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-OHH

♪ 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

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

GOOD EVENING, SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT, PARKER WILLIAMS SPEAKING,

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

A ROBBERY?

RIGHT NOW?

COME ON! COME ON!

Yes, right now.

He's got a gun.

WHERE YOU AT?

Drucker's Pharmacy.

ALL RIGHT, SOMEBODY'S ON THE WAY.

ON OR NEAR WILBUR-- WE GOT US A ROBBERY GOING ON

AT DRUCKER'S PHARMACY.

HURRY UP!

COME ON, COME ON!

GET OFF! AAH!

[POLICE SIREN]

[DOG BARKING]

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED, BOB?

BLACK GUY WEARING A SKI MASK

BOPPED ME WITH HIS GUN.

TRIED TO KILL HIM.

PROBABLY NOT.

IT WASN'T ME HE WAS AFTER.

TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.

BOB, HE STEAL ANYTHING BESIDES DRUGS?

HUNDRED IN CASH AND SOME NEEDLES.

NEEDLES?

YES, LIEUTENANT.

NOT THE SEWING KIND.

THERE'S THE BOX RIGHT THERE.

[HORN HONKS]

[HONK HONK HONK HONK]

AH!

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

[LAUGHING]

HEY, WHEN DO I SEE SOME MONEY, HUH?

SOON AS I SEE SOME.

I GOTTA SELL THE STUFF.

HEY!

TOMORROW, MAN.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

NO PROBLEM.

HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

YOU MIGHT FOOL MAMA, BUT NOT ME.

I AIN'T TRYING TO FOOL NOBODY.

AND I DON'T BUTT INTO NOBODY'S BUSINESS, NEITHER.

WELL, I DON'T WANT THIS FAMILY INVOLVED

IN NONE OF YOUR DRUG MESS. KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

TERRY!

FRESH SHIRT IN THE KITCHEN.

BETTER PUT IT ON AND GET GOING.

DON'T YOU BE LATE!

SURE, MAMA.

WHERE YOU GOING--

PARTY?

HELP MAMA WITH THE GROCERIES.

HEY, MAMA.

LET ME HELP YOU WITH THESE GROCERIES, O.K.?

HEY, LITTLE BRO, HAVE TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW

BEFORE YOU CAN GET THE GREEN.

TOMORROW'S COOL, MAN.

I GOT PLENTY OF GOODIES, THOUGH.

BOBBY!

I WANNA TALK TO YOU, COME HERE.

SEE ME LATER.

ACCORDING TO YOUR RECORDS, TERRY,

YOUR GRADES DROPPED DRASTICALLY YOUR SECOND YEAR.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME.

TERRY DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE EXCUSES.

HIS MOTHER WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,

SO HE TOOK ON TWO JOBS.

THAT'S WHERE ALL HIS TIME WENT.

I SEE. WELL, THEN I JUST HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE MEDICINE?

WELL, THERE AREN'T ENOUGH DOCTORS--

NOT FOR MY PEOPLE,

NOT WHERE THEY CAN GET TO THEM EASILY

AND AFFORD TO PAY THEM.

TERRY'S FATHER DIDN'T GET THE RIGHT CARE

WHEN HE NEEDED IT.

NO ONE SHOULD LIVE OR DIE LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU, TERRY.

IT WAS A PLEASURE MEETING YOU.

WE GOT US CODEINE, PERCODAN, DEMEROL,

MORPHINE, AND DILAUDID TABLETS.

WORTH WHAT?

FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS, I'D SAY FOUR.

ONCE IT HITS THE STREET, YOU CAN TRIPLE THAT.

HE GOES FOR THE DRUGS WITH THE HIGHEST STREET VALUE.

YOU THINK THIS IS THE SAME GUY AS BEFORE?

MM-HMM, I DO, YEAH.

HE ALSO TOOK SOME HYPODERMIC NEEDLES.

WELL, HE'S PROBABLY AN ADDICT.

AND HE MADE BOB OPEN THE CABINET,

SO WE GOT NO PRINTS ON THE GUY.

THE QUESTION ON MY MIND

IS WHY THIS YOUNG MALEFACTOR

ISN'T DOING BUSINESS IN THE NORMAL WAY.

WHY DOESN'T HE BUY WHOLESALE OUT OF TOWN,

AND RETAIL HERE?

WHY IS HE ROBBING DRUGSTORES?

HE'S NOT A PRO.

NOT YET.

THAT'S RIGHT. HE'S A BEGINNER.

HASN'T MADE CONNECTIONS.

WELL, WHO HAVE WE GOT OUT THERE BIRD-DOGGING FOR US?

GOT SWEET AND LUANN,

AND I'M GONNA BE CHECKING WITH THEM.

OH, LORD.

SOMETIMES I GET SO TIRED.

THANKS, BABE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIS FACE.

HE WAS SO NERVOUS.

RIGHT. AND YOU'RE NOT.

TO QUOTE THE CHIEF,

"LIKE A CAT IN THE DOG POUND."

BUT WHY? HE GOT THE SCHOLARSHIP.

I CAN'T SEE HOW THEY COULD TURN HIM DOWN.

HIS GRADES ARE EXCEPTIONAL,

HIS COMMITMENT REMARKABLE.

NOT MANY KIDS FROM THE BOTTOMS GO THAT FAR.

NOT MANY.

MOST OF THEM GO FROM... YOUR HANDS TO MY HANDS.

MMM, THANK GOODNESS, NOT THIS ONE.

I KNOW I'M GETTING PERSONALLY INVOLVED,

BUT IT'S STUDENTS LIKE TERRY

THAT JUST BALANCE OUT ALL THE FRUSTRATION.

[BABY CRYING]

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

I'LL GO.

THANK YOU.

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYS]

WELL?

BLACK MALE IN HIS 20s PUSHING JUNK?

OFF THE USUAL ROUTES?

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WHAT ABOUT A WHITE MALE?

COME ACROSS ONE OF THEM?

NO, BUT I HEAR THERE IS SUCH A PERSON.

I HEARD THE SAME THING...

FROM SOMEONE WHO HEARD IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE,

BUT NATURALLY, NO DESCRIPTION.

SAME AS ME, NO DESCRIPTION.

YOU WANT ME TO HANG IN?

YEAH, YEAH, YOU DO THAT.

HANG OUT, TOO.

OPEN IT UP!

HURRY UP!

COME ON!

DR. ROBB.

[RATTLING]

COME ON!

HURRY UP!

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

IT CAN'T BE GOOD NEWS AT THIS HOUR OF NIGHT.

IT'S NOT, CHIEF.

DRUG ROBBERY AT THE HOSPITAL.

DR. ROBB'S BEEN BEAT UP.

OH, LORD.

BAD?

I GUESS HE'S O.K.

THEY PUT HIM IN A BED, AND THEY'RE WATCHING HIM.

WHO IS HIS DOCTOR?

PARSONS, BUT HE'S NOT AT THE HOSPITAL.

WELL, CALL HIM UP AT HOME.

PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK.

PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK AT DOC PARSONS' HOUSE? WHY?

WELL, WE'RE LOOKING INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

LORD.

I GOTTA GO OUT AGAIN, SO...

YOU LUCKED OUT.

GO AHEAD.

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYS]

YOU GOT A PROBLEM?

A DOCTOR'S PHONE OFF THE HOOK,

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WELL, LOOKS LIKE YOU TOOK CARE OF THAT ONE.

WHERE'S YOUR DADDY?

HE WENT TO MEMPHIS.

MAMA'S MAMA DIED.

SHUT YOUR FRONT DOOR AND CUT OUT THIS NOISE.

BOTH?

BOTH.

HAD A LITTLE TOO MUCH TO DRINK.

I'M AFRAID IT'S A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS THAN THAT.

I WANT YOU...

TO CALL HIS HOME...

AND TELL HIS FOLKS THAT WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING HIM

OVER TO THE COUNTY HOSPITAL, O.K.?

O.K.

HEY, LONNIE!

WOULD YOU COME HERE FOR A MINUTE?

DRUNK?

YEAH. I THINK HE OD'd, TOO.

HOW'S HIS PULSE?

IT'S PRETTY WEAK.

I'LL CALL THE AMBULANCE.

SWEET!

WHO'S THIS YOU JUST BROUGHT IN?

IT'S A KID FROM A PARTY AT DR. PARSONS' HOUSE.

OH. DOES THAT EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM WITH THE PHONE?

YES, SIR.

KIDS, DRUGS, BOOZE, AND THE PARENTS ARE GONE.

AT THE SAME TIME AS THESE DRUG ROBBERIES.

WHAT IS THAT, A COINCIDENCE, OR WHAT?

WELL...

CAME TO BURY CAESAR, DID YOU?

NO, SIR! ONLY TO PRAISE HIM.

THEY TOLD ME HE WAS DOWN AND OUT,

HERE HE IS ON HIS FEET.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE GUY WITH THE SKI MASK,

BUT WE GOT SOME PRINTS.

DID YOU MANAGE TO SEE HIS FACE?

NO, BUT UNLIKE THE POLICE,

WHO SEEM ONLY ABLE TO RELATE TO FACES,

I RELATE TO WHOLE BODIES.

THEY COULD THROW A SACK OVER YOUR HEAD,

AND I'D STILL KNOW IT WAS YOU.

I FOUND THESE IN THE POCKET

OF THE KID I BROUGHT IN.

THAT'S DILAUDID. WE JUST LOST A BUNCH OF THAT.

SO DID TWO PHARMACIES.

LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE OF WORRIED PARENTS.

IF THEY ARE, HERE'S THE GIRL THAT CALLED THEM IN.

UH, MISS... EXCUSE ME.

I'M THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

COME OVER HERE AND SIT DOWN, PLEASE.

DID YOUR BOYFRIEND

BRING DRUGS WITH HIM TO THAT PARTY,

OR DID HE BUY THEM THERE?

I'M NOT SURE.

WAS DR. PARSONS' SON USING DRUGS,

OR WAS HE GIVING DRUGS OUT TO PEOPLE?

I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT SURE.

WHAT'S YOUR BOYFRIEND'S NAME?

ELLIOT.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

LORRIE.

WERE YOU USING DRUGS, LORRIE?

NO!

WAS ELLIOT?

NO...

NOT MUCH...

NOT UNTIL TONIGHT.

WHY TONIGHT?

SOMEONE TALKED HIM INTO IT.

WHO?

LORRIE, THE BEST WAY YOU CAN HELP ELLIOT--

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN HELP HIM--

IS TO TELL ME

WHO GAVE HIM THOSE DRUGS.

THAT KID FROM SCHOOL--

NATHAN WOODS.

WHAT'D HE DO WHEN YOU TOLD HIM?

HE WAS DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW.

HE'D NEVER LET YOU SEE HIM CRY.

HE RAN OFF.

RAN OFF?

TO HIS HOMEROOM TO TELL HIS FRIENDS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

HE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

I REALLY APPRECIATE TERRY.

COME ON.

HOW?

WHEN I WAS A KID,

MY PARENTS TOOK ME TO SEE THIS PLAY

ABOUT THIS TEACHER IN WALES

WHO DID WONDERS WITH ONE STUDENT.

I ADMIRED HER SO MUCH.

AND I WAS THINKING,

"WELL, I WON'T BECOME A TEACHER,

"BUT IF I BECAME ONE--

I'D WANNA BE JUST LIKE HER."

TERRY GAVE ME THAT CHANCE.

YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT HIS GRADES.

[DOOR OPENS]

WE DID IT, MAMA!

YOUR SON IS GOING TO COLLEGE.

I KNOW, BABY. I KNOW.

I JUST GOT SOME BAD NEWS, TOO.

A KID FROM MY HOMEROOM,

ELLIOT CHARTER,

DIED LAST NIGHT AT THE HOSPITAL.

DRUG OVERDOSE.

ELLIOT CHARTER WAS ON DRUGS?

SOMETHING'S ROTTEN, MRS. TIBBS.

AND I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

SON, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A BLACK GUY,

OLDER THAN YOU, BIGGER THAN YOU.

I DON'T KNOW TOO MANY BLACK GUYS.

I DIDN'T ASK IF YOU KNOWED TOO MANY.

I ASKED ABOUT ONE... WHO'S DEALING DOPE.

YOU WERE AT THE PARTY WITH ELLIOT CHARTER.

HE AIN'T BLACK.

NO--WHITE AND DEAD.

WHAT?

DEAD. FIFTEEN, DIED LAST NIGHT.

YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE. YOU SOLD HIM DRUGS.

I DIDN'T SELL HIM NO DRUGS.

SOMEBODY SAW YOU.

SHE'S A LIAR!

WHO? LORRIE!

YOU JUST NAMED THE PERSON WHO SAW YOU.

YOU'RE THE LIAR.

NOT ONLY ELLIOT,

BUT FOUR OTHER KIDS

BOUGHT PILLS FROM YOU AT THAT PARTY.

WE GOT THE NAMES.

NOW, THE BLACK GUY WE'RE LOOKING FOR

IS PROBABLY A DRUG ADDICT HIMSELF.

YOU'RE A DUMB BOY, NATHAN, AND WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU

WITH A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER DUMB BOYS.

HE MEANS IN PRISON!

'CAUSE I'M GONNA ASK THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

TO CHARGE YOU WITH NONCAPITAL MURDER--

WILLFULLY ENDANGERING THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON,

CAUSING ANOTHER PERSON'S DEATH.

NO, NOT ME.

WHO ELSE WE GONNA CHARGE WITH THAT DEATH?

WE ONLY GOT YOU, NATHAN.

WELL, WELL... SO FAR.

LOOK, I DIDN'T DO IT.

SO FAR?

WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING, LIEUTENANT?

WELL, CHIEF, I WAS JUST THINKING

IF WE CAUGHT THAT FELLA ROBBING THE DRUGSTORES,

THEN MAYBE, UH...

WHAT?! YOU SUGGESTING A DEAL OF SOME KIND, LIEUTENANT?

NO, NO, NO.

I CAN'T MAKE A DEAL ON A THING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS MURDER!

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOME SIMPLE LITTLE MATTER

OF HANDING OUT A FEW PILLS AT A PARTY.

LIEUTENANT, YOU TELL ME WHO WE ARE GONNA CHARGE

WITH THE DEATH OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY!

DEREK JOHNSON!

WHO?!

THE GUY I GOT THE DRUGS FROM!

A BLACK GUY IN THE BOTTOMS--

DEREK JOHNSON!

THANK YOU, SERGEANT. YEAH, I GOT IT.

APPRECIATE IT MUCH. BYE, NOW.

THAT WAS SERGEANT LAWSON

FROM THE CRIME LAB IN JACKSON.

DO I HAVE TO WAIT

TO HEAR ABOUT IT ON THE EVENING NEWS?

NO, SIR, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.

TELL ME RIGHT NOW.

THE FINGERPRINTS FROM THE HOSPITAL

ARE DEREK JOHNSON'S.

AND HE'S GOT A RECORD.

FOR?

ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS.

WHO'S GOT THE WARRANT?

LIEUTENANT SKINNER.

FINE.

I HATE TO THINK HOW ALTHEA'S GOING TO TAKE THIS, CHIEF.

THE NEWS ON DEREK JOHNSON

IS ALL BAD, SURE ENOUGH.

BUT IT'S THE OTHER BROTHER, TERRY,

THAT'S MRS. TIBBS' PROTEGE, ISN'T IT?

YEAH, AND IT'S TERRY SHE'S GOING TO START WORRYING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, HOW THIS WHOLE THING

IS GONNA AFFECT HIM.

I HAD A NEPHEW IN ARKANSAS WHO WAS

ALWAYS GETTING IN TERRIBLE TROUBLE.

IT SEEMED TO HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON HIS BROTHER.

HE WAS A GOOD STUDENT,

GOOD ATHLETE. GREW UP TO BE A FINE MAN.

YEAH, BUT YOUR NEPHEW

DIDN'T LIVE IN ANYTHING LIKE THE BOTTOMS.

NO, HE LIVED IN A POOR WHITE PART OF TOWN

CALLED "THE SHIMMIES."

THE WHAT?

WHEN THE FREIGHT TRAINS WENT THROUGH THERE,

ALL THE LITTLE BUNGALOWS DID THIS.

THE SHIMMIES?

RUN DOWNTOWN, TELL MR. SAMPLER RIGHT AWAY.

I SAY RUN!

WHAT'S DEREK DONE?

HE'S BEING CHARGED WITH THEFT, ASSAULT,

POSSESSION, AND MURDER.

MURDER?

POLICE CHIEF DONE LOST HIS MIND.

YOU STEP ASIDE, SON. TAKE HIM ON.

LIEUTENANT?

YEAH?

FOUND THIS. FEW BOTTLES OF DRUGS IN IT.

FEW SYRINGES.

MAMA.

COME ON, MAMA.

YEAH, THIS IS PROBABLY STUFF FROM THAT DRUGSTORE.

YOU DIDN'T FIND NO GUN IN THERE?

NO GUN.

ALL RIGHT, TAKE IT ON IN.

YES, SIR.

BUBBA, IS THIS MURDER CHARGE FOR REAL?

IT'S A TECHNICAL THING,

BUT YES, WE ARE SAYING THE BOY THAT OD'd WAS MURDERED.

CAN YOU DO THAT?

WE SURE FIXING TO FIND OUT.

A MURDER CHARGE?

I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN DO THAT, GILLESPIE.

WE HAVE TO LET THESE YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW

THAT WE'RE TIRED OF FOOLING AROUND.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTIN' ON A SHOW...

IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO CONVICT JOHNSON AND WOODS

OF SOME LESSER CHARGE.

THEY'D BE BACK OUT ON THE STREETS IN SIX MONTHS.

THESE BIRDS NEED TO HAVE THEIR WINGS CLIPPED.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PRECEDENT FOR IT.

WELL, THEN SET ONE.

THE LAW IS ON THE BOOKS. WHY DON'T YOU USE IT?

LET ME FIND IT FIRST...

MR. SAMPLER'S HERE, SHOULD HE WAIT?

NO, SEND HIM IN.

YOU KNOW EFREM SAMPLER?

YEAH, I KNOW HIM.

WHO'S HE REPRESENTING?

DEREK JOHNSON.

OH, LORD.

CHIEF.

GERARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

CHARGE IS INVALID, GERARD.

I DON'T ARREST AND CHARGE, EFREM.

HAS GILLESPIE TOLD YOU WHAT HE'S NAILING MY CLIENT FOR?

HE HAS.

HE KILLED A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY.

DEREK JOHNSON DIDN'T SHOVE PILLS DOWN HIS THROAT.

DEREK JOHNSON DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HIM.

WE MAY HAVE AN ARGUMENT

FOR NONCAPITAL MURDER.

EVEN IF MY CLIENT SOLD THOSE DRUGS--

WHICH IS MERELY ALLEGED BY THE POLICE--

WHY WOULD HE WANT HIS CUSTOMER DEAD? WHERE'S THE INTENT?

THE LAW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

DOES NOT DEPEND ON MOTIVE OR INTENTION.

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, GILLESPIE,

A JUDGE?

YOU'RE A COP, THAT'S ALL.

CHIEF'S RIGHT, EFREM.

97-3-19,

SUBSECTION "B"--

"IN THE COMMISSION OF AN ACT

"IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS TO OTHERS,

"EVINCING A DEPRAVED HEART,

"WITHOUT ANY PREMEDITATED DESIGN

"TO AFFECT THE DEATH

OF ANY PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL."

THAT STATUTE WOULD HAVE BEEN RIDICULOUS

IN THE REIGN OF CHARLES I.

TELL THAT TO THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WASTE THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY

TESTING THAT ONE?

IT'S IN THE BOOK, EFREM.

WELL, I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD

TO THIS ARRAIGNMENT.

JUDGE IS GONNA LAUGH YOU RIGHT OUT OF COURT.

I THINK HE'S RIGHT.

DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY

WITH THIS JOHNSON CASE?

WHAT IS IT, SOME KIND OF DEMONSTRATION,

SOME POWER PLAY?

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

IT'S JUST YOU AND ME.

OKAY, JUST REMEMBER-- IT'S FOR YOUR EARS ALONE.

CAN'T YOU TALK TO THE CHIEF?

THIS IS UPSETTING THE WHOLE JOHNSON FAMILY.

FIRST THEY'RE HAPPY, NOW THEY'RE NOT!

ALL RIGHT, UM...

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SHOW, THEA.

NOW, LISTEN.

WOULD YOU LISTEN TO ME, PLEASE? LISTEN TO ME.

I MEAN, A REAL SHOW BACKED BY THE LAW.

WE GOT TO SPEAK FOR THE COMMUNITY

IN PLAIN ENGLISH, SHOW THESE FOOLS

JUST WHAT THE COMMUNITY IS GETTING READY TO DO.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

ARE YOU EXPECTING SOMEONE?

NO.

AND IF IT'S PEOPLE DOING MISSION WORK, PLEASE BE NICE.

[LAUGHING] OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TERRY. IT'S TERRY, ALTHEA.

I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU. IT'LL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.

TERRY, COME ON IN.

CAN I GET YOU SOME SODA...?

NOTHING, MRS. TIBBS, THANKS.

I CAN'T STAY BUT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S WRONG?

I'M TURNING DOWN THE SCHOLARSHIP.

YOU CAN'T.

I HAVE TO.

I CAN'T GO AWAY.

CAN YOU MAKE THINGS BETTER BY STAYING AT HOME?

I CAN KEEP THINGS FROM GETTING WORSE.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

DEREK WILL BE OUT, JUST LIKE BEFORE.

THAT LAWYER WILL GET HIM BAIL, LIKE BEFORE.

HE'LL BE PLAYING THE BIG MAN

IN FRONT OF MY LITTLE BROTHER.

I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS,

BUT DEREK IS GOING TO JAIL.

WHEN THE LAWYER CAN'T THINK OF ANY MORE TRICKS

TO KEEP HIM OUT.

THAT COULD BE NEXT YEAR.

MEANWHILE, HE'S HOME, DOING HIS DRUGS,

GETTING BOBBY ON THEM,

ROBBING STORES,

FLASHING MONEY IN FRONT OF BOBBY,

LAYING A LITTLE GREEN ON HIM NOW AND THEN.

TELLING HIM SCHOOL ISN'T ANYTHING.

IF I'M NOT HERE, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

BOBBY'S THE SMARTEST ONE OF ALL.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO STUDY HARD LIKE ME,

JUST GO TO SCHOOL AND BEHAVE.

WHICH HE WON'T DO IF I LEAVE HIM HERE WITH DEREK.

YOUR MOTHER'S NOT GONNA LET DEREK...

MAMA CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

NOT IF SHE'S ALONE.

IF I'M NOT HERE...

I'M SORRY, MRS. TIBBS.

I KNOW HOW YOU HATE TO HEAR THIS,

BUT I THINK MR. TIBBS UNDERSTANDS WHAT I'M SAYING?

YES, I DO.

VIRGIL!

I DO.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

I'M SORRY.

EXCUSE ME, BUT AREN'T YOU DEREK JOHNSON?

YOU TALKING TO US, SIR?

NO, EFREM SAMPLER,

I WAS SPEAKING TO THE YOUNG MAN.

WELL, I'M THIS YOUNG MAN'S ATTORNEY.

SO, WHAT IS IT YOU WANT, DOCTOR?

I'M ASTONISHED TO SEE HIM OUT OF JAIL.

HE TRIED TO KILL ME LAST WEEK.

I NEVER SAW YOU IN MY LIFE, OLD MAN.

MAKING A STATEMENT LIKE THAT IN A PUBLIC PLACE

COULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

I THOUGHT YOU LIVED IN JACKSON, EFREM.

I STILL CALL SPARTA HOME.

COME ON, DEREK. LET'S GO.

DR. ROBB?

YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?

I CERTAINLY DID, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL A JURY.

WELL, HIS LAWYER TOLD THE JUDGE

WE HAD THE WRONG MAN.

CAUSED SOME DOUBT.

GOOD LAWYER--GOT BAIL.

HOW YOU FEELING?

I CAME HERE TO PICK UP SOME BIRTH CERTIFICATES,

SO I WAS IN A JOYOUS MOOD.

BUT BEING REMINDED OF WHAT SOME BABIES GROW INTO...

LOWERS THE LEVEL OF JOY.

MAN, I CAN'T HANDLE IT IN THERE.

I DON'T WANNA GO TO JAIL.

CAN I HELP YOU, MR. TIBBS?

YEAH.

REMIND YOUR CLIENT

THAT BAIL CAN BE RESCINDED.

OH, I HOPE THE POLICE WON'T BE HARASSING MY CLIENT.

WE'LL RAM HIS BUTT BACK INTO JAIL

THE MOMENT HE BECOMES A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

DEREK, CALL ME TOMORROW.

HEY, TERRY!

WHERE YOU BEEN?

MAMA'S HAD ME OUT LOOKING FOR YOU.

I HAD SOME THINKING TO DO.

YOU KNOW I WANT YOU TO GO TO SPARTA HIGH

AND BE WITH MRS. TIBBS.

I KNOW.

BUT FOR A FEW MONTHS,

I THINK YOU AND ME AND MAMA OUGHTA GO SOMEPLACE ELSE...

THEN WE'LL COME BACK HERE...

COME BACK HERE AFTER DEREK GOES TO JAIL.

THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING.

NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT,

EXCEPT KEEP AWAY FROM HIM.

WHY IS EVERYBODY SO HARD ON DEREK?

BECAUSE OF THIS--

WHICH I FOUND IN YOUR JACKET.

HE'LL PULL US ALL DOWN WITH HIM.

NOT ME, MAN.

YEAH, YOU, YOU'D BE THE FIRST TO GO.

WE GOTTA GET AWAY FROM HIM,

AWAY FROM HERE, I MEAN, NOW.

I CAN GET SOME MONEY TOMORROW, AND THERE'S...

A MAN THAT'LL GIVE ME A JOB IN...

I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE WITH YOU.

YOU ALL MIXED UP. YOU BETTER GO HOME, MAMA WANTS YOU.

HE HAD THE BALL, MAN,

HE WENT UP,

BOOM!

HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING, HUH, MAN?

HEY!

WHO DO WE HAVE HERE?

LITTLE OLD COP CHICK!

WHERE? WHAT COP CHICK?

WHAT YOU DOING DOWN HERE?

LITTLE OLD SPYING ON US BLACK FOLKS?

YEAH! YEAH!

YOU THINK YOU'RE FOOLING PEOPLE

BY THE WAY YOU'RE DRESSED?

COME HERE, I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

TALK TO HER, HOMEBOY.

I'M JUST...

COME HERE!

OKAY, WELL, HANG ON. I'LL PUT YOU THROUGH.

DETECTIVE, IT'S PEAKE ON LINE THREE.

YEAH, PEAKE, WHAT'S DOING?

HMM.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

ALTHEA'S IN THE BOTTOMS.

PROBABLY VISITING MRS. JOHNSON.

PEAKE SAYS HE ALSO SAW DEREK ON THE STREET,

HIGH ENOUGH FOR A MOON WALK.

THINK YOU OUGHT TO CRUISE DOWN THERE, JUST FOR LUCK?

YEAH, I THINK I SHOULD.

MAYBE I BETTER GO WITH YOU.

NO, I DON'T WANT TO MAKE MUCH OF LITTLE.

THANKS, JAMISON.

WHO WAS THE MAN WHAT CALLED YOU?

A MR. PONSONBY--HE'S ON THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.

WHAT KIND OF JOB WAS HE TALKIN' 'BOUT?

SOMETHING IN HATTIESBURG.

HE HAS A RENDERING PLANT THERE.

HE WONDERED WHY TERRY WAS THINKING ABOUT WORK

WHEN HE SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE.

I DIDN'T TELL HIM WHAT TERRY TOLD ME.

HE WANTS TO GET AWAY FROM DEREK.

MAYBE HE'S RIGHT.

BUT WHY DO YOU HAVE TO LEAVE SPARTA?

I HAVE AN IDEA.

SOMETHING FOR YOU AND BOBBY

WHEN TERRY GOES AWAY.

SO YOU CAN GET OUT OF THE BOTTOMS.

I HAVE THIS PLACE,

I FIXED IT UP. IT'S GOT GREAT LIGHT, AND PLUMBING,

AND THE PLUMBING IS CONNECTED TO REAL SEWERS.

I THINK YOU BETTER GO NOW, MRS. TIBBS.

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN AND CLOSED]

WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?

YOU BEEN TALKING TO A COP'S WIFE ABOUT ME?!

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TERRY, NOT ABOUT YOU.

TERRY--THAT'S ALL I HEAR AROUND HERE!!

MY BROTHER THE GENIUS.

HE...

HE'S TOO GOOD FOR US.

HE'S TOO GOOD FOR THE BOTTOMS.

WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEAVE, MAN?!

OR MAYBE...

MAYBE HE'S JUST WAITING FOR HIS BIG BROTHER...

TO BLOW HIM AWAY.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

COME ON... GET IN THE BEDROOM.

HE'S SCARED.

THE GUY IS SCARED.

THE GENIUS IS SCARED!

WHERE'S THE PHONE?

AIN'T GOT NO PHONE. BOBBY--RUN NEXT DOOR TO THE NEIGHBORS.

[GUNSHOT]

[BODY FALLS]

BOBBY JOHNSON, IS THAT YOU?

I BET YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO THE GYM

TO SEE THE GAME.

NO, MA'AM.

YOU DIDN'T COME TO SEE THE GAME?

NO, MA'AM. I CAME TO SEE YOU.

THAT'S VERY NICE.

WHY DON'T YOU WALK ME TO MY CAR?

YES, MA'AM.

HOW'S YOUR MOM DOING, BOBBY?

SHE'S FINE.

I MEAN, SHE AIN'T FINE.

SHE HARDLY SAID A WORD SINCE THE FUNERAL,

AND SHE DON'T DO NOTHING BUT SIT AT HOME AND CRY.

I'M GOING TO GO VISIT HER.

I'LL GO TOMORROW.

SHE WANTS TO MOVE TO MARSHALBURG.

SHE GOT A SISTER THERE--

WHAT THEY CALL A HALF SISTER.

SHE HAS A LITTLE HOUSE THERE.

DOES SHE HAVE HER OWN FAMILY?

NUH-UH, IT'S JUST HER BY HERSELF.

SHE TELLS FORTUNES.

MAKES SOME MONEY OFF OF THAT.

BUT SEE, I WANNA FIND A WAY TO STAY IN SPARTA,

BECAUSE NEXT TERM, I'LL BE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I WANNA BE IN THIS SCHOOL...

WITH YOU.

OH, BOBBY...

I'LL HAVE TO DO SOME THINKING.

UNTIL TOMORROW.

WE'LL TALK AGAIN.

TOMORROW.

THANKS, MRS. TIBBS.

O.K., LOOK...

I AM SORRY FOR COMING OFF ANGRY.

I WAS TRYING TO BE EMPHATIC.

YOU WERE.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THAT, EITHER.

HEY, LOOK IT-- YOU CAN BE WHAT YOU WANNA BE.

THEA, MY MIND IS NOT CLOSED TO THE IDEA.

YOUR MIND WAS NEVER OPEN TO IT!

THEA, WE FEEL DIFFERENTLY ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.

LIKE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITY?

DAMN, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, BABY,

BETWEEN WHAT WE WANT TO DO

AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, BECAUSE WE DON'T DO ANYTHING!

THIS MUST BE SOME KINDA COP THING,

'CAUSE MY FATHER ACTED THE SAME WAY.

"DON'T LOOK OUT FOR PEOPLE ON THE STREET, WATCH OUT FOR 'EM.

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE, STAY FAR AWAY..."

YOU KNOW...

MY MOTHER WOULD STAND AT THE WINDOW,

OPEN UP THE BLINDS, AND SEE NEED.

MY FATHER, STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO HER, WOULD SEE DANGER.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

OH, CHIEF. COME IN.

GOOD EVENING, VIRGIL.

HI, CHIEF.

GOOD EVENING, MRS. TIBBS.

UH, HERE'S THE LEDGER

ON THE SEIZED PROPERTY, 88-89.

IT ALL HAS TO BE REEVALUATED BEFORE THE AUCTION.

CHIEF, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHOULD WE LET BOBBY JOHNSON

LIVE IN THE CARRIAGE HOUSE

WHEN HE STARTS HIGH SCHOOL?

I BEG YOUR PARDON?

YOU HEARD MY QUESTION.

YES, MA'AM, I DID.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN I DON'T WANNA FOOL WITH THE QUESTION.

LET ME REPHRASE THE QUESTION.

SHOULD WE LET A KID--

13 YEARS OLD-- LIVE UNDER OUR ROOF?

IS THE BOY BETTER OFF HERE WITH Y'ALL

THAN MOVING WITH HIS MAMA TO MARSHALBURG?

I KNOW IT SOUNDS WRONG, BUT IT'S RIGHT.

SOMETIMES IT'S RIGHT.

IF HE LIVES HERE, HE'LL STAY IN SCHOOL.

IF HE DOESN'T, HE WON'T!

I TAKE IT

Y'ALL ARE FIGHTING ABOUT IT.

YES.

YES, SORRY TO SAY.

WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU TWO TO FIGHT ABOUT IT.

THE IMPORTANT THING BEING

FOR THE BOY TO STAY HERE AND GO TO SCHOOL, UH...

IF YOU TWO CAN'T WORK IT OUT,

UH...

WHY DON'T I KEEP HIM?

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU BETTER THINK ABOUT IT.

I KNOW IT, I KNOW IT.

I'M GONNA START LOSING SLEEP THINKING ABOUT IT.

DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, I CAN'T HELP IT-- I MEANT WHAT I SAID.

I HAVE TO STAND BY THAT.

IF NOBODY ELSE WILL KEEP HIM...

I WILL.

GOOD NIGHT, VIRGIL.

GOOD NIGHT, CHIEF.

AND GOOD NIGHT, MRS. TIBBS.