Police Woman (1974–1978): Season 1, Episode 8 - Flowers of Evil - full transcript

Is she your sister,
Mrs. Schmidt?

I go to bed at night and I
see her holding that umbrella,

and I want to scream.

This Kathleen O'Shaughnessy is their first
resident to make the missing persons list,

and we're gonna
find out how and why.

I don't think there's a
thing you couldn't teach me.

- Perhaps.
- Okay, you can start your
rounds with these sedatives.

I think they're killing her.

Sorry, fellas.

Oh, sorry, Joe.

Pep! Hey, Pepper! Yeah.

Where you going? Well, I'm all wet,
and there's some hot coffee in here too.

Oh, hey, hey.

Oh, uh, okay. My office. Ten
minutes. Before you go, okay?

Okay.

Look okay? Wow, you
look gorgeous. Got a date?

Jack the Ripper detail.
Well, you're safe, honey.

Even the Ripper won't
come out on a night like this.

Rain is so mysterious.

Especially when you're
going somewhere.

Do you know how long it's
been since I've ridden in a car?

- About a year.
- Longer. Much, much longer.

That isn't counting
taxis, of course.

Oh, dear. Her name.

Janet, you're so good at names.

- Janet!
- What?

Ronnie's wife. Before I see her
I've got to remember her name.

You never mentioned her name.

I must have. How dreadful.

I'll try to remember it.

And if I don't, I'll
just dissemble.

That's what Mother always
taught us when we were girls.

If a lady is confused,
she just dissembles.

Well, they could've at least waited
until we had a dry spell, you know.

You won't melt, Joseph.
You're the one who's

always complaining about
being glued to your desk.

Well, look what we've got here.
I'd say you've been out in the wet.

And I'm going back
out into the wet.

I am going home to a
hot lemonade and brandy.

Listen, kid, why don't you take
tomorrow off and sleep late?

Oh, fantastic.

Because the next day we're all
gonna give Homicide a little help.

It's been nice, fellas. Oh,
it's not gonna be just you.

We're all gonna be out
there with you. Any questions?

Did Noah waste
time with questions?

Uh-uh.

He just picked up
his hammer and saw.

Silver? A silver bowl?

No, it couldn't
have been silver.

Ronnie was married
during the war.

They didn't have silver then.

Aluminum.

That's what I got Ronnie
and his lovely bride.

Perfectly beautiful...

little nut dishes,

like leaves with stems...

that curled up over the handles.

Oh, dear. I left in such a rush,

I absolutely
forgot Mrs. Farrell.

Her birthday! She'll
be terribly hurt.

She'll be so happy when
she hears where I've gone.

Home... to the ones I love best.

I know she will.

Is... Is this where
Ronnie's going to meet me?

That's what he said.

Well, he must have a reason.

And the main thing is,
he's back, and he wants me.

Would you help me, my
dear, with this umbrella.

Thank you, dear.

Ronnie?

Ronnie? Ronnie, darling?

Ow! Ow!

Oh! Oh!

What's this? A bust? Hold
it, miss. You can't go in there.

I live here!

Hey, Torson.

Tell this ape I paid my
rent. He can't keep me out.

It's all right. She lives
in Unit 5 across the way.

Please. Can I go?
I'm... I'm gonna be sick.

Go ahead.

What's the matter? They
find out what you charge?

A woman in the room across
from yours has been killed.

Been dead five days, maybe more.

You mean, just laying there
in the room across from me?

There'll be questions. Sure.

Hey, Pete.

What've we got? What've we got?

Well, we've got a female,
Caucasian, elderly, 70, maybe 80.

Can't tell anything more
until they finish in there,

except that she was
strangled with piano wire.

Who was she, Pete?
She wasn't registered.

The room was taken by a
man. D. Johnson, Fresno.

No identification?
No purse? No nothing.

I wouldn't go in there if I were you,
Pepper. It's been almost a week.

Well, I can hack it.

Wanna lift for
identification, fellas?

Anything, Joe? Nothing new.

They say it'll take
about four or five hours...

before they can tell
us anything more.

There's no sense in
you two staying in here.

We've covered every
inch of this place.

Have the coroner let me know
what time they post the body.

You got it.

She was so tiny.

Let's go talk to the owner
and see what he knows.

Mr. Torson,

were you here the night
Mr. Johnson was registered?

Who else was here? Huh?

You can't pay enough for
what I clear to get somebody.

Johnson was from Fresno?

Right here.

Hey, what about that? I mean, don't
you normally write in their license number?

- Normally, I do. But...
- But what?

Well, I remember that night.

It was rainy and it was chilly,

and an old friend of
mine dropped by and...

with a bottle.

And when this Johnson came,

somewhere around
3:00 in the morning,

well, you could say, I, um,

I was a little mellow.

Okay, I was a lot mellow.

Do you remember... Was he tall?
Short? Can you remember that?

Uh, he was about average.

- Was he black? White?
- White. He was white.

- What about his hair? Blond? Brunet? Gray?
- I don't know.

He had a hat on.

Like I told you
before, it was raining.

It was raining all week.

I think he had a cold because he
sounded sort of hoarse. Real hoarse.

- How'd he pay for the room?
- Cash in advance.

That time of night, it
has to be. Five nights.

For what it's worth to ya,
he took the cheapest rate.

We call that "housekeeping."

No maid service, nothing. Just for
the room. For what it's worth to you.

Did you ever see him go
into the room or anybody else?

No, ma'am.

After the five days were
up, I just took my key,

and I checked the room, and...

I... I found her.

Hi, Bill. Hi, Joe. Where's Pep?

Missing Persons. Hey, what'd
you find out at the autopsy?

Blue eyes, white hair.
That much for sure.

Yeah? No identifying
marks? Nothing?

Only dentures... full
upper, partial lower.

Oh? Traceable?

Well, we're working on that now.

Pathologist says that
those type of dentures

haven't been made
since World War II,

and they were expensive then.

That goes with her clothes. Let
me have your pocketknife, will ya?

According to Pepper, her
clothes were expensive too... once.

Everything she had on was at least
10 or 15 years old. Except her shoes.

Pep's got a theory about that.

What's that? The old lady was
wearing what you'd call an outfit,

and even though it was out
of style, it was still an outfit.

And she said if she had that kind
of taste, ain't no way she's gonna...

spoil that outfit by
wearing those dumb shoes.

Fingerprints... negative.

We've run all the checks, and it's either
one of two things... She never existed,

or she never had a job...

or applied for a driver's
license or whatever.

You know, Bill, that
could fit in with the clothes.

Say she never worked and
she could afford a chauffeur.

That sounds like the perfect
Filmore motel type, doesn't it?

Let's hold the body.
Somebody knows who she is.

Somebody who calls
himself D. Johnson.

Now all we have to do is
find D. Johnson. It's easy.

Easy, is it? Wish we had
a name for you, little lady.

But right now you're gonna
have to be Jane Doe, number 26.

I thought it must be mail time.

Well, you learned our routine
very quickly, Mrs. Edgeworth.

Well, it has come, hasn't it?

My, uh, bank statement?

Well, this is the first
week of the month, isn't it?

Yes, but you know
how the mail is.

Oh, Miss Richards, I could
use some help with the mail.

Where have you been?

Been upstairs in
my room, lying down.

Janet, what am I
going to do with you?

I'm sorry, Gladys.

I just can't forget.

So you finally decided
to get out of bed, did you?

That's enough, Mame.
She's not feeling well.

Then I suppose it's asking too
much of her to have this list filled...

that we need from the infirmary.

I'm not going to have any
more of this. Do you hear me?

Both of you.

Just give me the list.

That's better.

Mrs. Edgeworth's bank statement.

And you know what to do with it.

You know, Sarge, you ought
to work Missing Persons.

Teaches you a lot more than
you want to know about people.

Well, at least I've
got six possibilities.

And this is a slow month.

Around the holidays we get
15, 20 old people reported.

And you know what's
pretty hard to take?

Somebody'll come in and they'll file a
report, and you don't see them again.

It's almost as if inside,

he's glad that Mama or Aunt
Sadie or Grandpa took a walk.

The Eskimos used to put them on ice
floes when they reached a certain age.

Maybe this is as
close as we can get.

Yeah. But at least
an ice floe is faster.

Let's see what we have left.

There's Mrs. Helen Schmidt,
7934 Charleville in San Mateo.

Is she your sister,
Mrs. Schmidt?

I'm sorry. It's
all right. It's fine.

I wish there'd been another way.

Why don't you come to our
office? We'll get you a cup of coffee.

I think I'd just like
some air, please. Okay.

I hope, God rest her, that,
that wasn't Kathleen in there.

But something
inside says it was.

I haven't seen her
for nearly 20 years.

Why were you
searching for her now?

Time, Sergeant Anderson.

Time... and guilt...

and the loneliness.

I'm a little confused.

First you file a missing
persons report, but

yet you haven't seen
the woman for 20 years.

Oh, I found Kathleen.

At least I found
out where she was.

She'd sold her house
and moved into a home.

Well, I couldn't have that.

But when I went to pick her up,

the woman that runs the place,

a Miss Conway, I think,

said that Kathleen had become so
upset when she knew I was coming...

that she packed all
her things and moved.

- Where was this home?
- Uh, the Golden...

Golden something.

Oh, yes. The Golden Years.

I like this. Very much.

It's a real antique, isn't it?

Yes. It's, uh... It's
Queen Anne, I think.

Yeah, you sure got some beautiful
things here. It's like a regular museum.

They're gifts to the home,
Sergeant. Thank you, Miss Richards.

When the ladies join our
family, they're allowed to bring...

the things they cherish
the most. Is that right?

I'm sorry I kept you waiting,
but today is the day...

when every lady receives
a call from Dr. Westley.

And it's an inviolate rule that
I make the rounds with him.

Uh, Miss Conway,

about Kathleen O'Shaughnessy...

Yes, what can I
tell you about her?

She just packed up and
moved out, is that right?

Well, Sergeant, this
is not an institution.

The ladies are not committed.

They enter of their own volition and
they're able leave whenever they choose.

I'll give you a brochure
that explains our philosophy.

Miss Conway, somebody's
car is blocking the driveway,

and I'm expecting an
ambulance for Mrs. Bannister.

Yeah, well that would be my car.

- I'm sorry. I'll move it.
- Is there anything else
we can tell you?

No, I don't think so. I think Miss
Richards filled me in pretty well.

Oh, I'm so glad.

Oh, and, um, Sergeant, um,

well, this is a common
behavior pattern, Sergeant.

Mrs. O'Shaughnessy found a place
for herself here, a peaceful refuge.

Miss Richards, would you hand
me one of our brochures, please?

She was frightened when she
thought her sister might make her move.

I hope she'll come back.

Thank you.

And, of course, we'll have her room waiting
for her for a reasonable amount of time.

Thank you very much,
Miss Conway, Miss Richards.

I'm sure this
will be a big help.

I couldn't have listened to
that man for another minute.

Janet, there is nothing
to be frightened of.

But I am afraid.

I'm very afraid.

I go to bed at night,

and I shiver,

and I can't fall asleep,

and sometimes,

in the shadows,

I see her in the rain,

holding that umbrella,
and I want to scream!

Hey, hey, hey.

I'm sorry, I...

I'm sorry I had to do that.

I went down to County Health
and checked the survival rate.

I tell you. They ought to
change the name of that place...

from The Golden Years
to The Golden Year.

'Cause that's just about as long as those
old ladies last once they're admitted.

Now, pepper, fast. Hmm, what?

Pepper, pepper, hot
pepper. Oh, hot pepper.

Red pepper. Thank you.

Are you sure your mother
made that "fra-fra" thing that hot?

Fra Diavolo, sweetheart, and she
made everything hot. Look at me.

- Mmm.
- Mmm, mmm.

It needs something.

You know, this Kathleen
O'Shaughnessy...

is their first resident to
make the missing persons list,

and I want us to
find out how and why.

I go in, right? Nope.

Too young? No,
you can't afford it.

Watch the chef's arm, will ya?

I meant to go in as
a nurse, not a patient.

I don't know. I met the three
ladies who run that place.

Mm-hmm. I'm not
sure you'd fit in there.

One of them looks like she
oughta be driving a diesel truck.

The other two read pretty much the
same, maybe a little more discreet.

Do we have a contact
that can get me in?

Mm-hmm, I think
so. Mmm! Taste this.

Huh? What? Taste this. Terrific.

Isn't that great?

Ouch. You're not sweating.
Not enough pepper.

You really want to go in, huh?

I do. Yes, I do.

Won't you have a
seat, Miss Anderson?

Well, Mrs. Feeney was right.

She said you were very
pretty. You are. Thank you.

I've been looking
over your application.

There seems to
be one small matter.

You've never worked in
a retirement home before.

Should that be such a
drawback, Miss Conway?

I don't think there's a
thing you couldn't teach me.

Perhaps.

But why should I choose you
above a qualified practical nurse?

Because I learn
quickly and I'm willing.

Yes. I think you are.

But we might as well check some
of your professional references.

Let's see... Bryan Hospital,
Head Nurse McGuiness.

Miss Conway... don't, please.

Why?

I never worked at
Bryan. I lied about that.

Um, I'm, uh... Well,
I'm new in town.

I've never even
seen Bryan Hospital.

- What are you trying
to tell me, Miss Anderson?
- I am a nurse, a good one.

But I was involved in
some trouble recently.

- Where was that?
- Cleveland. I, uh...

I'm from Cleveland.

And there was an incident
at a hospital where I worked.

A theft. Theft of drugs.

And they...

Yes? At first they
thought I was involved.

It all became a terrible mess.

Well, my only involvement
was that I knew who did it,

and I had to tell finally.

I told the grand jury
and named names.

And you thought
it best to leave?

Yes. There were people who weren't
very happy about what I'd done...

What I had to do.

Miss Conway, I need a job badly.

I need a place where I can stay out of
sight for a while. Money doesn't matter.

I'd work for next to nothing.

Well, I think we can do
a little better than that.

I think you'll, uh,

add a bright new note
to The Golden Years.

Suzanne,

the job is yours.

You hired her, without
even asking me?

She should have been checked
and double-checked, especially now.

Mame, dear,

I have the authority to
hire and fire as I choose.

Miss Anderson
starts in the morning.

What is this crud? We've
been together a long time.

What are you doing
pulling rank on me?

Maybe we've been
together too long.

Oh, you're getting so
cute in your old age.

Cute and careless.

She'll do very
nicely. I'll bet she will.

File this.

As you can see, Suzanne,
you'll have plenty of privacy.

Oh, this is nice. I'm sure
I'll be very comfortable here.

Is that all you brought?
That's all I have.

Well, that doesn't matter.

You'll be living
in your uniform.

And, as you can see, they're
very attractive. Mm-hmm.

You might as well put it on now
and start right in on your duties.

All right.

Um, I'll see you
downstairs in a minute.

I think it'll work
out very nicely.

I'll do my best.

Mr. Lund? Yes?

This is Sergeant Crowley.
How do you do, Sergeant.

Mr. Lund. Won't
you sit down, please?

Can I get you a cup of coffee?

Yeah, thanks. Uh,
with cream, okay? Sure.

Now I don't have to
remind you, Sergeant,

that all account information is, for
all intents and purposes, confidential.

Good. Do you have the
court order? Yeah, right here.

Thank you.

Oh, would you care for
a cigarette? No, thanks.

- You mind if I smoke?
- Yes.

Uh, I haven't had time to gather
all the information you requested.

Now this is correspondence
pertaining to her account.

This is a letter requesting
the transfer of funds...

from her savings account
to her checking account.

And, of course, we answered,

cautioning her about
her loss of interest.

And this is her letter.

Now you'll note that it's on
letterhead from the home she entered.

And she explains that
she was incapacitated...

and unable to make
it here to the bank.

- Both of these
are typewritten.
- Yes.

You transferred the
funds? There you are.

Well, it's what she asked.

Mr. Lund, her account's
still active, isn't it?

It is. What's the
status of that account?

Well, I'm not certain. I've
asked for a spot check.

- Perhaps I could phone you
when I get that information.
- I'll wait.

- Well, it may take time.
- I said it. I'll wait.

Very well.

Just how much training
have you had in geriatrics?

Not enough. But I'll be
able to handle the patients.

They aren't patients. They're
residents. Don't forget that.

Those in this wing happen to be
bedridden, but they're still residents.

Until I see what
you're capable of,

I want you to do nothing
without checking with me first.

These little ladies are
gonna ask you for the moon.

You just smile and be courteous,

and relay any of
their requests to me.

Not to Miss Conway?

To me. I'm the
head of the infirmary.

Mrs. Barry, you're not
supposed to be out here, dear.

I'm so tired of being
cooped up in my room.

Dr. Westley doesn't
want you to exert yourself.

But I told him like I've
told you and the others.

I don't belong here.

I have a family who
wants me and needs me.

Now they sent you here and
you agreed to come, right?

My daughter-in-law said
it was just a trial period.

You just go in your room, Mrs.
Barry. We'll discuss it later, okay?

Sad. It happens.

I notice all the residents
wear the same kind of shoes.

Are they orthopedic?

Orthopedic, no. Cheap, yes.

Okay, now you can start your
rounds with these sedatives.

Oh, it's not marked which patient
gets them. Well, they all get them.

And you stand there and
make sure they take them.

They're crafty.

They can palm one of those things
as fast as a dealer can palm an ace.

Now, Mrs. Farrell in nine,

she gets two of
those little greenies.

She's pretty good about it, but
you make sure she takes them.

Understand? Oh, yeah.

Enough of Auntie Mame's
friendly corner drugstore.

Wish me luck.

Well, the little lady
signed them, all right.

Oh, did she? Yeah.

Let me show you something.

Now look at that. Look, look.
Oh, yeah. I see what you mean.

They're so much alike,
they could be a rubber stamp.

And I tell you... nobody signs his
name the same way that many times.

For sure.

Now this doesn't mean that Jane
Doe number 26 is Mrs. O'Shaughnessy,

but it just might have made Mrs.
O'Shaughnessy Jane Doe number 26.

What's our arrangement
with Pepper?

We kept it loose. She said
she'd contact us when she had to.

So we wait, huh?

You promised me it
was only for a while.

You promised me.

I want to go home.

I can't stay here.

I've gotta go home.

I don't belong here.
I don't belong here.

Hello, Mrs. Farrell. Hello.

Will you turn it
off, that thing?

Is this better? Okay.

Just because I can't see to read anymore,
do I have to have that box natter at me?

Of course not. It
was hers. Kathleen's.

Never thought I'd miss her,

but if she wasn't chip, chip, chippering
like a bird, that thing was going.

How long was she your roommate?

Ever since I got here.

But you do miss her.
I'd miss Lizzie Borden.

Mrs. Farrell, wouldn't it be easier if
you wore your plates when you ate?

Don't have any. Rather live
on paste than wear those things.

Of course you do.
They're right here.

Oh, I see. They're
broken. Not mine.

Hers. Kathleen's. The set
they made up for her here.

Didn't last any time. Broke.
Had to go back to her old set.

These are Kathleen
O'Shaughnessy's? Mm-hmm.

Put 'em back. She left 'em
and I'm gonna keep 'em.

Well, you just let me get a nice
pretty box for them. How's that?

Long as I get 'em back.

Mrs. Farrell, it must have been
hard to say good-bye to Kathleen.

Never did.

That Dorn woman gave us our
sleepin' pills, and me my other pills,

and when I woke up,
Kathleen was gone,

lock, stock and barrel...

except for them.

Would have been nice,
courteous at least, to say good-bye.

Mmm. I don't want
this. Take it away.

Sure, let me have it.

Nurse,

don't mind me hollerin'
at you like an old crone.

Breaks the monotony, gives me
something to do, all right? I know.

I'll just leave your food here
in case you change your mind.

But you've got to take
your pills. I won't forget.

Oh, I don't mind these.

They relax me, help me to sleep.

But these green ones.

Hmm? They just turn
my stomach inside out.

They give me nightmares.

They're snuffin' the life
out of me before my time.

But I guess these people
know what they're doing.

My son pays a fortune
for this place, so...

I tell you what, Mrs. Farrell.

Why don't you skip
taking them for tonight,

just for a night or two? That
Dorn woman will have a fit.

Well, it'll just be
our little secret.

See how you feel a couple of
nights without taking them, all right?

Nurse? Uh, Suzanne is it? Yes.

I like you, Suzanne.

I like you.

Suzanne? Yes?

I was just going down
to the corner market.

I needed some... Mrs.
Barry is missing. She's gone.

Ruth, any sign of her
yet? No, Miss Conway.

Well, you better
check the rear again.

Gladys, I just talked
to Mrs. Hasseltine.

The old witch said she was
gonna walk home. My car's outside.

I'll go with you.
I'm coming too.

Please, get me home.

She's coming back with
me. You get her in the car.

It's all right. It's all right.
Not back to that place! No!

It's gonna be all
right. I promise.

No mistake. The lab says they were
made for one and the same person.

Nice work, Pepper.
Kathleen O'Shaughnessy.

Well, that takes
care of Jane Doe.

We know why she was wasted.
Now we gotta find out who wasted her.

Probably the same one who
signed her signature to the checks.

D. Johnson, John Smith
or whatever he calls himself.

Pep, who are the guys
involved at The Golden Years?

Well, the janitor, the doctor,

the two regulars
from the funeral home,

everybody and nobody.

What do you think about these?
You think they're of any use?

You don't make a move around
there without signing forms,

getting forms signed
or inventing new ones.

Three carbons instead of two
gets you a whole stack of signatures.

Pete, get those over
to handwriting analysis.

And fast, cause there's a woman
I'm really worried about. A Mrs. Farrell.

I think they're killing her.
Like the one I saw in the street.

This was a Mrs. Barry.
Tormented. Just killing her spirit.

Boy, I really want
to get those people.

I really want to get them.

Miss Richards? What?

Oh, it's you, Suzanne.
It is Janet Richards?

What?

Did you sign this?

It's a requisition.
Yes, I signed it.

Miss Richards, Sergeant
Crowley, Police Department.

You're under arrest for the
murder of Kathleen O'Shaughnessy.

Miss Conway. Suzanne?

Yes, it's me. Oh,
dear, I can't talk to you.

Sorry, Miss Conway.

Miss Conway, Miss Dorn. I have
warrants for your arrest, for murder.

Smart, Gladys. So smart.

Shut up! You
hired her. I didn't.

I told you, shut up! This may be
the last mistake you'll ever make.

Mame, shut up. All right,
sweetheart, arrest me...

and then let's just
see what happens.

Have a seat, Miss Conway.

I'm overwhelmed by
your courtesy, Sergeant.

Isn't it customary to
put a prisoner in a cell?

Well, it's the general rule.

I just thought we
could talk better here.

How would you
like a cup of coffee?

I hope that chair's
for my lawyer.

I know something
about rights, Sergeant,

and at this moment you're endangering
the lives of 30 elderly women.

As a matter of fact,
we took care of that.

They'll survive.

Could you make them that
same guarantee, Miss Conway?

Charming.

Do I have a choice, Sergeant?

Choice? Between this and a cell,

I'd much prefer the cell.

Well, I sure as hell
can arrange that.

Book her.

Janet!

That's what happens when old
friends move into a new neighborhood.

Nice. Reminds me of Nurse Corps.

Well, one thing I learned in the corps
was when captured by the enemy,

all you have to give is
name, rank and serial number.

Well, at least that's a start.

Or a finish. Unless you'd like
to make some small talk, jazzbo.

Well, Miss Dorn, you've
heard the charges against you.

I'm prepared to listen to anything
you have to say at this point.

Oh, yeah? Come here.

Come here.

Game called on account of mud.

You got some soap? I
wanna wash out my ears.

They look all right to me.
You didn't hear what I heard.

What's that? It's deep.

Here, it's been a long night.

Coffee's how you like it.

Strong.

You found out so
many things, didn't you?

It's my job. Wanna talk?

I just want to be left alone.

All right.

But try the coffee. It's good.

You were at the home?

Mm-hmm. A while ago.

The ladies... who's
taking care of them?

The night shift
nurses are still there,

and we've assigned someone from County
General to help Dr. Westley in the morning.

- No!
- Why not?

Not Dr. Westley. He
doesn't care about them.

Was it Dr. Westley's
idea to sedate the women,

so they couldn't care
and wouldn't complain?

Janet,

someone registered at the Filmore
Court... a man named Johnson.

I think you might know.
Was that Dr. Westley?

Why won't you let me see Gladys?

Gladys can't help you now.

Were you at the motel, Janet?

You're right.

I did find out about
a lot of things.

I found out about a home...

that lets women
starve to death...

when they become too much
bother for the monthly fee they bring in.

Starve slowly,
day by day, until...

they just aren't a
bother anymore.

But I also found out
about a supervisor...

who spends nights holding shells
that aren't even human anymore,

shells that can't even
know she's there.

Holding their hands, just so
they won't slip out of this life alone.

It's hard to believe...

that supervisor...

That supervisor is the only
one we have proof against,

just because she did
what she was told...

Signed checks that brought an old woman
closer and closer to the end of her life.

Is that what happened to the
others, Janet? Mary Hearn, Maggie...

Stop it!

Most of them don't have any families,
no relatives. Who was to miss them?

Except, Janet, one
woman did have someone.

Kathleen. A sister.

But Kathleen had to die before
that sister began asking questions.

She had to die,
in her best outfit...

Her white gloves,
sweet little hat.

She thought you were
her friend. How did she

look when the wire
tightened around her neck?

Did she... Did she
reach out to you?

Did she pray for you to
help her? God! Oh my God!

Janet, there were three of you.

Now which one dressed as a
man and rented that motel room?

Which one tightened
that wire around her neck?

Mame? You?

Gladys.

No, it wasn't Gladys.

I did it.

I signed the checks.
I killed Kathleen.

Don't protect her. I killed her!

Look at me and don't lie to me.

Janet, she must be
very special to you.

How long has it
been? Ten, 12 years?

You have nothing
to hide from me.

I knew it the minute I
saw you two together.

And I don't condemn you.

Not at all.

I've known what a love like
yours can do to a person.

I've lived with it.

I don't think I've ever
told anybody else but...

In college, I had a roommate
who meant a great deal to me.

But I meant even more to her.

I watched what a love like
yours can do to a person.

I watched her suffering.

And I... I couldn't help her.

I guess what I'm trying to
tell you is don't protect Gladys.

Don't destroy yourself, okay?

Yeah, it was Gladys who
registered at the motel.

It was Gladys who
killed Kathleen.

Don't hurt her.

Don't hurt her.

Just don't hurt her, please.

She's all I've ever had.

Is that all?

Yeah, it's enough.

Then I'm going home.

Pep.

Let me take you home.

Good night, Bill.