A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 7 - Damsel on Death Row - full transcript

MRS. MADISON?

IN THE SPRING OF 1934,

I'D BEEN LIVING
AT THE STERLING ARMS APARTMENTS

FOR A FEW MONTHS,

AND I WAS USED TO SEEING
MRS. BRADLEY

FUSS OVER HER BUILDING
AND US TENANTS PLENTY.

MRS. MADISON.

SO WHEN I GOT HOME
THAT AFTERNOON

AND SAW HER KNOCKING
AT THE MADISONS' APARTMENT DOOR

AFTER MRS. MADISON
HAD MISSED AN APPOINTMENT...

UM, MS. SMITH, HAVE YOU SEEN
MRS. MADISON AT ALL TODAY?



NO ONE'S SEEN A STITCH OF HER.

NO, I'M SORRY.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HER.

I THOUGHT, "SURE.
SHE WAS PROBABLY CONCERNED,

BUT I BET SHE WAS ALSO
CURIOUS."

WE DIDN'T KNOW
MUCH ABOUT THE COUPLE,

BESIDES THAT ERIC MADISON

HAD BEEN EMPLOYED
OVER AT THE MOVIE STUDIO.

AND NELLIE WAS A WORKING WOMAN
TOO, WITH LOVELY MANNERS.

IS ANYONE HOME?

AND I BET
THERE WAS LITTLE THRILL

IN TAKING A PEEK
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

TO SEE
HOW THE MADISONS REALLY LIVED.

I MEAN, WHO HASN'T STOLEN
A LOOK INTO SOMEONE ELSE'S

MEDICINE CABINET OR DESK DRAWER
WHEN YOU HAD A CHANCE TO.



BUT WHAT SHE FOUND IN ROOM 123

WASN'T THE DELICIOUS PEEK
INTO THEIR PRIVATE WORLD.

MR. MADISON?

BECAUSE THE MADISONS' SECRETS
WERE A NASTY SLIDE

INTO A NIGHTMARE.

BURBANK IN 1934 WAS,
IN MANY WAYS,

STILL A SMALL TOWN
AND A COMPANY TOWN AT THAT.

WARNER BROS STUDIOS
HAD SET UP SHOP RECENTLY,

AND IT SEEMED LIKE THEY GAVE
WORK TO EVERYONE

AND HIS BROTHER AROUND HERE.

AND LET ME TELL YA, WE KNEW
WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE JOBS.

THIS WAS THE MIDDLE
OF THE GREAT DEPRESSION

AND THE COUNTRY WAS HURTING.

SO THE PICTURES
WERE A WELCOMED DIVERSION.

BUT EVEN THOUGH WHAT HAPPENED
AT THE STERLING ARMS APARTMENTS

WAS JUST AS MYSTERIOUS

AS ANY STORY I'D EVER SEEN UP
ON THE BIG SCREEN,

IT WASN'T A FUN BIT OF FICTION.

IT WAS REAL AND TERRIFYING.

SUNDAY, MARCH 25,
THE BURBANK POLICE

ENTERED ROOM 123
OF THE STERLING ARMS APARTMENTS,

WHICH IS OCCUPIED

BY ERIC MADISON AND HIS WIFE,
NELLIE.

CALL IN THE LANDLADY.

IS THAT MR. MADISON?
YES.

THAT'S HIM.

THANK YOU.

YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER,
BUT WAY BACK THEN,

THERE WERE HARDLY ANY
PHOTO IDs, SO THE POLICE

COULDN'T JUST GRAB
THE DEAD MAN'S WALLET

AND CHECK THE PICTURE
ON HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE.

THEY NEEDED THE HELP
OF SOMEONE WHO KNEW THE FELLA

TO IDENTIFY THE BODY.

LOOKS LIKE THE POOR SAP TOOK IT
IN THE BACK SOMETIME LAST NIGHT

WITH, IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT
A .32, RIGHT?

MUST HAVE BEEN DAMN LOUD, TOO.

THEY DON'T FIND ANY
SIGNS OF A BREAK-IN.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM
TO HAVE BEEN A ROBBERY.

THEY FIND NO GUN,

AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA
WHERE NELLIE IS.

HOW LONG HAVE THE MADISONS
LIVED HERE?

JUST OVER A MONTH OR TWO.

I DON'T KNOW THEM VERY WELL.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW MR. MADISON ALIVE?

WELL,
HE CAME IN ON THE LATE SIDE.

MRS. MADISON WAS ALREADY HERE.

SHE WAS TALKING
WITH OUR CARETAKER,

MR. McGUIGAN, IN THE LOUNGE.

EVENIN', MR. McGUIGAN.

AND AT ABOUT 10 O'CLOCK,
ERIC MADISON WALKS IN...

GOOD EVENING.

AND SAYS
HELLO TO THE MAINTENANCE MAN.

MR. MADISON WAS
LOOKING FOR WORK.

JACK WARNER HAD JUST FIRED
HIM FROM THE RESTAURANT

OVER AT THE LODGE.

WARNER BROS STUDIOS JACK WARNER?

MR. MADISON, HE GAVE WHAT-FOR
TO SOME FANCY DIRECTOR,

I GUESS.

WE'D ONLY KNOWN THE MADISONS
FOR A COUPLE MONTHS,

BUT AT LEAST, AT THAT TIME,

WE THOUGHT WE'D HAD
A GENERAL HANDLE ON THEM.

ERIC MADISON HAD A BIG,
GLAD-HANDING PERSONALITY.

HE WAS ALWAYS WORKING AN ANGLE.

AND THAT COULD RUB PEOPLE
THE WRONG WAY.

RESERVED, VERY POLITE.

RESERVED WAS A GOOD WORD
FOR NELLIE.

HAVE TO GET TO THE TRACK
SOMETIME SOON?

SHE HAD A QUIET STILLNESS
TO HER MANNER,

LIKE SHE WAS KEEPING MOST
OF HER THOUGHTS TO HERSELF.

BUT THAT NEXT MORNING,

I HAD TO WONDER
IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF TROUBLE,

A SECRET SHE WAS
KEEPING CLOSE TO HER HEART TOO.

SHE'S BEEN IN THE HOTEL
BUSINESS, HERSELF.

NELLIE WAS A REAL CAREER WOMAN.

SHE HAD MANAGED A RESORT
OUT IN PALM SPRINGS,

EARNED HER OWN MONEY
AND HAD EVEN, RECENTLY,

INHERITED A LITTLE NEST EGG
WHEN HER MOTHER PASSED AWAY.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

OKAY.
GOOD NIGHT.

AND THEN ERIC
WALKS TOWARDS HIS ROOM,

AND NELLIE MAY FOLLOWS.

SO THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAY EITHER OF THEM?

NO. NO. NO,
I WAS GETTING TO THAT.

I SAW MRS. MADISON AGAIN,
JUST AFTER THE GUN SHOTS.

GUN SHOTS?

WHAT WAS THAT NOISE?

IT SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME
FROM RIGHT HERE.

MRS. MADISON ARE YOU
ALL RIGHT IN THERE?

MR. MADISON?

YES, MRS. BRADLEY.
I'M FINE. THANK YOU.

MRS. MADISON, COULD YOU
COME OUT HERE FOR A MOMENT?

WE JUST WANNA MAKE SURE
YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

DID YOU HEAR IT?

WHAT'S THAT?

THE NOISE.
THE NOISE. THE RACKET.

THEY MUST BE FILMING
AT THE STUDIO NEXT DOOR.

WHAT A RACKET.

THIS APARTMENT IS
DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET

FROM A WARNER BROS LOT,

WHERE THEY'RE MAKING A GANGSTER
MOVIE CALLED "MIDNIGHT ALIBI."

AND, IN THAT MOVIE,

THERE WERE MACHINE GUN BURSTS

THAT WERE GOING
THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

AT THE TIME, NELLIE'S QUIET
COMPOSURE FELT TOTALLY NORMAL.

SHE WAS A "STILL WATERS
RUN DEEP" TYPE OF LADY.

GOOD NIGHT.
GOOD NIGHT.

I'LL SEE YOU SOON.

BUT NOW THAT WE KNEW
ERIC MADISON

HAD BEEN SHOT IN THAT ROOM,

THE QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS
NELLIE'S CALM COVERING UP:

A THREAT TO HER OWN LIFE

FROM SOMEONE LURKING
JUST BEHIND THAT DOOR

OR A VIOLENT ACTION NELLIE
HERSELF HAD COMMITTED?

NO ONE KNEW THE ANSWER
BECAUSE NELLIE WAS GONE,

AND THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED
THAT NIGHT IN ROOM 123

REMAINED HER SECRET, ALONE.

SO THE POLICE
WANTED TO TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS

AND SEE IF THEY KNEW ANYTHING
ABOUT WHERE NELLIE MAY WENT.

I WAS STANDING OUT IN FRONT
OF THE BUILDING THIS MORNING,

AND I GUESS IT WAS
AROUND 9 AM AND, YEAH.

I SAW MRS. MADISON
COME OUT OF THE BUILDING.

AND, SHE,

SHE GOT INTO HER CAR.

POLICE LEARNED THAT
NELLIE WAS SEEN

LEAVING THE STERLING ARMS
THAT MORNING AROUND 9 AM.

SHE LEFT CARRYING SOMETHING
WRAPPED IN NEWSPAPERS.

AND SHE DROVE
OFF NOBODY KNOWS WHERE.

THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
THAT ANYBODY

IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX
HAD SEEN NELLIE MAY MADISON.

YOU THINK IT WAS HER?
WELL, SHE DIDN'T LEAVE THAT ROOM

WITHOUT NOTICING
HER HUSBAND WAS ON THE FLOOR.

MAYBE THEY BOTH
GOT INTO SOMETHING NO GOOD.

MAYBE SHE'S IN TROUBLE NOW.

POLICE KNOW THAT THEY
HAVE TO FIND NELLIE MADISON.

SHE'S A SUSPECT.

OR IF SHE'S NOT INVOLVED,
WHERE IS SHE?

IS SHE SAFE?

SHE JUST SEEMS TO HAVE
DISAPPEARED INTO THIN AIR.

A MURDER WAS A SHOCKING THEN,
JUST A SURE AS NOW.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING
ABOUT THE WAY ERIC WAS KILLED,

FIVE BULLETS IN THE BACK
BESIDE HIS BED,

AND HIS WIFE MISSING,

THAT HAD AN EXTRA TWIST
OF MYSTERY.

AND IT HAD EVERYONE ASKING,

"WHAT HAD BECOME
OF NELLIE MAY

AFTER SHE LEFT
THE STERLING ARMS APARTMENTS

AND PROMPTLY
VANISHED?"

BY MONDAY MORNING,

NELLIE MADISON'S PICTURE
HAS APPEARED IN THE NEWSPAPERS.

POLICE SAY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR
A BEAUTIFUL BLACK-HAIRED WOMAN.

THIS HAPPENED LESS THAN
24 HOURS AGO.

IT'S, LIKE, SHE DISAPPEARED
FROM GREATER LOS ANGELES.

THIS WASN'T AN ERA
OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION.

YOU CAN'T TRACK PEOPLE.

AND THEY CAN'T REALLY DO MUCH
MORE WITHOUT NELLIE MAY MADISON.

CAPTAIN BRIGHT?
YES.

CAN I HELP YOU?

CHARLES BROWN.

POLICE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED

BY A MAN NAMED CHARLES BROWN.

I'D LIKE TO SAY
THAT I DON'T KNOW THE WOMAN

THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

BUT SHE USED TO BE MARRIED
TO MY BROTHER

BEFORE SHE
MARRIED THE DEAD GENTLEMAN.

DIVORCE?

IT WAS QUITE UNUSUAL
TO BE DIVORCED IN THE 1930s.

THAT IMMEDIATELY MAKES
THEM THINK,

"WELL, WHAT KIND OF A WOMAN
IS THIS?"

ANYTHING YOU CAN TELL US
ABOUT THIS WOMAN?

WELL, I CAN TELL YOU THAT SHE
COULD SURVIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS

FOR WEEKS.

THEY LEARN FROM
CHARLES BROWN

THAT NELLIE WAS DILLON, MONTANA,

GREW UP ON A RANCH OUT THERE.

I CAN TELL YOU
THAT SHE COULD SHOOT A RABBIT

FROM 50 YARDS ON A RUN.

SHE CAN BUILD A FIRE.

SHE CAN SKIN A DEER.

SHE WAS A WOMAN WHO SMOKED.

SHE ENJOYED A DRINK.

SHE HAD SEVERAL JOBS.

SHE CERTAINLY DOESN'T FIT THE
CONVENTIONAL WOMAN OF THE TIME.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHIN',
CAPTAIN.

MY BROTHER, WILLIAM,
IS A GOOD MAN.

HE'S A LAWYER.

SHE THREATENED HIM.

SHE SMASHED A BOTTLE
OVER HIS HEAD.

SHE EVEN DREW A GUN ON HIM.

HE HAD TO WRESTLE IT
OUT OF HER HANDS.

I'M NOT SO SURPRISED
THIS OTHER GENTLEMAN,

ENDED UP THE WAY HE DID.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE WE CAN FIND HER?

THEY HAD A FRIEND.

HIS NAME WAS C-- CUDDY.

HIS NAME WAS CUDDY.
YEAH.

CHARLES BROWN TELLS THE POLICE

THAT HE THINKS
HE KNOWS WHERE SHE IS.

IT'S A PLACE
CALLED THE CUDDY RANCH.

IT WAS ABOUT 80 MILES
NORTH OF LOS ANGELES,

WHICH WAS THE WILD WEST
AT THE TIME.

THERE WAS NOTHING
80 MILES NORTH OF LOS ANGELES

BESIDES MOUNTAINS AND PRAIRIE.

IT TOOK 2 1/2 HOURS

TO DRIVE 80 MILES NORTH
OF LOS ANGELES OVER DIRT ROADS.

THERE, YOU'RE COMING TO AN AREA
THAT IS ESSENTIALLY LAWLESS.

CUDDY'S RANCH IS

THIS LITTLE CABIN
IN THIS REMOTE AREA.

THERE WERE MOUNTAINS
AND RANCH LANDS

THAT HADN'T EVEN BEEN
REACHED BY ELECTRIC POWER.

IT WAS A DARN GOOD PLACE
TO HIDE

FOR A COUNTRY GIRL LIKE NELLIE

BECAUSE IF YOU WANDERED ONTO
THE WRONG PERSON'S PROPERTY,

YOU MIGHT NOT EVER
BEEN HEARD FROM AGAIN.

NOW, THE POLICE
ARE ON HIGH ALERT

BECAUSE CHARLES
SAYS THAT SHE WAS CRACK SHOT.

WE'RE LOOKIN'
FOR NELLIE MADISON.

HAVE YOU SEEN HER,
BY CHANCE?

NAH, HAVEN'T SEEN HER
IN 6 MONTHS.

NOW, LISTEN.

I NEED YOU TO COOPERATE.

THERE'S BEEN A MURDER, AND WE
THINK MRS. MADISON WAS INVOLVED.

MURDER?

HAVEN'T SEEN HER?

LOOKS LIKE THE CAR
SHE'S BEEN DRIVING.

THIRTY-TWOS.

IT'S LIKE THE ONES THAT GOT
ERIC MADISON IN THE BACK.

LOOKS LIKE SHE HAD A CHANCE
TO RELOAD TOO.

MRS. MADISON.

NELLIE MAY.

JUST TELL US WHERE YOU ARE,
AND NO ONE GETS HURT.

WE KNOW YOU'RE HERE.

NELLIE.

NELLIE.

NELLIE MAY.

NELLIE.

COME ON OUT, NOW.

YOUR HUSBAND'S DEAD.
YOU KILL HIM?

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT.

WHERE'S THE PISTOL?

AND THEY FIND A RECEIPT
FOR A .32 CALIBER PISTOL.

AND THE GUN WAS BOUGHT
ON THE DAY OF THE MURDER.

AFTER SEARCHING THE RANCH,

THE POLICE DIDN'T TURN UP
THE ACTUAL MURDER WEAPON.

BUT THE RECEIPT FOR THE
PISTOL AND THE AMMO,

THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS PLENTY
OF EVIDENCE, CIRCUMSTANTIAL

OR NOT, FOR THEM TO ARREST
NELLIE MADISON FOR MURDER.

THE PRESS HAD BEEN HOT
ON THE STORY

WHEN IT WAS JUST MAN
WITH FIVE BULLETS IN HIS BACK

AND A MISSING WIFE.

NOW THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE
TO HEAR MORE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL

AND POSSIBLY
DEADLY NELLIE MADISON,

THE PAPERS WERE ALL OVER IT.

THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN THE PRESS AND THE POLICE

WAS QUITE INTERESTING
AT THAT TIME.

AND REPORTERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

ALL SWEPT INTO THE INTERROGATION
ROOM WITH NELLIE.

YOUR HUSBAND'S DEAD, AND WE KNOW
YOU WERE THE LAST ONE

IN THAT ROOM.

YOU SHOOT HIM?

THEY REALLY DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO MAKE OF HER.

SHE'S NOT SUBMISSIVE

IN THE FACE OF BEING QUESTIONED
BY ALL THESE MEN.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY.

SO, YOU WERE MARRIED
BEFORE TO WILLIAM BROWN?

THAT'S RIGHT. WILLIAM BROWN
IS A FORMER HUSBAND OF MINE.

HOW MANY FORMER HUSBANDS
DO YOU HAVE NOW?

THREE.

FOUR.

MAYBE FIVE, I SUPPOSE.

I WAS VERY YOUNG.

THE FIRST WAS ANNULLED
SO IT DOESN'T COUNT.

SO IN THE EYES OF CHURCH,

ANYWAY, ONLY THREE
BEFORE MR. MADISON.

SHE EXPLAINS THAT SHE

RAN AWAY FROM HOME
WHEN SHE WAS 13

WITH THIS FELON WHO IS ABOUT
10 YEARS OLDER THAN HER.

AND THEN, THE --
THE MARRIAGE IS ANNULLED.

WERE THEY ALL SO BAD?

THINGS DIDN'T WORK OUT.

AT SOME POINT,
WHY EVEN BOTHER WITH A WEDDING?

WHAT ABOUT CHILDREN?

IT DIDN'T WORK OUT.

IN THEIR EYES,

THE NUMBER
OF MARRIAGES WAS ASTONISHING.

AND THE FACT
THAT SHE HAD NO CHILDREN

FROM THOSE WAS SUSPICIOUS ALSO.

AND DON'T YOU WANT CHILDREN?

AND THEN, SHE DOES SOMETHING,

WHICH AT THE TIME
IS SIMPLY REMARKABLE.

AND, NOW,
I'D LIKE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

I SHOULDN'T SAY ANY MORE
UNTIL MY ATTORNEY IS WITH ME.

IS SHE ALLOWED TO DO THAT?

UM...
I WAS MARRIED TO A LAWYER.

I KNOW MY RIGHTS.

BRING HER THE PHONE.

1934 IS MANY, MANY
YEARS BEFORE MIRANDA RIGHTS.

THANK YOU.

AND TO DEMAND
THAT SHE BE ABLE TO SEE A LAWYER

BEFORE THEY QUESTIONED HER
FURTHER WAS JUST HIGHLY UNUSUAL,

ESPECIALLY FOR A WOMAN.

THIS IS AN, AS FAR AS THEY'RE
CONCERNED, ANOTHER RED FLAG.

JOSEPH RYAN, ESQUIRE.

AND SHE CALLED FOR A LAWYER

WHO HAD BEEN
ADVERTISING AROUND LOS ANGELES.

IF THE POLICE
WERE HOPING FOR A CONFESSION,

NELLIE'S MANEUVER
WITH THE LAWYER SHOWED THEM

THAT SHE WASN'T GOING
TO GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YA?

I HAVE A RECEIPT FOR A WEAPON
I BELIEVE WAS PURCHASED HERE.

WOULD YOU MIND TAKING A LOOK?

SO THEY KEPT BUILDING THEIR
CASE AGAINST HER

BY TRACKING DOWN
THAT GUN PURCHASE.

MRS. MADISON, RIGHT HERE.

TAKE A LOOK.

DO YOU REMEMBER HER?

WELL, YES, SIR.
YES, SIR.

SHE SAID SHE WAS GOING ON A --

ON A HUNTING OR A SHOOTING TRIP
WITH HER HUSBAND.

THAT WILL DO.
OKAY, GREAT.

YOU CAN PICK IT UP TOMORROW.

IN 1934, LOS ANGELES COUNTY
HAS A 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD.

MY HUSBAND AND I, WE'RE LEAVING
FOR THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT.

I -- I'M SORRY, MA'AM.
IT -- IT'S THE LAW.

I'VE OWNED WEAPONS BEFORE,
YOU UNDERSTAND.

I --
I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT I JU--
THERE'S REALLY NOTHING I CAN DO.

PLEASE?
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THERE MUST BE SOME WAY.

SO YOU GAVE IT TO HER
RIGHT THEN?

BE STRAIGHT WITH ME.

YES, SIR.
I -- I GUESS I DID.

SHE -- SHE SEEMED REAL NICE.

SURE.

EVERYTHING NELLIE DID MADE
HER LOOK GUILTY AS SIN:

FLEEING THE SCENE,

THE TIMING OF HER
BUYING A GUN,

ASKING FOR A LAWYER.

THANK YOU.
HAVE A GOOD DAY.

SO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

DECIDED TO MAKE
AN EXAMPLE OUT OF HER.

AND, DESPITE THE FACT

THAT NO WOMAN IN THE HISTORY
OF CALIFORNIA

HAD EVER SERVED A SENTENCE

MORE SEVERE
THAN LIFE IN PRISON,

THE STATE WAS GOING TO ASK
FOR THE DEATH PENALTY.

FOR THE PRESS, THIS SORT
OF A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO THEY HAVE
A FEMALE MURDER SUSPECT,

BUT SHE'S ALSO MYSTERIOUS.

SHE'S ENIGMATIC.

SHE'S LIVED
AN UNTRADITIONAL LIFE.

SHE HAS NO CHILDREN.

THEY CALLED HER
THE SPHINX WOMAN,

THE IRON MAIDEN,
THE ENIGMA WOMAN.

FOR THAT SPRING
AND EARLY SUMMER,

NELLIE MAY MADISON WAS
THE BIGGEST NAME IN HOLLYWOOD,

JUST AS FAMOUS AS ANY
MOVIE STAR.

AND WHEN HER TRIAL BEGAN,
SHE LOOKED EVERY INCH THE PART,

LIKE A CHARACTER
FROM "THE MALTESE FALCON,"

THE MYSTERIOUS MURDERESS

COME DOWN OFF THE SCREEN.

SHE WAS THE COOL, QUIET,
GOOD-LOOKING

PULP FICTION FEMME FATALE.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

ERIC MADISON
WAS CALLOUSLY SHOT IN THE BACK.

SIX SHOTS WERE FIRED
AT THIS DEFENSELESS MAN.

AND HIS WIFE,
MRS. NELLIE MAY MADISON,

FLED THE SCENE
AND THIS TERRIBLE DEED.

THE PROSECUTORS BRING
IN THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE DEATH BED,

REMINDING THE JURY
THAT THIS IS A CASE

WHERE THE MAN
MAY WELL HAVE BEEN DEFENSELESS.

CALL THE FIRST WITNESS.

YOUR HONOR, THE DEFENSE

CALLS MRS. NELLIE MAY MADISON
TO THE STAND.

WE WERE ALL WAITING TO FINALLY

HEAR AN EXPLANATION
FROM THE SILENT SPHINX WOMAN.

WHAT WAS
NELLIE MADISON'S SECRET?

MRS. MADISON,
ON MARCH 24 OF THIS YEAR,

DID YOU MURDER ERIC MADISON?

I DID NOT.

DID YOU SHOOT THIS MAN?

I DID NOT.

IS THIS MAN ERIC MADISON?

IT IS NOT.

WELL, HOW CAN YOU BE SURE?

I KNOW MY HUSBAND.

I BELIEVE HE'S OUT THERE,
SOMEWHERE, ALIVE.

ERIC MADISON IS,
SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, ALIVE.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

I LOVED THE MOVIES.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

AND I THOUGHT I'D SEEN JUST
ABOUT EVERY SURPRISE PLOT TWIST

THERE WAS,

BUT NONE TOPPED THE BOMB SHELL

THAT NELLIE SPRUNG WHEN

SHE INSISTED THAT ERIC MADISON
WAS STILL ALIVE.

NELLIE SAYS THAT THE PERSON

FOUND DEAD ON THE FLOOR
OF THE APARTMENT IS A STRANGER.

AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW
HOW THEY GOT THERE.

SO THIS IS MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

IS THE MAN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH
ERIC MADISON?

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HIM.

JOSEPH RYAN,
THE DEFENSE LAWYER,

HAD GOTTEN FIRED FROM
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE

AND HAD BECOME THE EQUIVALENT
OF AN AMBULANCE CHASER.

IS THIS ERIC MADISON?
NO.

AND HE SHOWED PICTURES
OF THE BODY TO WITNESSES.

ERIC MADISON HAD A MOLE
ON HIS FACE,

AND THAT MAN DOESN'T.

PEOPLE WHO KNEW ERIC
YEARS EARLIER...

THAT IS NOT ERIC MADISON.

JUDGE, AT THIS TIME, THE STATE
CALLS GEORGIA MADISON

TO THE STAND.

GEORGIA MADISON
IS ERIC'S EX-WIFE.

MRS. MADISON,
I'M GONNA SHOW YOU A PHOTOGRAPH.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THE MAN
IN THAT PICTURE?

YES.

WHO IS THE MAN IN THAT PICTURE?

ERIC MADISON.

OBJECTION.

OVERRULED.

HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE
THAT THAT IS ERIC MADISON?

WE WERE MARRIED FOR YEARS.
I THINK I SHOULD KNOW

WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.

AS A JUROR SITTING IN
THIS CASE,

ALL YOU'RE THINKING
AT THAT POINT IS,

NOT ONLY
DID SHE KILL HER HUSBAND,

NOW SHE'S WILLING TO LIE TO US
BLATANTLY TO GET OUT OF IT.

THERE'S DISCUSSION
AROUND THE COURTHOUSE

TO WHAT WAS RYAN DOING.

HOW COULD HE HAVE PRESENTED
SOMETHING

THAT SO CLEARLY WAS NOT TRUE?

HAS THE JURY
REACHED A VERDICT?

YES, WE HAVE.

THE JURY FINDS THE DEFENDANT,
NELLIE MAY MADISON,

GUILTY OF MURDER
IN THE FIRST DEGREE.

THE STATE HAD ASKED FOR
THE DEATH PENALTY

AGAINST NELLIE

BUT IT WAS STILL UP TO THE JURY
TO DECIDE.

IF THEY WANTED TO SPARE
HER LIFE, THEY WOULD ANSWER

THE JUDGE'S NEXT QUESTION
WITH LIFE IN PRISON.

IF THEY SAID NOTHING, WELL,

THERE SILENCE
WOULD SEAL HER FATE.

AND DO YOU HAVE ANY
RECOMMENDATION FOR THE SENTENCE?

SHE'S GONNA DIE FOR THIS CRIME.

NELLIE'S DEATH SENTENCE
WAS SO UNUSUAL,

THERE WASN'T EVEN A PLACE
IN THE WOMEN'S PRISON

IN TEHACHAPI TO KEEP HER.

THEY NEVER NEEDED
AN ISOLATED LADIES'S DEATH ROW

BEFORE NELLIE.

SO THEY HAD TO PUT HER
IN THE HOSPITAL WING.

NELLIE WAS SCHEDULED FOR
EXECUTION IN 3 MONTHS' TIME.

SHE WAS DESPERATE TO MAKE
SOMETHING HAPPEN AND FAST.

SO NELLIE HIRED A NEW,
MORE RESPECTED ATTORNEY.

AND TOGETHER, THEY GOT THE EAR
OF THE ONE MEMBER

OF THE PRESS WHO SUSPECTED
THAT THERE WAS STILL A LOT

MORE TO NELLIE MADISON
THAN MET THE EYE.

CRIME REPORTER AGGIE
UNDERWOOD BEGINS TO COME OUT

AND VISIT HER AT THE PRISON.

I WANT PEOPLE
TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

I WANTED TO TELL THE TRUTH
AT MY TRIAL

BUT MY LAWYER
WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO.

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED, NELLIE?

A WEEK BEFORE ERIC DIED,
I CAME HOME...

AND THERE WAS A GIRL.

SHE SEES ERIC MADISON

AND A TEENAGE PROSTITUTE
ON THE BED TOGETHER.

HE WAS ON HIS BACK

AND SHE WAS LYING FACING
HIS FEET, AN UNNATURAL POSITION.

AND...

THEY WERE BOTH USING
THEIR MOUTHS ON EACH OTHER.

NELLIE SAID THAT WHEN HIS DIRTY
LITTLE SECRET,

THAT HE HAD AN APPETITE
FOR UNDERAGE GIRLS,

WAS FINALLY EXPOSED THAT DAY,

ANY VENEER OF KINDNESS
FELL AWAY ALTOGETHER.

TELL US WHAT HAPPENED, NELLIE.

ERIC PROCEEDED TO TELL
HER THAT THE PERSON

THAT MARRIED THEM WAS A FRIEND
OF HIS AND NOT A MINISTER.

THAT HE FAKED
THE WEDDING CEREMONY WITH HER.

AND THE REASON THAT HE
EVEN WAS WITH HER

WAS FOR HER MONEY.

SHE HAD $1,000
INHERITANCE FROM HER MOTHER.

YOU'VE INSULTED ME
FOR THE LAST TIME.

I CAN DO
WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT TO.

NELLIE SAID ERIC'S DRINKING

BROUGHT OUT
BURSTS OF VIOLENT ANGER.

MY GOD.

IT WAS AWFUL.

WRITE THIS.

AND AS PART OF HIS
CONTROL OF NELLIE MAY MADISON,

HE TOLD HER THAT, "YOU'RE GONNA
SAY THAT YOU CHEATED ON ME."

"DEAR ERIC,
I'VE NEVER LOVED YOU..."

HE MADE YOU WRITE SOME KIND
OF FAKE CONFESSION?

YES.

NELLIE SAYS THAT ERIC
FORCES HER TO WRITE A LETTER

THAT SAYS IT WAS HER DECISION
TO NOT BE MARRIED.

THAT SHE'S A FORNICATOR,
BASICALLY.

"PLEASE FORGIVE ME,
NELLIE MADISON."

THIS WAS DEVASTATING.

BACK AT THIS TIME,

IF YOU WERE LIVING WITH SOMEONE
WHO WASN'T YOUR HUSBAND,

HAVING SEX WITH THEM,

THIS COULD REALLY RUIN YOU AND
YOU COULD ACTUALLY BE ARRESTED.

AND THEN THE NEXT THING
HE TOLD HER WAS THAT,

"I'M GONNA KEEP THAT LETTER.

AND IF YOU DON'T DO WHAT I SAY,

THEN I'M GONNA DIVULGE
THAT LETTER TO YOUR FRIENDS

AND YOUR FAMILY."

THIS WOULD HAVE DESTROYED HER.

NELLIE MAY SAYS THAT SHE BECAME
A CAPTIVE IN THE APARTMENT.

ERIC DRINKS,
ERIC BEATS HER,

AND NELLIE STAYS.

THE REASON SHE STAYS IS BECAUSE
SHE WANTS THAT LETTER BACK.

SO SHE LOOKS AND SHE LOOKS
AND SHE LOOKS.

SHE ENDURES THE DRINKING.

SHE ENDURES THE BEATING.

I COULD FEEL
THERE WAS NOTHING IN HIM

THAT CARED IF I WAS ALIVE.

FROM THE TIME SHE WAS 13,

SHE HAD FELT THE BURNING SHAME
OF TRUSTING THE WRONG MEN,

THE COLD JUDGMENT OF OTHERS.

AND EACH TIME,
SHE HAD PICKED HERSELF UP,

VOWED TO ESCAPE HER PAST
AND START OVER.

BUT TO HAVE BEEN
DUPED LIKE THIS,

LIKE SHE HAD LEARNED NOTHING
FROM ALL THOSE YEARS.

SHE BECAME FIXATED ON THAT
NOTE, THE PROOF OF HER SHAME.

SHE WAS NOT GOING TO LET
HIM WALK AWAY WITH IT.

THIS'LL DO.

YOU CAN PICK IT UP TOMORROW.
PLEASE.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.

HE WAS WILLING TO KILL ME.

AND IF HE KEPT ME ALIVE,

IT WAS SO HE COULD TAKE PLEASURE
IN RUINING ME.

NELLIE SAID SOMETHING WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN THAT NIGHT...

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

EITHER ERIC
WAS GOING TO KILL HER

OR HE WAS GOING
TO LEAVE WITH THAT LETTER

AND TRY TO DESTROY THE LIFE
SHE HAD BUILT FOR HERSELF.

EITHER WAY,
NELLIE WAS GOING TO STOP HIM.

I'M NOT GONNA LET YOU LEAVE
WITH THAT LETTER, ERIC.

IN HIS DRUNKEN STATE,
ERIC MADISON'S RESPONSE TO HER

IS, "YOU PULL THAT GUN ON ME,
I'M GONNA CUT YOUR HEART OUT."

HE REACHED UNDER THE BED

FOR A BOX OF KNIVES
THAT WERE KEPT IN THE ROOM.

SHE WENT THROUGH ALL
OF HIS COAT POCKETS,

AND SHE FOUND THE NOTE.

MRS. MADISON,
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT IN THERE?

YES, MRS. BRADLEY.
I'M FINE, THANK YOU.

SHE TOOK THE NOTE
UP TO CUDDY'S RANCH,

AND SHE BURNED IT.

AGGIE UNDERWOOD
WAS NOBODY'S FOOL.

SHE KNEW THE TIMING
OF THESE REVELATIONS

WAS AWFULLY CONVENIENT NOW
THAT NELLIE WAS ON DEATH ROW.

BUT AS A FEMALE JOURNALIST,

AGGIE WAS ALSO FAMILIAR
WITH BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES

OF WHAT PEOPLE EXPECTED OF HER.

YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH HELL,
NELLIE.

AND SHE HAD SEEN FIRST-HAND
HOW EASY IT WAS FOR

A WOMAN'S VOICE TO GET LOST.

AND I'M GONNA MAKE SURE THAT
PEOPLE FIND OUT.

SO SHE RAN NELLIE'S STORY, AND,
BOY, DID IT MAKE SOME NOISE.

NELLIE'S CONFESSION

BRINGS IMMEDIATE PUBLIC
REACTION.

HER ATTORNEY SAYS THAT SHE NEVER
TOLD HIM THOSE THINGS.

THE POLICE AND THE PROSECUTORS
THINK IT'S A FAIRY STORY.

I HAVE TO ADMIT IT.

WHEN I READ
ABOUT NELLIE'S STORY,

WITH TEENAGED HOOKERS
AND FORCED CONFESSIONS,

IT SOUNDED OUTLANDISH.

COULD ERIC REALLY HAVE BEEN
VIOLENTLY ABUSING NELLIE

JUST DOWN THE HALL WITHOUT
ANY OF US BEING THE WISER?

NELLIE'S NEW LAWYER UNDERSTOOD
PEOPLE WOULD BE SKEPTICAL

OF HER WORD ALONE.

SO HE SET OUT TO SEE
IF THERE WAS ANY PROOF

TO BACK UP NELLIE'S CLAIMS.

PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.

AND HE MANAGED TO FIND SOMEONE

TO COME FORWARD
AND SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

AND FROM A DIRECTION
I WOULD HAVE NEVER EXPECTED.

OKAY.

NOW, TELL ME EVERYTHING
YOU KNOW.

OKAY.

NOW, TELL ME EVERYTHING
YOU KNOW.

I CAN TELL YOU PLENTY

ABOUT THAT ****DAMN BASTARD.

ERIC MADISON'S FIRST WIFE,
GEORGIA,

HAD TESTIFIED AT THE TRIAL.

NELLIE'S OLD LAWYER

DIDN'T THINK TO ASK WHAT ERIC
HAD BEEN LIKE AS A HUSBAND,

BUT HER NEW ONE DID.

AND GEORGIA WAS HAPPY TO TALK.

HE WAS A GOOD DANCER,

BUT IT WAS ALL DOWNHILL
FROM THERE:

VIOLENT, MEAN,

THOUGHT THE WHOLE WORLD
WAS AGAINST HIM,

BUT ESPECIALLY THE WOMEN.

MORE THAN ONCE,
I COULDN'T BREATH.

SOMEONE WAS CHOKING ME.

I WOKE UP,

AND ERIC WOULD JUST LAUGH,

SAY IT WAS A DREAM.

BUT I HAD THE BRUISES
ON MY THROAT IN THE MORNING.

HE WAS JUST LOOKING
TO GET MY MONEY

AND THEN A DIVORCE,
QUICK AS YOU PLEASE.

HE INSISTED THIS FRIEND
OF HIS MOVE INTO THE HOUSE

AND TRIED TO MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE WAS COMMITTING ADULTERY,

WHILE HE WAS OUT MESSING
AROUND EVERY NIGHT

WITH TEENAGED GIRLS.

BUT HE WANTED ME
TO WRITE A CONFESSION.

AND HE BEAT ME UNTIL I DID.

THE CONSISTENCY
BETWEEN GEORGIA MADISON'S STORY

AND WHAT WAS DONE TO
NELLIE MAY MADISON

IS REMARKABLE.

ERIC MADISON USED THEM AND THEN
GOT ADMISSIONS FROM THE WOMEN

THAT THEY
WERE THE DEFICIENT PARTY

SO THAT HE COULD GET AWAY
WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES.

NELLIE DID KILL ERIC, YES.

BUT WITH ALL THE EXTENUATING
CIRCUMSTANCES,

DID THE PUNISHMENT
FIT THE CRIME?

SHE WAS STILL JUST WEEKS
AWAY FROM THE GALLOWS.

NOTHING HAD CHANGED THAT YET.

PEOPLE START WRITING LETTERS
TO THE GOVERNOR,

BEGGING HIM TO REPRIEVE HER.

YOU SHOULDN'T EXECUTE
THIS WOMAN

BECAUSE HER HUSBAND
WAS AN ABUSER

AND HER LAWYER WAS AN IDIOT.

ERIC MADISON HAD USED A LETTER
TO INTIMIDATE NELLIE,

AND IT WAS LETTERS
FROM THE PUBLIC

THAT WERE THE BEST HOPE
OF SAVING HER LIFE.

BUT EVEN WITH ALL THE SUPPORT,

THERE WAS JUST ONE
OFFICIAL DECREE

THAT SHE WAS WAITING FOR.

AND IT FINALLY ARRIVED...

A STAY OF EXECUTION

FROM THE GOVERNOR
OF CALIFORNIA HIMSELF.

WITH, UM, 16 DAYS LEFT,
BEFORE SHE WAS TO HANG.

THE GOVERNOR COMMUTED
HER SENTENCE TO LIFE IN PRISON.

* DAYLIGHT SEEMS FULL OF CLOUDS
AND RAIN *

IT WAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE
TURNABOUT YOU EVER DID SEE.

THE SAME PRESS THAT CALLED
HER THE SPHINX WOMAN,

NOW LED BY AGGIE UNDERWOOD,

HAD TURNED INTO ADVOCATES
FOR NELLIE.

OTHER WOMEN HAD KILLED
THEIR HUSBANDS BEFORE HER

AND ONLY BEEN GIVEN LIFE
IN PRISON.

IT MADE ME WONDER WHY
THEY HAD BEEN SO KEEN

THAT SHE BE THE ONE
TO GET THE DEATH PENALTY.

AGGIE UNDERWOOD WROTE THAT SHE
THOUGHT THAT NELLIE

RECEIVED THE DEATH SENTENCE

BECAUSE SHE HAD BEEN
MARRIED SO MANY TIMES

AND HAD NO CHILDREN.

**

SEVEN YEARS
AFTER SHE'S BEEN CONVICTED,

SHE'S ACTUALLY PAROLED.

NELLIE GOT OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF WORLD WAR II.

AND, IN AT LEAST ONE WAY,

THE WORLD HAD CAUGHT UP
WITH HER 'CAUSE ONE THING

SHE'D ALWAYS BEEN GOOD AT,
HOLDING DOWN A JOB, WELL,

NOW, THAT WAS A WOMAN'S
PATRIOTIC DUTY.

NELLIE CHANGED HER NAME
AND GOT TO WORK,

DETERMINED TO LEAVE THE SHADOW
OF THE ENIGMA WOMAN

BEHIND HER.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER,

SHE GOT MARRIED, AGAIN,
TO A NICE FELLA.

AND, THIS TIME,
IT WAS GONNA STICK JUST FINE.

* THEN UNTIL I GET ME
SOMETHING ELSE *

* SOMEBODY SOMETIMES *

* WELL, I DON'T INTEND
TO DO NOTHIN' *

* FOR NOBODY *

* NO TIME *