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 ♪♪

MORNING.GOOD MORNING.

VIRGIL, I HATE THAT--

FIX THE COLLAR.

I HATE THAT TIE. PUT ON THE ONE--

NO. NO TIME.

I'M LATE.

FOR A SILLY MEETING?

SILLY, BUT THE CHIEF WANTS ME THERE.

DOESN'T HOAG DESERVE A PAROLE?

PRESUMABLY.

THE CITY COUNCIL CAN REVERSE

THE STATE PAROLE BOARD?

NO, IT CANNOT.

NOBODY IN TOWN WANTS HOAG RELEASED.

ONE OF YOUR OWN OFFICERS WOULD BE UPSET.

WHICH ONE?

WILLSON SWEET.

HIS COUSIN IS STILL GOING THROUGH PLASTIC SURGERY

BECAUSE OF THAT TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

HOO!

GOT TO RUN.

[DOOR OPENS]

NOW CHEW THIS SLOWLY

OR WE BOTH GOING TO SUFFER FROM YOUR FLATULENCE.

O.K.

[RING]

SPARTA POLICE. PARKER WILLIAMS. CAN I HELP YOU?

PARKER, HAVE YOU GOT MY LIST THERE?

UH, YES, SIR.

I'M TO CALL MRS. GREELY AND ASSURE HER

THAT KEVIN FOX WON'T BE

PLAYING HIS DRUMS ON SUNDAYS

AND NO LATER THAN 9 PM ON WEEK NIGHTS.

AND IF, UH, CARSEY LIPTON CALLS,

YOU CAN'T MAKE LUNCH TODAY.

YOU THERE, CHIEF?

I'M WAITING TO HEAR

ABOUT LAMAR JEETER'S PARKING TICKET.

OH, YES, SIR.

IF LAMAR CALLS, YOU CAN'T FIX IT.

WHAT?YOU WON'T FIX IT.

WHAT?

IT'S FIXED?

IT'S IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT CLERK

AND CAN'T BE TOUCHED.

OH, YES, SIR. THAT'S RIGHT.

HAVE YOU GOT MY LIST THERE?

YES, SIR. IT'S HERE.

WHAT ABOUT MY LAUNDRY?

WHOEVER IS OUT THAT WAY SHOULD STOP

AND PICK IT UP.

LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE I GOT.

YOU GOT NOTHING ELSE THERE

BECAUSE I TOLD YOU NOTHING ELSE.

YES, SIR. UH, CHIEF?

WHAT TIME DO YOU EXPECT TO BE BACK?

WHEN THE COUNCIL MEETING IS OVER.

YES, SIR. BYE-BYE.

I GOT TO GO.

THE CHIEF?

UH, YEAH. HE'S ON HIS WAY TO A COUNCIL MEETING.

THIS WHOLE BUSINESS IS RIDICULOUS.

WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?

YOU DON'T KILL THREE LITTLE KIDS AND CRIPPLE TWO OTHERS

AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO FORGET.

I EXPECT PEOPLE TO MAKE SENSE.

YOU'D FEEL DIFFERENT IF IT WAS YOUR RELATIVE.

I'M NOT DEFENDING THE MAN, SWEET.

HE WAS JUDGED, SENTENCED, AND SERVED HIS TIME.

THE CHIEF MIGHT GET CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

WHY WOULD HE?

HE WROTE A LETTER FOR HOAG TO THE PAROLE BOARD.

I HAPPENED TO SEE IT.

HEY, VIRGIL.MORNING, CHIEF.

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

I WAS THINKING DRIVING OVER HERE

CALLING THIS MEETING AN OMBUDSMAN COMMITTEE

IS RIDICULOUS.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU CALL IT?

THE COMMITTEE OF NO HOPE.

AN OMBUDSMAN CAN DO SOMETHING

ABOUT PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.

THIS COMMITTEE CAN'T DO SQUAT.

IT'S JUST FOR PEOPLE TO SOUND OFF.

FINE. WHY DO WE HAVE TO LISTEN?

WE DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN.

I JUST THINK IT'S WISE NOW AND THEN

TO BE TUNED IN.

HERE'S A COPY OF THAT LETTER THAT I WROTE.

THEY MIGHT REFER TO IT IN THERE.

WELL, SOUNDS PRETTY NONCOMMITTAL.

I WALKED AROUND A HOLLY BUSH

AND STEPPED IN A CHUCK HOLE.

AND WHAT'S MORE, IT GIVES--

NILES, YOU MAY OF COURSE SAY YOUR SAY,

BUT HERE I MAKE A STANDARD PRELIMINARY STATEMENT.

WE'VE ALL HEARD THAT STATEMENT MORE THAN ONCE.

LET ME REMIND THE COUNCIL

IT HAS A DUTY TO REPRESENT THIS COMMUNITY.

EMORY, JUST SIT DOWN.

MR. TANNER, YOU DO NOT HAVE THE FLOOR.

LET HIM TALK, TED.

PROSPER HOAG KILLED THREE CHILDREN--

IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HE'S PAID HIS DEBT.

IS SEVEN YEARS PAYING HIS DEBT?

LOOK AT MY BOY.

HE'S PAYING HIS DEBT FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

YOU CALL THAT JUSTICE?

EMORY, WE CAN REGISTER YOUR COMPLAINT

WITH THE STATE PAROLE BOARD.

WHAT WE WANT IS PROSPER HOAG TO STAY WHERE HE BELONGS.

IN PRISON.

OR OUT OF THE CITY OF SPARTA.

MR. CHAIRMAN.

MRS. MEREDITH, I'LL CALL YOU.

WHY? WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR FROM HOAG'S LAWYER.

THIS AIN'T NO COURTROOM.

I AM HERE AS A CITIZEN WITH AS MUCH RIGHT--

YOU WORKING TO FREE THAT CHILD-KILLER?

ORDER, PLEASE! ORDER.

I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER BEFORE THIS GOES FURTHER.

LET'S RESPOND TO THE POINT OF ORDER.

MRS. MEREDITH, GO AHEAD,

AND, PLEASE, SIT DOWN, MR. MAITLAND AND MR. TANNER.

THIS COMMITTEE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

SHOULD NOT BE HEARING THIS MATTER.

NOW, SHEILA, THIS COMMITTEE ROOM

IS SIMPLY A COMPLAINT FORUM.

PEOPLE SOUND OFF ABOUT EVERYTHING

FROM THE PANAMA CANAL TO THE REVOLUTION IN CHINA.

WE CAN DO LITTLE

ABOUT MANY OF THE ISSUES HERE,

BUT THE PEOPLE STILL--

WHAT THESE PEOPLE SAY ABOUT CHINA

DOES LITTLE TO AFFECT THE CHINESE.

WHAT IS SAID HERE ABOUT PROSPER HOAG

CAN PUT HIM IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY.

HE DESERVES THE JEOPARDY WE'D GIVE.

HE KILLED THREE CHILDREN AND CRIPPLED TWO OTHERS.

EMORY.

YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

WHAT IS THIS ALL FOR?

THE PAROLE BOARD HAS ALREADY ACTED.

NOW, CAN ANYBODY REVERSE THAT?

CHIEF?

ONLY HOAG HIMSELF.

IF HE VIOLATES HIS PAROLE.

SO WE'LL SEE HIM OUT WALKING THE STREETS?

MY WIFE AND I'LL SEE HIM. WE WON'T SEE OUR DAUGHTER.

WILL HE HAVE A PAROLE OFFICER?

YES.

YES, I'LL BE ACTING AS HIS PAROLE OFFICER

FOR THE TIME BEING.

DID YOU HELP GET HIM OUT?

NO, SIR, I DID NOT.

DID YOU, GILLESPIE?

NO, I DIDN'T,

ALTHOUGH AT MRS. MEREDITH'S REQUEST,

I DID WRITE A LETTER.

A LETTER TO WHO?TO THE PAROLE BOARD.

RECOMMENDING HIM PAROLE?

I MERELY STATED THAT I KNEW NO REASON

WHY IT SHOULD BE DENIED.

THE MAN HAS SERVED HIS TIME.

JUST MAYBE YOU'VE SERVED YOUR TIME, TOO, GILLESPIE.

COME NEXT ELECTION, YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ANY FRIENDS.

YOUR LETTER MIGHT HAVE COST YOU YOUR JOB.

WAIT JUST A MINUTE.

WE'RE NOT HERE TO DISCUSS

THE EMPLOYMENT OF BILL GILLESPIE AS POLICE CHIEF.

[GAVEL POUNDS]

HARRIET'S RIGHT. ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHAT, IF ANYTHING,

COULD BE DONE ABOUT PROSPER HOAG'S PAROLE.

IT'S OUT OF OUR HANDS.

NILES, EMORY,

THE PAROLE BOARD MAY VERY WELL--

FORGET IT. JUST FORGET IT.

WE'LL TAKE IT FROM HERE. WE KNOW WHAT TO DO.

SHOOT HIM.

MR. TANNER.

MR. TANNER, I DON'T THINK

YOU WANT TO BE MAKING THREATS.

I DON'T THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT,

UNLESS YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN I DO.

EVEN THE DEVIL DON'T KNOW THAT.

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN DO ANYTHING.

I MAY HAVE DONE TOO MUCH.

THERE'S A MRS. KRIN

WHO INVESTIGATES FOR THE PAROLE BOARD.

I THINK I BETTER LET HER KNOW ABOUT THIS.

HARRIET, NICE SEEING YOU. GOT TO RUN.

NICE SEEING YOU, VIRGIL.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME UP THERE.

YOU HAD TO WRITE THAT LETTER?

I DIDN'T HAVE TO.

IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING. SHEILA THOUGHT IT WOULD HELP.

IT HELPED, BUT NOT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.

WELL, IT'S DONE NOW.

I HEARD YOU WERE SICK.

OH, A LITTLE SUMMER FLU.

IT'S AUTUMN.

A LITTLE AUTUMN FLU.

HOW YOU BEEN?

BUSY. THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE

WILL MEET ON THE POLICE BUDGET. WANT TO BE HEARD?

I GUESS I BETTER.

WANT TO MEET BEFORE THE HEARING?

I GUESS I OUGHT TO.

WANT TO CALL ME?

WELL, I GUESS I...

I SURE DO.

CHIEF GILLESPIE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR PROSPER HOAG.

MOST PEOPLE DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE.

HOAG DESERVES IT.

HE WAS A MODEL PRISONER,

AND HE WORKED VERY HARD TO TURN HIMSELF AROUND.

HE'S WRITING A BOOK.REALLY?

SHEILA'S STIRRED UP QUITE A HORNETS' NEST HERE.

I'VE HEARD A LOT OF TOUGH TALK IN MY TIME--

WE'RE PAST THE TALK, BILL.

SHOW HIM.

OH, EXCUSE ME.

PROSPER HOAG GOT HIS IN PRISON.

MINE CAME IN THE MAIL YESTERDAY.

IT'S A LONG TIME SINCE I'VE SEEN A DEATH THREAT.

YOU'RE STAYING AT THIS PLACE TEMPORARILY?

SOON AS I SEE A LITTLE MONEY,

I'LL GET AN APARTMENT.

AND YOU'LL BE WORKING AT ART FOX TRANSMISSIONS?

ON ROUTE 4 AT MAIN.

TRANSMISSIONS USED TO BE MY SPECIALTY.

I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR BEING MY CONTACT.

GLAD I COULD HELP.

NOW, I JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE

YOU UNDERSTAND THESE PROVISIONS.

STAY SOBER AND OUT OF THE BARS AND KEEP YOUR JOB.

THAT SHOULDN'T BE HARD.

OH, LOOK.

DON'T BE TOO VISIBLE FOR A WHILE.

LET PEOPLE GET USED TO YOU GRADUALLY.

ANYMORE THREATS?

NO.

ANY IDEA WHO MIGHT HAVE SENT THOSE LETTERS?

HOW MANY PEOPLE WE GOT IN THIS TOWN?

WELL, ONLY A FEW THAT WOULD SEND HATE MAIL.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO BE FAIR.

LOOK, AT THE FIRST HINT OF ANY TROUBLE,

YOU LET US, SOMEONE, KNOW.I WILL.

SO, WHAT DID YOU DO YOUR FIRST DAY OUT?

I TOOK HIM TO THE CEMETERY.

YOUR FOLKS OUT THERE?NO.

JUST WANTED TO VISIT THE KIDS.

[HUBIE] FROM THE ACCIDENT.

MR. TIBBS...

I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT...

I'M NOT GOING TO LET HUBIE

AND SHEILA MEREDITH DOWN.

THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR ME.

THEY DID IT ALL FOR NOTHING.

CAME TO SEE ME IN THE PEN, TOO.

SHEILA DID IT ALL, REALLY.

THEY KEPT ON FIGHTING.

THEY WORKED FOR MY PAROLE.

I'M GOING TO BE A CREDIT TO THEM.

I'LL MAKE UP TO EVERYBODY.

THAT'S FINE, HOAG.

WELL.

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK YOU, CHIEF.

YOU ALREADY HAVE. HUBIE.

BILL.

DID YOU TELL HOAG ABOUT THAT COUNCIL MEETING?

I FELT IT WAS WISE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

HOAG, YOU JUST GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS.

DON'T YOU BE SCARED.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE FOOLISH, EITHER.

YES, SIR. THANKS AGAIN, SIR.

BILL.HUBIE.

FIND OUT WHERE HE'S LIVING?

YES, SIR. A TRAILER ON McLEEN.

WHERE DID HE GET THAT?

THE MEREDITHS. IT'S REGISTERED TO THEM.

WELL, KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

KEEP AN EYE ON HIM, TOO.

YES, SIR.

WELL, SWEET.

YES, SIR.

YOU BEEN KIND OF GLUM LATELY.

IT'S THIS HOAG THING, CHIEF.

YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.

YOU MEAN HIS PAROLE?

HE SHOULDN'T BE OUT NOW.

WHEN SHOULD HE BE OUT?

FIVE MORE YEARS?

MY COUSIN GOT HURT IN THAT CRASH, CHIEF.

SHE'S STILL GOT A LOT OF SURGERY TO GO THROUGH.

10 MORE YEARS? HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S NOT FAIR THAT HE'S DONE WITH HIS SUFFERING

AND MY COUSIN'S NOT.

HE'S DONE WITH HIS SUFFERING, IS HE?

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THAT,

AND WHEN YOU CAN TELL ME HOW ANYBODY ABOVEGROUND

IS DONE WITH HIS SUFFERING,

LET ME HEAR FROM YOU, WILL YOU?

YES, SIR.

IT CAN'T BE 3 MILES TO YOUR HOUSE.

IT IS IF I GO AROUND THE SQUARE THREE TIMES,

GO PAST THE LIBRARY, COME BACK BY THE SQUARE, AND RUN DOWN FLOYD.

IT'S BETTER THAN RUNNING AROUND A TRACK.

HERE THERE ARE MORE DISTRACTIONS.

MORE DISTRACTIONS. THAT'S THE KEY PHRASE.

THE TRACK IS JUST A TRACK.

HIS ROUTE HAS SEVERAL STOP-AND-VISIT PLACES.

IT'S A DRILL.

IT'S NO FUN. IT'S BORING.

YOU SAID IT, MOM, NOT ME.

SEE YOU LATER, MS. TIBBS.

I CHECKED HIS FILES.

HIS GRADING PERIOD IS COMING UP SOON.

HE'S DOING A LITTLE ABOVE AVERAGE.

HE'S SMART, HARRIET. HE'S JUST NOT A GOOD STUDENT.

AND I WAS A GOOD STUDENT, BUT NOT TOO SMART.

STILL NOT SMART.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU FEEL.

WHEN YOU'RE ALONE, YOU DON'T FEEL SMART.

BEING ALONE IS YOUR CHOICE. I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT.

NO. IT'S NOT MY CHOICE. NOT ANYMORE.

I LOOK, THEN I STEP BACK.

AND THEN I LOOK AGAIN, THEN I STEP FURTHER BACK.

YOU TELLING ME YOU'RE SCARED?

YES, I AM.

ALWAYS.

HARRIET'S COURAGE IMPRESSES ME.

THE WAY SHE WENT AFTER THOSE TOUGH GUYS AT THAT MEETING.

THAT COUNCILWOMAN,

MIRIAM SPRAGUE, DIDN'T SAY A WORD.

TED MARCUS WAS FINE,

YOU KNOW...

REASONABLE.

BUT FOR A MINUTE THERE,

I THOUGHT HARRIET WAS GOING TO COME OFF THAT DAIS.

SHE SEEMED TO ME TO BE VERY MUCH IN CONTROL.

SHE WAS...

UNTIL THEY ATTACKED YOU.

THEN SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS READY TO SPRING.

CHIEF.

YOU CAN'T LET LETTERS LIKE THAT DRIVE YOU CRAZY.

YEAH. BUT I ALWAYS DO.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NEVER LEARNED

HOW TO PROTECT A PERSON FROM ANONYMOUS THREATS.

HERE'S THE BRAND AND MODEL OF THAT TYPEWRITER.

THE TYPEWRITER WE'LL BE LOOKING FOR FOR A WHILE.

LOOKS LIKE AN OLDIE.

IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF HOAG WAS SAFER IN JAIL.

WELL, WHAT YOU GOT THERE?

YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?

THAT WAS LEFT FOR YOU BY PARKER.

THAT SAYS, "TRAILER OUT ON McLEEN."

THAT'S WHERE PROSPER HOAG

IS STAYING FOR THE TIME BEING.

HEARD THAT BOY'S AS GOOD AS DEAD.

WHERE'D YOU HEAR THAT?

CHARLIE'S BARBERSHOP.

WHOLE LOT OF KILLING GOES ON AT CHARLIE'S.

I WOULDN'T TAKE IT SO LIGHTLY.

SOME OF THEM'S FOLLOWED UP BY FUNERALS.

ANYWAY, PUT HOAG ON THE PATROL SCHEDULE.

IT'S NOT WHILE WE'RE ON PATROL HE'LL BE SHOT AT.

BUT WHEN WE ARE, HE WON'T.

YES, SIR.

WELL...

FIND EVERYTHING FELICITOUS ON YOUR TRIP TO NATCHEZ?

VICTORIA NOELLE UP AND GOT MARRIED ON ME.

OH.

WELL... SOUTHERN MAN?

CINCINNATI.

NOW, THAT IS A SHAME.

MM-HMM.

THE LICENSE PLATE IS ABOUT TWO YEARS OLD.

DIDN'T THE "M" STAND FOR MARSHALBURG UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM?

DOES THE TANNER BOY USE CRUTCHES NOW?

I BELIEVE HE DOES, SWEET.

UH-HUH. WELL, I'M SEEING SOMETHING

THAT'S MAKING ME NERVOUS.

I'LL GET BACK TO YOU. 10-4.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO SAY SOMETHING.

TELL THE TRUTH.

YOU KNOW I'M A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE TRUTH THESE DAYS.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS IF WE DON'T?

IT MEANS I AIN'T FREE.

MIGHT AS WELL BE LOCKED BACK UP IN THAT JOINT.

IT'S WORSE BEING SO CLOSE TO YOU AND NOT BEING ABLE--

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

HE KNOWS.

WE KNOW HE KNOWS.

O.K.

O.K.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEN DO I SEE YOU?

IN A FEW DAYS?

WHAT'S A FEW DAYS?

YEAH.

I KNOW IT'LL BE BEST FOR US.

I'M GOING TO MISS YOU...

A LOT.

O.K.

GOOD NIGHT.

[THUD]

IS SOMEBODY OUT THERE?

WHAT THE HELL?

[GUNSHOTS][GROANING]

SHEILA.

HOW IS HE?

HE'S BAD. SHOT FOUR TIMES.

THE CHIEF?

HE'S IN THERE.

IN CASE PROS COMES TO.

I WAS TALKING TO THE PARAMEDIC.

HE SAID HE BROUGHT HIM BACK FROM THE DEAD TWICE.

BUT THE LAST TIME...

DO YOU SMOKE?

NO. I RAN OUT WITHOUT MINE.

OKAY, UM...

THERE'S A MACHINE DOWN THE HALL HERE.

HE DIDN'T MAKE IT.

SHEILA. WHAT HAPPENED, HUH?

HONEY, WHAT HAPPENED?

HE DIDN'T MAKE IT. HE'S DEAD.

OH, THAT'S TERRIBLE.

I'M SO SORRY. I'M SO SORRY.

I NEED TO BE ALONE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES.

O.K.

O.K.

SHE GAVE UP THE BEST PART OF THREE YEARS

GETTING HIM OUT.

IS THAT HOW YOU'RE GOING TO PROTECT HER?

LIKE YOU PROTECTED HIM?

DID HOAG SAY ANYTHING?

NO. HE NEVER CAME TO.

I'M FEELING A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT SHEILA, THOUGH.

YOU BETTER PUT SOMEONE WATCHING HER HOUSE.

FOR HOW LONG?

FOR AS LONG AS I'M FEELING NERVOUS.

SOMEONE LEFT HIM A MESSAGE.

WE WON'T GET MUCH OFF THE ROPE. WHAT ELSE?

THE SLUG THEY DIDN'T FIND IN HIM.

FOOTPRINTS?

SOME, BUT NOT GOOD.

DID HOAG SMOKE?

NOPE.

WE FOUND THREE MORE IN THE TRASH, THOUGH.

HE HAD A VISITOR WHO STAYED AWHILE.

THINK SOMEBODY HAD A LONG TALK WITH HIM, THEN SHOT HIM?

THE BUTTS WERE IN THE TRASH.

THE TALK WAS PROBABLY EARLIER.

THERE WERE A LOT OF DIFFERENT PRINTS IN THERE.

THIS IS A MANUSCRIPT.

I THINK IT'S A NOVEL.

I HAD SOME BAD FEELINGS ABOUT THE MAN,

BUT NOW I'M KIND OF SORRY.

I DIDN'T THINK HOAG WAS THE TYPE TO WRITE A NOVEL.

THESE ARE RELATIVES OF THE KIDS.

SOME DO OWN .38s.

HOW MANY?

SEVEN, BUT MAYBE THE SHOOTER DIDN'T BUY HIS .38 NEARBY.

THANKS, LUANN.

MAYBE THE SHOOTER KILLED HOAG

FOR SOME REASON BESIDES THAT ACCIDENT.

WE HAVE TO START SOMEPLACE.

EMORY TANNER OWNS A .38 POLICE SPECIAL

AND A 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN.

I'LL FIND OUT WHERE EMORY TANNER WAS LAST NIGHT.

AND WALT, TOO.

PARKER, CAN WE FIND OUT ABOUT WALT?

UH, YES, SIR, CHIEF.

I'M WORKING ON IT ALREADY. I HEARD SOMETHING.

UH-HUH.

WHAT ABOUT NILES THERE?

NILES OWNED A .38 ALSO.

BOUGHT IT FROM HIMSELF.

THAT'S WHERE EMORY TANNER GOT HIS, FROM THE STORE.

WELL, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.

I THINK WE OUGHT TO START WITH THOSE GUNS.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT GUNS?

THEY'RE DANGEROUS.

I KNOW THAT. TELL ME SOMETHING ELSE.

THERE'S TOO MANY OF THEM.

YOU GOT ONE.

I HAVE TO USE THIS FOR MY JOB.

WHAT DOES MY SON WALT NEED ONE FOR?

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU'RE A COP. TAKE IT AWAY FROM HIM.

IT'S NOT ILLEGAL, MRS. TANNER.

I KNOW THAT.

YOU THINK I'M STUPID OR SOMETHING?

I'M JUST KIDDING. JUST KIDDING.

YES, MA'AM.

I JUST THINK IT'S INSANE, THAT'S ALL.

WHAT'S THAT?

BLOWING UP $100 WORTH OF AMMO ON SATURDAY,

MAYBE THE SAME AGAIN ON SUNDAY.

WHY DON'T HE JUST TURN ON THE TV

AND WATCH BALLGAMES?

WALT?

WALT...AND EMORY.

THEY'RE OUT SHOOTING ALL THE TIME.

NILES MAITLAND GOT THEM STARTED ON ALL THAT,

BEING BIG WITH GUNS HIMSELF.

MRS. TANNER,

WE'RE INVESTIGATING THIS FELLOW PROSPER HOAG.

PROSPER HOAG?

THEY OUGHT TO MAKE A TARGET OUT OF HIM

INSTEAD OF SHEETS OF PAPER.

SHOOT HOAG FOR ALL THE GRIEF HE BROUGHT THIS FAMILY.

YOU HAVEN'T HEARD.

SOMEBODY DID SHOOT HOAG. LAST NIGHT.

KILLED HIM.

KILLED HOAG?

AND YOU THINK WALT DID IT?

OR EMORY? YOU WANTED ME TO TELL YOU SOMETHING?

ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE--

GET OFF THIS PORCH. GET!

YES, MA'AM.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

COFFEE BREAK.

IF EMORY AND HIS SON DIDN'T TURN UP FOR WORK,

WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE DID THEY GIVE?

WALT JUST HANGS AROUND HIS DADDY.

WHAT WAS THE EXCUSE?

EMORY SAID HE AND WALT WERE RUNNING THE HILLS

PLAYING WAR GAMES AND THINGS.

GOT TOO TIRED TO COME IN.

YOU BELIEVE THAT?

NO.

LYING DOESN'T BOTHER YOU?

SURE, IT DOES.

I'D LIKE TO BUY EMORY OUT.

I THINK I WILL.

THAT YOUR TYPEWRITER? HOW LONG YOU HAD IT?

I TELL YOU WHAT.

I'M NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT.

I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I AIN'T ABOUT TO DO ANYTHING

TO HELP YOU CATCH HOAG'S KILLER.

YOU THINK EMORY AND WALT DONE IT.

IF THEY DID,

THEY DONE THIS TOWN A BIG FAVOR.

RIGHT OVER THERE, BESSIE.

THANK YOU.

BESSIE, THIS IS CHIEF GILLESPIE. CHIEF, THIS IS BESSIE.

HI. HI.

I HAVE A FEELING

I MAY KNOW YOU FROM SOMEWHERE.

WELL, WHEN YOU RAN MAYBELLE OUT OF TOWN,

YOU SEEN ME WITH HER.

I'D HAVE TO SEE YOU GOING AWAY.

WELL, ANYWAY, BESSIE'S BACK.

SHE'S NOT HERE. SHE'S IN KENARD.

WORKING FOR WHO?

NOBODY.

SHE'S AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR.

IS SOMEBODY GOING TO TELL ME ABOUT WALT TANNER?

HE DIDN'T DO IT.

HE WASN'T EVEN IN TOWN.

WASN'T EVEN IN THE COUNTY.

WAS WALT TANNER OVER IN KENARD WITH YOU?

UH-HUH.

BUT I'LL NEED ANOTHER $25 TO SAY SO.

ANOTHER $25?

I HAD TO GIVE HER $25 JUST TO COME HERE.

SAY SO.

I CERTAINLY WILL, CHIEF.

WALT TANNER WAS WITH ME LAST NIGHT IN KENARD. INDUBIOUSLY.

YES, MISS KRIN, I'D LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU.

YES, I CAN SPARE THE TIME.

IT'S VERY KIND OF YOU TO MAKE THE TRIP

BECAUSE IT SPARES ME MAKING THE TRIP OVER THERE,

I OR MY CHIEF INVESTIGATOR MR. TIBBS.

YEAH.

WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

BYE.

WHAT TRIP ARE WE ABOUT TO MAKE?

OVER TO SEE MISS KRIN FROM THE PAROLE BOARD.

WE DON'T HAVE TO NOW.

HARRIET DELONG CALLED HER.

SHE'S COMING OVER HERE,

BRINGING PROSPER HOAG'S FILE WITH HER.

SHOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.

A FELLOW WANTS TO TELL YOU ABOUT A MURDER.

WHOSE MURDER?PROSPER HOAG'S.

HE WANTS TO TELL YOU HE DID IT.

BRING HIM IN.

YES, SIR.

O.K. COME ON IN.

WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND, TANNER?

MY PARTNER SAYS YOU WANT ME. YOU THINK I KILLED HOAG.

NO. NO, WE SAID YOU COULD HAVE.

YOU'RE RIGHT. I DID. I'M GLAD I DID.

YOU KILLED PROSPER HOAG?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.HOW?

.38.

WHERE IS IT?

BOTTOM OF EARL'S CREEK.

WE'RE GOING TO NEED IT.

WELL, GO DRAG THE CREEK.

MEANTIME, WHAT DO I DO?

WAIT DOWNSTAIRS.

WHAT'S DOWNSTAIRS?

THE JAIL.

PEAKE, SHOW MR. TANNER DOWNSTAIRS.

LET'S GO.

EMORY TANNER DOESN'T KNOW IT,

BUT HIS SON'S GOT AS GOOD AN ALIBI AS HE GOT.

THE BOY SPENT LAST EVENING

WITH A HOOKER IN KENARD.

THAT'S VERIFIED? I WOULD SAY SO.

THE DADDY SPENT THE EVENING WITH IDA IVY,

THE CASHIER AT THE MAGNOLIA.

WHY BOTHER HOLDING HIM?

HE CONFESSED, DIDN'T HE?

YOU HOLD HIM, AND THE REAL KILLER RELAXES.

YOU KNOW...

I CAN UNDERSTAND WALT RUNNING OVER TO KENARD,

BUT EMORY RUNNING AROUND ON RACHEL?

DOESN'T SURPRISE ME.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SWEET KNOWS MISS TANNER, DON'T YOU?

YOU COULD SAY I DO.

DON'T YOU CARE ABOUT FINGERPRINTS?

JUST BALLISTICS.

THAT GUN DIDN'T KILL HOAG.

ISN'T IT YOUR FATHER'S?

MY FATHER DIDN'T KILL HIM.

YOUR FATHER USE THIS TYPEWRITER MUCH?

HE DIDN'T WRITE THE LETTERS. I DID.

WHY?TO SCARE HOAG.

IF HE RETURNED, MY DAD MIGHT KILL HIM.

DID YOU THINK YOU MIGHT?

NO. AND I DIDN'T.

WE KNOW WHERE YOU WERE.

YOU WENT TO KENARD?

LET'S JUST SAY KENARD CAME TO US.

UH, DETECTIVE, THE TYPEWRITER GOES?

THE TYPEWRITER GOES.

AND THE PEOPLE STAY?

THE PEOPLE STAY FOR NOW.

AMEN.

GOD BLESS YOU.GOD BLESS YOU.

GOD BLESS YOU.

NO RELATIVES?

NOT HERE.

WHILE WE WERE WORKING ON HIS CASE

WE MET A FEW IN ALABAMA.

BUT THEY WERE LIKE STRANGERS.

ALL HE REALLY HAD WAS US. SHEILA.

JUST US. ME.

IT'S ALL SO SENSELESS.

HE JUST WANTED TO TRY

AND MAKE UP FOR WHAT HE'D DONE.

THEY WOULDN'T GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

DID EMORY TANNER DO IT?

HE CONFESSED TO IT.

YOU DON'T SOUND CONVINCED.

WE THINK HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT HIS SON.

EXCUSE ME.

SHE SPENT A LOT OF YEARS TRYING TO SAVE HIM.

ALWAYS IN DANGER, WAS HE?

I MEANT, FOR THE WORLD.

SHE THOUGHT HE HAD GREAT GIFTS,

LIKE MAYBE ANOTHER WILLIAM FAULKNER.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE HIS FILE,

THE ONE YOUR WIFE KEPT.

THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING THERE.

WELL, I'LL ASK HER.

THANK YOU.

GET BACK TO YOU.

SHE DEFINITELY PAID HIM A VISIT THAT DAY.

SHE WAS HIS LAWYER.

THEN WHY DIDN'T SHE MENTION IT?

YOU THINK SHE KILLED HIM? WHY?

JEALOUSY. HATE.

OR THE OTHER SIDE OF HATE--LOVE.

WAS SHE IN LOVE WITH HIM?

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO THINK.

SEEMS SO.

HOW IS IT A MAN WHO DIDN'T HAVE A WIFE

WAS ABLE TO ARRANGE CONJUGAL VISITS?

PROSPER HOAG ASKED FOR THEM.

HIS LAWYER MADE THE ARRANGEMENTS.

SHEILA'S SMART.

SHE KNOWS WHO TO SEE AND WHAT TO SAY.

SHE ARRANGED THE VISITS

AND THEN BECAME THE VISITOR.

YOU ALL WEREN'T INTERESTED IN THAT?

THE VISITS WERE THE IMPORTANT THING.

WHO WAS VISITING HIM WAS NOT.

BUT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT NOW.

IT SURE IS. EVER READ THAT NOVEL OF HIS?

NO.

DID YOU?

YEAH. PART OF IT. I FOUND IT ENGROSSING.

VIRGIL AGREES.

EVIDENTLY, ONLY TWO OTHER PEOPLE EVER SAW IT.

IT SAYS HERE, "COPIES SENT TO..."

SHEILA MUST BE ONE OF THEM.

SHEILA IS ONE OF THEM.

HMM.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

GOOD EVENING.

HELLO.

GOOD EVENING, MR. AND MRS. MEREDITH.

I TOLD YOU I'D GET BACK TO YOU.

WHAT'S THE RUSH?

WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE THING TO FOLLOW UP.

FOR INSTANCE?

FOR INSTANCE, MISS MEREDITH.

DON'T YOU OWN A .38?

I BOUGHT IT AND GAVE IT TO HER.

I KNOW THAT, HUBIE.

WHEN WE HAD THOSE RAPE ATTACKS.

WOULD YOU MIND GETTING IT FOR ME?

YES, I WOULD.

WE HAVE TO SEE IT, MISS MEREDITH.

IT'S UPSTAIRS IN MY NIGHTSTAND.

NO...

IT'S OVER THERE IN THAT SECRETARY.

TOP DRAWER.

THANK YOU.

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THAT DOCUMENT?

THAT IS A FALSE DOCUMENT.

IT WAS MADE OUT BY MRS. MEREDITH

UNDER HER MAIDEN NAME-- SHEILA LEADIE,

AND IN THAT SHE SWEARS

THAT SHE WAS THE COMMON-LAW WIFE

OF A PRISONER AT PARCHMAN PRISON NAMED PROSPER HOAG.

DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS OF HIS IMPRISONMENT,

HOAG AND YOUR WIFE SHARED QUITE A FEW CONJUGAL VISITS.

MR. MEREDITH DOESN'T SEEM SURPRISED.

NO. HE ALREADY KNOWS.

I'M SORRY, HUBIE.

I DOUBT IT.

I NEVER STOPPED LOVING YOU.

I JUST LOVED HIM, TOO.

I GUESS I LOVED HIM MORE.

DON'T.

DON'T GET INTO IT, SHEILA, PLEASE.

DON'T MAKE A CASE FOR THEM.

WELL, I'D SAY THE NOVEL MAKES THE CASE.

THE NOVEL DOESN'T MENTION THE RIGHT NAMES, OF COURSE,

BUT THERE CAN'T BE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

I'VE SELDOM SEEN A LOVE AFFAIR SO INTIMATELY EXPLAINED.

WHY DID HE SEND A COPY TO YOUR OFFICE?

WAS HE INVITING YOU TO KILL HIM?

HE WANTED HUBIE TO KNOW AND TO UNDERSTAND.

THE BETRAYED HUSBAND IS ALWAYS LOOKED TO

FOR SUPERHUMAN UNDERSTANDING.

DID YOUR WIFE KNOW YOU WERE DOING THIS?

MY PERSONAL LAWYER IS RICHARD BLORE OF SPARTA.

DID YOU KNOW YOUR HUSBAND WOULD DO THIS?

SHE DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HER HUSBAND.

SHE NEVER DID.

WELL, PARKER, WOULD YOU PLEASE...

DO YOU REALLY NEED THOSE?

NO, SIR, I DON'T. NOT REALLY.

BUT WITH THE CHIEF STANDING HERE...

WELL, YOU KNOW.

CHIEF, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'RE TRYING TO ESCAPE.

ANYTIME I STEP IN THERE,

I MAKE SOMEBODY MAD AT ME.

WELL, BUT NOT ME.

NO.

DARNELLE, HE TELLS ME

HUBIE MEREDITH'S FIGHTING HIS OWN CASE

AND HE MIGHT WIN.

EVEN THOUGH THE GUN WAS HIS?

BALLISTICS DON'T ALWAYS PROVE THAT.

ANYWAY, THAT MRS. KRIN,

SHE HELPED ME SOLVE THIS CASE.

THANKS FOR PUTTING ME NEXT TO HER.

SPARTA DOESN'T WANT TO LOSE YOU.

THAT'S KIND OF YOU.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I THINK

I OUGHT TO SEE THE WORLD AGAIN.

I OFTEN HEARD YOU SAY THE WORLD'S RIGHT HERE.

I OFTEN DON'T MAKE SENSE.

WELL, SEE YOU SOON.

SEE YOU SOON.