A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - Accident on Banyan St. - full transcript

Woman:
THAT NIGHT, BANYAN STREET

WAS JUST AS LONESOME
AS COULD BE.

HELP! HELP!

HELP ME! HELP!

HELP ME! HELP!

[ SOBS ]

SO LUCILLE MILLER
WAS THE ONLY PERSON

WHO WOULD EVER SEE
THAT HORRIFYING SIGHT.

THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIRE

AGAINST THE DARKNESS
OF THE NIGHT,

THE RUSH OF FLAMES,
THE METAL SCREAMING.



AND THE MOST AWFUL THING
OF ALL,

A MAN TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR,

JUST BLAZE AND BURN
WHERE LUCILLE'S HUSBAND, CORK,

HAD BEEN WHEN SHE RAN FOR HELP.

THERE WAS NO PERSON LEFT.

[ SOBBING ]

THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON A VERY
DARK, SMALL LITTLE COUNTRY ROAD.

ORANGE GROVES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD

THAT WERE -- ON ONE SIDE,
THE GROVES WERE SET DOWN.

[ SOBBING CONTINUES ]

THERE ARE NO STREET LIGHTS,

AND MY MOTHER
WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN

WHERE THE NEAREST HOUSE WAS.

AND, IN FACT, THE NEAREST HOUSE
WAS A LONG WAYS AWAY.



MAN: Operator.

SAN BERNARDINO
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.

TELL THEM TO HURRY,
PLEASE.

LUCILLE ARRIVES ABOUT 1:45 A.M.

ARE THEY COMING?
ARE THEY COMING?

YES,
THEY'RE COMING.

SHE'S SMUDGED. SHE'S DIRTY.

THERE'S THE SMELL OF BURNT HAIR.

HE'S ALL BURNT.

WHAT --
WHAT DO I SAY THE KIDS?

WHAT DO I TELL THEM?

SHE'S CONFUSED ABOUT THE EVENTS,

BUT SHE KNOWS THAT THE LAST TIME
SHE SAW HER HUSBAND,

HE WAS BLACK IN THE CAR,
BURNING.

Debra:
SHE IS HYSTERICAL,

AND SHE SAYS, "WHAT AM I GOING
TO TELL MY CHILDREN?

"THERE CAN'T BE A CASKET.

THERE'S NO PERSON."

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

OKAY, MA'AM,
I'M GONNA NEED

TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS
ABOUT THE ACCIDENT.

Ronan: MY MOTHER'S BROUGHT BACK
TO THE SCENE,

AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
HAS ARRIVED THERE

AND THERE ARE SHERIFFS THERE,

AND MY FATHER IS IN
THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR.

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT,
WHERE WERE YOU COMING FROM?

[ Voice breaking ] YEAH, WE, UM,
WE JUST -- WE NEEDED MILK.

SO MY MOTHER TELLS THE POLICE,
"THE KIDS HAVE GONE TO SLEEP."

McNamara:
CORK HAD A MIGRAINE,

SOMETHING WHICH HE SUFFERED
FROM FOR MANY YEARS.

DO WE HAVE
ANY HOT CHOCOLATE?

OH, YEAH,
I'LL MAKE YOU SOME.

THANK YOU.

AND THAT'S WHEN SHE LEARNED
THAT THEY WERE OUT OF MILK,

NOT ONLY FOR THE HOT CHOCOLATE,

BUT FOR THE KIDS' BREAKFAST
IN THE MORNING.

THEY REALLY NEEDED THAT.

Debra:
MY MOM CAME IN TO TELL ME

THAT THEY WERE GOING
DOWN THE HILL TO GET MILK,

AND TO GO AND GET ANYTHING

WAS LIKE A 5 OR 10-MILE TRIP
TO DO THAT.

Ronan: AND HE WANTED
TO GO ALONG WITH HER.

MY MOTHER DROVE
BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS SICK.

MY MOTHER RECALLS REACHING OVER
AND LOCKING THE DOOR

BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED

THAT MY FATHER LEARNING AGAINST
IT, I THINK, MIGHT OPEN IT.

SO SHE WANTED TO MAKE SURE
THAT HE WAS -- HE WAS SECURE.

McNamara: SO CORK AND LUCILLE
LEAVE THE HOUSE.

IT'S ABOUT 11:30 P.M.

THE FIRST STORE
THAT WE WENT TO WAS CLOSED,

SO WE DECIDED TO COME
ALL THE WAY OUT HERE.

SO NOW THEY HAD TO GO
TO THE NEXT PLACE

THAT THEY KNEW WOULD BE OPEN,
WHICH WAS ACROSS TOWN.

THEY WENT TO A MAYFAIR MARKET
THERE THAT WAS, I THINK,

A 24-HOUR STORE.

SAN BERNARDINO WAS GROWING
IN THE '60s,

BUT IT WAS STILL SMALL ENOUGH
THAT PEOPLE KNEW EACH OTHER.

SO WHEN THE WOMAN WITH THE MILK
WALKED BY ME THAT NIGHT,

SHE WAS A FAMILIAR FACE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HER NAME
WAS LUCILLE UNTIL LATER.

LUCILLE POPS IN, GETS THE MILK.

CORK HAS REMAINED
IN THE VEHICLE.

SHE COMES BACK OUT,
GETS IN THE CAR,

AND THEY'RE GONNA HEAD HOME
AGAIN.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

WE WERE JUST DRIVING
DOWN THE ROAD,

AND THE CAR
JUST PULLED TO THE RIGHT.

LUCILLE TELLS POLICE THAT AS
SHE'S DRIVING UP THE WINDY ROAD,

SHE'S GOING
ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR.

Ronan: AND THE CAR JUST
JERKED TO THE RIGHT

AND JERKED OFF THE ROAD.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW,
THERE WERE FLAMES.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW
HOW THEY STARTED.

SHE'S NOT SURE
HOW LONG THEY WERE THERE

BEFORE SHE RECOGNIZED THEM.

McNamara:
SHE RUNS TO HIS SIDE OF THE CAR.

AND I REALIZED
THAT CORK WAS ASLEEP,

AND HIS DOOR WAS LOCKED.

AND SO I, UM,

I WENT AND I FOUND A ROCK
TO BREAK THE WINDOW.

BUT IT'S SO HOT AT THIS POINT,

SHE CAN'T REACH IN AND EVEN
OPEN THE CAR DOOR FOR HIM.

SHE LOOKS AROUND.

SHE FINDS A STICK,

AND SHE THINKS, "MAYBE I CAN
PUT THAT THROUGH THE OPEN WINDOW

AND SOMEHOW PUSH MY HUSBAND
OUT OF THE CAR."

BUT HE'S GOT 60 POUNDS ON HER.

SHE'S NOT ABLE
TO HELP HIM AT ALL.

AND WORSE YET,
HE'S COVERED IN A BLANKET,

WHICH IS STARTING TO INCINERATE.

I JUST RAN
TO GET HELP.

THE POLICE GET CLOSER
AND TAKE A LOOK,

AND WHAT THEY SEE
CORROBORATES LUCILLE'S STORY.

THE MILK CARTONS
ARE IN THE BACKSEAT.

Ronan: THERE HAD BEEN A ROCK
THROWN THROUGH THE WINDOW,

AS SHE SAID IT WAS.

McNamara: NEARBY, POLICE FIND
A FOUR-FOOT-LONG BRANCH

THAT WAS PARTIALLY BURNED

THAT CORROBORATES
THAT SHE TRIED TO USE THIS

TO PUSH HER HUSBAND
OUT OF THE VEHICLE.

Ronan: THERE WERE SKID MARKS
IN THE GRAVEL

ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

AND THE CAR WHEELS
WERE TURNED IN THE DIRECTION

THAT SHE SAID, THAT THE CAR
HAD TURNED OFF TO THE RIGHT.

McNamara:
AND THERE'S A NAIL EMBEDDED

IN THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE.

EVENTUALLY, IT WAS CHRISTENED
THE INLAND EMPIRE,

BUT BACK IN 1964, THE MILES
OF DESERT SCRUB ROLLING DOWN

FROM THE SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS
WAS JUST STARTING TO BECOME

ANOTHER SUBURB IN THE SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE DREAM,

A PLACE
THAT WAS ALL ABOUT THE NEW,

THE POSSIBLE, THE FUTURE.

BUT IT WASN'T ABOUT
THOSE THINGS ON THIS MORNING.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW AWFUL
THAT NIGHT MUST'VE BEEN,

SEEING A MAN, YOUR HUSBAND,
DIE LIKE THAT.

[ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS ]

Man:
LOOK AT THAT.

BUT IN THE MORNING,
THINGS TOOK AN EVEN DARKER TURN

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN THE POLICE

DISCOVERED A HOLE
IN LUCILLE'S STORY,

ONE THAT MIGHT MEAN

THIS WAS ALL MUCH UGLIER
THAN JUST A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

Debra: THE SUSPICION REALLY SETS
IN WHEN THEY SEE THE GAS CAN.

Woman:
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT

WAS STILL SIFTING
THROUGH THE SMOLDERING MESS

AND PICKING THROUGH THE SHELL
OF THE BURNT-OUT CAR

WHEN THEY LET LUCILLE MILLER
LEAVE THE SITE OF THE ACCIDENT.

McNamara: SHE'S TAKEN BACK HOME
AROUND 6 A.M.

I WAKE UP
THAT MORNING OF THE ACCIDENT,

AND THERE WAS
A POLICE CAR THERE.

[ LUCILLE SOBBING ]

SWEETIE...

SO I WALKED ACROSS
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HOUSE,

AND THERE SHE WAS,
IN THE MIDDLE OF HER BED,

IN A FETAL POSITION.

YOU --
YOUR FATHER'S DEAD.

I CAN'T --
I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T TALK --

I DON'T... CAN YOU JUST
GIVE ME A LITTLE QUIET?

Ronan:
MY SISTER HAD GONE IN.

MY BROTHER HAD GONE IN.

BY THE TIME
THAT I CAME INTO HER BEDROOM --

AND MY MOTHER

WAS SORT OF TANGLED UP
IN THE SHEETS OF HER BED

AND HER FACE WAS PUFFY,
AND SHE'D BEEN CRYING,

AND SHE WAS OUT OF IT.

AND IT WAS A VERY STRANGE MOMENT

BECAUSE I HAD NO IDEA
WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

AND THEN, MY BROTHER JUST SAID,
"DADDY'S DEAD."

MA'AM, I STILL HAVE A FEW
QUESTIONS THAT I NEED TO ASK,

SO WHY DON'T YOU

GET CLEANED UP AND COME ON
OUT TO THE LIVING ROOM?

Man: IF YOU LOOK AT
THE MILLER FAMILY IN 1964,

THEY WERE A VERY
UPWARDLY MOBILE FAMILY.

THESE NEED TO STAY
IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.

I-I I WANT
THE FURNITURE

TO GET INTO THE BACK
OF THE HOUSE.

THAT WAY, WE CAN UNPACK BOXES
AND ALL...

Cork:
KIDS, COME ON, COME ON!

COME ON OVER HERE.
COME HERE.

McNamara: CORK MADE A REALLY
GOOD LIVING AS A DENTIST.

HE MADE SOMETHING LIKE
$25,000 A YEAR,

WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN $200,000
A YEAR BY TODAY'S STANDARDS.

Debra: MY FATHER WAS HANDSOME,
AND HE WAS FUNNY.

LUCILLE!
Lucille: WHAT?

COME ON, COME ON, COME ON!
CORK, I HAVE TO --

NO, COME ON! COME ON.
I JUST WANT TO GET A QUICK SHOT.

I'M COMING.
I'M COMING.

OKAY.

Ronan: MY MOTHER THOUGHT
HE WAS TALENTED,

AND SHE THOUGHT
HE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

OKAY.
HERE WE ARE.

Debra:
SHE HAD ENERGY.

LIFE WAS EXCITING TO HER
AND MEANT TO BE LIVED.

HERE, HONEY, YOU GET IN.
GET IN!

OKAY, EVERYBODY!
RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT THERE, OKAY. UH...

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND,

THE MILLERS HAD BEEN
IN THE SAME CLIMB UPWARDS

THAT WE ALL WERE TRYING FOR --

A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY,
A BIGGER HOUSE, A DREAM LIFE.

UH-OH.

OH!
CORK, I BROKE IT.

SHE WANTED DO WELL AND BE
A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

Debra: MY MOTHER
WAS A SMALL-TOWN GIRL.

BUT SHE DIDN'T PERCEIVE HERSELF
AS A SMALL-TOWN GIRL.

SHE WANTED TO BUILD A HOUSE.

* BEAUTIFUL DREAMER,
NEVER ALONE *

Klinkenborg: THE FARTHER UP
INTO THE HILLS YOU ARE,

THE WEALTHIER YOU ARE,

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT
SHE WAS PROBABLY ASPIRING TO.

MY MOTHER HAD A BIG WINDOW
PUT IN THE LIVING ROOM

THAT YOU COULD SIT IN
AND LOOK OUT.

SHE LOVED THE VIEW.
SHE LOVED THE LIGHTS.

* LULLED BY THE MOONLIGHT *

Klinkenborg: LUCILLE SUFFERERS
FROM SOMETHING THAT I THINK OF

AS BEING A PARTICULAR
CALIFORNIA AFFLICTION...

* BEAUTIFUL DREAMER *

...THIS ANTIPATHY TO THE OLD.

YOU CAN'T JUST HAVE
A DIFFERENT HOUSE.

YOU CAN'T BUY ANOTHER HOUSE.

IT HAS TO BE A NEW HOUSE THAT
NOBODY'S EVER LIVED IN BEFORE,

ALL THE APPLIANCES
ARE UNTOUCHED.

SO WE BUILT THIS HOUSE,
AND IT WAS A BIG HOUSE FOR US,

AND BIGGER THAN ANYTHING
WE HAD LIVED IN.

* BEAUTIFUL DREAMER *

* STILL LOST IN YOUR DREAM *

MRS. MILLER, CAN YOU TELL ME
HOW LONG YOU'VE HAD THE CAR?

OH,
ONLY A FEW MONTHS.

IT WAS, UM,
IT WAS BASICALLY BRAND-NEW.

[ SIGHS ]

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I'M GONNA DO.

THIS HAS JUST BEEN
SUCH A TERRIBLE YEAR.

YOU KNOW, MY -- MY DEAR FRIEND
ELAINE JUST DIED.

Ronan: WE WERE VERY CLOSE
WITH THE HAYTONS,

ARTHWELL AND ELAINE.

AND ELAINE HAYTON,
WHO WAS ONE OF HER BEST FRIENDS,

DIED EARLIER THAT YEAR,

AND THAT KIND
OF ROCKED MY MOTHER.

[ SIGHS ]

BEFORE THAT, WE WERE IN
THIS REALLY AWFUL CAR ACCIDENT,

DEBBIE AND I.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

ABOUT FOUR MONTHS
BEFORE MY FATHER DIED,

MY SISTER AND MY MOTHER
HAD BEEN DRIVING ON BANYAN,

THE VERY SAME ROAD,
AND THEY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT.

THE CAR THAT RAN A STOP SIGN,

AND MY SISTER
WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD,

AND I BELIEVE MY MOTHER
BROKE HER JAW.

Debra:
I WAS BLEEDING PROFUSELY.

MY MOTHER THOUGHT I LOST MY EYE
BECAUSE IT SLICED MY EYELID.

Debra: I JUST CAN'T STOP
THINKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S GONNA BE FINE,
OKAY?

McNamara: THE ACCIDENT
REALLY SHOOK UP DEBBIE,

AND SHE FIXATED
ON THIS WINDY ROAD

AND HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS.

Debra:
AND I SAID, "DADDY,

"WHAT ARE THE STATISTICS
THAT ANYONE IN OUR FAMILY

WOULD EVER HAVE AN ACCIDENT
ON BANYAN AGAIN?"

THE ODDS -- THEY HAVE TO BE
ONE IN A MILLION.

I HOPE SO.

I KNOW SO.

SOMETHING IN MY LITTLE HEART

FELT WE WERE HURLING
TOWARD SOMETHING TERRIBLE,

AND IT WAS LESS THAN SIX MONTHS

WHEN HE DIED
ON THAT SAME STREET.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Ronan: SO, AT THE SCENE, THE
POLICE ARE LOOKING AT THINGS.

AND IT DOESN'T QUITE ADD UP
TO WHAT THE STORY

THAT MY MOTHER HAD TOLD THEM.

YOU HAVE THIS GAS CAN IN THE
BACKSEAT THAT DID TOPPLE OVER.

HOWEVER, THE MILK CARTONS
ARE IN THE BACKSEAT,

BUT THEY'RE UPRIGHT.

THEY SEE THE SKID MARKS,

BUT PUZZLINGLY,
THEY'RE STRAIGHT.

THEY ARE NOT THE KIND OF SWERVE
YOU WOULD IMAGINE.

THEY START TO THINK
THAT THIS WASN'T AN ACCIDENT...

...BUT THIS WAS, IN FACT,
LUCILLE'S PLAN.

Ronan:
THE THEORY THAT THEY ARRIVE AT

IS THAT MY MOTHER
HAS PUT MY FATHER TO SLEEP...

...DRIVEN HIM OUT
TO THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT...

...AND PULLED THE CAR
OFF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT

AND POURED GASOLINE ON IT.

AND THERE WAS A DROP OFF THERE.

THEIR IDEA WAS THAT SHE
WAS TRYING TO GET THE CAR

TO DRIVE OVER IT
TO MAKE IT LOOK MORE AUTHENTIC.

McNamara:
THE PROBLEM, THEY THINK,

IS THAT SHE COULDN'T PUSH
THE CAR OVER THE EMBANKMENT.

Ronan:
SHE WAS A SMALL WOMAN.

McNamara: AT THIS POINT,
SHE'S KIND OF PANICKED.

SHE MIGHT BE SEEN.

SHE HAS TO DO SOMETHING.

THEY SEE THIS LONG BRANCH
THAT THEY THINK WAS A TORCH.

THAT WASN'T SOMETHING
THAT SHE HAD PICKED UP

TO TRY TO HELP HER HUSBAND.

AND SO, SHE SETS THE FIRE
HERSELF.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

It seems we found a gasoline can
inside the vehicle.

UH, MRS. MILLER, I THINK
WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE THIS

DOWN AT
THE SHERIFF'S STATION.

O-OKAY.

HER INTERVIEW IS
WITH A DETECTIVE PATTERSON.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

HOW DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT
YOU WERE DRIVING IN FIRST GEAR?

YOU TOLD THE OFFICERS
AT THE SCENE

THAT YOU WERE DRIVING
AT A PRETTY GOOD CLIP.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT -- WHAT GEAR
ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE IN

WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING
UP A ROAD?

Debra:
SHE WAS A DINGBAT.

SHE'D RUN OUT OF GAS.

SHE WOULDN'T PUT OIL IN THE CAR.

THE CAR STARTED SMOKING,
AND MY DAD WAS FURIOUS,

AND IT WAS HER FAULT.

YOU HAD ASKED ME
IF I THOUGHT I KILLED HIM,

AND I SAID NO.

THERE --
THERE WILL PROBABLY MOMENTS

WHEN I'LL THINK YES,

BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR,
YOU KNOW?

THERE WILL PROBABLY
BE MOMENTS...

YOU KNOW
HOW YOU DO.

[ CHUCKLES ]

BUT I BELIEVE IN BEING
PHILOSOPHICAL, IF YOU CAN,

ABOUT THINGS RATHER THAN
KILLING YOURSELF, YOU KNOW?

SHE SAYS SOME RATHER
DAMNING THINGS ABOUT HERSELF

DURING THAT INTERVIEW

THAT JUST AS A PERSON,
DON'T MAKE HER LOOK VERY GOOD.

IF YOU HAVE
ANY EXPLANATION

AS TO WHAT MIGHT'VE CAUSED
THAT FIRE...

I-I REALLY --
I-I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, I-I WAS CONSTANTLY
RUNNING OUT OF GAS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

CORK HAD ME
BUY A GAS CAN

AND PUT IT
IN THE BACK OF THE CAR

SO THAT I WOULDN'T
RUN OUT ANYMORE.

A-AM I -- AM I GOING TO BE ABLE
TO GO HOME SOON?

LET'S JUST KEEP TALKING.

Ronan: SHE'S VERY NAIVE
BECAUSE SHE BELIEVES IT'S OVER.

SHE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON.

McNamara: POLICE ARREST LUCILLE
AT AROUND 12:30.

THAT'S A MERE 12 HOURS
AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

LOOKING INTO THE PURCHASE
OF A GAS CAN

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
MADE HERE.

WOULD'VE BEEN A WOMAN
OF ABOUT 35 YEARS OLD,

SHOULDER-LENGTH
BROWN HAIR.

YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING
LIKE THAT?

YOU KNOW, A COUPLE DAYS AGO,
ACTUALLY, UH...

Klinkenborg: THIS IS WHERE
THE TIMING BECOMES CRITICAL

BECAUSE SHE ONLY PURCHASED THE CAN OF
GAS A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.

THE FIRE HAD BURNED SO BIG
AND BRIGHT,

ANY GAS INSIDE THE CAR
HAD CERTAINLY HELPED IT ALONG.

BUT NOW THE QUESTION
FOR THOSE POLICEMEN WAS,

HAD LUCILLE HELPED IT, TOO?

Woman: CORK MILLER
WAS JUST 39 YEARS OLD

WHEN HE DIED IN THAT HORRIBLE
CAR ACCIDENT, BURNED ALIVE.

IT WAS TOO AWFUL
TO THINK ABOUT.

THE POLICE HAD ARRESTED
HIS WIFE, LUCILLE, FOR MURDER,

BUT JUST AS SOON

AS THEY START BUILDING
THEIR CASE AGAINST HER...

THEY DISCOVER FACTS
ABOUT CORK MILLER

THAT BEGIN TO UNDERMINE IT.

HELLO, MRS. MEYERS.
HELLO.

HOW'RE YOU TODAY?

THEY LEARNED THAT HE HAD
A HISTORY OF DEPRESSION.

HE WAS A GUY WHO FELT
A LOT OF FAMILY PRESSURE

TO BE A DENTIST.

Debra: HE REALLY WANTED
TO BE AN AIRLINE PILOT.

THAT WAS HIS DREAM,

BUT HE HAD
TOO MANY RESPONSIBILITIES.

[ LAUGHTER ]

EVERYBODY!

UH, WE HAVE A LITTLE PERFORMANCE
READY FOR YOU.

THESE ARE THE HULA-HULA DANCERS,
AND WE ARE READY TO GO.

AND A-ONE, TWO, THREE.

WE ARE GOING TO A LUAU,
TO A LUAU, TO...

Ronan:
MY MOTHER WAS VERY EXTROVERTED

AND MY FATHER, VERY INTROVERTED.

Debra: I THINK THAT MY FATHER
MIGHT'VE MARRIED MY MOTHER

TO BRING THE JOY AND WARMTH
INTO HIS HEART THAT HE LACKED.

HE THOUGHT SHE WOULD
MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE,

AND HE DIDN'T HAVE IT
TO GIVE BACK.

DID YOU GET THAT MILLER
BANK STATEMENT FOR ME?

BUT CORK AND LUCILLE'S
DISAPPOINTMENTS WITH EACH OTHER

WEREN'T THE ONLY
KIND OF PROBLEMS

THEY HAD UNDER THEIR ROOF.

McNamara: THE EXTERIOR
OF THIS SUCCESSFUL DENTIST

ACTUALLY HID THE FACT

THAT THEY WERE IN DEBT
FOR $64,000,

WHICH BY TODAY'S STANDARDS
WOULD BE ABOUT $0.5 MILLION.

Debra:
WOMEN DIDN'T WORK,

AND SO MY FATHER...

THE RESPONSIBILITIES
ON HIS SHOULDER

WERE TOO MUCH FOR HIM.

UH, YEAH, THIS IS, UH,
DETECTIVE SHOEMAKER...

AFTER HIS DEATH, THE POLICE
TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE

AROUND TOWN WHO KNEW CORK,

AND THEY LEARNED
THAT ALL THOSE PRESSURES,

THE DEBT AND
THE FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES,

WERE BUILDING UP INSIDE HIM.

Ronan: MY FATHER WAS SUFFERING
FROM HIS DEPRESSIONS

AND HIS MIGRAINES.

Klinkenborg:
NOW, WE'RE ALL USED TO THE IDEA

THAT DEPRESSION IS A DISEASE
YOU CAN TREAT.

NOT IN 1964.

THE ONLY SOLUTIONS, REALLY,
ARE BARBITURATES, SEDATIVES,

AND CORK MILLER
IS BASICALLY SEDATING HIMSELF

INTO AS MUCH OBLIVION
AS HE CAN GET.

Ronan: IT WAS IN THE SUMMER
BEFORE MY FATHER DIED.

HE TOOK MY BROTHER AND I
UP TO THIS POWER STANCHION,

AND HE SAT US DOWN.

YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU GUYS,
RIGHT?

YEAH.
LOVE YOU, DAD.

I PROMISE YOU...

WE'RE GONNA BE TOGETHER
IN HEAVEN.

Ronan:
HE WAS SO SAD,

AND SO MAYBE THAT WAS JUST
IN CASE A SUICIDE HAPPENED.

Klinkenborg:
AS CORK THINKS ABOUT HIS OWN,

REALLY, DESIRE TO EXIT LIFE...

HOW WOULD HE PROVIDE
FOR HIS FAMILY?

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATION ]

Debra:
THERE WAS ONE NIGHT

THAT I ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED
HIM TRYING TO LEAVE THE HOUSE.

DEBBIE.
DEBBIE, GET THE KEYS,

GO INTO YOUR BEDROOM,
LOCK THE DOOR,

AND DON'T LET HIM IN.

I KNEW
WHAT "GRAB THE KEYS" MEANT.

IT WASN'T A FAMILY SECRET
THAT HE DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE,

AND HE ALWAYS SAID HE WAS
GOING TO MAKE IT A CAR ACCIDENT.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

McNamara: THE INSURANCE PAYOUT
WAS SOMETHING LIKE $123,000

BECAUSE, IN FACT,
HE DID DIE IN AN ACCIDENT.

SO THOSE INVESTIGATORS
MUST HAVE WONDERED,

WAS THIS SOME KIND OF SUICIDE?

COULD CORK
HAVE ARRANGED EVERYTHING

SO THAT HE WOULD DIE...

BUT LUCILLE
WOULD STILL GET OUT ALIVE?

BUT HE WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT,
ASLEEP,

AND SHE WAS DRIVING.

IT SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE

THAT CORK WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE
TO PULL THIS OFF BY HIMSELF.

LUCILLE EXPLAINED THAT THE FIRE
WAS AN ACCIDENT.

POLICE BELIEVED
IT LOOKED LIKE A MURDER.

BUT WHEN YOU HEARD
ABOUT THE MILLERS' LIVES,

YOU COULD PIECE TOGETHER
A THIRD POSSIBILITY,

A PLAN BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM.

IF SOMEONE YOU LOVED
WAS IN THAT MUCH PAIN,

MAYBE YOU'D FINALLY AGREE
TO HELP THEM END IT.

BUT THEN,
THE POLICE DISCOVERED

THAT LUCILLE MIGHT'VE HAD
A MORE SELFISH DESIRE

FOR ONE OF HER OTHER DREAMS
TO COME TRUE.

I WAS WONDERING
IF YOU COULD TELL US,

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED
FOR DR. MILLER?

THE POLICE CONTINUED TO TALK
TO MORE PEOPLE AROUND TOWN.

DID YOU EVER NOTICE ANYTHING
UNUSUAL WITH THE FAMILY?

WELL,
THERE WAS THIS ONE THING.

AND THEY REALIZED LUCILLE
WAS HARBORING A DEEPER SECRET...

...ONE THAT MAY HAVE GIVEN HER
AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MOTIVE.

Debra:
THE POLICE TALKED TO THE WOMAN

WHO RAN MY FATHER'S OFFICE,

AND I BELIEVE
THAT SHE IS THE ONE

WHO TOLD THEM THAT MY MOTHER
HAD BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR.

[ LAUGHTER ]

THERE'S MY LITTLE
HAWAIIAN MISS AMERICA.

COME ON,
YOU ARE SUCH A FLATTERER.

WHERE DO YOU LEARN
THOSE MOVES?

I DON'T KNOW.

LET ME TELL YOU,

WE ARE GONNA TAKE THOSE MOVES
TO HAWAII NEXT YEAR,

AND NOBODY
NEEDS TO KNOW.

Shh.

Ronan:
AFTER MY MOTHER'S ARRESTED,

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY TURNED UP
IS THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN AFFAIR

WITH A PROMINENT ATTORNEY
IN SAN BERNARDINO,

THE MAN I KNEW AS UNCLE ART,
ARTHWELL HAYTON,

THE GOOD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY.

HIS WIFE, ELAINE, HAD BEEN
ONE OF MY MOTHER'S BEST FRIENDS,

BUT SHE HAD RECENTLY DIED.

TO THE POLICE,
THIS AFFAIR BECAME THE MOTIVE,

AND THAT'S THE DIRECTION
THEY STARTED TO GO.

McNamara:
THERE WAS MOTEL RECORDS.

THERE WAS LUNCH DATES.

YOU KNOW,
IT WASN'T THE BEST-KEPT SECRET.

[ LAUGHTER ]

MY FATHER LACKED JOY AND WARMTH,

AND THAT CAUSED HER A LOT
OF TENSION AND ANGER AND PAIN.

THE BECKMANS DOWN THE STREET
JUST CLOSED ON THEIR HOUSE,

30% MARKUP.

THEY BOUGHT IT
TWO YEARS AGO.

WOW!

Debra:
IT WAS A DESPERATION, I THINK.

ARTHWELL WAS THE WAY OUT.

HE WAS VERY AFFECTIONATE
WITH HER.

HE COMPLIMENTED HER.

HE LAUGHED
AND PLAYED AND WAS FUN,

AND HE WAS EVERYTHING THAT
SHE DIDN'T HAVE IN HER MARRIAGE.

McNamara: THE POLICE THINK
SHE SAW HIM AS, YOU KNOW,

"THAT SHOULD BE MY HUSBAND.

THAT'S WHO I SHOULD BE
HAVING A LIFE WITH."

Ronan:
THEY QUESTION ARTHWELL.

Man: WERE YOU INVOLVED
WITH HER ROMANTICALLY?

McNamara:
HE ADMITS THE AFFAIR

BUT SAYS IT'S BEEN
OVER FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

IF MY MOTHER HAD FALLEN IN LOVE

AND PERHAPS PROJECTED
SOME FUTURE FOR THE TWO OF THEM,

ARTHWELL HAD NOT.

W-WHEN --
WHAT TIME DID HE LEAVE?

NO, THANK YOU. I'LL TRY BACK.

Klinkenborg:
AS THEY'RE BREAKING UP,

THERE WERE DOZENS AND DOZENS
AND DOZENS OF PHONE CALLS.

I'VE ALREADY LEFT TWO MESSAGES.

SO, HE'S GONNA BE GONE
ALL WEEKEND?

HI, SWEETIE, IT'S AUNT LUCILLE.

IS YOUR DADDY HOME?

LUCILLE SAYS,
"NO MAN HAS EVEN REJECTED ME,

AND YOU'RE NOT
GONNA BE THE FIRST."

I THINK POLICE TAKE THAT AS,
FOR LUCILLE,

IT'S NOT OVER AT ALL.

AND THEY BELIEVE
SHE WANTS ARTHWELL,

BUT THE PROBLEM
IS THAT SHE'S MARRIED TO CORK.

Woman:
I CAN UNDERSTAND A LITTLE

OF WHAT LUCILLE
MIGHT'VE BEEN THINKING --

IF I CAN JUST GET
THIS ONE THING THAT I WANT,

THEN I'LL BE HAPPY.

THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT

IN OUR PART OF CALIFORNIA
BACK THEN.

WE REALLY THOUGHT THERE COULD
ALWAYS BE A FRESH START.

DID YOU EVER
TALK IT OVER WITH FRIENDS,

THE IDEA THAT MAYBE YOU DIDN'T
LOVE YOUR HUSBAND ANYMORE?

OH, MAYBE I
SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT. I --

WHAT DO YOU HAVE
FOR A PERSONALITY LIKE MINE?

WHEN YOU HAVE THEM,
YOU THINK YOU DON'T LOVE THEM.

YOU --
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THEM,

YOU FEEL FAINT
OR SOMETHING.

McNamara:
FAR FROM HIDING THE SECRET,

SHE WAS ACTUALLY VERY OPEN
WITH THE POLICE

THAT SHE HAD HAD THIS AFFAIR
WITH HAYTON

AND SAYS IT'S BEEN OVER
FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

TAKE IT FROM ME, IN THOSE DAYS,

AN AFFAIR DIDN'T ALWAYS MEAN
THE END OF A MARRIAGE.

LUCILLE EVEN EXPLAINED
TO POLICE

THAT CORK KNEW ABOUT THE AFFAIR

AND THAT IN THE END,
IT HAD BEEN HARD,

BUT THEY WORKED THROUGH IT.

AND THERE WAS A VERY GOOD
REASON TO BELIEVE HER.

[ GASPS ]

I THOUGHT MOMMY
COULD USE A LITTLE TREAT.

AND THEN,
SHE REVEALED THAT SHE AND CORK

HAD SEEN A MARRIAGE COUNSELOR

AND THAT THEY HAD ACTUALLY
DECIDED TO HAVE A FOURTH CHILD.

[ BOTH LAUGH ]

Ronan: MY MOTHER'S PREGNANT
WITH HER FOURTH CHILD

WHEN SHE'S ARRESTED.

THE FACT
THAT IT WAS A PLANNED PREGNANCY,

THAT'S ALWAYS
SORT OF SEEMED TO ME

THAT THEY WERE
WORKING THINGS OUT.

McNamara: SO THE MOTIVE
IS STARTING TO FALL APART HERE.

WHY WOULD LUCILLE
START MORE OF A FAMILY WITH CORK

IF SHE WAS PLANNING TO KILL HIM?

IT DIDN'T REALLY ADD UP.

BUT BY THIS TIME, THE STORY HAD
BEEN IN THE PAPERS FOR MONTHS.

THERE WAS NO BACKING DOWN.

AND THE PROSECUTION,
IT TURNS OUT,

HAD ANOTHER DAMNING STORY THEY
WERE JUST WAITING TO ROLL OUT,

A SHOCKER ABOUT HOW FAR
THEY THOUGHT LUCILLE HAD GONE

TO REALIZE HER DREAMS.

Woman: IT HAD BEEN JUST
THREE MONTHS SINCE CORK MILLER

HAD DIED IN THAT FIERY WRECK
ON BANYAN STREET.

AND IN THAT SHORT TIME,
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

BUILT A CASE TO BRING
HIS WIDOW, LUCILLE MILLER,

TO TRIAL FOR MURDER.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Ronan: THE IDEA IS THAT
MY MOTHER HAS A GRAND SCHEME,

AND THAT IS TO ULTIMATELY
GET ARTHWELL HAYTON.

McNamara:
ACCORDING TO THE PROSECUTION,

IF SHE COULD JUST GET CORK
OUT OF THE WAY,

ARTHWELL WOULD COME BACK TO HER,
AND IT WOULD ALL WORK OUT.

THE PROSECUTION MAINTAINED
IT HAD TO BE ARSON...

...AND THEY HAD AN ARSON EXPERT
RECREATE THE ACCIDENT.

Woman:
AND THERE WERE A LOT OF THINGS

THAT LOOKED VERY BAD
FOR LUCILLE --

ALL THE SUSPICIOUS DETAILS
OF THAT NIGHT,

THE SKID MARKS, THE GAS CAN...
A LONG BRANCH WITH A BURNT END.

THE DEFENSE AGREED
THAT SHE SPENT A LOT

AND THAT SHE HAD THIS AFFAIR...

BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK
THAT ADDED UP TO A MURDERER.

THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS A WOMAN

WHO GOT INTO A BAD MARRIAGE
YOUNG, WAS A LITTLE FLIGHTY,

BUT IT DIDN'T MEAN
SHE HAD ICE WATER IN HER VEINS.

THE ARSON EXPERTS
FOR THE DEFENSE SAID THAT,

ACTUALLY, THE FUEL LINE
HAD DRIPPED FUEL

ONTO THE CARBURETOR...
AND THAT WAS THE EXPLOSION.

BUT REALLY, AND LUCILLE'S
LAWYERS POINTED THIS OUT,

HOW COULD ANYONE COME UP
WITH SUCH AN ELABORATE SCHEME

AND THINK THEY COULD PULL OFF
ALL THE DETAILS OF THAT NIGHT?

IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE.

IT SEEMS LIKE TOO COMPLICATED
OF A PLAN.

WHY DID SHE WAKE UP HER DAUGHTER

TO ALERT HER
THAT THEY WERE LEAVING THE HOUSE

IF SHE HAD A PLAN
TO MURDER HER HUSBAND?

NEITHER SIDE SEEMS TO ADD UP
IN THE WAY IT SHOULD.

BUT THERE'S JUST THIS QUESTION,
CAN WE BELIEVE LUCILLE?

JUST WHAT KIND OF WOMAN
WAS SHE?

UP IN THAT BIG, NEW HOUSE
ON THE HILL, LUCILLE,

WHO DIDN'T WANT A LITTLE LIFE.

AND THEN, THE PROSECUTION

PULLED A MOVE
OUTSIDE THE COURT ROOM.

THEY GOT A STORY IN THE PAPERS
ABOUT LUCILLE.

WASN'T EVIDENCE,

BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT,
IT REALLY TURNED OUR HEADS

AND MADE YOU WONDER,
WHAT WAS THIS WOMAN CAPABLE OF?

THE PROSECUTION LEAKED THAT
ARTHWELL HAYTON'S WIFE, ELAINE,

HAD DIED
UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,

AND THAT, IN FACT,

THE LAST PERSON WITH ELAINE
BEFORE SHE DIED...

...WAS LUCILLE.

ARTHWELL HAYTON HAD TAKEN
HIS BOAT TO CATALINA.

THE NEXT MORNING,
ELAINE IS FOUND DEAD IN HER BED.

[ INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS ]

Ronan: ONCE THE STORY'S OUT
THERE, IT'S IN EVERYONE'S MIND.

McNamara:
BUT IN FACT, ELAINE HAYTON

HAD BEEN ILL AND MAY HAVE
JUST DIED NATURALLY.

Ronan: THEY DON'T EVER PROSECUTE
HER FOR ELAINE'S MURDER.

THE PROSECUTOR GOT THAT
OUT THERE AND THEN MOVED ON

AND JUST LEFT IT ALONE,

BUT I BELIEVE IT DID HAVE
THE EFFECT HE WAS HOPING FOR.

SO HAD CORK'S DEATH
BEEN LUCILLE'S PLAN?

A MURDER,
MAYBE EVEN A MERCY KILLING.

OR WAS SHE A VICTIM,

A WOMAN DEVASTATED
BY THE DEATH OF HER HUSBAND

IN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT
AND THEN ACCUSED OF CAUSING IT?

HOWEVER MANY UNCERTAINTIES
HUNG IN THE AIR,

IT WAS FINALLY TIME FOR AN END,

AT LEAST
IN THE EYES OF THE LAW.

LUCILLE WAS FOUND GUILTY
OF MURDER

AND SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

BUT DEPENDING
ON HOW YOU LOOKED AT IT, WELL,

YOU COULD BELIEVE
THAT WASN'T RIGHT, EITHER.

BASED ON THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE,

I DO THINK
IT WAS TOO CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN EYEWITNESS.

IF I WERE ON THAT JURY,
I WOULD NOT HAVE CONVICTED HER.

MY CONCLUSION IS
THAT SHE WAS CAPABLE OF IT.

I THINK THERE WAS SOMETHING
REALLY DEEPLY FRACTURED

INSIDE HER.

I THINK THAT HOLE
BETWEEN HER RATIONAL THOUGHT

AND HER INSTINCTS,
HER DESIRE, WAS IMMENSE.

Ronan: MY MOTHER
MAINTAINED HER INNOCENCE

TILL THE END OF HER LIFE.

SHE NEVER WAVERED ABOUT THAT.

SHE NEVER SLIPPED.

I TRY TO ADD UP THE PERSON
THAT I KNEW THAT WAS MY MOTHER.

I JUST DON'T KNOW.

SHE MAY HAVE BEEN A SNEAK,

BUT A KILLER IS JUST
ONE OF THE THINGS SHE WASN'T,

AND I THINK THE PROSECUTION
HAS AN EASY CASE TO MAKE

BECAUSE IT'S A STORY OF GREED
AND INFIDELITY GONE WRONG.

BUT WE'RE ALL IN DEBT,

WE ALL HAVE DREAMS
THAT AREN'T BECOMING FULFILLED,

AND I DON'T THINK THAT
THAT WAS PRESENTED ON HER SIDE.

THE COMPLEXITIES
OF A LIFE WEREN'T SHOWN,

BUT THE SIMPLICITY
OF A MURDER WAS.

WE'LL NEVER GET MORE FACTS
OR DETAILS

ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED OUT ON
LONESOME BANYAN STREET IN 1964.

SO ALL YOU'RE LEFT WITH
IS A COMPLICATED STORY

ABOUT CORK AND LUCILLE MILLER

AND THE DREAMS
THEY DREAMED FOR AWHILE.

AND YOU CAN WONDER, DID ALL
THAT SUNSHINE AND POSSIBILITY

TURN DESIRE INTO SOMETHING
DANGEROUS AND DEADLY?

Debra: SHE'S THE ONLY ONE
WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH

OF WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

IT'S COMPLEX,
AND IT IS AMBIGUOUS.

AND SHE WAS GOOD AND BAD,

AND SHE MAYBE WAS A BAD WOMAN
WHO DIDN'T COMMIT A MURDER.

I DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT HER
AS GUILTY OR INNOCENT ANYMORE.

SHE'S JUST MY MOM,
AND I LOVED HER.

I DON'T NEED TO KNOW ANYMORE.

* BEAUTIFUL DREAMER *

* NEVER ALONE *

* STARLIGHT AND MOONBEAMS
ARE GUIDING YOU HOME *

* ALL OF YOUR WORRIES *

* THAT FILL UP THE DAY *

* LULLED BY THE MOONLIGHT *

* HAVE ALL GONE AWAY *