Original subtitles

( music playing )

( cell door clanking )

( man speaking indistinctly )

( overlapping chatter )

( phone dialing )

Hello. Dr. Arlen?

It's Albert, Albert De Salvo.

I must say I didn't expect to hear from you.

How have you been?

Actually, I've been doing well.

You know, Walpole...

ain't so bad after all.

Well, I'm very happy to hear that.

But listen. If you wouldn't mind

relieving me of my curiosity,

why are you calling me?

I got some things I want to get off my chest.

Well, I'm sure they have mental health professionals there

who can help you.

This is different.

I want to tell the truth

about the Boston Strangler murders.

I see.

Look, Albert,

let's not do this over the phone, all right?

I'll arrange to meet you

at 9:00 A.M. tomorrow morning.

I'll set up a private therapy room.

We can talk there.

That'd be great.

Thanks, Doc. Hey, thanks a lot, huh?

( piano music playing )

Now, now. That's enough for now.

Come on, Jennifer. Don't stop me now.

- I'm begging you. - It's late.

I got to get up early.

- Just a while longer. - ( laughs )

Stop your groveling, Romeo.

It don't look so sexy on you.

You're right.

You're right.

I shall be like a Knight of the Round Table

and ride off into the cold, dark night.

Farewell, young maiden.

( laughs ) You okay?

Well, if I'm not, can I come in?

Send the king my best.

- ( car horn honks ) - ( motorcycle passes )

( laughs )

( laughs )

Mrs. Jennifer Foster.

( laughs )

Mrs. Jennifer Mitchum-Foster.

( laughs )

Nah, too long.

Jennifer Foster.

Jen Foster.

Mrs. Jennifer Foster.

( laughs )

( gasps )

( laughs ) Such a klutz.

( gasping )

No. Stop.

Mrs. Jennifer Foster.

( sobbing )

No. No.

( grunts )

( gagging )

( police radio chatter )

Captain, would you look at this?

A front-page guide to the Strangler murders

right there in black and white

for every criminal in Boston to read.

Why don't we just hand the investigation over to Ms. Fineman?

It's my fault.

I let out the information.

I'm sorry, John.

I just been under all sorts of pressure

to get this case solved.

Winfield is threatening to take over

not just our department,

but every department in the county.

So I figured, what the hell,

why not get everybody involved?

Yeah, but you know what you done, Cap?

You compromised my entire investigation.

Investigation, John?

We've got no investigation.

We've got no fingerprints, no witnesses,

- nothing! - ( knock on door )

Captain Parker, lineup's set.

They're waiting on you, Detective Marsden.

Let's just get this over with.

All right. Don't be scared.

Over here. It's all right. He can't see you.

Okay.

Woman: Just take your time.

( no audible dialogue )

The joker with the sunglasses

is Albert De Salvo.

Couple years ago,

he was charged with assault,

spent 11 months at Middlesex

before they let him go on parole.

Who's the serious one on the end?

Frank Asarian.

I'm really surprised he's even out on the streets.

He's got a record a mile long.

That's-- it's him on--

he's over there. He's on the far right.

He's on the end. It's him. That's him.

- And, oh, my God, it's-- - Make sure.

He grabbed me.

He grabbed me, and he punched me across the face.

I could never forget his face.

I'll never forget his face.

Look. He even looks like a criminal.

Where are you? I know you in there.

Look at him. I hope he burns in hell.

That's fine.

I'm going to come back for you.

- Yeah. - You know that?

- Get over here. - Where's my lawyer?

Have a seat, fellas.

Finish filling out your paperwork,

and you're free to go.

And what if I can't read?

Sir, if you need help, we'll find you an assistant.

Yeah, I'd rather you assist me.

- I'm sure you would. - ( laughs )

What are you looking at, penguin?

What, he's a fucking penguin,

walking around in suit and tie.

That's a tuxedo, asshole.

What?

It's a tuxedo. Penguins always look

like they have tuxedos on, asshole.

You trying to make an ass of me?

Don't you think I know that?

It's a literal- fucking-ation.

I didn't mean nothing of it, all right?

Albert: It makes no difference.

Got that burn in my stomach.

Got to find some food, if you know what I mean.

You have a good one.

Your eyes forward, Asarian.

Keep moving.

What are you looking at?

Keep moving.

Woman: You're not even done.

Albert: Someone stole my sunglasses.

I don't care about that. You gotta finish your paperwork.

Come home and help me do it, will you?

Ah, jeez.

( bells tolling )

Hi, Mary Beth.

Oh, hi, girls. How are you?

Good.

( whistles a tune )

- Hey, beautiful day, huh? - Hi. Yeah.

Hey, I got a new office here on campus.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

I been meaning to introduce myself,

but I just been really busy with the agency.

- Agency? - Yeah.

Things are easing up a bit

ever since Jackie took over the White House.

They been making me search for girls who look just like her.

You're in the fashion business?

You could say that.

I'm a modeling scout.

Modeling scout?

Yeah. You know, I find girls.

I measure 'em, I photograph 'em,

and then I introduce 'em to the agency.

Oh. Sounds interesting.

You know,

now that I have a moment alone with you,

you do sort of have the type of build

the agency's looking for.

What size are you?

Thanks. Actually, I'm a four.

No frigging way. You're not a four.

Yes, I am.

( scoffs ) I got to get to work.

- ( laughs ) - Wait.

You can measure me,

and I'll prove it to you.

What, you'll prove it to me, eh?

Yeah.

Well, it's a cutthroat industry.

You sure you can handle that?

Don't know if I don't try.

Well, that's true.

- Yeah. - Uh...

Oh, sorry. Susan.

Susan. Why don't you follow me to my office?

You know, on second thought,

it's probably not a good idea, you know,

getting measured in a strange man's office.

Maybe another time, huh?

Well, hey...

follow me.

My room's just upstairs. Come on.

- You sure? - Yeah, come on.

Measure me upstairs.

Okay. I got a few minutes.

- Let's make it fast, huh? - Okay.

It's too beautiful outside, right?

Susan: Yeah.

So what agency did you say you're from?

The Black and White Modeling Agency.

It's downtown. I'll give you my card.

How much does it pay if they accept me?

$40 an hour.

$40 an hour?

- Mm-hmm. - Are you kidding me?

I could pay my entire tuition at that rate.

$40 is just for the modeling in town.

They pay you more if they fly you out of town,

plus they pay all your expenses.

- Really? - Mm-hmm. Sure, yeah.

Lots of girls fly back and forth to Paris on a regular basis.

- Paris? - Mm-hmm.

Oh.

( sighs )

Here's my apartment.

Okay.

( giggles )

Do you mind?

No, not at all.

34 inches.

Really? I thought I was 32 inches.

Nah, you're a-- you're a 34.

( giggles ) Well, what's my cup size?

How do you measure that?

Well, there's no, you know,

physical measurement for cup size.

You have to--

well, you know, by hand.

Yeah? You're the professional.

( laughs )

To get an accurate measurement,

I have to...

Oh, yeah. Okay.

( laughs )

You have a gentle touch.

Well?

What's my cup size?

Just a moment.

You really should know by now.

Sorry.

You're a "C" cup, definitely a "C" cup.

What did you say your name was?

Oh, it's Johnson.

It's Mr. Johnson.

You can call me Gary.

And where's the agency?

What's the address?

It's downtown, 71st Street, 853.

Well, wouldn't the address be in the 70s?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, 753.

You know, I'm sure you're a good student and all,

but maybe, you know, modeling's just not for you.

Maybe you're just not cut out for it.

Maybe you're not really a modeling agent.

- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.

I think you should go now.

- Really? - In fact,

maybe I should just go ahead

and call the cops.

You're not going to do that.

- ( gasps ) - You're not going anywhere.

- Wait. ( sobbing ) - You're not going anywhere.

You know, the agency doesn't like girls

who talk back, you know.

They put girls like you right back on a plane

and send you where you came from.

Oh, where you think you're going, huh?

I know there's no way out of here.

What are you going to do, jump? Huh?

What, do you got wings?

My boyfriend'll be here any minute.

( laughs )

When I was stationed in Germany,

I used to hear that one all the time.

Only, it was in German.

( speaking German )

Shut the fuck up. ( laughs )

There's money in my dresser.

You can have it all.

Top drawer.

Left side.

( sobbing )

Just please go away!

Please just leave me alone.

Why don't you go ahead and do me a favor

and come on on out of there

so I don't have to come get you, huh?

Open the door.

( moans )

Open the fucking door.

Open the fucking door.

( scream echoing )

Open the fucking door, bitch!

Open the fucking door!

- Fucking whore! - ( Susan screams )

( sirens blaring )

( clears throat )

Would have been here an hour ago.

Traffic was all backed up on Common Avenue.

Ah, it's all right.

Been upstairs?

- Yeah, I been up there. - How's it look?

It's not a pretty picture.

You'll see.

- What's up, guys? - Hey, John. How are you?

Hey, John. Samans, Beverly Samans,

early 20s.

This one is not strangled,

even though the stocking is up around her neck.

She was stabbed in the neck.

Well, that's creative.

And the killer left her body

splayed out for all the world to see,

dress pulled up, legs wide open.

Mr. Marsden.

( chuckles )

When are you going to catch the Strangler?

Stranglers. There's clearly

more than one man at work here.

And how can you be so sure of that, John?

How can you be so sure it's just one man?

How long have you been doing this, John, huh?

It's called M.O.--

sexual assault, strangled by stockings,

break-ins, no witnesses,

et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

I can keep going, John.

Well, forgive me, Mr. Winfield,

but his M.O. isn't that clear.

The first five were elderly.

The sixth was young and black.

- Mary Brown and now... - Beverly Samans.

Beverly Samans, it appears, were stabbed to death.

Doesn't sound like one particular M.O. to me.

John, I need you to listen to me,

because I'm trying to be

painfully crystal clear to you

so I can get through that thick skull of yours.

( elevator dings )

Just a second, guys.

I'm running for a Senate seat next year, John,

and the last thing I need

is a crime-happy dick hot-bopping around town, telling everyone

that there are multiple murderers

running rampant in my streets.

The city's position is that there's just one,

just one...

and I intend to catch this one monster

and send his ass so deep in jail,

the devil himself can't find him.

Therefore, my city will be happy about life again.

You understand me, John?

You can have any theory that you want.

The fact is you got no jurisdiction over my department,

and my department will continue

the search for multiple killers.

You trying to oppose me, John?

I don't work for you, Art.

I work for the people.

You know, it's amazing you've lasted this long.

Apparently you have someone taking care of you on the force.

'Cause I've never seen a more naive detective.

Enough of this nonsense.

( baby crying )

Good day, Mrs. Lucino.

Why, thank you, Albert.

How's that beautiful wife of yours?

She's doing okay,

if you mean adjusting and all.

Thanks for asking, huh?

You know, us Italians and Germans were partners in the war.

It's a good match, makes for beautiful kids.

Thank you, Mrs. Lucino.

Michael and Judy certainly are beautiful.

But, you know, the war's been over

for almost 20 years now, you know?

I mean, we may be Italian,

but always be proud to be an American.

Hey, I didn't join the military to fight for Mussolini

or the Nazis, for that matter.

Of course, Albert. You're a decent young man.

See you on Sunday?

Yes, ma'am. Hey...

be careful out there, huh?

- That Boston Strangler... - Don't worry.

I've got protection.

- Certainly do. - ( laughs )

Good day, Mrs. Lucino.

You too.

Claudia?

Claudia, where are you?

Claudia?

Claudi-- Claudia?

Michael?

Where are you?

Where the fuck are you?

Claudia?

Michael? Judy?

Where are the kids?

They're at your mother's house.

Don't you remember anything?

I brought you some flowers and chocolates.

That was Munich, Albert.

This is Boston.

The romance is over.

Be a man.

I am a man.

No, Albert.

You are not a man until you can act

like a responsible husband and father.

Claudia, I go to work every day

to bring home money for you and the kids, right?

Half of the time you tell me you're at work,

you're having a beer at the bar,

or worse, you're screwing other women.

Ah, Claudia, come on now.

Albert, don't you realize

that I can feed the children

breakfast, lunch, and dinner

for the price of all your beer?

Baby, please, huh?

I swear to God I can make it better.

I swear to God.

When, Albert?

When?

You dragged me all the way across the Atlantic Ocean.

Why would you do that?

So you could be a bum?

- Albert. - Hmm?

Do you remember the promise

that you told me back in Germany?

- Mm-hmm. - That you told my parents?

Mm-hmm.

I promise, baby.

- Albert. - Mmm.

Albert.

Albert.

Albert! Stop it.

- ( moaning ) - ( crying )

- Albert! - What?

- Stop it! - ( grunts )

I got needs! I'm a fucking man!

You're my wife!

Fuck you.

Don't you ever touch me again.

Is this the treatment I get for being a man?

I got fucking needs, damn it!

Again, different knot.

- You sure about that? - Positive.

The first five were tied into a bow.

This one was tied into a knot first.

Then the bow was tied.

And while we're scratching our asses,

there are women dying all over the city.

And there's nothing we can do about it.

There is, if I can help it.

Hey, Captain, hand me those tweezers, will you?

Thanks.

What are you going to do with that?

This is evidence, Captain.

I'm going to save it.

Maybe we can match it up

to the killer under a microscope.

Not in my lifetime.

Anything?

Do we have anything?

Not a thing, sir.

There was not a fingerprint anywhere in this apartment.

Witnesses?

Not a one.

As far as I can tell,

nobody heard or saw anything.

Family been notified?

Yes, they have.

Find out if she had any ongoing disputes.

Find every friend and family member

and get 'em down to the precinct for questioning.

Don't you worry, sweetheart.

We're going to figure this out

if it's the last thing we do.

John, maybe we should let forensics

come in, do their thing,

and why don't you head back to the office?

I don't need to head back to the damned office.

You know, that attitude is the reason

we can't find these girls' killers.

Everybody wants this to just go away,

sweep it under the carpet.

Well, it's not going away.

It's not going away, 'cause the killer

isn't just going to stop.

People kill each other.

I mean, all we are is animals

in a fucking suit and a tie, no difference,

and all of you detectives

need to think about why you're on the force.

What about you, Spinelli?

Why are you here? What's motivating you?

What motivates me?

( snorts ) Job stability.

Job stability. There it is.

It ain't about catching the bad guy any more than it was

when my father was a cop.

It's about job stability.

We're all just trying to provide

for our families here, every one of us.

Yeah, yeah. Well, you know what, Joe?

Maybe you should have been a bricklayer,

'cause they get great fucking benefits.

- Oh, get-- - Hey, hey, hey.

Hey, John. John.

Try that again, I'm going to make sure

you're cleaning convicts' cells

for the rest of your career. You got me?

You got me, Joe?

( train horn blowing )

♪ Just a moment, sir ♪

♪ A moment of your time ♪

♪ Been dreaming of you ♪

♪ Is that such a crime? ♪

♪ I know that I'm foolish... ♪

- ( hair dryer whirring ) - ♪ To look back on ♪

♪ Our romance that ended so wrong ♪

♪ But I can't forget your touch ♪

♪ Or that crazy smile that meant so much ♪

♪ All of you that's here ♪

- ♪ Are wishes... ♪ - ( hair dryer stops )

Hello.

♪ They're so easy to make... ♪

Mark? Is that you, honey?

I don't remember giving you a key.

♪ Come true ♪

♪ Yes, wishes... ♪

Mark?

Honey?

♪ I had you instead ♪

- ♪ Of my wishes... ♪ - Mark, this isn't funny.

( gasps ) Oh, my God. What--

Stop. Please.

( grunts ) Shh.

If you only make a sound,

I'm going to tear out your tongue,

and you will never speak again. Do you understand?

Good.

Now, I wasn't intending on being so rough and all,

but seeing you is a fighter,

I'm going to have to make sure

you ain't capable of using those hands.

( both grunting )

No.

( sniffs )

Oh, you smell good.

No. Please stop.

That was the wrong decision.

( gasping )

No.

No, stop, please.

I was going to make love to you.

♪ They're so easy to make ♪

♪ Yet so hard ♪

♪ To make come true ♪

♪ Yes, wishes ♪

♪ If only I had ♪

♪ You instead ♪

♪ Of my wishes... ♪

If you only just behaved.

♪ But the only wish I have ♪

♪ Is you. ♪

( police radio chatter )

( sirens blaring )

Winfield is calling it the seventh one.

Strangler?

It's got all the earmarkings.

Matches the M.O.,

but on close inspection,

there are some incongruities.

Really?

Like what?

John, she's strangled

with the stocking, all right,

but that bow is not tied like we'd expect.

It's a copycat.

The first five were killed by the same guy.

Sophie Clark and this girl

were killed by jagoffs who actually read the papers.

Woman: New Year's Eve. At least we know

the Strangler doesn't take holidays off.

Well, technically it's not a holiday until tomorrow.

Technically it is tomorrow.

Hold on. Who are you?

And how the hell did you get access to my crime scene?

I'm Jana Fineman. I'm with "The Record."

Oh, you're with "The Record." You're a reporter.

We prefer to think of ourselves as public disseminators.

It's our duty to inform the public.

Well, you know what?

I'd prefer to think of you as somebody who's gone.

Donovan, get her out of my face.

Detective Marsden, would you mind commenting on why,

after seven murders, you have no leads,

no witness, no evidence.

How do you know what evidence we got?

All right? The department is not in the habit

of sharing details on investigations with the papers, miss.

Our sources are telling us that you have

absolutely nothing to go on.

I don't give a damn about your sources. Get her out.

She's going. She's going. She's almost gone.

She's gone.

Radio: Fellow citizens of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,

someone please call in to my show.

I want to hear from you.

Someone tell me what is going on in this town.

Why can't the cops find this guy?

He's strangling women all over town.

The list, it's just despicable.

Anna Slessers, she's 55 years old.

She was the first to die.

She was strangled with the cord of her bathrobe,

her very own bathrobe, around her neck,

on June 14, 1962.

A nylon stocking was used

to kill 68-year-old Nina Nichols on June 30,

and Helen Blake, age 65,

was found the same day.

- A stock-- - ( radio clicks )

How was the party?

It'd have been a lot better if you had been there.

You'll catch him, John.

Don't lose focus.

I can't catch "him."

Of course you can.

You're the top detective on the force.

It's not that I don't believe in myself, babe.

I can't catch "him,"

'cause I don't think it's one man.

The M.O. changed drastically

between Jane Sullivan and Sophie Parker.

Jane was 67.

Sophie was 19.

But they were all strangled.

The first five were the same guy,

but I'm 100% sure that he stopped.

The last two were copycats.

Basically the papers have printed

a how-to book on the Boston Strangler.

"Just follow these instructions,

and you too can be the Strangler."

Have you told anyone else how you feel?

Michelle, this is not how I feel.

John, I'm not questioning you.

Calm down.

This is your wife you're talking to here.

Sorry, babe. I'm a bit tense.

Yeah, no kidding.

This is political.

The papers, the public,

the mayor, and the attorney general

all want it to be one man.

Nobody wants to hear there's a--

( chuckles )

there's murderers running rampant out there.

Well, we can't solve anything tonight,

so why don't you...

you just focus on investigating me, huh?

( door closes )

( overlapping conversations )

Hey, why don't you get on over there?

All right. All right, simmer down.

( crowd murmurs )

Look, I know it's odd

for all of us to be here in the same room,

but perhaps Mr. Winfield can enlighten us.

Winfield: Morning, gentlemen.

Let's try and act like professionals.

Now, as you all know,

there's been 12 Strangler murders

without any real leads.

Now, I know you all have been working

very hard investigating your cases,

but it's simply not working.

I've got so much pressure up my ass,

I'm about to crap out of my mouth.

So I have devised a way

to give us a chance

to catch this murdering bastard.

As of today,

the entire Boston Strangler case

will be handled by a new bureau of the commonwealth.

This bureau will be called the Strangler Bureau.

Every department--

and I mean every department...

will be working together...

providing the bureau

with every shred of evidence,

witness testimony, et cetera.

The head of this new bureau will be...

Mr. Fred Addison.

What? Addison?

Are you kidding?

What is this, a joke or something?

What does he know about law enforcement?

Huh? Has he ever been on the street?

No offense, Mr. Addison,

but what the hell does he know about police business?

Sergeant Donnely,

are you questioning my judgment?

Do I look like a joke to you?

I suggest you put a sock in it right here and right now,

or you will be at home with your wife,

baking cookies and doing laundry.

- You understand me? - Yes, sir.

Does this look like a fucking classroom to you, Mr. Smith?

Put your hand down.

No questions will be answered until I'm finished.

Now, I will tie your hands to your belt,

you try that shit again.

Also leading this bureau

will be Detective Phillip Bloom,

Special Officer John Marsden

of the Boston State Police,

and Andrew Tuney of the Mass State.

Alongside these fine gentlemen

will be a medical advisory

made up of experts from around the state.

Finally...

the press will be informed

of a $10,000 reward

for any information

leading to the capture of the Strangler.

You all look as if you want to kill me.

You have any questions,

Mr. Addison will take them.

He's your man.

I just delivered the message.

Fred.

Now, gentlemen,

we all have to work together on this,

and we will explore every option possible

to gather as much information as we can

to capture this criminal.

Now, I'd like you all to meet me back here today

at precisely 2:00 P.M.

to discuss further details.

Good morning.

2:00?

All right, ladies, you heard him.

- Yeah, great. - See you back here at 2:00.

See you later.

Why don't you go and see if he's got everything.

Look, we'll try to keep you up to speed

here on this. I'm sorry about that.

John, maybe we can have a-- yeah, we need to have a talk.

Your office or mine?

Oh, whoa.

- You all right? - Yep. Yeah.

Here it is, Mr. Addison, all 37,000 pages.

Well done, Richie.

I would imagine that everything is collated

and labeled to my exact specifications.

You betcha.

And the computer folks have their copy?

Yes, sir. Delivered it this morning.

37,000 pages?

Not 370?

37,000 pages?

That's right, Mr. Marsden.

This is every single bit of information about the cases

organized into one master book.

And the scientists over at MIT have been gracious enough

to help compile all of the information

on their mainframe computers.

Computer? Whoa.

What the hell are you going to do with a computer?

Organization, Mr. Marsden,

organization.

Well, Mr. Addison,

takes a hell of a lot more than computers

and organization to solve a case.

Well, whatever it takes, Mr. Marsden,

you haven't found it, have you?

How the hell would you know?

Frigging poindexter.

Well, it looks like MIT's

going to be solving all our cases.

( chuckles )

37,000 pages.

( laughs )

- No, no, don't. - No, no, no.

It's a one-way street. You can't--

They'll never see me on a one-way street.

- ( siren blaring ) - ...on a one-way street.

Shut up! Shut up! Ah, this fucking...

Albert, you can't go down this way!

- It's a one-way street. - It's a one-way street.

They'll never know I went on a one-way street.

- Shut up. - What are you doing?

Albert, you're taking our lives in your hands.

- Pull over! - ( car horns honking )

You could kill us all, Albert.

- Michael, tell him-- - Shut up!

Just shut the hell up, Sondra! Shut up!

- Johnson. Mr. Johnson. - Paris?

I done some bad things, man. I got some problems.

What kind of bad things? You've got the cops after you.

Some fucking problems with the broads. You know that.

Susan: You're in the fashion business?

I made some mistakes, okay, Mike? You just--

- What's-- oh, my God! - ( crashes )

Oh, shit!

Shit, I'm sorry, guys.

Oh, fuck. God, I'm a prick.

I'm an asshole.

Slow down. It's fine.

Come on, Sondra, let's get out of here.

No, no. Where you guys going?

- Where you going? - Albert.

Albert, what did you do, Albert?

- Buddy, don't you go anywhere. - You're arguing with them.

- Don't you go anywhere! - What did you do?

- Mikey! - You're bleeding.

What have you done, Albert?

Now look what you gone and done.

You're a mental case, Albert De Salvo.

- A mental case! - ( sirens blaring )

Claudia, don't you go anywhere!

- Don't you leave me! - I can't do it, Albert.

Don't you fucking leave me!

I've had enough of this. I'm sick of this.

Sondra: I don't want to be here when the cops get here.

- Just give yourself up. - Mikey.

Please, come on, Albert.

- Please. I'm sorry, Mike. - What'd you do?

- What'd you do?! - Did some bad shit, man.

You're innocent till proven guilty, right?

You get-- they got nothing on you, right?

They're coming right now. I'm in trouble.

- Turn yourself in. - Mikey!

What am I gonna do? Mikey!

Come on, just turn yourself in.

- But-- what are you doing? - Please, Albert.

- Please. Just please. - I can't do it!

What am I gonna do? Mikey!

Come on, just turn yourself in.

Officer on bullhorn: We have you surrounded.

Turn off the ignition and step out of the car.

- What'd you do? - Put your hands up...

Shit, get out of here! Go! Go! Go!

- You cannot get away. - ( engine sputtering )

You are under arrest, Mr. De Salvo. Please...

God damn it! Start, you fucking thing!

Damn it!

Keep looking straight ahead, Mr. De Salvo.

I'm looking. I'm looking.

So this is the loony bin, eh?

It ain't so bad.

Go faster, Mr. De Salvo.

All right, all right.

So where do they keep the broads in this joint?

( laughs )

Just keep walking.

Hey, hey, how long this guy been in here?

Ain't none of your business.

All right. Just asking.

I thought I said no roommates.

Shit.

You better clean up in that sink over there.

Nice to meet you too.

Gorgeous, huh?

Hey...

I know you.

Nah, you don't know me. ( chuckles )

Nah, I know you.

I never forget a face.

Yeah?

I don't either, and...

you don't look too familiar to me.

That's because you ain't paying attention.

You can't remember nothing if you ain't watching.

February of last year.

Yeah, that's it.

You're-- you're the little joker in the lineup.

I ain't ever been in a lineup.

Sure, you have.

Bitch chose me...

thought I was the Boston fucking Strangler or something.

Imagine that,

a nice guy like me,

the Boston Strangler.

Now wait a minute, now.

Yeah, now I remember.

Yeah, that's right.

Man, was I glad she chose you.

When I was walking out of the jail that day,

I met this little honey, and-- ( sighs )

I'm just saying. ( laughs )

I'm really happy for you.

Ah, no offense. I don't mean no disrespect.

I'm just saying, you know.

Those were some serious charges, huh?

You're telling me.

How'd you beat the rap?

Had a winning ticket on a horse at a track,

perfect alibi.

Sure, yeah.

It's perfect.

So which bed is mine?

Don't bother me.

I don't sleep in the bed.

Yeah, where do you sleep? Sleep with the fish?

( laughs )

I don't really sleep much.

And when I do...

I sleep on the floor.

Hey, wait. What is that,

some Buddhist shit, huh?

Hey, hey. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

Nah.

- ( pats back ) - Bad back.

( laughs )

I see.

So...

what are you in here for?

Why are you in here, Al?

How do you know my name?

Memorized it.

Where?

From the lineup card.

From a year ago? Come on.

I ain't that smart, Al.

You see, while I was at the police station,

I stole the lineup card,

just in case my alibi didn't hold up,

'cause if it didn't hold up,

I was going to make up some cockamamie story

about it being one of youse.

Ah, that's frigging brilliant.

You're like your own-- very own lawyer, huh?

What, you study law?

What were you, a copper?

Nah.

Just always thinking, you know?

Can never stop thinking.

You got to think like a rat

if you want to stay out of shit holes like this.

What are you in here for, anyway?

I shot a guy...

six times in the head point-blank.

Holy shit.

For what?

Before that...

I stabbed him five times.

Spoke to your grandmother yesterday.

No, I don't want to go.

No, not you. Winnie.

I'm not going to talk about this any further.

You're not going to Marianne's party.

I don't care what you say.

- I said I'm going. - You're not going.

I don't like that woman's morals.

Why? It's just a party.

You can't go. When I talk to your father,

you're gonna find out how you're not gonna go anywhere for two years.

- Get in the car. - Fine.

Ma, what's happening?

- I don't know. - That guy's bleeding.

- Ma, go help him. - Oh, my God.

( groaning )

Get on your knees.

Mom, go. Go.

- Stay calm. Stay calm. - But he has a gun.

- Don't look, honey. - Come on.

Beg me for your life.

Beg me. Beg me not to shoot you.

On your knees.

Don't kill me. Please don't kill me.

Take the money.

Don't kill me.

( sobbing ) No.

Lock your door.

That's much better, much better.

Unfortunately,

beggars can't be choosers.

No. No. ( wails )

- Come on! Oh, my God! - My God!

- Ma, he shot him. - My God!

- Mom, go, please. - ( engine sputters )

- Mom, what the hell? - Stay calm.

- Let's go. Please. - It's okay.

We're getting out of here.

- He's coming. - ( screaming )

Come on. Mom, go.

- ( sobbing ) - Oh, no. Please, God.

( gun clicks )

Frank: He tried to be a hero.

I was just robbing the store.

That damn clerk wouldn't open up the register.

So you just stabbed him?

You're damn right I did.

What, you telling me you never killed nobody?

I mean, not really.

What does that mean?

What do you mean, "not really"?

Well, there was this one woman, you know, and I--

I think I scared her, you know. She--

I think she had a heart attack right there.

- She dropped dead. - ( laughs )

( laughs )

That ain't murder.

You're funny.

Ah, I mean, you know,

I'm just saying if I hadn't snuck up on her,

well, she'd still be going to church

this Sunday, you know.

I mean, I didn't call an ambulance or anything,

so I figured I killed her.

( scoffs ) And that's why they locked you up?

Nah.

What for?

I like the broads, you know?

Frank: Tell me who doesn't like the broads, right?

( whimpering )

( gasping )

( traffic passing )

John. Go to sleep.

I heard a noise.

So what?

This is the noisiest neighborhood

in all of Boston. Now go to sleep.

You're a cop, for God's sakes.

What are you afraid of?

I worry about you when we're not together.

I can take care of myself.

Oh, yeah?

You can take on a 6'2", 200-pound man, can you?

Yeah.

Sure.

I could take him on.

Kick him in the balls,

and then I'd bite out his jugular,

just like you taught me to.

Right.

John, it's a quarter past 5:00.

I'm going back to bed.

Did you hear that?

Now you're losing it, John.

I didn't hear nothing.

Look, it's the Strangler case.

It's getting to you.

It's not getting to me.

You're only human, John.

Murdering people gets to people.

Ain't nothing strange about that.

Somebody's getting murdered out there right now,

and there's not a damn thing I can do about it.

Two years I been working on this case, and I got nothing.

I can't solve this thing.

No one can.

I'm not nobody, Michelle.

You solved 10 cases since this investigation's been going on.

- This is different. - How?

This is the biggest case we've ever had.

This is bigger than Jack the Ripper.

What?

- Wha-- - I've heard enough.

I'm sleeping downstairs.

What's the matter?

You're scaring me, John.

That's what's the matter.

Is it really necessary for you to walk me all the way there?

It's for your protection, sir.

Yeah. You cheater.

( knock on door )

Mr. De Salvo, you have a visitor.

Oh. Get the cards.

- I got 'em. - Get the cards.

Here.

Mr. Whitmore.

I'd like you to meet the newly infamous,

famous the world over,

soon to be a wealthy man,

Albert De Salvo.

Certainly is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Whitmore.

Frank's told me a lot about you.

This is the Boston Strangler?

( chuckles ) In the flesh, Mr. Whitmore.

Can you believe it?

Not really, no.

All right.

Well, let's get down to business.

Okay.

You know, the city has spent millions of dollars

trying to track you down.

The D.A. created a special task force just for that purpose.

For three years, they've been looking for you,

not a trace.

It's pretty impressive.

Frank: Sure is.

Albert is like a cat.

He could sneak in and out

of any apartment in Boston without being noticed.

No witnesses...

ever.

Then why confess, hmm?

Family man, wife, kids,

a dog,

probably even a goldfish.

No one even suspected you.

Guess you could say it was a career move.

Ha. A career move.

Now, look, Mr. Whitmore...

we got client-attorney privileges here, right?

- I mean-- - Frank, you know the score.

Anything you say in this room stays in this room.

That's the way it goes, guaranteed,

confidential.

Good, because...

the way that we see this, Winfield...

is offering $10,000 per murder.

Now, that's over $100,000.

See, I tell Frank,

Frank tells the cops,

and we split the reward money.

- Simple. - And you,

you become a world-famous litigator.

I mean, any publicity

is good publicity, right?

It's going to be messy.

It's a huge story.

I mean, the press and the public,

they're going to want to crucify Al,

crucify him.

They're going to have the grave already dug.

Unless...

Whitmore: Unless what?

Unless you claim insanity.

For me, or for him?

See, I'm going to jail for life anyway,

so we cop an insanity plea.

They don't execute me,

and I live out the rest of my life

in a hospital, and the best part

is our families get to keep the cash.

( laughs )

Jesus.

( chuckles )

Then I'll do it.

( laughs ) Perfect.

- That's great. - Perfect.

Ah, thank you, Mr. Whitmore.

Thank you. Thank you.

On one condition.

Sure, yeah. Whatever.

If you guys get the reward,

we split it three ways.

- Three ways. - Ho. Ho.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Three frigging ways? What is this? Frank.

Calm down. Mr. Whitmore.

Frank, I'm doing this for free.

It's pro bono. I don't see a dime off of this.

It's the least you can do.

Before you know it, there's nothing left.

Wait. Hold on.

That'd be plenty of money, Al.

We can't do it without him.

Don't you see?

The plan is already in motion.

There's no turning back.

He's the only one that could keep you out of the electric chair.

Hey...

Mr. De Salvo,

I don't think you realize

what the public really thinks of you.

They don't want to just see you get electrocuted.

They want to tear you to pieces.

They want to string you up from the nearest lamppost

and cut your guts out.

That's what they want to do to you.

Now, you let me handle the legals,

I'll make sure that you live a long, comfortable life.

Yeah, but, Mr. Whitmore,

the thing is, see, I got kids,

and I got a wife who I know still loves me, and I got a family.

I'm the one taking a chance here, right?

I'm the one taking a risk.

All right.

That's it.

Al, it's going to be fine.

Either way,

there's no going back to the way things was,

so why not let Mr. Whitmore here

make sure you go somewhere that's comfortable?

And don't he deserve some of the money too?

I mean, I know him.

He works real hard.

He'll do anything and everything

in his power to take care of you.

Al...

come on.

We're running out of time here.

You're running out of time.

So--

ahem.

We got a deal or what?

We got a deal.

( laughs )

Frank, I'll be in touch.

Okay.

That's what I'm talking about.

- Okay. - Guard!

( sirens blaring )

Detective Marsden! Sorry.

You know Albert De Salvo?

Yeah, sure, I do.

Measuring Man, Green Man.

Why? What's up?

Well, come on. Spit it out, for Pete's sake.

Albert De Salvo confessed to being the Boston Strangler.

He confessed to what?

To the Boston Strangler.

I mean, isn't that great? We got our man. That's it.

He confessed. It's over.

It's finally-- it's over.

( bells tolling )

Thought you'd be happy, Detective Marsden.

I thought you'd be jumping for joy right now.

In fact, everybody else is downstairs celebrating.

They're shaking hands.

- Are they? - Yeah.

So are you coming downstairs and celebrating?

Yeah, 'course I am.

Matter of fact, I'm going to come down and buy you a drink.

I'll be right down.

You got it, sir.

Ahem.

Michael, Sondra,

I want you to meet a very good friend of mine.

This is Frank Asarian.

Frank, this is my brother Michael

and my sister-in-law Sondra.

My pleasure.

My pleasure.

Al, it's a family meeting.

Nah, nah, nah, nah. It's all right. It's all right.

No, Frank is my family in here.

Come on, come on, let's sit down.

So?

Michael: I just don't get it.

I mean, I just don't know what to say.

There is nothing to say.

I made some mistakes.

Some mistakes?

You call killing innocent women mistakes?

Listen, Albert, we just don't understand

how and when all this happened.

I mean, I know that you got your problems with the broads and all,

but murder?

See, look, you don't understand, okay?

There's a lot to the story I ain't telling you.

Okay, it's very complicated.

All I can say, though,

is I'm going to make a whole lot of money off this deal.

And I'm already pretty famous, right?

You're not famous, Albert.

You're infamous. It's different.

Sondra.

Look, I know we never seen eye to eye

on a few things, okay, but...

any sort of fame is all right by me, you know?

No, I just don't get it.

There's reward money.

Frank's going to collect that.

There's going to be television interviews.

There's going to be book deals.

I even got a call about a movie.

I mean, no, listen, they want to make

a frigging movie about me.

And guess who's going to play me.

Tony frigging Curtis.

This is crazy. You kill people,

and all you could think about is being a movie star?

The way we're looking at it is that

I'm already gonna be in jail for life for other crimes.

Why not make the best out of it?

And Frank's come up with this really good plan for my incarceration.

Tell 'em, Frank. Go ahead.

Ahem. Well...

we decided with our lawyer,

Stuart Whitmore,

to go for an insanity plea.

Mr. Whitmore made a deal with the Attorney General

that nothing Albert says about the Boston Strangler case

can be used against him.

I mean, they already got him in the court of public opinion anyway,

so why bother trying him in court?

So they're going to try him for the Green Man offenses.

Now, what's going on here? Is Asarian here

your legal representation too?

He's a smart guy, okay?

So just let him speak, Mike, all right? Come on.

Go ahead, Frank.

As I was saying,

Mr. Whitmore's going to suggest to the jury

that Albert is completely insane.

And instead of going to Walpole,

he's going to go to a country club run by the state.

It's brilliant.

It's frigging brilliant.

Michael, I've had enough.

They're demented.

( sighs ) Why you giving up so easy?

Let them prove you guilty.

This is an opportunity.

I got a chance here to make the name

Albert De Salvo mean something.

I mean, Ma worked her whole life for us to mean something.

Nah, nah, this ain't what she meant, Albert.

I'd rather just be a plumber my whole life...

than be in the mess you're in right now.

I love you, Albert.

I'll visit you every week.

Promise. Well, maybe next time

we could just play some cards or something

like the old days.

- Yeah. - Yeah.

Sure, Mike,

just like the good old days, huh?

Don't worry, Al.

You're making the right decision.

He ain't in your predicament.

He don't know.

He's a plumber.

Yeah, you're right, Frank.

He doesn't know my predicament.

No.

She mapped it all out.

Look at all the details she got here.

You'd think she committed the murders.

Now listen to this.

There was a pack of cigarettes sitting on the ground

underneath a pink chair with flowers on it.

Mm. Yeah, see,

now this is the kind of information we need.

We need to know the murders

in more detail than anyone else.

Exactly. Look.

Right here, it says Ida Irga

was wearing a blue robe with flowers sewn on it,

not pictures, but actual knitting.

That's what I'm talking about.

What are you doing?

What? I got to look at it.

You know, I got to see it.

I got to let the picture sink in.

What the fuck are you talking about?

What? I got a, you know, photogenic memory.

You got a photographic memory, you moron?

What, are you serious?

Why didn't you tell me?

What? I thought everyone had one.

What are you talking about?

( laughs ) This is like a gift from God.

Do you know what that means?

No.

Just look at that one. Look at that one.

- I'm looking. - Oh, my God.

They're going-- you're going to know better than the murderer.

Well, look. Right here, you see these pictures right here.

Yeah, just look at it. Just look at it, okay?

- Fine. - Okay?

All right, I got-- I got-- oh, my God.

- You got it? - I got it.

- Perfect. Look at that. - Okay.

( laughs )

Next. Next.

We've got through the-- that fast?

- Come on. - Here you go.

- Okay. - Jesus Christ.

( door opens )

So you're Albert De Salvo.

Certainly is a pleasure

to meet someone so famous.

The most famous person I ever met

was Miss Ohio of 1957.

Uh...

I didn't agree to no lie detector test.

Relax, Albert. It's a tape recorder.

For the record,

we're going to record your confession.

I ain't afraid of no lie detector.

I'm just saying we never agreed on that.

Don't worry about it, Albert.

We all have secrets.

We're only interested

in the ones you're confessing to.

Ready?

Sure.

( recorder clicks )

Mr. De Salvo--

Oh, please, call me Al, huh?

Let's get this thing started off on the right foot, huh?

I couldn't agree more.

Albert...

when was the first time you met Anna Slessers?

Well, I wouldn't say, you know, I actually met her.

She was just a pretty girl that--

Pretty girl?

But Anna Slessers was 55 years old.

Yeah, yeah. Anna Slessers.

You know, but she was a real looker for 55.

See, you know, I was--

I was hiding in the closet, right,

and I watched her walk inside.

Usually I'm hiding in the--

in the bedroom or something,

but this time, I was hiding in the foyer closet,

and she was--

she was holding a bag from Gimbels.

Addison: Oh, well, that's strange.

Because I'm sure that...

it was a bag of groceries.

Albert: Yeah, that's right.

Yeah, it was a bag of groceries.

You know, it was meat, milk, and all that stuff.

James, are you home?

So after she finished

putting the food and stuff away,

I stayed in the closet.

You do remember that you killed her in the bedroom?

You're talking about Anna Slessers, right?

Yes.

Right. Yeah.

So she walked into the bedroom,

and I followed her very quietly.

You know, she didn't know I was there.

( drawer thumps )

James?

( gasps, yells )

( muffled screaming )

Stop. Help!

Help me! Help! Help me! Help!

( yelling ) Help! Help!

Someone help me!

God help me!

( screams )

( gags )

Oh, God! Help me! Stop!

Addison: So when did you use the stocking

to strangle her?

Where'd you get it?

See-- ( laughs )

see, now you're trying to trick me, Mr. Addison.

See, I remember this one very clearly.

So I took the tie to her robe.

I wrapped it around her neck,

and I'm pulling on it, and I'm pulling on it.

She's fighting me and fighting me, right?

She even scratched me with her nails.

It was terrible.

But, you know, I mean, it was necessary, and--

Okay. That's lots of information.

We might have to go back a few steps, though,

just to make sure we got it all right,

I mean, we got it all.

You know how judges are.

Sure. I understand.

( tape rewinds )

So...

let's take a step back.

You said that, on the night

of the Slessers murder, you hid in the closet

and then you followed her into the bedroom.

Is that right?

Yeah. Yeah, sure.

That's exactly what happened.

( sighs )

( sighs )

I'm sorry, Al.

Sorry?

Is that all you got to say?

You see, I'm the one who's going to go to Walpole.

The appeal is already in motion.

Did you see the faces on those jurors?

Did you see them,

those God-fearing people?

They hated me.

They want to see me fry,

sent me right to the chair.

And we'll appeal it.

Look, it's just...

everybody's all in a frenzy

about the Strangler.

Just too soon.

Oh, yeah?

Is that your professional opinion?

At least you'll be with Frank in Walpole.

Frank's going to the frigging electric chair, and you know it!

That's on appeal too.

Look, Albert, you're still going to get your money.

You're going to get your book deal, your movie deal.

All of that is still coming through.

But Walpole, for Christ's sake!

Walpole! They will fucking kill me there!

I'm going to die there!

Albert, this is your life.

You did this,

not me, not anyone else.

I've done everything that I could, everything.

Do you want me to appeal the verdict?

I don't know.

Does Frank think I should do it?

For God's sake, for once, forget about Frank.

I'm your attorney!

I am.

Listen to me.

We can appeal this thing

and get you in an institution.

Okay?

Is that what you want? Hmm?

Yeah.

Yeah, maybe you're right.

By the time the court hears the appeal,

this whole Strangler thing will be...

old news, right?

Yeah.

Right.

Stay strong.

Lay low.

Everything will be fine.

This is my world.

We'll get you out of it, brother.

Need a little money while you're in here? Hmm?

40 will last you.

Not enough for the fucking casket.

Man on radio: Albert Henry De Salvo,

the 35-year-old mental patient

who says he murdered 13 women as the Boston Strangler,

was found guilty tonight of armed robbery,

assault, and sex offenses involving four women.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

De Salvo's lawyer, who had asked the jury of 12 men

to find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity,

told newsmen bitterly, quote, unquote,

"Massachusetts has burned another witch.

No fault of the jury's, of course.

It's the fault of the law."

His case was built on the argument

that De Salvo was a schizophrenic personality.

Although the 13 murders committed

in the Boston area from mid-1962 to early 1964

were not a part of his trial,

De Salvo's lawyer tried to inject testimony relating to them.

He said he felt these crimes were so monstrous

that the jury must agree that his client was insane,

but the court refused to permit testimony

relating to the stranglings.

De Salvo, a former military policeman

and former middleweight boxing champion

of the armed forces in Germany,

stood erect and wan as the jury foreman,

F. Hunter Rolley of Concord,

a brokerage firm analyst, reported him guilty

on each count of a 10-count indictment.

The jury deliberated three hours, 45 minutes...

Albert: I just can't take it no more, you know.

I just can't take no more.

It's time, man.

Six years is enough time.

I'm a changed man, you know.

I ain't the same man I used to be.

I help the old people now.

I work in the infirmary.

I haven't had a drink

since I broke out of Bridgewater.

And what's the difference

if I tell the real story now?

What's the difference if I tell that I ain't the Boston Strangler,

that I never was the Boston Strangler?

Man, I don't need the fame no more,

and I ain't seen a dime from any of this mess,

not a-- not a frigging dime.

You know...

maybe if I tell the truth,

my family'll talk to me, you know?

You can't say nothing,

nothing to nobody.

And that's for the rest of your life.

But why, Frank? I mean, why?

What's the difference?

Because I'm telling you not to.

I'm in this too, you know.

I don't want no problems, no press, no nothing.

There's no sense in rehashing the past.

In my book...

it's over.

You're talking like you got something

you don't want me to know, Frank.

You hiding something?

You better shut up, boy, before I grab your head

and I bust it against those bars.

Sounds like you got a secret.

Sounds like you been holding on to something for all these years.

( laughs )

I'm done talking.

I've said enough.

( whistles )

( buzzer sounds )

You can do with it

whatever the fuck you want.

Claudia: You even know what you've done?

( bell tolling )

Frank: You're running out of time.

- ( woman moans ) - Why you giving up so easy?

- ( screams ) - I got needs!

I'm a fucking man! You're my wife.

I ain't the same man I used to be.

Guard!

( phone dialing )

Hello. Dr. Arlen?

It's Albert, Albert De Salvo.

I must say I'm surprised to hear from you.

How have you been?

Actually, I've been doing well.

You know, Walpole...

ain't so bad after all.

Well, I'm very happy to hear that.

But listen. If you wouldn't mind

relieving me of my curiosity,

why are you calling me?

I got some things I want to get off my chest.

Well, I'm sure they have mental health professionals there

who can help you.

Nah, nah. This is different, Dr. Arlen.

I want to tell the truth

about the Boston Strangler murders.

I see.

Look, Albert,

let's not do this over the phone, all right?

I'll arrange to meet you

at 9:00 A.M. tomorrow morning.

I'll set up a private therapy room.

We can talk there.

That'd be great.

Thanks, Doc. Hey, thanks a lot, huh?

( cell door clinks )

Who's over there? Who's there? Who are you?

- ( grunting ) - Ow! Oh!

What are you doing? What are you doing?

What the fuck are you doing?

( blade slicing )

Oh, yeah? You going to fucking talk now?

- ( Albert screaming ) - ( grunting )

Fucking snitch.

( door closes )

Guard, we're done here.

Man on radio: Albert H. De Salvo,

who became known as the Boston Strangler,

was found stabbed to death

at Walpole State Prison this morning.

The prison authorities said

that the 40-year-old inmate's body was discovered

in his cell bed in the prison's hospital wing at 7:00 A.M.

De Salvo, who worked as an orderly in the hospital,

was said to have died of multiple stab wounds.

The Norfolk County District Attorney

said tonight that a possible suspect had been questioned,

but that no arrests had been made.

Although De Salvo confessed the details

of the slayings of 13 women

from the Boston area to a psychiatrist

and became widely known as the Boston Strangler

through a book and a movie release...

( instrumental music playing )