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'T YOU READ THAT SIGN?

IT SAYS POLICE PARKING ONLY.

THE ONE EXCEPTION IS

THAT TRUCK I DROVE IN IN.

NOW MOVE THIS PICKUP.

WAIT A MINUTE.

CHIEF GILLESPIE.

NAME'S JEFF DILLARD.

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, MR. DILLARD?

PERVERSION.

SAY WHAT?

THERE'S A PERVERT AT THE SCHOOL.

YOU SAYING THERE'S SOMEBODY

HANGING AROUND THE PLAYGROUND?

INSIDE THE DAMN PLACE.

A TEACHER.

HE MOLESTED MY BOY.

YOUR BOY TOLD YOU THIS?

THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT YOUR BOY SITTING IN THE PICKUP?

THAT'S HIM.

JIMMY...TELL HIM HOW HE TOUCHED YOU.

UH, WAIT A MINUTE. EXCUSE ME.

WOULD YOU STEP OVER HERE A MOMENT, PLEASE?

LUANN, WAIT A MINUTE, WILL YOU?

MR. DILLARD, WE'RE GOING TO NEED

TO HAVE A PRIVATE CHAT WITH JIMMY.

WHY?

UH, PRIVACY IS PRODUCTIVE.

THIS WAY, MR. DILLARD.

PLEASE. PLEASE.

OH, VIRGIL, COME ON IN. COME ON IN.

NOW.

WELL...WHO IS THIS YOUNG MAN?

THIS IS JIMMY DILLARD.

HE TELLS ME THAT ONE OF HIS TEACHERS AT SCHOOL

BECAME OVERLY FOND OF HIM...

IF YOU FOLLOW MY MEANING.

WHAT'S YOUR TEACHER'S NAME?

MR. GRISSOM.

MR. GRISSOM TOUCHED YOU SOMEWHERE HE SHOULDN'T HAVE?

YES, SIR.

WHERE DID HE TOUCH YOU?

IT'S O.K.

YOU CAN TELL ME.

HOW MANY TIMES DID HE TOUCH YOU?

ONCE? TWICE?

FIVE TIMES.

WHERE DID THIS HAPPEN?

I WANT MY DADDY.

WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU OUTSIDE

TO YOUR DADDY NOW.

LISTEN.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK SOME MORE.

GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS

ABOUT WHERE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND DON'T YOU WORRY, YOU HEAR?

BECAUSE YOU DID THE RIGHT THING

IN COMING AND TELLING US ALL ABOUT IT.

RUN ALONG, NOW.

YOU BELIEVE HIM?

I DON'T DISBELIEVE HIM.

DO YOU KNOW THIS GRISSOM?

NOT YET.

O.K., NOW. WHO'S GOING TO BE THE SUN?

YOU. YOU'RE THE BIGGEST.

I'LL BE THE SUN.

I'M THE BIGGEST.

NOW, LINDA, COME HERE.

LINDA'S GOING TO BE MERCURY.

MERCURY'S GOING TO BE RIGHT OVER HERE.

AND...JENNY.

YOU'RE GREEN, SO YOU GET TO BE THE EARTH.

PUT YOU RIGHT OVER HERE.

WHO'S GOING TO BE MARS?

UH-OH.

JOHNNY FORGOT TO WEAR RED.

HOW YOU GOING TO BE THE RED PLANET

IN A YELLOW SHIRT?

LOOK AT HIS FACE. HE'S TURNIN' RED.

All: HA HA HA.

OH, HE'S GOING TO MAKE A GREAT MARS.

COME RIGHT OVER HERE.

NOW WE NEED A JUPITER.

JUPITER. RIGHT THERE.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE JUPITER.

LET'S PUT BIG OLD JUPITER RIGHT OVER HERE.

UH, THOMAS, COME HERE.

YOU'RE THE SUN WHILE I TALK TO MISS REEVES.

YOU KEEP THE TIME.

NOW, REMEMBER TO STAY IN YOUR ORBITS.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

MISS REEVES.

LEONARD, THIS IS CHIEF GILLESPIE.

HE'D LIKE TO SPEAK TO YOU.

OF COURSE.

BUT AWAY FROM THE KIDS.

THEY--THEY DO PICK UP ON THINGS, YOU KNOW.

THEY CAN SENSE WHEN SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

YOU HAVE A FEELING SOMETHING'S WRONG, MR. GRISSOM?

WHY ELSE WOULD YOU BE HERE?

IT'S...

IT'S A COMPLAINT, LEONARD.

A BOY STUDENT SAID THAT YOU MOLESTED HIM.

WHAT?

IS IT TRUE?

WHAT BOY?

ANSWER MY QUESTION, PLEASE.

WAS IT JIMMY DILLARD?

WHY THINK OF HIM?

HE'S THE ONLY BOY NOT HERE TODAY.

DID YOU MOLEST HIM?

OF COURSE NOT!

WHY WOULD JIMMY LIE ABOUT THAT?

THAT WAS MY NEXT QUESTION.

I'VE GIVEN YOU MY ANSWER.

I REALLY SHOULD GET BACK.

LORRAINE, I SWEAR--

IT'S ALL RIGHT. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.

IS HE ALWAYS AS NERVOUS AS THAT?

HE'S GREAT AROUND KIDS,

BUT AROUND GROWNUPS, AUTHORITY FIGURES, HE'S...

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW HIM?

I HIRED HIM FIVE YEARS AGO.

I'VE NEVER KNOWN A TEACHER WHO'S WORKED HARDER

OR BEEN MORE DEVOTED TO HIS CHILDREN.

YOU DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY TRUTH IN THIS.

I JUST CAN'T CONCEIVE

THAT HE WOULD HURT A CHILD.

HAS HE GOT ANY FAMILY HIMSELF?

HE LIVED WITH HIS PARENTS

UNTIL THEY WERE KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT.

HE'S ALONE.

UH-HUH.

YEAH. I'M AT THE HOSPITAL,

AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING

THAT PROVES HE WAS SEXUALLY MOLESTED.

CAN THEY PROVE HE WASN'T?

NO. HOW?

EXCUSE ME, MR. TIBBS.

HOLD ON.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU.

OH, THANKS.

I'LL CALL YOU LATER.

O.K. THANK YOU.

I'M SORRY. GO AHEAD, BUBBA.

DID HE SAY ANYTHING ELSE?

UH...ONLY THAT IT HAPPENED AFTER SCHOOL.

HE'S STILL REALLY UPSET. HE'S SCARED.

HE'S IN A STRANGE PLACE.

HOLD ON A SECOND.

IT'S VIRGIL. HE'S AT THE CLINIC.

THANK YOU.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THE PSYCHOLOGIST OVER THERE?

PENNY DEVEREAUX.

SHE SAYS IT'S RARE FOR CHILDREN TO LIE ABOUT THIS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE A WHILE TO GET HIS CONFIDENCE.

MAYBE A FEW DAYS.

O.K. I'LL SEE YOU LATER.

ALL RIGHT.

IT'S THE BOY'S WORD AGAINST THE TEACHER'S.

I SURE HOPE IT DOESN'T COME DOWN TO THAT.

WE NEED MORE INFORMATION.

GET RIGHT ON IT.

IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN EVENTUALLY.

WHY IS THAT?

ALL THIS TOUCHY-FEELY PHILOSOPHY OF TEACHING.

YOU THINK MR. GRISSOM

WAS TOO PHYSICAL WITH HIS KIDS?

HIM AND HIS WHOLE GENERATION.

EDUCATORS, THEY CALL THEMSELVES.

TEACHERS ARE FOR TEACHING.

HUGGING IS WHAT PARENTS ARE FOR.

DID YOU SEE MR. GRISSOM DOING ANY HUGGING?

OF COURSE. HE WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT IT.

DID YOU THINK THERE WAS ANYTHING IMPROPER ABOUT IT?

HIS MANNER, I MEAN.

IT SEEMED INNOCENT ENOUGH.

THESE DAYS, WHO KNOWS ANYTHING FOR SURE?

[CAR APPROACHES]

IF YOU'RE A BURGLAR, I'LL HAVE TO ARREST YOU.

HI, LONNIE.

I'D RATHER OPEN THIS LOCK

THAN KICK THE DOOR DOWN.

DID SOMEBODY STASH MOONSHINE IN THERE?

IF SO, I'M KEEPING IT.

ANY KIDS COMPLAIN ABOUT MR. GRISSOM ACTING...

YOU KNOW, STRANGE WITH THEM?

THAT'S A NASTY-SOUNDING QUESTION.

WHY WOULD YOU ASK ME SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

IT'S MY JOB, MR. RAINTREE.

CAN YOU ANSWER ME?

THE ANSWER'S NO. KIDS LOVE HIM.

AND I'LL TELL YOU SOMETHING. THE MAN IS DEDICATED.

HE ONCE TOLD ME THAT IF HE COULDN'T TEACH

OR BE CLOSE TO CHILDREN,

LIFE WOULDN'T BE WORTH LIVING.

YOU EVER SEE GRISSOM KEEP STUDENTS AFTER SCHOOL?

NOW AND THEN. NOT TOO OFTEN.

'CEPT I REMEMBER HE KEPT THAT DILLARD BOY

TWO, THREE TIMES.

WHY HIM?

HE'S A PISTOL.

A REAL PISTOL.

THANK YOU, SIR.

YOU DON'T HAVE A CASE.

THEN YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS BOY WAS MOLESTED?

DIDN'T SAY THAT.

BUT I CAN'T BRING CHARGES.

WANT US TO DROP THE CASE?

I WANT SOME EVIDENCE

BEYOND WHAT THE BOY AND HIS DADDY SAID,

SOME REASON TO TRY THIS MAN.

HE AIN'T EVEN HAD A PARKING TICKET.

WHAT'S THE HOLDUP?

ARE YOU ARRESTING GRISSOM OR NOT?

CHIEF, I'M SORRY ABOUT THIS.

CALM DOWN. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT IT NOW.

IT APPEARS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE.

I WANT THAT WEIRDO OUT OF THAT SCHOOL.

MR. DILLARD, THERE'S SUCH A THING AS DUE PROCESS.

I'LL SHOW YOU DUE PROCESS.

GET THAT MAN OFF THE STREETS,

OR, BY GOD, I WILL.

I'LL MAKE SURE HE NEVER MOLESTS ANYONE AGAIN...

EVER.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?

THE SPARTA HERALD DOES EVERYTHING

TO HANG LEONARD GRISSOM EXCEPT DROP THE TRAP.

WHO IS JETHRO PULLER?

HOTSHOT NEW EDITOR, TRYING TO MAKE A NAME.

IT AIN'T JUST PULLER MAD.

I HEARD SOME FELLAS DISCUSSING WAYS

TO REARRANGE MR. GRISSOM'S BODY PARTS.

HOT AIR, OR SOMETHING TO CHECK INTO?

NO, I'D BE WORRIED.

PULLER DOESN'T EVEN USE GRISSOM'S NAME IN HERE.

A TOWN THIS SIZE, DON'T MATTER.

MR. TIBBS, I'M JETHRO PULLER.

WELL.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE STORY IS

BEHIND THIS DEPARTMENT'S INACTION.

WE'RE INVESTIGATING A REPORT.

THAT'S NORMAL PROCEDURE,

NOT INACTION.

WE'RE TALKING CHILD MOLESTATION.

ALLEGED.

YOU'RE USING EVASIVE LANGUAGE.

I'M SURPRISED THE POLICE FORCE

WOULD PROTECT A SEX OFFENDER INSTEAD OF THE VICTIM.

I'M SURPRISED YOU'D TRY TURNING

A RESPECTABLE LITTLE NEWSPAPER

INTO ONE OF THOSE HATEFUL TABLOIDS.

THE NEWS IS NOT ALWAYS RESPECTABLE, CHIEF.

NOW, WOULD YOU CARE TO COMMENT

ON GRISSOM'S INDECENT EXPOSURE ARREST

OR THE FACT THAT HE LEFT HIS LAST JOB

UNDER...SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES?

YOU INVENTED NEWS BEFORE,

AND NOW YOU'RE TRYING TO DO IT AGAIN.

AND HE WANTS OUR HELP IN DOING IT,

IF WE'RE SILLY ENOUGH TO GIVE IT TO HIM.

I PLAN ON RUNNING THIS STORY

IN TOMORROW'S EDITION.

WHAT STORY? WHAT IS THIS MAN TALKING ABOUT?

WELL, CHIEF, 20 YEARS AGO IN OXFORD,

GRISSOM WAS ARRESTED FOR INDECENT EXPOSURE,

BUT...HE WAS CONVICTED ON DISORDERLY PERSON.

I GOT THE O.P.D. CHECKING FILES ON THAT DISCREPANCY.

NOW, WHAT ABOUT HIS LAST JOB?

WELL, I CALLED THE KENARD COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.

HE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK TO ME.

WHY DON'T I GO AND TALK TO HIM PERSONALLY?

OH, I WOULD.

JEFF DILLARD HAS BEEN

THREATENING TO SHOOT THAT TEACHER.

OH, LORD, OH, LORD.

WHAT KIND OF POLICE FORCE TOLERATES SEX PERVERTS?

YOU'RE UPSET, BUT MAKING DAMAGING ACCUSATIONS--

MY SON DOESN'T LIE.

BETTER BE SURE OF THAT

BEFORE RUINING A MAN'S REPUTATION.

THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO

TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM SEX DEVIATES?

WE CAN DO SOMETHING,

BUT WE'RE OBLIGED TO DO IT LEGALLY.

THE D.A. HAS TO BUILD A CASE.

YOU GET THAT MAN FIRED.

I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER, I'M HAPPY TO SAY.

YOU'D RATHER TAKE A TEACHER'S WORD OVER A CHILD'S.

CHILDREN'S VOTES DON'T COUNT FOR MUCH, DO THEY?

I'M SORRY YOU FEEL THAT WAY.

I CAN TRY TO ARRANGE A MEETING OF THE BOARD

AND OFFICIALLY REPORT THIS.

BUT I CANNOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.

GET YOURSELF A CUP OF COFFEE, MR. DILLARD.

MRS. POOLE, MY MAMA SAYS

THERE AIN'T NOTHING HAPPENS WITHOUT YOU KNOWING ABOUT IT.

YOUR MAMA SAYS SHE WANTED YOU TO BE A JUDGE,

AND YOU'RE A COP, NOT EVEN IN UNIFORM.

UH, MA'AM, YOU EVER NOTICE ANY, UH,

STRANGE GOING-ON OVER AT GRISSOM'S?

UH, ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE AGAINST THE LAW?

THE ONLY LAW HE EVER BROKE, FAR AS I KNOW,

WAS AGAINST NATURE.

MA'AM?

MR. GRISSOM NEVER CHANGES HIS ROUTINE.

HE GETS UP FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, SAME TIME.

GOES TO SLEEP SAME TIME EVERY NIGHT.

WELL, IT AIN'T HEALTHY.

A MAN NEEDS CHANGE ONCE IN A WHILE,

A LIFE OUTSIDE HIS WORK.

HE NEEDS TO BE MARRIED, TOO. WHY ISN'T HE?

MA'AM, I'LL HAVE TO ASK HIM THAT.

WELL, WHY DON'T YOU DO?

MA'AM, IF THE OCCASION PRESENTS ITSELF,

I'LL ASK HIM.

AND WHAT'S THE CHIEF DOING ABOUT ALL THIS?

YOU SAID MR. GRISSOM ALWAYS PLAYED GAMES...

LIKE YOUR MOTHER?

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR MOTHER?

DID YOU LOVE HER?

YES.

HOW LONG AGO DID SHE DIE?

THREE YEARS.

DO YOU MISS HER?

YES.

DOES YOUR FATHER MISS HER?

HE'S MAD AT HER.

ARE YOU MAD AT HER...

BECAUSE SHE WENT AWAY?

MAKES ME SCARED.

OF WHAT?

JIMMY...

SCARED OF WHAT?

MY DADDY.

WHY?

MAYBE...

MAYBE HE'LL GO AWAY, TOO.

GOOD EVENING, HARRIET.

EVENING, BILL.

HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN A GOOD WHILE.

I THOUGHT YOU'D BAWL ME OUT OVER THIS GRISSOM BUSINESS.

YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.

YEAH. I MEAN I WAS...

EXPECTING A PHONE CALL.

I'D BE THE LAST TO PROTECT A PEDOPHILE,

BUT I AGREE WITH THE D.A.

THERE'S NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROSECUTE.

HOW DID THEY HIRE A MAN OF GRISSOM'S BACKGROUND

IN THE FIRST PLACE?

THAT'S WHAT THE BOARD WANTS TO KNOW.

THEY'RE MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT.

DO YOU MIND STOPPING BY?

WHAT FOR?

I THINK YOU'D BE A CALMING INFLUENCE.

WELL, THANK YOU. O.K.

GOOD.

TILL TOMORROW NIGHT, THEN.

GOOD NIGHT, UH...

UH...

CHIEF, I BROUGHT THE CAR AROUND.

THANK YOU.

THAT'S A SHAME.

HE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO HIS STUDENTS WHAT "PERVERT" MEANT.

ANY OTHER ACTS OF VANDALISM AROUND THE SCHOOL?

HE SAID HIS TIRES WERE FLAT THIS MORNING.

THIS WHOLE THING'S GETTING OUT OF HAND.

ALL BECAUSE OF THAT HERALDARTICLE.

DO OTHER TEACHERS LIKE HIM, TOO?

SOME DON'T CARE FOR HIM.

OTHERS FEEL HE'S A ODD DUCK.

I GUESS HE IS.

HOW SO?

HE'S NONE TOO SOCIAL, AT LEAST WITH ADULTS.

DID YOU FEEL ANYTHING WAS UNUSUAL,

KEEPING THAT DILLARD BOY AFTER SCHOOL?

THE BOY HAS A READING PROBLEM.

LEONARD'S GIVEN UP HIS PERSONAL TIME

TO GIVE HIM THAT EXTRA ATTENTION.

YOU DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS ANYTHING ABNORMAL

ABOUT THIS EXTRA ATTENTION?

LEONARD'S NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT KEPT HIM AFTER SCHOOL.

REALLY?

I HATE MEETINGS. I HATE ALL MEETINGS.

SINCE WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS?

I CAN ATTEND A PUBLIC MEETING WITH A BUDDY.

WHO'S THAT?

JEFF DILLARD.

I HOPE HE'S BETTER ABLE TO DRIVE.

WE'RE OUT OF HERE.

GOOD EVENING, HARRIET. SORRY I'M LATE.

DILLARD AND FRIENDS STARTED A SHOUTING MATCH.

LORRAINE REEVES AND SOME BOARD MEMBERS

MAINTAIN THERE'S NO PROOF GRISSOM'S DONE ANYTHING.

THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT'S CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

A DOZEN PARENTS HAVE CALLED,

PULLING THEIR KIDS FROM GRISSOM'S CLASSES.

HARD TO RUN A SCIENCE PROGRAM WITHOUT STUDENTS.

[SHOUTING]

SPARTA DON'T NEED NO PERVERTS!

I'LL PUT THE WORD OUT ON THOSE BOYS.

THAT HERALDGUY GOT A LOT OF HOT STUFF TONIGHT.

DID THE BOARD REACH ANY DECISION?

YEAH. ALTHEA AND LORRAINE ARE DELIVERING THE NEWS RIGHT NOW.

OH.

HALF THE TEACHERS WOULDN'T EVEN TALK TO ME TODAY.

IT'S THOSE STORIES IN THE HERALD.

PURE ROTTEN.

I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.

IT'S THE KIDS.

YOU KNOW, THE CHANGE I CAN SEE IN SOME OF THEM?

THAT'S WHAT REALLY HURTS.

I USED TO THINK THE WORSE THING

TO HAPPEN TO ME WAS WHEN MY PARENTS DIED,

BUT THIS...

LEONARD, I WISH THIS WERE A SOCIAL CALL.

THE BOARD THINKS YOU SHOULD TAKE SOME TIME OFF.

YOU'RE FIRING ME?

A TEMPORARY SUSPENSION WITH PAY.

THIS IS A SCHOOL BOARD DECISION?

THEY'RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.

I'M UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE.

WHY DID YOU LIE ON YOUR APPLICATION?

THE INDECENT...

I CAN EXPLAIN THAT.

IT'S NOT THE WAY IT LOOKS.

IT WAS STUPID.

I KNOW THAT.

PUT YOURSELF IN MY PLACE.

PEOPLE SEE THAT ON YOUR RECORD, AND...

LORRAINE, YOU DO BELIEVE I'M INNOCENT, DON'T YOU?

YOU DON'T THINK I'D DO ANYTHING

TO ONE OF MY OWN KIDS?

I DON'T.

I'M SORRY, LEONARD.

NOT HALF AS SORRY AS I AM.

[FLOORBOARDS CREAK]

[THUMP]

WHO'S OUT THERE?

WHO'S THAT? WHAT DO YOU WANT?

HE SAYS I'LL BE O.K. IT'S JUST GLASS FRAGMENTS.

GUESS I'M MORE SCARED THAN HURT.

YEAH. ANY IDEA WHO THE SHOOTER WAS?

TOO DARK TO SEE ANYTHING.

HOW DO YOU BOYS FEEL ABOUT ALL THIS?

TOO BAD HE MISSED.

THE CREEP DESERVED IT.

HE SHOULD HAVE AIMED LOWER.

WANT ME TO CLEAR THEM OUT?

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HERE.

WE GOT FOUR SHELLS.

LOOK-IT HERE. HAD TO COME FROM A PUMP.

MR. GRISSOM'S A LUCKY MAN.

IF THE SHOOTER'D USED BUCKSHOT,

GRISSOM WOULD BE FULL OF HOLES.

IF HE'D TAKEN A SLUG, HE'D BE DEAD.

IF DILLARD WANTED THAT.

THAT'S THE NAME THAT COMES TO MIND?

YES, SIR. SURE DOES.

MAY WE COME IN?

WHERE WERE YOU ABOUT AN HOUR AGO?

RIGHT HERE. WHY?

SOMEONE SHOT AT GRISSOM. THEY MISSED.

SORRY TO HEAR THEY MISSED.

NICE TALK BEFORE YOUR KIDS.

CAN ANYONE BESIDES THE BOYS SAY YOU WERE HERE ALL NIGHT?

YOU CAN'T BELIEVE ANYTHING A SMALL BOY SAYS, CAN YOU?

YOU OWN A SHOTGUN?

GET IT, PLEASE.

WHAT IF I SAY NO?

IF YOU SAY NO,

THEN I'LL HAVE SWEET GET IT.

A WARRANT, O.K.?

IT'S IN THE HALL CLOSET.

JIMMY, NOW, GET ON TO BED.

TAKE YOUR LITTLE BROTHER WITH YOU.

IT AIN'T EASY, RAISING KIDS BY YOURSELF.

I UNDERSTAND THAT JIMMY HAS A READING PROBLEM.

SO?

OTHERS BESIDE GRISSOM KEPT HIM AFTER SCHOOL.

WHAT'S THAT PROVE?

ONLY THAT JIMMY IS, UH..

"A TROUBLED LITTLE BOY WHOSE FATHER IS RARELY HOME."

I WORK FOR A LIVING.

I'M QUOTING THE PSYCHOLOGIST'S EVALUATION.

"TRAUMATIZED BY HIS MOTHER'S DEATH.

NEEDS MORE ATTENTION THAN OTHER CHILDREN HIS AGE."

IN OTHER WORDS,

THE KIND OF BOY WHO COULD FABRICATE STORIES TO GET ATTENTION.

IT'S A PUMP.

JUST BEEN CLEANED, TOO.

[PHONE RINGS]

YEAH?

IT'S FOR YOU.

THANK YOU.

WHAT'S UP?

ONE OF GRISSOM'S NEIGHBORS SAW A BLUE PICKUP

JUST AFTER THE SHOOTING.

GAVE A GOOD DESCRIPTION.

O.K.

WE'LL BE IN TOUCH, MR. DILLARD.

SWEET, LET'S GO.

YOU DIDN'T EAT MUCH.

IT'S TOO HOT.

THIS WHOLE GRISSOM MESS...

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE SIDING WITH THE HERALDARTICLES.

SO I SEE.

THERE'S MORE THIS MORNING.

YOU KNOW, IT IS SO IRRESPONSIBLE.

THE MAN IS LUCKY

HE WASN'T KILLED LAST NIGHT.

TEACHERS ARE RUNNING SCARED.

THEY'RE AFRAID TO PAT THE KIDS ON THE HEAD.

THAT'S A SHAME.

IS THIS GOING TO AFFECT GRISSOM

WHEN HE RETURNS TO WORK?

HONEY, IT HAS TO.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

UH, YEAH?

I THOUGHT I'D PASS THIS ON.

THAT INDECENT EXPOSURE INCIDENT--

GRISSOM GOT CAUGHT MOONING SOMEBODY IN COLLEGE.

GOOD LORD.

BUBBA SAID IF THAT'S ALL IT TOOK TO RUIN A CAREER,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE ONE.

I'D HAVE BEEN COURT-MARTIALED IN ITALY IN 1944.

ANYTHING ELSE ON THAT SHOOTING LAST NIGHT?

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE PICKUP.

TALK TO YOU LATER.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR ELROY BAINES,

OWNER OF THAT PICKUP OUTSIDE.

NOW, WHAT YOU WANT TO BOTHER ELROY FOR?

TO ASK HIM ABOUT A SHOOTING LAST NIGHT.

YEAH? HEARD THEY JUST WINGED THAT SCHOOL PERVERT.

TOO BAD.

COME ON, ELROY.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TAKING ELROY.

HE AIN'T DONE NOTHING WRONG.

YOU REALIZE YOU'RE OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.

WE'LL GO THROUGH YOU TO DO OUR DUTY.

IS THAT A FACT?

THAT'S A FACT.

NOW, COME ON, ELROY.

MR. TUTTLE, I DIDN'T DRIVE ALL THE WAY HERE

TO DEBATE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS WITH YOU.

I NEED TO KNOW WHY GRISSOM WAS FIRED

FROM THE KENARD SCHOOL SYSTEM.

HE WASN'T FIRED.

WE CAME TO A MUTUAL PARTING OF THE WAYS.

WHY'S THAT?

HE COULDN'T...

CONTINUE HIS DUTIES AS A TEACHER.

WHAT'S THAT MEAN?

IT'S ALL THERE.

THE MAN WAS ONE OF MY BEST TEACHERS.

I WAS SORRY TO LOSE HIM.

PROMISED I'D KEEP HIS REPUTATION INTACT.

HOLD ON A MINUTE.

WHEN DID YOU SAY YOU WERE AT THE BAR?

2:00. I WAS AT MASON'S DIXIELINE.

WHAT DID HE SAY BEFORE?

HE SAID HE LEFT ABOUT 2:00.

AFTER A FEW SHOOTERS, WHO REMEMBERS SO GOOD?

ONE OF MR. GRISSOM'S NEIGHBORS REMEMBERS PRETTY WELL.

SHE GAVE US A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR TRUCK.

EXCUSE ME, CHIEF. HIS SHOTGUN'S BEEN FIRED RECENTLY.

THE LAB WILL SEE IF THE SLUGS MATCH.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE ATTEMPTED MURDER, ELROY.

I'M SURPRISED AT YOU.

WEREN'T NO ATTEMPTED MURDER.

IF I WANTED, HE'D BE DEAD.

WHAT DID YOU WANT?

TRYING TO SCARE HIM.

LET HIM KNOW WE DON'T NEED HIS KIND.

YOU AND YOUR SHOTGUN ARE NOT THE VOICE OF THIS TOWN.

JAMISON, BOOK THIS KNOTHEAD

FOR DISCHARGING A FIREARM IN A DANGEROUS MANNER,

FELONIOUS ASSAULT, DISTURBING THE PEACE, AND RESISTING ARREST.

AND THINK UP ONE OR TWO MORE THINGS.

YES, SIR.

COME ON, ELROY.

YEAH, WHAT?

CHIEF, I FOUND OUT THE QUESTIONABLE CIRCUMSTANCES

WHY GRISSOM LEFT HIS JOB.

I'M LISTENING.

HIS MOM AND DADDY GOT KILLED IN A CAR WRECK.

HE HAD A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN,

SO THEY GAVE HIM A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CHILD MOLESTING.

WELL, ALL RIGHT.

I'M GOING OVER TO THE GRADE SCHOOL.

I'VE JUST BEEN TOLD WHERE ALL THIS WAS TO HAVE HAPPENED.

LOOKS LIKE A KIND OF HEAVY LOCK.

I'LL GET IT.

THIS IS THE ONLY DOOR MARKED S2.

AND WHAT'S THAT STAND FOR?

IT WAS A SCIENCE STOREROOM.

ARE YOU SURE THE PSYCHOLOGIST

MEANT THIS ROOM?

THIS IS THE ONE SHE MENTIONED.

IT HASN'T BEEN RENUMBERED.

NOBODY'S USED IT IN A WHILE.

ACCORDING TO JIMMY DILLARD,

MR. GRISSOM USED IT.

EXCUSE ME.

WELL...

I'VE HAD CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WITH DUSTY ROOMS,

AND I'D SAY THAT WE THREE ARE THE FIRST PEOPLE

TO COME IN HERE

IN TWO OR THREE YEARS.

WHEN JIMMY FIRST TALKED TO YOU,

DID HE SAY GRISSOM TOUCHED HIM,

OR DID YOU SAY THAT?

HE DID.

HE SAID "TOUCHED"?

THAT'S RIGHT.

DID YOU SAY IT?

PROBABLY.

WHO USED IT FIRST?

I CAN'T REMEMBER THAT.

COULD YOU HAVE USED IT FIRST?

YOU'RE PUTTING WORDS IN MY MOUTH.

WELL, I'M SORRY, BUT...

SOMETIMES PEOPLE DO THAT WITHOUT MEANING TO.

WHAT ARE Y'ALL GETTING AT?

MR. DILLARD, YOUR SON LIED.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHO MADE UP THAT LIE.

YOU THINK I MADE IT UP?

MAYBE.

THEN YOU'RE CRAZY.

NO, SIR, WE'RE NOT.

THE ROOM WHERE YOUR SON SAID HE WAS ABUSED...

IT'S BEEN LOCKED FOR YEARS.

YOUR SON WAS NOT MOLESTED.

I DON'T KNOW.

I WAS MAD.

I HAD TO GO TO WORK EARLY THAT DAY.

JIMMY SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL.

WHEN HE TOLD ME WHY...

I WAS READY TO BELIEVE.

NOW, JIMMY...

YOU SAID MR. GRISSOM TOOK YOU IN THAT STOREROOM.

YES, SIR.

WE LOOKED AT THAT STOREROOM.

THERE HADN'T BEEN ANYBODY IN THAT ROOM FOR A LONG TIME.

YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THERE, EITHER.

WHEN WE TELL A LIE,

WE ALWAYS THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO HURT ANYBODY,

BUT IT ALWAYS DOES.

NOW, THAT WOULDN'T BE FAIR

IF MR. GRISSOM WOULD LOSE HIS JOB

BECAUSE OF A LIE, WOULD IT?

NO, SIR.

WELL, NOW, JIMMY, YOU TOLD A HURTFUL LIE.

I'VE DONE THE SAME THING MYSELF, MANY'S THE TIME,

BEING WEAK AND FINDING MYSELF NOW AND THEN

IN A TOUGH SPOT OR...

WANTING TO DO SOMETHING THAT I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO.

WHAT WAS IT YOU WANTED?

I WANTED TO STAY HOME WITH MY DADDY.

EVER SINCE HE WENT ON AFTERNOON SHIFT,

I DON'T NEVER GET TO SEE HIM.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED

IF YOUR DADDY MADE A GUESS

AT WHAT WAS BOTHERING YOU AND YOU AGREED WITH HIM,

FIGURING IT WOULD KEEP YOU HOME FROM SCHOOL.

WAS THAT IT?

WELL, I DECLARE.

I DO DECLARE.

COME ON, WE'LL WALK ON A LITTLE BIT FURTHER...

TILL OUR FACES DRY OFF.

[RING]

ARE YOU ARRESTING ME THIS TIME?

WHY, NO, SIR. WE'RE HERE TO APOLOGIZE.

THANK YOU.

THANKS.

WELL, THIS IS A SHAME.

JIMMY DILLARD ADMITTED TO LYING.

DID HE SAY WHY?

YES. HE NEEDED AN EXCUSE TO STAY HOME FROM SCHOOL

SO HE COULD SPEND MORE TIME WITH HIS DADDY.

ANYWAY, WE'RE VERY SORRY.

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW

I REALIZE HOW TOUGH THIS CAN BE ON A TEACHER,

ON HIS CAREER.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?

I'LL BE FINE.

WHAT DO THEY SAY?

WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER.

WELL, MISS REEVES.

ANYTHING WRONG, CHIEF?

EVERYTHING WILL BE RIGHT

AS SOON AS THIS MAN'S BACK IN THE CLASSROOM.

IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT EASY.

WHY NOT? THE BOY ADMITTED LYING.

THE MAN'S BEEN EXONERATED.

AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS

CAN OPEN UP OTHER QUESTIONS, OTHER PROBLEMS.

CAN A TEACHER CONTINUE TO BE EFFECTIVE?

BUT IF HE'S INNOCENT--

HE'S NOT INNOCENT OF LYING.

HE DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH ON HIS APPLICATION

ABOUT HIS INDECENT EXPOSURE ARREST.

YOU'RE USING THAT AS AN EXCUSE TO PUNISH HIM?

I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING.

THIS IS A SCHOOL BOARD DECISION.

SO HIS SUSPENSION REMAINS IN FORCE?

WAIT A MINUTE. I DIDN'T HEAR HER SAY ANYTHING ABOUT SUSPENSION.

I BELIEVE YOU FIXING TO FIRE YOUR FRIEND.

HE LIED ON HIS APPLICATION.

I'M SORRY.

IT'S OUT OF MY HANDS.

MORNING, BUBBA, JAMISON. BEAUTIFUL DAY, HUH?

YOU SEEM TO BE IN A FINE MOOD.

LAST NIGHT, THE TWINS SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT.

THIS MORNING, ALTHEA CALLED A FRIEND IN NEW ORLEANS.

SHE THINKS GRISSOM CAN GET A JOB DOWN THERE.

THAT'S GOOD TO HEAR.

HE GOT A RAW DEAL.

PARKER? PARKER? IS THERE TROUBLE?

MRS. POOLE'S WORRIED THAT SOMETHING'S WRONG

OVER AT MR. GRISSOM'S PLACE.

SHE'S A ONE-WOMAN NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH.

I'D BETTER GO, TOO.

YOU CALL IT IN.

MR. GRISSOM?

MR. GRISSOM?

COME ON BACK HERE!

I HEAR A CAR RUNNING IN HERE.

HERE'S THE NOTE.

UH-HUH.

"DEAR MISS REEVES,

"PLEASE TELL THE CHILDREN

"I'VE GONE TO LIVE WITH MY PARENTS.

"I WOULDN'T WANT THEM TO BE UPSET.

I'LL MISS THEM."

CHIEF? CHIEF GILLESPIE?

CARE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GRISSOM STORY?

I'M DOING A FOLLOW-UP ON IT.

YOU THINK A RETRACTION'S

GOING TO FIX ANYTHING UP NOW?

RETRACTION? WHY WOULD I PRINT A RETRACTION?

HIS SUICIDE PROVES HE WAS GUILTY,

AT LEAST IN MY BOOK.

I THINK YOUR BOOK IS LACKING A FEW IMPORTANT PAGES.

FOR INSTANCE, WITHOUT A CHARGE, A TRIAL,

YOU CONDEMNED THE MAN.

I DIDN'T KILL LEONARD GRISSOM.

YOU ASSASSINATED HIS CHARACTER.

IF HE'D HAD ANY CHARACTER,

HE WOULDN'T HAVE KILLED HIMSELF.

YOU DROVE HIM TO IT.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OF--

YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DESTROY A MAN'S REPUTATION.

YES, I DO.

I'M THE PRESS.

SAY WHAT?

I AM NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED

TO WORRY ABOUT ANY MAN'S REPUTATION...

INCLUDING YOURS.

AND I AM LEGALLY OBLIGATED

TO SUFFER YOU AND PROTECT YOU.

BUT I WILL SURELY FAIL IN MY DUTY

UNLESS I STAY AWAY FROM YOU.

AND YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME!