Fearing he cannot prove his innocence, Baines heads to his basement bedroom to retrieve a pistol and commit suicide. He is followed by Philippe, who tearfully questions whether his many stories are true. Baines admits they were merely games, and also denies killing his wife, before proceeding downstairs. Simultaneously, two other officers notice a footprint in the spilt dirt from a potted plant on the window ledge, and discern it came from a women's shoe. Crow and Ames swiftly renege their accusation against Baines, and Julie is able to stop him from carrying out his suicide in time. Philippe, compelled to be truthful, insists he left the footprint two days before, but Crowe disbelieves him. As the police depart, Philippe runs to the ledge, where he sweeps away the dirt with Mrs. Baines's footprint. As he does this, his mother, from whom he has long been separated, arrives.