The Wrong Woman

I know you did it, mom.

What do you mean, sweetie?

You threw away my stockings. My fishnet stockings!

They'll turn up. Let's go have breakfast.

What are you reading?

Ow!

An unidentified woman was brutally attacked

on oak street last night.

That's not far from here.

Honey, can we please not read this kind of thing

at the breakfast table?

You can't make bad things go away

by pretending they don't exist.

We don't have to bring them into the house.

Come on. Daddy's a policeman.

I'm a detective.

After I pass the exam for the fraud division.

Oh, uh, by the way I got classes 'til 9:00,

so don't hold dinner.

We'll see you girls later.

There's Jasmine. Drop me off here.

It's only a block from school. I'll be fine.

Good morning, Mrs. Bracketss.

How's little Kyle?

You stay away from my son. Got it?

Excuse me?

What was that all about?

She's in one of her moods.

I guess so.

Yeah, she claims that you injured her precious Kyle yesterday.

He was trying to climb the aquarium.

I had to pull him down so he wouldn't hurt himself.

Well, she's a drama queen. You know this.

Yes.

Speaking of drama, how was last night?

Did you have fun? Did you learn any new...

Tricks?

Well, we did learn this thing called the butterfly

that was kind of interesting.

I told you that you would have fun.

I don't know, Alice.

I never imagined I'd be doing something like this.

It makes me feel... guilty.

You are the sweetest,

most boring person I have ever met.

Thank you, I think.

Hello, officer.

Was I speeding? No, ma'am.

Can I see you license and registration, please?

Did I run a stop sign?

No, your tags are expired.

Oh, wow. My husband usually takes care of that.

Um, he must have forgotten.

He works for the department. Mike plainview. Do you know him?

No, I don't believe I do.

Do you seriously have to write me a ticket?

Yeah, they're really cracking down on us,

so we have to go through the motions.

There you go.

I've never been pulled over in my life.

Take care of it within 14 days. It won't be a problem.

Drive safely, now.

Thank you.

This is Mike. Please leave a message.

Hey, hon, it's me. I was just wondering when you're going to be home.

Love you.

Hey. You're still up?

Yes.

I'm going to go watch TV.

Honey? Yeah.

Are we okay?

Of course. Why would you even ask that?

Mrs. Plainview? Ellen plainview?

Yes.

I'm detective sanford, metropolitan police department.

This is detective gene hamer.

What can I do for you?

May we come in?

Sure.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Is something wrong?

Oh, something's happened in the neighborhood.

We thought you might be able to help.

I will if I can. What happened?

Where were you Monday night between 9:00pm and 10:00pm?

Monday night, um...

Well, my book club meets on Monday nights.

Do you know a Faye Walker?

Uh, no.

I don't think so. I-- I don't know the name.

Why? What happened? Is that your car in the driveway?

Yes.

Do you mind if we take a look at it?

What is this about?

Well, that's what we're trying to figure out, Mrs. Plainview.

This is all routine, you understand.

We're just looking at cars in the neighborhood.

Well, okay. You want to grab your keys?

Uh, I never lock it.

Bad habit from growing up in a small town.

It's a bit of a mess. Sorry.

Yeah.

Where's your tire iron?

I don't know. I don't know if there ever was one.

My husband bought me this car.

Mike plainview. He's a police officer.

Do you know him? No.

Does he work the West Side?

Downtown.

It's a big department.

May I see your hands, please?

Any injuries lately? Scrapes, bruises, cuts?

Anything like that?

No. Will you please tell me what this is about?

I'm sorry. Where were you on Monday night?

Well, like I said, on Monday nights I have my book club.

Actually, I wasn't at my book club.

This is so embarrassing.

I am taking a pole dancing class.

That's where I was Monday night.

Why didn't you tell us that to begin with.

I'm a little embarrassed.

It was meant to be a surprise for my husband.

I-- I know it's silly.

Where is this class?

At a dance studio on oak street. By the library.

Now, did you park there Monday night?

Uh, well, actually no.

Um, I didn't want people to see my car. I'm a mom.

So I park in the garage next door.

What's the problem?

You know, gene, I forgot

we gotta turn our paperwork in by 5:00.

Yeah, we better get back.

Now, Mrs. Plainview, we sure hate to put you out,

but you think we can continue this back at the station?

We don't want to have to come back to the neighborhood.

We'll be... We'll be back in no time.

Yeah, this gentleman's gonna give you a lift.

And we'll meet you down at the station.

Mom?

You've been very helpful. Thank you so much.

I wish I knew what this was about.

Did the detectives read you your rights?

No.

Then you should probably remain silent.

Right in here.

Miss plainview...

Come on in. Please sit down.

We're good here.

It's the end of a long day.

I'm looking forward to getting out of here, myself.

I can imagine you feel the same way.

Can I get you anything? Coffee?

No, thank you. You sure?

Mm-hm.

We're just looking for, uh, some help to, uh,

clear some things up is all.

Well, I'll help you if I can.

Can you please tell me what this is all about?

Now, what time do you think you left your...

Hmm, your stripper class Monday night.

It's a pole-dancing class.

Um, class gets out at 9:00, so I guess I left around 9:00.

It was 9:07.

According to the security camera outside the dance studio door.

But a camera in the garage where you parked

shows you leaving the garage at 9:40.

So what were you doing in the garage for 30 minutes?

Nothing. Are you sure those times are right?

Times a correct.

Oh, I remember.

I...

Monday night we had a really intense class,

and when I left I was all sweaty.

I didn't want to get in the car like that.

So I took a walk around the block just to kind of cool off.

I took the long way, near those nice shops on elm.

So... I guess I did a little window shopping

before I got back to the garage.

A little window shopping.

Yeah. Why?

A woman named Faye Walker was attacked in that garage

between 9:00pm and 10:00pm.

Now, according to security cameras,

the only car leaving or entering that garage

during that time period was yours.

So just tell us what happened.

Well, did you see anything in the garage during that time?

No! I certainly didn't see a woman being attacked!

I would have reported something like that.

My god.

You can't possibly think I had something to do with this.

I don't even kill insects.

Well, no one was killed, miss plainview. Thank god.

But we have a victim, Faye Walker,

in I.C.U., county hospital,

we just need to know what the hell happened to her.

Maybe you caught this woman breaking into your car.