A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 8 - Bye Bye Betty - full transcript

COME SPRING,
THE AIR CAN STILL CATCH A CHILL

OUT IN THE FLAT STRETCHES
OF WEST TEXAS.

**

BETTY!

YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE AGAIN.
COME ON, HONEY.

SO MRS. WILLIAMS WAS
USED TO THE MORNING BATTLE...

BETTY?

...OF PRYING HER DAUGHTER BETTY
OUT OF A COZY BED.

BETTY?

YOU'RE GONNA BE LATE.
COME ON, HONEY.

BUT WHEN THE DOOR
TO BETTY'S ROOM WAS LOCKED,



AND THERE WAS NO ANSWER AT ALL,

A TINGE OF FEAR
RAN THROUGH MRS. WILLIAMS.

IT LED HER OUT OF HER KITCHEN

AND THROUGH THE BACKYARD

TO TRY THE OTHER DOOR THAT
OPENED INTO BETTY'S BEDROOM.

BUT EVEN SHE
COULDN'T HAVE IMAGINED...

BETTY?

...THAT WITHIN
JUST A FEW SHORT HOURS,

BETTY'S EMPTY BED

WAS GOING TO TEAR THE SOUL
OF ODESSA, TEXAS, CLEAN APART.

**

ODESSA, TEXAS, IN THE 1960s
WAS THE ULTIMATE OIL BOOM TOWN,

AND IT WAS
BEDROCK CONSERVATIVE.

JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY, REPUBLICAN,
AND DEEPLY CHRISTIAN.



BUT IF THERE WAS ONE THING

THAT ODESSANS MIGHT
HAVE LOVED MORE THAN GOD,

IT COULD'VE BEEN THEIR
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAMS.

AS MANY AS 15,000 PEOPLE
WOULD COME OUT TO SEE

THOSE FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
AT ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL...

...WHERE BETTY SHOULD'VE BEEN
THAT MORNING.

I'VE CALLED AROUND
TO ALL HER FRIENDS,

AND NO ONE KNOWS
WHERE SHE IS.

SO, SHE'S BEEN MISSING
HOW LONG NOW?

IT'S BEEN ALMOST TWO HOURS
SINCE I CHECKED HER ROOM.

JUST A COUPLE HOURS?

BETTY WILLIAMS' PARENTS
TOLD THE POLICE

THAT THEIR 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER
IS MISSING.

I UNDERSTAND.

IT'S JUST THAT WITH TEENAGERS --
SHE'S 17, YOU SAID? --

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE SHE'LL
TURN UP BACK AT HOME SOON.

Y-YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
SOMETHING IS WRONG.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW HER?

LAST NIGHT.

SHE CAME HOME
AFTER HER PLAY REHEARSAL.

HI, HONEY.

DIDN'T HEAR YOU COME IN.

SORRY IT'S LATE, MOM.

IT'S OKAY.
HOW WAS REHEARSAL?

LONG.

DAD GO TO SLEEP?

YEAH, HE DID,
COUPLE HOURS AGO.

NIGHT, MOM.

SHE WOULDN'T GO OFF
WITHOUT A WORD.

OUR BETTY IS
A GOOD CHRISTIAN GIRL.

THE WILLIAMS FAMILY
WAS EXTREMELY RELIGIOUS.

BETTY WAS A VERY GOOD
CHRISTIAN GIRL.

SHE LOVED TO TEACH CHILDREN.

SHE WORKED WITH THE YOUTH GROUP

AT THE FRIENDSHIP
BAPTIST CHURCH.

WHEN THE POLICE HEAR
ABOUT A MISSING TEENAGE GIRL,

USUALLY YOU WAIT IT OUT
24 HOURS.

BETTY HADN'T BEEN MISSING
FOR VERY LONG,

BUT THE WILLIAMSES
WERE HEART-SICK,

AND MAYBE IT WAS
THE PITCH OF DESPERATION

COMING OFF BETTY'S MOTHER

THAT FINALLY MOVED
THE DETECTIVES

TO JUST GO OUT
AND ASK A FEW QUESTIONS.

THEY WENT TO SPEND A COUPLE
HOURS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL,

WHERE BETTY'S FRIENDS MIGHT
KNOW THINGS HER PARENTS DIDN'T.

I WAS SITTING IN FIRST PERIOD,
GEOMETRY.

AND THE TEACHER SAID,

"GAYLE, THEY WANT TO SEE YOU
IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE."

WHEN I ARRIVED AT SCHOOL,

RUMORS WERE SPREADING
LIKE WILDFIRE

THAT BETTY WAS MISSING.

WHEN I GOT CALLED IN TO TALK
TO THE POLICE THAT MORNING,

AS FAR AS I KNEW, BETTY JUST
HADN'T SHOWN UP FOR SCHOOL,

SO IT WAS MORE LIKE
CRAZY GOSSIP.

WE NEVER COULD'VE IMAGINED
THAT WITHIN A FEW HOURS,

WE'D ALL BE LED DOWN A TRAIL
INTO A NIGHTMARE.

SO... YOU'RE ALL IN DRAMA CLUB
WITH BETTY WILLIAMS?

YES, WE ARE.

ANYONE HEARD FROM BETTY
THIS MORNING?

SEEN HER ANYWHERE?

NO, I MEAN...

NO.

IS IT LIKE HER
TO MISS SCHOOL?

NO.

NO.

AND GAYLE IS...?

AND YOU'RE
BETTY'S BEST FRIEND?

YES, SIR.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME
ABOUT BETTY?

SHE WAS A SENIOR
AND I WAS A SOPHOMORE,

AND, I JUST THOUGHT SHE WAS
SUCH A WISE, WORLDLY PERSON.

BETTY LOVED THEATER, DRAMA.

AND SHE HAD ALL THE MAGAZINES
AND ALL OF THAT.

"OUR BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS ARE
SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

NOWHERE WILL YOU FIND
SUCH IMMACULATE KEEPING."

AND AFTER HIGH SCHOOL,

SHE IS PLANNING
TO GO TO THEATER SCHOOL

AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY.

IN LUNCH COUNTERS

AND BUS TERMINALS
ALL OVER THE SOUTH,

THE BATTLE IS JOINED.

WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING
LIKE THAT.

WE COULD GET THE WHOLE
DRAMA CLUB TO DO IT.

SOMEONE JUST NEEDS TO STAND UP
AND TELL THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW,
IF SOMEBODY DID THAT,

I BET EVERYONE
WOULD LISTEN TO THEM.

BETTY WAS VERY BRAVE.

I LOVED HER STREAK OF
INDEPENDENCE AND HER DEFIANCE.

BETTY WILLIAMS
SAW HERSELF AS A BEATNIK.

IN ODESSA, TEXAS,

TRADITIONAL, CONSERVATIVE,

EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANITY
DOMINATED.

COMPARED TO THE AVERAGE
ODESSA YOUNG LADY, BETTY WAS A REBEL.

OKAY.

WHAT ABOUT BOYS?

IS THERE A BOY
BETTY'S SPENDING TIME WITH?

WELL... IT ISN'T A BOY.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THERE WERE A BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT BOYS.

SHE WOULD MEET UP
WITH GUYS AT TOMMY'S,

AFTER CURFEW
FOR MOST OF US.

**

BETTY HAD A ROOM IN
THE HOUSE THAT HAD A BACK DOOR.

SHE COULD LEAVE UNSEEN,
AND SHE DID ALL THE TIME.

**

BETTY BELIEVED THAT IT WAS OKAY

TO GO OUT
AND EXPRESS YOURSELF SEXUALLY.

BUT BETTY WAS ONLY 17 YEARS OLD.

**

BETTY HAD SEX,
AND SHE LIKED SEX,

AND SHE USED THAT
TO HER ADVANTAGE.

SHE WAS EXPLICIT ABOUT THE FACT

THAT, "YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT SEX, AREN'T YOU?

WELL, I'M THINKING ABOUT SEX,
TOO."

AND SHE LOVED
SEEING THE REACTION.

I CANNOT TELL YOU
HOW SHOCKING THAT WAS IN 1960.

* JESUS

SO SHE WOULD JUST
GET IN CARS WITH BOYS

AND JUST GO OFF WITH THEM?

YEAH, ALL THE TIME.

AND THAT RIGHT THERE,

I THINK THAT'S WHEN THE POLICE

STARTED TO GET
A RING OF BAD FEELING.

MAYBE THIS WASN'T JUST A CASE
OF OVER-ANXIOUS PARENTS.

MAYBE BETTY
WENT OFF INTO THE DARK...

...WITH GOD KNOWS WHO,

AND NEVER CAME HOME AGAIN.

IF BETTY WILLIAMS

HAD BEEN A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR
IN THE LATE 1960s,

PEOPLE LIKELY WOULD'VE
JUST THOUGHT OF HER AS A HIPPIE

OR PART
OF THE FREE LOVE GENERATION.

BUT IN ODESSA, TEXAS, IN 1961,

SHE WAS A FEW YEARS AHEAD
OF HER TIME.

AND I HAD CERTAINLY HEARD TALK
ABOUT BETTY'S REPUTATION.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT BACK THEN

FOR BREAKING THE CODE
OF GOOD-GIRL BEHAVIOR.

WELL,
WE KNOW SHE GOT HOME

AFTER PLAY PRACTICE WITH Y'ALL
LAST NIGHT.

BUT YOU'RE SAYING
SHE WOULD SNEAK OUT,

GO OFF WITH
ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF BOYS.

ANYBODY SEE HER AT TOMMY'S
LATE LAST NIGHT?

MNH.

- NO.
- NO.

ANY BOYFRIENDS?

SOMEONE SHE'D GET
MORE SERIOUS WITH,

MAKE PLANS WITH?

WELL, BACK LAST SUMMER,
UM, SEVEN MONTHS AGO,

BETTY DID HAVE
A REAL BOYFRIEND THEN.

SHE WAS DATING MACK HERRING.

HE'S WHAT, A JUNIOR?

**

POLICE FIND OUT
THAT THE PREVIOUS SUMMER,

SHE ACTUALLY HAD
A REAL BOYFRIEND...

...A POPULAR FOOTBALL PLAYER
NAMED MACK HERRING.

MACK HERRING WAS
A REALLY NICE-LOOKING GUY,

AND HE WAS A BIG MAN ON CAMPUS.

EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS
THIS NONCONFORMIST REBEL,

SHE WAS VERY ATTRACTED TO MACK.

IN ODESSA,
FOOTBALL PLAYERS RULE THE ROOST.

THEY WIN THE MOST POPULAR,

THEY WIN
THE STUDENT-COUNCIL ELECTION.

MACK COULD BE
A REALLY SUBDUED, QUIET GUY.

HE WAS A MUCH MORE RESERVED
PERSON.

AND IT WAS ALL OUT THERE
WITH BETTY.

AND I THINK THAT GAVE HIM
SOME FREEDOM,

AND HE WAS MORE EXPRESSIVE
WHEN HE WAS WITH HER.

**

I NEVER SAW THEM OUT TOGETHER.

BUT THE LOOK IN BETTY'S EYES
WHEN SHE TALKED ABOUT MACK...

THAT WAS PLAIN AS DAY.

**

THE THING WAS,
BEFORE SCHOOL STARTED AGAIN,

MACK WAS DATING ANOTHER,
MORE POPULAR GIRL,

AND IT SEEMED PRETTY CLEAR THAT
HE SAW BETTY AS A SUMMER FLING.

IT MUST'VE HURT BETTY A TON

WHEN MACK WOULD
LOOK THROUGH HER

LIKE SHE WASN'T EVEN THERE.

SO THEY BROKE UP?

THAT WAS ALL THE WAY BACK
LAST SUMMER.

THEY'RE FRIENDS NOW.

IS THAT RIGHT?

YEAH, WE'RE JUST
TRYING TO FIND OUT

WHERE BETTY WILLIAMS
MIGHT BE.

SO, ANYBODY HEARD FROM MACK
THIS MORNING?

YES. HE'S HERE.

MACK'S BEEN AT SCHOOL ALL DAY.

GREAT. OKAY.

DON'T MAKE US
WASTE OUR TIME HERE.

IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHERE BETTY MIGHT BE,

YOU BETTER
COME OUT WITH IT.

W-WOULD YOU HAVE
TO TELL HER PARENTS?

IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING
WEIGHING ON YOUR MIND,

THAT MEANS
WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

THERE'S AN OLDER GUY.

BETTY WAS INVOLVED WITH A DEEJAY
AT A RADIO STATION.

HE WAS OLDER.

HE WAS LIKE A MAN
WITH A 17 YEAR OLD.

IN THE BACK OF MY
MIND, I WAS THINKING,

"BETTY, YOU'RE GONNA BE
IN A LOT OF TROUBLE

WHEN YOUR PARENTS FIND OUT."

SOMETIMES SHE'D SPEND THE WHOLE
NIGHT OVER AT HIS PLACE.

SO I TOLD THE POLICE
SHE MAY BE AT THIS GUY'S HOUSE.

OKAY, THAT'S ALL WE NEED.
TELL THEM.

NO. LET'S JUST --
THANKS, KIDS.

HAVE A GOOD DAY, OKAY?

YOU SAID "ANYTHING AT ALL"?

TELL YOU ANYTHING AT ALL
ABOUT BETTY?

WELL, BETTY STARTED ASKING
PEOPLE IF THEY WOULD KILL HER.

SHE DID WHAT?

SHE STRAIGHT-OUT ASKED ME
TO KILL HER.

SHE ASKED ME, TOO.

SHE ASKED A FEW OF US
WHO WERE WORKING ON THE PLAY.

SHE STRAIGHT-OUT ASKED ME
TO KILL HER.

SHE ASKED ME, TOO.

SHE ASKED A FEW OF US
WHO WERE WORKING ON THE PLAY.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
ASKING PEOPLE TO KILL HER?

WHY WOULD SHE DO THAT?

SHE TOOK THE WAY
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT HER

AFTER BILL ROSE
PRETTY HARD.

**

BILL ROSE WAS GORGEOUS,

AND HE WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

THE MOST POPULAR GUY
AT ODESSA HIGH SCHOOL.

**

BETTY WAS PROUDLY PROMISCUOUS.

AND SHE RECOUNTED MANY OF HER
SEXUAL EXPERIENCES IN HER DIARY.

ONE NIGHT, THE PHONE RANG,
AND BETTY SAID, "HEY, SHEL?

GUESS WHO I SCREWED TONIGHT?"

AND I SAID, "WHAT? WHO?"

AND SHE SAID, "BILL ROSE."

BUT WHEN WORD GOT
AROUND, AND IT ALWAYS DOES,

THAT'S WHEN THINGS
GOT REALLY BAD FOR BETTY.

BILL ROSE AND MACK
WERE REALLY CLOSE FRIENDS.

THERE WERE VERY CAREFULLY
PRESCRIBED RULES,

AND THERE WERE
FAR MORE RULES FOR GIRLS.

TO HAVE PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT HER BEING A WHORE AND SLUTTY,

SHE FELT THE CONTEMPT.

FOR BETTY, IT WAS ABSOLUTE HELL.

ANY TIME ANYBODY'S
DISCUSSING SUICIDE TALK,

ABOUT DEATH
AND KILLING THEMSELVES,

IT'S AN IMPORTANT RED FLAG,

AND IT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING
THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY,

NO MATTER WHAT.

WAS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE AT ALL

YOU CAN TELL US

ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON
IN BETTY'S LIFE?

WELL, SHE DIDN'T GET CAST
IN THE PLAY.

GAYLE GOT THE LEAD.

I WAS CAST AS THE LEAD
IN "WINTERSET."

I THOUGHT SHE WAS AT REHEARSAL
WORKING ON THE PLAY

WITH ALL OF YOU.

SHE WAS, BUT BETTY GOT MADE
THE STAGE MANAGER.

ALL RIGHT, TAKE IT EASY.

THERE WAS A NEW DRAMA TEACHER,

AND BETTY WAS NOT PICKED,

AND THIS DEVASTATED HER.

**

MACK HERRING
WAS ALSO IN THE PLAY.

SHE HAD TO WATCH GAYLE AND MACK,

HER FRIEND AND HER EX-BOYFRIEND,
PERFORMING ONSTAGE,

AND SHE WAS IN THE BACKGROUND.

THE SENIOR PLAY, FOR
A DRAMA MAJOR, IS EVERYTHING.

W-WE WROTE OFF
APPLICATIONS TO COLLEGE.

WE WERE GONNA STUDY THEATER
AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY TOGETHER,

UNTIL THE THING WITH HER FATHER
HAPPENED.

WHAT HAPPENED
WITH HER FATHER?

WE ALL KNEW HOW SERIOUSLY
MR. WILLIAMS TOOK THEIR FAITH.

AND BETTY WAS WILLFUL,
INDEPENDENT,

SO HE WAS ALWAYS WONDERING
WHAT SHE MIGHT BE GETTING UP TO

OUTSIDE THE CONTROL
OF HIS WATCHFUL EYE.

HER FATHER,
WHO WAS EXTREMELY STRICT,

DISCOVERED BETTY'S DIARY
WITH HER SEXUAL HISTORY.

WHAT IS THIS?

WHAT ARE YOU WRITING IN HERE?

SIT DOWN.
SIT DOWN.

SIT.

TELL ME
YOU'RE NOT DOING THIS.

MY GOD.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU.

THAT IS SINFUL,
AND YOU KNOW IT.

I'M SORRY.

DON'T "SORRY" ME.

YOU'RE DISHONORING ME
AND THIS FAMILY.

AND YOUR MOTHER.

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT
YOUR MOTHER?

HAVE YOU READ THAT?

I TOLD YOU.
I TOLD YOU ABOUT HER.

JOHN, COME ON, PLEASE.

YOU BE QUIET.

THIS CAME FOR YOU.

YOU THOUGHT
YOU WERE GONNA GO AWAY?

WELL,
YOU'RE NOT GOING AWAY.

YOU'RE GONNA STAY HERE
AND YOU'RE GONNA GET A JOB.

AND YOU'RE GONNA
STAY IN CHURCH.

THAT HURTS ME.

YOU'RE A RUINED GIRL.

YOU'VE KILLED ME.

SORRY.

YOU NEED TO GET DOWN
ON YOUR KNEES AND PRAY.

SO SHE ACTUALLY
WAS TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE,

OR WANTING SOMEONE
TO KILL HER?

YEAH.

SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT.

WAIT.

THAT WAS JUST TYPICAL BETTY.
SHE DIDN'T REALLY MEAN IT.

ALL RIGHT, TAKE IT EASY.

MAYBE YOU'RE LYING TO ME
AND MAYBE YOU'RE NOT.

MIKE,
WOULD YOU KILL ME?

WHAT?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT,
BETTY?

I WON'T EVER BE HAPPY,

SO IT'S PROBABLY JUST BEST
IF I JUST DIE.

WOULD YOU DO IT?

WELL, I COULD DO IT,

BUT I DON'T THINK
YOU CAN AFFORD MY FEE.

WAIT. WHY...?

SHE CAN BE
OVERLY DRAMATIC.

RIGHT.

HER PARENTS ARE WORRIED.
YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

TELL US AGAIN ABOUT
THE LAST TIME YOU SAW BETTY

AT PLAY REHEARSAL
LAST NIGHT.

TAKE US THROUGH IT
STEP BY STEP.

WAS SHE ACTING STRANGELY?

SHE SEEMED NORMAL.

RE-REHEARSAL ENDED
A LITTLE BEFORE 10:00,

AND WE ALL WENT HOME.

I LEFT WITH MACK HERRING.
HE WAS GIVING ME A RIDE HOME.

**

AND I SAW BETTY LEAVE
WITH IKE NAIL.

SO, WHO'S IKE NAIL?

HE'S A FOOTBALL PLAYER,
TOO.

HE'S BEEN WORKING ON THE PLAY
WITH US.

SO, POLICE QUESTION IKE
BECAUSE HE DROVE HER HOME.

HE WAS THE LAST PERSON
TO SEE HER

BEFORE HER PARENTS SAW HER.

SO, WE HEAR YOU DROVE
BETTY WILLIAMS HOME LAST NIGHT.

WHAT TIME
DID YOU DROP HER OFF?

I DROPPED HER OFF
ABOUT 10:00, I THINK.

AND THAT WAS THE LAST
YOU SAW HER?

WELL, NO.

SHE ASKED ME TO COME BACK,

DRIVE AROUND
TO THE ALLEY BEHIND HER HOUSE.

AND? DID YOU?

YEAH.

NIGHT, MOM.

AFTER BETTY SAID GOODNIGHT,

SHE CHANGED
INTO BABYDOLL PINK PAJAMAS.

SHE CAME OUT
FROM HER ROOM.

WE JUST TALKED
FOR AWHILE.

SO YOU WERE
THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER

AFTER HER PARENTS THOUGHT
SHE WAS IN BED?

**

WHERE IS BETTY WILLIAMS?

THAT'S THE QUESTION
THE WHOLE SCHOOL WAS ASKING

BY THE AFTERNOON.

AND OUR CLASSMATE IKE NAIL
SEEMED LIKE HE MIGHT KNOW

WHEN HE ADMITTED TO THE POLICE

THAT BETTY HAD SNUCK OUT
TO SEE HIM THE NIGHT BEFORE.

SO YOU WERE THE LAST PERSON
TO SEE HER.

NO.

WHEN WE WERE THERE...

ANOTHER CAR DROVE INTO THE ALLEY
RIGHT BEHIND US.

MY GOSH.

I DIDN'T THINK
HE'D ACTUALLY COME.

COULD YOU TELL
WHO IT WAS?

WELL, YEAH.

I RECOGNIZED THE CAR.

IT WAS MACK HERRING.

BETTY GOT IN THE CAR
WITH HIM?

**

YES, SIR.

THAT'S THE LAST TIME
I SAW HER.

ALL RIGHT, IKE.
JUST WAIT OUTSIDE NOW.

BUT MACK AND BETTY BROKE UP
SEVEN MONTHS AGO,

SO WHEN WE SAW
MACK WALKING DOWN THE HALL,

IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.

WE'RE JUST
TRYING TO FIND OUT

ABOUT WHERE BETTY WILLIAMS
MIGHT BE.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW HER?

I GUESS IT WAS
AT REHEARSAL LAST NIGHT.

WE WERE ALL THERE TOGETHER
WORKING ON THE PLAY,

AND THEN EVERYONE WENT HOME.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES, SIR.

WE HAVE IT THAT YOU
PICKED UP BETTY AT HER HOUSE,

ABOUT 11:00 LAST NIGHT,
AND BETTY GOT IN YOUR CAR,

AND THE TWO OF YOU
DROVE OFF TOGETHER.

WELL, I GUESS THAT'S RIGHT.

IT WAS LATE, AND I DON'T WANT
TO GET HER INTO TROUBLE.

WE DROVE AROUND A LITTLE
AND TALKED,

BUT THEN I DROPPED HER OFF
BACK HOME AROUND MIDNIGHT,

AND I HAVEN'T SEEN HER
AFTER THAT.

DID YOU SEE HER ACTUALLY GO
INSIDE THE HOUSE?

NO, I -- I GUESS I DIDN'T.

I PULLED UP IN FRONT
AND I LET HER OUT.

BETTY HAS A DOOR IN HER
BEDROOM THAT OPENS TO THE OUTSIDE.

IF SHE'S GOING THROUGH
THE FRONT,

SHE RISKS WAKING UP HER PARENTS.

IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE
TO THE POLICE.

AND THEN I LEFT.

I -- I DON'T KNOW
IF SHE ACTUALLY WENT INSIDE.

YEAH,
THAT STORY'S NOT GONNA FLY.

SO THINK REAL HARD HERE.

NEXT STEP IS TAKING YOU DOWN
TO THE STATION.

CALL YOUR PARENTS.

IF YOU HELPED HER RUN AWAY,
WHATEVER IT IS,

IF YOU KNOW
WHERE THIS GIRL IS,

YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US ABOUT IT
RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU KNOW
WHERE BETTY WILLIAMS IS?

I DROVE HER OUT
TO MY DAD'S HUNTING LEASE.

I CAN -- I CAN TAKE YOU
OUT THERE.

**

THE POLICE HAVE
NO IDEA WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

THEY END UP DRIVING
26 MILES OUT OF TOWN.

AT A CERTAIN POINT,
MACK TOLD THEM TO TURN IN...

...WHICH TOOK THEM
TO A STOCK POND.

SO,
WE PARKED JUST OVER THERE.

AND THEN WE WALKED DOWN
JUST TO HERE.

SO?
WHERE IS SHE?

HAVE YOU EVER
FELT TIME SLOW DOWN,

WHEN WHAT IS HAPPENING
IS SO BEYOND BELIEF?

YOUR MIND CAN'T CATCH UP
WITH WHAT YOU'RE SEEING?

EVEN AS MACK STRIPPED DOWN
AND WADED OUT IN THE WATER,

THEY HAD TO BE WONDERING,

WHAT COULD THIS
POSSIBLY HAVE TO DO

WITH BETTY WILLIAMS
MISSING SCHOOL?

**

GOD.

**

THE POLICE AND REPORTERS
DRIVE TO THE STOCK POND,

AND THEY'RE JUST
APPALLED AND SHOCKED.

BETTY WAS STILL
IN HER BABYDOLL PINK PAJAMAS.

THE BACK OF HER HEAD
HAD BEEN BLOWN OFF

BY A 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN.

SHE'S WEIGHTED DOWN
WITH TWO LEAD WEIGHTS.

MY GOD, SON,
WHY DID YOU DO IT?

SHE ASKED ME TO.

HEY, MACK?

HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

UM, I'VE GOT AN IMPORTANT
QUESTION I WANTED TO ASK YOU.

OKAY.
WHAT IS IT?

UM... WOULD YOU KILL ME?

GEEZ, BETTY. UM...

SILLY.

HE TELLS POLICE THAT
WHEN SHE FIRST ASKED HIM,

THEY LAUGHED IT OFF.

BUT SHE WOULDN'T STOP.

SHE KEPT COMING BACK
AGAIN AND AGAIN.

COME ON. GET OUT OF HERE.

THIS WAS SEVEN MONTHS
SINCE THEY BROKE UP.

AND DURING THE SCHOOL PLAY,

MACK AND BETTY RENEWED
THEIR FRIENDSHIP A BIT.

HE HAD NEVER DONE IT BEFORE,

SO SHE GAVE HIM TIPS
AND HELPED HIM RUN LINES.

...BE SEEING YOU.

HEY, MACK?

YEAH?

I KNOW
I ASKED YOU LAST NIGHT,

BUT, YOU KNOW,
I'M NOT GONNA GET ANY HAPPIER.

SHE BEGGED ME.

SAID SHE COULDN'T KEEP LIVING
THE WAY SHE WAS.

SAID SHE WANTED TO DIE.

SO FINALLY I SAID YES.

AND AT THAT POINT,
THEY BEGAN MAKING PLANS.

MACK GOT THE WIRE,
WENT TO THE THEATER,

AND GOT WEIGHTS
FROM THE THEATER.

HE HAD BETTY COME OVER
AND PICK OUT A SHOTGUN.

MACK WENT TO HER HOUSE.

BUT SHE WAS WITH IKE NAIL.

I DIDN'T THINK
HE'D ACTUALLY COME.

WELL, I GUESS I'D BETTER
CALL HIS BLUFF...

EVEN IF IT KILLS ME.

IKE TOLD THE POLICE

THAT SHE WAS SURPRISED
THAT MACK HAD COME.

AND THEN THEY TOOK
THIS LONG TRIP

UNDER THE TEXAS SKY.

WAS SHE UPSET?

SHE WASN'T SAD,
SHE WAS HAPPY.

WE TALKED ABOUT
ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

SHE KEPT SAYING WHAT IT WAS
GONNA BE LIKE IN HEAVEN.

HOW EXACTLY
DID YOU SHOOT HER?

READY?

THIS HERE IS GOOD?

YEAH.
IT'S FINE.

ALL RIGHT.

WAIT.

I'M COLD.

I'M JUST GONNA GO BACK
AND GRAB MY DUSTER REALLY FAST.

OKAY.
I'LL -- I'LL STAY HERE.

RIGHT HERE OKAY?

YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.

CAN I GET A KISS
TO REMEMBER YOU BY?

OF COURSE.

THANKS, MACK.

I'LL ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU
FOR THAT.

I THINK IT'D BE BEST
IF YOU KNELT.

HERE?

YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.

OKAY.

NOW.

**

WASN'T BETTY YOUR FRIEND?

DIDN'T YOU FEEL SOMETHING
ABOUT ENDING HER LIFE?

I FELT SORRY FOR HER.

I FELT TOWARD HER
LIKE I WOULD A CAT

LYING IN A MUDDY STREET
IN THE RAIN.

POLICE OBSERVE THAT
HE'S FRIGHTENINGLY CALM AND LUCID.

SHE WAS DEAD, LIKE THAT.

THEY HAVE A CONFESSION,

SO THEY CHARGE HIM
WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

UNDER THE POPULAR
FOOTBALL-PLAYER FACE

THAT WE ALL SAW,

THERE WAS SOMETHING STRANGE
INSIDE MACK HERRING

THAT ALLOWED HIM
TO PULL THE TRIGGER.

IT WAS A TOTAL SHOCK,

AND IT WAS TERMED
THE "KISS AND KILL MURDER."

I REMEMBER CRYING FOR HOURS.

FOR ME,
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO UNDERSTAND,

BECAUSE I KNEW THEM BOTH.

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HER MIND?

WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND?

HOW COULD THEY HAVE DONE THIS?

THE BREAKUP HAD BEEN
A LONG TIME AGO.

THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY KIND
OF INDICATION OF FIGHTS

THAT WOULD SUGGEST, LIKE,
AN ESCALATING CONFLICT.

RUMORS WERE
SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE

THAT BETTY WAS PREGNANT,

AND THAT MACK SHOT HER

SO THAT HE WOULDN'T
HAVE TO MARRY HER.

BUT THAT WAS RULED OUT
BY THE MEDICAL EXAMINER.

AND IN SOME PARTS
OF THE SCHOOL,

THE WHISPER CAMPAIGN
QUICKLY TURNED

FROM BEING ABOUT POOR BETTY

TO SPECULATING ABOUT

HOW THIS COULDN'T REALLY
BE MACK'S FAULT.

MACK AND HIS FAMILY
HAD A VERY GOOD, CLEAN-CUT IMAGE,

SO PEOPLE BELIEVED THAT SOMEHOW
SHE RUINED THAT BOY'S LIFE.

HIS FAMILY HIRED
WARREN BURNETT.

AND AS SOON AS WARREN BURNETT
WAS ON THE CASE...

...THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO
A NEVER-BEFORE TYPE OF HEARING

IN THE STATE OF TEXAS --
A SANITY HEARING --

TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT

THEY WERE INDEED GOING
TO HAVE A MURDER TRIAL.

THE SIDE BEHIND
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WAS EMPTY,

EXCEPT FOR BETTY'S PARENTS.

THE KEY WITNESS WAS
DR. MARVIN GRICE OF ODESSA.

I EXAMINED MACK HERRING
THREE DAYS AFTER THE SHOOTING,

AND AT THAT MOMENT,
HE WAS SANE.

BUT THE GIRL ASKED MR. HERRING
OVER AND OVER TO KILL HER.

EVEN THOUGH THERE'D ONLY BEEN

ABOUT 10 OR 15 MINUTES
OF CONVERSATION

BETWEEN BETTY AND MACK SPREAD
OUT OVER A COUPLE OF DAYS,

DR. GRICE CLAIMED THAT
BETTY'S PUSHING ON MACK HERRING

TO HELP WITH HER SUICIDE

HAD WORN DOWN
MACK'S LOGICAL FACULTIES,

AND THAT
HE WAS TEMPORARILY INSANE.

MR. HERRING,
WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE STAND?

BUT THE DEFENSE STILL HAD
A KEY WITNESS TO CALL,

AND IT WASN'T MACK'S FATHER,

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS THE ONE
TAKING THE STAND.

I'D LIKE YOU
TO READ THE LETTER

GIVEN TO YOU
BY YOUR SON MACK.

IT'S BEEN EXAMINED
BY EXPERTS,

AND DETERMINED THAT IT IS
BETTY WILLIAMS' OWN HANDWRITING.

IT TURNED OUT
IT WAS BETTY HERSELF.

YOU'D REALLY
BE HELPING ME OUT.

LOOK,
WHAT IF I WROTE A LETTER?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN,
YOU'RE GONNA WRITE A LETTER?

LOOK, I'LL SHOW YOU.

"TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW
THAT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO DO

IN NO WAY
IMPLICATES ANYONE ELSE.

I'M WAGING A WAR WITHIN MYSELF,
SO RATHER THAN ADMIT DEFEAT,

I'M GOING TO BEAT
A QUICK RETREAT

INTO THE NO MAN'S LAND
OF DEATH."

IT WAS AS IF
BETTY WAS TESTIFYING

IN DEFENSE OF HER OWN KILLER.

"A FRIEND OF MINE
HAS GRACIOUSLY CONSENTED

TO LOOK AFTER THE DETAILS.

HIS NAME IS MACK HERRING,

AND I PRAY THAT
HE WILL NOT HAVE TO SUFFER

FOR WHAT HE IS DOING
FOR MY SAKE."

HER STRANGENESS
IS PUT ON DISPLAY.

I THINK BETTY WAS
SERIOUSLY UPSET,

AND I THINK THAT SHE WAS
REALLY TRYING TO GET ATTENTION.

BETTY AND MACK
HAD BEEN IN A RELATIONSHIP,

AND I THINK THAT IT WAS CLEAR

THAT SHE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE
TO REKINDLE THAT RELATIONSHIP.

THIS IS JUST MY OPINION, BUT...

I DIDN'T THINK
HE'D ACTUALLY COME.

...I THINK SHE WAS PLAYING
A GAME OF CHICKEN.

KEEPING THIS WHOLE THING GOING

MAY VERY WELL HAVE BEEN A WAY OF
KEEPING MACK'S ATTENTION ON HER.

"I HAVE GOT TO CALL HIS BLUFF.

I'VE MADE SUCH A BIG DEAL
OUT OF THIS.

I CAN'T NOW TELL HIM, 'NO, NO,
I DIDN'T REALLY MEAN IT.'"

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN
A PART OF HIM

THAT THOUGHT FOR SURE SHE WAS
GONNA SAY, "MY GOD.

NO, DON'T DO IT, DON'T DO IT."

THE MESSAGE WASN'T
"I WANT TO DIE,"

THE MESSAGE WAS

"I WANT MACK TO CARE ENOUGH
ABOUT ME TO SAVE ME."

DO YOU FIND THAT AT THE TIME
OF THE ACT CHARGED IN THIS CASE,

THE DEFENDANT,
JOHN MACK HERRING,

WAS TEMPORARILY INSANE?

YES, WE DO.

THEY FOUND THAT MACK HERRING WAS
INSANE FOR THE LENGTH OF TIME

THAT IT TOOK HIM
TO PULL THE TRIGGER,

AND NOT BEFORE OR AFTER.

THAT RINGS SO FALSE TO ME.

MACK HERRING HAD
BROUGHT TOOLS WITH HIM.

HE HID THE BODY, AND THEN
ATTEMPTED TO LIE TO THE POLICE.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN
STILL SECRETLY ANGRY AT HER

BECAUSE OF BILL ROSE.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY

WHO DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.

SHE DIDN'T COME
FROM A RICH, PROMINENT FAMILY,

AND THE ANSWER THAT MOST PEOPLE
IN ODESSA CAME UP WITH IS,

SHE WAS LOOSE, SHE WAS EASY,
SHE WAS CHEAP, SHE WAS A SLUT.

SHE HAD NO VALUE, AND THEREFORE,
HER DEATH WAS OF NO CONSEQUENCE.

BETTY DESERVED A LOT BETTER.

IT'S AS MUCH A TRAGEDY
AS IT IS A MURDER.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

EVEN NOW, I DON'T KNOW.

BETTY AND MACK
WERE BOTH JUST KIDS.

BETTY WAS DEPRESSED,

AND DID THINGS THAT WERE
DRAMATIC AND SEEMED STRANGE.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE
SHE WANTED TO DIE.

I THINK SHE WAS JUST SEARCHING

FOR SOMEONE TO TELL HER
THAT THEY SAW HER,

AND REALLY LOVED HER.

AND SHE COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN

ABOUT THE COLD THING
INSIDE THE BOY

SHE REACHED OUT TO FOR THAT.

SHE HAD A WONDERFUL
CAPACITY FOR HAPPINESS

THAT SHE WOULD HAVE FULFILLED

HAD SHE BEEN ABLE
TO LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO DO SO.

* YOU TOLD ME THINGS
YOU NEVER MEANT *

* FOOLED ME
RIGHT FROM THE START *

* AND THOUGH YOU'RE NOT TRUE,
MAY GOD BLESS YOU *

* THAT'S THE CURSE
OF AN ACHING HEART *