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.

HEY!

WHAT YOU DOING DOWN THERE?

YOU CAN'’T FISH HERE. THIS IS OUR LAND.

SINCE WHEN DID THE COUNTY SELL YOU THIS LAND?

SORRY, LONNIE. DIDN'’T KNOW YOU WAS DOWN THERE.

I KNOW WHERE YOUR LAND STARTS, HANK MUELLER.

RIGHT THERE WHERE YOUR BOAT'’S TIED UP.

IF THAT WHITE FACE DOWN THERE

BELONGS TO LONNIE JAMISON...

YOUR BAD MANNERS

DON'’T SURPRISE ME NONE.

AIN'’T--

AIN'’T IMPROVED ANY SINCE YOU WAS A CHILD.

PAPAW, DON'’T GET YOURSELF EXCITED OVER NOTHING.

THAT LINE'’S THE PLACE WHERE MY LAND STARTS.

SEE YOU DON'’T CROSS IT!

UH...

LET--LET'’S GET OUT OF HERE, LONNIE.

LET'’S GO.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT?

OH. THAT MAN-- MUELLER.

YOU AREN'’T STILL BOTHERED BY THAT OLD FOOL?

NO, IT'’S NOT THAT. IT'’S JUST, UH...

I HEARD THE NAME BEFORE.

WHAT, MUELLER?

YEP.

HE AND HIS GRANDSON ARE THE ONLY MUELLERS LEFT IN SPARTA.

I GUESS THE FAMILY WENT WAY BACK, THOUGH.

YOU KNOW THEM?

JUST TO SAY HELLO TO, WHICH IS ENOUGH FOR ME.

NAME BOTHERS ME. A LOT.

THERE'’S A STORY BEHIND IT.

WELL?

STORY I DON'’T WANT TO TELL.

SOMEBODY ELSE CAN TELL IT BETTER.

[BLUES PIANO PLAYS]

♪ SOME GENTLEMEN OF MEANS ♪

♪ PLAYIN'’ STUD DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS ♪

♪ LOST A HAND THAT WAS FLUSHIN'’ IN DIAMONDS ♪

♪ TO THREE DEUCES AND TWO QUEENS ♪

♪ WITH THE CAR IN THE POT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ THAT'’S HOW LOUIS SWEET GOT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ HIS FINE NEW PACKARD

♪ HA HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ ONE MORNIN'’ WE ALL READ ♪

♪ IN THE PAPER WHAT DEL MUELLER SAID ♪

♪ THREE OUT-OF-TOWN NEGROES DONE STOLE A CAR ♪

♪ AND SHOT THE OWNER DEAD

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS ♪

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ OH-OHH.

Y'’ALL ARE VERY KIND.

I'’LL BE BACK.

YOU HEARD. MUELLER.

YEAH, BUT, WILLSON, THAT DOESN'’T PROVE A THING.

I KNOW. I KNOW.

WELCOME BACK, YOUNG WILLSON SWEET. HOW YOU DOING?

FINE. THIS HERE'’S LONNIE JAMISON.

HEY, MAN.NICE TO MEET YOU.

THAT LAST SONG-- ABOUT BEING THERE

WHEN LOUIS SWEET WAS SHOT--

DID YOU WRITE THAT?

NO. AND DON'’T NEVER SAY I DID.

SOMEBODY MIGHT COME '’ROUND HERE

AND TRY TO SHUT MY MOUTH.

YOU KNOW WHO WROTE IT?

I BETTER NOT KNOW, RIGHT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

DON'’T KNOW IF I SHOULD SAY.

DON'’T WANT TO NOT BE POLITE.

DON'’T MIND ME, SON. SAY WHAT'’S ON YOUR MIND.

WELL, SIR...

THERE'’S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND...

NOT FROM THE WAY YOU SANG THAT SONG.

IT'’S YOURS.

IT'’S TRUE...

AND YOU WERE THERE.

MIGHT AS WELL FORGET IT,

YOU'’VE BEEN AT IT 20 MINUTES

THAT THING'’S STILL FLASHING 12:00.

THANKS ETTA. I CAN SEE THAT.

IT'’S BEEN FLASHING 12:00 EVER SINCE THAT THUNDERSHOWER LAST DECEMBER.

WELL IF ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO TRY THIS, THEY'’RE WELCOME TO.

[KNOCK KNOCK]

I'’LL STICK TO DOING WHAT I'’M GOOD AT.

[KNOCKING]

IT'’S HALF PAST 10.

SORRY, MRS. KIBBEE. IS VIRGIL UP?

COME ON IN, SWEET.

COME AHEAD IN.

THANK YOU, MA'’AM.

SWEET. SOMETHING WRONG?

UH. WHAT A QUESTION.

MAYBE HE'’S HERE BECAUSE SOMETHING'’S RIGHT.

I HOPE SO.

THAT AIN'’T IT. THERE'’S SOMETHING WRONG.

COULD BE BOTH.

WELL, ANYTHING... IT'’S GOT TO BE DIFFERENT.

WELL, IT'’S DEFINITELY THAT.

IT'’S GOT TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO MY GRANDFATHER,

WHICH I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS.

[ETTA] HE WAS MURDERED.

I DIDN'’T KNOW. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

IN 1948. I REMEMBER.

HE TOLD MY FATHER HE WAS GOING TO DRIVE TO ILLINOIS

AND VOTE FOR HARRY TRUMAN.

NEVER GOT THERE.

HE WAS MISSING-- HIM AND HIS CAR.

SO HE NEVER CAME BACK?

HOW COULD HE? HE WAS MURDERED.

WELL, THEY NEVER FOUND THE BODY OR THE CAR.

LOUIS SWEET LIKED TO PROVOKE THE WHITE FOLK.

HE WAS SHOWING OFF HIS NEW CAR HE BROUGHT BACK FROM NEW ORLEANS.

SO THEY KILLED HIM.

HE WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK MAN

TO SIT AT THE COUNTER OF BUCK'’S DINER.

UH-OH. WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?

THEY SURE DIDN'’T SERVE HIM.

BUCK AND TWO OF THE YOUNG SHERIFF'’S DEPUTIES

CARRIED HIM OUT.

THERE WAS SOMETHING IN LOUIS

THAT JUST DROVE HIM TO DO THESE THINGS.

YEAH. HE WANTED HIS RIGHTS VERY BADLY.

DID YOU JUST HEAR SOMETHING ABOUT HIM?

MAY HAVE MET A MAN WHO SAW THE MURDER.

SO MAYBE WE OUGHT TO REOPEN THE MURDER CASE.

IF REOPEN IS THE RIGHT WORD.

DID THEY EVER OPEN IT? I THINK NOT.

HOW DO I GET STARTED, CHIEF?

WELL, YOU'’D HAVE TO GO INTO THE FILES.

I BELIEVE THE NEWSPAPER SAID

THAT YOUR PAPAW JUST DISAPPEARED FROM TOWN.

WELL, LET'’S FIND THAT STORY.

YEAH.

NOW, THIS FELLA, THIS BLUESMAN, UH...

HIS REAL NAME IS CHESH COLLINS.

THAT'’S THE NAME I KNOW HIM BY.

HE USED TO PLAY PIANO YEARS AGO AT THE OLD McGUFFY HOUSE.

THIS SONG OF HIS--AT LEAST THE SONG HE SINGS...

SUPPOSEDLY, HE-- OR WHOEVER WROTE THE SONG--

ACTUALLY WITNESSED THE EVENT.

UH, SAW THE MURDER?

I'’M SORRY, THAT'S JUST WHAT MY FAMILY ALWAYS CALLED IT.

YEAH, YEAH. ALL THE BLACK FOLKS AROUND TOWN

WHO REMEMBER IT CALL IT THAT, TOO.

THERE'’S A LOT OF WHITE PEOPLE CALLED IT THAT.

NOW, IT WAS 40-ODD YEARS AGO.

THE MURDERER-- IF IT WAS A MURDER--

UH, HE'’S PROBABLY IN THE GROUND BY NOW.

AND IF HE ISN'’T?

THEN HE'’S GOT ONE FOOT IN THE GROUND.

YOU DON'’T MIND IF I TAKE A LOOK INTO THIS, DO YOU?

NO. NOT AT ALL. GO AHEAD.

JUST DON'’T WASTE TOO MUCH TIME ON IT.

THE OLD POLICE FILE'’S IN THE BASEMENT OVER AT CITY HALL.

VIRGIL KNOWS WHERE THEY ARE.

WHY DON'’T YOU TAKE HIM OVER THERE?

YEAH. SURE. SURE THING. COME ON.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

MAN: THIS WHOLE ROOM IS STORED POLICE FILES.

NOW, LET'’S SEE...

1951...

'’50...

'’49...

THIS IS 1948.

LET'’S SEE, NOW...

SLATER...

SPELLMAN...

STROUD...

HERE WE GO.

LOUIS SWEET.

NOW, LET'’S SEE...

OH, YOU SEE THIS STAMP?MM-HMM.

THIS MEANS THAT THE ORIGINAL REPORT

WAS MADE TO THE SHERIFF'’S PATROL.

HERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.THANK YOU.

WELL..."LOUIS HAMPTON SWEET."

THIS WON'’T TAKE LONG.

LET'’S SEE...

UH, MISSING PERSONS.

POSSIBLE MURDER.

WITNESS REPORTS.

UH... NO SUSPECTS.

"POSSIBLE MOTIVE-- THEFT OF AUTOMOBILE."

ACCORDING TO THIS, A WITNESS REPORTS SEEING THREE BLACK MEN

FOLLOW LOUIS SWEET'’S CAR INTO THE WOODS AT ALLINTON FARM.

THEY WERE DRIVING A TRUCK.

SAY WHO THE WITNESS WAS?

DELBERT MUELLER.

THAT'’S THE OLD MAN THAT YELLED AT ME THE OTHER DAY.

HE'’S ALSO THE ONLY OTHER NAME IN THE BLUESMAN'’S SONG.

SO WE KNOW NOTHING NEW?

NO.

WELL, LET'’S GO FIND SOMETHING NEW.

BROUGHT REINFORCEMENTS, HUH?

THIS IS DETECTIVE TIBBS.

I KNEW YOUR MAMA WELL.

SHE HAD THE FINEST CATERING BUSINESS THIS PART OF THE STATE.

YES, SHE DID.

SHE TOOK CARE OF ALL THE FINE PEOPLE,

ALL THE FINE, BIG PARTIES. EVERYBODY.

USED TO CALL ME UP A LOT TO COME DOWN AND PLAY THE PIANO.

OH, I REMEMBER YOU.

SURE, YOU DO.

I WANTED TO ASK YOU... ABOUT THE SONG...

THE SWEET BLUES?

YOU MEAN THE BAD SWEET BLUES.

YEAH. THE MAN WHO WROTE IT-- IS HE STILL LIVING?

SURE IS. YOU'’RE LOOKING AT HIM.

WELL, WHY DIDN'’T YOU TELL ME?

DIDN'’T WANT TO.

WELL, WHY'’D YOU LIE?

MAN, I FELT LIKE LYING.

SOME DAYS I JUST LIE ALL DAY LONG, AND...

SOME DAYS, JUST LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON,

I CANNOT TELL A LIE.

HOW ABOUT TODAY?

OH, TODAY IS A MIXED ONE.

I CAN DO BOTH. DEPENDIN'’.

IS THE SONG TRUE?

WELL, YOU KNOW...

A SONG'’S A FUNNY THING.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO JUDGE IT FOR YOURSELF.

NOW, THIS YOUNG MAN HERE AND HIS PAL,

THEY FOUND IT TRUE.

MAYBE YOU WOULDN'’T.

YOU SAW LOUIS SWEET KILLED.

YOU CAN SAY WHO KILLED HIM.

SO CAN THE OLD MAN-- DELBERT MUELLER.

CHESH...

YOU WANT SOME MONEY?

IS THAT IT?

NO NO NO, LET HIM GO.

I MADE A MISTAKE.

DAMN.

SOMEBODY SHOULD QUESTION THE MAN.

WHAT YOU EXPECT TO GET FROM DEL MUELLER--

A CONFESSION?

DON'’T KNOW, CHIEF,

BUT THE MAN WAS A VERY ACTIVE RACIST IN HIS YOUNG DAYS.

IN HIS YOUNG DAYS. THAT'’S KIND OF A SMART PIECE BACK.

A GOOD 60 YEARS AGO.

I SUPPOSE Y'’ALL STILL TALKING ABOUT DEL MUELLER?

YOU KNOW, HE'’S DYING OVER AT THE HOSPITAL.

HE IS?

YEAH, CHIEF. THAT'’S WHAT I HEARD.

HIS ARTERIES ARE CLOSING MINUTE BY MINUTE.

CAN WE AT LEAST HAVE A WORD WITH THE MAN?

OH, NOT YOU.

I DON'’T MEAN NOTHING BY THAT.

WHAT I'’M SAYING IS, UM...

VIRGIL, YOU REMEMBER HOW I WAS WHEN WE FIRST MET?

OH, LORD!

MM-HMM. WELL, MULTIPLY THAT BY, SAY... OH, 10,000.

THAT'’S DEL MUELLER.

THAT'’S RIGHT.

O.K. UH...

BUT YOU KNOW THE MAN, DON'’T YOU?

SURE. PLAYED BALL WITH HANK MUELLER.

I CAN TALK TO HIM TONIGHT, MAYBE TOMORROW,

BUT RIGHT NOW I'’M TIED UP WITH THAT ROBBER AT THE MALL.

YEAH. GO AHEAD, BUBBA.

WAIT A MINUTE.

NOW, YOU ALSO ENJOY THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING THE MUELLERS.

OH, WELL, UH...

THAT'’S RIGHT, DETECTIVE.

CHIEF KNEW THEM BETTER THAN ANYBODY.

DELBERT.

DEL?

WHO--WHO IS IT?

IT'’S BILL GILLESPIE.

WHO?

CHIEF GILLESPIE. SPARTA POLICE, DEL.

UH... I KNOW HIM.

THAT HIM?

YES, IT IS, DEL.

WHAT YOU WANT?

I WANT TO ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS

ABOUT A POLICE CASE. GOES WAY BACK.

43 YEARS AGO.

GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD.

A BLACK MAN DRIVING A PACKARD CAR DISAPPEARED.

NOW, MAYBE HE WAS MURDERED.

HIS ONLY REMAINING RELATIVE IS ONE OF MY YOUNG OFFICERS.

S-SWEET.

LOUIS... SWEET.

THAT'’S RIGHT.

THE REPORT SAYS THAT, UH,

YOU SAW THREE BLACK MEN

FOLLOW LOUIS SWEET INTO THE WOODS.

NOW, THAT... AIN'’T TRUE.

YOU MEAN YOU DIDN'’T SEE THAT?

I SEEN THE WHOLE THING.

THAT AIN'’T WHAT HAPPENED.

THEN WHAT DID HAPPEN?

THAT'’S... BETWEEN ME AND MY MAKER.

DID YOU SEE THE MAN KILLED?

I SAID I DID.

THAT'’S ALL I'M... GOING TO SAY.

NOW, DEL, THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.

GET OUT... GILLESPIE, AND... LET ME REST.

DR. PERRY SAYS HE CAN GO AT ANY MINUTE.

WELL, HE WON'’T SAY WHAT HE REALLY KNOWS.

YOU'’D THINK HE WOULD...

COMING TO THE END LIKE THAT.

DOES HE KNOW HE'’S COMING TO THE END?

I DON'’T KNOW.

WELL, WE CAN HARDLY GO TO THE MAN AND SAY,

"MR. MUELLER, YOU'’RE COMING TO THE END. FESS UP."

NO.

UH...

W-WHO TOOK MUELLER'’S STATEMENT LONG AGO?

IT WAS A DEPUTY, ACCORDING TO THIS. UM...

NATE BEDFORD.

OH, NATHAN BEDFORD.

WELL, HE BECAME THE SHERIFF.

HE RETIRED ON THE JOB.

SHOULD I TALK TO HIM?

WELL... HE'’S STILL LIVING. HE'’S PRETTY HEALTHY.

SOUND MIND. I SUPPOSE YOU COULD TALK TO HIM.

I'’LL SEND JAMISON WITH YOU.

WHY?

B-BECAUSE HE'’S WHITE?

LIKE BEDFORD?

I SUPPOSE SO.

CAN'’T HURT.

I WANT YOU TO LET DEL ALONE.

OH, ALBA, THIS IS SERGEANT SWEET I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

THIS IS DETECTIVE TIBBS.

THESE ARE THE TWO OFFICERS

THAT ARE CONDUCTING THIS INQUIRY.

HE CAN'’T TELL YOU NOTHING.

WELL, NOW, ALBA, HE SAYS HE CAN.

WELL, EVEN IF HE CAN, I WOULDN'’T LET HIM.

I'’M REAL SORRY TO HEAR THAT, MA'’AM.

HE DON'’T HAVE MUCH LONGER,

AND WE'’D JUST AS SOON YOU LEFT HIM ALONE.

HE'’S GOT THE RIGHT TO DIE IN PEACE.

EVERYBODY HAS.

EVEN MY GRANDFATHER WHO MADE PEOPLE MAD

BY SHOWING OFF HIS NEW, FANCY CAR--

HE HAD THAT RIGHT.

THE LIVING GOT A RIGHT TO LIVE IN PEACE--

I RECKON YOU AGREE TO THAT.

MM-HM, YES, MA'’AM.

AND LOUIS SWEET, HE HAD THAT RIGHT, TOO.

WELL, SO DO I, AND I'’M STILL HERE,

AND I NEVER KILLED NOBODY.

I DIDN'’T EVEN THINK ABOUT KILLING NOBODY!

AND I DON'’T CARE WHAT KIND OF CAR Y'’ALL DRIVE AROUND IN.

I NEVER DID!

I NEVER DID!

PEOPLE MUST'’VE LAUGHED AT THAT STORY-- EVEN BACK THEN.

WHY WOULD THREE BLACK MEN WANNA KILL LOUIS SWEET?

WELL, IT COULD'’VE BEEN A ROBBERY.

AFTER ALL, ALL MURDERS IN THE OLD SOUTH

WEREN'’T RACIALLY MOTIVATED, YOU KNOW.

THAT ONE WAS. AND IT WAS ROBBERY, TOO.

JUST LIKE A WHOLE LOT OF THOSE LYNCHINGS.

WELL, ALL WE HAVE IS A BLUESMAN'’S SONG.

WHAT WILL YOU DO NEXT?

FINISH THIS DESSERT.

MM-HMM.

I'’M SORRY, HONEY. I KNOW THIS IS SERIOUS,

AND I SHOULDN'’T BE TRIVIAL ABOUT IT,

BUT THE CHIEF ALREADY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO.

THAT'’S WHAT HE TOLD HARRIET DeLONG WHEN HER SISTER WAS KILLED.

ALTHEA--

CAN'’T GET V.J. TRENDELL. NO SENSE IN TRYING.

AND HE WAS RIGHT.

BUT THE LORD TOOK CARE OF V.J. IN THAT PLANE CRASH.

THERE WAS NOTHIN'’ ELSE WE COULD'’VE DONE.

AND THE DEVIL TOOK CARE OF THE REST.

HONEY, ALL I'’M ASKING YOU IS TO KEEP ON TRYING.

IF YOU DON'’T WANT TO KEEP THE HEAT

ON THIS OLD MUELLER CHARACTER,

WHY DON'’T YOU START WORKING ON THE PIANO PLAYER?

I CAN'’T BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST SAY TO YOU,

"I WON'’T TALK."

THEY HAVE THE RIGHT.

CAN'’T CHOKE IT OUT OF '’EM?

WE DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT.

BESIDES, I'’M NOT QUITE FINISHED WITH CHESH COLLINS, YOU KNOW.

CHESH COLLINS IS NO GOOD.

CHESH COLLINS LIVED WITH THREE WOMEN AT THE SAME TIME.

YOU KNOW, I THINK I JUST HAVE TO APPROACH HIM THE RIGHT WAY.

HE'’S A PROUD MAN, AND I THINK HE'’S HONEST.

HE AIN'’T GOT NO PRIDE.

AND HE'’S THE BIGGEST LIAR IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

AND THAT, MY DEAR WIFE,

IS A DISTINCT AND DISTURBING POSSIBILITY.

THROW THE BALL, PAPAW.

ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE BALL.

OH, YOU DIDN'’T...

CHUCK IT BACK HERE. CHUCK IT HERE.

OH, WELL, IT...

WELL, STAY HERE, AND I'’LL GO FETCH IT.

WILLSON... YOU WANT TO DO THIS?

PAPAW!

YEAH.

YEAH.

OH. AFTERNOON, GENTLEMEN.

AFTERNOON, SHERIFF BEDFORD.

DON'’T KNOW IF YOU'LL REMEMBER ME-- LONNIE JAMISON?

NO, SON, I DON'’T RIGHTLY DO.

LONNIE, IS IT?

YES. THIS HERE'’S SERGEANT SWEET.

OH. NICE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

IF YOU GENTLEMEN COME HERE FOR A LITTLE ADVICE,

ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS,

DON'’T STAY ON THE JOB TOO LONG.

WHAT'’S TOO LONG?

WELL, BEYOND RETIREMENT. THAT'’S TOO LONG.

Y'’ALL HAVE YOUR OWN FAMILY?

NO, SIR.NOT YET.

WELL, GET YOURSELF SOME,

AND THEN, UH, RETIRE WHEN YOU'’RE SUPPOSED TO.

OH, YES, SIR.

WELL, LET'’S NOT JUST STAND HERE.

COME UP ON THE PORCH HERE. COME ON.

UH, DANNY, HERE. TAKE YOUR BALL, SWEETIE.

GO ON AROUND THE HOUSE AND PLAY WITH IT.

COME ON UP.

SIT DOWN. SIT DOWN THERE.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU GENTLEMEN?

WELL, SIR, THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP US

CLEAR UP SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED A WHILE BACK.

WELL, I CAN TRY.

UM...

MY GRANDFATHER-- LOUIS SWEET--

WAS KILLED HERE IN SPARTA.

KILLED HOW?

WELL, POLICE FILE CONFIRMED A NEWSPAPER REPORT

THAT THREE BLACK MEN FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE WOODS.

WELL... WHAT WOODS?

FOLLOWED HOW, ON FOOT OR WHAT?

THE FILE IN THE REPORT DIDN'’T SAY.

DIDN'’T TELL US NOTHING. THAT'’S WHAT WAS PECULIAR.

WELL, I WAS IN THE SHERIFF'’S DEPARTMENT

FROM 1945 TO '’75.

THIS IS 1948.

A WHITE MAN THREATENED HIM ABOUT A FANCY NEW CAR?

THE STORY CAME DOWN TO ME THROUGH MY FAMILY.

THEY'’RE ALL GONE NOW.

THE WAY IT WENT WAS THAT THESE MEN

STOPPED THE CAR IN ALLINTON WOODS,

KILLED HIM, AND TOOK THE CAR.

WELL, WHAT MEN?

WELL, THE STORY MIGHT'’VE HAD SOME NAMES IN IT,

BUT I CAN'’T REMEMBER.

I SEE. WELL, I...

I JU--I JUST AIN'’T GOT NO MEMORY OF IT.

THE STATEMENT TO THE PAPER WAS MADE MY DELBERT MUELLER.

WELL.

WELL, THERE YOU GO.

NOW HE SAYS THE STORY HE TOLD WASN'’T TRUE.

LORDY, LORDY, LORDY.

UH, OLD DEL MUELLER, IS HE STILL ALIVE?

YEAH.

WELL, I, UH...

GEE, I--I WISH I COULD TELL YOU GENTLEMEN SOMETHING,

BUT I SUPPOSE I'’VE GONE SILLY LIKE OLD DEL.

[CHUCKLES]

WELL, THANKS FOR YOUR HELP, SHERIFF.

OH, GENTLEMEN?

DON'’T FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT RETIRING.

OH, YES, SIR.

YES, SIR.

YEAH, IT'’S JAMISON HERE FOR THE CHIEF.

UH, YES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

YES, YES, YES?

WHERE ARE YOU?

WE'’RE OUTSIDE OF HIS HOUSE.

YOU JUST GOING IN?

NO. WE'’VE ALREADY SPOKEN TO THE MAN, CHIEF.

AND?

WELL, HE'’S A NICE MAN, BUT HE'’S LYING.

NO.

YEAH. WE BOTH THINK THE SAME THING.

HOLD ON.

MAYBE WE'’RE WRONG, CHIEF. MAYBE YOU COULD HELP US FIND OUT.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

COULD YOU POSSIBLY TALK TO THE MAN?

I HATE TO BOTHER YOU WITH THIS, BUT...

WELL, IT'’S NOT BOTHERING ME, SWEET,

BUT IT'’S KIND OF LIKE FISHING IN A RAIN BARREL.

PEOPLE MIGHT WONDER ABOUT YOU.

IF YOU TALK TO THE MAN AND BELIEVE WHAT HE SAYS,

I'’LL FORGET THE WHOLE THING.

JUST HAVE A CHAT. I'’LL FOLLOW YOUR JUDGMENT.

ALL RIGHT, I'’LL TALK TO HIM TODAY

IN ABOUT AN HOUR ON MY WAY HOME.

WELL, HE'’S HOME NOW.

I DON'’T NEED TO GO ALL THE WAY OUT THERE, SWEET.

I KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND NATE BEDFORD HERE.

LEGION PARK. ALMOST ANY EVENING ABOUT 5:00.

IT'’S TEN MINUTES AFTER FIVE.

WHY WOULD BEDFORD EVEN COME HERE, ANYWAY?

TO SIT.

ALONE.

YEAH, I HEARD THE CHIEF.

BUT WHY?

PEOPLE DO THAT. MY MAMA USED TO SIT AT THE DEPOT.

WHY?

IT'’S THE LAST PLACE SHE EVER SAW MY DADDY.

HE WAS HEADED FOR FORT BLISS, TEXAS.

LOOK THERE.

HI.

WELL.

BILL GILLESPIE. HOW ARE YOU?

SAME OLD STORY. WELL BUT WORRIED.

WELL, THEY GOT PILLS FOR THAT. I'’M ON THEM.

I'’LL TRY SOME. GIVE ME A BUNCH.

A BUNCH IS $10. GET YOUR OWN.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT SOMEBODY.

GO AHEAD.

DEL MUELLER.

DID HE EVER KILL ANYBODY? I MEAN, WAS HE UP TO IT?

WELL, LONG...

LONG TIME AGO HE WAS. I--

HE PROBABLY DID.

WHO DID HE KILL?

I THINK HE KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE.

I THINK... HE WAS THAT KIND OF GUY.

UH, BLACK PEOPLE?

YEAH... AND A COUPLE OF WHITE PEOPLE, TOO.

BILL...

DEL MUELLER WAS THE DEVIL'’S OWN.

AND THAT'’S A FACT.

YOU KNOW WHY I'’M ASKING THIS, DON'’T YOU?

SURE, I DO.

SAME REASON THOSE YOUNG MEN OF YOURS

CAME OVER TO SPEAK TO ME.

YOU ALL READ IN THE NEWSPAPER

WHERE MUELLER REPORTED A PROBABLE KILLING TO ME

43 YEARS AGO.

WAS HE TELLING THE TRUTH? '’CAUSE HE TOLD ME HE LIED.

THE ONLY TESTIMONY THAT COULD COUNT HERE, BILL,

IS THE DEAD MAN'’S REMAINS...

IF SCIENCE COULD CAUSE THOSE REMAINS TO SPEAK.

WELL, UH...

UH, NATE, WE-- WE WEREN'’T FIXING TO PROSECUTE,

YOU KNOW, IN THE ORDINARY SENSE.

IT'’S JUST THAT, UH...

LISTEN.

IS IT TRUE THAT GREAT THOUGHTS COME IN SMALL BOOKS?

YEAH.

AND IN THIS LITTLE BOOK

IS THE GREATEST THOUGHT OF ALL.

THERE'’S NO OTHER THOUGHT

THAT CAN GIVE YOU SUCH COMPLETE... COMFORT.

UH, CAN I TELL YOU WHAT IT IS?

YOU CERTAINLY CAN.

IF YOU WANT FORGIVENESS,

ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS ASK FOR IT...

BELIEVING IN HIM WHO ALONE CAN GIVE IT.

♪ ONE MORNIN'’ WE ALL READ ♪

♪ IN THE PAPER WHAT DEL MUELLER SAID ♪

♪ THREE OUT-OF-TOWN NEGROES DONE STOLE A CAR ♪

♪ AND SHOT THE OWNER DEAD

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS ♪

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ WHOA.

DOES CHESH COLLINS KNOW YOU GOT THAT?

NO, SIR.

WELL, ALL HE SAYS

IS THAT HE KNOWS SOMETHING,

BUT, UH, HE DOESN'’T SAY WHAT HE KNOWS.

HE ALSO SAYS HE WAS A WITNESS.

BUT TO WHAT? HE DOESN'’T SAY.

SO WHAT ARE YOU TELLING US?

THAT'’S IT, IT'S OVER? CASE CLOSED?

NO, NOT YET.

IT DEPENDS ON WHAT I HEAR TONIGHT.

AND SO GET YOUR CIVVIES ON AND STAND BY.

♪ YOU SEE A PRETTY BROWN

♪ AND BEAUTIFUL GOWNS

♪ YOU SEE TAILOR-MADES

♪ AND HAND-ME-DOWNS

♪ YOU SEE HONEST MEN

♪ AND PICKPOCKETS SKILLED

♪ YOU'’LL FIND THAT ♪

♪ IT NEVER CLOSES

♪ TILL SOMEBODY GETS KILLED ♪

♪ I'’D RATHER BE HERE ♪

♪ THAN ANYPLACE I KNOW

♪ I'’D RATHER BE HERE ♪

♪ THAN ANYPLACE...

WAITRESS--NOW, WHAT DO YOU ALL WANT TO RISK HERE?

I'’D LIKE A GINGER ALE, PLEASE.

A PLAIN GINGER ALE-- GIVE ME THE SAME AGAIN. VIRGIL?

I'’LL HAVE WHAT SHE'’S HAVING.

RIGHT AWAY.

WELL, LISTEN,

I THINK I'’M GOING TO GET THIS THING STARTED.

♪ THERE'’S A DARN GOOD REASON WHY ♪

♪ GOIN'’ TO THE RIVER ♪

♪ THERE'’S A REASON WHY ♪

♪ '’CAUSE THE RIVER'S WET ♪

♪ AND BEES'’ FEET'S DONE GONE DRY. ♪

SAW YOUR PARTY ARRIVE.

FIRST ROUND'’S ON ME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.YOU'’RE WELCOME.

THANK YOU, CHESH.

LISTEN. WE CAN'’T STAY LONG.

WE'’RE ALL CITY EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE TO BE EARLY RISERS.

HOW MUCH OF THE SONG YOU WANT TO HEAR?

IS THERE A VERSE YOU USUALLY DON'’T PLAY?

YEAH, THERE IS.

WELL, THAT'’S THE ONE I WANT TO HEAR.

IN FACT, THAT'’S THE ONE I MUST HEAR,

BUT, LISTEN, I WANT TO HEAR IT ALL.

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE.

♪

♪ THE BAD, BAD SWEET BLUES

♪ THE LYNCHIN'’ OF LOUIS SWEET BLUES ♪

♪ CAN NEVER BE SUNG BY A BLUESMAN ♪

♪ WHO'’S GOT SOMETHING GOOD TO LOSE ♪

♪ LIKE FOR INSTANCE HIS LIFE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BUT WHEN I LOOK AT LIFE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ I DON'’T SEE NOTHIN' ♪

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ THIS RUN-DOWN SORRY PLACE ♪

♪ THIS 5 1/2 FOOT OF SPACE

♪ GOING TO BE WHERE YOUR WEARY OLD BLUESMAN ♪

♪ WILL FINALLY QUIT THE RACE ♪

♪ BUT YOUNG LOUIS SWEET, FRIENDS ♪

♪ HAD A CLASSY DEFEAT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ DRIVIN'’ A PACKARD ♪

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ YOUNG LOUIS SWEET, FRIENDS ♪

♪ HAD A CLASSY DEFEAT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ DRIVIN'’ A PACKARD ♪

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ SOME GENTLEMAN OF MEANS

♪ PLAYIN'’ STUD DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS ♪

♪ LOST A HAND THAT WAS FLUSHIN'’ IN DIAMONDS ♪

♪ TO THREE DEUCES AND TWO QUEENS ♪

♪ WITH THE CAR IN THE POT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ THAT'’S HOW LOUIS SWEET GOT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ HIS FINE NEW PACKARD

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ BACK IN OLD SPARTA TOWN

♪ HE DROVE THROUGH THE PARK AND THEN DOWN ♪

♪ TO PEARBLOSSOM STREET IN THE BOTTOMS ♪

♪ WHERE THE FINE CHICKS HUNG AROUND ♪

♪ TOOK '’EM FROM THERE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BACK UP TO THE SQUARE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ IN HIS NEW PACKARD

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ BRAVE LOUIE

♪ BUT I FEAR

♪ 1948 WASN'’T NO YEAR ♪

♪ FOR A HIGH-TALKIN'’, GAMBLIN'’ BLACK DUDE ♪

♪ TO JIVE AND JOKE AND JEER ♪

♪ AT WARNINGS HE'’S GOT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ THAT HE JUST BETTER NOT, FRIENDS ♪

♪ GO '’ROUND IN THAT PACKARD ♪

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ ONE MORNIN'’ WE ALL READ ♪

♪ IN THE PAPER WHAT DEL MUELLER SAID ♪

♪ THREE OUT-OF-TOWN NEGROES DONE STOLE A CAR ♪

♪ AND SHOT THE OWNER DEAD

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ WHOA

THAT WAS WONDERFUL, CHESH, BUT, UH,

YOU STILL COME UP ONE VERSE LIGHT, DIDN'’T YA?

THAT LAST VERSE HAS SOME NAMES IN IT.

MAYBE FIRST YOU OUGHTA HEAR THE STORY WITHOUT THE MUSIC.

I'’D LIKE TO HEAR IT.

HOW OLD WERE YOU BACK THEN?

I CAN'’T SAY, MA'AM.

I DON'’T EVEN KNOW HOW OLD I AM NOW.

I WAS A KID, AND I WAS SCARED.

IT WAS NOVEMBER 1, 1948,

THE EVENING OF THE DAY

LOUIS SWEET DROVE THAT PACKARD '’ROUND THE SQUARE.

I DIDN'’T SEE THAT.

WHAT I SAW WAS IN THE WOODS AT ALLINGTON'’S FARM.

YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT YOUR GRANDPA LOUIE MUST HAVE FELT,

THINKING HE COULD MAYBE HELP THIS TURKEY BLOCKING THE ROAD.

THEN HE SAW WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT--

THE END OF HIS LIFE.

WHO, UH...

WHO WAS THIS TURKEY?

WHO WERE THEY ALL, CHESH?

YOU GONNA TELL US?

WERE THEY BLACK GUYS?

♪ J. BOYD'’S IN THE GROUND ♪

♪ HIS PALS ARE STILL LIVIN'’ IN TOWN ♪

♪ THE COLORS OF ALL THEIR FACES ♪

♪ ARE THE WHITEST KIND AROUND ♪

♪ NATHAN BEDFORD WAS ONE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ AND THE MAN WITH THE GUN, FRIENDS ♪

♪ DELBERT MUELLER...

CHIEF, I SUPPOSE YOU'’RE GONNA SAY I'’M GUILTY

OF SOME KIND OF BAD CRIME MYSELF,

NOT TELLING THE LAW ABOUT THIS UNTIL NOW.

NO, CHESH.

AFTER ALL, IT'’S STILL JUST A SONG.

NOW YOU GOT NAMES.

IT'’S REAL.

AND, VIRGIL,

YOU DIDN'’T HAVE TO GIVE ME NO MONEY.

I'’M REAL SORRY ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DID THEY DO WITH MY GRANDFATHER?

THEY BURIED HIM...

OVER IN ALLINTON'’S WOODS.

THEY'’RE GONE.

EVERYTHING GOES...

EXCEPT THE EARTH.

THERE IT IS.

RIGHT OVER THERE, UNDER THAT SWING SET.

YOU MEAN YOU'’VE BEEN KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THAT SPOT

OVER ALL THE CHANGES AND OVER ALL THE YEARS?

KIND OF.

AND I AIN'’T THE ONLY ONE.

O.K., SWEET.

GO AHEAD.

WELL, YOUNG SWEET.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

THOUGHT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE THIS PHOTO.

THAT'’S ME-- AT MY GRANDDADDY'’S GRAVE.

I'’M GLAD I KNOW ABOUT THAT PLACE...

FINALLY.

I'’M GONNA BE GOING UP THERE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

MAYBE I'’LL SEE YOU THERE.

YOU WANT TO PRAY?

I'’LL PRAY WITH YOU.

KEEP THE PICTURE.

WELL, SWEET, IT'’S UP TO YOU.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE HIS BODY EXHUMED,

I CAN START THE PROCESS.

IT'’S A LONG, LONG PROCESS.

OH, NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

JUST TO FIND OUT IF HE'’S HERE.

I ALREADY KNOW HE'’S HERE.

AND THEN WHAT?

BURY HIM AGAIN?

WHY?

COULDN'’T BE IN A NICER PLACE.

I THINK YOU'’RE RIGHT.

I SURE WISH HE COULD'’VE SEEN ALL THIS.

I MEAN, UH...

THINGS ARE BETTER, AREN'’T THEY, CHIEF?

THEY'’RE NOT GREAT...

BUT THEY'’RE BETTER. RIGHT?

YES, SON, THEY'’RE BETTER.

A WHOLE LOT BETTER.

♪ ONE MORNIN'’ WE ALL READ ♪

♪ IN THE PAPER WHAT DEL MUELLER SAID ♪

♪ THREE OUT-OF-TOWN NEGROES DONE STOLE A CAR ♪

♪ AND SHOT THE OWNER DEAD

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ HA HA HA HA

♪ HA HA HA HA HA HA HA ♪

♪ I CAN SWEAR IT'’S A LIE, FRIENDS ♪

♪ BECAUSE ONLY I, FRIENDS

♪ WITNESSED THE ACTION

♪ WHOA.

[APPLAUSE]