A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - Such a Pretty Face - full transcript

THANKS AGAIN.

IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

LISTEN, I'D INVITE YOU IN
FOR A NIGHTCAP,

BUT MY MOTHER'S
IN THERE SLEEPING.

TOO BAD.

GOOD NIGHT.

BYE.

* COME TO ME,
MY MELANCHOLY BABY *

YOU LIKE
DETECTIVE STORIES, RIGHT?

THE ONES
YOU READ IN THE MAGAZINES

WHERE THE PRETTY GIRL
GETS OFFED



AND THE COPS
GOT TO TRY TO SOLVE THE CASE?

SURE, YOU DO.

YOUR HAIR STANDS ON END,

AND YOUR HEART RACES
AS THE KILLER CLOSES IN,

UNTIL YOU FIND OUT THE STORY
IS REAL.

1937 IN NEW YORK.
TIMES WERE TOUGH,

BUT EVEN IN THE MIDST
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION,

THERE WAS STILL
NOTHING LIKE SPRING TO GIVE

EVEN THE GLOOMIEST NAYSAYERS
A PEP IN THEIR STEP.

IT WAS EASTER SUNDAY --

BONNETS, CHICKS,
CHOCOLATE EGGS,

ALL THE USUAL STUFF, WHICH
IS WHAT MADE THE DISCOVERY

AT THE GEDEON APARTMENT
SO AWFUL.

PAPA.



HELLO, DEAR.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.

ON EASTER SUNDAY
IN 1937, ETHEL KUDNER

AND HER HUSBAND, JOE,

ARRIVE AT HER MOTHER'S APARTMENT

IN BEEKMAN PLACE
ON THE EAST SIDE OF MANHATTAN.

- THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING.
- NO?

AND HER FATHER, JOSEPH GEDEON,
IS ALREADY THERE.

JOSEPH GEDEON IS
SEPARATED FROM HIS WIFE.

BUT THEY WERE GONNA HAVE DINNER
AS A FAMILY.

YOU SEE?

THE DOOR'S OPEN.

MA?

RONNIE?

MA?

THEY DISCOVER THE
NAKED BODY OF VERONICA GEDEON,

ETHEL'S YOUNGER SISTER
AND JOSEPH'S DAUGHTER.

WHERE'S MOTHER?

THEY GO AROUND THE APARTMENT,
AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR MARY.

NO.

IN ANOTHER BEDROOM, THEY
FIND THE BODY OF THEIR BOARDER,

A MAN NAMED
FRANK BURNS, AN ENGLISHMAN.

AND HE HAS BEEN STABBED MULTIPLE
TIMES IN THE HEAD AND NECK.

MY GOD.

WHERE'S MOTHER?

MAYBE SHE WENT TO GET HELP.

BUT THEY STILL
CAN'T FIND MARY GEDEON.

THEY IMMEDIATELY
CALL THE POLICE.

THE POLICE LOOK AROUND

AND NOTICE THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING UNDERNEATH THE BED --

THE BODY OF MARY GEDEON,

JOSEPH'S WIFE

AND ETHEL'S MOTHER.

WE FOUND ANOTHER BODY.

IT'S MARY.

JOSEPH GEDEON TAKES
THE NEWS WITH SURPRISING CALM.

A TRIPLE MURDER ON EASTER
MORNING? TAKE IT FROM ME.

THE CRIME-BEAT PHOTOGRAPHERS
I KNEW WOULD ELBOW THE CORONER

OUT OF THE WAY JUST TO GET
THE FIRST SHOT OF THE BODY.

IN THOSE DAYS,
IT WAS VERY COMMON

FOR REPORTERS TO BE
PHOTOGRAPHING A CRIME SCENE

AT THE SAME TIME THE POLICE
PHOTOGRAPHERS WERE THERE.

MANUAL ASPHYXIATION.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER
CONCLUDES THAT BOTH VERONICA

AND MARY HAD BEEN STRANGLED.

STRANGULATION HAPPENS
OUT OF ANGER.

IT'S EXPLOSIVE.

IT'S REALLY A CRIME OF PASSION.

MARY GEDEON IS STILL CLOTHED,

BUT HER UNDERWEAR
HAS BEEN TORN AWAY.

POLICE ARE ASSUMING
THAT THE ATTACK WAS A SEX CRIME.

FRANK BURNS, THE BOARDER,
HAD BEEN MURDERED IN HIS SLEEP

BY A SERIES OF PUNCTURE WOUNDS
TO HIS SKULL,

INFLICTED WITH A VERY LONG,
POINTED IMPLEMENT,

POSSIBLY AN ICE PICK.

- ANYTHING?
- NO.

IT'S CLEAN.
- HE JUST WALKED IN.

HE DIDN'T TAKE ANYTHING.

THERE WAS STILL MONEY
IN THE APARTMENT.

THE DOOR IS PERFECTLY INTACT.

RIGHT AWAY, THESE THINGS
LEAD DETECTIVES TO BELIEVE

THAT THE PERPETRATOR WAS
SOMEBODY THAT THE VICTIMS KNEW.

LOOK VERY CAREFULLY.

IF ANYTHING WAS TAKEN,

IT WILL HELP US FIGURE OUT
WHO DID THIS.

WAIT.

THERE WAS A LITTLE CLOCK
RIGHT THERE ON HER DRESSER.

- YOU'RE SURE?
- YES.

I REMEMBER ITS HANDS
GLOWED IN THE DARK.

IS THIS YOUR SISTER?

YES.

SHE WAS A MODEL.

MAYBE PUT YOUR ARM UP,
LIKE YOU'RE BEING ATTACKED.

SORRY.

AW.
WHY YOU -- WHY YOU MOVE?

I'M SORRY,
I'M SORRY, SORRY.

JUST GO BACK IN.
WE'LL GO BACK IN.

RONNIE GEDEON WAS 20 YEARS OLD.

AND SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL,
YOUNG BLONDE.

AND SHE OFTEN POSED FOR THE PULP
DETECTIVE MAGAZINES OF THE TIME.

THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.

RONNIE WAS A SWEETHEART.

DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I HIRED HER FOR HER FIGURE.

THAT WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME
IN THE DETECTIVE-RAG BUSINESS.

WHEN SHE WAS ON THE COVER,

SHE'D SELL OUT NEWSSTANDS
ALL OVER THE CITY.

AND THE OLD MAN
SAYS, "ARE YOU KIDDING?

I'M TELLING EVERYONE."

BUT FOR THOSE OF US
PUTTING IN HOURS AT THE STUDIO,

IT MATTERED JUST AS MUCH
HOW A GIRL ACTED.

SOME GIRLS IN THE BUSINESS
HAD SUNK REAL LOW

OR HELD THEIR NOSES UP
TOO HIGH.

RONNIE WAS JUST A REAL
SWEET KID.

IN 1937, A YOUNG WOMAN
WHO POSED NAKED WAS REGARDED

AS REALLY LITTLE MORE
THAN A PROSTITUTE.

THIS IMMEDIATELY CASTS RONNIE'S
CHARACTER IN A VERY,

VERY DUBIOUS LIGHT.

BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT,

I HAD A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
ON THIS THING.

I GUESS I CAN SEE HOW PEOPLE

WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE REAL RONNIE
MIGHT GET THE WRONG IDEA.

AT THE MAGAZINE,

I WAS UP TO MY EYEBALLS
IN MURDER STORIES EVERY DAY.

BUT STILL, I NEVER EXPECTED IT
TO HAPPEN TO SOMEONE I KNEW.

WE'D LIKE TO ASK YOU
A FEW QUESTIONS, PLEASE.

BUT LIFE IMITATES ART,
AND ART IMITATES LIFE.

AND JUST LIKE ALL THE P.I.s
AND GUMSHOE DICKS

IN OUR MAGAZINES,

THESE GUYS WENT RIGHT TO WORK.

I HEARD A SCUFFLE
COMING FROM UPSTAIRS.

- ABOUT WHAT TIME WAS IT?
- 11:00 P.M.

OVER HERE, THIS TOWEL.

MUST HAVE COME IN
TO CLEAN UP.

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT,
THEY FIND VERONICA'S DIARY.

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

MAYBE SOMETHING.

SEE THESE TWO "B's" HERE
AND ANOTHER HERE?

THEY SEE ENTRIES ABOUT A PERSON
WITH JUST THE INITIAL "B."

IT'S CLEAR THAT RONNIE

HAS BEEN ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED
WITH THIS PERSON.

BUT HERE, IT SAYS,

"I'M AFRAID OF 'B.'"

RIGHT AWAY,
THAT PIQUES THEIR INTEREST.

THAT IS THE START
OF THE INVESTIGATION.

THEY WANT TO DETERMINE
WHO "B" IS.

- HELLO?
- Hello.

Good evening.
Is Veronica there, please?

WITH WHOM AM I SPEAKING?

Stephen Butter.

STEPHEN BUTTER?

Yes, sir.

THE INITIAL IN THE DIARY IS "B."

THIS GUY'S LAST NAME
STARTS WITH A "B."

THEY WANT TO TALK TO HIM.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW VERONICA?

Last night.

IF YOU HAD ASKED ME
IF RONNIE GEDEON WAS HIDING SOMETHING,

I WOULD HAVE SAID NO.

SHE ALWAYS SEEMED
LIKE A STRAIGHT SHOOTER.

BUT A SECRET DIARY
WITH A MYSTERIOUS VILLAIN

REFERRED TO ONLY
BY THE INITIAL "B"?

I HAD TO HAND IT TO HER.

SHE KNEW HOW TO KEEP
THEM READING.

THAT'S FOR SURE,
RIGHT UP UNTIL THE VERY END.

I MET HER THROUGH MY FRIEND
LINCOLN.

HE'S OUT OF TOWN.

STEPHEN BUTTER PICKED HER UP A
COUPLE OF TIMES FROM THE STUDIO

AFTER A PHOTO SHOOT.

WAS HE THE OMINOUS "B"
IN HER DIARY?

YOU LIKE HER?

- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- JUST THAT.

WELL, YEAH.

SHE'S GREAT, REALLY NICE,
FRIENDLY.

STEPHEN BUTTER IS 23 YEARS OLD.

HE WORKS AS A MESSENGER
ON WALL STREET.

HE LIVES WITH HIS PARENTS.

IS SHE ALL RIGHT?

YOU SAID
YOU SAW HER LAST NIGHT?

YE-- YES.

WE WENT TO A BAR.

AND THEN
I WALKED HER HOME.

THANKS AGAIN.

THAT WAS ACES.

IT WAS MY PLEASURE.

- WHAT TIME WAS THAT?
- A LITTLE AFTER 3:00.

WE LEFT THE BAR AT 3:00,
I REMEMBER.

YOU GO INSIDE WITH HER?

I'D INVITE YOU IN, BUT
MY MOTHER'S IN THERE SLEEPING.

TOO BAD.

GOOD NIGHT.

IS SHE OKAY?

SHE'S DEAD.

WHAT?

NO. H-HOW?
I JUST -- I JUST SAW HER.

SH... MY GOD.

IN 1937, THE DETECTIVES,
THEY GO ON GUT INSTINCT.

AND THEIR GUT
TELLS THEM THAT HE'S INNOCENT.

**

THE DAY AFTER THE BODIES
WERE DISCOVERED,

THE STORY WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE
IN THE PAPERS IN NEW YORK.

THE COUNTRY IS IN THE MIDST
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

SENSATIONAL STORIES
LIKE THIS WERE A DISTRACTION.

THE DAMSEL IN DISTRESS
ON THE COVER

OF A DETECTIVE MAGAZINE
BECOMES A VICTIM IN REAL LIFE.

IT WAS PERFECT FOR THE PAPERS.

PHOTOGRAPHERS
WHO HAD WORKED WITH RONNIE

COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK
WITH ALL THESE NUDE

AND SEMINUDE PHOTOS OF HER,

MANY OF WHICH WERE PUBLISHED
IN THE PAPERS.

THERE WAS
NOT ONLY THE HIDEOUSNESS

OF THE TRIPLE MURDER,

BUT THERE WAS THE SEXUAL ALLURE
OF THE PRIMARY VICTIM.

AND IT GIVES PEOPLE
THE IMPRESSION OF,

"THIS MUST HAVE BEEN
A VERY FAST-LIVING WOMAN

WHO HAD GOT INVOLVED
WITH THE WRONG PEOPLE."

TO ALL THOSE JOES
READING THE PAPER ON THEIR WAY

TO WORK AND HOUSEWIVES
GOSSIPING OVER THE FENCES,

THE STORY WAS JUST ANOTHER
PIECE OF ENTERTAINMENT.

BUT RONNIE WAS A PART
OF OUR WORLD.

AND WHAT SHE DID WAS A JOB
LIKE ANY OTHER.

SHE WASN'T INVOLVED
WITH THE SORT OF PEOPLE

WHO WOULD HURT HER,
AS FAR AS WE KNEW.

VERONICA WAS AFRAID OF
A PERSON WITH THE INITIAL "B."

AND AS THE POLICE CONTINUE TO GO
THROUGH THE DIARY,

THEY SEE A REFERENCE
TO A GUY NAMED BOB.

IT TURNS OUT
THAT VERONICA WAS MARRIED AT 16

TO THIS GUY, BOBBY FLOWERS.

- THANKS A LOT.
- THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

- YOU BOBBY FLOWERS?
- YEAH.

THIS ABOUT RONNIE?

YOU TALK TO HER LATELY?

ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

YOU HAD A FALLING OUT?

NO.

WHY?

WHY'D SHE SAY
SHE WAS AFRAID OF YOU?

COME ON.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF ROWS
OVER THE YEARS,

BUT THINGS WERE PRETTY GOOD.

WE WERE JUST TOO YOUNG.

HE SAYS THAT THE MARRIAGE
WAS ANNULLED

AND THAT THEY
WERE STILL GOOD FRIENDS.

WHERE WERE YOU
SATURDAY NIGHT?

HE SAYS HE WAS SELLING HOT DOGS
AT AN ARMORY.

YOU CAN ASK MY BOSS,
ASK MY CUSTOMERS.

SHE WAS A GOOD GIRL.

SHE WASN'T LIKE WHAT ALL THE
PAPERS ARE MAKING HER OUT TO BE.

OKAY, BOBBY.

THE POLICE CHECK OUT
HIS ALIBI,

AND THEY PRETTY MUCH
RULE HIM OUT AS A SUSPECT.

VERONICA GEDEON
WAS AN HONEST GIRL.

SHE WAS NOT CHEAP.

OUR EDITOR HAD HAD ENOUGH.

HEADLINE AFTER HEADLINE

PAINTED RONNIE AS A LOOSE,
FAST-LIVING GIRL.

SURE,
SHE WAS NO GOODY TWO-SHOES,

BUT SHE WASN'T THE WHORE
OF BABYLON, EITHER.

SHE HAD THE INTELLIGENCE TO
SUCCEED IN ANY OF THESE COLUMNS.

THE EDITOR
OF INSIDE DETECTIVE MAGAZINE

PUBLISHES A VERY IMPASSIONED
EDITORIAL EXPLAINING THAT RONNIE

HAD TAKEN ON THESE JOBS
IN ORDER TO MAKE A LIVING,

BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING
QUESTIONABLE ABOUT HER BEHAVIOR.

WHILE WE WERE DOING OUR BEST
TO CLEAN UP RONNIE'S REPUTATION

IN THE PAPERS,

THE POLICE WERE COOLING
ON THE JEALOUS-LOVER ANGLE

AND STARTING TO LOOK
CLOSER TO HOME.

GENTLEMEN,
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

DETECTIVES THINK BACK

TO HOW THE FATHER REACTED
WHEN THEY FIRST SPOKE TO HIM.

WE JUST WANTED TO ASK
YOU A COUPLE QUESTIONS.

SURE.

THEY THINK IT ODD THAT HE
DIDN'T SHOW MUCH EMOTION.

GO AHEAD.
BUT I-I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING.

THIS WHOLE THING
HAS GOT ME BEHIND.

I'VE GOT CUSTOMERS,
YOU KNOW.

HEY, CAN YOU TELL US
HOW IT WAS WITH YOUR WIFE?

MARY?

WE WERE SEPARATED.

I COULDN'T STAND
LIVING WITH HER AFTER A WHILE.

SHE WAS AN IGNORANT WOMAN, THE
WAY SHE WAS RAISING THOSE GIRLS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

YOU'VE SEEN IT YOURSELF,
DETECTIVE.

RONNIE WOULD TAKE
HER CLOTHES OFF FOR ANYONE.

SHE WAS A TEASE.

SHE'D LET A GUY
GET THIS CLOSE.

YOU CAN'T TALK TO A MAN
THAT WAY.

I TOLD MARY
ABOUT THIS THOUSANDS OF TIMES,

AND SHE JUST KEPT GETTING
IN THE GODDAMN WAY.

SHE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN
THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS

WOULD HAPPEN.

MIND IF WE TAKE A LOOK
AROUND, MR. GEDEON?

NO.

YOU LIKE TO LOOK
AT NAKED GIRLS, MR. GEDEON?

WHY SHOULDN'T I?
I'M A GROWN MAN.

WHERE WERE YOU ON THE NIGHT
THAT YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTER

WERE KILLED?

CORRIGAN'S.

I WAS PLAYING Skee-Ball.

I STAYED THERE
TILL THEY CLOSED.

- ANYBODY SEE YOU THERE?
- TALK TO CAL.

HE WAS THERE ALL NIGHT.

EXCUSE ME.

HEY, WAIT.

THEY FIND A GUN,
WHICH IS UNLICENSED, UNREGISTERED.

HEY.

LOOK AT THIS.

AND THEN, THEY FIND A KIT
WITH SEVERAL VERY SHARP

UPHOLSTERY NEEDLES.

THIS IS THE TYPE OF WEAPON

THAT WAS USED TO KILL
THE BOARDER, FRANK BURNS.

ONE MISSING.

YEAH.

AND ONE OF THE NEEDLES
IS MISSING.

THAT IS WHERE THE CASE SHIFTS.

THEY START FOCUSING IN ON GEDEON
VERY HARD.

SO THE COPS
LIKED THE ANGRY-FATHER ANGLE.

HE FOUGHT WITH HIS WIFE,

AND SHE WAS DEAD.

MAYBE HE DIDN'T LIKE HER TAKING
IN GENTLEMEN BOARDERS.

AND ONE OF THEM WAS DEAD, TOO.

AND HE CERTAINLY DIDN'T APPROVE

OF WHAT RONNIE DID
FOR A LIVING.

I HAD TO ADMIT,
IT MADE A CERTAIN SENSE.

JOSEPH GEDEON
IS THE PRIME SUSPECT.

THEY BRING HIM
IN FOR QUESTIONING.

THE AUTOPSY RESULTS

SHOW THAT THERE'S NO EVIDENCE
OF SEXUAL ASSAULT.

BUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER

DEDUCES FROM THE CONTENTS
OF MARY'S STOMACH

THAT SHE WAS MURDERED
BETWEEN 10:00 P.M. AND MIDNIGHT.

OKAY, WHERE WERE YOU
BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 10:00 P.M.

AND MIDNIGHT ON THE NIGHT

THAT YOUR WIFE
AND DAUGHTER WERE MURDERED?

I TOLD YOU.

I WAS AT THE BAR.

GO ASK HIM, CAL.

WE DID.

HE SAID THAT HE SAW YOU THERE
THAT NIGHT

BUT NOT BETWEEN
THOSE HOURS.

H-HE'S LYING.

- DID YOU LEAVE?
- NO.

I-I WAS THERE.

MAYBE YOU GOT DRUNK, WENT
TO PAY A VISIT TO THE FAMILY?

NOW, ALIBIS
FALL APART ALL THE TIME.

BUT IT ONLY GOES PART
OF THE WAY TO NAILING A GUY.

THE BRASS RING

IS GETTING THE STORY STRAIGHT
FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH.

THE ABSENCE OF A MURDER WEAPON,

UNFORTUNATELY, IS NOT EVIDENCE
OF A MURDER WEAPON.

SO THEY NEED A CONFESSION.

DID YOU LOVE YOUR WIFE?

SHE DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO RAISE HER CHILDREN.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN
I WOULD KILL HER.

I TOLD YOU BEFORE.

WOMEN TRY TO DOMINATE MEN.

MEN SHOULDN'T LET THEM.

YOU DON'T CONTROL THEM, THEY
START TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU.

SO YOU HAD TO DRAW THE LINE
SOMEWHERE, RIGHT?

I DID NOT KILL MY FAMILY.

WELL, THE 17th PRECINCT
WAS THE PRESTIGIOUS COMMAND.

THE DETECTIVES
THAT WORKED THERE WERE KINGS.

THEY RAN THE SHOW.
THEY WERE THE BEST OF THE BEST.

AND, TO THEM, SOLVING A CRIME
HINGES ON THAT CONFESSION.

SO THERE'S A LOT
OF PEOPLE COMING

IN AND TAKING CRACKS AT GEDEON.

HE'S KEPT AWAKE FOR HOURS.

HE'S DEPRIVED OF FOOD.

BUT DESPITE ALL THEIR
EFFORTS, THEY CANNOT GET HIM TO CRACK.

SO THEY DECIDE TO TURN UP
THE HEAT.

THIS WAS THE ERA
OF THE THIRD DEGREE.

JOSEPH GEDEON HAD BEEN IN
THAT INTERROGATION ROOM

FOR 12 HOURS,
AND THERE WAS STILL NO WORD.

IF THEY HADN'T BROKEN HIM YET,

THEY STARTED TO THINK MAYBE
THERE WAS NOTHING TO BREAK.

NOW, MAYBE IT WAS HIS KEEN
SENSE OF JUSTICE,

OR MAYBE IT WAS ALL THOSE YEARS
SITTING AT HIS DESK,

READING ABOUT CRIME SOLVING
AND NEVER GETTING INVOLVED.

EITHER WAY, OUR EDITOR
HAD A HUNCH.

AND HE PLAYED IT.

THE EDITOR OF TRUE DETECTIVE
MAGAZINE BELIEVES

GEDEON IS BEING RAILROADED.

YEAH?

DO YOU MIND
IF I ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS?

SO HE SENDS ONE OF HIS WRITERS
TO THE BUILDING

WHERE JOSEPH GEDEON LIVED
TO REALLY CHECK OUT HIS ALIBI.

HE WAS HERE. HE STUMBLED IN
A LITTLE AFTER 3:00.

THE WRITER FINDS A NEIGHBOR
WHO SAYS THAT HE DID INDEED SEE

JOSEPH GEDEON STUMBLING
HOME DRUNK AT 3:00 A.M.

HE WENT INTO HIS APARTMENT
AND DIDN'T COME BACK OUT.

- ARE YOU SURE?
- YES.

NOW, THEY HAVE CORROBORATION

THAT JOSEPH GEDEON WAS
ABSOLUTELY NOT THERE

AT 3:00 A.M.

SO HE CANNOT BE THE MURDERER.

THE POLICE HAD REALLY PUT HIM
THROUGH THE RINGER TRYING TO GET

A CONFESSION, WHICH OF COURSE
HE WOULD NEVER GIVE.

STAND UP.

AND JOSEPH GEDEON
HAS NOW BEEN CLEARED.

HEY, IT'S JOE.
JOE, HOW DO YOU FEEL?

SO GEDEON WAS OUT.

THAT GAVE THE PAPERS
A NEW ROUND OF HEADLINES

BUT LEFT THE POLICE WITH SQUAT.

IF THE COPS ONLY KNEW HOW CLOSE
THE KILLER REALLY WAS.

THEY'VE GOT TO REVIEW
THE EVIDENCE THEY HAVE.

AND THE ONE THING THAT
THEY HAVE STILL IS THE DIARY.

IF THEY'D ASKED ME,

I WOULD HAVE TOLD THEM
IT'S NEVER THAT EASY.

THE ANSWER ISN'T JUST

GOING TO BE SITTING THERE
ALL WRITTEN OUT.

NOW, LOOK AT THIS.

HERE.

IT'S STILL TALKING
ABOUT BOB.

WELL, IT'S A GOOD THING
THEY DIDN'T ASK ME,

BECAUSE RONNIE'S LITTLE BOOK

STILL HAD MORE SECRETS
TO DISCLOSE.

"BOB IS OBSESSED WITH ETHEL."

NOW, HERE'S THE THING.

DETECTIVES HAD ASSUMED
THAT BOB,

MENTIONED IN RONNIE'S DIARY,
WAS BOBBY FLOWERS.

BUT THIS BOB HAD A THING
FOR RONNIE'S SISTER, ETHEL,

AND THAT MADE THEM THINK TWICE.

I THINK
THERE WERE TWO BOBS,

FLOWERS AND SOMEONE ELSE.

SOMEONE SCARIER.

IN HER DIARY,
RONNIE MENTIONS A BOB,

AND SHE SAYS
THAT HE'S OBSESSED WITH YOU.

THAT MUST BE BOB IRWIN.

HE WAS A BOARDER
IN OUR HOME.

HE IS A FRIEND
OF THE FAMILY.

YOU KNEW HIM WELL?

YES.

HE LIVED WITH US.
WE ALL KNEW HIM.

AND DID HE AND RONNIE
EVER DATE?

NO, NOTHING LIKE THAT.

HE -- HE WAS KIND
OF INDIFFERENT TO HER.

FOR A TIME,
HE WAS ACTUALLY PURSUING ME.

HE EVEN MADE A LITTLE BUST
OF ME ONCE.

BOB IRWIN WAS AN ARTIST,
SCULPTOR.

HE HAD BOARDED WITH THE FAMILY
SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER.

YOU LOOK SO SERIOUS.

YEAH?

ETHEL WAS INTRIGUED
WITH BOB IRWIN.

SHE THOUGHT HE WAS
AN AMAZINGLY TALENTED SCULPTOR.

HE WAS CONVINCED
THAT THEY WERE SOUL MATES.

YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL,
LIKE A GODDESS.

STOP THAT.

HE WANTED TO MARRY ME,

BUT I WAS ALREADY ENGAGED
TO JOE.

HE'S A VERY DECENT MAN.

HE COULDN'T HAVE HAD ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THIS.

I'M SURE ETHEL
HAD HER OWN OPINIONS,

BUT IT WOULDN'T BE
THE FIRST TIME

SISTERS DISAGREED ABOUT A MAN.

BYE.

JUST BECAUSE ETHEL THOUGHT
THIS BOB IRWIN WAS A GENTLEMAN

DOESN'T MEAN RONNIE DIDN'T HAVE
REASON TO BE AFRAID.

AFTER ETHEL
AND RONNIE'S FATHER LEFT,

MRS. GEDEON
TOOK ON A LOT OF BOARDERS.

I VAGUELY REMEMBER RONNIE
MENTIONING THE NAME BOB IRWIN,

BUT I COULDN'T SWEAR TO IT.

ACCORDING TO RONNIE'S SISTER,

ETHEL, SHE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD
MUCH REASON TO MENTION HIM.

BOB NEVER GAVE RONNIE
THE TIME OF DAY.

HE ONLY HAD EYES FOR ETHEL.

POLICE BEGIN
TO INVESTIGATE HIS BACKGROUND,

AND THEY DISCOVER THAT BOB
HAD PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

AND, IN FACT, HAD SPENT
A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME

CONFINED TO
PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTIONS.

HE'S HAD A TROUBLED LIFE
FROM THE MOMENT OF HIS BIRTH,

ESSENTIALLY.

BOB IRWIN WAS BORN IN A GOSPEL
TENT IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

HIS FATHER
WAS A SELF-STYLED PREACHER

WHO ABANDONED THE FAMILY,

AND HIS MOTHER
WAS A RELIGIOUS FANATIC

WHO PUT HER RELIGION
AHEAD OF HER THREE SONS.

AND THE THREE BOYS WERE SORT
OF LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.

BOTH HIS BROTHERS
WERE CAREER CRIMINALS.

BOB HAD SPENT YEARS
IN REFORM SCHOOL.

BOB TOOK HIS SCULPTING
VERY SERIOUSLY.

THAT'S IT.
THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

HE HAD GONE TO STUDY
WITH SOME NOTED ARTISTS,

SOME OF WHOM TOOK BOB
UNDER THEIR WINGS

AND TRIED TO HELP
NURTURE HIS TALENT.

I'VE WORKED
WITH PLENTY OF ARTISTS,

AND YOU CAN BET
I DATED A FEW OF THEM, TOO.

AND A GUY LIKE THAT CAN MAKE
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HUNG THE MOON

UNTIL THEIR MUSE STRIKES.

THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL
BE INVISIBLE.

YOU KNOW HOW IT IS.

THAT THING
THAT MAKES THEM GENIUS...

...ALSO MAKES THEM CRAZY.

HE WAS SOMETIMES SEIZED BY THESE
PERIODIC OUTBURSTS OF RAGE.

HE WAS FIRED AGAIN AND AGAIN

BY GETTING SO IRRITATED
WITH SOMETHING

THAT SOMEBODY ELSE
DID IN HIS IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT

THAT HE ENDED UP GETTING INTO A
PHYSICAL ALTERCATION WITH THEM.

HE ALSO HAD PHILOSOPHIES
THAT WERE AS IMPORTANT TO HIM,

IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT,
THAN THE SCULPTING.

ONE IN PARTICULAR
HE CALLED VISUALIZATION.

HE BELIEVED THAT,

IF HE COULD CONJURE UP
IN HIS MIND A PERFECT IMAGE,

HE COULD CREATE THESE SCULPTURES
PURELY BY MENTAL POWER.

IT LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL, BOB.
IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME.

BUT HE HAD BECOME CONVINCED
THAT HIS SEX DRIVE

WAS CHANNELING ENERGY AWAY
FROM THIS GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.

SO HE ATTEMPTED TO SLICE OFF
HIS OWN PENIS.

HE DOESN'T SUCCEED,
BUT HE JUST INJURED HIMSELF TERRIBLY.

ALL THIS INFORMATION
CONVINCES THE POLICE THAT HE IS THE MAN.

WE HAVE A NEW PRIME SUSPECT.

HIS NAME IS ROBERT IRWIN.

WHEN THE POLICE ANNOUNCED THEY
WERE LOOKING FOR ROBERT IRWIN,

THE PAPERS FINALLY HAD
A NEW CHARACTER TO WRITE ABOUT,

AND THEY COULD BEGIN
TO LAY OFF RONNIE.

HE'S A SCULPTOR
AND FORMER INMATE

AT ROCKLAND STATE HOSPITAL
FOR THE INSANE.

WE BELIEVE ROBERT IRWIN
IS STILL IN THE CITY.

WE BELIEVE HE IS HIDING OUT
SOMEWHERE.

IF ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC

OR THE PRESS
SEES ROBERT IRWIN...

A LOT OF THE THINGS
WE WOULD USE TODAY

TO TRACK PEOPLE,
CREDIT CARD PURCHASES, TOLLS,

THEY DIDN'T EXIST IN 1937.

I HAVE ORDERED
A CITYWIDE SEARCH.

HE WON'T GET FAR.

AND THEN, I CAME IN HERE
AND SAW THAT HE WAS GONE.

IT WAS TWO DAYS AGO.

A WOMAN CONTACTS THE POLICE

AND TELLS THEM THAT BOB IRWIN
WAS RENTING A ROOM FROM HER.

HE WATCHED US.

HE WAS RIGHT HERE.

IT'S RIGHT ACROSS
FROM THE 17th PRECINCT

AND ONLY A COUPLE BLOCKS
FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

THE LANDLADY DOES
MENTION THAT HE HAD TWO SUITCASES.

ONE HAD A STRAP.

ONE IN PARTICULAR HAD A BELT
AROUND IT TO KEEP IT CLOSED.

**

NEW YORK CITY IN THE '30s WAS
JUST AS CROWDED AND BUSTLING

AS IT IS NOW.

AND BOB IRWIN
WAS NO CLARK GABLE.

HE COULD DISAPPEAR IN A CROWD.

SO FINDING HIM
IN THAT METROPOLIS,

THAT WAS A TALL ORDER, PALLY.

NOT EVERYONE, HOWEVER,
IS CONVINCED THAT BOB

HAS REMAINED
IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA.

ONE OF THE POLICE
OFFICERS HAD A HUNCH.

BACK THEN, A LOT OF
PEOPLE, WHEN THEY LEAVE THE CITY,

OFTEN LEAVE LUGGAGE
AT GRAND CENTRAL STATION.

HE THEORIZED
MAYBE IRWIN HAS LEFT,

AND HE'S LEFT HIS LUGGAGE
BEHIND.

AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT,
HE FINDS A SUITCASE.

AND THEY FIND THE ALARM CLOCK

MISSING
FROM THE GEDEON APARTMENT,

PHYSICAL EVIDENCE THAT ACTUALLY
LINKS BOB IRWIN TO THE MURDERS.

BUT IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS
HE'S LEFT TOWN.

THEY PUT OUT AN ALARM
ACROSS EIGHT STATES,

OTHER JURISDICTIONS
THAT HE MAY TURN UP IN.

THEY HAVE NO SUCCESS.

THREE MONTHS PASSED WITHOUT
ANY TRACE OF ROBERT IRWIN.

WE KNEW THE SON OF A BITCH
HAD TO BE OUT THERE.

SOMEONE SOMEWHERE SEES HIM
EVERY DAY.

THEY JUST DON'T KNOW IT YET.

WHAT WE NEEDED WAS SOMETHING
TO HELP THE POLICE

GET THE WORD OUT.

AND THEN WE THOUGHT,
"HEY, WAIT A MINUTE.

MAYBE WE WERE THAT SOMETHING."

THE EDITOR OF INSIDE DETECTIVE

DECIDES TO RUN A STORY
ON THE FRONT COVER

ALONG WITH A PHOTOGRAPH

OF BOB IRWIN
AND A REWARD OFFERING $1,000.

ABOUT 20,000
IN TODAY'S DOLLARS,

SO QUITE A SIGNIFICANT SUM
AT THE HEIGHT

OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION.

THIS MAGAZINE
GOES ACROSS THE NATION.

IT REALLY HAS FURTHER REACH
THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

ONE COPY ENDS UP
IN CLEVELAND, OHIO,

IN THE HANDS
OF A WOMAN NAMED HENRIETTA,

WHO WORKS AT THE STATLER HOTEL.

HENRIETTA CAN'T BELIEVE
HER EYES.

THE SUSPECT, BOB IRWIN, LOOKS SO
MUCH LIKE THE NEW BARBACK

AT THE STATLER, WHOSE NAME
ALSO HAPPENS TO BE BOB.

SAY, BOB.

YES, HENRIETTA?

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

- WHAT WAS YOUR LAST NAME AGAIN?
- MURRAY. WHY?

HENRIETTA KNOWS
THAT SOMETHING'S DEFINITELY UP

BY HIS REACTION,

SO SHE IMMEDIATELY
CALLS THE POLICE.

BUT TRUE TO FORM,
BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVED,

ROBERT IRWIN WAS IN THE WIND.

AND THIS TIME, IF HE WANTED
TO STAY LOST FOREVER,

HE PROBABLY COULD HAVE.

HELLO. IS THIS
THE CHICAGO EXAMINER?

TURNS OUT
BOB HAD OTHER PLANS.

ROBERT IRWIN...

WANTS TO GIVE HIMSELF UP.

I DON'T PRETEND
TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN THE MIND

OF A GUY LIKE ROBERT IRWIN.

BUT SOMETIME,

MAYBE WHEN HE WAS ON SOME BUS
FROM CLEVELAND TO CHICAGO,

HE DECIDED TO STOP RUNNING
AND TURN THE TABLES INSTEAD.

ROBERT IRWIN
WANTS TO GIVE HIMSELF UP.

HE CALLS THE EDITOR

OF THE CHICAGO HERALD
AND EXAMINER.

NO, THIS IS NOT A PRANK.

HE DECIDES HE MIGHT AS WELL
SOMEHOW PROFIT FROM THIS.

THAT'LL DO.
I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

SO IN EXCHANGE
FOR AN EXCLUSIVE CONFESSION,

HE WANTS $5,000,

A WHITE LINEN SUIT,
AND A PANAMA HAT.

SO THE EDITORS
OF THE NEWSPAPER

ACTUALLY TAKE BOB IRWIN
TO A HOTEL.

IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON
FOR WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST,

THE GREAT AND POWERFUL NEWSPAPER
MAGNATE OF THE ERA,

TO PAY MONEY TO MURDERERS
FOR THEIR CONFESSIONS.

BOY, WAS I HUNGRY.

WELL, IF YOU'RE READY NOW,
WE'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORY.

BUT THERE HAD NEVER BEFORE BEEN
A CASE IN WHICH THE NEWSPAPER

KEPT THIS CONFESSED CRIMINAL
FROM THE POLICE.

I SUPPOSE IT ALL STARTED
WITH A GIRL, ETHEL GEDEON.

WE WERE SUPPOSED
TO BE TOGETHER.

SHE WAS GOING TO BE
A PART OF MY WORK.

BUT SHE MARRIED
SOMEONE ELSE.

I COULDN'T CONCENTRATE.

SHE WAS DISTRACTING ME
FROM MY ART.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT,

BUT I HAD TO.

SHE WAS THE ONLY ONE
I WANTED.

I DIDN'T PLAN
ON KILLING ANYONE ELSE.

HE WANTS TO KILL ETHEL,

BUT HE DOESN'T WANT
TO DESTROY HER BEAUTY.

HE DECIDES HE'S GOING
TO JUST STAB HER IN THE BACK

OF THE NECK.

SO HE SPENDS TIME
ACTUALLY SHARPENING AN ICE PICK.

AND THEN HEADED
FOR THE GEDEON APARTMENT.

WHEN HE GOT THERE,

HE FINDS MARY GEDEON,
WHO INVITED HIM IN.

THE BOARDER ACTUALLY CAME HOME,

AND MARY INTRODUCED THEM.

HE KEPT ASKING,
"WHEN IS ETHEL COMING HOME?"

AND MARY KEPT INSISTING ETHEL
WAS NOT LIVING THERE ANYMORE.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN LIVE THERE.
YOU HAD TO HAVE KNOWN THAT.

HE CONVINCED HIMSELF
THAT SHE DID LIVE THERE.

HE WAS OBVIOUSLY DELUSIONAL.

WHEN YOU GET IN A MIX-UP
LIKE THAT, TIME MEANS NOTHING.

FINALLY,
MARY GREW IMPATIENT AND TOLD BOB TO LEAVE.

BOB SAYS,
"I AM NOT LEAVING UNTIL ETHEL GETS HERE."

MARY TELLS BOB THAT,
IF HE DOESN'T LEAVE RIGHT AWAY,

SHE'S GOING
TO WAKE UP THE BOARDER.

WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY
WHO IS NOT VIEWING THE WORLD

IN THE SAME WAY THAT --

THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE,

IT'S DIFFICULT, OFTEN,
TO UNDERSTAND THEIR MOTIVATIONS.

AND AT THAT POINT,
BOB WENT COMPLETELY CRAZY.

BOB POUNCES ON MARY
AND STARTS CHOKING HER.

ALL THIS TIME,

THE DAMN ENGLISHMAN
WAS IN THE NEXT ROOM

BUT 10 FEET AWAY.

REMARKABLY, FRANK BURNS
IS DEAF IN ONE EAR

AND HAD BEEN SLEEPING
ON THE OTHER SIDE.

BOB IS STILL DETERMINED
THAT HE'S GOING TO WAIT FOR ETHEL.

BUT IT OCCURS TO HIM THAT RONNIE
MIGHT COME HOME FIRST.

AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO KILL
RONNIE.

SO HE'S READ SOMEWHERE
THAT A BAR OF SOAP

CAN BE USED AS A BILLY CLUB.

IF RONNIE COMES HOME FIRST,
HE'S GOING TO KNOCK HER OUT

AND TIE HER UP.

GOOD NIGHT.

* COME TO ME,
MY MELANCHOLY BABY *

RONNIE COMES IN,

AND SHE GOES INTO THE BATHROOM
TO GET CLEANED UP BEFORE BED.

I WASN'T GOING TO KILL HER.

DOESN'T KNOCK HER OUT,
BUT SHE CAN'T SEE

WHO HER ASSAILANT IS.

PLEASE, PLEASE!
BOB!

BOB!

PLEASE!

SOMEHOW, SHE KNEW.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE A CHOICE.

HE ALSO SAYS THAT THE
ALARM CLOCK HAS A GREEN GLOW TO IT,

LIKE EYES STARING AT HIM.

THE SUN CAME UP,

AND IT OCCURS TO HIM
THAT THE BOARDER HAS SEEN HIM.

SO HE STABS HIM 11 TIMES
IN THE HEAD AND NECK.

THEN, HE LEAVES THE APARTMENT
AND THREE DEAD BODIES BEHIND.

I'M CERTAINLY SORRY
I KILLED ALL THREE OF THEM.

I WAS ONLY AFTER ONE,
AND THAT WAS ETHEL.

THE CONFESSION IS PUBLISHED.

BOB IRWIN IS TURNED OVER
TO THE NYPD

AND RETURNED TO NEW YORK.

AND HE'S A CELEBRITY
OF SORTS

YOU KNOW, HIS PICTURE'S
ALL OVER THE PAPER.

BOB IRWIN IS SENTENCED
TO LIFE IN PRISON.

HOWEVER, THE PSYCHIATRY STAFF

FIND THAT HE
IS VERY MENTALLY ILL,

AND BOB IRWIN IS TRANSFERRED
TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY.

HE SPENT THE REMAINDER
OF HIS LIFE INSTITUTIONALIZED.

SO THAT WAS IT -- RONNIE
AND MARY GEDEON AND FRANK BURNS

ALL JUST INNOCENT VICTIMS

IN SOME NUTCASE'S
DELUSIONAL QUEST,

NO MEANING, NO MORAL,
NOTHING BUT A DAMN SHAME.

BUT THEN, SOMEONE LIKE ME COMES
IN TO PAINT THE GIRLS PRETTIER,

MAKE THE MURDER BLOODIER

AND TURN THE TRAGEDY

INTO SOMETHING THRILLING
WITH A LESSON FOR THE READERS,

YOU KNOW,

GIVE THE PEOPLE
WHAT THEY WANT --

ONE HELL OF A STORY.

* COME TO ME,
MY MELANCHOLY BABY *

* SMILE, MY HONEY DEAR *

* WHILE I KISS AWAY EACH TEAR *

* OR ELSE I SHALL BE
MELANCHOLY, TOO *