01x07 - Ssssshh

Episode transcripts for the TV series, "Love & Death". Aired: April 27 – May 25, 2023.*
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The series is based on the true story of Wylie, Texas, housewife Candy Montgomery.
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01x07 - Ssssshh

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("DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD"

BY NINA SIMONE PLAYING)

Baby, you understand me now ♪

If sometimes you see that I'm mad? ♪

Don't you know no one alive

can always be an angel? ♪

When everything goes

wrong, you see some bad ♪

But, oh, I'm just a soul ♪

Whose intentions are good ♪

Oh lord ♪

Please don't let me be misunderstood ♪

Doo, doo, doo ♪

Oh, oh-oh-oh baby, I'm just human ♪

Don't you know I have

faults like anyone? ♪

Sometimes, I find myself alone ♪

Regretting some little foolish thing ♪

Some simple thing ♪

That I've done ♪

'Cause I'm just a soul ♪

Whose intentions are good ♪

Oh lord, please don't let me be ♪

Misunderstood ♪

Doo, doo ♪

Don't let me be misunderstood ♪

I try so hard, so please ♪

Don't let me be misunderstood ♪

(CHURCH CHOIR SINGING)

Jerusalem ♪



CANDY: The scripture says

that he who is without love

does not know God,

for God is love.

And we commend to His mercy

all who have loved and d*ed.

That Your will for

them may be fulfilled.

As in baptism, Betty Gore put on Christ.

- (DEEP RUMBLING)

- So in Christ, may Betty Gore

- be clothed in glory

- DON (ECHOES): Candy?

CANDY: Clothed in glory

Clothed in glory

- DON CROWDER: Candy?

- CANDY (WHISPERS): Clothed in glory

DON: Candy.

Are you ready?

Did you hear me?

I'm as ready as I'm gonna get.

DON: Do not hold anything back.

If it even seems like

you're hidin', we lose.

It's time.

(MUFFLED CROWD CHATTER)

(INHALES)

- ("MAGGIE MAY" BY ROD STEWART PLAYING)

- (REPORTER CHATTER)

I think I've got

something to say to you ♪

(CROWD YELLING)

It's late September,

and I really should be ♪

Back at school ♪

I know I keep you amused ♪

But I feel I'm being used ♪

Oh, Maggie, I wished ♪

I'd never seen your face ♪

(MUSIC ECHOES, FADES)

(DRAMATIC SWELLING TONE)

(SONG FADES OUT)

(QUIET, TENSE MUSIC)

(ECHOING FOOTSTEPS)

- (FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE)

- (QUIET WHOOSH)

(FOOTSTEPS CONTINUE)



- (GATE CREAKS)

- (CLEAR FOOTSTEPS)

- (CHAIRS CREAK)

- (FANS SQUEAKING)

JUDGE RYAN: Mr. Crowder,

are you ready to proceed?

Yes, Your Honor.

The defense calls Candace Montgomery.



(WHISPERING CHATTER)

DON: You heard Allan Gore's testimony.

Was his description of

the affair accurate?

CANDY: Yes.

DON: It petered out into nothingness?

It was over-over?

CANDY: Yes.

DON: There was no burning ember

that made you wanna get back together?

Definitely not.

Calling your attention to

the morning of June 13th,

why'd you go to the Gore house?

We had plans to see "The

Empire Strikes Back."

Alisa wanted to go, and Jenny

very much wanted Alisa to go.

Jenny is your 7-year-old daughter?

- CANDY: Yes.

- And Alisa?

Alisa Gore, Jenny's best

friend. She had stayed the night.

Betty Gore's daughter?

- CANDY: Yes.

- DON: And you and Betty were friends?

CANDY: Yes.

DON: Prior to June 13th of this year,

had you and Mrs. Gore

ever exchanged any hostile words?

- CANDY: No.

- DON: Had you ever had

- any physical altercation?

- CANDY: No.

When's the last physical

altercation of any kind

you can remember

getting into with anyone,

other than June 13th?

I don't think there ever was any.

How about a verbal altercation?

I can't think of any.

DON: To the best of your recollection,

you have never fought with anyone,

either physically or

verbally, prior to June 13th?

That's correct.

DON: So, you went to the

Gore house that morning?

To get Alisa's bathing suit.



She had a swimming lesson that day,

and if she was gonna stay another night,

I would have to take her.

DON: Did you call Mrs.

Gore prior to going?

- CANDY: No.

- BETTY: Candy.

(ECHOING) Sorry, Why call when

you can barge right in, right?

DON: How did she seem

when you got there?

She seemed a bit hurried.

Hurried?

She was planning for a big trip,

and she seemed anxious about it.

- DON: Did she invite you in?

- CANDY: Yes.

DON: And what happened

after she invited you in?

We

talked about the movie plans.

I asked her if it was

okay for Alisa to go.

We talked about the swimming lessons,

her upcoming trip.

- She introduced me to the new puppy.

- (COLLAR JINGLING)

It was a normal, friendly conversation?

- (CLOCK TICKING)

- CANDY: Very.

Until I was gettin' ready to leave.

DON: And what happened then?

(INHALES DEEPLY) Well,

I said that I should

get going as I had an errand to run

and suddenly, she blurted out

Are you having an affair with Allan?

DON: And what did you say?

Yes.

- (CLOCK TICKING)

- (BIRDS CHIRPING)

But it was a long time ago.

You wait a minute.

I thought maybe she had

found a card or a letter

that Allan or I had written,

- and maybe she just went to go get it.

- (DOOR CREAKS)

And when she reappeared?

(CREAK, ECHOING DOOR SLAM)

She had an axe.



Were you in fear for

your life at that moment?

No.

Because I never dreamed

she would use it.

So what happened next?

Well, I said, under the circumstances,

I should probably bring

Alisa home after Bible class.

- And she said

- No, I don't wanna see you anymore.

- (CLANK)

- CANDY: And she put the axe down.

DON: Had you ever seen that

axe before in your life?

- CANDY: No.

- DON: Did you even know the Gores had an axe?

- CANDY: No.

- DON: What happened next?

I went into the utility room

to grab Alisa's bathing suit,

and that was about the same time

that Betty had returned from

the bathroom with a towel.

And then what happened?



(WHISPERS) She just looked so hurt.

Ma'am, I'm gonna need you to speak up.

DON: Betty looked hurt?

CANDY: I put my hand on her shoulder.

And that's when I said

I am so sorry.

And she did not like that.

(GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

- You can't have him.

- CANDY: Then suddenly, she had the axe again.

BETTY: You can't have

him. You can't have him!

- I'm gonna have another baby. You can't have him.

- Please. I don't want

- You can't have him!

- I don't want him!

- (BETTY CRYING)

- Betty, don't do this.

(CRYING, GRUNTS)

(GASPS) What are you doing?

Did you think, at that moment,

she was going to k*ll you?

(QUIETLY) I still didn't

believe she'd ever do that.

DON: But, at some point,

your belief changed?

- CANDY: Yes.

- When?



When she swung the axe up

- (STRUGGLING, SCREAMING)

- (AXE CLANGS)

and it hit me in

the side of my head.

- (CANDY PANTING)

- (BETTY GRUNTS)

- (CLANG)

- (SCREAMS)

DON: Can you describe

the force of that swing?

It seemed with every

ounce of her strength.

Were you now concerned for your life?

I knew then that she wanted to k*ll me.

DON: And then what happened?



I grabbed the axe.

(GASPS) You

(BOTH STRUGGLING)

(GRUNTING)

(PANTING)

(STRUGGLING CONTINUES)

- (SCREAMS)

- (BARKING)

- (BANG)

- (BETTY GASPING)

- (AXE THUDS)

- (BETTY GRUNTS)

(BETTY GASPING)

- (AXE CLATTERS)

- (CANDY GASPING)

I thought I'd k*lled her.

(GASPING)

DON: And then what happened?



I just went to leave, but

But what?

(INHALES)

(GASPING)

(BOTH PANTING)

(GRUNTING, STRUGGLING)

(BOTH YELLING)

(BOTH GRUNTING, PANTING)

Let go of me!

(SCREAMS)

(SCREAMS)

- (AXE CLANGS)

- (PANTING ECHOES)

- Please, I don't want him

- (HIGH-PITCHED RINGING)

(ECHOING) No, I don't want him!

(GASPS) Shh

- Please, I don't want him.

- (SHUSHING ECHOES)

I don't want him! No!

(SHUSHING ECHOES)

(STRUGGLING, GRUNTS)

(PANTING)

(SCREAMS)

(GRUNTS)

Ah!

(PANTING)

- (SCREAMS)

- (BLOOD SPLATTERS)

- (SCREAMS)

- (AXE CLANGS)

(SHUDDERING BREATHS)

- (SCREAMING)

- (AXE STRIKING)

(GASPS)

(BETTY SCREAMING)

- (GASPING)

- (CANDY GRUNTING)

(SCREAMING)

(BARKING)

- (AXE STRIKING)

- (CANDY GRUNTING)



(AXE CLANGS)

(YELLING)

- Ah!

- (CLATTER ECHOES)

(SHUDDERING GASP)

(SNIFFLES, GASPS)

(GASPS)

(WHIMPERING)

DON: Do you recall how

many times you hit her

when she was upright?

No.

DON: What about when she was down?

I just remember being afraid

that she'd get back up again,

so I kept hitting her.

(CEILING FANS SQUEAKING)

(SNIFFLES)

DON: When you got to the Gore house,

did you have it in your

mind to k*ll Betty Gore?

- No.

- After she hit you in the head the first time,

did you have it in your mind

- then to k*ll Betty Gore?

- No.

After she hit you the second time,

did you have it in your mind

- to k*ll Betty Gore?

- No.

DON: When, if ever,

did it enter your mind that

you had to k*ll Betty Gore

to keep from being k*lled?

I never thought about it.

It just happened.



After you stopped hitting her,

what did you do?

(RAGGED BREATHING)

CANDY: I walked around.

I stood back, and

I looked at myself, and I was

covered with blood.

DON: What were your

feelings at that moment?

(FAUCET CREAKS, SHOWER STARTS)

CANDY: I just felt so dirty.

I had to get the blood

off. It was making me sick.

So I got into the shower.

- (WATER STREAMING)

- (RAGGED BREATHING)

(LONG EXHALE)



I just wanted to make it

all go away, but I couldn't.



And I kept thinking

I have to be normal.

- (BLOWING)

- (PINWHEEL SPINNING)

One thing at a time.

Father's Day cards.

Swimming lessons.

- Movies.

- (ECHOING DOOR SLAM)

One thing at a time. Normal.

DON: And when you left the

house and started to drive home,

what thoughts were running

through your mind at that moment?

That it was all a mistake.

Then it never happened.



It just never happened.

But it did happen.

- You k*lled Betty Gore with this axe.

- (GASPS)

- Sorry, please don't make me look at that.

- You k*lled her with this axe!

- Stop (GASPS) Stop.

- You can look at it. Look at it!

(CRYING)

Do you need a break?

No, I'm okay.

I'm okay.

(CANDY SIGHS, SNIFFLES)

Pass the witness.

(CANDY BREATHING HEAVILY)

(PUTS DOWN AXE)

When you left the house,

the baby was there.

- (CANDY SIGHS)

- Alone. With her mother dead.

I wasn't thinking about the baby.

My mind wasn't thinking at all.

Well, it was thinking

should get in the shower.

It was thinking should

wash the blood off.

When you left the house,

you knew you had k*lled Betty

Gore with an axe, didn't you?

I knew.

TOM O'CONNELL: And when

you arrived back at the church,

you told no one?

I wanted to pretend it didn't happen.

Wanted to "pretend it didn't happen."

You "pretended" with your friends

and fellow congregants at the church?

- Yes.

- You "pretended" with your close friend

and former pastor, Jackie Ponder?

- Yes.

- O'CONNELL: You "pretended" with your husband?

You especially "pretended"

with the police.

I was not truthful at first.

But I was lying to myself just

as much as I was lying to them.

But you're not lying today?

No.

You said Betty Gore

went to the utility room,

then appeared with the axe?

- Yes.

- You didn't try to flee?

As I mentioned earlier,

I didn't think my life

was in danger at that time.

But later, you did?

Why didn't you run then?

At that point, I was blocked.

What about the, the door to the garage?

It was closed.



Your Honor, may I approach?

I'll show you exhibit 13.

You recognize this?

It's a lens to my sunglasses.

- O'CONNELL: Sunglasses you were wearing that day?

- Yes.

This lens was found

in the garage. Did you go in the garage?

- No.

- Never?

I have never been in the Gore garage.

Then, how do you explain

the lens to your sunglasses

being in the garage?

Maybe during the struggle,

it somehow got kicked in there.

It got kicked in? While

the door was closed?

No, as I was trying to get out,

I had opened the door slightly

before Betty came back at me.

And so, maybe it got

kicked into the garage

while the door was ajar.

That's the only explanation

I can come up with.

I bet you wish you could

come up with another.

- Objection.

- First, you said the door was closed.

Now, you amend it to "slightly ajar."

Mrs. Montgomery

Are you pretending again with us now?

- Objection.

- JUDGE RYAN: Overruled.

O'CONNELL: Do you consider

yourself to be a good liar?

- Objection!

- Overruled, and stop your nonsense.

O'CONNELL: When you told

your fellow congregants

back at the church that nothing

happened at the Gore house,

did they believe you?



- Yes.

- When you told Jackie Ponder, she believed you?

- Yes.

- O'CONNELL: When you told your husband,

he believed you?

- (SOFTLY) Yes.

- All these people believed you.

You must be a very good liar.

- Objection!

- And I would imagine if you could fool

the people that know you best

- Objection!

- JUDGE RYAN: Oh, alright.



DON: He did damage.

I should have done more with

that f*ckin' sunglasses lens.

We had a pretty good day.

- Nobody's buying Candy's testimony.

- (PHONES RINGING)

- We don't know that.

- Are you listenin' to what's being said?

ROBERT UDASHEN: The

media doesn't get a vote.

I was watching the jury

during Candy's testimony.

They were hanging on every word.

They seem to be with her.

What about Dr. Fason?

I'm not sure Judge Ryan will

find hypnosis admissible.

Yeah, well, we have to try.

Self-defense doesn't

account for 40 whacks.

We need Fason.

("WILL YOU LOVE ME TOMORROW" BY

THE SHIRELLES PLAYING ON STEREO)

(DISHES CLINKING)

Tonight, you're mine ♪

Completely ♪

- CANDY'S MOTHER: Honey.

- You give your love ♪

So sweetly ♪

Mom?

- Tonight ♪

- What are you doing here?

- Shh!

- (SINGING ECHOES, DISTORTS)

Why are you here?

You need to defend yourself, honey.

Here, take this.

(ECHOING SLICE)

(EERIE MUSIC PLAYING)

(GASPS)

- Oh

- (MUSIC SWELLS)

(GASPING)

(GROANING, PANTING)

Candy, what's wrong?

(HEAVY BREATHING)

(DOORBELL RINGING)

- (REPEATED DOORBELL RINGING)

- (LIGHTS CLICK)

PAT: Don, it's near midnight.

DON: I tried calling. Why's

the phone off the hook?

Oh, w-we're getting prank calls.

Well, I need to be able

to contact you both.

Put the phone back on the hook.

Why? What's wrong?

(SIGHS) Little change of plans.

I'm puttin' you up next.

Me? Why?

This is Texas, Pat.

Folks might be able to forgive m*rder.

Adultery, not so much.

I did forgive her. And do.

In fact, I-I blame myself.

- DON: Why?

- The relationship with Allan

was really more about

having someone to talk to,

and, uh, I wasn't

open enough with Candy.

I wasn't sharing myself enough.

DON: Mr. Montgomery,

when you learned what

happened in that utility room,

you continued to stand by your wife?

Of course.

Yes. Sh-She is not violent.

In-In fact, once the horror passed,

I felt some gratitude. I thanked God.

You thanked God?

PAT: Betty is a much larger woman.

Add to that, she had an axe.

Could have easily gone the other way.

Candy is loving.

She's not violent.

For this to have happened,

Betty came at her.

O'CONNELL: Did your wife

tell you what she'd done?

I think she blocked it out.

She lied to you. She kept it from you.

I don't think she really remembered.

She forgot about it, you think?

DR. FRED FASON: It's not

that she didn't remember.

She knew she had swung the axe,

but she suffered a

dissociative reaction,

which can induce a form of

amnesia to suppress anger,

- and, in this case, shame.

- Hold on.

Are you sayin' she suffered

from a mental illness?

I'm saying she could

not reconcile her actions

with who she believes herself to be,

so she, in a sense, blocked it out.

DON: Can this explain why after,

when she went back to church,

and then to Target to

buy Father's Day cards,

it was as if this

incident had never happened

in Mrs. Montgomery's mind?

She knew that it had happened,

but by forcing herself to

go about her normal day,

it was as if she were trying

to erase the reality of it.

A portion of her

personality was split off

- from her consciousness.

- Dr. Fason,

I admit I am no medical doctor,

but when a personality

gets portioned off

from somebody's consciousness,

that sure as hell sounds

like mental illness to me.

DON: Approach, Your Honor?

(QUIETLY) I don't recall you jumping in

with the prosecution's medical experts.

(QUIETLY) I can pose questions

to witnesses, sua sponte.

You know what sua sponte is, counsel?

It's Latin for "my courtroom."

DON: We would like the record

to reflect your obstruction.

JUDGE RYAN: You don't have to

introduce what I say into the record.

You know why? 'Cause if I said it,

it's already in the record.

I'm representin' a

woman who may go to jail

for the rest of her life,

so I'm going to perfect the record

so that it accurately

reflects your prejudice.

For that remark,

this court holds you in contempt.

You're already holdin' me in contempt.

Well, I'm doin' it again.

Another $100

and 72 hours in the Collin County jail,

effective immediately today

once we stand in recess.

Doctor, I'd like you to elaborate

on my client's dissociative reaction,

if you possibly can without

being abruptly interrupted.

DR. FASON: Mrs.

Montgomery couldn't fathom

that she was capable

of this kind of rage.

In fact, this woman has

an anathema to v*olence.

Candy Montgomery is also a person

who is excessively concerned

with what other people think of her.

This is a common personality

pattern with individuals

who struggle with

dissociative reactions.

Doctor, I'm going to

instruct you to refrain

from narrative responses.

Answer only what Mr. Crowder asks.

Is it common for individuals

who suffer dissociative reactions

to be excessively concerned

with how others perceive them?

DR. FASON: Yes.

It's partly why Mrs. Montgomery

emotionally walled herself off

from the events of that day.

It was only when I hypnotized her

that she was fully able

to access her memory.

How so?

DR. FASON: I was able

to age-regress her

to the time when she first experienced

a dissociative reaction.

It happened when she was 4 years old.

She was involved in a race of some sort

with a little boy who

was older than her,

and the winner got to

pump some water into a jar.

She was mad because she lost,

and she threw the jar into the pump,

and it broke.

A piece of glass from that broken jar

came back and hit her in the forehead

and she was bleeding down her face.

When she was taken to the hospital,

she was very frightened about

what was going to happen to her.

(YOUNG CANDY SCREAMING)

DR. FASON: And she was screaming.

- DR. FASON: Her mother said

- (ECHOING) Shh!

What will they think of you in

the waiting room? Stop crying.

(SCREAMING)

Shh! Shh!

- Shh!

- (TENSE CRESCENDO)

(SCREAMING FADES OUT)

DON: She relayed this to

you while under hypnosis?

Correct. She had no

conscious memory of it.

Even under hypnosis,

she was very frightened

of expressing the

feelings that she felt.

It took a very definitive suggestion

that when I counted to three,

she would express those feelings.

I counted to three. One

- two, three.

- Shh!

(PRIMAL SCREAM)

(ECHOING, FADING)

(SILENCE)

DR. FASON: Honestly, it was a scream

a sound, that I had never heard before.

- Triggered by her mother saying "shh"?

- DR. FASON: Yes.

Is it any coincidence that

Betty Gore also said

"shh"?

It is not.

I look at that expl*si*n

of v*olence with Betty Gore

as being the result of the anger

that had been buried within her

and blocked off all that time

since she was 4 years of age.

- When I told her that, she said

- CANDY: Oh, my God.

Do you mean I k*lled my mother?



DON: Was she k*lling

her mother in a way?

DR. FASON: No. She was defending

herself against an att*ck by Betty Gore.

But, the depth of rage and v*olence,

that did in part come from something

that happened with her mother.

Let me ask you one final question.

Did Candace Montgomery,

at any time during June 13th, 1980,

knowingly, uh, that is

on a conscious level,

intend to k*ll Betty Gore?

I do not believe so.

Your Honor, we pass the witness.

(O'CONNELL CLEARS THROAT)

Defendant hit the victim

41 times with an axe.

She pulverized Betty Gore's

face into a soft mulch.

Your testimony is that she did so

because Betty said "shh,"

reminding the defendant of her mother?

My testimony is that

she was defending herself

against Mrs. Gore's

att*ck, and the v*olence

unleashed a rage that had

been within her for decades.

A rage caused by her mother saying "shh"

when she was 4 years old?

Not necessarily caused

by, but fueled by.

O'CONNELL: So, she's sane

enough to argue self-defense,

but not sane enough to be responsible

for chopping Betty Gore into bits?

Again,

her initial impulse

was to defend herself,

but during the struggle,

she lost control.

Just so I'm clear.

She knew she was hitting Betty Gore

- over and over with an axe?

- DR. FASON: Yes.

And she was swinging it out of rage?

- Yes.

- Thank you.



(BIRDS CHIRPING)

CANDY: So is it okay for us to talk now?

Now that my testimony is over?

It's okay.

Why did you make me look

at the axe like that?

I needed emotion.

Our case is you had an emotional break.

I needed the jury to

see a flicker of it.

- (INHALES)

- (DISTANT CHATTER)

So what now?

Betty Gore had it comin'.

- I need the jury to see a flicker of that, too.

- You're jokin'.

We can't risk her being too sympathetic.



CATHERINE COOPER: I wouldn't

say she was mean, Betty,

but she could be ornery.

Snappish is how I'd describe her.

I'll say she was mean.

Betty Gore could be

quite confrontational.

- Can you give us an example?

- PASTOR RON: Well,

she would let out dismissive

snorts during my sermons,

right out there in front where

everyone could see and hear

'cause she was in the choir.

And not long after I arrived at Lucas,

she told me to go

back where I came from.

- Betty Gore didn't like you?

- She hated me.

Candy didn't like me much

either. At least, not at first,

but Candy was cordial.

Betty could be vicious.

O'CONNELL: You eulogized this woman.

Y-You called her a beautiful person.

She was beautiful, as

are all God's creatures.

But she had a streak.

I pass the witness.

As the hour is late,

seems like a good time to take a break.

For the day.

- ("SLIPPIN' INTO DARKNESS" BY w*r PLAYING)

- (GAVEL BANGS)

Slippin' into darkness ♪

(SHUTTER SNAPPING)

(DOOR BUZZES)

I was slippin' into darkness ♪

Yeah ♪

(DROPS OBJECT)

(THUDDING, CLATTERING)

Take my mind ♪

(DOOR BUZZES)

Beyond the dreams ♪

Where I talk to my brother ♪

Whoa, ho, ho ♪

(DOOR BUZZES)

CAROL CROWDER: What made

him change his mind?

DON: Robert made an emergency call

- to the Court of Criminal Appeals.

- (DISTANT SIREN)

Honestly, I wish he hadn't.

If I did time during trial,

more a*mo with the appellate court.

- Oh.

- (OPENS DOOR)

Thank you.

(OPENS, SHUTS CAR DOOR)

(SIGHING)

What are you doin'?

We knew Betty Gore.

Were friends with her.

For you to just throw

dirt on her like that

I didn't do that.

CAROL: Yes, you did. You

called her pastor to the stand,

to say what? That, that

God was okay with this?

I just established

that Betty could be antagonistic.

Which is the truth.

This case is gonna be your legacy, Don.

Oh, balls.

Legacy is you live, you die.

With any luck, it'll have

mattered a nick you did the former.

This whole thing is gonna eat at you.

It may rot at you.



I got enough on my plate

without this sh*t, Carol.

(RUMMAGING IN PURSE)

(KEYS JINGLE)

Basically, the doctor said

she acted out of self-defense,

and then transformed into

an unconscious k*lling machine.

Even the victim's pastor

weighed in with a sh*t,

along with other parishioners.

PASTOR RON (ON TV): God loves everybody.

And he loved Betty Gore.

All I said she could be a handful.

I have never seen Betty

be unkind to anyone.

She was a wonderful

human being. Excuse me.

(CLICK)

(CLOCK TICKING)

(ALLAN SIGHS)

It cannot be healthy for

you to be watching all this.

I can't be in the room

until closing arguments, so this is

the only way I know what's going on.

I put all of this in motion.

Betty's dead

because I cheated on her.

You couldn't have possibly foreseen

You won't survive if you continue

to punish yourself this way.

I'm so grateful for your support.

I just feel so alone.

You're not alone.

You're not.



(BIRDS CHIRPING)

- (SHOWER RUNNING)

- ("HOLD THE LINE" BY TOTO PLAYING)

It's not in the way that you hold me ♪

It's not in the way you say you care ♪

It's not in the way you've

been treating my friends ♪

It's not in the way that

you stayed till the end ♪

It's not in the way you look ♪

Or the things that

you say that you'll do ♪

Hold the line ♪

Love isn't always on time ♪

Whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

Hold the line ♪

(SONG ECHOES, FADES OUT)

I'm not about to presume what you know,

but I think I can safely figure

that all of you can figure

Candy Montgomery didn't

wake up on June 13th, 1980,

with a plan to k*ll Betty Gore.

She didn't cook her kids breakfast,

head off to Bible school,

perform a parable in the sanctuary,

drive out to Wylie to pick up

Alisa's swimsuit, and then say,

"Hey, while I'm at it,

let's k*ll Betty Gore with an axe."

That makes zero sense.

Zero.

What happened here is not just

the most plausible scenario.

It's also exactly what Candy told you.

She got there. Betty

was in a dark place,

agitated that she might be pregnant,

upset that her husband had left town.

Then, after some odd

perfunctory conversation,

Betty suddenly confronted

Candy with the w*apon.

A struggle occurred. Candy

reacted in self-defense

- after being struck with the axe.

- (SMACKS HAND)

And durin' that violent struggle,

she snapped.

Dr. Fason confirmed that Candy

was truthful in her account.

He also found that the v*olence

triggered a childhood trauma,

rendering Candy into a rage

that caused her to go outside herself.

Candy's testimony was not contradicted,

not once, not by anyone.

Nor was Dr. Fason's medical opinion.

All the police investigators,

the medical examiner,

the pathologist, none of them,

none could rule out self-defense.

So how can you?

None could exclude

that it was Betty Gore

who first came at Candy with that axe.

So how can you?

What they all did agree on?

A tremendous struggle took place.

And if this were a planned thing,

it was maybe the worst

planned crime ever.

Candy told people at the church

that she was headed

to Betty Gore's house.

Nor was there any motive.

As both Allan Gore and Candy testified,

my client would stand nothing

to gain from k*lling Betty.

The affair would not have been resumed.

Neither Candy nor

Allan had any interest.

It was over.



In Candy's mind,

when Betty Gore came at her

and struck her with that axe,

Betty was no longer human.

She had turned into an

animal in search of prey

and what ensued in that utility room

was a violent death fight.

Betty Gore was a much larger woman.

Adrenaline had to take over

Candy in order to survive.

Adrenaline did take over

and human life was lost.

When a person gets k*lled,

it's natural to wanna

hold someone accountable.

It's natural for you

to wanna fix things.

To make it right.

It may even cause some

of you to wanna believe

the police version of

this. But I remind you,

the police version itself

cannot rule out self-defense.

(SIGHS) John Steinbeck

once wrote that,

"There are those among us who

live in rooms of experience

that you and I cannot enter."

If you're worried about

whether or not Mrs. Montgomery

has been punished in this case,

don't.

She lives in that room of experience.

(CANDY SIGHS)

She lives in it and she's locked in it

and it now constitutes a cell.

A jail cell.



There won't be a day in

the life of Mrs. Montgomery

where she'll ever put out of her

mind that she committed this act

on June 13th, 1980.

There has been an American tragedy

played out in this courtroom.

But a conviction is

not a proper solution

to this particular tragedy.

The state has not proved its case.

Reasonable doubt exists.

Good luck to you.



(CLEARS THROAT)

Mr. Crowder hits the point

that Mrs. Montgomery's

testimony was not refuted.

The person to refute Candy

Montgomery's testimony isn't here.

She's dead. Chopped to bits.

See, that's the thing, when

two people are in a room,

and one ends up m*rder*d,

you only get a single version of events.

Let's look at Candy Montgomery's.

I suspect it quite helped

her that all the evidence

was available to her before she formed

her irrefutable testimony.

- Objection.

- Overruled.

Sit down, Mr. Crowder.

He didn't interrupt you.



Mr. Crowder argues

none of this makes sense.

I won't ask you to make sense of it.

I'll just ask you to

look at what happened.

Candy Montgomery struck Betty

Gore 41 times with an axe.

Murdering her, disfiguring her,

breaking bones, severing arteries,

obliterating her skull and face.

That is not consistent

with self-defense.

Mr. Crowder had the temerity

to say Betty Gore stopped being human.

I ask you, who stopped being human here?

Who was the animal?

He wants you to believe her.

To find her testimony credible.

Seriously?

She's lied at every turn. To the police,

to her friends, to her own husband.

It was only after she was caught,

cold with a thumbprint match

that Candy Montgomery

decided to become truthful.



Self-defense.

That's a lie. Hitting

an unconscious woman

over and over and over with an axe

as she lay there in her blood,

that's not self-defense.

Because Betty said "shh,"

just like my mother did when I was 4?

It insults this court's intelligence.

It insults yours.

Candy Montgomery knew she

couldn't possibly explain

her actions on June 13th,

so she chose to deny them.

She chose to lie. On June 14th,

on the 15th, on June 16th,

the 17th, the 18th,

she stuck to the same story.

With the police, her

friends, her husband.

She left Betty alive,

went to Target to get

a Father's Day card.

Then, as the truth catches up to her,

she pivots. Self-defense.

As for 41 whacks

Shh

You deserve better.

Betty Gore deserves better.



Both lawyers were strong,

both made their points,

and both were not above

playing to the emotion.

This case stirred up such

strong and visceral feelings,

and neither attorney

shied away from them.

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- (SHUTTERS SNAPPING)

Hey, what do you What do you think?

It's closer than I'd like it to be.

We just have to wait.

Well, whatever happens, I'm

sure it'll all be for the best.

(CHATTER CONTINUES)

(ECHOING SHUTTER SNAPS)

- Sherry's keeping the kids?

- Mm-hmm. For now.

Till there's a verdict.

- (CUTLERY CLINKING)

- (CANDY SIGHS)

You know, my mom always said

that there's no better comfort food

than Salisbury steak and macaroni.

(SOFT LAUGH)

You talk to her recently?

- Mm-hmm.

- Other than the, the dream?

This mornin'. She sends her prayers.

And her prayers usually take.

She's not mad at you, you think?

She can't be thrilled.

Especially after she reads that.

No, I just told her to stay

away from the newspapers

or anything like that.

Mm. Right.

Well, I just can't wait

for all this to be over

and I can go back to

having a normal life

and go to the market

without people staring at me.

Candy, I think no matter what happens,

this will never be over.

Well, if they find me innocent.

The jury can't find you innocent.

They can only find you not guilty.

And there's a difference.

We have no chance at a normal life here.

We're going to have to leave McKinney.

Let's just pray we get that chance.

Well, I thought your testimony was good.

Thank you. (SOFT LAUGH)

I don't know if I deserve you, Pat.

But I'm sure lucky to have you.

We're both lucky.



Well, I think I wanna go

back and wait it out with Don

'cause I you know, I just am feeling

a little too anxious sittin' here.

(LAUGHS) Yeah. Okay.

(QUIET HALL CHATTER)

- (CANDY SIGHS)

- Don! Don!

They're back.

The jury. They have a verdict.

- Already?

- ELAINE CARPENTER: The judge just called.

I've got the car ready to take us back.

We'll meet you there.



(BRAKES SQUEAK)

(MUFFLED CROWD CHATTER)

(CROWD YELLING)

(YELLING CONTINUES)

(SHUTTER SNAPS)

- (INDISTINCT CHATTER)

- (SHUTTERS SNAPPING)

(PANTING)

Gentlemen, comin' through.

(CROWD YELLING)

BAILIFF: All rise!

(COURT STANDING)

JUDGE RYAN: You may be

seated, ladies and gentlemen.

I have some instructions for

the attorneys, the parties,

the spectators.

When I read the verdict into the record,

I want no reaction from

anyone in this courtroom.

Whatever that verdict

might be, no vocal reaction,

no physical reaction.

And now don't think I'm

picking on y'all. That's standard.

Alright, bring the jury in.

(QUIET FOOTSTEPS)

- (DOOR SHUTS)

- Be seated.

Alright then, Mr. Foreman, has

the jury reached a verdict, sir?

FOREMAN: Your Honor, we have.

(PAPER RUSTLING)

(CEILING FANS SQUEAKING)

Will the defendant please rise?

(CHAIRS CREAK)

We, the jury

find the defendant not guilty.

(CROWD MURMURING)

- (CANDY GASPING)

- Each member of the jury

that concurs with this verdict,

will you indicate it to me

by raising your right hand?

- The court will accept the verdict

- (ECHOING GASP)

and order it filed.

This case is adjourned.

- (GAVEL BANGS)

- (CANDY CRYING)



(MUFFLED CRYING)

DON (ECHOING): Congratulations, Candy.

(MUFFLED COURT CHATTER)

(EXCITED CHATTER)

- (CROWD JEERING, YELLING)

- (SHUTTERS SNAPPING)

- (SHUTTER SNAPPING)

- How do you feel about it? Were you shocked?

(YELLING CONTINUES)

(TENSE MUSIC BUILDING)

- (BIRDS CHIRPING)

-

JENNY: What about our beds and stuff?

CANDY: Well, the movers

will come for that, baby.

We just take what we need for now.

The movers will bring it

all the way to Georgia?

Yep. That's why we call them movers.

(CAR APPROACHES)

(ENGINE CUTS, CAR DOOR OPENS)

Why don't you guys go say

goodbye to Miss Sherry?

- I forgot something.

- SHERRY: Hi, hey, bud.

Hey, how are you doin'?

Good? You're gonna be good,

right? Okay. See you guys.



I promise I'll call as

soon as we get there.

Okay. You better.

(SHERRY SIGHS)

CANDY: Are we all set?

- PAT: Yeah, yeah.

- CANDY: Yeah?

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(BRAKES SQUEAK, ENGINE CUTS)

- I won't be long.

- Okay.

(TENSE MUSIC)

(ECHOING DOGS BARKING)

(RINGS DOORBELL)

(DOOR OPENS)

- (DOOR CREAKING)

- (CANDY SIGHS)

I would've called, but I was

afraid you might say don't come.

Anyway

Pat, me, and the kids

are leavin' McKinney,

and we're gonna go try and start anew

near my folks in, in Georgia.

So I just wanted to

come by and say goodbye.

- Okay.

- Also, Allan

I'm sorry.

For everything that happened.

I never meant (STAMMERS)

Me, too. I'm sorry, too.

Betty and I, we were good friends.

You know, she was a

She was a good person.

We were a lot alike

in some ways. Just a

good, good person.

Anyway

I wish you a good life, Allan.

Yeah. I wish you a good life, too.

Well

(SIGHS)

Okay.

Bye-bye.

- (DOOR SHUTS)

- (SHAKY SIGH)

(DEEP SIGH)

(INHALES, EXHALES)

- (JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC)

- (CAR DOOR OPENS)

(STARTS ENGINE)

(SHIFTS GEAR)



Hallelujah ♪

Sing a song ♪

Hallelujah ♪

We'll follow along ♪

With a simple word ♪

A single word ♪

We bless the sky, the tree, the bird ♪

And we fill our heart with joy ♪

Hallelujah ♪

Hallelujah ♪

Sounds of love ♪

Hallelujah ♪

The sunshine above ♪

Hallelujah ♪

The bells will go ringing ♪

And dinging from dawn till night ♪

Hallelujah ♪

Hallelujah ♪

Sounds of love ♪

Hallelujah ♪

The sunshine above ♪

Hallelujah ♪

The bells will go ringing ♪

And dinging from dawn till night ♪

Hallelujah, hallelujah! ♪

Hallelujah ♪

The bells will go ringing ♪

And dinging from dawn till night ♪

Hallelujah ♪

(SONG ENDS)

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