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 ♪

COMMENTATOR: PORTER FOR THE TOUCHDOWN.

ALL-AROUND SIMPSON.

LET BUD DO IT.

BUD DON'T DRIVE TO THE BOTTOMS.

THAT'S BUD'S DEAL.

THIS AIN'T NO GAME.

THERE'S MORE SUBSTITUTIONS THAN PLAYS.

FARE'S GOING TO THE BOTTOMS?

YEAH. YOUR FAVORITE PART OF TOWN.

OK. I'LL TAKE THE FARE IN MY CAR,

THEN I WON'T HAVE TO COME BACK.

HE CAN STAY IN THE BOTTOMS. HE'S GOT REASONS.

THAT'S RIGHT.

DON'T GET ME MAD, BUD,

'CAUSE SOMEDAY I'M GOING TO BUST YOUR FACE

JUST TO BE BUSTING SOMETHING.

HERE'S THAT MONEY YOU WANTED.

THANKS.

YOU WANT TO COUNT IT?

GIRL AT THE BANK COUNT IT?

IN FRONT OF ME.

MORE THAN 1,500?

Charlie: NOPE.

Mike: NO SENSE ME LOOKING FOR MORE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT, Y'ALL.

HE'S CARRYING $1,500 TO THE BOTTOMS?

HE'S HIS OWN MAN.

I'M YOUR CABBIE, BUDDY.

THANKS. GOOD NIGHT.

SAME TO YOU, BUDDY.

MY LORD, IT'S WILLIAM.

Sippie: OH, MY GOODNESS!

WHEN DID YOU GET HERE?

JUST NOW.

OH, YOU LOOK SO GOOD. OH.

YOU LOOK GREAT, TOO.

NO! NO!

STOP! ARE YOU CRAZY?

I SAID IF HE CAME AROUND, I'D KILL HIM.

YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOTHING.

YOU'RE MY BROTHER, NOT MY FATHER.

AND I'M HAVING DOUBTS ABOUT THAT.

[RING]

SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THIS IS CHARLIE YOUNT

AT THE YOUNT CAB COMPANY.

MY PARTNER'S WIFE CALLED BECAUSE HE AIN'T COME HOME.

HIS LAST FARE WAS FOUR HOURS AGO.

WHERE WAS HIS FARE GOING?

THE BOTTOMS.

I'LL GET SOMETHING STARTED.

BYE. BYE.

CORBIN. WHAT'S UP?

CAB DRIVER IS MISSING. CALL PARKER.

GOT IT.

[SIREN]

I JUST COME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND SAW THE CAR.

PUT YOUR HANDS ON THIS CAR AND BE STILL.

EVERYTHING OUT OF YOUR POCKETS AND ON THE DESK.

I SWEAR, I JUST CAME OUTSIDE AND SAW THE CAR.

GOT A LOT OF MONEY HERE.

$1,800. MY SAVINGS.

WHICH I BROUGHT HERE FOR MY AUNT.

IF YOU WAS GIVING IT TO YOUR AUNT,

I WISH YOU HAD,

BECAUSE IT LOOKS BAD HERE.

WHY?

BECAUSE THAT DEAD CABBIE

HAD AT LEAST 1,500 BEFORE HE GOT KILLED.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH.

I SAW WHEN HE MADE CHANGE.

THREE PEOPLE, INCLUDING ME, SAW WHAT MIKE HAD.

$1,500 IN THE ENVELOPE AND 111 BESIDES.

HIS WIFE WAS PREGNANT WITH THEIR THIRD KID.

I DIDN'T GO TO HISHOUSE AND KILL HIM.

HE LOVED ME.

I MEAN, HE REALLY LOVED ME.

YOU IS A WHORE, YOU KNOW THAT?

WHAT ARE YOU?

WHAT WAS THE COMPANY YOU WORKED FOR?

MILES CONSTRUCTION, BAYONNE BOULEVARD, BILOXI.

POLICE OFFICER SAW YOU GET INTO HIS CAR.

YOU WERE HIS LAST FARE.

HE COULD HAVE PICKED UP SOMEBODY ELSE.

SURE. THERE ARE PEOPLE

WAITING ON EVERY CORNER FOR CABS

IN THE BOTTOMS OF SPARTA.

ANOTHER POLICEMAN FOUND YOU WITH THE BODY.

HE FOUND HIS BLOOD ON YOUR SLEEVE.

I REACHED IN TO SEE IF HE WAS ALIVE.

YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY ELSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THERE.

THEY MIGHT HAVE HIT THE MAN WITH SOMETHING,

AND THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE JUST RUN OFF

WHEN THEY HEARD THE POLICE CAR.

IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED?

WAS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE THERE?

SEE, WHEN YOU STEPPED FROM YOUR AUNT'S HOUSE

AND SAW MIKE CYSTAK'S CAR

JUST A FEW YARDS FROM WHERE HE DROPPED YOU OFF,

WAS THERE SOMEBODY ELSE THERE?

ANOTHER MAN.

AND WHEN YOU STARTED TOWARDS THE CAR,

THIS OTHER MAN--

THE REAL KILLER-- TOOK OFF.

MAYBE.

MAYBE WHAT?

MAYBE THERE WAS ANOTHER MAN THERE.

I DON'T KNOW. IT WAS HARD TO SEE.

YEAH. YEAH, YEAH.

WHY DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU SAW?

I'M NOT SURE.

I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

ALL I KNOW IS I DIDN'T DO IT.

WHOEVER DID IT MUST HAVE LEFT.

I COULD SEE SOMETHING, SHADOWS MAYBE,

MAYBE ANOTHER GUY.

I GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT.

OK, WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU HERE TONIGHT,

AND THEN TOMORROW WE'LL GET YOU A LAWYER,

TAKE YOU OVER TO COURT.

AND THEN WHAT?

THE D.A. WILL DECIDE IF HE WANTS TO CHARGE YOU.

THE MAGISTRATE WILL DECIDE IF HE WANTS TO HOLD YOU.

LUANN.

YES, SIR.

PUT THIS MAN DOWNSTAIRS FOR TONIGHT, WILL YOU?

YES, SIR.

VIRGIL, I THINK HARRIET DELONG WILL TURN UP

AT DARNELLE'S MEETING.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LOCKED HIM AWAY JUST YET.

WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO SOMETHING.

TO WHAT?

A CONFESSION.

THEN WHY'D YOU FEED HIM ALL THAT SOMEBODY ELSE STUFF?

IT'S JUST A TECHNIQUE.

SOMETIMES THEY FALL FOR IT.

WHEN YOU BREAK IT DOWN, THEY FEEL SILLY

AND TELL THE TRUTH.

SORRY. I DON'T BELIEVE THE MAN'S A KILLER.

PARKER FOUND THE MAN--

VIRGIL, I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL FOUND.

I'M JUST SAYING,

HOWEVER INSIGNIFICANT MY INTUITION MAY BE,

THAT THE MAN DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A KILLER.

TO ME HE DOES.

SURE, BECAUSE HE'S A STRANGER,

GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY WITH HIM,

AND HE'S BLACK.

WHAT?

YOU HEARD ME.

YOU'RE SAYING-- I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M HEARING.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT I AM PREJUDICED

AGAINST THAT MAN BECAUSE HE IS BLACK?

YOU'RE SAYING THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE?

NO, I'M SAYING IT'S OUTRAGEOUS.

OH, DON'T BE TOO HASTY.

NOW, THAT MAN MAY OFFEND YOU

IN SOME DEEP, PERSONAL WAY.

Bill: REMEMBER SHAKESPEARE?

"TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE,

"AND THEN THOU CANST NOT BE FALSE TO ANY MAN." POLONIUS.

THINK ABOUT THAT.

I GOT TO SIT DOWN.

AND THINK ABOUT THIS--

WHAT IS THIS MAN, ALL BY HIMSELF IN HIS OWN PRIVATE CAR

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

WHAT IS THIS WHITE MAN DOING IN THE BOTTOMS?

NOW, YOU ARE TELLING ME THAT LITTLE REMARK

IS NOT TINGED WITH A BIT OF PREJUDICE?

THAT'S NOT A REMARK.

I'M MERELY STATING A TOPIC OF UNAVOIDABLE INQUIRY.

AND HERE'S ANOTHER ONE.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT SAW THAT MAN

WITH AN ENVELOPE FULL OF MONEY

ARE THREE WHITE MEN,

ONE OF WHOM COULD HAVE FOLLOWED HIM TO THE BOTTOMS AND ROBBED HIM.

ONE OF THEM DID FOLLOW HIM TO THE BOTTOMS--PARKER.

YOU SAYING HE'S A SUSPECT?

CHIEF?

AM I A SUSPECT?

THIS CONVERSATION HAS SUDDENLY BECOME SILLY

AND NO LONGER WARRANTS

ANY FURTHER ATTENTION FROM ME.

Virgil: BEFORE YOU RETREAT INTO SHAKESPEARE

AND THE BIBLE,

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO SAY

TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARNELLE TOMORROW?

I KNOW WHAT I'M GOING TO TELL HIM.

I'M GOING TO SAY I EXPECT TO ARREST

THE REALLY GUILTY MAN WITHIN 72 HOURS.

Darnelle: YOU WERE SAYING?

I DON'T WANT THIS TO BECOME A RACE ISSUE.

NEITHER DO I. WE UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

YOU KNOW, I'M FASCINATED

BY HOW POLITICIANS UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.

WE HAVE A MURDER-ROBBERY AND A SUSPECT.

NO ONE WANTS TO PROSECUTE BECAUSE HE'S BLACK.

D.A. DOESN'T EVEN WANT TO CHARGE HIM.

YOU SAY FINDING A MAN AT THE SCENE

MAKES HIM LOOK GUILTY.

IT COULD MAKE HIM LOOK INNOCENT.

A MAN WOULDN'T KILL SOMEONE IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOUSE

AND THEN WAIT FOR THE POLICE.

WHEN THEY ARRIVED, DID THEY FIND A MURDER WEAPON?

NO. NOTHING.

WE'RE WATCHING JACKSON, VIRGIL,

BUT I'M GOING TO LET HIM GO.

WISEST THING TO DO AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

I DON'T THINK MIKE CYSTAK'S WIFE AND KIDS

WOULD BE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR WISDOM.

MY, MY, MY. WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH HIM?

HE'S BEEN AWAY THREE WEEKS

WORKING UNDERCOVER FOR THE FBI.

SOME OF HIS NATIVE MISSISSIPPI CHARM GOT SCRAPED OFF,

BUT IT'LL BE BACK.

HMM.

Virgil: MIKE'S PARTNER SAID HE HAD $1,500.

ANY IDEA WHERE THAT MONEY CAME FROM?

NO.

WELL, DID HE OFTEN BUY THINGS, SPEND MONEY,

THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT?

YEAH, HE DID THAT ONCE IN A WHILE.

BOUGHT STUFF FOR YOU, THE KIDS, OR THE HOUSE?

SOMETIMES HE JUST SAID HE LOST IT IN POKER.

DID YOU BELIEVE THAT?

NO.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

HELLO.

WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE KIDS AND I APPRECIATE--

I'M SURE THE POLICE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, SIR.

I KNOW, BUT--

MRS. CYSTAK?

I'VE, UH, I'VE HAD TWO CALLS LIKE THAT THIS MORNING.

PEOPLE START OFF SAYING "SORRY,"

BUT THEN THEY GET INTO,

IF THE LAW DON'T KILL THAT BLACK, THEY'RE GOING TO.

I RECKON THEY THINK IT'LL MAKE ME FEEL GOOD.

REALLY?

NOW WHY WOULD THEY THINK A THING LIKE THAT?

MAYBE THEY THINK I DON'T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL DON'T, YOU KNOW.

BLACK PEOPLE NEVER BOTHERED YOUR HUSBAND.

HE DROVE THEM AROUND IN HIS CAB.

WELL, WE NEVER HAD ANY FEELINGS ABOUT IT

ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.

MIKE DROVE THEM, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW THEM.

MIKE WAS NEVER CLOSE TO ANY BLACK PEOPLE.

UH, I GOT TO LEAVE NOW.

I GOT TO DRIVE OVER TO MAMA'S

AND PICK UP THE KIDS AND BRING THEM BACK.

THANKS FOR TALKING WITH ME, MRS. CYSTAK.

BYE.

YEAH, BYE.

NOW, OFFICER PEAKE...

ONE MIGHT THINK THAT THIS WAS DESIGNED

JUST FOR THE CURIOUS POLICEMAN.

NOW, THIS...

YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT THIS.

WHERE'S THAT BAG, LUANN?

HERE IT IS, CHIEF.

I DON'T TRUST THESE THINGS.

THEY HOLD A CHARGE QUITE A WHILE.

MAYBE UP IN MICHIGAN, WHERE THEY'RE MADE,

BUT MISSISSIPPI SEEMS TO DRAIN THEM.

I FEEL DRAINED MYSELF.

THINK NOBODY KNOWS YOU?

I KNOW YOU DO.

ME AND 200 MORE.

THAT'S GOOD. I LIKE THAT.

MAKE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN I'M HANGING OUT.

THAT AIN'T A HANGING OUT CAR

YOU GOT PARKED BEHIND THAT SHACK OVER THERE.

NOT WITH A COP'S RADIO AND PHONE.

WELL, I DIDN'T SAY I WAS HANGING OUT RIGHT NOW.

I'M SUPPOSED TO FIND YOU

AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT SOMEBODY.

THAT WHITE GUY THAT GOT KILLED DOWN HERE?

NO, ABOUT THE FELLA THAT KILLED HIM.

YOU GOING TO BUY A DRINK?

YEAH. AT ELMO'S.

MAY I GIVE YOU A LIFT?

NO. YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.

YOU MAY MEET ME THERE.

PEAKE, TELL CHIEF I FOUND JIMMY DAWES.

OK.

I TOLD CYSTAK THERE WAS A FARE AT THE DEPOT.

YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED.

YOU GAVE MIKE AN ENVELOPE,

AND $1,500 WAS MENTIONED, TOO.

WHAT WAS IT FOR?

HE DIDN'T TELL ME.

WHAT DID BUD MEAN

WHEN HE SAID CYSTAK WOULD STAY IN THE BOTTOMS?

WHEN YOU SEE ORMSBY, YOU ASK HIM.

YOU WITHDREW $1,500 FOR HIM

AND DIDN'T ASK WHAT IT WAS FOR?

I'M REAL DISAPPOINTED IN YOU, CHARLIE,

BUT WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

BYE.

DOES IT MAKE THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE

WHY CYSTAK WANTED THE MONEY?

SOMEBODY KILLED HIM FOR IT.

WHOEVER TOOK THE MONEY

DIDN'T CARE WHAT CYSTAK WANTED IT FOR, DID HE?

THE CHIEF JUST THOUGHT THERE MIGHT BE SOME CONNECTION.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

YES, SIR, CAPTAIN. THANK YOU.

IF WE CAN RETURN THIS FAVOR, LET US KNOW.

YEAH. BYE-BYE.

CORBIN, IF SWEET CALLS IN, LET ME KNOW,

EVEN IF IT'S ABOUT NOTHING.

YES, SIR.

I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING,

BUT I CAN'T TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT

WHILE I'M CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION.

HOLD ON. GOT SOMETHING?

NEWS FROM BILOXI.

LARRY, CAN I GET BACK TO YOU?

GREAT.

BILOXI P.D. JUST CHECKED WITH A MR. REX MILES,

OWNER OF MILES CONSTRUCTION.

THERE'S NO RECORD OF WILLIAM JACKSON

BEING EMPLOYED THERE EVER.

CHIEF WON'T BELIEVE JACKSON DID IT.

I HAVE A DOUBT.

I'D LIKE TO TALK TO THE MAN, IF I MAY.

OF COURSE.

ONE WOULD THINK I'M CONSTANTLY

TRYING TO FRUSTRATE MY CHIEF INVESTIGATOR.

NOT CONSTANTLY.

I WOULDN'T SAY SO. NEVER MORE THAN ONCE A DAY.

VIRGIL, LISTEN TO ME--

I JUST SPOKE WITH LARRY TOMS.

HE'S REPRESENTING THE WHITE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.

HE'S AFRAID SOME RACIAL TROUBLE'S GOING TO COME UP.

A WHITE MAN IS KILLED IN THE BOTTOMS,

AND A PRIME BLACK SUSPECT IS LET GO.

ANY REAL TROUBLE COME UP?

YES. AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

AH, THE COUNCIL MEETING.

HOLD ON, CHIEF. HE'S RIGHT.

LARRY AND HIS WHITE MEMBERS

HAD SOME HOT DEBATE

WITH MISS DELONG'S BLACK MEMBERS.

I'M SUPPOSED TO CALL LARRY.

MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO.

I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO HANDLE--

NO.

I GOT SOMETHING TO HANDLE FIRST.

EXCUSE ME.

WELL, MAYBE HE HAS.

MURDERER!

WHOO-HOO!

I THOUGHT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN NO MORE.

IT'S ONLY SOMETHING SILLY...

AIN'T IT?

I THINK SO, BUT WE'LL FIND OUT.

WHY DON'T YOU GIVE IT TO ME, PLEASE?

THAT THING TELLS ME I SHOULDN'T STAY IN THIS TOWN.

YOU'RE A LIAR.

YOU NEVER WORKED FOR MILES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN BILOXI.

I WORKED THERE 11 MONTHS.

MILES NEVER HEARD OF YOU.

HE'S LYING.

I'M EXPECTED TO BELIEVE

THAT SOMEONE KILLED CYSTAK RIGHT NEXT TO YOUR HOUSE,

YOU HEARD AND SAW NOTHING?

THAT'S RIGHT.

IT'S THE TRUTH, MAN.

IT'S THE TRUTH.

MAN, YOU NEED SOME GOOD ADVICE.

THEY GOING TO FRAME YOU.

THAT CAB DRIVER CYSTAK

WAS KILLED BY ANOTHER WHITE MAN.

William: WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

I KNOW WHAT I KNOW.

THEY WON'T NAIL ANOTHER WHITE MAN

AS LONG AS THEY GOT YOU.

YOU SEEN THAT HAPPEN?

A FRIEND SAW IT HAPPEN, BUT HE LEFT TOWN.

I ADVISE YOU TO DO THE SAME THING.

LEAVE TOWN.

THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE.

JUST LEAVE TOWN.

[RING]

DESK. CORBIN HERE.

YEAH, PEAKE.

WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM?

YEAH. TELL HIM RIGHT NOW.

YEAH. LATER.

LIEUTENANT?YEAH?

PEAKE JUST CALLED FROM THE BOTTOMS.

SAYS WILLIAM JACKSON'S ACTING NERVOUS.

HE MAY BE GETTING READY TO RUN.

UH, CYSTAK HAD A GIRLFRIEND IN THE BOTTOMS.

A GIRL?

YOU FIGURE A GIRL

WOULD KILL A GUY BY BASHING HIM?

I CAN'T SEE A GIRL BASHING HIM.

A JEALOUS BOYFRIEND?

JIMMY DIDN'T KNOW. JUST PASSING ON WHAT HE HEARD.

JUST GET A LINE

ON THE BLACK GUY YOU SAW TALKING TO JACKSON.

YES, SIR.

I'VE GOT TO GET VIRGIL, WHEREVER HE IS.

Chief: VIRGIL, COME ON.

YES, CHIEF.

MAYBE CYSTAK DROVE HIS FARE DOWN TO THE BOTTOMS,

DROPPED HIM OFF, WENT TO SEE A GIRLFRIEND.

HE MET THIS OTHER GUY, WHOEVER HE WAS,

KILLED HIM, TOOK HIS MONEY.

THEN PUSHED THE CAR TO THE JACKSON HOUSE.

OR DROVE IT DOWN.

I'M NOT DREAMING UP SOME SCIENCE FICTION PLOT.

THESE THINGS HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.

NO ARGUMENT, CHIEF. I'LL GET ON IT.

IF THE OLD CHIEF'S

LEANING TOWARDS A JEALOUS LOVER IN THE BOTTOMS,

LEAST HE AIN'T WORRIED

ABOUT LAYING IT ON A BLACK GUY.

Virgil: OH, LOOK. HE'S STOPPING, BUBBA.

LET'S TALK TO HIM.

MMM-HMM.

ORMSBY, WE GOT A FEELING YOU AND CHARLIE YOUNT

ARE NOT HELPING US.

YOU GOT A FEELING.

LOOKS LIKE THE PROBLEM'S YOURS.

IT'S YOURS IF YOU'RE HARDHEADED.

YOU DIDN'T LIKE MIKE.

YOU KNEW HE HAD LOTS OF MONEY ON HIM.

YOU LEFT THE CAB OFFICE RIGHT BEHIND HIM

THE NIGHT HE GOT KILLED.

Virgil: YOU'LL BE IDLE A WEEK

IF I GIVE THIS CAB A THOROUGH INSPECTION.

NOW, YOU WANT TO TALK TO US, MAN?

I LIKE MARIA CYSTAK, A LOT.

I DON'T WANT HER TO BE HURT

BY THE THINGS COMING OUT ABOUT MIKE.

SHE KNOWS MORE THAN YOU THINK SHE DOES.

TELL US WHAT YOU KNOW.

MIKE GOT A GIRL PREGNANT IN THE BOTTOMS.

I KNOW HE DIDN'T CONFIDE IN YOU.

I LISTENED IN ON A PHONE CALL.

WHO'S THE GIRL?

I DON'T KNOW. THAT'S THE TRUTH.

WE GOT TO GO DOWN TO THE BOTTOMS

AND TALK TO EVERY PREGNANT GIRL.

THAT SHOULD TAKE A WHILE.

I'LL SEND MONEY FOR THE CAR.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT--

WITH ALL THE MONEY YOU JUST GAVE ME.

LET'S SEE IF THIS THING STARTS.

[ENGINE STARTS]

BETTER GET PACKED.

I WANT THAT MONEY!

YOU DON'T NEED THAT MUCH.

I NEED EVERY PENNY.

WHY? I PAY FOR ONE OF 'EM THINGS MYSELF, IT DON'T COST OVER $200.

I NEED MORE THAN THAT.

WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL?

WHAT MAKES ME SPECIAL'S I'M FOUR MONTHS GONE.

GO GET YOURSELF READY.

I'LL GO AND PAY FOR IT.

WE'LL SEE WHO'S RIGHT ABOUT HOW MUCH IT COSTS.

I'LL GO.

NOW!

I CAN'T GO NOW.

CHIEF, THAT COUNCILWOMAN HARRIET DELONG--

WHAT ABOUT HER?SHE'S HERE.

YES, SIR. SHE'S HERE.

THIS WON'T TAKE LONG.

I CAN SEE YOU'RE BUSY.

OH, THIS. DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

WELCOME. MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.

WHAT CAN WE DO FOR YOU?

I CAME TO COMMEND YOU

FOR NOT RALLYING BEHIND A LYNCH MOB.

LYNCH MOB?

Harriet: I DIDN'T MEAN A LYNCH MOB WAS FORMING,

JUST THERE WAS A LYNCH SPIRIT

AT THAT COUNCIL MEETING.

YOUR CALM APPROACH IS NEEDED.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HEARD SOME OF THE WHITE COUNCIL MEMBERS

WERE USING WORDS LIKE "SWIFT JUSTICE."

HERE'S YOUR "SWIFT JUSTICE,"

OR WHAT THERE IS OF IT NOWADAYS.

Virgil: THIS COULD BECOME A REALITY.

WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?

IT WAS THROWN INTO SIPPIE JACKSON'S YARD.

THE LONGER WILLIAM JACKSON'S FREE,

THE MORE THIS HEATS UP.

SOMEBODY'S GOING TO SHOOT HIM.

LET ME TAKE CHARGE OF THIS.

I HOPE YOU'RE NOT SUGGESTING

WE BOW TO A RACIST DEMONSTRATION

AND ARREST THE MAN WITHOUT SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

I BELIEVE WE HAVE SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE.

YOU KNOW, I FIND THIS VERY PECULIAR.

WE SHOULD BE ON THE SAME SIDE IN THIS.

IF THE SITUATION WARRANTS IT.

THE POLITICS OF THIS THING

IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS.

VIRGIL, YOUR EVIDENCE IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL.

HARRIET, CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE CAN BE GOOD EVIDENCE.

THREE HOURS AFTER THE ROBBERY-MURDER,

THE MAN HAS $1,800 ON HIM,

1,500 FROM A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

THAT NEVER HEARD OF HIM.

HE WAS AT THE CRIME SCENE. CYSTAK DROVE HIM.

DID YOU EVER CONSIDER

THAT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY HAD A REASON

FOR DENYING WILLIAM JACKSON EVER WORKED THERE?

LIKE WHAT?

OH, LIKE, UH, ILLEGAL MANAGEMENT OR TAX FRAUD--

THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SHE HAS A POINT THERE.

DID YOU EVER ASK JACKSON ABOUT THAT?

IF THE MAN WAS FRAUDULENTLY EMPLOYED?

NO, I DID NOT ASK THAT.

WELL, ALL RIGHT. LISTEN, I'VE GOT TO GO DOWN

AND TALK TO SIPPIE JACKSON AGAIN,

AND, UH, I'LL ASK JACKSON MYSELF.

JACKSON'S GONE-- IN A CAR.

WHOSE CAR?

SIPPIE'S.

I DIDN'T KNOW. I DIDN'T EVEN THINK IT WOULD MOVE.

WILLIAM MADE IT GO.

HE COULD MAKE ANYTHING GO.

HOW LONG'S HE BEEN GONE?

DID YOU PUT OUT WORD ON THE CAR?

YES, SIR. BLUE '63 FORD FAIRLANE.

UH, LUANN,

GET VIRGIL FOR ME, PLEASE.

YES, SIR.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE LET HIM

TAKE YOUR CAR AWAY, MISS JACKSON.

YOU KNEW HE WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GO ANYWHERE.

THIS WON'T HELP HIS CASE ONE BIT.

VIRGIL?

WE GOT A MAKE ON JACKSON. HE WON'T GET FAR.

REMEMBER, EVERY TIME YOU SEE A FOX RUNNING

DOESN'T MEAN HE JUST ATE A CHICKEN.

HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR FUN.

JUST TELL THE BOYS TO BE CAREFUL.

HE MAY NOT BE DANGEROUS.

HE'S PROBABLY NOT EVEN ARMED.

DON'T RULE THAT OUT.

VIRGIL, I'M TOO WEARY TO ARGUE WITH YOU.

JUST DO WHAT NEEDS DOING.

GOT YOU.

WILLIAM IS A GOOD BOY, CHIEF.

HE WOULDN'T HURT NOBODY.

YOU'RE WRONG FOR HOUNDING HIM LIKE THIS.

WELL, MISS JACKSON, I HAPPEN TO AGREE WITH YOU.

I'M ONLY CHASING HIM BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING.

I WISH HE WASN'T RUNNING.

CHECK IN THE HOUSE AGAIN,

AND STAY ROUND THE BACK, HUH?

YES, SIR.

NOW, CAN I GO BACK IN MY HOUSE, TOO?

YES, MA'AM.

NEED A HAND?

I SUPPOSE SHE'S MAD AT THE WORLD UP THERE.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE WORLD,

BUT SHE'S SURE MAD AT US.

CHIEF, FOUND SOMETHING INTERESTING.

DETECTIVE TIBBS HAD HIM PEGGED.

CHIEF, THEY WANT YOU.

UH, YEAH. WHAT?

WE FOUND JACKSON. IT WAS EASY.

THAT OLD, OLD HEAP OF A FAIRLANE 500

HADN'T CLEARED THE EDGE OF TOWN.

HOW DO WE BOOK HIM?

WHAT'S THE CHARGES, CHIEF?

THE CHARGE IS MURDER. WE JUST FOUND A WEAPON.

WHEN WE FIND YOUR FRIEND, HE'LL BE HERE.

JOHN WILL KEEP YOU COMPANY.

THAT'S BIG JOHN THERE.

JOHN'S IN FOR ASSAULT AND BATTERY.

HE BEAT ON SOMEBODY.

JOHN WILL DO THAT SOMETIMES.

I DIDN'T ASSAULT NOBODY.

THROWING AN OBJECT AT A HOUSE

HOPING TO SCARE SOMEBODY QUALIFIES AS ASSAULT.

Bill: IT SURE DOES.

YOU CAUSED GREAT DISTRESS TO MRS. SIPPIE JACKSON, BOY.

WHAT ELSE IS HE CHARGED WITH?

"OPERATING A VEHICLE

"WITHOUT VALID LICENSE PLATES,

"ILLEGAL LICENSE PLATE POSSESSION AND USE,

"DANGEROUS DRIVING,

"DISORDERLY CONDUCT,

"VIOLATION OF TWO CIVIL RIGHTS STATUTES--"

OK.

OK.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE JUDGE TO SET $10,000 BAIL.

IT'LL ONLY COST YOUR DADDY $1,000 FOR THE BOND.

THIS REVOLTING LITTLE DOLL--

DID YOU MAKE THAT WITH YOUR OWN TWO HANDS?

DO YOU REALLY DISLIKE BLACK PEOPLE THIS MUCH?

YOU'RE THE KIND OF FELLA

THAT STIRS UP TROUBLE BETWEEN PEOPLE?

YOU LIKE TO CAUSE A RACE RIOT HERE IN THIS TOWN?

THE NEXT TIME YOU HEAR THOSE QUESTIONS,

THEY'LL BE COMING FROM A JUDGE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT FELLA

THAT RODE WITH THAT CAB DRIVER?

LIKE YOU, HE'S IN JAIL.

SO LONG, JOHN.

MAN, AIN'T YOU NEVER BEEN AFRAID?

YOU INVITE ME HERE TO ASK ME THAT?

I RAN BECAUSE I WAS SCARED.

I BELIEVE THAT.

JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE SCARED

DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE INNOCENT.

I KNOW IT LOOKS BAD.

THE MURDER WEAPON WAS FOUND

IN YOUR AUNT'S BACK YARD.

ARE YOU DOING THIS TO PROVE YOU'RE NOT RACIST?

YOU WANT TO HELP YOURSELF?

YOU WANT TO HELP ME?

START TALKING ABOUT MAKING MONEY IN BILOXI!

START TALKING ABOUT MILES CONSTRUCTION COMPANY!

CHIEF? I GOT IT.

FINE. FINE.

CHIEF, SWEET MIGHT BE ONTO SOMETHING INTERESTING HERE.

I HEARD THE LIEUTENANT

DISCUSSING LOOKING FOR PREGNANT GIRLS.

I SAW ONE.

TAKE A WALK AROUND THE SQUARE,

YOU'LL SEE QUITE A NUMBER.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BOTTOMS.

THEY'RE NO RARITY DOWN THERE, EITHER.

CHIEF, LET SWEET TELL HIS STORY, PLEASE.

THIS GIRL IN THE BOTTOMS WAS FIGHTING WITH THIS GUY

ABOUT SOME MONEY SHE NEEDED.

HE WAS HER BROTHER, RIBLIN BLAYLOCK.

THAT'S FROM JIMMY DAWES?

I PAID $50 TO GET IT.

THEY FOUGHT WITH EACH OTHER OVER MONEY?

A LOT. WHICH HE HAD AND SHE WANTED.

THE MONEY WAS HERS, AND HE TOOK IT.

CYSTAK WAS BRINGING HIS GIRLFRIEND IN THE BOTTOMS $1,500

FOR AN ABORTION.

THE BROTHER TOOK HER MONEY?

AFTER HE KILLED CYSTAK?

MAYBE.

SWEET, GO GET YOURSELF CLEANED UP.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO GO AND VISIT THESE PEOPLE.

[SIREN]

MISS BLAYLOCK, WE HAVE TO COME IN.

WHAT YOU WANT? STEP ASIDE, MISS.

WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU SAW MIKE CYSTAK?

WHO IS HE?

YOU'RE HERE ALONE?

YEAH. WHY?

WHERE'S YOUR HUSBAND?

I AIN'T GOT NO HUSBAND.

THEN THE FATHER OF THAT CHILD YOU'RE CARRYING.

HE AIN'T HERE.

WHAT IS HE, DEAD?

WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?

I DON'T KNOW!

FOUND THIS ON THE DRESSER IN THERE.

MIKE CYSTAK WAS THE FATHER

OF YOUR BABY, WASN'T HE?

Virgil: HE WAS ABOUT TO GET RID OF IT.

PAID $1,500, RIGHT?

I GOT NO MONEY. I NEVER SAW THE MONEY.

YOUR BROTHER TOOK IT.

AFTER HE HIT CYSTAK WITH A CROWBAR.

CALL JAMISON.

TELL HIM TO GET OUT THERE TO THE AIRPORT

BEFORE THAT MISS-COMMUTE FLIGHT LEAVES.

YES, SIR.

IS THIS WHERE THE MISS-COMMUTE'S FLIGHT TO JACKSON'S BOARDING?

YEAH.

YOU CAN'T GET ON.

WHY NOT?

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR MURDER.

HOLD HIM. GET CUFFS ON HIM.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

TAKE YOUR TIME.

Harriet: THIS DOESN'T AROUSE YOUR CURIOSITY?

A SUMMONS TO APPEAR IN COURT

IS A FAIRLY COMMON THING IN MISSISSIPPI.

MY NAME ISN'T ON THAT.

YOURS IS BACK AT THE OFFICE.

THIS MAN, WILLIAM JACKSON,

IS SUING SPARTA, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY,

THE CITY ATTORNEY, THE CITY COUNCIL,

ME--AND HIM.

Harriet: FOR FALSE ARREST, ASSAULT, ILLEGAL ENTRY,

DAMAGE TO A CAR,

PAIN, DISTRESS,

AND VARIOUS OTHER OFFENSES TO HIS DIGNITY.

ARE YOU GUILTY OF ANY OF THEM?

I'M GUILTY OF ALL OF THEM--

ON THE OTHER HAND, NONE OF THEM.

ODDLY ENOUGH, THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE

FOR GIVING THAT MAN PAIN AND DISTRESS--

VIRGIL TIBBS--

WAIT A MINUTE.

HE'S NOT EVEN MENTIONED IN THE COMPLAINT.

SO, WE KNOW HOW SERIOUS TO TAKE IT.

NOW, HARRIET, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT TO ARREST PEOPLE,

ESPECIALLY IF WE THINK A PERSON JUST COMMITTED MURDER

AND MIGHT COMMIT MURDER AGAIN.

NOW, WE DO MAKE MISTAKES.

YEAH, AND I MADE A BIG ONE.

YOU WERE RIGHT. I CHECKED,

AND JACKSON DID WORK FOR A FRAUDULENT EMPLOYER.

IF I WERE YOU,

I WOULD TRY TO GET THE CITY ATTORNEY

TO MAKE A LITTLE CASH SETTLEMENT

WITH MR. JACKSON.

OTHERWISE, YOU AND THE OTHER BLACK CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS

WILL HAVE TO JOIN ME IN COURT

AND DO BATTLE AGAINST A RESPECTABLE,

DEEPLY OFFENDED BLACK VISITOR FROM BILOXI.

SEE IF WE CAN'T AVOID

ONE OF THOSE RACIAL CONFRONTATIONS

THAT I SO HATE.

CAN I GET YOU ANYTHING?

WELL, ORDER ME SOMETHING.

GUMBO.