A woman discovers that the accidental death of her daughter was tied to an insurance scam in this fact-based movie. A woman discovers that the accidental death of her daughter was tied to an insurance scam in this fact-based movie.
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Music
00:00:04Music
00:00:10Music
00:01:12This is absolutely gorgeous.
00:01:17And it cleared up.
00:04:11Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
00:04:28One more, okay?
00:04:32Mom!
00:04:33Mom, we're here!
00:04:37Hey, hey, Ms. Williams, hey, Ms. Lincoln.
00:04:39I did it!
00:04:40Three o'clock, you're for guests.
00:04:41Okay, see you there.
00:04:42Hi!
00:04:43Oh, you're so beautiful.
00:04:44I'm so proud of you.
00:04:45Let me take a shot.
00:04:46Just stay there with me.
00:04:47You look so beautiful.
00:04:48Oh.
00:04:49See, Mom, get in with Annie.
00:04:50Okay.
00:04:51Don't cut the top of our hands off.
00:04:53I won't.
00:04:54No, say something.
00:04:56Cheesy!
00:04:59Paige, come here, look at you!
00:05:01Remember the last time I saw you?
00:05:03You were half this size.
00:05:05Getting up to eat her.
00:05:07Thanks.
00:05:08Hi.
00:05:09Hi.
00:05:10Promise me I don't have to do this again until Janie graduates.
00:05:14How are you holding up?
00:05:15I'm exhausted, but it's fun.
00:05:18Mom?
00:05:19Mom, there's no more ice.
00:05:21How can that be?
00:05:22Is there any inside?
00:05:23I don't know.
00:05:24How many bags did you get?
00:05:25Me?
00:05:26I thought...
00:05:27I thought...
00:05:28Annie, I want to talk to you a minute.
00:05:37Picking up the ice was your responsibility.
00:05:39Are you telling me that you didn't do it?
00:05:42I take that as a no.
00:05:45Get in the car, go get some.
00:05:47I got her.
00:05:48Carol?
00:05:49Dr. Dunn is looking for you.
00:05:50Great.
00:05:51I feel like a kid again.
00:05:52Ducking the principal.
00:05:53Did you talk to him?
00:05:54Uh-huh.
00:05:55He's not buying either of our excuses.
00:05:56He wants those evaluations tomorrow.
00:05:57I haven't even started mine.
00:05:58I put it back, it was in your closet!
00:05:59If you put it back, it would be there.
00:06:00How many times have I told you not Rachel Fennegers is there in my stuff?
00:06:05We only borrowed it!
00:06:06It was my good silk blouse.
00:06:07Look, I put it back.
00:06:08I know I did.
00:06:09Are you talking to your Schnabel?
00:06:10Are you talking to my Dunn is looking for you?
00:06:12I don't know.
00:06:13Look, I'm not trying to pay for it.
00:06:14Don is looking for you.
00:06:15Great.
00:06:16I feel like a kid again.
00:06:17Ducking the principal.
00:06:18Did you talk to him?
00:06:20Uh-huh.
00:06:21He's not buying either of our excuses.
00:06:22He wants those evaluations tomorrow.
00:06:23I haven't even started mine.
00:06:24I put it back.
00:06:25put it back. I know I did. Are you talking
00:06:28about the white blouse that Aunt Betsy bought you? The one
00:06:30with the ruffles? Yes.
00:06:32What, didn't you ask me to take it to the cleaners
00:06:33for you? It won't be ready
00:06:36until Thursday.
00:06:40You always take her side.
00:06:52Annie, Annie.
00:06:55It was not about the blouse.
00:07:00It's really bothering you.
00:07:02Nothing's bothering me.
00:07:04I have never seen you explode like that
00:07:06over absolutely nothing.
00:07:07I hate it when she messes my things.
00:07:09This is not about your clothes, is it?
00:07:14Come on.
00:07:16What's the matter?
00:07:20It's just everything.
00:07:23Graduating.
00:07:23What am I supposed to do next?
00:07:27Well, how about junior college?
00:07:30Mom, I've been over this.
00:07:31I know, but there are plenty of programs
00:07:33for dyslexic students, and we'll make it easy for you.
00:07:36Please just try.
00:07:37I just can't do it.
00:07:39We didn't think you could graduate high school, either.
00:07:41And look, I was so proud of you the other day.
00:07:44And I know you were proud of yourself.
00:07:47Well,
00:07:48not now, and then maybe next year.
00:07:49Well, then what are you going to do?
00:07:50I don't know, maybe get a job?
00:07:52Not maybe.
00:07:53Either school or a job, one or the other.
00:07:55Mom, nobody's going to hire me.
00:07:57That's not true.
00:07:58I have trouble just filling out the application.
00:08:00So we'll do it together.
00:08:01And then what?
00:08:04You're going to go to work with me, too?
00:08:13Ken's still writing every day?
00:08:15He'll be home next week.
00:08:16I'll leave.
00:08:18And then he goes away again.
00:08:20Annie,
00:08:22I just don't want to see you tied down so young,
00:08:25repeating my mistakes.
00:08:26Mom, they're not mistakes for me.
00:08:28Ken and I love each other.
00:08:30I know, but marriage can go wrong at any age
00:08:32for any number of reasons.
00:08:33And you're so young to start out like...
00:08:35Nobody said anything about marriage.
00:08:36Hey, Annie!
00:08:57Ken!
00:08:58Oh, I can't believe it!
00:09:02How are you?
00:09:03I can't believe...
00:09:04Go!
00:09:04I can't believe it!
00:09:11Honey, would you get the salad dressing, please?
00:09:13Yep.
00:09:19Mom, did you get the corn?
00:09:21I got better than corn.
00:09:25Hey, Mrs. Mills.
00:09:28Hello, Ken.
00:09:32Mom, it'll be okay with Ken.
00:09:34Ken and I went out for a while.
00:09:36Yeah.
00:09:36Jenny and I will do the dishes just for tonight.
00:09:38Thanks, Mom.
00:09:40I'll get my sweater.
00:09:41All right.
00:09:43So, uh, how long will you be staying?
00:09:46I have to be back on base this weekend.
00:09:48I've been concerned about Annie.
00:09:50She's been really looking forward to your coming back.
00:09:52Yeah, I know.
00:09:53I have, too.
00:09:54And then you'll be leaving right away?
00:09:56Yes, ma'am.
00:09:57Bye, Mom.
00:10:00Good night.
00:10:01Good night.
00:10:03Boy, he looks cool in that uniform.
00:10:05I love you, Annie.
00:10:20I love you, too.
00:10:21I just don't want to spend another year writing letters.
00:10:26You won't stop writing, will you?
00:10:28No.
00:10:29I won't have to if you come with me to Seattle.
00:10:34We could, you know, get married.
00:10:39It's a carrier.
00:10:42We could have our own apartment, our own things.
00:10:46We could have thinners like this together every night.
00:10:52You'd be my wife.
00:10:55Will you marry me, Annie?
00:11:01Oh, my God.
00:11:04My mom would kill me.
00:11:07Say yes.
00:11:08Yes.
00:11:16She's so young.
00:11:24And she thinks she's in love.
00:11:26We have a time.
00:11:27She'll get tired of sitting around waiting for him to come back.
00:11:33Do you, Kenneth Carmen, take Anne Elizabeth Mills to be your lawfully wedded wife?
00:11:39I do.
00:11:41And do you, Anne Elizabeth Mills, take Kenneth Carmen to be your lawfully wedded husband?
00:11:47Oh, my God.
00:11:49I do.
00:11:50You know, I have some extra money saved.
00:11:52Maybe next week, after he's gone, I can take the girls on a little trip.
00:11:57Just the three of us.
00:11:59I think she'd like that.
00:12:01I now pronounce you man and wife.
00:12:05Okay.
00:12:10Okay.
00:12:16Annie?
00:12:28Annie?
00:12:31Anne?
00:12:32I love you, Mom, but I love Ken, too.
00:12:54Don't be mad.
00:12:55I'll call you from Seattle.
00:12:57Mrs. Annie Carmen.
00:12:58Mrs. Annie Carmen.
00:13:28Mrs. Annie Carmen.
00:13:46It's not here.
00:13:47My wallet.
00:13:48Where is it?
00:13:50I don't know.
00:13:52Where'd you have it last?
00:13:56Let me stop for lunch.
00:13:57I must have left it in the phone with when I tried to call my mom.
00:14:03Well, we have to get it, Ken.
00:14:05It has on my ID.
00:14:05Yeah, well, that's two hours back, you know.
00:14:10Damn it, Annie.
00:14:11You've got to be more responsible.
00:14:16I know.
00:14:27Can I go to Rachel's tonight?
00:14:36Is your mother going to be there?
00:14:38I don't know.
00:14:39You know the rules.
00:14:40No parent there.
00:14:41You don't go.
00:14:47Hello.
00:14:48Mom.
00:14:49Annie.
00:14:51It's been three days.
00:14:53Yeah, I've been to call.
00:14:55I take it you're in Seattle.
00:14:57Yeah.
00:14:58Ken found us this great place.
00:15:01A guy he knew shipped out.
00:15:03How could you have done this?
00:15:05Please don't be mad at me.
00:15:07You knew the way I felt about it, and yet you turned around and...
00:15:09But I love him.
00:15:10And he loves me.
00:15:12Well, life is just not that simple young lady.
00:15:16I'm worried about you.
00:15:17I need to know that you're going to be okay.
00:15:19How are the two of you supposed to live?
00:15:21Well, Ken has his Navy pay.
00:15:23And, um, I'm going to get a job.
00:15:26I'm not scared to call you.
00:15:31Don't be scared to call me, ever.
00:15:33You're always my daughter.
00:15:39You're just lucky that you're 2,000 miles away.
00:15:41Look, you go and, uh, and wash your face, okay?
00:15:52And tell that husband of yours that he better take really good care of you while I'm coming up there.
00:15:57I will.
00:16:00I love you, Mom.
00:16:03Love you, too, baby.
00:16:04She's not coming back.
00:16:15She's not coming back.
00:16:16She's not coming back.
00:16:16There you are.
00:16:46You know, I've been ringing this doorbell forever.
00:16:48I didn't hear it.
00:16:50You've had those for three months, and you're just now bringing them back.
00:16:53You didn't need an excuse to stop by, you know.
00:16:57I didn't like the way you sounded.
00:16:59You're up worrying all night, am I right?
00:17:02Yeah, partially.
00:17:03I was worried, and then I got mad, and now I don't know what I am.
00:17:10She sounded so scary. You know what? I'm scared for her.
00:17:13I don't know how to protect her from what lies ahead of her.
00:17:15You can't protect her, Carol. Kids have to make their own mistakes.
00:17:21I made those mistakes.
00:17:22I ran away, I got married very young, and before I knew it, I had the two kids.
00:17:29And a divorce, and no way to earn a living.
00:17:32Aren't you getting just a little ahead of things here?
00:17:34No, I don't think so. I lived that way.
00:17:38Yeah? You turned out okay.
00:17:40That's because I had the discipline to go back to school and get a degree.
00:17:45I don't think Annie has that.
00:17:52Maybe things would have been different if her father had been around.
00:17:55No, that wouldn't have made any difference, and you know it.
00:17:58She needed to feel grown up. She wanted to play house.
00:18:02A lot of kids fall into that trap.
00:18:04Annie's not just another kid.
00:18:05She still struggles with a lot of things.
00:18:08Her reading, her confidence.
00:18:13Annie's not ready to be anybody's wife.
00:18:14Tonight's our anniversary.
00:18:25One month.
00:18:27Everything has to be perfect.
00:18:29Well, you know, they are here somewhere.
00:18:31I feel so stupid.
00:18:33I mean, I saw them at the market. I just walked right past them.
00:18:35Oh, it's no big deal.
00:18:37Where did I put them?
00:18:39There they are.
00:18:44It's a humor about it.
00:19:00Annie!
00:19:03I've got to run.
00:19:05Bye.
00:19:05Whoa, I was just gone five minutes.
00:19:13You could have been gone five minutes.
00:19:15I just wanted to go buy the candles.
00:19:17Yeah, did you see the smoke in here?
00:19:18It was not five minutes worth of smoke.
00:19:21Ken, stop yelling at me. I made a little mistake.
00:19:24A little mistake. You know, your mistake could have burned this apartment down.
00:19:27It was not a little mistake.
00:19:29Look, I've got to be back on base in an hour, and there's nothing to eat around here.
00:19:32Wait, back on the base?
00:19:34It's our anniversary.
00:19:35Yeah, well, happy anniversary, darling.
00:19:37Honey, I'm sorry. It was all my fault last night.
00:20:04Well, my temper didn't help either.
00:20:13Don't worry about you, Annie.
00:20:15Took you away from everything you know.
00:20:19I know you.
00:20:22It's not enough.
00:20:24Sure it is.
00:20:26Like I said, Annie, it's not enough.
00:20:28I'm tired of you living your life through me.
00:20:31I'm suffocating here.
00:20:32Well, I don't know anybody else.
00:20:34Why don't you make some friends? I mean, don't you meet anybody at that job of yours?
00:20:37I'm a waitress.
00:20:39Who am I supposed to meet?
00:20:40Well, I don't know, Annie.
00:20:41Why don't you figure it out?
00:20:42It's your problem.
00:20:42Hey.
00:20:57Hey.
00:20:58You want to quiet?
00:21:00Yeah.
00:21:02So what means you're here?
00:21:06I'm shipping out on Saturday.
00:21:07For how long?
00:21:11Six months, maybe.
00:21:17Maybe, uh...
00:21:18Maybe you should stay with your mom for a while.
00:21:21No.
00:21:23I'm not going to go home to my mom.
00:21:27I'm your wife.
00:21:29I always said you wouldn't be my wife.
00:21:30Why are you always so stubborn?
00:21:34I just...
00:21:35I don't want to leave you here alone in a strange city.
00:21:37Well, you knew that you'd be leaving me sooner or later.
00:21:39Yeah, I know.
00:21:40I just didn't expect it to be so soon.
00:21:43I thought maybe you'd have time.
00:21:45Turn to what?
00:21:47Say it.
00:21:48Turn to grow up.
00:21:54Annie.
00:21:55Get away from me.
00:21:56Look, I'm grown up enough, okay?
00:21:58I don't need you.
00:21:59I'll be fine.
00:22:02You know, this is exactly the type of behavior I'm talking about, Annie.
00:22:19Hello?
00:22:20Annie?
00:22:22Yeah.
00:22:23Are you okay?
00:22:25Fine.
00:22:26Yeah, I'm fine.
00:22:27You don't sound fine.
00:22:29Mom, we fight all the time.
00:22:35It's just not what I thought it would be.
00:22:39Marriage is real life, Annie.
00:22:41People fight in real life.
00:22:43But we didn't fight before.
00:22:46You weren't married before.
00:22:49And Ken's being shipped out.
00:22:52Annie, maybe you should think about coming home.
00:22:55No.
00:22:56No, I won't be a quitter.
00:22:58No one said anything about your quitting.
00:23:01Why should you be there alone?
00:23:05Because I'm Ken's wife.
00:23:07You'll let me send you a ticket?
00:23:08Thank you, but no.
00:23:10Round trip.
00:23:11I promise.
00:23:12Let's see.
00:23:23Time will fly.
00:23:25You may even get to like it and not let me come back.
00:23:26I won't like it.
00:23:28I won't let me go.
00:23:36I'll let me.
00:23:45I'll let you go.
00:23:47Jenny, I'm in the kitchen.
00:24:17Hey, Mom.
00:24:34Hi.
00:24:38You always had impeccable timing.
00:24:44I can smell a chocolate cake 40 miles away.
00:24:47Nice to have you home.
00:25:11You going out?
00:25:12Yeah, yeah, there's a party at the old mill.
00:25:17I won't be late.
00:25:19That's a cute outfit.
00:25:21Thanks.
00:25:21Have you seen this?
00:25:22No, I don't think so.
00:25:23Yeah, I wore it the other night.
00:25:25I didn't know you went out the other night.
00:25:26Good night, thank you, guys.
00:25:32Riley is sent by Sarah.
00:25:47See you tomorrow night.
00:25:47Do you know what time it is?
00:26:03Well, Sarah took Lisa's car, so we had to wait for them to get back.
00:26:06Yeah, that's tonight's excuse.
00:26:07What about Sunday and Monday and last week?
00:26:11Mom, when you keep doing this, we agreed that if I stayed here while Ken is gone, they wouldn't treat me like a child.
00:26:15You are acting like one, like an irresponsible child.
00:26:19I went out with my friends.
00:26:20We went to a party.
00:26:23I can't stand this third degree all the time.
00:26:25You've got to do something more with your life than party all the time.
00:26:28Like what?
00:26:28Get a job?
00:26:29Yeah, for starters.
00:26:30Mom, I'm not smart like Jane, okay?
00:26:32I can't be this daughter you want me to be.
00:26:33I just want you to be the best you can be.
00:26:35You're not even trying.
00:26:36Maybe I am.
00:26:39Maybe this is all there is.
00:26:41I don't believe it.
00:26:42Believe it.
00:26:44Come on.
00:26:45The only job I can get anyway is a worthless dead end.
00:26:52Mom, I'm not hurting anybody, okay?
00:26:56I just want to have a good time.
00:26:57I'm 19 years old.
00:26:59And you're a married woman.
00:27:00An adult married woman.
00:27:10Then start acting like one.
00:27:13I don't want you coming home all hours of the night while you're living under my roof.
00:27:18Fine.
00:27:18Eddie?
00:27:31Eddie?
00:27:32Breakfast?
00:27:34Good morning.
00:27:35Eddie, this restaurant only serves breakfast once a day.
00:27:39Eddie?
00:27:42Eddie?
00:27:42Eddie?
00:27:48Eddie?
00:28:17Hi.
00:28:17Hi.
00:28:18Hey.
00:28:19What are you doing here?
00:28:21You cut new orders, turn us around.
00:28:25Didn't work out at your mom's house, huh?
00:28:29I called. She said you'd split.
00:28:32It was a disaster.
00:28:34Well, you have to go back there.
00:28:38Ken, don't tell me what to do, okay?
00:28:41I don't need any more people telling me what to do.
00:28:44Looks to me like you do.
00:28:45Honey, I need a husband, not a father.
00:28:49Yeah? Well, I need a wife.
00:28:53I am your wife.
00:28:58I cook dinner. I keep this apartment pretty clean.
00:29:01A maid could do that.
00:29:11We can't put this off anymore.
00:29:12Every conversation we have ends in a fight.
00:29:16We have to deal with what's wrong with this so-called marriage.
00:29:20Meaning what?
00:29:21Meaning it's a complete failure.
00:29:25This marriage? Or me?
00:29:30Answer me.
00:29:31Okay, Annie.
00:29:32You, as a wife, are a failure.
00:29:40It's just one disaster after another.
00:29:44What about you? You take no responsibility?
00:29:46Look, I'm not the one who has problems paying the phone bill.
00:29:49I just don't want to feel guilty about you sitting around here by yourself for the next six months.
00:29:54Fine.
00:29:54I've had enough.
00:29:57This marriage is finished.
00:30:01We're finished.
00:30:02We're finished.
00:30:02Hey.
00:30:30Hey.
00:30:31Hi.
00:30:32I am not taking no for an answer.
00:30:35I just fixed dinner.
00:30:36Oh, you're passing up a good party, but then?
00:30:39Okay.
00:30:40I'm just not in the mood.
00:30:42You got away with that, Lane.
00:30:44Excuse the first couple of weeks.
00:30:45It's not going to work anymore.
00:30:47Look, Marianne, I just don't want to go.
00:30:48That's exactly the reason why you have to.
00:30:51I know how this feels.
00:30:52I've been dumped myself.
00:30:54You've just got to move past it.
00:30:56Speaking of move, I've got to give notice.
00:31:01Go with it tomorrow.
00:31:02Tonight, nobody stays home.
00:31:05Come on.
00:31:06Come on.
00:31:30Oh, hey there, Laney.
00:31:35Oh, boy.
00:31:38Do you want to know?
00:31:39Do you want to know?
00:31:43Oh, hey there, Laney.
00:31:48Oh
00:32:18Hey, Ohio
00:32:27You a Buckeye? Just steal that, Jack
00:32:30No, it's mine
00:32:33Well, ain't that a coincidence
00:32:34You're from Ohio?
00:32:37Dayton, home of the Wright Brothers
00:32:38And his band plays at a club near Tacoma
00:32:46He asked me to come here, though
00:32:48Now, are you sure you wouldn't rather be home with that mouth-watering chicken pot pie?
00:32:54Gosh, I cannot tell you how good it feels to have fun again
00:32:57To have someone call you a babe
00:33:16Nicky?
00:33:35How did you find me?
00:33:38Never underestimate a Buckeye
00:33:40I see you cook a lot
00:33:48I'm the worst
00:33:51So, you got plans tonight?
00:33:57Not really
00:33:57I'm not telling
00:34:17Just get up there and knock, all right?
00:34:19So, this must be Annie
00:34:34This is my mother
00:34:36This is my mom, Helen
00:34:38Come on in
00:34:41Hey, Mom
00:34:42More mashed potatoes?
00:34:49Oh, yes, please
00:34:50They're so good
00:34:50George
00:34:52Please
00:34:53Oh, it's nice to have a family to cook for
00:34:56Just make sure Nicky brings you around more often
00:34:59Well, better yet
00:35:00Come yourself
00:35:01Watch out, Annie
00:35:03Mama lock you in the attic and feed you to death if you're not careful
00:35:06Nicky says you're looking for a new apartment
00:35:10Yeah, it's just that everything I see is so expensive
00:35:13You know, Mickey's room upstairs is empty
00:35:17Well, this house could use some young life in it
00:35:21Why don't you move in here?
00:35:23Just until things get settled
00:35:25That way you could look into beauty school like you wanted to do
00:35:28And George and I would get to have a daughter
00:35:30Hello, Ann
00:35:31That's awfully generous
00:35:34Oh, I'm a mother, dear
00:35:36I'd worry about you out there in the world all alone
00:35:39Hello?
00:35:52Mom, guess what?
00:35:54I moved
00:35:55I was just telling Mrs. Preston that I needed a place to live
00:35:58And she suggested I move in with them
00:36:00Oh, and there's this great beauty school just down the block
00:36:04It's perfect
00:36:05Well, at least you're thinking about going to school
00:36:09And that's something good to come out of this
00:36:11Mother, don't start
00:36:13Well, you keep your room neat, okay?
00:36:19Thank you, Alan
00:36:20Well, let me speak to her, Annie
00:36:21Oh, my mom wants to talk to you
00:36:24Mrs. Mills
00:36:26Carol
00:36:27Carol
00:36:28You have such a lovely daughter
00:36:31Thank you
00:36:32You certainly have been very kind to her
00:36:35I can't tell you how much we both appreciate that
00:36:38Well, don't you worry about a thing
00:36:39We're going to take care of her like she's our own
00:36:42So did we win the sweepstakes?
00:36:58Don't we all lose?
00:36:58Stop crawling out my back, George
00:37:09Oh, well
00:37:16She does love to write, doesn't she?
00:37:19Mm-hmm
00:37:20All right
00:37:25Okay, my disc card?
00:37:29No, mine
00:37:30Hi
00:37:38Hi
00:37:39How did it go?
00:37:41It went great
00:37:41I gave my first haircut today
00:37:43That's right
00:37:44So you see, I can do this
00:37:49George and I should take you out to lunch tomorrow
00:37:52To celebrate
00:37:53How about we go to McCarthy's
00:37:55The insurance office is near there
00:37:57So George can pick up his policy on the way back
00:37:59You know, you really ought to think about life insurance
00:38:03Don't you think I'm a little bit young for that?
00:38:06Oh, no, dear
00:38:07It's never too early to start
00:38:09Here, play my hand
00:38:13Okay, what are you playing here?
00:38:16I'm going to have a knock with you
00:38:17Oh, boy
00:38:19Hello
00:38:24Oh, hi, Carol
00:38:30All right
00:38:30No, no, she's not here right now
00:38:34Oh, sorry
00:38:36Well, sure, I'll tell her
00:38:38Okay, bye-bye
00:38:39Who was that on the phone, dear?
00:38:46Wrong number
00:38:47Gin!
00:38:50No!
00:38:51Well, then what's wrong?
00:38:52You said yourself she's been sounding great, happier than ever
00:38:55Maybe that's what's wrong
00:38:56Nobody can take your place with her
00:38:58They got her to go back to school
00:39:00She got a job
00:39:01And the only thing that I got her to do is walk out
00:39:04Oh, you know how kids are
00:39:05They're always angels with somebody else's parents
00:39:06I hardly speak to her anymore
00:39:08If I don't catch her at home, she never calls me back
00:39:11She is a kid
00:39:12Count yourself lucky
00:39:14She's living with such nice people
00:39:16Yeah, maybe you're right
00:39:18Love you
00:39:21Great
00:39:22Thank you
00:39:23There you go, George
00:39:25Ah, thank you
00:39:26Thank you
00:39:27Pleasure doing business with you
00:39:28Thank you
00:39:28It was very nice to meet you
00:39:30Oh, nice to meet you, too
00:39:31You take care, huh?
00:39:32Thanks
00:39:32Bye-bye
00:39:32Bye
00:39:33This policy does cover accidental bad?
00:39:39Absolutely
00:39:39Okay
00:39:39Thank you
00:39:41When are we going to tell her?
00:39:50Tell me what?
00:39:51We can keep her surprised
00:39:52We can keep her surprised
00:39:52But we'd have to blindfold her
00:39:54Put her in the car
00:39:55Drive all the way like that
00:39:56Drive where?
00:39:58Oh, we're just going to visit
00:39:59Georgia's sister
00:40:00In San Francisco
00:40:01San Francisco?
00:40:03Oh, my God
00:40:05Oh, my God
00:40:05Oh, my God
00:40:06Oh, my God
00:40:06Oh, my God
00:40:07Oh, my God
00:40:07Oh, my God
00:40:08Oh, my God
00:40:09Oh, my God
00:40:09Oh, my God
00:40:10Oh, my God
00:40:10Oh, my God
00:40:11Oh, my God
00:40:11Oh, my God
00:40:11Oh, my God
00:40:12Oh, my God
00:40:13Oh, my God
00:40:13Oh, my God
00:40:14Oh, my God
00:40:14Oh, my God
00:40:15Oh, my God
00:40:15Oh, my God
00:40:16Oh, my God
00:40:17Oh, my God
00:40:17Oh, my God
00:40:18Oh, my God
00:40:18Oh, my God
00:40:19Oh, my God
00:40:19Oh, my God
00:40:20Oh, my God
00:40:20Oh, my God
00:40:21Oh, my God
00:40:21Oh, my God
00:40:22Oh, my God
00:40:22Oh, my God
00:40:23This is one of our favorite places, right, George?
00:40:52That's right, Gary.
00:40:53That's right.
00:41:23It is absolutely gorgeous.
00:41:25Looks like it's clearing up.
00:41:26So, who wants lemonade?
00:41:29Oh, sounds great.
00:41:31Oh, sounds great.
00:41:34You've been here before.
00:41:36One of our favorite spots.
00:41:38Hungry?
00:41:39Hungry?
00:41:40I love the bean salad, dear.
00:41:42Oh, thank you, George.
00:41:46I love the bean salad, dear.
00:41:47Oh, thank you, George.
00:41:49Well, I, for one, am completely stuffed.
00:41:50Oh, me too.
00:41:51Maybe we should take a hike to walk this off.
00:41:52George, why don't we take Annie down to see the waterfall?
00:41:53That would be a great idea.
00:41:54Yeah, I'd love to see the falls.
00:41:55Okay, let's go.
00:41:56Okay, let's go.
00:41:57Okay, let's go.
00:41:58Okay, let's go.
00:41:59Okay, let's go.
00:42:00Okay, let's go.
00:42:02Would you like me.
00:42:03What do you like?
00:42:07Okay.
00:42:12Okay, let's go.
00:42:13Okay, let's go.
00:42:15I'm so good.
00:42:18I'm so good.
00:42:23George, why don't you take Annie up on the rock and I'll get a picture of you with the
00:42:47waterfall behind you? Good, good idea. Come on, Annie, a big smile for your mama.
00:43:17Please! Please, ma'am!
00:43:47Please, ma'am!
00:44:17It's nice of you to have come all this way. We loved her. And we wanted you to know how very happy she was that day.
00:44:38It helps to know that. You can see her in the pictures we took that day. Would you like to have them?
00:44:52Yes. Thank you.
00:44:54I miss my sweet Annie's face.
00:45:00Next week is Thanksgiving. I've got to go there for myself and see it. You think that's a good idea, going alone? I need to.
00:45:24Jeanette Ansaldi said her cousin, you know the one who teaches over at Robert, lost a child last year.
00:45:31I remember her telling me that.
00:45:33Did you know our teacher's insurance is a death benefit for the loss of a child?
00:45:39That's what I thought.
00:45:42Don't you want to look into it?
00:45:45Will that bring Annie back?
00:45:47No, but you're entitled to it. You might use it to make Janie's life better.
00:45:53What do I have to do? Show them a death certificate.
00:46:09I should have called first.
00:46:11Look, I'm sorry, but I have to be at a deposition in five minutes.
00:46:14Well, they told me that you would give me her death certificate.
00:46:16I haven't issued one.
00:46:18Why not?
00:46:19I'm tying up loose ends. We're shorthanded like everybody else.
00:46:23But this has been determined as an accident, so what's holding you up?
00:46:26Well, there's paperwork, insurance policies.
00:46:29We don't have to do anything about that. My teacher's policy will cover it all.
00:46:33I'm not talking about your policy. I'm talking about your daughter's policy from Seattle.
00:46:38Seattle?
00:46:40Life insurance. For $100,000.
00:46:45My daughter was 19 years old. What would she do with that?
00:46:50It's me.
00:46:52No. No, she would have told me.
00:46:55You're not the beneficiary. Helen Preston is.
00:46:59I don't believe that.
00:47:01It's true. I spoke with the agent myself.
00:47:03I don't care who you spoke to. I know my own daughter.
00:47:06Look, ma'am, I tell you what.
00:47:08Leave your address with the sergeant, and when the death certificate's ready, I'll send it to you, okay?
00:47:13I really have to go.
00:47:15Is that it? That's all?
00:47:18What do you mean?
00:47:19I need some answers.
00:47:21Look, ma'am, I don't know why your daughter took out a life insurance policy, but I've seen people do all kinds of strange things, and this is not all that strange.
00:47:29Well, what about the Prestons?
00:47:31They're good people. They're all shook up about this.
00:47:34They said that when...
00:47:35They said they're gonna get $100,000.
00:47:39Yeah.
00:47:40My people were all over that scene. It was an accident. Accept it. It's tragic, and you have my sympathies.
00:47:48But there was no evidence of anything criminal out there.
00:47:54Then keep looking.
00:47:55Looking for what? What do you want me to investigate?
00:47:59Murder.
00:48:18Uh, I hope you don't want your spouse.
00:48:20Hold me.
00:48:21But then I have done it.
00:48:26You can find that they have no evidence of the security .
00:48:36So keep that enough to discover all my Vil depleted.
00:48:40And after that scene.
00:48:42Throughout this scene.
00:48:45Carol, come in, please.
00:49:02It was nice of you to see me on such short notice.
00:49:09I would have been glad to take care of all those details for you, Carol.
00:49:13Well, closing out her affairs must have been so painful.
00:49:19Annie was my daughter.
00:49:22I saw her into this world, and I need to see her out.
00:49:26Annie loved this all smothered in vanilla ice cream.
00:49:32We loved her as our own.
00:49:39I'm sure you'll understand my need to go through it again, to get it straight in my head.
00:49:43Of course, dear.
00:49:46Did you see it happen?
00:49:48No, nothing. Not a sound.
00:49:51We turned to go back.
00:49:53Before I knew it, she was gone.
00:49:56I had to stop George from diving in after her.
00:50:00I knew it was futile.
00:50:01We could see her there, under the falls.
00:50:10The Oregon police said that Annie took out an insurance policy.
00:50:14Yes.
00:50:16She was really cute about it.
00:50:17She said it made her feel so grown up.
00:50:21I know how much this hurts you, Carol.
00:50:25And I also know that only time can fix it.
00:50:29You don't know how this feels.
00:50:31Yes, I do.
00:50:32I lost a daughter, too.
00:50:35Cynthia was only three years old.
00:50:38We were living back in Dayton, 1972.
00:50:47What happened?
00:50:48It was an accident.
00:50:51It was a terrible, terrible accident.
00:50:54The one thing I do know is that you can beat yourself to death over a guilty conscience
00:51:01about what you could have done, what you should have done.
00:51:05And in the end, it doesn't change anything.
00:51:08Poor, poor, Carol.
00:51:24I don't like it.
00:51:26Well, George, when are you going to acquire some backbone?
00:51:28Carol Mills is a schoolteacher from Ohio.
00:51:31You going to be scared of her?
00:51:38I was never thrilled about writing this policy.
00:51:47But you did it anyway.
00:51:48I asked the questions.
00:51:49They had the right answers.
00:51:51I told that woman that she had to have an insurable interest to be the beneficiary.
00:51:56What does that mean?
00:51:57A meaningful relationship with the policyholder.
00:51:59She didn't have one.
00:52:01She called me back and told me that Annie was going to marry her son.
00:52:04Annie was already married.
00:52:05I didn't know that.
00:52:08So the Prestons get their policy.
00:52:11And my daughter's dead.
00:52:36Hi, sweetheart.
00:52:37I missed you.
00:52:38You're welcome home.
00:52:42Thank you, Laura.
00:52:42Thank you, Laura.
00:53:08What can I do to change your mind?
00:53:26Evidence.
00:53:27It's that simple.
00:53:28What about the insurance?
00:53:29Look, we've been through all that.
00:53:31Don't you care that these two people are getting away with murder?
00:53:34Mrs. Mills, I think it's time you accepted the fact that it was an accident.
00:53:43Now I remember.
00:53:44The little girl's name was Cynthia Preston.
00:53:47What happened to her?
00:53:48She hanged herself.
00:53:49Oh, my God.
00:53:50Oh, my God.
00:53:52The sight of her hanging in that barn haunted me for years.
00:53:56How on earth does that happen to a three-year-old?
00:53:59Well, the story as I remember it is, she climbed up on a tractor that was in that barn with some twine dangling over a rafter.
00:54:07Somehow she got twisted in it.
00:54:10The whole thing struck me as odd.
00:54:12Did you say something at the time?
00:54:14Sure did.
00:54:15But the captain knew the parents and couldn't believe that they'd hurt a child.
00:54:19What happened to the case?
00:54:21Ruled accidental hanging.
00:54:23Was there insurance on that little girl?
00:54:25I don't know.
00:54:26Could you check?
00:54:27It's really important to me.
00:54:29I'll try.
00:54:29Okay.
00:54:29Okay.
00:54:29Okay.
00:54:29Okay.
00:54:29Okay.
00:54:30Okay.
00:54:30Okay.
00:54:33Okay.
00:54:34Okay.
00:54:36Okay.
00:54:36Okay.
00:55:06Who is it?
00:55:09Detective McAdams, Seattle Police.
00:55:13You Amy Carman's mother?
00:55:15Yes.
00:55:16I'd like to talk to you.
00:55:18May I see the ID again?
00:55:19Sure.
00:55:19You don't sound like you're from Seattle.
00:55:26Seattle by way of Brooklyn.
00:55:30All right.
00:55:31We, uh, a little out of the way here?
00:55:33That depends on what you can tell me about Annie's insurance policy.
00:55:37Are you always this friendly?
00:55:38Only when I have to switch planes twice and lay over in Chicago for three hours.
00:55:44I'm sorry.
00:55:45I'm a little...
00:55:46Would you like some coffee?
00:55:47Maybe something to eat?
00:55:47No.
00:55:48So, what do you know about this insurance?
00:55:55Well, I...
00:55:55I know that they say Annie took it out herself, that her signature is on the application, but
00:56:01I don't believe any of it.
00:56:03Then how do you explain it?
00:56:05I don't know.
00:56:06I mean, that's the problem.
00:56:07I...
00:56:07It doesn't make sense.
00:56:08None of it makes sense.
00:56:09Like Mickey Holloway saying he was planning to marry your daughter?
00:56:14Exactly.
00:56:15I don't believe it either.
00:56:19Oregon insists that it's an accident.
00:56:21They don't know that family like I do.
00:56:24Mickey's been bad news since the first time I busted him.
00:56:27And the mother...
00:56:29She's smart.
00:56:31Always two steps ahead of us.
00:56:33So when I heard the Prestons were with your daughter when she died...
00:56:36Then you'll go after them?
00:56:38That's why I'm here.
00:56:40Okay?
00:56:45These are photos taken of Annie the day that she died.
00:56:48Ah.
00:56:49Ah, she's very pretty.
00:56:52George Preston.
00:57:05Have any other pictures of Annie?
00:57:07Something recent?
00:57:10High school graduation?
00:57:11Yeah.
00:57:19Look here at Helen's picture.
00:57:20You see how Annie's face looks kind of droopy there and her eyes look glassy?
00:57:24What are you trying to say?
00:57:25Well, she may have been drugged.
00:57:28Drugged?
00:57:28I don't want to rule out anything, okay?
00:57:32These I want my lab guys to look at.
00:57:35Oh, I'll get Oregon to fax me a copy of the autopsy report.
00:57:39And then I'm going to walk and talk to some people around here like a doctor.
00:57:45I know I'm throwing a lot at you, but I'm really going to need your help.
00:57:49Okay.
00:57:51I'll be in touch.
00:57:52Thanks.
00:57:53You're welcome.
00:58:03It's amazing how you can be so calm.
00:58:05Amazing how you can't be.
00:58:06She'll keep coming back, you know.
00:58:09She's not going to give up until...
00:58:11Sweetheart, you'll never get anywhere in this world if you let every little thing bother you.
00:58:18Now, haven't I always taken care of everything for you?
00:58:21Now, you just let me take care of things just like I always do.
00:58:24I don't want you to worry.
00:58:28Because that's when you do something stupid.
00:58:45Why, thank you.
00:58:46One of the things on my ex-wife's list of grievances.
00:58:50Well, if her list was down to that...
00:58:51Oh, don't I wish.
00:58:52This was one of the few things I could correct.
00:58:56Oh, wait a minute.
00:58:57I'm going to Rachel's.
00:58:59I want you to call me when you get there.
00:59:01Mother.
00:59:02Otherwise, you don't go.
00:59:04Okay.
00:59:05Bye.
00:59:06Bye.
00:59:18I'm very protective of her.
00:59:20You don't have to explain yourself.
00:59:21I'm a parent, too.
00:59:22Little boy.
00:59:25He's five now.
00:59:27That's why I moved to Seattle.
00:59:29My wife...
00:59:31Ex-wife remarried.
00:59:33I didn't want to miss seeing her grow up.
00:59:34All right.
00:59:36I went over the autopsy report.
00:59:45None of the standard drugs of choice show up.
00:59:46No marijuana, no cocaine.
00:59:48Well, that's a relief.
00:59:49But there's traces of an antidepressant.
00:59:54Antidepressant?
00:59:54No.
00:59:55Annie...
00:59:55Annie wouldn't take a pill like that.
00:59:57You can't be so sure of that.
00:59:59Her marriage is over.
01:00:00She's left on her own.
01:00:01You said she was an insecure kid.
01:00:02No, Annie would never take something like that.
01:00:04It was in her blood.
01:00:06It says so right here.
01:00:08Something called amatrip.
01:00:12Amatrip?
01:00:12Where are you going?
01:00:20Carol?
01:00:21Just a second.
01:00:22All she talked about was beauty school,
01:00:28but I guess you knew that.
01:00:29Yes, I did.
01:00:31George?
01:00:32Yes, dear?
01:00:32Bring me an aspirin, will you, dear?
01:00:34I've had this headache all day.
01:00:37Just don't bring me one of your amatrips.
01:00:39He's done that before.
01:00:41Aspirin and amatrip look a lot alike.
01:00:43I saw Annie take one by mistake.
01:00:46Annie took it.
01:00:47Actually, it's a nice pill.
01:00:49Doesn't make you sleepy at all.
01:00:52This woman has covered more bases than Barry Bonds.
01:00:57Her husband takes those pills.
01:00:59She damn well knows they're side effects.
01:01:01They cause drowsiness, disorientation.
01:01:04I mean, they cause you to be unsteady on your feet.
01:01:06And easy to push off a slippery rock.
01:01:08The room's been empty for three weeks now.
01:01:29I have to do everything myself.
01:01:31Hi.
01:01:46Hi.
01:01:47Job, hunty?
01:01:48Yeah, I'm afraid I'm not having much luck, though.
01:01:51You talked to the manager here?
01:01:52Maybe they need some help.
01:01:53There's nothing.
01:01:55What are you looking for?
01:01:56I worked in a hospital back home.
01:01:57I'm not picky.
01:01:59Waitress, cell.
01:02:01Just have to find something before my money runs out,
01:02:03or I'm on a bus back home looking like a failure.
01:02:05I'm on a bus back home looking like a failure.
01:02:35Nice of you to call.
01:02:36I've been thinking of you, dear.
01:02:38I just wanted to know how you were doing.
01:02:42Well, it's...
01:02:42It's been very hard, but I know you know that.
01:02:46We're getting stronger every day.
01:02:48And how's that sweet little daughter of yours?
01:02:51Janie, is it?
01:02:55She's fine.
01:02:57She's just fine.
01:02:59I appreciate your asking.
01:03:01Well, I just wanted you to know that you're in our prayers.
01:03:06You two take care now.
01:03:08Bye.
01:03:08What a surprise.
01:03:26I wasn't expecting you back in town this day.
01:03:28We got work to do.
01:03:29After she divorced Mickey's father,
01:03:42she married Carl Nelson.
01:03:45Not long after, he's diagnosed with cancer.
01:03:47Helen, who claims to be a practical nurse,
01:03:50starts administering his intravenous,
01:03:52but then he's dead, she collects on his life insurance.
01:03:55Now she marries George.
01:03:58They move into Helen's mother's house.
01:04:01Boom.
01:04:01The house catches on fire.
01:04:03But the insurance company decides not to total it.
01:04:06They want to rebuild.
01:04:08Not a month later, the house burns to the ground.
01:04:11And despite the fact that it's ruled us,
01:04:13and the company pays off in full,
01:04:15that's not all.
01:04:16Her mother, Helen, takes over her care.
01:04:20The woman is a diabetic,
01:04:21and Helen administered the insulin.
01:04:23Don't tell me that she...
01:04:24You got it.
01:04:26Her mother died,
01:04:27Helen pocketed the money from the sale of the house,
01:04:29and went merrily along with her wife.
01:04:33And then even her own child.
01:04:36How did she get away with this?
01:04:38Didn't anybody connect these deaths?
01:04:40She kept moving from state to state.
01:04:42A never talked to B,
01:04:43B never talked to C.
01:04:44And taken separately,
01:04:45each incident is easily explained.
01:04:50I blame myself.
01:04:51I let her get involved with these people.
01:04:53You couldn't know.
01:04:54These people are Ozzy and Harriet.
01:04:57They would have fooled me, too,
01:04:58and I'm a hell of a lot more jaded than you.
01:05:02There you go.
01:05:04Best burgers in town, Ma.
01:05:07There's some homemade coleslaw over there on the table.
01:05:09I haven't eaten as well since Mama died,
01:05:11but...
01:05:12Don't swallow.
01:05:17Oh, it does my heart good to see you enjoy it, Lisa.
01:05:20Since my Mickey moved out,
01:05:21I've had nobody to mother.
01:05:22I'm sure it would be nice to have some of that again.
01:05:27You ought to take up Mama on her offer to move in.
01:05:29The hot and cold running food by the hour.
01:05:31I thought you were in an early flight this morning.
01:05:43Now, this package arrived as I was checking out.
01:05:45I think we finally got something.
01:05:47What?
01:05:48I never understood why some of Helen's photos were 5x7s
01:05:52and others were trimmed down.
01:05:53So, on a hunch, I called the lab,
01:05:55and it turned out they keep dupe negatives of all their enlargements.
01:05:58So, I had everything reprinted full frame,
01:06:01and look what I found.
01:06:03Helen cropped off Annie's feet.
01:06:05You see?
01:06:05They're slightly in the air.
01:06:07And George has his hand on her shoulder.
01:06:12Do you think he was pulling her backward?
01:06:14Yeah, that's exactly what I think.
01:06:16Can we use it?
01:06:18Yeah, we can use it.
01:06:19I think we have a picture of George Preston
01:06:22pushing your daughter off that rock.
01:06:28Gabe, you've had tough cases before.
01:06:33I didn't exactly hand you a slam dunk on that cane murder.
01:06:36I'm not afraid of tough, Steve.
01:06:38But proving a murder with scraps of circumstantial evidence,
01:06:42that's another story.
01:06:43Even without introducing her past bad acts,
01:06:46we have the insurance policy.
01:06:48We have the drugs.
01:06:49We have her inconsistent statements to the police.
01:06:52So what if it's not textbook?
01:06:55That doesn't make this girl any less dead.
01:06:56But this crime, if indeed it was a crime,
01:07:02took place in Oregon.
01:07:03How do I justify the cost of this trial
01:07:05to the taxpayers of Seattle?
01:07:07Mr. Nichols, you're the only person
01:07:09standing in the way of justice for my daughter
01:07:11and letting these monsters go free.
01:07:14My mother raises her daughter.
01:07:17She watches over her.
01:07:18And then when she grows up,
01:07:20she goes, ah, she's safe.
01:07:21I can breathe.
01:07:23But now I know that they're never safe.
01:07:25You can never breathe.
01:07:26I do think it was a homicide.
01:07:34I just hope we can prove it.
01:07:40She fits in well here, don't you think?
01:07:43Mm-hmm.
01:07:44We could use Bill Liggett for the insurance next time.
01:07:47Next time?
01:07:48We're not even out of the woods on this anything yet.
01:07:52Don't be ridiculous, George.
01:07:54If they had anything, we'd know it.
01:07:57I don't care, Helen.
01:07:58If anything happens to this Lisa so soon,
01:08:01there'd be no way to explain it.
01:08:03You're a nervous one, aren't you, Georgie?
01:08:08We're not going to do it tomorrow.
01:08:11This sort of thing requires planning.
01:08:15This garden could use a good reading.
01:08:17Nice.
01:08:21Ha, ha, ha.
01:08:27Bye.
01:08:28Bye.
01:08:29Bye.
01:08:34Bye.
01:08:34Bye.
01:08:43Bye.
01:08:43Bye.
01:08:44Bye.
01:08:44Bye.
01:08:45Well, I gotta admit, you saw a lot more there than I ever did.
01:09:01Let's just say I know these people.
01:09:13There we go.
01:09:15Here it is.
01:09:18I don't know what you think you're gonna find here now.
01:09:20Well, we don't know either.
01:09:22Just wanna take a look.
01:09:24I'll wait for you back in the car.
01:09:31Oh, she could have known her, Steve.
01:09:34She was such a little fighter.
01:09:38That's why I know she didn't go quietly like they said.
01:09:41All those years, I tried to save her childhood, but...
01:09:45In the end, I couldn't save her life.
01:09:49Where'd you go after school?
01:10:04Auntie Laura took me to the library.
01:10:06Well, that's right.
01:10:07We still need to return some books.
01:10:10No, I took them back the other day.
01:10:12By yourself?
01:10:14I took the bus.
01:10:15You know, I don't like you doing that.
01:10:17No, it was fine.
01:10:19Tell your mom everything's fine.
01:10:21Auntie Laura says hi.
01:10:23Oh, and that lady called when I was at home.
01:10:26What lady?
01:10:27The one that Annie lived with.
01:10:29Helen?
01:10:32What did she want?
01:10:33Not much.
01:10:34She was nice.
01:10:35She talked to me for a long time.
01:10:37She even knew the library that I went to.
01:10:39She did?
01:10:42Yeah.
01:10:43How did she know that?
01:10:47Hey, ma, where's Lisa tonight?
01:10:49Exercise class.
01:10:51Are you catching a cold?
01:10:55No, ma.
01:10:56You should dress more warmly.
01:10:59I'm sorry to eat and run, but I told Buddy I'd pick him up at 7.30.
01:11:02Are you coming tomorrow?
01:11:03I'm making your favorite chicken.
01:11:04Yeah, so I'm coming.
01:11:09Mwah.
01:11:09Night.
01:11:10Good night.
01:11:20I want to talk to you, Mickey.
01:11:22I want to know what's going on here.
01:11:24Your daughter's dead.
01:11:26Yeah, it's sad, but get over it.
01:11:27There's no chance of that.
01:11:29You know, that's too bad.
01:11:30It must not be easy being in mourning for such a long, long time.
01:11:35No, it's not easy.
01:11:37It makes you angry and determined to find out why the person you love had to die.
01:11:40She was unlucky.
01:11:41She fell off a cliff.
01:11:43By herself?
01:11:47This is not over, Mickey.
01:11:48Not by a long shot.
01:11:50No, it's over.
01:11:51Believe me, it's over.
01:11:52It's over.
01:12:00How did she know about Janie, the library?
01:12:11Don't get carried away.
01:12:13Didn't she used to live in Columbus?
01:12:15Dayton.
01:12:16I'm scared, Steve.
01:12:17I'm really scared.
01:12:18Relax.
01:12:19She's just trying to get to you.
01:12:21She's succeeding.
01:12:23Yes.
01:12:24Steve, the Preston's attorney is here to see you.
01:12:26Hey.
01:12:26Ask her to wait in one of the consultation rooms, please.
01:12:31I'll be right back.
01:12:34Steve, you and I both know this department has a very long reach.
01:12:39You question the Preston's friends and relatives, poke into their personal affairs.
01:12:43Let me make this crystal clear.
01:12:45I won't sit by while they're harassed.
01:12:47Just doing my job, lady.
01:12:50The law's on my side.
01:12:52You're looking for a scapegoat here.
01:12:53I won't allow nice people like this to have their lives screwed up.
01:12:57I don't know if I'd describe them as nice people.
01:13:01You've got a problem.
01:13:02Final charges.
01:13:04Otherwise, back off.
01:13:05Not until I find out what really happened to that kid.
01:13:08You're dangerously close to the line here, Steve.
01:13:11Don't push it.
01:13:17Always a breath of fresh air, Lydia.
01:13:20Uh-huh.
01:13:22What did Nicholas say?
01:13:23Just that he wanted to see us.
01:13:25I hope Lydia's sorry I didn't get to him.
01:13:27That one was this close.
01:13:30Evidence or lack of it.
01:13:31That's the only thing that'll make a difference.
01:13:41Okay.
01:13:44Miss Mills, take a seat.
01:13:46Time for truth or consequences.
01:13:53I think we're ready for a dry run.
01:13:57Let me hear you tell me the story.
01:13:59I want to see if we've left anything out.
01:14:01Okay.
01:14:04Annie met Mickey Holloway, and within a week, Helen moved Annie into her home.
01:14:09General American wouldn't issue without insurable interest.
01:14:13Now we have Georgia's amateur conscription.
01:14:15Mom!
01:14:16Mom, we're here!
01:14:18Hey, no, say something.
01:14:19Steve!
01:14:19Why does she take out a life insurance policy?
01:14:22The kid's not happy.
01:14:23Love you too, baby.
01:14:24If I'm the defense attorney, I can argue 42 ways.
01:14:27He's not much had to click for him left away.
01:14:29I don't know if I'm going to prove that she is afraid of heights.
01:14:32I guess.
01:14:33I don't know if I'm going to hear the statements from her doctor.
01:14:36This is a mosaic of a murder.
01:14:40Now you prosecute, right?
01:14:44Yes, ma'am.
01:14:48We have warrants for the arrest of Helen and George Preston.
01:15:17For what?
01:15:19The murder of Annie Carmen.
01:15:21Why are you coming to our home like this?
01:15:23You're under arrest.
01:15:24What do you think you are?
01:15:25No.
01:15:25You have the right to remain silent.
01:15:28If you choose to give up that right, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law.
01:15:31This is not a police state we are living in here.
01:15:34You have the right to an attorney for your questioning.
01:15:38If you cannot afford an attorney and so desire one, one will be provided for you with no charge.
01:15:45You'd have been a better mother.
01:15:45Your daughter wouldn't have left home in the first place.
01:15:47Now you want to persecute me because of your guilty conscience?
01:15:51This is not only a trial about the murder of Annie Carmen.
01:16:10It's also a test about who we are as a people.
01:16:14Should somebody be allowed to purchase an insurance policy one day and present a dead body in exchange a week later?
01:16:21Don't be fooled by the apple pie exterior of these defendants.
01:16:28Inside, they are cold-blooded murderers and we will prove that above and beyond a reasonable doubt.
01:16:35Annie Carmen's death was a terrible thing.
01:16:39But we add to the tragedy with the innuendo, the insinuation that this woman and her family are to blame.
01:16:50Annie Carmen's death was an accident.
01:16:54A fall from treacherous terrain by a girl inappropriately dressed, wearing backless shoes while standing on a slippery rock.
01:17:03This is a recipe for calamity.
01:17:07But it's not a blueprint for murder.
01:17:11On the night of the accident, did you ask about insurance?
01:17:17Yes.
01:17:18I asked her point blank.
01:17:19Was there any insurance?
01:17:21And the answer?
01:17:23Mrs. Preston told me no.
01:17:24She looked me right in the eye and she said no.
01:17:27Was that true?
01:17:28No.
01:17:30In fact, she paid for the insurance herself.
01:17:34Then Mrs. Preston stuck the insurance policy in her purse and headed for the door.
01:17:39Did she say anything?
01:17:41Only one thing.
01:17:42She asked me if the policy covered accidental death.
01:17:45And how did you answer?
01:17:47I told her it did.
01:17:48Then what happened?
01:17:49A week later, she walked back in, dropped the policy on my desk,
01:17:53and looked at me with cold, dead eyes.
01:17:57Did she say anything then?
01:17:59Just two words.
01:18:01She's dead.
01:18:02Your witness?
01:18:04Tell me, Mr. Powell, when Annie Carmen was in your office,
01:18:08did she seem to be there against her will?
01:18:11No.
01:18:12No further questions.
01:18:14Like I said, she's my fiancée.
01:18:16Planning a big wedding, were you?
01:18:18Objection.
01:18:19Irrelevant.
01:18:20Foundational, Your Honor.
01:18:22I'll allow it.
01:18:24I asked if you were planning a big wedding.
01:18:27Well, we hadn't set a date yet, but we were going to very soon.
01:18:32Sometime after she got a divorce, I presume.
01:18:35You didn't know she was already married.
01:18:38Lots of marriages overlap.
01:18:40Where were you when Annie Carmen was killed?
01:18:42I was at home in my apartment, listening to music.
01:18:45Not at the Falls in Oregon?
01:18:47Absolutely not.
01:18:50Not further questions.
01:18:51Mr. Holloway, did your fiancée like to do things that were a little wild, maybe a little
01:19:01dangerous?
01:19:02One of the things I like best about her.
01:19:04So her desire to cast caution aside to get a better view of the waterfall didn't surprise
01:19:08you?
01:19:08Not at all.
01:19:11Annie lived with your parents, didn't she?
01:19:14Yeah.
01:19:14She lived in my room.
01:19:16And your mother treated her very much like her own child?
01:19:20Sometimes better.
01:19:22Better than her own mother treated her?
01:19:24Yeah, that's what Annie told me.
01:19:26Objection.
01:19:26That's hearsay, Your Honor.
01:19:28Sustained.
01:19:29What did you see, observe, of her feelings towards her mother?
01:19:36Well, sometimes when Annie's mom would call, she would duck her phone calls and tell my
01:19:43mother to take a message and then never phone back.
01:19:45So, without telling us what she said, was it your opinion that Annie bore a deep resentment
01:19:51toward her mother?
01:19:53Yeah.
01:19:54She didn't like her mother at all.
01:19:56No further questions.
01:19:59Since I see we're coming up on the hour at this time, let's recess for lunch.
01:20:03The defense is ready to start its case and they got a little surprise for us.
01:20:09Helen's going to take the stand.
01:20:11Is that good or bad?
01:20:12Could be good if she trips herself up.
01:20:15Well, what if the jury believes her?
01:20:17Well, that is the downside.
01:20:20How do you feel, Mrs. Preston?
01:20:22Nervous.
01:20:23You don't have to testify here today.
01:20:26Why are you doing this?
01:20:27Because this vendetta against me is totally unfair.
01:20:31And I need to set the record straight.
01:20:36Well, let's set it straight then.
01:20:38Tell me what happened that day on the cliff.
01:20:41Well, we walked back in from the road because Annie wanted to see the falls and have a picture
01:20:47taken.
01:20:49She said she had never seen beauty like that.
01:20:53That her life before had been, so you know, dull.
01:20:57And now she was seeing things that she'd only dreamed of.
01:21:02Objection.
01:21:03Here say, Your Honor.
01:21:04Sustained.
01:21:05Would you say that you became, in a sense, Annie's surrogate mother?
01:21:10In a sense, yes.
01:21:11Why would I kill the girl?
01:21:16I gave her life meaning.
01:21:18I loved her without judgment.
01:21:23And what was the reason, again, that you so conveniently cropped off Annie's feet on
01:21:28those photos that you gave her mother?
01:21:30There was no sinister reason.
01:21:32I just cut the photos to make them look better.
01:21:35But you didn't cut the other photos that you gave her.
01:21:37I already explained that.
01:21:39They were framed differently.
01:21:41Mrs. Preston, you said that you and your husband were alone with Annie Carmen at the
01:21:46falls.
01:21:47Yes.
01:21:48So no one else can account for what really happened that day, just you and your husband.
01:21:53Is that right?
01:21:54Yes, it is.
01:21:55But you stand to collect $100,000 on her insurance, do you not?
01:22:00She wanted me to be the beneficiary.
01:22:02But she's no longer here to tell us that, is she?
01:22:06No.
01:22:08Unfortunately, she's not.
01:22:10Tell me about other insurance.
01:22:12Insurance on the life of your late husband.
01:22:14Objection, Your Honor.
01:22:15Irrelevant.
01:22:16I'll connect it, Your Honor.
01:22:18I'll allow it.
01:22:19I was asking you about the insurance money that you collected on the death of your late
01:22:23husband, Carl Nelson.
01:22:24He died of cancer.
01:22:25I was his wife, so of course I was the beneficiary.
01:22:28But you were also supervising his nursing care, were you not?
01:22:32I'm a nurse.
01:22:33And he died in your care, as did your mother, correct?
01:22:37They were both ailing.
01:22:39Any doctor can tell you that.
01:22:40Amazing how people seem to die around you, isn't it, Mrs. Preston?
01:22:44Objection, Your Honor.
01:22:46Sustained.
01:22:47What about other insurance payouts you collect on any others?
01:22:50From time to time.
01:22:51Like on a house that burned down?
01:22:54Twice.
01:22:54My husband and I tried to give this girl a home, a family, the love that she was desperate
01:23:02for.
01:23:02Now, now you're trying to turn this into something terrible, trying to, to make us the, the scapegoats
01:23:09for an accident that we couldn't, we couldn't possibly prevent.
01:23:15The defense rests.
01:23:16Okay, Mr. Nichols, are you ready with your rebuttal?
01:23:22The Annie that you've heard described, is this your child?
01:23:26No, not at all.
01:23:28Annie would never have behaved that way.
01:23:29It's not possible.
01:23:31Not possible at all.
01:23:33Nothing that they've said about my daughter, Annie, is true.
01:23:36No further questions at this time, Your Honor.
01:23:38And do you know if Annie had her meals at the Preston home?
01:23:41Dinners, specifically.
01:23:43Yes, sometimes I think she did.
01:23:44Home-cooked family dinners, in which Annie was included as a member of the family?
01:23:48Yes.
01:23:49So it wasn't like she just rented a room in the house.
01:23:52She lived there.
01:23:53She was treated like their own daughter.
01:23:55Isn't that true, Mrs. Nelson?
01:23:56I don't know.
01:23:57I wasn't there.
01:23:58Well, yes, we know that.
01:23:59But Helen was there, wasn't she?
01:24:01And she guided her, encouraged her, mothered her.
01:24:06Isn't that right?
01:24:07Your Honor, would you please instruct the witness?
01:24:10She twisted her.
01:24:13Were you in touch with Annie when she lived with the Prestons?
01:24:16Yes, I was.
01:24:17How often would you say?
01:24:18Once a week?
01:24:19Once a month?
01:24:20Well, not as often as I would have liked.
01:24:23I'd call her, and then I couldn't catch her in.
01:24:25So would you say you felt rejected by your daughter in favor of Helen Preston?
01:24:29I'm her mother.
01:24:31That never changed.
01:24:33Yet you abrogated her care and nurturing to another woman,
01:24:36and now you want to repay that woman by seeing her put in jail for the rest of her life.
01:24:41Isn't that right?
01:24:42Annie was taken in by them.
01:24:45Annie was a butterfly.
01:24:47Caught in a spider's web.
01:24:51No further questions.
01:24:54I have one more question, Mrs. Mills.
01:24:57Did you love your daughter?
01:24:59With all my heart.
01:25:03My daughter died a horrible death.
01:25:06I can't bring her back.
01:25:08Objection, Your Honor.
01:25:09This is a speech.
01:25:10Your Honor, please.
01:25:12I'm asking you to allow me a moment.
01:25:14I'd like to speak on her behalf.
01:25:16I'll allow it.
01:25:18My daughter was a wonderful young woman
01:25:20who had her whole life in front of her.
01:25:25She came to know these people and to trust them.
01:25:27And through her,
01:25:29I trusted them too.
01:25:31I regret that.
01:25:38I'm asking you,
01:25:39please don't be fooled by them too.
01:25:42They murdered my daughter for money,
01:25:44and they deserve to be punished.
01:25:46I understand you've reached a verdict.
01:25:55We have, Your Honor.
01:25:56Will the defendants please stand
01:26:10and face the jury?
01:26:13You may read the verdict.
01:26:15On the charge of murder in the first degree,
01:26:17we find the defendants,
01:26:18George and Helen Preston,
01:26:20guilty as charged.
01:26:21May I remind the court
01:26:28these proceedings are not over.
01:26:31Shh.
01:26:31Oh, oh, both.
01:26:55Oh, oh.
01:26:55Oh, oh, oh.
01:27:27I love you, Annie.