♪ ♪ >> while i was in prison, sue was also still in prison. and there were rumors that sue was going to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. >> it really was obvious to me at that time that the only way to get her away from maurice williams was through sotheby's. >> all of us was aware that the auction was taking place. it would probably sell for $1 million or $2 million. >> the big fear was that it was going to be sold to some private individual. >> i know there were a lot of people concerned that it might be bought by an institution in a foreign country. >> that was a big concern with the media, that it was going to be sold and lost to science and sold and put in a private room someplace. >> we always felt an extraordinary obligation to get this fossil to the right home. clearly, there were a lot of really interested parties that were hoping and praying they had a chance. >> we had dreams, after the auction started developing, that perhaps we could buy her back.