Original subtitles

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

I'VE GOT TROUBLES WALL TO WALL

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

YEAH

MUST BE AN ENDING TO IT ALL

OH

BUT HOLD ON

IT WON'T BE LONG

JUST YOU BE STRONG

AND IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT

HONEST, PARKER, I WOULDN'T LIE.

THE DOUGHNUT SHOP SOLD THEIR LAST FRITTER

TWO MINUTES BEFORE I ARRIVED.

SWEET, I'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT A FRITTER ALL NIGHT.

FORGET IT. I'D SOONER EAT SAWDUST.

OH, MY GOD.

HELP! HELP! I'M BEING ROBBED!

POLICE! HELP!

THIS IS SPARTA 3 IN PURSUIT.

I GOT A 311 IN PROGRESS.

I NEED BACKUP-- I-23 AND COUNTY ROAD.

STOP OR I'LL SHOOT!

ERIC?

YOU'RE A COP?

YES. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

I NEEDED MONEY BAD, MAN.

I'M IN BIG TROUBLE.

I BUSTED OUT OF BUTLER COUNTY JAIL.

JESUS.

WILLSON, I HAD TO.

I WAS GETTING BEAT ON.

THAT DAMN SHERIFF'S CRAZY.

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, MAN, LET ME GO.

I CAN'T.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MAN? WE'RE FRIENDS.

WE PLAYED BALL TOGETHER.

THINK ABOUT MY SISTER. YOU ALMOST MARRIED HER.

[SIREN]

COME ON, MAN. COME ON.

IT'S NO USE. IT'S TOO LATE.

THEN GO AHEAD AND SHOOT ME.

NICE WORK, SWEET.

YEAH, SWEET. I WISH TO HELL YOU SHOT ME.

[SIGHS]

TA-DA!

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST FELONY BUST.

NEXT TIME, TRY CALLING FOR YOUR BACKUP WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING.

I'D LIKE TO KEEP YOU AROUND.

MUST BE KIND OF FUNNY BUSTING AN OLD BUDDY.

WELL, LET'S LET THE MAN

GET TO HIS PAPERWORK HERE.

PARKER, YOU FORGOT SOMETHING.

WHAT?

YOUR BADGE.

UH, CHIEF?

CHIEF, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU'RE FEELING KIND OF BAD, HUH?

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SHERIFF AT BUTLER COUNTY?

NOTHING.

YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED THE CHIEF.

THEY'RE REAL CLOSE.

WHY?

I HEARD HE ABUSES HIS PRISONERS,

ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE YOU AND ME.

YOUR FRIEND SAID THAT?

SAID THE SHERIFF'S CRAZY. SAID HE BEAT ON HIM.

SWEET, IT'S A HARD LESSON TO LEARN,

BUT EVERY COP HAS GOT TO LEARN IT.

CONS LIE.

THEY LIE AS NATURALLY AS THEY BREATHE.

I'VE KNOWN ERIC SINCE KINDERGARTEN.

THAT'S THE HELL OF IT

BECAUSE THAT OUGHT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

CAN I HELP YOU?

EXCUSE ME...

IS THAT HIS SISTER?

YEAH.

WANT ME TO TALK TO HER?

I BUSTED ERIC. I'LL DO MY OWN TALKING.

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM?

HE'LL BE RETURNED TO BUTLER COUNTY.

THEY'LL GIVE HIM MORE TIME.

I DIDN'T REALIZE HE'D BEEN IN THIS MUCH TROUBLE.

AFTER YOU WENT TO COLLEGE,

HE STARTED HANGING OUT WITH THE WRONG GUYS,

DOING THINGS THAT KEPT GETTING WORSE.

EVERY TIME HE GOT ARRESTED,

HE'D SWEAR THAT WAS IT, BUT IT NEVER WAS.

WILLSON, WHAT AM I GOING TO TELL MAMA?

JUST TELL HER THE TRUTH-- I ARRESTED ERIC.

I DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT I HAD TO.

WHILE HE'S HERE, I'LL KEEP AN EYE ON HIM.

THANKS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW I DON'T BLAME YOU.

YOU DIDN'T DO WRONG.

WILLSON, CALL ME SOMETIME, O.K.?

I'M STUDENT TEACHING RIGHT HERE.

HEY, BUBBA.

GETTING A LITTLE SOFT THERE.

LIKE HELL.

HEY, PARKER.

THE OLD MAN'S MANAGING

TO KEEP YOU OUT OF JAIL.

JUST BARELY, SHERIFF.

WHY, YOU OLD SINNER.

HOW YOU DOING?

WELL, I REPENT NOW AND THEN.

SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN, ED.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

SO, WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF?

HOW YOU BEEN GOING ON?

OH, FINE, FINE.

I--I CAN'T LIE TO YOU, BILL.

HOW LONG'S IT BEEN NOW, A YEAR?

NO, MORE THAN THAT.

IT STILL HURTS, BILL.

STILL HURTS.

YEAH, I KNOW.

WELL, LOOK AT ALL THE YEARS

MY ANNA'S BEEN GONE.

AND STILL, THERE ARE TIMES

WHEN I'M SITTING THERE--

I MIGHT JUST BE LOOKING AT THE LAKE

OR LISTENING TO SOME MUSIC,

AND THERE SHE IS. SHE'S BACK.

WELL, THE THING IS,

JOLENE NEVER LEFT.

SHE'S STILL HERE.

I'VE SEEN THE GRAVE,

BUT EVERY TIME I GO HOME,

I EXPECT TO SEE HER STANDING THERE,

HER HEAD OVER ON THE SIDE, A LITTLE SMILE.

"HELLO, DARLING. HERE I AM.

"DID YOU LIKE MY LITTLE JOKE?"

WELL, ANYWAY,

I WAS THINKING,

I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA

FOR YOU AND ME TO GO OUT

AND DO SOME HUNTING,

GET AWAY LIKE WE USED TO, CUT LOOSE.

I DON'T KNOW WHY. I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE.

WHAT'S WRONG? CAN'T THE OLD BONES TAKE IT?

JOINTS STIFFENING UP ON YOU?

COME ON, BILL.

IT'D BE FUN.

FOR TWO OLD STALLIONS RAISED IN THE SAME BARN,

WE HARDLY TALK ANYMORE.

WELL, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

YEAH. FINE.

LET'S DO IT.

HOW DOES SATURDAY SEEM TO YOU?

FINE. COULDN'T BE BETTER.

PLEASE! HELP ME!

WELL, I BELIEVE THAT'S YOUR PRISONER OUT THERE, ED.

DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S TOO ANXIOUS

TO GO BACK.

WELL, IT DON'T SURPRISE ME.

TROUBLEMAKERS DON'T LIKE OUR KIND OF HOSPITALITY,

ESPECIALLY SINCE I STOPPED ISSUING

SILK SHEETS AND LACE PAJAMAS.

NO!

THEY'LL KILL ME! HELP ME!

NO! NO! THEY'LL KILL ME!

SOMEBODY LISTEN TO ME!

WELL, THANK YOU, SPARTA.

SEE YOU SATURDAY, BILLY.

BUBBA, YOU'RE GETTING SOFTER BY THE MINUTE.

[LAUGHING]

DID ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BOTHER YOU?

NO MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME

A PRISONER'S RAISING HELL IN HERE. WHY?

YOU DEVELOPING A SOFT SPOT MAYBE,

LIKE OUR YOUNG FRIEND MR. SWEET?

I JUST GOT THE STRANGEST FEELING, THAT'S ALL.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WISH

THERE WEREN'T ANY POOR PEOPLE, ANY SICK PEOPLE,

OR ANY CHILDREN WHO'LL GROW UP TO BE CRIMINALS.

I WISH I COULD SEE THAT DAY.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT SHERIFF THOMPSON THAT--

I'VE KNOWN THE MAN ONLY 50 YEARS.

HE REMINDS ME OF WHEN I GREW UP.

HE STRUTS LIKE A ROOSTER,

LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO ANTAGONIZE.

I'VE SEEN THE MAN GIVE PEOPLE A ROUGH TIME.

I'VE ALSO SEEN HIM GIVE PEOPLE

CHANCE AFTER CHANCE TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THEIR LIVES.

BLACK PEOPLE OR WHITE PEOPLE?

I'M NOT GOING TO DIGNIFY THAT QUESTION WITH AN ANSWER.

WHY NOT? WHEN I WAS A KID,

I HAD MY HEAD BEATEN

BECAUSE I WALKED A STRAIGHT LINE DOWN THE SIDEWALK,

RIGHT HERE BY CHIEF HATCHER

WHO ALSO KISSED OLD LADIES AT THE RETIREMENT HOME.

WHEN THAT HAPPENS EVEN ONCE,

YOU LEARN ABOUT POWER,

WHO HAS IT, WHO HASN'T. YOU NEVER FORGET IT.

I'LL GIVE YOU THAT.

ED THOMPSON'S A LOT LIKE CHIEF HATCHER WAS,

BUT I'VE NEVER KNOWN HIM TO BE UNFAIR.

WHO DO YOU WANT

RUNNING A JAIL FULL OF 80 PUBLIC MENACES,

SOME WATERY-EYED MISSIONARY?

O.K.

YOU TRAIPSE THROUGH THE WOODS

IN THOSE AWFUL CLOTHES,

AND YOU THINK YOU'RE SOMETHING SPECIAL

'CAUSE YOU CAN KILL A DEFENSELESS DEER WITH BULLETS.

COME ON.

NOW, IF YOU GUYS WANT SOME REAL SPORT,

CATCH THE DEER WITH A NET.

WHAT ARE YOU GETTING SO MAD ABOUT?

I DON'T LIKE SHOOTING DEER.

WELL, NEITHER DO I.

I DON'T THINK I'VE SHOT ONE

IN OVER FIVE YEARS.

BUBBA, YOU GOT THAT LOOK.

YES, MA'AM.

POLICE BUSINESS, VERY SERIOUS,

SO I'LL GO START TOMORROW'S JAMBALAYA.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?

I JUST TALKED TO A DISPATCHER FROM BUTLER.

YOU KNOW THAT BOY WE SENT BACK THERE?

WELL, HE'S DEAD.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?

I DIDN'T ASK HIM, CHIEF.

I FIGURED I'D SEE YOU TODAY.

YOU HAD BREAKFAST YET?

NO. I CAN'T EAT.

AH, WELL...

YEAH. I UNDERSTAND.

OH, YOU DO? WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME

A FRIEND OF YOURS GOT MURDERED IN JAIL?

SWEET, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I WANT AN INVESTIGATION.

THERE'LL BE AN INVESTIGATION.

BY WHO, HIS MURDERERS?

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BELIEVE THEM,

ESPECIALLY AFTER ERIC SAID HE WAS GOING TO DIE.

I GIVE YOU MY WORD. I'LL LOOK INTO IT,

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, YOU'VE GOT TO CHILL OUT.

NO! EVEN IF IT HURTS,

YOU HAVE GOT TO ACT PROFESSIONALLY!

I TRIED THAT. I TRIED THAT YESTERDAY.

I WAS REAL PROFESSIONAL.

IT GOT MY FRIEND KILLED.

WILLSON-- JUST FORGET IT.

OH, HELLO.

GOOD MORNING.

IT DIDN'T TAKE VERY LONG TO FIND THE PAPER.

SURE DIDN'T, AND I FEEL BAD ABOUT IT.

WHY DON'T YOU READ IT IN THE CAFE?

I'LL EVEN BUY YOU COFFEE.

I'LL COME IN LATER.

I JUST WISH I HADN'T LET THIS HAPPEN.

DON'T GO BLAMING YOURSELF.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN YOUR JAIL.

BUT I HAD THE GUY IN MY JAIL.

IF I'D KEPT HIM ANOTHER DAY,

THIS MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED.

WELL, WHY NOT CALL ED?

MAYBE YOU'D FEEL BETTER

GETTING THE STORY FROM HIM.

NO. WHAT'S IN HERE'S WHAT ED THOMPSON SAID.

IF I CALLED HIM,

BE LIKE I DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM. WELL.

THAT'S NOT A NICE WAY TO SAY GOODBYE.

HUH?

HUH?

OH.

OH.

CALL THOMPSON!

ED, HAVE I GOT YOU?

HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?

FINE, FINE.

UH...LISTEN, I JUST CALLED UP

TO ASK ABOUT SOMETHING.

YOU STILL ON FOR SATURDAY, RIGHT?

SURE, I AM.

SURE. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YOU SOUND A LITTLE FUNNY.

NOTHING WRONG, IS THERE?

NO, NO. I'M FINE.

THE QUESTION IS THIS-- ONE OF MY OFFICERS

IS AN OLD, CLOSE FRIEND OF THAT BLACK PRISONER

WHO DIED OVER THERE LAST NIGHT.

I TOLD HIM I'D CALL YOU

AND GET THE STRAIGHT FACTS.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL...

WHEN WE GOT BACK HERE,

I SENT HIM TO MY OFFICE

TO REASON WITH HIM.

DAMN FOOL TRIED TO MAKE A BREAK FOR IT.

BACK IN JAIL TWO MINUTES,

AND HE'S RUNNING LIKE A RABBIT IN A BRIAR PATCH.

WHEN I... TRIED TO GRAB HIM,

HE HIT HIS HEAD

RIGHT SMACK AGAINST THE CORNER OF MY DESK.

THAT DID IT TO HIM, HUH?

I'M AFRAID SO.

I TELL YOU, BILL,

THAT BOY WAS INCORRIGIBLE.

ALWAYS FIGHTING, CUSSING,

CARRYING ON ABOUT SOME RACIAL THING.

THE PERSON I FEEL MOST SORRY FOR IS THE MAMA.

IT'S ALWAYS THE FAMILY

THAT GETS HURT THE MOST.

YEAH, DON'T IT?

WELL, UH, THANK YOU, ED.

I'LL JUST, UH, PASS THAT ALONG.

I'LL SEE YOU SATURDAY.

BYE.

YOU LOOK AS IF YOU HAD TWO FLAT TIRES

ON THE WAY HERE.

NO.

I JUST TOLD SWEET

THAT SOMEHOW ERIC GRAY'S DEATH COULD BE EXPLAINED.

I HATE SAYING THINGS I'M NOT SURE OF.

IF IT MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER,

I JUST PHONED SHERIFF ED THOMPSON.

HE SAID THE PRISONER TRIED TO ESCAPE.

THEY STRUGGLED, HE HIT HIS HEAD ON A DESK.

I'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN.

SO HAVE I,

BUT GRAY TOLD US HE WAS GOING TO DIE,

AND HE DID.

DOESN'T THAT SEEM LIKE A COINCIDENCE?

SURE, IT IS.

THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T TRUE.

RIGHT.

NOW, WHERE YOU OFF TO NOW?

WELL, I PROMISED SWEET THAT I'D LOOK INTO IT.

I THINK WE OWE HIM THAT MUCH.

[DOOR BELL BUZZING]

OH. WILLSON.

I CAME BY TO OFFER YOU AND JENNY MY CONDOLENCES.

OH, THANK YOU, WILLSON.

I KNOW JENNY WILL BE HAPPY YOU DROPPED BY.

MRS. GRAY,

I DON'T KNOW IF JENNY--

IF SHE TOLD YOU ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED--

ABOUT ME ARRESTING ERIC?

YES. MM-HMM.

YES. SHE TOLD ME.

I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK

IT WAS MY FAULT SOMEHOW.

WHAT DOES JENNY THINK?

JENNY'S NOT HERSELF,

BUT I THINK SHE'LL BE GLAD YOU CAME.

PLEASE, COME ON IN.

HONEY, WILLSON SWEET STOPPED BY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY--

CAN WE TALK, PLEASE?

STAY. STAY HERE, NOW.

I'LL SPEAK TO HER.

THAT WAS TAKEN THE YEAR YOU BOYS

PLAYED IN THE REGIONALS.

WE LOST.

MAYBE SO...

BUT IT WAS STILL A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

WHOLE TEAM CAME BACK HERE.

REMEMBER THAT?

ALL THOSE LONG FACES.

I CAN STILL SEE THEM NOW.

NOBODY TALKED...

NOBODY SMILED UNTIL YOU MADE THAT JOKE

ABOUT BLOWING YOUR CONTRACT

WITH THE DALLAS COWBOYS.

THEN IT WAS O.K.

EVERYBODY LET GO.

YEAH. THAT'S THE WAY IT HAPPENED.

MIGHT HAVE LOST THE GAME...

BUT ON THAT DAY...

NO PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH...

WERE EVER CLOSER.

I SHOULD'VE LET HIM GO.

I SHOULD'VE LET HIM GO.

WILLSON.

YOU DID SOMETHING

YOU HAD NO CHOICE ABOUT.

ERIC IS...

WITH THE LORD NOW.

HE CAN'T GET TOUCHED

BY NO MORE PAIN.

SO IT'S YOU I'M TALKING TO.

HEAR ME.

I'M SAYING ERIC CHANGED.

HE WENT BAD,

BUT IT DIDN'T HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU.

NOTHING.

I DON'T REMEMBER TAKING A DAY OFF SINCE...

WELL, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHEN.

WELL, THAT'S THE PRICE OF COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY.

YEAH, BUT I LIKE IT--

COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU BETTER GO EASY ON THAT STUFF.

I DON'T WANT MY TAIL ON YOUR TROPHY WALL.

YOUR TAIL WOULDN'T FIT ON MY TROPHY WALL.

SINCE WHEN ARE YOU THE HIGH PRIEST OF TEMPERANCE?

OH, I NEVER WAS, AND YOU KNOW IT.

I KNOW THAT AFTER ANNA DIED,

I DID SOME PRETTY HEAVY BOOZING.

DID SOME PRETTY FOOLISH THINGS.

WELL, I'M OFF DUTY.

WHAT THE HELL'S THE DIFFERENCE?

YOU WEREN'T OFF DUTY

WHEN YOU PICKED UP THAT PRISONER AT MY STATION.

THE FUMES COMING OUT OF YOU

COULD HAVE RUN THE BUTLER COUNTY STEAM PLANT.

BILL, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS INQUISITION ALL ABOUT?

I GOT BLACK OFFICERS.

THEY'RE ASKING QUESTIONS, AND THEY WANT ANSWERS.

THEY WANT MORE THAN ANSWERS.

THEY WANT THE WORLD HANDED TO THEM ON A SILVER PLATTER

FOR DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU MAKE IT EASY FOR THEM.

PEOPLE LIKE ME?

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU'VE CHANGED, BILL.

DAMN, I RESENT YOU LECTURING ME ON MY DRINKING.

YOU AND YOUR DADDY SPENT MORE TIME IN THE GUTTER

THAN I EVER WILL!

WELL, UH...

I THINK MAYBE IT'S TIME

WE WERE HEADING BACK TO TOWN.

WELL,

YOU CAN GO ON IF YOU WANT TO,

BUT I'M LOOKING STRAIGHT

AT WHAT I COME OUT HERE FOR.

ED. ED, WAIT A MINUTE.

DON'T FIRE!

WHOO!

WHAT THE HELL'S THE MATTER WITH YOU, BOY?

YOU SHOT A DOE.

WHAT THE HELL'S THE DIFFERENCE, BILLY?

WE'RE THE LAW, AIN'T WE?

TIBBS: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

CHIEF: WHEN DID YOU GET THIS STUFF?

YESTERDAY. BUTLER COUNTY CORONER.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HALL OF RECORDS,

AND IT'S VERY REVEALING.

ABOUT ALL IT REVEALS

IS THAT ANOTHER GUY DIED IN THAT JAIL BESIDES ERIC GRAY.

ALSO BLACK, UNDER 30, AND OUTSPOKEN.

THAT COULD BE A POLITE WAY

OF SAYING A VIOLENT TROUBLEMAKER, COULDN'T IT?

POSSIBLY.

WHERE'S THE AUTOPSY REPORTS

ON GRAY AND THIS OTHER GUY?

THERE'S NONE.

WHY NOT?

BUTLER COUNTY DEATH CERTIFICATES

ARE SIGNED BY THE CORONER, WHO'S A MORTICIAN.

IN MOST CASES, THERE'S NOTHING MORE

THAN AN EXTERNAL EXAMINATION, A FEW PHOTOGRAPHS.

THEY'VE GOT BUDGET PROBLEMS JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WELL, UH, NOW...

THESE THREE PICTURES HERE,

WHO DO THEY BELONG TO?

ERIC GRAY.

IT LOOKS LIKE MORE HAPPENED

THAN JUST HIS FALLING AGAINST A DESK.

LOOK. HIS JAW IS BROKEN.

SHOULDER.

WRIST.

THERE'S NO WAY TO SUSTAIN THAT DAMAGE IN A FALL.

SO YOU'RE SAYING WHAT?

BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA

TO SEVERAL DISTINCT LOCATIONS.

UNLESS I'M MISTAKEN, THAT YOUNG MAN WAS BEATEN TO DEATH.

I GUESS WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO

IS SIT DOWN AND... FIGURE OUT SOME WAY

WE CAN...GET AWAY WITH DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

"YEA, THOUGH I WALK

"THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

"I SHALL FEAR NO EVIL,

"FOR THOU ART WITH ME.

"THY ROD AND THY STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME.

"THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME

"IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES.

"THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL,

"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER.

"SURELY, GOODNESS AND MERCY

"SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE,

"AND I SHALL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD

"FOREVER."

AMEN.

NOW, WE ALL KNOW THE LORD HAS ERIC WITH HIM

IN HEAVEN TODAY.

OH, LORD.

JESUS SAID,

"SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME.

"FORBID THEM NOT,

FOR SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN."

I WON'T HAVE YOU HERE, WILLSON SWEET.

DON'T YOU DARE COME HERE TODAY.

I DIDN'T--

THAT'S THE MAN

THAT DELIVERED ERIC TO HIS KILLERS.

HE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE BROKEN ERIC'S NECK

WITH HIS OWN HANDS.

YOU HAVE HIS BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS, WILLSON.

YOU'LL CARRY THAT WITH YOU

FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

I DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

I'M PAYING MY RESPECTS.

I HOPE YOU SUFFER FOR ALL YOUR YEARS, WILLSON SWEET.

I HOPE YOU GO TO YOUR GRAVE

KNOWING THAT YOU KILLED MY BROTHER.

I NEVER MEANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

OF COURSE NOT.

WHAT NOW?

GO ON LIVING YOUR LIFE LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

NO.

SOMETHING'S GOT TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

CHIEF: WE'VE GOT ABOUT THREE PRECEDENTS IN HERE.

THE CARTERVILLE CITY COUNCIL VS.--

CHIEF, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING NOW.

LOWER YOUR VOICE AND SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND.

WE HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW ERIC GOT KILLED.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

NOW WE CAN START AN INVESTIGATION.

INVESTIGATION?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'VE TOLD THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

SURE, AND IN FIVE YEARS, MAYBE THEY'LL DO SOMETHING.

LET'S DO SOMETHING NOW.

THEY'LL DO SOMETHING WHEN THEY CAN.

HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE?

THEY JUST BURIED ONE OF MY OLDEST FRIENDS.

YOU CAN SIT AND WAIT FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME.

OH, HI, GUYS.

SON, LOOKS LIKE YOU HAD ONE TOO MANY.

NAH, NAH. AIN'T HAD NEAR ENOUGH.

GIVE US THE BOTTLE.

THE HELL I WILL.

YOU AIN'T SAFE OUT HERE.

YOU'LL GET RUN OVER.

GIVE ME THE BOTTLE, O.K.?

HERE'S YOUR DAMN BOTTLE.

YOU CRAZY--

WE'RE TRYING TO HELP.

SCREW OFF!

BOY, YOU JUST BOUGHT YOURSELF SOME TIME

IN THE BUTLER COUNTY JAIL.

SPREAD 'EM!

TURN HIM AROUND.

I DON'T WANT TO GO IN!

COME ON.

O.K., O.K.

WHAT DO WE GOT?

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY, RESISTING ARREST,

VANDALIZING A COUNTY VEHICLE,

SIMPLE ASSAULT.

O.K.

NAME?

UH...

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.

HE GOT ANY I.D.?

NOTHING.

JOHN DOE NUMBER TWO.

TAKE HIM INTO 37.

COME BACK.

NO. NO.

WHAT THE HELL'S GOING ON HERE?

OH.

ANOTHER TROUBLEMAKER, HUH?

EVERYTHING'S UNDER CONTROL-- TAKING HIM INTO A CELL.

WAIT A MINUTE. WAIT A MINUTE.

BRING HIM IN HERE.

THIS BOY NEEDS TO LEARN SOME MANNERS.

YES, SIR.

GUESS YOU GOT IT COMING NOW, BOY.

MORNING.

CHIEF BILL GILLESPIE FROM SPARTA

HERE TO SEE THE SHERIFF.

MORNING, CHIEF. I THINK HE'S IN THE YARD.

WANT TO WAIT IN HIS OFFICE?

I'LL HAVE HIM PAGED.

YEAH. THANK YOU.

HENRY, WANT TO PAGE THE SHERIFF FOR ME?

HE'S GOT A VISITOR.

MAN: OPEN UP 3.

ALL RIGHT. LOCK HER DOWN.

OH, ED.

WELL, YOU GOT ENOUGH PICTURES ON THIS WALL FOR INSULATION.

THAT'S MY WALL OF MEMORIES, BILL.

MY WHOLE LIFE'S LAID OUT THERE

EVER SINCE I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WELL, I GOT A LOT OF PICTURES, TOO,

BUT I'M GETTING TIRED OF MINE.

WELL, MAYBE I OUGHT TO TAKE THEM DOWN.

LATELY, EVERY TIME I LOOK AT THAT WALL,

SOMEBODY OR ANOTHER ON IT HAS DIED.

YOU HEAR ABOUT MONSIGNOR O'LEARY?

HE DIED A MONTH AGO SOMEWHERE IN FLORIDA.

YEAH. I HEARD ABOUT THAT.

YEAH.

DEATH AND FUNERALS.

SEEMS LIKE THAT'S ALL THERE IS ANYMORE.

POUR YOU ONE, BILL?

OH, NO. NEVER BEFORE 7:00, ED.

THANK YOU.

WELL...

LITTLE SHOT SORT OF SETS UP THE DAY FOR YOU.

HERE'S TO YOU.

OHH.

BY THE WAY, BILL,

WAS I THE ONE THAT TOLD YOU ABOUT THE MONSIGNOR?

NO, I GOT A CARD FROM HIS SECRETARY, I BELIEVE.

OH.

WELL, I TOLD SOMEBODY.

I SWEAR, BILL,

I CAN'T REMEMBER THINGS

THAT HAPPENED THREE WEEKS AGO.

WHAT HAPPENED 40 YEARS AGO SEEMS LIKE YESTERDAY.

YEAH, I KNOW IT.

I REMEMBER MY DADDY SAYING THE SAME THING

AND ME SWEARING,

"OH, I'D NEVER BE LIKE THAT."

I'D NEVER GO AROUND

SAYING, "THE WORLD WAS BETTER 40 YEARS AGO."

BUT IT WAS, BILL.

IT WAS.

I THINK THAT DEPENDS

ON WHAT YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING BACK.

A MAN KNEW WHERE HE STOOD THEN.

EVERYBODY HAD HIS PLACE,

AND THEY KEPT IT, TOO.

THERE WAS A SENSE OF ORDER.

IT MADE THINGS MORE COMFORTABLE.

IF YOU WAS BORN COMFORTABLE,

BUT IF YOU WASN'T...

OH, COME ON, BILL.

STOP TALKING LIKE SOME PUMPKINHEAD LEFT-WINGER.

EVERYBODY WAS BETTER OFF.

I BET THEM OLD-TIME FELLAS

WOULD AGREE TO THAT.

AGITATING, AGITATING.

WHAT DID IT GET THEM?

HUH?

AND WHAT DID IT GET US?

IT GOT US A WHOLE NEW SET OF LAWS

THAT YOU AND I ARE SWORN TO UPHOLD.

COME ON, BILL. CUT THE CRAP.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT ON

THAT POLITICIAN ACT FOR ME.

I KNOW YOU.

TIME WAS WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE THINKING ABOUT THIS,

NEVER MIND WASTING CONVERSATION ON IT.

THE TIME IS NOW.

I'M LIVING IN THE NOW.

I'M DOING MY JOB THE WAY IT'S DONE NOW.

NOW, IT'S HARD.

I'LL GIVE YOU THAT. IT'S HARD.

AND PARTICULARLY HARD AT THIS MINUTE.

WELL, DO TELL.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM, BILL?

THIS MORNING I FILED CHARGES AGAINST YOU

WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

CHARGES?

ABOUT WHAT,

SIPPING A LITTLE BOURBON BEFORE 7:00?

FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATHS

OF TWO PRISONERS IN YOUR JAIL OVER THE PAST YEAR,

BOTH OF THEM YOUNG BLACK MEN.

YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS.

I AM SERIOUS,

BECAUSE THE EVIDENCE IS SERIOUS.

I'VE SEEN THE X-RAYS ON THAT GUY ERIC GRAY.

X-RAYS?

WHAT X-RAYS?

HOW WOULD YOU GET AHOLD OF ANY X-RAYS?

WE GOT THEM FROM THE CORONER'S OFFICE

HERE IN BUTLER COUNTY.

WHY, I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.

WHY, THIS IS RIDICULOUS!

IT'LL NEVER HOLD UP.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE'LL THROW THIS OUT IN FIVE MINUTES.

I DON'T THINK SO.

NOT FROM WHAT THEY SAID ON THE PHONE.

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS, BILL?

YOU'RE MY FRIEND.

WE WAS LIKE FAMILY--

YOU AND ANNA AND JOLENE AND ME.

I KNOW THAT, ED. I KNOW THAT,

AND WHEN I LOOK BACK AT THAT TIME,

I DO SEE SOMETHING BETTER.

ALL THE REST OF IT...

MOST OF IT DOESN'T LOOK SO GOOD.

CHIEF, DID YOU SEND SWEET ON A SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT?

NO, I DID NOT. WHY?

HE DIDN'T SHOW UP THIS MORNING.

HE'S PROBABLY OFF PLAYING HANGDOG

BECAUSE WE WON'T DO THINGS THE WAY HE WANTS.

THAT STUFF GETS OLD.

MR. TIBBS.

COULD YOU GIVE WILLSON A MESSAGE FOR ME?

WHEN I SEE HIM.

HE CALLED LAST NIGHT.

HE SOUNDED A LITTLE WEIRD.

HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING IT UP TO ERIC,

MAKE SURE JUSTICE WAS DONE.

HOW?

I REALLY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING,

BUT I WANT HIM TO KNOW ONE THING.

WHAT'S THAT?

I'M SORRY I BLAMED HIM.

IN MY HEART, I KNOW HE DIDN'T DO WRONG.

I'LL BE SURE TO GIVE HIM YOUR MESSAGE.

THANK YOU.

CHIEF.

YEAH, WHAT?

I THINK SWEET IS GOING TO DO SOMETHING REALLY STUPID.

I'M NOT SURPRISED. WHERE IS HE?

JENNY SAYS HE'S OUT GETTING EVIDENCE AGAINST SHERIFF THOMPSON.

THAT BOY BETTER NOT STEP ACROSS THE LINE

WITH ED THOMPSON.

HE'LL STAY WITHIN THE LAW,

BUT I THINK HE'LL TRY TO GET PROOF

THAT THOMPSON'S BEATING HIS PRISONERS.

HOW'S HE GOING TO DO THAT?

HE'S GOING TO TALK TO THE PRISONERS,

TO THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES.

THAT'S RIDICULOUS.

THOSE DEPUTIES IN BUTLER COUNTY

WON'T LET THAT BOY PAST THE FRONT DOOR.

I THINK HE'LL TRY TO GET THE EVIDENCE HIMSELF.

YEAH? HOW?

BY GETTING HIMSELF ARRESTED.

HI, CHIEF. FORGOT SOMETHING?

GO GET YOUR BOSS.

HE SAID NOT TO DISTURB HIM.

I DIDN'T SAY DISTURB HIM.

I SAID GO GET HIM.

HE GAVE AN ORDER.

[DOOR OPENS]

BACK AGAIN, HUH?

WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?

Y'ALL GOT ONE OF MY OFFICERS IN YOUR JAIL.

I WANT TO TAKE CHARGE.

WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT?

THREE MEN WERE BOOKED LAST NIGHT.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

HIS NAME IS WILLSON SWEET.

NOPE. NO ONE HERE BY THAT NAME.

WE HAD NEWTON COUNTY'S SHERIFF'S OFFICE

CHECK YOUR BOOKING REPORTS.

YOU HAVE A JOHN DOE-- BLACK, EARLY 20s, 6'1".

WELL? ANYONE HERE BY THAT DESCRIPTION?

YES, SIR.

TURN HIM LOOSE, ED.

WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

YOU THINK YOU CAN PULL OUT A COUNTY PRISONER?

WELL, WE BOOKED HIM,

AND WE CHARGED HIM,

AND HE'S OURS.

HE'S GOING TO STAY RIGHT HERE.

ED, WE WENT AND GOT A COURT ORDER.

IT'S GOING TO BE DELIVERED HERE IN AN HOUR.

WHY DON'T YOU SAVE US TIME WAITING AROUND

AND GIVE ME MY MAN, WILL YOU?

OPEN UP THE CELLBLOCK

AND TAKE THESE MEN TO THE PRISONER.

YES, SIR.

SOMETHING WRONG?

NO, SIR.

WILLSON?

HELP ME TURN HIM OVER, VIRGIL.

EASY, WILL YA?

OH, MY GOD.

WILLSON, CAN YOU HEAR ME, SON?

COME HERE.

YES, SIR.

I WANT YOU TO HELP SERGEANT SKINNER

CARRY HIM TO MY CAR.

YES, SIR.

BUBBA, DRIVE HIM TO COUNTY HOSPITAL

AS FAST AS YOU CAN.

YES, SIR.

HOLD HIS LEGS.

COME ON. IT'S ALL RIGHT.

TAKE IT EASY, NOW.

SIR.

WHERE'S THE KEY TO THIS DOOR?

I'M NOT SURE I SHOULD--

GIVE ME THE KEY.

I CAN'T GO AGAINST--

NOW, LISTEN!

THERE'S BEEN CRIMES COMMITTED IN THIS JAIL.

WANT TO BE A PART OF THEM? I'LL TELL YOU, BOY,

I'LL PUT YOU UP ON CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE

AND CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY AND FELONIOUS ASSAULT!

TO BEGIN!

NOW GIVE ME THE KEY!

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, KILL YOURSELF?

YOU JUST GET OUT OF MY OFFICE.

YOU KEEP AWAY FROM ME, BILL.

SHERIFF, PLEASE, DON'T DO IT.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

YOU LIKE THIS WORLD?

WELL, YOU LIVE IN IT.

I DON'T LIKE IT NO MORE,

AND I WANT OUT,

SO YOU LEAVE ME ALONE!

ALONE, HUH?

YOU WANT TO BE ALONE

SO YOU CAN DO THIS IN HELPFUL PRIVACY?

I WON'T LET YOU DO THAT.

YOU THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, THE WORLD IS WRONG?

I'M WRONG, THEN SHOW ME SOMETHING.

YOU DO THAT WITH ME STANDING HERE WATCHING.

GO AHEAD.

YOU TURNED ME IN!

YOU JUDAS!

YOU--

OH, NO JUDAS, ED.

JUDAS, AS I REMEMBER SCRIPTURES,

SOLD OUT A GOOD MAN FOR MONEY.

THAT'S NOT ME.

I'M TRYING TO KEEP A MAN FROM DOING HARM.

YOU KNOW THAT'S THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW IT.

NOW...

I DON'T BELIEVE YOU WANT TO USE THAT.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST...

LET ME HAVE IT, HUH?

YOU'RE MY ONLY FRIEND, BILL.

MY ONLY FRIEND...

MY LAST ONE,

AND NOW... NOW YOU'RE GONE, TOO.

ALL MY FRIENDS ARE GONE.

THEY'RE ALL GONE!

EVERYBODY'S GONE AWAY!

NOTHING BUT PICTURES!

DEPUTIES, GET AHOLD OF HIM

SO HE DOESN'T DO HIMSELF HARM.

ALL GONE. NOTHING LEFT BUT--

SEE HE DOESN'T GET NEAR WEAPONS.

TELL YOUR SENIOR DUTY OFFICER

TO COME TAKE CHARGE OF THIS STATION, HEAR?

OH, DON'T HATE ME, BILLY!

GOD HELP ME, I FEEL LIKE HELL.

YOU COME BACK HERE, BILLY!

PLEASE, BILLY. COME ON, NOW.

DON'T BE LIKE THAT.

BILLY!

BILLY, YOU COME BACK HERE, PLEASE!

I DON'T WANT TO BE HERE NO MORE, BILLY!