Original subtitles

Blunt force trauma to the head. All right, let's go.

How long ago?

Two or three hours later.

The guy was a transient, Jimmy. No idea.

Henry, you ever see that man before?

We get a few transients every week. You know, the railroad tracks close nearby.

See anything unusual out here?

Nothing. I had my usual walk. Who would kill that poor soul?

Guy was drinking.

A couple of bums fight over a bottle. Things get out of hand.

Doesn't make sense.

Just a theory, Henry.

Jimmy, may I take him?

Yeah, go ahead.

Okay. Here's the reason you're in pain.

You got a solitary mass in the left lobe of your liver.

Cancer? We can't tell that from the scan. That's why I did the fine needle

aspiration to get a sample for pathology. But it could be cancer.

It could be.

It could also be something completely benign.

We won't know until about 3 o 'clock. Until then... What are the odds?

I can't really speculate. Damn it, Joanna. Tell me what I'm facing here.

I need more information.

Look, Jimmy, I know you're upset. I'm upset.

And I'm going to tell you everything the minute I know it. But for the moment,

we just have to wait.

What if it is cancer?

Then we've got a problem.

How big a problem?

Big.

How long are we talking?

Could be months. Could be weeks.

But look, we're getting way ahead of ourselves, Jimmy.

Until we have more information, there's really nothing to discuss.

I know how you must feel.

But this doesn't necessarily mean you have a fatal disease.

I don't even want you thinking about that.

Until we get some idea what's going on. I see lots of these things in men your

age.

And even in the worst case scenario, we can treat it aggressively with chemo.

And there are lots of experimental therapies out there.

Look, Jill mentioned that she was having lunch with you today.

This is absolutely none of my business, but this might be a good time to let her

in on this.

I'll call you at three.

He was dead before he hit the ground.

I detected traces of mortar near the wound. My guess is someone whacked him

the cranium with a brick. Death was instantaneous.

Still don't know who he is.

John Doe, number 137.

You ran him through missing persons?

Nah, nothing.

Dental records, fingerprints, criminal sheet? All negative.

What about this tattoo?

It looks military.

I can run it through the VA if you like, Jimmy, but...

I wouldn't hold my breath on this one if I were you. We will ID him, Carter.

This man had a life.

We will ID him.

Who's the witness?

A kid named Jack Klausner.

Played for the under -12 basketball team I used to coach.

He's a good kid.

Jack.

Hey.

Jack, this is Sheriff Brock.

Thanks for coming in, Jay. Why don't you sit down?

Well, you know, I heard that guy got killed. I thought it was like my duty or

something.

Tell me what you saw.

Just like you told me.

Okay, sure.

Well, I was coming home from the basketball game, you know, and I took a

shortcut through the woods, like I usually do, and I heard something.

You know, it was like two guys fighting or something.

So I crept closer, and there were these two dudes, man.

They were really going at it.

Can you describe them?

Well, you could tell they were both bums, you know. I mean, by their clothes

how dirty they were.

And one of them was a white guy.

And he was about my height with brown hair and a large jacket.

And the other one was this black guy. And he was shorter, but big.

You know, I mean, not fat, but strong.

Do you know what they were fighting about?

Did they say anything?

No.

Why?

Well, the black guy had the white guy by the shoulders.

And so the white guy bit him really hard, just right on the hand.

And so the black guy screamed, and he threw the other guy on the ground, and

then he picked up a brick, and he clubbed the white guy with it just as he

getting up.

You know, it made this really sick sound, like a smashed pumpkin or

And that's when he saw me.

Who, the black man?

Yeah, so I just took off. You know, I ran home as fast as I could because I

thinking it was coming after me.

And then when I heard on the news that... You did the right thing, Jack.

If you saw this black man again, could you recognize him?

Why?

I don't got to talk to him or nothing, do I?

No, but if we brought a man, put him behind a one -way glass, could you pick

out of a lineup?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think so. He looked right at me.

Every train stop, every bus station, every homeless shelter, check anywhere

guy might have gone.

I'm on it.

You ready to go?

12 .30.

Lunch.

Oh.

Jimmy.

I had this case from last night, honey. I'm sorry. I really can't go right now.

That's okay.

It's no big deal. Oh, I know.

You're going to pay for it next time.

Jill?

Ah, Jimmy, there you are.

For God's sakes, Doug, can't you see the man is busy?

Too busy to settle a bet?

We were talking about that dead trance you found last night.

And then Doug, in his usual tasteful manner, starts talking about which of us

going to die first.

What's to argue? You have ten years on me plus one heart attack. Shut up. I

don't have ten years on you. And besides, that's not the point. Of course

My kidneys are younger than your kidneys. Nobody wants your kidneys.

What? He thinks he can donate his kidneys. Of course I can.

You see here, I still have my card. Who in his right mind would want the kidney

of an 80 -year -old man? If it's their last chance at survival, anybody. The

mere thought of your organs pulsating in somebody else's body makes me want to

puke. Excuse me.

You see?

It makes him want to puke, too.

Jimmy? Henry, I couldn't get that dead man out of my mind, so I took a long

in the woods this morning, and I found this.

It's probably nothing, but it was close enough to the site of the murder that I

thought if someone were running, they might have dropped it. I don't know.

Well, we'll check it out. Thanks, Henry.

Is there any progress?

Uh, some leads, possibly a transient.

Something else, Henry?

How could it be God's plan for that poor soul to end up dead behind my church?

God's plan?

Just having trouble seeing the sense of it.

You're having trouble seeing the sense of it?

Henry, you are the one people go to to try to make sense of it.

I know, I do the best I can, but there are times I just...

So what do you offer? Just some kind of abstract illusion? Is that it?

I offer spiritual guidance, Jimmy. How can you guide if you question the plan?

You're twisting my words. You're telling me you see no sense in this man having

to die, in any of us having to die, and I'm twisting your words? I don't think

that man need always understand the plan.

Now, I may not see the sense, but that doesn't mean there isn't sense. Now,

since it's some kind of explanation, I'm not buying it. We have what we see.

What else is there, Henry?

It's called faith.

What's troubling you, Jimmy?

Wait here, all right?

Jack, can I have a candy bar? No, shh, shh. Just stay here, okay?

I'll be right back.

Hey, buddy.

Thanks for coming in again.

Mom had to work.

Will he be all right by himself?

Oh, yeah. Yeah, he'll be fine.

Number three.

All right, take your time now.

Step back.

Number four.

Don't worry, he can't see you.

Is that him, number four?

No.

That's not him.

Be sure now. Take a good look.

Look at all of them.

He's not there.

Take him away It's not the guy it's not the guy don't worry about it we'll find

Hey, Jimmy, can I release the body to the VA?

The VA?

You didn't hear?

We got a positive ID. You were right, military background.

All right.

Marcus Bennett.

51 years old, 4th Marine Division, Silver Star, Vietnam, 68.

Busted to private after assaulting a superior officer, honorable discharge.

Wonder why he assaulted an officer.

Contact his family?

No, there is no family.

What?

The VA can't locate any next of kin.

Apparently the guy's been in and out of veterans hospitals all around the

country for the past 15 years.

Drug, alcohol, you name it.

Guess he just wandered from state to state.

He winds up dead behind a church in Rome, Wisconsin.

Can I release him to the VA? They'll bury him in Fond du Lac.

Yeah.

Well, at least we got a shot at solving this case.

Kid saw a black transient, hit the guy with a brick. It's impossible.

Preliminary analysis of the scrapings taken from one of the decedent's

fingernails indicate that the assailant was a male Caucasian.

I can't be absolutely certain until the DNA results are in, but I'll guarantee

you this right now, the killer was white.

Why would he lie?

You tell me.

It was dark. He was scared. He was probably goofed up, that's all.

Maybe. Come on, Candy.

Candy.

Come on, Candy. You're still here, huh?

We're just waiting for a ride.

Mommy's working.

Yeah, we can give you a ride if you want.

No, that's okay, man.

I got friends coming.

Jack, may I have a word with you?

Sure.

Where are you going, Jack?

Don't worry about it, okay? Just stay right here.

Billy, is that your game boy?

Yeah.

Jack, we're having trouble finding any more suspects.

You sure the man you saw was black?

Yeah. Now think about it.

It was dark. You were scared. Could you have been mistaken?

No. No, dude was black.

Definitely.

Dude.

That's my ride.

Can I go now?

We'll be in touch.

Yeah, that's good.

Boy, you really know what you're doing. Hey, Billy, come on.

Billy.

Okay. Okay, I'm almost to the next level.

Come on, Einstein.

Okay, I can do it.

I'm sure you can, Billy.

Come on.

Okay.

Bye. Bye.

Looking for another file on Joey's death.

Good.

Why didn't you tell me?

Look at the results.

Three o 'clock.

I'm not going to die or anything.

Probably nothing.

Talk to me.

I worked it out. I got this case last night. I didn't want me to say.

Do I know how I feel? I don't like how I feel.

I don't want to feel what I'm feeling.

Did you look at me at least?

There's nothing to talk about until three o 'clock.

Honey. Honey.

Yeah?

Mr. Crosby, Sheriff Brock. May I come in?

Has anything happened to Randy?

Randy? My husband.

Oh.

No, no, no.

Oh.

He's been working two jobs. I was afraid that he, I don't know, fell asleep at

the wheel or... Nothing like that.

Please.

Oh, I'll just be brief. I wanted to ask a few questions. Were you home last

night? No.

I'm a nurse's aide at Forest Hills Retirement Home.

My shift is from four to midnight.

You send Billy home last night?

What? Billy.

Yes, he was home all night.

Billy is mentally retarded.

He's like a six -year -old.

What was it that you're trying to find out?

Well, there was an incident last night with a homeless man. I didn't want to

alarm you.

Oh. Well, Billy was here all night.

And your husband can verify that.

Oh, uh, no.

Like I say, he has two jobs.

It's just until we get a little bit of extra money, though, because there's

program for retarded people.

They can, like, train them with flashcards and puzzles.

It was on 60 Minutes, and I think it would really help Billy.

But our insurance just doesn't cover it, so... So Billy was here alone last

night?

Oh, no, no, his brother.

stayed with him. Jack stays with him every night. See, Billy can't be left

alone. Well, he is like a six -year -old.

But I'm going to hire a babysitter as soon as I can afford it.

And Jack was home with Billy all night?

Yeah.

Do you recognize this?

Billy made that for Jack.

When Jack didn't make it into varsity basketball, he...

He made that because he wanted to make his brother feel better. Where did you

get that?

May I speak to Billy?

Yeah.

I was too at home.

You sure?

I told you and told you and told you.

Jack made me jelly bread.

And I watched TV.

It was Herman Munster.

And they gave him a sleeping potion.

It was scary.

But it wasn't too scary, because I promised Jack I wouldn't watch anything

scary. So you were here alone when Jack was gone?

No.

No.

No, he was here too.

All night.

We were together.

Billy, did Jack make you promise not to tell anyone?

He's my best friend.

We don't play with them.

Jack gets all mad.

Billy, did Jack ask you to say that he was here all night so that your mother

wouldn't know? Is that right?

I won't tell anybody.

We can make it a game, okay?

You can keep your promise to Jack and say that he was here.

Was Jack here?

Yeah.

You kept your promise.

Good. Yeah.

Yeah. Now, this is the game part.

Who was Jack really with?

Them. Who?

They're mean to me.

They call me a retard.

I won't let them come here anymore.

I hit them.

Who?

D -Mac and Doze.

Who are D -Mac and Doze?

Bad.

I hate him.

They say Jack's going to leave me someday.

I don't like it when he goes out with them.

Jack Klausner?

Yeah. Sure, I know him. Did anyway.

He used to be kind of a jock. Used to be?

Junior high, basketball, mostly.

He was pretty good. Why? You know who his friends are?

What's this about, Dad?

Does this have anything to do with that bum who was killed last night? The bum's

name was Marcus Bennett, and he was a Vietnam vet, Matthew.

Oh.

And Jack Klausner had something to do with it?

It's police business.

Yeah, sure. I won't say anything.

Do you know who his friends are?

I've seen them hanging around with some wannabes lately.

Wannabes? Yeah, you know.

I think they're gangsters and call each other stupid names.

Like D -Mac and Doze? Yeah.

How'd you know?

Do you know what the real names are?

Uh, D -Mac, that's Stuart Rocco, I think.

And Doze is Russ Fuehler.

You gonna bust him?

Matt.

Boy, I knew those guys did some stupid... Look, just keep this to

okay?

Yeah, fine.

Why wouldn't they be?

No reason.

Better get to your class.

See you at dinner?

Yeah.

Bye, Dad.

It can't be as bad as it sounds.

It's got to be a neoplasm.

There's no history of cancer in his family. He's a very healthy man.

Jill. And if, against all odds, it does turn out to be malignant, it isn't the

end. There's a lot of new research. Jill, if I may make an observation.

tell me that I'm overreacting. Jill, we don't know anything yet. Please calm

down. This is my husband. This is the father of my children. He's always

sure that other people are all right.

Always taking care of other people. Why the hell can't he take care of himself?

Jill.

I know what I'm saying.

The keychain puts him at the scene He makes up this story about the tramp to

cover his butt in case we find it and trace it somehow So why didn't he ID one

of the tramps in the lineup?

Well, we're looking at a kid whose life has fallen apart the last couple of

years. Didn't make the basketball team. He's got to look after his brother.

His parents are always working. No money.

So he starts hanging out with a couple of low -lifers.

And what, they kill a tramp for kicks?

I just can't believe that Jack would be a part of that, Jimmy.

I mean, maybe home life hasn't been great lately, but these other kids fewer

Rocco, they've got sheets. Jack's clean.

Okay, so maybe he's coming up for them.

They did it. He was there.

He makes up this story to protect them, but then can't finger an innocent man.

Yeah, I suppose that makes sense.

Does it?

I didn't do anything.

Oh, come on, Stuart.

We know you and Russ beat up in transits in a park before.

That's a lie, man.

We got statements.

I was never charged with anything.

But we both know it's true, don't we?

And Reverend Novotny saw you behind the church last night.

Now, he's coming in for a lineup.

Once he picks you out, I can't help you.

What's going on?

Why'd you bring me here?

We're waiting.

For what?

Your buddy to confess.

How does Jack fit into all this?

Why'd you bring him along?

We didn't. We don't bring Jack along anywhere.

He's one of us.

Really?

Ask him. I did.

Said you did. You and Russ.

I don't think so.

You got scared, hit him by accident. You didn't mean to kill him.

That's manslaughter, not murder.

I want a lawyer.

Why, Stuart?

Did you do something that needs a lawyer?

Cops, are you going to do anything for a confession?

Forget it, all right? I didn't do anything.

How'd that man die?

I don't know.

Tell me.

You slammed his head with a brick, didn't you?

I wasn't there.

You cut his skull and left him lying in his own blood.

Come on, Russ.

We both know you did it.

Now tell me, how did the man die?

I wasn't there. I wasn't there. I wasn't there!

The kid was there, Jimmy. I'm sure of it.

We just don't have anything tying him to the scene.

Just Jack.

Well, Jack hasn't given that up.

Not yet.

You have the right to remain silent.

Anything you say can or will be used against you in a court of law.

What is this? You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one

will be provided for you by the court.

Kenny. Do you understand your rights?

No. I'll repeat them to you. I mean, yeah. What's going on?

What?

You lied to us.

No, I... The fight between the tramps, you being alone last night. Yeah, it's

true. I thought... It wasn't a black man, Jack.

We have... Forensic evidence proving the killer was white.

You were there. You know what happened.

Look, we know Stuart and Russ were there.

We know you're protecting them.

I know the code.

You don't rat on a friend.

But this is murder. Codes don't apply, Jack. Maybe he's not protecting anybody.

Maybe he did it. I don't believe that. Jack's a good kid.

Do the right thing.

Tell us what happened.

They didn't tell you? They said they weren't even there. We know that's not

true.

Billy told us.

Oh, yeah.

Give them up.

They are my friends.

Okay? My only friends.

They're not your friends if they made you an accessory to murder.

I don't understand.

Understand what? You don't understand.

Jimmy! Stay back!

Jack, don't. Stay back.

I'll shoot, I swear.

Jack, why?

What are you doing?

I killed him, okay? Me. I did it.

Calm down.

I'm going.

Open it.

Jack, every officer out there heard that gunshot. Let's go!

Hold your fire!

Far as I go, Jack.

I'll shoot.

I don't think so.

Hold your fire.

Fine.

I don't need you.

Jack, you can't walk out of here. Take a look.

No. I'll do it. I swear to God I'll do it.

I will kill myself right here, man.

All right, everybody out.

Jimmy. Clear the complex. I want everybody out here in 30 seconds.

All right, let's go.

Move. Come on.

Move.

Let's go.

Okay, that's it. They're gone.

Stay back, okay?

So... Shut up! I don't want you talking to me.

I'm going to sit down right here, okay?

Okay?

So what happened last night?

I said don't talk to me.

You want to tell me.

No, I don't.

You want to tell someone.

There's a reason you didn't make a false ID.

There's a reason you didn't blame Stuart or Russ.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's because they didn't do it.

Because you got a conscience check.

I know you didn't mean for it to happen.

Big deal, man.

My life's over anyway.

It doesn't have to be.

Come on.

Tell me what happened last night. What the hell difference does it make now

anyway?

We were drinking.

After the game.

Actually, we left at halftime because the game sucked.

You know, the woods behind the church is one of our hangouts because you guys

never go back there.

And that old minister must be half -deaf.

Rocked the other guy first.

He goes,

hey, let's roll that bomb.

He's just digging through the trash.

What you asking, man? You find anything?

Hey, man, you got any money?

Leave me alone.

Come on, guys. This is stupid.

I don't think we asked you a question.

Hey, come on, man. I got no money. Come on. No money. Come on, give me it over.

Come on, hand it over. I ain't trouble, okay?

No trouble.

Guys, come on. Come on, man. Let's go, all right?

You get a job, man. What are you doing here?

Hey, you know what?

Hear what's disgusting about America, you know that? Huh?

He killed a man.

It's his brain.

All right, we got to get out of here.

Come on, nobody saw anything.

It's kill or be killed. Dude was choking me to death.

Come on. Let's go.

Let's go, Jack.

He shouldn't have fought back, man.

He was an ex -Marine.

Got a medal once for saving his buddies under fire.

Yeah.

Nobody... given me any medals. You were in a tough spot, Jack.

Any judge is going to understand that.

Right.

Johnson, go ahead.

I've got a clear shot through the sheriff's office, Kenny. I can take him

clean. No, none unless he threatens Jimmy, understood?

Kenny, I've heard where Jimmy is. Jill, you can't go in there. I've got to talk

to him. Not now.

You don't understand. He might try to do something foolish. He's got the kids

talking, okay? That's good. You don't understand.

Jill, Jimmy's in charge. I can't even go in there.

Besides, I've got an idea that might help, okay?

Reverend, please.

Come on, Koloski. Where are you?

You give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill myself, huh?

You're young.

You can still turn your life around.

Yeah?

Well, my life sucks, man.

How am I supposed to turn that around?

Things are tough right now.

They won't always be. How do you know?

I'm older than you. I've seen more.

Well, so's my old man, and things are only getting worse for him.

Huh?

And my mother.

And my brother.

That doesn't mean you have to die.

Fact is, you want to live. We all want to live.

All right, it doesn't make sense all the time, this life.

But it is precious.

Every moment of it.

You got to have faith.

Faith? Don't you talk to me about faith, man.

You know, that's all my parents ever talk about.

You take one look at my brother and you tell me about faith.

He's going to be an idiot for the rest of his life.

Now, what did he do to deserve that?

And what did I do?

We don't deal with cards. We just play them, Jack.

Your brother needs you. So what?

I'm not going to do him any good from jail, am I? Yes, you are.

You're all he's got in this world.

I don't care.

God, I am so sick of him.

You know, he never leaves me alone.

He's the reason why we don't have any money, and he's the reason why I can't

keep up with my basketball.

I hate him!

Jack?

Billy?

Are you mad at me, Jack?

Billy, go away!

I'm sorry, Jack. I didn't mean to make you mad.

I'm not mad at you.

Still best friend, right?

Right.

What's the matter, Jack?

Benign. It's what we call a focal nodular hyperplasia.

It'll just go away by itself, basically. We don't even have to operate.

Heavenly Father, on this day of battle,

I commit myself, body and soul, to your keeping.

If I am sick, grant me healing.

When I am in peril of life, give me courage.

And should I fall, receive me unto yourself.

Were you a relative there?