Infamous Page #2

a snowflake like me.

But, no matter, it worked.

They wired him to say they'd take

the train from New orleans...

...and get there just in time

for the pageant. They even said...

...they'd stand right by the cannon

in the square so they could cheer him on.

Well, we marched through town

and as we got closer to that cannon...

...I could see him straining

to see his parents.

When we got to that cannon,

he stopped...

...forgetting we were supposed

to be marching in time to the music.

He stopped and he stared.

They had not come.

I thought for a minute he might break.

And then he threw his arms up in the air...

...and twirled himself all the way over.

A cartwheel.

And then again. And again...

...all the way down the street...

...till his tears were gone.

Truman adored Nelle.

She and Jack were just about

his only non-society friends.

I will say it stung him

when she won the Pulitzer.

He might not have minded her winning one,

but only if he'd already won two.

I've always been interested in crime.

Daddy was a lawyer, and sister too.

I studied the law as well...

...but I either lost my nerve

or came to my senses before taking the bar.

But when Truman asked me

to go to Kansas...

...it was deep calling to deep.

Detective Dewey!

- Do you have any leads yet?

- Nothing I can discuss.

- Detective Dewey!

- Jimmy.

Yeah. Will you confirm that there is

more than one killer?

I will not.

Well, of course there was more than one,

unless the killer was a hypnotist.

Beg your pardon, ma'am?

It's illogical to suppose

there's only one killer.

The Clutters were tied up.

To tie them up...

...he'd have to put his gun down.

Once he put the gun down,

the Clutters would run for the hills.

- I don't believe I know who you are.

- Or what.

I'm from out of town.

- What's your paper?

- Ladies Home Journal?

Oh, I'm not a reporter. I'm a writer.

May I see your press card?

Good heavens,

I don't carry any such thing.

But I do have a passport

back at my hotel room.

Would you like to come back

and look at my little picture?

I'll need not only the facts of the case...

...but how this terrible crime

has eaten away at the foundation of trust...

...that makes up your community.

- I see. No.

- And l... What?

No reporter has special access.

Sir, I'm not writing a news story.

I'm from The New Yorker magazine.

I'm writing a psychological study

of a village...

...and how that place is affected

by a vicious crime.

I will not be careless in my depiction.

I shall labor over every word, every sound.

The final result must be just so...

...as dazzling and unique

as a Faberg egg.

Right. And I got a crime to solve.

But I don't care whether the crime

is solved or not.

I sure as hell care.

The Clutters went to our church.

They were friends of my family's.

No access.

Oh, you are very, very foxy.

I can see I'm gonna have

to work extra hard...

...to get around

that foxy manner of yours.

Isn't he foxy?

But don't you worry, I...

It was lovely how you didn't care

whether or not the murder was solved.

- Lovely.

- Quiet.

Would you folks care for a cocktail?

Yes, a gin and tonic, please.

I'll have J&B on the rocks...

...with a tiny curl of lemon

and a splash and a half of water.

A what, on the rocks?

J&B.

It's a type of Scotch, dear.

You want me to see if we've got any?

That would be a wonderful beginning.

Yes, ma'am.

I think we need to come in

a little under the radar here.

I know where you are headed...

...but you of all people know how impossible

it is for me to modify myself.

I'm not saying get married and have kids...

...but maybe come in

on little cat's paws.

It's no use.

This cat has long, noisy nails.

Anyway...

...l'll call Dewey's office in the morning

and request a proper interview.

- It might better suit his vanity.

- Thank you.

- Let's start talking...

- Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

In the meantime,

let's start talking to people.

We don't need his blessing for that.

I think we should just speak

to people on the street.

Yes, and in our nicest way, the way

that would most put people at ease, say...

Madam!

May we ask you about the gruesome murders

out at the Clutter home?

Maybe you should drop

the word "gruesome."

Sir!

Sir!

Excuse me, sir.

My friend and I would like to talk to you

about the tragic events of November 15th.

Sorry, ladies.

Do you think everyone keeps calling me

"lady" to be mean...

...or can they honestly not tell?

I know I'm not Charles Atlas,

but even Ethel Merman doesn't have this.

No. Hers is thicker.

Mr. Capote.

Is this all? No messages?

No, sir.

I simply don't understand why

Alvin Dewey won't return my calls.

I've telephoned three times.

Nelle!

Care package from Babe!

It's beluga!

Let's get some Ritz crackers

and eat it right now.

Let's. And you know what I think

you should do tomorrow?

Go see the Clutter place.

Honey, if Alvin Dewey won't return my calls,

I'll never see the house.

You know everybody on the planet.

Call somebody.

And please tell the duke and duchess

I am sick to miss the dance.

I will.

Bennett hears wonderful things

about your book.

I almost don't care what the critics say...

...as long as I can be allowed

to write another.

Your dream of being the

Jane Austen of Alabama will come true.

Anyway, Bennett knows

the head of Kansas University...

...who knows the Clutters' lawyer.

The killers came in this way.

Any messages?

Princess Margaret...

...and Nol Coward.

No Dewey. Again.

They're in both ways over there.

Right, but this particular form

goes under last name.

- That whole stack?

- That's the one, yeah.

Is this a good time?

Yeah. Come on in.

Ma'am.

What can I do for you folks?

Well...

...you can begin by serving me

a large slice of humble pie.

I've come to apologize for acting

too big for my britches.

As you see, I even got new britches.

Yeah, well, no harm done.

Real nice of you.

I wanted to explain myself.

I'm trying to create

a new kind of reportage.

Have you read my book

The Muses Are Heard?

Well, it was very well received.

It's about an American opera company going

to Moscow to perform Porgy and Bess.

Now, if I relied only on what

the press managers told me...

...it would have been no different

than a newspaper article.

But I treated the people with the emotional

and psychological detail of a novel.

I see, so you're doing something different

than a regular reporter.

Yes.

And I can't really know how people feel

without your help.

Oh, well, I can tell you how they feel.

Terrible.

They'll feel better when this is solved.

Yes. I agree. And that's...

Look, I wish you well with your project.

But no access.

I'm sorry, but Nelle

and I will have to stay for Christmas.

Why?

Because no one will talk to me.

I've got to stay until they forget about me

and can open up.

No one forgets about you.

What will you do for Christmas?

Of course, everything will be closed...

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