Original subtitles

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[fanfare music]

[majestic music]

[upbeat music]

Beautiful and powerful Chicago,

the city poets have sung about.

Carl Sandburg called it "Hog Butcher for the World,

Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,

Player with Railroads

and the Nation's Freight Handler;

stormy, husky, brawling,

City of the Big Shoulders."

Her tall skyscrapers make her a jewel

among the cities of the earth.

Her long, straight boulevards throb with life and vitality.

Her gorgeous monuments and splashing fountains

make her the envy of the world.

But, like all great cities, Chicago has its secrets,

which are seldom written or sung.

Behind her bold lines of beauty

lies a hidden world.

Here is Chicago's Black Belt, a prison without bars.

Here, behind an invisible color line

live almost a half a million Black people.

These people have been told that they must live here,

and the kind of the work that they do

is marked out for them.

See those houses?

A generation ago, whites used to inhabit them.

But now they're crowded with Black people.

That house you see is the home of the Thomas family.

Here is Hannah, the mother of Bigger Thomas.

Let us follow her into her one-room kitchenette,

where she lives with her three children.

[soft music]

Here is Vera, Bigger's sister.

And that boy is Buddy, Bigger's brother.

He is hunting for one of the rats

that infest this tenement.

And here is Bigger himself, reading and dreaming

about machines and planes.

He wanted to be an explorer, a flyer,

all the things a young man wants to do,

but he's Black, and when you're Black,

it's better to keep your dreams locked in your heart.

He has already been forced into the path

of violent rebellion against his lot in life.

Here is the portrait of Bigger's father

who was lynched in the South 12 years ago.

The family fled to Chicago, and since then,

Hannah has struggled against great odds

to raise her children.

Oh, there's the rat that Buddy was looking for.

Ma! Ma! Ma!

-What's the matter? -It's that rat again.

-Oh, Lord. -I'm scared! I'm scared!

Don't let him bite you, Buddy!

-I'm scared! I'm scared! -I'll get him this time!

There he goes, there he goes!

Buddy, shut the door! Don't let him out!

Kill him! Kill him!

Got it! Got it! I got it!

That's enough, Bigger.

You're dead, dead, dead!

We got you this time, Ol' Man Dalton.

Look at that rascal, he could cut your throat

if he bit you while you were sleeping.

He's over a foot long.

Please take him out!

Ah, don't be scared, he's dead.

-Now look at it! -Stop it, Bigger!

Bigger, you're the biggest fool I ever saw!

-What'd I do now? -You done scared your sister

almost to death.

Boy, sometimes I'm sorry I ever birthed you.

I didn't ask you to birth me.

Maybe you oughta left me where I was.

You shut your sassy mouth and throw that rat out of here.

All right, Buddy, you the undertaker.

Okay, boss.

Go away.

One first-class funeral coming up.

[children shouting]

-Hiya, Panama! -Is Bigger in?

Yeah, he just killed this rat.

Man, I'm hungry, so don't tempt me with that rat.

[laughing]

[shouting continues]

That's exactly what I need.

You better go and buy a gun, man.

You can't make 'em.

If other folks can make 'em, I can.

Come on.

Bigger's coming, Miss Emmett.

Please sit down and rest yourself.

Can I fix you a cup of coffee?

No thank you, Mrs. Thomas.

Coffee bothers my heart, you know.

Miss Emmett, we just killed a rat, big like that.

See that blood? That's where Bigger killed him.

We call him "Ol' Man Dalton."

But why did you call him Old Man Dalton, Buddy?

'Cause he is a rat.

And I always says to him, "Bigger, least wise

you could say 'Mr. Dalton.'"

Charging us $15 a week for this lousy kitchenette.

Now, Bigger, as head of the house...

There ain't but one room here and there ain't no head to it.

Yes, I know, but as soon as you start working,

your feelings will change.

Hear that, Bigger?

What kind of job am I gonna get?

There's an opening in the Dalton family itself,

the job of chauffeur.

According to our records, you're a good driver.

He sure is, Miss Emmett!

But we must supply Mr. Dalton with all the facts.

Here, under "previous history,"

you failed to mention the theft of three automobile tires

from a colored garage.

Is that about right, Bigger?

Yes, that's about right.

-Any other trouble since? -No.

I'm going to recommend you to Mr. Dalton

this morning, Bigger.

Thank the Lord, my prayers have been answered.

Now Bigger's got a job

and he's making a new start in life.

I'm so happy for you, Bigger.

Now, goodbye.

Goodbye Miss Emmett, and God bless you.

You'll hear from me as soon as I speak to Mr. Dalton.

Keep your head up.

I'm Bigger and I'm driving Mr. Dalton's big car!

Look out, everybody!

All 12 cylinders coming around the curb!

Hey, what do you mean running through that red light?

Want me to give you a ticket, huh?

[laughing]

Look, Ma, Bigger is laughing.

Oh, I ain't laughing none.

That job ain't for me.

Going to see your girlfriend, huh?

Look, Bigger, you got a good job now.

You could find a better girl than just a waitress

in a nightclub, somebody nice you can marry.

I told you not to talk to me no more

about Bessie, didn't I?

[shouting]

[shouting]

Say, where you been all this time?

I've been waiting here for you for over an hour.

Oh, Bigger, don't be angry with me, honey.

-You can congratulate me. -What are you talking about?

I'm gonna sing, Bigger, at last.

Ernie's giving me a break.

Oh, Ernie.

I'm gonna sing tomorrow night for the first time.

Your Bessie ain't a waitress no more, honey.

Ernie says I got a lot of talent.

Yeah, and you got a lot of other things he likes, too.

Aw, Bigger, don't be jealous.

You know I love you.

Bigger, I'm so excited.

Gee, I sing for people for the first time in my life.

Look, we can do things now.

We'll have money.

Okay, but pretty soon we won't take any help

from Ernie or anybody, hear?

Bigger, what's the matter?

Are you angry?

We ought to be happy.

Come on, honey, let's have some fun.

Let's see a movie.

Can't today. I got to go.

See ya later, huh?

Bigger, where are you goin'?

See you later at Ernie's.

...pitches a tight game for the Senators.

And tomorrow's forecast promises rain

which could cancel out the final game of the season.

Now this is the eighth inning here.

Zachary is ready now.

[unintelligible]

Here's Bigger now.

Here's the pitch.

Too close. Ball One.

Did Bessie tell you about the break I'm giving her?

Yeah, I know.

She's got class, that girl.

I'm going to put her on top of the world.

You help a lot of girls, don't you, Ernie?

But don't go getting any funny ideas about Bessie, see?

[laughing]

Zachary is giving the Babe nothing he can get hold of.

[shouting]

All right, he's ready to pitch again.

Now, listen, guys.

Gus, you stick with me.

Al, you keep a lookout on the L platform.

-What time? -Midnight.

-What's cooking, Bigger? -Keep away from me, you fruit.

We can't talk here, let's go into the back.

Panama, you be at the front door.

Me and G.H. will hit the joint quick.

Bigger, that gun you made, will it shoot?

I know, it'll take care of Blum all right.

Maybe there's an alarm system.

So what? When the cops come, we'll be ten blocks away.

Suppose a cop will pinch one of us?

Don't squeal, we'll take care of it.

What are you punks up to?

You're plotting something.

Get out or I'll throw you out!

You and who else?

I don't like your sass.

Go easy, Ernie.

I'll call the cops.

What an ovation for a great guy.

Oh, no, you won't!

Now, Bigger, we got a job to do.

You're going to pay for that phone!

[thrum of train]

It's after 12:30.

Where in the heck is Gus?

Hangin' around some meat maybe.

He ain't coming. He's scared to rob a white man.

He makes us miss this job, I'll fix him, so help me.

We still got time, Bigger.

Don't be so nervous.

Here comes Jack now.

[honking]

-Where's Gus? -He won't come.

He said that gun you made won't shoot.

-He said we'll be caught. -He's lying.

He's scared to rob a white man.

We can do it without him.

Blum is still open.

Oh, it's too late now.

Panama, tell the boys the job is off.

You say Gus is scared, but it's you who is scared.

You're scared [unintelligible] and you'll have to do the job.

You!

Take it back, you dirty nigger.

Say, "I'm a lying, stinking, yellow coward."

-Come on, Bigger, cut it out! -Say it now!

Bigger, we still got time to do the job.

Take it back. Say, "I'm a lying, stinking, yellow coward!"

I'm a lying, stinking, yellow coward.

-Get! -Bigger is crazy!

I'm through!

Cop. Scatter.

[honking]

[whistle blowing]

You ain't mad with me, is you, Bigger?

-Oh, leave me alone. -I know how you feel.

Me? I'm kind of glad we didn't do it.

-It was too late to make it. -Don't jive me, Bigger.

You beat up old Jack so we couldn't pull that job.

-You're a liar. -Bigger, you ain't made

for that kind of work.

You were scared, and I'm sure glad

you were scared 'cause I was scared, too.

You better smile when you say things like that to me.

Say, how 'bout an all-night movies?

I got four bits.

Where you get four bits from?

I don't do big jobs.

I just steal little things the white folks won't miss,

and if they misses them, they don't get too mad, see?

[laughing]

[lively music]

-Down in front. -Hey, man, get out of the way!

Sit down, you!

[laughing]

Maggie, how many times do you want me to remind you

that Mr. John will not eat his food off the ground?

He wants it served on the table.

Yes, ma'am. I forgot.

[laughing]

Now be nice and sweet to Mr. John, Percival.

I'll be back in two minutes.

Listen, you, I'm talking to you as man to man.

Scram!

If you don't go, I'll send you to the hot dog factory.

If I was working in that place,

me and the dog would fight over that meat.

If Ol' Man Dalton would feed me half as well

as they're feeding that dog, I'll take that job.

[laughing]

[soft music]

[whistle blowing]

What do you want?

They sent me to work here.

Okay, but you don't live here.

You go on by the back door.

Mr. Dalton, the Thomas boy is here.

Show him in.

Helen, dear, this is the boy the relief sent.

You've been highly recommended for the job.

I hope you'll like it.

Yes'm.

They say that you handle a car very well.

Yes, sir.

I think it would be wise to inject him

into his new environment at once

so that he feel confident.

Very good, my dear.

Do you wish to ask him anything?

No, you interview him.

I think I'll go to my room.

Shall I ring for Peggy?

No, no.

I'll be all right.

That was Mrs. Dalton. She's blind.

She has a deep interest in colored people.

Did you bring the paper?

Sit down, Bigger.

Now how about this stealing trouble?

You wouldn't steal now, would you?

-Oh, no, sir. -Well,

I'm going to give you a chance, Bigger.

The pay calls for $20 a week which goes to your family,

but I'm going to give you five extra for yourself.

You'll have your clothes and your meals.

You'll have your own room up in the tower.

-How does that sound? -Sounds fine, okay.

If you're worried about anything,

you come and see me and we'll talk it over.

Yes, sir.

-Oh, Peggy. -Yes, Mr. Dalton?

Bigger is going to drive for us.

-Show him his duties. -Yes, Mr. Dalton.

-Bigger... -Yes, sir.

At 8:30, you'll drive my daughter

out to the university and wait for her.

-Yes, sir. -That's all for now.

Come along, Bigger.

Gee, that's some baby.

You like cars, don't you?

Yes'm, the only thing I like better than one car

-is two cars, ma'am. -Be careful.

Mr. Dalton doesn't like speeding and such.

Ma'am, you reckon I can try it out a little bit

just to get used to it?

Yes, but be sure and check the gas and oil.

Always wear your uniform when you drive.

-Yes'm. -Be here at 8:00

to drive Miss Dalton.

You're free till then.

Yes'm.

[honking, shouting]

Bessie, Bessie!

Is that your boss's car?

Gee! It's a peach!

Yeah! My boss wants me to try it out!

I'm off till night!

Let's take a spin along the lakefront, Riverview!

Hot dog!

I'll get my bathing suit.

[jazz music]

-How am I doing? -You're acting

just like them white folks.

As good as that white girl

you're gonna drive around tonight?

Baby, I wouldn't swap you for all the blondes in Chicago.

You liar.

Say, is she pretty?

I didn't see her.

Why do you ask? You jealous?

No! Ain't I got everything she's got?

Don't worry, baby, you sure got what it takes all right.

[laughing]

[violin music]

I don't know if I'm crawling or walking.

But we can't stop now, we just got started.

We got to see everything.

What about that roller coaster over there?

Uh, okay.

But you got to hold me if I get scared.

I always like to hold you, baby.

[screaming]

Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down!

It's just like life!

And you never know when you're going to be up or down!

I've got something important to tell you!

What did you say?

[screaming]

I'm happy!

What'd you say?

I can't hear you!

I'm happy!

[majestic music]

Gee, the water is wonderful.

Come in with me, Bigger.

I can't, I got to keep my eye on the boss's car.

Oh, forget about your white boss for a while.

If he don't like it, let him lump it.

Aren't you gonna wish me luck

with my singing tonight, honey?

I sure wish I could be at Ernie's

to hear you sing tonight,

but I got to be driving that white gal around.

[roar of plane overhead]

Look at that bird, that's what I ought to be riding

up there in the sky, but they don't want me to.

What are you talking about?

I don't want to be a chauffeur.

I want to fly planes.

Look at that guy sailing away into the sun, free as air.

Aw, honey, don't be so bitter.

You can't change the whole world.

Isn't it enough that we're together,

that we love each other?

Take that frown off your face and kiss me.

[soft music]

Good evening, ma'am.

A new chauffeur, huh?

What's your name?

Bigger. Bigger Thomas, ma'am.

That's a funny name.

Where'd you get it?

They just give it to me.

[laughing]

Got a match?

It's okay, Bigger.

Belong to a union?

Oh, no. I don't fool with them kind of folks.

You better join one quick

or Father will exploit your shirt off.

You're not a tattletale, are you?

-No. -Well, I'm not going

to the university library.

I'll tell you where to stop.

And if anybody asks you, I went to school, see?

Yes.

I think I can trust you.

After all, I'm on your side

and so is this friend of mine I want you to meet tonight.

But, ma'am, I don't want to meet anybody.

Oh, don't be silly. You'll like Jan.

He has all the answers to your problems.

He's not like Mother and Dad doing missionary work.

He fights for the colored people.

Wait for me in this parking lot.

I want to pick up Jan.

I'll be back in a minute.

Bigger, I want you to meet Jan Erlone.

-How are you, Bigger? -Fine, sir.

Come on, shake. Don't be scared.

And don't call me "sir."

My name is Jan.

Get in there Bigger.

I'm driving.

It's all right.

Say, Bigger, have you ever heard of a place

called Ernie's out on the South Side?

-No, sir. -Oh, they tell me

they have bang-up floor shows over there.

Good music, dancing, good drinks.

Let's ask someone where it is.

Oh, yes, I know the place.

It's at 63rd and South Park.

Good.

[engine starting]

I guess we seem pretty strange to you, don't we, Bigger?

Yes. No.

Oh, you'll get used to us.

We don't care about color, Bigger.

To us, a man's a man.

When I think of the way my people treat your people,

I get so mad.

I guess you feel the same way sometimes, don't you, Bigger?

No.

I don't know.

Listen, Bigger, I know how it feels to walk the streets

dressed like everybody else, feeling like everybody else,

looking like they do, yet excluded

for no other reason than that you're Black.

One day, we're gonna smash this Jim Crow system,

and when we smash it, it'll stay smashed.

[honking]

Good evening, ma'am.

You're just in time.

The fight will be over in a minute

and the floor show starts.

Aren't you coming in, Bigger?

Got to park the car, ma'am.

Of course he's coming.

If he doesn't go in, I won't.

He's perfectly welcome, ma'am.

-But, ma'am, the car. -Oh, ma'am, ma'am, ma'am.

Nobody is gonna hurt Mammy's car.

Come right in, Mr. Bigger.

-Good evening, general. -That ain't no general,

that's a field marshal.

[laughing]

They all know you here, Bigger.

-Friends of yours? -Some of 'em.

Said you didn't even know the place.

Table for two or three, sir?

-For three. -Very good, sir.

[shouting, applause]

What atmosphere! It's electric.

I love it.

[applause]

Well, Bigger, to our friendship

and to that world we're going to win.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Ernie's Palace now offers for your entertainment

the second part of this evening's program.

[horn music]

Looks like Bigger has picked up a rich, white chick.

Yeah, Lola just told me.

What keeps you fooling with a punk like Bigger?

I just happen to love him, Ernie.

Forget him and that white girl

and put your heart in your song.

And now we present a brand-new singer,

Ernie's latest discovery, Bessie Mears.

I think you will agree with me that Ernie can pick

the most charming and sweetest of flowers.

Come on, Bessie.

Don't be timid.

Here's your chance.

I give you Bessie Mears!

Now give her a hand.

[applause]

[soft music]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'd like to sing

a little song for you.

It's a new one I hope you're going to like.

It's called "The Dreaming Kind."

Love me 'cause I'm lonely

Love me 'cause I'm wild

Love me 'cause I'm only

a dreamin' kind of child

Make me yours forever,

ever and a day

Isn't she amazing?

All colored people are so gifted.

Don't you think so, Bigger?

Bigger, aren't you enjoying yourself?

Oh, I'll follow you forever

No matter what you do,

I'll shatter all...

Bigger, I know what you're thinking.

You feel that whites only let colored people sing blues.

But one day, you'll be able to express yourself

any way you want.

Love me 'cause I'm achin'

Put me here on trial

Please don't be forsaken

Why, she knows you, Bigger.

Yeah, she's my girl.

Is that why you didn't want to come here with us?

[cheering]

Ladies and gentlemen,

we now present a new attraction,

the undisputed king of bebop,

Professor Kicking!

[lively music]

[whistling]

Bigger sure played you a dirty trick, honey.

To show up with his boss's daughter,

and the very night you sang your song.

Lola, I almost dropped dead right there

in the middle of my act when I saw him sitting there,

holding hands with that white girl.

Bessie, you really put it over.

Look, Miss Dalton wants to see you.

She wants you to come to her table.

Aw, leave me alone.

Go on back to her if you enjoy being with her so much.

Oh, you're jealous. It's my job.

She asked me to show her Ernie's

and she wants to meet you.

But I don't want to meet her.

Oh, there's Bigger now.

What are you doing here, Bigger?

Where is she?

She's dressing, ma'am.

I couldn't wait any longer.

I just had to tell you how much I like your singing.

Here.

Let me give this to you.

Thank you.

Show me the way to go home

I'm tired and I want to go to bed

Hey! Give me some.

Don't be so stingy.

You're getting high. Take it easy, honey.

Bigger, have a swig.

Say, Bigger, can you sing?

-No. -Aw, come on.

Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to--

What's the matter?

-That ain't the tune, ma'am. -Well, then you sing it.

All colored people are supposed to sing, aren't they?

Reckon they forgot to teach me, ma'am.

That's a good one.

Here, Bigger, have another swig and then you're good.

Hey, give me some of that.

Hey, you're hitting the bottle pretty heavy, honey.

Not any heavier than you.

Darling, let's go away together again

like we did the last time.

We don't see each other often enough.

Oh, gosh.

I've got to go to Detroit in the morning.

Detroit? You didn't tell me that.

I promised Mother.

Aunt Em's been waiting one whole year

for me to visit her.

I've got to. What a bore.

Say, why don't you come with me?

I can't leave my work like that.

Oh, you don't love me anymore.

Hey, I don't want you to pass out.

Look, it's after 2:00.

Your father is going to get suspicious.

We'll drop you home.

Nonsense, you've got to get right to bed.

Better pull up here, Bigger.

[laughing]

Goodnight, darling!

I'll call you in the morning.

It's been great meeting you, Bigger.

Be sure and take Mary straight home, will you?

Yes, sir.

Oh, I forgot.

Be sure and read these, will you?

I'll explain them to him.

Had a little drink about--

[clicking]

[tense music]

[shattering]

Well...

Help me out.

What's the matter? Scared?

Ooh!

You okay, Miss Dalton?

I sure am drunk!

Shh!

I'll call Miss Peggy to help you.

No, no, no!

I don't want her to see me like this.

Take me up the back stairs.

This ain't my job, Miss Dalton.

Don't leave me alone.

[laughing]

Shh.

Miss Dalton, is that your room?

Try to stand up.

[laughing]

Shh!

Shh.

Shh! Quiet, Miss Dalton.

[laughing]

You okay, Miss Dalton?

Your hair is like little black wires, it's funny.

Miss Dalton, go to bed.

If they find me here, they'll kill me.

Don't leave me.

I feel I'm dying.

Oh, Bigger.

Please help me.

They'll kill me, they'll kill me.

Please.

You're good, Bigger.

Mary?

Mary, is there someone here with you?

Hey, where are you?

Darling, are you ill?

Answer me, darling.

[dramatic music]

You reek of liquor.

You're drunk.

My poor child.

Miss Dalton.

Miss Dalton!

[ominous music]

[soft music]

[buzzing]

Good morning, Miss Peggy!

Good morning, Bigger!

You haven't forgotten that you must drive Miss Mary

to the station, have you?

Hello?

Hello? Bigger!

Are you there, Bigger?

Yes'm, yes'm!

I remember!

I'll be right down.

[suspenseful music]

Oh, I forgot, I want you to read these, Bigger.

I'll explain them to him!

[dramatic music]

Oh, here you are!

There's your breakfast waiting for you.

I must go and awaken that poor child.

I've rung three times and she didn't answer.

Oh, Bigger, would you shut down the damper on the furnace?

So hot in here.

Maybe I put in too much coal yesterday.

Yes'm!

But do eat your breakfast first!

[soft dramatic music]

[knocking]

-Mrs. Dalton! -What is it, Peggy?

Miss Mary is not in her room.

-Do you know where she is? -No.

-What time is it? -It's a quarter past seven,

and Bigger is waiting to drive her to the station.

Then where is she?

Mary?

Mary?

Oh, Peggy, go and see if she's in the library

or the living room!

What's the matter, darling?

Mary will miss her train.

She's not in her room.

-I don't understand. -Well, don't be upset about it.

Maybe she didn't come in,

spent the night with friends.

No, Henry, she came in last night.

-Very late. -Oh.

I spoke to her.

[telephone ringing]

Yes? This is the Dalton's residence.

Who's calling, please?

Mr. Erlone!

Well, just a moment, please!

It's Mr. Erlone.

He wants to speak to Miss Mary.

Tell him that she's not in.

She's gone.

I wish that fellow would stop phoning her.

Perhaps Mary went directly to Detroit.

I don't think she was in any condition

to go to Detroit, Henry.

She was drunk last night.

I heard her stumbling about

and went to see if I could help her.

-She was too drunk to talk. -Good Lord.

Where's that chauffeur?

Peggy? Where's Bigger?

Bigger?

Oh, here you are!

Mr. Dalton wants to speak to you.

Yes'm.

Good morning, Bigger!

Good morning, sir.

What time did you bring Miss Dalton home last night?

I don't know, sir.

Must have been about two o'clock in the morning.

Why was it so late?

What happened?

I drove them to a lot of places.

-They were drinking. -They?

Was she with someone?

Yes, sir.

A gentleman, she called him Mr. Jan.

Oh.

Bigger, come up here a minute.

Oh, dear.

I'm so ashamed.

Do we have to ask that colored boy

about Mary's drinking?

I forbade her to see that fellow again.

Mary is such a little fool.

[knocking]

Bigger, did that fellow Jan

give Miss Dalton a lot of drink last night?

Yes, sir. She passed out.

Oh, well, he took care of her, of course?

Brought her home?

Yes, sir, she couldn't walk.

He brought her into the house?

Yes, sir, he carried her in in his arms.

They went into the house.

So he was here?

I remember last night.

I had the impression somebody was here in the room

when I tried to talk to Mary.

Hmm, I don't like this.

Where is Mary now?

I'm going to call Britten.

That's all, Bigger.

This is his room.

-Where'd you get the boy from? -The relief agency.

I wish you'd let me look these people over

before you hire them.

That good heart of yours

will get you in trouble one of these days.

Oh, I like niggers,

but I like them in their place.

What are you looking for, Britten?

That boy has only been here since last night.

Well?

Well, what do you think of this?

Looks like they've planted one of the gang

right in your own home.

Look at that.

Labor Leads the Fight.

Smash Jim Crow.

Struggle for Racial Equality.

-Get the point, Mr. Dalton? -This is amazing!

Come on, I wanna talk to that chauffeur.

That child just won't leave those labor agitators

and their crazy politics alone.

I warned her, I did.

I told her she'd get into trouble.

I bet they'll start questioning everybody now.

Yes?

Bigger, Mr. Britten wants to talk to you.

See, looks like you're first.

Go ahead, Bigger.

If it weren't for Miss Mary and her wild ways,

this house would run like a clock.

[knocking]

Come in.

Come in, boy, come in.

I wanna talk to you.

-Are these yours? -No, sir.

-Yes, sir. -Where did you get them from?

Answer me, nigger.

Mr. Jan gave them to me.

Oh, so you admit you're a member of his outfit, eh?

No, sir, no, sir.

I saw him last night for the first time in my life.

He gave me them books.

Stop it, Britten.

What's this got to do with finding Mary?

Maybe more than you think.

Jan was the last person who saw your daughter.

How do you know he didn't make her

sign up with his outfit with blackmail in his mind?

Or perhaps send you a ransom note?

Good heavens, Britten, you're crazy!

Leave that boy alone.

He's okay.

It isn't his fault if Erlone forced

those pamphlets on him.

As you say, Mr. Dalton.

He's okay with you, he's okay with me.

Please, Mr. Dalton, I don't want to work here,

I want to go home.

What's the matter, boy?

Did I scare you?

That's nothing.

You oughta see me when I really get going strong.

You told me exactly what I wanted to know.

Now take a few hours off, Bigger.

But be here this evening, I may need you.

Me too, boy.

I may have a few more questions I wanna ask you.

Mr. Dalton, how would you like

to have me handle Erlone for ya?

Yes, but go easy, Britten.

These labor agitators have a way of creating scandal

in the newspapers.

I'll be very happy to see him right now.

I'll find out what he's really up to.

So you didn't see Miss Dalton last night, huh?

No, I told you, no.

And you didn't give that nigger boy

these stinking pamphlets last night?

All right, I did.

And I saw Mary last night.

So what?

You know why I didn't say so in the first place.

I don't know a damn thing, suppose you tell me?

Her old man doesn't like me

and I didn't want to get her in trouble.

What's all this about, anyway?

I'll ask the questions, you answer 'em.

Were you and Miss Dalton drunk last night?

Oh, come on, we had a couple of drinks, but--

You had to carry her upstairs to her room.

I didn't carry her to her room!

Erlone, you're a lousy liar!

Bigger told me you had to carry her into the house.

He couldn't have said that to you.

Say, what's all this about?

If you want to know what happened,

I left her in the car with Bigger

and I took a taxi home.

Well, now, there is a pretty story.

I can just picture you telling that to a jury,

how you left a drunken white girl

alone with a nigger.

Erlone, where is that girl?

Her parents want to know!

What, didn't she go to Detroit?

You know damn well she didn't go to Detroit.

But I called them up this morning

and they told me that she'd gone!

Sure, you called up to find out if the family had missed her.

What do you mean?

Erlone, I don't know what game you're playing,

but you've been lying ever since I stepped into this room.

First you tell me you weren't drunk last night,

then you tell me that you were.

Then you tell me you didn't see Miss Dalton last night,

then you tell me that you did.

Then you tell me you took her home

and then you tell me that you didn't.

I'll give you one more chance.

Tell me where Miss Dalton is!

I don't know!

All right, boy, you asked for it.

You won't talk to me, I'll take you

where they make people like you talk.

You mean you're arresting me.

What do you think?

And where you're going, the nights are pretty chilly,

so you better get your clothes on.

What's the matter, Bigger?

What you thinking about?

About how we live and how they live.

Leave them things to God, son.

In His kingdom, all men are equal.

Yeah, I know.

But we don't live there.

You seem worried about something, son.

Don't you like your new job?

Course, I know it ain't what you've been dreaming about,

but you just work hard.

Something good will turn up.

God always rewards those who wait.

Ma, where is the kids?

Bigger, it makes my heart glad

to hear you ask about the family.

This job's doing you a lot of good.

Vera's going to sewing class

and Buddy's out selling his papers.

That child sure has changed since you started working.

Buddy ain't got no father,

and he just worships the ground you walk on.

Son, don't ever do nothing to make Buddy ashamed of ya.

You leaving?

I thought you said you was free till tonight?

I wanted to cook you something good.

Oh, I understand.

It's that Bessie again.

So long, Ma.

Don't work too hard.

[crowd cheering]

No general no more?

Did they take away your uniform?

[laughing]

They done retired him

after 20 years of faithful service.

Seen Bessie around anywhere?

Give me a dollar, I'll tell you where she is.

Gee, Bigger,

you know I would've told you for nothing.

She's at The Palace.

Okay, guys, I gotta scram.

[soft jazz music]

Gosh, Bessie, your heart.

Why don't you give Ernie a break?

He gave you one.

Look, Lola, stop running errands for Ernie.

I'm only trying to help you, you dope.

You want to keep singing, don't you?

Then get wise and throw in the body.

My boyfriend's got a job and if Ernie gets fresh,

I take a walk, see?

It's your funeral, honey.

Hi, Bigger!

Oh, hello, Bigger!

Be seeing you, Bess, gotta go!

Pretty, isn't she?

So delicate.

Remember, Miss Mary gave it to me last night.

She's still living.

Can't stand them things.

Are you crazy?

-Bad luck, maybe. -What?

Look, I've gotta talk to you.

-What's the matter, honey? -I can't talk here.

Let's go into the back.

How could anyone be so cruel

to such a delicate flower?

Oh, yeah?

You wouldn't hurt a flower,

but you'd steal a dime off a dead man's eyes.

[chuckling]

Bigger, you haven't gotten yourself

into a mess, have you?

Listen, if I had to scram,

would you come with me if I split the dough?

Two whiskeys.

If you took me with you, you wouldn't have to split.

Okay, but it's for life and death.

For keeps, see?

You scare me, Bigger, what have you done?

That gal where I'm working--

I knew it was that girl, I knew it.

Pipe down!

What do you think this is, a church?

What about that girl?

She's done run off with a guy.

Erlone, he's in politics, unions and all.

-Eloped? -Huh?

Yeah, eloped, she's crazy!

Nobody knows where she is.

-They're looking for her. -What are you gonna do?

They might think she's kidnapped, see?

Bigger, this is crazy.

We can say we did it, sure,

write to him, ask for money, and get it, too!

-You see, we cash in-- -But she'll show up!

She won't.

Bigger, how do you know?

I just know.

Bigger, you know where that girl is.

Forget about where she is, she won't show up, that's all.

I'm a fool to even listen to you.

Look, we can get $10,000.

We'll have him leave the money somewhere.

They want to get the girl back.

Bigger, did you do something to that girl?

You say that again and I'll slap you down.

Here, drink it.

Bigger, you oughtn't have done it.

The police will be after us.

We'll be caught.

Don't make me do this, Bigger.

They won't think we did it.

They'll think we're too scared.

They think Erlone did it, they said so already.

I'm scared and I'm cold, I feel like it's night.

And I'm lost.

Come on, let's get out of here.

One...

two...

three.

The third one, the one right across

from the drug store, you see?

-That's the building. -But Bigger, I--

I want you to be in that middle window

on the top floor tomorrow night.

They're gonna throw the money out of the car right here.

Understand?

Come on, I'll show you.

[soft music]

We'll be caught, I know it.

The police will be watching.

I work in the house where they live!

If they send anybody to watch, we don't touch the money, see?

Please, Bigger.

I want you to be here tomorrow night,

about 11 o'clock, a car come along blinking its lights.

When you see that, blink three times with this.

The letter's gonna tell him

to throw a package out of the car.

Get that package,

'cause the money's gonna be in it!

Bigger, please, I don't wanna die.

Who's talking about dying?

We'll get the money and go away somewhere.

New York, Harlem, Canada, maybe!

Find me a .38 and some bullets.

I wanna be ready if anything slips.

Tomorrow morning, they'll get my letter.

I'll put it under their door myself.

[dramatic music]

Say, boy!

Are you the guy that drove Miss Dalton

-and Erlone here that night? -Yes, sir.

Say, is she really as pretty as that?

Yes, sir, she was a fine lady.

Well, why do you say she was?

I mean, she was fine to me, sir.

Oh.

Well, what do you think happened to her?

I don't know, sir.

They kidnapped her maybe.

Kidnapped, eh?

I want to interview you later.

I may want the chauffeur's angle

on this story.

Henry, is she alive?

Yes, Helen, she's alive.

-Thank God. -Tell Britten to come at once.

Yes, sir.

They're asking for $10,000 ransom.

-They want it tonight. -Give it to 'em!

Give them anything they want!

I want my poor child back!

[crying]

Any news, Mr. Dalton?

Yes, you were right, Britten.

A ransom note.

This is Henry Dalton speaking.

I want to speak to Commissioner Holmes at once.

So she's alive.

Whose bed did they find her in?

Shame on you.

Aw, let's get out of this joint.

[unintelligible] because we're drunk and bait.

Come on, boys, let's go.

If you ask me, this is a political trick.

Britten's using this to smear Erlone.

Yeah?

Then who sent the note?

The girl or Erlone?

Boys, just a moment.

Mr. Dalton's ready to make a statement.

I'm going to ask you to do something,

and it's very important.

Please listen to him.

The way you boys handle this case

may well mean life or death

to someone very close to this family.

I wish to inform you that my daughter, Mary Dalton,

has been kidnapped.

I just telephoned the police

and asked that Mr. Jan Erlone be released immediately.

I want it known that I don't wish

to proffer any charges against him.

I announce here publicly

that I apologize for his arrest.

When did it happen?

We think it happened last night.

What are they asking?

They're demanding $10,000.

Had any word from your daughter yet?

No, not directly,

but we've received a letter from the kidnappers.

Is that the letter in your hand?

Yes, this is the letter.

Are you going to pay the ransom?

Yes, I'm going to pay it.

You gentlemen can save my daughter's life

by saying in your papers that I'll pay as instructed.

Tell the kidnappers through your papers

that I shall not call in the police.

Hello, 21st Street Police Station?

Hello, Sid, this is Joe.

Look, I'm at the Daltons'.

Yeah, tell Erlone that the old man

has asked for his release.

He apologizes.

Yeah, it's a snatching job.

Yeah, ransom!

He says he'll pay!

Tell 'em they'll get what they want.

But for heaven's sakes, return Mr. Dalton's daughter.

-Got any idea who they are? -I have none.

-Can we see the letter? -No, I've been cautioned

not to make it public.

What?

He says he can prove he wasn't here?

Yeah.

Okay, I'll call you later.

Hey, I just called the police.

Erlone is raising Cain and says he won't leave jail.

Says that by staying where he is,

he's proving that he had nothing to do with this

or any other kidnapping.

Yeah, and he says that he's gonna sue Mr. Dalton

for false arrest.

He claims that he's got a dozen witnesses

that will swear he didn't come here that night.

Don't leave, Bigger, I wanna talk to you.

-Were you lying about Erlone? -No, sir!

Erlone was fixing an alibi, that's all.

Well, somebody's lying.

Yeah, and it's Erlone that's lying.

And we can prove it with this boy

who drove him here in the car.

In fact, the first time I talked to Erlone,

he admitted he was here!

Come on, Bigger.

The labor gang demands $10,000 ransom

for the safe return of millionairess.

The victim is the sweetheart of the labor leader

who was last seen with her.

Case is interpreted as a subversive assault

against private property.

Got that, Charlie?

Don't cry, everything will be all right.

Come and lie down.

[soft music]

Got a phone in here?

-Yes, sir. -Oh, thanks.

Well, well, here's my old colored friend.

You should've been a detective, my boy!

You were right!

Oh, shoot.

It was kidnapping!

Hot in here.

Say, you don't think the old man

would grudge me a little drink, do you?

Looks like you could stand one yourself.

Come on, sit down.

And what do you think of all this excitement, my boy, huh?

Just between me and you, it's a work of amateurs.

Gee, they could've asked for $100,000 and got it,

and they ask for $10,000.

Chicken feed.

Look here, my boy.

You say Erlone was here that night

and he says he wasn't.

You're the hero in all this,

and I'm gonna put you on the front page!

By the way, was Erlone really here that night?

-Yes, sir. -You saw him here?

Yes, sir, I drove him and Miss Dalton here

in the car.

They must've killed her then, don't you think?

-They must have, sir. -Who?

-The kidnappers. -Right.

Well, now that we both agree that she's dead,

just suppose I had killed her.

Well, what would I do?

Say, what's going on here?

We're waiting for you.

Just a minute, boys, watch this.

Let me see, oh, yeah, I need money to get away.

I'd write a ransom note, collect the money

before they found out she'd been murdered.

Wouldn't you, Bigger?

What's the matter, Farley, you sound to me

-like you've got the DTs! -What would you do, boy?

Stop teasing that coon, you're gonna scare him white!

[laughing]

Where is all that smoke coming from?

I think this boy is trying to smoke us all out of here!

Hey, let's see what's happening down there.

What's the matter, fella, you scared?

Where are you going, Bigger?

Farley, you sure got that kid rattled!

Oh, that boy is scared easily.

This is delicious!

Let's keep up the fun.

Come on, fellas!

Why don't you tend to the furnace, boy?

When I saw that smoke,

I thought the house was on fire!

Hey, let that boy alone!

Don't break up the show!

And now we have a body to get rid of,

no traces, no one ever to know.

Bury her?

No, that's too difficult.

Somebody might see you!

Well, what would you do with the body?

[laughing]

I'll tell you! Fire!

Yeah, that's what I'd do.

I'd burn the body,

in a furnace like that, for example.

Wouldn't you, Bigger?

Don't you think you've gone far enough?

That boy's gonna faint!

Why don't you get those ashes out, Bigger?

That fire is really clogged, there's smoke everywhere.

So you're entertaining the newspaper men!

Well, there's a time for everything!

[laughing]

I'll do it.

Well, get a move on and do it!

If you don't know how this furnace works,

I'll show you.

Come on, boys, the show is over.

No hard feelings, Bigger.

Come on, boys!

Let's scram.

Say.

[dramatic music]

Hey, hey, you guys, wait a minute!

-What is it? -Take a look at this.

-A bone! -So what?

Let me see that.

It's a vertebrae.

It's from a body.

-A human body? -Yeah, a human body!

Are you sure? Let me see.

[dramatic music]

It's an earring!

And a ring!

My God, that's Miss Dalton's earring!

Where's that boy?

It looks like he's gone.

But why did he do it?

A dead white girl, the nigger runs.

What do you think happened?

Yeah, he's gone, we'd better get Britten.

Sure played us for suckers.

Jumpin' Jupiter.

I see it all now.

That colored boy knew we were looking for radicals,

and he led us by the nose in every word he said.

Oh, boy, were we stupid.

Say, Britten, let me see that ransom note.

I'd bet my bottom dollar

that that nigger wrote this thing.

Yeah, and old mastermind here was looking for reds.

Shut up, that's not funny.

Give me Captain Summers.

Guess he's colorblind.

Captain Summers, this is Britten

out at the Dalton home.

Send out a city-wide search for Bigger Thomas.

Here's his description: Negro, age 25.

[frantic music]

[whistling]

Bessie!

What's the matter, Bigger?

-They're after us! -The police?

Come on, bring two blankets!

Hurry up, hurry up!

-Got the gun? -Yeah.

Come on!

We're gonna be caught, I know it.

They won't get us.

The first they'll do in looking for me

is go to your room, I had to bring you here!

What happened? Where's that girl?

-She's dead. -Oh, God!

But I won't give up, they gotta fight for me.

You told me you never was gonna kill.

I didn't kill!

That's the truth if I ever told the truth!

You did kill her.

Forget that girl, we've gotta think of ourselves!

If they find you here,

you'll cry and tell everything.

Come on!

[sirens blaring]

Give me the gun.

[soft music]

-Come on. -Bigger.

You're crazy.

This is the first place they'll look!

They'll remember you said leave the ransom money here.

Shut up, I know what I'm doing.

I'm gonna hide here because they think

I'm too scared to come here.

I'm smarter than they are, come on!

[sirens blaring]

[kids screaming]

[tires screeching]

[indistinct shouting]

What's the matter?

What's going on here?

What do you want here?

Listen, if you know what's good for you,

you'll tell us where your son is hiding.

Bigger?

What do you want him for?

He's working, he ain't in no trouble!

Oh, yeah? We're looking for him

on every block of this city.

He raped and killed a white girl where he works.

No, no!

Bigger didn't do no terrible thing like that.

He wouldn't do that to his poor old mom.

Bigger didn't kill nobody!

Don't say that about my brother,

I'll kill you, I'll kill you!

Take it easy, son.

Yeah, that boy's an angel!

He makes guns at home!

Mister, Bigger ain't bad.

It was the people he runs around with

that led him wrong.

If you know where your son is and don't tell,

you're guilty of murder, too!

If I knew where he was,

I'd never tell the likes of you.

It's that girl that got him in trouble.

-What girl? -Bessie Mears, she's a singer.

You know where she lives?

-In the-- -Shut your mouth, Vera.

These men are no friends of ours.

Okay, we'll find him!

We always do.

Don't cry, Ma.

No matter what happens,

we gotta keep our family together.

Get ready, children,

we have an appointment with God.

We're going to church.

You go on back home, that guy up there is wanted

for rape and murder.

Go on, go back home, and don't get mixed up

in anything like this, go on!

Say, do you think trailing the mother

will lead us to Thomas?

Don't be naive.

The chief's keeping the Mears angle for himself!

Politics, and we gotta shadow the mother.

Well, orders are orders.

[distant singing]

Leaning on the everlasting arm

What a fellowship

What a joy divine

Leaning on your everlasting arms

Amen!

What a blessedness

What a peace is mine

Leanin' on the everlasting arms

Leaning, leaning

Safe and secure from all alarms

Leaning, leaning

Leanin' on the everlasting arms

Our Heavenly Father,

I'm callin' on Your Holy Name this evening,

pleading for help.

My son's in deep trouble, Lord.

And here on bended knees,

I'm beggin' You to look down.

Have mercy...

and help me save my firstborn child...

who has strayed so far

from the fold.

[train clattering]

The sun won't shine for us anymore.

Oh, come on and eat.

Bigger,

you're cold!

You're shakin'!

Oh, it's nothin', but this white shirt makes me a target.

Let me buy you a sweater.

No, no, too dangerous.

Bigger,

why did you kill that girl?

I didn't mean to.

I couldn't help it.

What happened?

-I was in her room. -Her room?

Why did you go there?

She was drunk, she passed out.

I had to carry her to her room.

She asked me to.

I put her on the bed.

Then her blind ma came in

with her hand stretched out like that.

I was scared her ma was gonna find out

I was in the room and I took a pillow

and I put it on the girl's face.

I wanted to keep her quiet.

When her ma went out, I took the pillow away, and...

the girl was dead.

You smothered her.

Yeah, but I didn't mean to!

Why didn't you tell her mother what was wrong?

I was scared!

Scared!

All my life I heard of Black men being killed

because of white girls, and there I was.

I had to get rid of the body.

I took her downstairs in the basement,

and put her in the furnace.

Burnt her up.

Bigger, they'll say you raped her.

They say all Black men do that, so it don't make no difference

if I did or I didn't.

[crying]

Darling, give up.

It might make it easier.

Oh, no, I'll never do that!

I shouldn't have brought you here.

What are you gonna do with me?

I don't know.

Get me another bottle.

When you go inside that drugstore,

make sure nobody's there.

Make sure nobody follows you!

[train clattering]

[ominous music]

[car horn honking]

-Good evening, miss. -Good evening.

I want a bottle of Schenley's,

and one of those sweaters over there.

What size?

-Medium. -For you?

Yeah.

A $10,000 reward is offered

for the capture of Bigger Thomas,

negro rapist and murderer

who is being hunted by the police

in all parts of the city.

Thomas' brutal crime caused several civic

and patriotic organizations

to band together today to offer the $10,000 reward.

Thomas, two days ago, in the grip

of a brain-numbed sex passion

overpowered Mary Dalton,

murdered her, and then stuffed her body into a roaring furnace

to destroy evidence of his crime.

It has been disclosed that Mary Dalton had been beheaded--

If I knew where he was,

I'd sure hand him over to the police,

and I'd refuse the reward.

Is this what you wanted?

Yeah, how much is it?

Eight dollars.

A huge cordon of police

has been brought about the south side,

the area where Bigger Thomas was last seen.

It's believed that a $10,000 reward

will ensure the negro's capture

before many hours have elapsed.

[lively music]

In all the world,

there's no finer cigarette than Lucky Strike!

And to give you this finer cigarette,

Lucky pays more!

[siren wailing]

[horn blaring]

[tires screeching]

-What's the trouble, Snippy? -I got a hot tip!

-Well, spill it. -I know where Bigger Thomas

and his girlfriend are hiding.

Where?

What about the reward, do I get it?

Come on, talk fast.

Around the corner in that empty building.

Get in!

[suspenseful music]

[siren wailing]

[suspenseful music]

Looks like our lovebirds have flown the coop.

They sure played you a dirty trick, Snippy.

I see a white shirt, it must be him!

[gun firing]

[suspenseful music]

[siren wailing]

Come out, come on, boys!

Okay, let's follow him up.

[suspenseful music]

Reports are in that several negro men

were mobbed and severely beaten

in various parks on the north and west sides today.

A special news item has just come in.

The police have just located the abandoned tenement

where Bigger Thomas and his girl have been hiding.

When last seen, Bigger Thomas was fleeing alone.

Therefore, it is believed that the girl escaped

before the arrival of the police,

abandoning the killer to his fate.

Police reinforcements are being withdrawn

from other parts of the city

and rushed to the south side.

[people yelling]

[tense music]

Open up in there!

Hey, you, don't you at least respect

a woman who's havin' a baby?

[woman moaning]

[tense music]

That nigger ain't in there.

You people, get going!

Listen, because one Black man's a murderer,

-does that make us all guilty? -Beat it!

And this was supposed to be my day off.

[tense music]

[glass shattering]

[dramatic music]

[gun firing]

Drop that gun, nigger!

Surrender if you know what's good for you!

[bullets clinking]

[gun firing]

[dramatic music]

Careful, he's shootin' from the top of the tank!

Come on down, boys, we'll get him!

[dramatic music]

Okay, Paul, baptize him.

[dramatic music]

Don't waste water on that nigger, shoot him!

Shut up, there, I'm running this.

Let the law handle this.

[dramatic music]

[water hose blasting]

[dramatic music]

Look, he's climbing up that sign!

Okay, cut the water!

[dramatic music]

Look!

Look at him.

Hold your fire, boys!

He's trapped up there, and I want him alive.

Come on down, Thomas.

You'll catch a deadly cold up there.

Well, he's a dead duck now.

There'll be a hot time in the old town tonight.

Down south where I come from,

we don't waste time tryin' a nigger.

-We just lynch him! -Yeah?

And we're spending a quarter of a million dollars

to try him in a fine building like that.

Yeah, and who's paying for it?

You, and me,

and all of us are paying-- you, and you, and all!

[people shouting]

[gavel banging]

Order!

Order in the court!

Just say the word, Mr. Dalton.

I have 500 friends out there

that'll take that coon out,

and string him up to the first telegraph pole.

It makes me feel sick to hear that lawyer

blacken my daughter's name.

Order in the court!

I will not permit these disturbances.

Mr. District Attorney,

you may now resume your examination.

Now, Mrs. Dalton, please try to answer.

Mary had planned to go to Detroit that morning.

I heard her come in very late,

and I wanted to know what happened.

Did you speak to her?

Yes, several times,

but she didn't answer.

Now isn't it possible, Mrs. Dalton,

that your daughter was already dead at that time?

I thought I heard a whisper,

-a sigh. -I object!

Objection sustained.

I am trying to establish the presence

of the defendant in the room of the deceased.

You don't have to.

This signed confession contains admission

that this boy was in that room,

and no one disputes that!

We have entered a plea of guilty here,

and the question is the degree of that guilt.

I contend that the noise heard by the witness in that room

was one of protest

coming from Mary Dalton while undergoing criminal attack!

Objection!

There's not one iota of evidence

-that supports your argument. -Throw that crooked lawyer out.

[gavel banging]

Council for the defense is right.

That contention is not contained in the indictment.

Your witness, sir.

Mrs. Dalton,

when you stood near your daughter's bed,

did you smell a strong odor of alcohol?

I object, Your Honor!

I contend that Mary Dalton was drunk,

and that the defendant had to carry her to her room

at her request!

Your Honor, this has been an attempt

to smear one of the greatest families of Chicago!

Your Honor,

if the court does not permit Mrs. Dalton

to answer this question,

then I shall call for witnesses

to testify to the alcoholic habits of the deceased!

You may answer that question, Mrs. Dalton.

Wasn't your daughter drunk that night, Mrs. Dalton?

Yes.

[people murmuring]

All right, get back.

-Get back, there, get back. -Say, what's up in there, pal?

They just got done with Mrs. Dalton.

Now they're gonna grill that nigger lover, Erlone.

Ought to be a good show, let's go in.

Get back, get back, come on, get back!

Mr. Erlone, you mean to sit there and tell this court

that of your own free will--

not obeying the dictates of anyone,

no coercion or order of any group or party--

you mean to tell us

that you're defending this murderer

when he killed the girl you loved,

and tried to make you die for his crime?

Yes!

I say just that.

And moreover, I've asked my good friend, Mr. Max,

to come here and defend him without payment.

Now I've heard everything.

Lead, Kindly Light, Thy Kingdom come.

I don't wanna sound noble,

but I must tell you how I feel,

and you can make of it what you want.

Enlighten us, Mr. Erlone.

I was trying to help that boy to be free,

to be a man.

To me, there are no Black or white people,

and I offered Bigger my friendship.

I made a mistake.

Oh, you did, did you?

And that mistake was thinking

that after treating people wrong for 300 years,

I could walk up to the first Black man in the street,

shake his hand, and make him feel everything's all right.

I know now how deep this race hate goes.

I wish to God I'd had known it then.

Oh, you regret what you did, eh?

No, I regret nothing.

And if Mary were alive here today, she'd agree with me.

For her sake, I sit here and say

I blundered trying to follow

the noblest impulse of my heart.

I am for Bigger Thomas, he doesn't have to be for me.

I was for him then,

-and I'm for him now. -This is scandalous!

These pamphlets you gave Bigger Thomas that night,

they advocate racial equality, don't they?

Yes, the kind of a society I believe in,

there are no Black or white people.

Oh, so you approve of nigger men

having relations with white women, eh?

And perhaps you encouraged Thomas

to have intimacies with Mary Dalton?

This is beyond the range of decency!

How decent, sir, is murder?

Mr. Erlone is not on trial here!

The deceased brought this witness

into contact with the defendant.

The defendant was influenced by this witness.

I have the right to determine to what extent

this witness incited this defendant to murder.

Mr. District Attorney,

please confine yourself to the legal issues involved.

I'm establishing a motive for this murder!

No, you're not.

You're trying to indict a race of people!

And you're attempting to attack the political party.

A young and innocent girl

has been foully outraged and murdered.

Your Honor, I ask permission to address the court!

I pled this boy guilty

with the right, which is mine under the laws of Illinois,

to submit evidence of mitigating circumstances.

But, Your Honor,

I charge bad faith on the part of the state.

It has put the negro people on trial,

and Bigger Thomas is being denied

the right to be judged as an individual.

Now, after serious reflection,

I'm withdrawing my plea of guilty.

And with the court's permission,

I am entering a plea of not guilty

on behalf of Bigger Thomas.

[people yelling]

-Order in the court! -You cannot say

a murderer's guilty one day,

and turn around and say he's not the next!

This is cynicism.

Are you serious about this change of plea?

I am, Your Honor, I've no other choice.

The plea cannot be changed!

The state has accepted a plea

-of guilty. -That is a question

for the court to decide.

There's no precedent in the history of our courts

for such a change of plea.

Do you realize

that your change of plea

takes the defendant's guilt,

or degree of guilt, out of my hands?

I realize that, Your Honor.

Then, I can render but one decision

according to the law.

I now instruct that a jury be empaneled.

Why, this is a farce,

a waste of the tax payers' money!

If a juried trial is the only way to get the facts stated,

then I shall take that risk

in spite of a signed confession!

The world must know what this trial means!

[people yelling]

Excuse me.

Can I talk to you, sir?

And who are you?

I'm a friend of Bigger Thomas.

Is there anything I can do to help him?

You know where Bessie Mears is?

The police can't locate her.

Ernie had me lookin' for her,

but I can't find hide nor hair of her.

She must have skipped town.

That's the queerest thing about the whole case.

That gal just disappeared into thin air.

I wonder where she is.

By the way,

what does Thomas say about her?

He doesn't even wanna talk about her.

If you hear anything of her,

give me a ring.

Thank you, sir.

Say, bud.

Do you remember where Bigger and his girl were hiding?

Yeah, it's in an empty building on Indiana.

That's what they say in the papers.

That's good, always read the papers, son.

Look, I want to nose around there tonight.

I want you to go with me.

If we find anything, there's $10 for you.

-What are you cooking up, maste? - Shut up.

I have a crazy hunch.

I want to play it.

Son, there's only one road to salvation.

You just have to get down on your knees

and tell God everything with a humble heart,

and He'll hear ya.

Promise me you'll pray?

Son?

I'll be all right, Ma.

Bigger, if you say so,

I'll kill four or five of 'em for ya.

Take it easy, Buddy.

You've got to be a man now, and no crying.

I ain't cryin'.

Nobody'll ever see me cry!

Max will save Bigger, Mrs. Thomas.

He'll convince the jury, and make them see

how this thing happened.

[crying]

We'll win this fight, Bigger.

I don't wanna fight anymore, Mr. Jan.

They're gonna kill me.

I know it.

[crying]

Leave me alone.

Listen, Bigger, when you killed that girl I loved,

I felt like that mob outside.

I wanted to kill you too.

But deep down inside,

I knew it wouldn't solve anything.

It would have only meant for more hate and killing

between Blacks and whites,

and that's what we've got to stop

fighting side by side together.

[dark music]

Well, no trace of Bessie Mears, Panama.

It didn't pan out.

Heck, I must be crazy.

Ought to change my brand, maybe?

Changin' your brand wouldn't help, boss.

Them cops went over every inch of this place.

We ain't gonna find nothin'.

Okay, bud, I'm a sport.

Here's your ten bucks.

Let's go, huh?

[mysterious music]

You sure were right, Panama.

That girl must have taken her runout powder.

[dark music]

-Say... -Yeah?

You know where any of her folks are living?

Don't know, boss, don't know.

Maybe her landlady will let you go through her things.

That's not a bad idea, Panama.

You have to join the FBI.

Let's go see her landlady.

What's the matter, boss?

Strike a match, Panama.

I almost broke my back.

[dark music]

Help me outta here.

Do I really have the DTs,

or do you see what I see?

Good God in Heaven!

That's her!

That's Bessie!

[ominous music]

So that's what happened to her.

Oh, my!

Everything I do is wrong.

I was only tryin' to help Bigger,

and now they'll say he did this too.

Miss Mears,

I can see why they never found you.

They were looking in cellars and closets,

and you were floating above their heads.

[ominous music]

Gosh, I got my scoop!

I followed my hunch.

[ominous music]

Come on, Panama.

We need a drink!

We need two drinks!

Hello, Max.

Farley speaking.

Looks, here's the deal,

I'll give you the dope on the Mears girl.

I found her!

But cut me in on the inside story.

Wait a minute, don't get excited now!

The girl's dead.

Yeah, she was pushed into the elevator shaft

of that empty building.

That's why the cops didn't find her.

I'm sorry, Max.

Doesn't look good for your client.

Well, what makes you think that Bigger did it?

Anybody could have done it.

Maybe that stool pigeon did it.

Perhaps he ran into her, and they had a fight.

Maybe, maybe.

S'posin' you talk to Thomas,

and call me at my office at 9:00.

Meanwhile, I'll check with the police on Snippy.

Okay.

[receiver clanging]

So long, bud.

I'm off to work.

Some story.

Thanks.

I'll remember you as long as the grass grows.

Who killed Bessie Mears?

I did.

I was waitin' for this to come, Mr. Max.

Good God, boy!

Yes, I did it.

It wasn't hard killing Bessie

after I done killed that white girl.

Well, Bigger, why didn't you tell me?

We're facing a juried trial, and you pled not guilty.

Mr. Max, you know they ain't

gonna kill me for killin' Bessie,

they're gonna kill me for killin' that white girl.

Now you know it all!

You know the truth.

Bigger, how can I help you now?

You don't have to help me, Mr. Max, go home.

Now you can hate me like the others.

I don't hate you,

but Bessie loved you.

How could you kill her like that, what happened?

I was hiding out with Bessie in that empty building.

I was tired.

I was cold.

I hadn't slept in two days.

I sent Bessie down to buy a bottle of whiskey.

I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore.

Then I fell asleep, and I had a dream.

Then I was in that same nightmare I had every night

since I killed Mary Dalton.

I was kneeling on a pile of coal.

I was trying to hide a bundle

so nobody would ever find it.

There was something terrible and bloody in that bundle.

All at once the flower that Mary Dalton gave Bessie

fell right in front of me.

You can't bury her here.

They'll always find her.

Look over yonder

where it's all white.

Put her over there.

Nobody'll ever find her.

I hugged that awful bundle tight in my arms,

and went to hide it where she had pointed.

I was walking in a big cotton field.

All 'round me, everything was white.

It was a good place to hide the bundle.

I was back on the farm

where I used to live when I was a boy.

I felt free, and wasn't scared no more.

I was back home again.

And there was my father

the white folks had killed when I was a kid.

I ran to him, and fell on my knees.

I was so happy I was crying.

I knew that nothing bad was ever going to happen to me anymore.

[peaceful music]

All at once, I felt that it wasn't my father

who was holding my hand.

I looked up, and there was Mr. Britten.

He had found the bundle and was laughing at me.

No!

[laughing]

[tense music]

Ah!

No, no!

I woke up in terror.

I was alone in the empty building.

Bessie had gone.

[tense music]

Bessie!

[tense music]

Bessie!

[tense music]

I saw Bessie come out of the drugstore.

Then I saw that stool pigeon, Snippy, come from a doorway,

and stare at the building in which I was hiding.

I understood what was happening.

Bessie had got scared and snitched on me,

just like she had betrayed me in my dream.

Maybe the cops would get me,

but I had to pay her off for what she had done.

[tense music]

She was coming back to make sure I wouldn't get away.

[tense music]

What's the matter, Bigger?

I'm gonna kill you.

Bigger, Bigger!

Bigger!

Bigger, no!

[siren wailing]

I threw her down an elevator shaft.

I headed for the fire escape.

I had killed Bessie,

and had cut loose from everything.

I was free to face 'em and fight it out with 'em.

I was going to sell my life at the highest price.

That's how it happened, Mr. Max.

Now you can tell 'em all.

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

Farley, it's for you.

Thanks, Curly.

Hello?

Oh, hello, Max.

Well, what's the dope?

[typewriter clacking]

-What? -He admits he killed her?

Yeah, but I just had a talk with Snippy

down at headquarters.

He says Bessie Mears never even suspected

that he tracked them down.

Thomas got the idea that his girl

and that stool pigeon, Snippy, were working together.

He thought that she was sticking with him

just to turn him over to the police.

Listen, Max, that guy must have gone crazy.

So he killed that poor girl for nothing.

Looks like he put you on the spot this time, Mr. Max.

I wonder what I can do for that boy now.

Yeah, fear has haunted Thomas to the very end.

Well, Max, don't forget our deal.

Remember you promised me the inside story.

How 'bout some details, huh?

[typewriter clacking]

So she didn't snitch on me.

She stuck to me.

She was true!

Mr. Max, I'm gonna die.

Okay.

But I hope what happened to me

won't happen to another Black boy.

No, Bigger, I am going on with your case.

I'll do all I can.

It ain't no use, Mr. Max, they gonna kill me.

But I'm glad I got to know you before I go.

I didn't know there was people in the world like you.

Goodbye, Bigger.

I am going to keep on fighting

so that negroes can live without fear.

I won't be cryin' none when they take me to that chair,

but I'll be feelin' inside me like I was crying.

Mr. Max,

tell Mr., Mr.-- tell Jan hello.

All right, Bigger.

Goodbye.

So long, Mr. Max.

Another boy's done gone

A boy we know will die

He's going home tonight

to meet a higher judge

Who can look past his skin,

and see into his heart

Oh, Lord, let mercy rain on him

and wash his sins away.

[solemn music]