Changeling Page #10

Reverend.

When Walter was here, I

used to walk by his room

when he was sleeping.

And even though I couldn't

see him or hear him,

I could feel him.

That's why I don't

think Walter's dead.

I can still feel him.

Mrs. Collins...

- No.

I know what

the police said.

But that place

and the remains,

they couldn't be

properly identified.

And maybe that kid made a mistake

when he picked Walter's picture.

I understand you don't

want to accept this.

What mother would?

But I think it's time

for you to move on

and start over

for yourself.

Your son would

want you to move on.

Maybe.

Maybe he'd want me

to keep looking for him.

Maybe he's somewhere

waiting for me.

I believe he is

waiting, ma'am.

He's waiting in

that place where

we'll all go someday to be

reunited with our loved ones.

And on that day, he'll know

from front to back, end to end,

heart to soul, that you did

everything you could, Mrs. Collins.

Everything.

We should go, ma'am.

One minute.

This meeting will

now come to order.

This committee has now

heard all of the testimony,

and, in light of

the facts presented,

we recommend that the

suspension of Captain Jones

be made permanent.

Order! Please. Please.

Mr. Foreman,

has the jury

reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

Will the defendant

please rise?

Second, that steps be taken

to investigate a change

in the prevailing laws and

procedures by which a citizen

of this city can be

subjected to incarceration

in the county's

mental facilities.

You may read the verdict.

"We the jury find the defendant,

Gordon Stewart Northcott,

"guilty on all counts of

murder in the first degree."

Finally, restoration of public

confidence in the police department

can only be achieved

by the removal of

its chief of police,

and this committee

so recommends.

This hearing

is concluded.

Does the defendant wish to make a

statement before judgment is passed?

I want to make

it real clear

that I never once got

a fair shake from you,

Your Honor,

or from this court.

The only one in here worth

a good goddamn is her.

'Cause she's the only one who

never badmouthed me to the press.

She's the only one

who understands

what it is to be

framed by the police

for something you didn't

do. All right, that's enough.

And then to just be

thrown in the hole,

to just rot and to fester

and to be forgotten

and fade away, isn't that right?

- Gordon!

Counsel!

- Isn't it?

I never killed your boy,

Mrs. Collins.

Counsel, that's enough!

- I would never do that.

I would never

hurt Walter.

Counsel, get control

of your client

or I'll have him

bound and gagged!

He's an angel.

Come on, Gordon.

- Get off of me!

Now get down.

Gordon Stewart Northcott,

it is the judgment

of this court

that you be conveyed

to San Quentin Prison,

where you'll be held in solitary

confinement for a period of two years,

until October 2, 1930.

On that date, you will be

hanged by the neck until dead.

May God have

mercy on your soul.

Is it all right if I

have a 10-minute break?

Of course.

You know,

one of these days you might

actually consider taking

one of these

It might be

good for you.

We'll see.

This is

Christine Collins.

I called yesterday.

I was wondering if you had a

chance to look through the files

and see if there was a match

to my son, Walter Collins.

I see.

Well, if it's all

right with you,

I'll call back in a

month. Thank you very much.

Mrs. Collins.

- I was just...

Yes, I know.

In fact, that's why

I wanted to see you.

It's about Walter.

We had a...

Well, we received

a very strange telegram.

From who?

Gordon Northcott.

He's asked to see you.

Why?

He said he knows you're

still looking for your son,

and before he dies...

He says he lied when he testified

that he didn't kill Walter.

Christine, he's willing to

finally admit that he did it.

He says if you come up

to see him in person,

then he'll tell you

the truth, to your face

so that you can get

on with your life

and have some peace.

As you know, he's

set to be executed

the day after tomorrow

at San Quentin,

so you don't have

a lot of time.

It took me most of the morning

to make all the arrangements.

Turns out, you're the

first woman in 30 years

the state has allowed

to visit a serial killer

on the eve of

his execution.

You'll be all

right, ma'am?

Yes.

- We're right at the door.

Twenty minutes.

Don't suppose you

got a cigarette?

Mr. Northcott, you

asked me to come here.

You said that

if I did,

you would tell me

the truth about my son.

Yeah.

You're right.

I did say that.

But see, the thing is,

I didn't really think

that you would come.

And now.

And now...

And now what?

I just didn't

expect that you'd...

I don't wanna see you.

You don't wanna see me?

No. See, I can't do this.

I don't wanna talk to you. I

can't talk to you right now,

not with what they're gonna

be doing to me tomorrow.

It's one thing, Mrs.

Collins, to send a telegram,

that is really easy.

But when it's here, right

now, in person, you know,

I just, I can't...

I can't tell you what you

want to hear, Mrs. Collins.

And why not?

Because I don't want to go

to hell with a lie on my lips.

See, I did my penance,

and I asked God to forgive me

and he did, so far as I know.

And I have been

really good ever since.

But if I lie now, if I

commit any sins right now,

I'm out of time here,

and I won't be

forgiven again.

And I'll tell you one thing,

I am not going to hell.

I'm not...

Mr. Northcott, you

asked me to come here.

Mr. Northcott,

please look at me.

Mr. Northcott,

please look at me.

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

I don't know what

you're talking about.

Yes, you do. Yes, you do.

- Hmm.

Did you kill my son?

I told you, I don't wanna

talk to you right now.

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

- Hmm.

Did you kill my son?

- I don't know.

You don't know?

You don't remember?

Did you kill my son?

- Oh, no.

Answer me!

You answer me! You answer me!

I don't know their names.

- Did you kill my son? Yes...

You better get off of me.

Or what?

- Hmm.

Did you kill my son?

- I don't know.

Did you kill...

Did you kill my son?

You know his name!

- Oh, I don't. No.

You know his name!

You called him an angel!

No.

- You know his name!

No, I don't know his name.

- Did you kill my son?

They cried for their parents to

come and get them and then I...

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

Answer me!

- Or what?

Answer me!

What are you

gonna do? You gonna hurt me?

I hope you go to hell.

I hope you go to hell.

Did you kill my son?

- Guard! Hey, guard!

Did you kill my son?

Did you kill my son?

- Ma'am, please.

Come on.

- I hope you go to hell!

I hope you go to hell!

I hope you go to hell!

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Did you kill my son?

"Gordon Stewart Northcott,

"you have been

convicted of murder,

"the penalty for which

is death by hanging.

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