Original subtitles

BACK IN 1930,

WHEN MY FRIEND, PEARL, AND I WERE YOUNG MOTHERS,

THE WORLD WAS A DIFFERENT PLACE.

OUR LIVES WERE ALL MAPPED OUT FOR US.

WE TOOK CARE OF THE HOUSE.

WE RAISED THE KIDS WHILE OUR HUSBANDS WENT TO WORK.

MOM, I'M GOING.

WAIT FOR YOUR SISTER.

SHE'S NOT HERE.

WELL, WHERE IS SHE?

I DON'T KNOW. I HAVEN'T SEEN HER.

SOMEHOW EVERYTHING IN PEARL'S WORLD

WAS ALWAYS ELEGANT AND PERFECTLY IN PLACE.

LEONA, YOU'RE LATE.

YOUR BROTHER HAS ALREADY LEFT.

BUT THE DAY LEONA WENT MISSING,

IT WOULD TURN OUR NEAT AND TIDY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN.

DID YOU SEE LEONA THIS MORNING?

- NO. - I HAVEN'T SEEN HER, EITHER.

SHE'S NOT HERE, AND SHE DIDN'T HAVE BREAKFAST.

SHE PROBABLY LEFT ON HER OWN.

LEO, WHAT'S WRONG?

NOTHING, I'M FINE.

IT WAS LIKE AN EVIL SPELL HAD BEEN CAST ON THAT FAMILY...

AND NONE OF US KNEW HOW TO BREAK IT.

HELLO, ALBERT.

THANK YOU FOR COMING. THIS IS PROBABLY NOTHING.

SHE'S SUCH AN INDEPENDENT LITTLE GIRL.

WE'VE GOT A KIND OF BUSY DAY HERE, PEARL.

JUST TELL US WHAT HAPPENED.

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAUNDRY

WHEN I REALIZED LEONA HADN'T COME DOWNSTAIRS.

ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1930...

- AND THEN? - I SEARCHED THE HOUSE.

THERE WAS NO TRACE OF HER.

...PEARL O'LOUGHLIN

NOTICES THAT SHE HASN'T SEEN HER STEPDAUGHTER, LEONA.

USUALLY, SHE WALKS TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING

WITH HER FRIEND, BETTY, SO I CALLED UP HER MOTHER.

MY DAUGHTER BETTY AND LEONA WERE BEST FRIENDS.

DID LEONA COME BY FOR BREAKFAST THIS MORNING?

NO, I'M SORRY, PEARL,

BUT I DON'T THINK I DID SEE LEONA TODAY.

IN THE 1930s, THINGS WERE MORE FORMAL IN THOSE DAYS,

BUT IT WAS NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL BACK THEN, YOU KNOW, FOR A KID

TO HAVE REALLY THE FREE RUN OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD

WITHOUT ANY ADULT SUPERVISION.

- ALL RIGHT. - SHE'LL TURN UP, PEARL, DEAR.

YES, I'M SURE SHE WILL.

THANK YOU.

SHE'S NOT AT THE NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, AND SHE'S NOT AT SCHOOL.

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO BECOME WORRIED

AND THOUGHT I SHOULD CALL IT IN.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW HER?

LAST NIGHT.

LEONA, GO TO BED SOON.

I'LL BE BACK LATER.

PEARL TELLS THE DETECTIVES

THAT SHE PUT THE KIDS TO BED,

AS USUAL, AT 8 O'CLOCK OR SO,

AND AT 8:30, SHE LEAVES TO GO VISIT A FRIEND.

I HAD TO HAND IT TO PEARL FOR HOLDING IT TOGETHER.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN A BASKET CASE,

THOUGH I SUPPOSED IT HELPS TO HAVE FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES,

FRIENDS LIKE ALBERT.

DID YOU SEE LEONA AFTER YOU GOT HOME LAST NIGHT?

I DIDN'T, NO. I-I ASSUMED SHE WAS SLEEPING.

I'M SURE WE'LL FIND HER. OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ALBERT CLARK IS THE CHIEF OF DETECTIVES

IN THE CITY OF DENVER.

PEARL'S HUSBAND, LEO, WHO WAS REALLY SICK,

WAS ALSO A DETECTIVE,

AND ALBERT AND LEO HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR 20 YEARS.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT OF BED?

I'M WANT TO HELP IF I CAN.

WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? COME ON.

HE'S NOT ONLY LEO'S BOSS,

BUT HE'S A GOOD FRIEND OF THE FAMILY.

- WAIT, WAIT. - WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THERE'S A PHOTO. YOU GOT TO FIND HER.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

ONE, TWO, THREE.

LEONA IS LEO'S DAUGHTER BY A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE.

SHE'S 10 YEARS OLD.

THIS IS TOO HARD FOR ME.

COME ON, DOUGLAS. YOU GOT TO LEARN HOW TO DANCE.

- MOM! - DOUGLAS, LISTEN TO YOUR SISTER.

AND PEARL, WHO ALSO WAS PREVIOUSLY MARRIED,

HAS A SON NAMED DOUG WHO'S 8 YEARS OLD,

SO THEY'RE LIVING AS A BLENDED FAMILY.

SHE'S SUCH A GOOD GIRL.

- LIE DOWN. - ALL RIGHT. OKAY, OKAY...

DOES YOUR DAUGHTER USUALLY GO TO SCHOOL ON HER OWN?

SHE WALKS TO SCHOOL BY HERSELF, SURE,

BUT NEVER WITHOUT SAYING GOOD-BYE.

- WHAT'S GOING ON? - HELLO, FRANK.

LEONA IS MISSING.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT?

ALSO LIVING IN THE HOUSE IS LEO'S BROTHER, FRANK,

WHO MOVED IN WITH THEM AFTER HE MOVED IN FROM CALIFORNIA.

GO GET THESE BOYS SOME COFFEE, PEARL.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU REMEMBER SEEING YOUR NIECE?

SHE WOKE ME UP THIS MORNING.

I SAW HER PLAYING OUT IN THE BACKYARD BEFORE SCHOOL.

IT'S JUST OUT MY WINDOW.

WHEN?

AROUND 8 O'CLOCK, I'D SAY.

SHE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN LOST ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THE BACKYARD,

CHECK WITH THE NEIGHBORS.

THE THOUGHT WAS THAT SHE HAD SOMEHOW DISAPPEARED

BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL.

IN THE 1930s,

DENVER WAS SOMETHING OF A COW TOWN STILL.

THE POPULATION WAS SOMETHING LIKE 300,000.

LIKE A LOT OF THE REST OF COUNTRY,

DENVER IS IN THE BEGINNINGS OF THE DEPRESSION.

JOBS ARE DOWN.

CRIME WAS UP, SO IT WAS KIND OF A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

THE POLICE CANVASS THE AREA.

THEY GET AS MANY MEN OUT ON THE STREET

AS POSSIBLE LOOKING FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL

AND RETRACING HER STEPS.

COULD YOU GIVE ME A SENSE OF THE GIRL'S MORNING ROUTINE?

I WISH I COULD'VE BEEN MORE HELPFUL,

BUT NONE OF US KNEW ANYTHING.

THEY INTERVIEWED PEOPLE ALONG HER ROUTE

THAT MIGHT HAVE SEEN HER.

DO YOU KIDS KNOW LEONA? SHE LIVES DOWN THE STREET.

YOU SEE HER THIS MORNING?

I DIDN'T SEE HER.

THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING.

SHE DISAPPEARS.

THE FIRST 48 HOURS OF ANY KIND OF ABDUCTION IS CRITICAL.

THE POLICE REALIZED THAT NEWSPAPER COVERAGE

COULD HELP THEM FIND HER,

SO THEY QUICKLY GOT PICTURES OF LEONA ON PAGE ONE.

IT'S CAPTAIN CLARK.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

ON THURSDAY, SOMEONE REPORTED TO THE POLICE

THAT HE HAD SEEN A MAN IN THE O'LOUGHLINS' NEIGHBORHOOD.

HELLO, GIRLS.

COME HERE.

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESSES EVER BEEN TO A BALL?

HE WAS APPARENTLY TRYING TO LURE

A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOOD GIRLS INTO HIS CAR.

THEY PICK UP A MAN WHO HAD ALREADY SERVED TIME

IN PRISON FOR A STATUTORY OFFENSE.

A PRIOR LIKE THAT, HE SEEMS LIKE A VERY PROMISING SUSPECT.

YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO LITTLE GIRLS?

WHAT I DO IN MY OWN TIME IS NONE OF YOUR CONCERN.

IT'S ABSOLUTELY MY CONCERN.

I DIDN'T DO IT.

YOU DIDN'T DO WHAT?

I DIDN'T STEAL AWAY THE PRETTY LITTLE DETECTIVE'S DAUGHTER.

YOU GO AHEAD.

YOU KEEP MAKING YOUR ACCUSATIONS.

YOU'D BETTER START TALKING.

BACK THEN, SUSPECTS WOULD'VE BEEN SUBJECTED TO VERY,

VERY, VERY INTENSIVE, HARSH QUESTIONING.

HIS BOSS JUST CONFIRMED HE WAS AT WORK.

MAY I GO NOW, GENTLEMEN?

HE HAS AN AIRTIGHT ALIBI.

HE IS RELEASED.

ANOTHER LEAD HAS VANISHED FOR THE POLICE.

THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE. WE JUST GOT A CALL.

I'LL FILL YOU IN IN THE CAR.

THE POLICE GET A PHONE CALL, AND IT IS FROM A MAN

WHO SAYS HE KNOWS SOMETHING.

THE WITNESS TELLS THEM THAT HE WAS TAKING A WALK

IN BERKELEY PARK

AND SAW SOMETHING.

WHEN I HEARD THEY FOUND LITTLE LEONA'S BODY

2 DAYS AFTER SHE DISAPPEARED,

GOD, IT WAS ANY MOTHER'S WORST NIGHTMARE COME TRUE.

I CERTAINLY HELD MY DAUGHTERS CLOSER THAT NIGHT,

AND I MUST SAY I FELT FOR THE POLICE OFFICERS, TOO.

HOW DO YOU BREAK THAT KIND OF NEWS TO THE PARENTS?

THE POLICE SET UP A PERIMETER, AND THEY GO IN,

AND THEY GET THE BODY OUT OF THE LAKE.

THE BODY IS BLOATED.

SHE'S BEEN IN THE WATER FOR SOME TIME.

THE MEDICAL EXAMINER NOTICES

THAT THERE'S SOME BRUISES ON HER HEAD.

THEY THOUGHT SHE'D PROBABLY BEEN HIT

WITH SOME BLUNT INSTRUMENT,

BUT THE HEAD WOUNDS WOULD NOT HAVE KILLED HER,

SO THEY DON'T KNOW YET EXACTLY HOW SHE DIED,

BUT THEY NOTICE THAT SHE IS WEARING A SWEATER AND A DRESS.

SHE'S NOT WEARING HER SCHOOL UNIFORM.

THEY BEGIN TO ELIMINATE THE IDEA THAT SHE GOT SNATCHED

ON HER WAY TO SCHOOL.

THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S A POSSIBILITY NOW

THAT SHE DISAPPEARED THE NIGHT BEFORE.

THE BODY IS BROUGHT TO THE MORGUE TO UNDERGO

A MORE COMPLETE AUTOPSY.

MEANWHILE, LEO HAD GOTTEN SICKER TO THE POINT

WHERE HE HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL.

THEY TEST HIM FOR FOOD POISONING.

THEY TEST HIM FOR BACTERIAL INFECTION.

HE WAS ON OXYGEN AND APPARENTLY NOT GETTING BETTER.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH HIM.

NOBODY KNEW HOW TO TELL PEARL THE NEWS.

SHE WAS ALREADY DEALING WITH SO MUCH.

BUT EVENTUALLY CAME THAT KNOCK ON THE DOOR

WE WERE ALL DREADING.

GOOD MORNING.

YOU FOUND HER?

I'M VERY SORRY.

NO.

I'M AFRAID YOUR DAUGHTER IS DEAD.

WE CAN'T TELL LEO, NOT YET.

I WORRY, WITH HIS ILLNESS...

ABSOLUTELY. WE WON'T SAY A WORD.

THEY DECIDE NOT TO TELL LEO ABOUT THE DEATH OF HIS DAUGHTER

BECAUSE HE IS STILL VERY GRAVELY ILL.

ASSUMING SHE WAS TAKEN ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL WAS A MISTAKE.

WHEN THEY REALIZE THAT LEONA HAS BEEN FOUND

IN THESE OTHER CLOTHES, NOT HER SCHOOL UNIFORM,

THEY BEGIN TO WONDER ABOUT FRANK'S STORY.

HE HAD ALREADY TOLD THEM THAT HE HAD SEEN

LEONA PLAYING IN THE BACKYARD BEFORE SCHOOL.

WE NEED TO LOOK INTO EVERYBODY IN THAT FAMILY.

WHAT ABOUT TALKING TO LEO'S FATHER?

CAPTAIN, PLEASE.

NOW THAT FRANK HAS FALLEN UNDER SUSPICION,

DETECTIVES WANT TO TALK TO PEOPLE

WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE FAMILY

TO SEE IF THEY CAN UNCOVER ANY POSSIBLE MOTIVE.

SO, SATURDAY AFTERNOON,

THE DAY AFTER LEONA'S BODY IS DISCOVERED,

THEY GO TO SPEAK TO DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN,

FRANK AND LEO'S FATHER.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU WERE AT LEO'S HOUSE?

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.

THE NIGHT BEFORE LEONA DISAPPEARED, IN FACT.

GIVE ME A BIG SMILE NOW, SWEETIE.

GORGEOUS!

THANK YOU, GRANDPA.

THERE WE GO.

STAND BY YOUR DETECTIVE, PEARL.

COME HERE.

HE SAID IT WAS A LOVELY DINNER PARTY.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. LET'S EAT, DAD.

NOTHING WAS STRANGE.

EVERYONE GOT ALONG GREAT.

DENNIS DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING AMISS.

MOM, CAN I HAVE SOME?

YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD ON YOUR PLATE ALREADY.

PLEASE?

LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER.

I TOOK SOME PHOTOGRAPHS THAT NIGHT I CAN SHOW YOU.

GOT THESE BACK JUST YESTERDAY.

FRANK DOESN'T LOOK VERY HAPPY.

YEAH. HE DIDN'T EAT WITH US.

WHY NOT?

HIM AND PEARL, THEY DON'T ALWAYS GET ALONG SO GOOD.

WHAT ABOUT HIM AND LEO?

WELL, THEY NEVER HAD ANY TROUBLE.

YOU TAKE ANYTHING IN YOUR COFFEE?

WOULD APPRECIATE SOME SUGAR IF YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE ANY.

I DON'T BUY SUGAR ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING NOW?

- WHAT? - THEY'RE CUTTING THE SUGAR.

DENNIS SAYS HE HAD HAD A DINNER PARTY

WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY 6 WEEKS EARLIER,

BUT THEN, AFTER EVERYONE LEFT,

HE STILL HAD A BIT OF A SWEET TOOTH.

SO HE HAD ACTUALLY TAKEN A TEASPOON OF SUGAR

OUT OF THE SUGAR BOWL.

BUT WHEN HE PUT IT IN HIS MOUTH,

HE COULD TASTE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SUGAR,

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE VERY, VERY PECULIAR IN THERE.

THE TEXTURE WAS OFF.

SO, OF COURSE,

THE POLICE WANT TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THIS STUFF

THAT DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN

FOUND IN HIS SUGAR BOWL, BUT HE THREW IT ALL OUT.

I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING I NEED.

I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

CAPTAIN, MY SON FRANK IS A DECENT MAN.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT.

THANK YOU.

NURSE...

HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT MY DAUGHTER YET?

HAVE THEY FOUND HER?

I'M SORRY, DETECTIVE. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING.

WHILE MY FRIEND'S HUSBAND, WHO HAD ALWAYS BEEN

SUCH A STRONG AND STURDY GUY, WAS GETTING WORSE...

HAVE A SEAT, FRANK.

...I'D HEARD HIS BROTHER WAS NOW THE PRIME SUSPECT

IN HIS OWN NIECE'S MURDER.

THE DETECTIVES FIND FRANK O'LOUGHLIN

AND BRING HIM DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION.

FRANK, YOU SAID YOU SAW LEONA

PLAYING OUTSIDE WEDNESDAY MORNING

ABOUT TO GO TO SCHOOL.

YEAH, RIGHT.

BUT SHE WAS FOUND IN THE CLOTHES

THAT SHE WAS WEARING THE DAY BEFORE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

DID I SAY I SAW HER?

NO, I-I HEARD HER.

SO...

YOU DIDN'T SEE HER.

NO, I-I MUST'VE MISREMEMBERED.

SORRY.

THIS TIME, WHEN THE POLICE QUESTIONED FRANK,

HE SUDDENLY CHANGES HIS STORY.

FRANK, LISTEN.

I'VE KNOWN YOUR BROTHER A LONG TIME,

SO I'M BEING POLITE TO YOU AS A COURTESY.

BUT YOU'D BETTER START EXPLAINING YOURSELF RIGHT NOW.

IT HAD ONLY BEEN A FEW DAYS SINCE THEY FOUND MY FRIEND

PEARL'S STEPDAUGHTER IN THE LAKE,

BUT AT LEAST NOW THE POLICE HAD A LEAD.

PEARL'S BROTHER-IN-LAW, FRANK, HAD LIED

ABOUT BEING THE LAST ONE TO SEE LEONA ALIVE.

YOU KNOW, I NEVER DID TRUST HIM.

I DIDN'T DO NOTHING WRONG, DETECTIVE.

SO WHY'D YOUR STORY CHANGE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I WASN'T SURE WHAT I HEARD THAT MORNING,

BUT I WANTED TO HELP YOU.

THE POLICE ARE REALLY STARTING TO LIKE

FRANK O'LOUGHLIN FOR THIS.

WHERE WERE YOU THE NIGHT THAT LEONA DISAPPEARED?

WENT TO WORK, AND THEN I CAME HOME.

THAT'S IT.

WHAT TIME DID YOU GET TO THE HOUSE?

SAME TIME I ALWAYS DO, 8:00, MAYBE 9:00.

- WAS LEONA AT HOME? - I DON'T KNOW.

I WENT TO MY ROOM, AND THEN I READ THE NEWSPAPER

FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

THE NIGHT THAT LEONA DISAPPEARED,

YOU WERE HOME ALONE READING THE NEWSPAPER?

DOME, HOW LONG HAVE I KNOWN YOU?

I DIDN'T DO IT. YOU KNOW I DIDN'T DO IT.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS TENSION IN THAT HOUSE,

AND IT WAS BECAUSE OF YOU, BECAUSE OF YOU.

THERE'S ONLY ONE REASON THERE'S ANY KIND OF TENSION

IN THAT HOUSE, AND IT SURE AS HELL AIN'T ME.

MEANING WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU BOYS ARE DOING BRINGING ME IN HERE

WHEN WE'VE GOT A GENUINE NUTCASE LIVING IN THAT HOUSE!

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

MY BROTHER'S PRISSY NEW WIFE.

JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO --

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS ONE...

PEARL!

PEARL!

WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY LAUNDRY?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LAUNDRY?

YOU KNOW DAMN WELL WHAT HAPPENED.

MY CLOTHES ARE BURNT TO A CRISP.

PEARL AND FRANK GET INTO AN ARGUMENT.

SOMEHOW, THE CLOTHES IN FRANK'S CLOSET CATCH FIRE,

AND HE ACCUSES PEARL OF BURNING THEM.

WELL, ARE YOU STILL KEEPING THAT BOOZE IN YOUR CLOSET?

FOR THE LAST TIME, PEARL, WHAT I KEEP IN MY OWN ROOM

IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I PAY MY KEEP!

I'M JUST SAYING, CLEARLY, IT SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED,

AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING KEEPING A DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE

LIKE THAT IN A HOUSE WITH CHILDREN?

- SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED? - YEAH.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

SHE DID IT. I KNOW SHE DID IT.

SHE SET ALL OF MY CLOTHES ON FIRE,

AND SHE COULD'VE KILLED EVERYBODY IN THAT HOUSE.

PEARL AND FRANK DIDN'T LIKE EACH OTHER.

FROM THAT POINT ON, THEY BARELY SPEAK TO EACH OTHER.

SHE'S CRAZY, AND I GOT A LOT MORE STORIES LIKE THAT.

I'M TELLING YOU, DOME.

SHE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT LEONA.

SHE'S NOT EVEN HER REAL MOTHER.

HAVE YOU BOYS QUESTIONED PEARL AS TO WHERE SHE WAS THAT NIGHT

OR WHAT SHE WAS DOING?

ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, THE CORONER MEETS WITH THE POLICE.

SO WHAT DID YOU FIND?

UPON EXAMINING THE CONTENTS OF THE STOMACH,

I DISCOVERED A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE IN THE LINING.

WHAT KIND OF FOREIGN SUBSTANCE?

THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL.

IT WAS HARD TO TELL AT FIRST,

BUT I NOW BELIEVE IT TO BE GROUND GLASS.

THE FULL AUTOPSY REVEALED THAT SHE HAD A STOMACH

FULL OF GROUND GLASS.

SO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT HAVE KILLED HER?

NO.

BUT THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS ASPHYXIA.

SHE DROWNED AFTER HER BODY WAS PUT IN THE LAKE.

IT WAS PROBABLY MIXED INTO FOOD OR DRINK.

SO NOW THE POLICE THINK ABOUT

WHAT DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN FOUND IN A SUGAR BOWL...

AND NOW THEY'RE PRETTY SURE THE REASON THAT LEO O'LOUGHLIN

IS SO SICK IN THE HOSPITAL

IS BECAUSE HE ALSO HAS A STOMACH FULL OF GROUND GLASS.

WAS THE O'LOUGHLIN FAMILY BEING POISONED BY SOMEONE?

THANK YOU, DOCTOR.

ASSUMING THE FOOD WAS LACED WITH GROUND GLASS,

IT WOULD HAVE TO HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY

WHO WAS TAKING THE MEALS.

AND OBVIOUSLY, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE LEO.

IT WASN'T GOING TO BE DOUGLAS.

IT WASN'T GOING TO BE LEONA.

THAT ONLY LEFT ONE PERSON.

WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AROUND.

- PEARL. - OF COURSE.

LET'S GET THE PANTRY FIRST.

START HERE.

THOROUGH.

THE POLICE CHECK THE SUGAR,

BUT THEY DON'T FIND ANYTHING.

LEO'S CAR IS OUTSIDE. LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK THERE.

THEY FIND A BLOODY RAG...

...AND A TIRE IRON WITH BLOOD ON IT.

IF YOU'D ASKED ANY OF US WHO KNEW PEARL O'LOUGHLIN,

WE'D HAVE SAID SHE'S JUST LIKE US --

A REGULAR AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE AND A GOOD MOTHER.

IF ANYTHING, HER LIFE SEEMED SO MUCH MORE STABLE THAN OUR OWN,

SO WHEN SHE BECAME THE PRIME SUSPECT IN LEONA'S MURDER,

IT ALL SEEMED WRONG.

HEY, GOOD MORNING, DOUGIE.

MORNING, CAPTAIN CLARK.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT HERE?

I JUST HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

IS THAT OKAY?

- OKAY. - OKAY.

LAST WEEK, WHEN YOUR GRANDPA WAS HERE,

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAD FOR DINNER?

HANG ON.

DOUGLAS GETS INTERVIEWED BY THE POLICE,

AND THEY ASK HIM ABOUT DINNER.

LEO HAD HELPED HIMSELF TO A VERY,

VERY LARGE PORTION OF RICE,

AND LEONA HAD ALSO EATEN A BUNCH OF THE RICE.

DOUGLAS SAYS HIS MOTHER TOLD HIM NOT TO EAT THE RICE

BECAUSE HE'D ALREADY HAD ENOUGH TO EAT.

WELL, THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.

- THANK YOU, DOUGIE. - YOU'RE WELCOME.

I FOUND THIS IN THE CAR, SIR.

PEARL, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE YOU DOWNTOWN

AND ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS.

- - WHY? - COME ON.

PEARL. LET'S GO.

ON SUNDAY EVENING, 5 DAYS AFTER LEONA GOES MISSING,

THEY PICK UP PEARL O'LOUGHLIN.

GENTLEMEN, WE COULD'VE JUST SPOKEN AT THE HOUSE.

HAVE A SEAT, MRS. O'LOUGHLIN.

COULD I HAVE SOME WATER?

YOU CAN HAVE SOME WATER WHEN YOU ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

WHAT TIME DID YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE TO SEE YOUR FRIEND

THE NIGHT LEO'S DAUGHTER DISAPPEARED?

ETHEL'S. 8:30, I BELIEVE.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE?

YOU WANT ME TO LOOK AT THAT HAIR OF YOURS.

WHY DON'T YOU COME HAVE A SEAT? WE'LL TAKE A LOOK.

I CAN'T MAKE YOU WORK IN THE EVENING.

STOP. SIT. IT'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

BEFORE I FORGET, YOUR HEATING PAD.

THANK YOU.

WHEN THE POLICE ASK PEARL TO RESTATE HER ALIBI,

SHE SAYS AGAIN THAT SHE HAD GONE TO HER FRIEND'S HOUSE AT 8:30.

I RETURNED A HEATING PAD I BORROWED,

AND SHE OFFERED TO CURL MY HAIR.

HOW DID YOU GET TO HER HOUSE?

WELL, I DROVE, OF COURSE.

IN YOUR HUSBAND'S CAR?

YES, THAT'S THE ONLY CAR WE HAVE.

MRS. O'LOUGHLIN, WE FOUND A BLOODY HANDKERCHIEF IN THE CAR.

YES, WHAT A MORNING THAT WAS.

SHE TELLS HIM THAT HER SON DOUGLAS HAD HAD A BLOODY NOSE,

AND SHE HAD GIVEN HIM THE RAG TO STOP THE FLOW OF BLOOD.

AT THAT TIME, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE FORENSICS.

THEY COULD DETERMINE THAT IT WAS HUMAN BLOOD,

BUT THEY COULDN'T TYPE IT,

AND THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE WHO IT CAME FROM IN THE FAMILY.

AND IN THE TRUNK, WE FOUND A TIRE IRON COATED WITH BLOOD.

I'VE NEVER USED A TIRE IRON.

SHE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TIRE IRONS.

I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TOOLS."

MRS. O'LOUGHLIN, DO YOU KNOW

WHAT WAS FOUND IN LEONA'S STOMACH?

LITTLE PIECES OF GROUND GLASS.

WHAT?

THAT'S AWFUL.

DOCTORS AT THE HOSPITAL TOLD US THIS AFTERNOON

THEY FOUND THAT GLASS IN LEO'S SYSTEM, TOO.

YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING... GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

LEO IS MY HUSBAND.

PEARL DENIES EVERYTHING, AND SHE SAYS,

"HOW COULD A MOTHER KILL HER STEPDAUGHTER WHO SHE LOVED?"

THAT DIDN'T SATISFY THE POLICE.

AND YOU TOLD US YOU PUT LEONA TO BED THAT NIGHT,

BUT SHE WAS FOUND IN HER DAY CLOTHES.

WELL, NO, WHEN I LEFT HER, SHE WAS --

AND YOU PLACED YOURSELF IN THAT CAR.

GET COMFORTABLE, SWEETHEART.

WE'RE GOING TO BE HERE FOR A WHILE.

SO POLICE HOUSE PEARL IN THE MATRONS QUARTERS

WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EVIDENCE

IN THE CASE AGAINST HER.

RIGHT NOW, PEARL'S DEFENSE IS THIS ALIBI SHE HAS,

SO THE POLICE GO TALK TO THE WOMAN

PROVIDING THAT ALIBI,

PEARL'S HAIRDRESSER AND FRIEND, ETHEL SPARR.

SO WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH?

WELL, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND

THE WHO, WAS, WHERE, WHEN.

OF COURSE. PEARL CAME UP AROUND 8:00, 8:30 MAYBE.

I DID HER HAIR.

ETHEL CONFIRMS THE TIMELINE

THAT PEARL HAD TOLD THE POLICE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT HUSBAND OF HERS.

THAT HUSBAND OF HERS?

WERE THERE PROBLEMS?

IT WAS SECOND MARRIAGES FOR BOTH OF THEM.

IT'S BOUND TO BE DIFFICULT.

DOES SOUND LIKE HE CAN BE AWFULLY STINGY.

LEO AND PEARL ARGUED A LOT ABOUT MONEY.

LEO THOUGHT THAT SHE WAS GATHERING TOO MUCH

TO SPEND ON HER FAMILY.

WE MAY BE BACK IN TOUCH, BUT FOR NOW, THANK YOU.

- OKAY. - ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

- WELL, YOU HAVE A NICE DAY. - BYE-BYE.

THEY HAD A BODY AND A FAMILY IN TURMOIL,

BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A MOTIVE.

LEO'S NOT A RICH MAN,

BUT HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK HIS OLD MAN IS WORTH?

GET ME DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S THE OLD CLICHé, "FOLLOW THE MONEY."

WE DON'T COME FROM MUCH,

BUT I'VE BEEN LUCKY IN MY LATER YEARS.

DETECTIVES LOOK AT

DENNIS O'LOUGHLIN'S FINANCIAL STATUS.

HE'S WORTH $35,000.

$35,000 IN 1930

IS THE EQUIVALENT OF ABOUT A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

IN TODAY'S MONEY.

DOES PEARL KNOW ABOUT THIS?

WELL, SURE. IT'S NO SECRET.

IF DENNIS WERE TO DIE, IT WOULD GO TO LEO,

AND IF LEO DIED, IT WOULD PASS TO LEONA,

AND IF LEONA DIED,

IT WOULD END UP IN PEARL'S BANK ACCOUNT.

THAT MONDAY NIGHT, THE POLICE TAKE PEARL

TO THE MORGUE TO SEE IF THEY COULD BRING HER

TO A BREAKING POINT TO ACTUALLY SEE HER OWN STEPDAUGHTER DEAD.

GOD.

GOD.

LEONA'S CORPSE IS LAID OUT ON THE TABLE,

AND THEY QUESTION HER THERE BY THE BODY.

CONFESS.

ADMIT IT.

SHE CRIES, AND SHE KISSES LEONA,

AND SHE DOES NOT CONFESS.

WELCOME BACK, CAPTAIN CLARK.

CAN I OFFER YOU GENTLEMEN --

NO, NO.

POLICE GO BACK AND TALK TO ETHEL SPARR AGAIN

TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT SHE'S TELLING THEM IS THE TRUTH.

MRS. SPARR, HAVE YOU READ THE NEWSPAPERS LATELY?

YES, OF COURSE.

IT'S JUST TERRIBLE.

YOUR FRIEND, PEARL, SHE'S OUR PRIME SUSPECT.

LADY, IF YOU ARE COVERING FOR YOUR FRIEND,

WE NEED TO KNOW NOW BECAUSE, AT THIS POINT,

YOU'RE OBSTRUCTING A MURDER INVESTIGATION.

I...

I MEAN, I WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT, RIGHT OFFICERS? I...

AT THAT POINT, ETHEL UNDERSTANDS THAT SHE'S PROVIDING AN ALIBI

FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE MURDERED A 10-YEAR-OLD CHILD,

AND SHE'S NO LONGER WILLING TO COVER FOR PEARL.

SO YOU DIDN'T SEE HER THAT NIGHT AT ALL?

NO, I DID, IT'S JUST MUCH LATER,

AND SHE DIDN'T WANT HER HUSBAND TO KNOW WHERE SHE'D BEEN.

GO ON. WHAT HAPPENED?

SHE CAME OVER AROUND 10:30.

LEO CAN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS TONIGHT.

CAN I SAY I WAS HERE WITH YOU?

I -- I WAS HERE SINCE 8:30.

SHE EXPLAINS TO POLICE THAT,

WHEN PEARL SHOWED UP AT HER HOUSE,

IT WAS ABOUT 10:30 AT NIGHT.

PLEASE, ETHEL, PROMISE ME.

SURE, POLLY. OF COURSE.

SHE HAD MAYBE BEEN WITH A MAN,

MAYBE WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING AN OPERATION OF SOME KIND.

- YOUR HEATING PAD. - THANK YOU.

WHETHER IT WAS ADULTERY,

WHICH WAS ILLEGAL AT THE TIME,

OR POTENTIALLY AN ABORTION,

ETHEL JUST UNDERSTOOD IMPLICITLY

THAT SHE NEEDED TO HELP HER FRIEND OUT,

AND SO THEY CONCOCTED THIS STORY.

WHY DO YOU THINK SHE TOLD YOU TO LIE?

I DON'T KNOW, BUT, OFFICERS, I'M TELLING YOU,

THERE MUST BE SOME KIND OF EXPLANATION FOR THIS

BECAUSE PEARL LOVED THAT GIRL LIKE HER OWN.

ETHEL'S ADMISSION

COMPLETELY BLOWS UP PEARL'S ALIBI.

IF SHE WASN'T AT ETHEL'S HOUSE, WHERE WAS SHE?

MEANWHILE, IN THE HOSPITAL,

LEO IS GETTING BETTER NOW THAT THEY HAVE TREATED HIM

FOR GROUND GLASS IN HIS SYSTEM,

BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW YET THAT HIS DAUGHTER IS DEAD.

HOW YOU DOING, O'LOUGHLIN?

ALBERT...

JUST TELL ME.

SHE'S DEAD, ISN'T SHE?

DO YOU KNOW WHO DID IT?

WE'VE NARROWED IT DOWN TO TWO SUSPECTS.

WE BELIEVE IT'S EITHER YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR WIFE.

IT'S NOT FRANK.

I KNOW MY BROTHER.

HE DIDN'T DO IT.

LEO HAS TO ADMIT TO HIMSELF

THAT THE WOMAN HE IS MARRIED TO

WAS PROBABLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDER OF HIS DAUGHTER.

THAT LAWYER OF HERS IS PUSHING TO SEE HER AGAIN.

IGNORE HIM.

I WANT TO TALK TO HER.

O'LOUGHLIN, YOU SHOULD BE AT HOME.

WE'LL DEAL WITH HER.

CAPTAIN, LET ME TALK TO HER.

NOBODY KNOWS THAT WOMAN LIKE I DO.

I'LL GO IN THERE AS A DETECTIVE, NOT AS HER HUSBAND.

I'LL GET THE TRUTH OUT OF HER. I PROMISE YOU THAT.

AND LEO WAS KNOWN AS AN ACE SLEUTH

OF THE DENVER POLICE FORCE.

HE WAS A VERY, VERY WELL-RESPECTED DETECTIVE.

IT'S NOT OUR TYPICAL TACTICS,

BUT IT'S NOT YOUR TYPICAL CASE, EITHER.

ALL RIGHT.

LEO IS GOING TO INTERROGATE HIS WIFE.

MY FRIEND PEARL HAD BEEN HELD IN THE WOMEN'S PRISON

FOR CLOSE TO A WEEK WHEN HER HUSBAND, LEO, CAME TO SEE HER.

I USED TO BE KIND OF JEALOUS THAT HER HUSBAND WAS A COP,

THAT SHE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HIS PROTECTION...

LEO?

THANK GOD.

...TILL THE DAY HE WALKED INTO THAT ROOM

NOT AS HER HUSBAND BUT AS HER INTERROGATOR.

IT'S VERY UNUSUAL FOR A HUSBAND TO INTERROGATE HIS OWN WIFE.

THERE'S A REASON THAT PEOPLE DON'T DO THAT NOWADAYS.

LEO, THEY'VE KEPT ME HERE FOR SO LONG.

THEY'VE BEEN ASKING ME THESE QUESTIONS,

THESE HORRIBLE QUESTIONS.

HIS EMOTIONS MIGHT INFLUENCE HIS INTERVIEW WITH HER.

YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER. THAT'S GOOD.

YES.

PEARL MAY HAVE HOPED THAT LEO WOULD DEFEND HER

OR WOULD PROTECT HER

OR WOULD BE GENTLE WITH HER.

I WAS SO WORRIED.

- WERE YOU? - OF COURSE.

HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?

WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO THINK?

I WAS NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, FOR DOUGLAS.

LEO DIDN'T MAKE A LOT OF MONEY AS A POLICEMAN,

AND HE FELT THAT PEARL WAS TAKING HIS MONEY

AND GIVING IT TO HER FAMILY.

I WOULD NEVER HURT LEONA OR YOU.

PEARL APPEALS TO HIM AS HER HUSBAND AND SAYS,

"PLEASE BELIEVE ME. I DIDN'T DO THIS."

WHO ELSE COULD'VE DONE IT?

ALCOHOL CHANGES PEOPLE, LEO.

IF YOU'D SEEN THE WAYS FRANK HAD LOOKED AT LEONA LIKE I DID...

RIGHT. YOU'VE ALWAYS HATED HIM.

BLAME FRANK.

I THINK THE POLICE PROBABLY DIDN'T TAKE

THAT ACCUSATION VERY SERIOUSLY

BECAUSE SHE HAD A HISTORY OF NOT GETTING ALONG

WITH HER BROTHER-IN-LAW,

AND IT'S A VERY CONVENIENT DIRECTION TO POINT THE FINGER,

THE ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE HOUSE.

I KNOW HE DID IT.

ENOUGH.

I NEED THE TRUTH.

CONFESS TO ME.

I DIDN'T DO IT.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THEM, DO YOU?

YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT I BELIEVE?

I THINK YOU GROUND UP GLASS,

AND YOU PUT IT IN THE SUGAR BOWL.

AND THEN, AT DINNER, YOU SERVED ME AND MY DAUGHTER,

BUT IT DIDN'T WORK, DID IT?

SO YOU WAITED UNTIL I WENT TO WORK.

COME ON, HONEY. LET'S GO FOR A LITTLE RIDE.

AND YOU TOOK HER FROM HER BED.

WHY ARE WE HERE?

WE'VE GOT TO PICK SOMETHING UP FOR DADDY.

HE LEFT IT AT THE PARK.

HE ASKED ME TO COME BY AND PICK IT UP.

AND YOU DROVE HER TO THE LAKE.

LOOK, I THINK IT'S A SHOOTING STAR!

AND YOU HIT HER ON THE BACK OF THE HEAD WITH A TIRE IRON,

AND YOU THREW MY LITTLE GIRL IN THE LAKE,

AND YOU LET HER DROWN!

- NO, LEO! - LIAR!

WE KNOW YOU DID IT.

THE GROUND GLASS IN HER STOMACH, THE BLOOD ON THE TIRE IRON.

ETHEL TOLD US, PEARL!

SH-SHE TOLD US YOU MADE HER LIE!

SHE DIDN'T.

SHE TOLD US YOU GOT TO HER HOUSE AT 10:30.

IT'S ALL LIES, LEO, ALL OF IT!

SHE MAINTAINED, "I DIDN'T DO IT. I DIDN'T DO IT. I DIDN'T DO IT."

YOU WANTED TO GET RID OF ME AND MY FATHER

AND LEONA

SO YOU COULD TAKE MY FAMILY MONEY.

HOW COULD YOU THINK THAT?

I DIDN'T MARRY YOU FOR THAT.

I LOVED LEONA LIKE MY OWN DAUGHTER.

WE'RE A FAMILY.

PROMISE ME YOU DIDN'T DO THIS.

I DIDN'T DO IT.

WHEN I SAW LEONA WAS MISSING, I -- I STOPPED WHAT I WAS DOING.

I DIDN'T EVEN PUT THE WET LAUNDRY ON THE LINE.

L-LAUNDRY?

YOU WERE DOING LAUNDRY?

YES.

IT WAS WEDNESDAY.

YOU DO THE WASH ON MONDAYS.

THAT'S WHEN IT HITS LEO THERE'S A CHANCE THAT THE REASON

SHE'S DOING LAUNDRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK

IS BECAUSE SHE'S TRYING TO GET RID OF EVIDENCE.

SEND SOMEBODY TO MY HOUSE TO CHECK OUT THE WASHING MACHINE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR DIRT OR BLOOD.

RIGHT AWAY.

LOCK HER UP.

I NEVER WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN.

LEO, NO, WAIT!

LEO WAS A DETECTIVE, SO HE KNEW

WHEN PEOPLE WEREN'T TELLING HIM THE TRUTH.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TIME,

HE SPOTTED IT FOR THE WORST REASON POSSIBLE.

THE POLICE GO BACK AND CHECK THE HOUSE AGAIN,

AND THEY FIND TRACES OF SAND IN THE WASHER

THAT MATCHED THE SAND AT THE LAKE.

IT TAKES A JURY 1 HOUR AND 36 MINUTES

TO FIND PEARL GUILTY.

AS I LOOK BACK, I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND

HOW SHE COULD'VE HIDDEN THAT DARKNESS FROM ALL OF US.

WE FIND SOME PRETTY INTERESTING PERSONALITY TRAITS

THAT GO ALONG WITH CHOOSING POISONING AS A WEAPON.

IT IS A COLD, PREMEDITATED MURDER.

THEY'RE OFTEN VERY CREATIVE.

THEY WILL PLOT OUT A MURDER JUST LIKE WE MIGHT PLOT OUT A PLAY.

POISONERS WE KNOW ALMOST ALWAYS CHOOSE PEOPLE

THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE CLOSE TO,

SO THEY HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE A LOVING WIFE,

A MODEL MOTHER, A CONCERNED FRIEND,

ALL THE WHILE, BEHIND THE SCENES, PLOTTING

TO DO SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

EVEN IF SHE FELT TRAPPED IN THAT HOUSE --

LORD KNOWS WE'VE ALL HAD OUR MOMENTS --

WHY TAKE IT OUT ON LEONA, THAT POOR LITTLE GIRL?

I DON'T THINK THAT SHE PLANNED TO KILL LEONA

IN THE WAY THAT SHE DID.

I BELIEVE THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN THAT HOME

THAT WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT IT WAS

THAT KIND OF ESCALATED THINGS,

AND I THINK, OUT OF HER FRUSTRATION OR FEAR

OR DESPERATION, SHE KILLED LEONA AND TRIED TO HIDE THAT.

WHEN I HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE THAT KILL CHILDREN,

I THINK IT'S A SPECIAL KIND OF SOCIOPATH, MAYBE, OR PSYCHOPATH,

SOMEONE THAT HAS AN ABILITY TO END A TOTALLY INNOCENT LIFE,

AND IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE YOU

WOULD HAVE TO HAVE NO CONSCIENCE WHATSOEVER.

AND IT'S ALSO SURPRISING WHEN IT'S A WOMAN.

IT GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING WE'RE RAISED TO BELIEVE

THAT WOMEN ARE SUPPOSED TO BE.

THE NEWSPAPERS GAVE PEARL A NICKNAME -- THE IRON LADY.

I HAD ALWAYS ADMIRED HOW STRONG SHE WAS,

HOW EASY SHE MADE IT ALL LOOK,

BUT WE ALL HAD THE FAIRY TALE WRONG.

MAYBE THE REAL PEARL WAS HIDING BEHIND THE ROLE

THE WORLD EXPECTED HER TO PLAY,

AND MAYBE, IF YOU PRETEND TO BE SOMETHING

YOU'RE NOT DAY IN AND DAY OUT,

YOU ROT ON THE INSIDE LIKE A POISON APPLE,

SWEET ON THE OUTSIDE BUT DEADLY TO THE CORE.

THANK YOU, ETHEL.

I REALLY NEED THIS.

IF YOU ONLY KNEW.

GETTING OUT OF THE HOUSE WITH THOSE MEN...