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, PARKER, YOU'LL NEVER GUESS

WHO'S BACK IN TOWN.

IT'S THE KING--ELVIS.

NO. VIRGIL TIBBS.

HE MUST HAVE DRIVEN DOWN

FOR SUNDAY DINNER WITH MISS ETTA.

ALTHEA AND THE TWINS WITH HIM?

NO, HE'S BY HIMSELF.

SAW HIM HUGGING AUNT ETTA AT THE DOOR.

WELL, NOW. HUH.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

7101. HI.

OH, HI, PARKER.

OF COURSE HE'S HERE.

YOU WANT ME TO GET HIM?

OH! DO TELL!

OH. JUST BY HIMSELF?

O.K.

I'LL TELL HIM.

BYE.

THAT WAS PARKER TO SAY VIRGIL DROVE IN TOWN.

HE PHONED THE OTHER DAY

TO SAY HE WAS COMING BACK IN BRIEFLY

TO TAKE CARE OF SOME FAMILY BUSINESS.

WHEN ARE THEY ALL COMING? STILL CHRISTMAS?

IT COULD BE ANY TIME NOW

BECAUSE HE'S FINISHED HIS EXAMS

AND BEEN ADMITTED TO THE BAR.

EXCUSE ME.

BEAUTIFUL.

200 YARDS PLUS EASY.

THAT'S A GOOD GOLFER.

THAT ALONE DOES NOT SIGNIFY A GOOD GOLFER.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

CHIEF FORBES HERE.

HI. BILL GILLESPIE HERE.

HI. SOMETHING WRONG?

NO, NO, NO, NOTHING AT ALL.

VIRGIL TIBBS IS BACK IN TOWN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS,

AND I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE INTRODUCTIONS.

SHOULD I SET UP A LUNCH?

THAT'S FINE WITH ME. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING HIM.

I'LL BE IN TOUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

VIRGIL TIBBS IS IN TOWN TODAY.

I AM TOLD HE'S ALREADY BEEN ADMITTED TO THE BAR.

IS THAT POSSIBLE?

HE COMPLETED ALL THE COURSES

ON A COMPRESSED TIME SCHEDULE.

AND GOT HIMSELF ADMITTED IN 2 1/2 YEARS?

UNHEARD OF.

AND OF MEN WHO'VE DONE SO

BY HOLDING DOWN A POLICEMAN'S JOB, TOO.

YOU PROBABLY FIXED IT FOR HIM.

JUDGE, I HATE THAT WORD FIX.

EVERYTHING WAS LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND APPROVED.

NOT APPROVED BY ME.

LIFE TODAY IS JUST SLIPPING AND SLIDING

INTO A SLOUGH OF ORDINARINESS.

HERE. LET ME TEE OFF.

WHY, NO.

WHY WOULD HE GO BACK ON THE POLICE FORCE?

I DON'T KNOW. GET SOME MONEY COMING IN.

I THINK HE'LL GO STRAIGHT INTO

TED MARCUS'S LAW OFFICE.

WELL, POOR TED. THERE'S NO MONEY COMING IN THERE.

WELL, I GOT TO RUN.

GOT TO SET SOME TASKS FOR THOSE GUYS OF MINE.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

WHO DO YOU SUPPOSE IS GOING TO BUY VIRGIL TIBBS'S HOUSE?

HE'S NOT SELLING IT. THEY'RE COMING BACK TO LIVE THERE.

THAT'S NOT THE WORD I GOT.

THE WORD FROM WHERE?

SHERIFF KNOWS WHERE.

OH, I THINK SO.

WHERE?

IS IT THE AIR, MONA?

THAT'S RIGHT, SHERIFF.

THE WORD COMES FROM THE AIR, MS. DeLONG.

IT'S IN THE AIR.

SHE MEANS THAT AIR THAT HOVERS OVER PEARBLOSSOM STREET.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

OH, HERE.

THERE YOU GO.

OH, NOW THAT MAN RIGHT THERE,

THAT'S MY UNCLE MALCOLM HANDY,

MY MOTHER'S BROTHER.

THE ONE WHO PLAYED THE MANDOLIN.

THAT'S RIGHT.

VIRGIL...

YOU THE FIRST LAWYER EVER IN OUR FAMILY.

I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

YOU GOING TO GO ON YOUR OWN,

OR YOU GOING TO BE WITH SOMEBODY?

I'VE HAD OFFERS FROM TWO OF THE FOUR BLACK LAWYERS

IN THE BAR ASSOCIATION.

YOU STILL THINKING ABOUT SELLING THAT ACREAGE OUT THERE

BY RUDA'S PLACE?

YES. STILL THINKING ABOUT IT.

YOU WANTED TO PUT A FARM OUT THERE.

NOT NOW. THAT WON'T HAPPEN NOW.

WELL, I HEAR THE MARKET ISN'T TOO GOOD FOR SELLING.

UH, NO, NO.

I WANT TO SET UP A TRUST FUND FOR THE KIDS.

TED MARCUS WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT.

IS SOMETHING THE MATTER WITH YOUR HEALTH?

NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. I'M FINE.

I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU.

AUNT ETTA, I'M GOING TO BE O.K.

I AM GOING TO BE JUST FINE NOW.

MS. HALLISEY, ARE YOU SAYING TO ME

THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE IS INCAPABLE

OF REPRESENTING MR. PIKE THERE?

NO, SIR, BUT CONFLICTS EXIST

FOR ALL OF OUR AVAILABLE ATTORNEYS.

ONE IS DISTANTLY RELATED TO THE MAN WHO WAS KILLED.

THE OTHER WAS REJECTED BY MR. PIKE.

SURELY YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN REJECTED, COUNSELOR.

I WISH SOMEBODY HAD, YOUR HONOR.

I'M HANDLING SIX CASES.

I'LL REPRESENT MR. PIKE FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARRAIGNMENT

THEN I'LL ARRANGE COUNSEL WITH BUTLER COUNTY LEGAL AID.

NEWMAN COUNTY SHOULD HANDLE THIS.

MR. MARCUS, ARE YOU ALSO AN OVERLOADED

BEAST OF BURDEN?

NO, SIR, JUDGE. JUST AN OVERLOADED LAWYER.

I SEE VIRGIL TIBBS IS IN MY COURTROOM.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADMISSION TO THE BAR.

THANK YOU, JUDGE.

YOU STILL A PERMANENT RESIDENT OF SPARTA?

YES, JUDGE.

PROPERTY OWNER? TAXPAYER?

MEMBER OF THE BAR ASSOCIATION?

Y-YES, SIR.

GOOD, I'M ASSIGNING YOU THIS CASE.

WHAT?

STEP FORWARD, COUNSELOR.

JUDGE SIMS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

MISS HALLISEY, WOULD YOU INFORM MR. TIBBS

AS TO WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT DO?

THE JUDGE CANDO THAT, MR. TIBBS.

YOUR HONOR, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU CAN'T.

I'VE ALREADY DONE IT.

VIRGIL, DON'T ARGUE.

I'VE NEVER TRIED A CASE.

YOU'LL TRY THIS ONE.

NO, I WON'T.

YOU'LL DO IT, TIBBS, AND YOU WILL DO IT PRO BONO.

FREE?

IN APPRECIATION OF THE LEGAL EDUCATION

AFFORDED YOU BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

I AM TOLD THAT A MAN CAN DO WONDROUS THINGS

IN 2 1/2 YEARS.

I WANT TO SEE THAT FOR MYSELF.

...GAVE HER A TICKET.

CHIEF, MAY I PRESENT VIRGIL TIBBS, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.

VIRGIL, CHIEF FORBES.

HOW DO YOU DO, CHIEF FORBES?

SO NICE TO MEET YOU.

PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, TOO, SIR.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD DO THIS OVER LEISURELY LUNCH.

YEAH, WELL, THIS IS KIND OF AN EMERGENCY.

JUDGE SIMS ORDERED ME TO REPRESENT DELBERT PIKE.

YOU'RE DEFENDING THE FELLOW THAT STABBED THAT GUY

OUTSIDE OF MASON'S DIXIE LINE?

SIMS IS A CRAZY JUDGE,

BUT I GOT TO OBEY HIS ORDER,

SO I'LL TRY TO GET PIKE TO REJECT ME FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT.

WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY NO?

NO TO WHAT?

TO ME!

WHY SHOULD I?

I'VE NEVER BEEN IN COURT.

YOUR LIFE IS ON THE LINE.

IF YOU LOSE.

PIKE, IF I LOST, YOU COULD APPEAL.

BUT I DON'T WANT IT TO GET THAT FAR.

BUT YOU KNOW HOW TO DO IT, RIGHT?

I SUPPOSE.

BUT I'M URGING YOU TO RECONSIDER.

GET SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE.

NO.

IT'S YOU I WANT.

JURIES BELIEVE COPS,

EVEN EX-COPS.

NOW, I THINK IT WAS A LUCKY BREAK I GOT YOU.

WELL, I HAVE TO READ THE POLICE FILES.

FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF CASE THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY HAS.

NO CASE.

I ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

I'M AN INNOCENT MAN.

THEN THAT'S MY CASE.

SELF-DEFENSE.

HEY, GUYS.

HOW'S ALTHEA AND THE TWINS DOING?

THEY'RE ALL FINE.

THEY HERE WITH YOU? NO.

I READ YOUR POLICE REPORT.

THE MURDER VICTIM-- ELI CHAMBERS, YOU TALKED TO HIM?

YEAH. IT WAS PRETTY SAD.

TELL ME. I'LL TAKE NOTES.

WE FOUND CHAMBERS LYING IN THE PARKING LOT

OF MASON'S DIXIE LINE BAR.

I WAITED WITH HIM FOR THE AMBULANCE,

BUT I KNEW HE WAS DYING.

DELBERT CALLED MY WIFE A WHORE.

SO THAT'S WHY YOU PULLED YOUR KNIFE, HUH?

NO. DELBERT PULLED HIS.

HE DIDN'T NEED TO. I WANTED TO QUIT.

HE KNEW I WAS DRUNK.

HE CAME HERE TO KILL ME.

[SIREN]

IS MY HUSBAND GOING TO BE ALL RIGHT?

NO, MA'AM. HE JUST DIED. I'M SORRY.

THIS WOMAN NEEDS HELP.

AND THAT'S THAT?

THAT'S THAT.

COVER, YOU TALKED TO THE BARTENDER BO, RIGHT?

YEAH, BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY.

BO CLAIMED HE DIDN'T SEE A THING.

I'S TOO BUSY TO KNOW WHO ATTACKED WHO.

I DIDN'T REALIZE THEY WAS FIGHTING

TILL THEY WAS OUT THE DOOR.

DID HE SEEM HONEST?

YEAH.

WHAT YOU THINK, LONNIE?

I'VE KNOWN BO A LONG TIME.

IF HE SAYS HE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING, HE DIDN'T.

ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANKS, GUYS.

ANYTIME, SIR. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

UH, LONNIE,

UH...

I'M SORRY FOR BEING SO ABRUPT

WHEN YOU ASKED ABOUT ALTHEA AND THE TWINS.

THAT'S O.K., VIRGIL. NO IT'S NOT.

MY HOME LIFE ISN'T GOING THAT WELL,

AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE DEALING WITH IT.

THERE'S NO NEED TO EXPLAIN.

THANKS.

LOOK AT HIM.

HEY, BUBBA.

HEY. VIRGIL.

CONGRATULATIONS, SERGEANT.

THAT'S RIGHT. AND THE SAME TO YOU, MR. ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU.

HEY, SIT DOWN. LET ME BUY YOU SOME RIBS HERE.

I'LL SIT, BUT I GOT TO SAVE MYSELF FOR ETTA'S CATFISH.

HEY, UH, WE HEARD WHAT HAPPENED IN SIMS' COURTROOM.

THAT JUDGE SIMS IS WEIRD.

ANY WAY WE CAN HELP YOU, YOU LET US KNOW.

WELL, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED.

DID DELBERT GIVE YOU ANY TROUBLE WHEN YOU ARRESTED HIM?

NO.

IN FACT, HE WAS WAITING ON US.

ALL RIGHT, GET OUT THE PICKUP,

PUT YOUR HANDS WHERE I CAN SEE THEM.

WHOA. DELBERT PIKE, YOU UNDER ARREST.

DID PIKE SAY ANYTHING?

NOPE. NOT A WORD.

HE JUST KEPT GRINNING,

LIKE AS IF WE SAID SOMETHING FUNNY.

BUT IF HE DID IT, WHY DID HE WAIT?

HE KNEW HE'D BE PICKED UP SOMETIME.

YOU KNOW, VIRGIL, I HATE TO SAY IT,

BUT DARNELL'S GOT A PRETTY STRONG CASE THERE.

I DON'T KNOW. I JUST...

HATE TO SEE YOU LOOK BAD IN YOUR FIRST COURT CASE.

THERE'S NO HELP TO THAT.

I'M GOING TO LOOK LIKE A NATURAL FOOL.

MY CLIENT'S GOING TO GET CONVICTED.

SHERIFF, VIRGIL TIBBS TO SEE YOU.

HOW YA DOING', VIRGIL?

HOW YOU DOING, SHERIFF?

NICE OFFICE YOU GOT HERE.

MAKE THIS BILL FROM NOW ON.

O.K. BILL.

HOW'S YOUR CLIENT, DELBERT PIKE?

HE SAYS HE'S INNOCENT.

YOU THINK HE IS?

NO. AND I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF THIS CASE.

WHY DON'T YOU SEE DARNELL?

MAYBE YOU CAN MAKE A DEAL.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT DELBERT PIKE?

WELL, HE LIKES TO SLEEP WITH OTHER MEN'S WIVES.

ELI CHAMBERS LIVED HERE IN THE COUNTY

WITH HIS WIFE AMANDA,

BUT AMANDA AND YOUR CLIENT DELBERT PIKE

BEEN SEEING EACH OTHER ON THE SIDE.

HOW YOU KNOW THAT?

THE TWO MEN WERE ARRESTED ONCE BEFORE FOR FIGHTING.

WITNESSES SAY IT WAS OVER AMANDA CHAMBERS.

NOW THAT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

AND THEN ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER,

WE STOPPED DELBERT FOR SPEEDING.

WAS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT THIS?

YEAH. THE DEPUTY THAT WROTE THAT CITATION

SAID THAT AMANDA WAS RIDING WITH HIM

IN THE CAR AT THE TIME.

OH.

BILL, THERE'S SOMETHING I WANT TO SAY TO YOU.

YOU MAY JUST BE MY CLOSEST FRIEND.

WELL, I'M HAPPY IF I AM, VIRGIL.

ALTHEA AND I HAVE SEPARATED.

SHE'S BACK IN PHILADELPHIA...

STAYING WITH HER PARENTS.

SHE HAS THE TWINS, TOO.

WHAT HAPPENED?

SHE TOLD ME SHE...

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO COME BACK HERE.

THAT SHE HATED LIFE HERE.

SHE HATES THE WORK I DO,

NOT JUST THE POLICE WORK,

THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. EVERYTHING.

SHE BLAMES HERSELF

FOR HER STUDENT'S SUICIDE.

SHE KEEPS RUNNING IT THROUGH OVER AND OVER...

AND THE RAPE, TOO.

WELL, VIRGIL, YOU AND SHE ARE A FAMILY,

AND I'M SURE SHE'LL COME BACK TO YOU.

NOT TO SPARTA. NOT EVEN THE SOUTH.

I'M SURE OF IT.

WELL, MAYBE YOU OUGHT TO CONSIDER

LIVING WHERE ALTHEA BE HAPPIEST.

SHE'S NOT INTERESTED.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

SHE'S NOT INTERESTED

IN MAKING OUR MARRIAGE WORK.

SHE DOESN'T LOVE ME.

THAT'S THE STORY.

NO LOVE.

NO LOVE.

'CAUSE I'M GOING TO PROVE IT WAS MURDER.

DELBERT PIKE DELIBERATELY SET OUT

TO KILL ELI CHAMBERS.

HE KNEW CHAMBERS WAS IN THAT BAR.

HE PROVOKED HIM INTO FIGHTING AND KILLED HIM.

LORD HAVE MERCY, GERARD. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT?

WHY? YES, GERARD. WHY?

WHAT COMPELLING REASON DID HE HAVE?

READ IT.

I HAVE WITNESSES,

AND EACH OF THEM HAS SOMETHING TO SAY

ABOUT DELBERT'S REASONS.

YOU'LL NEVER PROVE PREMEDITATION.

MANSLAUGHTER, MAYBE.

VIRGIL, YOU, UH,

SOUND LIKE A LAWYER WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DEAL.

I DO.

O.K. MANSLAUGHTER.

I'LL RECOMMEND THE MINIMUM SENTENCE-- NINE YEARS.

I'LL PUT IT TO HIM.

YOU PUT IT TO HIM.

HE'S GOING TO SAY HE'S INNOCENT.

TELL HIM YOU BELIEVE HIM,

THEN ASK HIM IF HE'S WILLING TO DO SIX.

CALL ME.

HERE'S A MAN I AIN'T SEEN IN A WHILE.

HOW YOU DOING, BO?

FINE, VIRG. YOU STILL A DETECTIVE,

OR YOU TOOK UP RESPECTABLE EMPLOYMENT?

BO, I'M A LAWYER NOW.

THEN YOU WENT FROM BAD TO WORSE.

DELBERT PIKE'S MY FIRST CLIENT.

DID YOU PICK HIM OR HE PICK YOU?

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

NONE. EITHER WAY IT'S A MISTAKE.

ELI AND AMANDA CHAMBERS--

THEY DRINK HERE REGULAR?

TOO REGULAR.

YOU EVER SEEN ELI TALKING TO ABEL?

SURE, BUT ELI'S USUALLY WITH HIS WIFE AMANDA.

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AMANDA

FLIRTING WITH OTHER MEN?

NAW, NEVER. NOT THE TYPE.

HUH. OKAY, THANKS.

O.K., VIRG. LATER.

YEAH, YEAH.

ABEL DENT WAS ARRESTED TWICE,

BOTH TIMES FOR D.U.I.

THANKS.

YOU REALLY THINK THAT'S GOING TO MAKE HIM

ANY LESS RELIABLE AS A WITNESS?

I DON'T KNOW,

BUT IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE IT LOOK THAT WAY.

THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS WILLING TO REDUCE

THE MURDER CHARGE TO MANSLAUGHTER.

IFI PLEAD GUILTY TO THAT.

YES.

YOU'D BE SENTENCED NINE YEARS.

WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR, YOU COULD BE OUT IN THREE.

I AIN'T GUILTY!

I ACTED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

DID YOU HAVE A THING WITH AMANDA CHAMBERS?

YEAH.

BRIEF.

TO ME, SHE WAS JUST ANOTHER BORED HOUSEWIFE.

BUT IT WAS HER FIRST AFFAIR.

AND HOW DID IT END?

SHE CAUGHT ME WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.

SHE WENT CRAZY, AND...

I WAS DRUNK.

I GRABBED HER.

SHE TRIPPED AND BRUISED HER FACE.

SHE RAN HOME TO HER HUSBAND.

HE ASKED ABOUT HER BRUISE.

SHE TOLD HIM EVERYTHING.

HE TRACKED ME DOWN,

AND WE STARTED FIGHTIN'.

DID YOU SEE AMANDA AFTER THAT?

NOT UNTIL THAT NIGHT AT MASON'S.

NO.

AMANDA CHAMBERS WAS WITH YOU

THE NIGHT YOU GOT A SPEEDING TICKET.

WELL, UH...

I WAS DRIVING AROUND, AND I SAW HER,

AND I PERSUADED HER TO GET IN MY CAR.

WHY?

I WANTED TO APOLOGIZE FOR THE WAY I ACTED THAT LAST NIGHT.

DIDN'T YOU KNOW AMANDA

WOULD BE AT MASON'S WITH HER HUSBAND?

WELL, SURE,

BUT I FIGURED IT WAS ALL OVER AND DONE.

HEY!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

UH!

ELI.

THEN I WENT TO MY CAR,

LIT UP A CIGARETTE, AND WAITED FOR THE POLICE.

SO, AMANDA CAME OUT AND SAW EVERYTHING.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE TOLD THE POLICE

THAT SHE SAW NOTHING.

WHY WOULD SHE LIE?

PUT ME IN THE WRONG.

GET BACK AT ME.

FOR BEATING HER UP?

WELL, NOT THAT ONLY.

SHE BLAMES ME FOR RUINING HER MARRIAGE.

RUINING HER LIFE.

AFTERNOON, MA'AM.

I'M VIRGIL TIBBS, DELBERT PIKE'S ATTORNEY.

YOU WANT ME TO SAY SOMETHING GOOD FOR HIM?

I WON'T. UH, MA'AM, WAI--

I JUST NEED TO ASK YOU A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS.

I DON'T WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

I'M SORRY, BUT THE LAW SAY THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT

TO QUESTION ALL WITNESSES BEFORE TRIAL,

SO, PLEASE COOPERATE.

PLEASE.

HOW LONG WERE YOU MARRIED?

SINCE I WAS 21.

DO YOU MISS HIM?

MORE THAN I EVER DREAMED I WOULD.

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD AN AFFAIR WITH DELBERT PIKE.

DID YOU THINK YOU LOVED PIKE?

NO,

BUT ELI AND I WERE HAVING PROBLEMS.

DELBERT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ME.

FOR A MINUTE I THOUGHT

I MIGHT BE IN LOVE WITH HIM, BUT...

NO.

YOU CAUGHT HIM WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.

YES.

SO YOU THOUGHT THAT DELBERT SHOULD BE PUNISHED.

WHY SHOULDN'T I?

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T START THE FIGHT.

LOOK, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

HE SAYS YOU DID. NOT FROM THE START!

YOU DIDN'T SEE WHO PULLED THE KNIFE FIRST?

NO.

BUT THEY WERE FIGHTING OVER YOU, WEREN'T THEY?

MY HUSBAND LOVED ME.

DELBERT HAD NO RIGHT

COMING INTO MASON'S THAT NIGHT.

HE KNEW I WOULD BE THERE WITH ELI.

NOW, IT'S JUST TOO LATE.

MY HUSBAND IS DEAD.

AND DELBERT KILLED HIM.

YOU REALLY HATE DELBERT, DON'T YOU?

YES.

THE LADIES COME BY ONCE A WEEK TO PLAY BRIDGE.

OTHER TIMES, I GO TO THEM.

MARTHA GOT ME EVEN GOING TO THE BINGO.

NOTHING LIKE FAMILY, THOUGH.

RUDER COME BY EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

SOMETIMES SHE EVEN STAY THE WHOLE WEEKEND.

GO ON.

WE CATCH UP ON NEWS

AND SIT OUT ON THE PORCH,

LOOK AROUND,

WAVE TO PEOPLE.

THAT SOUNDS NICE.

SURE, IT'S NICE,

BUT IT AIN'T LIKE IT WAS WHEN Y'ALL WERE HERE.

YOU AND...

ALTHEA AND THE BABIES.

I KNOW.

I'M GOING ON UP TO BED.

O.K.

GOOD NIGHT.

GIVE ME YOUR GLASS.

NO, I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

YOU GO ON. GO, NOW. REST.

I GOT IT. GO AHEAD. GO.

GOODNIGHT.

[DARNELLE] AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

I SAW DELBERT WALK OVER TO ELI.

DELBERT SAID HIS WIFE AMANDA WAS A WHORE.

ELI GOT UP.

DELBERT STARTED PUSHING HIM.

THEY ENDED UP FIGHTIN' OUTSIDE.

I WENT OVER TO THE BARTENDER BO

AND TOLD HIM TO CALL THE POLICE,

THEN I WENT OUTSIDE.

DELBERT AND ELI WERE FIGHTIN' WITH KNIVES.

DELBERT WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM.

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR.

THE WITNESS IS DRAWING AN UNWARRANTED CONCLUSION.

OBJECTION SUSTAINED. STRIKE THE ANSWER.

UH, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

YOUR WITNESS, COUNSELOR.

YOU HAD FOUR SHOTS OF WHISKEY

AND TWO BEERS THAT NIGHT.

THAT SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.

DO YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AS A HEAVY DRINKER?

YEAH, I CAN GO PRETTY GOOD. YEP.

YOU WERE ALSO CONVICTED OF TWO D.U.I.s.

OBJECTION!

MR. DENT'S PRIOR RECORD

HAS NO RELEVANCE TO THIS CASE.

SUSTAINED.

DISREGARD MR. TIBBS'S QUESTION.

YOU EVER FORGET THINGS?

DOESN'T EVERYBODY?

WELL, HAVE YOU EVER BEEN OUT DRINKING

AND THEN FORGOT WHAT HAPPENED?

LISTEN, THINGS WERE THE WAY I SAID.

ELI WAS ATTACKED AND PROVOKED

BY DELBERT PIKE.

DID YOU ACTUALLY SEE DELBERT PULL OUT A KNIFE

AND STAB YOUR FRIEND ELI CHAMBERS?

NO.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THE WITNESS IS EXCUSED.

THE PEOPLE CALL AMANDA CHAMBERS.

NOW, MRS. CHAMBERS,

ON THE NIGHT YOUR HUSBAND WAS MURDERED--

I OBJECT TO ANY PRESUMPTION OF MURDER!

CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE, COUNSELOR.

HOW SHALL I PUT IT?

KILLED BY A MAN TRYING TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE.

DID YOUR HUSBAND HAVE ANY REASON

TO PULL A KNIFE ON DELBERT PIKE?

OBJECTION, YOUR HONOR! THAT CALLS FOR CONJECTURE.

OVERRULED.

I WANNA HEAR HER ANSWER.

ELI NEVER WOULD HAVE PULLED A KNIFE ON DELBERT.

THAT JUST WASN'T HIS WAY.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.

MRS. CHAMBERS, DIDN'T YOU SAY YOU HATED DELBERT?

AND I ADMIT THAT NOW.

ISN'T THAT WHY YOU'RE NOT TELLING THE COURT HOW YOU FELT?

OBJECTION! THE WITNESS HAS ALREADY TESTIFIED

AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENED AND WHAT SHE SAW.

SUSTAINED.

DIDN'T YOU SAY

YOU FELT BAD ABOUT YOUR AFFAIR?

JUST TELL US ABOUT IT.

BECAUSE I SAW HOW SAD IT MADE ELI,

AND I REALLY LOVED HIM.

DID HE FORGIVE YOU?

I THINK SO.

DID HE SAY, "I FORGIVE YOU"?

WELL, IT WASN'T EASY.

DID HE SAY IT?

NOT IN THOSE EXACT WORDS.

WHAT WERE HIS WORDS--

ABOUT HIS SADNESS, FOR EXAMPLE?

WAS HIS SADNESS A QUICKLY PASSING THING OF NO IMPORTANCE,

OR WAS IT A VERY IMPORTANT THING,

A VERY PAINFUL THING,

SO PAINFUL THAT IT MADE HIM DO AND SAY THINGS

THAT MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN HIS DEATH?

MAYBE.

DO YOU FEEL RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DEATH IN ANY WAY?

I OBJECT TO THIS!

I AM ASKING THE WITNESS

A PERFECTLY ALLOWABLE QUESTION ABOUT HER FEELINGS.

WE ALREADY KNOW HER FEELINGS.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOUR HONOR,

I WANT THE JURY TO HEAR

WHAT MRS. CHAMBERS FELT HER RESPONSIBILITY

IN THIS AFFAIR WAS.

I LIED.

YOU WHAT?

I OBJECT TO THIS!

SO DO I.

I OBJECT TO LYING AS MUCH AS YOU DO.

THE WITNESS IS SAYING SHE'S BEEN LYING.

I CAN'T GO ON DOING WHAT I'M DOING.

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MISS CHAMBERS?

I SAW WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.

DELBERT DIDN'T START IT.

HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF.

ELI WAS DRUNK WHEN DELBERT WALKED IN,

AND HE STARTED SAYING

HOW HE WAS GOING TO GET EVEN.

GET EVEN BECAUSE OF THE AFFAIR?

YES.

THEN WHAT?

DELBERT WENT OUTSIDE,

AND ELI WENT OUT AFTER HIM.

SO I RAN OUTSIDE.

DELBERT AND ELI WERE FIGHTING.

AND THEN,

ELI TOOK OUT HIS KNIFE

AND STARTED SLASHING AT DELBERT.

WHAT HAPPENED AFTER ELI DREW HIS WEAPON?

HE TOOK OUT HIS KNIFE.

HE STARTED TO FIGHT BACK.

WHY ARE YOU TELLING US THIS NOW?

COULD IT BE

YOU'VE DISCOVERED YOU STILL HAVE FEELINGS FOR DELBERT?

I DESPISE HIM.

NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, YOUR HONOR.

THE WITNESS IS EXCUSED.

AMANDA CHAMBERS...

TOLD THE TRUTH

ABOUT A MAN SHE OPENLY DESPISES...

EVEN THOUGH THAT TRUTH

WOULD SAVE THAT MAN

FROM A PUNISHMENT SHE WISHED TO BRING DOWN ON HIM.

SHE TOLD THE TRUTH...

WHEN THE TRUTH WOULD DISCREDIT

THE MAN SHE LOVED...

BRING DISHONOR... TO HIS MEMORY.

YOU SEE,

THE TESTIMONY THAT'S EASY TO GIVE

IS HARD TO BELIEVE.

BUT A TESTIMONY THAT'S HARD TO GIVE...

IS VERY EASY TO BELIEVE.

DELBERT PIKE

KILLED IN SELF-DEFENSE.

THIS MAN

IS NOT...

IS NOT GUILTY OF MURDER.

FOR THE CHARGE OF MURDER,

HOW DO YOU FIND THE DEFENDANT DELBERT PIKE?

NOT GUILTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. TIBBS.

[BILL] HARRIET.

NOW, HOW ABOUT THIS?

WHAT'S IT MEAN?

WELL, IT MEANS THAT VIRGIL DEFENDED HIS CLIENT

FOR NOTHING.

OH, WELL, THAT'S VERY NICE.

I TRUST THERE'S MORE IN HIS FUTURE THAN THIS.

VIRGIL TIBBS, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW,

HAS JUST PULLED IN.

SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

HEY, CONGRATULATIONS!

CONGRATULATIONS.

WELL, THANK YOU.ATTORNEY TIBBS.

THANK Y'ALL VERY MUCH.

KUDOS ARE IN ORDER. THANK YOU.

MAYBE NOW WE HAVE TIME FOR THAT LUNCH.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

CONGRATULATIONS, VIRGIL.

ALL RIGHT, CHIEF.

OH, I'M SORRY. SHERIFF.

COUNSEL FOR THE DEFENSE.

CONGRATULATIONS, VIRGIL.

THANK YOU, HARRIET.

COULD I SPEAK TO YOU FOR A MOMENT?

YES. CERTAINLY.

EXCUSE US.

I JUST GOT A GUILTY MAN OFF.

YOU MEAN YOU JUST DEFENDED A GUILTY MAN.

YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE?

WELL, SURE THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.

GUILTY MAN'S ENTITLED TO A DEFENSE.

YEAH, BUT I WAS USED.

WELL, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE USED.

THE WOMAN AND HER LOVER SET ME UP.

12 PEOPLE ON THAT JURY JUDGED THE FACTS.

THEY WERE FOOLED. EVERYTHING WAS WRONG.

EVERYTHING WRONG? YES.

YOU AND I OUGHT TO GO AND SIT ON THE PORCH,

THE BIG PORCH OVER AT YOUR HOUSE,

AND PASS THE LAZY AFTERNOONS

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT

HOW WE CAN CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION

THAT SEEMS SO WRONG SO MUCH OF THE TIME.

WILL THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?

NO.

OH, WELL, THEN WE OUGHT TO SIT ON THE PORCH

AND, UH, LEAVE THE CONSTITUTION ALONE.

[HARRIET] BILL? YEAH?

EXCUSE ME, VIRGIL.