All language subtitles for The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975) DVDRip

[Church bell tolling]

[Birds chirping]

[Distant dog barking]

[Knocking on door frantically]

WOMAN: Dr. Bowen, please!

[Screen door closes]

SECOND WOMAN, INSIDE:
Is he coming?

FIRST WOMAN:
There was no one home.
I knocked and knocked.

Then go fetch
Miss Russell. Hurry!

[Screen door slams shut]

Good mornin‘,
Lizzie.

I--I just finished
shoppin‘.

Stores are
like ovens.

Lizzie, what is it?

Oh, Mrs. Churchill.

Do come in.

Someone has killed
Father.

Where?

In the sitting room.

[Gasps]

[Whimpers]

[Theme music playing]

CHILDREN: ♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La la la ♪

♪ La ♪

[People murmuring]

WOMAN: Horrible, horrible.

MAN: A lot of blood.

Horrible.

[Whispering indistinctly]

MRS. CHURCHILL:
Yes, but why is he
attempting--

WOMAN: Don‘t think.

I think if we put a
little cool water--

Lizzie?

I‘m--I‘m glad
you‘re here, Alice.

I came as soon
as Bridget told me.

Oh.
[Sighs]

It‘s going to be
all right.

Everything‘s going
to be all right.

[Door opens]

ALICE: It‘ll be
all right.

He‘s been dead less
than half an hour.

Where‘s your sister,
Lizzie?

She‘s visiting
the Brownells in Fairhaven.

I‘ll go at once, ask my wife
to send a telegram.

ALICE:
Thank you, Dr. Bowen.

Now, Lizzie,
you must try to rest.

Would you like
to lie down?

Come on, let‘s go
into the parlor.

[Crowd murmuring]

Almost.

There you are.

Uh, I--I haven‘t seen
your stepmother, Lizzie.

Nor have I.
Is Abby out?

Uh, yes,
but I thought

I heard her
come back.

[Lizzie sighs]
She‘s probably
in her room.

There‘s nobody
out back, Miss Lizzie.

I looked when I
fetched the sheet.

Then try
up front.

She must be in
the spare room.

Please, Miss Lizzie.

Oh, Maggie,
do as I say.

I‘m not going
up there alone!

Oh, come along,
Bridget.

I‘ll go with you.
Come on.

Lizzie, you must
get some rest.

[Gasps]

What is it?

Oh!

[Mrs. Churchill
whimpering]

MRS. CHURCHILL:
Oh, no!

DR. BOWEN: My wife is
sending the telegram--

[Mrs. Churchill sobs]
What is it?

She--she‘s up there.

Oh, no.

ALICE: Lizzie.

[Whimpers]

[Exhales]

Oh!

Whoa.

[Horse snorting]

Thank you.

Good day, Miss Borden.

Miss Emma.

[Door opens]

[Gasps]
My God.

[Coughing]

I‘m sorry, Emma,
but I must.

[Gasps, cries]

It‘s all right,
Emma.

Oh, Alice!
[Sobs]

I‘m so glad
you‘re here.

I‘ll stay as long
as you need me.

Thank you.

Lizzie?

She‘s in her room.

[Door opens]

Lizzie?

Did you...

kill Father?

No, Emma,

I did not.

[Sobbing]

[Crickets chirping]

[Distant dog barking]

No more, Emma,
please. No more.

Shh, now, Lizzie.

Dr. Bowen says.

But I can‘t think.

I can‘t think.

What is that
he‘s giving me?

It‘s just something
to quieten your nerves.

But I must--
I must think. I must.

Hush, now.

Papa.

[Sighs]

Somebody killed Father.

Why?

Shh.

Why?

You must put all of that
out of your mind now.

Oh.

You never should
have gone away, Em.

I know.

I know, dear,

but I‘m back now.

[Kiss]

What are we going
to do, Em?

I‘ve always looked
after you, haven‘t I?

Just like I
promised Mother?

Yes, Em.

Well, then, you see?

Everything is going
to be all right.

You...

just go to sleep now.

Yes, Em.

[Kiss]

Forgive me, Father,
for I have sinned.

Mary, mother of God,
pray for us.

Holy Mary, mother
of God, pray for us.

Holy Mary, mother
of God, pray for us.

Oh, dear God in heaven,
forgive us our sins.

Dear God in heaven,
forgive us our...

[Crickets chirping]

[Grandfather clock chiming]

[Chiming ends]

[Clock ticking]

[Horse nickers]

[Horse neighs]

Excuse me.

WOMAN:
Couldn‘t wear black,

at least veils.

Not even a tear.

It was
a terrible ordeal.

MAN: Miss Borden?

A word with you, sir.

Who are you?
Can‘t you see
I‘m busy?

I‘m City Marshall Hilliard
with instructions for you.

Instructions?
Yes.

After the family
has left the gravesite,

both bodies are to be taken
to a receiving tomb,

where the heads
are to be removed.

Removed?

And shipped
to Dr. Edward Wood,

professor
of forensic medicine
at Harvard University.

On whose order,
may I ask?

His Honor, the Mayor.

Naturally, the sisters
are not to be told.

[Horses neighing]

LIZZIE: As you were
saying, Mr. Mayor?

Uh, oh, yes.
I, um...

I have a request
to make of
the family.

Please remain
inside the house
for a few days.

It would be
better for
all concerned.

Why? Is someone
here suspected?

I want to know
the truth.

EMMA: Lizzie, please,
don‘t upset yourself.

I want to know
the truth, Emma.

MAYOR:
Well, Miss Borden,
as much as I regret

to tell you, yes,
you are suspected.

EMMA: We tried
to keep it from her

as long as we could.

I‘m ready to go now.

Oh, that won‘t be
necessary.

HILLIARD:
If you‘re disturbed
by the crowds out there,

just notify the officer
in the yard.

Then I‘m to be a prisoner
in my own home?

You shall have
all the protection

the police department
can afford.

Well...

we shan‘t
trouble you
any further.

Naturally, we want
to do all we can

to help
in this matter.

There will, of course,
be an inquest.

Closed to the public,
if you prefer.

Whatever you wish.

[Door closes]

My name is--ahem--
Bridget Sullivan.

I‘m 26 years old

and unmarried.

How were you addressed
in the Borden household?

I was sometimes
called Maggie,

but...only
by Miss Emma

and Miss Lizzie.

How long were you
in Mr. Borden‘s employ?

Uh...two years

and, uh...9 months

at the time
of his death.

And did the Bordens keep
any other domestic servants?

Well...
sometimes

a young man came
from the farm

to chop wood,
but he hasn‘t
been round

since...since
last winter.

Then you, uh,
and Miss Borden were
the only persons

in the house the morning
of the slayings,

aside from the victims?

Yes, sir.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Now, Miss Sullivan,

can you describe
the events of that morning

from the time
you arose?

Well...

it--it was very hot
that day. I...

I--I felt
a sort of a...

dull headache
as I got up.

It--it must have been
the mutton broth from
the night before.

Mutton broth?

Yes, sir, uh...

w-we‘d had it
5 days running.

I see, and, uh,

was Miss Borden also
sick that morning?

BRIDGET:
Not at all.

At least
she seemed fit
enough to me.

[Clanging]

[Footsteps approach]

BRIDGET:
Mornin‘, Mr. Borden.

[Water pumping]

There‘s johnnycakes
or cookies
for breakfast.

Which‘ll it be?

Hmph.

Johnnycakes, cookies.

No appetite
for your indigestible
Irish starch this morning.

Any more of that
mutton in broth?

BRIDGET: Yes, sir,

but I suspect
it‘s gone off
in this heat.

Really wants
to be chucked out.

It‘s not fit for
human consumption.

Waste not, want not.

Serve it.

[Door closes]

Mean old skinflint!

Watch your tongue!

I‘ve heard you
call him it often enough.

Still, it‘s not
your place.

Hmph!

[Flies buzzing]

[Sets down lid]

[Screen door slams]

After I served
themselves breakfast,

I commenced to wash up.

That‘s when Mr. Borden
left for downtown.

Did you lock
the door after him?

BRIDGET: Yes, sir,
I locked it.

M-Mr. Borden
was very strict
about that.

When I‘d finished
my dishes,

I took them into
the dining room.

Mrs. Borden
was there,

dusting.

LIZZIE:
Where is Father?

ABBY: Went downtown.

He left while
you were upstairs.

Oh, Bridget, fetch
a pail and some water.

I want the windows washed.

Today, Mrs. Borden?
It‘s awful hot.

Inside and outside, both.

They‘re intolerably dirty.

[Bridget sighs]

Please, Mrs. Borden.

Look, I‘m feelin‘
poorly today.

Couldn‘t it wait,
perhaps?

[Sighs]

[WHISPERS]
Bitch.

Big, fat,
stinkin‘,

smelly cow!

Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk.

I went down
into the cellar

and got a pail
and a brush

and went outdoors.

I started to work
on the...

north side
of the house.

LIZZIE: Maggie?

You going to be
out there long?
Yes.

But you needn‘t
lock the door
unless you want to.

I can get
fresh water
from the barn.

BRIDGET, VOICE-OVER:
After a while,

Mrs. Kelly‘s girl came
to the fence,

and I went over
to talk to her.

[Girls giggling]
But then I went back
to me work.

There‘s an awful lot
of windows in that house,
and I had to go to the barn,

oh...3 or 4 times
for fresh water.
[Pigeons cooing]

During all that time,
I didn‘t...

I did not see anybody
come to the house

until Mr. Borden came home.

[Knock on door]

[Doorbell ringing]

[Knock on door]

[Grunting]

[Giggling]
BRIDGET: Bloody,
blasted thing.

[Giggling continues]

[Knock on door]

[Paper rustling]

Is there any mail?

None for you.

Where‘s Abby?

She had a note
and went out.

Did she say where?

Someone in town
was sick, I think.

Would you like to take
a nap before dinner?

[Clock ticking]

After I‘ve read
my paper.

There‘s a cheap sale
of dress goods

at Sargent‘s
this afternoon,
8 cents a yard.

Aye, I‘m going
to have some.

[Sighs]
But not today
in this heat.

I feel too ill.

Yes, you do
look peaked.

Why don‘t you finish
those windows later?

You can rest before
the noon meal.

I think I‘ll do
just that.

[Water sloshing]

[Sighs]

[Footsteps ascend]

BRIDGET: Then I went
upstairs to my room

and lay down,

without taking off
any of my clothing.

I heard
the city hall clock

start to strike
11:00.

I must have
been there, oh,
3 or 4 minutes.

I--I never went
to sleep at all.

The next thing
I heard was

Miss Lizzie
hollering,

"Maggie? Maggie?"

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Up to the time
Miss Lizzie Borden

told her father
about a note,
which purportedly came

for her stepmother,
had you heard anything
about it from anyone?

BRIDGET: No, sir,
I never had.

Thank you.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

The witness is released
unconditionally,
without bail.

She‘s leaving us,
Lizzie.

MAN: Lizzie Borden
to the stand, please.

[Door closes]

MAN: Do you swear to tell
the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth,
so help you God?

I do.
Please be seated.

JUDGE: Uh, you may begin,
Mr. District Attorney.

Would you please give
the court your full name?

Lizzie Andrew Borden.

Is it Lizzie
or Elizabeth?

Lizzie.

You were so christened?

I was so christened.

What is your age,
please?

32.

Your mother
is not living?

Uh, no, sir.

She died when I was
2 1/2 years old.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
What was your father‘s age?

He will be 70
next month.

He was a successful
businessman?

He‘s very successful,
yes, sir.

Started as a mortician,
I understand,

then branched out
into real estate, banking?

That is correct.

Do you have any idea
how much your father
was worth?

LIZZIE: No, sir.

Did you ever know
of your father
making a will?

No, sir.

Did he ever mention
the subject of wills
to you?

He did not.

Had you been
on pleasant terms
with your stepmother?

LIZZIE:
Oh, yes, sir.

Cordial?

That depends
upon one‘s idea
of cordiality.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
According to your idea
of cordiality?

We were
friendly,

very friendly.

Why did you leave off
calling her Mother?

Because
I wanted to.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
That‘s the best reason
you can give?

I have
no other answer.

In what other respect
was your relationship
with her not that

of mother and daughter,
aside from your not
calling her Mother?

She had never been
a mother to me
in many ways.

I always went to
my sister because
she was older

and had the care
of me after
my mother died.

Now, tell me, Miss Borden,

on the morning
of the murders,

did you get
your own breakfast?

I did not have
any breakfast.

I did not feel
as though I
wanted any.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Sick from the same
mutton broth?

[Rapid slurping]

It was the heat.

[Spoons clinking]

ANDREW: Mmm.

Uh, would you repeat
the question?

We are trying to establish
if you are certain
you were upstairs

when your father came
to the house
on his return.

I think I was.
Now, you remember,
Miss Borden,

you told me you were
downstairs, not upstairs,
when your father came home?

You‘ve forgotten,
perhaps?
[Sighs]

I don‘t know
what I‘ve said.

I have answered
so many questions
and I‘m so confused,

I--I don‘t know
one thing
from another.

LIZZIE:
I‘m telling you
as best I know.

I have no one
to counsel me.

There is no need
for counsel.

This is only
a coroner‘s inquest,
not a trial.

JUDGE: You may continue,
Mr. Knowlton.

Which is your
recollection now?

Were you downstairs
or upstairs when the bell rang
and your father came home?

I think
I was downstairs
in the kitchen.

You think.

Miss Borden, we have been
over this a dozen times,

and each time
a new version.

Now, how will you
have it?

I don‘t know.

I don‘t even know
what your name is.

LIZZIE: I, um...

I think,
as nearly as I know,

I--I think I was
downstairs.

When did you last see
your stepmother?

When she went up

to change the bed
in the spare room.

And you never saw
or heard her afterwards,

until you discovered
your father‘s body,

a period of approximately
one and a half hours?

No, sir.

Did you have any knowledge
of her leaving the house?

She said she had
a note.

Someone was sick.

Did she tell you
where she was going?

No, sir.

Did she tell you who
the note was from?

No, sir.

Did you ever see
the note?

No, sir.
Do you know where
the note is now?

No, sir.

[Sighs]

How long was your father
in the house before
you found him killed?

I don‘t know exactly

because I had to go
out to the barn.

I don‘t think he
could have been home

more than 15
or 20 minutes.

And what were you doing
in the barn all this time?

I needed some lead
for a sinker.

Did you say
a sinker?

LIZZIE: Yes, sir, I...

I was going to Marion
on Monday to fish.

I needed a sinker.

And that‘s all
you did,

look for sinkers?

Yes, sir,
in the loft.

You think
that would take you
15 or 20 minutes?

I ate some pears
up there.

I asked you to tell me
all you did!

I told you
all I did.

I ate my pears.

You stood there, eating
your pears, doing nothing?

I was looking out
of the window.

Stood there, looking
out of the window,
eating your pears?

I should think so.

How many pears
did you eat?

3, I think.

Now, can you tell us,
Miss Borden,

why it took you 10 minutes
to eat 3 pears?

I do not do things
in a hurry.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

JUDGE: It would be a pleasure
for this magistrate,

and it would doubtless
bring much sympathy,

if he could say,
"Lizzie,

"I judge you
probably not guilty

and you may go home."

But let us...
suppose for just...

a single moment

that this is a man before me.

Suppose it was a man
who was found

in the vicinity
of the murders,

and it was he who...
discovered Mr. Borden‘s body.

Suppose the only account

he could give of himself
here was...

unreasonable,

contradictory.

Would there be any question

what would be done
with such a man?

So...

painful as it may be,

there is but one thing
to be done.

[Sobs]

It is the judgment
of this court that
you are found...

probably guilty,

and you are ordered
committed

to await the action
of the Superior Court.

Better?

Yes, thank you.

Please forgive me,

but I now
must ask you a very
disturbing question,

and I want you
to give me a simple
yes or no answer.

Did you kill
your father and Abby?

As your family lawyer,
I must hear it from
your own lips.

I‘m sorry.

I am innocent.

That‘s all I need
to know.

Now, Mr. Jennings,

you must tell me...

what can I expect?

I‘m doing everything
in my power to--

The truth.

You have an obligation
to tell me.

All right.

The worst?

Death by hanging.

[Gasping]

But--but it needn‘t
come to that.

[Wheezing]

Lizzie! Lizzie!

What is it?
What is it, Lizzie?

[Wheezing continues]

Tell me, what is it?

Lizzie.

Matron! Send for Dr. Bowen!

Matron! Matron!

[WHISPERING]
Papa.

Papa.

[WHISPERS]
Papa.

EMMA: Mr. Jennings
has given me his
solemn assurance

that everything humanly possible
is being done for your defense.

He‘s finally retained
Mr. George Robinson

to assist.

Must have been all of
the newspaper publicity

that attracted him.

Imagine,

our former governor
is going to defend you.

Must have cost
a pretty penny.

I‘ve decided
to pay for half
of everything myself.

I can‘t let you
do that, Em.

The cost would be
ruinous.

Even if it takes
every last cent
of my inheritance.

[Chair scrapes across floor]

Mr. Jennings said that
it might take months

to bring me to trial.

I don‘t know
if I can stand it

in this place that long.

I‘ll be with you,
Lizzie.

Oh, Em.

We‘re alone now.

We have no one.

We still have
each other.

Seems we‘ve always
been alone.

Poor Lizzie.

Somehow, I...

It‘s always been
harder for you,
hasn‘t it?

Why do they speak
so cruelly of me, Em?

Who?

District Attorney
Knowlton,

the newspapers.

They call me
"a sphinx of coldness."

Why do they want
to hurt me like that?

Oh, Lizzie.

I don‘t think
they mean to.

It‘s just
that you‘re...

special...

and special people
have always been
misunderstood.

You know that?

Oh, Em...

I don‘t want
to be special.

[Crying]

I know, Lizzie.

I know.

[Humming
"Brahms‘ Lullaby"]

♪ And good night ♪

♪ May thy slumber ♪

♪ Bedight ♪

[Humming]

[Continues crying]

Oh, it‘s perfect!

Oh.

I knew you wanted
something special.

Have you got
the whole ensemble?
Uh-huh.

Read it.

Oh, Lizzie, we must
have gone over this
a hundred times.

Then we‘ll go
over it 101.

Yes, well, there‘s
your new hat,

your navy blue
Bengaline dress--

No!

We said the black,
remember?

The one with the leg
of mutton sleeves.

Oh, yes, I‘m sorry.
I‘ve forgotten.

And your little brooch.

The one with the posies.
Mm-hmm.

It‘s in the top
left drawer of
my chiffonier.

Oh, and don‘t forget
my 6-button, black
kid gloves.

I won‘t.

Mr. Julian Ralph of
the "New York Sun."

Says he‘s here
for an interview.

Oh, gracious.
I completely forgot.

Give me a moment,
will you?

You don‘t mind,
do you, Em?

I understand your
father‘s estate came

to more than a quarter
of a million dollars.

LIZZIE:
Only slightly.

All these months
of legal expenses are
fast eating it away.

Well, the point is
one can‘t help
wondering

why a family of
the Borden means
didn‘t enjoy

even the simplest
convenience
of a bathroom.

Surely your father
could afford
more than

just a, uh,
basement latrine.

But he wanted
to give us all bathrooms.
We begged him not to.

You see, we had
intended to move
very shortly

to a more fashionable
location on the hill.

It seemed a, uh,
an expensive extravagance

for such temporary
conveniences.

My father was a kind
and considerate man,
Mr. Ralph.

Such stories about him
are a vicious slander.

You‘re a most unusual
woman, Miss Borden.

Difficult to penetrate.

What is it like

for a lady
of your station,
of your sensibilities,

to be here in prison?

The, um,

the hardest thing...

for me to stand
is the night,

when there is no light.

They will not
even allow me
a candle to read by.

To sit here

all the evenings
in the dark is very hard.

There is one thing
that hurts me very much.

They say I don‘t show
any grief.

Certainly I don‘t
in public.

I never did reveal
my feelings,

and I cannot change
my nature now.

They say I don‘t cry.

They should see me
when I am alone.

"Yet District Attorney
Knowlton urges us
to believe

"that Miss Borden
is capable of any
cold-blooded deed,

"even the murder
of her father
and his wife.

"Mr. Knowlton goes
so far as to call her
sphinx of coldness,

"not even moved to wear
mourning out of respect,

"but Miss Borden
explains it so simply,
so honestly.

"‘There was not
a moment when I
could think

"‘of such things
as hat or dress.

"‘Somebody was talking
to me all the time

about the murders and
asking me questions.‘"

Now here‘s the part
that really galls:

"‘If people would
only do me justice,
that is all I ask,

"‘but it seems as if
every word I utter
is distorted and such

"‘a false construction
placed on it that I am
bewildered.‘

"There was not a trace
of anger in her tone,

simply a pitiful
expression."

Rubbish!

Cheap, feminist
sentimentality.

I told you
public sentiment
would be on her side.

Lizzie Borden is
a Sunday School
teacher, Hosea,

a devoted worker
for temperance,

Christian aid,
and foreign missions.

She is held
in high esteem
in this community,

very high esteem.

KNOWLTON: Mr. Mayor,
that woman is a murderess.

I hope you can
prove that, Hosea.

Oh, we‘d better be
on our way.

Can‘t miss
the opening session.

Coming,
Mrs. Knowlton?

I‘ll be along
shortly, Your Honor.
You two go ahead.

KNOWLTON: Ah...

It‘s not too late
to pull out, Hosea.

No, sir.

Every time I see
this case being tried

in the press like this,
I‘m more determined than ever

to see Miss Lizzie Borden
tried and convicted
in the courts.

[People shouting]

[Sighs]

[Key turning in lock]

LIZZIE: Well?
Where are they?

Oh, Lizzie, the crowds.
You cannot imagine.

I said the 6-button
black gloves!

Oh.

Oh, dear, I‘m sorry.
In my haste, I--

How can you be
so witless?
Well, I‘ll go back

and fetch
the other pair--
Never mind.

Never mind.
There isn‘t time.

Sometimes I think
you actually want
to see me hang.

That‘s a very cruel
thing to say, Lizzie.

Oh, Em.

[Sighs]
I‘m sorry.

[Key turning in lock]

It‘s time. They‘ll not
wait any longer.

[Parade music playing]

[Horses whinny]

[People shouting]

Get out of the way!

You have no right
to do that!

[Shouting continues]

Deplorable.

I suppose we can‘t
blame them.

They haven‘t had
a good witch hunt in
this state since Salem.

[Murmuring gallery
goes quiet]

[Music continues outside]

[Door closes]

[Murmuring resumes]

BAILIFF: Hear ye,
hear ye, hear ye.

All rise.

[Murmuring stops]

All persons having
anything to do

before the Honorable
Justices Mason, Blodgett,

and Dewey
of the Superior Court
for Criminal Business

now sitting
at Bristol, draw near.

Give your attention
and you shall be heard.

God save the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.

Be seated.

MAN: Now tell us,
Miss Sullivan,

did you ever have
any trouble there
in the Borden family?

No, sir.

ROBINSON:
A pleasant place to live?

Yes, sir,
I liked it.

ROBINSON: And for aught
you know, they liked you?

[Exhales]

I...suppose so.

So you, uh,
never saw anything

out of the way?

BRIDGET:
No, sir.

Never saw any conflict
in the family?

No, sir.

Never saw anything
in the least, um...

any quarreling
or anything of that kind?

BRIDGET:
No, sir.

LIZZIE:
Then Maggie is lying!

I swear to you,
Father,

I did not take
the money from your desk.

That is God‘s truth.
What would she know
about the truth,

always making things up,
imagining things?

ANDREW:
Lizzie, till now,
I have protected you,

I have excused you,
I have paid your fines,

I‘ve prayed
for your soul.

I‘ve endured the shame
and humiliation

as a parent
and a Christian,
but this is the limit,

when you steal
from your own father!

If I did,

and I most certainly
did not...

would it be any wonder?

Well, you talk of shame.

What of mine, when I‘m
forced to walk
down the street

year after year
in the same old dresses?

Oh, listen to her.
Spoiled rotten, she is.

The way we live.

Why, we can‘t even
entertain properly--

Entertain, indeed!
Who would you invite?

This house.

Lord, how I hate this house!

No baths,
no modern conveniences!

[Sighs]

Did you know

that we are
laughingstocks, Father?

It‘s true.

Behind your back,
people snigger
and call you skinflint.

That will be enough!

I don‘t understand
you, girl.

You and I were
always so close.

Specially close.

Yes, Father.

LIZZIE: Specially.

Then--then why do you
behave like this?

I am suffocating.

Father, look at me!

I‘m 32
and practically

a prisoner in this
ugly old house.

Well, you‘re perfectly free
to come and go as you like.

And how far
would I get

on the paltry
$200 allowance

you allow me
each year?

Emma seems to manage.

I notice it didn‘t
keep her from going
on the grand tour

of Europe
two summers ago.

Yes.

And you‘ll never get
over that, will you,
Mrs. Borden?

Well, that money
was mine.

Every penny, mine!

ANDREW: If you chose
to squander your mother‘s
inheritance,

you have no one
to blame but yourself.

ABBY: And half
of Emma‘s to boot!
Don‘t forget that!

I‘m sure
you won‘t let him!

And making
Emma sleep in that
cramped, stuffy room

while Her Royal Highness
gets the big, airy one
all to herself.

I never could abide
small, dark places,

even as a child.

Emma knows that.

LIZZIE: She wanted me
to have the big bedroom,

didn‘t you, Em?

ABBY: Oh, we know
all about you
and your way,

Princess Lizzie.

We know how
you twist arms

and throw
tantrums just
to get your way.

If I were not a lady...

I should twist your arm,

Mrs. Borden,
right out of its socket!

I will have no more
of this! Go.

Now, I have warned you
repeatedly, Lizzie.

One way or another,
you will learn not
to bite the hand

that feeds you,
if I have to
cut you off!

JUDGE: You may step down.

[Gallery murmuring]

KNOWLTON: Call Dr. Bowen
to the stand, please.

BAILIFF: Dr. Seabury Bowen
to the stand, please.

Dr. Bowen...

can you describe what
Miss Borden had on
that morning?

[Scoffs]

I wouldn‘t know,
sir.

It was sort
of drab,

not much color.

It was sort of a...
morning calico,
I should guess.

You say it was drab.

Well, I merely
mean to say

that the dress--
Answer the question.

Well, if you‘d just
wait a minute--
No, answer the question.

Did it appear to you to be
a drab-color dress?

I am telling you,
sir, I don‘t know.

DR. BOWEN:
I didn‘t intend
to try to describe

a woman‘s dress
at the inquest,

and I do not
intend to now.

Well, perhaps
you can at least tell us
if it was this dress.

Your Honors, really!
This is the government‘s
own witness!

I am merely trying
to establish whether
or not the witness knows

what the accused was
wearing minutes after
the last murder,

and if he, a man
of medicine, observed
any blood on her.

The witness may answer
the question.

I should think
it was not that dress.

[Gallery murmuring]

KNOWLTON:
Your witness.

Now...

Dr. Bowen...

going back to the time

shortly after the discovery
of the second body,

were you summoned to
Miss Lizzie‘s bedside to
administer any medicine?

Yes, sir,
Miss Russell came to
fetch me upstairs,

and I gave Lizzie
a preparation called

bromo caffeine
to quiet

her nervous
excitement
and her headache.

ROBINSON: And did you
subsequently administer

any other medicines
of that kind?

Yes, sir, sulfate
of morphine.

In what doses?

One-eighth
of a grain.

However,
I doubled that
the next day.

And how long did she continue
having the morphine?

All the time she was
in the jailhouse.

[Gallery murmuring]

In other words,
she was receiving

regular injections
of morphine all the time...

up to her arrest,
through the hearing,

and while confined
in the jailhouse?

Yes, sir.

ROBINSON:
Tell me, Dr. Bowen,
does not morphine,

given in double doses,
somewhat affect the memory,

change and alter
the view of things?

Doesn‘t it muddle
the thinking,
confuse the mind?

DR. BOWEN: Yes, sir,

it does cause
hallucinations.

ROBINSON: So that anyone
giving testimony while
under its influence

might tend to seem
contradictory,

to give
conflicting story?

Yes, sir.

When did you stop
giving her
this drug?

I‘ve not stopped.

She‘s still
receiving it.

[Gallery murmuring]

ROBINSON:
Thank you, Dr. Bowen.
That will be all.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

KNOWLTON: You mentioned
that Miss Borden paid a visit

to your home on the evening
before the murders?

ALICE: That is correct.

Can you tell us
the purpose of that visit?

Lizzie was
very troubled.

She said that she
couldn‘t help but feel

that something sinister
was going to happen.

Sinister?

Yes.

She said that her father
was having trouble

with his business
associates, and that
she was afraid

that someone was going
to do harm to him.

She told me

that the barn
had already been
broken into,

and all of
her pet pigeons
had been killed.

I tried to reassure her
that it must have been

some of the local boys
up to mischief...

but Lizzie felt sure
that it wasn‘t.

LIZZIE: No!

Father, no! Please!

Papa! Please!

Please! No!

Not the pigeons,
Papa! Please!

Fly.

Fly!

Papa, all those
beautiful birds.

Why?

Now let those young
whippersnappers try

stealing any more
of my pigeons and see
what they find.

But they were mine.

Yours?

Let me remind you, girl,
everything on this place
belongs to me.

What‘s mine is mine,

and I will dispose
of it as I see fit.

[Whimpers]

[Screen door opens
and closes]

[Crying]

LIZZIE: Papa,
they were mine!

ALICE: I tried to set
her mind at rest...

but Lizzie
confided in me

that even the house
had been broken into,

in broad daylight,
when she

and Emma and Bridget
were at home.

And as she left...

she said that she
wished she could sleep
with one eye open,

for fear that they would
come in the night...

and burn the house down
over the family‘s head.

Hmm.

And all this the very night
before the murders?

Yes.

Was Miss Borden
accustomed to making such
nocturnal visits to you?

Only on rare occasion.

And this was certainly
a most rare occasion?

Now, Miss Russell,

can you tell us, please,
about the incident

which took place the day
after the funerals,

while you were
still staying
at the Borden house?

An incident
involving a certain
Bedford cord dress?

Yes.

That was on Sunday.

Miss Lizzie,
Miss Emma and I had
breakfast together.

Bridget was not
at home.

I went up
to the bedroom,

and then,
when I came down,

I saw Lizzie
standing there with
the dress in her hands.

[Poker clanging]

Lizzie, what are you
going to do?

I‘m going to burn
this old thing.
It‘s covered with paint.

Oh, Lizzie,
I wouldn‘t do that
where people can see me,

in broad daylight.

Lizzie,

there‘s a policeman
in the yard.

That is probably
the worst thing
you could have done.

What if they ask us
about that dress?

Why did you let me
do it?!

LIZZIE:
Why didn‘t you tell me?!

KNOWLTON: Thank you,
Miss Russell.

No more questions,
Your Honor.

KNOWLTON: Your witness.

ROBINSON: No questions
at this time.

JUDGE: Witness may
step down, please.

The woman‘s a fool.

She needn‘t have
testified to that.

She is a Christian
woman, sir.

It is the truth.

Nonetheless, my dear,
we shall nip this
in the bud at once.

Fear not.

May it please Your Honors,
at this time, we should like

to recall the dressmaker,
Mrs. Mary Raymond.

BAILIFF: Mary Raymond
to the stand.

Yes, I made
a Bedford cord dress

for Lizzie
in about April
of last year.

Now, Mrs. Raymond,
will you please tell
the court what became

of that dress,
on the very day
that you completed

the final fitting
at Miss Borden‘s home?

Why, yes.

The men were
painting

the upstairs hall
and landing.

When Lizzie rushed out
to show her new dress
to her sister,

she brushed against
the fresh paint.

The dress was ruined,
of course.

Of course.

No further questions.
Thank you.

[Gallery murmuring]

KNOWLTON:
Now, Mr. Hilliard,

can you tell us if this was
the hatchet you found

in a box behind the chimney
in the Bordens‘ cellar?

It, uh, looks
like it, mm-hmm.

The handle was broken
like this?

Yes, sir, broken
up close like that.
Mm-hmm.

KNOWLTON:
Did you observe
anything peculiar

about the break
in the handle
at that time?

I did.

It was a fresh break,
a--a new break.

KNOWLTON: Thank you.
No more questions,
Your Honor.

What can I do
for you today,
Miss Lizzie?

Oh, I--I‘m afraid
I got some paint stains
on a perfectly new dress.

I would like to buy
some naphtha with which
to remove them.

Do you carry it?
Certainly.
I‘ll fetch you some.

[Distant dog barking]

I imagine
a pint‘ll do.

Oh, yes,
that‘s perfect.
Thank you.

Please send
the bill.
Mm-hmm.

Good day.
Good day.

[Bell over door rings]

Miss Borden
took something.

What?
I couldn‘t quite see,

but I‘m sure
she took something.

Mmm,
doesn‘t matter.

Why didn‘t you stop her?

No need.

Old Man Borden
always pays.

Told all the merchants
up and down the street

to tack a little
something onto the bill
whenever it happens.

Miss Borden asked
to buy 10 cents‘ worth
of prussic acid.

Naturally, I informed her
we did not sell prussic acid

unless by a physician‘s
prescription.

And what did she
say to that?

She said she‘d bought it
several times before,

so I says, "Well,
my good lady,
not from me."

Prussic acid is
a very dangerous
thing to handle.

KNOWLTON: Mm-hmm.

Did she tell you
why she wanted such
a lethal poison?

I understood her
to say

she wanted to clean
a sealskin cape.

[Gallery chuckling]

[Gavel pounds]

Order in this court!

Your Honors, I must protest
the use of such testimony.

As part of the defendant‘s
inquest testimony, it is
perfectly admissible.

I am trying to prove
prior intent.

Your Honors, may we have
a ruling on the admissibility

of my client‘s testimony
at the inquest?

It was taken at a time
when she was under arrest

and denied counsel.

[Judges whispering]

Will you both please
approach the bench?

[Gallery murmuring]

Inadmissible.

Every bit of her inquest
testimony inadmissible

because that fool
Judge Blaisdell
denied her proper counsel.

Terrible blow,

terrible.

I built my entire case
on her inquest testimony.
Now I‘ve got nothing.

What about
Miss Russell‘s
testimony?

That was
most damaging.

Wasn‘t it odd that she
should come forward
on her own like that?

Yes, her conscience was
troubling her, my dear.

Seems she neglected
to mention the dress
burning incident

when the police first
questioned her.
Ha!

Great stroke
of luck.

Personally, I don‘t believe
it was that dress.

Lizzie Borden wouldn‘t
have been such a fool,

which leaves me
still wondering
what did she wear.

Nonetheless,
I‘m sure that the case
you‘ve made so far

will stand on
its own merits, Hosea.

Not if Robinson keeps
getting our witnesses

to discredit
their own testimony.

He‘s a shrewd devil,
our ex-governor.

I trust you have
more cards up
your sleeve, Hosea.

I needn‘t remind you
how much is
at stake here.

No.

One, perhaps,

and it had better be
a trump card.

MAN: On August 10th,
last, at the Harvard
Medical School

where I am Professor
of Chemistry,

I received the evidence
there exhibited.

Briefly, Dr. Wood,
can you tell us the results

of your examinations;
the hair on that hatchet,
for example?

It did not match
the samples of hair
from either victim.

It is animal hair,
probably cow‘s hair.

Now, what about
this dress?

Did you not find
minute traces of blood
on the skirts?

Yes, but certainly not
from either of the victims.

KNOWLTON: Well,
how do you explain that?

They are undoubtedly
menstrual blood from
the defendant herself.

[Gallery murmuring]

KNOWLTON: And let me
ask you, Doctor...

if this hatchet

could have been used
and then cleansed,

so as to remove
any trace of blood?

DR. WOOD: No,
not by a quick washing,
as you‘ve suggested,

and it would be nearly
impossible to wash blood
off that broken end.

[WHISPERING]
This is dreadful.

There was no time to go
over Dr. Wood‘s testimony.

He just got in
from Boston an hour ago.

No more questions.

KNOWLTON: Your witness.

ROBINSON:
In other words, Dr. Wood,

assuming the assailant
wore the same clothing

during both murders,
he most probably
would have been

splattered with blood
from head to foot,
is that right?

In my opinion, yes.

And yet, every witness
has testified

that the accused
showed no signs
whatsoever of blood

upon her clothing
just moments

after the last murder.

Thank you, Your Honors.
No further questions.

ABBY, ECHOING:
Don‘t make me laugh,
don‘t make me laugh...

You know as well as I
they‘d turn me out
in the cold

if anything
happened to you.

What more can I do?
You can draw up

another will,
put everything
in my name.

Let me see
to their needs.

It‘s little enough
to grant your poor,
defenseless widow.

ANDREW: Now don‘t
rush things, woman.
I‘m not dead yet.

I‘ll not be turned out
onto the streets to starve

like a stray dog.
[Scoffs]

She could live off
her own fat for years.

Shh!
ABBY: Andrew.

You owe me that much.
All right, all right!

I‘ll see my lawyer
next week. Now may I
please get some rest?

I‘ll see her dead first.

Lizzie.

You can spend
the rest
of your life

begging crumbs
off that old sow.

Not I.

Lizzie...

please.

You always frighten me
when you get like this.

He must never make
a new will.

I...

I, uh...

I‘m going to visit
the Brownells
in Fairhaven.

I--I‘ll leave tomorrow.

Yes.

Yes, you go
to Fairhaven.

KNOWLTON: Call Dr. Draper
to the stand, please.

BAILIFF:
Dr. Frank Draper
to the stand.

Were you able
to determine the size
of the cutting edge

of the murder weapon
from any of the wounds,
Dr. Draper?

Not from
Mrs. Borden‘s skull,

but I was able to
effect a conclusion

from Mr. Borden‘s
skull.

Hmm.

In that case, though I
deeply regret it,
I shall have to ask

your colleague,
Dr. Wood, to produce
the skull in question.

Very well.

[Gallery murmuring]

[Murmuring grows louder]

KNOWLTON:
Now, Dr. Draper,

if you will please try
to fit that hatchet
into the wound?

[Gasps]
EMMA:
Oh! Lizzie!

[Gavel pounding]
JUDGE: Order in the court!

Order in the court!

[Judge sighs]

This court will be
adjourned till 9:00
tomorrow morning.

My dear, I have
told you repeatedly

I have no stomach
for undercooked meat.

Well, let me get you
something else.

No, never mind.
Lost my appetite anyway.

Just some coffee.

I shall be glad
when this trial is over.

It‘s beginning
to tell on you.

It‘s not a trial,
it‘s a sideshow.

That woman actually
believes she can
get off scot-free

by hiding behind
her skirts.

What else has she?

I‘m sorry, Hosea.

It‘s just
that it seems to me

that you men have
only yourselves
to blame if--

if women hide behind
their femininity
as a last defense.

After all,

you cast us
in this role.

You look
upon your womanhood
as a role, my dear?

It‘s not always
a convenient part
to play.

I‘ve never
heard you talk
like this.

Next you‘ll be
asking for
the vote.

I gather you
sympathize with
this murderess.

She has not
as yet been found
guilty, Hosea.

But you do
sympathize
with her?

Certainly not
with her deeds...

but perhaps
with her motives.

[Scoffs, chuckles]

Her motives?

Now, what would you know
about her motives?

I should think
a great deal, Hosea.

You have no idea
how unbearably heavy

these skirts
can be at times.

[Parade music playing]

[Overlapping chatter]

[People shouting]

ROBINSON: When did you next
see the Bedford cord dress?

Uh...

Sunday morning.

I was washing
dishes and...

I turned and saw
my sister Lizzie
at the stove,

and she had
the dress in
her hands.

She said...

"I think
I‘ll burn this
old dress up."

And I said,
"Yes, why
don‘t you?"

or--or something
like that.

ROBINSON: Was Miss Russell
present at the time?

Yes, sir,

and she said
afterwards
that it was

the worst thing
Lizzie could
have done,

and of course,
we knew that she
was right, but...

it just didn‘t
occur to us until
that moment.

Did your father wear
a ring, Miss Emma,
upon his finger?

EMMA:
Yes, sir, he did.

Was or was not that
the only article
of jewelry he wore?

The only article.

From whom did he
receive the ring?

From my sister,
Lizzie,

many years ago.

ROBINSON: Previously
to his wearing it,
had she worn it?

EMMA: Yes, sir.

It was her favorite.

ROBINSON: Did he wear it
constantly after that?

EMMA: Always.

CHILD: ♪ La... ♪

♪ La... ♪

♪ La... ♪

♪ La... ♪

He looks so old.

ROBINSON: Your witness.

KNOWLTON: Were the relations
between you and Lizzie and
your stepmother cordial?

Between my sister
and Mrs. Borden,

they were.

When did she cease
calling her "Mother"?

I don‘t remember,

but it was
some time ago.

KNOWLTON:
But prior to that, she
had called her "Mother"?

EMMA: Yes, sir,

from childhood.

Mrs. Borden says
you‘re not to work
too late, Papa.

I want you to call
her "Mother," Lizzie.

She‘s not my mother.

My mother‘s dead.

You still having
those bad dreams
about your mother?

Oh...

it was
a long time ago.

Besides, death is nothing
to be afraid of, Lizzie.

It‘s nothing more than
a long, peaceful repose.

Do you remember
"Sleeping Beauty"?

Well, then, look.

Look.

You see how serene
she looks?

Hmm. Feel.

Feel the flesh, yes.

Smooth and cool
to the touch.

Go on, Lizzie.
You mustn‘t be afraid.

No!
[Screaming]

ROBINSON:
Gentlemen of the jury,

let me remind you

of those touching words,

"The eyes that cannot weep

are the saddest eyes
of all."

Andrew Borden went
to his grave

wearing upon his hand

a pledge of love
and faith--

the ring...

that belonged to
his little girl.

To find her guilty,
you must believe her
to be a fiend!

Does she look it?

[Gallery murmuring]

JUDGE: Lizzie Andrew Borden.

[Sighs]

It is your privilege
to add any word

which you may desire
to say in person to the jury.

I am innocent.

I leave it
to my counsel
to speak for me.

[Overlapping chatter]

MAN: They‘re coming in!
They‘re coming in!

The jury is coming in!

[People shouting]

JUDGE:
Lizzie Andrew Borden,

put up your right hand.

Foreman...

look upon the prisoner.

Prisoner, look
upon the foreman.

What say you,
Mr. Foreman?

Is the prisoner
at the bar guilty

or not guilty?

[Footsteps]

LIZZIE: Maggie?

You going to be
out there long?

BRIDGET: Yes,
but you needn‘t

lock the door
unless you want to.

I can get
fresh water
from the barn.

[Distant dog barking]

[Clock ticking]

[Door locks clang]

[Women giggling outside]

[Indistinct chatter]

God, it‘s so hot.

[Both giggle]

[Chatter continues]

Abby?

Uhh!

[Door creaks]

[Door opens, closes]

[Clock ticking]

[Knocking on door,
doorbell rings]

[Knocking continues]

BRIDGET: Oh, you
blasted thing.

[Giggling]

[Giggling stops]

[Door locking]

Where‘s Bridget?

Upstairs in her room,
taking a nap before
the noon meal.

You‘re a strange girl,
Lizzie.

One minute
as hard and cold
as a gravestone...

the next as loving
as any father
could wish.

Wonder what goes on
in that mind of yours.

I guess we‘ll
never know.

Papa?

[Distant bell tolling]

[Young Lizzie giggles]

[Clock ticking loudly]

[Young Lizzie screams]

[Clock chiming]

[Door closes]

[Water sloshing]

[Splash]

[Creak]

JUDGE: What say you,
Mr. Foreman?

Is the prisoner
at the bar guilty

or not guilty?

Not guilty.

[Gallery clamoring]

JUDGE: Order! Order!

Order in this court!

Lizzie Andrew Borden.

Lizzie Andrew Borden,

the court orders
that you will be discharged

in this indictment
and go thereof without delay.

Emma!
[Judge shouts]

[Gavel pounds]

Emma!

[Parade music playing]

[Cheers and applause]

[Horse whinnies]

This way,
Miss Borden.

LIZZIE: Emma!

[Crowd clamoring]

MAN: And, Miss Borden,
how does it feel to be
a free woman again?

[Pigeon cooing]

[Crowd applauding]

[Festive music fades]

[Clock ticking]

[Scraping sounds]

[Carriage approaching]

[Horse whinnies]

Whoa.

Whoa.

[Gate creaks]

[Birds chirping]

Em?

Emma?

Oh, it‘s over, Em!

We‘ve won!

Dinner will be
ready soon.

Why don‘t you
make yourself
comfortable?

Didn‘t you hear me?

We‘re free!

At last,
we‘re really free!

Nothing to prepare
a meal...

now that there are
only the two of us.

Emma,
sometimes I don‘t
understand you.

Lizzie...

I‘m only going
to ask you this
once more,

and then I shall
never mention it again
as long as I live.

Did you kill Father?

GIRL: ♪ Lizzie Borden
took an ax ♪

♪ Gave her mother
40 whacks ♪

♪ When she saw what
she had done ♪

♪ Gave her father 41 ♪

♪ Lizzie Borden took an ax ♪