An American Crime Page #4

Coming over to hang out

with the grown-ups?

I've got some advice for you.

I wouldn't come between

Gertie and her kids...

...she won't like it much.

Alright?

You okay, Gertie?

Yeah, I'm fine.

A bunch of us, gonna cruise the

circle, you wanna come with?

Sure, I probably should

ask Gertie first.

You sure?

Come on, let's get outta here!

Looks like Sylvia's going

off with them boys.

You sound surprised,

Ricky Hobbs.

You shouldn't be.

Let me do it again.

You can beat her now.

You sure you can't come,

to the Drive-in with us?

No, I'm,

I'm late as it is.

Come on!

Well, I guess, I'll see you

next Sunday then.

Shut that door.

I thought,

I taught you a lesson.

I don't understand.

Apparently, you've been telling

more lies about my daughter.

I haven't told any lies.

- And then you flirt with, Andy.

- I didn't.

I saw you!

It doesn't matter what you want,

you just, you just go take it.

No, Gertie,

we were just talking.

That's all.

-Who's in charge here?

-You're mama.

That's right, Baby.

Paula, told me about those

boys in California.

Ricky, did Sylvia tell you, about

all those boys in California?

No.

Well, if you won't listen, maybe

I can get through to your sister.

Keep her from making

your mistakes.

Jennie...

...do you wanna be like your sister?

No, ma'am.

That's a good girl.

Patty, then what did

Mrs. Baniszewski do?

She handed her the bottle

and told her to pull up her skirt.

And then?

And then, she said

to put it up her.

Did Sylvia say anything, when

Mrs. Baniszewski ask her to do this?

All she said was:

"I can't!"

What did Mrs. Baniszewski say?

She said:

Come on, you can do

better than that!

And what did Sylvia do?

What Gertie told her to.

What the hell is going on?

Somebody, clean up that mess!

Sylvia get upstairs.

Coy, get her up there!

Wait!

I will not have her in the

same room with my daughter's.

Take her to the basement!

Please, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

- Open the door!

- I'm sorry, Gertie! I'm sorry!

Get her outta here!

No! No!

It's best to stay

out of there, I think?

Don't worry, Jennie,

Mama's just teaching her.

- She won't go down.

- I don't care! Just push her!

Hey, Marie!

Sylvia!

Sylvia.

I'm sorry, Sylvia.

But, I'm scared.

I've tried talking

with Gertie but...

She, she said

you can have your bible.

Jennie.

Mama wants you upstairs.

Family meeting.

I'll do what I can.

She said now.

Stop hitting me!

Give me that!

Johnny,

get me my medicine, please.

Oh, this neighbourhood,

it's not good for my health.

Maybe we can move.

Where would we move to,

Shirley?

-I don't know.

-I don't wanna move.

I had a call with

your parents today.

Are they coming for us?

Well, they picked up the

Florida Labor Day circuit...

...so, they wont be here for you,

until the end of November now.

Their checks are coming

in regular but...

...my ironing slowed down

quite a bit.

So, we're all gonna have to work

together, as a family.

Maybe, I can eat over at Coy's

house mama, if that'll help.

-Coy?

-Mama, wont mind.

She likes Stephanie a lot.

Thank you.

Paula...

...baby, you gonna have

to take up more shifts at work.

Maybe quit Tech for a while.

What about Stephanie?

- Why she have to go to school?

- Because she's smarter than you.

- Shut up, Johnny!

- I'm smarter than you!

- I'm smarter than the both of you!

- Give me my Teddy!

Stop it!

Stop it!

You all, stop it!

That's another thing we have

to work on around here.

We all have to learn

to get along better.

How long untill Sylvia,

is down in the basement?

Until she learns her lesson.

Mama?

She needs to be punished, Paula.

Yes, mama.

Now, if anybody asks...

...Sylvia had to go to juvenile.

You got that, Jennie?

Okay.

That's it.

Are you sleeping?

You okay?

Yes.

It's only gonna be for a little while.

Did you ever hear or see, Sylvia,

talk back to any of those people...

...when these things were

being done to her?

No, I never.

When it first started

did she say anything then?

No, except she would say,

I'm sorry, or something like that...

...as if she did something wrong but...

...she never did anything wrong.

Did you yourself, on any of these

occasions, do anything to Sylvia?

I just did what I was told.

Now then, during the month of

September did you see anyone else...

...do anything to Sylvia?

See, I told you so.

Damn.

What'd she do?

She was real bad.

She's dirty.

Mama said, she was a slut.

Johnny!

Don't worry about it.

She's used to it.

Watch this!

Neat, huh?

You just burn her like that?

Yeah, you can too.

- I don't want to.

- What? You're chicken?.

It's OK.

Mama, said you can.

Did you see Sally, take cigarettes,

and actually burn Sylvia with them?

- Yes.

- How many times?

She would do it

everytime she came over.

How many times did it happen?

Every day.

Did you go to 3850 East New York St...

during the months of

September and October?

Yes, Sir.

We go most days after school.

And did you see Sylvia Likens,

in the basement of that house?

Yes, Sir.

Did you do anything

at all to help her?

No, Sir.

What were the other children

be doing around the house?

Playing around.

Did you ever tell some of the

other kids that they should come over...

...to the house, because everyone

was having fun with Sylvia?

I just thought,

we were punishing her.

Where was John standing,

when he was washing her down.

Right in front of her.

What part of her body

was he spraying?

- All over.

- Who's hose was he using?

It was my hose, Sir.

Sally, did you ever see some of the

other neighborhood kids, hurt Sylvia?

Yes.

Did you tell anybody,

you saw this thing?

Not really.

You told no one, what was happening

at the Baniszewski's house?

Well, I told my father...

...Gertrude gave Sylvia,

an awful whipping.

But he just told me, I shouldn't

do whatever she did...

...or I get the same.

Shirley, was your mother

ever present...

...while some of the other people

were doing these things, to Sylvia?

Yes, she was.

How many times?

She was around about all the time.

And what did she say when these

people were doing things, to Sylvia?

Nothing.

Did anyone order you to hit Sylvia?

No, Sir.

- Or, tie her up?

- No, Sir.

- Or, wash her down?

- No, Sir.

Then, why did you do it, Teddy?

I don't know, Sir.

I don't know, Sir.

I don't know, Sir.

You two, go upstairs.

Yes, mama.

Who is it?

You got any cigarettes?

Hear anything from Sylvia?

You really like her, don't you?

She's not good for you, Honey.

You know,

when she's gonna be back?

Ricky, I told you, she wont

have anything to do with you.

She's to busy with other boys.

That's why I had to

send her to juve.

Hand me that!

- Get!

- Alright, I'll go.

Here's your money.

Thank you, baby.

Paula...

Honey! You are a good daughter,

I'm so proud of you.

It don't matter what people say,

you'd be holdin' your head up high.

We're gettin' through this.

What about Sylvia?

Mama...

...I've been praying...

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