All language subtitles for Picket Fences s03e04 The Bus Stops Here 2

Previously on Picket Fences. We received
a federal court order this morning.

Starting on Monday, 400 black students
are being bussed here from Green Bay.

What? I certainly don't want to see
congested classrooms.

I'm ordering that 400 Rome students be
bussed out to Green Bay.

Jimmy, assemble your men. Go down to the
school. Keep those students from

getting off the buses.

I'm not your wife talking. I'm the
mayor.

Do it.

You want a confrontation, Colonel?

You, Sheriff?

Now, these kids are going to get into
the school.

Okay. Must not be late.

We will select 133 names from each of
the three baskets, the elementary, the

junior high, and the high school.

And the first 400 names picked will be
those students bused to Green Bay.

Now, since my own children are involved,
as well as the children of some of the

other city council members, we decided
also to pick a disinterested third party

to select the students' names.

Just get on with it, for God's sake.

Mr. Lawson, I will have you thrown out
if you don't keep your mouth shut.

Yeah, well, I think my mouth speaks for
a lot of the people in this town. Well,

I don't doubt that, but since I'm the
mayor, I'm the one who speaks. Have you

got that? Oh, yeah, I got it.

And next month when I'm running for
mayor, we'll see who has... Don't

for it now. Sit down.

All right, I will now select the name of
the person who will pick the student.

If the person whose name I've picked is
not present, I'll just keep on plucking

until we find somebody who is. So
please, if your name is called, be a

and come forward.

Douglas Wambaugh.

This is the first raffle I ever

won. Before I begin, let me say, Vince
Lombardi was from Green Bay, and he put

it best, busing should only be used for
away games.

Doug?

We'll pick a name. Yes, we're going to
start with the elementary, please.

Uh -oh.

Richie Levine!

Libby, don't send them with a yarmulke.
They'll beat them to a pulp.

Just pick.

I'd like to be a part of things.

Zachary Brock.

I want to go. I like Green Bay. You're
not going. Come on.

When's the bus supposed to come down?
It's coming. It's just not coming for

John Lewis is going to pull him out.

Just teach him at home. Come on.

He's going to need to go, you know.

I'm not.

Thanks. Bye.

Okay, I worked it out with Henry
Novotny. They can start it as early as

Monday.

Do you feel all right about this?

Of course I don't feel right about it.
The whole thing makes me sick. But do

really want Zach bust out?

No. No.

Well, this is the best alternative.

So instead of going to Green Bay,
they're going to church?

Oh, it's not church, Mrs. Levine. No,
it's a private school.

We're calling it Belmont Noble and
Grenau after the three families who are

funding it. And the Plymouth Church is
just temporary facilities.

And all the kids who got picked in the
lottery get to go to this, right? That's

right, for a nominal fee of $50.

What about the education?

Well, the school board has agreed to
loan out teachers, books, supplies, and

Michael Oslo has agreed to donate his
time as acting pro bono principal.

In fact, since the classes are smaller,
the education might be better.

And what about the rest of us, whose
kids are still in the regular schools?

Well, so far, I hear that everything's
going just fine.

Now, let's turn our attention forward to
the quaternary period.

This period was broken into two epochs.

The earlier of the two was the Ice Age
in the Northern Hemisphere.

Can anyone tell me the name of that
epoch?

Wait, how about one of our new people?

Aisha Campbell?

Can you tell us, please?

Miss Campbell?

Can you tell me the name of the epoch?

No.

Have you read the assignment, Aisha?

Miss Campbell, I am the teacher and I
asked you a question.

Have you read the assignment?

Mm -hmm.

Good.

Now, in addition to doing the reading,
another requirement here is class

participation.

So, can you answer my question, please?

Mr. Steinberg, maybe she doesn't want to
participate.

Maybe, Kimberly, you should let me
finish my discussion with Miss Campbell.

I just thought that since, you know,
everybody's so new... New or old, we

rules here.

And sometimes the rules need to change.

One that won't is who is in charge of
this classroom.

All right.

Let's open our books, please.

Chapter 2, page 68.

I'm very upset.

When I give an order, I expect it to be
carried out. I don't expect mayors to be

trying to stop me using their police
departments. I do not expect mayors to

jury -rigging private schools in order
to circumvent the spirit of my orders. I

think you should be just a little more
cognizant of my expectations, Mrs.

If a town wishes to set up private
schools, it has the right.

Is that so?

Yes, this is Wisconsin.

Parents can teach their kids at home if
they want. They don't have to send them

to any school.

So none of our children will be going to
Green Bay.

But I'll be sure to tell everybody just
how upset you are.

You're right.

I have no recourse against those
parents.

But a mayor who orchestrates an end
around to circumvent desegregation?

She's all mine.

You're under arrest for contempt of
federal court. Take her.

What? You can't do that.

Oh, watch me.

Hey, I'm only the co -mayor. And you're
the one I want. And be sure to put her

in a cell without windows. My husband is
a sheriff. You're not going to get away

with this. Where are you taking me?

What the hell is this?

The beginning.

That's what this is.

Just the beginning.

Well, dammit, he arrested her.

Now, how the hell can he do that? They
took her away in handcuffs.

He's trying to get her to squash her
little private school plan.

And that's legal? He can just lock her
up?

Yes. Federal court judges have broad
contempt power. This guy likes to use

He can just lock up a mayor?

Look, your wife picked the wrong judge.

Now, this man has been acting very
erratic for the past few months. Nobody

why. Maybe he's a nut. Maybe he just has
a political death wish.

How do I get my wife out of jail?

Hire a lawyer.

Take it to appeals. There's nothing I
can do.

Thank you.

Uh, deputy.

Um, I've been meaning to ask you, uh, do
you want to have dinner sometime?

What?

Dinner sometime, you and me.

Sure.

Get me out of here. We're off to see
Judge Nance in Chambers, but first I

to know exactly what went down. What
went down is I let you talk me into

the mayor. Get me out.

Now. We'll get you out. Nance is an
ornery son of a bitch, and I don't want

antagonize him and make things... Oh,
the man lived for antagonism. I have

children and a medical practice. At
least I did.

My patients have probably gone on to
find another doctor by now. If I sit in

this jail cell one more hour, that judge
will enjoy a very...

Special relationship with antagonism.
Get me out.

Now!

I'm not talking to her. What would I
say?

We could start with hello.

She doesn't look like she wants to talk.

Come on.

Hi.

I'm Kimberly Brock. This is Roseanne,
Susan, and Heidi.

Uh, where's Alicia?

Bolted. Oh.

Anyway, well, we just wanted to
introduce ourselves.

I brought with me Sheriff James Brock,
who happens to be the husband of the

woman you have so capriciously jailed.

I'm all a flutter.

Listen to me, Judge. Sheriff, Your
Honor, Mayor Jill Brock's actions are

supported entirely by the law.

Now, I will tell you as her attorney
that she has gone to great pains to

that each decision she has made be
grounded in a legal basis.

How nice.

Now, while she has been careful to stay
within the law, I would submit that

you... Have not.

This is an extraordinary abuse of
judicial power.

And I would respectfully request...
Well, power tends to be most abused by

ones that got it. Don't you agree,
Sheriff?

My wife has done nothing wrong. Your
wife used technical maneuvers to get

the law.

Now, I don't give a damn if she had an
attorney to help her do it.

I find that contemptible.

So I'm holding her in contempt.

The perk I get comes with my big black
robe.

I'm not intimidated by you or your big
black robe.

No, I can see you're a tough guy.

When those students got off that bus,
you were the big boy standing there with

your gun and all your deputies making
those kids feel so very welcome.

If you stood up against the National
Guard, I would have thought you at least

had some guts.

A judge shouldn't behave like this.

Get out of here, tough guy.

I'll let your wife go when I'm ready.

Max, I'll put these in lockup for you.

Okay.

Oh, I'm sorry. No, that's my fault. No,
it's my fault. No, okay, it's your

fault. No problem.

Hey, Max, Thursday and Friday are good
for me. You want to try and have dinner

then? Uh...

Well, actually, this week is so lousy
for me. How about next week?

Oh, no.

The week after is even better because
then I go off graveyard.

Oh, well, let me see. How about never?

How does that work out for you? Never
good?

Oh, no.

No, I really want to go out.

I do.

Okay, well, let me know.

Okay.

Yeah,

you better buy your own book because you
ain't going to be marking up mine.

even staying here and if i was i would
be buying a history book my mother told

me ain't nothing but lies anyway oh look
these things have fun and they got

mirrors too see what you look like yeah
i look fine and you know that oh i know

that see you scared and white boy what

you looking at nothing well it looked
like you looking

at something

Don't she look like that?

She's okay. You just make her nervous.

You don't make me nervous.

Let's go.

Open number five.

Clear.

Am I supposed to quake?

There's nothing else you can do to me.
You've taken the only shot available to

you. And now I suppose you'll be taking
yours.

You are the walking, talking
personification of federal government

And what are you the personification of?
Using troops to stop those buses.

Have you got children, Your Honor?

Two. One's dead, but tell me about
yours.

Alive and safe.

I want to keep it that way. I'm not
going to apologize for that. And if

acting out your personal hardships on
the bench, then I suggest... All I'm

trying to do is give some kids a chance.
Same as me. But different kids. Okay,

fine. Consider me slapped. Can I go now?

I don't think you understand.

You're not going anywhere.

Well, you can't just lock me up here
indefinitely.

You know, there seems to be a big
misperception about that.

You see, I can.

Contempt is one of those broad powers
belonging to me.

And I'm exercising it for all of its
elasticity.

I don't get it. There are a lot of real
bigots out there. People much more

dangerous than me.

Why are you coming after me?

Because I've been trying to catch the
mayor of a small town for a long, long

time. And now I've... Got one.

So I'm not letting you go until I get
exactly what I want.

Now, do you get it, Mrs. Brock?

Yes, I get it. And here's something for
you to get, Judge.

If you are keeping me here until I say,
okay, you can take our kids to Green

Bay, I will rot in this cell.

My Zachary is nine years old. You will
never, never take him away.

That is from a mother.

And as a mayor, I won't let you do it to
the others either.

Maybe I better lock all you mothers up.

Well, maybe you better.

It's against the law.

What he's doing is against the law. Just
calm down. I will not calm down. He's

got my wife in jail.

All I've got to do is send in my own
troops.

Look, you can't keep her in there
forever.

If we can go into appellate court and
demonstrate that the jailing will have

effect on her, we should be able to get
an order for her release.

When will that happen? I'm on my way to
court right now.

The question they'll be asking, and the
one I have to answer is, will he be able

to change her mind?

Not a chance, and I will not be bullied
by you or... No, you'll just dig your

heels in, because that's the traditional
thing to do.

What, black students coming into your
town?

Well, you better dig those white heels
in deep.

Mrs. Brock, you better get in that dirt
up to your knees. Oh, stop with the

ridiculous hyperbole. At least Jesse
Jackson throws in some interesting

to make it fun.

Now, as Jesse Jackson, I bet Martin
Luther King really pissed you off. No,

really pisses me off is you categorizing
me as a bigot so that you can preach

your rhetoric.

And that's what desegregation is.

Rhetoric? I have nothing against
desegregation. I have said that to you

beginning. I just don't think you can
thrust it on a town and expect us...

been 40 years since Brown v.

Board of Education, and I'm thrusting
it? It's still radical. You have to give

us time to... We've had enough time.

This is 1994.

Time has run out. Do you hear me?

Time has run out!

He won't let her out?

How can he do this? She's not a
criminal.

He's on some black power ego trip,
that's all.

I didn't mean it like that.

Is she okay?

Yeah, she's okay.

She's fine.

The CBS News poll, however, shows 53 %
in favor of the president's plan. The

bill is expected to go to the House on
Thursday.

In other news, U .S. District Court
Judge Harold Dance yesterday jailed the

mayor of Rome, Wisconsin, after... This
is the same town where the mayors shoot

people, right?

This is not a good place to be the
mayor.

Why can't she make bail?

Because the judge...

Won't give her bail.

So, how long will she be locked up?

Just as long as I see fit.

Shouldn't you be in court? There are a
lot of other lives you could be ruining.

Oh, this is more cathartic for me.

Being in a steel cage with a bigot. Oh,
gee, my liberal pride is so wounded.

Let me get down on my knees and beg for
forgiveness.

You don't seem to be making much
progress here. What do you want from me?

the one who stood before the town hall.

I recognized the bigotry.

I stared those people down, and I said
that Rome was a prejudiced community.

After which, you sent out the troops.

I was scared.

What, that's an excuse?

I was scared?

Oh, it's okay to be prejudiced, just as
long as you can back it up with fear.

Oh, here comes the speech.

Hey, lady, don't you ever get smug with
me.

The fact that you recognize a bigotry
makes you worse.

Your discrimination was knowing, and
that to me makes you a thousand times

malignant. Hey, I'm supposed to protect
the welfare of a town.

And that welfare is promoted by
excluding blacks? It's promoted by

against violence. And you guard against
the violence by excluding blacks? By

avoiding the tension and the
confrontation.

By excluding?

Blacks! By keeping the blacks away from
the whites, both sides are involved.

By keeping the blacks away from the
whites.

I didn't mean it like that.

Right.

But sometimes it comes out like that
just the same.

I guess Aisha's right.

You're scared of us.

Look, why don't you mind your own
business, all right? I'm not doing

you. Well, what's going on?

Is she your friend?

Yeah, she is.

Black people make her nervous, which is
making us nervous.

Just tell her we don't need her help,
all right?

Oh, hi.

Look.

I don't want to go out with you.

I dated a midget.

I slept with my shrink, who I then
arrested.

Then I posed for those pictures.

I don't need to be dating the DA for my
sake, for your sake.

It's a bad idea.

Okay.

What's the real reason?

I just told you.

Right.

Max, if there's anything we both know,
it's that you're fundamentally lonely.

Now, if the right man came along, you
wouldn't think twice about jeopardizing

your career. So let's just admit I'm not
the right man, okay?

Okay.

Let's admit it.

Okay.

Now my question is, how can you be sure?

I mean, there's something going on
between us.

There has been for a long time.

We both antagonize each other without
even knowing why.

Are you really sure that we are not
right for each other?

Yes.

What's going on, Max?

What if you did turn out to be the one?

I mean, from what I've seen in this town
the last few weeks, that would be the

biggest disaster of all. I mean, I'm not
going to fall in love with a man I know

I wouldn't marry.

I'm sorry?

You're black.

I'm white.

Not that that makes any difference to
me, but it sure does to society.

And therefore it does to you.

Well, no.

Look, if we go out, one of two things
could happen.

I mean, it could end up being a short
-term thing, in which case, why bother?

I mean, you're the DA, I'm a deputy, and
there's too much at stake, so why

bother? Or it could turn out to be a
long -term thing, maybe even a forever

thing, in which case, what if we had
kids?

Half black, half white.

They'd get the worst of it. I mean, is
it fair for us to do that to them?

So in fairness to our children, we
shouldn't have them.

Don't make it sound like I'm being
stupid. I'm just...

Being stupid.

You're right.

I'm just buying into all this insanity.

Well, I won't.

I'm not going to let this town get to
me.

I want to go out with you.

How about next Thursday?

Well, I'll check my book. I'll get back
to you.

Good.

Good. She's got a visitor? I said no
visitors. I'm her only company.

Her son?

Oh, well, five minutes.

It's your kid.

Hi. How did you get here?

Jimmy drove me. He did?

Is this your cellmate?

No.

Honey, this is Judge Nance.

Hello, son.

Can you say hello to Judge Nance?

Hi.

When are you coming home?

Oh, I'm going to be home soon.

Everything's going to be just fine.

Matthew says I need new clothes for
Green Bay.

I need baggy clothes.

I wouldn't be taking fashion tips from
Matthew. Does Daddy know you're here?

Couldn't find him.

He wasn't at the office.

But Kenny's taking me right back. I'm so
glad you came. I missed you.

You too. Thanks.

You don't make me nervous.

What? You don't make me nervous. I've
just tried to be a little nice. If

a problem with that, it's yours, not
mine.

Then I got a problem.

Can I get by?

Bitch.

What did you say?

Nothing.

What, you decided to make me a little
friendship project and I'm supposed to

all grateful?

I haven't decided anything.

I just thought you were a little
uncomfortable in class, so I asked the

to lighten up.

The only thing I've decided is that
you're not worth it and I shouldn't

time.

Don't push me. Get off me.

Let me tell you something. Don't you
ever...

Put your hands on me again. Do you
understand me? Unless I will take you by

pretty brown hair and pluck you all.

I'm not afraid of you.

My own daughter.

She started it.

I didn't start it. You're just too cool
to be nice to somebody's wife.

Stop it!

Now, let me tell you both something, all
right? This isn't just a schoolyard

fight. I could bring assault charges and
add on hate crime, because from what I

see here, it applies.

She's the one that hates.

Who's calling her a bitch?

Wait. Wait a minute.

What was this fight about?

You wanted to be nice, right?

You wanted to be left alone.

You were offended by that, so you end up
pulling each other's hair out. What is

that about?

What is wrong with you, Kimberly?

Can I leave, please?

No, you cannot leave.

And you're too big to accept a little
kindness, is that it? No, not from her.

Bitch. See?

Kimberly, watch it.

Aisha, you're going to get a lot of crap
thrown at you.

There's a lot of attitude over you even
being here.

And you're going to have to have the
common sense to pick your battles.

Now, she may not be acting like it right
now, but she's one of the good ones.

If you want to fight everybody who says
something funny to you, that doesn't

make you strong, Aisha. Look, I just
want her to stay away from me, okay?

And I just want her to stay away from
me.

You can't legislate cultural attitudes.

I agree.

But the only way for the two sides to
get over their ignorance is to put them

together. Let them know each other. But
you can't force it. But unless you do a

little forcing, it's never going to
happen. And if you don't give us the

But the time has run out!

Why can't you get that? Why do I have to
get that?

Who set the deadline?

Why do you keep shouting we're out of
time?

Maybe you're out of time.

What are you about to get disbarred,
Judge? Are you out of time?

As a matter of fact, I am.

I've got cancer of the liver.

What?

I've got about six months.

So that makes me desperate.

Maybe that's what your little Rome,
Wisconsin needs.

Desperation.

What's the deal here, Joe?

You see the deal.

I'm just standing out there. My business
is off.

Well, don't say I didn't warn you.

Hey,

kids. Hey!

Shouldn't you kids be in school?

Reset.

Yeah, I see.

Well... My name's Ed Lawson. I'm running
for mayor next month.

My candidacy is official today.

See, the problem with spending your
whole life in the same town is you get

spots.

I could really use some feedback from a
fresh pair of eyes.

So you guys have anything to say to me,
anything at all?

I'd love to hear it, okay?

Okay.

Okay.

See you around.

I really

don't know what else to say except
that...

Well, let's not have a hallmark moment
here.

So that's what's going on.

You're trying to put the world on your
timetable.

You're going to fix race relations in
six months because that's your deadline.

You have to know how unfair that is.

You want to know what's really unfair,
Mrs. Brock?

Those children that went to school back
in 1954.

They were called niggers.

They were taunted, beaten.

Some of them even killed.

Well, I made a vow to myself that one
day I'd make a difference.

So I went to law school, became a
lawyer, superior court judge, and now

the federal bench.

And look at all the difference I've
made.

My own son.

What about your son?

He was killed in a peace march.

He was stepping along for racial
equality in Washington, D .C., our

capital.

Violence broke out.

Somebody stabbed him.

Two weeks later...

I had a white supremacy case. Counsel
asked whether I should recuse myself.

I said, no, I can be objective.

And you know what, Mrs. Brock? I was.

My evidentiary rulings were right on.

I was a perfect impartial jurist, a
prototype judge.

I rose above my personal situation and
played my proper role in this

wonderful system.

Then I went home.

And I came this close to putting a gun
in my mouth.

How dare I be so damned objective?

What gave me the right?

My own son was killed. So many others
were killed.

And here I am preserving my judicial
integrity.

Well, I am sick to death of being a role
model judge. I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of it all.

I

know

I can't change the world.

I know this.

But maybe I can affect one small town.

Before I go, just one small little town.

Rome, Wisconsin.

That's not right.

You're dying and you have no choice and
you're trying to take the choice away

from the rest of us.

You had choice.

And you abused the privilege.

I had choice.

24 years on the bench, and I abused the
privilege.

Well, my last six months are going to
count.

I've got to make them count.

How can they take it under advice? What
the hell's going on? They'll probably

rule by the end of the day. And if not,
she just sits there.

Jimmy, Zach's in your office. He's
upset.

Mm -hmm.

Hey,

Zach.

What's wrong?

Saw Mom in jail.

What if she doesn't get out?

Oh, she'll get out.

Don't you worry about that.

And Ertgen was in a fight.

Some black girl tried to kill her. Oh,
no, no, no, no, no. She's just fine. It

was just a little pushing and shoving.
Are you okay?

I don't want to go to Green Bay.

I know.

I don't want to go there.

Oh, it's okay.

We're not going to let you go. Don't you
worry about that.

We're not going to let you go.

You can't withdraw now.

This case goes to the Supreme Court in
less than a month.

Well, I'm thinking of resigning my
position as district attorney, so the

needs to be reassigned.

What the hell is going on?

I don't want to live in Rome, Wisconsin
anymore.

I've become a little disillusioned here.

So what?

You're going to pack your bags every
time a town disappoints you?

I hope you got a good set of luggage.

Look, I was prepared to face a lot of
things when I came here.

And now that I've faced it all, I guess
I can move on.

Grow up, Counsel.

Whether you want to admit it or not, you
represent the black leadership in this

town. What the hell are those Green Bay
kids going to think if you throw it in?

Think about the plank they're walking.

Think about how scared they are.

You're their hope. I'm not.

Look, for all we know, I could represent
their futility.

I'm the man that supposedly made it.

Law school, D .A. I'm off to the Supreme
Court, but at the end of the day, what

do I add up to in Rome, Wisconsin?

Nothing. Is that what you think?

Here's a hot flash for you, Mr.
Littleton.

You, more than anybody else, represent
the center of Rome, Wisconsin.

Don't look so shocked.

It used to be Jimmy Brock.

Today, it's you.

Oh, he's still admired and loved, no
question.

But on pure integrity, you're a bigger
influence.

I sit up on that bench and I see it.

And here's what else I see.

The black man has made strides in
government, in law, in medicine, in

every arena except the heartlands.

In small -town USA, the African
Americans still need pioneers.

And like it or not, the badge is pinned
to your ass in Rome, Wisconsin.

It's also pinned to those kids from
Green Bay.

I will not let you let them down.

I will not let you out of this case.

I will not let you leave this town.

You can't force me to stay here.

You think a federal court judge is the
only one with contempt powers?

Just try me.

Could y 'all wait outside for a second?
Could you guard the door?

I'm staying in.

No. Go outside.

What?

I've been thinking about things.

And, um...

I'm sorry.

God, I thought you were going to stab
me.

What?

I didn't mean that.

Look, I'm sorry too.

Maybe you did make me a little nervous.

But I really was trying to be nice.

So you thought I was a bitch.

Till then, yeah.

So I was thinking that, I don't know,
maybe we could try and do something

together. You know, see if we like each
other. We probably won't, but

we could see.

That'd be good.

Today, hostage time is over. The
appellate court has overruled your

-man crusade. The contempt order is
vitiated.

The prisoner is free to go.

Do you always talk like that?

Or has your underwear ridden up?

I'd fire right back at you, Judge.

But you'd probably whack me with
contempt.

Go ahead. I give howdy duties a free
shot.

Come on, Joe.

You can go.

Rock beats scissors.

I'll be just a minute. I just want a
word in private.

I would like to be able to send our kids
to a regular school, not just the

makeshift church thing.

But if you don't lift the order, then...
The order's lifted. Your kids can stay.

But the ones coming in still come.

Thank you.

You know, um... You said that you wanted
to make a difference.

You have.

Once my temporary term is up, I've
decided to run for mayor full -time, and

promise to be a little desperate.

You're a fine person, Mrs. Brock.

But unfortunately, that gives me little
hope.

Why? You've made me realize that the
people out there resisting

the ones trying to protect their
children and their towns, are probably

fine, caring people.

Respectable.

Scared.

And the reason it'll be a long, long
time before black children can run

In the streets of Rome, Wisconsin.

I wish I had an answer.

Me too.

If you'll pardon me, I'd like to just
sit here for a minute.

Do me a favor.

Go be a good mayor.