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An American Crime
I used to love the carnival.
Daddy worked all the fairs
selling pretzels and candy apple...
...always looking for
something better.
Sometimes mama would follow him...
...sometimes he'd even take us.
It was always a new adventure
with a whole new family every time.
I figured Jennie and me were the luckiest
girls in the world with a life like that.
My favorite was the merry-go-round.
Maybe I was a little
old for it but...
they scared me.
The merry-go-round just goes
round and round and up and down.
You don't get anywhere
but you always feel safe.
That's me, on the left...
...Sylvia...
...and this is my story.
Would you please state your name.
Lester Likens.
Are you married to Betty Likens?
Yes.
Did you and your wife ever separate?
Yes.
What period of time
did that occur?
The last week in June 1965.
She was at Euclid street,
and I was in Lebanon, Indiana.
Where were the children?
Jennie Faye and Silvia Marie
was with her.
Do you think,
we'll make new friends?
Sure we will.
Well, maybe there'll be
some cute boys this time.
Church boys mean to be cute.
Come on girls, you don't
wanna be late now for service.
Hey!
Daddy?
- Hey, Jennie.
- What're you doing here?
Well, I missed you girls.
Hi Betty, can I talk
to you for a minute?
You know, I've been talking
to Horst and he says...
...that we could maybe swing our
own boot at the State-fair this year.
enough money to go on tour.
I told you Lester, I can't do it
anymore, not with the girls.
Maybe my mother will take them.
I can't move them up there again.
They haven't even had a chance
to make friends down here yet.
Betty, maybe we wouldn't fight
this much, without the kids.
Mama?
You two, go on ahead and
catch the church bus home.
with your father.
See what love
...and we are called children of God.
And so we are!
But how does a child,
come on to his Father?
How does The Father,
come on to the child?
Christ said:
I am the way,the truth, the life and none...
...come on to The Father
but by me.
Our families,
our fathers, our mothers.
It is only through Christ,
that we find The Father.
And it's only through Christ,
that we find each other.
Oh, that's a beautiful dress, Hope.
Oh, thank you, Gertrude.
And um, I'm feeling much
better on my new medicine and...
...if you know anybody who needs
ironing to be done, I'd appreciate the work.
I'll do that.
Thank you.
What happened to your leg?
That's not polite, Shirley!
It's alright, she's used to it.
- So what is it?
- Polio.
Polio?
Does that hurt?
Our mama's sick too.
All right girls!
We gotta go.
Can they come with us?
You wanna come? We've got
...and you can meet
our older sister.
Sure!
Guess who got stuck with
- Did you get paid?
-Hm'hm.
Got a little extra for dinner.
Here, take the baby.
Where'd they come from?
What's this?
We invited them to stay and play.
We'll be quiet.
All right, make sure of it.
I really like this song.
What does your dad do?
He is cop, they are divorced.
Do you miss him any?
Nah, I just miss his money.
- But, Paula!
- Well, it's true.
Maybe, if he's more
regular with his support...
...mom wouldn't be so sick and
I wouldn't have to work so hard.
Little Kenny's got a different daddy.
- Who's little Kenny?
- The baby.
But we ain't supposed
to talk about that.
There!
Wow! You should do this for a living.
Yeah, if she was old enough.
You want me to do yours?
Oh, no, thanks.
Yeah, she's the pretty one.
Yeah, she's got nice hair.
- I'm pretty too.
- The hell you are!
Oh, let me see that brush.
I tell you what?
Let's go get a coke.
My boyfriend works over at the
liquor store,he gets me out a couple.
Sure.
You girls behave!
We're goin' to the grocery.
Tell Andy, he owes me
for little Kenny!
And don't be waistin'
time on that bag-boy.
He ain't a bag-boy, Mama!
Sort of wasted space.
- She don't like my boyfriend.
- Yeah, I can see that.
Hey, Johnny, quit it!
Sorry, Mrs. Doyle.
Hey!
You weren't at church today.
Coy and I headin' over there now.
Yeah, you better be.
Let's get outta here.
That's my sister Stephanie,
she's big help around the house...
...when she ain't wasting time
with her boyfriend Coy.
Oh, God!
Hey, Paula.
Mama was asking after her money.
I bet she was.
Who's your friend?
Sylvia, but she don't talk to trash.
Excuse me.
That's my mama's ex boyfriend.
He's only 6 years older than me.
Just like her mom.
That's him.
That's my Bradley.
He's real cute.
We got both to be real
careful about it.
Why?
Because he's married.
I'm not even shittin' you,
no!
Paula!
Don't tell me you never
had a boyfriend.
Ah, well, there was this guy
in California but...
...I guess it was nothing.
Well, at least you did
more than kiss, right?
Well, aren't you just so damn pure!
Oh, come on.
Let's go!
This is Pleiku,
The Air Base that was threatened
by Vietnamiese communist guerillas...
Marie!
I need you to feed little Kenny.
If I don't get this ironing to
Mrs. Duke by four, I won't get a tip.
- We're all out of milk.
- Well, go get some.
They wont give us no more
credit at the store.
They will, if you take the baby.
Hello!
Oh, hi, I'm sorry.
Huh, somebody said they
saw my girls here.
You got no family here in Indy?
Well, not that
'Cause of them or you?
A little of both.
Hi, Mrs. Baniszewski,
Upstairs.
Shut the door!
Looks like, you've got kids running
in and outta here, all day long.
Why don't you leave Sylvia
and Jenny, here with me?
No, I couldn't do that.
I got six kids, two more
wont make a difference.
I guess that's true.
you won't have to worry.
You'd be helping me out too.
I could talk to
my wife about it.
Something to consider.
So, you'd never met Gertrude
Baniszewski before that day?
No, Sir.
But you were willing to leave your
children with a complete stranger?
Well, like I said, uh,
we got to talking and...
...she openly admitted, that she
would take care of the children...
...and treat them like
they were her own.
Okay! Here is 20 now...
...and uh, you'll have the next
payment in a week, Thursday.
-I'll need that money.
-You'll have it.
Johnny, bring the box upstairs!
I appreciate that, sweetheart.
I sure don't want you to go.
The circuit will be dying down
at the end of September.
That's over 2 months.
And I promise, I will be back
to get you girls then.
Okay, kids.
Goodbye, Jenny. Cookie!
- You be good!
- Okay.
All right!
-Bye.
-Bye.
Bye, girls.
You girls make sure
you get everything you need.
Thank you.
Well, come on!
We'll help you unpack.
Wait, I'll help you.
Nothing to be nervous about.
Everyone's really nice here.
I promise.
Hey, Paula, get your cherry
popped, this summer?
You sure didn't, Teddy,
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"An American Crime" Scripts.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 Sep. 2024. <https://www.scripts.com/script/an_american_crime_2778>.
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