Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) s03e09 Episode Script
Happy Family
The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event In New York City's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the detectives of the Major Case Squad.
These are their stories.
What did you think? I wasn't gonna find out, Russell? You are such a heartless bastard! Paula! Let go.
If you show up with one of your whores tonight, Russell, I swear to God you'll regret it! What's the matter, Jason? You're not hungry? He's been throwing up.
I think he's nervous about singing at the recital tonight.
God gave you a beautiful gift.
And he'll give you the courage to use it.
Stupid son of a bitch.
! All I did is try and find out when he was coming to the recital tonight, and he practically ran me over.
You children, go get ready for school.
If your father tries to talk to you tonight, make sure you get me or Helen, okay? We'll be there at 6:45, okay? Okay, we'll see you then.
Oh, my poor brother.
Paula had some kind of screaming fit in front of his office this morning.
About tonight, Brenda, I'm gonna be late.
I have to wait for some test results.
- Okay.
I'll see you soon.
- Okay, bye.
How's Jason? Is he feeling better? He's still in the bathroom throwing up.
Maybe I should go back.
Sam says he will be fine.
I'm sure he will.
Has my future ex arrived? No.
But his sister's here.
Hey.
Did you see Russell out there? No.
He hasn't shown up? I should call him.
Sam said Jason's been sick all day.
Here comes trouble.
You're late.
There was a thing on the subway.
Welcome, parents, friends.
Our gifted students have all worked very hard to make this evening special.
Law & Order CI Mr.
Connors's housekeeper found him.
Time of death was sometime last night.
Kids live here? All of this sports equipment Connors's wife moved out with the kids last winter.
Anyway, looks like he interrupted a burglary.
Haven't found the point of entry yet.
Who has the keys? Just the housekeeper.
Connors changed the locks after the separation with kids you can only get from the manufacturer.
Anything in particular worth stealing? A stamp collection up in the study.
Tried to break into the cabinet.
Connors's attorney over there gave us that inventory of the collection.
The lawyer talked to Connors just after 6:30.
He was running late for his kids' recital.
The burglar probably didn't expect him to be home.
The towel is damp.
Connors had probably just taken a shower and then got attacked right about here.
He staggered over here.
He put his hand down on here just long enough to-to bleed on it.
But he didn't run, you know.
He didn't defend himself.
He could've used these statues, but he didn't.
He went down here.
He got hit again and again.
Left for dead.
Connors must've come to, tried to get to the phone.
There's a bruise here.
It's curved like a field hockey stick.
It's got a curved head.
There could've been one with the sports equipment downstairs.
- Yeah.
/ - The killer grabs it on his way up to break into the stamp cabinet.
Blood.
Maybe from the murder weapon.
He killed Connors first, then broke into the cabinet.
Yeah, but he didn't get at the stamps.
Ran out of time? Maybe he had to get somewhere.
Somewhere like a recital.
Russell wanted to bring a vocal coach from Juilliard to hear Jason sing.
He was so proud of him and Sam.
Paula thought he was bringing a date, and she went ballistic.
What, she was, uh, jealous? - She has a boyfriend.
- Yeah.
Eddie Malloy, the felon.
Felon? - Was he at the recital? - Yes.
With Paula and Helen, the nanny.
Not to point any fingers, but Malloy got there just as the concert was starting.
Yeah.
That-That's good to know.
Thank you, Dr.
Friedman.
We'll be in touch.
The recital hall's three blocks away.
We need a search team Dumpsters, trash cans.
Okay? Thanks.
Home of Paula Connors Saturday, October 4 I told Russell to keep those stamps in a safe deposit box.
He was just inviting trouble.
From anyone in particular? I can just imagine the kinds of women he had in that bedroom.
Who was at the recital with you last night? Our nanny.
And my friend, Mr.
Malloy.
- Mr.
Malloy was late.
- He was delayed at work.
He called to tell you? There's no reception in that recital hall.
It's like a tomb.
Why this fixation with Eddie? Did Russell's posse put you up to it? They said that Eddie was a painting contractor.
What else did they say about Eddie? Oh.
He was a paroled felon who served a year for possession of stolen I told you.
Eddie was with me all evening.
What you said was he was late, and you weren't sure That's not true.
I called him at his job.
His partner said he was on his way.
And then he arrived.
It's no mystery.
Well, the mystery is that, uh, the reception in the recital hall, it cleared up.
Because a moment ago, you said it was like a tomb.
My sons'll be home for lunch soon.
It would be so nice if you weren't here.
First she alibis Malloy.
Then she blows his alibi.
She doesn't seem stupid.
Oh, uh, she isn't.
She's-She's cutting him loose.
They were in a Dumpster off 65th.
Uh, blood belongs to the victim.
No fingerprints on the hockey stick.
Shirt's chambray, size large.
Well, that fits Eddie Malloy.
Fits me too.
Yeah, but you're not dating a widow with $40 million.
There's no perspiration.
There would be if the killer exerted himself.
This greenish stain, you have any idea what it is? We haven't analyzed it yet, but it looks like some kind of tarnish.
Well, I'm gonna need to have blowups of this.
- Do you have any? - Yeah.
I don't mess with collectibles.
Check my rap sheet.
Strictly TVs and toasters.
But you knew about the Connors's stamp collection? I know they keep money in banks, but I don't break in and take it.
Well, that's admirable.
You were late to the recital.
I was working.
I forgot the time.
Your arthritis bother you when you paint? 'Cause I was noticing your copper bracelet.
- Does it work for you? - Yeah.
Seems to.
I was thinkin' of gettin' a bracelet.
Yeah, but I hear that they tarnish and stain your shirt.
- You get that? - I never looked.
Well, let's look at it now.
Hey.
Huh.
Yeah.
There's a green stain.
Hey, you know, this reminds me of another shirt.
Yeah.
Same stain.
This shirt has a lot of other stains on it too.
Red ones.
Russell Connors's blood on your shirt.
No way.
I didn't do this.
I was working late.
You ask your partner.
You said Paula called them.
She said she called after she said there was no phone reception in the recital hall.
She pooched your alibi.
Okay, look.
Paula cannot know this.
I was with another girl, okay? That's why I was late.
And if Paula knew, that would end your hopes for marrying her and and getting half of-of Connors's money.
No, wait.
Uh, he's dead, so she gets all his money.
I did not kill him.
Just don't tell Paula about this girl.
She goes nuts over this stuff.
Mommy! Mommy! He was having another nightmare.
It was the same dream.
But it was just a dream.
And now you're awake, see? Everything scary has gone away.
You go back to sleep now.
I'll stay here until he drops off.
Sam is very lucky to have a brother like you.
Fiesta Wigs Calore 429 West 17th Street Tuesday, October 7 Eddie was here, okay? I closed early so we could be alone.
He used the phone here to call his partner in case Mrs.
Moneybags was looking for him.
Is-Is that a new phone jack? You-You've had work done? Yeah.
I had the phone company out here.
They said I have low voltage.
Now would that be eight volts or 12 volts? Eight volts.
That's what the guy said.
Excuse me.
The power was being drained by a phone tap.
Paula.
She knew that Eddie was cheating.
She set him up.
She killed two rats with one trap.
A dream come true.
We traced a fingerprint on the wig store's switch box to a private investigator.
Paula Connors hired him to follow Malloy.
She found out Eddie was cheating, so she made it look like he killed her husband? That's rich.
She wore one of his shirts over her own when she killed Connors.
It's why there was no sweat on it.
Backtrack a bit.
We think she went to Connors's house, rang the doorbell, and he just let her in? Maybe he thought she came to apologize.
Does she strike you as the apologetic type? I don't think Connors would be fooled.
You don't seem convinced she did it.
I'm trying to imagine how she did it.
She didn't break in, she didn't have a key.
- I really - Nail down the basics.
Check her alibi.
Home of Paula Connors Wednesday, October 8 I have something on the stove.
I don't know when Mrs.
Connors will be home.
This is a beautiful piano.
Is it Mrs.
Connors? No.
It's her youngest son, Sam's.
He accompanies his brother when he sings.
They get their talent from Mrs.
Connors? Sam and Jason were adopted.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Connors brought them back from an orphanage in Romania when they were small.
Yeah.
I hope it's not burning.
The Connors must've loved each other very much to make that kind of commitment together.
Yes, they did love each other.
But after the children came, the missus got so focused on them, and Mr.
Connors got so busy at work.
And now she has Mr.
Malloy.
I'm sure that he's very devoted.
Did they arrive at the recital together? No.
She came alone.
He arrived later.
I thought you and Mrs.
Connors went to the recital hall together? No.
She was on the phone with her attorney.
So I went ahead with the children.
Jason wasn't feeling well.
His stomach He was in that bathroom up until the time he performed.
You were backstage with him? Yes, I was there.
Why didn't you give him some of this? Ginger.
Ginger snacks*, ginger tea, ginger candy.
That's the missus.
She likes it for her digestion.
So when did Mrs.
Connors get to the recital? A few minutes after I did.
No.
I thought you said that you were backstage.
Helen, you-you can't have it both ways.
Either you were with Mrs.
Connors, or you were with the kids.
I guess I'm not sure when the missus arrived.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, by the way, is there an extra key for Mr.
Connors's house? Because we forgot ours.
No.
Mr.
Connors never gave out keys.
Secure Key Company Wednesday, October 8 A woman called two days ago.
Said she found a set ofkeys, and she gave me a serial number that corresponded to Mr.
Connors's keys.
But your keys don't have serial numbers.
No.
What she had was the I.
D.
Tag that we send with new keys, uh, like this one.
So what did she want to know? Who the keys belonged to so she could return 'em.
But you don't give that kind of information out.
Boy, was she mad.
But finally, she very politely asked me if the keys belonged to an address on East 67 th.
Since she asked nice, I said yes.
Do you have her name? No, but our system has caller I.
D.
Paula's cell phone.
The keys from Paula's office.
No I.
D.
Tags.
None of them match Russell's key.
Paula's wearing shoes two sizes larger than she used to.
Uh, same with her clothes.
She's got all her old dresses pushed back.
New clothes are three sizes bigger, all blouses, slacks.
Maybe the reason is in here.
Oh, it's locked.
Probably doesn't want her kids seeing what she's been bingeing on.
Still haven't been able to find that key.
More ginger.
Tea.
Oh, here it is.
One place her kids would be too embarrassed to look.
Well, well.
Quite a drugstore.
She stripped the labels off, but this could be, uh, lidocaine, uppers.
We'll take samples, then, uh, lock it back up.
Jason's backhand is really coming along.
It's all right.
It's just routine police business.
- Right, Detective? - Right.
Your mother's just helping us with the investigation.
Can I speak to you for a moment upstairs? I wanted to ask you about a phone call you made to the, uh, Secure Key Company.
Caller I.
D.
Said it came from your-your cell phone.
It was two days ago.
You-You gave them a serial number? Oh, yes.
A tag fell out of Eddie's pants when I was folding them.
I wanted to know if it belonged to a woman.
But they didn't tell you, did they? No.
So I threw it out.
- You okay, Mrs.
Connors? - I'm just tired.
I haven't been sleeping well.
Well, um, thanks for your help.
It's prednisone.
And the syrup is probably, uh, prelone.
She's taking steroids.
That's why she's put on weight.
And the ginger, that's probably for the nausea.
So she's sick? Yes.
Could be cancer.
She's been on drugs for a while.
Maybe a-a maintenance program.
The fact the fridge is locked, the nanny didn't know what the ginger tea was for Paula hasn't told anyone.
Maybe because there's no cure.
Any medical bills over there? Uh Here.
This is a bill from an allergist for her son, Jason.
Russell was killed with five whacks from a hockey stick.
Paula'd barely be able to manage one.
A dry cleaning receipt for items picked up two days after the murder.
They probably don't give next-day service for bloodstained clothes.
This total includes a prepaid amount for clothes that were brought in for cleaning the same day that this order was picked up.
Prepaid in the hopes that we wouldn't notice that they had clothes cleaned two days after the murder.
I didn't like those policemen snooping around the children's room.
Yes.
They made quite a mess of things.
They didn't take anything besides the papers from my office, did they? No.
I would have told you.
Let's hope we've see the last of them.
- Here's that order.
- Thanks.
I'm not finding any bloodstains.
These look like the nanny's uniform.
Mothballs.
The signature scent of a resale shop.
You'd think Paula could afford new uniforms for Helen.
But if Helen wanted to replace something without Paula noticing, she'd buy them used.
Helen could've dropped the kids off at the recital and gone to Russell's.
What would she get out of killing Russell? Paula's dying.
Russell's dead.
The kids.
Custody.
County Clerk's Office 60 Centre Street Friday, October 10 I didn't find a will or a trust agreement on file.
But when I ran the name Helen Reynolds through the system, I did find there was a request for a death certificate six months ago.
All right.
Dylan Reynolds.
Died 1989, age seven.
Helen had a child.
This certificate was requested by a trust officer at Paula's bank.
They'd need it if Helen was being made guardian of Paula's kids.
She'd only get custody if Russell's out of the way.
Then she'd get the kids and the 40 million.
To a woman who's lost a child, the money would be secondary.
Yes, my son and my husband were killed by a drunk driver.
And Mrs.
Connors's bank needed proof of this? Yes.
It's a legal requirement to make me the guardian of the children.
If anything happens to Mrs.
Connors, it was her wish that life for Sam and Jason go on just as it is.
Well, you're-you're the obvious choice, right? I mean, you have a mother's devotion to the kids.
Huh? And you're, um, uh Well, you're fit.
I'll bet you have a-a devastating tennis serve, huh? I'll bet you really just, you know, clobber that ball.
The children keep me active.
Something else has us confused.
The cleaners said you brought these in two days after Mr.
Connors was murdered.
And it looks to us like you bought these at a resale shop and replaced them for another outfit.
Maybe one that you threw away.
See, that's the trouble with blood.
When it sets, you can't get rid of it.
Blood? - You think I killed Mr.
Connors? - Well, it makes sense.
A mother haunted by the death of her own child.
Those children would become your children.
Those children have a mother.
For now.
But Mrs.
Connors hasn't been in the pink lately.
It's anemia.
She just has anemia.
- She told you that? - No.
Dr.
Friedman did.
Mr.
Connors's brother-in-law? When? Two weekends ago, I picked up the kids from Mr.
Connors's house, and he was there.
He asked me about Mrs.
Connors's health, her fatigue, what she ate.
He told me then it sounds just like anemia.
There's nothing wrong with me.
I'm just Well, I'm missing a few hormones.
Well, that might account for your mood swings, but not the nausea or your difficulty in judging distances.
You know, the staircase.
You had to concentrate that your foot landed on the step.
I'm a little distracted.
You would be too if your husband was murdered and everyone thought you did it.
- We don't think that anymore.
- Good.
You don't have the strength.
Not with all these drugs you're taking prelone, prednisone.
You have, uh, cancer? Maybe a deep cerebral tumor? Have you told anyone? No.
I don't want anyone, um, feeling sorry for me.
I don't want to alarm my children.
Do you anticipate anyone challenging your nanny for custody? Maybe Mr.
Connors's sister or brother-in-law? The Friedmans? They were Russell's choice, not mine.
Dr.
Friedman get along with Russell? Why this interest in Dr.
Friedman? We believe he guessed that Ms.
Connors is terminally ill.
You think he killed Russell? Well, he wouldn't do anything without confirming your condition.
With your permission, we'd like to check if he accessed your medical records.
Oh, yes.
You most definitely have my permission.
Office of Dr.
Ralph Friedman 551 First Avenue Wednesday, October 15 I didn't look at her records.
I'd lose my license.
So it's a coincidence the oncology department down the hall asked Paula's insurance company for a copy of her records? What does the oncology department have to do with me? I'm an orthopedic surgeon.
What was it that you said to the nanny? That Paula had, uh, anemia? I was just making conversation.
I don't know anything about her condition.
Lucky for us, Dr.
Friedman, uh, you're a terrible liar.
I'm not talking to you.
He's not so good at covering his tracks either.
The log shows he was researching Paula's cancer three weeks ago.
Here.
Central nervous system tumors.
Yeah, look at the date.
It's two days before he asked the nanny about Paula's health.
And a week before he got her medical records.
How'd he know to research her specific cancer before seeing her records? Hand me that day planner.
- Dr.
Friedman? - Hold on.
Do you remember where you were the afternoon of September 24 between, uh, I don't know, like 3:00 and 4:00? Wednesday afternoon.
I'm usually in surgery.
Yes.
Yes, that's right.
I was doing hand surgery.
Why? Well, uh, someone was on your computer at 3:15 downloading articles on central nervous system tumors.
Yeah, I ma I made a mistake.
The surgery was canceled.
I was on the computer.
- Are you sure? - Yes, I was doing that research.
And, uh, if you want to question me anymore, you can call my lawyer.
Okay? He had an alibi.
He didn't use it.
That's because he was covering for somebody using his computer.
Um, Jason's allergist What was his name? - Uh, Dr.
Charters.
- Yeah.
I wonder where he holds his clinic.
Jason's allergist has a clinic in Dr.
Friedman's hospital every Wednesday.
According to the staff, afterwards Jason visits his Uncle Ralph.
Apparently, they're great pals.
The boy could've overheard his mother talking about her illness.
He'd be curious, like any kid.
He might've talked to his uncle about it.
Dr.
Friedman probably showed him how to look it up on the computer.
And that's how Dr.
Friedman found out Mrs.
Connors is terminally ill.
The kid could've also told the nanny.
If she knew her employer was dying, she'd make her move to get the kids.
Didn't you tell me they were eliminating suspects? That's what I thought they were doing.
Maybe we have.
If they think Uncle Ralph killed Dad, what will happen to him? Well, if he's guilty, he'll have to go to jail.
But it won't be a bad place.
We'll make sure of that.
Well, how long would he have to stay there? Well, that'll depend.
We'll make sure that Aunt Brenda gets a good lawyer for him.
You know what I was thinking about? For Christmas this year, we should all go back to Vail again.
We had such a good time there.
Maybe I'll even get out on the slopes this year.
Can you imagine me on those big skis slipping around? - Difficult piece.
- He makes it sound easy.
After throwing up all day, his throat muscles would be sore.
You know, the vocal chords raw from his stomach acids.
See how he switches registers? And-And how he hits this series of high notes.
His voice is perfect.
He wasn't sick.
Voice like an angel.
Neither Mrs.
Connors nor the nanny could've been with Jason.
We don't allow parents backstage.
- But he was sick? - Mm-hmm.
You saw him? Well, no.
He was in the bathroom.
His brother, Sam, told me he was sick.
Has Jason ever had stage fright before? - No, never.
- But this time you didn't question it.
Why-Why is that? Has he had other problems? A few weeks ago, we took a group to Boston for a music competition.
It was an overnight.
The next morning, we couldn't find Jason or Sam.
- They ran away? - No.
After an hour, we found them asleep behind some cushions in a closet.
And they wouldn't say why they did it.
I told Mrs.
Connors.
She said they sometimes do this at home.
Uh, can we see their desks? Thanks.
I thought I was the only Mmm, you still are.
Jason keeps a clean desk, except for this.
That's a button that I lost two weeks ago.
Where'd you lose it? In the music room.
I heard it drop, but I couldn't find it.
School has a counselor? I'm not comfortable discussing this without Mrs.
Connors's permission.
When abuse is suspected, it's your duty to report it to the police.
Sam told me he had bad dreams, but he wouldn't tell me what they were about.
Jason won't discuss it at all.
Anyway, I'd already vetted them for abuse.
So at one time you did suspect abuse? Not physical.
A few months ago, Mr.
Connors gave them each a cell phone, so they could call him whenever they wanted.
A teacher found them in the trash.
Sam told me they threw them away.
He said Mr.
Connors gave them the phones so they'd get brain cancer.
They thought he was trying to kill them? Apparently.
When I asked them, they admitted he never hurt them, never even raised his voice at them.
Any other incidents in the last few weeks? Just one Friday.
Mr.
Connors came to pick them up.
He was taking them to Bermuda for the weekend.
But they wouldn't go with him.
They were afraid.
Terrified.
Did you say anything to Mrs.
Connors? Yes.
She didn't seem concerned.
Their file have the name of the agency that handled their adoption? I think I received some records from them a few years ago.
Maybe not physical abuse.
Maybe psychological.
And maybe not by their father.
Criminal Courts Building Monday, October 20 Even if they were in fear for their lives, the murder was so cold-blooded and brutal No, no.
Look.
Violence and brutality aren't alien to these children.
What's this? It's an account of their life at the orphanage in Romania.
I, uh, I see your point, Detective.
But there's equally compelling evidence against Mrs.
Connors, the nanny and Dr.
Friedman.
They all have motive, leaky alibis, and they've behaved in ways that indicate a guilty mind.
Maybe it indicates something else.
Maybe we should have a family reunion.
You think you can arrange one? Custody seems to be the issue on the table.
I can probably get a hearing scheduled.
What did you have in mind? Well, uh, Solomon threatened to split the child.
This time, maybe we should let the child decide.
We should go find a pair of gray flannel pants.
Good morning.
I'm Assistant District Attorney Ronald Carver, and I've just been told Judge Palnick is stuck on the L.
I.
E.
I'll say this now, Mr.
Carver.
This petition for new guardianship is completely outside your authority.
The murder evidence points to all parties, and until I charge someone, I don't want any of you to have custody of these children.
Well, everyone in this room knows who did it except, apparently, the police.
What, you mean Eddie Malloy? You're-You're right.
He's a terrific suspect.
Except he has an alibi.
He was with his other girlfriend, Josie.
You would take the word of that shop girl? We're taking the word of the manicurist next door who saw Eddie leave the wig shop.
Such a great suspect.
You know, we have a better one.
- Old Uncle Ralph.
- That's ludicrous.
He knew that Paula was sick.
We have proof.
The research that you did on your computer at the office.
You knew what kind of cancer Paula had two weeks before Russell was killed.
Only Russell stood between you and the kids.
Between you and the trust fund.
- Ralph would never - Come on.
You know that you wanted Jason and Sam at home with you, safe, in your happy home.
Our home would be the best place for those poor children.
Best place for them? The best place for you? Come on, Doc.
You've got motive in spades.
For God's sakes.
I didn't kill him.
Why are you doing this to me? The shirt.
Eddie's bloody shirt.
Yeah, yeah.
But he could've put it over his clothes and then killed Russell.
Well, how'd he get his hands on it? Right.
Mrs.
Connors, on the other hand, she had access to Eddie's shirt, and she had every reason to want to frame him for murder.
You had the key.
You called the key company with the I.
D.
Tag.
I told you.
I found the tag in Eddie's pants after the murder.
I had no reason to kill Russell.
Not even to deny him custody of your precious children that you raised while your husband was working? While he was busy with his women? I wouldn't do that to my children.
I would not kill their father.
Well, maybe she would if she had the strength.
But I know that you don't.
You do, Helen.
The I.
D.
Tag that Mrs.
Connors found it was among your things, wasn't it? No, I told you.
They were in Eddie's pants.
You couldn't risk losing those children - to fill that void in your life.
- No, she didn't do it! Sam, please.
It's all made up.
We didn't make up these clothes.
You bought them to replace the clothes you wore when you committed the murder.
- Jason - Stop it! You're scaring the children! They're afraid of losing you? You? Out of all these people, you? Nothing like that will happen.
I did not kill their father, and you know it! I know that if none of you people killed Russell Connors, there's only one other explanation for your suspect behavior.
Wanna tell me, Doc? What was the first hint? Was it Jason's remarkable recovery after being hunched over the toilet all day and having to sing a difficult aria but not hitting one false note? I don't know what you're talking about.
And after Russell's death, you remembered the research that Jason did on your computer, - and it all fell into place.
- No.
No.
That's why you told us you used the computer, not Jason.
You were covering for your nephew.
And the I.
D.
Tag you found was among your children's things! And these clothes were They were to disguise a purchase of another item one that really needed to be replaced.
You noticed when Jason came home from the recital, he was wearing a different pair of pants than the ones he wore when he left.
Because the ones that Jason wore had stains of blood.
Your father's blood.
You see what your family did? Without telling each other, they protected you.
My children are not killers.
Russell was their father.
Oh, right.
Their father who was gonna kill them with a cell phone? Who was gonna kidnap them the first chance he got? - That's what you told them.
- They're smart kids.
They knew that I was just venting.
Russell would never hurt them.
It was just stories.
Just stories.
What, like the Big Bad Wolf? Hmm? But this wolf, it had a face and a name.
You remember? The Constantin Virnav Orphanage.
That's where you found Jason and Sam.
Where their father was gonna send them back to if he ever got custody.
- You really told them that? - I never said that! That's not true! Sam.
When you were at the orphanage, did you sleep in the cupboard? It made you feel warm and-and-and safe? Did it? Yeah.
Is that the reason why you slept in the closet at the hotel and at home because you were scared? Yeah.
And what about you, Jason? Hmm? Were you afraid your father was gonna send you back to the orphanage? You leave them alone! Is that why you went to see him before the recital? Didn't you hear me? I forbid you to speak to them! All right, Detective.
You haven't convinced me the children did it.
On the other hand, the evidence against you, Ms.
Reynolds, is compelling.
Detective.
No! Don't! Jason, tell them! Jason, don't say anything.
Father was gonna send us back.
Mother said so.
We were afraid.
Jason, tell them.
- Were you afraid, Jason? - Listen to me! I did it! I killed Russell.
You hear what I said, Jason? They can't hurt me.
Come on.
Were you afraid? You're afraid now.
I'm not afraid.
I'm not afraid of that place! Don't you remember? Don't you remember being cold and hungry? Don't you remember sharing a cot with three other children and no blanket? You remember the beatings? Huh? The medication they gave you to keep quiet? It wasn't like that! It was a place! Like a school! I'm not afraid to go back! Don't say that.
They'll send us back.
It's all right.
I'll take care of you.
When you were in the orphanage, you collected things, huh? Little things? - Like a button, bits of string, glass - No.
They were useless little things, you know, but having them made all the difference because they were yours, and nobody could take them away.
You see, that's what children do when they grow up in in terrible places concentration camps, prisons and the Constantin Virnav Orphanage.
And you became afraid when you thought that your father was gonna send you back there.
I'm not afraid.
No? You wanna show me what you have in your pocket? No.
Helen, he needs your help.
Jason? I don't want to.
I know.
But remember how you feel after you tell the truth? Much better.
Father never even raised his hand to stop me.
He just kept asking, "Why?" And I couldn't tell him.
I didn't know.
I didn't know.
From a Romanian orphanage to an American divorce.
I hope New York State will prove a better guardian for these children.
Well, from your lips to God's ear.
These are their stories.
What did you think? I wasn't gonna find out, Russell? You are such a heartless bastard! Paula! Let go.
If you show up with one of your whores tonight, Russell, I swear to God you'll regret it! What's the matter, Jason? You're not hungry? He's been throwing up.
I think he's nervous about singing at the recital tonight.
God gave you a beautiful gift.
And he'll give you the courage to use it.
Stupid son of a bitch.
! All I did is try and find out when he was coming to the recital tonight, and he practically ran me over.
You children, go get ready for school.
If your father tries to talk to you tonight, make sure you get me or Helen, okay? We'll be there at 6:45, okay? Okay, we'll see you then.
Oh, my poor brother.
Paula had some kind of screaming fit in front of his office this morning.
About tonight, Brenda, I'm gonna be late.
I have to wait for some test results.
- Okay.
I'll see you soon.
- Okay, bye.
How's Jason? Is he feeling better? He's still in the bathroom throwing up.
Maybe I should go back.
Sam says he will be fine.
I'm sure he will.
Has my future ex arrived? No.
But his sister's here.
Hey.
Did you see Russell out there? No.
He hasn't shown up? I should call him.
Sam said Jason's been sick all day.
Here comes trouble.
You're late.
There was a thing on the subway.
Welcome, parents, friends.
Our gifted students have all worked very hard to make this evening special.
Law & Order CI Mr.
Connors's housekeeper found him.
Time of death was sometime last night.
Kids live here? All of this sports equipment Connors's wife moved out with the kids last winter.
Anyway, looks like he interrupted a burglary.
Haven't found the point of entry yet.
Who has the keys? Just the housekeeper.
Connors changed the locks after the separation with kids you can only get from the manufacturer.
Anything in particular worth stealing? A stamp collection up in the study.
Tried to break into the cabinet.
Connors's attorney over there gave us that inventory of the collection.
The lawyer talked to Connors just after 6:30.
He was running late for his kids' recital.
The burglar probably didn't expect him to be home.
The towel is damp.
Connors had probably just taken a shower and then got attacked right about here.
He staggered over here.
He put his hand down on here just long enough to-to bleed on it.
But he didn't run, you know.
He didn't defend himself.
He could've used these statues, but he didn't.
He went down here.
He got hit again and again.
Left for dead.
Connors must've come to, tried to get to the phone.
There's a bruise here.
It's curved like a field hockey stick.
It's got a curved head.
There could've been one with the sports equipment downstairs.
- Yeah.
/ - The killer grabs it on his way up to break into the stamp cabinet.
Blood.
Maybe from the murder weapon.
He killed Connors first, then broke into the cabinet.
Yeah, but he didn't get at the stamps.
Ran out of time? Maybe he had to get somewhere.
Somewhere like a recital.
Russell wanted to bring a vocal coach from Juilliard to hear Jason sing.
He was so proud of him and Sam.
Paula thought he was bringing a date, and she went ballistic.
What, she was, uh, jealous? - She has a boyfriend.
- Yeah.
Eddie Malloy, the felon.
Felon? - Was he at the recital? - Yes.
With Paula and Helen, the nanny.
Not to point any fingers, but Malloy got there just as the concert was starting.
Yeah.
That-That's good to know.
Thank you, Dr.
Friedman.
We'll be in touch.
The recital hall's three blocks away.
We need a search team Dumpsters, trash cans.
Okay? Thanks.
Home of Paula Connors Saturday, October 4 I told Russell to keep those stamps in a safe deposit box.
He was just inviting trouble.
From anyone in particular? I can just imagine the kinds of women he had in that bedroom.
Who was at the recital with you last night? Our nanny.
And my friend, Mr.
Malloy.
- Mr.
Malloy was late.
- He was delayed at work.
He called to tell you? There's no reception in that recital hall.
It's like a tomb.
Why this fixation with Eddie? Did Russell's posse put you up to it? They said that Eddie was a painting contractor.
What else did they say about Eddie? Oh.
He was a paroled felon who served a year for possession of stolen I told you.
Eddie was with me all evening.
What you said was he was late, and you weren't sure That's not true.
I called him at his job.
His partner said he was on his way.
And then he arrived.
It's no mystery.
Well, the mystery is that, uh, the reception in the recital hall, it cleared up.
Because a moment ago, you said it was like a tomb.
My sons'll be home for lunch soon.
It would be so nice if you weren't here.
First she alibis Malloy.
Then she blows his alibi.
She doesn't seem stupid.
Oh, uh, she isn't.
She's-She's cutting him loose.
They were in a Dumpster off 65th.
Uh, blood belongs to the victim.
No fingerprints on the hockey stick.
Shirt's chambray, size large.
Well, that fits Eddie Malloy.
Fits me too.
Yeah, but you're not dating a widow with $40 million.
There's no perspiration.
There would be if the killer exerted himself.
This greenish stain, you have any idea what it is? We haven't analyzed it yet, but it looks like some kind of tarnish.
Well, I'm gonna need to have blowups of this.
- Do you have any? - Yeah.
I don't mess with collectibles.
Check my rap sheet.
Strictly TVs and toasters.
But you knew about the Connors's stamp collection? I know they keep money in banks, but I don't break in and take it.
Well, that's admirable.
You were late to the recital.
I was working.
I forgot the time.
Your arthritis bother you when you paint? 'Cause I was noticing your copper bracelet.
- Does it work for you? - Yeah.
Seems to.
I was thinkin' of gettin' a bracelet.
Yeah, but I hear that they tarnish and stain your shirt.
- You get that? - I never looked.
Well, let's look at it now.
Hey.
Huh.
Yeah.
There's a green stain.
Hey, you know, this reminds me of another shirt.
Yeah.
Same stain.
This shirt has a lot of other stains on it too.
Red ones.
Russell Connors's blood on your shirt.
No way.
I didn't do this.
I was working late.
You ask your partner.
You said Paula called them.
She said she called after she said there was no phone reception in the recital hall.
She pooched your alibi.
Okay, look.
Paula cannot know this.
I was with another girl, okay? That's why I was late.
And if Paula knew, that would end your hopes for marrying her and and getting half of-of Connors's money.
No, wait.
Uh, he's dead, so she gets all his money.
I did not kill him.
Just don't tell Paula about this girl.
She goes nuts over this stuff.
Mommy! Mommy! He was having another nightmare.
It was the same dream.
But it was just a dream.
And now you're awake, see? Everything scary has gone away.
You go back to sleep now.
I'll stay here until he drops off.
Sam is very lucky to have a brother like you.
Fiesta Wigs Calore 429 West 17th Street Tuesday, October 7 Eddie was here, okay? I closed early so we could be alone.
He used the phone here to call his partner in case Mrs.
Moneybags was looking for him.
Is-Is that a new phone jack? You-You've had work done? Yeah.
I had the phone company out here.
They said I have low voltage.
Now would that be eight volts or 12 volts? Eight volts.
That's what the guy said.
Excuse me.
The power was being drained by a phone tap.
Paula.
She knew that Eddie was cheating.
She set him up.
She killed two rats with one trap.
A dream come true.
We traced a fingerprint on the wig store's switch box to a private investigator.
Paula Connors hired him to follow Malloy.
She found out Eddie was cheating, so she made it look like he killed her husband? That's rich.
She wore one of his shirts over her own when she killed Connors.
It's why there was no sweat on it.
Backtrack a bit.
We think she went to Connors's house, rang the doorbell, and he just let her in? Maybe he thought she came to apologize.
Does she strike you as the apologetic type? I don't think Connors would be fooled.
You don't seem convinced she did it.
I'm trying to imagine how she did it.
She didn't break in, she didn't have a key.
- I really - Nail down the basics.
Check her alibi.
Home of Paula Connors Wednesday, October 8 I have something on the stove.
I don't know when Mrs.
Connors will be home.
This is a beautiful piano.
Is it Mrs.
Connors? No.
It's her youngest son, Sam's.
He accompanies his brother when he sings.
They get their talent from Mrs.
Connors? Sam and Jason were adopted.
Mr.
And Mrs.
Connors brought them back from an orphanage in Romania when they were small.
Yeah.
I hope it's not burning.
The Connors must've loved each other very much to make that kind of commitment together.
Yes, they did love each other.
But after the children came, the missus got so focused on them, and Mr.
Connors got so busy at work.
And now she has Mr.
Malloy.
I'm sure that he's very devoted.
Did they arrive at the recital together? No.
She came alone.
He arrived later.
I thought you and Mrs.
Connors went to the recital hall together? No.
She was on the phone with her attorney.
So I went ahead with the children.
Jason wasn't feeling well.
His stomach He was in that bathroom up until the time he performed.
You were backstage with him? Yes, I was there.
Why didn't you give him some of this? Ginger.
Ginger snacks*, ginger tea, ginger candy.
That's the missus.
She likes it for her digestion.
So when did Mrs.
Connors get to the recital? A few minutes after I did.
No.
I thought you said that you were backstage.
Helen, you-you can't have it both ways.
Either you were with Mrs.
Connors, or you were with the kids.
I guess I'm not sure when the missus arrived.
I'm sorry.
Yeah, by the way, is there an extra key for Mr.
Connors's house? Because we forgot ours.
No.
Mr.
Connors never gave out keys.
Secure Key Company Wednesday, October 8 A woman called two days ago.
Said she found a set ofkeys, and she gave me a serial number that corresponded to Mr.
Connors's keys.
But your keys don't have serial numbers.
No.
What she had was the I.
D.
Tag that we send with new keys, uh, like this one.
So what did she want to know? Who the keys belonged to so she could return 'em.
But you don't give that kind of information out.
Boy, was she mad.
But finally, she very politely asked me if the keys belonged to an address on East 67 th.
Since she asked nice, I said yes.
Do you have her name? No, but our system has caller I.
D.
Paula's cell phone.
The keys from Paula's office.
No I.
D.
Tags.
None of them match Russell's key.
Paula's wearing shoes two sizes larger than she used to.
Uh, same with her clothes.
She's got all her old dresses pushed back.
New clothes are three sizes bigger, all blouses, slacks.
Maybe the reason is in here.
Oh, it's locked.
Probably doesn't want her kids seeing what she's been bingeing on.
Still haven't been able to find that key.
More ginger.
Tea.
Oh, here it is.
One place her kids would be too embarrassed to look.
Well, well.
Quite a drugstore.
She stripped the labels off, but this could be, uh, lidocaine, uppers.
We'll take samples, then, uh, lock it back up.
Jason's backhand is really coming along.
It's all right.
It's just routine police business.
- Right, Detective? - Right.
Your mother's just helping us with the investigation.
Can I speak to you for a moment upstairs? I wanted to ask you about a phone call you made to the, uh, Secure Key Company.
Caller I.
D.
Said it came from your-your cell phone.
It was two days ago.
You-You gave them a serial number? Oh, yes.
A tag fell out of Eddie's pants when I was folding them.
I wanted to know if it belonged to a woman.
But they didn't tell you, did they? No.
So I threw it out.
- You okay, Mrs.
Connors? - I'm just tired.
I haven't been sleeping well.
Well, um, thanks for your help.
It's prednisone.
And the syrup is probably, uh, prelone.
She's taking steroids.
That's why she's put on weight.
And the ginger, that's probably for the nausea.
So she's sick? Yes.
Could be cancer.
She's been on drugs for a while.
Maybe a-a maintenance program.
The fact the fridge is locked, the nanny didn't know what the ginger tea was for Paula hasn't told anyone.
Maybe because there's no cure.
Any medical bills over there? Uh Here.
This is a bill from an allergist for her son, Jason.
Russell was killed with five whacks from a hockey stick.
Paula'd barely be able to manage one.
A dry cleaning receipt for items picked up two days after the murder.
They probably don't give next-day service for bloodstained clothes.
This total includes a prepaid amount for clothes that were brought in for cleaning the same day that this order was picked up.
Prepaid in the hopes that we wouldn't notice that they had clothes cleaned two days after the murder.
I didn't like those policemen snooping around the children's room.
Yes.
They made quite a mess of things.
They didn't take anything besides the papers from my office, did they? No.
I would have told you.
Let's hope we've see the last of them.
- Here's that order.
- Thanks.
I'm not finding any bloodstains.
These look like the nanny's uniform.
Mothballs.
The signature scent of a resale shop.
You'd think Paula could afford new uniforms for Helen.
But if Helen wanted to replace something without Paula noticing, she'd buy them used.
Helen could've dropped the kids off at the recital and gone to Russell's.
What would she get out of killing Russell? Paula's dying.
Russell's dead.
The kids.
Custody.
County Clerk's Office 60 Centre Street Friday, October 10 I didn't find a will or a trust agreement on file.
But when I ran the name Helen Reynolds through the system, I did find there was a request for a death certificate six months ago.
All right.
Dylan Reynolds.
Died 1989, age seven.
Helen had a child.
This certificate was requested by a trust officer at Paula's bank.
They'd need it if Helen was being made guardian of Paula's kids.
She'd only get custody if Russell's out of the way.
Then she'd get the kids and the 40 million.
To a woman who's lost a child, the money would be secondary.
Yes, my son and my husband were killed by a drunk driver.
And Mrs.
Connors's bank needed proof of this? Yes.
It's a legal requirement to make me the guardian of the children.
If anything happens to Mrs.
Connors, it was her wish that life for Sam and Jason go on just as it is.
Well, you're-you're the obvious choice, right? I mean, you have a mother's devotion to the kids.
Huh? And you're, um, uh Well, you're fit.
I'll bet you have a-a devastating tennis serve, huh? I'll bet you really just, you know, clobber that ball.
The children keep me active.
Something else has us confused.
The cleaners said you brought these in two days after Mr.
Connors was murdered.
And it looks to us like you bought these at a resale shop and replaced them for another outfit.
Maybe one that you threw away.
See, that's the trouble with blood.
When it sets, you can't get rid of it.
Blood? - You think I killed Mr.
Connors? - Well, it makes sense.
A mother haunted by the death of her own child.
Those children would become your children.
Those children have a mother.
For now.
But Mrs.
Connors hasn't been in the pink lately.
It's anemia.
She just has anemia.
- She told you that? - No.
Dr.
Friedman did.
Mr.
Connors's brother-in-law? When? Two weekends ago, I picked up the kids from Mr.
Connors's house, and he was there.
He asked me about Mrs.
Connors's health, her fatigue, what she ate.
He told me then it sounds just like anemia.
There's nothing wrong with me.
I'm just Well, I'm missing a few hormones.
Well, that might account for your mood swings, but not the nausea or your difficulty in judging distances.
You know, the staircase.
You had to concentrate that your foot landed on the step.
I'm a little distracted.
You would be too if your husband was murdered and everyone thought you did it.
- We don't think that anymore.
- Good.
You don't have the strength.
Not with all these drugs you're taking prelone, prednisone.
You have, uh, cancer? Maybe a deep cerebral tumor? Have you told anyone? No.
I don't want anyone, um, feeling sorry for me.
I don't want to alarm my children.
Do you anticipate anyone challenging your nanny for custody? Maybe Mr.
Connors's sister or brother-in-law? The Friedmans? They were Russell's choice, not mine.
Dr.
Friedman get along with Russell? Why this interest in Dr.
Friedman? We believe he guessed that Ms.
Connors is terminally ill.
You think he killed Russell? Well, he wouldn't do anything without confirming your condition.
With your permission, we'd like to check if he accessed your medical records.
Oh, yes.
You most definitely have my permission.
Office of Dr.
Ralph Friedman 551 First Avenue Wednesday, October 15 I didn't look at her records.
I'd lose my license.
So it's a coincidence the oncology department down the hall asked Paula's insurance company for a copy of her records? What does the oncology department have to do with me? I'm an orthopedic surgeon.
What was it that you said to the nanny? That Paula had, uh, anemia? I was just making conversation.
I don't know anything about her condition.
Lucky for us, Dr.
Friedman, uh, you're a terrible liar.
I'm not talking to you.
He's not so good at covering his tracks either.
The log shows he was researching Paula's cancer three weeks ago.
Here.
Central nervous system tumors.
Yeah, look at the date.
It's two days before he asked the nanny about Paula's health.
And a week before he got her medical records.
How'd he know to research her specific cancer before seeing her records? Hand me that day planner.
- Dr.
Friedman? - Hold on.
Do you remember where you were the afternoon of September 24 between, uh, I don't know, like 3:00 and 4:00? Wednesday afternoon.
I'm usually in surgery.
Yes.
Yes, that's right.
I was doing hand surgery.
Why? Well, uh, someone was on your computer at 3:15 downloading articles on central nervous system tumors.
Yeah, I ma I made a mistake.
The surgery was canceled.
I was on the computer.
- Are you sure? - Yes, I was doing that research.
And, uh, if you want to question me anymore, you can call my lawyer.
Okay? He had an alibi.
He didn't use it.
That's because he was covering for somebody using his computer.
Um, Jason's allergist What was his name? - Uh, Dr.
Charters.
- Yeah.
I wonder where he holds his clinic.
Jason's allergist has a clinic in Dr.
Friedman's hospital every Wednesday.
According to the staff, afterwards Jason visits his Uncle Ralph.
Apparently, they're great pals.
The boy could've overheard his mother talking about her illness.
He'd be curious, like any kid.
He might've talked to his uncle about it.
Dr.
Friedman probably showed him how to look it up on the computer.
And that's how Dr.
Friedman found out Mrs.
Connors is terminally ill.
The kid could've also told the nanny.
If she knew her employer was dying, she'd make her move to get the kids.
Didn't you tell me they were eliminating suspects? That's what I thought they were doing.
Maybe we have.
If they think Uncle Ralph killed Dad, what will happen to him? Well, if he's guilty, he'll have to go to jail.
But it won't be a bad place.
We'll make sure of that.
Well, how long would he have to stay there? Well, that'll depend.
We'll make sure that Aunt Brenda gets a good lawyer for him.
You know what I was thinking about? For Christmas this year, we should all go back to Vail again.
We had such a good time there.
Maybe I'll even get out on the slopes this year.
Can you imagine me on those big skis slipping around? - Difficult piece.
- He makes it sound easy.
After throwing up all day, his throat muscles would be sore.
You know, the vocal chords raw from his stomach acids.
See how he switches registers? And-And how he hits this series of high notes.
His voice is perfect.
He wasn't sick.
Voice like an angel.
Neither Mrs.
Connors nor the nanny could've been with Jason.
We don't allow parents backstage.
- But he was sick? - Mm-hmm.
You saw him? Well, no.
He was in the bathroom.
His brother, Sam, told me he was sick.
Has Jason ever had stage fright before? - No, never.
- But this time you didn't question it.
Why-Why is that? Has he had other problems? A few weeks ago, we took a group to Boston for a music competition.
It was an overnight.
The next morning, we couldn't find Jason or Sam.
- They ran away? - No.
After an hour, we found them asleep behind some cushions in a closet.
And they wouldn't say why they did it.
I told Mrs.
Connors.
She said they sometimes do this at home.
Uh, can we see their desks? Thanks.
I thought I was the only Mmm, you still are.
Jason keeps a clean desk, except for this.
That's a button that I lost two weeks ago.
Where'd you lose it? In the music room.
I heard it drop, but I couldn't find it.
School has a counselor? I'm not comfortable discussing this without Mrs.
Connors's permission.
When abuse is suspected, it's your duty to report it to the police.
Sam told me he had bad dreams, but he wouldn't tell me what they were about.
Jason won't discuss it at all.
Anyway, I'd already vetted them for abuse.
So at one time you did suspect abuse? Not physical.
A few months ago, Mr.
Connors gave them each a cell phone, so they could call him whenever they wanted.
A teacher found them in the trash.
Sam told me they threw them away.
He said Mr.
Connors gave them the phones so they'd get brain cancer.
They thought he was trying to kill them? Apparently.
When I asked them, they admitted he never hurt them, never even raised his voice at them.
Any other incidents in the last few weeks? Just one Friday.
Mr.
Connors came to pick them up.
He was taking them to Bermuda for the weekend.
But they wouldn't go with him.
They were afraid.
Terrified.
Did you say anything to Mrs.
Connors? Yes.
She didn't seem concerned.
Their file have the name of the agency that handled their adoption? I think I received some records from them a few years ago.
Maybe not physical abuse.
Maybe psychological.
And maybe not by their father.
Criminal Courts Building Monday, October 20 Even if they were in fear for their lives, the murder was so cold-blooded and brutal No, no.
Look.
Violence and brutality aren't alien to these children.
What's this? It's an account of their life at the orphanage in Romania.
I, uh, I see your point, Detective.
But there's equally compelling evidence against Mrs.
Connors, the nanny and Dr.
Friedman.
They all have motive, leaky alibis, and they've behaved in ways that indicate a guilty mind.
Maybe it indicates something else.
Maybe we should have a family reunion.
You think you can arrange one? Custody seems to be the issue on the table.
I can probably get a hearing scheduled.
What did you have in mind? Well, uh, Solomon threatened to split the child.
This time, maybe we should let the child decide.
We should go find a pair of gray flannel pants.
Good morning.
I'm Assistant District Attorney Ronald Carver, and I've just been told Judge Palnick is stuck on the L.
I.
E.
I'll say this now, Mr.
Carver.
This petition for new guardianship is completely outside your authority.
The murder evidence points to all parties, and until I charge someone, I don't want any of you to have custody of these children.
Well, everyone in this room knows who did it except, apparently, the police.
What, you mean Eddie Malloy? You're-You're right.
He's a terrific suspect.
Except he has an alibi.
He was with his other girlfriend, Josie.
You would take the word of that shop girl? We're taking the word of the manicurist next door who saw Eddie leave the wig shop.
Such a great suspect.
You know, we have a better one.
- Old Uncle Ralph.
- That's ludicrous.
He knew that Paula was sick.
We have proof.
The research that you did on your computer at the office.
You knew what kind of cancer Paula had two weeks before Russell was killed.
Only Russell stood between you and the kids.
Between you and the trust fund.
- Ralph would never - Come on.
You know that you wanted Jason and Sam at home with you, safe, in your happy home.
Our home would be the best place for those poor children.
Best place for them? The best place for you? Come on, Doc.
You've got motive in spades.
For God's sakes.
I didn't kill him.
Why are you doing this to me? The shirt.
Eddie's bloody shirt.
Yeah, yeah.
But he could've put it over his clothes and then killed Russell.
Well, how'd he get his hands on it? Right.
Mrs.
Connors, on the other hand, she had access to Eddie's shirt, and she had every reason to want to frame him for murder.
You had the key.
You called the key company with the I.
D.
Tag.
I told you.
I found the tag in Eddie's pants after the murder.
I had no reason to kill Russell.
Not even to deny him custody of your precious children that you raised while your husband was working? While he was busy with his women? I wouldn't do that to my children.
I would not kill their father.
Well, maybe she would if she had the strength.
But I know that you don't.
You do, Helen.
The I.
D.
Tag that Mrs.
Connors found it was among your things, wasn't it? No, I told you.
They were in Eddie's pants.
You couldn't risk losing those children - to fill that void in your life.
- No, she didn't do it! Sam, please.
It's all made up.
We didn't make up these clothes.
You bought them to replace the clothes you wore when you committed the murder.
- Jason - Stop it! You're scaring the children! They're afraid of losing you? You? Out of all these people, you? Nothing like that will happen.
I did not kill their father, and you know it! I know that if none of you people killed Russell Connors, there's only one other explanation for your suspect behavior.
Wanna tell me, Doc? What was the first hint? Was it Jason's remarkable recovery after being hunched over the toilet all day and having to sing a difficult aria but not hitting one false note? I don't know what you're talking about.
And after Russell's death, you remembered the research that Jason did on your computer, - and it all fell into place.
- No.
No.
That's why you told us you used the computer, not Jason.
You were covering for your nephew.
And the I.
D.
Tag you found was among your children's things! And these clothes were They were to disguise a purchase of another item one that really needed to be replaced.
You noticed when Jason came home from the recital, he was wearing a different pair of pants than the ones he wore when he left.
Because the ones that Jason wore had stains of blood.
Your father's blood.
You see what your family did? Without telling each other, they protected you.
My children are not killers.
Russell was their father.
Oh, right.
Their father who was gonna kill them with a cell phone? Who was gonna kidnap them the first chance he got? - That's what you told them.
- They're smart kids.
They knew that I was just venting.
Russell would never hurt them.
It was just stories.
Just stories.
What, like the Big Bad Wolf? Hmm? But this wolf, it had a face and a name.
You remember? The Constantin Virnav Orphanage.
That's where you found Jason and Sam.
Where their father was gonna send them back to if he ever got custody.
- You really told them that? - I never said that! That's not true! Sam.
When you were at the orphanage, did you sleep in the cupboard? It made you feel warm and-and-and safe? Did it? Yeah.
Is that the reason why you slept in the closet at the hotel and at home because you were scared? Yeah.
And what about you, Jason? Hmm? Were you afraid your father was gonna send you back to the orphanage? You leave them alone! Is that why you went to see him before the recital? Didn't you hear me? I forbid you to speak to them! All right, Detective.
You haven't convinced me the children did it.
On the other hand, the evidence against you, Ms.
Reynolds, is compelling.
Detective.
No! Don't! Jason, tell them! Jason, don't say anything.
Father was gonna send us back.
Mother said so.
We were afraid.
Jason, tell them.
- Were you afraid, Jason? - Listen to me! I did it! I killed Russell.
You hear what I said, Jason? They can't hurt me.
Come on.
Were you afraid? You're afraid now.
I'm not afraid.
I'm not afraid of that place! Don't you remember? Don't you remember being cold and hungry? Don't you remember sharing a cot with three other children and no blanket? You remember the beatings? Huh? The medication they gave you to keep quiet? It wasn't like that! It was a place! Like a school! I'm not afraid to go back! Don't say that.
They'll send us back.
It's all right.
I'll take care of you.
When you were in the orphanage, you collected things, huh? Little things? - Like a button, bits of string, glass - No.
They were useless little things, you know, but having them made all the difference because they were yours, and nobody could take them away.
You see, that's what children do when they grow up in in terrible places concentration camps, prisons and the Constantin Virnav Orphanage.
And you became afraid when you thought that your father was gonna send you back there.
I'm not afraid.
No? You wanna show me what you have in your pocket? No.
Helen, he needs your help.
Jason? I don't want to.
I know.
But remember how you feel after you tell the truth? Much better.
Father never even raised his hand to stop me.
He just kept asking, "Why?" And I couldn't tell him.
I didn't know.
I didn't know.
From a Romanian orphanage to an American divorce.
I hope New York State will prove a better guardian for these children.
Well, from your lips to God's ear.