Homicide: Life on the Street s03e03 Episode Script

What a lowlife - where's Dan Lipsom? Johnny Yu, that's Baltimore football! What are you still whining about? I thought you'd be happy we have a team again.
This team's not the Colts.
The Colts are in the NFL, these whoevers, they're in the Canadian Football League.
I find the CFL's game very entertaining.
It's a souped-up version of the American classic.
The field is what, 120 yards long, with 35 yard in-zones, that's not a football field, Munch, that's the golf course at Oakmont Green.
Their game's for speed and mobility, not three yards in a cloud of dust.
I say, if you're gonna imitate an American sport, do it like Americans.
They don't wanna play our game.
That's why they invented their own.
Then let them play it, but we're in America.
I mean, we shouldn't be playing their version here.
That's a sacrilege.
That flies in the face of Balto football history.
Some tradition! The owner packs up the team and sneaks off in the night.
What's up, fellas? Stan's on a tear about the Canadian Football League.
It ain't the Canadians.
What's wrong with American sports is you type of Americans.
What type is that? The type who don't remember the heroes, who don't believe in miracles anymore.
Yeah, the type who bet against Buffalo winning the Superbowl.
- You done with the sports page? - Yeah.
Even God wouldn't bet on the Billys.
Frank? Where'd you wander off to? I just had a little one on one with a potential witness.
A witness in the Marilyn Callisto murder? Mm-hm.
What'd they say? As usual he was silent.
That's too bad, because we could use a break in this case, Frank.
Three young women, all killed within the last 48 hours, all in the exact same manner.
We're due a break, huh? You got any background on Callisto? Well, she used to take in these teenage, pregnant street girls.
She believed in them, she redeemed them and just like Goodrich and Lundy, she was a good Catholic who used all of her time and energies to help others.
Damn him.
- Who, the killer? - God.
Frank I really don't think you can ask God to damn himself.
OK? And if you are, move away from me.
I don't wanna get hit by lightning.
This is a new suit.
Why does God allow people to suffer? Why exactly did he allow his own son to die in torment.
He died to save the world, hmm? But here we are, still, in an alley, asking questions with no answers.
You know something Frank, you Catholics are all so tortured.
I mean, you're just so prone to despair.
Turning your back on God, that is the worst sin of all.
Even I know that, Frank.
The worst sin in my book? The killing that goes unpunished.
The archdiocese would like to post a $25,000 reward to help find this killer.
That's very generous, Monsignor.
But totally unnecessary.
- In fact, it'll work against us.
- How so? That money will bring out every screwball with a cashflow problem.
They'll all claim to have seen the murder.
I'll bet we even get sightings of the Virgin Mary and Elvis.
For every lead that reward might deliver, there'll be 100 that lead nowhere.
We don't have the time to chase each one down.
Gentlemen, Lieutenant Russert, the Archbishop is very disturbed about what's going on.
These women were beaten, strangled to death and left naked at three of our churches.
So far, we've been willing to bow to your experience in remaining silent, but now the Archbishop feels we must be more forthcoming to the public before another life is lost.
We understand, but if only we could have a little more time.
We're so close with several leads - the white cotton gloves, a wig found at a similar murder site in Iowa.
You're making your best effort.
We do not want the public to feel it's more dangerous to go to church than to a crack house.
'There's a woman behind St Lukes in a dumpster.
' The first two tips telling us where to find the bodies of Goodrich and Lundy came directly into this office.
Now, this tip on Callisto, was phoned into a police station in Union Square.
Maybe the killer wants publicity.
What do you mean? We've kept a lot of information secret cos the calls have come direct to us.
If he calls a regular station house, there's a lot more chance of a leak.
So, Nut Boy is still disguising his voice but now wants to be famous? Goodrich, Lundy and Callisto attended a planned parenthood convention in Los Angeles last year.
Planned parenthood, huh? That's one convention you could plan on condoms being readily available.
- Any word from the ME? - No, I'll give 'em a call.
I'll go down there.
Scheiner goes faster when I'm breathing down his neck.
Damn it, Beth, you've got no right not letting me see my kids.
All right, I'm sorry.
Our kids.
If the kids are unhappy, then let me see them.
You will? When? Tomorrow lunchtime.
Thank you.
Howard, Homicide.
Hey, Beth.
Lunch tomorrow? Sure, what time? Fire inspector? She knows the bar, says it won't be a problem but she can't get here till next week.
Building inspector? A slight snag.
He's sick.
He's scheduled to do the tour 8:00am Thursday if his rabies clears up.
Health inspector? I'm meeting him tomorrow at 10:00am.
He's nice.
I dated his sister once.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
All of these bureaucrats have to sign off before we can buy the bar? That's how it works.
Why can't they just have one guy come down and check out everything? I'm no expert but I'm starting to believe in less government.
There's too much regulation, there's too many shackles and business should be free of these kinds of restraints.
Anyway, what do I know? I'm just a silent partner.
Does he seem silent to you? - Coffee? - Yeah, thanks.
Sometimes after these marathon shifts, I get these coffee headaches, and the only way to get rid of them is to drink more coffee.
How about I buy? Buy? It's the squad's coffee, it's free.
I'd still like to buy, huh? This is awkward.
Bad career move, in fact.
Hey, forget it.
What? I don't need the new shift commander PO'd at me.
It's a woman to woman thing.
- Is this about Beau? - Yeah.
How does that go? Sleep with a cop, sleep with his partner.
I'm the only one who knows.
I'm the only one he told and I made him tell.
And you don't approve? See it from my end.
I'm still on the street, closing my cases 100% because Beau and I are in tune, in sync.
I got Beau covering my back.
You two can't be a secret forever, it will come out.
There'll be jokes, snide remarks, bitching about favouritism, and one of you'll be transferred.
And it's not gonna be the new female shift commander, so that'll leave me solo, with no one except maybe his wife and I to cry on each others shoulders.
What's she like? Caucasian, 5" 6', 105Ibs, no distinguishing marks.
Nothing distinguishing at all, except a husband who made it out of South Baltimore to become a homicide detective.
It's a world she doesn't understand and can't compete with.
I'm not competing.
That's what winners always say.
She wants him back? With all the upstanding, eligible bachelors craving a mother with three small children, what's she need Beau for? Frank? - We may have a witness.
- Witness? Yes, she said she saw who killed Marilyn Callisto.
Oh, yeah, right.
Look at her, she's a barfly that hangs out at cop bars.
She probably heard boys in blue talking about the case over beers, so she comes down here figuring she can get something for nothing.
She did ask for something, didn't she? C'mon, what was it? I gave her a cigarette.
And if you went so far as to offer her a drink, she'll say she was on the Chicago flight with OJ.
She was in the parking lot behind St Lukes.
She saw an Oldsmobile or a Chevy, she's not sure which.
Two guys get out, open the trunk, lift out a body, throw it in the dumpster.
- Two guys? She can ID them? - She didn't see their faces.
Of course not! She did get a partial plate, Oh, so she's down here looking for a partial reward? She's a joke.
- She knows about the white gloves.
- What? - You got an address on this woman? - Mm-hm.
Take Tim, go to her apartment, find out everything you can.
I'm gonna have a little chat with her, find out what she knows and how she knows it.
Frank, go slow.
You see me smiling? Hi, I'm Frank Pembleton.
Pamela Wilgis.
It's nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you too, Pamela.
So, she was wearing gloves? - Yeah, I seen it.
- You seen what? When the two guys dumped her.
You got an ash tray? Was she heavy? Was it hard for them to get her into the dumpster? One guy lifted her, the other guy held the top open.
- You see his face? - Whose face? You told the other officer you saw the killers face.
I did? No, I didn't.
You calling this officer a liar? I didn't see faces.
I seen the license plate.
What's the last line on that poster? I, I I don't have my glasses.
I was wearing my glasses.
Y'know, a doctor says to me that I gotta wear my glasses all the time, and, I have to admit, I am sorta vain.
Well, put your glasses on and read the bottom line on that poster.
I don't have 'em with me.
Tell me about the gloves, what were they like? They're white, cotton.
They got stitching on the back of the hand, along the knuckle.
They're proper ladies gloves.
You can see that kinda detail from your car without your glasses? I had my glasses.
When the two guys went away, I got out and took a closer look.
Frank, your wife's on the phone.
Stan just radioed in from Pamela's apartment, only the name on the lease is JMJ Wilgis.
JMJ, a brother, sister? Landlord says she lives alone.
And it appears that Pamela or JMJ or whoever, has a predilection for white cotton gloves.
He saw white cotton gloves? Through her bathroom window.
from her shower curtain.
It's her! She's the killer! She's the killer! Yeah.
The electronic scratch on those anonymous calls? She used a device to make her voice sound like a man's.
Sorry about the interruption, JMJ, it was rude.
My name is Pamela.
Pamela? Do you have a light? Hmm.
I'm confused.
Why does the lease to your apartment read JMJ Wilgis? My lease? What do your initials stand for, JMJ? Pamela.
It's Pamela.
Then who's JMJ? Is she, what, your sister? Why does she have hanging on her shower curtain? - Answer me! - You can't treat me like crap! - Sit down.
- Go to hell! - Sit down! - No! Sit down! Where am I? Who are you? Aw, c'mon, no games.
It's been a long day already.
Whose cigarette is that? Oh, Mary save us! They're repulsive.
Pamela.
I'm not Pamela, I'm Sister Mary Maude.
What's with the Irish accent? - I don't know.
- Oh, you're a nun? With an MA in classical languages.
Oh, I get it! The old split personality defence.
Classic.
- I don't know what you mean.
- She's lying.
All Right.
Would you also like to test me Greek? - This is not gonna work, Pamela.
- Stop calling me Pamela.
Pamela, Pamela.
Pamela.
Have another cigarette, Pamela.
Whoo! Thirsty.
Who's thirsty, Pamela, or Mary Maude? Someone else was here? What happens next? You start spitting pea soup or does this table levitate? I wanna drink.
How many of you want something to drink? 5? 10? 20? How big's the party? You got no right to make fun of me.
I got a disorder, diagnosed by a legitimate doctor.
I got inside several different people.
- Me, Mary Maude - I met her.
JM There are others, I don't know.
Let's get the department shrink to ride shotgun for Frank.
Are you kidding? Look at the way he's smiling, he's having a ball.
Tell JMJ I wanna talk to her.
If you want to talk to JMJ, you have got to call her.
- What the hell is he doing? - Watch and wait.
Well, tell JMJ that I'd like to see her.
I don't talk to her.
Whatever he's doing, it's inappropriate.
Can't you see he's playing her game? - I only know she's in here.
- She's faking.
They don't know about me.
I am the dominant.
He'll trip her up.
- The dominant? - That's what they call it.
I know about the others, but they don't know about each other.
You know JMJ, but you can't talk to her? Mm-nn.
You know her, but she doesn't know about you? Yeah.
I don't really understand it all but that's what the doctor tells me.
Oh, no, Al, faking or not, he's crossing the line here.
I if I wanna talk to JMJ Give him time.
I have to call her.
JMJ? Can you hear me JMJ? Hello? This could be thrown back in our face.
He's all over her.
We could get a law suit for sexual harassment.
This is the box.
He knows what he's doing.
He can't be second-guessed.
Hello, JMJ? Hell, Al, he's outta control.
You wanna stop it? It's your call.
You are a mean son of a bitch.
Mean son of a bitch? Me? I didn't kill eight innocent women, Pamela, you did.
- No I didn't.
- If you didn't, you know which one did.
Mary Maude? JMJ? JMJ, JMJ? JMJ? - Does JMJ scare you? - No.
She does, doesn't she? JMJ? JMJ, we need to talk.
- All right, just stop.
- JMJ, we need to talk.
She's destructive, she may hurt someone again.
She may hurt you.
Just drop dead! JMJ, you gotta stop Pamela from telling on you.
- I'm gonna get Pamela to tell me - Shut up! I want JMJ here in front of me! She won't come! I want JMJ right now! I want JMJ right now! JMJ? JMJ? Jesus, Mary and Joseph? JMJ.
The nuns made us write that at the top of our worksheets every day.
I won't let her come.
She gets screwed if she comes.
JMJ, I order you to come in the name of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Come out.
Hi.
Do you know where you are? You're in a police station.
Do you know who I am? I'm Detective Pembleton, Homicide.
You killed eight people.
I'm seven, duh! - She's crazy.
- She's making me crazy.
I've dated women like that.
Oh, yeah? Oh yeah? - Don't start that.
- Don't start that.
- OK.
- OK.
- I, JMJ - I, JMJ - Wilgis - Whoa! J-M-J Wilgis confess to con fess to the murders of mur ders.
der.
ders.
zzz! of of Marilyn Callisto.
C'mon, Marilyn Callisto.
You do what I do, right? Marilyn Callisto, Katherine Goodrich.
C'mon, Katherine Goodrich.
Write their names down.
Hey, you write their names! Hey, you write their names! - You murdered them! - You murdered them! - Write who they are! - Write who they are! I don't like you! Close cover before striking.
Close cover before striking.
My daddy told me never to play with matches.
My mummy told me never to play with matches.
Oh, that's it.
He's gone too far.
- I have to stop this, Al.
- Don't! Ow! There's someone here to see an Annabella Wilgis.
Annabella Wilgis? - He's here! - Who's here, the killer? - He's coming.
- Sit down! Who are you now? My name, young man, is Annabella Wilgis.
How dare you speak to me like that.
Here he is.
Your interrogation of my client is over, Detective.
Your client? - Darren Russem, Ms Wilgis' lawyer.
- You're her lawyer! - Miss Wilgis is not here voluntarily.
- She came in as a witness! - Are you torturing my client? - She came in voluntarily! You don't seem to understand the scope of my client's disorder.
She asked you to meet her here? You called ahead because you knew you'd need a lawyer? Five minutes, that's all I need.
I'm this close! Gee! We don't have enough hard evidence.
We have to let her go.
You were close, weren't you? Gee, it's her! I'm sorry, Frank.
She kills eight people, walks out free and I get sued? - Russem claims you burned her.
- She burned herself.
He says you manipulated Wilgis' alter into burning herself.
- So let her alter sue me.
- He says her alter intends to.
Relax, Frank, the gloves we found in her apartment - match gloves found on the victims.
- Circumstantial.
We got proof from the store where she bought 'em.
- Not the point.
- Whose side are you on? Yours.
Part of being public advocate is playing Devil's advocate.
What about the ball peen hammer we found in her kitchen? A woman can easily kill another woman with that.
One front, one back We ran a blood leuka but it didn't turn for any blood residue, so we send it to the lab for more tests.
Guys, you're not hearing me.
Normally I'd say great, this stuff is pretty good.
This is not your average case.
We're talking about a woman who claims to be four people.
So we get an alternate personality to testify against the killer? You're making her testify against herself.
I'm saying she has multiple personality disorder.
That helps her, not me.
I got it.
Why don't we charge one of the personalities with harbouring a fugitive? Or I could just audition as the court's new jester.
Look, here's the point, this is not about evidence, this is about insanity.
The voice, the voice.
We sent the tape to the Feds to be analysed.
It makes no difference which personality is talking - if that voice is hers on the tape.
- How many ways do I have to Danvers, you ride with me.
Megan, Frank, meet me at Russem's office - - she's confessing.
- Wilgis is confessing? Matt Rhodes rang me.
She's going before the cameras live - to confess to eight murders.
- All eight? She wouldn't give me a confession but she's willing to tell all to 150,000 viewers? - Excuse me.
- She's using you, y'know? For giving me a live on-camera confession - she can use me, use me, use me.
- Matt, you only got ten seconds.
Can you people wait outside, we got a lot of bodies in here? Police.
Good evening.
I'm Alison Chandler with the Late 8 news.
Tonight, a stunning revelation in the murder of three local women.
Our Matt Rhodes is in the law offices of Baltimore attorney, Darren Russem with a Channel Eight exclusive.
Thanks, Alison.
Channel Eight has just learned that the brutal murders of three Baltimore women over the past two days were all committed by the same person.
These killings are tied to the deaths of five women in two other cities.
But perhaps the most startling element of this bizarre case is that the most tragic victim may be the killer herself.
That's right, the killer is a woman - Annabella Wilgis.
She's joined here tonight by her attorney, Darren Russem.
Mr Russem? The murders result from the illness from which Miss Wilgis suffers - Multiple Personality Disorder, which in turn was caused by abuse and abandonment exacted on her in her early childhood.
By having her confess and tell her side of the story first, he's defining the issues before we get to court.
This isn't about murder anymore, it's about abuse, about psychology.
Why don't we appoint Ricki Lake and Phil Donahue to the supreme court? He forced me.
He made me do things horrible things, and if I didn't do them, he hit me with his belt all over.
Teflon murderer - nothing will stick to her.
We might as well tattoo 'helpless victim' to her forehead.
I would look at a crucifix the whole time that he was hurting me.
Miss Wilgis is here asking for help and understanding.
I'm truly sorry for what I did.
Did you murder Katherine Goodrich? Yes.
- And Jennifer Lundy? - Yes.
- And Marilyn Callisto? - Yes.
- And Mary Ann Newcomb? - Yes.
She has presence, you gotta admit it.
She knows exactly what she did.
From day one, she knew what she was doing.
So what's that - premeditated craziness? She is great looking.
Oh, Munch, don't even joke about it, man.
What? Do you wanna be partners in a bar or anything with that guy? What? All I'm saying is she wouldn't be a boring date.
Oh, I'm gonna go home and sleep for three days.
Our regular shift starts at 6:00am.
Oh, yeah.
But tomorrow is my scheduled day off.
With this red ball over, I'm gonna get to spend the day with my kids.
That's right, and I get to have lunch with your wife.
Somehow I think I'm getting the short end of this partnership.
Detective Pembleton are you waiting for someone? This case it still troubles you? Yes.
I caught a killer who murdered eight women.
She claims to have a disorder - that she's crazy.
I think, isn't anyone crazy who kills someone else? Does that somehow mean that she's not responsible? Does that mean that she doesn't have to suffer? I'm angry.
I can't let it go.
I don't find it difficult believing in this multiple personality disorder.
I look and I see nothing but souls shattered like mirrors, mine included and yours.
- I keep mine in control.
- Thank God for that.
Now you just have to learn to forgive yourself for all those different personalities and the Wilgis woman, too.
I know that Katherine Goodrich would have, with her dying breath, - forgiven her murderer.
- Fine.
Now who speaks for the others? What right do any of us have to forgive in their name? God forgives.
Pray for him to teach you how.
I don't pray any more.
I used to.
I used to pray for answers - a clue, a sign of what I should do, how to find something precious in this life.
There was a time when I thought it was my job, but is it? Nothing in this world changes because of what I do.
The hurt goes on and on.
God has God has given up on us.
He doesn't hear us any more, sister.
Do you have a family? Yes, a wife, yes.
Do you love your wife? Yes, very much.
Is she precious to you? Yes.
Then I'd say God is listening.
Nice place.
Classy and clean is the goal.
That's our goal.
Keep it clean, sanitary, immaculate, so you'd be able to eat off the floor.
You wouldn't find food on the floor.
Not that you'd eat it if you did.
That's how clean it is.
This desirous establishment is one that'll attract - nothing but the best clientele.
- Not to mean that we'll be elitist.
No, sir.
No back room VIP lounge just for the likes of Devo, Sabo and Bull.
This bar is for the working class guy.
Like us, like you.
- Baltimore's finest.
- They call cops Baltimore's finest, but I think that applies to all city workers.
Did you see that refrigerator back there? It keeps food very cold, perfectly cold, just the way it should be.
So, we passed the inspection, right? You'll need to replace that dishwasher within the year and keep an eye on the water temperature.
Dishwasher, you bet.
Absolutely.
Other than that, everything looks pretty good.
I know I said I didn't wanna be involved, but I had a talk with myself about it, and I don't shirk my responsibilities.
- I'm here to hone my business skills.
- Who's he? Tim Bayliss, silent partner.
What can I do? You can give me $34.
That's all right, I got it right here, processing fee.
Why are the fees always $34? It's just some odd amount to screw up everyone's chequebook? Thanks for stopping by, we appreciate it.
- Say hello to your sister for me.
- I better not.
- Whatever you think is best.
- You say that now, but wait till he's fining us for improper disposal of chicken lard.
He's just kidding.
- We'll open in a couple of weeks.
- If we're lucky.
We still have to deal with the fire inspector, the building inspector, the zoning inspector and what's next, cocktail napkin inspector, the maraschino cherry inspector, and I'm sure there's some sort of regulation on the correct way to fold a bar rag.
Makes you just wanna be a Republican, doesn't it? - Come by any time.
- You can count on it.
OK.
Take care.
What? Come on, Allie, just step down.
- She's scared.
- No, I'm not.
You're not helping here, Zack.
- Zack wets his bed.
- I do not! - His whole room smells yucky! - Liar! Hey, hey! Since when do you go after her? You're twice her age.
- She's a liar, I hate her.
- He hit me.
You hit her? - Don't ever hit her.
- I didn't, I just swung my arm at her.
What was the deal that we had, huh? I'm not through with you yet.
What was the deal we had? When I'm not around, you protect your little sister and your mother.
I can't stop any big guys.
Don't worry about the big guys, I'll take care of them.
How? You're never around.
I don't care any more anyway, cos Mum said if you don't come back, she's gonna get me a new dad.
- Excuse me.
- Can you ask someone else, - I'm on my way home.
- I'm Beth Felton, I'm Beau's wife.
Oh, well, I'm Megan, Lieutenant Megan Russert.
- Hi.
- Hi.
I'm looking for Kay Howard, we're supposed to have lunch.
Uh-huh.
Well, um, Kay will probably be back in a second.
- Do you wanna have a seat? - OK.
I've gotta go.
I understand.
I'm getting pretty good at being on my own.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Look at his, it's almost like it's getting back to normal in here.
When's Crosetti coming back from Atlantic City? Tomorrow.
I hate to admit I kinda miss the little booger.
Hey, you guys.
Frank, this just arrived for you.
Now, aren't you supposed to tip those overnight delivery guys? Certainly, you don't have to, but I always feel like, "Gosh, they got it here overnight.
" Wilgis's red wig from the murder site in Iowa.
Too little, too late.
This time next week, there'll be three movies of the week, six paperbacks and a deck of souvenir playing cards.
The cash cow has only begun to get milked.
He's in one of those rare moods, Gee.
You didn't hold her for me.
You didn't do anything to keep her here including grabbing that lawyer by his legal briefs.
I needed five minutes.
You let me down.
Maybe, but you better figure out what you're really angry about, Frank.
Is it because Wilgis may end up in a mental institution instead of the electric chair, or are you ticked off because you weren't the one to get her confession? - Hey.
- Hi.
I drove by the park earlier.
You said you were gonna be there with the kids, you know.
And I stopped and watched you for a minute.
I didn't spot you.
No? Well, lucky you're not a detective.
Lucky you're not a comedian.
What d'you think? About what? The kids.
Well, the big one sure knows how to hit a baseball.
I know, but he's got this hitch in his swing.
He'll never get around on the really fast stuff.
He's like his old man.
Do you know that I'm the first male Felton in five generations to have his original front teeth? - Thank you for sharing.
- You're welcome.
Hey, Beau, did you ever take refresher course in interrogation technique that Professor Landriff teaches? I'm not much on refresher courses.
Well, the first day, he writes on the blackboard, "Let the suspect talk.
" "The interrogation is not about you.
" That's good advice.
I didn't ask you here to interrogate you, Beau.
Of course not.
We don't have to try to make the other one say it, we can say it ourselves.
Sure.
It's over between us.
Isn't it? Yeah.
I guess I'll just I'll see you at work.
Yeah.
Is this the right decision? Yeah.
Beth happy about it? Yeah I dunno, we'll see.
You don't exactly look happy.
Happy? Happy comes later.
Right now we're on a 30-day trial basis, kinda like a vacuum cleaner.
- How about the lieutenant? - What about her? - Is she OK? - What do you want me to say, Kay? You want me to say that Beth and I have come to a big understanding? We haven't.
Maybe we will, I dunno.
All I know is I gotta try.
Allie's front tooth is falling out, I'm the tooth fairy, no one else, OK? Zack slides into second base and breaks his collarbone, I take him to the ER, no one else! I remember what it was like when I broke my collarbone, and my dad wasn't there to take me to the hospital.
The kids are kids, the rest of the people involved are adults, OK? All right.
Just asking you how you are, that's all.
My car should be ready tomorrow.
Thanks for the ride.
- Annabella? - Yes.
- Tell me about the gloves.
- Why? Humour me.
No one wears white cotton gloves anymore.
They went outta fashion.
These women today, who leave home and go to work, ruined everything.
Katherine Goodrich, Jennifer Lundy, Marilyn Callisto they think that they're doing good by leaving the home and helping others, but they would do a lot more good if they would just stay home.
My mother wore white gloves every Sunday to church.
She'd get in her blue Chevrolet Impala, put her lipstick on in the rear view mirror then she'd pull her white gloves on, one finger at a time.
Then she'd just snap her purse closed and glance at her wrist watch, which was small, very delicate.
Then she'd smile at me and she'd say "We can't keep God waiting, can we?" And we'd drive to church.
I love white gloves.
I guess because they remind me of a time when people would smile at each other on the sidewalks and help each other carry the groceries into the house.
We would go to Mendelsons drug store and sit at the counter, have a cool milkshake and we would sit on a porch and listen to the night, filled with tree crickets and spring peepers.
And then, the way that a young girl would wake up one day, sharing the honour that the blessed Virgin Mother had received.
Our naked bodies were mysteries, they were holy.
My mother taught me that.
She stayed home to raise me.
She would wash my face and my body, clean.
And when she died, just short of two years ago I insisted that they put cotton gloves on her hands in the coffin.
Why are you laughing? Stop it.
Stop it.
Oh, lady you've been very clever, getting all the attention to focus on you.
I don't believe you have MPD but I don't care if you really do or don't.
I don't care how many personalities you may or may not have.
Because of you, there are eight personalities who will never speak again.
You had no right to kill them especially in God's name! And I gotta believe, even if you walk out of here scot free, God is gonna make you pay one way or another.
OK.
I'm sure he will.