Anatomy of a Murder Page #11

has forced the question of rape...

...it's necessary to take

additional testimony from Mr. Paquette.

You're still under oath, Mr. Paquette.

Will you look at Mrs. Manion,

seated behind the defence table?

Was she dressed like this

on the night of the shooting?

- No.

- How was she dressed?

She had on a real tight skirt

and sweater kind of thing, sort of glued on.

She was wearing

red shoes with high heels.

Was she wearing hose?

No, she was bare-legged.

- Was she wearing a hat?

- No.

What kind of hair does Mrs. Manion have

under that hat?

We'd be very happy to show the court

Mrs. Manion's hair.

Mrs. Manion,

would you take off your hat, please?

Thank you, Mr. Biegler.

Mr. Paquette, was she wearing glasses

that night?

I think she was when she played pinball.

Considering the tight skirt

and the tight sweater and the bare legs...

...what was the result in her appearance?

Would you say Mrs. Manion's appearance

was deliberately voluptuous and enticing?

You could pretty much see

everything she had.

The defence will concede that Mrs. Manion,

when dressed informally...

...is an astonishingly beautiful woman.

Mrs. Manion, stand up, please.

As a matter of fact, it's pretty easy

to understand why her husband...

...became temporarily deranged, seeing

such beauty bruised and torn by a beast.

I protest.

Mr. Biegler is the least disciplined...

...and the most completely out-of-order

attorney I've ever seen.

The jury will ignore Mr. Biegler's oration.

Was Mrs. Manion drinking heavily

that night?

I sold her six drinks myself,

and then Barney got some more for her.

I don't remember how many.

Would you say that she was tight?

She was high all right.

What did she do

to make you think she was high?

She took off her shoes

and went barefooted.

When she played pinball...

...she'd swish around

to give the machine inkling.

You mean,

she was flipping her hips around?

Anything else?

When she made a good score, she jumped

up and down and squealed like women do.

She was playing pinball

with Barney Quill that night, wasn't she?

What was her attitude

toward Barney Quill?

Friendly, I guess.

More than friendly?

- I thought so.

- Why did you think so?

She'd kind of lean on him...

...and a couple of times

she bumped him with her hip.

Would you say that Mrs. Manion

was making a play for Barney Quill?

Objection. That calls for an assumption

on the part of the witness.

Would you say that Mrs. Manion

was free and easy with Barney Quill?

I would.

Your witness.

The attorney for the People asked you

if Mrs. Manion was "tight"...

...and you said she was "high."

Speaking as a bartender,

what's the distinction between the two?

I don't think I understand.

When we say a person is tight,

we usually mean they're a little...

...stupid with drink, isn't that so?

I guess that's about it, yes.

If they're high,

they're gay and enjoying themselves.

Yes.

In other words, Mrs. Manion was happy.

Is there anything wrong with being happy

in Thunder Bay Inn?

Thunder Bay itself is a resort, isn't it?

Swimming, fishing, that sort of thing?

Is there anything unusual about seeing

a barefooted woman in Thunder Bay?

So, Mrs. Manion's taking her shoes off

in Thunder Bay...

...doesn't necessarily mean

she was being unladylike, does it?

- I guess not.

- Yes or no?

No.

You testified that Mrs. Manion

was squealing and jumping up and down...

...and "swishing her hips"

around the pinball machine.

Was she creating a disturbance?

Was she attracting a crowd?

Were all the men at the bar

standing around watching Mrs. Manion?

But you were very conscious

of Mrs. Manion.

You were so conscious

that you can tell us all this.

Barney Quill was conscious of Mrs. Manion

because he was playing pinball with her.

Wouldn't you say so?

So, it seems only you and Barney Quill

were acutely aware of Mrs. Manion...

...her actions and her appearance.

Maybe when good old Barney

came to get some drinks from you...

...maybe he winked and said,

"I'm gonna take this babe and rape her."

No, he didn't.

Yeah, and maybe you said,

"Do it once for me, boss."

Objection!

Counsel is attacking the witness.

No more questions.

The court's had about all of this dogfight

it can take for one day.

I'm sure the jury

is equally tired and hungry.

Tomorrow, the defence takes over.

With expedition, prayer,

and a little self-discipline...

...on the part of the counsel, perhaps

we can reach an end by Saturday night.

Will you adjourn court?

This court stands adjourned

until 9:
00 a.m. Tomorrow.

He's banged up a little, but nothing else.

We'd like to watch him for a day or so.

How much damage did he do?

He wrecked a gate and a barn door

and he hasn't got a driver's license.

He'll have to appear in the J.P. Court

when he's able, the old fool.

Speak kindly of the dead.

- Can I have a minute with the corpse?

- Sure, Pauly.

Was it worth trying to kill yourself

for whatever it is you've been up to?

How's the trial going?

I'm making a lot of noise.

Dancer's racking up all the points.

Where've you been?

Quill hired Mary Pilant

up north of Sault Sainte Marie.

It struck me funny he'd go up there

to hire somebody just to work for him.

I've been up there nosing around.

Did you find anything useful?

Not until I looked up her birth certificate.

Born:
Blind River, Ontario, 1934,

out of wedlock.

Mother was a waitress. Simone Platt.

Father was a lumberjack

named Barney Quill.

I'd like to see Miss Mary Pilant.

It's late, mister.

I know. This is important.

- Real important?

- Real important.

Miss Pilant? Sorry if I woke you.

There's a guy to see you.

Says it's important.

- What's your...

- Biegler.

I don't wish to see him.

She said it's not important enough.

You call her back and tell her

I mentioned Blind River, Ontario.

I'll be in the bar.

Drinking, Mr. Biegler, or just snooping?

I'll try a little of both.

What do you say we start out with a beer?

On the house.

That's all you get: A beer.

No questions, no answers.

I'm just a lawyer trying to do my job.

What are you so afraid of, Al?

Sit over there, please.

Miss Pilant, I owe you an apology.

I was a little rough

when I was out here before.

I didn't know Barney Quill was your father.

You didn't come here just to apologise.

No, but the apology was part of it.

To tell the truth, I sort of hoped

maybe it would thaw you out a bit.

All I want you to do is listen to me,

just for a few minutes.

I need some strong evidence to back up

Laura Manion's story about the rape.

The prosecution's gonna attack

that story pretty hard.

If the jury thinks she's lying,

it could turn the decision against Manion.

Isn't she lying? Barney didn't do

what she said he did. He couldn't have.

What did you know about your father?

All I needed to know. He took care of me

and my mother for as long as she lived.

He was always there when I needed him.

That's what I know about my father.

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