All language subtitles for Ghosts.Of.Mississippi.1996.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.MX]

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* I WISH I KNEW HOW *

* IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE *

* I WISH I COULD BREAK *

* ALL THE CHAINS HOLDIN' ME *

* I WISH I COULD SAY *

* ALL THE THINGS
THAT I SHOULD SAY *

* SAY 'EM LOUD *

* SAY 'EM CLEAR *

* FOR THE WHOLE WIDE
WORLD TO HEAR *

* I WISH I COULD SHARE *

* ALL THE LOVE
THAT'S IN MY HEART *

* REMOVE ALL THE BARS *

* THAT KEEP US APART *

* I WISH YOU COULD KNOW *

* WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ME *

* THEN YOU'D SEE AND AGREE *

* THAT EVERY MAN
SHOULD BE FREE *

* I WISH I COULD GIVE *

* ALL I'M LONGIN' TO GIVE *

* I WISH I COULD LIVE *

* LIKE I'M LONGIN' TO LIVE *

* I WISH I COULD DO *

* ALL THE THINGS
THAT I CAN DO *

* THOUGH I'M WAY OVERDUE *

* I'D BE STARTING ANEW *

* OH, I WISH I COULD BE *

* LIKE A BIRD IN THE SKY *

* HOW SWEET IT WOULD BE *

* IF I FOUND I COULD FLY *

* I'D SOAR TO THE SUN *

* AND LOOK DOWN AT THE SEA *

* THEN I'D SING
'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* THEN I'D SING
'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* SING 'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* HOW IT FEELS *

* TO BE FREE *

John F. Kennedy:
IT IS BETTER TO SETTLE
THESE MATTERS IN THE COURTS

THAN ON THE STREETS.

AND NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED
AT EVERY LEVEL.

BUT LAW ALONE
CANNOT MAKE MEN SEE RIGHT.

WE ARE CONFRONTED PRIMARILY
WITH A MORAL ISSUE.

THE HEART OF THE QUESTION IS

WHETHER ALL AMERICANS ARE
TO BE AFFORDED EQUAL RIGHTS

AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES.

GOOD NIGHT,
MR. EVERS.

WHETHER WE ARE GOING
TO TREAT OUR FELLOW AMERICANS

AS WE WANT TO BE TREATED.

IF AN AMERICAN,
BECAUSE HIS SKIN IS DARK

CANNOT EAT LUNCH IN
A RESTAURANT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC;

IF HE CANNOT
SEND HIS CHILDREN

TO THE BEST
PUBLIC SCHOOL AVAILABLE,

IF HE CANNOT VOTE
FOR THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS
WHO REPRESENT HIM;

IF, IN SHORT,
HE CANNOT ENJOY

THE FULL AND FREE LIFE
WHICH ALL OF US WANT,

THEN WHO AMONG US
WOULD BE CONTENT

TO HAVE THE COLOR
OF HIS SKIN CHANGED?

WHO AMONG US
WOULD THEN BE CONTENT

WITH THE COUNSELS
OF PATIENCE AND DELAY?

ONE HUNDRED YEARS
OF DELAY HAVE PASSED

SINCE PRESIDENT LINCOLN
FREED THE SLAVES

YET THEIR HEIRS,
THEIR GRANDSONS,

ARE NOT FULLY FREE.

THEY ARE NOT YET FREED
FROM THE BONDS OF INJUSTICE.

THEY ARE NOT YET FREED

FROM SOCIAL
AND ECONOMIC OPPRESSION.

THAT LOOKS LIKE
A POLICE CAR.

AND THIS NATION,
FOR ALL ITS HOPES
AND ALL ITS BOASTS,

WILL NOT BE FULLY FREE

UNTIL ALL ITS CITIZENS
ARE FREE.

WE PREACH FREEDOM
AROUND THE WORLD
AND WE MEAN IT.

AND WE CHERISH
OUR FREEDOM HERE AT HOME.

BUT ARE WE TO SAY TO THE WORLD

AND MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY,
TO EACH OTHER,

THAT THIS IS A LAND OF THE FREE,

EXCEPT FOR THE NEGROES?

THAT WE HAVE NO
SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS,

EXCEPT NEGROES?

THAT WE HAVE NO CLASS
OR CASTE SYSTEM

NO GHETTOS, NO MASTER RACE,
EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO NEGROES?

NOW THE TIME HAS COME
FOR THIS NATION
TO FULFILL ITS PROMISE.

THE EVENTS IN BIRMINGHAM
AND ELSEWHERE

HAVE SO INCREASED
THE CRIES FOR EQUALITY

THAT NO CITY OR STATE
OR LEGISLATIVE BODY

CAN PRUDENTLY CHOOSE
TO IGNORE THEM.

BAM.

THE FIRES OF FRUSTRATION
AND DISCORD

ARE BURNING IN EVERY CITY,

NORTH AND SOUTH,

WHERE LEGAL REMEDIES
ARE NOT AT HAND.

REDRESS IS SOUGHT
IN THE STREETS.

WE FACE THEREFORE A MORAL CRISIS
AS A COUNTRY AND A PEOPLE.

IT CANNOT BE MET
BY REPRESSIVE POLICE ACTION.

IT IS A TIME TO ACT
IN THE CONGRESS,

IN YOUR STATE
AND LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY,

AND ABOVE ALL,
IN ALL OF OUR DAILY LIVES.

A GREAT CHANGE IS AT HAND,

AND OUR TASK;

OUR OBLIGATION IS TO MAKE
THAT REVOLUTION,

THAT CHANGE, PEACEFUL
AND CONSTRUCTIVE FOR ALL.

THOSE WHO DO NOTHING

ARE INVITING SHAME
AS WELL AS VIOLENCE.

THOSE WHO ACT BOLDLY
ARE RECOGNIZING RIGHT

AS WELL AS REALITY.

AHH!
MEDGAR!

GET DOWN!
GET THE BABY, GET THE BABY!

MOMMY, GET DOWN!

[DOG BARKING]

MEDGAR!

[GROANING]

[DOG BARKING]
MEDGAR!

OH! OH, MY GOD!

[SOBBING]

DADDY! DADDY!

DADDY, I LOVE YOU!

[ALL SOBBING]

DADDY, DON'T DIE!

I WANT MY DADDY!

[SOBBING CONTINUES]

DADDY! DADDY!

I LOVE YOU, DADDY!

TURN ME LOOSE.

TURN ME LOOSE.

TURN ME LOOSE.

MEDGAR EVERS BELIEVED
IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT NOW REMAINS TO BE SEEN
WHETHER HIS COUNTRY
BELIEVED IN HIM.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

THE CITIZENS COUNCIL'S
ALREADY RAISED THOUSANDS
FOR YOUR DEFENSE.

MONEY'S POURING IN
FROM ALL OVER THE SOUTH.

WHOO! NICE LIKENESS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOYS?

HELLO, MR. BECKWITH,
GLAD TO SEE YOU.

MIGHTY GLAD TO BE HERE.

AND ISN'T IT TRUE
THAT YOUR HUSBAND WAS THE FIRST

TO ATTEMPT TO INTEGRATE
THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI?

YES.

AND AT THE TIME
OF HIS DEATH,

HE WAS INVOLVED
IN A LAWSUIT

TO INTEGRATE THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM, WASN'T HE?

YES.

WELL, YOUR HUSBAND
MUST'VE HAD QUITE A FEW
ENEMIES, WOULD YOU AGREE?

YES, HE DID.

YOUR ELDEST BOY,
HIS NAME IS KENYATTA,
ISN'T IT?

DARRELL KENYATTA EVERS.

KENYATTA'S A MAU MAU
NAME, ISN'T IT?

OBJECTION.

SUSTAINED.

NOW ISN'T IT TRUE
THAT OVER 100 PEOPLE

WERE ARRESTED DURING
A DEMONSTRATION

THAT YOUR HUSBAND
ORGANIZED BOYCOTTING

A DEPARTMENT STORE
IN DOWNTOWN JACKSON
KNOWN AS KENNINGTON'S?

WHO'S THAT?

ROSS BARNETT.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

NOPE. YOU DON'T SEE THAT
EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK.

A FORMER GOVERNOR
SHAKING HANDS

WITH AN ACCUSED ASSASSIN

RIGHT IN FRONT
OF THE JURY.

THERE'S NOT A COURT IN AMERICA
THAT WOULD STAND FOR THAT.

WHAT'S AMERICA GOT
TO DO WITH ANYTHING?

THIS IS MISSISSIPPI.

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH.

AND YOU LIVE OVER IN GREENWOOD,
MISSISSIPPI, CORRECT?

YES, SIR.

MY MOTHER
WAS A YERGER.

HER MOTHER
WAS SUSAN YERGER,

A CLOSE PERSONAL FRIEND
OF MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS.

MR. BECKWITH,
DID YOU SHOOT MEDGAR EVERS?

NO, SIR!

YOUR HONOR, MAY I?

MR. BECKWITH,
IS THIS YOUR RIFLE?

WELL, LET'S SEE.

HMM.

WELL, IT BEARS
A SIMILARITY,

BUT I COULDN'T SAY
FOR CERTAIN.

SEE, I DON'T RECORD
THE SERIAL NUMBERS
OF MY WEAPONS

AND MY GUN WAS
STOLEN FROM MY HOME
SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE

THIS, UH,
WHOLE BUSINESS.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[BAND PLAYING]

MR. BECKWORTH, MR. BECKWORTH,
HOW DO YOU FEEL, DELAY?

I GOT TEARS IN MY EYES.

FOR DIXIE, HUH?

[HORNS HONKING]

IN SUMMATION,

NOT ONLY DID
THE SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS

PROVIDE US WITH
A VISUAL RECORD

OF THE CRIME BEING
COMMITTED,

BUT FOUR EYEWITNESSES OBSERVED
THE DEFENDANT REMOVING HIS MASK

UPON EXITING
THE CONVENIENCE STORE.

NOW, SHORT OF YOU LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY

ATTENDING THE ACTUAL EVENT,

WE DON'T FEEL THE STATE
COULD HAVE A STRONGER CASE.

THANK YOU.

COUNSEL?

HEY, BOBBY. HOW'D IT GO?

WELL, THROUGH A COMBINATION
OF SUPERIOR LAWYERING

AND A LESS THAN STELLAR
PERFORMANCE BY OUR CRIMINAL,

I WAS ABLE
TO SECURE A CONVICTION.

CONGRATULATIONS.

LISTEN, I'VE GOT
A RAPE VICTIM WHO'S
RELUCTANT TO TESTIFY.

CAN YOU HANDLE
THE HARRISON MOTION
THIS AFTERNOON?

YOU BET.
YOU'RE A LIFESAVER.

DELAUGHTER,
YOUR WIFE JUST CALLED.

WHAT'D SHE WANT?

SHE SAID TO REMIND YOU
YOU'RE HAVING LUNCH WITH

HER MOTHER AND YOUR PARENTS
AT 1:00 AT THE CLUB.

HOW COULD I FORGET?

BOBBY.

BOBBY, YOU SEEN THIS?

YES, I HAVE.

EVERS' WIDOW MYRLIE
IS CALLING FOR

THE RE-PROSECUTION
OF DE LA BECKWITH.

ED, THIS GUY WAS KILLED
OVER 25 YEARS AGO.

[SIGHS] JUST DIG UP WHATEVER
YOU CAN ON MEDGAR EVERS

AND BE IN MY OFFICE AT 3:00.

WELL, ED,
THIS IS RIDICULOUS.

WELL, SURE IT IS.
BUT IF WE TRY TO BURY THIS,

MYRLIE EVER'S GOING TO HAVE
EVERY BLACK POLITICIAN

IN JACKSON
CLIMBING ALL OVER ME.

ED...
MY OFFICE, 3:00.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[SIGHS]

[BEEP BEEP]
YEAH?

CLARA, DO WE HAVE
ANY FILES AROUND HERE
ON MEDGAR EVERS?

WHO?

MEDGAR EVERS,
THE CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER

THAT GOT HIMSELF SHOT
IN THE 1960s?

OH, YEAH, I JUST SAW THAT FILE.
IT WAS SITTING RIGHT NEXT

TO THE ONE
ON THE LINDBERGH BABY.

CLARA?
YEAH.

JUST BRING ME
WHAT WE HAVE.

OK.

GOOD AFTERNOON, SIR.

[CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
HEY.

DID YOU MAKE
HINDS COUNTY ANY
SAFER TODAY, SON?

WELL, DADDY, YOU KNOW
HOW IT IS WITH CRIMINALS.

IT'S LIKE FINDING
A GRAY HAIR.

YOU PULL ONE OUT
AND TWO MORE POP UP
TO TAKE ITS PLACE.

[LAUGHTER]

I LOVE THOSE EARRINGS.
HAVE YOU WORN THEM BEFORE?

OH, I'VE HAD THEM
FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I JUST NEVER WEAR THEM
DURING THE DAY.

YOU ALL SEE THAT
NONSENSE ABOUT
THE SOVEREIGNTY COMMISSION

IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING?

YEAH, YEAH,
ISN'T THAT AWFUL?

AHH, THAT FOOL,
REA HEDERMAN.

EVER SINCE HE TOOK OVER
THAT PAPER,

THESE DANG LIBERALS
LIKE JERRY MITCHELL

BEEN TRYING
TO REWRITE HISTORY.

THE SOVEREIGNTY COMMISSION
WAS A FINE ORGANIZATION

THAT DID A LOT OF GOOD
FOR THIS STATE.

DIXIE, DARLING, WOULD YOU
PASS ME THE BUTTER, PLEASE?

WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO
DIG UP THINGS THAT HAPPENED
25 YEARS AGO ANYWAY?

WELL, MEDGAR EVERS'
WIDOW WANTS TO REOPEN
THE CASE.

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

ED ASKED ME
TO LOOK INTO IT.

WELL.

YOU JUST TELL HIM,
"NO, THANK YOU."

WHEN ARE THESE PEOPLE
GOING TO GET IT
THROUGH THEIR HEADS

THAT THE SIXTIES ARE OVER?

THE 1860s AND THE 1960s.

I THOUGHT THEY FOUND
THAT BECKWITH FELLA
NOT GUILTY.

WELL, ACTUALLY, THERE
WERE TWO HUNG JURIES.

WELL, THE REASON THAT
I KNOW IS BECAUSE

MY LATE HUSBAND JUDGE MOORE,

WELL, HE WAS A SPECTATOR
AT BOTH THOSE TRIALS.

HE'D NEVER MISS A DAY.
AND HE TOLD ME, HE SAID

THAT THEY WOULD NEVER
CONVICT BECKWITH FELLA

NO MATTER HOW MANY
TRIALS THEY HAD.

WELL, TRUTH IS,

IT'S JUST
A POLITICAL THING.

I DON'T THINK
ANYTHING'S GOING
TO COME OF IT.

WELL, SON, FOR YOUR SAKE,
IT HAD BETTER NOT.

YOU WANT TO BE A JUDGE SOMEDAY.

YOU PERSECUTE
A 70-YEAR-OLD MAN,

GUILTY OR NOT,
OVER SOME NIGGER,

YOU'LL HAVE EVERYBODY
IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
LINED UP AGAINST YOU.

HEY, HOWARD.
HOW YOU DOING?

Y'ALL GOT ANY OF THAT
CRAWDAD CHOWDER TODAY?

YES, SIR.

HOW MANY FOR CRAWDAD CHOWDER?

OH, COME ON!

MRS. EVERS, MR. DEES,

I'M JERRY MITCHELL
FROM THE "CLARION-LEDGER".

I BROKE THE STORY
ON THE JURY TAMPERING
IN YOUR HUSBAND'S CASE.

OH, YEAH, I TALKED
TO YOU ON THE PHONE,
DIDN'T I?

THAT'S RIGHT.
YES, YES.

THANK YOU FOR ALL
YOUR GOOD, HARD WORK.

I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW MUCH IT'S APPRECIATED.

WELL, I'M JUST
DOING MY JOB, MA'AM.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK
YOUR CHANCES ARE

OF GETTING THE D.A.
TO REOPEN THE CASE?

I'VE PASSED
THIS WAY BEFORE.

LET'S JUST SAY
I'VE ADOPTED AN ATTITUDE
OF TEMPERED OPTIMISM.

HEY, DELAUGHTER,
HEAR THE NEWS?

PRESIDENT LINCOLN
JUST GOT SHOT.

SOME GUY NAMED BOOTH DID IT.

THE SOVEREIGNTY
COMMISSION,

A STATE AGENCY,
ACTIVELY WORKED AGAINST
THE D.A.'S OFFICE

TO ENSURE THAT THAT
JURY HAD ENOUGH
BECKWITH SYMPATHIZERS

ON IT TO KEEP HIM
OUT OF JAIL.

NOW, IF THAT'S NOT
GROUNDS FOR A NEW TRIAL,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT,

THOSE OLD SOVEREIGNTY
COMMISSION FILES

HAVE BEEN LEAKING OUT
FOR YEARS.

ALL THEY DID WAS RUN SOME
BACKGROUND CHECKS, WHICH,

WHILE UNETHICAL,
WAS NOT ILLEGAL.

WE CAN'T PROVE JURY TAMPERING.

MRS. EVERS, I'D LIKE YOU
TO MEET BOB DELAUGHTER.

HOW DO YOU DO?

PLEASURE.

THIS IS MR. MORRIS DEES
OF THE SOUTHERN POVERTY
LAW CENTER.

HOW YOU DOING?
I WAS JUST EXPLAINING

TO MR. DEES IN ORDER
FOR US TO PURSUE THIS,

WE'RE GOING TO NEED MORE
THAN AN ARTICLE IN A NEWSPAPER.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED
SOME NEW EVIDENCE.

IN 1964, YOU HAD
A MOUNTAIN OF EVIDENCE.

ALL YOU BOYS GOTTA DO
IS RETRY BECKWITH.

ON THE BASIS OF THAT ALONE,
YOU'RE GOING TO GET
A SURE CONVICTION.

HMM. WELL, AS YOU CAN SEE,

THE MOUNTAIN
HAS CRUMBLED A BIT.

WHAT'S THIS?

I'M AFRAID THAT'S
ALL THAT'S LEFT
OF THE STATE'S CASE

AGAINST MYRON
DE LA BECKWITH.

JUST A FEW PAGES
OF THE OLD POLICE REPORT.

WHERE'S THE GUN? WHERE--
WHERE'S THE BULLET?

WHERE'S THE ORIGINAL
TRIAL TRANSCRIPT?

WHERE ARE THE FILES?
BEATS THE HELL OUT OF ME.

ARE YOU TELLING US
IT IS LOST?

I'M TELLING YOU,
WE DON'T HAVE IT.

WELL, THAT'S
OUTRAGEOUS.

MRS. EVERS, EVEN IF WE DID

HAVE THE EVIDENCE,
OLD AND NEW,

WE'D STILL NEVER GET AROUND

TO THE SIXTH AMENDMENT RIGHT
TO A SPEEDY TRIAL.

NOW, I'M SURE MR. DEES
WOULD AGREE THAT 25 YEARS

ISN'T EXACTLY WHAT
YOU'D CALL SPEEDY.

MAY I SEE THAT?

MRS. EVERS, THIS IS
PRETTY STRONG STUFF.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT.

JUNE 13th, 1963.

TO THE JACKSON POLICE
DEPARTMENT--

WHEN YOU CATCH
WHOEVER KILLED THE NIGGER,

YOU BE SURE
TO PIN A MEDAL ON HIM

BECAUSE HE JUST DID
THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

ONE HELL OF A FAVOR.

JUNE 14th, 1963.

A FEMALE WHO REFUSED
TO IDENTIFY HERSELF STATED

THAT SHE'D HEARD A RUMOR
THAT MEDGAR EVERS' WIFE

HAD GOTTEN JEALOUS
OF LENA HORNE,

WHO APPEARED WITH EVERS
AT A RALLY

AND MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN
HER BROTHER-IN-LAW
TO KILL EVERS."

WELL, WHO WOULDN'T BE
JEALOUS OF LENA HORNE?

MY GOD, WHAT
A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN.

YES, MA'AM.

THE ONLY REASON
THE COPS WROTE
THAT GARBAGE DOWN

IS BECAUSE
THEY ACTUALLY
TOOK IT SERIOUSLY.

MR. DEES.

DO YOU THINK
FOR ONE MOMENT

THAT THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN
WASHINGTON D.C.

WOULD HAVE WRITTEN
IT UP IF SOME NITWIT
HAD TOLD THEM

THAT JACKIE KENNEDY HAD
A HAND IN J.F.K.'S DEATH

BECAUSE HER HUSBAND
WAS RUNNING AROUND
WITH MARILYN MONROE?

WHAT'S YOUR POINT?

MY POINT,
MR. PETERS,

IS THE MURDER
OF MEDGAR EVERS
WAS A RACE CRIME;

A POLITICAL CRIME.
AN ASSASSINATION.

AND BYRON DE LA BECKWITH
IS FREE TODAY

THANKS TO A RACIST JURY,
A RACIST POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND A RACIST
D.A.'S OFFICE.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO,
BILL WALLER AND THIS OFFICE

WENT AFTER BECKWITH--
NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.

NOW I DON'T NEED
TO SIT HERE AND LISTEN--

MR. PETERS.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO,
I SAT ON THE WITNESS STAND

AND I WATCHED AS THE FORMER
GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE

SHOOK HANDS WITH THE MAN
WHO MURDERED MY HUSBAND...

WHILE I WAS ON THE STAND.

NOW I DON'T EXPECT YOU
TO UNDERSTAND

THE PAIN AND SUFFERING
THAT MY FAMILY AND I
HAVE GONE THROUGH,

BUT I DID
COME HERE THINKING

THAT THIS OFFICE MIGHT
WANT TO SEE JUSTICE
FINALLY SERVED.

MRS. EVERS--
MR. PETERS.

YOU'VE GIVEN ME
ALL THE REASONS WHY
YOU CAN'T PURSUE THIS.

PERHAPS YOU CAN FIND
ONE REASON WHY YOU CAN.

GOOD AFTERNOON,
GENTLEMEN.

MRS. EVERS.

MRS. EVERS.

ED PETERS IS A GOOD MAN.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE,
WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE A CASE.

NOW I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
LIVING WITH THIS THING
FOR A LONG WHILE, BUT...

MAYBE IT'S JUST TIME YOU...

LET IT GO?

I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'D
THINK THAT, MR. DELAUGHTER.

FOR YEARS, I SAID
THE SAME THING TO MEDGAR.

"LET IT GO.
LET'S GET OUT OF MISSISSIPPI."

DO YOU KNOW
WHAT HE SAID TO ME?

"I DON'T KNOW WHETHER
I'M GOING TO HEAVEN OR TO HELL,

BUT I'M GOING FROM JACKSON."

GOOD AFTERNOON,
MR. DELAUGHTER.

[TV PLAYING]

HEY, EVERYBODY, I'M HOME.

HEY, TIGER.

HI, DAD.

ARE YOU SURE YOU HAVE
ENOUGH DISTRACTIONS?

I CAN GO INTO YOUR ROOM
AND GET YOUR GAME BOY FOR YOU.

DAD...

HI, DADDY.
HEY!

HI, DAD.

DID YOU BRING ME
A LOLLIPOP?

YES, I DID. AND I GOT ONE
FOR CLAIRE, TOO.

THANKS, DADDY.
HOW WAS SCHOOL TODAY, SWEETIE?

OK.

DID MISS COLLINS LIKE
THE BRACELET YOU MADE FOR HER?

UH-HUH.
DADDY, TELL US A STORY.

OK.
A REAL SCARY ONE.

CLAIRE, YOU WANT
TO HEAR A STORY, TOO?

OK, BUT NOT TOO SCARY.

OK. LET'S GO INTO MOMMY
AND DADDY'S ROOM

BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
TO DISTURB BURT.

YOU WANT SOMETHING TO EAT?

NO, I GOT SOMETHING
AT THE OFFICE.

THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.

[CRICKETS CHIRPING]

[DOOR CREAKING]

HONEY, WHAT
ARE YOU DOING UP?

I CAN'T SLEEP.
THE GHOST IS BACK.

I'LL GO. I'LL GO.

THE GHOST IS BACK?
WHERE IS HE THIS TIME?

IN MY BED.

OH, REALLY? WELL,
WE'LL JUST HAVE
TO SEE ABOUT THAT.

WELL, LOOK, YOU WERE RIGHT.
HE'S SITTING RIGHT THERE
ON THE BED.

NO, DADDY.

NOW HE'S OVER
BY THE WINDOW.

[CHUCKLES]

I SEE.

I THOUGHT YOUR BOTTLE
TREE WAS SUPPOSED
TO KEEP HIM AWAY.

MAYBE I DON'T HAVE
THE RIGHT KIND
OF BOTTLES.

HMM. YOU KNOW, BABY,

WHEN WE LIVED IN NATCHEZ,
THERE WAS A GHOST

THAT LIVED RIGHT NEXT DOOR

IN THE REMAINS
OF THIS OLD HOUSE

THAT GOT BURNED
DURING THE WAR.

AND SOMETIMES HE'D COME
OVER AND GET RIGHT
IN MY CLOSET.

HOW'D YOU MAKE HIM GO AWAY?

WELL, YOUR GRANNY WOULD
COME IN AND SHE'D
SING A SPECIAL SONG

AND BEFORE YOU KNEW IT,
HE WAS GONE.

WHAT'D SHE SING?

SHE SANG THE SON
THAT EVERY GHOST
FROM MISSISSIPPI LOVES.

SING IT, DADDY.

ALL RIGHT.

* I WISH I WAS IN
THE LAND OF COTTON *

* OLD TIMES THERE
ARE NOT FORGOTTEN *

* LOOK AWAY,
LOOK AWAY *

* LOOK AWAY, DIXIELAND *

* IN DIXIELAND
WHERE I WAS BORN *

* EARLY ON ONE
FROSTY MORN' *

* LOOK AWAY, LOOK AWAY *

* LOOK AWAY,
DIXIELAND *

* OH, I WISH
I WAS IN DIXIE *

* HOORAY, HOORAY *

* IN DIXIELAND
I'LL TAKE MY STAND *

* TO LIVE AND DIE
IN DIXIE *

* AWAY, AWAY *

* AWAY DOWN SOUTH *

* IN DIXIE *

BOBBY, BOBBY.

HEY, JERRY.
I'D ASK YOU WHAT'S NEW,

BUT I'M AFRAID YOU'D TELL ME.

WELL, YOU HEARD
WHAT'S NEW.

MY READERS ARE ON THE EDGE
OF THEIR COLLECTIVE SEAT.

WILL MR. DELAUGHTER
OR WILL HE NOT GO AFTER
BYRON DE LA BECKWITH?

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE HAS EVERY INTENTION

OF THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATING

THE POSSIBILITY OF
REOPENING THE CASE.

WELL, I DIDN'T GO
TO LAW SCHOOL, SIR,

BUT THAT SOUNDS AN AWFUL LOT
LIKE BULLSHIT TO ME.

NICE TALKING
TO YOU, JERRY.

HAVE A NICE DAY.

[PICKS UP PHONE, DIALS NUMBER]

[BEEP]
Clara: YEAH?

CLARA, CAN YOU TELL ME
HOW I CAN GET AHOLD

OF LEWIS SKINNER
OR FRED SANDERS?

WELL, IF YOU WANT
LEWIS SKINNER,

YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
A BIG SHOVEL

AND ABOUT SIX HOURS
OF DIGGING TIME.

WHAT'S FRED'S STATUS?

AS FAR AS I KNOW,
HE'S STILL ABOVEGROUND.

NOW BACK IN '63,
NONE OF THOSE HOUSES
WERE THERE.

THAT WAS ALL VACANT LOT.

AND THIS HERE
WAS ALL COVERED OVER
WITH BRUSH.

I GOT OUT HERE
EIGHT MINUTES AFTER
THE CALL CAME IN.

THE WAY MRS. EVERS
WAS YELLING AT ME,

YOU'D THINK I WAS
THE ONE WHO DONE IT.

NOW THIS IS WHERE
THEY FOUND THE GUN,

HIDDEN IN SOME
HONEYSUCKLE VINES.

GOT ANY IDEA WHERE
THAT GUN MIGHT BE TODAY?

HELL, NO.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS,
EVIDENCE HAD A HABIT

OF DISAPPEARING
AFTER THE TRIALS.

NOW LOOK AT THAT.

HELL, MY GRANDMOTHER
COULD HAVE PICKED EVERS
OFF FROM OVER HERE.

THAT'S WHERE
HE WAS SHOT,
RIGHT THERE.

THAT BIG TREE WASN'T
THERE AT THE TIME.

THERE WAS BLOOD
EVERYWHERE.

ALL OVER THE DRIVEWAY,
ALL OVER THE CAR.

IT WAS AS IF SOMEBODY
HAD BUTCHERED A HOG.

BUT THIS EVERS, HE MUST'VE BEEN
ONE HELL OF A STRONG MAN

BECAUSE SOMEHOW
HE MANAGED TO DRAG HIMSELF
ALL THE WAY UP TO HIS DOOR.

AND AFTER THAT BULLET
TORE THROUGH EVERS' BACK,

IT SLAMMED THROUGH
THAT WINDOW.

CRASHED THROUGH A WALL,

RICOCHETED OFF
THE REFRIGERATOR

AND BUSTED
THE COFFEEPOT.

WE FOUND IT LAYING
ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER

NEXT TO A WATERMELON.

YOU'RE KIDDING ME.

NO, SIR.

DID HE HAVE ANY KIDS?

IF MY MEMORY SERVES,
I BELIEVE THAT

THERE WERE THREE
LITTLE ONES THERE THAT NIGHT.

WHAT KIND OF MAN
SHOOTS ANOTHER MAN

IN THE BACK IN FRONT
OF HIS FAMILY?

I LOVE THE LAND OF MY BIRTH.

I DO NOT MEAN
JUST AMERICA AS A COUNTRY,

BUT MISSISSIPPI.
THE STATE IN WHICH I WAS BORN.

SO THE DEPLORABLE THINGS
I SPEAK OF HERE TODAY

WILL BE SAID TO YOU
IN HOPES OF A FUTURE

WHERE SUCH WILL NOT
BE THE CASE IN MISSISSIPPI.

IN THE HORRIFIC DEATHS
OF EMMETT TILL,

REVEREND G.W. LEE,

LAMAR SMITH AND A VARIETY
OF OTHER ATROCITIES,

NO ONE HAS BEEN CONVICTED.

AND WE FEEL THOSE GUILTY
OF HAVING COMMITTED
THESE UNGODLY ACTS

HAD THE FEELING OF ASSURANCE
THAT NOTHING EVER WOULD BE DONE.

FOR YOU SEE,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

WHITE JURIES HAVE YET TO CONVICT
A WHITE MAN IN MISSISSIPPI

GUILTY OF A CRIME
AGAINST A NEGRO.

THE FAILURE
OF THE SO-CALLED DECENT

OR MODERATE WHITE PERSON

TO TAKE A POSITIVE
AND UNCOMPROMISING STAND--

WHO'S THAT?

MEDGAR EVERS.

...ACCENTUATED BY
THE CONSPICUOUS--

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT IT?

[TURNS OFF TV]

OH, I JUST WANTED TO GET
AN IDEA OF WHO HE WAS.

I'D LIKE TO GET
AN IDEA OF WHO YOU ARE.

WHAT'S THAT
SUPPOSED TO MEAN?

BOBBY, I WAS MORE
THAN WILLING TO GO DOWN
THAT ROAD WITH YOU

WHEN YOU FIRST
GOT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL

AND DID ALL THAT
PRO BONO WORK.

AND I DIDN'T COMPLAIN
WHEN YOU WENT TO WORK

FOR THAT JEW LAWYER
WHO RAN YOU RAGGED.

NOW MAYBE I MINDED
JUST A LITTLE
WHEN YOU TURNED DOWN

THAT WONDERFUL OFFER
FROM MORSE & BRAGGS

SO YOU COULD BE ASSISTANT D.A.
AT ONE-FOURTH THE SALARY.

BUT I'LL BE DAMNED
IF I SPENT THE LAST 10 YEARS

SUPPORTING
YOUR EVERY CAREER DECISION

JUST SO YOU CAN HUMILIATE ME.
DIXIE...

YOU'RE GONNA PURSUE
THIS THING, AREN'T YOU?

YOU'RE GONNA PURSUE THIS THING
AND YOU'RE GONNA HUMILIATE ME
IN FRONT OF MY FRIENDS

AND MY FAMILY
AND THE ENTIRE STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI.

DIXIE, I'M JUST LOOKING
AT A COUPLE OF TAPES.

FINE. LOOK AT YOUR TAPES.

THAT'S ALL YOU'D BETTER DO.

WHY NOT?
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T WIN.

WHO SAYS?

THE SIXTH AMENDMENT SAYS.

SUPPOSE I COULD GET AROUND
THE SIXTH AMENDMENT.

OH, JESUS, BOBBY.

IT'S ONE THING FOR
THE GRIEVING WIDOW
TO CARRY ON--

SUPPOSE AN ARGUMENT
COULD BE MADE

THAT THE SIXTH AMENDMENT
DOESN'T APPLY.

LIKE THE McDONALD CASE--
YOU WANT TO RETRY BECKWITH?

FINE. ALL YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO DO IS DIG UP

26-YEAR-OLD
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

WHICH IS PROBABLY
NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE,

AND THEN YOU'RE NOT
ONLY GOING TO HAVE
TO IDENTIFY IT,

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
TO LOCATE THE KEY WITNESSES,

WHO, EVEN IF
YOU DO FIND THEM,

ARE PROBABLY DEAD
OR SENILE OR BOTH.

THEIR TESTIMONY
COULD BE READ
INTO THE RECORD

FROM THE TRIAL
TRANSCRIPT.

IF WE COULD FIND
A CERTIFIED TRANSCRIPT.

WE HAVEN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE
IN OVER 25 YEARS.

WHAT IF I FOUND ONE?

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SAY
BY SOME MIRACLE
YOU FOUND ONE.

YOU MANAGED TO GET
AN INDICTMENT.

LET'S SAY BY SOME EVEN
GREATER MIRACLE,

THE CIRCUIT COURT,
THE STATE SUPREME COURT

AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT
DIDN'T THROW IT OUT

AND YOU ACTUALLY
GOT TO TRIAL,
WHAT IF YOU LOSE?

OH, ED, THAT'S ALWAYS--

THE WHOLE STATE,
WHICH HAS SUPPOSED
TO HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH

OVER THE PAST
25 YEARS, IS GOING
TO BE LOOKING AT

THE WORST DAMN PUBLIC
RELATIONS DISASTER

SINCE THAT LITTLE
BLACK KIDEMMETTEMMITT
TILL

BOBBED UP OUT
OF THE TALLAHATCHIE?

ARE YOU TELLING ME
I CAN'T GO AFTER THIS?

NO, I'M TELLING YOU
YOU'RE DEALING
WITH THE PAST.

THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI,

THAT'S NOT A PLACE
YOU WANT TO BE.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

WELL, HOPEFULLY,
JERRY MITCHELL

CAN KEEP THIS THING
ALIVE FOR US.

JERRY MITCHELL'S FINE,
MOM, BUT WHAT WE NEED
IS NATIONAL PRESS.

DARRELL, CNN IS NOT GOING
TO RUN A MAJOR STORY

ABOUT HOW THE D.A.
OF HINDS COUNTY

IS REFUSING
TO RE-PROSECUTE A CASE

THAT'S A QUARTER
OF A CENTURY OLD.

STOP ANNOYING YOUR GRANDMAMA.

CARINA, DON'T YOU KNOW
THE GREATEST JOY
IN YOUR MOTHER'S LIFE

IS BEING ANNOYED
BY HER GRANDCHILDREN.

NEXT TO BEING ANNOYED
BY YOU, WALTER.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]
I'LL GET IT.

I'M NOT HERE
NO MATTER WHO IT IS.

[RING]

HELLO.

WHO?

JUST A MINUTE, PLEASE.

I WANT YOU TO EAT
THOSE BEANS, NOW.

IT'S LONG DISTANCE FROM JACKSON.

A MAN BY THE NAME OF DELAUGHTER.
YOU WANT ME TO TAKE IT?

NO, I'LL--
I'LL TAKE IT.

EAT THOSE BEANS.

I DON'T EAT BEANS.

YOU DON'T EAT BEANS?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

HELLO?

HELLO, MRS. EVERS.

I KNOW YOU PROBABLY LEFT HERE

FEELING PRETTY DISCOURAGED
THE OTHER DAY,

BUT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT MR. PETERS WAS
JUST BEING REALISTIC.

OH, I UNDERSTAND
PERFECTLY.

I ALSO WANTED YOU
TO KNOW, MA'AM,

THAT WE ARE GOING TO
BE KEEPING THIS CASE OPEN.

MRS. EVERS?

TELL ME SOMETHING,
MR. DELAUGHTER.

DID IT SUDDENLY
OCCUR TO MR. PETERS
THAT HE HAD BETTER

START MAKING NICE WITH
THE BLACK COMMUNITY
BEFORE NOVEMBER?

MRS. EVERS--

HE MADE IT
ABUNDANTLY
CLEAR TO ME

THAT IN ADDITION
TO HAVING NO EVIDENCE
AND NO WITNESSES,

HE ALSO HAD NO INTEREST.

ACTUALLY, MRS. EVERS,
LOOKING INTO THIS

WASN'T SO MUCH
MR. PETER'S IDEA
AS IT WAS MINE.

YOURS?
YES, MA'AM.

[SCOFFS] MR. DELAUGHTER,

JUDGE RUSSEL MOORE
WAS PERHAPS THE MOST
RACIST JUDGE

IN THE HISTORY
OF THE STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI.

WHY WOULD HIS
SON-IN-LAW

BE INTERESTED
IN THIS CASE?

WELL, MRS. EVERS,
I'M 37 YEARS OLD,
JUST LIKE MEDGAR WAS,

AND I'VE GOT THREE KIDS,
LIKE HE DID.

I WAS 11 YEARS OLD
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND WAS KILLED

AND I HARDLY
REMEMBER HIM AT ALL.

BUT I WENT BY
YOUR HOUSE THE OTHER DAY

AND I COULD SEE HIM THERE...
WATERING HIS LAWN,

WORKING ON HIS ROOF,

PLAYING WITH HIS CHILDREN.

NO MAN HAS THE RIGHT
TO TAKE ANOTHER MAN
AWAY FROM HIS CHILDREN.

I APPRECIATE THE CALL,
MR. DELAUGHTER.

I'LL KEEP IN TOUCH,
MRS. EVERS.

[PHONE DISCONNECTS,
DIAL TONE]

DID YOU PLAN ON TELLING ME

OR WAS I JUST GONNA READ
ABOUT IT IN THE PAPERS?

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE
AT DINNER AT THE WALKERS'
HOUSE IN 15 MINUTES.

WELL, I'VE GOT A LOT
OF WORK TO DO HERE.

SUIT YOURSELF.

NOBODY GIVES A GOOD GODDAMN
WHAT BYRON DE LA BECKWITH DID

TO SOME MEDGAR EVERS
26 YEARS AGO.

HELL, LARRY SMITH GOT
SHOT DOWN IN HIS OWN DAMN
DRIVEWAY JUST LAST WEEK.

AND IT WASN'T
FOR NO CIVIL RIGHTS, NEITHER.

IT WAS FOR WHATEVER
SPARE CHANGE HE HAD
IN HIS POCKET.

YOU KNOW, SOMETHING,
CRISCO, I COULD HAVE
HAD ANY INVESTIGATOR

I WANTED ON THIS CASE,
AND I ASKED FOR YOU.

AM I MEANT TO BE
FLATTERED BY THAT?

WE'RE SUPPOSED
TO BE TRYING TO NAIL
EDDIE WILLIAMS

FOR SPLITTING WENDELL
WASHINGTON'S HEAD OPEN
WITH A PICK AXE.

OR THAT GUY PIERSON
FOR EMPTYING

HIS RIFLE INTO
DONNY BROWN'S CHEST.

THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S WHY
WE'RE ONLY GOING TO BE WORKING

ON THIS CASE IN OUR SPARE TIME.

HOLY SHIT.

WILL YOU LOOK
AT THIS?

YOU COULD BUY A WHOLE
DAMN GENERAL ELECTRIC
REFRIGERATOR FOR $185.

TALK ABOUT
YOUR GOOD OLD DAYS.

THAT'S MY DADDY.

WELL, HEY, BENNY,
I DIDN'T KNOW YOUR DADDY
WAS ON THE FORCE, TOO.

SURE. DETECTIVE L.C. BENNETT.

HE TOLD ME HE WAS THERE WHEN
THEY FOUND BECKWITH'S RIFLE,

BUT I SURE AIN'T
NEVER SEEN THIS.

JOHN GOZA IS DEAD.

HERBERT SPEIGHT IS DEAD.

B.L. PITTMAN IS DEAD.

IS ANYBODY ALIVE?

THIS IS POINTLESS.
[BEEP]

YEAH.

Clara: IT'S JERRY MITCHELL.

UH-HUH. JERRY.

NO, JERRY, I DON'T
HAVE THE GUN YET.

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
YET. IF I FIND THE GUN,

YOU'LL BE
THE FIRST TO KNOW.

PAIN IN MY ASS.
THAT'S FUNNY.

I CAME BY TO SEE
IF YOU COULD USE
SOME HELP ON THIS CASE,

AND HERE YOU ARE
WITH A PICTURE OF MY DADDY.

WE SURE COULD USE SOME
HELP ON THIS THING, BENNY.

HOW ARE YOU AT BRINGING
PEOPLE BACK FROM THE DEAD?

YOU'RE JOKING,
BUT THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

WE HAVE TO MAKE THE PAST
START LIVING AGAIN.

THIS WHOLE CASE
IS ONE BIG RESURRECTION.

NOW I WANT YOU GUYS
TO GO THROUGH EVERY
PIECE OF LITERATURE

FROM EVERY ORGANIZATION
BECKWITH WAS PART OF--

WHITE CITIZENS COUNCIL,
SONS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION, KKK.

ALL OF 'EM.

GOOD, I ALWAYS
LOVED HOMEWORK.

WE'RE GOING TO START
BY PAYING THESE BOYS
A LITTLE VISIT.

WHO'S THAT?
TWO COPS.

SAID THEY BECKWITH
90 MILES AWAY AT
THE TIME OF THE MURDER.

YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO GET HOLLEY AND CRESSWELL

TO ADMIT THEY LIED UNDER OATH?

TIME HAS A WAY
OF CLEANING UP
PEOPLE'S MEMORIES.

I LOVE THE DELTA.

IT'S THE BEST PLACE
ON EARTH.

YEAH. IF YOU'RE A MOSQUITO.

TAKE CARE NOW.
THANK YOU, MR. HOLLEY.

SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T WIN
FOR LOSING.

YEAH, I ASKED YOU BOYS
TO MEET ME OUT HERE

SO AS TO AVOID
RUNNING INTO ANY
OF MY CONSTITUENTS.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN
AN ALDERMAN UP HERE,
MR. HOLLEY?

OH, HELL. MUST BE GOING
ON ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

BUT I'LL TELL YOU THIS--

IF WORD GOT OUT
THAT I TESTIFIED

ON BEHALF OF BYRON
DE LA BECKWITH...

I SUPPOSE, IN A WAY,
YOUR BOSS AND ME GOT
THE SAME PROBLEM.

SIR?

WELL, IF WE WANT
TO KEEP OUR JOBS,

WE'RE BOTH GOING
TO HAVE TO KISS

AN AWFUL LOT
OF BLACK BEHIND.

MR. HOLLEY,

MEDGAR EVERS WAS KILLED
SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT,

90 MILES AWAY IN JACKSON.

THERE'S NO WAY THE KILLER
COULD HAVE BEEN HERE
IN GREENWOOD

AT ONE A.M. PUMPING GAS.

NO, SIR, THAT'D
BE IMPOSSIBLE.

I KNOW IT WAS A LONG
WHILE AGO, BUT I'D LIKE
FOR YOU TO THINK BACK

IF YOU WOULD,
AND TELL ME...

ARE YOU STILL SURE
ABOUT THE TIME

YOU SAY YOU SAW
MR. BECKWITH
AT THAT GAS STATION?

WELL, SIR, THIS
OLD MEMORY OF MINE

JUST KEEPS GETTING
WORSE AND WORSE
WITH EACH PASSING YEAR,

BUT THERE'S TWO THINGS
I AM PRETTY SURE ABOUT--

IT WAS APPROXIMATELY
1:03 IN THE MORNING

AND OLD DELAY
WAS GASSING UP
THAT VALIANT OF HIS.

LYING SON
OF A BITCH.

YOU HONESTLY THOUGHT
YOU WERE GOING TO HEAR
SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

MAYBE WE'LL HAVE
BETTER LUCK
WITH HIS PARTNER.

Y'ALL WANNA SUBPOENA ME,

THEN YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD
AND DO IT.

BUT IF I SEE YOU,
BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

OR THE BLACKEST NIGGER
IN THIS COUNTRY

PUTTING GAS IN HIS CAR
AT THE TIME OF A MURDER,

THEN THAT'S WHAT
I'M GOING TO SAY.

I'D SAY
HE'S IN OUR CAMP.

I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS
FOR HER TODAY.

WHO'S THAT?

MRS. EVERS.

FILL IT UP FOR ME,
WOULD YOU, BUDDY?

I CALL HER EVERY FRIDAY
AND LET HER KNOW HOW
THE CASE IS PROGRESSING.

GOT A FLASH FOR YOU, BOBBY.
THIS CASE AIN'T PROGRESSING.

I THINK ABOUT HER
KEEPING THIS THING
ALIVE ALL THIS TIME.

IMAGINE A WOMAN
LOVING A MAN SO MUCH.

HELL, I CAN'T EVEN GET
A WOMAN TO LOVE ME
WHILE I'M STILL ALIVE.

YOU KNOW WHAT I DID
AFTER MY LAST DIVORCE?

I TOOK UP GOLF.

MAN NEEDS A HOBBY
TO OCCUPY HIS MIND,

OTHERWISE HE STARTS
DOING CRAZY THINGS
LIKE DRINKING TOO MUCH

OR CHASING 26-YEAR-OLD
MURDER CASES

ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

HELLO?

MRS. EVERS?

MR. DELAUGHTER.

I TOLD YOU I'D CALL YOU
EVERY FRIDAY.

AND, WELL, IT'S FRIDAY,
MRS. EVERS, SO I'M CALLING.

MR. DELAUGHTER,
THIS REALLY
ISN'T NECESSARY.

NO, IT'S IMPORTANT
TO ME YOU KNOW
WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN.

I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS
FOR YOU TODAY

BUT THE TRUTH IS,
WE STILL HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE
TO LOCATE THE AUTOPSY REPORT.

MOST OF THE PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
IS STILL MISSING.

A NUMBER OF THE WITNESSES
HAVE DIED,

WHICH REALLY HURTS US,
AND SO FAR WE'VE HAD NO LUCK

IN FINDING THE ORIGINAL
TRIAL TRANSCRIPT.

AND I'VE JUST SPOKE WITH
BOTH HOLLEY AND CRESSWELL

AND THEY'RE STICKING
BY THEIR STORIES.

WELL, MR. DELAUGHTER,

I'M SURE
AS THE ASSISTANT
DISTRICT ATTORNEY

OF HINDS COUNTY,

YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING
IN YOUR POWER

TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE.

MRS. EVERS...

MR. DELAUGHTER.

I'LL CALL YOU NEXT FRIDAY.

I'LL BE ON PINS
AND NEEDLES TILL THEN.

I WAITED FOR YOU
TO COME HOME.

I'M NOT TAKING
THE CHILDREN WITH ME.

I JUST NEED TO BE
ON MY OWN FOR A WHILE.

I WAS JUST WONDERING
WHEN WE STOPPED
LOVING EACH OTHER.

I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT HAPPENED, BOBBY?

PEOPLE CHANGE.

YOU SAYING I'VE CHANGED?

I'M SAYING
YOU HAVEN'T.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA,
MR. BECKWITH.

OH, IT'S HEAVEN
ON EARTH.

OF COURSE, LIKE
EVERYWHERE ELSE,

WE DO GET THE OCCASIONAL
STRAY NIGGER MOVING IN.

BUT THEIR HOUSES ALWAYS
SEEM TO BURN DOWN.

THEN AGAIN, YOU KNOW
HOW CARELESS NIGGERS ARE
WITH THEIR CIGARETTES.

[CHUCKLES]

A REAL BEAUTY,
AIN'T HE?

WHERE'D YOU GET THIS?

ED BRYSON
OVER AT CHANNEL 3.

THEY'RE RUNNING
A PIECE ON BECKWITH
THIS WEEKEND.

TELL ME, MR. BECKWITH,
DO YOU THINK IT'S A CRIME

FOR A WHITE MAN
TO KILL A BLACK MAN?

GOD PUT THE WHITE MAN HERE TO
RULE OVER ALL THE DUSKY RACES.

NOW IT SAYS SO IN THE BIBLE.

SO DO YOU THINK
THERE'S A CHANCE

THAT YOU WOULD EVER
BE INDICTED AGAIN

FOR THE MURDER
OF MEDGAR EVERS?

[LAUGHS] HELL, WHY
WOULD I BE INDICTED AGAIN?

DO YOU KNOW
OF ANY NEW EVIDENCE?

NO...

ARE YOU A JEW?
I'M A CATHOLIC.

NO, BECAUSE I TOLD YOU,
I WON'T TALK TO NO JEW.

SEE, BECAUSE ANYBODY
WHO KNOWS ANYTHING

ABOUT THESE JEWS
AND THESE NIGGERS

KNOWS THAT IT WAS THESE
JEWS THAT PUT THE NIGGERS

UP TO ALL THIS FOOLISHNESS.

THIS CORE AND SNCC AND NAACP.

BUT IF YOU WERE
INDICTED AGAIN?

WELL, I'M JUST GONNA
TEND TO MY BUSINESS

LIKE I ALWAYS HAVE.

I'M GONNA LOOK OUT
FOR MY GOD, MY FAMILY

AND THE WHOLE STATE
OF CHRIST'S CHURCH.

AND THAT DON'T ENCOMPASS
ANYBODY BUT WHITE CHRISTIANS.

ALL THESE OTHER
RACES AND COLORS
AND CREEDS AND SISSIES,

WHATEVER,
THEY ARE ANTI-CHRISTS.

SEE, MANY OF THEM
BELIEVE IN HUMAN SACRIFICES
AND VOODOO AND SUCH.

MR. BECKWITH,
ACCORDING TO
YOUR WAY OF THINKING,

HOW COULD JUSTICE BE
DONE IN THE MEDGAR EVERS
MURDER CASE?

WELL, FIRST--

FIRST YOU'VE GOT TO FIND OUT
WHO KILLED THE NIGGER.

AND THEN WHAT?

AND THEN YOU JUST, UH,

DO WHATEVER THE LAW SAYS
THAT YOU CAN DO

IF YOU'RE BIG ENOUGH TO DO IT.

HE'S DARING US
TO GET HIM.

THAT DON'T CHANGE THE FACT
THAT WE STILL AIN'T
GOT NOTHING.

I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO SAY.

DID I KILL MEDGAR EVERS?
DID YOU?

I DID NOT KILL HIM.

BUT HE SURE IS DEAD.

AND HE AIN'T COMING BACK.
[LAUGHS]

WHAT DID YOU THINK
WHEN YOU HEARD MEDGAR
EVERS HAD BEEN KILLED?

I DIDN'T SHED A TEAR.

NO, SIR.

[STATIC]

HMM.

HERE YOU GO. THE LATEST
LITERARY EFFORTS

FROM THE "HATE GROUP
OF THE MONTH" CLUB.

FOR PEOPLE WHO GOT ONE
THING ON THEIR MINDS,

THEY SURE GOT
A WHOLE LOT OF WAYS
TO TELL YOU ABOUT IT.

I WONDER WHAT
OLD JUDGE MOORE

WOULD BE THINKING
ABOUT ALL THIS.

DIXIE STILL LIVING
WITH HER MOM?

OH, SHIT, I'M LATE!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES.
ARMED ROBBERY.

A GUY NAMED SPRATLIN
HELD UP CRECHELLE'S,
GOT AWAY WITH $3,800

AND AN ORDER OF ONION RINGS.

ALL RIGHT, ED,
I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

WHERE YOU GOING?

DIXIE'S HOME
WITH THE KIDS.

I SAID I'D BE
THERE BY 6:00.

WHAT ABOUT THE OWENS CASE?
I'M TOTALLY PREPARED, ED.

THE ASSAULT WITH
THE BASEBALL BAT.

NO, THE CARJACKING.
RIGHT, THE CARJACKING.

I'M ON TOP OF IT.
BOBBY, LOOK,

I KNOW YOU WANT
TO MAKE THIS EVERS THING
TO YOUR LIFE'S WORK,

BUT WE GOT A CASE
OR TWO THAT OCCURRED
IN THIS DECADE.

ED, I PROMISE.
BOBBY, THIS OFFICE

CAN'T KEEP COVERING F
OR YOU WITH THE JUDGES.

YOU BEST BE IN COURT
TOMORROW MORNING!

DON'T WORRY, ED,
I'LL BE THERE!

DADDY.

HOW COME GRANDPA RUSSEL
WOULD BE MAD AT YOU?

WHAT?

MOMMY SAID
GRANDPA RUSSEL
WOULD BE MAD AT YOU.

GREAT. WHAT ELSE DID MOMMY SAY?

SHE SAID THAT
YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING

THAT GRANDPA WON'T LIKE.

YEAH, WELL.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

DREW, GRANDPA RUSSEL
AND I DIDN'T ALWAYS
AGREE ON THINGS.

WHAT THINGS?

WELL, LET'S SEE,
HOW CAN I EXPLAIN THIS?

HMM.

EXPLAIN IT!

RIGHT.

YOU KNOW HOW SOMETIMES
PEOPLE CAN JUST BE DIFFERENT?

LIKE HOW?

GRANDPA USED
TO EAT PIG'S KNUCKLES.

UGHHH!

THAT'S HOW I FEEL.
SEE, WE'RE DIFFERENT.

AND GRANDPA USED
TO LIKE TO BUILD THINGS.

I CAN'T BUILD ANYTHING,
BUT I LIKE TO WORK
IN THE GARDEN.

AND GRANDPA HAD GUNS
ALL OVER HIS HOUSE,

AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY GUNS.

I HAVE A GUN.

YOURS IS A NUCLEAR-POWERED
LASER GUN.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
HANDGUNS AND RIFLES.

HOLY SHIT!

CLAIRE, WATCH DREW!
HOLY SHIT.

DON'T SAY THAT.
THAT'S A BAD WORD.

BENNY?
HEY, BOBBY.

WHEN SANDERS WAS SHOWING
ME THE CRIME SCENE,

HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT
EVIDENCE DISAPPEARING
AFTER TRIALS.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THAT?

MY DADDY TOLD ME
THAT KIND OF THING
HAPPENED ALL THE TIME.

PEOPLE USED
TO TAKE STUFF AS SOUVENIRS.

YOU KNOW--LAWYERS,
BAILIFFS, CLERKS.

HOW ABOUT JUDGES?

[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S TRUE.

I'M AFRAID I WON'T
BE ABLE TO PLAY TUESDAY.

WE HAVE A ROUND ROBIN
AT THE CLUB,

AND I PROMISED LOU ANN.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

WELL. HONEY,
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'LL CALL CHARLYNNE.

IF SHE CAN'T MAKE IT,
IT'S OK, I'LL GET LOUISE.

SUGAR, PLAY THAT
JACK OF CLUBS FOR ME THERE,

IF YOU WOULD PLEASE, MA'AM.

HI, GRANDMA.
HI, GRANDMA!

BOBBY, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING HERE? DIXIE'S
NOT HERE, HONEY.

WELL, I THOUGHT YOU'D ENJOY
A VISIT FROM YOUR GRANDKIDS.

DARLIN', IT'S MY BRIDGE
NIGHT TONIGHT.

DREW! COME HERE.

WELL, WE CAN'T STAY
BUT A MINUTE.

CAROLINE, DO YOU
REMEMBER THAT RIFLE
THAT JUDGE MOORE USED

TO HOLD OPEN THE DOOR
TO HIS STUDY?

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT AROUND
ANYWHERE MAYBE?

LADIES, Y'ALL KNOW BOBBY.

THAT'S MARILYN
AND JILL AND LEAH.

HELLO, LADIES. HEY, I
DON'T WANT TO KEEP Y'ALL
FROM YOUR BRIDGE GAME.

YOU GO RIGHT AHEAD
AND I'LL BE RIGHT
BACK DOWN.

NOW, WHAT IS HE DOING HERE,
CAROLINE?

HE'S LOOKING FOR A GUN.

[GASPS]

BOBBY!

BOBBY.

I DON'T APPRECIATE
YOUR ROAMING AROUND.

I WANT YOU COMING
DOWN THOSE STAIRS NOW,
PLEASE, AND LEAVE.

I SPENT MANY
A HAPPY HOUR UP HERE

ARGUING THE LAW
WITH YOUR HUSBAND.

OH, YES. AND IF HE KNEW
WHAT YOU WERE UP TO

WITH THIS EVERS
NONSENSE, OOOH,

THAT MAN WOULD
TURN OVER IN HIS GRAVE.

I SAID THAT TO MYSELF
JUST THIS MORNING.

DIXIE ALWAYS SAID
THAT YOU WERE
CRAZY AS HELL.

MAYBE SHE DID HAVE A POINT.

BOBBY, I LOVE YOU,

BUT YOU AND DIXIE
AREN'T ANY MORE RIGHT

FOR EACH OTHER
THAN THE MAN
IN THE MOON.

OK. I'LL GO BACK
AND RESUME MY BRIDGE GAME.

YOU GO ON AHEAD.
I'LL BE RIGHT DOWN.

BOBBY? IT'S BEST
IF YOU COME ON BACK
DOWN WITH ME RIGHT NOW.

I PREFER IT.

WATCH THAT, BOBBY!
YOU BE CAREFUL.
IT COULD BE LOADED.

COULD YOU HOLD ON TO THAT
FOR ME FOR A MINUTE, PLEASE?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I JUST WANT TO CHECK

THE SERIAL NUMBER.

BOBBY, I LOVE
MY GRANDCHILDREN.

IT'S TOTALLY
INAPPROPRIATE FOR YOU

TO COME JUST MARCHING
IN HERE AND YOU EXPECT--

YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!
WHAT?

[LAUGHS] I LOVE YOU, CAROLINE.

YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT.

GO CHECK THE EVIDENCE
LOCKER, I JUST
LOGGED IT IN.

LOGGED WHAT IN?

THE GUN THAT KILLED
MEDGAR EVERS.

YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT.
WHO'S FULL OF SHIT?

BOBBY SAYS HE FOUND THE GUN
THAT KILLED MEDGAR EVERS.

YOU'RE FULL OF SHIT.

WELL, THAT'S SOMETHING
TO TELL MRS. EVERS.

HEY, I'M NOT GONNA TELL
MRS. EVERS.

[CHUCKLES] BOBBY.

FOR MONTHS,
YOU'VE BEEN MAKING
THOSE FRIDAY CALLS

SO SHE'D TRUST YOU.

IF SHE FINDS OUT...

THAT'S JUST THE POINT.
I CAN'T HAVE HER FIND OUT.

THIS CAN'T LEAVE THE OFFICE.

IT'S GREAT
WE HAVE THE GUN,

BUT THE ONLY WAY
WE'RE GONNA GET
A NEW INDICTMENT

IS IF WE FIND SOMETHING
THEY DIDN'T HAVE
27 YEARS AGO.

AND THE WAY I SEE IT,
THAT SOMETHING
WILL COME FROM BECKWITH.

BECKWITH?
YES, SIR.

RIGHT NOW,
HE'S ON HIS MOUNTAINTOP

SHOOTING HIS MOUTH OFF
TO ANYONE WHO'LL LISTEN.

NO TELLING WHAT
INCRIMINATING THING'S

LIABLE TO COME
OUT OF THAT OLD MAN.

BUT IF HE KNOWS WE HAVE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS,

HE'LL KNOW WE'RE TAKING
THIS INVESTIGATION SERIOUSLY

AND CLAM UP.

I DOUBT THAT BECKWITH
AND MYRLIE EVER SPEAK
ALL THAT OFTEN.

MYRLIE SPEAKS
TO JERRY MITCHELL.

AND JERRY MITCHELL
SPEAKS TO THE WORLD.

[TRAIN HORN IN DISTANCE]

"YOU BEST STOP WASTING
OUR TAXPAYERS' MONEY.

ENJOY YOUR DRIVE HOME."

NICE TO SEE JACKSON STILL
HAS SOME CONCERNED CITIZENS.

WELL, HECK, SON,
WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

I EXPECT PEOPLE TO ACT LIKE
DECENT, LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.

THAT'S WHAT I EXPECT.

THIS IS 1990,
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

OF COURSE IT IS.
AND WE GOT BLACKS

AND WHITES PLAYING
BALL TOGETHER

AND ON THE POLICE FORCE,
IN THE GOVERNMENT, ON TV.

WE ARE A FULLY EVOLVED
SOCIETY. AREN'T WE, SON?

HMM?

LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING--

THIS COUNTRY MAY BE LEGALLY
INTEGRATED, BUT EMOTIONALLY,

WE WILL ALWAYS BE
SEGREGATED.

I DON'T KNOW
THAT I ACCEPT THAT.

OF COURSE NOT.

YOU'RE BOBBY DELAUGHTER,

MISSISSIPPI'S
SELF-APPOINTED NEW
CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER.

BARNEY.

DO WE HAVE
TO TALK ABOUT THIS?

NO, WE DO NOT.

HEY! WHO ALL WANTS
SOME OF YOUR GRANDPA'S
FAMOUS BABY BACKS?

All: I DO! I DO!

[CHUCKLES]

BOBBY. YOU'RE MY SON.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO GET HURT.

* IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI *

* IN 1963 *

* THERE LIVED A MAN *

* WHO WAS BRAVE *

* HE FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM *

HELLO, MRS. EVERS?

IT'S BOBBY DELAUGHTER.

NOTHING EARTH SHATTERING, NO.

WE'VE LOCATED JUST ABOUT
ALL THE WITNESSES
WHO WERE STILL WITH US,

BUT WITHOUT THE ORIGINAL
TRIAL TRANSCRIPT,

IT'S TOUGH PIECING
THE CASE TOGETHER.

HEY, BOBBY?

NO, MA'AM, THAT'S ABOUT IT.

I WISH I HAD MORE TO REPORT.

HANG UP THE PHONE.
HANG UP THE PHONE.

NO, I UNDERSTAND.
HANG UP.

BOBBY.
YOU, TOO.

BOBBY, HANG UP.

I'LL CALL YOU NEXT
FRIDAY, MRS. EVERS.

THANK YOU. GOOD BYE.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

WOULD A CONFESSION
BY MR. BECKWITH
QUALIFY AS EXCITING?

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

YOU KNOW JACK ABLES?

THE LAWYER?

HE'S REPRESENTING
A MOVIE STUDIO

IN A DEFAMATION
OF CHARACTER SUIT

BROUGHT BY A COUPLE KLANSMEN.
DIDN'T LIKE THE WAY

THEY WERE PORTRAYED
IN A CERTAIN MOTION PICTURE.

WHILE HE WAS DOING HIS RESEARCH,
HE CAME ACROSS THAT.

"KLANDESTINE."

IT WAS WRITTEN 20 YEARS AGO

ABOUT THIS KLAN TITAN TURNED
FBI INFORMANT, DELMAR DENNIS.

ON PAGE 38,
HE TALKS ABOUT ATTENDING

A KLAN RALLY IN AUGUST OF 1965.

GUESS WHO WAS
A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER
AT THAT PARTICULAR RALLY?

NO!
OH, YEAH.

BECKWITH?
OUR BOY.

LISTEN TO THIS.
AND I QUOTE:

"KILLING THAT NIGGER
GAVE ME NO MORE
INNER DISCOMFORT

THAN OUR WIVES ENDURE
WHEN THEY GIVE BIRTH
TO OUR CHILDREN."

SOUNDS LIKE
A CONFESSION TO ME.

LET'S RUN DOWN
THIS DELMAR DENNIS.

WE NEED TO HAVE
A CHAT WITH HIM.

I GOT $100 SAYS OLD DELMAR
CHICKENS OUT ON US.

HE'S PROBABLY
HIDING IN THE WOODS,
SHITTING IN HIS DRAWERS.

WHERE THE HELL
IS THIS PLACE?

THIS GUY INFORMED
ON THE KLAN.

HE COULD HAVE MADE
A DEAL WITH THEM

TO SAVE HIS BUTT
BY DELIVERING US.

THAT'S A HAPPY THOUGHT.

[WINGS FLAPPING]

[TWIGS SNAPPING]

[FOOTSTEPS]

ONE OF YOU
BOBBY DELAUGHTER?

HOLDING RALLIES
AND BURNING CROSSES
IS ONE THING.

BUT WHEN THEY KILLED
THEM THREE KIDS UP
IN NESHOBA COUNTY,

FREEDOM RIDERS--

GOODMAN, CHANEY, SCHWERNER?

YEAH. THAT MADE
A LOT OF PEOPLE
COME TO THEIR SENSES.

ANYWAY, THAT'S WHY
I DECIDED TO GO
UNDERCOVER FOR THE FBI.

I NEED TO ASK YOU IF WHAT
YOU SAY IN THAT BOOK HAPPENED.

THAT PART ABOUT
BECKWITH'S SPEECH

AT THAT KLAN RALLY.
IS THAT A FACT?

IT'S A FACT.

I WAS SHOCKED
WHEN HE SAID IT,

AND I REMEMBER
THINKING HOW
STUPID HE WAS

SHOOTING OFF HIS
MOUTH LIKE THAT IN
FRONT OF 100 MEN.

DID YOU REPORT THAT TO THE FBI?

SURE, I DID.

BUT BECKWITH
WAS A WHITE MAN

ACCUSED OF KILLING
A BLACK.

THE FBI WASN'T GONNA
BLOW MY COVER

ON A CASE THEY KNEW
THEY COULDN'T WIN.

THEY WERE SAVING ME
FOR THE NESHOBA
TRIAL BECAUSE--

TWO OF THE VICTIMS WERE WHITE.

RIGHT.

MR. DENNIS,
IF I CAN'T BUILD THE CASE

I GIVE YOU MY WORD THAT
WE NEVER HAD THIS CONVERSATION.

BUT IF I CAN,
WILL YOU TESTIFY?

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH
IS THE CRAZIEST,

MOST DANGEROUS
SON OF A BITCH
I EVER COME ACROSS.

HE'S SO CRAZY
EVEN THE KLAN'S
AFRAID OF HIM.

HE'S AN OLD MAN NOW.
THAT OLD MAN

IS PROBABLY MORE
DANGEROUS TODAY THAN
HE WAS 30 YEARS AGO.

MR. DENNIS,
WE NEED YOUR HELP.

I CAN'T MAKE
NO PROMISES.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING,
MR. DENNIS?

SIX MONTHS
I'VE WORKED THIS CASE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
HAVE TOLD ME
TO GIVE IT UP.

"IT'S 27 YEARS OLD.
LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE."

BUT YOU SEE, I'M HAVING
A HARD TIME DOING THAT

BECAUSE I DON'T SEE
WHAT DIFFERENCE IT MAKES

IF A MAN WAS
BUSHWHACKED YESTERDAY,

TODAY OR 27 DAMN YEARS AGO.

MURDER IS MURDER.

IT'S STILL MY JOB TO BRING
THE SON OF A BITCH TO JUSTICE.

IT'S STILL YOUR JOB TO HELP ME.

OH, NO.
I DID MY JOB.

I TESTIFIED
AGAINST THE KLAN.

THEY SHOT OUT
MY WINDOWS,
BLEW UP MY CAR.

THEY HUNTED
AND HARASSED ME
FOR 25 YEARS!

DON'T THAT GET ME EVEN
FOR THE WRONG I DONE?

WE NEVER GET EVEN
FOR THE WRONG WE'VE DONE.

IF I DO THIS THING...

YOU GOTTA
PROMISE ME PROTECTION.

HEY, HEY, HEY,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

HEY. STOP THAT.
STOP THAT. KNOCK IT OFF.

ENOUGH OF THAT.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

EDDY CALLED YOU
A NIGGER LOVER.

MY DAD SAYS YOU'RE
AFTER A MAN FOR SOMETHING
THAT ISN'T EVEN A CRIME.

THAT'S ENOUGH FIGHTING, SON.
YOU GET ON HOME. GO ON HOME.

LET ME TAKE A LOOK AT YOU.

MY GOD. GET IN THIS HOUSE.
WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?

Woman on P.A.:
DR. HERNDON, DR. HERNDON.

5739.

ALL THIS FIGHTING.
ALL THIS NAME-CALLING.

IS THIS WHAT YOU WANT?

TO DRAG YOUR CHILDREN
INTO ALL THIS?

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE ME DO?
LET A MURDERER GO FREE?

I'D NEVER TELL YOU
YOUR BUSINESS.

I'M THINKING
ABOUT THE CHILDREN.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY EVERY
DECENT PERSON IN THIS STATE

ISN'T SICKENED BY WHAT
HAPPENED HERE 27 YEARS AGO.

OH, BOBBY.
YOU'RE NOT, ARE YOU?

NOT IN FRONT
OF THE CHILDREN.

WHY NOT? I WAS JUST A KID
WHEN MEDGAR EVERS WAS KILLED,

AND I STILL REMEMBER YOU
AND YOUR FRIENDS DISCUSSING IT.

AND I RECOLLECT SOMEONE SAYING,
"THAT NIGGER NEEDED TO BE SHOT."

I NEVER SAID A HATEFUL
THING LIKE THAT.

YOU DIDN'T CRY, DID YOU?

I CAN'T SAY THAT
I SHED ANY TEARS--

HAD IT BEEN OUR
BELOVED GOVERNOR,
ROSS BARNETT,

GOT HIMSELF SHOT IN HIS
DRIVEWAY, YOU WOULD'VE BEEN
BAWLING YOUR EYES OUT.

MEDGAR EVERS LEFT
A YOUNG WIDOW
AND THREE LITTLE KIDS.

WHY DIDN'T YOU CRY?

I DON'T WANT
TO DISCUSS THIS NOW.

WHY, MAMA?

BECAUSE
HE TRIED TO DESTROY
OUR WAY OF LIFE.

AND HE SUCCEEDED
ALL TOO WELL.

THIS STATE'S GOING
TO HELL ON ACCOUNT
OF INTEGRATION.

THAT'S A FACT.
IF YOU THINK THEY
APPRECIATE ONE THING

WE GAVE THEM,
YOU'RE CRAZY.

HEY, TIGER, HOW DO YOU FEEL?
I'M ALL RIGHT.

YOUR SON HAS
ONE TOUGH NOSE.

SO IT'S NOT BROKEN?
NO.

IT'LL BE TENDER
FOR A COUPLE DAYS,

THEN IT'LL BE GOOD
AS NEW.

THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE IT.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.
MM-HMM.

MR. DELAUGHTER...

YES?

ARE YOU THE ONE
INVOLVED IN THIS
MEDGAR EVERS THING?

YES, I AM.

I JUST WANT TO
TELL YOU, I THINK WHAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO DO

IS VERY IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DON'T WANT
YOU KIDS GETTING
INTO ANYMORE FIGHTS.

BUT HE CALLED YOU A--

I DON'T CARE
WHAT HE CALLED ME.

IT DOESN'T BOTHER ME. YOU GOTTA
LEARN NOT TO LET IT BOTHER YOU.

A LOT OF PEOPLE
AROUND HERE DON'T LIKE
WHAT DADDY'S DOING NOW.

WHAT ARE YOU
DOING, DADDY?

I'M TRYING TO PUT
A BAD MAN IN JAIL.

MAMA SAYS WHAT
YOU'RE DOING IS WRONG.

GRANDMA SAID
EDGAR MEVERS
IS RUINING OUR LIFE.

[CHUCKLES]

MEDGAR EVERS WAS A GOOD GUY
WHO TRIED TO HELP PEOPLE.

DID HE TRY TO BEAT
THE BAD GUYS?

YES, HE DID. HE FOUGHT
SO THAT BLACK PEOPLE

COULD EAT IN THE SAME
RESTAURANTS,

SWIM IN THE SAME POOLS

SHOP IN THE SAME STORES

AND GO TO THE SAME SCHOOLS
AS WHITE PEOPLE.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?

NOTHING.

BUT YOU'LL HEAR PEOPLE SAY
ALL KINDS OF BAD THINGS

ABOUT WHAT
YOUR DADDY'S DOING.

THEY'RE GONNA TEASE YOU,
TRY TO PICK FIGHTS.

BUT NO MATTER
WHAT THEY DO...

I WANT YOU TO WALK AWAY.

WHAT IF THEY
SAY SOMETHING
REALLY MEAN?

THEY'RE ONLY WORDS. THEY CAN'T
HURT YOU UNLESS YOU LET THEM.

IS THIS ABOUT
STICKS AND STONES?

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

Y'ALL UNDERSTAND
WHAT I'M SAYING?

All: YES, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. ALL Y'ALL
GET ON TO BED NOW.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

HELLO?

Byron: I HEARD
YOU HAD A LITTLE VISIT
WITH MY FRIEND DELMAR.

MR. BECKWITH?

NEXT TIME YOU SEE OLD DELMAR,
YOU TELL HIM FOR ME

THERE ARE A LOT
OF DARK, WINDING ROADS

BETWEEN THE BACKWOODS
OF LOUISIANA

AND A COURTROOM IN MISSISSIPPI.

A MAN COULD GET LOST.

[DIAL TONE]

DADDY...

CLAIRE,
WHAT'S THE MATTER?

THE GHOST'S IN MY ROOM AGAIN.

OH, WELL.

LET'S SEE
WHAT WE CAN DO.

WHERE IS HE?

SITTING RIGHT THERE.
OH, RIGHT.

DADDY, SING "DIXIE."

OK. HOP INTO BED,
SWEETIE.

DADDY. SING.

YOU KNOW, SWEETIE, MAYBE
" DIXIE" IS NOT THE RIGHT SONG.

MAYBE THAT'S WHY THIS GHOST
KEEPS COMING BACK.

BUT YOU SAID--
I KNOW, BABY.

BUT I'M NOT SO SURE
THAT ALL GHOSTS LIKE "DIXIE."

BUT HOW DO WE KNOW
WHAT THIS GHOST LIKES?

SEEING AS THIS IS
YOUR SPECIAL GHOST,

MAYBE HE'LL LIKE
YOUR FAVORITE SONG.

"OLD MACDONALD"?
YEAH!

LET'S GIVE IT A TRY.
OK.

OK. * OLD MACDONALD
HAD A FARM *

* E-I-E-I-O *

* AND ON THAT FARM HE HAD A-- *

WHAT?

A GHOST?
[LAUGHS]

OK. * AND ON THAT FARM
HE HAD A GHOST *

* E-I-E-I-O *

* WITH A BOO BOO HERE
AND A BOO BOO THERE *

*HERE A BOO, THERE A BOO
EVERYWHERE A BOO BOO *

SO YOU WANTED
TO HAVE LUNCH

TO TALK ABOUT
BURT'S NOSE?

NO, ACTUALLY, I...

I DIDN'T THINK SO.

SO THEN,
THIS IS A DATE?

APPARENTLY.

IN THE HOSPITAL
CAFETERIA?

I TOOK A CHANCE.
I THOUGHT IT WOULD
EITHER BE STUPID

OR CHARMING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IS THERE
A THIRD CHOICE?

EXTREMELY CHARMING?
THAT'S THE ONE.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

SO HOW'D YOU GET INTO
ALL THIS?

YOU WANT
THE STANDARD ANSWER
OR THE TRUTH?

HOW ABOUT A LITTLE OF BOTH?

I ALWAYS LIKED
HELPING PEOPLE.

AND I LIKE THE HOURS.

WHICH ANSWER WAS THAT?

A LITTLE OF BOTH.

BUT I DO LIKE THAT
I WORK ONE WEEK ON
AND ONE WEEK OFF.

CAN'T BEAT THAT.

HAVE TO BE CAREFUL
NOT TO SHOP TOO MUCH

IN THAT WEEK OFF.
THAT CAN KILL YOU.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I WANTED TO BE A LAWYER
SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.

I WATCHED PERRY MASON
ALL THE TIME.

I IDENTIFIED WITH HIM.

BUT HE WAS
A DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
I KNOW.

LATER, I REALIZED
THE ONLY WAY
HE EVER WON A CASE

IS IF SOME GUY JUMPED UP
AND YELLED, "I DID IT!"

AND I DIDN'T SEE THAT
HAPPENING ALL THAT OFTEN,

SO I SWITCHED TO THE OTHER SIDE.

WELL, I THINK IT'S
A GOOD THING YOU DID.

YOU WOULD BE IN
THE MINORITY THESE DAYS.

THERE ARE A LOT MORE PEOPLE
ON YOUR SIDE THAN YOU THINK.

YOU'RE NOT SAYING THAT BECAUSE
I BOUGHT YOU A LIME JELL-O?

WELL, IT IS THE WAY
TO A WOMAN'S HEART.

BUT IF YOU COULD
PULL THIS OFF,

I THINK IT WOULD
DO MISSISSIPPI
A WHOLE LOT OF GOOD.

AND IF I DON'T?

I'LL PRETEND
I NEVER MET YOU.

WHOO! [LAUGHTER]

I SEE THIS,
I HAVE RENEWED FAITH

IN THE INSTITUTION
OF MARRIAGE.

I JUST CAN'T GET
ENOUGH OF MY HUNK
OF BURNING LOVE.

NOT NOW, CLARA MAY!

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

CLARA MAYFIELD.

IT'S JERRY MITCHELL.

I'LL TAKE IT.

YES, JERRY.

I KNOW YOU HAVE THE GUN.

WE'VE BEEN OVER THIS.

I KNOW YOU FOUND IT
IN RUSSEL MOORE'S DEN.

THERE'LL BE A STORY TOMORROW
ABOUT HOW THE D.A.'S OFFICE

HAS BEEN LYING
TO THE PEOPLE OF JACKSON

AND HOW BOBBY DELAUGHTER
LIED TO MYRLIE EVERS.

I'M CALLING TO SEE
IF YOU CARE TO COMMENT.

YOU'VE EXPLAINED WHY
YOU LIED TO THE PRESS.

YOU STILL HAVE
NOT EXPLAINED
WHY YOU LIED TO ME.

I TOLD YOU.
JERRY MITCHELL
IS A LOOSE CANNON.

THIS CASE WAS SO DELICATE,
I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE CHANCES.

I'M THE LAST PERSON
ON EARTH

WHO WOULD JEOPARDIZE
THIS INVESTIGATION,
AND YOU KNOW THAT.

THERE'S SOMETHING
YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME.

I SWEAR TO GOD,
THERE IS NO COVER-UP.

YOU FULLY INTEND
TO SEEK AN INDICTMENT
AND A NEW TRIAL?

THAT'S WHAT WE'VE
BEEN WORKING TOWARD.

I THOUGHT SO,
MR. DELAUGHTER.

I THOUGHT SO.

THIS LATEST REVELATION
ONLY PROVES WHAT WE'VE
SUSPECTED ALL ALONG.

PETERS AND DELAUGHTER
ARE JUST PUTTING ON A SHOW
FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,

THEY'RE NOTHING
BUT A PAIR OF LYING RACISTS

WHO NEVER, I REPEAT, NEVER

HAD ANY INTENTION
OF PROSECUTING THIS CASE.

YOU WANTED TO SEE ME?

COME ON, SIT DOWN.

YOU DON'T MIND BEING
SEEN IN THE SAME ROOM
WITH A "LYING RACIST"?

I DON'T MIND IF YOU DON'T.

YOU KNOW PAT BENNETT?

SURE, SHE'S ONE
OF THE BEST LAWYERS
IN THE STATE.

WHY ARE WE
TALKING ABOUT HER?

I THOUGHT SHE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO HELP YOU ON THE CASE.

I'VE GOT IT UNDER
CONTROL, ED.

YOU HAVE YOUR SHARE OF
THE 93 CAPITAL MURDER CASES

WE HAVE WAITING FOR TRIAL
UNDER CONTROL?

WHAT NEW EXCUSE WOULD
YOU SUGGEST I GIVE

TO THE FAMILIES
AS TO WHY THOSE

WHO'VE MURDERED
THEIR LOVED ONES

HAVE YET TO SEE A COURTROOM?

ED, I'M JUST CURIOUS.

THE FACT THAT
PAT BENNETT IS BLACK

WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH THIS, WOULD IT?

I'M NOT GONNA DIGNIFY THAT.

WHATEVER YOU MAY THINK,

THIS IS NOT
THE BOBBY DELAUGHTER CASE.

THIS IS A CASE
AGAINST THE PEACE
AND DIGNITY OF MISSISSIPPI.

MONDAY MORNING,
I'M MAKING A CHANGE.

YOU'RE ABOUT
TO HEAR THE TESTIMONY
OF A FINGERPRINT EXPERT

CONCERNING EVIDENCE
HE CLAIMS TO HAVE

IDENTIFIED
IN A CERTAIN GLASS.

YOU'RE ENTITLED TO CONSIDER
THE PROSECUTION'S FAILURE

TO MAKE THE GLASS
AVAILABLE TO THE DEFENSE.

IT IS PERMISSIBLE
THAT FOR ONE FACT ALONE

TO RAISE A DOUBT
IN YOUR MINDS

THAT WILL REQUIRE
MRS. SAVAGE'S ACQUITTAL.

CAN HE DO THAT?
THIS IS MY CASE, DAMN IT.

WHAT?!
HOW DARE THEY SAY
I'M PUTTING ON A SHOW?

ONLY TWO PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
THIS CASE, AND I'M ONE OF THEM.

IF ANYBODY'S PUTTING
ON A SHOW, THEY ARE.

THE ONLY THING THEY'RE--
SHH!

THEY'RE ONLY TRYING TO STIR UP
EMOTIONS AND POSITION THEMSELVES

AS THE SAVIORS
OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

SHH!
QUIET!

Man: BASED ON THE LATERAL SLASH
OF THE INTERIOR PORTION

OF THE FINGERPRINT...

BOBBY. BOBBY,
WHERE YOU GOING?

[LINE RINGING]

Myrlie: HELLO?

THIS IS BOBBY DELAUGHTER.
I HOPE I DIDN'T DISTURB YOU.

NO.

THIS WON'T TAKE
BUT A MINUTE, MA'AM.

WHEN I STARTED OFF,
I HAD NOTHING MORE THAN

A COUPLE OF PAGES
IN AN OLD POLICE REPORT.

I SPENT THE BETTER PART
OF A YEAR

BUMPING UP AGAINST
DEAD WITNESSES

AND TRACKING DOWN LIVE ONES.

MY CAR'S BEEN VANDALIZED,
MY SON'S BEEN IN A FIGHT,

AND I'VE BEEN CALLED
UGLY THINGS

BY EVERY RACIST IN MISSISSIPPI.

NOW, WHEN THERE'S A CHANCE
FOR AN INDICTMENT,

I'VE GOTTA FIGHT OFF
BLACK POLITICIANS, TOO.

I'M SORRY I LIED ABOUT THE GUN,

BUT I'VE MADE
A COMMITMENT
TO THIS CASE.

I'LL BE GODDAMNED--
PARDON ME.

IF I GIVE IT UP
TO SOME SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

I DON'T CARE IF HE'S
BLACK, GREEN OR BLUE.

I'M COMMITTED
AND I'M ASKING YOU
TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO ME.

AND IF YOU DO,
I'LL RIDE THIS THING
TO THE FINISH LINE

OR COLLAPSE HEADING
IN THAT DIRECTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CALL,
MR. DELAUGHTER.

THE HELL WITH HER!
SHE'S LIKE ALL THE REST.

THE WHITE WORLD HASN'T GONE OUT
OF ITS WAY TO MAKE HER TRUSTING.

WHEN DOES IT START?
WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO?

WE HAD A REAL CHANCE
TO SEND A MESSAGE
TO THIS COUNTRY

THAT MISSISSIPPI
ISN'T A BUNCH
OF REDNECK RACISTS.

MY MOTHER WAS RIGHT.
WE SHOULD SEPARATE

AND LET THE SOUTH
RISE AGAIN.

YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT.
WHY NOT?

SHE DOESN'T
WANT MY HELP.

I'M JUST ANOTHER
WHITE MAN PUTTING
HER IN HER PLACE.

SHE SEES NO DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN ME AND BECKWITH.

YOU DIDN'T TELL HER
ABOUT THE GUN.

THAT'S RIGHT. I DID NOT
TELL HER ABOUT THE GUN.

IF I HAD IT TO DO
OVER AGAIN, I STILL
WOULDN'T HAVE TOLD HER.

THE DECISION TO KEEP
THE DISCOVERY OF THE
MURDER WEAPON A SECRET

WAS A GOOD STRATEGY.

AND IT WOULDN'T
BOTHER HER A LICK
IF I WAS BLACK.

I'D JUST BE
A SMART LAWYER.

YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS.

WHAT DO YOU
MEAN BY THAT?

YOU SAID THE REASON
YOU DIDN'T TELL HER
ABOUT THE GUN

WAS THAT YOU WERE
AFRAID SHE WOULD
LEAK THE STORY.

YOU CAN'T EXPECT
HER TO TRUST YOU,
IF YOU DON'T TRUST HER.

[THUNDER]

I WANT YOU TO MEET
WITH PAT BENNETT

AND BRING HER
UP TO SPEED.

FINE.

IT'S FOR THE BEST.

IF YOU SAY SO.

I'M GOING OUT.
YOU WANT SOMETHING?

I'D LIKE A MERCEDES
CONVERTIBLE, BUT I'D
SETTLE FOR A DR. PEPPER.

[THUNDER]

[SIGHS]

MR. DELAUGHTER...

THERE ARE FOUR IMPORTANT
THINGS IN MY LIFE:

MEDGAR, WALTER,

MY CHILDREN, AND THIS.

THE ORIGINAL
COURT-CERTIFIED TRANSCRIPT.

I'VE KEPT THIS FOR 27 YEARS.

THROUGH THREE DISTRICT
ATTORNEYS.

ONCE I GIVE THIS UP,

I KNOW THAT IT
MAY BE GONE FOREVER.

I DON'T BELIEVE
YOU'LL FIND ANYMORE OPPOSITION

TO YOUR CONTINUING
TO HANDLE THIS CASE.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

IT'S TRULY
APPRECIATED.

LET'S GET THE SON OF A BITCH.

MY PLEASURE.

Reporter: THE DECISION
BY THE D.A.'S OFFICE

TO RE-OPEN
THE 27-YEAR-OLD

MURDER CASE
OF BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

CONTINUES
TO CAUSE CONTROVERSY.

CITIZENS OF JACKSON
AND OTHER PARTS
OF THE STATE

ARE CONCERNED THAT
TAXPAYERS' MONEY IS BEING
USED TO DIG UP THE PAST.

Second reporter:
TODAY, THE GRAND JURY

HANDED DOWN AN INDICTMENT
OF BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

IN THE MURDER OF CIVIL RIGHTS
LEADER MEDGAR EVERS.

EXTRADITION
IN THE BECKWITH CASE

IS SEEN AS A STUMBLING
BLOCK FOR THE D.A.'S OFFICE.

I PLAN TO FIGHT
REPOSSESSION--
WHAT'S THE WORD?

EXTRADITION,
TOOTH, NAIL AND CLAW!

Third reporter:
IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPLACE
A LOST AUTOPSY REPORT,

THE D.A.'S OFFICE
OF HINDS COUNTY

TODAY RECEIVED PERMISSION

BY THE EVERS FAMILY
TO EXHUME THE BODY

OF SLAIN CIVIL RIGHTS
LEADER MEDGAR EVERS.

Fourth reporter:
THE BODY, BURIED IN

ARLINGTON NATIONAL
CEMETERY IN 1963,

WAS FOUND IN REMARKABLY
NEAR-PERFECT CONDITION.

CORONER DR. MICHAEL...

Fifth reporter:
AFTER 18 MONTHS,

EXTRADITION WAS
FINALLY GRANTED

IN THE CASE
OF BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

THE MAN ACCUSED
OF SLAYING CIVIL RIGHTS
LEADER MEDGAR EVERS.

BECKWITH WILL FACE
MURDER CHARGES

30 YEARS AFTER
THE INITIAL TWO TRIALS

FOR THE SAME OFFENSE
ENDED IN HUNG JURIES.

THANK YOU, SON.

I FIRST RECEIVED
THE CALL AT 9:42 P.M.

ON THE NIGHT
OF JUNE 12, 1963.

MY PARTNER AND I RESPONDED
AND PROCEEDED TO THE CRIME SCENE

LOCATED AT 2332
GUYNES STREET.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, BENNY

BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU READ
THE PART OF A DEAD WITNESS

DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO
ACT LIKE YOU'RE ACTUALLY DEAD.

I'M DOING MY BEST.

I KNOW YOU ARE.

MEDGAR EVERS' AUTOPSY
REPORT JUST CAME IN.

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE
THIS. HE'S STILL DEAD.

THANK YOU, CLARA.

I GOT OFF THE PHONE
WITH CHARLES EVERS.

HE WON'T COME
TO THE TRIAL.

DID HE SAY WHY?
HE WOULDN'T SAY.

GET ME THE ADDRESS
OF HIS RADIO STATION.

THEY FOUND A BULLET
FRAGMENT IN THE BODY.

IT'S CONSISTENT
WITH A .30-06 ENFIELD.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]
DELAUGHTER.

Man: YOU'LL BE SORRY.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT
NIGGER WILL HAPPEN TO YOU.

ANOTHER ONE?

CLOSER WE GET TO TRIAL,
THE MORE NUTJOBS WILL
CRAWL OUT OF THE WOODWORK.

YOU GOT A GUN?

HERE. TAKE THIS.

NO, WAIT. TAKE THIS.

NO, TAKE THIS.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

THAT WAS
MUDDY WATERS DOING
HIS THING FOR Y'ALL.

NOW I'LL PLAY
A LITTLE SOMETHING
THAT GOES WAY BACK.

THE GREAT
ROBERT JOHNSON.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MR. EVERS?

HI, I'M--

BOBBY DELAUGHTER.

PLEASE SIT DOWN.

ROBERT JOHNSON.

KING OF THE DELTA BLUES.

THANK YOU.
YOU'RE WELCOME.

MAY YOUR SOUL
RISE UP TO HEAVEN

'FORE THE DEVIL
KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD.

THEY SAY ROBERT JOHNSON
SOLD HIS SOUL TO THE DEVIL
TO PLAY THE GUITAR LIKE THAT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

IF THE DEVIL WANTED MY SOUL,
IT'D COST A LOT MORE THAN
SOME GUITAR LESSONS.

WELL, YOU KNOW,
MR. DELAUGHTER,

I BELIEVE AFTER
THIS TRIAL'S OVER

MISSISSIPPI COME
THROUGH THIS TIME.

THAT'S WHY I CAME
HERE TO TALK WITH
YOU, MR. EVERS.

WOULD YOU CHANGE
YOUR MIND AND COME
TO THE TRIAL?

YOUR PRESENCE WOULD
MEAN A GREAT DEAL.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

MEDGAR WAS MY BABY BROTHER.

THERE AIN'T NOTHING
I WOULDN'T DO FOR HIM.

WHEN WE WERE LITTLE KIDS,

WE USED TO SLEEP
IN THE SAME BED.

AND ON COLD NIGHTS

I'D CLIMB IN FIRST
JUST SO I COULD WARM UP
THE SHEETS FOR HIM.

I DIDN'T GO
TO THE FIRST TWO TRIALS.

MYRLIE,

A LOT OF PEOPLE,

THEY CRITICIZED ME FOR THAT.

BUT I WON'T GO
TO NO THIRD TRIAL NEITHER.

AND FOR THE EXACT SAME REASON.

I KNOW IF I EVER
GOT IN THE SAME ROOM

WITH BYRON DE LA BECKWITH,

AS GOD IS MY WITNESS

I'D WRAP MY HANDS
AROUND HIS CHICKEN NECK
AND SNAP IT IN HALF.

AND NOBODY BE ABLE TO STOP ME.

I WOULDN'T BLAME YOU.

YOU KNOW,
NOBODY HARDLY EVER

REMEMBERS MEDGAR ANYMORE.

WHITES OR BLACKS.

AND THAT'S A GODDAMN SHAME.

BECAUSE WHATEVER RIGHTS
THE BLACK MAN HAS NOW

HE'S GOT BECAUSE
OF SOMETHING CALLED
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

AND FOR A LONG TIME HERE
IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI,

BEFORE THE TELEVISION,
NEWSPAPERS,

BACK BEFORE THE FANCY SPEECHES,

MY BROTHER, MEDGAR, WAS
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

I'M SITTING HERE TONIGHT,
TALKING TO MY FRIEND
AND YOUR FRIEND,

ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
BOBBY DELAUGHTER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
MY BROTHER MEDGAR EVERS,

AND WE'RE GONNA PLAY THE BLUES
FOR MEDGAR ALL NIGHT LONG.

[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING]

BOBBY DELAUGHTER...

YOU AND MY SISTER-IN-LAW,

YOU GET JUSTICE
FOR MY BROTHER.

MR. EVERS.

[DOOR CLOSES]

DEVIL, IF YOU LISTENING,

I WON'T SELL MY SOUL
FOR NO GUITAR LESSONS

BUT I'LL SELL
MY SOUL FOR THAT.

[BLUES MUSIC PLAYING]

ARE YOU SURPRISED BAIL
WAS GRANTED SO QUICKLY?

MR. BECKWITH WAS BEING HELD
AS A POLITICAL PRISONER.

HE'S NOT BEEN FOUND
GUILTY. WHY SHOULD HE
BE KEPT IN JAIL?

MR. SCOTT, YOU'RE AN OFFICER
OF AN ORGANIZATION CALLED

THE NATIONALIST
MOVEMENT, CORRECT?

IS THAT WHERE
THE MONEY CAME FROM
TO SECURE HIS BOND?

MR. BECKWITH HAS
A LOT OF FRIENDS HERE.

WE'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES.

SUPPOSE HE DOESN'T
SHOW UP FOR THE TRIAL?

SUPPOSE HE LEAVES THE COUNTRY?

IF HE RUNS,
WE'LL FIND HIM.

HOW LONG
WILL THAT TAKE?

ANOTHER FIVE YEARS?
ANOTHER 10?

I'VE ALREADY DEVOTED
A LIFETIME TO THIS.

THAT OUGHT
TO BE ENOUGH.

YES, MA'AM.
IT SURE OUGHT TO BE.

[STARTS ENGINE]

[SIGHS]

I'M SORRY, BOBBY.

IT'S ALL RIGHT,
MRS. EVERS.

IT'S QUITE
ALL RIGHT.

HOW'S JARED DOING?
FINE.

HE AND BURT SEEM LIKE
THEY'VE BEEN BROTHERS
ALL THEIR LIVES.

THEY ALL SLEEPING?

MM-HMM. AND THAT'S WHAT
YOU SHOULD BE DOING.

I WANT THE OPENING
STATEMENT TO BE GREAT.

IT WAS GREAT
WHEN YOU READ IT
THREE NIGHTS AGO.

IT WAS GREAT
LAST NIGHT.

AND UNLESS YOU SNUCK
IN SOMETHING ABOUT

BECKWITH DESERVING
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE,

I'M SURE IT'LL BE GREAT
TOMORROW MORNING.

YOU SEE? THAT'S WHY
I LOOK TO YOU.

ELIMINATE NOBEL
PEACE PRIZE REFERENCE.

THAT'S GOOD.
UH-HUH.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

HELLO?
Man: MR. DELAUGHTER,

I LEFT A GIFT
FOR YOU IN APPRECIATION

FOR EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING
TO RUIN CIVILIZED SOCIETY.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

IT'S SCHEDULED
TO GO OFF AT 10 P.M.

YOU HAVE A NICE NIGHT.

IT'S A BOMB.

EVERYBODY,
GET UP. LET'S GO.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

IT'S NOTHING AT ALL.
OUTSIDE THAT DOOR.

A LITTLE DRILL IS ALL.
HEAD FOR THE FRONT DOOR.

OPEN THE DOOR.

[ALL YELLING]

IS THIS STILL
THE DRILL?

[POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT YELLING, SIREN]

WHERE ARE WE GOING, DAD?

TOLD YOU WE'RE GOING
TO THE HOLIDAY INN.

IS THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING?
THE HOLIDAY INN?

THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND ANYTHING,

BUT WE'LL GO THROUGH IT
ONE MORE TIME.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

[STARTS ENGINE]

I TOLD THEM
IF ANYTHING
EVER HAPPENED,

ALL THEY HAD TO DO
WAS WALK AWAY.

HOW'RE THEY SUPPOSED

TO WALK AWAY
FROM A BOMB?

THERE WASN'T A BOMB.

THIS TIME.

BOBBY...

IF YOU WANT TO GIVE
THIS THING UP,
I UNDERSTAND.

NO ONE COULD FAULT YOU.

BUT THE WORLD ISN'T
GOING TO BE ANY SAFER.

I DON'T GIVE A SHIT
ABOUT THE WORLD.

THESE ARE
MY CHILDREN.

YES, THEY ARE.

AND SOMEDAY THEY'LL BE ABLE
TO TELL THEIR CHILDREN

THAT THEIR DADDY PUT AWAY
MEDGAR EVERS' KILLER.

OH, MEDGAR EVERS WAS A FOOL,
AND MY DADDY WAS RIGHT.

DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY
CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS YOU PASS.

YOU'LL NEVER LEGISLATE
HOW PEOPLE THINK.

THERE ARE ALWAYS GONNA BE
A FEW MISGUIDED PEOPLE.

I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT A FEW PEOPLE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
EVERYBODY, ABOUT US.

DO WE HAVE ONE SINGLE
BLACK FRIEND? NO.

WE DON'T HAVE
DINNER WITH THEM
OR HAVE THEM OVER.

WE DON'T SIT
WITH THEM IN CHURCH.

YOU THINK THIS
ONE TRIAL WILL
MAGICALLY CHANGE THIS?

NO, I DON'T.
IT'S A STEP.

THAT'S ALL ANYONE
CAN DO IS TAKE A STEP.

WHY DO I HAVE
TO TAKE THAT STEP?

SO SOME SICK SON
OF A BITCH CAN MURDER
MY WIFE AND KIDS?

EXCUSE ME
IF I'M NOT INTERESTED
IN TAKING THAT STEP.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

FOR A DRIVE.

EDGAR!

DADDY!

DADDY!

[WOMAN VOCALIZING]

[INDISTINCT TV]

[YAWNS]

[DOOR OPENS]

BOBBY?

[DOOR CLOSES]

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GOING
TO HEAVEN OR HELL,

BUT I'M GOING FROM JACKSON."

[BANGS GAVEL]

WE'RE ON RECORD
IN THE MATTER

OF THE STATE OF
MISSISSIPPI VS.
BYRON DE LA BECKWITH.

DOES PROSECUTION HAVE
ITS OPENING STATEMENT?

WE ARE, YOUR HONOR.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE CASE.

IT'S ABOUT A MAN
WHOSE LIFE WAS SNUFFED OUT

ON JUNE THE 12th OF 1963

BY A BULLET THAT TORE
THROUGH HIS BODY.

A BULLET AIMED
OUT OF PREJUDICE;

PROPELLED BY HATRED.

AND FIRED BY
A BACK-SHOOTING COWARD

FROM AMBUSH...

AT NIGHT.

THE EVIDENCE WILL
OVERWHELMINGLY SHOW

THAT BYRON DE LA BECKWITH,

A SELF-PROCLAIMED
RABID RACIST
ON A LIFELONG MISSION

TO PURGE SOCIETY
OF ANYONE AND ANYTHING

THAT STOOD FOR INTEGRATION,

IS THE MAN
THAT FIRED THAT BULLET.

THE EVIDENCE WILL SHOW
HOW, WHEN HE THOUGHT
HE BEAT THE SYSTEM,

HE BRAGGED ABOUT
WHAT HE'D DONE.

BRAGGED ABOUT GETTING
AWAY WITH MURDER.

THE EVIDENCE WILL
UNDENIABLY SHOW THAT

THE PERSON
WHO PULLED THE TRIGGER

AND ENDED THE LIFE
OF MEDGAR EVERS

IS THIS DEFENDANT

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH.

MR. COXWELL?

GOOD MORNING,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS MERRIDA COXWELL.
THIS IS JAMES KITCHENS

AND WE ARE REPRESENTING
MR. BECKWITH.

MR. DELAUGHTER STARTED
HIS OPENING STATEMENT

BY SAYING THAT THIS WAS
A VERY SIMPLE CASE.

I AGREE WITH HIM.

BUT WHAT MR. DELAUGHTER
IS GOING TO RELY ON

IS FOR YOU TO CONVICT
MR. BECKWITH

SIMPLY BECAUSE
OF HIS OPINIONS.

THAT'S BECAUSE HE KNOWS

THAT THE STATE CANNOT
PROVE TO YOU BEYOND
A REASONABLE DOUBT

THAT THE DEFENDANT
COMMITTED THE CRIME.

BY THE TIME
THIS TRIAL IS OVER,

YOU WILL HAVE SEEN IT WAS
PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE

FOR MR. BYRON DE LA BECKWITH
TO HAVE KILLED MEDGAR EVERS.

MR. BECKWITH IS NOT GUILTY.

THAT'S WHAT
THE PROOF WILL SHOW.

THANK YOU.

THE STATE MAY CALL
ITS FIRST WITNESS.

THE STATE CALLS
MYRLIE EVERS.

RAISE
YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO YOU SWEAR
TO TELL THE TRUTH

THE WHOLE TRUTH,
SO HELP YOU GOD?
I DO.

BE SEATED.

WILL YOU TELL US YOUR NAME?

MY NAME IS MYRLIE EVERS.

GOING BACK TO 1963,
WERE YOU MARRIED AT THAT TIME?

YES, I WAS.

AND TO WHOM WERE YOU MARRIED?

MEDGAR WYLIE EVERS.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME
YOU SAW YOUR HUSBAND ALIVE?

JUNE 11, 1963.

I'D FALLEN BEHIND
IN MY HOUSEWORK

AND GOT UP EARLY
THAT MORNING

TO IRON SOME SHIRTS
FOR MEDGAR.

BY THE TIME HE WOKE,

I HAD 10 FRESHLY
IRONED SHIRTS

NEATLY HUNG ON HANGERS.

HE SAID, "I THANK YOU
FOR IRONING THESE SHIRTS

BUT I'M NOT GOING
TO NEED THEM."

BEFORE HE LEFT
FOR WORK THAT MORNING,

HE KISSED US
ALL GOOD-BYE

AND THEN LEFT.

BUT THEN HE CAME BACK

AND TOOK ME ASIDE.

HE SAID, "IF ANYTHING
SHOULD HAPPEN TO ME,

I WANT YOU TO PROMISE ME

YOU WILL TAKE CARE
OF MY BABIES."

I SAID, "OF COURSE.
THEY'RE MY BABIES, TOO."

HE THEN KISSED US ALL
GOOD-BYE AGAIN AND LEFT.

COULD YOU TELL THE JURY
WHAT YOU REMEMBER

SEEING AND HEARING
WHEN YOUR HUSBAND

RETURNED HOME THAT NIGHT?

IT WAS JUST
AFTER MIDNIGHT
WHEN HE GOT HOME.

WE HEARD THE CAR.

AND THEN THERE WAS...

THIS HORRIBLE BLAST.

THE CHILDREN
FELL TO THE FLOOR

AS THEIR FATHER
HAD TAUGHT THEM.

I BOLTED
TO THE FRONT DOOR.

MEDGAR WAS LYING
IN THE CARPORT.

HE STILL HAD HIS
KEYS IN HIS HAND.

BLOOD EVERYWHERE.

THE CHILDREN CAME OUT
SHORTLY AFTER I DID

AND THEY WERE
SCREAMING, "DADDY!

"DADDY, GET UP!

DADDY, PLEASE GET UP."

BUT I KNEW HE WOULD
NEVER GET UP AGAIN.

NOTHING FURTHER,
YOUR HONOR.

MR. MCINTYRE,
HAVE YOU EVER OWNED

A 1917 ENFIELD
.30-06 RIFLE?

YES, I HAVE.

DID YOU OWN THAT RIFLE IN 1963?

NO. SOMETIME, I BELIEVE
IN 1960, I TRADED IT
TO MR. BECKWITH.

MR. MCINTYRE,
I WANT TO SHOW YOU
THIS FIREARM

AND ASK IF YOU WOULD
READ THE SERIAL NUMBER
ON THE BARREL, PLEASE.

1-0-5-2-6-8-2.

THANK YOU. GOING BACK
TO EXHIBIT 35,

WOULD YOU READ THE SERIAL NUMBER

ON THE INVOICE OF THE GUN
THAT YOU PURCHASED

AND LATER TRADED
TO MR. BECKWITH?

1-0-5-2-6-8-2.

MS. HOLDER, WERE YOU
AT JOE'S DRIVE-IN

ON THE NIGHT
OF JUNE 11, 1963?

YES, SIR.

I WASN'T WORKING,
BUT I WAS THERE

HANGING OUT
WITH MY FRIENDS.

TELL THE JURY IF THERE CAME
A TIME WHEN YOUR ATTENTION

WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS
ANY PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE.

YES, SIR.

BEING A CARHOP,
YOU NOTICE CARS.

THIS ONE HAD
A LONG ANTENNA
ON THE SIDE OF IT.

WE THOUGHT AT FIRST
IT WAS A PATROL CAR.

IT WAS WHITE AND IT HAD
A LOT OF MUD ON IT.

IT WAS A PLYMOUTH
VALIANT.

MR. HARGROVE,
WERE YOU EMPLOYED

BY THE JACKSON POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN JUNE 1963?

YES, I WAS.

IN CHARGE
OF THE IDENTIFICATION
DIVISION FOR 42 YEARS.

DID YOU REACH A CONCLUSION
AS TO WHOSE FINGERPRINT

WAS ON THE TELESCOPIC SIDE
OF THE GUN

RECOVERED IN YOUR PRESENCE
ON JUNE 12, 1963?

YES, SIR. I DID.

WITH 14 POINTS
OF IDENTIFICATION,

THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH
TO IDENTIFY THE FINGERPRINT
OF MR. BYRON DE LA BECKWITH.

AFTER FOUR DAYS
OF TESTIMONY
IN THE TRIAL

OF WHITE SUPREMACIST
BECKWITH,

THE PROSECUTION,
THUS FAR, HAS PRESENTED
ESSENTIALLY THE SAME CASE

AS WAS OFFERED UP
IN THE TWO ORIGINAL TRIALS.

HOWEVER, THIS TIME THERE ARE
TWO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.

FIRST, THE MAKEUP
OF THE JURY.

IN 1964, BECKWITH
FACED TWO ALL-MALE,
ALL-WHITE JURIES.

TODAY, HE FACES
A JURY MADE UP

OF EIGHT BLACKS
AND FOUR WHITES.

AND TOMORROW THE PROSECUTION
IS EXPECTED TO INTRODUCE

THREE NEW WITNESSES
WHO DID NOT TESTIFY
IN THE FIRST TWO TRIALS.

THE NATURE OF THEIR TESTIMONY...

STATE YOUR NAME
FOR THE RECORD.

DELMAR DENNIS.

MR. DENNIS,
IN MARCH OF 1964,

WERE YOU A MEMBER
OF AN ORGANIZATION KNOWN AS

THE WHITE KNIGHTS
OF THE KU KLUX KLAN?

I WAS.

IN SEPTEMBER OF THAT YEAR,

DID YOU BECOME A PAID
INFORMANT FOR THE FBI?

I DID.

AND IN YOUR CAPACITY
AS INFORMANT

DID YOU EVER ENCOUNTER
THE DEFENDANT,
BYRON DE LA BECKWITH?

I DID.

WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF THAT ENCOUNTER?

ON AUGUST 8, 1965,
I MET MR. BECKWITH

AT A KLAN MEETING
IN BYRAM, MISSISSIPPI.

HE WAS A FEATURED
SPEAKER THAT NIGHT.

NOW, DURING THAT TALK,

WOULD YOU TELL THE JURY
WHAT, IF ANYTHING,

THE DEFENDANT SAID
ABOUT THE MURDER

OR SHOOTING DEATH
OF MEDGAR EVERS.

HE SAID, "KILLING
THAT NIGGER GAVE ME

"NO MORE INNER
DISCOMFORT

"WE GOTTA
KILL THOSE ENEMIES,

INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT,
FROM THE TOP DOWN."

DID HE SAY ANYTHING ELSE?

YES, SIR.

HE SAID,
"YOU'RE GONNA GET AWAY
WITH IT LIKE I DID."

THANK YOU, MR. DENNIS.

YOUR WITNESS.

MR. DENNIS,

YOU HAVE SEEN FBI REPORTS
ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITIES

AS A PAID INFORMANT,
HAVEN'T YOU?

MR. DELAUGHTER'S
OFFICE FURNISHED ME
WITH COPIES.

IN FACT, THERE ARE PAGES
AND PAGES OF DIALOGUE

THAT YOU REPORTED
TO THE FBI OF THINGS

THAT VARIOUS PEOPLE SAID
OVER LUNCH, OVER DINNER,

RIDING IN CARS, MEETINGS.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

YES.

YET, NOWHERE
IN ALL THOSE REPORTS

DOES THE QUOTATION
THAT YOU ATTRIBUTED
TO MR. BECKWITH APPEAR.

DOES IT?

MAYBE THE PAGES GOT LOST
OVER THE YEARS.

AND MAYBE THEY NEVER EXISTED.

OBJECTION.
SUSTAINED.

DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK.
[CHUCKLES]

MR. DENNIS,
DID BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

EVER SPECIFICALLY SAY
THAT HE KILLED MEDGAR EVERS?

HE NEVER SAID,
"I KILLED MEDGAR EVERS."

THAT'S TRUE.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

THAT'S WHAT HE MEANT.

WE ASK THAT THE WITNESS'S
UNSOLICITED OPINION BE STRICKEN

AND THAT THE JURY DISREGARD IT.

THE JURY WILL DISREGARD
MR. DENNIS' LAST STATEMENT.

I WAS STANDING OUT
IN THE YARD,

AND HE SAID SOMETHING
TO ME ABOUT

HAVING BEEN TRIED TWICE
IN MISSISSIPPI

FOR "KILLING
THAT NIGGER."

AND WHAT'D HE SAY ABOUT THAT?

HE SAID, "I HAD A JOB
TO DO AND I DID IT."

THANK YOU, MR. PRINCE.
NOTHING FURTHER.

MR. PRINCE,
BACK IN 1986,

WHEN MR. BECKWITH
ALLEGEDLY MADE THIS
STATEMENT TO YOU,

YOU WENT STRAIGHT
TO THE AUTHORITIES,
DIDN'T YOU?

NO.

WELL, YOU MUST'VE TOLD
SOME OF YOUR BUDDIES.

NO.

YOU DIDN'T TELL
ANYBODY YOU WERE

RENTING A HOUSE FROM A MAN

WHO ADMITTED TO YOU
THAT HE'D KILLED SOMEBODY?

I DIDN'T
AT THAT TIME, NO.

MR. AND MRS. BECKWITH
HAD YOU THROWN OUT
OF THE HOUSE

BECAUSE YOU HAD
A DRINKING PROBLEM, RIGHT?

I HAD A DRINKING
PROBLEM,

BUT THAT'S NOT
WHY THEY--

YOU DON'T PARTICULARLY
LIKE MR. BECKWITH

FOR THROWING YOU OUT,
DO YOU?

[SIGHS]

MRS. MORGAN,

WHEN YOU LIVED IN GREENWOOD,
MISSISSIPPI IN THE EARLY 1970s,

DID YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND GIVE
THE DEFENDANT A RIDE

TO PARCHMAN PRISON?

YES, SIR.

ME AND MY HUSBAND,
LLOYD, WAS GOING TO SEE

LLOYD'S BROTHER
JIMMY DALE MORGAN

AND MR. BECKWITH
WAS GOING TO SEE

SOME FRIEND
OF HIS WHOSE NAME
HE WOULDN'T TELL US.

DURING THAT TIME,
DID HE MAKE
ANY STATEMENTS

CONCERNING THE MURDER
OF MEDGAR EVERS?

YES, SIR.

HE SAID THAT HE HAD KILLED
MEDGAR EVERS, A NIGGER,

AND SAID WE'D BETTER
NOT SAY ANYTHING

ABOUT US DRIVING HIM
UP TO PARCHMAN

BECAUSE HE WASN'T SCARED
TO KILL AGAIN.

THANK YOU,
MRS. MORGAN.

MRS. MORGAN,

YOU HAVE HAD SOME
VERY TRAUMATIC THINGS

HAPPEN TO YOU
IN YOUR LIFE,
HAVEN'T YOU?

MOST DEFINITELY.

YOUR ESTRANGED HUSBAND

LLOYD MORGAN WAS
VERY ABUSIVE TO YOU.

OBJECTION. IRRELEVANT.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING
WITH THIS?

IF YOU'LL ALLOW ME,
THIS LINE OF QUESTIONING

SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO THIS
WITNESS'S CREDIBILITY.

OVERRULED.

MRS. MORGAN,
YOUR HUSBAND,
YOU TOLD US,

CARRIED ON
AN INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP
WITH ONE OF HIS CHILDREN.

YES, HE DID.

AND YOUR FATHER

WAS VERY ABUSIVE TO YOU
WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD.

YES, SIR.

AND AS A RESULT
OF ALL THIS,

YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED
BY PSYCHIATRISTS

AS HAVING AN ANXIETY DISORDER.

YES, SIR, I HAVE.

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER.

IF THIS JURY WANTS TO BELIEVE
A LYING DRUNK, A PAID INFORMANT

AND A DAMN LOONY BIRD

THEN I MIGHT BE
IN A BIT OF TROUBLE.

BUT NOT AS MUCH
TROUBLE AS OUR BELOVED
JUSTICE SYSTEM.

AND THIS PRINCE FELLA
STILL OWES ME $64
WORTH OF RENT.

HOW DO YOU ACCOUNT
FOR THE MATCHING
NUMBERS ON THE GUN?

MY RIFLE WAS STOLEN DAYS
BEFORE THIS NIGGER
TURNED UP DEAD.

TURN THOSE LIGHTS OFF.
CAN'T YOU SEE YOU'RE
HURTING MY WIFE'S EYES?

MOM, HOW CAN YOU STAND
WATCHING THIS IDIOT?

WHEN YOUR FATHER DIED,

I CARRIED AROUND SUCH
HATRED FOR THAT MAN,

I ACTUALLY MADE
INQUIRIES INTO
HAVING HIM KILLED.

BUT IN TIME, I WAS ABLE
TO LET THAT HATRED GO.

I DON'T KNOW HOW.

I REMEMBERED SOMETHING
YOUR FATHER ONCE
SAID TO ME.

HE SAID, "WHEN YOU HATE,
THE ONLY PERSON
WHO SUFFERS IS YOU.

"BECAUSE MOST OF
THE PEOPLE YOU HATE

DON'T KNOW IT
AND THE OTHERS
DON'T CARE."

THE BIG QUESTION HERE
IS WILL BECKWITH TESTIFY

AS HE DID SO CONFIDENTLY
BACK IN 1964?

EVERYBODY WANTS
TO SEE THE BYRON
DE LA BECKWITH SHOW.

WHAT IF PUTTING HIM ON
IS TOO RISKY?

YOU KIDDING?
HE'LL WANNA TELL
THAT COCK-AND-BULL STORY

ABOUT HIS GUN
BEING STOLEN TWO DAYS
BEFORE THE MURDER.

BESIDES, THIS IS
BYRON DE LA BECKWITH

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

SUMMONED
FROM HIS MOUNTAIN
BY GOD ALMIGHTY

TO GIVE US THE WORD
ACCORDING TO DELAY.

HE'LL TESTIFY.

I'LL SEE YOU UPSTAIRS.

MR. DELAUGHTER!

SOMETHING HAPPEN
TO YOU IN YOUR BOYHOOD

MAKE YOU MEAN-SPIRITED
ENOUGH TO TURN ON YOUR OWN?

DO WHAT THE GOOD LORD
AND MISSISSIPPI

GOT EVERY RIGHT
TO EXPECT YOU TO DO.

WHICH IS?

PUTTING NIGGERS AWAY
FOR KILLING WHITE PEOPLE

INSTEAD OF THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

MR. PETERS AND Y'ALL
SHOULD BE RUN OUT

OF THIS STATE
FOR THIS FOOLISHNESS

AND Y'ALL PROBABLY WILL BE.

THIS IS NOT SOME DEER
YOU BROUGHT DOWN.

THIS IS A HUMAN BEING.

A DEER, MR. DELAUGHTER,
IS A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL.

IT'S ONE OF GOD'S CREATURES.

I WOULD NEVER KILL A DEER.

A NIGGER, ON THE OTHER HAND,
THAT'S ANOTHER MATTER ENTIRELY.

ARE YOU STANDING
HERE ADMITTING
TO ME THAT YOU--

KILLED MEDGAR EVERS?

WHAT IF I DID?

IT'S NOT LIKE
THERE'S ANYTHING YOU

NOR ANYBODY ELSE
CAN DO ABOUT IT.

IS THERE?

WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT.

OH, THAT WE WILL.

THAT WE WILL.

[SPITS]

YOU KNOW, IT ONLY TAKES
BUT ONE OF THEM, DOESN'T IT?

THE QUESTION IS
WHICH ONE WILL IT BE?

MAYBE THAT CHUBBY WHITE GAL
WHO'D BE SORELY VEXED

TO LET ONE OF HER
OWN KIND BE PUT AWAY,

NO MATTER WHAT SHE TOLD YOU.

OR MAYBE THAT
OLD NIGGER MINISTER

WHO WON'T WANT SENDING
A SICK OLD MAN TO PRISON
ON HIS CONSCIENCE.

THE POINT IS, YOU AIN'T
NEVER GONNA GET 12 PEOPLE

TO CONVICT ME
OF KILLING A NIGGER

IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

NO, SIR. HELL, I DON'T
EVEN HAVE TO TAKE THE STAND.

COUPLE MORE DAYS,
I'LL BE HEADING BACK

TO MY HOME IN TENNESSEE

WHERE I WILL SIT ON MY PORCH

AND LIVE OUT MY DAYS
IN PEACE AND PROSPERITY.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

"FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST.

GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY,
I'M FREE AT LAST!"

THE DEFENSE
CALLS JAMES HOLLEY.

RELAX. HE'S JUST
NEEDLING YOU.

HE'LL TESTIFY.

RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

YOU SWEAR THE TESTIMONY
YOU'LL GIVE

IS THE WHOLE TRUTH,
SO HELP YOU GOD?

I DO.
BE SEATED.

MR. HOLLEY, DID YOU HAVE
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE DEFENDANT?

NO, SIR. NONE
WHATSOEVER.

I JUST KIND OF KNEW
WHO HE WAS.

MR. HOLLEY,
IN THE EARLY MORNING
OF JUNE 12th, 1963,

DID YOU HAVE OCCASION
TO SEE MR. BECKWITH?

YES, SIR.

HE WAS STANDING OUTSIDE
AT A SHELL STATION

WHILE THE ATTENDANT WAS
PUTTING GAS IN HIS CAR.

TELL THE JURY
WHAT TIME YOU SAW HIM.

AT APPROXIMATELY
1:03 IN THE MORNING.

ABOUT HOW MANY MILES IS IT
FROM GREENWOOD TO JACKSON?

MUST BE AROUND
90, 95 MILES.

SO YOU SAW THE DEFENDANT
LESS THAN AN HOUR
AFTER THE MURDER

CALMLY STANDING BY HIS CAR
SOME 95 MILES AWAY

FROM THE SCENE OF THE CRIME?

YES, SIR.

I HAVE NOTHING FURTHER.

MR. HOLLEY...

ON THE NIGHT YOU SAY YOU SAW

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH
IN GREENWOOD--

DELAY, AS YOU CALL HIM,
I BELIEVE.

IS THAT RIGHT?

DELAY BECKWITH,
YES, SIR.

WHY DO YOU CALL HIM DELAY?
ARE Y'ALL FIRST-NAME BUDDIES?

NO, SIR. I CALL HIM
MR. BECKWITH
MOST OF THE TIME.

WE JUST NOTED "DELAY'S CAR"
AND "DELAY AND THE ATTENDANT"

WERE AT THE STATION.
ISN'T THAT EXACTLY

WHAT YOU TOLD
ME AND MY INVESTIGATORS

WHEN WE ASKED WHAT
YOU WERE DOING THAT NIGHT?

"DELAY."

YOUR BUDDY.

MY FRIEND.

AND HOW LONG HAS
HE BEEN YOUR FRIEND?

JUST SHORTLY
AFTER WORLD WAR II.

WHEN YOU SAID YOU HAD
NO PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH HIM,
THAT WASN'T ENTIRELY TRUE.

YOU'VE KNOWN HIM
A LONG TIME AND BEEN
FRIENDS A LONG TIME, RIGHT?

WELL, SURE,
WE'RE FRIENDS.

JUST LIKE I HOPE
YOU AND I ARE FRIENDS.

PARDON?

I SAID JUST LIKE
I WOULD HOPE YOU
AND I ARE FRIENDS.

I'M FLATTERED.

[LAUGHTER]

LET ME ASK YOU THIS.

AT THE TIME
THE DEFENDANT WAS ARRESTED,

THERE WERE A WHOLE LOT
OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE

TRYING TO GATHER
INFORMATION, AM I RIGHT?

FBI, JACKSON POLICE.

DO YOU REMEMBER THAT?
YES, SIR.

DID YOU SPEAK TO
DETECTIVE SANDERS,
ONE OF THE INVESTIGATORS?

I MIGHT'VE SPOKEN
A WORD WITH HIM.

THEN YOU TOLD HIM
YOU SAW BECKWITH

IN GREENWOOD THE NIGHT
OF THE KILLING.

IS THAT RIGHT?
I DID NOT.

WHY NOT?

I HAD NO REASON TO TELL
UNLESS HE ASKED.

YOU HAD NO REASON,
AS A SWORN POLICE OFFICER,

TO TELL AN INVESTIGATOR
IN AN IMPORTANT MURDER CASE

THAT YOU KNEW THE SUSPECT
WAS 90 MILES AWAY

AT THE TIME OF THE MURDER?

I'D HAVE BEEN BUTTING
INTO HIS INVESTIGATION--

YOU'D HAVE BEEN
"BUTTING INTO HIS
INVESTIGATION"

BY TELLING HIM AN ALIBI?

SURE.

DID YOU EVER GO
TO THE D.A. AND TELL THEM
WHAT WAS GOING ON?

NO, SIR.

DID YOU TELL THE FBI
WHAT WAS GOING ON?

NO.
ISN'T IT A FACT

THE ONLY PERSON YOU SPOKE TO
ABOUT THIS CASE

WAS HARDY LOTT,
MR. BECKWITH'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY.

WHEN HE CALLED ME--

HOW LONG WAS THE DEFENDANT
IN JAIL BY THEN?

A COUPLE OF WEEKS?

I DON'T REMEMBER,
EXACTLY.

WELL, LET ME HELP YOU OUT.

IT WAS OVER EIGHT MONTHS.

EIGHT MONTHS.

YOU LET YOUR BUDDY
SIT IN JAIL ALL THAT TIME

AND NEVER ONCE TOLD ANYONE,
"YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG GUY."

YOU'RE ASKING THIS JURY
TO BELIEVE THAT?

YES, SIR.

EARLIER IN YOUR TESTIMONY,

YOU SAID THAT YOU AND I
ARE FRIENDS, RIGHT?

SAID WHAT?

THAT WE'RE FRIENDS.

YOU AND I ARE FRIENDS.

YES, SIR.

YOU STILL THINK WE'RE FRIENDS?

SURE.

AS MY FRIEND, IF I EVER
GO TO JAIL FOR MURDER,

DON'T LEAVE ME THERE
FOR EIGHT MONTHS

IF YOU KNOW WHERE I WAS
WHEN THE MURDER TOOK PLACE.

[LAUGHTER]
OBJECTION!

THAT WAS A THING
OF BEAUTY.

NOTHING FURTHER.
WILL YOU REDIRECT?

THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.

WOULD YOU LIE FOR MR. BECKWITH?
NO, SIR.

DID HE ASK YOU TO?
NO.

AS A FORMER POLICE OFFICER,

YOU KNOW PERJURY
IS A SERIOUS CRIME.

OH, YES, SIR.

I'M GONNA ASK YOU
THIS ONE LAST TIME.

ON THE NIGHT THAT
MEDGAR EVERS WAS KILLED,

DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT SEE
BECKWITH SOME 95 MILES AWAY

FROM WHERE THE MURDER
TOOK PLACE?

I SAW HIM.

AS GOD IS YOUR JUDGE.

AS GOD IS MY JUDGE.

THANK YOU, MR. HOLLEY.
WE HAVE NOTHING FURTHER.

MR. DELAUGHTER?

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY STEP DOWN.

IS THE DEFENSE
PREPARED TO CALL
ITS NEXT WITNESS?

YOUR HONOR...

THE DEFENSE RESTS.

[ALL YELLING]

[BANGS GAVEL]
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

QUIET OR I'LL ORDER
THE BAILIFF TO CLEAR
THE COURTROOM.

COWARD TO THE END.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE,

THIS JURY IS BEING ASKED
TO LOOK FURTHER

INTO THE PAST THAN ANY JURY

IN THE HISTORY
OF AMERICAN JURISPRUDENCE.

THAT PLACES YOU FOLKS
AT A CONSIDERABLE
DISADVANTAGE.

EVIDENCE HAS BEEN LOST.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE BULLET.

THEY DON'T HAVE
THE SPENT CARTRIDGE CASE
THAT WAS FOUND IN THE GUN.

THEY DON'T HAVE
THE LIVE AMMUNITION

THAT WAS FOUND IN THE GUN.

WHERE IS IT?

NOBODY KNOWS.

DOES THIS CREATE
REASONABLE DOUBT?

OF COURSE IT DOES.

AND YOU HAVE HEARD A NUMBER
OF WITNESSES TESTIFY

THAT YEARS AFTER THE CRIME,
MR. BECKWITH SAID THIS

OR MR. BECKWITH SAID THAT.

BUT THE DEFENSE
HAS PRESENTED YOU

WITH AN EYEWITNESS.

A SWORN OFFICER OF THE LAW

WHO HAS TESTIFIED UNDER OATH
THAT HE SAW THE DEFENDANT

IN GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI,
OVER 90 MILES FROM JACKSON

LESS THAN AN HOUR
AFTER THE MURDER.

DOES THAT CREATE
REASONABLE DOUBT?

YOU BET IT DOES.

AND REASONABLE DOUBT
MEANS ONE THING

AND ONE THING ONLY.

BY LAW, YOU MUST RENDER
A NOT GUILTY VERDICT.

FORGET THAT IT'S BYRON
"DELAY" BECKWITH.

FORGET THAT YOU MAY
NOT LIKE HIM,

THAT YOU MAY NOT
AGREE WITH HIM.

JUDGE THE EVIDENCE
AND JUDGE IT FAIRLY.

BECAUSE
IN THE UNITED STATES,

WE DON'T DO THAT FOR PEOPLE
WE JUST LIKE AND ADMIRE.

WE DO THAT FOR EVERYBODY

THAT'S ON TRIAL
IN AN AMERICAN COURT OF LAW.

BECAUSE IF THE SYSTEM
DOESN'T WORK

FOR BYRON DE LA BECKWITH,

IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ANYONE.

I ASK YOU TO LET
THE SYSTEM WORK

AND ONCE AND FOR ALL

FIND THE DEFENDANT

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH,
NOT GUILTY.

THANK YOU.

MR. DELAUGHTER.

AN UNARMED MAN

ARRIVES HOME
IN THE LATE HOURS
OF THE NIGHT...

HOME TO HIS FAMILY,
HIS WIFE,

AND THREE SMALL CHILDREN

GETS OUT OF HIS CAR

AND WITH HIS BACK TURNED,

IS GUNNED DOWN BY A COWARD.

THAT COWARD
IS BYRON DE LA BECKWITH.

HIS GUN. HIS SCOPE.

HIS FINGERPRINT.

HIS CAR.

AND LASTLY, BUT
CERTAINLY NOT LEAST,

HIS MOUTH.

WHEN HE THOUGHT
HE GOT AWAY WITH IT,

HE COULDN'T
KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT

WITH PEOPLE
HE WANTED TO IMPRESS.

AND NOW HIS VENOM
HAS COME BACK
TO DO HIM IN.

BECAUSE, LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN,

THERE IS NO STATUTE
OF LIMITATIONS ON MURDER.

THE LAW DOESN'T SAY
THAT IF YOU KILLED SOMEONE

10 YEARS AGO OR 20 YEARS AGO

OR EVEN 30 YEARS AGO,
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PAY THE PRICE.

THE LAW DOESN'T SAY
THAT IF YOU ARE

50 YEARS OLD
OR 60 YEARS OLD

OR 70 YEARS OLD,
THAT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO PAY THE PRICE.

NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW.

AND FOR WHAT REASON WAS
MEDGAR EVERS' LIFE TAKEN?

FOR WANTING SOME DEGREE
OF EQUALITY FOR HIMSELF,

HIS FAMILY
AND HIS FELLOW MAN.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WHEN THAT KIND OF
MURDER HAPPENS,

NO MATTER WHO THE VICTIM,

NO MATTER WHAT HIS RACE,

THERE IS A GAPING WOUND

LAID OPEN ON SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

JUSTICE HAS SOMETIMES
BEEN REFERRED TO

AS THE SOOTHING BALM
TO BE APPLIED

TO THE WOUNDS INFLICTED
ON SOCIETY.

BUT WHEN THERE IS NO JUSTICE

THOSE WOUNDS
CAN NEVER BE CLEANSED.

THOSE WOUNDS
CAN NEVER BE HEALED.

WHEN I ADDRESSED YOU
IN MY OPENING STATEMENT,

I SAID THAT THIS WAS
A SIMPLE CASE.

WELL, I WAS RIGHT
AND I WAS WRONG.

THE EVIDENCE IS SIMPLE.

AND THE CONCLUSION
IS MORE THAN OBVIOUS.

BUT THE REASON
WE ARE ALL SITTING
IN THIS COURTROOM

SO MANY YEARS
AFTER THIS DISGRACEFUL
ASSASSINATION TOOK PLACE

IS ANYTHING BUT SIMPLE.

PRESIDENT
JOHN F. KENNEDY

IN HIS LANDMARK
CIVIL RIGHTS SPEECH
TO THE NATION,

DELIVERED ON THE VERY NIGHT
MEDGAR EVERS WAS MURDERED,

SAID, "WE FACE A MORAL
CRISIS AS A COUNTRY

"AND AS A PEOPLE.

"THOSE WHO DO NOTHING
ARE INVITING SHAME

"AS WELL AS VIOLENCE.

"THOSE WHO ACT BOLDLY
ARE RECOGNIZING RIGHT

AS WELL AS REALITY."

TODAY, 30 YEARS LATER,

ON BEHALF OF THE STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI,

I'M ASKING YOU 12 LADIES
AND GENTLEMEN TO ACT BOLDLY.

TO HOLD THIS DEFENDANT
ACCOUNTABLE

AND FIND HIM GUILTY

SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT,

IT IS JUST,

AND LORD KNOWS, IT IS TIME.

IS IT EVER TOO LATE
TO DO THE RIGHT THING?

FOR THE SAKE OF JUSTICE

AND FOR THE HOPE OF US
AS A CIVILIZED SOCIETY,

I SINCERELY PRAY THAT IT IS NOT.

THANK YOU.

HOW LONG DO YOU THINK
THEY'LL BE OUT?

ALL I KNOW IS
A SHORT TIME IS GOOD

AND A LONG TIME
IS NOT SO GOOD.

THEN I'LL PRAY
FOR A SHORT TIME.

THIS REMINDS ME
OF MEDGAR'S OFFICE
ON LYNCH STREET.

YOU KNOW, I USED TO BE
MEDGAR'S SECRETARY.

NO.
OH, YES.

HE INSISTED THAT
WE BEHAVE IN THE OFFICE

STRICTLY AS EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE.

HE'D CALL ME MRS. EVERS,

AND I'D HAVE
TO CALL HIM MR. EVERS.

IS THAT RIGHT?
YES.

EVERYBODY THOUGHT
HE WAS CRAZY.

BUT HE WAS JUST
SO DETERMINED
TO DO A GOOD JOB.

YOU REMIND ME OF MEDGAR.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

WOULD YOU LIKE
A CUP OF COFFEE?

NO, THANKS.

AS MANY TRIALS
AS I'VE BEEN THROUGH

AND I CAN NEVER
TAKE THE WAITING.

WANNA GO FOR A WALK?

NO, YOU GO AHEAD. I'VE GOTTEN
PRETTY GOOD AT WAITING.

[ALL YELLING]

THAT JUDGE HILBURN...

HE DON'T HAVE
A LOT OF PATIENCE.

THAT JURY AIN'T BACK WITH
A VERDICT IN A FEW HOURS,

HE'LL DECLARE A MISTRIAL.

I'M NOT SURE I GOT THAT.

WOULD YOU MIND
REPEATING THAT, PLEASE?

YOU DID SAY MISTRIAL,
DIDN'T YOU?

I'M GONNA SNOOCH YOU.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

ALL RISE.

AHEM.

WHEN THE VERDICT IS READ.

THERE WILL BE NO
DEMONSTRATIONS

OR EMOTIONAL OUTBURSTS
OF ANY TYPE.

HAS THE JURY
REACHED A VERDICT?

IT HAS, YOUR HONOR.

IF THE BAILIFF WILL
HAND ME THE VERDICT.

I'LL ASK THE JURY
AT THIS TIME TO STAND
AND FACE THE DEFENDANT.

THE DEFENDANT
WILL FACE THE JURY.

THE JURY FOREMAN
WILL NOW READ THE VERDICT.

WE THE JURY
FIND THE DEFENDANT

BYRON DE LA BECKWITH,
GUILTY AS CHARGED.

[ALL CHEERING]

[BANGS GAVEL]

QUIET IN THIS COURTROOM.
GUILTY.

[CHEERING IN DISTANCE]

[ALL CHEERING]

MRS. EVERS!

MRS. EVERS, HOW DID YOU FEEL
WHEN THE VERDICT CAME IN?

IT'S BEEN
A LONG JOURNEY.

MEDGAR, I'VE GONE
THE LAST MILE
OF THE WAY.

I'VE GONE THE LAST
MILE OF THE WAY.

AND ALL I WANT TO SAY

IS YEA, MEDGAR!

YEA!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

[WOMAN VOCALIZING]

[CHOIR VOCALIZING]

* I WISH I KNEW HOW *

* IT WOULD FEEL TO BE FREE *

* I WISH I COULD BREAK *

* ALL THE CHAINS HOLDIN' ME *

* I WISH I COULD SAY *

* ALL THE THINGS
THAT I SHOULD SAY *

* SAY 'EM LOUD *

* SAY 'EM CLEAR *

* FOR THE WHOLE WIDE
WORLD TO HEAR *

* I WISH I COULD SHARE *

* ALL THE LOVE
THAT'S IN MY HEART *

* REMOVE ALL THE BARS *

* THAT KEEP US APART *

* I WISH YOU COULD KNOW *

* WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ME *

* THEN YOU'D SEE AND AGREE *

* THAT EVERY MAN
SHOULD BE FREE *

[SONG CONTINUES]

* I WISH I COULD GIVE *

* ALL I'M LONGIN' TO GIVE *

* I WISH I COULD LIVE *

* LIKE I'M LONGIN' TO LIVE *

* I WISH I COULD DO *

* ALL THE THINGS
THAT I CAN DO *

* THOUGH I'M WAY OVERDUE *

* I'D BE STARTING ANEW *

* OH, I WISH I COULD BE *

* LIKE A BIRD IN THE SKY *

* HOW SWEET IT WOULD BE *

* IF I FOUND I COULD FLY *

* I'D SOAR TO THE SUN *

* AND LOOK DOWN AT THE SEA *

* THEN I'D SING
'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* THEN I'D SING
'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* SING 'CAUSE I'D KNOW *

* I'D KNOW HOW IT FEELS *

* OH, I'D KNOW HOW IT FEELS *

* TO BE FREE *

* YEAH, YEAH,
I'D KNOW HOW IT FEELS *

* YES, I'D KNOW, I'D KNOW *

* HOW IT FEELS, HOW IT FEELS *

* HOW IT FEELS
TO BE FREE *

* HOW DOES, HOW IT FEELS *

* HOW IT FEELS
TO BE FREE *

* I KNOW HOW IT FEELS *

* HOW IT FEELS TO BE FREE *

* I'LL KNOW
HOW IT FEELS *

* HOW IT FEELS *

* I'LL KNOW HOW IT FEELS *

* TO BE FREE *