Original subtitles

Hi, little sister.

Good to see you.

You're the best surprise so far this year.

Hey, I heard about you and Carol splitting.

It's really a surprise.

Yeah, probably for the best, though.

She's dating Dan now, if you know what I mean.

Why don't you come back and go to Newcomb?

Oh, it's a better school. Besides, you don't make it as a vassal girl.

Oh, darling, my dear vassal isn't exactly the dream school.

She's far enough away from our big brother.

Look, by the way, where is he?

Look, I told you I had to see you both.

I made that clear on the phone, Vance. Now, what's wrong with it?

It's nothing but... Look, I've got something to tell you both. I have to

back to school tonight.

Look, is he here?

Oh, he's home playing big brother as usual.

I tell you.

He's really pissed that you won't talk about this on the phone. Look, Vince,

don't talk about this on the phone. Yeah, but you know how he blew his top

you decided to go to Vassar.

He's afraid some Yankee carpetbagger is going to seduce you one of your weekends

in New York. It's okay if it's something big that LSU and Baton Rouge seduces

me.

You're in rare form, honey.

Look, Vince, please don't let her.

Christ, this is such a bummer. Denise, what is this?

I just didn't mean to tell you both.

Please, Vince, when I take you, don't cop out on me.

You're the only family I've got.

All right, let's have

it.

Well?

I'm getting married.

Of course, Denise.

What else does a young lady of culture and breeding do when she finishes

But that's hardly any reason to fly down here and get me out of court. Oh, don't

use your courtroom technique on me, Dan.

You know what I mean.

I'm getting married now, and I'm not going to finish school.

I can't finish school.

Just what do you mean you can't finish school?

After all the money I've spent on that damn Yankee institution, I think you'd

better clarify that last statement. Hold it.

Take it easy.

Honey, why can't you finish school?

You can tell us.

You've got to tell us.

I can't finish school because I'm getting married next week in New York.

And I'm pregnant.

Well, I'll be a son of a bitch.

I would have bet my last dime that a Robear woman could handle her first

romance without this.

This isn't a school romance, Dan.

My pregnancy is an accident. Oh, spare us the details, Denise.

Look, I'll arrange an immediate abortion and you'll return to school. Abortion?

Christ's sakes, Dan.

There is one thing, however.

This boy.

I want to talk to him and his parents.

And I hope to God, Denise, he comes from a decent family.

Please sit down, Vance.

I haven't told you everything.

Vance, I love you very much.

I know how you feel about things, Dan.

I mean about life in general.

I don't know how to tell you what I think.

Come on, Denise, I've had enough. Will you up with it? All right!

The man.

What?

A black man.

You. My baby sister.

You let a stinking, degenerate nigger into your body.

Hey, Dan, get her.

She's better off dead.

The nigger son of a bitch is going to die.

You're a real shit.

You know that, Dan? I knew it.

You knew about this all along, didn't you?

Why don't you listen to me, little brother?

She doesn't exist.

As far as I'm concerned, I don't have a sister.

You.

It's for you, you little slut.

You go back to that nigger and I'll kill him. Do you hear me? I'll kill him. You

go over, Dan.

I'll kill the both of them. He's a dead nigger, I promise you. He's as good as

dead. You are nuts, Dan. You belong in a goddamn cage.

Carol doesn't think so, now does she, little brother?

Your former girlfriend is going to marry me.

She couldn't take any more of your nigger -loving ways.

Where are you going?

I don't want to talk about it, ma 'am.

I love him.

I'm going back to New York for here.

Oh, Denise, it can't work. Think about it.

You know, these things, they just don't work.

I never thought I'd hear that from you, ma 'am.

It was just you and me, and this crummy world didn't exist. It could work. You

know I believe that.

What are you going to do? I don't know what I'm going to do.

But I'll do something.

Whatever it is, I'll do it with him.

I have D.

He scares me.

I know what Dennis is capable of.

I'm not going to run, baby.

You don't understand. He's capable of murder.

I had to tell you.

I couldn't keep it in any longer.

It'll be all right, baby.

I'll tell Jake and everything will be fine.

Oh, God, I love you.

Love you so much.

Thank you.

Well, what do I say, Father?

Amen might be appropriate.

Yes, it might be at that.

You know, Jesse, the church could stand a bit more humility itself at times.

Practicing what one preaches is sometimes a very difficult thing to do.

But you came back, and that's what's important.

You know, it's a whole lot like the parable of the prodigal son.

You see, that story, Jesse, is not just about the son that returned to the fold.

No, there was another son.

He stayed and ended up hating his father, his brother, his very home

Now, the church is your home, and you came back.

And if we couldn't accept your humanity, well, the church would be the loser.

This way, we both win.

You have the church, but most important, the church has you.

Yes.

But I want to thank you for helping me get my old parish back in New Orleans.

Father Babin figures returning to the scene of the crime is standard procedure

in criminology.

Maybe in theology it has its place also.

God bless you, my son.

Thank you very much, Father.

Well, goodbye.

Goodbye.

Jesse. Father Jesse.

Oh, it's great to have you back.

Put in your telephone. Tell us you were coming. We didn't expect you for another

three days.

I didn't want to inconvenience anybody.

Let me look at you.

How have you been?

Fine. You look great. Thank you.

Welcome home.

Thank you.

Well, the place sure hasn't changed much, has it? Well, I like that.

All our brilliant carpentry and you didn't even notice.

Notice what?

The wall, Father.

We finally got our new window in. Oh, that.

Yeah, well, it looks good.

Look, Father, I have to run.

Let's get together for lunch, okay? Fine.

I have to teach my biology class about reptiles.

Well, I'll see you later. In the cafeteria. Yes.

Bye -bye.

By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I absolve you from your sins in

name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

God bless you and go in peace.

Jesse, I'm going to take over your duties here at the rectory for several

Why, Father, have I done something wrong?

No, that's just the point. Your work here has been superb, but it's just that

you're spending all of your time here, and that isn't good.

Why don't you take it easy? Renew acquaintances.

And there is one very touchy situation in which you could be extremely helpful.

The Roe Bears.

Oh, you mean between Dan and Vance. Have you seen them yet? No, Father. I've

been... Then you don't know about Denise.

Denise? What about Denise?

About her suicide.

Her what?

Yes. She committed suicide.

You were away at the time, and then you went into the monastery in Comunicado.

My God.

Well, why? What happened? Well, I don't think anybody knows the whole story, but

it split Dan and Vance.

Jesse, why don't you go and see them?

I think you could make a lot more headway with them than I can.

And take all the time you need. Don't worry about the rectory. I'll cover your

duties here. Thank you, Father.

Yes, of course. I'll do that.

Father Babin told you?

What? Oh, Ann.

Come in.

Sit down.

About Denise's suicide.

Oh, yes, that.

Yes, he did.

Who's that young man?

Some guy she was going with at the time, I think. I'm not sure.

Did Father Babin tell you about the rumor?

Rumor? What rumor?

She was...

Pregnant. The father was black.

Oh.

No, he didn't.

Nobody wants to talk about it.

Vance won't talk about it, even with me.

Even to you?

Oh, I'm sorry. You couldn't know.

Vance and I are going together now.

Well, how long has that been going on?

Ever since Carol... Yes, yes.

It's getting pretty bad.

Vance is still hung up on losing Carol. Sometimes I think Dan's marrying her

just to spite Vance.

That's my problem. I talk too much anyway.

I've got to get through to Vance. For our sake.

Well, I just don't want to see you get hurt.

Not with all that's coming down with the wedding and all.

Yeah, I know what you mean.

How is Vance taking it?

Oh, he doesn't love Carol. He never did.

It's just his male ego, his pride that's hurt.

Dan tends to rub things in. Yeah.

Father, I've got to run. Vance is picking me up. I'm late already.

Bye, Father.

Thanks.

Hey.

You play it cool, okay?

Where is he?

Where is that little punk?

I may be your law partner and your best man, but I'm not your brother's keeper.

Vance, we're ready when you are. Thank you, Father.

I'm sorry I am late.

All right, little brother.

Get your coat on.

We've been waiting 20 minutes on you.

We've been waiting 20 minutes on you.

What did you say?

You're drunk.

You're right. I am drunk.

For once, get up.

Think you're going to mess up Carol's wedding? You're crazy.

Carol's wedding? Oh, Carol's wedding.

No, sir.

No, I wouldn't mess up Carol's wedding.

Hey, not me do that.

No.

I mean, after all, she almost married me.

You little bastard.

If that rationalization suits your adolescent ego, you go right ahead.

I think the lady decided she wanted a better man.

Black nigger!

That's right, Dan.

I may be a nigger, but this is the Lord's house and no man, black or white,

going to defame it.

Hey,

it's a beautiful wedding, huh?

Come on.

Beauty and the bigot.

Keep the family name untarnished, Dan.

Blue blood to blue blood.

Keeping that ape pure!

I bet you never saw one like

that, huh, Jesse? You're right. That's a new one for me.

Hey, I gotta go back.

You gotta go back. I forgot to kiss the bride, Jesse. Don't worry about it.

Neither did I.

Kissy. That's it.

We both got to go back and kiss the bride.

And then when you kiss her, Dan is going to have a heart attack. And then I'll

move in on Carol. Come on.

Let's talk about it in the car, okay?

Hey, I'm driving.

And I'm buying the coffee, okay?

gonna pay for it what you see carol was raised believing that being born in

the daughters of the confederacy was second only to salvation you know but

she started coming around when i was going with her and i went to nom and my

brother moved in and his money and his social listen have you ever considered

that losing carol might be the best thing for you i mean i mean if it's what

wants We know it's what Dan wants.

Frankly, I think they deserve each other, man, and you're better off out of

I'll be all right.

As soon as my ego heals.

At least that's what Dan tells me.

But Dan Robear's got a big one coming, Jesse.

That's a promise.

You know, I never told anybody this before.

But Denise, she'd be alive today if that racist bastard, if he had thought

about her instead of his social image. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, I heard about Denise.

Vance, is there any truth to the rumor that she was pregnant and that the

was black?

Oh, it's not a rumor, Jesse. He was black all right.

That's why she's dead.

She couldn't take Dan's bigotry.

And he... He completely disowned her. He beat her up. He threatened to kill her.

Threatened to kill both of them.

He killed her.

He might as well have cut her wrist himself.

And when Jesse hit, man's gonna pay for it.

Well, well, Miss Carol.

You sure make a pretty bride. Thank you, Willie. And marry Mr.

Dan, too. And all the while, I thought Mr. Vance was the one.

That's enough, Willie.

Dan, it's all right. It's all right.

Carol, honey, would you wait for me on the porch? I'll be right there.

Willie, I thought I told you to stay out of the way. I'm sorry, Mr. Dan. I'm

just trying to... I don't care what you were just trying to do, Willie.

I'm tired of you stumble -bumming around here day after day, year after year.

I want you out of here. You're dismissed.

Dismissed? You mean fired?

But, Mr. Dan, I can't find another job just like that.

I've been working for you and your daddy so long, I haven't even had time to

think about working anywhere else. That's not a subject I wish to discuss,

Willie. My father's dead, and I'm in charge now.

You've got your notice. You're dismissed.

Mr. Dan, what about Clara May?

I mean, you know how long she's been sick.

All that medicine, all that debt I'm in. I can't afford to miss one payday, let

alone look for another job. You heard me, Willie. You have your notice.

I want you and all of your tools out of my garage by tomorrow.

I understand you handle these in Nam, right?

You don't know the time I had keeping that little devil alive.

Well, have fun.

Oh, hello, Van.

Yeah.

Well, how are you doing today?

Fine. Well, better anyway.

Van still won't talk to me.

Can't really blame him. I guess I did kind of screw up the wedding, huh?

Well, you have to give him a little time.

That's why I'm here.

I thought I'd send him over some flowers to help smooth things out.

Oh, he's going to love that. A token Negro priest asking for his forgiveness.

Master Dan, I'm sure sorry I stopped you from defaming the church and killing

your younger brother.

I really love that. Come on, Vance. Now, don't be so bitter.

That attitude will kill you in the long run.

After all, to ask forgiveness is humility.

To forgive, salvation.

You really ought to give Dan a chance.

Oh, Jesse, how can you say that? I mean, there's all the crap you've had to put

up with from people like him. People like him.

Let me tell you something.

I get it from both sides.

For some whites, I'm a good nigger.

The only difference between a good nigger and a nigger is the word good.

For some blacks, I'm an Uncle Tom nigger. Believe me, it's all the same

Nigger's an ugly word, but it is after all.

Too much, Jesse.

Thanks.

Those roses are exactly what I want. How much are they?

Nothing on the house. Come on now. Well, if our case are not, how much?

Okay, $18 .50 a dozen.

I'll bill you later.

Will he get there today?

Oh, yeah, if I have to deliver them myself.

Well, Vance, I really have to go.

Good to see you.

Glad you came by.

So am I.

How you doing?

Got some more flowers for you.

You got enough flowers here to make a funeral.

Who it is from? I don't know.

Well, go on. I'll take it over now.

Some more flowers, Miss Carol. Thank you. Aren't these lovely?

And, Miss Carol, tell Mr. Dan I'll be leaving tomorrow like he said.

Oh, yes, Willie. I am sorry.

I'll tell him.

Hello? Why, yes, Father Jesse, this is Carol.

Well, I am too, Father.

Yes,

he's in his study.

Oh, I wish you would come over. Oh, by the way, Father, your flowers arrived

they're breathtaking.

Thanks so much.

Fine. About 7 o 'clock then.

Good. We'll be waiting for you.

Good to see you.

Good evening, Mrs. Robert.

Have a seat and I'll get down. Thank you. Oh, I hope I'm not disturbing you.

at all. I'll get down and be right back.

Come on up.

Well, Dan, hello.

And how is the new husband?

As well as can be expected under the circumstances.

What can I do for you? Well, I actually came over to talk to you. Come on over

and have a seat.

Thank you, Dan.

Would you like a drink?

No, I don't want to be a bother to you.

No bother?

Would you like some wine?

No, not really.

What I came to talk to you about was... Well, aren't these beautiful?

Father Jesse sent them.

Thanks again, Father.

I think I'll put them in the bedroom.

Put them on the dresser, dear.

That was a very nice gesture, Father. Thank you.

You're welcome.

On second thought, I think I will have just a little wine.

Carol?

Carol, honey?

Yes, dear?

Would you get us some wine, please? Of course, darling.

What I came to talk to you about was the incident at the church.

I'm sorry I struck you.

I know it was wrong of me to lose my temper.

Apology accepted, Father.

I didn't mean to call you on it.

I'll do that.

I mean, look, you're not one of those. You're the... Well, you're a black man

now. Dan, honey, I can't find a bond.

Excuse me, water.

I'll be right back.

What the hell is this?

Dan, I just want you to please be nice to him.

What do you mean, be nice to him?

Well, he's a man of God.

No nigger's a man, much less a man of God. Oh, Dan, please.

I didn't want to talk about this.

I hadn't had a chance to congratulate you yet.

You're a very lucky man, Dan.

Lucky, hell.

I just take what I want.

There's no luck to that father.

Well, I, uh... I'd better say goodnight.

When do you plan to leave on the honeymoon?

As soon as the trial's over.

Probably be a couple more days.

Thank you, Father, Sister.

Yes, Mrs. Romare, I have a few more calls to make, and I didn't want to

oversleep like this. Come by each other.

I hope I see you two in church Sunday.

Possibly, Father.

It all depends on the trial.

I love you, too.

Now go back to sleep.

Carol.

Honey, I've got to go to court in the morning at 8.

Please go back to sleep.

No, I'm not sleeping.

I've got to play.

Carol, go play in the shower now. I've got to get some sleep.

I'll be glad when this trial is over.

Now where are you going?

Nowhere.

Aren't these beautiful?

Operator.

Listen, come over right away.

Damn it, Jack, get over here.

Carol's been murdered.

Jack?

Are you still there?

No.

Jack, I know who did it.

I know who murdered her.

Hey, boys, hold on.

The lady's dead.

She's upstairs, and don't touch anything till A -Bear gets here with his proof

in the coroner's office.

And leave that snake alone, too.

Jim, you better go up there and watch and make sure they don't mess up.

Okay.

Hey, Johnny!

Hello, A -Bear.

She's upstairs, and there's a dead snake there, too. Where's your proof? They're

coming. Snake?

You sure it's dead?

Yeah, I'm sure it's dead, A -Bear. Now listen.

I need a double set of photographs.

Special attention to the body position and the wound.

Now, I don't want you to rush on this one. You know who this guy is, don't

Yeah. Okay, now do it right. Hurry up. I want the body downtown fast.

With the snake. Gotcha. Okay.

Now, uh, who'd you say you were again, sir?

I'm Jack Markham.

Dan's love partner.

Oh, yeah, Mr. Markham. You handle that investment corporation scandal. I mean,

uh, case.

That's right.

Well, Lieutenant...

What can I do to wind up this nightmare for you?

Well, the first thing you can do is ask Mr. Robert if he feels like talking an

hour later.

Really, Lieutenant, is that absolutely necessary?

It's not only necessary, Mr. Markham, it's compulsory.

Hey, boy, where do you think you're going?

Oh, excuse me, this is Detective Bunch, my partner.

This is, who'd you say you were again?

Markham, Jack Markham. Mr. Markham, this is Mr. Bunch.

Mr. Markham is Mr.

Robert's law partner.

Excuse me.

I'll wait outside, Tony.

All right.

Mr. Robert?

Yes? We'll be through again in a little while, but tonight anyway.

It'd be nice if you could answer a couple of questions.

What do you want to know?

Dan, you know you don't have to say anything, don't you?

That's right, Mr. Robert.

You think about it.

You honkies are crazy, you know that?

What? You heard me, man. I said you honkies are crazy.

What do you mean by that, Jim?

I mean, we shoot them or we cut them.

But a snake?

Shit.

Jim, what do you think that snake was really meant for?

That's a good question.

What do you say, Mr. Robay?

Go ahead, Lieutenant.

The snake, Mr. Robay, how do you think it got in the house?

I haven't the faintest idea.

Did Mrs. Robay have a home, as you know? Did she try something like this? No,

not.

Did you?

If you are alive, may the Lord forgive you by this holy anointing for the sins

you may have committed in this life.

Do you have a call badge here?

No.

I'm at Dad's.

Carol is... Carol is dead.

What? Come right over.

Carol is dead.

Get dressed.

Get dressed!

Now, can you tell me what you remember from the beginning, Mr. Robert?

Especially about the snake.

The snake struck at her from the bouquet.

And by the time I'd killed it, Carol was... What would you do next?

I called... I called the police, and then I called Jack.

You're an attorney, Mr. Robert. Doesn't it seem a little strange to you that a

man's bride is murdered and the first thing he does is call his law partner?

Now, that's enough.

Dan, you don't have to answer any more questions.

Lieutenant, I suggest you get your facts straight. Mr. Robert called the police

first, and then he called me. I'll testify to that.

You say anything about testifying?

I'm really sorry, Dan.

I'm really sorry.

You know what kind of snake it is, Doc?

Whoever killed it did one hell of a job.

I haven't been able to identify it yet, but I did get the poison sack out, and I

sent it down to the lab along with some of her blood samples.

I feel like a kid back in zoology class again.

I haven't dissected a snake since then.

Only people.

Doc, how long would it take a snake bite to kill somebody?

What do you mean?

Well, you see, I have to know how long it would take the snake to kill someone.

If it took, like, hours, then how come the husband didn't call sooner?

Well, that depends on where it came from and how it got to the victim.

You won't believe it, Doc. It came in some flowers.

Excuse me.

Pathology? Yeah.

Asia? What do you mean, Asia?

Oh, wait, wait a minute. Let me get that down. Hold on.

Spell it for me, will you?

E -L -A -P -I -D.

Elephant.

Hiya, Jim.

Bungaris. Yeah.

Yeah. Wait, wait, not so fast.

That's it. Oh, good.

Thanks a lot.

Well, Jim, see you're still with the dynamic Dago.

Yeah, Doc. You know how it is.

I let him move into my neighborhood and he ran it down.

So I gotta stay with him until I can teach him a little culture, you know?

Culture? That's what I need working around here. Come on, Doc. What do you

there? You'll kill him.

Extremely venomous nocturnal elephant snake.

Genus Bungaris of Eastern Asia and adjacent islands.

Venom can kill in seconds.

Front fang, small.

Body approximately 12 inches in length.

Venom paralyzes the nervous system.

Victim suffocates.

Asia.

That's over 10 ,000 miles away.

And from the location of the wound, I'd say it was accelerated.

She was dead before she hit the floor, I'd estimate.

Well, you boys have a lot of fun with this one.

Yeah. Okay, Doc. Thanks a lot.

Come on, bro. Buy you some lunch.

Come again some other time, boys.

Now, Dan, for Carol's parents' sake, please.

All right, Jack. I promise.

Feeling good, little brother?

Playing with snakes make you feel better?

Or like a man?

I don't know who you were after, but you're going to die for this, I promise

that.

Yeah. Mr. Robert.

Yeah, who is this?

My name is not important, Mr. Robert.

Well, it's important to me. I don't talk to people I don't know.

New York City about a year and a half ago.

Well, who is this?

I demand to know who this is. Mr. Robert, we performed a certain service

17 months ago, and we haven't been paid.

We fulfilled our end of the agreement, and we can't afford to extend credit, if

you know what I mean. Look, I thought I told you before. Mr. Robert, we've been

through all that before.

You're blaming us for your sister's untimely demise is foolish.

You should have considered the consequences before you initiated the

We want payment in full.

Is that a threat?

Look, do you know who you're talking to? No threats, Mr. Robert.

Are you trying to threaten me? No threats. We simply can't afford to let a

client not make payment in full. It would ruin our professional reputation,

you know what I mean. You go to hell!

What are you doing?

How long have you been here? Not long.

Not long, ma 'am. Please don't point that thing at me.

It's killing me dead.

Well, what do you want?

Wait a second. Let me catch my breath.

I wasn't sure before whether I wanted to finish what I came for. I think I'll

just come back.

What did you come for? Did my little brother send you? No.

Vance didn't send me. I came on my own.

What I wanted to talk about was that... I heard what you told Vance at Carol's

wake.

Aren't you going to say anything?

I don't believe he's a murderer.

Dan, for God's sake, he's your brother. Doesn't that mean anything?

You listen to me.

My brotherly love died the night Carol was murdered.

And I have my plans for the person I feel was responsible. Do you understand

that?

I'm going to marry Vance.

I'm not going to let you manipulate our lives like you do with everyone else.

I'm not going to be scared away by threats.

Neither is Vance.

That's a decision you may have cause to regret.

I got you, Mr. Dan. I got you.

Everybody stop.

I can't be more alive than dead. You can't help my wife, Mr.

Dismissed. Clara May is dead, you know that? She died on account of you. You're

going to die on account of me.

Had to go back to school for a while.

I called her. They said you left. Well, couldn't you?

Well, you must have just missed me.

It doesn't take an hour and a half to get here. What happened?

Wouldn't you like to know?

Oh, did I catch you fooling around, huh?

All this time I thought you loved only me.

Hey, what are you doing?

Oh, God!

I intend to.

That's what I like about you. You're so tense.

Yes, I'm here now.

Right.

All right, I'll talk to you later.

It's too bad you had to kill him.

Now we'll never know his story.

I know his story.

What?

Nothing. Nothing? Hell. Now look, Lieutenant DeVito. And you shut up.

How come you're always on the scene before the police? Lieutenant, I resent

that. Never mind. Just sit down and stay out of my way. Would you like me to sit

you down, Mr. Markham?

Now, Mr. Robert, what does I know is story crap?

If you know anything, you better tell me right now, or I'll run your ass in so

fast it'll make your head spin. I don't care who you are, do you understand me?

Hey, Tony. I'm sorry, Lieutenant.

I don't know anything else.

I'm really very sorry.

I'm sorry.

What's the matter?

Nothing. Nothing?

It's certainly not nothing.

It's nothing.

Just drop it. You don't want to talk about it.

Well, I do want to talk about it. Please, just drop it.

Hey,

where were you today?

Something happened today, and I want to know what it is. Look, it's no big

thing. Well, how about letting me decide my half of what a big thing is? Okay,

okay.

I went to see Dan on the boat, that's all. You did what? I went to see Dan.

You just went and saw Dan? Yes, is there something wrong with that? Yeah,

there's something wrong with that. I told you he was my business.

Excuse me.

I thought his threat was our business. To hell with this damn threat. Sam, grow

up. Why don't you admit that he frightens you? He frightens me.

Dan doesn't frighten me.

I'm not afraid of him.

I told you that before, and I also told you to stop bugging me about him.

Oh, shit.

Yeah. Excuse me, Mr. O 'Keefe. I just know back here I'd like to talk to him.

Come on in.

Vance, Lieutenant Avivo.

Excuse me, I hope I didn't disturb anything.

Yeah, well, you did.

Vance.

No, Lieutenant, what can I do for you?

Miss Novak, I'd like to know where you were this morning. What do you want to

know for? What difference does it make where she was? Sir, oh, bad do you mind?

I'm asking the question. Yeah, I do mind, as a matter of fact. What right do

have to come in here?

I went to see Dan on the boat.

Miss Novak, about what time was that?

It was about 10 .30.

But I don't understand.

And what time did you leave the boat?

I don't know.

I guess it was about... Oh, wait a minute.

You don't have to answer any more of these questions.

I'd like to know what this is all about.

In the first place, I don't like being interrupted when I'm talking to someone.

In the second place, it's my day off and I've got no time to fool around with

you. And in third place, they've just thrown two homicides in my lap.

Two weeks ago, or maybe you've forgotten, your sister -in -law was

some imported snake and nobody wanted to say anything about that.

And 30 minutes ago, your brother killed a family gardener.

And you're trying to tell me about her rights?

What the hell is going on in this family?

Come on, let's go.

Man, what's happening?

Nothing, man, nothing.

Novak was there, all right, and she was on a boat today, too, but she has no

money more about it than we do.

That family that's driving me up a wall.

Let's get at it. Come on.

Put Spinelli on.

Well, it hasn't done anything since that Wesley Stewart St. Charles murder case.

I wish I could help you, Bert, but I'm really jammed up.

Hey, hold on a second. Yeah?

Yeah, no bankers here.

I'll tell the way to the conference room. I'll be right there. Right.

Yeah, Bert?

Yeah.

Yeah, I'm sure he can handle it.

Day goes on.

Yeah, okay.

Well, let me know how it comes out.

I'll talk to you later, Bert.

Well, what I came about, Lieutenant... First, let me say I'm sorry about the

other day.

Vance isn't like that.

Well,

his brother's always been a sore... Forget it, Miss Novak.

What can I do to help you?

Well, there's something I think you should know about.

I tried to get Vance to tell you, but he won't... Lieutenant, Vance has

asked me to marry him.

Oh, well, congratulations.

Is that what you came down here to tell me?

Did you know that Dan fired Willie just before Carol was killed?

Yes, Miss Novak.

Oh.

Did you know Dan threatened Vance at Carol's wake?

Threatened him?

How? He...

accused Vance of murdering Carol.

That's why I went to the boat to talk to him.

I don't mind telling you, Lieutenant.

Dan scares me.

You believe he meant that?

My people often say things under stress, Miss Novak.

I think Dan meant it.

Lieutenant, do you suspect Vance?

This is a homicide case, Miss Novak.

Everyone is a suspect.

Everyone.

Dan, too?

It's possible.

Well, I feel a little better anyway. I just thought you should know.

Well, you did the right thing, Miss Novak, and thank you. I wouldn't worry

much about idle threats.

Thank you.

Goodbye.

Hi, Charlie.

How are things going?

Normal Saturday, Mr. Robert. Just checking things out.

Okay. Thanks a lot, Charlie.

I don't care, Jack. I need that money now.

Would you shut up and listen?

I don't think they're going to wait any longer.

Well, what do you want to do?

Okay, okay.

He was just kneeling there in broad daylight with that gun.

Okay, okay. Which direction was he pointing the weapon?

That way, south.

And he's right about here, huh? Yeah, kneeling.

About like this? Yeah, yeah.

And just pointing out that way, huh? Yeah.

Hey, Tony, I think I got something for you.

What do you got?

Take a look at this.

Does that name mean anything to you?

Coincidence? It's no coincidence. Take a look out here.

Yeah, I see what you mean.

Why would a gardener try to kill his boss?

Why would a boss want to kill his gardener?

It's amazing how many people hate Dan Robert.

I mean, his gardener tried to knife him.

His brother may have hated him enough to plant a snake in his bedroom.

And those guys from New York sent a hitman down here to try and get rid of

I can't figure it, Jim.

Hey,

you know, I only met him twice before myself.

I don't like him very much.

I got 12 nothings.

You know those guys from New York?

Yeah. What did he ever do to them?

What about his brother?

If you miss the first time, you know you could be trying again with some outside

help.

Hey, Tony.

Hey, Mike.

Here's the message on the 1026 to New York.

Uh, who's winning?

Smartass. Just thought I'd ask. Goodbye, Mike.

Records check. Last five years show Robert Yellowsheet indicates suicide.

One Denise Robert, white, female, age 20.

Home address, New Orleans.

Next of kin, Daniel Robert.

Same address.

I wonder if she hated him, too.

We can check on that.

I got a feeling we're racing against time.

The reserve behind us hasn't finished yet.

They haven't got to Dan Robert.

I still think the brother's our best suspect.

Possible, that could be.

Let's take a shot.

May the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob be with you.

And may he fulfill his blessings in you, that you may see your children's

children, even to the third and fourth generation, and thereafter have life

everlasting.

By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit

lives and reigns, God, world without end.

You're going to kiss her or you're going to stand there grinning at me?

Congratulations. Thank you.

Well, I'm sorry I was a little late. Things could have been so much better

this. Hey, what is it?

Dan.

Did you invite him?

Yeah, I sent him a note.

Kind of a peace offering.

Well, I wish he'd come. I mean, we're all the family that's left.

I love him. He's my brother.

He'll come around.

After we get back from New York, you'll see.

Hey, you're going to New York, huh?

Yeah. A little business and a lot of pleasure.

Well, thanks again.

See you when we get back.

Good luck to you, man. Good luck to both of you.

Jesse, he killed her!

Who's there?

For God's sake. Amen.

Help me.

Please.

That was one hell of a shot.

You know, you really should have been there.

I don't know who your man was, but the cat is good.

I mean, and now me use a much smaller caliber of weapon, but... That thing.

Man, that thing blasted his ass apart.

And there we were, me, my twin brother, the priest, his little white chick,

on a picnic.

That's a heavy scene in itself. Can you dig that? This black Catholic priest and

his pregnant, honky whore.

I burned my brother's body.

Man, I burned my brother's body.

So I figure that the Robert's have got to get theirs too.

You see, I figure I got me some dues to pay.

And I might as well start with the first Robert I know.

I took Denise's diary.

I took all my brother's things.

His priest's habit.

His briefcase.

Everything.

You see, I took his place.

I even called the church.

Asked them to let me spend a year in the monastery, just so I could get the

moves down, you understand?

I mean, I took his place.

I bet you're wondering about that snake, huh?

A little VC trick I learned now.

Hey, I got Ann, too.

That's why that knife's sticking out of your chest.

I got you all.

This jive -ass nigger got you all.

And you know what?

It was him!

Ha ha ha!

All we do is wait around. Yeah, man.

It's hot out here, too.

Oh, no, no, Father. I can...

Heard you're taking

a trip.

Yep.

Thank you lieutenant