Original subtitles

POLICE.

ANYBODY HOME?

HELLO?

LOS ANGELES, CITY OF BROKEN DREAMS.

YOU GOTTA LOOK OUT FOR YOURSELF IN THIS TOWN.

NOTHING HERE IS A SURE BET.

CRIMINY.

DAMN.

FRED!

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?

FRED!

FRED!

IT'S COMING FROM THE CLOSET.

FRED! BUT THE ONE THING

YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON IN HOLLYWOOD...

HERE! ...IS A SURPRISE ENDING.

BUT YOU CAN BET ON THIS --

NO ONE SAW THIS ONE COMING.

WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.

WE CAME HOME FROM A PARTY ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO.

THE OFFICERS LEARN THE WOMAN

THAT WAS TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET IS WALBURGA OESTERREICH,

THE WIFE OF THE MURDER VICTIM.

WALBURGA GOES BY THE NAME DOLLY.

WHEN I WENT TO HANG UP MY FUR STOLE IN THE CLOSET...

FRED.

FRED, IT'S NOT FUNNY!

I THOUGHT IT WAS FRED.

THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.

THEN I HEARD GUNSHOTS.

MA'AM, AN OFFICER IS GONNA SIT WITH YOU.

YOU -- YOU CAN CALL ME DOLLY.

BACK DOWNSTAIRS, DETECTIVE CLINE

IS TAKING IN THE ENTIRETY OF THE CRIME SCENE.

THE FRONT ROOM WHERE FRED'S BODY IS,

EVERYTHING'S KNOCKED OVER.

IT'S A TOTAL MESS.

THE BULLET HIT RIGHT THERE, BOSS.

FRED'S A MIDDLE-AGED MAN.

AND HE'S BEEN SHOT TWICE IN THE CHEST, ONCE IN THE HEAD.

AND THERE'S ALSO A BULLET THAT THEY FOUND IN THE CEILING.

THEY FIND TWO CASINGS FOR A .25-CALIBER HANDGUN.

HOWEVER, A GUN WAS NOT RECOVERED FROM THE SCENE.

TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING'S MISSING.

THEY NOTICE THAT HE'S BEEN WEARING A POCKET WATCH.

BROKE OFF DURING THE STRUGGLE?

YEAH, OR TORN OFF.

BUT THE CHAIN'S BROKEN.

AND THERE'S NO ACTUAL WATCH CONNECTED TO IT.

I DON'T SEE IT.

SOMEONE REALLY WANTED THAT WATCH?

IT WAS,

UNUSUAL...

OCTAGONAL AND DIAMONDS AROUND.

DOLLY TOLD POLICE THAT IT WAS A VERY DISTINCTIVE WATCH

THAT WAS DIAMOND-STUDDED

THAT SHE GAVE HIM AS A GIFT

BACK WHEN THEY LIVED IN MILWAUKEE.

YOU'RE FROM WISCONSIN.

WE MOVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO

WHEN FRED OPENED A FACTORY

LIKE WE HAD IN MILWAUKEE.

WE MAKE APRONS.

BEFORE THEY MOVED TO LOS ANGELES,

FRED AND DOLLY RAN A BIG GARMENT FACTORY IN MILWAUKEE.

THAT'S HOW I CAME TO KNOW THE OESTERREICHS.

FRED WAS MY BOSS.

AS A WORKING GIRL IN THE NINETEEN-TEENS,

I WAS NO STRANGER TO ADVENTURE.

I FIGURED I MIGHT AS WELL MOVE WITH THE JOB.

DOLLY TELLS THE INVESTIGATORS THAT SHE AND FRED

HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

THEY MOVED OUT FROM WISCONSIN

FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO EXPAND THEIR GARMENT BUSINESS.

FRED OESTERREICH,

HE HAD AMASSED A FORTUNE OF ABOUT $500,000.

IN TODAY'S DOLLARS, IT'S SEVEN MILLION BUCKS.

THAT'S A LOT OF REASONS TO DO SOMETHING EVIL TO THE MAN.

HAS ANYONE EVER BROKEN INTO YOUR HOME?

YES.

DOLLY SAID THERE ACTUALLY HAD BEEN

TWO ATTEMPTED BURGLARIES.

MY HUSBAND, HE WOULD HEAR THINGS IN THE NIGHT.

FRED REPORTED THAT HE HAD HEARD SOME ODD NOISES.

THERE WAS SOME MISSING MONEY, SOME MISSING FOOD.

DOLLY!

DID YOU EAT THE STEAK?

STEAKS WOULD BE MISSING FROM THE ICE BOX.

WHEN THE COPS LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE,

THEY REALIZE NOTHING ELSE

HAS BEEN TAKEN, INCLUDING FRED'S WALLET,

WHICH IS INCHES AWAY FROM THE WATCH THAT WAS STOLEN.

WHY JUST THE WATCH?

WELL, I'M THINKING ONE, TWO PEOPLE MAX.

THEY'RE IN THE LIVING ROOM.

THEN DOLLY AND FRED COME HOME.

THE POLICE ARE THINKING FRED AND DOLLY

INTERRUPTED A BURGLARY IN PROGRESS.

DOLLY GOES STRAIGHT UPSTAIRS.

BUT FRED SURPRISES THEM IN THE LIVING ROOM.

ONE OF THEM SHOVES DOLLY IN THE CLOSET.

BUT FRED, MEANWHILE,

IS DOWN HERE STRUGGLING WITH THE OTHER ONE FOR THE GUN.

THEN THESE CLOWNS, THEY GET SCARED.

THEY GRAB THE WATCH. AND THEY RUN.

POLICE ASKED THE NEIGHBORS OF THE OESTERREICHS

ABOUT THE ATTEMPTS TO BURGLE THE HOUSE.

MA'AM, DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING STRANGE GOING ON

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD?

THERE HAVE BEEN SOME STRANGE THINGS HAPPENING.

THE NEIGHBORS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS MULTIPLE

ATTEMPTED BREAK-INS IN THE LAST YEAR.

ONE NEIGHBOR TOLD POLICE THAT SHE HEARD GUNSHOTS.

AND THEN SHE HEARD A WOMAN'S VOICE YELLING,

"FRED! FRED!"

DID YOU SEE A PERSON OR PERSONS LEAVING THE HOUSE?

I SAW SOMETHING, A SHADOW.

SHE SAW A SHADOW CROSSING TOWARD THE BACK OF THE HOUSE.

AND 15 TO 20 MINUTES LATER,

ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE HOUSE WENT OUT.

WHAT ARE BURGLARS DOING STAYING ON THE SCENE OF A CRIME

15 OR 20 MINUTES AFTER THE MURDER?

**

IN 1922, L.A. WAS AN EXCITING PLACE

FOR A MIDWESTERN GIRL LIKE ME.

THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN WAS ABOUT TO BE PUT UP.

AND THE PICTURES KEPT GETTING MORE OUTRAGEOUS.

BUT NOTHING WAS AS OVER-THE-TOP

AS WHAT I WAS STARTING TO HEAR ABOUT THE OESTERREICHS.

SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S TIME WE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WIFE.

THE WIFE WHO WAS LOCKED IN THE CLOSET?

JUST SEEMS LIKE SHE WAS READY TO INHERIT A BUNCH OF DOUGH.

I CHECKED A HUNDRED TIMES.

NO GETTING OUT OF THERE FROM THE INSIDE.

YEAH, I GRANT YOU IT'S A HELL OF AN ALIBI.

MAYBE SHE HAD ANOTHER FELLA HELPING HER OUT, THOUGH.

DOLLY'S NOT A SUSPECT

UNLESS THERE'S A CO-CONSPIRATOR.

AND THAT BREEDS THE QUESTION, DID SHE HAVE A LOVER?

SO, THIS WAS FRED'S OFFICE?

YEAH.

DID YOU EVER SEE MRS. OESTERREICH

WITH A MAN OTHER THAN HER HUSBAND?

NO, SIR, NOBODY BUT MR. OESTERREICH.

ALL THE NEIGHBORS AND ASSOCIATES SAID,

"NO, DOLLY'S NEVER BEEN WITH ANOTHER MAN."

WE HAVE TO ASK YOU THIS --

DID FRED EVER STEP OUT ON DOLLY?

N-- NO.

NO, NO.

HE WAS WORKING ALL THE TIME.

FRED DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TIME FOR DOLLY,

MUCH LESS ANOTHER WOMAN IN HIS LIFE.

GOOD TO HIS EMPLOYEES?

HE HAD A TEMPER, GOT A LITTLE ANXIOUS,

LOOKING-OVER-YOUR-SHOULDER KIND OF TYPE.

BUT...

FRED'S A REALLY RICH GUY.

AND DID HE MAKE A LOT OF ENEMIES

DURING THE COURSE OF HIS BUSINESS?

YOU'RE BEHIND, MISS.

I'LL CATCH UP, MR. OESTERREICH.

THAT'S RIGHT, YOU WILL!

BUT I DON'T BLAME HIM.

HE HAD MONEY.

INVESTIGATORS SATISFY THEMSELVES ABOUT THE, PERHAPS,

COMPETING LOVE INTERESTS AND RULED THAT OUT.

SO NOW THEY'VE MOVED TO FRED HIMSELF

AND, IN PARTICULAR, FRED'S BUSINESS LIFE.

THE POLICE WANTED TO EXAMINE FRED'S PERSONAL PAPERS.

YOU'LL SEE ALL THE NUMBERS ARE HERE.

FRED WAS METICULOUS.

DOLLY HIRES AN ATTORNEY BY THE NAME OF HERMAN SHAPIRO.

SHE COOPERATED AND TURNED

THE PERSONAL PAPERS OVER TO THE OFFICERS.

NOW, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE IN ORDER.

BUT NOTHING OF ANY MEANING WAS FOUND IN THE PAPERS.

POLICE BRING HIS OLD PLANT MANAGER

FROM MILWAUKEE TO LOS ANGELES

TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS.

WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU

IS A TRUTHFUL DEPICTION OF YOUR BOSS.

I UNDERSTAND.

HE DRANK.

AND MOST OF THE TIME, HE WAS A HOLY TERROR.

PERRY VOSE TELLS CLINE

THAT FRED WAS A HARD DRINKER.

THAT HE WAS DIFFICULT TO WORK FOR.

AND NOT A WHOLE LOTTA PEOPLE LIKED FRED.

AFTER RAYMOND DIED, IT GOT WORSE.

Kilgariff FRED AND DOLLY DID HAVE A SON, RAYMOND.

HE DIED OVER 10 YEARS BEFORE.

LOSING A CHILD,

I THINK, IS EVERY PARENT'S GREATEST FEAR.

AND FRED COPES WITH HIS LOSS OF HIS SON

BY WORKING MORE, BY DRINKING MORE.

I COULDN'T HOLD FRED'S TEMPER AGAINST HIM.

ANY GOOD EMPLOYEE KNOWS

THAT IT'S PART OF THE JOB DESCRIPTION

TO MANAGE THE MANAGER.

HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF YOU LOST YOUR KID?

ANYWAY, DOLLY MORE THAN MADE UP FOR IT.

WHAT ABOUT THE WIFE?

SHE TOOK CARE OF US.

AFTER LITTLE RAYMOND DIED,

DOLLY TREATED US ALL LIKE THE CHILDREN SHE DIDN'T HAVE.

I THINK SHE LIKED HAVING SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE OF.

DOLLY WAS THE PERSON THAT SOOTHED THINGS,

ESPECIALLY AFTER THEY LOST THEIR SON.

DOLLY BECAME THE MOTHER OF THE BUSINESS.

AND FRED WAS THE HARD DAD.

DID MR. OESTERREICH HAVE ANY ENEMIES?

MAYBE SOMEBODY HATED HIM BUT WANTED TO SPARE DOLLY.

HE WAS A DIFFICULT MAN,

BUT...

WAIT.

I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMEONE --

EDWARD FLUDE.

FRED HAD SOME REAL TROUBLE WITH THAT GUY.

THEY FIND OUT THAT FRED DID, INDEED,

HAVE AN ENEMY IN MILWAUKEE.

AND THAT PERSON'S NAME WAS EDWARD FLUDE.

FRED HAD A TEMPER, BUT HIS HEART WAS GOOD.

HE USED TO HIRE EX-CONS OUT ON PAROLE TO HELP THEM

GET BACK ON THEIR FEET

AND BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AGAIN.

BUT PERSONALLY,

ED FLUDE ALWAYS GAVE ME THE CREEPS.

FRED AND DOLLY EVEN LET HIM STAY AT THEIR HOME.

IN MY OPINION, THAT WAS A BRIDGE TOO FAR.

FLUDE WINDS UP BACK IN PRISON.

AND ACCORDING TO FRED, FROM HIS PRISON CELL,

HE STARTS SENDING THREATENING LETTERS.

AND NOW ANY IDEA AS TO MR. FLUDE'S WHEREABOUTS?

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NO LUCK.

AFTER A FEW YEARS, FLUDE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON

AND THEN DISAPPEARED.

FLUDE'S WHEREABOUTS ARE UNKNOWN.

**

THE 1920s WERE A VERY DIFFERENT TIME.

THERE WERE NO CELLPHONE TOWERS TRACKING OUR MOVEMENTS.

HELL, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE PICTURE IDs.

IF YOU WANTED TO GET LOST,

IT WAS EASY.

IT'S JULY 1923.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FLUDE.

BUT IT'S AS IF HE DROPPED OFF THE FACE OF THE PLANET.

BACK THEN, IT'S A DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING

TO FIND SOMEBODY THAT DOESN'T WANNA BE FOUND.

BUT THOSE WERE THE BREAKS.

WE STARTED TO FIGURE

WE WOULDN'T EVER KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO FRED.

BUT, LIKE I SAID, NOTHING IN THIS TOWN IS A SURE BET,

EXCEPT FOR A GOOD PLOT TWIST.

WHILE THE SEARCH FOR FLUDE'S GOING ON,

THERE'S AN INTERESTING INVESTIGATIVE DISCOVERY.

A DIAMOND-STUDDED POCKET WATCH

THAT MATCHES THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WATCH

MISSING FROM THE OESTERREICH CRIME SCENE...

...WHICH DOLLY'S ATTORNEY, MR. SHAPIRO, NOW HAS.

HELLO THERE, COUNSELOR. HELLO.

HOW YOU DOING? I'M SORRY TO INTERRUPT.

LISTEN, WOULD YOU MIND STOPPING BY THE OFFICE IN A BIT?

I JUST HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS I WANTED TO ASK.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SHAPIRO, IN HIS LEGAL CAPACITY,

STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM HIS ROLE IN THIS CASE, AS WELL.

SO IS HIS ROLE MORE THAN JUST ATTORNEY HERE?

IS HE A CO-CONSPIRATOR?

HEY.

GOOD MORNING, DETECTIVE.

MORNING. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD.

I -- I COULDN'T HELP NOTICING

THAT FANCY PIECE OF JEWELRY YOU GOT THERE, COUNSELOR.

WHERE'D YOU GET A WATCH LIKE THAT?

IT WAS A GIFT

FOR MY BIRTHDAY.

FROM WHO?

MRS. OESTERREICH.

DIAMOND-STUDDED WATCH IS A VERY NICE BIRTHDAY GIFT.

CLINE'S GOTTA BE WONDERING WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON HERE.

SHE MORE THAN JUST A CLIENT?

WE'VE BEEN SPENDING SOME TIME TOGETHER.

HERMAN SHAPIRO OPENLY ADMITS

THAT HE WAS ALSO

ROMANTICALLY INVOLVED WITH DOLLY.

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?

WELL, IT'S ABOUT A TIMEPIECE

THAT FITS THE DESCRIPTION OF YOUR WATCH,

THE ONLY THING STOLEN FROM THE SCENE

THE NIGHT OF FRED OESTERREICH'S MURDER.

YOU GOTTA ADMIT, COUNSELOR, IT'S,

IT'S A LITTLE BIT FUNNY.

YOU SEE, I DID NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

WHAT'S TRUE

IS THAT I RECEIVED THIS AS A GIFT.

CLINE WANTS TO TALK TO DOLLY ABOUT WHERE THE WATCH CAME FROM.

I HAVE TO SAY, WIDOW'S WEEDS LOOKED GOOD ON DOLLY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

MRS. OESTERREICH, COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN

HOW MR. SHAPIRO GOT THAT WATCH?

IT'S ACTUALLY ALL VERY ORDINARY.

I WAS STRAIGHTENING MY SOFA PILLOWS.

WELL, IT MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN THAT NIGHT.

DOLLY SAID, "YEAH, WELL, I THOUGHT IT WAS

STOLEN THE NIGHT THAT FRED WAS MURDERED.

BUT I FOUND IT UNDER SOME CUSHIONS."

YOU DIDN'T THINK TO NOTIFY US

THAT IT WAS, IN FACT, NOT STOLEN?

NO.

AND IT SEEMED WRONG TO HAVE AN OBJECT

OF SUCH BEAUTY SIT IN A BOX.

DOLLY SAID SHE THOUGHT IT WAS STOLEN.

IT WASN'T STOLEN, WASN'T A BIG DEAL.

HEY, CHARLIE. I'M LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON AN ATTORNEY,

HERMAN SHAPIRO.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS FELLA?

POLICE LOOK MORE CLOSELY AT SHAPIRO AS A SUSPECT.

YEAH, NO MEETINGS BEFORE NOVEMBER.

LOOKS LIKE THEY REALLY DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER.

TURNED OUT SHAPIRO DID NOT COME INTO CONTACT WITH DOLLY

UNTIL A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER.

THEY HADN'T KNOWN EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, MAYBE HE'S NOT HIDING ANYTHING.

MAYBE SHE IS.

THEY DIG A LITTLE DEEPER

INTO WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING

SINCE THE TIME OF THE MURDER.

AND THEY FIND OUT THAT DOLLY HAD BEEN DATING A MOVIE PRODUCER...

MR. KLUM, THANK YOU FOR COMING IN.

...NAMED RAY KLUM.

RAY'S A PRODUCER IN HOLLYWOOD.

BUT HE WAS A FRIEND OF THE OESTERREICHS

FROM THEIR TIME IN MILWAUKEE.

HE WAS, IN FACT, CLOSE WITH BOTH FRED AND DOLLY.

THE OESTERREICHS EVEN LOANED MONEY TO RAY.

SO YOUR FRIENDS, FRED AND DOLLY,

THEY GAVE YOU SOME NICE, EASY CASH.

HOW'D YOU PAY IT BACK?

DETECTIVE, THIS,

THIS IS AWFUL.

I, UM, I'M NOT PROUD OF THIS.

RAY OPENLY ADMITS THAT HE HAD DONE

SOMETHING THAT HE NOW REGRETS.

I DID HER A LITTLE FAVOR.

KLUM TELLS THE POLICE THAT,

A FEW DAYS AFTER THE MURDER...

...DOLLY HAD GIVEN HIM A PACKAGE.

IT FELT LIKE THE OUTLINE OF A GUN.

AND TOLD HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO GET RID OF IT FOR HER.

RAY KLUM WAS FROM WISCONSIN, LIKE ME.

BUT THE STORY HE TOLD THE POLICE

ABOUT HOW DOLLY ASKED HIM

TO GET RID OF A MYSTERIOUS PACKAGE

AFTER FRED WAS MURDERED WAS PURE HOLLYWOOD NOIR.

YOU DIDN'T THINK TO ASK WHAT THIS WAS ALL ABOUT?

NO, I DIDN'T ASK HER ANY QUESTIONS.

I WANTED TO MAKE HER HAPPY.

RAY KLUM HAS TOLD POLICE

HE RECEIVED THIS PACKAGE

FROM DOLLY TO DISPOSE OF IN THE LA BREA TAR PITS.

SHE'S VERY PERSUASIVE.

THE LA BREA TAR PITS WOULD BE THE PERFECT PLACE

TO TOSS A MURDER WEAPON.

ONCE SOMETHING WENT IN, IT WASN'T EVER COMING OUT.

THE LA BREA TAR PITS ARE BASICALLY A POND FILLED

WITH HOT TAR THAT BUBBLES.

AND ANYTHING YOU THROW IN THERE IS GOING TO DISAPPEAR.

THE POLICE ARE COMPELLED TO TRY AND SEARCH THE TAR PITS

AS BEST THEY CAN.

DO YOU SEE THAT?

IT WAS SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE LA BREA TAR PITS.

RAY DIDN'T THROW IT FAR ENOUGH.

IT TURNS OUT TO BE A 25-CALIBER GUN,

THE SAME CALIBER THAT KILLED FRED OESTERREICH.

11 MONTHS AFTER THE MURDER OF FRED,

DOLLY IS ARRESTED.

DOLLY TELLS THE OFFICERS

THAT SHE FOUND THIS GUN AROUND THE HOUSE

JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER FRED HAD DIED

AND THAT SHE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE GUN

BECAUSE SHE KNEW SHE WOULD BE THE PRIMARY SUSPECT.

BUT THERE'S NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE

OR WITNESS EVIDENCE

TO CONVICT DOLLY OF A CRIME.

THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT ATTORNEY

IS HOPING THAT MORE EVIDENCE IS PRODUCED.

IT'S JUST HARD TO GET OVER THE FACT THAT SHE'S LOCKED

IN THE CLOSET.

CLINE KEPT TRYING TO SHOW THAT

SHE HAD THE ABILITY TO LOCK HERSELF IN THE CLOSET.

BUT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE.

SOMEONE ELSE HAD TO LOCK THE CLOSET FROM THE OUTSIDE.

SO THE D.A. ANNOUNCES IN JANUARY OF 1925

THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE

TO TAKE DOLLY TO TRIAL.

SO DOLLY IS RELEASED FROM POLICE CUSTODY.

EVEN I HAD TO ADMIT THAT DOLLY LOOKED GUILTY AS SIN,

EVEN IF NO ONE COULD FIGURE OUT HOW SHE'D DONE IT.

SOME MEN SEEMED WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR HER.

SHE WAS A REAL-LIFE FEMME FATALE.

BUT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL

TO FIND OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SECRETS --

THREE PEOPLE CAN KEEP A SECRET

IF TWO OF THEM ARE DEAD.

FRED HAD TAKEN HIS SECRETS TO THE GRAVE.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT

ABOUT THE MURDER OF FRED OESTERREICH.

IT ONLY TOOK FIVE YEARS,

BUT, BOY, WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT.

AND, WELL,

IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO BELIEVE.

ALL RIGHT.

SHAPIRO PAYS A VISIT TO THE D.A.

IT'S FEBRUARY OF 1930.

BY THIS TIME, SHAPIRO AND DOLLY WERE BROKEN UP.

SHAPIRO TELLS AUTHORITIES THAT,

WHEN DOLLY GOT ARRESTED IN 1923,

SHE ASKED HIM A VERY STRANGE FAVOR.

I VISITED DOLLY REGULARLY IN JAIL.

WELL, ONE DAY,

SHE ASKS ME TO GET SOME ITEMS AT THE STORE.

AND THAT KINDA PUZZLED SHAPIRO.

WHY BRING OVER GROCERIES TO AN EMPTY HOUSE?

I SAID, "FOR WHAT?"

AND SHE SAYS FOR HER HALF-BROTHER.

SO SHAPIRO GOES AND GETS GROCERIES.

HE DROPS THEM OFF AT THE HOUSE.

HE DOESN'T SEE ANYBODY, SO HE JUST LEAVES.

SEVERAL DAYS LATER, SHE'S IN A PANIC.

SHE'S WORRIED.

HER,

HALF-BROTHER IS A BIT OF A RECLUSE.

THIS IS WHERE IT GETS A LITTLE...

HE --

HE'S BEEN LIVING IN THE ATTIC.

NOW, THIS ONE DETAIL, IT'S A LITTLE BIZARRE --

SHE WANTS ME TO SCRATCH THREE TIMES ON THE ATTIC DOOR

TO LET HIM KNOW THAT I'M THERE.

AND, DID YOU DO IT?

I DID.

WELL?

WHY, HELLO.

SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE WAS A LITTLE MAN LIVING

IN YOUR OLD LADY'S ATTIC, AND YOU DIDN'T KNOW?

THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

AND HE WASN'T A VAGRANT AT ALL.

THE NAME'S OTTO.

YOU'RE THE LAWYER -- SHAPIRO, RIGHT?

RIGHT.

DOLLY'S TOLD ME ABOUT YOU.

MAY I?

YEAH, PLEASE.

THE MAN IS WHITE AND SMALL

AND LOOKS LIKE HE'S IN HIS 30s.

HIS NAME IS OTTO SANHUBER.

SO IF YOU'RE SHAPIRO, THE MAN WHO WAS DOLLY'S LOVER,

HE HAD BEEN IN HER HOUSE.

HE'S GOTTA BE THINKING, "WHERE DID THIS GUY COME FROM?"

AND SHE NEVER ONCE MENTIONED THIS SIBLING?

NO. BECAUSE HE WASN'T HER SIBLING.

SO YOU'RE HER HALF-BROTHER.

NO.

WHO ARE YOU, THEN?

I'M HER LOVER.

COME AGAIN?

COME AGAIN?

IT'S THE TRUTH.

AND IT STARTED IN MILWAUKEE.

OTTO TOLD HIM THAT HE GREW UP

AS AN ORPHAN AND MET DOLLY IN 1911.

AT THAT TIME, HE WAS A TEENAGER AND HE WAS WORKING

AS A SEWING-MACHINE REPAIRMAN AT FRED'S FACTORY.

YOU LOOK LIKE YOU KNOW SEWING MACHINES.

OTTO SAYS SHE WAS VERY FRIENDLY WITH HIM.

THEY KNEW EACH OTHER AT THE FACTORY.

DOLLY LIKED TO SEW AT HOME.

SO OTTO WAS SENT TO REPAIR THE MACHINE.

**

DOLLY ANSWERED THE DOOR IN A SILK ROBE,

BLACK STOCKINGS, AND NOTHING ELSE.

YOUR, TREADLE IS LOOSE, MA'AM?

AFTER THAT, DOLLY'S SEWING MACHINE

WOULD "BREAK DOWN" A LOT.

OTTO SAYS DOLLY WAS INSATIABLE.

THEY HAD SEX 8 TO 10 TIMES A DAY ON THESE VISITS.

AND THAT PROBABLY HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT

THAT FRED ESSENTIALLY

DIDN'T REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO HER.

DOLLY WAS VERY WORRIED THAT THE NEIGHBORS

WERE GOING TO SEE OTTO COMING TO HER HOUSE

OVER AND OVER AGAIN

AND THAT HER AFFAIR WAS GOING TO BE FOUND OUT.

SO DOLLY STARTS THINKING ABOUT THE ATTIC.

I MEAN, FRED SIMPLY DIDN'T GO TO THE ATTIC.

HE WON'T KNOW, HONESTLY.

SHE COMES UP WITH THIS PLAN

FOR OTTO TO QUIT HIS JOB AND MOVE INTO HER ATTIC.

CAN YOU IMAGINE THE CONVERSATION

THAT DOLLY HAD WITH OTTO?

"I NEED YOU TO LIVE IN MY ATTIC SO THAT,

WHEN I NEED TO HAVE SEX WITH YOU, YOU'RE AVAILABLE."

THIS ARRANGEMENT WORKED OUT GREAT FOR OTTO.

HE LIVED THERE RENT-FREE.

WHEN FRED LEFT FOR WORK IN THE MORNING,

HE WOULD COME DOWNSTAIRS.

AND FOR DOLLY, SHE DOESN'T ONLY GET A LOVER ALL DAY LONG,

BUT FRED WAS TOO CHEAP TO HIRE A MAID.

DOLLY WOULD HAVE OTTO MOP, DO THE DISHES,

CLEAN THE SHEETS, DO THE LAUNDRY.

WHEN FRED WOULD COME HOME,

DOLLY SNUCK FOOD UP TO OTTO AND BROUGHT HIM BOOKS.

HE SPENT THIS TIME READING AND THEN WRITING HIS OWN STORIES.

WHEN FRED AND DOLLY WENT OUT AT NIGHT,

HE WOULD SOMETIMES LEAVE THE HOUSE

AND WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND THIS CONTINUES FOR THE NEXT SIX YEARS.

SIX YEARS?

HE SAID HE LIKED THE ARRANGEMENT.

WHY WOULD A PERSON WANT TO LIVE IN SOMEONE'S ATTIC?

OTTO HAS LIVED A PRETTY IMPOVERISHED LIFE.

HE WAS A FOUNDLING, FOUND ON A DOORSTEP AT BIRTH.

HE NEVER KNEW HIS BIRTH PARENTS.

HE PROBABLY DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF EXPECTATIONS IN LIFE.

AND WHEN DOLLY SHOWED HIM

SOME AFFECTION AND SOME ATTENTION,

HE MUST HAVE FELT LIKE HE WON THE LOTTERY.

MEANWHILE, YOU HAVE DOLLY,

WHO'S LOST A SON,

WHO OBVIOUSLY HAS A PRETTY HEALTHY LIBIDO.

AND SHE MEETS SOMEBODY WHO'S NEVER HAD A MOTHER,

WHO IS AT A TIME IN HIS LIFE

WHEN HE'S VERY INTERESTED IN SEX.

INITIALLY, OTTO AND DOLLY

WERE THESE TWO MISSING PIECES IN EACH OTHER'S PUZZLES.

BUT THIS WAS MILWAUKEE.

WHAT'S THIS GOT TO DO WITH FRED'S MURDER?

WELL, I'M GETTING THERE.

FRED OPENS HIS NEW FACTORY ON THE WEST COAST.

SO DOLLY ARRANGES FOR OTTO TO MOVE, TOO.

THEN, SEVEN YEARS INTO DOLLY AND OTTO'S ROMANCE,

FRED DECIDES HE NEEDS TO MOVE TO LOS ANGELES

TO EXPAND HIS BUSINESS.

DOLLY DECIDES, "OTTO'S GONNA MOVE WITH US."

SO OTTO MOVES FROM AN ATTIC IN MILWAUKEE

TO AN ATTIC IN LOS ANGELES.

AND LIVED THERE FOR FOUR YEARS.

WHERE'D HE GO TO THE BATHROOM?

WHAT IF HE SNORED? WHEN DID HE BATHE?

IT ALMOST REMINDS ME OF SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN A CULT,

WHO, PHYSICALLY, THEY'RE ABLE TO LEAVE.

BUT THEY HAVE SO MUCH INVESTED IN THAT RELATIONSHIP

THAT THEY DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY CAN LEAVE.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME FRED OESTERREICH

NEVER HAD A CLUE?

AFTER A WHILE, HE STARTED NOTICING BIZARRE THINGS

AT HOME, YEAH.

* EVERYBODY LOVES A BABY *

* THAT'S WHY I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU *

DID YOU HEAR THAT?

YOU SHOULD REALLY GO LIE DOWN, DEAR.

YOU'RE TIRED.

SHAPIRO SAYS OTTO TOLD HIM

THAT FRED STARTED TO HAVE SOME SUSPICIONS

THAT SOMETHING STRANGE WAS HAPPENING IN HIS HOUSE.

HE WOULD HEAR MOVEMENT.

THE LEFTOVERS WILL BE GONE.

DOLLY TOLD FRED THAT HE WAS WORKING TOO HARD,

THAT HE WAS DRINKING TOO MUCH,

ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM

HE WAS A LITTLE BIT CRAZY

SO THAT SHE COULD KEEP THIS HIDDEN LOVER

RIGHT UNDER HIS NOSE.

OKAY.

NOW, THIS IS A HELL OF A TALE. BUT I GOTTA ASK HERE.

THIS GUY WAS UPSTAIRS

WHILE YOU WERE, UM...

REGULARLY VISITING MRS. OESTERREICH?

THAT IS THE CASE.

I CAN'T REALLY HEAR MUCH UP THERE.

SO HE TOLD YOU A LOT?

DID HE TELL YOU WHAT HE REMEMBERED ABOUT

THE SUMMER OF 1922?

YES. UM...

I'M A MEMBER OF THIS HOUSEHOLD.

AND I DO FEEL A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

OTTO TOLD SHAPIRO THAT,

IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO FRED'S DEATH,

THERE HAD BEEN MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS

AT BREAK-INS.

I FELT I SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING.

BUT WHAT COULD YOU HAVE DONE?

I DECIDED THAT, WHEN FRED AND DOLLY WENT OUT AT NIGHT,

I WOULD BE A GUARD OF SORTS.

BACK THEN, I OWNED A GUN.

OTTO TOLD ME A GREAT DEAL WHEN WE REALLY STARTED TALKING.

WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE FRED DIED?

THAT NIGHT, I HEARD A TERRIBLE FIGHT.

ON AUGUST 22, 1922,

FRED AND DOLLY CAME HOME FROM A PARTY.

YOU'RE SO DRUNK.

DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO.

IT'S DISGUSTING.

Kilgariff FRED AND DOLLY WERE FIGHTING.

STOP IT!

HE WAS AWFUL.

OTTO SAYS THAT HE WAS AFRAID

THAT FRED WAS HURTING DOLLY.

THIS TRUE? I WASN'T THERE.

I MEAN, THIS IS WHAT HE TOLD ME.

OTTO SAYS THAT HE RAN DOWNSTAIRS TO CONFRONT FRED

AND SAW DOLLY ON THE GROUND.

WHAT DID FRED DO? YOU WORKED FOR HIM 15 YEARS AGO.

AND NOW YOU'RE STANDING IN HIS LIVING ROOM.

DID -- DID HE RECOGNIZE YOU?

I DON'T KNOW.

OTTO SAYS THAT FRED STARTED TO MOVE TOWARDS HIM.

AND HE THOUGHT THAT FRED WAS GOING TO BEAT OR KILL HIM.

PLEASE.

GOD.

I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE.

OTTO TOLD SHAPIRO THAT

HE HAD TO SHOOT HIM IN SELF-DEFENSE.

IF I WAS FRED IN THOSE LAST MOMENTS,

HOW SURREAL WOULD THAT BE?

"THIS IS THE KID THAT USED TO FIX SEWING MACHINES

FROM MY FACTORY IN MILWAUKEE."

DID FRED FINALLY PIECE IT TOGETHER THAT,

"THIS PERSON'S LIVING IN MY HOUSE"?

SON OF A...

GOD.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

THEY, THEY HAD TO FIND AN EXPLANATION

FOR DOLLY TO GIVE THE POLICE.

SHAPIRO SAYS THAT OTTO TOLD HIM...

THERE WAS A -- A BREAK-IN.

...THAT IT WAS HIS IDEA TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY.

"I'LL PUT YOU IN THE CLOSET. I'LL LOCK IT FROM OUTSIDE."

HE LEAVES THE KEY

RIGHT WHERE AUTHORITIES COULD FIND IT.

AND THEN HE GOES BACK UP INTO THE ATTIC

AND WAITS TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

OTTO WAS STILL THERE WHEN THE COPS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE?

YEAH.

AND LIVING IN THE ATTIC EVEN AFTER FRED DIED?

YES. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO GO.

AND DOLLY DIDN'T WANT HIM LIVING DOWNSTAIRS.

PEOPLE WOULD TALK.

EVEN AFTER FRED DIES,

I DON'T THINK, AT ANY POINT IN TIME,

DID DOLLY EVER EVEN FANTASIZE

ABOUT MOVING OTTO DOWNSTAIRS

AND THEM UNITING AS A COUPLE

AND GOING OUT IN PUBLIC.

DOLLY IS OTTO'S COMPLETE AND TOTAL WORLD.

OTTO, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS NOT DOLLY'S WORLD.

IN MID-1923, DOLLY'S ARRESTED.

THE GIG IS UP, AT THAT POINT, FOR OTTO.

SHAPIRO ACTUALLY HELPED HIM

MOVE OUT OF THE HOUSE.

AND THEN HE EVENTUALLY MOVED TO CANADA AND GOT MARRIED.

WHAT CAN I SAY?

SHAPIRO'S STORY STILL LEAVES ME SPEECHLESS.

TO THINK THIS WAS GOING ON UNDER OUR NOSES ALL THIS TIME.

WELL, YOU CAN BET THE POLICE TRACKED OTTO DOWN

AND BROUGHT HIM IN LICKETY-SPLIT.

HE'S LIVING WHAT APPEARS TO BE A NORMAL LIFE.

FOR DETECTIVE CLINE,

THIS WAS THE STRANGEST THING HE HAD EVER HEARD.

HOWEVER, IT ANSWERS ALL THE QUESTIONS.

WHEN THE STORY HITS THE PRESS, IT'S SENSATIONAL.

THEY WERE CALLING HIM ATTIC LOVER,

THE GHOST IN THE GARRET, THE PHANTOM.

THE NICKNAME THAT REALLY STUCK WAS BAT MAN

BECAUSE OTTO WAS LIKE A BAT IN HER ATTIC.

OTTO WAS CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER.

BUT THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON MANSLAUGHTER

IN CALIFORNIA AT THE TIME WAS THREE YEARS.

WE ARE NOW EIGHT YEARS PAST THE MURDER.

BECAUSE OF THAT, OTTO WALKED AWAY.

DOLLY GOES ON TRIAL.

AND HER LAWYER SAYS

THAT THE MOST THAT SHE'S RESPONSIBLE FOR

IS HAVING AN AFFAIR,

THAT WHATEVER HAPPENED BETWEEN

OTTO AND FRED HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER.

THE CASE ENDED IN A HUNG JURY.

THE D.A. AT THE TIME SAID,

"NO, WE DON'T WANNA DO THIS ANYMORE."

AND DOLLY WALKED FREE.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT DOLLY IS LIVING IN A DIFFICULT TIME.

WOMEN DON'T HAVE A LOTTA LEGAL RIGHTS.

AND THEY ONLY JUST GOT THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

IT WAS THEIR ABILITY TO INFLUENCE THE MEN IN THEIR LIVES

THAT GAVE THEM ANY POWER THAT THEY HAD.

AND DOLLY WAS PRETTY GOOD AT IT.

I THINK I AM JEALOUS OF HER A LITTLE BIT.

DOLLY WASN'T A BEAUTY QUEEN.

AND YET SHE HAS MANIPULATED

ALL THESE MEN TO KIND OF DO HER BIDDING.

SHE GOT A WEALTHY MAN TO MARRY HER.

SHE GOT OTTO TO STAY IN HER ATTIC FOR 14 YEARS.

SHE GOT KLUM TO THROW AWAY THE GUN FOR HER.

SHE GOT SHAPIRO TO KEEP HER SECRETS.

DOLLY CERTAINLY HAD A -- A POWER OVER MEN.

HOW ABOUT A DAME LIKE THAT?

BUT YOU CAN'T SAY DOLLY WAS GOOD.

SHE SAW SOMETHING SHE WANTED

AND SHE TOOK IT, CONSEQUENCES BE DAMNED.

NOW THAT'S A REAL TWIST.

BUT I SURE WOULDN'T CALL THIS A HAPPY ENDING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

THAT THESE ARE THREE UNHAPPY PEOPLE.

AND THE SITUATION IS PRETTY TRAGIC.

DOLLY LOST HER SON.

FRED LOSES HIS LIFE.

OTTO LOSES 20 YEARS LIVING IN AN ATTIC.

SO NOBODY REALLY WINS HERE.

* AND I'D LIKE TO BE YOUR SISTER, BROTHER, DAD *

* AND MOTHER TOO *

* PRETTY BABY *

* PRETTY BABY *

* WON'T YOU COME AND LET ME ROCK YOU *

* IN MY CRADLE OF LOVE *

* WE'LL CUDDLE ALL THE TIME *

* I WANT A LOVING BABY *

* AND IT MIGHT AS WELL BE YOU *

* PRETTY BABY OF MINE *

* PRETTY BABY OF MINE *