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

NOW, Y'ALL HOLD IT RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

PLEASE DON'T DO THAT.

NOW YOU REALLY GOT ME MAD.

LET GO OF ME.

HEY, STOP IT. STOP IT!

I SAID PLEASE. WHAT'D YOU RUN FOR?

TO GET AWAY.

SO YOU KNOW THAT WAS WRONG--

PLASTERING THE TOWN WITH POSTERS.

WHAT'D YOU DO IT FOR?

FOR MONEY.

WHO WAS PAYING YOU?

CAN'T SAY.

YOU CAN'T SAY?

THEN LET'S GO.

WHEN'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?

IT USED TO BE AUGUST 7th.

LEO. SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO BE TEMPTED TODAY.

WELL, THAT SOUNDS DANGEROUS. BY WHAT?

AN OLD FLAME. CAN YOU RESIST TEMPTATION?

MAE WEST USED TO SAY,

"WHY RESIST TEMPTATION? THERE'LL ALWAYS BE MORE."

WHO'S MAE WEST?

A GHOST I RUN INTO NOW AND THEN.

WELL, LOOK AT THIS.

WELL...IF THIS IS GOING TO BE MY TEMPTATION--

A SEXY PHONE CALL--

I THINK I'M SAFE.

[ENGINE STARTS]

"CALL 976-MAY-B

FOR INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS WITH SOUTHERN LADIES."

Y'ALL KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?

SURE.

FOLKS PAY TO TALK DIRTY ON THE PHONE.

IT AIN'T AGAINST THE LAW, IS IT?

PASTING THESE UP WITHOUT A PERMIT IS.

WHO HIRED YOU?

I AIN'T GOING TO TEL YOU.

OH, YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?

YEP.

TAKE THEM AWAY.

TO JAIL?

WORSE...

YOUR PARENTS.

OH, MAN.

COME ON.

CHIEF FORBES,

I GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA WHO'S DOING THIS.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

ANYBODY WE KNOW?

976-MAY-B? IT'S GOT TO BE MAYBELLE CHESBORO.

WHO'S SHE?

WELL, SIR, SHE'S A MADAM.

CHIEF--SHERIFF GILLESPIE CHASED HER OUT OF TOWN.

SHE SAID SHE'D BE BACK, AND I GUESS SHE'S BACK.

IS THAT MAYBELLE? I THOUGHT SO.

COULDN'T BE ANYBODY ELSE.

WELL, UH, IF THAT'S ALL SHE'S DOING,

I'D SAY IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT.

IT IS?

WELL, YEAH. FROM SELLING FLESH TO SELLING TALK,

YEAH, I'D SAY SO.

BILL, LET'S GO TO LUNCH.

THINK WE'RE EVER GOING TO FIND

A MAYBELLE CALL ON THE OFFICE PHONE BILL?

NO WAY.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TUNA SALAD AND SLICED TOMATOES

AND COTTAGE CHEESE, PLEASE.

HOW ABOUT YOU, SHERIFF?

I THINK I'M GONNA BE RECKLESS

AND ORDER THE SAME THING.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE THING I ENJOY THE MOST

IS BEING AWAY FROM THAT ALLIGATOR POOL

CALLED THE CITY COUNCIL.

I HEAR THAT.

COURSE, THEY'RE STILL BEING PRETTY NICE TO ME.

OH, WELL, BUT YOU WATCH YOUR BACK.

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

AFTERNOON, CHIEF.

MR. COLEMAN.

THIS IS COUNCILMAN DREW WARD,

HEAD OF OUR ADVANCE PLANNING COMMITTEE.

HI.

SINCE YOU TOOK OVER, I'VE BEEN AWAY FROM SPARTA.

BEST WAY TO PLAN FOR SPARTA

IS TO STAY IN PALM BEACH, RIGHT, DREW?

OH, IS THAT YOU, GILLESPIE?

I HEARD YOU'RE HARDLY EVER SEEN ANYMORE.

I'VE PUT THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON NOTICE

AN WE'RE GONNA DO A INQUIRY INTO YOUR APPOINTMENT,

SO I WOULDN'T GET TOO COZY OVER AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

NICE TO SEE YOU, CHIEF.

MMM.

STOP IT!

WELL, YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT MAYBELLE.

ANYWAY, BILL, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO

ABOUT MAYBELLE'S PHONE SERVICE?

I DON'T KNOW.

I KNOW THERE'S A FELLOW UP IN STATE LEGISLATURE,

HE'S TRYING TO PASS A LAW AGAINST IT.

HOW DOES THE PUBLIC FEEL?

IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW THEY FEEL.

HOW YOU GOING TO MAKE, LET ALONE ENFORCE,

A LAW AGAINST PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS?

EVEN IF THEY'RE USING PUBLIC FACILITY?

WELL, A PARK IS A PUBLIC FACILITY.

YOU GOING TO SAY

PEOPLE CAN'T SIT ON A BENCH AND TALK SEX?

WELL, NO.

WHAT IF THEY PUBLICLY INVITE YOU TO TALK SEX,

LIKE THOSE FLIERS OUT IN THE STREETS?

WELL, THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

MAKES YOU WONDER ABOUT DISTURBING THE PEACE.

HOW YOU DOING?

PRETTY GOOD. BEEN A LONG TIME.

LAST TIME I SEEN YOU, WEREN'T YOU IN UNIFORM?

YEAH, I WAS. YOU WERE DRIVING A DIFFERENT CAR.

THAT'S RIGHT. THE OLD CLASSIC.

MISS MAYBELLE PUT IT IN A MUSEUM.

DID SHE?

YEAH. SAYS SHE'S GOING INTO THAT SAME MUSEUM WHEN SHE DIES.

GOING TO BE PRESERVED SITTING IN THAT CAR.

WE'LL SEE YOU.

YEAH?

YES. I'M HERE TO SEE MISS MAYBELLE.

LIEUTENANT, HUH?

YOU HAVE AN APPOINTMENT?

OH. LET THE MAN IN, DORA.

POLICE NEVER NEED AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE MAYBELLE,

ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE GOOD-LOOKING.

HOW YOU DOING, MISS MAYBELLE?

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU AND YOUR LOVELY NIECES

WERE IN THAT TRAILER PARK.

WEREN'T THEY SOMETHING?

YES, MA'AM, THEY WERE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

I FOUND HUSBANDS FOR ALL FIVE OF THEM.

COME ON IN.

CAN'T BELIEVE IT.

ALL THIS FOR JUST TALK, HUH?

SUGAR, TALK IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHAT ABOUT ACTION?

IT'S NOT AS INTERESTING AS TALK.

TALK IS ALWAYS DIFFERENT, ACTION'S ALWAYS THE SAME.

THE CHIEF WANTS TO KNOW IF IT ISN'T ACTION

YOU'RE REALLY SELLING HERE.

YOUNG MAN, MY TELEPHONE ARTISTS

ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN FROM MAKING

ANY KIND OF OUTSIDE ARRANGEMENTS.

[WOMAN GIGGLING]

YEAH, BABY. DON'T STOP.

UH-HUH.

UH-HUH.

UH...

YOU SEE? THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ILLEGAL GOING ON HERE.

AND I STILL GROSS 15,000 A WEEK.

OF COURSE, I HAVE TO PAY THE PHONE COMPANY THEIR CUT

AND FEDERAL TAXES AND STATE TAXES,

PLUS--OOH--I CARRY FULL MEDICAL ON ALL MY LADIES.

YOU JUST SIT YOURSELF DOWN.

NOW...

THANK YOU.

YOU CAME HERE TO COMPLAIN TO ME

ABOUT THOSE ADVERTISING FLYERS, DIDN'T YOU?

YES, MA'AM, I DID.

MM-HMM!

WELL, THE NEWSPAPERS WON'T RUN MY ADS-- NOT YET, ANYWAY.

ALL YOU GOT TO DO IS APPLY FOR A POSTER PERMIT

AT THE POLICE TRAFFIC DESK.

OH, PLEASE. WHERE THE POLICE WOULD GIVE ME

THE OLD-FASHIONED SPARTA, MISSISSIPPI, RUN-AROUND, RIGHT?

YOU KNOW THE PUBLIC DOESN'T WANT US TO MAKE THIS EASY ON YOU.

SUGARPLUM, THE PUBLIC WANTS TO DO

WHAT THE PUBLIC WANTS TO DO,

BUT THEY WANT TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT,

AND YOUR JOB IS TO MAKE DAMN SURE THEY FEEL REAL GOOD ABOUT IT.

10:00 WILL BE JUST FINE.

THE HEART OF SPARTA MOTEL. O.K.

AND CASH UP FRONT, O.K.?

I MEAN, OUT AND READY WHERE I CAN LAY MY HAND ON IT.

DAMN.

GOT TO RUN PICK UP A NEW PRESCRIPTION.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

976-MAY-B.

HANG ON. OUR LINES ARE BUSY.

OH, HEY,

YOU'RE STILL ON THE CLOCK HERE, BABY.

I'M SICK.

GET ME MY BAG.

WHAT YOU NEED, BABY?

MY MEDICATION.

OH, HELL, YOU WANT MEDICATION, BABY,

YOU TRY SOME OF MINE.

PLEASE...CALL 911.

I NEED HELP.

WHAT?

[HICCUPING]

WELL, HONEY, THIS IS THE BEST REMEDY IN THE WORLD FOR HICCUPS.

HUH?

HEY.

DOC.

BUBBA.

Y'ALL GOT ANYTHING?

WHOEVER WAS HERE WITH HER

TOOK A PILLOWCASE WHEN HE LEFT.

PROBABLY TO CARRY SOMETHING OUT.

MAYBE A BOTTLE OF BOOZE.

THERE'S A SMELL OF BOOZE BUT NO BOTTLE.

I'D GUESS HE TOOK WHATEVER HE FIGURED HE TOUCHED.

GO GET ON THE PRINTS.

YEAH. GOING TO START IN THE BATHROOM.

THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 HOURS AGO.

ABOUT 1 A.M.

ANY IDEA WHAT KILLED HER?

SUFFOCATION.

NOT TO PUT TOO FINE A POINT ON IT,

SHE CHOKED ON HER OWN TONGUE.

LOOKY HERE.

SHE HAD A BOTTLE OF MEDICATION IN HER PURSE.

AND LOOK AT THIS.

"CALL 976-MAY-B FOR INTIMATE CONVERSATIONS

WITH SOUTHERN LADIES."

THIS CARD, THIS THING HERE DOES NOT SURPRISE ME.

I'VE HAD NOTHING BUT BAD FEELINGS

ABOUT THIS PHONE ENTERPRISE.

WHY, HELLO. WHAT'S GOING ON?

HEY, MISS MAYBELLE. THIS HERE IS CHIEF FORBES.

CHIEF FORBES, IT'S SO NICE TO MEET YOU.

DON'T YOU HAVE ONE OF THOSE

WONDERFUL UNIFORMS LIKE THE CAPTAIN?

YES, I DO.

CAUSE I THINK, OOH, YOU WOULD LOOK DIVINE IN IT

JUST LIKE CAPTAIN SKINNER.

THANK YOU, MA'AM.

NOW, MISS CHESBORO,

YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE NAMED JESSICA LUND?

YES, SIR, I DO. WHY?

WE FOUND HER DEAD JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO

AT THE HEART OF SPARTA MOTEL.

DEAD?

GOD, THAT'S TERRIBLE.

POOR JESSICA.

NO, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, WAIT.

SHE DIDN'T GO THERE...

DID SHE?

DID YOU KNOW THAT JESSICA LUND HAD EPILEPSY?

NO--WELL, YES.

I KNEW THE POOR CHILD HAD SOMETHING.

WAS THAT IT? IT WAS EPILEPSY?

UH, JUDGING FROM THE MEDICINE WE FOUND ON HER, YEAH.

WAS IT LIKE AN OVERDOSE?

NO, MORE LIKE AN UNDERDOSE.

SHE DIDN'T TAKE IT IN TIME.

I KNOW PRACTICALLY NOTHING ABOUT MEDICAL MATTERS.

DO YOU KNOW WHY SHE WENT TO THAT MOTEL?

CHIEF, I HAVE NO IDEA.

WELL, UH, THE ROOM WAS REGISTERED UNDER HER NAME, MISS MAYBELLE.

HAVE ANY IDEA WHY THAT WAS?

GENTLEMEN, I AM IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS BUSINESS.

ANYTHING THAT MY EMPLOYEES DO

ON THEIR OWN TIME IS STRICTLY FREELANCE.

OH, I BET YOU WANT ME TO IDENTIFY HER, DON'T YOU?

IF YOU WOULD, MISS CHESBORO.

FINE.

MAURICE, I'M READY.

EITHER OF YOU GENTLEMEN WANT TO RIDE WITH US?

NO, THANK YOU.

WE HAVE TO STAY WITH OUR CARS.

WELL, YOU GENTLEMEN JUST LEAD ON.

MAYBELLE WILL FOLLOW.

YOU GETTING A LITTLE SLEEPY, HONEY?

I'M NOT SURPRISED. YOU EXHAUSTED ME.

DON'T YOU CALL AGAIN, YOU HEAR?

YOUR PARENTS ARE GOING TO BE FURIOUS

WHEN THEY GET THAT BILL.

MORNING, LINDY.

YOU HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO JESSICA?

YES, I DID.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

HI, THERE. THIS IS 976-MAY-B.

MY NAME IS TAMARA.

EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU TELL ME

WHERE JESSICA LUND'S STATION IS?

RIGHT THERE. EXCUSE ME. I'M ON A CALL.

UH-HUH.

UH-HUH.

GO ON AHEAD THROUGH HER STUFF.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR PIECES OF PAPER,

ANYTHING WITH A NAME WRITTEN ON IT.

UH-HUH.

[SIREN]

HOW DID MAYBELLE TAKE IT?

BADLY. MAYBELLE CHESBORO SEEMS LIKE

A DECENT PERSON IN AN ODD PROFESSION.

ODD FOR A DECENT PERSON.

WELL, I WONDERED ABOUT THAT MYSELF.

BUT THEN, WHO KNOWS WHY ANY OF US GET WHERE WE'RE GOING?

YEAH. YEAH, I AM WITH YOU.

THERE YOU GO.

THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE PAINFUL IT IS

TO SEE A YOUNG LIFE DESTROYED.

AMEN TO THAT.

WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?

JESSICA WAS EPILEPTIC.

I BELIEVE SHE NEGLECTED TO TAKE HER MEDICATION.

JESSICA WOULD HAVE SURVIVED WITH MEDICAL ATTENTION.

WELL, THEN IT'S CLEAR THAT HER CUSTOMER

IS GUILTY AT LEAST OF MANSLAUGHTER.

I THINK JUDGE SIMMS WILL LET US CHECK THOSE PHONE RECORDS.

UH-HUH.

I'LL HAVE REPORTS READY RIGHT AWAY.

Y'ALL LOOKING FOR A REALLY DISGUSTING PERSON.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

EXCUSE ME, MISS REIKER.

COME ON IN, CAPTAIN.

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT?

WELL, THANK YOU.

Y'ALL HAVE THIS SEX TALK SERVICE?

WELL, WE DON'T HAVE IT, BUT ONE OF OUR CUSTOMERS.

YEAH. A MISS MAYBELLE CHESBORO.

I THINK IT'S "976-MAY-B."

I GUESS YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT IT, HUH?

I WELL, NOT PERSONALLY.

SEX TALK?

YEAH.

I GUESS SOME PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN HAPPY TO PAY FOR IT.

WELL, MAYBE THAT'S AS CLOSE AS THEY EVER GET TO SEX...

POOR THINGS.

YEAH. YEAH. YOU'RE NOT FROM THE SOUTH, ARE YOU?

MINNEAPOLIS. WHY?

WELL, CAUSE YOU'RE NOT BLUSHING

AND I SURE GOT A FEELING I AM RIGHT NOW.

WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHATEVER I'M ALLOWED TO TELL YOU.

WE NEED THE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES

OF EVERYBODY THAT'S CALLED MAY-B IN THE LAST 10 DAYS.

CAPTAIN, NOT ASKING FOR MUCH ARE YOU?

PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING, YEAH.

I CAN GIVE YOU NUMBERS,

BUT NOT NAMES AND ADDRESSES.

OH, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

WE GOT ONE OF THOSE REVERSE PHONE BOOKS.

WE CAN GET THE NAMES FROM THERE.

I COULD USE SOME DINNER.

HEY, UM, THAT'S NO PROBLEM AT ALL.

YOU'RE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, RIGHT?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I BET YOU NEVER HAD SOME BRUNSWICK STEW

WITH TURNIP GREENS AND FRIED OKRA

TOPPED OFF WITH SOME SWEET POTATO PIE WITH MARSHMALLOW GLAZE.

NO, I HAVEN'T. WHERE DO THEY SERVE THAT?

A LITTLE PLACE RIGHT NEAR HERE.

I'M READY.

HEY, CHIEF.

WE GOT US THIS LIST OF FREQUENT CALLERS.

SOME OF THE NAMES WILL SURPRISE YOU.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO KNOW THOSE NAMES.

WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR ONE.

HOW MANY WE GOT TO GO THROUGH?

THERE'S QUITE A FEW.

HOW MUCH PRIVACY ARE WE INVADING?

OH, BUNCHES AND BUNCHES.

MAYBELLE'S GOT A GOOD THING GOING.

HERE'S A LIST OF THE SEVEN BIGGEST CALLERS.

DREW WARD?

THAT'S HOLLY COLEMAN'S BIG BUDDY.

GUESS WE'LL JUST GO THROUGH THE SHORT LIST UNLESS YOU SAY DON'T.

I MUST SAY DON'T.

DON'T FOLLOW UP?

NO.

DON'T Y'ALL TROUBLE TELLING ME

EVERY SINGLE THING YOU DOIN'.

I'M STARTING TO LIKE THAT GUY.

WELL, MAYBELLE, HOW ARE YOU?

GOOD MORNING, BILL GILLESPIE.

UH, MAYBELLE--

I HAVEN'T HAD THAT MUCH SUGAR IN A WEEK.

WELL--

AND I WANT SOME MORE.

I--

MORE.

MAYBELLE, I'M HERE ON POLICE BUSINESS.

POLICE BUSINESS.

ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL LET LOOSE OF YOU ON ONE CONDITION.

YOU GOT TO PROMISE ME

YOU'RE GOING TO COME TO THE LAKE THIS EVENING.

NOW, BILL, THIS IS LINDY.

SHE WORKS FOR ME.

LINDY, THIS IS SHERIFF GILLESPIE.

O.K.

I BELIEVE YOU'RE ACQUAINTED

WITH THE UNFORTUNATE YOUNG WOMAN JESSICA.

SURE. WE WORKED TOGETHER RIGHT OVER THERE.

WHAT, DOWN THERE?

RIGHT THIS WAY. MAY I?

THE TWO OF YOU WERE TOGETHER HERE?

YES, SIR.

DID SHE EVER MAKE ANY DATES

OVER THE TELEPHONE?

I SUPPOSE SHE COULD HAVE

WHILE I WAS BUSY ON MY LINE.

DID SHE EVER TELL YOU ABOUT MAKING ANY DATES?

NO, SIR.

MISS CHESBORO TOLD US TO USE THESE PHONES

FOR SEXUAL CONVERSATION,

NOT SEXUAL DATING.

THAT'S THE GOD'S TRUTH. I SWEAR.

I NEVER WANNA BE IN THE PROFESSION OF BRINGING MEN AND WOMAN TOGETHER

INTO FLESHLY CONTACT.

THIS FELLA THAT WAS WITH JESSICA

THE NIGHT THAT SHE DIED--

IS HE IN BIG TROUBLE?

OH, I'D SAY HE IS, IF WE CATCH HIM.

I SAY, THIS IS JESSICA'S DESK?

IT WAS.

MMM.

OH, ISN'T IT A CRYING SHAME,

HER HAVING THAT-- OH, UH...

FLESHLY CONTACT.

NO, SILLY, THAT TERRIBLE DISEASE

THAT BROUGHT THE CHILD DOWN.

MAY I LOOK IN HERE?

OH, GO AHEAD, DARLIN'.

OH, EPILEPSY.

OH.

BILL, TELL ME SOMETHING.

DO YOU THINK ALL THIS IS GOING TO

HAVE A BAD EFFECT ON MY BUSINESS?

IT'LL PROBABLY HELP IT.

I HAD EXACTLY THAT SAME HUNCH MYSELF.

I CAN'T GO TO THE LAKE TONIGHT.

I TOLD HIM THAT AIN'T NO WAY TO RUN A CITY,

AND I WASN'T GOING ALONG WITH IT.

WELL, YOU TELL HIM TO CHECK WITH ME FIRST, OKAY?

YEAH.

NOW, THEN, WHAT CAN I DO YOU FOR?

DO YOU KNOW THE GIRL IN THIS PHOTO, MR. WARD?

MM-MMM. WHO IS SHE?

GIRL WE FOUND DEAD IN A MOTEL.

sOH, YOU MEAN THAT HOOKER.

ONE IN THE PAPER? HMM?

WAS SHE A HOOKER?

THAT'S THE STORY.

IT DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HER BEING A HOOKER.

SAID SHE WORKED FOR A PHONE SEX SERVICE.

I'VE GOT A LIST RIGHT HERE

OF EVERYBODY WHO USED THAT SERVICE.

WHAT RIGHT DO YOU HAVE TO GET MY PHONE RECORDS?

JUDGE TALLY GAVE US A WARRANT.

DID YOU EVER CALL JESSICA LUND?

NO!

I MEAN, HOW WOULD I KNOW?

DID YOU MEET JESSICA TUESDAY NIGHT?

I AM NOT SUBMITTING MYSELF TO YOUR INTERROGATION.

THIS IS SMELLING LIKE A POLICE SHAKEDOWN!

IT'S MERELY AN INVESTIGATION, MR. WARD.

I AIN'T SAYING ANOTHER WORD WITHOUT MY ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

HOLLY, COULD YOU COME DOWN HERE?

WELL, I'M SO DAMN MAD, I COULD JUST CATCH FIRE.

I WANT TO TALK TO DREW WARD.

I CALLED MAY-B A FEW TIMES,

AND NOW THE DAMN P.D.

ARE TRYING TO CONNECT ME TO THAT DEAD HOOKER.

PROBABLY GILLESPIE PUTTING THE COPS UP TO IT.

HE'S PRETTY COZY WITH THE CHIEF.

[TELEPHONE RINGING]

YEAH, WHAT?

MR. WARD, MY NAME IS LINDY.

I NEED MONEY.

WHAT?

MY NAME IS LINDY.

I NEED MONEY.

QUITE A BIT.

WHAT, ARE YOU SOME KIND OF NUT?

I'M GOING TO TELL THE SHERIFF

YOU LEFT JESSICA TO DIE.

WOULD YOU EXCUSE ME, PLEASE, HOLLY?

WHY? WHAT'S GOING ON?

IS THAT ABOUT THAT HOOKER?

HOLLY, EXCUSE ME.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

$10,000.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WAS ME

WHO WAS WITH JESSICA?

DON'T WASTE MY TIME. GET THE CASH MONEY,

AND I'LL CALL YOU AGAIN,

LATER.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

BOBBY JOHNSON, ARE YOU IN THIS HOUSE?

CAN YOU ANSWER THAT DOOR?

BOBBY!

WHO IS IT?

HELLO.

MAYBELLE CHESBORO HERE.

DID YOU SAY MAYBELLE?

I SAID MAYBELLE.

OH, GOD.

WELL, WELL.

HA HA HA.

SURPRISED?

YES.

EMBARRASSED?

NO.OH, YES, YOU ARE.

YES, I AM.

WELL, DON'T WORRY, 'CAUSE WHAT I HAVE HERE

IS GUARANTEED TO ABSOLUTELY NULLIFY EMBARRASSMENT.

I MEAN, IT BANISHES IT.

WELL, MAYBELLE, ISN'T IT A LITTLE LATE IN THE EVENING?

DON'T BE SUCH A FOOL.

IT'S ONLY JUST NOW TURNING DARK.

NOW, WHAT I HAVE HERE

IS BY WAY OF A HOUSEWARMING PRESENT FOR YOU.

OH.

COME ON, OPEN IT.

WELL, CERTAINLY.

RIGHT NOW. YES.

I MUST SAY,

THIS IS QUITE A HOUSE

FOR A POOR OLD EX-POLICE CHIEF.

WELL, NOW, I PUT THE WHOLE BANKROLL INTO THIS,

AND IT STILL ISN'T BUT HALF PAID FOR.

I THINK I SEE A WOMAN'S HAND

IN THE DECORATING AROUND HERE.

NOT A FLASHY WOMAN

BUT A STEADY ONE.

OH, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS. OH, WELL, NOW.

WHAT AN UTTERLY ELEGANT GIFT.

MAYBELLE, I'M REALLY VERY TOUCHED.

THE DECANTER COMES FROM MY GREAT-UNCLE DESMOND

WHO BROUGHT IT ALL THE WAY TO SAVANNAH

FROM WATERFORD, IRELAND.

NOW, WHAT'S INSIDE

IS A VERY FAMOUS PRIVATE SPECIAL STOCK

DISTILLED BY JUDGE CLARENCE COY

OF HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA.

WELL, WELL, WELL, WELL.

WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOME OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

OOH, I'M NOT EVER GOING TO ASK YOU

WHERE YOU GOT ALL YOUR MONEY.

MAYBELLE, SPECULATIONS OF THAT KIND

ARE REALLY--

HERE'S TO OLD FRIENDSHIP,

THE KIND THAT'S... FULL AND FOND

FORBEARS ALL THE THOUGHTS OF THE PAST.

HOW WONDERFUL. MMM.

MMM-MMM.

THAT'S PRETTY WONDERFUL, TOO,

I TELL YOU.

NOW LISTEN, WHO IS IT SAID

WHAT YOU JUST SAID?

MY DADDY!

AND ON WHAT OCCASION DID HE USE THOSE APPEALING WORDS?

NEW YEAR'S EVE, 1940, SPARTA, MISSISSIPPI.

MY MAMA JUST THREW HIM OUT IN THE SNOW.

OH, MY WORD.

POOR OLD DADDY, HUH?

OH, MAYBELLE.

WHEN DID YOU GET THAT CALL FROM COLEMAN?

ABOUT A HALF HOUR AGO.

WHAT'S HE SUPPOSED TO MEAN

BY AN OFFICIAL REPRIMAND?

WELL, EVERYBODY PRETTY MUCH IGNORES HOLLY COLEMAN

INCLUDING THE CITY COUNCIL. I WOULDN'T WORRY.

HE SOUNDS A LITTLE TOO ANGRY, TOO NERVOUS.

I BET YOU HE'S COVERING SOMETHING.

WELL, SIR, CHIEF FORBES,

I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE A PERFECT MATCH.

THIS FAX JUST CAME IN.

FBI SAYS THE PRINTS ON THAT PHOTO I HANDED WARD

MATCH HIS ARMY PRINTS.

THEY'RE ALSO THE SAME ONES WE FOUND AT THE MOTEL.

ON THE TOP OF THE TOILET AND ON A GLASS.

WELL, TAKE A LOOK FOR YOURSELF.

LET'S BRING HIM IN.

WILL YOU HANDLE THE PHONE CALL

TO ADVISE MR. COLEMAN?

WANT ME TO TELL HIM

HIS BUDDY WARD'S GOING TO BE IN THE CLINK?

YEAH.

IN OUR CLINK.

EMPHASIZE THAT.

YES, SIR.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

IT'S ABOUT TIME.

HEY, GOT THE MONEY?

YEAH, I GOT THE MONEY.

THERE'S A PAY PHONE

RIGHT ALONGSIDE CITY HALL.

GO TO THAT PHONE AND WAIT FOR ME TO CALL.

[RING]

YES?

WALK TO THE STATUE. I'LL MEET YOU THERE IN FIVE MINUTES.

YOU BRING ME THE MONEY,

I'LL GIVE YOU THE BOOK.

O.K.

SPARTA P.D., THIS IS DEPUTY SURILLO

REQUESTING BACKUP AT THE TOWN SQUARE.

I HATED EVERYBODY. THAT'S WHY I DID WHAT I DID.

I HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO DRIVE 'EM ALL CRAZY.

I KNOW IT.

I KNOW YOU KNOW--

YOU WERE EXACTLY THE SAME.

YOU WERE NUTS, AND I TELL YOU,

YOU WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HAVE BEEN

A CLASS-A CRIMINAL

IF THE WAR HADN'T COME ALONG AND SAVED YOU.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

IT'S TRUE. YOU WERE A WILD BOY.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY,

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY BACKGROUND,

YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANY FUTURE.

YOU WERE ALL KINDS OF TRASH, WEREN'T YOU?

OH, NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

WELL, IT'S...

OOH, WE CHESBOROS HAD BACKGROUND

YOU COULDN'T FIND THE BEGINNING OF.

WE HAD A FUTURE YOU COULDN'T SEE THE END OF.

THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY TRASH LIKE YOU

CLIMBING UP LITTLE OLD MAYBELLE'S TRELLIS

IN THE DARK OF MIDNIGHT.

THEY SENT THE COPS ON ME.

THEY DID,

AND YOU SEE HOW LIFE IS?

NOW YOU COPS ARE AFTER POOR LITTLE OLD ME.

OH, AND I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT, MAYBELLE, REALLY.

MM-HMM.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT, BILL?

SERIOUSLY, THIS TELEPHONE THING--

I'M THINKING ABOUT HANGING IT UP.

OHH!

NO PUN INTENDED.

HA HA HA HA.

BUT I AM.

I'M THINKING ABOUT RETIRING...

MAYBE AROUND HERE.

I DO OWN ALL THAT SHORE FRONT AROUND THE LAKE.

OH, YEAH, I KNOW.

ONLY THING IS, I WOULD BE ALL ALONE.

OH.

I WOULD.

AND YOU'RE NOT ALL ALONE, ARE YOU, BILL?

UH, WELL, YOU KNOW, LATELY, I--I--

SHH. I KNOW.

I KNOW ALL ABOUT IT.

WHAT'S THAT PLAYING ON THE RADIO?

UH, UH...

? I NEVER PLANNED

? IN MY IMAGINATION

? A SITUATION

? SO HEAVENLY

? A PARADISE

? THAT ONLY TWO COULD ENTER ?

? AND IN THE CENTER

? JUST YOU AND ME, DEAR

? MY HEART BEATS LIKE A HAMMER ?

? MY ARMS WOUND AROUND YOU TIGHT ?

? AND STARS FELL ON ALABAMA ?

? LAST NIGHT

[BEEPER]

OH!

OH.

UH, SORRY, MAYBELLE,

THAT'S, UH, THAT'S THIS HERE.

LET ME SEE THE MONEY.

LET ME SEE THE BOOK.

[SIREN]

FREEZE!

YOU SKUNK!

YOU SKUNK!

YOU STINKING COWARD!

PUT THEM HANDS UP.

GO ON!

MURDERER.

YOU SKUNK!

YOU MURDERING SKUNK!

YOU SAY SHE'S AT COUNTY HOSPITAL?

BUT SHE IS GOING TO MAKE IT, HUH?

OOH, I HATE THOSE BEEPERS!

EXCUSE ME.

YOUR FRIEND LINDY

GOT HERSELF SERIOUSLY HURT

TRYING TO GET SOME MONEY

OUT OF ONE OF YOUR CALLERS.

SHE WANTED TO GET BACK AT THAT MAN

THAT LEFT JESSICA TO DIE. I TOLD HER TO FORGET IT.

WELL, LISTEN,

I'M GOING TO COME DOWN THERE.

I'LL LEAVE NOW. I'M DRIVING DOWN THERE.

I'LL GET THERE AS SOON AS I CAN.

NO, CHRISTINA.

NO, YOU DID THE RIGHT THING BEEPING ME.

I TOLD YOU, I HATE THOSE BEEPERS!

WELL, BE THAT AS IT MAY,

I MUST RESPOND.

I HAVE TO GO DOWN NOW.

I UNDERSTAND.

YES, YES.

WELL, MAYBELLE, YOU DON'T MIND

MY LEAVING YOU HERE ALONE IN THE HOUSE?

JUST GO ON. GO!

YES, I REALLY MUST GO DOWN THERE.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

[RING]

HELLO, SHERIFF GILLESPIE'S RESIDENCE.

SORRY, HE'S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW.

OH, UH, MY NAME IS MAYBELLE CHESBORO.

I'M JUST A FRIEND.

WELL--

ARE YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO LEAVE A MESSAGE?

NO?

WELL--

BYE.

CONFESSED? I DON'T KNOW.

CAPTAIN SKINNER'S IN TALKING WITH HIM RIGHT NOW.

O.K., GERARD.

LET SHERIFF GILLESPIE KNOW THAT WE'RE ON FOR DINNER.

YES, SIR. WILL DO.

UH, CHIEF FORBES?

YOU JUST GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING

FROM MISS MAYBELLE CHESBORO.

THANKS, PARKER.

IT'S NOT TICKING. IT'S NOT A BOMB.

YES, SIR.

WELL, WELL, MISS MAYBELLE.

WELL, WELL, WELL.

WELL, I TOLD YOU THE LADY WAS A CLASS ACT.

SO IS THE LADY FROM THE PHONE COMPANY

FROM WHAT I HEAR.

MAYBE I OUGHT TO HIRE PARKER AS MY PRESS AGENT.

YEAH.

IT WOULDN'T BE A BAD IDEA.

ANY LUCK WITH WARD?

NO. THE MAN'S LYING SO HARD,

HE'S LOST TRACK OF HIS FIRST NAME.

HERE YOU GO, SHERIFF.

THANK YOU. NOW, WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR ME TODAY.

10 AM WITH CHIEF FORBES AND D.A. DARNELL,

PREARRAIGNMENT MEETING ON THE WARD CASE,

THEN LUNCH WITH TED MARCUS,

THEN YOU'LL BE MEETING

WITH COUNTY CIVIC PRIDE ASSOCIATION.

CAN YOU GET ME OUT OF THAT?

WHAT WAS IT LAST TIME?

OH, I HAD A SEVERE PAIN SOMEWHERE.

I'LL TELL THEM IT'S STILL THERE.

NOW, YOU WANT YOUR HOROSCOPE READ?

NO, I THINK IT'S TOO DANGEROUS

TO LISTEN TO THOSE THINGS.

"WITH MARS IN ASCENDANT,

"THE WISE LEO WILL STAY IN HIS LAIR

OR RISK THE CONSEQUENCES."

HUH. IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT.

[RING]

SHERIFF GILLESPIE'S OFFICE.

YES, MISS DeLONG.

I'LL PUT HIM RIGHT ON.

LINE TWO, SHERIFF.

THANK YOU.

HI! HOW ARE YOU?

YES.

LAST NIGHT?

UH, WELL, THE USUAL SORT OF ROUTINE.

UH, I WAS HOME, UH,

AND THEN, UH, WE HAD A SHOOTIN' IN THE SQUARE

OF ALL THINGS.

WHO?

OH, WELL, UH,

OH, WELL, I CAN EXPLAIN THAT.

AN OLD FRIEND, UH...

YES, SHE'S AN OLD FRIEND--

DROPPED IN.

UH, IT WASN'T A FEW MOMENTS AFTERWARDS,

I WAS--

WELL, NOW. NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

HARRIET, WILL YOU WAIT A MINUTE?

HARRIET, WILL YOU WAIT A MINUTE?