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

[GUNSHOTS]

HEY, UH...BOSWORTH. GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I THOUGHT I HEARD SOME GUNSHOTS.

WELL, I DID, TOO,

BUT IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WAS FROM ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.

I GUESS GUNSHOTS ARE REALLY NO BIG NEWS, THOUGH,

DOWN HERE IN MISSISSIPPI, HUH?

WHERE YOU FROM?

I'M FROM ALABAMA.

I GUESS THEY'RE STILL USING BOWS AND ARROWS

OVER THERE, HUH?

I KNOW THAT GUY.

HE'S A COP.

DRIVE THAT VAN AROUND TO THE BACK.

[RING]

YEAH. WHAT?

MAN: CHIEF, WE JUST GOT A CALL

A DEAD BODY GOT DUMPED FROM A VAN ON PRESIDENT STREET.

DID YOU CALL VIRGIL?

NO. WHY DON'T I GO DOWN THERE?

CALL VIRGIL. TELL HIM TO GET DOWN THERE.

YEAH. YES, SIR.

WHO'S MEETING OUR NEW ADDITION TO THE FORCE TODAY?

I THINK PARKER IS, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. NOW LISTEN TO ME.

I WANT OUR NEW OFFICER IN FULL UNIFORM

AT THAT COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MORNING

WITH SOME MESSAGE FOR ME

LIKE IT'S THE MOST NATURAL THING IN THE WORLD.

GOT YOU. I'LL SEE YOU.

YOU SHOULD GO IN UNIFORM, TOO.

IT'S A MISTAKE GOING BEFORE AN INQUISITION IN CIVVIES.

I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MISTAKE YOU MADE

THAT GOT YOU KICKED OUT.

I WASN'T KICKED OUT. I WAS NOT LET IN.

I'M GOING TO SUE HER.

SHE'S MY LANDLADY, NOT WIFE.

SHE UNLAWFULLY DENIED ME USE OF MY ROOM.

SHE JUDGED YOU UNFIT TO ENTER HER PREMISES.

YOURS IS GOOD AS HERS. YOU TOOK ME IN.

BECAUSE MY GOOD SENSE IS LEAVING ME.

MAYBE SO, IF YOU'RE GOING THERE IN CIVVIES.

THAT'S WHAT HARRIET De LONG

AND A FEW OTHER COUNCIL PEOPLE WANT TO SEE--

YOU OUT OF THAT UNIFORM, FOR GOOD.

THAT'S WHAT THE MEETING'S ABOUT.

MY CIVVIES LET THEM KNOW THEY DON'T SCARE ME.

YOU BETTER FIND YOUR LANDLADY AND APOLOGIZE.

KEEP THIS IN MIND.

HE WHO IMBIBES THE WHITE LIQUOR OF THE HILLS

LOSES HIS STANDING IN RESPECTABLE SOCIETY.

BUT HE DON'T LOSE HIS RIGHT TO GO TO BED.

DON'T WALK OFF WITH MY PAJAMAS.

YOU WAITING FOR A CHRIS RANKIN?

YES. SUPPOSED TO BE ON THIS BUS.

JUST GOT OFF.

NOBODY GOT OFF BUT YOU.

THERE'S ONLY ONE THING TO FIGURE FROM THAT.

NO.

YES.

YOU'RE OFFICER CHRIS RANKIN?

REALLY?

REALLY.

YOU GOT A CAR?

RIGHT OVER THERE.

HEY, PARKER...

AIN'T YOU GOING TO GIVE HER A HAND?

YOU GUYS SET ME UP.

"PARKER, PICK UP OUR NEW ROOKIE--CHRIS RANKIN."

I DON'T KNOW TILL I MEET HER THAT CHRIS RANKIN'S A FEMALE

AND A BLACK FEMALE.

OH, THAT'S REAL FUNNY.

HEY!

YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE?

JUST GET IN, MISSY.

THERE YOU GO.

THINGS SURE HAVE CHANGED SINCE I SENT MY MEASUREMENTS DOWN.

PANTS TOO TIGHT, RANKIN?

NOT BAD. IT'S A GOAL TO WORK TOWARD.

$100 ADVANCE, POLICE I.D. CARD.

SIGN THIS DOCUMENT.

SIGN YOUR NAME CHRISTINE VERLINA RANKIN--

"VERLINA"?

WITH MIDDLE INITIAL "V" FOR VERLINA

WHERE YOUR NAME WITH MIDDLE INITIAL "V" FOR VERLINA

IS TYPED. CLEAR?

IF I NO LONGER LIKE THAT NAME, MAY I USE ANOTHER?

ONLY WHAT'S TYPED HERE.

THIS ISN'T THE FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION.

AND ONE REGULATION 9mm

WITH REGULATION SIDE EQUIPMENT.

NOT TO BE WORN SOCIALLY.

RANKIN, GET ON DOWN HERE.

SIGN THIS VOUCHER FOR YOUR FIREARM AND STUFF.

DON'T LET THIS DELUXE SERVICE GO TO YOUR HEAD, HEAR?

NEXT GIRL WILL HARDLY BE NOTICED.

IF ANYBODY MEETS HER AT THE BUS, IT'S YOU.

HERE'S THE CHIEF'S MESSAGE.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO.

MY FIRST ASSIGNMENT IS A LITTLE PLAYACTING,

IF I UNDERSTOOD RIGHT?

YEAH. IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE PRETTY SERIOUS.

WHEN YOU READ THAT, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

WE'RE LIKE A PACK OF HOUND DOGS HERE--

NEW ONES SLIPPING IN,

OLD ONES SHUFFLING OUT,

THE REST NOT NOTICING MUCH.

YOU BEING OUR FIRST GIRL,

WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU,

HOPE YOU LIKE THE WORK,

MAYBE HAVE SOME FUN.

BUT MORE IMPORTANT,

WE PRAY THE GOOD LORD WILL BLESS AND KEEP YOU.

THAT'S RIGHT. AMEN.

GOOD LUCK.

THANK YOU, FELLAS.

THANK YOU, FELLAS. THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT. READY? YEAH.

THIS MAN HAS BEEN LAYING HERE FOR ONE HOUR.

WELL, SIR, PRETTY NEAR AN HOUR.

WELL, EVERYBODY'S SAYING THE SAME THING-- NOTHING.

THIS MAN'S LAYING HERE ONE HOUR.

EVERYBODY'S STARING AT IT,

AND IT'S AN HOUR BEFORE ANYBODY CALLS THE POLICE.

MISS, DID YOU CALL US?

KNOW WHO DID?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

WHAT DID YOU DO WHEN YOU HEARD SHOTS?

DIDN'T HEAR NONE.

YEAH. I FIGURED THAT.

GO ON. GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

SAME OLD STORY, VIRGIL.

NO HELP EVER. NOT FOR ME, NOT FOR YOU.

SEE, WE BOTH THE ENEMY DOWN HERE.

BUBBA? HMM?

WHAT MAKES AN ENEMY?

SAY WHAT?

I SAID, WHAT MAKES AN ENEMY?

OH, VIRGIL, DON'T START WITH THAT SOCIOLOGICAL,

BLACK HISTORICAL, WHATEVER IT IS YOU ALWAYS--

THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING.

THINK ABOUT IT.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK HER THAT QUESTION?

SHE CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THIS KILLING,

IF SHE WANTED TO.

I KNOW IT.

[GAVEL POUNDS] THE WISH OF THE CITY COUNCIL

IS THAT THIS COMMITTEE SIT DOWN WITH THE POLICE CHIEF

AND WORK OUT A PRACTICAL PLAN OF ACTION.

PRACTICAL POLICE ACTION

IS TO RESPOND TO CALLS QUICKLY,

EVEN CALLS FROM THE BLACK PART OF TOWN.

WELL... LET'S PROCEED.

DURING THE PAST MONTH,

WE'VE MADE FOUR ARRESTS FOR ASSAULT,

FOUR FOR BURGLARY,

THREE FOR CAR THEFT,

TWO FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER, ALL IN THE BOTTOMS.

AND WE GOT CONVICTIONS

FOR ONLY TWO OF THE BURGLARIES

AND ONLY TWO OF THE CAR THEFTS.

WE HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING EVIDENCE.

WHEN IT TAKES POLICE 30 TO 90 MINUTES

TO GET TO THE CRIME SCENE-- THIS COMES FROM THE D.A.--

THEY CAN'T EXPECT TO FIND

MANY WITNESSES OR EVIDENCE.

[DOOR OPENS]

DO MY EYES DECEIVE ME,

OR DO I ACTUALLY SEE A WOMAN

WEARING A SPARTA POLICE UNIFORM?

AND IS THAT WOMAN OFFICER

ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF MY RACE?

BLACK IS WHAT OFFICER CHRISTINE RANKIN WROTE ON HER APPLICATION,

WHICH I PROCESSED SOME WEEKS AGO.

SHE'S THE NEWEST MEMBER OF SPARTA'S POLICE FORCE.

SHE'S 23.

SHE'S HAD TWO YEARS OF JUNIOR COLLEGE IN VICKSBURG.

SHE HAS PEOPLE LIVING AROUND HERE OVER IN KENARD.

MY AUNT EDIE. HER AUNT EDIE, YES.

ALL RIGHT, RANKIN, THANK YOU.

YES, SIR.

THIS MESSAGE THAT OFFICER RANKIN JUST GAVE ME, UH...

TELLS ME A MAN WAS APPARENTLY SHOT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT

DOWN IN THE BOTTOMS.

HE'S QUITE WELL-KNOWN,

BUT NOT ONE RESIDENT OF THE AREA

INFORMED THE POLICE FOR AN HOUR.

IT'S VERY POOR CITIZEN COOPERATION.

NOW, I'M NOT SAYING IT'S TYPICAL, BUT, UH...

IT SURE IS FREQUENT.

IF Y'ALL WILL EXCUSE ME,

I'D BETTER GET RIGHT ON IT.

ANOTHER MURDER?

WHY, WE SEEM TO BE AVERAGING OVER ONE OF THOSE A WEEK.

WELL, MISS De LONG,

THAT FIGURE IS COUNTYWIDE, ISN'T IT?

WHAT'S THE ANSWER, CHIEF?

WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT MURDER?

IT'S AWFUL HARD TO STOP IT.

YOU KNOW, THE MAN CONTEMPLATING MURDER

HARDLY EVER ADVISES US OF HIS INTENTIONS.

HEY, YOU DID VERY WELL IN THERE.

EVERYBODY WAS MOST HAPPY TO SEE OUR FIRST GIRL.

WHERE'S PARKER?

HE HAD TO GO TO JAIL DUTY, SIR.

HE TOLD ME TO STAND BY WITH YOUR CAR.

OH, HE DID, DID HE? WELL ALL RIGHT HERE.

WELL, HERE. LET'S SEE IF THIS CONTRARY VEHICLE

MINDS ITS MANNERS ANY BETTER

WITH YOU BEHIND THE WHEEL.

YES, SIR. GO AHEAD.

NOW LISTEN, THIS CADAVER I'M GOING IN TO SEE

MIGHT BE BUSTED UP, UNPLEASANT LOOKING.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO GO IN WITH ME.

YOU CAN WAIT OUT HERE.

I'LL COME WITH YOU, IF I MAY.

SURE?

YES, SIR. COME ON.

HEY, CHIEF.

VIRGIL, I BROUGHT OFFICER CHRIS RANKIN.

CHRIS, THIS IS DETECTIVE VIRGIL TIBBS.

MR. TIBBS. HI, CHRIS.

THANK YOU.

CAN I SEE THIS FACE?

YEAH.

I BELIEVE I KNOW HIM FROM SOMEWHERE.

A WOMAN CALLED AND LEFT A MESSAGE WITH PARKER.

SHE SAID RONNY PEMSEY LIVED AT THE CROWN MOTEL.

HE WORKED THERE. THAT'S ALL?

MM-HMM. HUNG UP.

HE WAS KILLED WITH A SUBMACHINE GUN,

ONE OF THE NEW MILITARY TYPES.

HE TOOK 11 ROUNDS.

LOOKS LIKE AN UZI, 9mm.

LIKE A BIG-TOWN GANG KILLING IN A LITTLE TOWN.

GANG KILLINGS USUALLY FOLLOW THE MAIN ACTION,

EVEN TO THE SMALLEST PLACES.

DOPE?

THAT'S THE MAIN ACTION NOWADAYS.

I'M GOING OVER TO THE MOTEL,

SEE IF I CAN LEARN ANYTHING.

WE'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU.

O.K.

I'D SAY YOUR FIRST DAY

HASN'T BEEN LACKING IN INTEREST.

NO, SIR. IT'S BEEN NOTHING BUT FUN.

I'VE NEVER--

I'M SORRY. THAT WAS AWFUL OF ME.

TALKING ABOUT FUN AND A POOR MAN LYING DEAD.

I WAS TAUGHT BETTER.OH, SURE, YOU WERE.

YOUR MAMA AND DADDY, DID THEY APPROVE OF POLICE WORK?

OH, I DIDN'T HAVE A MAMA AND DADDY.

I MEAN, I HAD THEM, BUT DON'T REMEMBER THEM.

AUNT EDIE'S ALL I HAVE,

OUTSIDE OF ALL OF YOU.

ALL OF US?

I ALWAYS MAKE A FAMILY WHEREVER I GO--

IN SCHOOL, IN THE ACADEMY, NOW HERE ON THE JOB--

Y'ALL.

YOU COULD DO A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN US.

I THINK, AS A FAMILY, WE'RE DECENT ENOUGH...

SOBER WITHOUT BEING STUFFY

AND WILLING TO STAND BY YOU.

COME ON. WE'LL CATCH UP WITH VIRGIL.

[GILLESPIE] LOOK FOR ANYTHING OF A PERSONAL NATURE--

YOU KNOW, LETTERS, POST CARDS,

ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

[MAN] THIS GUY WASN'T TOO INTO NEATNESS, WAS HE?

DON'T ASK ME.

YOU'RE THE MANAGER. WHO ELSE SHOULD I ASK?

I CAN ONLY SAY WHAT I SAID.

HE WANTED TO LIVE HERE. HE HAD THE MONEY.

HOW MANY OTHER EMPLOYEES LIVE HERE?

NO OTHER EMPLOYEE EVER WANTED TO.

ALL RIGHT. TELL ME SOMETHING.

HOW COULD A SECOND COOK

AFFORD A DELUXE DOUBLE IN A GOOD MOTEL?

YOUR BROTHER AL LIVES HERE, TOO, MR. BOSWORTH?

HE DID WHEN WE FIRST COME OVER FROM ALABAMA.

HE LIVES BY THE BUSINESS.

HEY, VIRGIL.

BORROW YOU A MINUTE?

YEAH.

SECOND COOK.

WAS HE THE FELLOW FROM THE DINING ROOM WITH THE HAT,

SERVED GOOD BUFFET BRUNCHES?

YES.

CHIEF!

WE GOT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S COCAINE, CHIEF.

HE MUST'VE HAD BAGS OF IT IN HERE.

SOME OF IT SPILLED.

WELL, WELL, WELL.

THE BOSWORTH BOYS OF BIRMINGHAM--

ONE OF THEM IN MOTELS,

THE OTHER ONE IN MOTORBOATS,

BOTH OF THEM IN DOPE.

I REALLY DO HATE IT.

I THINK THIS IS THE MURDERED MAN IN THE PICTURE.

I SAW HIM AT THE MORGUE.

THE GIRL FROM THE BOTTOMS

SAYS SHE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.

BUBBA, YOU BETTER GO GET THE CHIEF.

YEAH.

GOT SOMETHING TO TELL ME?

YES, SIR.

ARE YOU THE WOMAN WHO CALLED ME AT THE OFFICE?

IS IT ABOUT RONALD PEMSEY?

MM-HMM.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHY HE WAS MURDERED.

I KNOW WHY.

CHIEF.

THIS IS MELVA.

HI, MELVA.

LANCE'S BROTHER AL KILLED RONALD PEMSEY.

WHY?

PEMSEY WAS DEALING DRUGS FOR BOSWORTH.

IT WAS A BIRMINGHAM OPERATION.

PEMSEY DECIDED TO GO INTO BUSINESS FOR HIMSELF.

HE MADE A DEAL WITH THIS NEW WHOLESALER

OUT OF NEW ORLEANS.

FATAL MISTAKE.

UH-HUH.

THIS MAN IN THE PHOTO

LOOKS LIKE RONALD PEMSEY.

PARKER HEARD GUNSHOTS AROUND THAT PLACE THIS MORNING.

I SEE THE BOSWORTHS IN THIS PICTURE.

WHO WAS THE, UH,

WHO WAS THIS BLACK FELLA HERE, MELVA?

MELVA, PLEASE TELL HIM.

THAT'S ABE GILLINS.

WHERE DO WE FIND ABE GILLINS?

I DON'T KNOW.

AND, UH...

THAT'S POOR OLD RON OVER HERE, ISN'T IT?

YES, SIR.

EVERYTHING YOU TOLD DETECTIVE TIBBS AND ME THE TRUTH, MELVA?

YES, SIR.

WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT. O.K.?

MELVA, THANK YOU.

I DO DETEST THE THOUGHT OF OFFICERS TAKING FIRE

FROM SOMEBODY INSIDE OF A BUILDING.

I WANT TO BRING

AL "MACHINE GUN" BOSWORTH OUT IN THE OPEN

SO Y'ALL CAN TAKE HIM.

I'M GOING TO USE THE YAZOO CITY FLUSH.

GET YOUR MEN READY AND IN POSITION.

I'LL MAKE THE FLUSH CALL FROM RIGHT HERE.

YES, SIR.

WAIT A MINUTE.

CAN I GO?

THE TRUTH IS, WE GOT ALL THE MEN WE NEED.

YOU CAN ALWAYS USE ANOTHER MAN.

WE'LL GET A COUPLE MORE...

MEN.

ARE YOU AFRAID THAT

I'LL BE IN THE WAY?

THAT ISN'T IT, SUGAR.

OFFICER RANKIN.

DON'T GET UPSET.

I ALWAYS CALL BUBBA SUGAR.

SAY WHAT?

CAN I GO?

UNLESS, OF COURSE,

YOU NEED ME TO STAY WITH YOU.

WELL, NO, I DON'T NEED YOU.

THEN CAN I GO?

YES, YOU CAN GO.

WHY NOT?

WHY, SURE, CHILD, GO AHEAD.

MIGHT DO YOU GOOD.

GO IN VIRGIL'S CAR.

THERE'S A TELEPHONE THERE, SEE?

STAND BY THE TELEPHONE IN THERE.

DON'T YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE.

I'M GOING TO BE CALLING YOU

ON THAT TELEPHONE IN 20 MINUTES.

GO AHEAD. YES, SIR.

WELL...

BEEN A GOOD DAY.

YEAH, GOOD DAY.

YEAH.

VERY GOOD DAY.

I DON'T SEE ANY OF THE GUYS.

THAT'S THE IDEA. IF YOU CAN'T SEE THEM,

NOBODY IN THERE CAN SEE THEM, EITHER.

SAY, CHIEF... I SEE YOU WAITING.

CAN I HELP YOU WITH ANYTHING?

YEAH. AS A MATTER OF FACT, YOU CAN.

I WANTED TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.

COULD YOU MAKE IT FOR ME?

CERTAINLY.

WHERE TO?

UM, TO THERE.

IT'S YOUR BROTHER AL'S PLACE.

TELL HIM I HAVE EVIDENCE HE KNOWS SOMETHING

ABOUT THIS CASE I'M WORKING ON.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT IT.

TELL HIM TO WAIT FOR ME.

DO IT FROM THE OUTSIDE PHONE

BECAUSE I'VE GOT ANOTHER URGENT CALL

TO MAKE FROM THIS ONE.

SURE. THANK YOU.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

OFFICER RANKIN HERE.

LET THE MEN KNOW THEY MAY BE SEEING

OUR MURDERER ANY MINUTE NOW.

YES, SIR.

HOLD IT, BOSWORTH!

PUT YOUR GUN DOWN!

RELOADING! ME, TOO.

SHE'S GONE.

NO, NO.

SHE CAN'T BE.

PARKER...

HER CHEST IS ALL TORE UP.

SHE'S JUST GONE.

WELL...

IT'S JUST LIKE A WAR.

MEN ARE SENT INTO THE FRONT LINES IN THE MORNING,

THEY'RE KILLED IN THE AFTERNOON.

YES, MA'AM.

IT IS LIKE A WAR.

CHIEF, WE JUST GOT HOLD OF HER AUNT IN KENARD.

THANK YOU.

TED, WE HAVE TO BE GETTING ON.

IF YOU WON'T SAY THE HARD THING, I WILL.

IT HAS TO BE SAID.

BILL, THE WHOLE COUNCIL VOTED.

YOU'VE BEEN ASKED TO PUT YOURSELF ON SUSPENSION.

THEY WANT TO--

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

REVIEW THE WORK OF THIS DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST YEAR.

REVIEW?

HOW LONG WILL THAT TAKE?

WELL, IT MIGHT TAKE A GREAT WHILE.

WAIT A MINUTE.

DON'T WE GET CONSULTED

BEFORE YOU MAKE DECISIONS LIKE THIS?

HOW CAN YOU WALK IN HERE WITHOUT NOTICE

OR WARNING OF ANY KIND

AND TELL US THAT OUR POLICE CHIEF--

UH, VIRGIL...

I JUST HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.

I REJECT THE NOTION OF SUSPENSION.

I SAY IF A MAN ISN'T ALLOWED TO DO A JOB,

HE HASN'T GOT A JOB.

SO...

WHAT I THINK I'LL DO IS, UH...

TURN MY DUTIES OVER

TO MY CHIEF INVESTIGATOR, MR. TIBBS,

WHO ALREADY HOLDS THE RANK OF CAPTAIN,

AND, UH, AND UNDER HIM,

I'M GOING TO PUT SERGEANT SKINNER,

WHO WILL HAVE THE NEW RANK OF LIEUTENANT.

CHIEF, I DON'T WANT THEM BARS.

I DIDN'T ASK IF YOU WANTED THEM,

I'M TELLING YOU TO PUT THEM ON.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT CHILD WAS MY FAULT.

NO, IT WASN'T!

I SHOULD NOT HAVE SENT AN INEXPERIENCED OFFICER

INTO A SITUATION

SO FULL OF DANGEROUS POSSIBILITIES.

CHIEF, YOU WERE TRAINING AN OFFICER.

TRAINING, VIRGIL, IS--IS NO EXCUSE FOR RISKING LIFE.

I DON'T MEAN TO BREAK THIS OFF

IN AN IMPOLITE WAY, BUT...

I THINK I'VE SAID JUST ABOUT ALL I NEED TO.

THE ONLY THING LEFT FOR ME TO DO IS...

TO GO IN HERE AND PACK UP A FEW THINGS IN A BAG.

LORD, I DIDN'T KNOW THIS CHILD,

AND SHE DIDN'T KNOW ME.

BUT IN HER MIND, I BELONGED TO HER,

SO I'M THINKING IT WAS YOUR WILL

THAT SHE BELONGED TO ME...

IF ONLY FOR ONE DAY.

SHE IS NOW...

SERENE IN YOUR PRESENCE, LORD,

I DO BELIEVE.

AND I'M HERE GRIEVING.

I'M...GRIEVING FOR THIS CHILD OF MINE.

HELP ME WITH MY SORROW.

HERE YOU GO.THANKS.

WE GOT EVERYTHING IN THE OFFICE.

HERE ARE THE KEYS.

HERE'S THE CHIEF.

WHAT, IS HE MAD AT US?

NO.

I THINK HE JUST WANTS TO PUT,

YOU KNOW, FAMILIAR THINGS

OUT OF HIS MIND.

HOW COME HE ASKED IF WE'D SEEN ANYBODY...

BOSWORTH OR ABE GILLINS?

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

SWEET TALKED TO HIM.

SAID WE FIGURED

BOSWORTH BEAT THE ROAD BLOCKS TO ALABAMA.

SO DID GILLINS.

WHAT DID THE CHIEF SAY?

"MAYBE THAT'S THE END OF IT."

HE SOUNDED KIND OF OLD.

SWEET.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN--JUST TIRED.

[HONK HONK]

I FOUND ABE GILLINS.

HE'S HIDING OUT AT THE RAILWAY STATION.

I SAID I WAS COMING ALONE.

HE'S HIDING IN THAT CABOOSE.

ABE!

THIS IS JOHN.

ABE!

DAMN, JOHN! YOU BROUGHT THE LAW!

I BROUGHT THE ONLY MAN WHO COULD HELP YOU.

NOW DON'T RUN, ABE!

YOU GOT NOBODY TO TRUST BUT ME,

AND I GOT NOBODY TO TRUST BUT THIS MAN.

ABE HERE GOT HIMSELF

INTO SOMETHING HE DIDN'T MEAN TO.

HE WANTS TO DISAPPEAR

WITHOUT POLICE FOLLOWING HIM AROUND.

I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP,

BUT I WANT THE GUY THAT DID THOSE KILLINGS.

WHERE DID HE GO?

HELP THE CHIEF, ABE.

HE'LL HELP YOU.

HE DIDN'T GO NOWHERE.

HE NEVER LEFT SPARTA.

WHERE IS HE?

109 INAUGURAL.

USED TO BE MY MAMA'S HOUSE.

NOW MY SISTER LIVES THERE.

BOSWORTH IS WITH HER.

WITH NELLA? REALLY?

I DON'T WANT HER HURT.

SHE'S TAKING CARE OF HIM.

SHE SAYS WHEN HIS LEG GETS BETTER,

SHE'LL HELP HIM GET TO ALABAMA OR GEORGIA,

BUT I'M AGAINST THAT

'CAUSE SHE'S GOT TO COME OUT WEST WITH ME.

PLEASE DON'T ARREST NELLA.

SHE IS GOT TO COME OUT WEST WITH ME.

I WANT TO SWING THAT SHOTGUN FOR YOU.

YOU CAN'T.

BROTHER G., THIS AIN'T RIGHT.

YOU WAS NO JOHN WAYNE THE BEST DAY YOU EVER SAW.

CALL YOUR STATION, TAKE SOME BOYS.

HE'S GETTING NO CHANCE TO KILL

ANYMORE OF MY PEOPLE.

YOU'RE GIVING HIM EVERY CHANCE TO KILL YOU.

HE'LL HAVE TO DO THAT BEFORE HE KILLS ANOTHER COP.

STEP OUT OF THE WAY.

I HOPE HE DON'T HURT HER.

SHE'S MY REAL SISTER. I MEAN REALLY REAL.

WELL?

GO ON, SON.

BOSWORTH...

THIS IS CHIEF GILLESPIE, BOSWORTH.

I HOPE YOU CAN GET UP AND MOVE,

BECAUSE I'M GOING TO TAKE YOU IN.

AAH!

NO! AAH! NO! OH!

OH, MY GOD!

OH.

GO CALL THE POLICE.

YES, SIR.

YOU KNOW, WE COULD DO THIS

IN AN AIR-CONDITIONED OFFICE.

AIR CONDITIONING WAKES UP ALL YOUR SLEEPING ALLERGIES.

THAT'S WHY SOUTHERN PEOPLE RUN AROUND ALL SUMMER

WITH DRIPPING EYES AND NOSES.

WHERE'S THE DRAGONLADY?

RIGHT THERE, COMING ON.

UH-HUH.

WHY ARE WE MEETING IN A PUBLIC PARK?

I ALWAYS FIND PUBLIC PARKS VERY PRIVATE.

AH, SO...

WE MEET UNDER THE EYE OF THE GENERAL.

NOT IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE OLD FELLA.

WHY SHOULD I LIKE HIM?

IF HE'D HAD HIS WAY,

I'D BE CALLING YOU MASSAH

AND DOING YOUR LAUNDRY FOR NOTHING.

WE CAN MEET--

NEVER MIND, NEVER MIND.

WE ARE HERE.

LET'S SAY WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

CHIEF, DO BEGIN.

OH, YES, MA'AM.

THE LETTER FROM THE COUNCIL

WAS DELIVERED TO ME LAST NIGHT.

I READ IT.

I WANT TO SAY THAT I APPRECIATE

YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE,

BUT IT CONCLUDES THIS WAY--

"YOU ARE AUTHORIZED TO FILL

"THE LATE OFFICER RANKIN'S POSITION

"WITH ANOTHER OFFICER, WHO SHALL BE BLACK,

"IN KEEPING WITH THE COUNCIL'S POLICY

"OF MAKING YOUR DEPARTMENT RACIALLY PROPORTIONATE.

THE NEW OFFICER SHOULD BE MALE."

WHY?

BILL, IN VIEW OF WHAT HAPPENED,

WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT COMMUNITY FEELING.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE

ANOTHER BLACK GIRL SHOT TO DEATH,

AT LEAST NOT RIGHT AWAY.

COME ON.

I'M NOT FINISHED.

THERE ARE PEOPLE SAYING YOU WOULDN'T HAVE RISKED

A WHITE GIRL'S LIFE SO QUICK.

I WILL NOT REPLY TO THAT,

BUT TO SAY I CAN'T HIRE A WOMAN

IS TO SAY I SHOULDN'T HAVE HIRED A WOMAN

IN THE FIRST PLACE.

NOW, Y'ALL CAN SAY THAT IF YOU WANT TO,

BUT I WON'T.

I WILL NOT DISHONOR THE MEMORY

OF CHRIS RANKIN.

I WANT ANOTHER GIRL.

AND I GOT ONE.

VIRGIL BROUGHT HER OVER FROM JACKSON TODAY.

MISS LUANN CORBIN. SHE'S 23.

22.22,

SHE'S GOING TO BE WITH US UNTIL SHE RETIRES.

30 YEARS?

WITH US?

YES, WITH US...

UNTIL I RETIRE,

AND THAT'S FOR SURE.

DEAL?

DEAL.

NOW, WELCOME.

THANK YOU.

THIS IS COUNCILWOMAN HARRIET De LONG.

MISS De LONG. NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE.

COUNCILMAN TED MARCUS.

WELCOME.

THANK YOU, VIRGIL.

THANK YOU, BUBBA.

AND WELCOME, WELCOME.