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 ♪

CHIEF, HOW YOU DOING?

HI.

YOU GOING TO THE CHURCH?

NO. I JUST STOPPED BY TO DROP OFF THESE TOYS TO THOSE TWO.

I'VE BEEN DULY WARNED ABOUT SPOILING THEM, BUT I CAN'T HELP IT.

DON'T YOU WORRY ABOUT IT.

I BELIEVE THEY NEED SPOILING.

I HEARD THAT.

GOOD MORNING, ALTHEA.

YOU TWO ARE CONSPIRING TO MAKE MY CHILDREN

THE MOST SPOILED IN SPARTA. THANKS.

THE PLEASURE IS ALL MINE.

WHEN ARE YOU AND VIRGIL GOING TO MEET US AT THE CELEBRATION?

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO BEG OFF

BECAUSE I'VE GOT BUSINESS IN KENARD.

YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT GOING AT ALL?

I JUST DON'T SEE HOW I CAN GET BACK IN TIME.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO ASK VIRGIL TO STAND IN FOR ME.

WELL, I BETTER GET GOING.

MORNING, HARRIET.

HI. YOU FOLLOWING US IN YOUR CAR?

NO. I'VE GOT SOME POLICE BUSINESS...

I WON'T BE MAKING IT TO THE CHURCH.

WELL, THE PARADE AND THE PRESENTATION IS THE MAIN THING.

YOU GOING TO BE ON TIME FOR THAT?

IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO MAKE YOU CANCEL THIS PARADE?

I TOLD YOU BEFORE.

NO. I CAN'T.

YOU CAN'T? WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF IT RAINED?

MARCH. IT WOULDN'T BE THE FIRST TIME.

LISTEN TO REASON.

BY SAYING THAT, YOU WANT ME TO DO THE WRONG THING.

THAT'S SILLY. IT'S TRUE.

I COULDN'T CANCEL IT NOW EVEN IF I WANTED TO.

PEOPLE ARE READY TO GO.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU READ THE SPARTA HERALD,

BUT I WISH THEY HADN'T PLAYED UP

THAT ODESSA ROBBINS THING.

I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING, PARKER.

WAS THIS ON LOCAL TV NEWS?

OH, YES, SIR.

TAPE IT?

I GOT IT RIGHT HERE FOR YOU TO WATCH.

WE'RE AT THE COURTHOUSE NOW. CAROLINE?

BY THE SPARTA CITY COUNCIL AND CITIZENS

WITH A PARADE AND PRESENTATION.

MRS. ROBBINS WAS THE FIRST BLACK TO VOTE

ON THIS DAY IN 1964.

WRONG AS USUAL...

AND INCOMPLETE AS USUAL.

SHE DIDN'T VOTE THAT DAY.

SHE DIDN'T EVEN REGISTER THAT DAY.

SHE TRIED TO REGISTER.

SEE, THAT'S THE POINT OF THE WHOLE THING.

EARL COLMER, SR. THREW THE WOMAN

OUT THE BACK DOOR JUST FOR TRYING.

WELL, TROUBLE COULD VERY EASILY HAPPEN, CHIEF.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

KEEP AN EYE ON THE EVENT.

GO AHEAD.

THIS PARADE HAS GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON EDGE.

ALTHEA HAS EVEN HEARD

SOME KIDS TALKING ABOUT THROWING TRASH.

LISTEN, THERE'S ALWAYS TALK.

MARTIN LUTHER KING PARADE,

NOW THAT WENT OFF WITHOUT ANY INCIDENT.

WHEN EARL COLMER CAME TO SEE YOU,

HE LOOKED MEAN.

HE SOUNDED LIKE HE MEANT SERIOUS BUSINESS.

WELL... UH, CHIEF...

SOMEBODY JUST SMASHED THE WINDOW

OF MORTON'S TROPHY SHOP.

SOMEBODY'S STEALING TROPHIES?

CRIMINALS BEGINNING TO GIVE EACH OTHER PRIZES?

CHIEF, THAT'S NOT FUNNY.

MR. MORTON IS A VERY NICE MAN.

WELL...

EXCUSE ME, PARKER.

I AM INCLINED TO BE CALLOUS.

PARKER, I'LL LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

THANK YOU, SIR.

COTTON FIELDS.

I KNOW THE AWFUL MEANING OF IT ALL,

BUT IT SURE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

LORD, HAVE MERCY...

I HAVEN'T SEEN ODESSA IN OVER A YEAR.

YOU HARRIET?

OH, SURE. EVERY WEEK OR SO.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN ODESSA ROBBINS

WENT TO THE COURTHOUSE?

I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT TILL IT WAS DONE.

DIDN'T ANYBODY KNOW.

SHE MADE UP HER MIND

THAT SHE WOULD BE THE FIRST BLACK TO REGISTER,

AND THAT WAS IT.

NOTHING WAS MORE DANGEROUS.

YOU COULD GET KILLED TRYING TO VOTE.

HARRIET WAS THERE.

YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT.

I NEVER FELT LIKE TALKING ABOUT IT.

MORNING, MRS. DeLONG, MRS. TIBBS.

SHE'S GETTING READY. COME ON IN.

LOOK, SHE GOT NEW CURTAINS.

WON'T YOU SIT DOWN, LADIES?

ODESSA WILL ONLY BE A MOMENT.

[ODESSA] WON'T YOU SIT DOWN, LADIES?

I'LL ONLY BE A MOMENT.

YOU LADIES LOOK REAL NICE.

THANK YOU, CELESTINE.

WILL YOU BE COMING?

UH, NO. I GOT TO DO THINGS FOR MY MAMA.

YOU AND YOUR MAMA SHOULD COME TO THE CHURCH, CELESTINE.

YES, MA'AM.

YOU RIGHT, ETTA KIBBEE.

MY DAUGHTER AND HER KNOW ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING,

EXCEPT THEIR OWN HISTORY.

EXCUSE ME, LADIES.

OH, HARRIET.

MY DEAR.

OH, ETTA.

ALTHEA.

YOU'RE LOOKING BEAUTIFUL, MISS ODESSA.

OH, THANK YOU, BUT Y'ALL THE ONES.

WELL, SAM,

THIS IS IT.

HOW DO I LOOK?

SAMUEL, I'M RIGHT HERE

ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE SPARTA HERALD.

AND THE GIRLS ARE HERE TO PICK ME UP,

TAKE ME OVER TO THE CHURCH,

AND THEN ON TO CITY HALL.

NOW, I WON'T BE LATE.

HOW LATE WILL I BE?

WELL...

WE'LL BE AT THE CHURCH UNTIL ABOUT 2 P.M.,

THEN WE'LL PARADE OVER TO CITY HALL.

YOU'LL RIDE IN MR. GATES BRAND NEW CONVERTIBLE.

WE SHOULD HAVE YOU HOME BY 5 P.M.

I'LL BE BACK AT 5:00, SAM.

WE GOT A COUPLE OF PHONE CALLS.

YOU KNOW WHO THEY WERE?

COULDN'T TELL.

I GUESS EVERY NUT HAS A PHONE.

I DON'T TAKE IT TOO SERIOUSLY.

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO.

TAKING IT SERIOUS IS OUR JOB.

Y'ALL JUST HAVE YOUR CELEBRATION.

THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS YOU.

AND THANK YOU.

NATURALLY, YOUR FRIENDS GOT TO HAVE THEIR CELEBRATION

IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE AND CITY HALL.

THAT'S WHERE THAT DAY BEGAN.

I SURE HOPE I WAS RIGHT WHEN I TOLD PEOPLE

THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANY TROUBLE

AT THIS ODESSA ROBBINS THING.

WHY YOU TELLING ME THIS?

I JUST WANT TO EMPHASIZE

WHAT YOU WERE TOLD WHEN YOU CAME TO THE POLICE STATION--

THAT WE WANT THIS CELEBRATION

TO GO ON HERE WITHOUT INCIDENT.

I TRUST YOU UNDERSTAND THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE I KNOW YOU.

THIS IS BRENT LUNAY, A FRIEND OF MINE.

BILL GILLESPIE.

HELLO, BRENT.

I'LL SEE YOU LATER, EARL.

I WISH YOU HADN'T OF BEEN HERE RIGHT AT THAT MOMENT.

WHY NOT?

THAT MAN HAPPENS TO BE CHIEF OF POLICE OF SPARTA.

DON'T MAKE NO NEVER MIND TO ME.

I'LL BE LEAVING IN THE EVENING.

TELL YOUR DADDY ABOUT THIS YET?

NO.

YEAH. IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE.

SLIP THIS UNDER YOUR JACKET WHILE RIDING YOUR BIKE.

MY JACKET? WHAT IF IT EXPLODES IF I HIT A BUMP?

IT'S JUST A SMOKE BOMB, SONNY BOY.

IT AIN'T GOING TO GO OFF

UNLESS IT HITS WOOD OR STONE OR SOMETHING.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET YOU CARRY IT UNDER YOUR HAT.

REAL FUNNY, BRENT. REALY FUNNY.

WELL, IT'S REAL SIMPLE, NOW.

YOU GET DOWN THERE A FEW YARDS FROM YOUR TARGET.

ALL YOU'RE GONNA DO IS REV BACK THERE AND YOU'RE GONNA THROW IT

JUST LIKE THE PRETTIEST LITTLE TOUCHDOWN PASS...

THEN YOU'RE GONNA RUN LIKE HELL.

HERE.

WHAT'S THIS FOR?

WHAT'S IT FOR...

RRRRAAHHHH!

THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR, SONNY BOY!

WHAT'S IT FOR! GO ON!

GO ON!

HA HA HA!

MR. MORTON, WAS ANYTHING TAKEN?

NO. I DON'T THINK THEY EVEN WENT IN.

EARL COLMER COME BY HERE

WANTING ME TO SIDE WITH HIM

AGAINST THE ODESSA ROBBINS CELEBRATION.

THINK HE DID THIS?

I CAN'T IMAGINE EARL, SR. DOING IT.

WAS HE ALONE?

HAD SOME GUY WITH HIM.

I DIDN'T RECOGNIZE HIM.

HE BUTTED INTO THE CONVERSATION

TELLING ME THAT HE WANTED ME

TO MAKE A PLAQUE FOR MY OWN GRAVE-- BRONZE.

SAID HE'D PAY FOR IT,

AND IT SHOULD READ,

"HERE LIES IRA MORTON, NIGGER LOVER."

YEAH.

I'M REAL SORRY ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

WELL, HERE'S THE ODESSA PLAQUE.

I'VE GOT TO GET IT OVER TO THE CHURCH.

THAT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL, MR.MORTON.

AGAIN, I'M REAL SORRY.

WANT A WORD WITH YOU, SHED.

FOR YOU, ANYTIME. HOPE THIS AIN'T NO FORMAL CALL.

OH, SEMI-FORMAL.

UH, SHED, YOU USUALLY LET ME KNOW

WHEN Y'ALL ARE PLANNING SOMETHING.

BUT YOU HAVEN'T SAID A WORD TO ME

ABOUT THIS ODESSA ROBBINS THING.

I AIN'T SAID NOTHING BECAUSE WE AIN'T PLANNING NOTHING.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK WE ARE?

I DON'T LIKE WHAT I SEE ON EARL COLMER'S FACE.

HE AIN'T BEEN WITH US

SINCE OUR ANNUAL 4th OF JULY EVENT.

HE WENT NUTS,

BLAMING US FOR NOT HELPING HIM IN HIS TIME OF NEED.

CAN I DEPEND ON WHAT YOU SAY?

SURE, YOU CAN, BILL.

I GOT TOO MUCH WORK TO DO

TO BE WORRYING ABOUT THAT OLD WOMAN.

LET HER HAVE HER PARTY.

THAT'S WHAT I SAY.

MONROE HERE MISSED PRACTICE THREE TIMES.

Y'ALL NEED TO GET ON HIM.

[RADIO] JAMISON, COME IN.

YEAH, JAMISON. COME ON.

EXCUSE ME.

THINGS O.K.?

YEAH. EVERYTHING'S NORMAL SO FAR.

SOMEBODY DEFACED MORTON'S STORE WITH HATE SLOGANS.

IS HE O.K.?

YEAH. IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH ODESSA ROBBINS.

I'LL BE THERE WHEN I FINISH.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL SEE YOU WHEN YOU GET HERE.

[MOTORCYCLE]

DO THEY NEED ALL THESE POLICE IN UNIFORM?

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING WRONG.

YOU WORRY TOO MUCH.

IF I WASN'T WORRIED, THIS WOULD WORRY ME.

BEEN SOME CRANK CALLS. NOTHING SERIOUS.

JUST WHAT I NEED--

TRAPPED IN A BOTTOMS CHURCH

WITH PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW ME.

HOW CAN THEY KNOW YOU?

YOU HIDE IN YOUR OFFICE.

A CITY MANAGER'S SUPPOSED TO HIDE IN HIS OFFICE.

YOU NEED TO GET OUT AND ABOUT AND GET TO KNOW THIS TOWN.

DO YOU THINK WE ALL LOOK ALIKE TO THEM?

DON'T KNOW. NEVER ASKED.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU NERVOUS?

OH, HERE SHE IS. HERE SHE IS.

OH, SEE YOU LATER.

THANK YOU.

BLESS YOU, MY CHILD.

PRAISE GOD. GOD BLESS YOU THIS MORNING.

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU THIS MORNING,

AND WELCOME.

I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THE TIME THIS MORNING

TELLING THE PUBLIC LIFE OF ODESSA ROBBINS,

EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT TO SPEAK ABOUT.

[CHOIR HUMMING]

BUT CLARICE KINCAID...

MY MAMA...

OH, I CAN REMEMBER

HOW SHE USED TO LEAD ME BY THE HAND,

TAKE ME DOWN FRESH WATER ROAD

EVERY SATURDAY TO VISIT WITH ODESSA ROBBINS.

THEY'D SIT ON THE TOP OF THE PORCH,

AND I'D SIT ON THE STEP.

SHE'D GO IN THERE

AND GET A BIG OLD PLATE

OF FRESH BAKED GOLDEN BROWN COOKIES

WITH THE BIG OLD RAISINS AND THE NUTS IN THEM.

OH, LORD, I HAVEN'T HAD NO COOKIES THAT GOOD SINCE.

AND WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR US TO GO,

SHE GRABBED LITTLE OLD ME

AND HUGGED ME SO TIGHT,

AND SHE SAY,

"NOW YOU JUST KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, YOU HEAR ME, BOY?"

THAT'S THE ODESSA ROBBINS THAT I KNEW.

PRAISE GOD, ALL I WANT TO DO NOW

IS JUST HUG YOU AND KISS YOU

WITH ALL THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME.

Y'ALL JOIN IN.

COME HERE, DARLING.

OH, BLESS HER. BLESS HER.

BLESS HER. HALLELUJAH!

♪ LET IT SHINE LET IT SHINE ♪

♪ LET IT SHINE

♪ LET IT SHINE

GOD BLESS HER.

WELL!

♪ THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE ♪

♪ I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE ♪

♪ THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE ♪

♪ I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE ♪

♪ THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE... ♪

LONNIE, HOW'S IT LOOKING?

WELL, EVERYTHING'S FINE.

I STILL GOT A FEELING IN MY GUT ABOUT THIS.

I DON'T THINK ANYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I DON'T SEE ANY KNOTHEADS AROUND HERE.

♪ JESUS

♪ SAVIOR

♪ PILOT ME

♪ OVER LIFE'S TEMPESTUOUS SEA ♪

♪ UNKNOWN WAVES

♪ BEFORE ME ROLL

♪ HIDING ROCKS

♪ AND TREACHEROUS SHOALS ♪

♪ CHART AND COMPASS CAME FROM THEE ♪

♪ JESUS SAVIOR

♪ PILOT ME

♪ AS

♪ A MOTHER

♪ STILLS HER CHILD

♪ THOU CANST TOUCH

♪ THE OCEAN WILD

♪ BOISTEROUS WAVES

♪ OBEY THY WILL

♪ WHEN THOU SAYEST

♪ TILL THEN BE STILL

♪ WONDROUS SOVEREIGN

♪ OF THE SEA

♪ JESUS

♪ SAVIOR

♪ PILOT ME

YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE'RE OVERREACTING,

BUT IT'S BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.

I'LL MAKE A FEW PASSES AROUND THE BLOCK.

O.K. LET'S GO IN.

YOU MAY NOT KNOW ME, BUT I'LL INTRODUCE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY--

SOMEONE YOU ALL KNOW BETTER...

UH, I...

I DIDN'T MEAN THAT...

PLEASE WELCOME DISTRICT ATTORNEY

GERARD DARNELLE,

WHO'S GOING TO SAY A FEW WORDS

BEFORE WE ADJOURN TO THE BUFFET LUNCH.

Y'ALL MUST BE GETTING HUNGRY.

AMEN.

[LAUGHTER]

COME ON UP HERE, GERARD.

FIRSTLY, YOU NEVER TOLD THEM WHO YOU WERE.

I DIDN'T?

OH, GOOD LORD.

I'M BILL ANKST, YOUR CITY MANAGER.

THANK YOU, BILL.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL

FOR COMING OUT TO CELEBRATE THIS GREAT DAY.

MISS ODESSA ROBBINS

HAS SEEN MANY CHANGES COME TO SPARTA.

HER LIFE SPANS THE GENERATION

AS A SYMBOL OF COURAGE AND DIGNITY FOR EVERYONE.

MISS ODESSA ROBBINS HAS...

[SCREAMING]

DON'T PANIC!

EVERYBODY GET OUT!

DON'T PANIC!

[COUGHING]

WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE...

NOBODY'S BEEN HURT SO FAR.

THEY'RE JUST--

THEY'RE JUST ROUGHED UP AND SCARED.

DON'T BE TOO SURE.

GILLESPIE HERE.

OH, LORD.

OH, GOOD LORD. WELL, UH...

I'LL TURN ROUND AND COME BACK TO TOWN.

I'LL CALL THEM IN KENARD. TELL THEM I CAN'T MAKE IT.

OH, I...

UH, LISTEN...

DID ANYBODY GET HURT BESIDES ODESSA ROBBINS?

A LOT OF PEOPLE SCARED.

SOME OF THEM CLOSE TO ODESSA BREATHED IN SOME SMOKE,

BUT THEY'RE FINE.

ODESSA'S THE ONLY ONE WE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT.

WHAT ABOUT THE THREE WOMEN WITH HER

WHO BROUGHT HER THERE?

ALTHEA AND ETTA ARE FINE.

HARRIET'S FINE, TOO, CHIEF.

I PRESUME NOBODY SAW ANYBODY

WHO MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKELY TO DO THIS?

UH...DON'T KNOW YET.

I HAVEN'T HAD TIME TO QUESTION ANYBODY.

ALL RIGHT, THEN.

OH...

WAIT A MINUTE. THERE'S ONE OTHER THING.

I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN THE NAME "BRENT LUNAY."

LOOKS LIKE IT'S SPELLED L-U-N-A-Y.

WELL, IT COULD BE IN THE FRENCH N-E-T AT THE END.

THEN AGAIN, IT COULD BE FRENCH N-E WITH AN ACUTE ACCENT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE.

ANYWAY, THE FIRST NAME'S BRENT.

YES.

I'LL SEE YOU.

HOW'D YOU DO, SONNY BOY?

LOUDEST THING I EVER HEARD.

I GOT OUT OF THERE.

DID YOU REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR MASK ON?

SURE, I WAS COOL.

STILL NOT GOING TO TELL YOUR DADDY?

NO.

SCARED?

YEAH.

WELL...

I GOT TO GET GOING.

GOT TO BE IN MOBILE BY MORNING.

DID YOU SAY GOODBYE TO DADDY?

YEP. HE'S AT THE STORE DOING INVENTORY.

I GOT TO GET DOWN THERE MYSELF.

YOU SURE DID BUST THINGS UP, EARL, JR.

AIN'T GOING TO BE NO CEREMONY AT CITY HALL TODAY.

NOBODY GOT HURT, JUST LIKE YOU WANTED.

OF COURSE, BEEN MY BOMB...

I'D HAVE HAD ME SOME NAILS IN IT.

I HEARD SCREAMING WHEN I WAS RUNNING TO MY BIKE.

THAT WAS GOOD ENOUGH.

HERE...

YOU KEEP THAT, SONNY BOY.

YOU EARNED IT.

ANY CHANGE?

NO. WHICH ISN'T GOOD.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

SHE HAD A BIG HEART ATTACK, MR. DARNELLE.

THIS IS FELONY ASSAULT.

THAT AND MORE, I'D SAY.

EXCUSE ME.

EXCUSE ME, CHIEF.

NO CHANGE IN MS. ROBBINS.

THANK YOU.

CHIEF, UH...

DIDN'T YOU KNOW HER PERSONALLY?

I NEVER MET HER.

I KNOW ALL ABOUT WHAT SHE DID.

I WAS THERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, CHIEF.

OH, YES.

I WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE TALKING TO SOMEBODY.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS WOMAN CAME ALONG,

WENT RIGHT UP THE FRONT STEPS

AND RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.

THAT TOOK A LOT OF NERVE IN THOSE DAYS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 1964.

BLACK PEOPLE DIDN'T GO IN THE FRONT DOOR.

IF THEY DID, THE LEAST THEY'D EXPECT

WAS A BROADSIDE OF INSULTS, THREATS,

AND PLENTY OF PEOPLE TO BACK THEM UP.

LATER I FOUND OUT MS. ROBBINS WANTED TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

THE REGISTRAR WAS NONE OTHER THAN EARL COLMER, SR.

COLMER WAS THE SON AND HEIR

OF THE COLMER MERCANTILE FAMILY.

THEY MADE THEIR MONEY IN COTTON

AND IN THE LARGEST RETAIL STORE IN SPARTA.

ODESSA ROBBINS MARCHED RIGHT INTO EARL COLMER, SR.

HE DRAGGED HER OUT TO THE BACK DOOR,

PUSHED HER OUT--

IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO THROW HER DOWNSTAIRS.

JUST THEN, A YOUNG STUDENT BY THE NAME OF HARRIET DeLONG

RUSHED UP THE STAIRS,

AND SHE PROTECTED ODESSA ROBBINS FROM THOSE PEOPLE.

OLD COLMER--STILL MAD AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

JUST 'CAUSE SHE WENT IN THE FRONT DOOR.

NO, BECAUSE THAT DAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR HIM.

UH...

ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE IN SPARTA

STOPPED GOING IN TO COLMER'S MERCANTILE.

PRETTY SOON, ALL THE WHITE PEOPLE STOPPED GOING IN THERE, TOO,

AND IT REDUCED EARL COLMER, SR.

FROM A VERY BIG MAN AROUND HERE

TO, UH, WHAT YOU SEE TODAY.

IT DROVE HIM CUCKOO.

CHIEF!

THIS JUST CAME IN OFF THE COMPUTER.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE? OLD BRENT LUNAY.

WELL, HE'S WANTED FOR ASSAULT IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

DID YOU KNOW HIM?

WELL, YEAH.

I MET HIM WITH EARL COLMER,

OVER THERE IN FRONT OF THE STORE.

YEAH.

ASSAULT IN MANY PLACES AND MANY KINDS OF ASSAULT,

AND A MEMBER OF A COUPLE OF HATE GROUPS.

I THINK I HATE HIM.

[BELL RINGS]

EARL...

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME LUNAY WAS A CELEBRITY.

YOU DIDN'T ASK ME ABOUT HIM.

HE'S MOST RECENTLY WANTED FOR ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON

OVER IN MONTGOMERY.

NICE FRIEND YOU GOT, MR. COLMER.

WELL, HE'S NOT A CLOSE FRIEND-- JUST AN ACQUAINTANCE.

IS HE STILL STAYING WITH YOU?

I THINK HE'S GONE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM SINCE THIS MORNING ON THE SQUARE.

HE WAS WITH YOU WHEN YOU VISITED MR. MORTON.

HE CALLED MR. MORTON A NIGGER LOVER

AND THREATENED HIS LIFE.

I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.

HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHERE HE WENT?

YEAH... INDIANA.

YOU'RE LYING.

YOU WANT TO SEARCH THE PLACE?

I HAVEN'T GOT A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE STORE...

ONLY FOR YOUR HOUSE.

[DOOR CREAKS]

WELL...

LOOKEE HERE.

HE'S GOT THE RIGHT STUFF.

YES, SIR, HE SURE HAS, DON'T HE?

HE'S TAKING CHANCES DOING THIS SO CLOSE TO THE HOUSE.

YEAH, EITHER A PROFESSIONAL OR A FOOL.

WELL, LUNAY'S DEFINITELY PROFESSIONAL.

AND COLMER DEFINITELY A FOOL.

SOMEBODY BETTER CALM HARRIET DeLONG DOWN.

NOT ME. THE WOMAN'S FURIOUS.

LOOK, SHE MOVED THAT THING THROUGH THE CITY COUNCIL

WITH SPIT AND GRIT. NOBODY WANTED TO DO IT.

NOBODY WANTED TO OPEN OLD WOUNDS.

NOW THE TOWN'S READY TO TAKE A SUICIDE JUMP

BACK INTO THE SIXTIES.

OH, I DOUBT THAT.

I SUPPORTED HARRIET BECAUSE I COULD FINALLY SEE

THE VALUE OF HONORING ODESSA.

ODESSA ROBBINS IS LIKE...

SPARTA'S OWN MOTHER TERESA.

MORE LIKE ROSA PARKS, ANKST.

YES, ROSA PARKS IS WHO I MEANT.

[BELL RINGS]

HEY!

GENTLEMEN.

CAPTAIN,

ANYTHING NEW ON THAT FELLA LUNAY?

WE GOT INFORMATION COMING IN ALL THE TIME,

EXCEPT HIS LOCATION.

THANK YOU, DARLING.

I BET HE BUILT THAT FLASHBANG.

WHAT'S A FLASHBANG?

A VERY NOISY SMOKE BOMB.

IS IT LUNAY PROBABLY OR DEFINITELY?

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIND THAT OUT PRETTY SOON.

[WAITRESS] YOU READY TO ORDER?

YEAH.

[MACHINE BUZZING]

THIS JUST CAME IN.

THANK YOU.

WELL.

BRING IN YOUR WITNESS, SWEET.

SURE THING, CHIEF.

CHIEF WANTS TO SEE YOU NOW, ALVIN.

WANT TO COME WITH ME?

GO AHEAD, ALVIN. I'LL BE RIGHT HERE.

CHIEF...

THIS IS ALVIN TALMON.

ALVIN, THIS IS CHIEF GILLESPIE AND LIEUTENANT JAMISON.

HI.

HI. COME ON AROUND HERE, ALVIN.

O.K.

SORRY I HAD TO DRAG YOU DOWN SO LATE AT NIGHT.

I WAS WATCHING TV.

WELL, I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, TOO.

WE'LL GET YOU BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

THEY TELL ME YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN

THE MAN WHO THREW THAT BOMB.

I'M WILLING TO BET

THAT THAT MAN IS THIS FELLOW HERE.

NO, SIR.

THE MAN WAS YOUNGER THAN THAT.

YOUNGER THAN THAT?

HE CAME ON A WHITE MOTORCYCLE.

I SAW A WHITE MOTORCYCLE GO BY.

WHERE?

RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.

THANKS, ALVIN, YOU'VE HELPED US A LOT.

YOU GO ON WITH SERGEANT SWEET.

COME ON. LET'S GO.

COULD YOU TELL WHO WAS RIDING THAT MOTORCYCLE?

I THINK IT WAS EARL COLMER, JR.

DR. WILLIAMS, O.R.2.

DR. WILLIAMS, O.R.2.

EXCUSE ME, NURSE.

DID YOU MOVE MS. ROBBINS TO A ROOM?

NO, DOWNSTAIRS.

WHAT'S DOWNSTAIRS?

A HOLDING ROOM.

SHE DIED ABOUT HALF AN HOUR AGO.

THE FAMILY JUST LEFT.

I'M SORRY. WE DID ALL WE COULD.

THANK YOU.

[CRYING]

LUANN'S ON THE PHONE,

AND EARL COLMER, JR. DEFINITELY RIDES A MOTORCYCLE.

A WHITE '91 HONDA. I ALREADY PUT THE WORD OUT.

OH, GOOD.

ALL RIGHT. EXCUSE ME.

AHEM.

YES, LUANN.

OH, REALLY.

I'M VERY SORRY ABOUT THAT.

THANK YOU.

UH...

MS. ODESSA ROBBINS DIED.

[BELL RINGS]

IS EARL, JR. IN THE STORE?

NO.

WELL, WHERE IS HE? I WANT TO SEE HIM.

WELL, MAYBE HE'S HOME.

I JUST GOT WORD HE'S NOT HOME.

NOW, YOU TAKE ME TO HIM.

THAT'S THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SON

AT THIS MOMENT.

WHY?

I DON'T WANT MY MEN TO HAVE TO CHASE HIM.

I DON'T WANT ANY VIOLENT SHOWDOWN.

HE WILL NOT COME OUT OF THAT WELL.

YOU SAYING HE BUSTED UP THAT MEETING AT THE CHURCH?

BUSTED UP THE MEETING IS PUTTING IT MILDLY.

COME ON NOW, HE DIDN'T HURT NOBODY.

LET'S JUST KEEP HIM SAFE.

NOW, TAKE ME TO HIM.

WHAT WILL YOU CHARGE HIM WITH?

SOMETHING APPROPRIATE.

I'LL ASK THE D.A. FOR HIS ADVICE ON THAT.

COME ON.

ISN'T THIS BEAUTIFUL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN?

"THAT EVER MS. ROBBINS..."

RIGHT THERE.

HARRIET. AREN'T YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?

NO.

LET DARNELLE DO THE TALKING.

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO SAY SOMETHING

ABOUT RECEIVING IT FOR ODESSA?

EVERYBODY KNOWS.

O.K. DARNELLE'S WAITING.

WE'RE ALMOST READY HERE.

ARE YOU READY?

YES, SIR.

THIS PLAQUE IS PRESENTED TO THE CITY OF SPARTA

IN HONOR OF MISS ODESSA ROBBINS.

MISS ROBBINS DIED TODAY,

AND WE ARE FINISHING A CEREMONY

THAT SHOULD HAVE, OF COURSE, INCLUDED HER,

BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT HER.

IT'S ABOUT EQUALITY OF RIGHTS IN OUR LAND.

IT'S ABOUT TRUE FREEDOM.

[CAMERAS CLICKING]

THIS IS WHERE SHE BELONGS...

AND THIS IS WHERE SHE'LL STAY.

I WANT YOU TO GO IN THERE AND TALK TO HIM.

I WILL.

HE'LL MIND ME.

I GOT A GUN. I AIN'T SCARED.

DON'T BE SILLY, SON.

DON'T RUN. GIVE UP PEACEFULLY.

WE CAN'T HELP YOU UNLESS YOU DO.

YOU AIN'T TAKING ME IN.

NOW JUST BACK OFF.

[EARL, SR.] DON'T DO THIS.

YOU'RE NOT IN MUCH TROUBLE NOW,

BUT IF YOU FIGHT--

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, DADDY,

THAT OLD WOMAN DIED.

IT CAME OVER THE RADIO.

I GOT TO GO, DADDY, AND DISAPPEAR

OR ELSE I'VE HAD IT.

[SIRENS]

AAH!

SON.

OH, GOD, SON.

[SOBBING]

[RING]

[RING]

HELLO.

UM. HI, CHIEF.

NO, HE'S NOT HERE YET.

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE HIM CALLING.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR SLAMS]

YEAH-- UH-HUH.

WAIT, HOLD--

YEAH. HOLD ON.

CHIEF, HOLD ON, HE'S HERE.

HI. HI.

HI.

YEAH.

NO, I JUST CAME FROM THERE.

DR. ROBB ISN'T ON. DR. PERRY'S HANDLING THE AUTOPSY.

YEAH.

O.K. I'M HERE IF YOU NEED ME.

THE COLMER KID.

I KNOW. HE TOLD ME.

I SAW HIS FATHER AT THE HOSPITAL.

IT MUST BE ROUGH.

YEAH.

THE INTERESTING THING IS,

EARL, SR., THE FATHER...

HE BLAMES IT ALL ON US.

ON US?

YEAH. ON ODESSA ROBBINS AND HER ADMIRERS,

ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE CITY COUNCIL--

IN SHORT--EVERYBODY BUT HIMSELF AND HIS FRIEND BRENT LUNAY.

WHERE IS THIS LUNAY?

NOBODY KNOWS.

I WONDER HOW MANY OF THOSE CREEPS ARE STILL AROUND HERE.

I WONDER HOW MANY ARE STILL IN PHILADELPHIA...

IN TRENTON...

INDIANAPOLIS...

NAME IT, YOU KNOW.

UM, COULD I HAVE A...

TUNA FISH ON WHOLE-WHEAT TOAST?

MM-HMM.

[BABY CRIES]

OH, HONEY, GIVE ME FIVE MINUTES.

O.K.

OH, HARRIET, HI.

HELLO.

I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING.

WE'RE TRYING TO GET A LINE ON THAT GUY LUNAY.

I'VE GOT A MEETING IN FIVE MINUTES.

HARRIET, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO--

GOING TO WHAT?

I WAS GOING TO SAY, I HOPE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE UNREASONABLE,

BUT I KNOW THAT WORD MAKES YOU MAD.

WELL, I HOPED YOU'D BE THERE FOR ME.

WELL, YOU DON'T MEAN AT THE CHURCH, DO YOU?

WELL, YES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY

FOR THE PRESENTATION RIGHT HERE.

BUT ODESSA ROBBINS WAS ALREADY GONE.

BUT I WAS HERE...

AND I NEEDED YOU HERE.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DO YOU?

YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I FEEL.

I DON'T EVEN THINK YOU KNOW WHAT YOU FEEL.