Lizzie Borden Took an Ax Page #3

But how can this happen?

Are they not to be buried?

All right, I'm done.

Alice, would you mind reading?

My eyes are too tired.

"Reward offered. $5,000 reward.

"The above reward will be paid to anyone

"who may secure

the arrest and conviction

"of the person or persons

"who occasioned the death

of Andrew Borden

and his wife.

"Signed Emma L. Borden

and Lizzie A. Borden."

Mr. Mayor.

Mayor.

Good day, Mr. Mayor.

Good afternoon, ladies.

This is Mayor Coughlin.

Your Honor, this is

Lizzie and Emma Borden.

It's a pleasure to meet you both

and please accept

my deepest condolences.

Thank you.

I'm here today

to inform you that

the county coroner

has taken it under advisement

to open and conduct

an official inquiry

into the murder of your parents.

Your presence is requested

tomorrow morning at 9:00.

An officer will be sent

to escort you

to the police station.

Very well. 9:
00.

It's just a formality.

That's all.

And what about lunch?

- We'll be done by lunch.

- Well...

And we'll get you home

right after.

Thank you, Mayor.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

Thank you.

The Mayor in our house.

What do you think of that?

Lizzie, stop!

Didn't you hear him?

We have to go to

the police station tomorrow!

It's only a formality, Emma.

It's interesting.

Interesting?

Don't you think?

No, I do not!

Our parents are dead!

Good night, Emma.

Good night.

Look right.

Do you have anything

to say to the press?

The Herald wants to know.

Give me your full name.

Lizzie Andrew Borden.

What is your

date of birth, please?

July 19, 1860.

Your mother is not living?

No, sir.

When did she die?

She died when I was

two years old.

You don't remember her, then?

No, sir.

Have you any idea how much your father

was worth?

No, sir.

Have you ever formed an opinion?

Never.

You have been

on pleasant terms

with your stepmother?

Yes, sir.

Cordial?

That depends upon

one's idea of cordiality.

What dress did you wearthe day your parents

were killed?

It was a blue

cotton dress with embroidery.

Do you know whether there was

any blood on that dress?

The Marshall checked it

for blood, I believe.

Marshall Hilliard?

Yes.

When did he do this?

When you were all at the house.

You mean the day

your parents were killed?

That day, yes.

Well, there was blood

found on that dress,

Miss Borden.

It was not brought to my attention.

Where is that dress now?

I have no idea.

At home, I suppose.

We'll need to seethat dress in evidence.

What does that mean?

We will send

a court officer around

to collect that dress

and admit it into evidence.

Lizzie? What are you doing?

What is that?

It's that dress.

Don't you need to bring that

to the police station?

This doesn't concern you, Emma.

Lizzie,

you can't burn that dress

after they've asked for it!

They'll think

you're hiding something!

Just go back to bed!

Do you want to go to jail?

This will get you

in so much trouble!

Just go back to bed, Emma!

Excuse me, I'm here to speak with

the Staff Sergeant.

Go right in, Miss.

Thank you.

We attempted to collect the item,

but the officer was told

it no longer existed.

No longer existed?

What does that mean?

She burned it.

Your Honor,

she knowingly

destroyed evidence in order

to conceal culpability.

We asked for the dress,

she destroyed it.

She didn't just throw it away.

She burned it.

That is enough to

convince me of her guilt.

Well, I'm just having

a difficult time believing

she could do this.

Because she's a woman?

Insane asylums are

full of insane women.

She's an insane woman.

She killed her parents.

So do you

want to formally charge her?

No, I want her to confess.

Don't be

too ambitious here, Hosea.

That woman

hacked her parents

to death with an ax.

This is not about my ambition.

You are in the barn,

you are looking for

a tackle kit

for a fishing trip

that is not going to

happenfor another week.

And yet there is

no fishing tackle

to be found

and neither Bridget Sullivan

nor your own sister

even know you own

a fishing tackle kit.

And while you're in there,

you stop to eat,

ot one, but three pears,

in a hot and dusty barn,

ext to a filthy pigeon coop.

Did you go into the basement that morning?

No.

Did you get an ax

from the basement?

No, sir.

Did you go upstairs

and have an argument

with Abby Borden?

No.

Did you conspire with others

to do away with your own parents

in order to inherit

their estate?

Absolutely not!

Did you see

your father's face,

dead on that sofa?

Did you see his face?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Did you feel sorrow for the man?

I... I was in

a state of shock.

Remorse?

Remorse?

I don't understand.

Remorse because of the fact

you slaughtered

the man with an ax.

Stop it! Stop saying that!

You are a murderer.

You lied to this assembly...

These accusations

are slanderous

and unfounded.

Just please stop.

You destroyed

evidence.

Just stop.

And you killed

both your own parents

in order to garner their estate.

Please stop. Just stop!

Compel this man to stop!

Counsel.

Ma'am. You startled me.

Sorry, Bridget.

I understand

the police spoke to you

for quite some time

after I left the station.

They did, ma'am.

They wanted to

know my whereabouts

at the time of the...

On that day.

What did you tell them?

I told them I was

cleaning windows and such.

Did they ask you

if you thought I did it?

I told them there was no way

that you would

ever do such a thing.

I appreciate that.

Bridget, things are different

around the house now.

With money being what it is,

Emma and I can't afford to

keep you on any longer.

There are enough funds here.

It's three months' wages.

Are you letting me go,

Miss Lizzie?

That is what I'm saying, yes.

You must be quite exhausted.

It was

a very long session,

Dr. Bowen.

From 9:
00 till noon.

Mmm-hmm.

Well, now you can get some rest.

What is that exactly?

It's just morphine.

I'd never been in

a police station before.

These small doses are for you.

You use them

if the anxiety

is too great.

No more than two a day. Very good.

Thank you, Doctor.

Emma?

Do you think

there really was

blood on my dress?

I don't know, Lizzie.

Here. Just try and rest.

Just try and rest.

Hello?

Oh, look up, look down

Look out, look all around

Shook up, shot down, shook out

Shake it all around

The New York Times.

What can you tell us

about the case?

Yeah, mama,

shake it, baby, now

Yeah, mama,

shake it, baby, now

Yeah, mama,

shake it, baby, now...

Did you eat breakfast

that morning?

Did you eat breakfast

that morning in the barn?

You said you were eating

in the barn, correct?

I was eating, so yes. Yes, I was eating.

Then what did you do?

I asked her to

draw the curtains

because the sun was so hot.

Asked who?

It must have been

Mrs. Borden.

Are you sure you

were in the kitchen

when your father returned?

When he returned, I was upstairs.

Miss Borden, you have

told us several times

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes