True Crime Page #4

I'll give you my beeper number.

You're not taking that beeper!

Just a second, it's just a hunch.

No big deal.

Yeah, it's 5-5-5...

...1-4-3-9.

- I'll make sure he gets it.

- Thanks.

Okay, sweetheart, what do you think?

Are you ready for the big hippo?

You want to go in the den with Dad?

I'll show you something

Dad's got to take with him.

Not the beeper.

Right? Not the beeper.

Let's pick up my beeper.

This goes "beep, beep, beep."

Yeah, it goes "beep, beep, beep."

Come on, get your jacket on.

And now we're just hours away

from the actual time of execution.

Daddy, I want to go see

the hippopotamus.

After a break,

we'll be talking to someone...

... who thinks capital punishment

is never the solution.

I love you!

Bye, Katie!

Have a good time! I love you.

I love you too, Mama.

Wait!

The car seat!

Mother, I'm too big for a car seat.

We'll put her in back.

How's that?

Put her in the back seat.

Seat belt!

Don't forget the seat belt!

The seat belt, Steven!

It's fine. It's fine.

I should've never

stopped by that store.

Oh, God!

Dale Porterhouse, please. This is

Steve Everett of the Tribune.

Be with you

in just a second, darling.

This is Dale Porterhouse.

What can I do for you?

I'll be ready in a second, darling.

We'll go in a second.

Mr. Porterhouse, this is Steve Everett

of the Tribune.

I'm covering the Beechum

execution tonight.

I thought you were one of

the chief witnesses in that.

Just a second.

Just a second, sweetheart.

I was wondering if I could have

I'd be glad to.

I can 't talk right now.

I could meet you later.

Yeah, where?

How about we meet at the

Bread Company restaurant? Know it?

Yeah, I know it exactly.

On Ninth Street, isn't it?

- How about we meet in a half-hour?

- Half-hour it'll be.

Thanks. Bye.

Okay, baby.

Come here. Come on.

But I'm too big to sit in a stroller!

That's nonsense. We're going

to play this game called Speed Zoo.

Speed Zoo?

Monkeys!

- Giraffes!

- We go fast.

Birdies!

Speed Zoo!

Camel lips!

We go fast.

We go fast!

Where's the hippopotamus?

Elephants! Look at the elephants.

Where's the hippopotamus?

Speed Zoo!

I want to see the hippopotamus!

We go fast.

I want a hippopotamus!

I'm sorry. I wouldn't have

this happen for the world.

I want my mommy!

I know, sweetie.

Daddy's sorry.

Oh, my God! What happened to you?

She's a real trooper,

I've got to tell you.

What the hell's wrong with you?

How you holding up?

Like I said, there's always a chance.

But with all the feeling

about the girl...

You know how the governor's

tough on crime.

So Mr. Berris says that maybe...

...if you just tell him

about how remorseful you feel...

You know what I'm saying?

- I didn't do it.

- I understand.

I'm just telling you that's what

we're facing here, all right?

I can't say I'm sorry

for what I never did.

I'll call you as soon as

the appeal comes down.

Hi, Daddy.

I brought you a picture,

but it's not done...

...so I have to finish it, okay?

Hold on.

They're going to let me in.

Don't be sad now.

We're not going to be afraid.

Give Daddy a big hug, please?

Come on, don't be sad. Don't be afraid.

We're not gonna be afraid.

I'm gonna finish my picture now,

Daddy, okay?

You do Daddy a favor, okay?

Now, walk over here with me, okay?

I want you to sit right here while

I have a little talk with Mommy, okay?

Give me a kiss.

Come on.

Come on, now.

You know I'm just going home

to dreamland, that's all.

It's green pastures, Daddy. See?

Here's the blue sky.

I made it at the motel.

Gonna be holding two places

at the table for us.

We're not gonna cry.

I'm sorry. Okay.

We know I'm going to a better place

beyond this place, right?

The thing I worry about most

in all this...

No, she loves you.

She loves you.

I don't want her

to ever think her daddy did...

She won't think that.

She knows you.

I can't find green, Mama.

Do you have it?

All the crayons are

in the box, honey.

Well, I can't find it.

Don't you ever let her think it.

You do that for me, okay?

I swear.

It's lost.

I can't find it anywhere.

Can you use another color, honey?

I have to have green.

It's green pastures!

Look for it.

It's got to be here somewhere.

Daddy won't mind

if you use another color.

Okay, baby.

Calm down.

Calm down, honey.

Mrs. Beechum?

What parking area did you use?

Yeah, just a moment.

It's your lawyer again.

We lost it.

I'm sorry.

Mr. Berris will be at the

governor's late this afternoon.

We got to be honest

about what's going on.

Know what I'm saying?

I'm really sorry, Frank.

We tried, but you know,

it just didn 't work.

I don 't know what else to say.

I'm so sorry.

God bless you, Frank.

- So is there anything?

- No, nothing yet.

You know how these legal things are.

They take forever.

Control, we've located the material.

Copy that.

Good news.

They found the crayon.

It'll be here soon.

You hear that, sweetie?

Now you can show Daddy

some real pastures.

- Green pastures.

- That's right. Baby's green pastures.

Come here.

Your green is coming.

Told you they would find it.

I believe there's such a thing

in this world as good citizenship.

A man sees an injustice, let alone

a cold-blooded murder, he has...

Let me get this straight.

You didn't see the murder.

Of course not.

I never said I did.

Well, what did you see?

Mr. Everett, I've been

through this so many times.

- I can't tell you how many...

- I have trouble getting it into my head.

It's simple.

I went into Pocum's to use the phone.

My car had overheated.

When the door slammed behind me,

he jumped up from behind the counter.

He was covered with blood

and had a gun.

I guess it was when

he was bending over Amy...

... I mean, Mrs. Wilson,

stealing her ring and her necklace.

He got one good look at me,

then ran out the service entrance.

My concern is for the girl,

so I immediately dial 911.

I figured...

... why should I run after a killer

who 's got a gun...

...when I can let

the police do their job?

And they sure did it.

Yeah, they sure did.

We live in a country

where there's a rule of law.

I mean, an ordinary citizen

who does...

Aren't you going to take notes

or use a tape recorder?

Usually when I talk to reporters...

...they want to keep a record

of what I say.

I've got a photographic memory.

Is that some kind of joke?

No, I have a notebook right here.

Just having an off day.

You'll have to excuse me.

Slow day.

Yeah, well...

- My point simply was this: A man...

- Mr. Porterhouse...

...let me cut to the chase.

Are you absolutely sure

about your testimony?

Absolutely. Why wouldn't I be?

You saw Frank Beechum's face

and the gun?

If I had doubts about my testimony,

I would've told the police.

That must have been scary, having him

point that gun right at you.

No. Thank God, no.

It wasn't like that.

Was it above his head?

No, he had the gun down

by his side in a very normal way.

How could you have seen

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