Original subtitles

Thank you, pretty peaches.

Yes, ma 'am.

So, how you been?

Oh, pretty good, I reckon.

Have you had a health problem since I saw you last?

Ma 'am?

Have you been sick?

Well, my back's been hurting a little.

No, no, it's not your back.

Is it bleeding somewhere?

Just ma 'am a little.

Have you been to a doctor?

I don't much like going to no doctors.

Well, I think maybe you should go.

It's not an aerial disease. I think it's some kind of kidney or bladder

infection or something. But it's been around for a while. It leads to more

serious problems.

Do you want me to call the doctor for you?

All right.

Okay.

You can get on the bed now.

It's nearly nine.

Oh, Mom, I can't sit just a little bit. No.

You heard me, mister.

Mama? Hmm?

What does fuck mean?

It's a bad word, hon, for something nice.

But what does it mean?

It means making love.

It's how your daddy and me made your brothers and you.

Take your circles off, hon.

Mike, do you hear me?

What? I said get to bed.

Oh, Mike, your lip's dragging the floor. How can it freeze like that if you're

not careful? Yeah, look, I'm a kid.

You're a kid, honey.

Valerie, you may as well take your glasses off. I know he's been hitting

again.

I see your lip.

I know.

It just embarrassed me.

It's okay.

He got worse.

I went to the store yesterday.

Because we was out of some things.

And he had got home.

from work early before I could get back.

He was waiting with a razor strap. My legs were all cut up, and I got welts

inside the footballs on my back and my legs.

I've been guilty of you paying me money to tell you to get away from him.

You've got to get help, legal help.

You don't know Donnie Boxdale, Annie.

He'll kill me if I leave him. He'll find me. He said he would.

No, he's not crazy enough to kill anybody.

He's just an insecure redneck.

What?

I think he's got a woman on the side.

Yeah, he's been laying out at night.

Excuse me, but the school's on the phone. They say Mike's in some kind of

trouble.

Mrs. Wilson.

Hi.

Come on in.

Have a seat.

Where's Mac?

He's in the infirmary. Nothing to get worked up about. He's fine. He's got a

nicks and bruises.

I think he might have a pretty good black eye by tomorrow, but he's okay.

He was in another fight?

Yes, he was.

His grades are...

Are getting worse too? How's he doing at home?

Not much better.

He's real distant.

Well, Ms. Wilson, I don't pretend to be a psychologist, but it's obvious to me

that your boy's got a lot of anger in him.

Well, it's about this time last year his daddy passed away.

He's still real messed up over it.

Yeah, I never knew your husband. I understand he was a fine man.

Yes, he was.

Well, I don't know how you feel about therapy, but... Mike doesn't need a...

you think Mike needs somebody to talk to, I'd know a gentleman over and...

doesn't need a therapist, Mr. Collins. He can talk to me.

Do you think he will, though?

Sorry, Wayne, I didn't know you had anybody in here. Oh, hi.

Ruby wasn't in her day. Yeah, she's out sick today. Mrs. Wilson, this is Jessica

King, my fiancée. Nice to meet you.

You too.

We're just going to be a couple of minutes.

Okay.

I've got to go anyway.

I've got people waiting.

Thanks a lot, Mr. Collins.

I'm real sorry about all this.

It's my job.

He's just a boy, that's all.

You're not that Wilson that's a fortune teller, are you?

I don't call myself that.

I'd love for you to read my fortune.

I'm pretty booked up.

You think we'll live happily ever after.

What's the matter?

You see something bad?

Of course not.

I'm sure you'll be real happy together.

Hey, Miss Wilson.

How are you getting along today?

I'm fine, buddy.

The fact that I just can't keep my car door from flying right open. Have you

time to pick it?

I can get to it.

About an hour or two.

You want to wait?

No, I've got to get home. I've got people coming. You just want to leave it

here, and I'll carry on home. I can have it to you probably by 6 o 'clock. You

want me all right?

Yeah, yeah.

All right, all right.

Buddy?

Yeah? Look, I'm a little low on money this week. Oh, no, don't you worry

about... No, really, no, stop it. Oh, come on. Now, look, for all that you've

done for me, I just think the world of you is about the only

one I call a friend to me.

Yeah, you know.

I'll get the truck.

Take your time.

How you been, buddy?

I've been having some, uh, bad thoughts lately.

Like, you know, yesterday I was feeling so happy.

Yeah? Yeah, I was, I was feeling like, oh.

Good on you.

I didn't even feel like I needed my medicine.

I took it anyway.

You know, I'm getting hooked on that stuff.

Well, I think you're going to have a lot of happy days, buddy.

Yeah, you're going to get better and better.

Ma 'am, I believe you when you say so.

I look into a blue diamond and I think a negative thought.

Am I going to die?

No.

You're not going to die.

You're not going to die, buddy.

because if you said yes, I would have to kill myself before the sun goes down.

Oh, buddy.

Oh, honey.

You don't have to kill yourself, honey.

You know I'll always tell you, buddy. Oh, man.

I'll always tell you, buddy. Oh, man.

You're fine. You can always talk to me, buddy. Always.

Oh, what is that, honey?

No. Here.

Oh, no. I want you to have it.

Buddy, I want you to have it.

This one's Ben's. He wants you to have him.

Thank you.

You all right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm all right.

All right.

All right.

I can walk home. You don't have to drive me.

No, no, I'm good.

I'm good.

Yeah? Oh, yeah.

You sure scared me, huh?

No, I'm all right. I'm all right.

All right.

Just take it nice and slow.

Can I help you?

Yes, ma 'am.

I'm Donnie Barksdale. I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I believe you

wife Valerie.

Yes, I do.

I know who you are.

Can I come in and talk to you?

It's about my wife.

Something's happened to her.

What's happened?

Is she okay?

Well, no, she's not, ma 'am.

Ma 'am, I promise I'll just take a minute.

What's happened to her is she's getting her head filled full of shit by a

goddamn Satan worshiper.

Or a damn good con artist, one of the two.

I know she's been coming over to see you and your damn voodoo.

You tell her bad things about me, don't you?

You ain't no better than a Jew or a nigger.

You know what this is?

It's a voodoo doll.

I'm gonna use this voodoo doll on you.

Some of your own medicine.

If you don't stop seeing my wife, I'm sticking me a pin in this thing every

night till you learn to leave folks alone.

Go back to bed.

Everything's fine.

I bet you love those little children, don't you?

I bet they need their mama, don't they?

What's your name?

Get your ass out of my house!

Don't you threaten me or my kids.

Now, what I do here is my business.

And if your wife has any sense, she'll leave you so far behind, you'll never

find her.

Now, you get out of here before I have you.

Messing with the devil's gonna get you burned.

Everybody knows that.

I'll see you soon, boys.

Back to bed.

You're not supposed to cuss in front of an appointment.

Some smells like happy, some smells like happy, some smells like happy. Be

quiet.

He's got a great sense of humor.

We love you.

Valerie. Oh, honey, you know you shouldn't be here.

I'm sorry about the other night.

Oh, that's okay. I can take care of myself.

And I hate coming over here, but...

I really need to talk to you.

Maybe you could read for me.

Under a bridge or something.

All right, well, I'll read for you.

But you've got to start lifting to me, though. I can't leave him.

Don't you understand?

Hon, he's going to keep hurting you until he puts you in the hospital.

I don't have anything to look forward to.

Maybe you can give me some hope. Oh, Valerie, hon, I don't know how to make

myself any clearer. Mommy!

Oh, Annie.

Annie, it's him. No. Calm down, hon. No. I'll call the law. No, Annie. No.

You're my friend. You won't. No.

I'll handle you later on, you goddamn bitch.

Thanks, Anne.

Granny.

Hey, Annabelle.

Granny, what are you doing here?

I brought you some persimmons, hon.

Remember how you liked persimmons when you was little?

supposed to be here.

How'd you get here?

Oh, it ain't further walk.

Oh, that boy's got your granddaddy's eyes.

Well, hon, I better get back.

Looks like there's a storm coming.

No, Granny.

It's clear.

Uh -uh.

Always use your instinct, honey.

Now you tell Miss Francis I'll be back home by 9 .30, okay?

9 .30? All right.

I promise. I love you, too, Mama. I know. Mama loves you, too, hon. Be good.

Bye.

You ready?

I don't know why I let you talk me into this.

Because it's time you quit living like a nun, that's why.

Don't worry, darling. You're going to be the prettiest girl here next to me.

You're still married, man.

I don't know about that.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Do we pay him now?

Uh -uh. I'll sign for it later.

Is it good? Mm -hmm.

Annie, there he is.

Who? That guy I was telling you about. Look at him. He's right over there by

bar.

God, don't he look just like Antonio Banderas? Oh, my God. He saw me. Shit.

He saw me staring at him.

All right. Get your cards out quick. Tell me if he's going to come over here.

I don't want my car to run.

I'm off duty. Hello, Miss Wilson.

It's Annie.

Wayne, sit down. You're blocking my view.

Oh.

Thank you. You remember Jessica?

Hi, Annie.

I didn't know you were a member of the country club.

I'm not. I just kind of tagged along with Linda.

How nice.

It's a great outfit.

Thank you.

What's Mike up to tonight?

He's moping around his babysitters.

Yeah.

He's a great kid. I was actually thinking you should have him come down

school. Come on, Wayne. Let's not talk shop to that, all right? Okay.

Let's just have fun.

Okay. Hi, there.

Fun secret. Hey, there.

Say, how about a dance with Daddy?

Of course, that would be handsome.

Mr. King, I don't know if you know Annie Wilson.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, I think I've seen you at church.

That is quite a dress, Miss Linda.

Glad somebody noticed.

You want to give it a try?

Oh, no, no, I don't think so. No, thank you.

Come on. I asked you to dance, and I walk on high coals.

When was the last time you danced?

It's been so long, I've forgotten how to do it.

Well, I'll make you look good, then, because I'm a terrible dancer.

Wayne, I'll dance.

Good luck. Yeah.

Missed your big chance.

Thank you.

Somebody might come in here.

Guess you better fuck me fast.

You

having

a good time?

Me neither.

You seen Jessica around?

She up and disappeared on me again.

I got a way of doing that.

What do you think of Jessica?

She's very beautiful.

Yeah, the main thing about her, she's just so full of life.

Well, different in that respect.

I'm used to tanny shoes.

That reminds me of when I was a kid.

I'd sit out on that porch.

I had so many thoughts, I couldn't count them.

How'd you wind up in Brixton?

My husband.

He's got a job here at the cable plant.

Right.

What?

Did you know something was going to happen to your husband?

In an ESP kind of way?

Well, I don't know. You don't believe in it.

I don't know. I guess I just... I don't believe there are any

great mysteries in life.

You kind of figure what you see is what you get.

I didn't know that there was going to be an explosion, but the night before, I

had this real bad, bad dream, you know. I dreamt that I was all by myself. The

band, they weren't around anymore.

I tried to stop them going to work the next day.

So you can't keep a good man from work, right?

Mm -hmm.

I remind me of him.

Wayne?

I've been looking for you everywhere.

I've been right here.

Nothing.

Hi. Hi.

Come on, let's go talk to Daddy.

He's feeling real depressed tonight. That big deal's working on that. Oh, we

a major crisis here, Annie.

Excuse us.

Go sleep for Mama.

What's that, huh?

Blueberry muffins.

What you doing with muffins in your pocket?

Mrs. Francis cooked them.

Yeah, but what are they doing in your pockets?

They're in my pockets because I put them there when she wasn't looking so I

didn't have to eat them.

Her blueberry muffins is terrible, Mama.

Uh, y 'all wait here a minute.

Pick me up, hon.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Not one.

When God's fighting for you, every soldier is important.

When God's fighting for you, every soldier is important.

God does not give one to the devil.

If every child of God obeyed God, the devil cannot wipe it out.

He cannot take you out before your time.

If you obey God, I don't care what the devil has placed upon your life. Jesus

came to loose you. Jesus came to deliver you.

I know I need a squirrel hunting buddy of mine, but I don't think it's done.

Well, I'm telling you, what's him?

What makes you think he'd want to bust into your house?

Well, his wife, she's a client of mine, and he thinks I'm trying to break up

their marriage.

Are you?

Listen, um...

Donnie's high -strung.

Ain't no doubt about that, but I don't think he's the one that busted into your

house. Listen, I appreciate the coffee and everything. Take care.

I just can't get through a wall of some kind in my head or in my soul.

Sometimes I don't even know the difference between my head...

Or my soul.

I think everybody has that trouble, buddy.

All right.

Your daddy... He took things away from you when you...

When you were a little boy.

Do you understand that?

He seen me playing around with something like a toy or something.

He just take it away from me.

Did he take other things away from you?

But he... You gotta find out, huh, why you hate him so much.

My daddy's a good man. I don't hate my dad.

He's good to mom and me.

Yeah, every kid needs a hit with a belt sometime.

Buddy, you gotta try to get past his wall that you're talking about.

Hon, you need to talk about your daddy. Why don't you tell me why I hate him?

You're the goddamn psychic.

Huh? You're the goddamn psychic!

I keep thinking about that blue diamond. I just keep thinking about it. But if

you think about these things in your childhood, hon, and you face up to them,

then I will be able to help you.

I don't know, hon. I just... I think you've got to do some thinking on your

Okay.

Okay,

you put it up there.

You ever see anybody skin a squirrel?

You stick a knife in its belly and zip.

That's what I'm going to do to you and your children if you ever call the

again.

Mama?

How come you're not asleep?

I don't know.

What's that bad for?

Oh, don't worry, honey. I'm just working on my swing.

How come we never go to the cemetery and see Daddy?

Well, we went out there just last month on his birthday.

Honey, we were busy.

You know that.

Well, it seems like you have time for a lot of strangers.

Well, we talk about my appointments. They're not strangers.

They're the ones who put food on our table.

But how come we don't even talk about Daddy?

Come on.

Missed!

I know why Kenneth King wasn't in church today.

It's spelled on.

Why? His daughter disappeared.

Jessica? Mm -hmm. What do you mean she disappeared?

Well, Kenneth woke up this morning and Jessica wasn't there. In her bed, hadn't

even slept in.

And he thinks she ran off.

I mean, I know her and Wayne were supposed to be married in June. Maybe

cold feet.

Maybe. Maybe this will clear the way for you and Wayne.

What are you talking about?

Oh, come on.

I saw the way y 'all were looking at each other Friday night. Y 'all both

had stars in your eyes.

Oh, Linda, that's nuts. Yeah, Annie, love is nuts.

Come on, come on.

Listen, I want you to get some rest. You look terrible, okay?

Bye, boys. I gotta go.

Honey, what am I gonna ice the cake with?

I can see that, Pumpkin.

Miller?

Miller, come on. You go ask Miss Bradford. She's got another can of ice

Where you going, son?

You want to ride in the truck?

I got a question for you.

You know my wife, Valerie?

She been around to see your mama lately?

Hey, boy, I asked you a question.

Give me my hat.

You know, I feel sorry for you and your brothers.

I mean, your mama being a witch and all.

If you don't stop her evil ways, someday somebody's going to burn her up.

And then your boy's going to be without a daddy.

Or a mama.

Hey, Miller.

You all right?

He said mama's a witch and not going to burn her up.

Oh, he did?

Buddy, you better mind your own business.

I intend to, Donnie.

Fucker!

God damn it! Fuck!

Motherfucker!

Shoot me!

Shoot me!

Shoot me, you motherfucker!

Shoot me!

What was I thinking?

I want to ask him, Mama.

Hon, you've had asking enough to put you in a coma.

From now on, I want to know where y 'all are every minute of the day.

All right?

All right, I'm going to start driving you and Milla to school.

I wish Daddy was here.

Well, he's not, hon.

But Mama is.

Okay?

Hello. This is Kenneth King.

Mr. King.

I imagine you heard about my daughter's disappearance.

Yes. Well, Ms.

Wilson, I don't believe in what you do. I'll just be straight with you.

Not only that, I don't like it, but we've got to the end of the road, and

investigation looked under every rock there is to look under, and we'd like

to tell us what you can to help us.

Now, no hocus -pocus.

Chanting and carrying on, but we know you talk to a lot of folks here about,

know a lot of folks' business.

You might have heard something or something.

The only thing we know is one of Sheriff Johnson's men found my daughter's car

sitting out on the parking lot of that honky -tonk called A .J.'s, but nobody

that was there on Saturday night admits to having seen her.

So I'm afraid that she might have been kidnapped or something.

Mr. King, I'm sorry I don't know anything about your daughter's

I think we were just hoping.

Is there anything you can tell us?

I could read for you.

That's about all I could do.

I need you to cut the cards for me.

Thank you.

All right.

You ready?

When are we getting married again, Wayne?

June 20th.

We're supposed to ask the questions, not you. Shut up, Pearl. God damn it. Look,

I have a hard time concentrating with more than one person in the room.

I'm staying right here.

I'm the law, and I need to hear this.

Please, ma 'am, just... Just try to tell us what you see.

I'm trying.

All right, well, I'm picking up.

It's like a... It's a fence.

A split rail fence.

Do you know how many fences there are in this county?

And some pillars, like, with an opening going through.

And there's lots of white flowers that can... Yes, and, uh...

Is that where Jesse is?

Well,

that's all I'm seeing. This is just mishmash. I told you this wouldn't lead

nothing.

You're right. It won't. I can't concentrate.

I can't do this now. I'm sorry, Mr. King.

I really do hope you find your daughter, but I'm not the person to help you with

this.

Hey, Butch.

And it was horrible, you know. But that same chain that was right around her

when she was floating, you know, up in my tree, it was the same chain that I

in my dream. And I don't know. I just thought... Dave.

Yes, sir. I could have sworn there was an eclair in there.

I didn't get it.

Oh.

Tim was in a little earlier.

So, you saw all this in a dream?

It wasn't just a dream.

I don't investigate somebody's dream.

I think she's dead, Sheriff.

And I think she's in a pond.

What do you know about this that you ain't telling me?

You know, you can get in serious trouble withholding information.

Does it sound like a place you know?

Yeah, a bunch of places I know.

Split rail fence, pond, stretch of woods, whatever raw bone old boy in the

county got that.

What about the fiddler?

Well, old Tommy Lee Ballard plays the fiddler, but he wouldn't kill nobody.

I've known him since he was a kid. No, no, no, not the fiddler.

Who are his neighbors?

Well, his closest neighbor would be... Let me see here, I guess.

Well, his property borders Donnie Barksdale's place.

Do you know Donnie Barksdale?

Ma 'am?

Tim, I'm on the gate.

You did get a search warrant, didn't you? I want everything to be legal and

proper. Didn't have to.

Got permission from the owner.

Donnie Barksdale gave you permission to come in? His wife did.

I told her it was routine. We're checking all the ponds in the county.

Donnie's gone fishing today.

How much longer y 'all gonna be?

Long as it takes.

All right. I mean, you just said you were gonna be a few minutes, and we're

going on two hours. Hey, Pearl!

I think I got something.

Just an old bicycle.

None of y 'all brought a thermos of coffee out here?

at school.

You look kind of strange at me and Jessica.

Do you think something bad then?

Go on.

Donna, he called. I told him I got him from work. Shut your mouth.

What are you doing on my property?

I'm on sheriff's business, Donnie.

I got permission from your wife.

Oh, you think I let that little ninny talk for me?

How'd your arm get all scratched up?

Stray cat.

She didn't like it when I killed her.

Now what brought you here?

Just routine investigation.

Checking all the pawns in the county.

I knew you. No, you...

I'm on county business,

Donnie. Don't fool with me.

Hey, Paul!

What?

You need to take a look at this.

Watch him.

Get those hooks out of my baby!

You want some coffee?

Ms. Wilson?

You want some coffee?

No.

Have a seat.

Why did you call me here?

Ms. Wilson, tomorrow Donnie Barksdale goes on trial for murder, and I feel

we have a powerful case.

In fact, today the coroner verified Donnie's tissue under the victim's

fingernails. Now, I only have one weak link I gotta worry about.

What?

You.

You see, you're how we found out where the victim's body was.

And how you found out, well, that might open up a real can of worms for us.

Psychic phenomena, ESP, dreams,

visions. The defense could go to town on you.

And if that's not bad enough, I understand that there was bad blood

and Donnie Marksdale.

Yeah. He threatened my kids.

That's what I heard.

I also heard that you threatened him right back.

You told his wife to leave him.

Donnie's quite a lazy man.

Were you involved with him?

What? I can deal with any revelation right now.

But at the trial, there can't be any surprises.

So is there anything I need to know about you or Donnie or Donnie's wife or

victim? No.

Will that be all?

You know, Mr. Duncan,

the victim had a name.

With Jessica King.

Mr. Hawkins, how long have you worked out at A .J.'s? About ten years.

Now, were you working at A .J.'s on Saturday night, April 8th?

Yes, sir.

And did you see the defendant, Donnie Barksdale, there that night?

Yes, sir.

Could you describe the circumstances when you saw him?

The circumstances were I come outside to throw out some trash.

And do you recall what time it was?

About midnight, I reckon.

Anyhow, I seen Donnie Barksdale out there by his truck having an argument

this white lady.

She scratched his arm, and he slapped a tar out of her.

About that time, I go back inside.

Is this the woman you saw with Donnie Barksdale?

Yes.

Your Honor, let the record show that I have just shown Mr. Hawkins a photograph

of Jessica King.

You just said that your attention was drawn to the defendant's pawn.

Drawn in... Well, drawn in what way?

Being Wayne Collins and Kenneth King, went to see a woman named Annie Wilson.

What made you think this woman would be able to help you?

Well, word around town was that she was a... Well,

I don't know what the right word is.

Isn't it fortune teller?

I guess so.

What did this fortune teller see when she looked into her little crystal ball?

Well, she didn't have no ball.

She had these special cards.

What did she see when she looked into her little special card?

She didn't actually see nothing then, but next day she come to see me and told

me she'd had this dream.

She had a dream?

Yes, sir.

She'd seen this.

that looked a lot like Donnie Barksdale's, and then she woke up from

and she went outside and looked up in this tree.

I'm all in.

She's seen Jessica King floating in the tree, half naked with a

chain wrapped around her.

Floating around a tree.

Yes, sir.

Floating in a tree.

Half naked.

Chain wrapped around her.

Thank you, Sheriff.

That little squirrel, Gerald Wayne, he's mean and skinny. Never have known a

Wayne worth a damn. Oh, well, he was just doing his job.

Miss Wilson, can I talk to you for a minute?

Um, uh, just call me later on, okay?

Okay, okay, bye.

Look, buddy, I got a lot on my mind, hon. It's not a good time, okay?

Uh, Mr. Wilson, uh, you've been telling me to do something. You've been talking,

and I've been thinking.

What was?

Can you tell me why I do things to myself when I think about my daddy?

All right, well...

But you call me later, hon, and we'll talk, all right?

Buddy.

I've been thinking about my daddy, and I've been touching myself.

You're touching yourself?

Why do I do that?

Why do I do that? Oh, buddy, hon. Why do I do that? It's not a good time.

There's something bad wrong with me.

And I keep thinking about that blue diamond.

Buddy, if you look into a blue diamond, you won't think a negative thought, all

right? I promise.

Now, hon, I'm going through a hard time myself.

I can talk to you now, okay?

Now,

Mike, I know you skipped school and you went to that trial.

How'd you know?

No matter how I know, Little Bird told me.

It's about time you started making things easier on me, Mike, instead of

Very disappointed in you. The phone's ringing, Mama.

Second of all, I'm going to have to testify at that trial tomorrow.

The phone's ringing, Mama. I'm not deaf, Miller.

We'll let the machine get it.

Now, Donnie and Barksdale's side, they're going to try and give me a hard

okay? They're going to call me names, and I just want you all to be prepared,

okay? If you hear any bad stuff about me, all right?

Now we're all going to have to really be sticking together on this one.

a criminal and he's gonna be punished buddy

buddy you shut up you shut up all right get away where were you i'm

sorry you knew everything and you did nothing you

ruined me you ruined me i'm just a little boy

How could you do that to your little boy?

No, but you put that down.

No, but I'm... You put that down, buddy. You put that down, buddy.

Nobody! Nobody!

I'm gonna kill this thing.

damn thing you tell me what kind of thought you have you look you look at it

that day

Ms. Wilson.

Ms. Wilson.

Ms. Wilson, your husband, Ben Wilson Sr., was one of the men killed last year

the explosion out at the Reinhold cable plant.

Yes, that's right.

And you were left with three small children to raise on your own.

Yes, sir.

How do you provide for you and your sons?

I get a little bit of money from...

Social Security as a result of my husband's death.

And I also give readings.

Psychic readings?

Yes, sir.

What does being psychic enable you to do?

Well, I see things and I sense things that, well,

they hadn't happened yet or they would happen someplace else.

My granny told me that I had a gift.

It runs in my family, and she told me that I shouldn't be afraid of it. I

just always use my instinct, and I'd be all right.

So you're swearing before this court that you didn't get your information

this tragedy from any other means than your special ability, your gift?

Yes, sir.

I'm swearing that. Yes.

Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.

Sorry. I have no further questions. Mr. Williams.

How many fingers am I holding up

behind my back?

Objection, Your Honor.

Your Honor, McCline is sitting in this courtroom on trial for his life partly

because of powers that this woman claims to have.

Now, in all fairness, I believe I should be given the opportunity to test the

alleged powers instead of having to stand here and take her word for it. You

have a good point.

Objection overruled.

Can everyone in the jury box see how many fingers I'm showing?

How many fingers, Ms. Wilson?

You don't know?

Seven.

Seven fingers.

Look, that doesn't prove anything.

Your Honor, I can't do this. You know, the drop of a hat. Well, then, ma 'am,

how about doing it at the drop of a dollar bill?

What are you trying to say?

I'm trying to say maybe this special gift of yours doesn't work unless you're

being paid for it. You know, like saying the Army, no money, no honey.

Are you aware that in Hatcher County it's against the law for a psychic to

up shop and charge people money?

Well, I don't charge money. You just testified that you do charge money. I

accept donations.

People give me gifts.

Oh, a distinction worthy of a lawyer.

Ms. Wilson, are you a rich woman?

No. Why not?

I mean, if I had psychic powers like yours and could read the future, I'd be

filthy rich.

I'd be...

Playing the stock market, I'd be over at Mobile betting on the dogs.

I'd certainly warn my husband not to go to work on the day I know the rhino

plant's going to blow up, leaving three little old children to be raised in a

carnival sideshow.

Well, it doesn't work that way, sir.

I can't use my gift for personal gain.

Except for those, what do you call them, donations?

You've had some personal trouble with Donnie Barksdale, haven't you, Ms.

Yes, I have.

Just a few weeks ago, you stood right in front of him. You told him, I believe

the exact word was that you were going to have his ass thrown in jail. Yes, but

he was threatening my kids.

Isn't it also true that a few weeks ago, in one of those famous readings of

yours, when you were doing your so -called ESP, you told Valerie Barksdale,

Donnie's wife, that Donnie was just an insecure redneck and that he wasn't

really crazy enough to kill anybody?

Well, then why today are you saying he did kill somebody?

Oh, wait a second. No, I've never said that. Well, you might as well have, ma

'am. You wanted his ass in jail, and here he sits on top of his life. I just

told the sheriff what I saw. And how could any of us ever forget that?

Jessica King just floating up in that tree, naked, with a chain

wrapped around her.

Must be so much fun for you.

You must be having a time of your life entertaining yourself with your dreams

and your vision.

Do you think it's fun seeing decomposed bodies in my tree, dear sir? Do you

think that's fun?

Do you think it's fun that I have people trying to strangle me in my sleep? Do

you think that's fun?

I'm sitting here and I'm blaming myself because some poor crazy man is trying to

burn his daddy half to death and you think I'm sitting here having fun?

Well, I'm sorry, sir. You're crazy if you think that.

No more questions, your honor.

Like they say in Hollywood, let's just cut to the chase. Did you or did you not

kill Jessica King?

I did not. Did you or did you not see Jessica King on the night that she was

killed?

Yeah, I seen her.

Would you describe the circumstances, please?

Well, I've been seeing her for quite a while. Would you clarify what you mean

seeing?

I mean her and me had been having sex.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Well, she called me about 11 o 'clock.

So I told her I'd meet her out at Ajax.

And I told my wife I was going out for a beer.

What happened after that?

Well, we got in an argument.

She told me she didn't want to see me no more.

Did she tell you why?

She said she was getting married in a couple of months and she wanted to stop

playing around.

At least until after the wedding.

And during the course of this argument you had with Miss King, did you at any

moment strike her?

Yes, sir.

What happened to AFT's truck?

Well, she banged her head pretty hard when she went down, so I decided to take

her to the hospital.

Did you reach the hospital?

No, sir.

Feel okay?

It's fine.

I want to go back.

I want to go to the hospital.

You might see me.

They said she was feeling better anyhow, so I took her back to AJ's. I dropped

her off, and then I went on back home.

And that was the very last time you saw Jessica King alive?

Yes, sir. The very last.

Donnie, are you guilty of the charge against you?

I'm guilty of cheating on my wife, of being a bad husband, a bad Christian.

But I ain't guilty of killing Jesse.

I swear to God.

No more questions, Your Honor.

Mr. Doctor.

Mr. Barksdale, you're a wife -beater, aren't you?

I've swore to tell the truth here today.

Yeah, I've hit Valerie before.

Guess it ain't no secret.

So, you admit to having a history of violence against women.

And you also admit to having beaten up the victim on the night that she was

murdered. I wouldn't exactly say that I beat her up. Well, you're the expert.

You tell me, just how badly do you have to beat a woman before it fits your

definition of beating up?

Now, your story is that you've been having an affair with the victim.

But tell us why a beautiful young woman like Jessica King from one of the finest

families in Brixton...

Just about to be married to a good, decent, professional man and with a

shining future in front of her. Why would a woman like that get involved

something like you?

I asked her that myself one time.

Said I was the only man in town who knew how to fuck.

You're really disgusting.

You know that?

Objection, Your Honor.

Objection sustained.

Mr. Duncan, you are refrained from making those personal comments.

I apologize, Your Honor.

Won't happen again.

So let's get this straight. Let's clarify this.

You're saying it was just a coincidence that on the very same night that you

physically assaulted Jessica King, someone else put her body in your palm.

I'm not saying it was a coincidence.

What are you saying? I'm saying I got framed. Oh, well, what an original

defense.

Did you think of Jessica King as a stray cat?

No. Did you tell Sheriff Johnson that a stray cat had clawed your arm?

Yeah. And didn't you just tell the court that Jessica King had scratched your

arm? Yeah, but... Didn't you tell Sheriff Johnson that you got scratched

stray cat because she didn't like it when you killed her? Yeah, but I was

My wife was standing right there. I don't even know you're not lying, man.

not, goddammit!

It's her, goddammit!

She's the reason I'm up here!

She's a goddamn witch! She puts spells on every damn pony in town!

Witch! Witch, get you wrong!

Everything's gonna be alright now, Mum.

Yeah, hon.

I guess I'm the last person you want to see.

How you been?

Terrible.

Annie, you tell me to get going and I will. I wouldn't blame you.

I need you to read for me.

Give me a hug.

I feel like I can't hold on any longer.

I mean, I know Donnie's mean and everything, but I feel real lost without

You know, I ain't ever been on my own before.

I'm scared, Annie.

You don't need to be scared, hon.

You're gonna be fine.

You see that in the cards?

Mm -hmm.

Right through here.

Can you see what I'm thinking? Can you see that in the cards?

What do you mean?

Well... I've been thinking some real bad, bad thoughts.

Un -Christian thoughts.

Like what?

Like... I'm glad that girl's dead.

Jessica. She was messing around with my husband and she deserved what she got.

No one deserves that.

Like I said, I know it's unchristian.

What?

What, are you seeing something bad?

I don't know.

Not clear.

Wayne?

It's not normally like this.

Thank you, Annie.

This is a good idea.

It's not.

I just thought we could forget all this for a while.

You want to, don't you?

You know there's something between us.

I can't.

I guess I still feel married.

You're not, though.

He's gone.

I know.

You gotta let me deal with that.

I wanted to deal with the fact that Jessica's gone.

She's dead.

Oh, Wayne, I'm so sorry.

It's okay.

No, it's not okay.

I don't think Donnie Barksdale killed her.

Danny, I can't do this. It's finished.

I know. I want to let that bastard rot in jail. He's guilty.

No, Wayne.

I see it.

I see he didn't do it.

Do you see what did?

I'm trying, but I don't know yet.

What are we going to do?

Well, if you have a piece of clothing or maybe I could go out to the pond or see

if I It's not over

Well, I'll bring you out here.

I'll just come straight out and say it.

I don't think Donnie Barksdale killed Jessica King.

Well, sure he did. It was an open and shut case. No, no, I'm telling you he

didn't. The person that killed Jessica is still out there someplace.

Oh, what's the deal? The Barksdale's been threatening you? No.

I'll talk to Pearl Johnson.

No, it had nothing to do with the Barksdale's.

Listen.

I know that Donnie didn't kill Jessica the same way that I knew that her body

was in his pond.

And do you know who did kill her?

No. So what do you care? Son of a bitch is in jail.

I got a warning today.

I think somebody's going to try and kill me.

So what do you want me to do?

I want you to reopen the case and find out who really did it. I can't. He's

convicted. Well, you could talk to somebody.

I've got no patience to open this case. I'd look like a fool. I don't give a

damn how you look.

Now, you listen to me.

I know you had an affair with Jessica.

How do you think you're going to look if people find out you had sex with the

victim the night before she was killed?

You want it?

No, I want you to reopen the case.

There's a saying about letting sleeping dogs lie.

You think you're in danger now?

Look at it logically. The real danger begins if this case gets reopened and

someone starts worrying that you're gonna have another one of your damn

All I know is the wrong man's in jail. I don't care how awful he is, and I

helped put him there.

I can't live with something like that.

So you find a way to reopen this case, sir.

Or I will.

Hi, Miss Francis. I'm back.

How are the boys?

All good.

No, no, listen.

Could we stay over at your house tonight?

Oh, yeah, I'm fine.

All right.

I'm just going to lock up.

Thank you.

How do you know? I thought it was the hospital up in Benton.

Oh, yeah.

Are you okay? Oh, maybe I'm mad.

I don't know what I'm going to do.

Ever since you told me what you told me today, I feel like I'm going crazy.

Annie, I can't stand another night of this.

I need you to read for me.

I can't make it happen.

How about what you said today?

What?

The pond.

What if we did go back out there?

Do you think that might help you?

I don't know. Yeah, maybe.

Yeah, okay. Well, then it's worth a try, right?

You mean tonight?

No, Wayne. I can't do that. I got my kids. It's dark.

You know, it's a police matter now.

How long do you think that's going to take, Annie?

They're going to sit in somebody's desk for three or four months and nothing's

going to happen. It's over for them. They've got their man. It's up to us. I

know that, Wayne, but I'm telling you, I don't see anything.

Can't keep running from things.

Maybe if you just sort of walk around.

You all right?

You OK?

What are you doing here?

You seeing something?

I'm thinking some real bad, bad thoughts.

Annie? I'm glad that girl's dead, Jessica.

She was messing around with my husband and she deserved what she got.

I couldn't sleep.

That girl's for a drink.

Take off your clothes.

She taking yours off too?

There's a saying about letting sleeping dogs lie.

You just fucked him, didn't you?

Donnie Barksdale.

So?

Why would you do this to me?

I love you.

Maybe I wanted to be with a man for a change. Watch your mouth. Watch your

mouth. Fuck you.

I'm sorry.

We're through.

I don't like being fired on.

The only reason I'm with you is because my daddy likes you.

I think we'd better go back.

Nothing's coming to you?

No.

Nothing.

You know... I knew if I got you close enough to it that

you'd see it.

Why not? I told you. No, no, it's okay.

I swear to God, Annie.

It's okay.

It's okay. I wanted you to. I swear to God. I wanted you to see it so bad.

I mean, that's why we're here.

I'm not some killer, Annie.

I'm not. You don't... I mean, do you know what it was like with her? She was

so... She was so fucking hurtful and spiteful and all of it... I know, I

but all of it just happened in this flash of a moment.

Listen to me. Listen to me. I'm a good man.

All right? If it had been you with me instead of her, then none of this would

have...

It's all right, you know.

I won't tell.

I won't tell anybody.

Ms. Wilson.

I thought you were supposed to be in the hospital.

I escaped, Ms. Wilson.

I'm free.

Buddy, I'm so sorry I went there for you.

I should have not told you.

The soul of this town is Wilson.

And you just need to keep doing what you're doing.

I lost it.

have to go back.

Yes, ma 'am, I know.

May I have your keys, ma 'am?

Well, I just talked to Wayne.

He pretty much admitted to everything.

I've known him, boy, half my life.

This goes to show you can know somebody and...

not know him.

How's his, um... How's his head?

Well, you put a pretty good dent in it.

Oh, no, Sheriff. I told him.

I told the deputy.

It wasn't me who did that. It was Buddy Cole.

No, ma 'am, it weren't Buddy.

Well, yes, it was.

I mean, you went and asked Wayne.

I did.

He don't remember what happened.

Head injuries is funny.

Sheriff, I'm telling you, it was Buddy Cole.

What I'm trying to say is it couldn't have been Buddy.

I just called up at the state hospital.

He told me he escaped.

Ma 'am.

Buddy Cole is dead.

He hanged himself in the shower room.

Six o 'clock this evening.