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

IT'S ALL RIGHT, PARKER. I KNOW.

I JUST WISH SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN

TO KEEP FROM HAVING TO GO TO THAT DINNER TONIGHT.

IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN,

I'LL BE SURE TO BEEP YOU.

WHAT TIME DID YOU SAY I HAD TO BE THERE AT 5:30?

THAT'S WHAT YOUSAID.

IT'S MOVING TOWARDS THAT WITH EVERY PASSING MOMENT.

THANK YOU, PARKER.YES, SIR.

ONLY REASON HORACE SLOAN

WANTS ME AT THAT DINNER PARTY

IS SO'S HE CAN PICK MY BRAIN.

HE'S FASCINATED BY THE CRIMINAL MIND.

WELL, CHIEF, YOUR MIND'S NOT CRIMINAL.

I HOPE NOT, PARKER.

BUT YOU SAID--

I DIDN'T MEAN MYMIND.

I MEANT THE MINDS OF ALL THE CRIMINALS

THAT WE CHASE AROUND.

DON'�T YOU SEE THE MAN IS WRITING A BOOK.

HE WANTS TO KNOW MY LIFE EXPERIENCE AS A COP.

CHIEF, YOU SHOULD GIVE ME THE PHONE NUMBER

IN CASE YOUR BEEPER MALFUNCTIONS.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

HERE, IT'S RIGHT ON THAT INVITATION.

WONDER WHAT THEY'RE SERVING FOR DINNER.

OH, SOME KIND OF BIRD.

THOSE PEOPLE ENJOY EATING BIRDS.

WE MIGHT CALL JUST SO YOU'LL KNOW

WE'RE THINKING ABOUT YOU.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT,

THOUGH COME TO THINK ABOUT IT,

YOU COULD BEEP ME ABOUT 9:30.

I SHOULD BE OUT OF LIFE EXPERIENCE BY THAT TIME.

WILL DO.YES, SIR.

IT'S JUST THAT HE ALWAYS INVITES SUCH STRANGE PEOPLE.

TONIGHT...IT'S THE CHIEF OF POLICE.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE LIKE US SUPPOSED TO SAY

TO A PERSON LIKE THAT?

JUST LET DADDY DO THE TALKING.

AND WHO IS THIS WOMAN FROM CHICAGO?

A RELATIVE.

WELL, I KNOW THAT.

WHO IS SHE?

SHE'S A DISTANT COUSIN.

I'VE NEVER MET HER.

COULDN'T I JUST HAVE A HEADACHE?

NO. YOU ARE GOING,

BUT THIS IS THE LAST TIME

DADDY WILL DICTATE OUR DINNER PLANS.

YOUR DADDY'S GOING TO BE DICTATING FROM THE GRAVE.

HONEY, LET'S JUST GET DRESSED.

WE'LL GO DOWN THERE

AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

THINK DADDY WOULD MIND IF I DON'T DO BLACK TIE?

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING APPROPRIATE.

YOU NEVER DO. AND KNOCK.

BROTHER, DEAR,

WOULD YOU TELL YOUR WIFE I DON'T HAVE HORNS

JUST BECAUSE I GOT A DIVORCE?

I DID KNOCK.

ANABEL... GET DRESSED...

NOW!

AMY, I'M SURE YOU GOT SOMETHING SHE CAN WEAR.

HELP HER OUT.ALL RIGHT.

Y'ALL HURRY UP. DADDY'S WAITING.

OH, AMY.

THIS IS DELICIOUS.

YOU WEREN'T GOING TO WEAR THIS.

IT'S JUST NOT YOU.

WELL, ACTUALLY,

I WAS PLANNING ON RETURNING IT.

YOU MAY WEAR IT.THANK YOU.

HAVE IT.

I BEEN TELLING VIRGIL

HE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE SLOANS

JUST FOR THE EXPERIENCE.

THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING THE ONLY BLACK PERSON?

I'VE HAD IT. I DON'T NEED IT.

MAKES YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, LIKE...

A FLY IN THE BUTTERMILK?

[VIRGIL] HA HA HA HA!

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT IN YEARS!

BUT I BEEN THERE--

THE ONLY FLY IN THE BOWL OF BUTTERMILK.

A FLY COULD BE IN WORSE PLACES.

ANYWAY, YOU'RE HOLDING YOUR OWN.

THANK YOU.

NOBODY'S DOING YOU ANY FAVORS.

OLD MAN SLOAN JUST COUNTS HIS MONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

[DOORBELL CHIMES]OH, SAVED.

HI. IS THIS THE TIBBS RESIDENCE?

YES, IT SURE IS.

IS VIRGIL TIBBS HERE?

MY FATHER SINCLAIR SLOAN GAVE ME MR. TIBBS' NAME.

HE SAID HE KNEW MR. TIBBS' PEOPLE.

SINCLAIR SLOAN WHO MOVED TO CHICAGO?

YES, THAT'S RIGHT.

OH, WELL!

HELLO.

I'M VIRGIL TIBBS.

COME IN.THANK YOU.

I DON'T WANT TO BE A BOTHER.

I KNOW IT'S DINNERTIME.

YOU'RE NOT BEING A BOTHER.

THIS IS MY AUNT ETTA KIBBE.

HOW YOU DOING?NICE TO MEET YOU.

COME INTO THE DINING ROOM.O.K.

HARRIET. THIS IS HARRIET DeLONG.

SHE'S ONE OF OUR COUNCILWOMEN.

OH, NICE TO MEET YOU.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY, YOU COULD HAVE DINNER WITH US.

MY WIFE WILL BE BACK FROM A CHURCH MEETING

IN, MAYBE, 10 MINUTES.

OH, NO, I CAN'T. BELIEVE IT OR NOT

I'M LATE TO A DINNER RIGHT NOW

IT'S A DINNER I'VE COME FROM CHICAGO FOR.

WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA OR COFFEE?

I'D LOVE SOME, BUT ANOTHER TIME?

I'M HERE ON BUSINESS. I'M A LAWYER.

I NEED YOUR ADVICE ON A PLACE TO STAY.

WELL, HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE HERE?

NOT MORE THAN A WEEK.

WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK, HARRIET?

THE MOTELS ARE ALL O.K.

THEY'RE SOMETIMES NOT...

OVERJOYED TO SEE US.

MMM, I SEE.

YOU HAVE NO PEOPLE HERE, I KNOW YOU AIN'T HERE TO SEE RELATIVES,

'CAUSE YOU GOT NONE LEFT THERE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

NO FAMILY, BUT A LITTLE FAMILY BUSINESS TO TAKE CARE OF.

OH.

CANDACE, I HAVE A STUDIO.

IT'S NOT MUCH, BUT IT IS PRIVATE.

ACTUALLY, I KINDA LIKE IT.

YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY THERE.

OR HERE.

YOU CAN STAY HERE.

ACTUALLY, THE STUDIO WOULD BE A LOT BETTER--

BEING BY MYSELF AND FOR COMING AND GOING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I WON'T BE PUTTING YOU OUT?

OH, OF COURSE NOT.

CONSIDER IT YOURS.

YOUR DADDY TELLS ME

YOU'RE PLANNING TO STAY ON HERE IN SPARTA

AND BE DEVASTATING.

WELL, THAT'S HIS PLAN.

ACTUALLY, I DATED A POLICEMAN ONCE,

BUT THE FAMILY MADE ME STOP.

DIDN'T THEY LIKE HIM?

HATED HIM,

BUT MY DADDY SPEAKS VERY HIGHLY OF YOU.

BUT YOU'RE NOT DATING ME.

HE THINKS YOU HAVE A VERY ROMANTIC LIFE.

NOW, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THERE'S NOTHING ROMANTIC ABOUT CRIME.

AND IT DOESN'T MAKE FOR VERY PLEASANT CONVERSATION.

EXCITING, THOUGH.

DO YOU WISH TO START DINNER, SIR?

LET'S GIVE OUR GUESTS MORE TIME, 10 MINUTES OR SO.

QUENTIN, MAKE IT FIVE.

WELL, PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY.

LAMAR.

WHILE WE'RE WAITING ON OUR LONG LOST COUSIN,

HOW ABOUT ANOTHER BOTTLE OF THIS?

BY ALL MEANS.

I WANT TO TOAST MY SON LAMAR,

THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF SLOAN.

IT'S ALL HIS. MAY HE MAKE IT GROW.

HEAR.

HEAR HEAR. HEAR HEAR.

I HOPE HE MAKES IT LAST.

OH.

BILL...HOW DO YOU MAKE A FORTUNE LAST?

I'LL WORRY ABOUT THAT WHEN I GET ONE.

ANY TIDBITS FOR THIS NEWBORN WRITER

OF SOUTHERN TALES OF CRIME AND PASSION?

I THOUGHT I'D TELL YOU ABOUT THE WIDOW CLEARY.

WE USED TO CALL HER THE BLACK WIDOW.

OH, WAS SHE COLORED?

NO, MISS AMY,

BUT SHE HAD THE SAME HABIT AS THE SPIDER

OF GETTING RID OF HER HUSBANDS.

SHE DID AWAY WITH FOUR BEFORE ANYONE GOT SUSPICIOUS.

I HOPE MY DAUGHTER DOESN'T DO THAT.

DADDY!

I DIDN'T KILL MILTON.

I JUST DIVORCED HIM.

AMY, THE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER IS LARGER THAN THE MALE...

AND SHE EATS HER MATE AFTER MATING.

BUT MILTON, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

ANABEL, YOU SEEM TO HAVE LEFT

WHAT LITTLE GENTILITY YOU HAD

IN NEW YORK.

HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY WHO GOES THERE.

ALL RIGHT, NOW. I ASKED THE CHIEF TO TELL US ABOUT SOME CASES.

LET HIM FINISH, PLEASE.

THERE'S A YOUNG LADY THAT WISHES TO SEE YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT.

IF YOU ALL WILL EXCUSE ME, PLEASE.

GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING. I'M CANDACE SLOAN.

YOUR MESSAGE DIDN'T MENTION A FORMAL DINNER PARTY.

OH, I'M SORRY.

WE USUALLY...

I MEAN, ON SUNDAY EVENINGS, WE, UH...

OH, I DIDN'T REALIZE.

OF COURSE NOT.

I'M HORACE SLOAN.

WELCOME.THANK YOU.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW I WAS BLACK, DID YOU?

YES, I DID.

WAS IT IN THE WILL?NO.

IT'S PART OF WHAT WE CALL

THE ORAL HISTORY OF THE SOUTH.

I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES KNOW, THOUGH.

COME ON IN. HAVE A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE.

NO, THANK YOU.

WE'LL BE SERVING DINNER RIGHT AWAY.

I'M GOING TO DECLINE, IF I MAY.

OH, NO, PLEASE.

WHY?

I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ALONE.

I'M NOT READY FOR A FAMILY DINNER.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING A CLAIM AGAINST THE SLOAN ESTATE

ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY.

AH, I SEE.

I THINK I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

MERLTON SLOAN WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER.

MM-HMM.

WHY DIDN'T YOU COME LONG BEFORE NOW?

THE QUESTION'S IRRELEVANT.

I CAME WHEN I COULD.

YES, OF COURSE.

I THINK THIS WHOLE THING CAN BE HANDLED VERY SIMPLY.

SIMPLY?

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

I'LL BE GETTING A COPY OF YOUR FATHER'S WILL FROM THE COURT CLERK.

I WILL HONOR THE BEQUEST.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR TROUBLE.

I THINK YOU MAY COME OUT BETTER THIS WAY.

IT'S NOT LIKELY THAT

YOUR PEOPLE COULDN'T HAVE ENHANCED THE ESTATE AS WE HAVE.

NEITHER YOU NOR I

KNOW WHAT MY PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE DONE, MR. SLOAN.

I'LL TALK TO YOU TOMORROW.

HORACE, UH, EXCUSE ME.

QUENTIN SAID I MIGHT USE YOUR TELEPHONE.

OH, YEAH, YEAH, PLEASE.

THANK YOU.

DID YOU SEE THAT YOUNG WOMAN THAT JUST LEFT HERE?

YES.

I PRESUME THAT SHE'S THE COUSIN

Y'ALL ARE WAITING TO SEE.

SHE DECIDED NOT TO STAY.

WELL, I SUPPOSE THE FAMILY WILL HAVE TO WAIT

AND SEE HER SOME OTHER NIGHT.

THIS ALL STILL BELONGS TO THE SLOANS.

DID YOUR GRANDFATHER SAY HOW MUCH LAND HE WAS PROMISED?

NO. HE DESCRIBED IT

AS A LARGE PIECE SUITABLE FOR FARMING OR SELLING.

MY GUESS IS HORACE'S FATHER

LEFT HIM THE ACREAGE HE SHARECROPPED ON.

LIKE PAYING OFF A DEBT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BLACK PEOPLE HAVING THIS KIND OF LAND ISN'T RARE.

WHAT IS RARE IS GETTING CONTROL OF IT.

GRANDDADDY CAME BACK HERE

AND WAITED FOR A PHONE CALL THAT NEVER CAME.

HORACE SLOAN HAS SUCH A GLEAMING REPUTATION.

ARE YOU SURE THE BEQUEST IS IN THE WILL?

I'M SURE.

IT'S THE ONLY REASON HORACE FINALLY HONORED IT.

[CANDACE] IT REALLY IS BEAUTIFUL HERE.

[HARRIET] YES. THE SOUTH BEGINS WITH THE LAND.

IT WAS A SMALL GATHERING.

HE WASN'T VERY WELL KNOWN.

WELL, HE SURE LOVED IT DOWN HERE.

HE NEVER WANTED TO BE ANYWHERE ELSE.

YES. WELL, DEAR, HE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF YOU.

NOW, UH, THIS IS THE GRAVE.

THANK YOU.

I WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS TO HIM.

I'LL WAIT FOR YOU BY THE CAR.

MISS DeLONG,

YOU GOT A GOOD GRIP

ON THE BUSINESS OF THE CITY.

MOSTLY IT'S GOT A GOOD GRIP ON ME.

YEAH, YOU KEEP ON PUSHING CAUSE

WE'RE WITH YOU.

THANK YOU.

AND I'M WITH YOU IN A PERSONAL WAY.

I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

YOU'VE GOT A GOOD HEART AND ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWING GOODNESS.

THANK YOU AGAIN, REVEREND HASTINGS.

I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

BUT HOW DISTANT A COUSIN IS SHE?

VERY DISTANT.

WELL, I THINK IT'S A HOOT.

YOU THINK?

WHAT IS EVERYONE ELSE IN TOWN

GOING TO THINK?

FRANKLY, MY DEAR, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN.

YOU DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT ANYTHING.

LAMAR--

PLEASE, WE HAVE BUSINESS.

YOU ARE THE HEIRS.

I NEED YOUR ACQUIESCENCE

BEFORE I CAN MAKE AN OFFER TO CANDACE SLOAN.

ACQUIESCENCE?

YOU WANT TO GIVE MY FUTURE AWAY TO A STRANGER.

MY FATHER GAVE IT AWAY.

CAN'T YOU GRASP THAT FACT?

IT'S RIGHT HERE IN HIS WILL, WRITTEN BY HIM.

BUT I CHEATED THOSE PEOPLE.

DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES.

CORRECT. NOW I WANT TO MAKE IT RIGHT.

DON'T WORRY.

YOU'LL NEVER MISS THESE FEW ACRES OF LAND.

I JUST THINK IT'S BIZARRE--

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, MAKING SUCH A CLAIM.

[LAMAR] WHAT ABOUT THAT?

THERE IS A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, FATHER.

LAMAR, IT WAS FOR YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS FAMILY

FOR LOW WAGES OR NO WAGES AT ALL.

THAT'S ANCIENT HISTORY, ANABEL.

IT REALLY IS.

Y'ALL ALL DON'T SEEM TO GET THE POINT.

SHE CAN MAKE A LOT OF TROUBLE FOR US.

IF SHE SUCCEEDS IN REOPENING THE PROBATE,

THIS WILL WILL BE READ IN OPEN COURT...

AND I'LL PAY THE PRICE. I WAS THE EXECUTOR.

NOW HELP ME OUT HERE.

WELL, YOU HAVE MY VOTE, DAD.

THANK YOU, DARLING.

I HAVE TO GO.

WAIT TILL THE WOMEN'S CLUB HEARS ABOUT THIS.

YOU WOULDN'T DARE.

I MUST TAKE A VIDEO TO RECORD THEIR FACES.

ANABEL!

DON'T YOU GO DOING ANYTHING TO EMBARRASS THIS FAMILY!

ALL RIGHT, NOW.

LET'S SETTLE THIS.

WHY DIDN'T YOU DESTROY THAT WILL?

COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO.

THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST CONTACT HIM

AND GIVE HIM THE DAMN LAND?

I WASN'T QUITE READY TO DO THAT, EITHER.

WHY?

BECAUSE YOU WERE WEAK AND INDECISIVE?

YES...

I GUESS I WAS.

WELL I CAN'T GO ALONG WITH THIS.

WELL, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR DADDY WROTE.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT HER ALL THE WAY TO HELL.

I AGREE WITH LAMAR.

THERE'S NO NEWS IN THAT.

QUENTIN, WOULD YOU PLEASE POUR ME A WHISKEY?

IT'S A LITTLE TOO CLOSE TO YOUR MEDICINE TIME, SIR.

I NEED THE WHISKEY MORE THAN THE MEDICINE.

PLEASE POUR IT.

MAY I HELP YOU?

I'D LIKE TO REQUEST

A COPY OF THE WILL OF HORACE SLOAN, SR.,

PROBATED AND ENTERED

INTO THE RECORDS OF THE COURT IN 1956.

AND WHO ARE YOU?

CANDACE SLOAN,

AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE FAMILY OF MERLTON "PAPPY" SLOAN.

HE WAS AN EMPLOYEE OF SLOAN, SR. FOR 30 YEARS.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE FAMILY.

I'M FILING A CLAIM AGAINST THE ESTATE.

I NEED IT FOR MY CASE.

DO I HAVE TO GET A COURT ORDER?

I GUESS YOU DO.

VERY WELL.

NOW WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

I DON'T KNOW,

BUT I'M GOING TO FIND OUT BEFORE I DO ANYTHING.

ARE YOU SURE NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY

WAS EVER CONTACTED?

MY GRANDDADDY WOULD HAVE TOLD MY DAD ABOUT IT.

HE CAME HERE THINKING THEY'D DO WHAT THAT OLD MAN SAID.

HE WROTE THAT HE TRIED TO TALK TO HORACE SLOAN,

AND HORACE TREATED HIM RUDELY.

I'M SURPRISED HE'S SO GRACIOUS NOW.

MAYBE IT'S GUILT.

AND MAYBE IT'S AN ACT.

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES HERE?

SLIM, UNLESS THE COURT OF CHANCERY REOPENS PROBATE

ON THE GROUNDS OF CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD.

HORACE PROMISED LAST NIGHT HE'D DO THE RIGHT THING.

HE SAID IT.IT MEANS,

ALL THE OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS

HAVE TO GO BACK AND DIVIDE

WHAT WAS GIVEN TO THEM.

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU FIGURE?

A LOT OF TIME, A LOT OF MONEY.

IT'S WINNABLE, BUT IT'S A LONG SHOT,

IF IT COMES TO THAT.

HMM.

DADDY?

I GOT AN IDEA.

YOU MADE YOUR FEELINGS KNOWN THIS AFTERNOON.

FATHER, WHAT...

WHAT IF THE ORIGINAL WILL WERE NEVER FOUND?

THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

I HAVE IT RIGHT HERE IN MY HAND.

ANYWAY, IT'S BEEN PROBATED.

THERE'S A COPY IN THE ARCHIVES

OF THE COURT OF CHANCERY.

UH-UH.

IT DISAPPEARED.

LAMAR, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?

WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO-- PROTECT YOU FROM YOURSELF.

I INTEND HONORING THE BEQUEST.

DID YOU HEAR SOMETHING?

EXCUSE ME.

SHE CAN'T PROVE ANYTHING WITHOUT THAT WILL, YOU KNOW.

DADDY, EVERY INCH OF THAT LAND IS OURS--

ANABEL'S AND MINE SOMEDAY.

WHAT'S YOURS IS WHAT YOU GET FROM ME.

YOU GIVE ME THAT!

YOU LET ME HANDLE THAT WOMAN!

DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW, LAMAR!

THAT'S ALWAYS BOTHERED ME.

THAT'S WHY I KEPT IT.

YOU ARE HORACE SLOAN, JR.,

NOT SOME SNIVELING, WEAK-KNEED SOFT TOUCH.

YOU ARE MY DADDY.

WE'RE A FAMILY, AND SHE IS NOT ONE OF US!

YES, SHE IS!

YES, SHE IS!

THIS LAND WAS LEFT TO HER GRANDFATHER BY MY FATHER.

HE RELIED ON ME TO FULFILL HIS WISHES.

I DIDN'T!

I DISHONORED HIM.

WELL, WE CAN'T CHANGE THAT.

GIVE ME THAT WILL, DADDY.

GIVE IT TO ME.

LAMAR, WILL YOU GET OUT OF HERE?

GIVE ME THAT! DADDY!

DADDY? GIVE IT.

DADDY.

DADDY.

DADDY.

HEY.

[GLASS SHATTERS]

SOMEBODY DOWN THERE?

QUENTIN, THAT YOU?

OPERATOR, GET ME THE POLICE.

THE GLASS IN THE LIBRARY DOOR WAS BROKEN,

BUT THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.

SOMEBODY RELOCKED THE DOOR?

NEVER HAPPENED.

THAT PATIO OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY DOOR IS CLEAN.

MUST BE SOMETHING.

JUST KEEP LOOKING AROUND

AND CAREFUL WHERE YOU WALK.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I WOULD GUESS NOT VERY LONG.

WHEN?

ABOUT TWO HOURS AGO.

CAN YOU GET ME A PRELIM THIS AFTERNOON?

LATE THIS AFTERNOON.

YEAH.

I TOLD THE FAMILY TO WAIT IN THE LIVING ROOM.

CHIEF, LET'S SUPPOSE HE SURPRISED THE BURGLAR.

SEE WHERE THAT TAKES US.

GO AHEAD.

AHEM.

WOULD YOU GENTLEMEN LIKE ANYTHING?

OH, I DON'T THINK SO. VIRGIL?

UH, N-NO. NO, THANK YOU.

I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AROUND HERE.

YEAH.

GET YOURSELF TOGETHER.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.

I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO GET BACK TO Y'ALL

UNDER SUCH SAD CIRCUMSTANCES.

THIS IS LIEUTENANT JAMISON, HERE.

MY CONDOLENCES.

HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?

HE WAS DOING SO WELL.

DR. BARNES SAID SO OVER AND OVER.

UH, WHAT IS MISSING? HAVE YOU ANY IDEA?

YES, AN OLD WILL AND, UH...

A WHAT?

A WILL.

WHOSE WILL?

IT WAS MY GRANDFATHER'S WILL.

UM...

WE JUST KEPT IT AS A SENTIMENTAL DOCUMENT.

SOME RIGHTS TO PROPERTY AND, UH...

JUST OLD, OLD, OLD STUFF.

SORT OF CURIOSITY VALUE.

MAYBE VALUE AS AN ANTIQUE.

WHERE WERE Y'ALL LAST NIGHT?

WE WENT UP EARLY.

YOU GO UP EARLY, ALSO?

I WAS READING UP THERE FOR HOURS.

I HEARD LAMAR CALL OUT "WHO'S THERE?",

BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY OR WHERE HE WAS.

HE WAS IN BED WITH ME.

I THOUGHT THAT I DID HEAR SOMETHING,

BUT I FIGURED IT WAS QUENTIN CLOSING THE HOUSE.

BUT THESE ANTIQUE DOCUMENTS...

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE WANTED THEM BADLY.

WELL, YES, CHIEF.

SOMEBODY DID WANT THEM.

LAMAR, HONEY, YOU'D BEST SPEAK UP.

THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL.

IT WAS THAT WOMAN WHO CAME FROM CHICAGO--

THAT CANDACE WOMAN.

SHE CLAIMS TO BE A PART OF OUR FAMILY

AND THAT WE OWE HER SOME MONEY OR SOMETHING.

OH.

HOW DO Y'ALL FEEL ABOUT THIS WOMAN BEING A KIN OF YOURS?

A VERY DISTANT COUSIN.

SHE, ACCORDING TO HORACE,

THREATENED TO BLACKMAIL HIM,

TO EMBARRASS HIM.

EMBARRASS HIM ABOUT WHAT?

SHE'S COLORED.

SO, YOU'RE SAYING CANDACE SLOAN BROKE INTO THIS HOUSE.

SHE WANTED SOMETHING FROM MY DADDY.

THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY.

IT UPSET HIM GREATLY.

DID HE LEAVE HER SOMETHING IN THE WILL?

YES, AND IT WAS NOT VALID.

WASN'T VALID.

WERE YOU THE ONE WHO FOUND HIM?

YES, I CAME IN TO MAKE SURE

MR. SLOAN TOOK HIS MEDICINE AS I DO EVERY NIGHT.

I FOUND HIM ON THE FLOOR--DEAD.

HOW'D YOU KNOW HE WAS DEAD?

I LOOKED AT HIM. I FELT HIM.

I KNOW WHEN SOMEONE'S DEAD.

WELL, I SUPPOSE WE OUGHT TO BE GOING,

AND I'LL LEAVE Y'ALL TO GRIEVE IN PEACE.

WE'LL NEED YOU FOR QUESTIONING AGAIN.

OH, YES, AND SO I WISH

NOBODY WOULD DO ANY TRAVELING.

YEAH, I WOULD TALK TO THAT CANDACE WOMAN.

CANDACE...SLOAN?

THAT'S WHAT SHE CALLS HERSELF.

WELL, I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO TALK TO HER.

YOU'RE UP WITH THE BIRDS.

YES. I WANT TO CATCH THE WORM.

MORNING.

WHAT'S THIS?

A COURT ORDER, REMEMBER?

I REMEMBER.

WHERE'S THE WILL?

CAN'T FIND IT.

YOU CAN'T FIND IT?

THAT'S WHAT I SAID.

IF THERE EVER WAS SUCH A WILL

OR COPY OF A WILL, IT JUST DISAPPEARED.

I SPENT MY ENTIRE EVENING GOING THROUGH EVERY BOX FROM--

WHAT YEAR YOU SAY THAT WAS PROBATED? '55? '54?

1956.

THAT'S RIGHT. '56.

STRANGEST THING.

COULD BE THE FAMILY KEPT ALL THE COPIES.

I DON'T THINK SO. I WANT A COPY.

GIVE ME THE COPY, PLEASE.

I CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT I DON'T HAVE.

YOU'RE IN CONTEMPT OF A COURT ORDER.

THAT'S MY PROBLEM.

MR. MORGAN, YOU COULD GET ARRESTED.

HIS DOCTOR, DR. BARNES, GAVE STRICT ORDERS TO DE-STRESS HIS LIFE.

I GUESS THAT'S WHY HE RETIRED.

DOCTORS REALLY GIVE ORDERS LIKE THAT?

OH, YEAH.

THE FAMILY WAS SUPPOSED TO ABIDE BY IT.

IF HE CAME IN ON A BURGLARY,

THAT WAS REALLY PRETTY STRESSFUL.

SO, IT WAS A HEART CONDITION.

YEAH. KNOCK ON THE HEAD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

CAN I USE YOUR PHONE?

ALL RIGHT.

I'LL TALK TO HIM.

THAT WAS SWEET.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT'S THE CHARGE?

YOU CAN'T CHARGE SOMEBODY BECAUSE OF A HEART ATTACK.

WHAT DID THE MEDICAL EXAMINER SAY?

MR. SLOAN WAS DEFINITELY UNDER DOCTOR'S CARE

AND WAS SUPPOSED TO REMAIN CALM.

HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

WHAT ABOUT HIS HEAD?

HIT IT WHEN HE FELL, SO SAYS DR. ROBB.

WELL, HOW DID HE FALL?

DID THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF FIGHT

OVER WHAT WAS IN THAT SAFE?

DON'T KNOW.

BUT CANDACE SLOAN WASN'T INVOLVED. NO WAY.

I JUST CAN'T SEE HER BREAKING INTO THAT HOUSE,

STRUGGLING WITH THE MAN...OR WHATEVER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TALK WITH HER.

I STILL WANT THE NAME OF THE CRIME.

IT SOUNDS LIKE MURDER,

BUT A HEART ATTACK KILLED HIM

SO WE CAN'T CALL IT MURDER ONE.

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT IT ISN'T.

YEAH.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO ON THE STAND, JERRY.

GET HER READY FOR THE WORST.

I'LL SEE YOU IN A FEW DAYS. BYE.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

WHO'S THERE?

OFFICER SWEET, SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

EVENING, MA'AM. ARE YOU CANDACE SLOAN?

YES.

WHERE DID YOU SPEND LAST EVENING?

I SPENT THE NIGHT RIGHT HERE.

FROM WHEN TO WHEN, MA'AM?

UH, FROM ABOUT 9:00 P.M. TILL 10:00 THIS MORNING.

HAS SOMETHING HAPPENED?

YEAH, I'D SAY SO.

HORACE SLOAN'S DEAD.

WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMEBODY BROKE IN HIS HOUSE AND KILLED HIM, LOOKS LIKE.

YOU HAD BUSINESS WITH MR. SLOAN?

MY BUSINESS DIDN'T REQUIRE ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

MA'AM, WE NEED YOU TO COME TO THE STATION

AND ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND.

I DO MIND. CERTAINLY I MIND,

BUT I DON'T THINK IT MATTERS, DOES IT?

I'LL GET CHANGED.

MISS DeLONG...

I'M ANABEL SLOAN BURNETT, HORACE SLOAN'S DAUGHTER.

I'M SORRY ABOUT YOUR FATHER.

I'M ALSO SORRY YOUR FAMILY IS PAINTING A PICTURE

OF CANDACE THAT DISAGREES WITH WHAT I'VE SEEN

AND WHAT SHE SAYS.

DID THEY HOLD HER?

NO, THEY DIDN'T, BUT IT'S NOT OVER YET.

I WANT TO TALK WITH HER.

I REALLY HAVE TO GO.

MISS DeLONG, PLEASE,

I AM NOT MY BROTHER.

I DON'T BELIEVE CANDACE HAD ANYTHING TO DO

WITH MY FATHER'S DEATH.

DID YOU TELL THE POLICE THAT?

NO.

I'LL SEE IF CANDACE WILL TALK WITH YOU.

CALL MY OFFICE IN AN HOUR

AND THINK ABOUT TELLING THE POLICE

ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO CANDACE.

MY PROBLEM IS... LAMAR IS MY BROTHER.

I CANNOT GO AGAINST HIM.

OF COURSE SHE'S GOT AN ALIBI...

BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE DID IT FOR HER.

LAMAR, I HAVE NOTHING TO GO ON.

HARRIET DeLONG CONFIRMS SHE SPOKE WITH CANDACE THAT NIGHT.

NOW, CANDACE IS NOT THE ONE WE WANT.

LAMAR, YOUR FATHER DIED OF A HEART ATTACK.

THE RESULT OF A BURGLARY.

ONLY THE WILL WAS MISSING.

ONLY CANDACE SLOAN WANTED IT

WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED?

A MOTIVE ISN'T EVERYTHING, LAMAR.

EVIDENCE IS IMPORTANT.

I WILL FIND OUT WHO SHE PAID TO DO THIS.

I KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM.

MR. QUENTIN.

DETECTIVE TIBBS.

LAMAR SLOAN IS LYING.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I WAS IN THE ROOM DURING THAT FAMILY MEETING.

MR. SLOAN SAID HE WAS GOING TO HELP THIS WOMAN FROM CHICAGO,

GIVE HER SOMETHING.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT, BUT SOMETHING.

WAS CANDACE THREATENING HIM IN ANY WAY?

I DIDN'T HEAR THAT.

ANYTHING MORE?

NO. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?

YOU'LL HAVE TO SIGN A STATEMENT-- A SWORN STATEMENT.

YOU'LL LOSE YOUR JOB, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

I'M MAKING THIS STATEMENT HERE, PRIVATELY.

EVERYBODY'S GOING TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE TO.

IT'LL BE YOUR WORD AGAINST THE WHOLE SLOAN FAMILY.

MAYBE NOT.

MAYBE NOT. ANABEL-- SHE MAY TELL THE TRUTH.

SHE MIGHT, BUT BLOOD'S THICKER, YOU KNOW?

MOST ALWAYS.

ANYBODY WITH A DEGREE IN BURGLARY

WOULDN'T HAVE LOCKED THAT DOOR.

WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE CLOSED IT.

LAMAR SLOAN KEEPS TRYING TO POINT THE FINGER AT CANDACE,

THOUGH THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

WHO TOOK THE ARCHIVE COPY OF THE WILL?

IT MAY NOT BE GONE.

WHAT ABOUT QUENTIN THE BUTLER? WHAT'S HIS STORY?

CANDACE IS TELLING THE TRUTH,

THOUGH I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE BUTLER.

A LITTLE PREJUDICE WORKING MAYBE?

BECAUSE SHE'S BLACK AND BEAUTIFUL?

NO...

NO... NO... NO...

MRS. BURNETT?YES.

YOU MUST BE CANDACE SLOAN.

YES.

MY FATHER WANTED TO MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT.

EVERYTHING?

THERE'S SO MANY THINGS GONE NOW...

BEYOND ANY CHANGING.

HE DID FEEL ASHAMED.

DID HE?

MY FATHER WAS A WONDERFUL MAN.

HE REALLY...HE REALLY DID GET BETTER.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHAT ABOUT YOUR BROTHER?

NO.

WHY ARE WE TALKING?

I WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

WHY NOT? I DO GET TO CHICAGO.

MAYBE WE COULD HAVE LUNCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I'D REALLY LIKE TO GET TO KNOW THE REST OF...

THE REST OF YOUR FAMILY.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

WE ARE KIN.

THERE'S A LOT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN US.

BUT MY DADDY WOULD'VE WANTED ME TO GO THAT DISTANCE.

CALL ME WHEN YOU'RE IN CHICAGO.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

WE CLOSE AT 5:00.

LIEUTENANT JAMISON, SPARTA POLICE.

JUST A MINUTE.

MR. MORGAN'S GONE HOME.

DID HE LEAVE ANYTHING FOR ME?

DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE COMING TILL TOMORROW.

HE HAD TO DIG IN OLD BOXES.

GOT TO SNEEZING FROM THE DUST AND ALL.

I'M SURE HE DID.

WELL, TELL HIM THANKS.

I'M GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO GO TO COURT.

NO NEED FOR THAT. EVERYTHING'S FINE.

GOOD EVENING, MA'AM.

CHIEF GILLESPIE AND DETECTIVE VIRGIL TIBBS, SIR.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

AFTERNOON.

AFTERNOON, MR. TIBBS...

HOW DO YOU DO?CHIEF GILLESPIE.

MA'AM.MR. SLOAN.

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU HERE, FULTON.

YES.

UH, GENTLEMEN,

I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR US,

BUT I HAVE A QUESTION.

CAN YOU TELL ME, IS THAT CANDACE WOMAN

GETTING ANY OF OUR LAND?

NO, I CAN'T.

ONLY THE COURT CAN ANSWER THAT.

NOW, AS FOR YOU, MR. SLOAN, TO BE BRIEF,

WE THINK YOU'RE LYING.

[AMY] WHAT A DREADFUL THING TO SAY.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.

QUESTION IS,

DID YOUR CLIENT PUSH HIS DADDY SO THAT HE FELL?

NO.

NOW, LAMAR,

WE ARE NOT GOING TO ARREST YOU

FOR BURGLARIZING YOUR OWN HOME.

BUT WE WANT TO KNOW TRUTHFULLY

WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

IT WAS AN ACCIDENT.

I TRIED TO GET THE WILL AWAY FROM HIM, AND HE FELL.

THAT'S ENOUGH, LAMAR. NO NEED TO SAY MORE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO END THERE.

I KNOW HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO FACE

A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

YOU KNEW THAT YOUR DADDY

WAS UNDER MEDICAL INSTRUCTIONS TO REMAIN CALM.

I'M NOT GOING TO STAY HERE

AND LISTEN TO ANY MORE OF THIS!

STAY.

OF COURSE I WILL.

AS TO THE MATTER OF ATTEMPTING TO BRIBE

THE CHANCERY COURT CLERK... HE GOT SMART

AND FOLLOWED THE COURT ORDER.

WHAT WOULD YOU THINK ABOUT GOING DOWN

TO DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARNELLE'S OFFICE TOMORROW MORNING

AND SURRENDERING YOURSELF?

THAT'S CORDIAL OF YOU.

GENTLEMEN...

WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT THIS WOMAN

ALL THE WAY TO THE MISSISSIPPI STATE SUPREME COURT.

NO MATTER WHAT.

MR. SLOAN,

YOU BETTER START THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO SAY

TO THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SPARTA,

'CAUSE, MISTER...

YOU'RE IN TROUBLE.

WELL, I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD BE GOING ON.

GOOD TO SEE YOU, FULTON.

GOOD DAY.AFTERNOON.