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 ♪

SORRY, SWEET. AN IMPORTANT CALL COME IN.

THAT WAS DLW-8GI?

NO. NOT 8GI. IT'’S DLW-8J1.

FLORIDA, DADE COUNTY, COMMERCIAL.

IT'’S GOT CURRENT TAGS.

IT'’S BEEN SITTING HERE SINCE YESTERDAY.

WHY DON'’T WE TOW IT?

NO DRUGS ANYWHERE.

ACCORDING TO SAMSON, THIS VEHICLE'’S BEEN CLEAN A WHILE.

THAT DOG DIDN'’T SNIFF NOTHING AT ALL?

ANYTHING OF INTEREST?

COUPLE OF PORNO MAGS AND AN ADULT VIDEO.

DOESN'’T HE MEAN A DIRTY MOVIE?

ADULT VIDEO-- THAT ALMOST MAKES IT SOUND RESPECTABLE.

WELL, PARKER, THE WAY THEY SELLING THAT STUFF EVERYWHERE NOWADAYS,

MAKE A FELLA START THINKING.

MENTION THAT SHOOTING.

OH. LONNIE,

WE GOT A REPORT OF A SHOOTING

FROM MR. TIBBITTS OF THE BOOK MART,

3217 TYLER.

THAT'’S WHERE YOU BUY REALLYRESPECTABLE THINGS.

IT HAD BETTER BE. SWEET'’S THEIR BEST CUSTOMER.

CARL TIBBITTS PHONE THAT IN?

WHO GOT SHOT?

MR. TIBBITTS COULDN'’T SAY. HE SOUNDED REAL CONFUSED.

ASK WHEN YOU GET THERE.

ROGER.

I WANT TO TALK TO THE FLORIDA DMV.

YES, SIR.

PARKER, GET A TOW TRUCK TO THE SQUARE.

ALL RIGHT. RIGHT ON IT.

CARL, WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

SHE--SHE'’S DEAD, SWEET.

SHE'’S DEAD.

BULLET THROUGH THE HEAD LEFT TO RIGHT.

CALL THIS IN, THEN LOOK FOR THAT SLUG.

THIS IS, LIKE, NOT REAL.

I WAS JUST TALKING TO HER

YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 5:00.

SHE WAS SHOWING ME A COUPLE OF PLAYS.

JAMES BALDWIN.

SWEET, MAKE THE CALL.

YEAH, YEAH.

THIS HOW SHE WAS WHEN YOU FOUND HER?

WHEN I CAME IN...

WHEN YOU CAME FROM WHERE?

HOME.

AND WHEN WAS THAT?

JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

I DON'’T KNOW. 10 MINUTES, 15 MINUTES.

LIEUTENANT, THAT SHOOTING WAS A HOMICIDE.

MRS. CARL TIBBITTS...

JOAN.

SHE AND HER HUSBAND OWN THE BOOKSTORE.

HE'’S HERE. HE FOUND HER.

HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AROUND YET?

WHAT?

DOES IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY?

YEAH, I THINK SO. THERE'’S MONEY MISSING.

I DON'’T SEE HER CAR OUT THERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY ROBBED THE PLACE

AND KILLED HER.

YEAH, YOU'’RE HEARING RIGHT.

I'’M TAKING IT BADLY. THEY'’RE FRIENDS OF MINE.

OH...

I HAVE REALLY LOST IT THIS TIME.

[BEEPING]

OH, GREAT.

HOW DO YOU TURN THIS DAMN THING OFF?

WHAT'’S THAT?

THE SMOKE ALARM.

I TRIED TO GET TO THE SWITCH.

I CAN'’T WIGGLE IT.

POKE IT!

I DID.

THEN HIT IT HARD.

THEA, IS SOMETHING BURNING?

[BEEPING STOPS]

RELAX!

IT'’S JUST YOUR BREAKFAST GOING UP IN SMOKE.

[BABIES CRYING]

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

OH!

I'’LL GET IT. I'’LL GET IT.

IT'’S PROBABLY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

VERY FUNNY.

ETTA! WILL YOU PLEASE SETTLE THE BABIES DOWN?

I'’M GOING.

YES, PARKER.

UH-HUH.

HER HUSBAND FOUND HER WHEN?

OH, I SEE. O.K.

I'’M LEAVING NOW.

LOOK, HONEY, DON'’T BURN ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME. I GOT TO RUN.

WHERE'’S THE HUSBAND?

HE'’S SITTING IN THE CAR.

HE DON'’T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I TOLD HIM NOT TO DRIVE.

NATURALLY, HE'’S PRETTY BUSTED UP OVER THIS.

WHEW.

LOOKS LIKE SHE WAS SHOT AT PRETTY CLOSE RANGE.

.38 SLUG, I'’D SAY.

I'’D SAY YOU WERE RIGHT.

SHE'’S BEEN DEAD FOR HOURS.

CHECKED ALL OVER FOR THAT SLUG.

CAN'’T FIND A THING.

AS SOON AS YOU FINISH YOUR PICTURE-TAKING,

WE CAN GET THE BODY READY FOR POSTMORTEM.

FIND OUT ANYTHING ELSE FROM HER HUSBAND?

NOPE. NOTHING.

I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM.

ALL HE KEPT DOING WAS SHAKING HIS HEAD

AND SAYING, "I DON'’T UNDERSTAND."

NEITHER DO I.

NEITHER DO I.

MIST--

CAN MR. TIBBITTS TELL US

WHAT'’S MISSING FROM THE STORE?

YEAH. CARL SAYS THAT THERE WAS $200

IN A CASH BOX IN JOAN'’S DESK THAT'’S GONE.

I THINK $200.

MAYBE IT-- NOT THAT MUCH.

AND THE CAR.

YES, THE CAR.

IT'’S GONE.

HE DUMPED HER BAG ON THE DESK.

I LOOKED, SAW THE KEYS WERE GONE--

ALSO A SMALL PURSE WITH MONEY.

COULDN'’T HAVE BEEN MUCH MONEY.

[SWEET] CARL SAYS THAT LAST TIME HE SAW JOAN ALIVE

WAS, UH...

6:00 LAST NIGHT.

WAS THAT HERE AT THE STORE, SIR?

YES. WE'’D JUST CLOSED.

SHE STAYED ON TO DO A LOT OF PAPERWORK--

INVENTORY.

WHEN DID YOU EXPECT HER?

WELL, I KNEW SHE'’D BE LATE.

MAYBE MOST OF THE NIGHT.

MAYBE SHE'’D JUST SLEEP ON THE SHOP'’S DAY BED.

WE BOTH DID THAT NOW AND THEN.

DID YOU CALL TO FIND OUT?

I CALLED AT 5 A.M.

THERE WAS NO ANSWER.

I FIGURED SHE WAS IN THE CAR HEADING HOME.

WHEN SHE DIDN'’T GET THERE BY QUARTER TO 6:00,

I CALLED AGAIN.

NO ANSWER.

SO I CAME RIGHT OVER.

BACK DOOR WAS OPEN.

IT WAS UNLOCKED. NO BREAK-IN.

IT WAS EVEN AJAR.

I CAME IN AND FOUND...

WHAT YOU SAW.

TAKE IT EASY, SWEET.

I'’M NOT SAYING THAT CARL KILLED HIS WIFE.

SO WHAT DO YOU MEAN, SOMETHING'’S WRONG WITH HIS STORY?

JUST THAT, SWEET. EXACTLY THAT.

THAT'’S NOT AN UNCOMMON THING

FOR A POLICEMAN TO SAY, SWEET.

I IMAGINE YOU'’VE SAID THE SAME THING YOURSELF.

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IT.

THE TIBBITTSES WERE HIS FRIENDS.

CARL TIBBITTS STILL IS, IF YOU DON'’T MIND.

OF COURSE. EXCUSE ME.

YOU KNOW, REAL FRIENDS?

FIRST DAY I CAME HERE,

THEY WERE PEOPLE I COULD TALK TO...

NOT JUST ABOUT BOOKS, ABOUT ANYTHING-- ABOUT ME, MY LIFE.

THEY WERE WONDERFUL, GENEROUS, LOVING PEOPLE.

WHAT VIRGIL IS THINKING...

I DON'’T EVEN WANT TO KNOW.

CAN I GO? I'’D LIKE TO BE WITH CARL.

YEAH. YOU'’RE EXCUSED.

THANK YOU.

BUT YOU KNOW, VIRGIL, YOU'’RE RIGHT.

THERE'’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH CARL'’S STORY.

SEE, I'’M NOT SAYING CARL TIBBITTS IS LYING.

HIS STORY, AS FAR AS IT GOES,

MAY BE TRUE.

YOU WERE MERELY WONDERING

HOW THE KILLER GOT IN WITHOUT BREAKING IN.

DID HE HAVE A KEY?

DID HE DISARM THE ALARM?

DID SHE DISARM THE ALARM?

DID SHE EVEN SET IT?

WAS IT SOMEBODY SHE KNEW?

SOMEBODY SHE JUST LET IN?

YOU KNOW--

WHERE IS CARL, AT HOME?

SHOULD BE BY NOW.

LONNIE TOOK HIM BY HIS DOCTOR.

WE CLOSED THE PLACE,

LEFT A MAN THERE,

TAPED OFF THE ENTRANCES.

FIND OUT ANYTHING FROM THE NEIGHBORS?

YEAH. YEAH, I SURE DID.

THE LADY IN THE STORE ACROSS THE STREET,

A MRS...TAMSEY,

SAID SHE SAW BOTH OF THEM

COME OUT THE BACK DOOR, LOCK IT,

AND THEN LEAVE AT 7 P.M.

SHE'’S POSITIVE ABOUT THAT TIME.

WHICH CAR?

SHE DIDN'’T SEE THAT.

HMM.

DO THEY COME TO WORK IN TWO CARS?

YEAH, SO THEY CAN COME AND GO AT DIFFERENT TIMES.

THE BOTHERSOME THING ABOUT ALL THIS

IS THIS--

CARL TOLD US THAT HE LEFT BY HIMSELF

AT 6 P.M.

AS Y'’ALL KNOW, THIS MEANS ONE OF TWO THINGS--

EITHER THERE'’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WOMAN'’S TIME,

OR THERE'’S SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH CARL'’S STORY.

DID YOU FIND ANYTHING IN THERE WE MISSED?

WHAT I DIDN'’T FIND IS MOST INTERESTING.

THE FLOOR IN THERE'’S EXACTLY LIKE THIS PICTURE WE TOOK--

JUST A LITTLE BLOOD,

HARDLY ANY MESS AT ALL.

YEAH, I KNOW, CHIEF.

A WOUND LIKE THAT ALWAYS MAKES A MESS.

SURE DOES.

AT LEAST, I'’VE NEVER SEEN IT OTHERWISE.

IT ALMOST MAKES YOU THINK THAT, UH...

SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SHOT SOMEWHERE ELSE.

CHIEF, WE GOT AN I.D. ON THAT FELLA FROM FLORIDA.

WHAT FELLA FROM FLORIDA?

OWNER OF THE PICKUP WE TOWED OFF THE SQUARE.

IS THIS SOMETHING I NEED TO KNOW, PARKER?

I'’M NOT SURE YOU NEEDTO KNOW.

WELL, MULL IT OVER,

TAKE YOUR TIME,

AND THEN YOU CAN LET ME KNOW.

YES, SIR.

I'’M SURPRISED. I'’D GUESSED AROUND MIDNIGHT,

GOING BY THE AMOUNT OF STIFFNESS.

O.K.

FINE.

UH-- THANK YOU, SIR.

WAS THAT DR. ROBB, BY ANY CHANCE?

YEAH.

HE PLACES THE TIME OF DEATH

AT 8 P.M. LAST NIGHT.

I'’M WONDERING WHEREIT OCCURRED.

IF IT OCCURRED SOMEPLACE ELSE,

THAT WOULD EXPLAIN THE MISSING BULLET.

YEAH.

GOT ANYTHING ON THOSE FINGERPRINTS?

YEAH.

A LOT OF THEM OFF THE CASH REGISTER

ARE THE SAME AS WE TOOK FROM JOAN.

WE'’RE GETTING CARL'S TODAY.

CARL SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT BACK DOOR BEING OPEN?

NO.

IF WE PRESUME JOAN KNEW THE KILLER,

WE BETTER START GUESSING.

WE BETTER ASK CARL TO START GUESSING.

HE KNOWS THEIR FRIENDS.

WE DON'’T.

BUT WERE ALL HER FRIENDS HIS FRIENDS?

[TRAIN CROSSING BELL CLANGS]

JUST CAME IN TO CHECK ON YOU.

NICE OF YOU.

JOAN DIDN'’T QUITE FINISH HER WORK.

I THOUGHT I'’D JUST TRY TO PICK IT UP.

YOU CAN OPEN THE STORE TOMORROW IF YOU WANT.

THEY FINGERPRINTED ME.

YEAH, THEY HAVE TO TELL YOUR PRINTS FROM OTHERS THEY FIND.

I SEE.

YOU KNOW, I'’M DRIVING TO NATCHEZ THE WEEK AFTER NEXT

TO LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE OLD HOUSES.

I COULD USE THE COMPANY.

THAT'’S VERY KIND OF YOU, SWEET.

THANK YOU.

TELL ME...

WHY DO THEY WANT TO TALK TO RUSTY CONNERS?

I GUESS IT'’S BECAUSE HE WORKED HERE OFF AND ON.

WE GOT TO TALK TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOU,

ANYBODY WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT.

UM...

UH, I'’LL CALL YOU.

I GOT TO GO.

HAS ANYBODY SEEN HER CAR?

NO, SIR. NOT AS FAR AS I KNOW.

YOU'’RE A GOOD FRIEND, SWEET.

CARL, YOU CAN DEPEND ON THAT.

MORNING, MISS KEESHAM.

HOW DO YOU KNOW MY NAME'’S KEESHAM?

YOUR NAME'’S ON THE MAILBOX RIGHT THERE.

KEESHAM'’S MY SISTER'’S NAME.

I SEE.

IS SHE HOME?

NO.

WHERE MIGHT I FIND HER?

IN THE CEMETERY.

WELL, UM, DID YOU KNOW THE LADY ACROSS THE STREET,

MRS. JOAN TIBBITTS?

YES, FOR 15 YEARS.

WELL, WE THINK

THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN KILLED

BY SOMEBODY SHE KNEW REAL WELL.

DO YOU MEAN ME?

OH, NO, I DON'’T MEAN YOU.

DIDN'’T YOU USED TO BE A SERGEANT?

YES, MA'’AM--

WELL, JOAN TIBBITTS

WAS THE KINDEST SOUL I EVER KNEW.

SHE AND CARL RAN A FREE LITERACY PROGRAM

OUT OF THE BOOK SHOP,

AND THEY GAVE AWAY BOOKS TO THE GRADE SCHOOL.

YOU DIDN'’T KNOW THAT.

NO, MA'’AM, I DID NOT.

JOAN READ A DIFFERENT BOOK

EVERY THURSDAY FOR CHILDREN'’S HOUR DOWN AT THE LIBRARY.

BET YOU DIDN'’T KNOW THAT, EITHER.

I DID KNOW THAT.

SHE NEVER HAD ANY CHILDREN OF HER OWN.

POOR THING.

SHE LOVED CHILDREN.

LOVED EVERYBODY.

NOW WHAT IS POOR CARL GOING TO DO?

WELL, MA'’AM, WE'’RE HOPING CARL--

I HAVE TO GO.

YOU'’LL HAVE TO COME BACK OR PHONE.

I HEAR MY BATHTUB FILLING UP.

YEAH.

YEAH, YEAH.

HOPE YOU GET YOUR SERGEANT STRIPES BACK.

YES, MA'’AM.

YEAH.

MR. RUSTY CONNERS?

YES.

DOES HE KNOW WHY WE'’RE HERE?

I SURE DID TELL HIM.

AND IT WAS ON THE RADIO.

WORKING AT THE BOOK MART,

YOU KNEW THE TIBBITTSES PRETTY WELL, I'’D SAY.

YEAH. PRETTY WELL.

YOU SEE THEM LATELY?

NOT SINCE I WORKED THERE.

OH. WELL, SINCE WHEN WOULD THAT BE?

SINCE JUST BEFORE THEIR LAST TRIP TO MEXICO,

ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

THEIR LAST TRIP, UH...

YES, SIR. THEY LOVED GOING TO MEXICO.

THEY WENT THERE A LOT.

UH-HUH.

WHY DID THEY LET YOU GO, RUSTY?

I LEFT THEM '’CAUSE THEY DIDN'’T NEED HELP.

THEY COULD BARELY AFFORD TO PAY ME.

THEY DID IT TO HELP ME EARN MONEY FOR SCHOOL.

DID THEY HAVE MANY STUDENT CUSTOMERS?

QUITE A FEW.

WERE THERE ANY LIKE YOU

WHO KNEW THEM WELL ENOUGH

SO THEY'’D LET THEM IN AFTER HOURS?

IF THEY WERE THERE,

I THINK THEY'’D LET ANYBODY IN.

WE'’RE TALKING ABOUT TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE, CHIEF.

HE'’S A VERY UNUSUAL MAN, THAT MR. TIBBITTS.

HE DIDN'’T TREAT YOU LIKE A CUSTOMER,

BUT MORE LIKE A FRIEND.

I BOUGHT BOOK PRESENTS THERE OVER THE YEARS,

AND I BOUGHT MY GREETING CARDS THERE

TILL THEY STOPPED SELLING THEM.

THEY COULDN'’T SELL THEM CHEAP AS THOSE MALL PLACES.

I REALLY LIKED JOAN TIBBITTS.

I WANTED TO KNOW HER BETTER.

LATELY, SHE SEEMED SO FRAIL.

WELL, SHE'’S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY FOR YEARS.

YOU REMIND ME OF DARRYL.

WHAT, YOUR CRAZY BOYFRIEND?

UH-HUH.

SHORT,

CHARMING,

DRINKING ALL THE TIME,

AND CAN'’T UNDERSTAND A WORD YOU SAY.

DONNA, YOU'’RE CRAZY.

NOW THE POOR WOMAN GONE.

MMM, JUST LIKE THAT.

KILLED OVER A FEW DOLLARS.

LORD, LORD, LORD,

THERE'’S SOME SORRY DOIN'S IN THIS LITTLE TOWN.

COME LIVE WITH ME IN HOUSTON.

I REMEMBER WHEN VIRGIL AND I MET JOAN AND CARL

AT A DINNER PARTY TED MARCUS HAD THROWN.

THEY TOOK US ON A PICNIC AT PURVIS LAKE.

IT WAS THEIR FAVORITE SPOT.

THEY SAY FISH IS ALL DEAD IN PURVIS LAKE.

JOAN SAID THAT.

THEN CARL WOULD SAY,

"WHEN THE FISH COME BACK,

WE'’LL BUILD OUR CABIN THERE."

HOW? THEY HAD NO MONEY.

NO. THEY HAD SOME.

THEY WOULD TAKE TRIPS.

JOAN HAD A NICE LITTLE CAR.

HEY, I WASN'’T HOLDING BILLY.

I WAS HOLDING SARAH.

THIS LOOKS LIKE THE CAR.

CHECK IT OUT. I'’LL SEE WHO WE'’RE DEALING WITH.

YEAH?

IS THIS YOURS?

OH, YEAH. THANKS.

WHERE'’D YOU GET THAT CAR?

CAR?

OH, UH, IT'’S NOT MINE.

HOW DID IT GET HERE?

TRUTHFULLY, I DON'’T KNOW HOW I GOT HERE MYSELF.

WHAT'’S YOUR NAME?

UM, UH, CLEVE RUMFORD.

LET ME SEE SOME I.D.

THIS IS TIBBITTS'’ CAR.

YOU KNOW, I'’M STARTING TO REMEMBER.

I FOUND THAT CAR SOMEWHERE.

I FOUND IT, AND I BROUGHT IT HERE.

MR. CLEVE RUMFORD, YOU MIGHT WANT TO FIND YOUR PANTS,

'’CAUSE I'M BRINGING YOU IN.

WHAT FOR?

FOR STEALING THAT CAR.

YOU CAN'’T. I TOLD YOU I FOUND IT.

THE KEYS WERE IN IT.

WAS THIS IN IT, TOO?

I DON'’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THAT.

WELL, NEITHER DO WE, BUT WE'’LL FIND OUT.

GET YOUR PANTS ON.

YOU'’RE GOING DOWN TO THE STATION.

GET THIS TO THE LAB.

IT PROBABLY KILLED MRS. TIBBITTS.

RANDY, RUN THIS TO THE LAB.

CHIEF'’S WAITING FOR Y'’ALL.

COME ON.

SIT DOWN IN THAT CHAIR.

WELL?

WELL WHAT?

MAKE SENSE, THAT'’S WHAT.

IT WAS A DUMB MOVE,

BUT I MAKE LOTS OF THEM WHEN I'’M TWISTED.

WHAT OTHER DUMB MOVES HAVE YOU MADE?

WHEN YOU WERE TWISTED.

COME ON, BOY.

THE WOMAN WAS MURDERED.

SO I UNDERSTAND, BUT I DON'’T KNOW NOTHING.

I DON'’T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.

WHO WAS SHE?

WHAT ABOUT THE CAR?

I DROVE THE CAR HOME

'’CAUSE IT WAS THERE,

BUT I DIDN'’T KILL ANYBODY.

HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THAT GUN.

WHERE WAS IT?

IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT.

CLEVE, YOU TOOK THAT CAR.

YOU DIDN'’T THINK IT WAS YOURS.

I DON'’T REMEMBER MUCH.

GONE ON BOOZE, WERE YOU?

WHERE WERE YOU? WHERE'’D YOU FIND THE CAR?

WALKING HOME FROM SIDETRACK TAVERN.

I TOOK THAT DIRT ROAD UP NEAR PURVIS LAKE.

I--I SAW THE CAR.

KEYS WERE IN IT. NOBODY AROUND.

WHAT TIME WAS THAT?

UH...

I SAID WHAT TIME WAS THAT!

IT WAS LATE.

IT WAS REAL LATE.

I DIDN'’T KILL ANYBODY, ALL RIGHT?

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

YOU WERE DRUNK OUT YOUR MIND.

YOU SOBER NOW?

YEAH.

WELL, LOOKIE HERE.

LISTEN, LET'’S SEE IF HE CAN WALK FROM HERE

DOWN TO ONE OF THOSE CELLS.

IF HE CAN, KNOW WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO?

PUT HIM IN IT.

UH-HUH.

COME ON, CLEVE.

COME ON, NOW.

CARL?

CARL, YOU IN HERE?

YES, I'’M HERE.

HI, SWEET. HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD. I SAW THE OPEN SIGN.

IT'’S GOOD TO SEE THAT.

I'’M GLAD YOU LIKED IT.

YOU'’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO'’S SEEN IT,

OR SO I BELIEVE.

NOBODY ELSE HAS COME IN.

I WANT THAT BOOK YOU MENTIONED.

THE BOOK JOAN MENTIONED.

YEAH. RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, I FORGOT THE TITLE.

NATIVE SON BY RICHARD WRIGHT.

I'’LL GET IT.

I WAS THE ONE WHO SAID

YOU SHOULD READ WHITE WRITERS, TOO,

AND TODAY I'’D LIKE YOU TO TAKE AWAY SOMETHING

BY WILLIAM FAULKNER...

O.K.

AND, UH...

SOMETHING BY... KATHERINE ANNE PORTER.

UM, CARL, I GOT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT JOAN.

OF COURSE. WHAT?

UM, IT LOOKS LIKE

SHE WAS KILLED AWAY FROM HERE.

WE THINK THAT THE BODY WAS PUT HERE

AFTER SHE WAS KILLED.

WHY?

WELL, WE DON'’T KNOW.

YOU'’RE THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD TELL US SOMETHING

THAT COULD MAYBE HELP US FORM AN IDEA.

WAS THERE SOMEBODY SHE MIGHT HAVE GONE TO SEE,

SOMEBODY SHE HAD A...

UM...

A WHAT?

A SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP?

A RELATIONSHIP?

I KNOW I'’VE EXTENDED MY LIFE,

BUT MY VOICE HAS CHANGED SINCE I GAVE UP SMOKING.

IT LOST SOME OF THE RESONANCE THAT FINE TOBACCO CAN PRODUCE.

CHIEF--

MIND YOU, I DON'’T ADVOCATE SMOKING,

UNLESS YOU PUT A FINE VOICE AHEAD OF A LONG LIFE.

CHIEF, CAN I MAKE AN OBSERVATION?

I DON'’T THINK CLEVE RUMFORD KILLED JOAN TIBBITTS.

I DON'’T THINK HE DID, EITHER.

I THINK HE'’S JUST A PITIFUL YOUNG MAN.

HE COULDN'’T PULL A TRIGGER OF A GUN

OR A HOOK OUT OF A FISH.

I'’LL MAKE MY OBSERVATION.

THE BOY IS DUMB.

WHICH WORKS AGAINST HIM.

DUMB ENOUGH TO KILL JOAN TIBBITTS,

PARK HER CAR IN HIS DRIVEWAY,

LEAVE THE GUN INSIDE.

THE D.A. WILL SAY THAT.

HE SURE WILL.

BUBBA, LET'’S GO TO THE SIDETRACK TAVERN,

ASK WHAT TIME CLEVE LEFT

THE NIGHT OF THE MURDER.

I'’D LIKE TO KNOW THAT.

I WANT TO KNOW THE WOMAN WHO KNEW JOAN TIBBITTS.

THEREFORE, YOUR MISSIS HAS INVITED ME OVER FOR SWEET TEA.

SHE DIDN'’T KNOW HER BETTER THAN I DID.

SURE, SHE DOES.

HOW COULD SHE?

BEING A WOMAN, HOW COULD SHE NOT?

YOU A LITTLE INNOCENT SOMETIMES, AIN'’T YOU, VIRGIL?

WELL, HE'’S NAIVE, YOU KNOW?

NAIVE.

PEOPLE WERE VERY FOND OF HER,

BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CLOSE TO HER EXCEPT CARL.

YOU AND VIRGIL THINK SHE HAD A LOVER?

WE'’RE JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT,

BECAUSE HER HUSBAND DIDN'’T KNOW

WHO SHE WOULD'’VE LET IN AT 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

I DIDN'’T KNOW HER WELL.

SHE DID SEEM TO BE SOMEONE I'’D LIKE TO KNOW.

VIRGIL AND I HAD A LOVELY PICNIC

WITH THEM AT PURVIS LAKE.

THAT WAS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE PLACES.

THEY HAD ANOTHER FAVORITE PLACE.

JOAN SENT ME THAT FROM MEXICO.

MEXICO.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME HOMEMADE RHUBARB PIE?

I'’M NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE ANY.

BUT ARE YOU READY?

YES, I'’M READY FOR SOME.

YEAH, WELL, IT MAY BE JUST A COINCIDENCE.

WHAT?

WELL, WE ARRESTED SOME FOOL FOR STEALING THE TIBBITTS'’ CAR.

UH, HE SAYS HE TOOK IT FROM PURVIS LAKE.

WHEN WAS SHE UP THERE?

I CAN'’T SAY, BUT THE CAR WAS TAKEN

AT THE SAME TIME THAT SHE WAS SUPPOSEDLY SHOT

IN THE STORE.

THAT IS A RHUBARB PIE, VIRGIL.

I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.

YOU'’RE A LUCKY MAN

BEING ABLE TO GET NEXT TO A PIE LIKE THAT NOW AND THEN.

CHIEF, THAT GUN THAT PEAKE FOUND.

NO PRINTS. MUST'’VE BEEN WIPED CLEAN.

WIPED CLEAN?

CLEVE WAS AT THE SIDETRACK CAFE

SAME TIME MRS. TIBBITTS WAS KILLED.

BOSS REMEMBERS THROWING THE FOOL OUT.

WE WERE AT PURVIS LAKE LOOKING FOR TIRE PRINTS.

MRS. TIBBS GAVE ME AN ODD PIECE OF THIS LITTLE PUZZLE.

WHAT WAS IT?

SHE SAID THAT CARL AND JOAN TIBBITTS

HAD A FAVORITE LITTLE SPOT BY THAT LAKE.

[SWEET] CHIEF.

YEAH, SWEET?

I WAS GOING THROUGH THAT STUFF AT TIBBITTS'’ OFFICE.

WHAT IS IT?

THIS IS A CANCELED CHECK FOR $7,000.

IT WAS MADE OUT TO THE CLINICA DEL SOL.

I CHECKED IT OUT.

IT'’S IN MEXICO.

WHAT IS IT?

IT'’S A PLACE THAT SPECIALIZES

IN ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR CANCER.

HERE WE GO.

UH-HUH.

WE GOT SOMETHING.

HAVE YOU ANY IDEA HOW IRRITATING THAT CAN BE?

WHAT HAVE WE GOT?

WELL, ACCORDING TO THE TIBBITTS'’ BANK STATEMENT,

THE ANNUAL PAYMENT ON THEIR INSURANCE POLICY TRIPLED

EIGHT MONTHS AGO--

TWO WEEKS FROM THE DATE OF THIS CHECK

TO THE CANCER CLINIC IN MEXICO.

CHIEF, YOU IN EARSHOT?

YEAH.

YEAH, BUBBA. WHAT?

THAT CAR WAS WHERE CLEVE SAID IT WAS.

I BET THESE TIRE TRACKS WILL BE AN EXACT MATCH

FOR JOAN TIBBITTS'’ MUSTANG.

LISTEN, IS THAT BY ANY CHANCE

A SECLUDED, ROMANTIC-TYPE SPOT UP THERE?

YES, SIR, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT IS.

[BEEPING]

[BEEPING]

[BEEPING]

LOOKS LIKE SOMEBODY'’S BEEN UP HERE.

YEAH, AND NOT LONG AGO.

THEY SURE WASN'’T ANY KIDS.

THIS AIN'’T CHEAP WINE.

"SHALL I COMPARE THEE TO A SUMMER'’S DAY?"

WHAT DO YOU GOT?

I DON'’T KNOW, BUT HE'S SMELLING SOMETHING.

LOOKS LIKE BLOOD OVER HERE.

LET ME SEE THAT.

YEAH.

THAT'’S BLOOD.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES]

YOU GOT A SEARCH WARRANT TO GO POKING AROUND IN THERE?

YES, SIR. I SURE DO.

WHO IS THE ISSUING JUDGE?

JUDGE KOLVAN OVER AT JUSTICE COURT.

FOR THE RESIDENCE, PLACE OF BUSINESS, VEHICLES,

AND ANY OTHER PERSONAL EFFECTS OF CARL TIBBITTS.

WE DO SUSPECT THE MAN, DON'’T WE?

THAT'’S WHAT I TOLD THE JUDGE.

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE,

ALMOST AS HARD AS YOUR FRIEND SWEET.

I THINK THE TIBBITTSES WENT IN THEIR TWO CARS.

AFTER HE KILLED HER--

IF HE KILLED HER.

AFTER SHE WAS DEAD,

I THINK MR. TIBBITTS DROVE HER HERE IN THAT CAR

AND PUT HER WHERE WE FOUND HER.

AND LEFT THAT CAR OF HERS BY THE LAKE

WHERE THE DRUNKEN FELLA COME ALONG AND FOUND IT

AND TOOK IT HOME.

DID YOU FIND ANY BLOOD IN THERE?

NO. TIBBITTS MUST'’VE WRAPPED HER BODY IN SOMETHING.

I DID FIND THIS ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR.

I THINK IT FELL OUT OF HER HAIR.

WE CAN'’T FIGURE OUT WHY HE WANTED TO KILL HER.

I'’D SAY HE DIDN'T.

I'’D SAY IT'’S VERY PECULIAR.

I'’D SAY YOU'RE RIGHT.

CARL TIBBITTS STANDS TO COLLECT A LARGE SUM?

YES. WITH DOUBLE INDEMNITY, VERY LARGE.

BUT DOUBLE INDEMNITY IS FOR ACCIDENTS, ISN'’T IT?

WELL, JOAN'’S DEATH WILL BE CONSIDERED ACCIDENTAL.

I MEAN, KILLED ON THE BUSINESS PREMISES BY AN INTRUDER.

BUT, YOU SEE, THEY GOT THIS POLICY NOT TOO LONG AGO.

BOTH OF THEM DID HAVE SMALL TERM LIFE POLICIES.

CARL WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT SOMETHING WAS THERE FOR JOAN

WHEN HE DIED.

HE EVEN UPGRADED THE INSURANCE HIMSELF.

DID HE ASK FOR THAT DOUBLE INDEMNITY CLAUSE?

I THINK THAT WAS MY IDEA.

IT WAS ALSO MY IDEA TO UPGRADE JOAN'’S POLICY, TOO.

BOTH WOULD BE IN THE SAME POSITION IF ONE DIED.

WHAT KIND OF PHYSICAL DID YOU REQUIRE?

WELL, JUST CURSORY.

BLOOD PRESSURE. THAT SORT OF THING.

IS THAT ALL?

WELL, THEY DO HAVE TO FILL OUT A EXHAUSTIVE MEDICAL QUESTIONNAIRE.

IF THEY FAIL TO REVEAL ANYTHING, THE POLICY IS VOID.

IS THERE A QUESTION ABOUT CANCER ON THAT QUESTIONNAIRE?

NO.

SEE, WE HAD AN AUTOPSY DONE ON MRS. TIBBITTS.

SHE WAS DYING.

THE BULLET JUST MADE HER DIE SOONER.

BUT A SUICIDE,

THAT WOULDN'’T HAVE PAID OFF, WOULD IT?

NO.

YOU SEE, THEY HAD TO THINK OF SOMETHING ELSE.

THIS GOES TO THE EVIDENCE LOCKER.

YOU AND YOUR WIFE STAGED A MURDER, MR. TIBBITTS.

MR. TIBBITTS...

YOU AND YOUR WIFE DROVE OUT TO PURVIS LAKE IN SEPARATE CARS.

YOUR NEIGHBOR SAW Y'’ALL LEAVE.

THEN AT ABOUT 1 A.M.,

YOU DROVE HER BACK IN YOUR CAR.

YOU DIDN'’T FIND YOUR WIFE DEAD IN YOUR BOOKSTORE.

YOU PUT HER THERE.

YEAH.

I LOVED HER.

ALL THE EVIDENCE SAYS SO.

NOBODY EVER DOUBTED IT.

"ROUGH WINDS DO SHAKE THE DARLING BUDS OF MAY."

"AND SUMMER'’S LEASE HATH ALL TOO SHORT A DATE."

HOW IS WILLSON SWEET?

HE'’S FINE, SIR.

I PRESUME THAT THE CLINIC IN MEXICO COULDN'’T HELP YOUR WIFE.

IT WAS NO USE.

NO USE AT ALL.

AFTERWARDS,

JOAN COULDN'’T BEAR THE THOUGHT

THAT I WAS GOING TO BE LEFT WITH NOTHING.

SHE PLANNED THIS ALL OUT.

BUT WHEN THE TIME CAME...

I JUST COULDN'’T FIRE THE GUN.

I COULDN'’T...

LET HER GO.

DID SHE FIRE THE GUN HERSELF?

THAT'’S WHAT SHE DID.

IF YOU NEED ANYTHING, JUST LET ME KNOW.

THANKS, CHERYL.

THANKS.

WELL, DID YOU SEE D.A. DARNELLE?

YUP.

I FIGURED HE WOULDN'’T SEE YOU.

HE WAS POLITE. GAVE ME 10 MINUTES.

HE'’S GOING TO CHARGE CARL WITH JOAN'’S MURDER.

WHETHER THE JURY BELIEVES CARL'’S STORY,

THAT'’S UP TO CARL AND HIS LAWYER.

HE'’S GOING TO DO TIME FOR SOMETHING.

HE WON'’T BE ALONE.

MEANING WHAT?

I'’M STANDING BY HIM.

HE'’S MY FRIEND.

I GUESS WHAT HE DID WAS WRONG.

DO YOU THINK SO?

WE DON'’T KNOW WHAT HE DID.

WE ONLY KNOW WHAT HE SAID HE DID.

HE HAD NO RIGHT TO DO ANYTHING.

HE PROBABLY SHOULD'’VE DONE NOTHING.

YEAH.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL LIKE?

NOTHING.

JUST NOTHING.