Anatomy of a Murder Page #3

- Are you married?

- No.

That's nice.

What do you do alone in this house

if you aren't married?

It's a family home.

I'm the last of the family...

- There you are.

- Thank you.

- Aren't you having one?

- No, not right now.

There you are.

Could Muff have a little?

In that ashtray, maybe? He loves beer.

You want a beer for the dog?

Well, here we are.

He'll go to sleep now.

- Isn't he cute?

- Yeah.

Well, how about it? Are you ready?

I mean, are you ready to tell me the story?

I know what you mean.

Suppose you tell me

everything you told the state police...

...plus, everything you didn't tell

the state police.

Where shall I begin?

What time did you leave for Quill's bar?

Right after dinner. About 8:30, I guess.

Manny was late getting home

from the firing range. So, we had dinner.

He laid down and went to sleep.

I hadn't been out of the trailer all day,

so I took Muff and a flashlight...

...and walked over to the bar.

I bought a drink

and played the pinball machine.

Many people in the bar?

Not many. Barney came over

and challenged me to a game. For drinks.

How well did you know Barney?

He owned this bar where Manny and I went

sometimes, that's all.

- Had he ever made a pass at you?

- No, nothing like that at all.

Was he drinking heavily that night?

He didn't seem to be.

At least, not when we were playing pinball.

Were you with him

the whole time you were there?

No, there were other people playing.

What time did you leave the bar?

About 11:
00, I guess.

I left by the side door.

Muff was carrying the flashlight.

He carries it in his mouth.

He's so cute,

running along with the light shining.

Was he sober?

Muff? Of course he was sober.

You're joking now, aren't you?

Yes, I'm joking. Go on.

Well, Barney came from somewhere,

not the door I left by.

He said he was going my way

and he could drive me home.

He said the bears were prowling around

and I oughtn't to walk home.

The bears come out at night to scavenge.

They're harmless enough, aren't they?

I suppose I wouldn't have been afraid

in the daylight, but...

...the dark isn't the same.

Yes, I know.

Now, you got into Barney's car...

I got in and he drove to the trailer park.

He made overtures?

No, nothing.

When we got to the trailer park,

the auto-gate was closed.

Mr. Lemon closes it about 11:00,

or a little after.

I thanked Barney

and started to get out of the car...

...but he said

there wasn't any need for me to walk.

That he could drive me into the park

on another road.

I didn't know there was another road,

but he drove on...

...before I could say yes or no.

- Were you alarmed?

- No, I'm not usually afraid of men.

And anyway, he hadn't touched me

or even said anything out of the way.

Doesn't a woman sort of instinctively know

when a fellow's on the make?

Sure, but that's only usual with me,

with almost all men.

Ever since I was a kid.

You, for instance. You're interested.

But there isn't any reason to be afraid

of you. It was like that with Barney.

Mrs. Manion, believe me,

I'm not in the least...

Call me Laura.

Laura, I'm only interested in helping

your husband. Nothing more.

I don't mean you'd try anything.

I just mean, it's the way you look at me.

It would be very difficult

not to look at you.

The way I dress, you mean?

You don't like it?

I love it. I just love it.

We'd better keep moving along

with this thing.

How were you dressed that night?

In a sweater, like this, and a skirt.

And the rest? What about that?

Underneath? I had on a slip

and panties and a bra.

No girdle?

I don't need a girdle.

Do you think I need a girdle?

I don't know. How should...

I'm only concerned with the few facts

that might be of help to me...

...to defend your husband. That's all.

- Well, I don't wear one.

- Okay, no girdle.

All right. Now, go on.

He turned off the highway into a lane

in the woods, and he stopped the car...

...and turned off the lights.

And then he grabbed me and he said,

"I'm gonna rape you." Just like that.

He used those words?

Exactly those words. Muff began to bark,

so he threw him out the window.

I could hear little Muffy whining

outside the car, all through it.

Barney began to try to get at me

and I fought him off as best I could.

But he was terribly strong.

Did you cry out? Did you scream?

Didn't seem to be much use,

out there in the woods.

He began to shout names at me

like "army slut" and some other names.

Then, he drew back

and hit me with his fist.

He hit me again and I didn't fight anymore.

I must've been only half-conscious...

...but I know that he tore my panties off

and did what he wanted.

The newspapers said

a doctor examined you...

...and he didn't think you'd been raped.

I don't care what the doctor thought,

a woman doesn't mistake these things.

All right. Go ahead.

I don't know exactly what happened then,

I must've fainted.

The next thing I remember,

the car was moving.

Barney was driving very fast

and he was breathing hard.

An ugly, gasping sound.

We were on the main road

to the trailer park...

...and he swung in by the gate

and stopped.

I opened the door to get out.

Muffy jumped out

with a lighted flashlight in his mouth.

Wait a minute.

You said he'd thrown Muff out of the car,

back in the woods.

He did, but he must've let him back in.

I don't remember.

All right. You opened the door

and Muff got out first.

Before I could get out, Barney grabbed me

and said he was gonna...

...tear all my clothes off

and attack me again.

I got away and ran.

I could see Muff at an opening in the fence.

He was scooting back and forth

with the flashlight.

Barney caught me from behind

and I fell to the ground.

He fell on top of me

and began to beat me with his fists.

I thought he was gonna kill me.

I screamed and somehow

I got to my feet again and ran.

I went through the opening in the fence,

followed Muffy...

...who was running ahead

with the flashlight.

I kept following the light

until he led me to our trailer.

And you didn't see Barney again?

I never laid eyes on him again,

dead or alive.

I think that's enough for now.

I've got lots of time. All you want.

Where can I reach you?

I'm still in Thunder Bay,

but I can drive down again in the morning.

- Was there something else?

- No.

- Thanks for letting me play the records.

- You're very welcome.

- Who was that?

- The lady in the case.

You're not gonna take the case?

I don't know. That depends on

what Manion has to tell me tomorrow.

He's thinking things out.

That's more like it.

If I take the case, I'll want you in it.

Me? In a big murder case?

The sight of this whiskey-drinking old man

at the counsel table would ruin you.

I need you.

You mean that?

Why else would he say it?

I'll be glad to work with you outside

the courtroom, but not in the courtroom.

You suit yourself about that.

Either way, I'm gonna have to be able

to depend on you.

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