOT.

THAT JUST BURNS ME.

I JUST KEEP THINKING
OF THE SAYING,

"ALL BAD MARRIAGES
ARE THE SAME."

BUT THAT'S THE POINT, SUSAN.
IT WAS A GOODMARRIAGE,

AND THEN LYNNE CAME IN
AND BROKE IT UP.

THAT'S WHAT
THE JURY'S BEEN DECIDING

ALL AFTERNOON, ISN'T IT?

DID LYNNE COX ALIENATE

THE AFFECTIONS
OF THE PLAINTIFF?

THE FIRST THING THAT
DOT HUTELMYER HAS TO PROVE

IS THAT THERE REALLY WAS

A GENUINE,
MARITAL RELATIONSHIP.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF EVIDENCE
THAT THERE WAS

A GREATRELATIONSHIP
IN THE BEGINNING.

AND I HAVE SEEN
A LOT OF EVIDENCE

THAT MAYBE THERE WASN'T,
IN THE END,

A GENUINE,
MARITAL RELATIONSHIP.

TOWARDS THE END,

JOE HUTELMYER WAS ABLE
TO CARRY ON TWO LIVES.

DOT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE.

DOES THAT NOT TELL YOU

THERE ARE PROBLEMS
IN THIS MARRIAGE --

WHEN A MAN CAN LIVE
TWO LIVES,

AND THE WIFE
DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE

THAT ANYTHING IS GOING ON?

AND SHE SAYS,

"I HAVE NO RESPONSIBILITY.

IT'S ALL
THE OTHER WOMAN'S FAULT."

DOT
IS THE CONTROLLING FAULT.

SHE IS THE EFFECTIVE CAUSE
OF THIS.

WHEN DO YOU LEARN
TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY

AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE?

THIS TRIAL
IS ABOUT A FEW THINGS.

MAINLY, IT'S ABOUT MONEY.

DOROTHY HUTELMYER
WANTS MORE MONEY.

BUT DON'T MAKE LYNNE COX PAY

FOR JOE AND DOT'S
FAILED MARRIAGE --

NOT AFTER WHAT YOU KNOW
ABOUT HIM.

IT IS NEITHER RIGHT
NOR FAIR.

AS JOE HUTELMYER ADMITTED
SAYING TO HIMSELF

THE NIGHT
HE DECIDED TO LEAVE,

"MY KIDS ARE GROWING OLD,

"I'M LIVING WITH A WOMAN
I HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH

"EXCEPT MY CHILDREN.

I DO NOT WANT TO GROW OLD
IN THIS SITUATION."

HE MADE THAT DECISION!

HEDID.

AND HE IS PAYING THE PRICE --
HE'S A BIG BOY --

$4,000 A MONTH.

IT IS NOT
LYNNE COX'S PRICE TO PAY.

AND THE WIFE SAYS,

"I HAD NO IDEA
MY HUSBAND WAS UNHAPPY.

"I DON'T ACCEPT
THE RESPONSIBILITY.

"I BLAME THE OTHER WOMAN,
AND I WANT MORE MONEY

TO MAKE ME FEEL BETTER."

THAT'S WHAT
THIS CASE IS ABOUT.

MONEY.

AND I SUBMIT TO YOU

THAT THERE HAS BEEN
A FAILURE...

OF THE BURDEN OF PROOF.

I THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

SUDDENLY,
MS. COX IS THE VICTIM.

LYNNE COX IS NOT A VICTIM.
SHE IS A CAUSE.

AND MR. ALDERMAN IS SAYING

PUNISH DOT BECAUSE SHE
BELIEVED IN HER HUSBAND --

BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED

THE MAN THAT WROTE HER
ALL THESE POEMS,

BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED

THE MAN THAT HAD BEEN
A GOOD MAN.

HOW ABOUT THAT ROCK?

HOW MANY OF YOU LADIES
HAVE A $3,000 DIAMOND?

DIDN'T EVEN WEAR IT.

SHE AIN'T GONNA GET UP HERE

AND WAVE THAT $3,000 ROCK
IN YOUR FACES.

"LET'S DECEIVETHE JURY.

"THEY'RE STUPID, RIGHT?

THEY FELL OFF
THE TURNIP TRUCK YESTERDAY."

THAT'S WHAT SHE THINKS
OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE.

I KNOW YOU'RE TIRED,

BUT I APPRECIATE
YOU BEARING WITH ME.

THINK ABOUT THIS
A LITTLE BIT --

LYNNE COX WAS DESCRIBED
AS MATRONLY, SHY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THERE'S THIS OTHER WOMAN --

SEXY, SULTRY LOOKS AT JOE.

HOW MANY OF YOU LADIES
EVER GO IN YOUR BOSS'S OFFICE

AND TAKE A CHAIR --
WITH A DRESS ON --

AND PUT YOUR LEGS
OVER THE ARM OF THE CHAIR

AND LET YOUR DRESS
HIKE UP TO YOUR THIGHS?

ANY OF Y'ALL EVER DO THAT?

MNH-MNH.

SO WHAT CHANGED?

I THINK
YOU KNOW WHAT CHANGED.

JOE HUTELMYER GOT PROMOTED.

HE'S THE MAN.

SUDDENLY, MS. COX IS
IN HIS OFFICE ALL THE TIME.

SHE'S STRAIGHTENING HIS TIE,

GRABBING ICE
OUT OF HIS DRINK,

AROUSING HIM.

NOW...

WAS THERE A GENUINE
MARITAL RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN JOE AND DOT?

A GENUINE
MARITAL RELATIONSHIP

IS ONE WHERE THERE IS
SOME DEGREE OF LOVE.

DOES THAT MEAN
IF THERE WAS NO SEX,

THERE WAS NO DEGREE
OF LOVE OR AFFECTION?

NO.
IT MEANS THERE WAS NO SEX,

AND I THINK YOU KNOW
WHY THERE WAS NO SEX.

SEX WAS TAKING PLACE
OVER AT LYNNE'S HOUSE.

THIS IS ABOUT A MARRIAGE.

IT'S ABOUT LOVE AND COMFORT.

THINK ABOUT SOME
OF THESE THINGS --

YOU GET SICK,
NOBODY'S THERE WITH YOU.

YOUR PARENTS DIE,

NOBODY'S THERE TO GO
TO THE FUNERAL WITH YOU.

PEOPLE LEAVE YOU OUT

BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT A PART
OF THE GROUP ANYMORE.

HOW DO YOU PUT
A PRICE ON THAT?

THAT BRINGS US
TO PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARE TO SAY,
"LADY, WHAT YOU DID IS SO BAD,

"WE WANT TO SAY TO EVERYBODY
IN ALAMANCE COUNTY,

"'YOU DON'T GO OUT
AND DO THAT.

"'YOU DON'T GO DO
WHAT LYNNE COX DID.

"'YOU DON'T SET YOUR MIND

"'WHEN YOUR BOSS
BECOMES PRESIDENT

"THAT YOU'RE GONNA DESTROY
THIS MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.

WE WANT TO GET
THIS MESSAGE OUT.'"

MARRIAGE IS IN TROUBLE.

PEOPLE ARE DIVORCED,
FAMILIES ARE BROKEN.

THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY
TO PREACH TO THE COMMUNITY,

TO TELL THEM
ADULTERY IS WRONG.

YOU PREACH THAT WORD.

THANK YOU.

MMM! LOW BLOW
ON THE MESSAGE THING.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

WALKER'S CLOSE THIS MORNING
WAS FABULOUS.

JURIES ARE NOT SUPPOSED
TO SEND MESSAGES.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO JUDGE
GUILT OR INNOCENCE.

YOU CAN STILL GET THE MESSAGE
THAT ADULTERY'S WRONG

AND NOT LAY ALLTHE BLAME
ON LYNNE.

WELL, THEY OUGHT TO SEND
A DIFFERENT MESSAGE --

KEEP YOUR PRIVATE LIFE
OUT OF THE COURTROOM.

Y'ALL, HUSH UP.
THERE'S A BULLETIN.

AFTER A 5-HOUR DELIBERATION,

THE JURY HAS REACHED A VERDICT

IN THE HUTELMYER
ALIENATION OF AFFECTION TRIAL.

THEY ARE JUST REENTERING
THE COURTROOM,

AND WE'LL BE BRINGING YOU
THAT VERDICT

AS SOON AS IT'S ANNOUNCED.

ANYBODY CARE TO MAKE A WAGER?

YOU'RE ON.

WE NOW RETURN
TO OUR SCHEDULED PROGRAM.

HAVE YOU REACHED A VERDICT?

WE HAVE, YOUR HONOR.

Judge: DID THE DEFENDANT,
LYNNE COX,

ALIENATE THE AFFECTIONS
OF THE PLAINTIFF'S HUSBAND?

YES.

Judge: ORDER!

WHAT AMOUNT, IF ANY,

OF COMPENSATORY
AND/OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES

IS THE PLAINTIFF ENTITLED
TO RECOVER

FROM THE DEFENDANT?

WE FIND FOR THE PLAINTIFF
IN THE SUM OF $1 MILLION.

ORDER!

NO WAY! NO!

ORDER!

ORDER IN THE COURT!

OH, MAN!
YOU KNOW THAT'S WRONG.

YOU KNOWTHAT'S WRONG!

THEY'RE GONNA APPEAL.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

I REALLY JUST FEEL LIKE
THE PEOPLE OF NORTH CAROLINA

SAID I WAS RIGHT
TO STAND UP FOR MYSELF

AND TOLD LYNNE COX

THAT SHE WAS WRONG
TO BREAK UP MY HOME,

AND THAT'S ALL
I REALLY EVER WANTED.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE
A SYMBOL FOR FAMILY VALUES?

NO.

NO, I...

THINK I'M AN...

ORDINARY PERSON.

AND I REALLY JUST WANT
TO GET BACK TO MY BOYS

AND ON WITH MY LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN --HOW DO --

EXCUSE US, PLEASE.

Woman: HOW DO YOU THINK
YOUR BOYS

WILL REACT TO THE VERDICT?

Eric: THEY ALWAYS SEEMED
REALLY HAPPY TO ME...

BOYS? I'M HOME.

THEY DID LOTS OF STUFF
TOGETHER, AND, UH --

AND MY MOM AND DAD
THEY JUST DIDN'T FIGHT.

HONEY,
WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?

JANE PAULEY'S ON THE PHONE.

GIVE ME THE PHONE. GO.

HELLO? WHOEVER THIS IS,

I DON'T THINK
THIS IS VERY FUNNY.

OH, MS. PAULEY?

NO, I DON'T MIND
TALKING TO YOU,

BUT I WOULD PREFER
YOU NOT TALK TO MY CHILDREN.

YES, THAT WOULD BE FINE.

TOMORROW -- YES.

YES, THANK YOU.

HUH.

Woman: HELLO, I'M CALLING
FOR DOT HUTELMYER.

WE'D LIKE
TO BOOK YOU ON "20/20"

TO DISCUSS YOUR LAWSUIT.

Man: HELLO.
I'M A PRODUCER FOR "DATELINE."

WE'D LIKE TO INTERVIEW YOU
FOR OUR NEWSMAGAZINE.

Woman: HI, YOU DON'T KNOW ME,

BUT I JUST HEARD
ABOUT YOU WINNING YOUR SUIT.

MY HUSBAND LEFT ME
FOR OUR BABYSITTER

AFTER 15 YEARS OF MARRIAGE,

AND MAYBE IF MORE PEOPLE
WERE HELD RESPONSIBLE

FOR THEIR ACTIONS, THEY'D HAVE
A LITTLE MORE RESPECT

FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S MARRIAGES.

SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR WHAT YOU DID.

YOU'RE WELCOME. HUH.

YOU THINK DOT REALLY DID IT
FOR THE MONEY?

OR REVENGE.SHE'S SURE FAMOUS NOW.

WELL, SOMEBODY FELL IN LOVE,
SOMEBODY FELL OUT OF LOVE.

NOBODY HANDLED IT VERY WELL.

IT'S SAD.
TRAGIC EVEN, MAYBE.

BUT IT'S NOBODY'S BUSINESS
BUT THOSE THREE.

THE VERDICT WAS RIGHT.

THIS TYPE OF CASE IS GOING TO
TIE UP THE COURTS LIKE CRAZY.

I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING --

DOT FOUND A MILLION WAYS
TO GET EVEN WITH LYNNE.

WELL, TIME FOR ME TO ROLL.

YEAH, ME, TOO.

NIGHT.

I'M GONNA GO HOME

AND GIVE MY WIFE
A BIG SLOPPY KISS

IN CASE SHE'S INSPIRED
BY ALL THIS

TO GET HERSELF AN ATTORNEY
AND SUE ME FOR NEGLECT.

SEE YOU TOMORROW, FAYE.

OKAY.

HERE'S YOUR $20 BACK.

OH, BUT --

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!

THANKS, FAYE.

THANK YOU.

Dot: AND I REALLY JUST WANT
TO GET BACK TO MY BOYS

AND ON WITH MY LIFE.

WHAT DO YOU PLAN -- HOW DO --

Woman: HOW DO YOU THINK
YOUR BOYS WILL REACT?

COME ON, BOYS!

KEITH, HAVE YOU GOT
YOUR HOMEWORK?

HAVE YOU GOT
YOUR SOCCER SHOES?

BYE-BYE. I LOVE YOU.

NOW, YOU BE REALLY SWEET.

CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES.

IF YOU NEED ME, CALL ME.

OH!

Keith: HEY, DAD.

Lynne: OKAY, GUYS!

OKAY, GUYS,
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO TODAY?