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 ♪

TWO DESSERTS...

FOUR FORKS.

THERE MUST BE SOME MISTAKE. WE DIDN'T ORDER DESSERT.

NO MISTAKE. THEY'RE ON THE HOUSE.

PLEASE SAY, "THANK YOU" TO MISS LUCILLE.

THANK YOU.

GERARD, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.

MY DADDY USED TO SAY,

"A GOOD LAWYER KNOWS THE LAW...

"BUT A SMART LAWYER KNOWS

"WHEN TO TAKE THE JUDGE TO LUNCH."

WELL, I WILL PROPOSE A TOAST.

TO LAWTON GRAY.

UH, THE HONORABLE LAWTON GRAY.

THE HONORABLE LAWTON GRAY--

DISTINGUISHED PROSECUTOR,

ARMY OFFICER, JUDGE,

AND OUR NEXT CONGRESSMAN.

COUNCILWOMAN DOUGLAS' SENTIMENTS ARE APPRECIATED,

BUT IT IS A LONG WAY BETWEEN ENTERING A PRIMARY

AND WINNING THE NOMINATION...

AND MORE, THE ELECTION.

I'M GOING TO NEED SUPPORT.

GRASS ROOT SUPPORT.

WHITE PEOPLE AND BLACK PEOPLE WORKING TOGETHER

FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

EXCUSE ME. THERE'S A PHONE CALL FOR JUDGE GRAY.

AH. YES?

YEAH, THIS IS LIEUTENANT JAMISON, SPARTA PD.

YOUR RESIDENCE HAS BEEN BURGLARIZED.

ANYBODY HURT?

NO, SIR, YOUR WIFE SURPRISED THE MAN, AND HE RAN OUT.

OH, THANK GOD.

WELL, IS ANYTHING VALUABLE MISSING?

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

WHY HASN'T MRS. GRAY TOLD YOU?

WELL, SHE'S DOING A LITTLE BIT

OF RESTING RIGHT NOW, JUDGE.

SAY WHAT IT IS, LIEUTENANT.

WELL, LOOKS LIKE SHE'S BEEN DOING SOME DRINKING.

I'M ON MY WAY.

MY HOUSE BEEN BURGLARIZED.

IS MRS. GRAY ALL RIGHT?

WELL, SHE'S A LITTLE SHAKEN, BUT SHE'LL BE FINE.

EXCUSE ME.

DON'T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT, LAWTON.

I HAD A FEW MARTINIS

WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE POLICE.

SURE, YOU DID, MURIEL.

THAT MAN ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK.

I NEEDED TO TAKE SOMETHING...

DIDN'T I?

I RECKON SO, MA'AM.

[DOOR OPENS]

JUDGE GRAY...

I'M REALLY SORRY YOU'RE HAVING THIS TROUBLE.

WELL, FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

NEVER THINK IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU.

YEAH. AND HOW YOU FEELING, MRS. GRAY?

LIKE I BEEN RAPED...

HAVING A STRANGE MAN GOING THROUGH MY BEDROOM DRAWERS...

TOUCHING ALL MY PERSONAL THINGS.

DID THE MAN TAKE ANYTHING?

HE FOUND SOME JEWELRY IN MRS. GRAY'S BUREAU.

OH, JUST COSTUME PIECES.

NOTHING PRECIOUS.

I KEEP ALL MY VALUABLES

IN THE WALL SAFE.

UH...

WELL...DIDN'T YOU SET THE ALARM?

I GUESS I FORGOT.

I'M AFRAID I OFTEN DO.

THAT'S WHEN SHE UNLOCKED THE DOOR AND WALKED IN,

AND HEARD SOMEBODY RUMMAGING AROUND.

THEN SHE SAW A MAN HEADING OUT THE TERRACE DOOR.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE MAN?

WELL, HE WAS WHITE.

HE WAS... MEDIUM HEIGHT.

HE WORE DARK CLOTHES.

WAS HE BY HIMSELF?

I DIDN'T SEE ANYBODY ELSE.

I'M SORRY, HON. IT MUST'VE BEEN TERRIBLE FOR YOU.

OH, LAWTON.

I--I'M SO LUCKY.

I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED.

ANY SIGN OF FORCED ENTRY?

YES, SIR. YOU CAN SEE THE TOOL MARKS

RIGHT HERE BY THE LOCKING MECHANISM.

YEAH.

UH, EXCUSE ME.

YOUR NAME IS...?

ELEANOR BROOKS.

AND YOU WORK HERE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ALMOST 10 YEARS.

I'M SORRY.

UH, I'M VIRGIL TIBBS.

THIS IS LONNIE JAMISON.

MA'AM.

HOW DO YOU DO?

WHERE WAS EVERYBODY WHEN THIS HAPPENED?

HORTON DROVE MRS. GRAY TO THE HOSPITAL TO SEE BESSIE--

SHE'S OUR COOK AND HOUSEKEEPER.

HE DROPPED HER OFF AT THE DOOR WHEN THEY GOT BACK,

AND DROVE OFF SOMEWHERES ELSE.

AND WHERE WERE YOU?

SHOPPING FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES OUT ON WILDBERRY ROAD.

I ONLY GOT BACK A MINUTE BEFORE YOU.

WHAT IS YOUR JOB HERE, MS. BROOKS?

A PERSONAL ASSISTANT DOES ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.

WHATEVER MRS. GRAY MIGHT WANNA DO FOR HERSELF...

IF SHE WANTED TO DO IT.

THANK YOU.

IS THERE SOME TROUBLE?

OH, I DON'T THINK SO, MA'AM.

THERE WAS A BURGLARY IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD THIS AFTERNOON,

AND WE'RE ASKING EVERYONE IF THEY SAW ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS.

I WASN'T HOME.

I SPENT THE AFTERNOON AT THE GARDEN CLUB MEETING.

OH, MATILDA, THERE'S BEEN A ROBBERY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

DID YOU HAPPEN TO SEE ROBBERS...

OR MEN WHO LOOKED LIKE ROBBERS?

I NOTICED AN OLD, BEAT-UP GREMLIN

CIRCLING THE BLOCK THIS MORNING.

YOU SURE IT WAS A GREMLIN?

YES, SIR, MY BROTHER HAD ONE.

DID YOU SEE THE DRIVER'S FACE?

NO, I COULDN'T SEE HIS FACE.

HUH. WELL, WHAT COLOR WAS THE CAR?

BLUE.

TELL ME...WHY DO MEN RESORT TO BURGLARY

WHEN THERE'S SO MANY LEGAL WAYS TO BE DISHONEST?

UM...HMM.

UH, THANK YOU.

SO DARNELLE LIKES JUDGE GRAY, DOES HE?

HE PICKED UP THE LUNCH CHECK.

HE MUST LIKE HIM A LOT.

COUNCILWOMAN DOUGLAS SUPPORTS HIM, TOO,

BUT SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF HIS.

YEAH. WHAT ABOUT YOU?

ARE YOU KIDDING?

WELL, HE'S GOING TO WIN.

HIS WAR RECORD MIGHT MAKE HIM A HERO TO SOME,

BUT THE ONLY GOOD THING ABOUT HIM IS HIS WIFE,

AND HE NEVER EVEN MENTIONED HER NAME.

SHE'S A BOOZER.

DON'T BE CRUEL.

SAY IT ANY WAY YOU WANT, BUT YOU CAN'T DENY IT.

BILL, IT'S AN ILLNESS.

WHATEVER IT IS,

JUDGE GRAY IS TIRED OF IT.

NOW, UH, I DIDN'T FORGET ANYTHING, DID I?

NO.

OH! THE BUTTER.

I THOUGHT YOU PUT THAT ON THE TABLE.

WHY DO YOU HAVE TO GO NOW?

LAWTON, PLEASE!

LOOK, I HAVE TO WORK. THAT'S THAT.

YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO LEAVE AT THIS HOUR.

PLEASE STAY HERE WITH ME.

I HATE TO BE HERE ALONE.

IT'S AN IMPORTANT MEETING.

EVERY MEETING IS IMPORTANT,

THIS IS A CAMPAIGN.

WHAT ABOUT ME?

WELL, IN A CERTAIN FRAME OF REFERENCE,

YOU ARE ALL-IMPORTANT,

BUT I CANNOT NEGLECT MY DUTIES, COMMITMENTS, OBLIGATIONS...

I NEED TO BE WITH YOU.

YOU REALLY DON'T.

NOW, I HAVE TO GET GOING.

I...WANT TO SPEND SOME TIME AT PURVIS LAKE.

I THOUGHT YOU DIDN'T LIKE THE LAKE.

I USED TO LOVE IT.

I WANT TO GO AGAIN.

HOW LOVELY IT WAS...

HOW PEACEFUL...

WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS.

OF COURSE, THERE WERE SURPRISES NOW AND THEN.

THE CRUEL WORLD WAS NEVER VERY FAR AWAY.

VIOLENCE AND VENGEANCE...

ARE ALWAYS NEAR.

BUT IT'S STILL BEAUTIFUL THERE...

UNLESS YOU LET YOURSELF THINK...

ABOUT UGLY THINGS.

I HOPE YOU DON'T WAIT UP FOR ME.

WHY DOES IT BOTHER ME?

BECAUSE IT'S HUMILIATING, THAT'S WHY.

YOU'RE NOT TO BLAME FOR IT.

I GET BLAMED ANYWAY.

JUST BE THANKFUL MURIEL WASN'T IN THE HOUSE

WHEN THAT BURGLAR CAME IN.

GOD KNOWS WHAT MIGHT'VE HAPPENED.

THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, DON'T THEY?

YES.

THEY DO.

WERE THEY IN THE MAIN HOUSE?

YES.

WHAT DID THEY DO?

THEY WERE GETTING READY TO...

YOU KNOW.

WHAT DID YOU SEE THEM DO?

WELL, IT WAS THE LIVING ROOM.

DID THEY KISS?

YES.

TOUCH?

YES.

THAT'S ALL I SAW.

THEY WENT UPSTAIRS.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

OUTSIDE... HAVING BREAKFAST.

YOU REMEMBER SAM PERKINS?

SAM?

OF COURSE.

YOU LIKED HIM, DIDN'T YOU?

SURE. EVERYBODY LIKED SAM.

NO--

NOT EVERYBODY.

THERE'S SOMETHING I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU.

YOU SWORE IT WAS OVER WITH ROSALYNN DOUGLAS.

WELL, YOU SWORE YOU'D QUIT DRINKING, TOO.

MURIEL, YOU ARE AN EMBARRASSMENT TO ME

AT A TIME WHEN I NEED YOU THE MOST.

I WANT A DIVORCE.

[CHUCKLES]

DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.

I'M BEING DEAD SERIOUS.

I'M WILLING TO WAIT TILL AFTER THE ELECTION,

BUT I WANT ALL OUR PROPERTY...

AND STOCK ACCOUNTS TRANSFERRED INTO MY NAME NOW.

AND MY ATTORNEY WILL DRAW UP THE PAPERS.

YOU'RE CRAZY.

I'LL RUIN YOU PUBLICLY.

WELL, YOU WILL DEGRADE YOURSELF, TOO.

YOU WANT EVERYBODY TO SAY YOU LOST YOUR HUSBAND TO ANOTHER WOMAN?

DON'T BE SILLY.

I'LL JUST TELL THE POLICE

THE TRUTH ABOUT SAM PERKINS' ACCIDENT.

THE POLICE WOULDN'T BELIEVE A THING LIKE THAT.

THE PAPERS WILL RUN THE STORY.

THE POLICE WILL HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT AGAIN.

AND IT'S TRUE.

IF YOU DO AS I SAY, YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEMS.

I WANT THE DIVORCE,

AND I WANT ALL WE HAVE.

ALL.

CHIEF? THE PRINTS TAKEN OFF THE TERRACE DOOR--

TOO SMUDGED TO BE OF ANY USE.

THOUGH I DOUBT IF WE'RE LOOKING FOR A PRO.

THE JEWELRY TAKEN WAS JUNK...

IF ANY JEWELRY WAS TAKEN AT ALL.

YOU MEAN MRS. GRAY LIED TO US?

I THINK SO.

WE RAN A COMPUTER CHECK ON BLUE GREMLINS.

THERE ARE ONLY TWO IN THE TRI-COUNTY AREA.

ONE HAS A PRIOR.

HIS NAME IS RAY WORRELL.

SWEET ARRESTED HIM TWO YEARS AGO FOR BURGLARY.

MMM.

WELL...I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET HIM.

WHAT DO Y'ALL WANT?

LOOKING FOR RAY WORRELL. IS HE HERE?

I'M RAY WORRELL.

AIN'T YOU THE MAN WHO RUINED MY LIFE?

NAH, I JUST MADE THE ARREST, THAT'S ALL.

YEAH. AND I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T DO IT.

THAT OLD WOMAN WAS MISTAKEN,

IT WASN'T ME SHE SAW.

IS THAT YOUR CAR OVER THERE, RAY?

YEAH. THE CADILLAC'S IN THE SHOP.

WHERE WERE YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT 2:00?

RIGHT HERE AT HOME...

WITH MY LADY AND MY SONS.

THAT'S RIGHT. RAY WAS WITH ME.

FROM WHEN TO WHEN?

FROM THE TIME WE GOT UP IN THE MORNING

TILL THE TIME WE WENT TO SLEEP AT NIGHT.

Y'ALL GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT?

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

HEY, JUDGE.

NATHANIEL. SORRY THINGS AREN'T GOING TOO GOOD FOR YOU.

ROUGH TIMES, JUDGE. I'VE JUST ABOUT GIVEN UP LOOKING FOR WORK.

LISTEN, YOU KNOW MUCH ABOUT PLASTERING?

PRETTY MUCH.

UH, WALL OR CEILING?

BOTH, I'M AFRAID. SUPPOSE YOU COULD

STOP BY TONIGHT AND GIVE ME AN ESTIMATE...

SAY AROUND, UM, 11:00?

ISN'T THAT KIND OF LATE?

IT SURE IS, BUT I CAN'T GET HOME TILL THEN,

AND I WANTED YOU TO START WORK IN THE MORNING.

WHATEVER YOU SAY, SIR, 11:00 IT IS.

ALL RIGHT, AND DO ME A FAVOR--

DON'T MENTION DOING THE WORK TO ANYONE.

CAN I ASK YOU WHY?

IT'S JUST WORK I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

UM...LET ME EXPLAIN IT TO YOU

WHEN YOU COME OVER TONIGHT, O.K.?

O.K. YOU GOT IT, JUDGE.

AND DON'T WORRY. I'M GOING TO PAY YOU WELL.

GOD BLESS YOU, JUDGE.

[TIRE BLOWS]

[CLOCK CHIMES ONCE]

[DOORBELL BUZZES]

DIDN'T I TELL YOU 11:00?

I HAD A FLAT, JUDGE.

I'M AWFUL SORRY.

JOB'S UPSTAIRS.

YOU KNOW, YOUR CEILING COULD BE PEELING FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

AND IT MIGHT BE ON ACCOUNT OF A BUSTED PIPE.

IF THAT'S THE CASE,

I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THE JOB.

ALL I KNOW ABOUT PLUMBING IS, THERE'S A...

COLD FAUCET AND A HOT ONE.

NATHANIEL?

WHAT'S THAT FOR, JUDGE?

OH, HEY, VIRGIL.

WHO ELSE WAS IN THE HOUSE?

MRS. GRAY'S ASSISTANT IS IN KENARD

VISITING HER SISTER.

THE CHAUFFEUR WAS ASLEEP.

HE SAYS HE DIDN'T HEAR ANYTHING.

THEY GOT AN I.D. ON THIS MAN?

YEAH, UH... NATHANIEL CRENSHAW.

I FOUND THIS JEWELRY IN HIS BAG.

YOU KNOW IF HE USED THAT WEAPON?

THERE'S A HOLE IN THE CARPET

WHERE THE SLUG WENT IN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S, UH...

GET RID OF THE BODY.

WHAT ABOUT MRS. GRAY?

M--WELL, WHERE IS SHE?

MASTER BEDROOM?

MM-HMM.

O.K.

RIGOR MORTIS.

BUT NOT IN HER ARM AND WRIST.

MEANING WHAT?

MEANING...

SHE'S BEEN DEAD...

TWO HOURS.

JUDGE.

THAT THE BREAK-IN?

YES, SIR. AND PRY MARKS ON THE WINDOWS.

WHAT ARE YOU STANDING ON?

DIRT, SERGEANT. AND THERE WERE NO FOOTPRINTS.

WELL, THERE'S NO DIRT AROUND HERE, EITHER.

HMM.

UH...

WELL... IT'S MY FAULT.

WHY, JUDGE?

WELL, I LEFT MURIEL ALONE.

I JUST DIDN'T THINK HE'D COME BACK AGAIN.

THE BURGLAR.YEAH.

WHERE'D YOU GO?

I WAS AT COUNCILWOMAN DOUGLAS' HOUSE.

SHE WAS HELPING ME ON THE CAMPAIGN.

AND YOU CAME HOME WHEN?

OH, IT WAS ABOUT 1:00.

WELL...YOU CAME HOME, AND YOU FOUND WHAT?

WELL, NOW, ONCE AGAIN,

THAT ALARM HADN'T BEEN SET.

AND I YELLED FOR MURIEL-- I WAS SO ANGRY THAT I YELLED FOR HER.

AND...

SHE DIDN'T ANSWER.

THEN I HEARD SOMEONE MOVING UPSTAIRS.

AND THEN I WENT INTO THE STUDY,

AND MY DESK DRAWERS WERE ALL OPEN.

THAT'S WHEN I KNEW SOMEBODY HAD BEEN HERE,

AND I PULLED OUT MY .45.

YOU KEEP MORE THAN ONE GUN IN THAT DRAWER?

I KEEP SEVERAL-- THAT .38 HE USED

TO KILL MURIEL, THAT'S MINE.

SO YOU WENT AFTER HIM WITH THE .45.

I RAN TO THE STAIRWAY, AND HE FIRED AT ME.

AND THEN I FIRED AT HIM...

I FIRED TWICE.

JUST TAKE YOUR TIME.

YEAH...

THEN I WENT INTO THE BEDROOM, AND I SAW...

OH, MAN.

I SAW WHAT YOU SAW.

THEN YOU CALLED THE POLICE?

ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

IT WASN'T TILL I CAME BACK OUT IN THE HALLWAY

THAT I REALIZED I'D SHOT NATHANIEL CRENSHAW.

YOU KNEWTHIS MAN?

UH, YEAH. I SENTENCED HIM FOR MURDER 20 YEARS AGO.

HAD YOU BEEN IN CONTACT WITH HIM SINCE HIS RELEASE?

I RAN INTO HIM ABOUT A MONTH AGO, AND...

HE SEEMED HUMBLE AND APOLOGIZED FOR HIS MISTAKES.

ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER.

I FOUND OUT HE'D BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME

MAKING A GO OF THINGS.

SO, I HIRED HIM TO DO A JOB FOR ME.

WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THIS TO ME YESTERDAY?

I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS IMPORTANT.

HOW LONG DID HE WORK FOR YOU?

ONLY A COUPLE DAYS, THERE WASN'T MUCH WORK.

DID HE SEEM NORMAL?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WAS HE TOUCHY, NERVOUS? SEEM MAD ABOUT ANYTHING?

NO. HE ACT--

NO. HE SEEMED CALM.

HE WAS GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK, YOU KNOW.

YEAH, THANKS.

CHIEF, THE AUTOPSY REPORT CONFIRMS WHAT I FOUND--

THAT MRS. GRAY WAS KILLED

TWO HOURS BEFORE CRENSHAW WAS KILLED.

MM-HMM.

SO, CRENSHAW COMES TO THE HOUSE,

AND HE SHOOTS THAT WOMAN,

AND THEN HE HANGS AROUND FOR TWO HOURS,

WAITING FOR JUDGE GRAY TO COME IN AND SHOOT HIM.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT?

WELL, UM...

NOW, THE JUDGE DID CALL OUT FOR HIS WIFE.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WHAT MADE CRENSHAW RUN.

BUT WHY...

THE MAN WOULD STAY IN THAT HOUSE TWO HOURS

AFTER HE KILLED MURIEL GRAY,

I COULDN'T TELL YOU THAT.

AUTOPSY SAYS BOTH BULLETS PASSED THROUGH HER ARMS

BEFORE PENETRATING HER CHEST.

SHE WAS IN A DEFENSIVE POSITION.

PROBABLY WOKE UP, SAW HIM,

THEN RAISED BOTH ARMS FOR PROTECTION

WHEN HE AIMED HIS GUN.

UH, EXCUSE ME, UH...

CRENSHAW'S PICKUP'S BEEN LOCATED.

IT WAS NEARLY 10 MILES FROM GRAY'S HOUSE,

AND IT HAD A FLAT TIRE.

AND THE MARKS ON THE WINDOW WHERE SOMEBODY HAD PRIED

WERE MADE BY TOOLS CRENSHAW CARRIED.

BUT ACCORDING TO THIS LAB REPORT,

THE FINGERPRINTS ON THE DOORS AND THE WINDOWS

WERE NOT CRENSHAW'S.

LET ME SEE THAT.YES, SIR.

UH, LAB MAN HANDWROTE A NOTE THERE IN THE CORNER.

YOU KNOW, HIS HANDWRITING'S AWFUL,

BUT I MANAGED TO READ IT.

ALL RIGHT, PARKER, WHAT'D IT SAY?

IT SAYS THAT CRENSHAW'S FINGERPRINTS

WERE FOUND ALL OVER THE STAIR BANISTER,

BUT NONE WERE FOUND IN THE STUDY,

AND THEY'RE NOWHERE IN THE BEDROOM.

JUDGE GRAY IS DEVASTATED, BUT HE IS NOT BITTER.

HE STILL FEELS THE NEED TO HELP THE IMPOVERISHED.

WE ARE GOING TO SET UP A SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP IN MRS. GRAY'S NAME.

CHIEF GILLESPIE'S HERE.

WELL, COME ON IN, CHIEF.

HI. EXCUSE ME.

I WANT TO ASK SOME QUESTIONS,

IF YOU DON'T MIND.CERTAINLY.

YOU WANT SOME PRIVACY?

WELL--I DON'T. I DON'T NEED IT.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW, CHIEF?

WHAT TIME DID THE JUDGE

LEAVE YOUR HOUSE LAST NIGHT?

IT WAS A LITTLE BEFORE 1:00, I THINK.

WELL, I FIGURED AS MUCH,

KNOWING WHAT TIME HE GOT HOME TO HIS OWN HOUSE.

WE WERE PLANNING POLITICAL STRATEGY.

JUDGE GRAY'S ONLY SHORTCOMING

IS THAT HE IS A WORKAHOLIC,

AND HE TRIES TO MAKE ONE OUT OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

MMM.

YOU DON'T SUPPOSE THAT MRS. GRAY'S MURDER COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

HAD HE LEFT A LITTLE EARLIER?

OH...WHO CAN SAY THAT? NO.

[SIGHS] HE'S A GOOD MAN.

HE'S AN HONORABLE MAN,

AND HE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS KIND OF LUCK.

HMM.

I AM RUNNING LATE.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT I CAN HELP YOU WITH?

NO, THANK YOU.

I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL ABOUT THAT SCHOLARSHIP.

ALL RIGHT.

IS, UH...

UH...IS SHE FOOLING AROUND WITH THE JUDGE?

AHEM.

I'LL TYPE THIS UP FOR YOU, MISS DeLONG.

THANK YOU.

MM-HMM.

YOU KNOW THAT FOR SURE?

WELL, BILL, HOW COULD I KNOW IT FOR SURE,

UNLESS I WAS A FLY ON THE BEDROOM WALL?

SHE NEVER CONFIDED IT TO YOU?

IF SHE CONFIDED IN ME, I WOULDN'T TELL YOU.

SO YOU'RE JUST GUESSING.

YEAH, I'M GUESSING.

WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO AROUND GUESSING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THEY'RE RIGHT, TOO.

[CHUCKLES]

AND YOU SEEM TO ENJOY IT.

I MIGHT AS WELL.

WELL...

WAIT JUST ONE MINUTE.

OH...

[DOORBELL RINGS]

I DON'T THINK WE'RE FOOLING ANYONE.

I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO.

DON'T YOU THINK PEOPLE CARE, POLITICALLY?

WELL, HERE MORE THAN MOST PLACES,

BUT NOT ENOUGH.

I CAN STILL GET ELECTED.

[DOORBELL]

HI.

MS. DeLONG, MY NAME IS ELEANOR BROOKS.

WHERE DO WE KNOW EACH OTHER FROM?

YOU CO-CHAIRED THE HOSPITAL CHARITY COMMITTEE

WITH MS. GRAY-- POOR MURIEL.

AND YOU WERE WORKING FOR HER.

WORKED FOR HER FOR YEARS.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME IN?

THANK YOU.

MRS. GRAY WAS A VERY NICE WOMAN.

YOU HAVE MY CONDOLENCES.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SIT DOWN?

NO, THANK YOU.

I NEEDED TO TALK TO SOMEONE I COULD TRUST.

WELL, I HOPE I CAN HELP YOU, WHATEVER IT IS.

IT HAS TO DO WITH THE MURDER OF MURIEL GRAY.

SHE TOLD ME A RATHER...

TERRIBLE STORY THE MORNING BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED...

ABOUT JUDGE GRAY.

ARE YOU SURE IT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULDBE TOLD?

NO, I'M NOT.

IT MIGHT NOT BE TRUE,

AND MURIEL TOLD IT IN CONFIDENCE...

BUT IT'S SOMETHING I CAN'T KEEP INSIDE.

I JUST CAN'T.

IT HAD TO DO WITH A MAN NAMED SAM PERKINS.

SAM AND THE JUDGE WERE OLD ARMY BUDDIES.

THEY SERVED TOGETHER IN VIETNAM,

AND WENT OFF TO SAUDI ARABIA WITH THE RESERVES.

IT WAS JUST AFTER THE TROOPS GOT BACK.

THE GRAYS WERE UP AT PURVIS LAKE,

AND SAM WAS WITH THEM.

THEY WERE OUT IN THE WOODS... HUNTING, MURIEL SAID.

SHE WAS BEHIND THEM,

THEN CAUGHT UP TO THEM...

AND SAW JUDGE GRAY KILL SAM PERKINS.

THE JUDGE LATER CLAIMED

SAM WAS KILLED BY ANOTHER HUNTER,

A HUNTER WHO, OF COURSE, WAS NEVER IDENTIFIED.

DID MURIEL KNOW WHY HE KILLED HIM?

SHE THINKS SOMETHING HAPPENED WHEN THEY WERE IN THE GULF.

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT.

WHY DID SHE TELL YOUTHIS?

SHE WANTED MY ADVICE.

SHE WANTED TO DIVORCE THE JUDGE,

AND USE THIS STORY TO FORCE HIM INTO THE SETTLEMENT SHE WANTED.

SHE ASKED ME WHAT I THOUGHT.

I TOLD HER I DIDN'T KNOW,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE USED IT OR NOT.

THIS WAY, MA'AM.

EXCUSE US, CHIEF. THIS IS GAIL HENDERSON.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT, MISS?

SHE'S THE GAIL ON THE WATCH.

OH, HI, MISS HENDERSON.

HI.

I'M WONDERING WHY YOUR DADDY FELT COMPELLED

TO DO A THING LIKE THIS.

WE FOUND HIM AT THAT HOUSE

WHERE JUDGE GRAY SHOT HIM.

HE WAS WEARING THAT WATCH AT THE TIME.

I GAVE MY DADDY THAT WHEN HE TURNED 40.

SHE BROUGHT IT TO HIM AT PARCHMAN PRISON.

UH-HUH.

I HAD TO BRING IT BACK TO KEEP FOR HIM TILL HE...

CAME HOME.

HOW WELL DID YOU KNOW HIM?

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN AN INFANT WHEN HE WENT TO PRISON.

MY MAMMA USED TO TAKE ME FOR VISITS

WHEN I WAS GROWING UP.

SHE FINALLY MARRIED SOMEBODY ELSE...

BUT I STUCK WITH MY DADDY.

WE WROTE AND VISITED.

HE LIVED WITH ME WHEN HE FIRST GOT OUT.

DID YOU SEE MUCH OF HIM AFTER THAT?

OH, YES.

HE COULDN'T MURDER NO ONE.

WHAT MAKES YOU SO SURE?

I KNOW HE KILLED A MAN WHEN HE WAS YOUNG,

BUT MY DADDY WAS A RELIGIOUS MAN.

HE DEDICATED THE REST OF HIS LIFE

TO SERVING THE LORD.

THIS IS SOME OF MY DADDY'S LETTERS.

MMM.

THEY'LL HELP YOU.

I'LL READ THEM, TOO, IF I MAY.

YES, SIR, YOU MAY.

THANK YOU.

OFFICER WILLIAMS WILL HAVE YOU FILL OUT A FORM,

AND THEN WE'LL RELEASE THE WATCH.

HERE--TAKE IT NOW.

THANK YOU.

BYE-BYE.BYE.

HEY, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THESE?

THERE.

THIS GIRL'S FATHER WAS LEFT-HANDED, CHIEF,

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

WELL, CRENSHAW'S THUMB PRINT,

WHICH WAS FOUND ON THAT .38,

THAT'S FROM THE RIGHT HAND, WASN'T IT?

YES.

[INTERCOM BUZZES]

AHEM. YEAH, WHAT?

MISS HARRIET DeLONG IS ON LINE ONE.

SHE SAYS IT'S URGENT.

THANK YOU.

YES, HARRIET.

WELL, WE'LL MEET YOU IN 10 MINUTES.

BYE.

MURIEL GRAY KNEW ALL ABOUT HER HUSBAND'S AFFAIR

WITH COUNCILWOMAN DOUGLAS.

SHE WAS GOING AFTER HIM.

HOW?

SHE WAS GOING TO ASK THEIR ATTORNEY

TO DRAW UP PAPERS TRANSFERRING ALL THEIR PROPERTY,

GOODS, AND CASH OVER TO HER.

AS PART OF A SEPARATION, OR WHAT?

SHE WAS GIVING HIM A CHOICE

OF A SCANDAL, OR A QUIET DIVORCE.

SOUNDS MORE LIKE A CHOICE BETWEEN A SCANDAL AND BEING DEAD BROKE.

COME ON, A SCANDAL?

WHO WORRIES ABOUT THAT ANYMORE?

YOU KNOW WHO SAM PERKINS IS?

UH...

YEAH. SAM PERKINS, HE WAS KILLED IN A HUNTING ACCIDENT

RIGHT AFTER THE GULF WAR--

AND JUDGE GRAY WAS WITH HIM.

HE SURE ENOUGH WAS.

MURIEL SAID IT WASN'T AN ACCIDENT.

WHO'D SHE SAY THAT TO?

TO ELEANOR, WHO WORKED FOR HER FOR YEARS,

AND WAS HER FRIEND.

SHE GOT ANY PROOF OF THAT?

SHE SAYS MRS. GRAY DID.

WONDERFUL, BUT MRS. GRAY'S NOW GONE.

WELL, YOU ASKED.

LIEUTENANT, YOU THERE?

GO AHEAD, LUANN.

RAY WORRELL JUST WALKED INTO MAUDE'S PAWN SHOP,

TRYING TO HOCK JEWELRY.

ASK IF SHE'S SURE IT WAS RAY.

YOU SURE IT WAS RAY?

SHE SAYS SHE'S POSITIVE.

SHE KNOWS HIM.

O.K., 10-4.

FIRST, YOU DISAPPEAR IN THE BACK,

AND NOW YOU'RE TAKING FOREVER.

WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?

I HAD TO GET MY PRICING BOOK.

YOU DON'T WANNA WAIT, LEAVE.

I'M OUTTA HERE.

YOU STOLE JUNK, BABY,

COSTUME JUNK.

IF IT'S JUNK, WHY'D YOU BLOW THE WHISTLE?

IT'S MURDER JUNK, SUGAR. GOTTA REPORT IT.

RAY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING NOW.

GET YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK, RAY.

GO ON AND CUFF HIM, SWEET.

APPRECIATE IT, MAUDE.

WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF TWO DIFFERENT MEN

BURGLARIZING THE GRAY'S RESIDENCE ON TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS?

SLIM, BUT POSSIBLE.

IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE THAT CRENSHAW AND WORRELL WERE WORKING TOGETHER.

BUT MURIEL GRAY WAS KILLED TWO HOURS BEFORE CRENSHAW.

WHY WOULD CRENSHAW HANG AROUND A HOUSE THAT LONG?

WHOEVER SAID CRENSHAW WAS A GENIUS?

WHAT ABOUT ELEANOR BROOKS' STORY?

WELL, I'D SAY IT'S VINDICTIVE HEARSAY

IF I WERE ON THE OTHER SIDE.

GERARD, JUDGE GRAY IS A DOUBLE-MURDERER.

HE MURDERS HIS OWN WIFE IN COLD BLOOD,

THEN HE MURDERED CRENSHAW.

WHYARE YOU SO RELUCTANT TO SAY SO?

YOU SEEM TO BE SAYING IT ALL FOR ME.

O.K., SO WE DON'T HAVE A SMOKING GUN YET,

BUT THE MAN IS AS GUILTY AS SIN!

JUDGE OR NO JUDGE, WAR HERO OR NOT.

SURE HE IS. ARREST THE SON OF A BITCH.

I'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE THE CASE.

HA HA HA HA!

HA HA HA, THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE.

WHO IS THAT?

WHAT IS IT?

OH, EXCUSE ME, JUDGE,

YOU BETTER HOLD UP COURT FOR A MOMENT.

THERE'S BEEN AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT.

WE'LL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE RECESS.

COURT IS NOT YET IN SESSION.

COURT WILL BE IN SESSION IN FIVE MINUTES.

ALL RIGHT, NOW, WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT?

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

WHAT?

YEAH, FOR MURDER.

YES. FOR THE MURDERS OF NATHANIEL CRENSHAW,

AND MURIEL GRAY, YOUR WIFE.

THIS IS PREPOSTEROUS.

YOU LOSE YOUR MIND LATELY?

WELL, MAYBE SO, BUT THAT'S ANOTHER QUESTION.

OFFICER PEAKE WILL BOOK YOU.

TELL THE JUDGE HIS RIGHTS. I'M SURE HE KNOWS THEM,

BUT TELL HIM ANYWAY.

LET'S GO, JUDGE.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

IF YOU GIVE UP THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT,

ANYTHING YOU SAY CAN AND WILL BE USED AGAINST YOU...

WELL, I'M LEAVING THE WAY I CAME.

BUT--BUT, WHAT DO I DO?

WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING YOU BETTER DO

IS GIVE A LONGER RECESS.