All language subtitles for Intruder.in.the.Dust.1949

Say, am I gonna get
my shoes shined?

Not today, mister.

Where's the shine boy?

Where they all at?

Seems to me,
I ain't seen one darky

'on the road since yesterday.'

- Ain't you heard?
- No. Heard what?

- One of the Gowrie boys.
- Been shot dead.

Oh, Gowrie.

Shoot a Gowrie?

Now who would do
a fool thing like that?

Shot in the back by a n*****.

It's him!
It's the sheriff!

- Bringin' him in?
- Can't tell.

I never thought
he'd do it.

He's here.
The sheriff's got him, come on.

Come on.

- Knock it off again, sheriff.
- Take off his head next time.

Don't bother the sheriff.
The Gowrie's will do it for him.

You boys get on out of here,
get on back to barber shop.

'You got a flat tire, sheriff,
somebody try to slow you up?'

Maybe. Somebody that
don't know me, anyhow.

Alright, Lucas.
Come on.

You.

Young man.

'Tell your uncle,
I wants to see him.'

- Wanna see who?
- Lawyer Stevens.

- John Stevens.
- He wants to see a lawyer?

'Lawyer? He ain't
even gonna need an undertaker.'

I told you boys once
to get on out of here.

'I ain't gonna tell you again.'

Why, Chick, you're perspiring.
You're wet through.

Where you been?
You missed Sunday school.

The picture show
doesn't start till 6 o'clock.

Perhaps, there're other
attractions.

- Gosh, I'm hungry.
- Is it a proper way to behave?

- Sir?
- Coming in here..

...without a word of greeting?

No, sir.

- This is your home.
- Yes, sir.

'Well?'

Hello, mom.

'Hello, father.'

'Hello, Uncle John.'

Paralee?

- Yes, sir?
- Bring the chicken in again.

I don't know
if there's any left.

- Paralee is upset today.
- I don't see why.

She's not related
to that murderer.

- Or is she?
- No, but neither is Chick.

Now, Chick, I suppose
you explain where you been?

Nowhere in particular.

Nowhere in particular
is a mighty large place.

I reckon you can do
better than that.

- May I please have the salt?
- More coffee, Paralee.

You waited outside the jail
with that riff-raft

from the pool hall
and the barber shop, didn't you?

Well, did you see
what you expected to see?

They didn't do anything.

They just stood there,
that's all.

I want you to stay home
until this thing is cleaned up.

Over. Finished,
and done with.

It's happened before
and it's bound to happen again.

Nothing for us
to get excited about.

I have to run up to Memphis
for a couple of days,

and business being
the way it is

I don't want to have to worry
about you too, you understand?

- That applies to Aleck, too.
- Yes, sir.

I told him, but he don't listen
to me, he listen to Chick.

I ain't no friend of his,
I'm just his maw.

Everybody's going to stay
right here at home.

All this fuss and nonsense
simply because..

Your friend
Lucas Beauchamp really seems

to have done it this time.

Yes.

They're gonna make a n*****
outta him

once in his life anyway.

'Why, Chick!'

Let me talk to him.

What in heaven's name?

Why, he hasn't even
finished--

It's terrifying,
I know, but we've gotta face it.

He just doesn't like
his napkin up here

makes him feel as though
he's not quite grown up.

- But he isn't.
- He better not be.

Let me go up
and talk to him.

Tell him I said to come down
and finish his dinner

whether he's hungry or not.

'Paralee, more gravy!'

'Tell Aleck to put
my suitcase in the car.'

Tell me what happened.

Why'd he have to go
and do a thing like that?

Who knows?

We'll never really know.

- Your friend Lucas Beauchamp--
- He's not my friend.

'Chick..'

'...you mustn't take this
so seriously.'

I'm not.

I can't help it.

But why?
Tell me why.

'I don't know.'

You must tell me, Chick.

I don't know if I can.

Try.

You're old enough to try.

Maybe I'm old enough
to understand.

It's quite a while ago..

...I went hunting
with Alexander.

'On the old Edmond's place?'

'Yeah?'

'It was November,
pretty cold.'

'We were hunting rabbit.'

'We hadn’t jumped one
all morning.'

Alexander!

My gun.

'Get the pole out of his way,
so he can get out.'

That was just about the
first time I saw Lucas Beauchamp.

Come on to my house.

Tote his gun.

Then I realized
we were hunting on his land.

I remembered
you telling me the story.

His grandfather was a slave.
He got this land as a gift.

And you told me why.

'Cause his grandfather
was first cousin

to the man that owned him.

So, grandfather to father to
son came to Lucas Beauchamp.

It was ten acres,
all his own.

Smack in the middle
of the whole plantation.

It was Lucas Beauchamp's land

and Lucas Beauchamp
proved it every step he took.

His land and his house.

Strip off.

Strip off.

There was something
else just what I'd expected.

Side-meat and greens.

He made me eat the dinner
that was cooked for him.

'What's that for?'

Pick it up.

Pick up his money.

Give it to him.

I was so angry,
I was so awful ashamed.

He knew what I didn't know.

What I didn't have sense
enough to understand.

He knew all the time,
and I didn't.

That I was his guest
in his home.

Now, go on
and shoot your rabbit.

...and stay out
of that creek.

Then I could
hardly wait till Christmas.

I went down town
and bought Lucas Beauchamp

four of the best cigars.

A package of snuff
for his wife, Molly.

That was to pay him his
70 cents with interest.

But the next day,
he made me take it back again.

Batch of homemade molasses..

...a gift from him to me.

It was worse this time.

Because he had a white boy
bring it to me.

This time it had to be
finished once and for all.

Out of what you paid me,
I saved a quarter a week.

Finally, that was enough.

Enough so he couldn't
pay me back.

Enough so he wouldn't,
even if he could.

Mother helped me.

We bought a dress,
good enough to wear on Sundays.

I had it sent
to his wife, Molly.

And I thought Lucas
would have to come now

take off his hat and say,
"Thank you, Mr. Mallison."

But he didn't.

I saw him in town
just once after that.

He didn't even see me.

I wasn't there.

He didn't even see
I wasn't there.

I thought, now it's finished.
It's all over.

Then I heard you say
his wife was dead.

She'd been dead
when I sent her the dress

and he was grieving.

I reckon you can be sad
or proud or, or even lonely..

...inside a black skin too.

I went to see him,
not to his house

I wasn't gonna
be caught that way again.

I picked neutral ground
this time.

Fraser's store.

He came by there
any Saturday afternoon.

Uh-oh, that wasn't so good.

I'd do better
than that, see it.

Move over.

Uh-oh, that wasn't
too good either.

They were watching him,
two of the Gowrie boys.

One of them
was Crawford Gowrie.

The other was Vinson,
the younger brother.

'Uh-oh,
you ain't holding your mouth right.'

'It's too hot to play anything.'

You crummy, big headed,
bird headed, n*****.

Get out of here, Lucas.

Get the blazes
out of here, you fool.

Take it easy there, Vinson.

'Oh, don't be a fool.'

'Wait a minute now. Come on,
take that thing away from him.'

'Take that away.'

I didn't go after him,
I couldn't.

I don't know why.

Maybe because Vinson Gowrie
was white and I was white.

Lucas Beauchamp was not.

Right in these woods
on a Saturday afternoon

a few weeks later

he killed Vinson Gowrie,
shot him in the back.

And yet he thinks
I am his friend.

Well, go on.

He wants a lawyer.

Is that all?

He asked for you.

Uncle John,
can't you go right now?

What's the hurry?

Chick?

Nothing's going to happen.

They never start
anything in the daytime.

They'd be ashamed
to see each other's faces.

Suppose they're not?

They'll wait for the Gowrie's.

They won't do a thing
without the Gowrie's

and the Gowries have got to bury
Vinson before they do anything

about anybody
that isn't a Gowrie.

Then they'll come and drag him
out of jail and hang him up?

No. The Gowries are not much
good except to fish and fight

and raise enough corn
to boil up some whiskey.

But it's Sunday,
even for a Gowrie.

And they'll wait till Sunday's
passed. Until midnight at least.

Suppose they don't?

Then there's a steel door
and there's Sheriff Hampton.

It's his job.

Not yours and not mine.

But you are gonna see him,
aren't you?

There isn't much
I can do for him now.

- Uncle John.
- Alright, I'll go.

- I want to go with you.
- Alright, after supper.

- But suppose they come--
- Suppose it, then.

Lucas should have thought of
that before

he shot a white man in the back.

Come on, finish your dinner.

Good evening, Mr. Lilley.

Little early,
ain't you, lawyer?

Them Gowrie folks
got chores to do

before they can get into town.

Maybe they'll decide to
stay at home on a Sunday night.

Sure now, it ain't their fault
it's Sunday.

He oughta have thought of that
before taking to killing

white men
on a Saturday afternoon.

I agree.

My wife ain't feeling
well tonight

but tell them to holler
if they need any help.

I expect they know they can
depend on you, Mr. Lilley.

See, he has nothing
against Lucas.

He'll probably tell you
he likes them

better than those white folks,
and you'll believe it.

All he requires is
that Lucas act like a n****.

Which, he believes,
is what must have happened.

Lucas blew his top
and murdered a white man.

Now, the white folks
are gonna and burn him.

No hard feelings
on the either side.

In fact, Mr. Lilley would
probably be one of the first

to contribute cash money
to Lucas' funeral

and the support of his widow
and children, if he had any.

- What's that?
- Some of Mr. Lilley's friends.

- Evening, Mr. Legate.
- Evening.

Mr. Stevens. 80, you had
to get mixed up in it too.

Seems like you can't let
well enough alone.

I'm his lawyer, Mr. Tubbs.

Will here won't even shut
and lock the front door.

Well, I'm doing just
what the sheriff said.

He's paying me $5
a night to resist

and that's just
what I'm gonna do.

Does the sheriff think
that darn funny paper's

gonna stop the Gowries?

Oh, I don't expect
to stop 'em by myself.

I've got you,
and you've got a pistol.

Me? Me get in their way
for a $75 a month?

Better for everybody
if them folks had took him

as soon as they laid hands
on him yesterday.

But they didn't
and I don't think they will.

Oh, don't mind me.
I'm gonna do the best I can.

I've taken
an oath of office too.

And how am I gonna live
with myself if I let a passel

of no good Gowries take
a prisoner away from me?

And don't think nobody's
gonna make me admit I like it.

I've got a wife
and two children.

What good am I to them
if I get myself killed

protecting a goddamn
stinkin' n*****?

Look.

Look at them.

They ain't asleep.
Not a one.

'And I don't blame 'em
when a mob of white men'

'are gonna bust in here with
pistols and cans of gasoline.'

Well, it won't be the first time
that all black cats look alike.

- Put him in a cell, did you?
- Sheriff's orders.

I don't know what the next white
man that figures he can't rest

good till he kill's somebody,
is gonna think about it.

I've taken the blankets
off the cot though.

Maybe because he won't be here

long enough to have
to go to sleep.

Well, old man, you played
the devil this time.

- Then you can take my case?
- Take your case?

What do you mean?
Defend you before the judge?

I'm gonna pay you.
You don't have to worry.

I don't defend murderers
who shoot people in the back.

Let's forget the trial.
We ain't come to it yet.

Now, I wants to hire somebody,
don't have to be no lawyer.

To do what?

Is you or ain't you
gonna take the job?

I'd already taken your case
before I came in here.

I'm going to tell you what to do

as soon as you've told me
what happened.

- Never mind that, what I want--
- Never mind?

You tell the Gowries
to "never mind"

when they bust in here tonight.

- So, you don't want the job?
- No.

But I'll do it just the same.

Now, tell me exactly
why you killed Vinson Gowrie?

Was it on account of the trouble

in Fraser's store
two months ago?

I was there, Uncle John.
I'll be your witness.

That's Lucas' trouble now. He's
got too many witnesses already.

Well?

There was two white folks..

...partners in the sawmill.

Leastways, they was buying the
lumber as the sawmill cut it.

'Who were they?

Vinson Gowrie was one of them.

Lucas, has it ever occurred
to you that if you just said

"mister" to white people and
said it like you meant it.

- You might not be sitting here?
- So I'm to commence now?

I can start off by saying,
"mister" to folks that drags me

out of here and builds
a fire under me?

Nothing is gonna happen to you.

Nobody takes liberties
with Sheriff Hampton.

Sheriff Hampton's home in bed.

He's appointed Mr. Will Legate
to sit downstairs.

- With a 12-gauge shotgun.
- Will Legate?

I ain't acquainted
with no Will Legate.

The deer hunter?

The man who can hit a running
rabbit with a 30-30 rifle?

Hmm... them Gowries
ain't no deer.

They might be catamounts and
panthers, they ain't no deer.

Alright.
I'll stay here with you.

Until morning if it'll make you
feel better. Now, go on.

Vinson Gowrie was partner
in the lumber deal.

Who was the other man?

Vinson Gowrie is the only one
what's public, yet.

And he got public by being shot
in the back in broad daylight?

Well, that's one way
to do it.

Alright, who was the other
partner? What was his name?

Some other man.

He was stealing a load
of lumber every night or so.

- How do you know?
- I've seen him. Watched him.

Alright, then what?

Now, you answer me
some questions.

Is you or ain't you
gonna take the case?

You haven't got a case.

You, Lucas Beauchamp,
took a pistol and went to

straighten out a wrong
between two white men.

What did you expect?
What else did you expect?

You don't want justice.

You want mercy.

- Well?
- Well, what?

The rest of it,
what happened?

That's all.

'Then I'll tell you.'

'You went to Fraser's store
again and met Vinson Gowrie.'

'You told him somebody
was robbing him.'

'He cursed you
and called you a liar.'

'Whether it's true or not,
it's natural'

'he would have to do that.'

'Maybe he even knocked
you down and walked on'

'and you shot him
in the back.'

Never nobody
knocked me down.

So much the worse.

It's not even self-defense.

Now, you listen to me.

I'm gonna get you tried
in another county.

Persuade the District Attorney
out there

since they don't know you

that you're old man,
never been in trouble before.

'You'll plead guilty
and ask the mercy of the court'

'and hope they'll send you
to penitentiary'

'where you'll be safe
from the Gowries.'

I made this offer once
and I'll make it again.

You want me to stay in here
with you tonight?

I reckon not.

They kept me up
all last night.

I'm gonna try
to get some sleep.

If you stay here,
you'll talk till morning.

Right.

How do you expect to get
any help from anybody?

I don't want help.
I pays my way.

You won't pay
your way out of this.

You broke it.

You might bring me
a can of tobacco.

If them Gowries leaves me
time to smoke it.

Tomorrow. We don't wanna
keep you awake tonight.

You are gonna
help him, aren't you?

Of course I am,
whether he wants me or not.

Ask for a change of venue,
plead him guilty.

Then maybe he'll tell you
what really happened.

I know what happened.
He killed Vinson Gowrie.

No matter what the provocation
and he probably had plenty.

Nevertheless,
he's killed a man.

But there was something
he wanted, started to tell you.

I know the answer
to that too.

He was going to tell me a lie
he knew I couldn't believe

and being his lawyer,
I'd have to pretend I did.

No. I know what happened
and I know the only cure for it.

Come on, let's go home.

- I might take him the tobacco.
- He can wait till morning.

Chick, your father told me
before he left

to see you didn't go anywhere.

I know.

Then you get home
just as fast as you can.

Yes, sir.

What? Again?

I forgot something.

Let him rest till morning.

Oh, let him get it tonight.

I'm afraid if he leaves it
till morning

it might get trampled on.

Late night,
does the door.

I can tend to it
through the bars.

Alright. What
do you want me to do?

- Go out there.
- Go out where?

The Gowrie's buries
at the chapel.

What?

That's nine miles
after the bridge.

Then first right
and turn up into the hills.

All you gotta do
is go and look at him.

Me? Why should I do
such a thing?

Come here.

Because my pistol
is a .41 Colt.

Alright, suppose it is,
then what?

He wasn't shot
with no .41 Colt.

What was he shot with?

What gun was
he shot with, Lucas?

I'm gonna pay you.

Name your price and anything
within reason and I'll pay you.

But why me?
Why do you pick on me?

What can I do about it?

'Cause you ain't cluttered.
You can listen.

But a man like your uncle,
he ain't got time.

He's too full of notions.

Tell me what you
want me to do.

They buries
at Caledonia Chapel.

Up at that part of the county?
Up in Beat Nine?

Even the Sheriff won't go up
there unless he's sent for.

And you want me to..

Anyway, I have
to be back by midnight.

- Or the Gowrie's--
- I knows about the Gowrie's.

Even midnight
will be too late.

I... don't see
how I can make it.

I'll try to wait.

Wait!

What'd he tell you?

Nothing, Mr. Gowrie.

You've been up
to see him twice.

Why not?
Why shouldn't I?

He killed my kid brother.

And I'm here to see they don't
sneak him over the county line

where we can't
get at him.

Now, you tell me what
you went up there for.

He asked me to bring
him some tobacco.

Tobacco?

We buried Vinson this morning.

You know how he was killed?

Tell me what he told you.

He said it wasn't his gun.

He's a smart n*****.
I'd say the same thing.

So he told you
it wasn't his gun.

If I were Lucas or any
other ignorant murderer

I'd claim exactly
the same thing myself.

That's just what
Crawford Gowrie said.

- When?
- Outside the jail.

Oh, the Gowrie's
are there already.

And you come to me and I say
no more than what a Gowrie says.

Well, it's true.
In matters of life and death

a man's vocabulary
is all mighty small.

Well, excuse me.
Evening, Miss Habersham

Good evening, Chick.

'Whereas, in the matter
of Miss Habersham's truck'

in dreadful collision two hours
ago with a worn out rooster

which your neighbor,
Mr. Winston, swears and contends

is a sign of high
pedigreed stock

worth at least seven dollars.

There are all
the words in the world.

Why, if he had
to shoot a white man

did he do it up there
in Beat Nine?

He couldn't have picked
a worse place himself

in this whole county

maybe not in the whole world.

But if he had to do it there,
why did he pick a Gowrie?

And if he picked a Gowrie

why did he have to shoot him
in the back?

Maybe he didn't.

Maybe we might find out if we
went up to where he was buried.

'Chick,
now tell me. What did Lucas ask you to do?'

Maybe the sheriff could do it.

'Do exactly what?'

- D-d-dig him up.
- What?

To get the bullet out
and look at it.

'Why in heaven's name?'

To see if it'd come
from a .41 Colt.

Dig up Vinson Gowrie
out of ground

he's been prayed
and consecrated into?

Violate a Gowrie's grave
to save a black from punishment?

I'd he rather tell
old man Gowrie

I want to exhume his boy's body

to get the gold
out of his teeth.

Even if Lucas' story were true.

Even if every word
of it were true

even then we couldn't do it.

Not you, not you,
not me, and not Sheriff Hampton

and not the governor, not the
President of the United States.

It's Chick.

Aleck, you're not goin'
no where's tonight.

I didn't say I was.

- It's Chick, white boy.
- Leave him be.

Go ahead, go ahead
if you want to.

That Lucas thinks he's so smart.

Why did he have
to do a thing like that?

Go ahead, and do just
what you want to do.

I ain't goin' nowhere,
at least not very far.

- Where you goin'?
- Far enough.

Where's that?

Where you don't have to see or
hear anything

that happens tonight.

High-Boy ain't had enough feed
to go that far.

Chick?

What did Lucas tell you?

- He said it wasn't his pistol.
- I know, but then what?

- Wants me to dig up the body.
- When?

I can't. Even if I could,
you know what Uncle John said.

I've got a flashlight in my car.

Can you get some tools?
A pick and shovel?

Gonna do no good.
He'll be burnin' just the same.

Just exactly the same
before you get to dig anything

up out of any place.

- How far is it?
- Caledonia Chapel.

It's on the hill
beyond the Nine-Mile Bridge.

Then we do need the horse.

We? You expect to come,
Miss Habersham?

We'll park the truck
at the bottom of the hill

and then use High-Boy,
he'll make less noise.

- Can you drive?
- I ain't supposed to go.

I know. Neither is Mr. Stevens
and neither is the Sheriff

or the governor or the
President of the United States.

For that matter, neither am I,
but somebody's got to do it.

Come on.

Don't go across the bridge.
Make too much noise.

Go down and avoid the creek.

- What's the matter with him?
- He smells quicksand.

Shh.

Mule coming down the hill.

Who's that on the mule?

I couldn't even see
it was a mule.

- I couldn't see anything.
- Suppose he saw us?

Suppose he comes back
and catches us?

Maybe he had
a collision and died.

Here it is.

This don't need any pick.

So much the better. Get a plank
or something. Help him.

Alright, Aleck.
Give me room.

We need a crowbar.

And rope.
We forgot the rope.

It's empty.

Well, you wouldn't have come
here at 4 o'clock in the morning

with a tale like that,
if it wasn't so.

Looks like
he might be innocent.

He could've
killed Vinson Gowrie

but he never dug him up.

Because Vinson wasn't
buried till Sunday afternoon.

By that time,
Lucas had been locked up

in that cell for almost,
uh, six hours.

Sheriff Hampton,
if we don't--

So Vinson isn't
in that grave.

But officially he is.

By the county records he is.

So you want me
to dig him up again officially.

Gowrie grave
and Gowrie ground. Hmm.

Who's gonna get
ol' Nub's permission?

Aren't you
the sheriff?

But you're the lawyer.

- You're the talker.
- And tell him what?

That we're tryin' to save
the black skin of a man

who was found with
a fired pistol in his pocket?

Standing over
a dead Gowrie?

It'll take more than
a lawyer to do that.

Well, if we're goin' out to that
graveyard without permission

we'll wait till
it's broad daylight.

We didn't.

And what's gonna happen to Lucas
Beauchamp in the mean time?

That's an iron door,
Miss Eunice.

There's a key to it.

Meaning Mr. Tubbs
is only a man.

Will Legate, and that 12 gauge
shotgun, he's the only man.

If enough Gowrie's
and their kin.

Enough worth it
in their kin.

She means if enough
of them get together to

make up their collective minds,
they'll pass even Will Legate

and his 12 gauge shotgun.

- Oh, we'll be back before then.
- And if you're not?

He's doin' the best his judgment
tells him to, Miss Eunice.

You can't ask more than that.

If you mean these
two children and me

we're not
askin' anything.

It's Lucas you've
got to account for.

- Now--
- Or account to.

Now, Miss Eunice, ain't none
of us up to doin' anything

before we've had
some breakfast.

Drink your coffee.
That's the quickest way

to get Mr. Hampton started.

What I'd like to know is
how the same Lucas Beauchamp

could convince me he was guilty

and convince you
he was innocent.

And you too.

What I would like to know
is what Chick and his buddy

would've done if there had
been that body in that coffin?

I don't know.
I hadn't thought about it.

Uh, I did.

Oh, put some
sugar in it, John.

And you. You were out there too,

helpin' to dig up
a white man's grave.

Why? Was it because
Miss Habersham made you?

Never nobody made me.
I didn't even know I was going

until all of a sudden,
there I was.

Why didn't
I believe Lucas?

Why didn't he trust me,
his lawyer, with the truth?

You're a white man.

Worse than that,
you're a grown white man.

Oh, yes. I've heard
that before too.

I heard Aleck's grandfather
tell Chick and Aleck that once.

If you wanna
get anything done

don't bother
the men folks with it.

They're too
cluttered up with facts.

Get the woman and children
to workin' on it.

Is that what you meant?

Why don't you drink your coffee
yourself, so we can get started.

It's more than that.

There's a wall
drawn up between us.

Lucas can't see
through it and I won't.

Well, maybe
that's wrong.

We're the ones
who can't see through it

because we're the ones
who are blind.

Will Legate.
What are you doin' here?

Oh, morning,
Miss Habersham.

It's about daylight.

I've got two miles to walk
before I can feed him milk.

- You see?
- Who's on guard?

I wait Tubbs
and give him the shotgun.

Oh, it's all
quiet over there.

- Wouldn't left if it hadn't--
- But you should--

Now, Miss Eunice, let's finish
breakfast and get started.

Mr. Hampton is right,
Miss Eunice. And so are you.

They'd pass even Will Legate
sooner or later

when there was enough of 'em.

But there's one thing
that would stop them.

Long enough anyhow.

And that's somebody
without a gun.

'A lady.'

'A white lady.'

Alright.

But I'm not gonna sit there
all morning doin' nothin'

so the jailer's wife'll
think she has to talk to me.

I'll go home and
get some mendin' to do

and feed the chickens.

Maybe Aleck'll drive me.

- I don't know if--
- You've gone this far.

You can go a little further.
You and me, both.

I reckon so. Yes'm.

Who can eat
more than two eggs?

Well, that's one half of
the county that's sensing up

to stay at home anyway.
The darker half.

We're too late,
they're gonna get him.

No, not these people.

I haven't seen anything
in the Gowrie's. Not yet anyway.

- But suppose--
- I reckon not.

They're just goin'
to town to see somethin'

happen and wait
for the Gowrie's.

- Just a wait, that's all.
- But suppose--

The best way to stop
supposing or denying either

is to get out there
and do what we have to do.

Alright, boys.
Jump to it.

Let's get the work done
and get outta here.

What's goin' on
around here, sheriff?

I'm goin' to open
this grave, Mr. Gowrie.

No, sheriff. Not that grave.

Yes, Mr. Gowrie.
I'm going to open it.

Get back
to the car, boys.

Never mind, boys.

I ain't
gonna hurt you.

I'm talkin'
to the sheriff here.

Your boy ain't
in that grave.

Don't tell me
the name of the fellow

that proved my boy
ain't there, sheriff.

It's empty.

I saw it last night.

Grab those shovels, sons.
They belong to the county.

If we bust one, ain't nobody's
business but the grand jury's.

What have they
done with my boy?

Mr. Gowrie.

I think you knew last night
that something was wrong.

You knew Lucas would
have been dead sometime

after midnight or soon as you
could have gotten to town.

But you stayed home. Why?

Why, Mr. Gowrie?

Uncle John!
I found some tracks. Come on.

Here. I found 'em again.

Here. Here's where
the animal was at.

There's where
he stopped.

- Aleck said it was a mule.
- Aleck who?

Oh, sure.
The other detective.

Yeah. But did he
say who it was?

Somebody who couldn't
or wouldn't let Vinson rest.

Had to take him out
and hide him somewhere.

Anywhere so, we couldn't look
at the bullet and name the gun.

Somebody who knew that
Vinson was never shot

with Lucas Beauchamp's .41 Colt.

Well, it's Vinson's partner
in the lumber deal.

Whoever that is.

Because Lucas won't tell.
At least not to his lawyer.

So you think his partner?

Who was Vinson's partner?

- We ain't found Vinson yet.
- Set your dogs to find him.

Never mind the dogs.
They'll trail.

And they'll catch anything
that ever run or walked either.

But my boy never
walked away from here.

- And never left no trail.
- Hush now, Mr. Gowrie.

The man that carried him walked
all by himself from here on.

In a dreadful terrifying hurry
before two boys and an old woman

came down that could discover
him at work. So he had to do it.

Hide what he had to carry,
and do it fast, sure and quiet.

Where there would be
no trace. Not for long time.

- A well or a river.
- Or sand.

- Here? What sand?
- Right above the bridge.

A horse went
across last night.

- Quicksand.
- No, lawyer.

Put a man in quicksand?
My boy in quicksand?

A man who'd do a thing
like that would..

Nub, give me
your hand. Nub.

Get the rope off
the hound dogs.

You. Cut some branches.
Poles. Grape wines. Anything.

- 'And get him outta there.'
- Alright.

- Lookout, boys.
- Watch it, boys.

- Get some branches.
- Come on, boys.

Hurry up with that bush.
Come on, let's go.

Bring those down here.

Give me your hand, Nub.

Here. I've found him.
I'm standin' on him.

Hurry along, boys.
Gimme the pole.

Here you are, Nub.

Alright. Pull. Pull.

Take it easy, boys.
There, now.

Pull.

Easy, boy.

That's it. Yeah.

That's it, boys. Easy.

Ah. There we are.

My boy. Get my boy
out of there.

Alright, boys.
Pull. Pull now. Pull.

'Easy, boys.'

Right over here, boy. Here.
There we are.

Put him right here.
There we are.

That's Vinson, alright.

Gee, Uncle John. Let's get him
away from the road.

Or at least get him back in the
woods where they won't see him.

Steady. They've all
passed by now, anyway.

They're all
in town by now.

Well, you're headin' too hard.
Just a three and a five.

That's 80 cents you owe me.

Well, Mr. Gowrie, when you do
you reckon

we're gonna get started?

He's got the weight
on his bum brothers, hasn't he?

Where they at, Crawford?
Plantin' corn this morning?

Oh, don't say that.

They're waitin' to be
called up for jury duty.

Get out of the way,
Miss Habersham.

I'm very comfortable
where I am.

Ain't one way'd take to move her
in the chair out in the yard.

Or else I could do this.

Please step out of the light
so I could thread my needle.

Miss Habersham, I ain't
gonna touch you now.

You're an old lady,
but you're in the wrong.

'You're fightin'
a whole county.'

But you're gonna get tired,
and when you do get tired

we gonna go in.

I'm going for 80
and I'm not tired yet.

Go home.

'Everyone of you.'

Go on home!

You oughta be ashamed.

I never see no man
shoot Vinson Gowrie.

But you must know
who shot him.

Don't you realize
you'll never be safe?

Not till we know who he is.
Not till we find him.

Not till we put him
right here in your place.

On this bunk
in this cell.

You're a lawyer?

You know the law.

Can they put a man in jail if
they never see him fire no shot?

Your case
is slightly different.

Can you take him out of the jail
and maybe burn him

if the only suspicion--

Listen. You were standing
over a dead man.

You have a recently fired pistol
in your pocket.

You call that
just suspicion?

- It was Saturday.
- I know that.

But why did you
carry a pistol?

- Well, Mr. Cr--
- Gave it to you?

- Sold it to me.
- Alright.

He always carried
it Saturdays.

But he was a white man.

Oh. So that's why.

I see.

When you dressed up on Saturday,
you'd wear that pistol

exactly like ol' Craw did.
Just as simple as that.

Downstairs in the office,
they got my pistol.

And my hat
and my toothpick.

- Does I get 'em now or--
- Lucas, last night I was wrong.

You were right and Chick
was right. And I was wrong.

Today I'm trying to save
your life. Not for your sake

since you've been on throwing it
away, but for my own sake.

So I won't carry
it on my conscience.

Alright.

What will you
be satisfied with?

The truth.
Nothing more.

There was two white folks.
Partners in the sawmill.

'And one was Vinson Gowrie.
Yes. And the other?'

I don't sleep much nights.
80 I'd taken to walkin'.

'Not because you suspected
anything, of course.'

I'd taken to walkin'.

And in the dark,
I come near the sawmill.

And then I'd seen a light
comin' straight at me.

Just like I told you,
there was two folks

partners in the sawmill.

And one of them
was stealin' his share

of the lumber every night
maybe. Or every night he could.

And he seen me.

So I know that
wasn't the end of him.

Then I hear the mule.

This your lumber?

Who drove that truck?

You seen who
drove that truck?

I know that
wasn't the end neither.

Next Saturday afternoon,
on my way over to Fraser store

I seen my Saturday supper.

But I missed him.

Two miles later, when
I comes inside a Fraser store

there was Vinson Gowrie.

He wanted to know
before he beat me

just who been
stealin' the lumber.

And I told him,
I ain't decided yet.

He told me he reckoned he'd
have to beat it out of me then.

He never did.

I don't know
if it was a rifle.

It could have been a rifle.

But I never seen
who fired it.

He could've picked me off,
and shut me up.

But he picked Vinson.

Do you know why?

Because the murderer watched
you every step of the way.

He saw you fire
at the rabbit and miss.

So, here was his chance.

To murder the man
from whom he stole the money

and see you lynch
for that very same murder.

'So he'd be safe and you
and Vinson would be dead.'

The scheme should
have worked.

By every reason
of geography and psychology

and the past 200 years
of this county's history.

And in fact,
it did work.

Except that once, a long time
ago and partly by chance

a white boy, fell into
the creek on your property.

Well, sheriff.

I don't know how
you done with Lucas

but we got somethin'
out of Vinson Gowrie.

Lodged right up against
the back of his breast bone.

It fired out
of some kind of rifle.

Who fired that rifle?

You forget.
I ain't seen no rifle.

But certainly you must know
or suspect or even guess.

Not personally.

I don't wanna send no man
to jail I ain't seen personally.

Lucas, why don't
you trust me?

Ain't no need to.

Listen to me.
It wasn't your pistol. True.

You didn't move the body
down to the creek. True.

But try explaining
the truth to a mob

Who's been waiting down there
all night for something to kill.

'Don't you see
you'll never be safe'

'till we catch the murderer?'

Alright. I'll show you
how to catch him.

Put the right bait
in the right trap.

How do you propose
to do that?

Gimme my hat
and let me go home.

We can't do that.

Sure, we can. On the strength
of this, he's a free man now.

But you walk out this jail and
you won't be alive ten minutes.

And you'd be lucky
if it were less.

Shall I ask the sheriff
to get your hat?

And my pistol
and my toothpick.

No. Come on.

I think I got
a better idea than that.

Well,
you won't have to stay much longer.

We'll get this whole thing
settled before dark.

Oh,
I don't mind. I've had lots of company.

So I see.

Lawyer. Lawyer.

Lawyer. Lawyer, that's the

second time you've been
at the scene.

Yes.

What you reckon you can you do
for him, lawyer?

- That we can't do better.
- Save his life.

You ain't been paid enough money
to do that, lawyer.

I've been paid nothing.

There are some things
you don't do for money.

I'm going up to my office
and phone

the district attorney
and get him to release this man.

Today. 80 he can go home
and finish his planting.

Wait.

So you're taking the case?
You're gonna defend him?

Talk for him,
hope to get him out?

- Yes.
- You call yourself white folk?

Mister, my brother was killed
by that n*****.

Lucas Beauchamp
is innocent

Not in this court.

I've seen a piece of evidence
on earth

that might convince even you.

They don't believe you.

One of 'em does.
The question is, which one?

- He'll clear outta the county--
- He might.

But there's one thing
he's bound to do first.

He was frantic last night when
he had to dig out of his grave

the body of the man he shot,
and carry him downhill

and find a place
to bury him again.

All by himself.
Furiously in the dark.

One man against the whole
weight of the earth.

What a horror that
must have been.

And now today, every hour that's
happened since Saturday noon

must be forming
together in his brain.

They don't know it
out there, but he does.

'He's lost. He's finished.'

He's running through his
last few pennies of freedom.

And I reckon he's gonna spend
'em the only way he knows.

On revenge.

You don't carry a .30-30 rifle,
do you, Mr. Gowrie?

- No.
- 'You know anybody that does?'

- Yeah.
- Hmm.

'Sit down, Mr. Gowrie.'

Don't sit down if
you don't care to

but at least get away
from that window.

You sent for me.

You phoned me. Said if I
wanted to see who killed my boy.

He'll be here.

Sooner or later,
before the day is over

you'll come to kill
Lucas Beauchamp.

I don't see
Lucas Beauchamp neither.

Now you do.

That his wife?

Was his wife. She's dead.

Two years now. Maybe three.

Mine's been gone 25 years.

The day the twins was born.

Raisin' all them boys
by yourself is hard.

Hard.

Hard.

Hard it was.

That wasn't shot
with no .41 Colt.

'Come on out here,
you runnin' black n*****.'

Wait a minute.

- Get out of the way.
- You'll need help.

I don't want no help.

I'll do it myself.

Pa, you ain't
got no business here.

- Pa, get out of the way.
- Put down that gun.

Is this the gun that
killed your brother, Vinson?

Is he the one, sheriff?

That's right.
He's the one.

The man who
killed his brother.

'Ask him.'

Is that right, Nub?

That's right.
He killed him.

- They're runnin' away.
- It's more than that.

No, that's all.

There's nothing left for 'em
to do but admit they're wrong.

- So they're runnin' away.
- It's worse than that.

Then, they're running
from Lucas Beauchamp.

- No.
- Yes.

They won't even wait to
buy him a can of tobacco.

To show they forgive him
for all the trouble he caused.

Then, what's their hurry?

They know they got the rest
of their lives to do that.

From Crawford then,
so they won't have to burn him.

They're runnin' away
from Crawford.

Not from Lucas
and not from Crawford.

Well, they're runnin'.
You can't change that.

No, I can't change that.

They're runnin' away
from themselves.

Hi, Miss Eunice,
what's the hurry?

I gotta get going to the city.

But if you ever get
in trouble again, let me know.

You see? We were in trouble.
Not Lucas Beauchamp.

- It's alright, Chick.
- Is it?

It will be alright.

So long as some of us,
you, Miss Eunice Habersham

and Aleck, and maybe me..

...or even so long as one of us,
some one of us doesn't run away.

Uncle John.

Chick, it's a fine
Saturday afternoon.

Why not go to the ballgame?

Lucas is comin' here.

Well, he's a gentleman.

He won't remind me
to my face I was wrong.

'Come in, Lucas.'

Well, young man,
you ain't fell

in no more creeks
lately, has you?

I'm waitin' till you
get some ice on yours.

You're welcome,
whether it's frozen or not.

Have a seat, Lucas.

I believe you've got
a little bill against me.

Not me.
I didn't do anything.

That boy there is the reason
why you're walkin' around today.

- Alright, I'll pay him.
- You can't.

He'll be practicing law
without a license.

Well, I'll-I'll pay
your expenses then.

The only expense I had
was having this fixed.

- How much?
- Two dollars.

Two dollars? That don't seem
like much to me.

But, I'm a farmin' man,
you is a law man.

I don't reckon it's my business
to try to learn yours.

That isn't but
one dollars and four bits.

Oh, never mind that.

That makes it out.

Four bits and pennies. I was
aiming to take 'em to the bank

but you could
save me the trouble.

You wanna count 'em?

Yes, but you're payin'.
You count 'em.

- There's fifty of them.
- 'This is business.'

As long as you're paying you're
debts, go and see Ms. Habersham.

Fifteen, twenty. I ain't much
of a visitin' man.

'You could bring
her some rowers.'

Ain't had no flowers
to speak of since Molly died.

Chick's mother will cut you
some out of the garden.

You owe her that much, Lucas.
She's the only lady anywhere

that ever held a jail
with a .20 gauge bullet threat.

Fifty.

Alright. Is there nothing else
to satisfy you?

Just one thing more. Why didn't
you tell me the truth?

'That night in the jail?'

Would you have believed me?

Now what? What are you
waiting for now?

My receipt.

They don't see him.
As though it never happened.

- They see him.
- No.

They don't even know
he's there.

But they do.
Same as I do.

They always will
as long as he lives.

Proud, stubborn,
insufferable.

But there he goes.

The keeper
of my conscience.

Our conscience,
Uncle John.