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

CAN I HELP YOU?

WHERE DO YOU WANNA GO?

I CAN TAKE YOU.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE?

MUNSON MANOR, BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE ME THERE.

SURE, I CAN. IT'S NOT THAT FAR.

YOU MUSTN'T.

I'LL BE MURDERED IF YOU TAKE ME THERE.

UH-HUH. YES, MA'AM. THANK YOU.

CAN I HELP YOU, MRS. TIBBS?

THIS IS LYDIA CRANE FROM THE MUNSON MANOR NURSING HOME.

BUT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE TAKEN BACK THERE.

SHE THINKS SHE'LL BE MURDERED THERE.I'M SURE OF IT.

SHE WAS ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON RUBY STREET.

SEE IF SHE NEEDS SOME COFFEE,

WATER, USE OF THE LADIES' ROOM.

I SURE WILL, MRS. TIBBS.

I DON'T NEED ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

I JUST NEED TO SEE THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

YEAH. WELL, THERE'S NO TROUBLE AT ALL.

WE CAN KEEP HER HERE AS LONG AS IS NECESSARY.

WE'VE GOT A CALL IN TO DOC ROBB RIGHT NOW, IN FACT.

MMM.

FINE, FINE.

YEAH.

BYE.

WELL, THEY SAY THEY MISSED YOU ABOUT DAWN,

SO, UH, YOU MUST HAVE DONE

QUITE A BIT OF WANDERING AROUND

BEFORE MRS. TIBBS FOUND YOU AT 7:30.

WELL, IT WAS DARK,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING.

BUT WHEN I SAW THE RAILROAD TRACKS,

I WAS FINE.

NOW, MRS. CRANE, I CAN'T IMAGINE

WHY ANYBODY WOULD WANT TO MURDER A LADY LIKE YOURSELF.

NOW, CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME

WHAT YOU MEANT BY THAT?

THEY MURDERED ESTELLE POOLEY LAST NIGHT.

SHE WAS THE BEST FRIEND I EVER HAD.

AND I AM AFRAID

THAT THEY ARE GOING TO MURDER ME NEXT.

WELL, NOW, WHY WOULD THEY MURDER ESTELLE POOLEY?

TO KEEP HER FROM CHANGING HER WILL.

OH, WAS SHE GOING TO DO THAT?

THAT'S WHAT I HEARD.

MMM. AND FROM WHOM DID YOU HEAR THAT?

FROM ESTELLE. WHO ELSE?

I THINK YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT SOMEBODY

WOULD HAVE BEEN AWFUL MAD IF THAT WILL WAS CHANGED. WHO WOULD THAT PERSON BE?

OH, I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT, CHIEF.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE I WOULD BE MURDERED.

UH, CHIEF? DOC ROBB'S OFFICE SAID

HE'S ON HIS WAY TO MUNSON MANOR NURSING HOME.

THERE WAS A DEATH OUT THERE LAST NIGHT.

THE DEATH WAS ESTELLE POOLEY'S.

ESTELLE POOLEY WAS THE WOMAN'S NAME, MRS. CRANE'S RIGHT.

LISTEN, I'M GOING TO TAKE A RUN OUT TO MUNSON MANOR.

WHENEVER YOU CAN, WHY DON'T YOU MEET ME OUT THERE?

YES, SIR. WANT ME TO TAKE HER WITH ME?

NO, THEY'RE SENDING THEIR OWN CAR FOR HER IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

OKAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, MRS. CRANE, UH...

I WISH YOU'D STOP WORRYING.

I GOT MY WISH.

WELL, THAT'S IT. THAT'S ALL I CAN...

MAY I HELP YOU? OH, YES.

WOULD YOU TELL THE BOSS

CHIEF BILL GILLESPIE IS HERE TO SEE HER?

CERTAINLY, CHIEF. EXCUSE ME.

REMEMBER ME?

OH, YEAH.

WHO ARE YOU?

I'M RICHARD POOLEY.

MY AUNTIE ESTELLE DIED IN HERE LAST NIGHT.

OH, ESTELLE POOLEY.

WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SIR,

MAY I OFFER MY CONDOLENCES,

AND TELL YOU THAT THAT'S WHY I'M HERE THIS MORNING--

TO INQUIRE ABOUT YOUR AUNT'S DEATH.

SHE DIED BECAUSE OF NEGLIGENCE.

IS THAT A FACT?

THEY LET HER CHOKE TO DEATH

ON HER OWN LITTLE HANDKERCHIEF.

I'M GONNA SUE THIS PLACE FOR CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

SOME INSURANCE FIRM'S GOING TO HAVE A BIG HEADACHE OVER THIS ONE.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE FIXING TO TELL THEM NOW?

NO, NO, NO, I ALREADY TOLD THEM PLENTY.

I'M JUST WAITING TO FIND OUT

WHEN I CAN TAKE MY AUNTIE ESTELLE FOR BURIAL.

WELL, WE MAY WANT TO DO AN AUTOPSY.

YOU MUST.

AND CONDUCT A FULL INVESTIGATION,

WHICH WILL BECOME THE BASIS OF MY LEGAL ACTION

AGAINST THESE PEOPLE.

HMM.

YOU MAY COME IN NOW, CHIEF.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WELL, EXCUSE ME, WON'T YOU?

WELL.

I'M KATHERINE TYLER, THE ADMINISTRATOR.

I'M BILL GILLESPIE.

MORNING, DR. ROBB.

IF YOU'RE HERE ABOUT ESTELLE POOLEY,

THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS SUFFOCATION-- ACCIDENTAL.

YEAH, I HEARD ABOUT THAT LITTLE HANKY.

KIND OF UNLIKELY, THOUGH, ISN'T IT?

VERY UNLIKELY,

BUT IF SHE DIDN'T INHALE IT,

THEN SOMEONE SHOVED IT DOWN HER THROAT.

THERE'S NO EVIDENCE OF THAT.

IS THIS REALLY A POLICE MATTER?

I HOPE NOT, UH...

I CAN'T SAY, THOUGH,

UNTIL WE INVESTIGATE.

WE? ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE POLICE

ALL OVER THE PLACE?

NO MORE THAN WE NEED,

BUT THE LAW SAYS WE MUST.

WELL, I CAN APPRECIATE THAT, DARLING...

WELL, I DON'T KNOW. MAYBE BY TOMORROW AFTERNOON--

DARLENE?

BUBBA SKINNER! I WONDERED IF YOU'D BE HERE.

THE CHIEF'S CAR HAS PATIENTS BUZZING...

DARLENE, UH, EXCUSE ME, BUT...

OK, NOW. BYE-BYE. GOTTA GO.

DARLENE, ONE OF THE NURSES TOLD ME

YOU WERE ON DUTY THIS MORNING.

WHEN I CAME ON, THE AMBULANCE WAS ALREADY HERE.

A PATIENT HAD FOUND MISS POOLEY DEAD

AND SHE TOLD THE NURSE WHO WAS ON BEFORE ME.

IT'S SAD, BUT WE SEE A LOT OF DEATH HERE.

YEAH. GOT TO BE THE TOUGHEST PART OF YOUR JOB, HUH?

YOU JUST HOPE THAT PEOPLE HAVE HAD A FULL LIFE.

THAT'S HOW I HANDLE IT.

I TELL MYSELF, "THE ESTELLE POOLEYS HAVE HAD A FULL LIFE."

THERE'S LYDIA CRANE NOW, COMING BACK.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

OF WHAT?

OF WHAT I JUST TOLD YOU

ABOUT HER RUNNING AWAY.

IMAGINATION, OF COURSE.

WHY COULDN'T IT BE TRUE?

YOU SHOW ME SOMEONE WHO HAD A REASON

TO KILL MISS POOLEY.

THEN SHOW ME WHEN AND HOW.

THREE NURSES MONITORED HER CORRIDOR

FROM 10:00 LAST NIGHT TILL 7:00 THIS MORNING.

NOBODY ELSE WENT INTO THAT ROOM.

WHY DIDN'T ANYBODY HEAR THE NOISE

OF THAT WOMAN CHOKING?

THE WOMAN DIDN'T MAKE ANY NOISE CHOKING, I SUPPOSE.

O MEDICINE, THY NAME IS VAGUE.

HOW DID LYDIA CRANE BEHAVE ON THE WAY BACK HERE?

OH, FINE. SHE DIDN'T GIVE US ANY TROUBLE.

BUT SHE WAS AWFUL SCARED, CHIEF.

STILL THINKS SOMEONE'S TRYING TO KILL HER.

I SURE HATED TO LEAVE HER.

I THINK IT'S A REAL SHAME

WHEN OLD PEOPLE HAVE TO BE SCARED

OF WHERE THEY'RE LIVING, BUT...

IT HAPPENS, I GUESS.

NOW IF I CAN--

JAMISON?

YEAH, CHIEF?

I WANT YOU TO DO A BACKGROUND

ON A GUY NAMED RICHARD POOLEY.

HE WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE IN SPARTA.

HE WENT TO LAW SCHOOL AT TULANE,

AND THEN STAYED IN NEW ORLEANS.

ARE WE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING IN PARTICULAR?

WELL, I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DISLIKING ANYBODY

WITHOUT A GOOD REASON,

SO FIND ME A GOOD REASON.

YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.

CHIEF...

THIS HAD TO BE AN ACCIDENT.

I MEAN, EVERYBODY SAYS SO,

AND WE CAN'T FIND NOTHING TO SUGGEST OTHERWISE.

THERE GOES THE POOR SOUL RIGHT THERE WITH...

DOC ROBB BEHIND HER.

LET'S SEE WHAT DOC ROBB SAYS

AFTER HE DOES A FULL POST-MORTEM.

YOU KNOW, WHILE I'M HERE,

I'M GONNA CHECK WHAT KIND OF SECURITY THEY GOT HERE.

CALL ME. YES, SIR.

SO, YOU THINK IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, DO YOU?

YOU TALKING TO ME, SIR?

DID ESTELLE HAVE HER RINGS ON?

EXCUSE ME, WHAT?

WHEN THE DOCTOR CAME TO EXAMINE ESTELLE POOLEY,

WAS SHE WEARING A BIG DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING,

A GOLD WEDDING BAND,

AND AN EMERALD ON HER RIGHT RING FINGER?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION, ISN'T IT?

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

NO, BUT I DON'T NEED TO KNOW.

I'M NOT A COP ANYMORE.

I RETIRED YEARS AGO.

BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW...

DON'T YOU?

YES, SIR.

I SUPPOSE I DO.

HOW COME DR. ROBB BELIEVED THAT HANKY STORY?

IT'S ALL HE HAD.

THE BOYS ARE HERE. WHICH ONES?

JAMISON, PARKER-- WE'RE GOING TO THE HOME.

WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT THAT SECURITY?

ONE BLACK DOORMAN.

I'M STILL WORRYING ABOUT THOSE MISSING JEWELS.

WE GOT THE REPORT ON POOLEY FROM ACE GRESHAM,

NEW ORLEANS P.D. INTELLIGENCE.

BOIL IT DOWN FOR ME.

RICHARD POOLEY HAS NO BANK ACCOUNTS.

HE HAS NO MONEY, UNLESS IT'S BURIED UNDERGROUND.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG?

THE PILLOW POOR OLD MISS POOLEY SLEPT ON.

WE DIDN'T FIND NO BLOOD, NO SALIVA, NO NOTHING--

NOTHING THAT MAKES IT LOOK LIKE A SMOTHERING.

LET'S GO FIND OUT HOW SOMEBODY COULD'VE GOTTEN IN THERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO GO MESSING AROUND IN THE DARK?

YOU KNOW HOW THAT LADY BOSS IS, CHIEF.

WHAT ABOUT HER?

SHE DON'T LIKE THE PATIENTS TO SEE US OUT THERE.

I HAVE HEARD NO COMPLAINT FROM ANY PATIENT

ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE OUT THERE.

SHE DOESN'T WANNA SEE US OUT THERE.

DON'T TAKE ANY IMPERTINENCE FROM THAT WOMAN!

YES, SIR. YES, SIR.

NO WAY THIS LOCK WAS OPENED FROM OUTSIDE.

MAYBE SOMEBODY FROM THE INSIDE LEFT IT OPEN.

IT WAS LOCKED LAST NIGHT AT 10:00

WHEN I PUT MISS POOLEY TO BED.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU CHECK THESE ROOMS?

WELL, AT 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, AND 6:00.

YOU FOUND HER AT 6:00?

OH, NO, BUBBA, I TOLD YOU BEFORE

I WASN'T YET ON SHIFT AT 6:00.

IT WAS MISS LYDIA CRANE

WHO CAME IN BETWEEN 6:00 AND 6:30 AND FOUND HER DEAD.

CAN I HELP WITH SOMETHING, DARLENE?

TELL US HOW A MAN GOT INTO THIS ROOM

AND KILLED MISS ESTELLE POOLEY.

IF MISS POOLEY WAS KILLED BY ANYBODY AT ALL.

I THOUGHT WE HAD DETERMINED

THAT SHE DIED AN ACCIDENTAL DEATH--

BY SWALLOWING HER LITTLE HANKY.

THAT WAS THE DETERMINATION MADE,

IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, BY DR. ROBB.

DID THE POST-MORTEM CHANGE THAT?

UH, NO, MA'AM, IT DID NOT.

WELL, THEN, WHO IS PROLONGING THIS INQUIRY?

CHIEF GILLESPIE.

DID ESTELLE POOLEY WEAR HER JEWELRY AROUND?

YES, SHE DID, ALL THE TIME.

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT SHE WORE--

SH-SHE WORE A DIAMOND RING,

AN EMERALD RING, AND A GOLD WEDDING BAND.

BUT THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SAID

THOSE RINGS WERE NOT ON HER FINGERS

WHEN SHE ARRIVED FOR AUTOPSY.

ARE YOU SAYING SOMEBODY FROM THIS INSTITUTION...?

WHY, ANY NUMBER OF PEOPLE

COULD HAVE TAKEN THAT JEWELRY.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST ASK MR. RICHARD POOLEY?

HE WAS IN HERE VISITING

THE DAY BEFORE SHE DIED.

YES, MA'AM.

YES, MA'AM.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MA'AM.

MISS TYLER, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN...?

GOOD NIGHT, EDWARD.

GOOD NIGHT, MA'AM.

WELL, WELL. CHIEF GILLESPIE.

CAN I HELP YOU?

GOOD MORNING.

WELL, I'M ON A HUNT FOR JEWELRY.

LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR AUNTIE ESTELLE AT THE HOME,

WAS SHE WEARING HER EMERALD, HER DIAMOND,

AND HER GOLD WEDDING BAND?

YES, SIR, SHE CERTAINLY WAS.

YOU'RE SURE NOW?

YOU WOULDN'T MISS THOSE ITEMS ON MY AUNT ESTELLE'S FINGERS.

YOU COULD HARDLY LOOK AT HER FACE

FOR LOOKING AT THOSE RINGS.

WHY DO YOU ASK?

I'M SURPRISED YOU HAVEN'T ASKED YOURSELF.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

FROM THE MOMENT YOUR AUNTIE DIED

UNTIL JUST NOW,

THOSE ITEMS OF JEWELRY ARE MISSING.

WELL, CHIEF, I--I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR BRINGING THIS TO MY ATTENTION.

YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY

THAT JEWELRY'S WORTH $60,000 IF IT'S WORTH A PENNY.

YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GIVEN ME ANOTHER CAUSE OF ACTION

AGAINST MUNSON MANOR NURSING HOME--

GRAND THEFT, AS WELL AS CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

UH, MURDER'S WHAT WE'RE LEANING TO MORE THAN NEGLIGENCE.

NOW WE'VE GOT A MOTIVE FOR MURDER--

THE THEFT OF THE JEWELRY.

BUT I CAN SEE WHY YOU'D PREFER THE NEGLIGENCE.

OH, YOU CAN?

IT GIVES YOU A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THE NURSING HOME.

WE'LL FIND OUT WHICH IT IS-- WE'RE GETTING CLOSER.

COULD YOU TELL ME

WHO YOUR AUNT WAS PLANNING TO LEAVE THAT JEWELRY TO IN HER WILL?

NOT THAT IT'S ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS, CHIEF,

BUT I THINK SHE WAS PLANNING TO LEAVE IT ALL TO ME--

EXCEPT MAYBE THE NURSING HOME.

ARE YOU THE LAWYER HANDLING YOUR AUNTIE'S WILL?

CERTAINLY NOT.

HER LAWYER IS MR. GEORGE FAWLINGS OF SPARTA.

I WOULD NOT IMPOSE MYSELF ON MY OWN FAMILY.

VERY DELICATE.

THAT'S APPROPRIATE.

GEORGE FAWLINGS-- QUITE APPROPRIATE.

WHY ARE YOU BOTHERING ME, GILLESPIE?

YOU KNOW VERY WELL I HAVE TO PRESERVE

AN ATTORNEY-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP.

ONLY THE ATTORNEY IS LIVING, GEORGE-- THE CLIENT'S DEAD.

WELL, ETHICS-- THEY NEVER DIE.

I WASN'T ASKING A LEGAL QUESTION,

JUST A SOCIAL QUESTION.

HOW IS IT THAT ESTELLE POOLEY,

WORTH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS,

DIDN'T LIVE IN HER MANSION,

BUT IN A NURSING HOME IN SPARTA?

YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT?

IF I DID, GEORGE, I WOULDN'T ASK YOU NOW, WOULD I?

BECAUSE SHE OWNS THE PLACE.

I OWN A DUCK BLIND,

BUT I DON'T LIVE IN IT.

MAYBE SHE LIKED THE COMPANY AT THE HOME.

THERE'S ANOTHER REASON FOR NOT LIVING IN THAT MANSION.

TELL ME.

IT'S OCCUPIED BY 50 GENERATIONS OF TERMITES

THAT GO BACK TO THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.

RICHARD POOLEY LIVES IN THAT HOUSE.

HE'LL FIND HIMSELF SLEEPING UNDER 20 TONS OF RUBBLE

COMING RIGHT DOWN ON HIM.

ESTELLE POOLEY KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING

EVERY SINGLE MINUTE, SO DON'T FOOL YOURSELF.

UH, ONE MORE QUESTION, GEORGE, PLEASE.

WAS ESTELLE POOLEY GOING TO CHANGE HER WILL?

I WANT YOUR COOPERATION, COUNSELOR.

WE GOT A MURDER GOING ON HERE.

THAT SHE WAS ABOUT TO MAKE A CHANGE

IS NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS.

AND WAS THAT CHANGE GOING TO AFFECT...

YOU SAID ONE QUESTION, CHIEF.

THIS IS QUESTION ONE, PART TWO.

THEN CONTINUE.

WAS THAT CHANGE GOING TO ADVERSELY AFFECT ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR?

I CAN ONLY PROPERLY SAY

IT WAS GOING TO DASH THE EXPECTATIONS

OF A CERTAIN LADY--

Y-YOU DIDN'T HEAR THAT FROM ME.

THAT CERTAIN LADY WAS HOPING

SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SEE ME AGAIN.

NOW I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DISAPPOINT HER.

THANK YOU, GEORGE.

MAC, HOW ARE YOU?

WHEN ARE YOU GETTING PAROLED OUT OF HERE?

NEVER.

TOO MANY GOOD-LOOKING OLD WOMEN AROUND HERE.

YEAH.

BUT YOU LOST ONE OF THEM, DIDN'T YOU?

YEAH.

ONE OF THE PRETTIEST OF THE WHOLE LOT.

AND SHE WAS MIGHTY SWEET, TOO.

IT'S A SHAME.

I WANT TO THANK YOU

FOR MENTIONING ESTELLE POOLEY'S JEWELRY

TO LIEUTENANT SKINNER.

DID YOU FIND IT YET? OH, NO.

HALF A DOZEN DIFFERENT PEOPLE COULD HAVE TAKEN IT.

THE MURDERER TOOK THE JEWELRY, BILL,

BUT THE JEWELRY WASN'T THE MOTIVE FOR THE MURDER.

WHAT WAS?

YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK INTO THAT WILL--

THE BENEFICIARIES.

UH-HUH.

I WAS JUST ON MY WAY TO DO THAT NOW.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

OH, BILL.

GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON THE CASE WITH ME.

KEEP ME INFORMED.

I SURE WILL, MAC.

I SURE WILL.

DR. TYLER, I WISH YOU WOULDN'T TAKE THAT TONE WITH ME.

BUT YOU SEEM TO BE IMPLYING

THAT, IN SOME WAY,

I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MISS POOLEY'S DEATH.

YOU'RE THE HEAD OF THIS INSTITUTION,

YOU HAVE ACCESS TO EVERY PART OF IT.

YOU'RE STILL A BENEFICIARY OF ESTELLE POOLEY'S WILL--

BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE TO CHANGE IT.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT THESE THINGS PROVE

THAT YOU CAUSED THIS LADY'S DEATH,

BUT I'VE KNOWN DISTRICT ATTORNEYS

WHO WOULD MAKE A MURDER CASE WITH LESS THAN THAT.

WELL, YOU HAVE BEEN ASKING PEOPLE QUESTIONS, HAVEN'T YOU, CHIEF?

UH-HUH.

NOW I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.

DID YOU HAVE A FIGHT WITH ESTELLE POOLEY?

A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION...

ABOUT HOW THIS PLACE SHOULD BE RUN.

WE BOTH SAID...

THINGS TO EACH OTHER

THAT NEITHER ONE OF US COULD FORGIVE.

AND THEN SHE SAID

SHE WAS GONNA CALL IN MR. FAWLINGS TO CUT YOU OUT.

YES, SHE SAID THAT.

BUT THEN SHE WAS MURDERED.

BUT DR. ROBB SAID SHE WAS NOT MURDERED.

IF YOU THINK THAT HER WILL IS A MOTIVE FOR MURDER,

WHY DON'T YOU FIND OUT WHO ELSE IS IN THAT WILL?

WELL, THE ONLY OTHER PERSON IN IT IS HER NEPHEW.

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO GAIN BY KILLING HER.

HE NEEDED MONEY.

HE WAS GOING TO GET PLENTY, RIGHT?

BUT NOT FOR YEARS,

MISS POOLEY WAS VERY HEALTHY.

RICHARD NEEDED MONEY NOW.

NOW, CHIEF, IF YOU'LL LET ME DO MY WORK...

OH, OF COURSE.

FINE.

DARLENE: BUBBA, YOU'RE NOT INVESTIGATING RICHARD POOLEY?

I'M AFRAID WE GOT REASON TO.

OH, BUBBA. IN THE FIRST PLACE,

HE HAS NO NEED OF MONEY.

WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA?

NEW ORLEANS POLICE.

NEW ORLEANS?

WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?

LET'S PUT IT THIS WAY--

IF THEY STILL HAD OLD-TIME DEBTOR PRISONS,

RICHARD POOLEY WOULD SURE BE IN ONE.

HIS EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILE'S BEEN REPOSSESSED,

HE'S CASHED CHECKS WITHOUT MONEY TO BACK THEM.

AND THE LOUISIANA BAR ASSOCIATION IS WONDERING

WHETHER TO LET HIM KEEP ON PRACTICING LAW.

WELL, I GUESS YOU KNOW I'VE BEEN SEEING RICHARD.

WE KNOW WHENEVER HE'S BEEN TO SEE HIS AUNT,

AT LEAST 12 TIMES THE PAST YEAR,

YOU'VE SEEN HIM EVERY TIME.

WE KNOW YOU'VE BEEN SEEING HIM

WHILE HE'S BEEN STAYING AT HIS AUNT'S HOUSE.

YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT KIND OF FEELINGS I HAVE FOR HIM.

WHEN I ASKED YOU TO MEET ME HERE,

I WAS HOPING YOU COULD TELL ME THINGS ABOUT HIM.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I KNOW MORE THAN YOU.

DARLENE, WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME,

AND YOU'VE GOTTA BELIEVE

HOW HARD IT IS FOR ME TO TELL YOU THIS.

YOU'RE A DEAR FRIEND, BUBBA.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I'D EXPECT FROM YOU.

I DON'T LIKE DOUGHNUTS.

I--I LIKE FRITTERS.

I GO TO A DOUGHNUT SHOP, THEY SAY, "WHAT'S YOUR USUAL?"

AND I SAY, "WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS?"

AND THEN THEY BRING ME OUT THIS BIG BOX OF DOUGHNUTS.

AND I'M ABOUT TO LOSE MY MIND.

AND I SAY, "I HATE DOUGHNUTS..."

OFFICER SWEET?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

LIEUTENANT SKINNER PUT ME ON GUARD DUTY, SIR.

UH, OVER HERE, HUH?

WELL, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.

THE BOSS, HUH?

UH...YEAH.

UH, DOUGHNUTS. WERE WE TALKING ABOUT DOUGHNUTS?

NO, FRITTERS, FRITTERS, 'CAUSE I HATE DOUGHNUTS.

THAT'S IT.

NURSE: OH, MY GOD. WHAT WAS THAT?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?

NEVER MIND THAT, WHERE'S GILLESPIE?

HE JUST LEFT.

OHH!

WAIT A MINUTE. MISTER...

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

MR. McCAULEY!

I'VE GOT TO TELL HIM.

WHAT IS IT, SIR?

I...GOT...

TALK TO THE CHIEF.

BILL GILLESPIE, YOU JUST HOLD ON A MINUTE THERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GET A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST YOU.

BUT I WILL IF I HAVE TO.

WHY, GEORGE?

FOR HARASSING THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS INSTITUTION,

WHICH I REPRESENT.

I'M TOLD YOU GOT A ROOM SHUT OFF IN THERE,

AND NO ONE CAN EVEN CLEAN IT.

BUT THAT'S A CRIME SCENE.

I'VE GOT IT TAPED OFF AND A GUARD THERE.

YOU AND YOUR MEN ARE CONTINUALLY BOTHERING

THE PATIENTS AND EMPLOYEES HERE.

CONDUCTING A MURDER INVESTIGATION IS PAINFUL WORK, GEORGE.

THE ONLY ONE TALKING ABOUT MURDER IS YOU.

NOW DOESN'T THAT MAKE YOU PAUSE

AND WONDER ABOUT YOURSELF?

CHIEF!

SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOUR FRIEND. YOU BETTER COME QUICK.

MAN: OKAY, CLEAR THE HALLWAY!

CLEAR, CLEAR! COME ON, CLEAR!

COME ON, PEOPLE. MAKE WAY. MAKE WAY.

EDWARD, CALL THE DOCTOR.

EXCUSE ME, SIR, PLEASE.

WHAT HAPPENED?

UH, FOUND HIM IN MISS POOLEY'S OLD ROOM.

HE SAID HE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY TO YOU.

WHEN I TOLD HIM YOU LEFT, HE CHASED AFTER YOU.

HIS STRENGTH JUST SEEMED TO DRAIN OUT OF HIM.

HE FELL DOWN FLAT ON THE FLOOR.

MAC, CAN YOU TALK TO ME?

MAC, CAN YOU HEAR ME?

I...

KNOW...

IT HAPPENED...

YOU...

CAN...

SEE IT

FROM THE...

BED.

WHAT IS HE SAYING?

HE SAYS HE KNOWS HOW IT HAPPENED.

MAKE HER GO AWAY.

GO AWAY!

WOULD YOU STEP BACK AWAY, PLEASE?

THIS MAN IS A PATIENT OF MINE.

EVIDENTLY, HE WANTS TO TELL ME SOMETHING PRIVATELY.

HE WOULD LIKE YOU TO STEP BACK A LITTLE WAYS.

WOULD YOU DO THAT PLEASE?

GO AHEAD, MAC. TELL ME WHAT YOU WANT TO TELL ME.

I...

CAN'T...

GO AHEAD, MAC, I'M LISTENING.

I...

I'M AFRAID HE CAN'T GO ON, SIR.

WHAT HAPPENED?

IT'S A LITTLE STROKE.

IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE.

HE WAS GOING TO TELL ME HOW ESTELLE POOLEY DIED.

I'M SURE HE WILL, SIR,

THIS WON'T LAST TOO LONG.

WELL, HOW LONG DO YOU THINK?

WELL, TOMORROW, MAYBE THE NEXT DAY,

BUT HE WILL COME AROUND.

BILL: WELL, HERE'S THE BED,

HE SAID YOU COULD SEE IT FROM THE BED.

ALL I SEE FROM THE BED IS FOUR WALLS.

THERE'S FURNITURE HERE, WE WENT THROUGH ALL THIS.

NOTHING IN IT.

CLOSET.

NOTHING IN THAT.

NOW...

WHAT CAN YOU SEE FROM THE BED?

[WHIRRING]

WHAT WAS THAT?

OH, THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOTOR OF THE FAN

THAT SENDS THE HEAT THROUGH THAT GRATING OVER THERE.

THAT GRATING OVER THERE--

THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE BED.

CHIEF?

WELL, GO SEE WHERE IT GOES.

[RING]

SKINNER HERE.

BILL: BUBBA, I JUST FOUND SOMETHING INTERESTING.

CHIEF, WHERE YOU AT?

ESTELLE POOLEY'S OLD ROOM HERE AT THE HOME.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM POOR OLD MAC,

I MAY HAVE JUST FIGURED OUT PART OF THIS THING.

UH, WHERE'S JAMISON?

UH, HE'S OVER AT COOKIE'S CLAM HOUSE,

BIRD-DOGGING RICHARD POOLEY...

AND A FRIEND.

GOOD.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

MAN: GOOD EVENING, COOKIE'S.

MM-HMM. YEAH, JUST A MINUTE.

LONNIE?

IT'S FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

HELLO? YEAH, CHIEF.

THEY'VE BEEN HERE ABOUT 20 MINUTES.

YES, SIR. I UNDERSTAND.

GOODBYE.

YOU CAN'T JUST SIT HERE DOING NOTHING.

THE POLICE HAVE JUST TURNED YOUR LIFE UPSIDE DOWN.

DO I LOOK WORRIED?

I THINK YOU SHOULD LEAVE SPARTA.

DARLENE,

DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST ASK ME

TO SIGN A CONFESSION THAT I MURDERED MY AUNTIE,

AND TURN IT OVER TO CHIEF GILLESPIE?

I MEAN, MY LEAVING SPARTA WOULD ACCOMPLISH THE SAME THING.

WELL, HERE'S YOUR MURDER WEAPON, CHIEF. FOUND IT IN THE SHAFT.

WHERE DOES THIS SHAFT COME OUT?

CAME OUT IN THE SUPPLY CLOSET,

WHICH LED TO THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE.

WHOEVER MURDERED MISS POOLEY

MUST HAVE COME IN THROUGH THAT OUTSIDE DOOR,

OR AN EMPLOYEE COULD HAVE LET HIM IN.

REASON NOBODY SAW HIM WAS HE WENT IN THE SUPPLY CLOSET,

WENT THROUGH THE GRATE,

CRAWLED ALONG THE SHAFT, PUSHING THAT PILLOW AHEAD OF HIM,

CAME OUT HERE, SMOTHERED MISS POOLEY, AND ESCAPED THE SAME WAY.

AND THE PILLOW WAS HOSPITAL PROPERTY,

SO HE LEFT IT IN THE SHAFT.

PUT IT BACK IN THAT SHAFT WHERE YOU FOUND IT.

[SIGHS]

UH-HUH.

WELL, NO, NO, YOU SEE, IT'S THE LITTLE STUFF THAT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY.

EXCUSE ME.

I'M SERGEANT JAMISON, SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MR. POOLEY?

YES, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

CHIEF GILLESPIE SAYS

WE'LL HAVE THIS CASE CLOSED BY THE MORNING.

WE HAD THIS MR. McCAULEY--

HAD A STROKE--BUT HE'S REGAINING HIS SPEECH.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT THIS GENTLEMAN TO TELL YOU?

ABOUT SOME STOLEN JEWELRY AND MURDER.

WELL, I'M NOT AWARE OF ANY STOLEN JEWELRY...

OR MURDER.

THEN I SHOULDN'T HAVE INTERRUPTED YOUR DINNER.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD NIGHT, MA'AM.

GOOD NIGHT, SERGEANT.

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

[WHIRRING STOPS]

HE'S FINE.

YOU WERE RIGHT, CHIEF.

MMM-HMM.

YES, SO IT SEEMS.

HARD TO BELIEVE.

YEAH.

BUT YOU CAN BE SURE SHE WAS PUT UP TO THIS

BY MR. RICHARD POOLEY,

WHO HAD HIS OWN REASONS

FOR WANTING TO GET RID OF HIS AUNT FAST.

DARLENE HAD HER REASONS FOR WANTING TO HELP HIM.

YOU MUST HAVE LOVED RICHARD VERY MUCH

TO DO A THING LIKE THIS FOR HIM.

I'LL ALWAYS LOVE RICHARD.

BETTER PUT SOME HANDCUFFS ON HER, SWEET.

WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO USE EVERYTHING YOU SAID AGAINST YOU,

SO YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE.

[RING]

SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

YES, SIR.

BUBBA.

LINE ONE.

YEAH?

IT'S THE CHIEF, BUBBA.

ARE THE BOYS THERE WITH YOU?

THEY'RE HERE, CHIEF.

WELL, TURN THEM LOOSE.

YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY.

I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS,

BUT I'M OBLIGED TO HOLD A FRIEND OF YOURS FOR MURDER.

IT WOULDN'T BE DARLENE, WOULD IT?

YOU DON'T SEEM TOO SURPRISED.

WELL, I FIGURED SHE KNEW SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU TELLING ME SHE DID IT?

WITH HER OWN TWO SMALL, EFFICIENT LITTLE HANDS,

SHE DID DO IT.

[DOOR BANGS OPEN]

I SUPPOSE YOU THINK I'M BURYING PRECIOUS JEWELS.

WELL, WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING,

IT'S REALLY JUST A WASTE OF TIME.

I'M DIGGING OUT TERMITES.

THEY WON'T BE BOTHERING YOU

WHERE YOU'RE GOING, MR. POOLEY.

THE WALLS ARE ALL MADE OF STONE THERE.

WELL, GOOD EVENING.

WELL, I EXPECTED A DIFFERENT LOOK ON YOUR FACE.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, DIFFERENT FROM YESTERDAY'S LOOK

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WAS A MURDERER.

OH, WELL, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT.

MY FACE TENDS TO STAY THE SAME THESE DAYS, ANYHOW.

WHY?

WELL, IT JUST ISN'T AS ACTIVE AS IT USED TO BE,

UH, LIKE SOME OTHER THINGS, BUT, UH...

I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I COULD MAKE AMENDS

BY ASKING YOU TO COME HAVE DINNER WITH ME SOME NIGHT.

NO.

LYDIA?

DO I KNOW YOU?

I'M ALTHEA TIBBS.

I FOUND YOU ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

I REMEMBER YOU.

YOU'RE THE ONE THAT HAD THEM BRING ME BACK HERE.

THIS IS YOUR HOME.

THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE.

NO, IT ISN'T.

WE HAD A MAGNOLIA TREE IN OUR GARDEN,

AND A SWINGING TIRE.

WELL, MAYBE WE'LL GET THEM TO PLANT A NEW MAGNOLIA TREE

IN THE GARDEN HERE.

NOT ANOTHER PENNY CAN BE SPENT ON THIS PLACE

UNTIL IT GOES THROUGH PROBATE.

AFTER THAT, YOU CAN TALK TO MISS TYLER ABOUT, UH...

REFORESTATION.

I HEARD THEY WERE GONNA TEAR IT DOWN.

AND THEY'RE GONNA THROW ALL OF US INTO THE STREET.

OH, NO, MA'AM!

MISS TYLER AND MR. POOLEY ARE THE NEW OWNERS.

THEY INTEND TO KEEP THINGS GOING.

MR. POOLEY IS GONNA HELP RUN THINGS,

AS, UH, SOON AS HE'S BAILED OUT.

MR. FAWLINGS IS CONFIDENT

THAT OUR MURDERER IS GONNA REMAIN AT LARGE.

YOU'RE KIDDING.

OH, NOT AT ALL,

GIVEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SETUP IN THIS TOWN,

I COULD KEEP MUAMMAR QADDAFI OUT OF JAIL.

DOESN'T THAT MAN BOTHER YOU?

OH, NO, NOT A BIT.

YOU NEED AN OLD PHARISEE LIKE THAT THUNDERING AROUND TOWN.

HE'S RIGHT JUST ENOUGH SO THAT YOU PAY ATTENTION,

AND WRONG JUST ENOUGH

SO THAT YOU DON'T LET HIM WORRY YOU.

WELL, WELL, LOOK WHO'S HERE.

YOU FEEL LIKE TALKING NOW?

I DO, AND I WILL,

IF THE LEFT SIDE OF MY BRAIN'S WORKING, OR...

IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE THE RIGHT SIDE?

ONE SIDE MAKES YOU SAVAGE, THE OTHER SOCIAL.

WELL, I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES, GO AHEAD.

BILL, WILL YOU TRY TO KEEP MY NAME

OUT OF THE PAPERS ON THIS?

UH, CERTAINLY.

CERTAINLY, MAC.

UH, WHAT DID YOU DO?

WELL, I THOUGHT I SOLVED THIS WHOLE THING FOR YOU.

OH, OH. WELL, YOU DID TELL ME THAT YOU COULD SEE

THE WHOLE THING FROM THE BED.

BUT BEFORE I FIGURED OUT THAT PECULIAR MESSAGE,

YOU WENT TO SLEEP ON ME.

WELL, WHAT ABOUT THE JEWELS?

WE FOUND THE JEWELS IN DARLENE'S LITTLE APARTMENT.

NO, I MEAN ME MENTIONING THE JEWELS TO BUBBA SKINNER.

THAT'S WHAT STARTED YOUR WHOLE INVESTIGATION.

IF I HADN'T DONE THAT,

YOU AND THAT CROAKER, DOC ROBB

WOULD HAVE WALKED RIGHT OUT OF HERE

BELIEVING THAT THAT INTELLIGENT, HEALTHY, LITTLE OLD LADY

POKED A HANKY DOWN HER THROAT.

I NEVER BELIEVED IT.

I'M TOLD THAT YOUR HUSBAND

WORKS FOR THIS UNGRATEFUL PERSON.

WHEN HE'S IN TOWN.

VIRGIL'S BEEN IN NEW ORLEANS THE PAST 10 DAYS

WORKING WITH THE FBI.

WELL, IF YOU'RE, UH...

SHORT ON STAFF, GILLESPIE,

I'M AT LIBERTY-- AT THE MOMENT.

OH, NO, MAC.

NO, NOT A CHANCE.

THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DECREED PROPORTIONAL HIRING.

WHAT DOES HE MEAN BY THAT?

YOU'RE NOT BLACK, AND YOU'RE NOT A WOMAN.

NO, AND HE'S NOT YOUNG, EITHER.