The Boston Strangler Page #3

departments to absorb public criticism.

- Commonwealth can stay out of it.

- I don't intend for that.

There's an absolutely urgent need

to coordinate the investigations.

We've got to do it.

But what part do you want me to play

in this, Ed?

I want you to coordinate the

investigations for the commonwealth.

Set up a Strangler Bureau.

No.

This is not a favor I'm asking...

...and the budget hasn't any money

to pay you for it, but...

...I'm putting it to you as I see it:

public service.

BOTTOMLY:
I teach law. I write about law.

My practice has almost disappeared

while I've been working with you.

That's my public service.

I'm not even remotely qualified for this.

You have one of the best minds I know.

You're highly respected.

You're a uniquely competent administrator.

In spite of that scholarly pose,

you're tough enough.

Forgetting all that,

I'm against it on principle.

- You want the stranglings to go on?

- That's not fair.

I don't want to throw out the baby

with the bath.

The more centralized police authority

becomes, the less I like it.

- Spoken like a scholar.

- Which is what I hope I am.

God sits on your shoulder, doesn't he?

That's a regional and ethnic disability

I inherit from my ancestors.

Well, shall we have some more tea?

- BETTY:
It's so cold outside.

- CONNIE:
It sure is.

BETTY:
My hands are frozen.

I can hardly move my fingers.

CONNIE:
I just hope it doesn't snow again.

I hope not either. Ruin the weekend.

That'll probably be ruined anyway.

I can't reach my keys. Are yours handy?

Yes, I have them in my pocket someplace.

Boy, these packages are heavy.

She's got it double-locked again.

She must have stepped out

to get the steak.

That butcher likes her.

I can understand

while she's in the house...

...but when she goes

for the mail or the garbage?

He's only interested in old ladies anyway.

NEWSCASTER:

The Strangler's seventh victim...

...Liza Gordon, was young,

unlike the others, who were old...

...Negro, unlike the others,

who were white...

...and living with two other girls...

...unlike the others, who lived alone.

From now on, no woman in greater Boston...

...regardless of who she is

or how she lives, can feel secure.

Let's go to the statehouse,

where Mr. John Bottomly...

...head of the newly-created

Strangler Bureau...

...is setting up headquarters.

Mr. Bottomly? How are you, sir?

Hello there, Mr. Dreier.

Mr. Bottomly, at this early stage

of the investigation...

...what will your first steps be?

Yes. Our first job is to copy the files

of each of the homicides...

...in each of the police departments

involved...

...Boston, Cambridge, Lynn,

Lawrence and Salem...

...and reconstruct them in master files

in these books here.

NEWSCASTER:
I see.

Mr. Bottomly...

Mr. Bottomly, is there any significance

to the fact...

...that half of that bulletin board

is empty?

A medical psychiatric board is

one of three divisions of this operation.

I've talked informally with its members.

And they feel chances are these killings

will continue until we find our man.

There's talk of finding

these demented people...

...and treating them before they

get to the point of killing.

- Now, do you have an opinion on that?

- A lot of talk is exactly what it is.

What more can you expect from

a society that itself spends 44%...

...of its tax dollar on killing?

- Anything else?

- Yes. Why did you take this on?

I was ordered to by my employer,

the attorney general.

- NEWSCASTER:
Ordered to, Mr. Bottomly?

- Don't you find that credible?

If you say so.

I'll amend it.

He challenged me and I was sucked in.

- NEWSCASTER:
Thank you very much.

- Right.

Elsewhere in the nation on this day...

Miss Ridgeway owns the house

and rents rooms. Yankee family.

She lives with a lady, Alice Oakville.

They're married to each other.

The pigeon is a tenant named

Terence Huntley. He's a f*ggot.

I can't wait.

Good morning. I'm Det. DiNatale.

Detective, I'm simply delighted

to meet you.

And this is Sgt. McAfee.

And this is my good friend, Miss Oakville.

I'm not going to tell you anything first.

I want this to have the same effect

it had on me.

Alice, what did I say to you

the day Mr. Huntley hung that painting?

You said, "Alice, look at that.

You mark my words.

The next woman he strangles

is going to be a Negress."

That was the day before Liza Gordon

was strangled.

Did you have any reason to be suspicious

of Mr. Huntley previously?

Alice, tell the detective about seeing

Mr. Huntley on Gainsborough Street...

...where Mrs. Hodak lived.

I met him on Gainsborough Street...

...just three days before Mrs. Hodak

was strangled.

He was just staring into store windows

at those junk shops.

Isn't he an antique dealer?

What's that got to do with it?

Do all antique dealers

collect books like this?

The Collected Works

of the Marquis de Sade.

This and four others about Thuggees.

I'm sure you understand

the significance of that.

Absolutely.

What's a Thuggee and who is de Sade?

Thuggees are a sect of Indian ritual

murderers who strangle their victims.

The word "sadism"

comes from the Marquis de Sade.

All Terence Huntley is interested in

is strangling and torture.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I've seen some put-ons,

but that one's carrying it too far.

She's coming this way.

- Are you Terence Huntley?

- I am.

John Bottomly. We've been

having trouble contacting you.

- I heard you were trying to reach me.

- The Bottomly in the Strangler Bureau?

That's right.

Terry, you hound. You've been

hiding your lamp under a blanket.

Bushel.

This is Cedric Ewing, Harold Robin.

- Very happy to meet you, Mr. Bottomly.

- How are you?

And very impressed.

Excuse us, we have a date

with a gunnery sergeant.

Why didn't you answer my calls?

I didn't know who you were until just now.

I never answer calls

unless I know the people.

Why not?

Because I'm too vulnerable.

If you're rich and gay...

...people continually harass

and blackmail you.

BOTTOMLY:
Have you any idea

why I want to talk to you?

Whenever there are unsolved sex crimes,

the police crack down on us.

I think it's ridiculous.

Be that as it may, we have an informant

who insists you're the Strangler.

Oh, my God. Miss Ridgeway.

Do you protect stoolies

even in this exotic atmosphere?

Every suspect has to be checked out.

I thought you'd prefer me to a detective.

The old school tie.

Or is it that you're really a little curious

about us?

Let's say I'm slumming.

I didn't think that you'd make a remark

like that.

I was rude. I'm sorry.

I believe you are.

What did you want to ask me?

Have you any business

on Gainsborough Street?

Oh, the flower.

I beg your pardon?

The one that plays the girl's role

is the flower. Alice Oakville.

Yes, she saw me on Gainsborough Street.

I buy things from secondhand shops there.

Here are the dates and times

of the seven stranglings.

List, as well as you remember,

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