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...

DIDN'T THAT USED TO BE A METHODIST CHURCH?

THE METHODISTS MOVED. IT'S A SYNAGOGUE NOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW SPARTA HAD A LOT OF JEWS.

IT DOESN'T, BUT THERE'S SOME IN KENARD AND MAYFIELD.

THIS'LL BE FOR ALL OF THEM.

THIS AIN'T THE TIME TO BE DOING THIS. THE COPS JUST PASSED.

IF THEY JUST PASSED, IT SURE IS THE TIME.

COME ON, PETE. LET'S BUST 'EM.

THIS IS SOMETHING TO TELL YOUR GRANDKIDS ABOUT.

RABBI, REACH ME THE TAPE, PLEASE.

[GLASS BREAKING]

QUICK! CALL THE POLICE!

COME ON, PETE, DO IT.

STOP!

COME ON!

COPS SAID O.K., THEY'RE COMING.

OH, LOTTERY TICKETS.

YES, MA'AM. I PLAY EVERY WEEK.

DO YOU KNOW THE ODDS AGAINST WINNING?

YEAH. WELL, THAT'S WHY I PLAY TWICE.

DOUBLES MY CHANCES.

THAT'S PRETTY SHREWD, PARKER.

YES, SIR.

GOOD MORNING, MS. DeLONG.

MORNING, LIEUTENANT JAMISON. IS HE IN A MEETING?

YES, MA'AM. THEY'RE BREAKING UP NOW.

IS THAT RABBI FELDMAN?

YES, IT IS.

I'D LOVE TO SEE HIM. COULD I GO IN?

SURE, COME ON THROUGH

HELLO, MS. DeLONG.

COUNCILWOMAN DeLONG, WHAT BRINGS YOU HERE?

I'M DELIVERING YOUR INVITATION

TO SPEAK BEFORE THE WOMEN'S CLUB.

HELLO, HARRIET.

HELLO, HILLEL. IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?

COULD BE BETTER, TO TELL THE TRUTH.

ARE YOU TWO OLD FRIENDS?

I KNEW HILLEL WHEN I WAS A KID.

AND A VERY CUTE KID YOU WERE.

I KNEW HIM BEFORE HE BECAME A RABBI.

HE USED TO CLERK IN HIS DADDY'S STORE.

THAT'S RIGHT, CHIEF.

MY DADDY OWNED A FIVE-AND-DIME IN SPARTA.

NOT MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER THAT, HARRIET.

NOT MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER ME, EITHER.

WELL, YOU'VE BEEN GONE A LONG TIME.

26 YEARS.

AND WE'RE ALL VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU BACK.

MMM...NOT ALL.

RABBI'S HAVING TROUBLE OUT AT THE SYNAGOGUE.

VANDALISM?

THREE TIMES IN TWO WEEKS.

I FOUND GARBAGE DUMPED AROUND THE SYNAGOGUE.

THEN, THE MAILBOX WAS STOLEN,

AND THIS MORNING, TWO BOYS BROKE SOME WINDOWS.

DO YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE?

NO. THE RABBI, UH,

HE GOT THEIR LICENSE PLATE NUMBER. WE'RE LOOKING FOR THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION, CHIEF FORBES.

YES, SIR.

HARRIET, ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

REAL PLEASURE.

DOES BILL KNOW ABOUT THIS?

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

PLEASE, DON'T BRING HIM IN. IT WON'T DO ANY GOOD.

IT MIGHT MAKE THINGS WORSE.

REALLY? WHY?

BILL GILLESPIE IS CORRUPT AND AN ANTI-SEMITE.

HARRIET, IT PAINS ME

TO SAY THAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU AND GILLESPIE.

I FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE.

BUT SO BE IT.

YOU SHOULD ONLY BE HAPPY,

AS MY FATHER USED TO SAY.

BUT I WAS ASKED A QUESTION.

I'M SURE I TOLD THE TRUTH.

AND...I'M SORRY.

WHAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

HOW ARE YOU DOIN', HAMP?

MORNIN', BILL.

ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL CARS HERE,

THEY CAME TO US IN DRUG RAIDS.

THERE'S TWICE AS MANY COMING THROUGH HERE THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR.

YEAH, THESE ARE NICE, ALL RIGHT.

AUCTIONEER'S GOING TO LIKE THEM.

HE SURE IS.

NOW, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

WE'RE HAVING SOME TROUBLE OUT AT THE NEW SYNAGOGUE.

IT'S BEEN VANDALIZED A COUPLE OF TIMES.

HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY.

MUCH DAMAGE?

PRETTY MUCH, IN DOLLARS, ANYWAY.

TWO STAINED GLASS WINDOWS WERE BROKEN THIS MORNING.

OH.

OUR PATROLS ARE KIND OF STRETCHED.

CAN YOU ASSIGN A COUPLE OF CARS OUT THERE?

SURE. WHEN DO YOU WANT THEM?

TODAY TOO SOON?

THEY'LL BE THERE.

UH, BILL...

WHEN THE RABBI WAS IN MY OFFICE,

HE SAID SOMETHING KIND OF STRANGE.

SOMETHING TO...

SOMETHING TO DO WITH ME?

YEAH.

HE CALLED YOU A RACIST,

AN ANTI-SEMITE.

HARRIET WAS THERE, TOO.

SHE WAS AS SURPRISED AS I.

WELL...

I WONDERED HOW...

FELDMAN FELT

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

I'M SORRY THAT HARRIET WAS THERE TO HEAR THAT.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN HIS ACCUSATION?

I DON'T KNOW HOW...

AND, SO...

I DON'T WANT TO TRY.

I JUST DON'T WANT TO TRY, HAMP.

I'LL SEE YOU.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, MR. OSBORNE.

WE DIDN'T BUY THIS BUILDING.

IT WAS GIVEN TO US.

YOU CAN'T SELL A GIFT.

SURE YOU CAN. IT'S DONE ALL THE TIME.

IF IT'S A QUESTION OF PRICE--

I'M NOT GOING TO BARGAIN WITH YOU.

NEVER THOUGHT I'D HEAR A JEW SAY THAT.

YOU LEARNED SOMETHING TODAY.

YOUR TRIP HERE WASN'T A TOTAL LOSS.

I'M GONNA BRING THIS TO YOUR CONGREGATION, FELDMAN.

YOU CAN'T DECIDE FOR EVERYONE.

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH PAT OSBORNE?

MR. OSBORNE WANTS TO BUY THE PROPERTY.

I WON'T SELL. COME INSIDE. I'LL SHOW YOU AROUND.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, IF YOU DON'T LOOK AT THE WINDOWS,

EVERYTHING LOOKS VERY NICE.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN YOU CAME BACK HERE.

ACTUALLY, I FEEL MORE AFFECTION FOR THIS TEMPLE

THAN MY LAST PLACE.

I SPENT 10 YEARS IN THIS BIG SYNAGOGUE IN NEW YORK.

THE PEOPLE WERE VERY GRACIOUS,

BUT I NEVER FELT AT HOME.

YOU REALLY MISSED US, HILLEL.

YEAH...

I MISSED THE SOUTH,

REALLY,

IN SPITE OF MYSELF.

HERE, I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING SPECIAL.

O.K.

HARRIET, YOU KNOW MY DAUGHTER RIVKA?

OH, YES. WE'VE MET IN TOWN.

I'M TERRIBLY SORRY ABOUT ALL THE TROUBLE, REBECCA.

THANK YOU, MS. DeLONG.

THIS IS OUR TORAH.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE UP CLOSE BEFORE.

IT'S THE FIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE, ISN'T IT?

YES, THE PENTATEUCH,

THE BOOKS OF MOSES,

AND IT'S A NEW ONE,

SO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A CEREMONY,

IN EFFECT, MARRYING THE CONGREGATION

TO GOD'S WORD.

IT'S REALLY VERY BEAUTIFUL.

IT TAKES A SCRIBE A YEAR TO MAKE ONE.

IF HE MAKES A MISTAKE WHILE WRITING ANY REFERENCE TO GOD,

HE MUST BURY THE PAGE, SAY A PRAYER, AND START AGAIN.

IT SOUNDS LIKE AN EXPENSIVE PROCESS.

VERY EXPENSIVE.

IT COSTS ABOUT $25,000.

IT'S AN EXTRAVAGANCE

FOR A SMALL CONGREGATION,

BUT IT'S WORTH IT.

WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT BILL GILLESPIE

UPSET ME VERY MUCH.

AGAIN, I'M SORRY.

I SHOULD'VE HELD MY TONGUE.

I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE YOUR ACCUSATION.

OLD STUFF. NOT YOUR CONCERN.

FORGET IT.

WHAT DID HE DO?

LET HIM TELL YOU.

IT'S HIS RESPONSIBILITY.

ALL RIGHT. I'LL DO THAT.

YOU'VE MADE YOUR FRIEND UNHAPPY, DADDY.

I KNOW THAT, SWEETHEART,

AND I KNOW YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MY STUBBORNNESS.

YOU YOURSELF SAID IT WAS OLD STUFF.

CAN'T YOU LET IT GO?

NO...

THERE'S SOME THINGS I CAN'T LET GO.

EXCUSE ME.

DOES KEVIN POWELL LIVE HERE?

YES.

ARE YOU MR. POWELL?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE MET BEFORE.

I'M SERGEANT PARKER WILLIAMS.

THIS IS LIEUTENANT LONNIE JAMISON.

WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH KEVIN?

WE WANT TO ASK HIM WHAT HE WAS DOING OUTSIDE THE SYNAGOGUE

WHEN IT WAS VANDALIZED.

WHERE?

THE JEWISH SYNAGOGUE ON CATAWBA STREET

WHERE THE OLD METHODIST CHURCH USED TO BE.

WHY WOULD HE BE OVER THERE?

WE WERE HOPING HE COULD TELL US,

OR MAYBE YOU MIGHT KNOW.

THE WITNESS DESCRIBED HIM AND ANOTHER KID,

SAID HE WAS DRIVING A PICKUP,

AND THEY WROTE DOWN THE LICENSE PLATE NUMBER.

[VEHICLE APPROACHES]

WELL, SIR, IS HE AFRAID OF SOMETHING?

WHY SHOULD HE BE?

MR. POWELL,

I DON'T AIM TO CHASE YOUR SON AROUND TOWN ALL DAY.

YOU BETTER TELL HIM TO COME TO THE STATION.

HE'S IN TROUBLE, AND RUNNING WON'T HELP HIM.

[GLASS BREAKING]

I CAME IN MY NORMAL WAY,

AND THE DOOR WAS LOCKED.

I UNLOCKED IT.

WERE THE REST OF THE DOORS LOCKED?

WELL, I DIDN'T CHECK.

ABOUT WHAT TIME WAS THAT?

ABOUT 6:30.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO'S GOT KEYS TO THIS PLACE?

YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE RABBI WHO THEY ARE.

I DON'T KNOW THEIR NAMES.

ARE WE ALMOST THROUGH?

THIS WILL TAKE FOREVER TO CLEAN UP.

SURE. GO ON ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS, MR. BIX.

IT'S MORE THAN MISCHIEF THIS TIME, CHIEF.

THEY STOLE THEIR TORAH.

IT'S THE MOST VALUABLE THING THEY GOT.

THERE'S ANOTHER BROKEN WINDOW BACK THERE,

BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHERE THEY CAME IN.

LOOKS LIKE THEY BROKE IT FROM THE INSIDE,

'CAUSE ALL THE GLASS IS ON THE OUTSIDE.

BETTER GO FIND KEVIN POWELL AND HIS MYSTERY FRIEND.

RIGHT ON IT.

I'M SORRY, RABBI.

DEEPLY SORRY.

I TOLD EVERYBODY

SERVICES WOULD START NEXT WEEK.

MAYBE YOU SHOULD JUST GO HOME, HUH?

I CAN'T LEAVE.

I JUST CAN'T LEAVE.

I CAN'T.

SEEN THE HERALDTODAY?

NOT YET.

I'LL BET YOU HARRIET DeLONG'S READ IT.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEAL

WITH THESE ATTACKS ON THE JEWISH COMMUNITY,

AND I MEAN NOW.

LET ME GUESS, HARRIET.

YOU WANT US TO PUT UP THE MONEY TO REPAIR THEIR SYNAGOGUE.

I'M SORRY. WE AREN'T COMPROMISING

THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT A RELIGION.

IT'S ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

AREN'T YOU GOING OVERBOARD?

WE'VE GOT THREE, FOUR JEWS IN TOWN.

COLMER HAS A POINT, HARRIET.

COLMER HAS NO POINT.

WE LENT A BUS TO THE BAPTISTS

TO TRANSPORT KIDS TO THEIR CAMP.

COLMER WAS IN FAVOR OF THAT.

TRUE. WE ALL WERE.

ALL RIGHT. LET'S START TALKING.

YES, LET'S.

BUT LET'S GET ONE THING STRAIGHT.

SPARTA, MISSISSIPPI, IS A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT...

[DOORBELL RINGS]

WOULD ONE OF YOU ANSWER THE DOOR, PLEASE?

I'M ON THE PHONE.

AHH!

HA HA HA HA!

I'M HUNGRY. WANT TO GO FOR PIZZA?

I DON'T WANT TO GO OUTSIDE.

I DO. LET ME BORROW YOUR TRUCK.

YOU KNOW MY MA'S CAR'S BROKE.

LET'S JUST SCROUNGE THROUGH THE FRIDGE.

DAD, WHAT'S UP?

THE COPS CAME LOOKING FOR YOU AGAIN.

PETE, WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?

NOTHING, MA. DON'T WORRY.

THEY SAID YOU STOLE SOMETHING.

NO, WE JUST BROKE SOME WINDOWS.

PETE!

WE WERE JUST HORSIN' AROUND, MA.

HERE, TAKE THIS AND BUY SOME SUPPLIES.

GO TO THE CABIN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

PETE, GO WITH HIM.

THIS IS CRAZY.

WE SHOULD CALL THE POLICE... AND STRAIGHTEN THIS OUT.

GO ON, GUYS.

HIDING IN A CABIN WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE TROUBLE.

KEVIN, TAKE OFF.

PETE, IF THE POLICE ASK YOU ANY QUESTIONS,

DON'T TELL ON YOUR FRIEND.

MY SON WILL DO WHAT'S RIGHT.

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?

JUST A FATHER, THAT'S ALL.

[SIREN]

HOLD IT!

YOU JUST MADE A BAD THING MUCH WORSE, SON.

MORE OF YOUR SECOND-RATE PICKIN'S?

THIS IS SOMETHING SPECIAL.

AIN'T INTERESTED.

JUST TAKE A LOOK.

SO WHAT IS IT?

IT'S THE JEW HOLY SCROLLS.

IT'S WORTH 25 THOU.

TO WHO?

TO ANYBODY. IT'S ART.

BIX, THIS IS NO ORDINARY ITEM.

PEOPLE IN SPARTA WOULDN'T BUY IT.

HOW MUCH CAN WE GET OUT OF TOWN?

WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

YOU HAVE TO LEAVE IT WITH ME.

I'LL SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT.

YOU THINK I'M STUPID?

I'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME PHONE CALLS

AND MAYBE DESCRIBE IT TO PEOPLE,

SHOW IT TO SOME PEOPLE.

YOU'LL HAVE TO GIVE ME SOME FRONT MONEY, THEN.

IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO SELL IT SOMEWHERE ELSE, YOU CAN,

OR TRUST ME.

YOU DO ME WRONG,

FRIEND,

YOU'LL BE SORRY.

[DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES]

DID KEVIN TELL YOU WE WERE LOOKING FOR HIM?

NO, SIR.

DO YOU THINK HE KNEW?

I THINK MAYBE.

WHY?

'CAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO OUT OF THE HOUSE.

I'VE GOT ALL I NEED.

MRS. RETSON,

WOULD YOU SEE SERGEANT WILLIAMS ON YOUR WAY OUT?

I'D LIKE YOU TO SIGN YOUR STATEMENT, PLEASE.

I WILL. THANK YOU, CHIEF FORBES.

THANK YOU.

AND, YOU, YOU'RE LUCKY

I DON'T KEEP YOU LOCKED UP DOWNSTAIRS TILL YOUR HEARING.

I KNEW YOUR DADDY.

I KNOW.

HE'D BE ASHAMED OF ALL THIS.

YEAH, I RECKON HE WOULD OF.

BILL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I'M SORRY, MA. I WASN'T THINKING.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THIS, BOY.

IT'S YOUR OWN PRIVATE AFFAIR

WHETHER YOU LIKE PEOPLE OR YOU DON'T LIKE THEM,

BUT IF YOU INSULT THEM

OR OFFEND THEM OR HURT THEM,

IT BECOMES EVERYBODY'S AFFAIR.

YOU HEAR ME?

YES, SIR.

WHY AM I WAITING?

WHERE'S THE CHIEF?

HE'S ON HIS WAY, MR. POWELL.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, MY TIME IS VALUABLE.

YOUR SON'S UNDER ARREST. ISN'T THAT WORTH YOUR TIME?

MRS. RETSON SAYS

THE BOYS WERE AT HER HOUSE ALL NIGHT.

THEY'RE CLEARED OF THE THEFT.

WELL, THEN KEVIN CAN GO.

NO, SIR, HE CAN'T GO.

WE'RE CHARGING HIM WITH VANDALISM,

RESISTING ARREST,

AND ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER.

IT WAS SELF-DEFENSE. HE HIT ME FIRST.

LIEUTENANT JAMISON.

KEVIN KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED.

TELL THEM, KEVIN.

DON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD.

YOU LET ME DO THE TALKING

TILL WE GET A LAWYER.

THEN YOU LET HIM DO THE TALKING.

DO YOU KNOW OTHER PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

AS WELL AS YOU KNOW YOUR OWN?

YOU CAN STONEWALL ME,

BUT NOT A JUDGE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN, SHERIFF.

I KNOW YOU'RE BUSY.

IT MEANS A LOT TO US.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

PETE...

THANK YOU, SIR.

ALL RIGHT. GO ON.

IS THIS GOING TO BE A REPEAT OF '67?

THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAST.

DO YOU KNOW THAT KID?

I HAPPEN TO.

YOU KNOW HIM, AND YOU LET HIM WALK.

AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAST?

DOES NOTHING CHANGE WITH YOU?

RABBI,

ARE YOU HERE TO SEE ME?

YES. I ASKED YOU

NOT TO INVOLVE THE SHERIFF IN THIS MATTER.

I DON'T TRUST HIM.

HE IS ILL-DISPOSED TOWARD OUR PEOPLE.

GILLESPIE...

STAY AWAY FROM US.

STAY OUT OF OUR LIVES.

I KNOW I AGREED TO EAT MORE VEGETABLES, MONA,

BUT DON'T YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING OVERBOARD?

WHEN YOU COOK UP ALL THIS GOOD STUFF,

IT REDUCE A LOT.

YES, BUT THE POINT THAT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS THIS--

I REALLY DON'T THINK

THAT I NEED GREENS AT EVERY MEAL.

YOU NEED THE ROUGHAGE.

WHAT HAPPEN TO YOUR CAR IF YOU DON'T PUT OIL IN IT?

IT SEIZE UP.

THE SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO YOU WITHOUT ROUGHAGE.

SEIZE UP.

MONA, I THINK YOU'RE VERGING

ON AN INDELICATE SUBJECT.

WELL, IT'S GOING TO HAVE INDELICATE RESULTS

IF YOU DON'T EAT WHAT I COOK.

[HORN HONKS]

HI! HEY.

BILL, CAN I TALK TO YOU FOR A MINUTE?

SURE CAN.

EXCUSE ME.

I GOT SOMETHING ON MY MIND,

AND IT'S KIND OF HEAVY.

UH-HUH.

WHAT'S WRONG BETWEEN YOU AND RABBI FELDMAN?

I ASKED HIM TO TELL ME,

BUT HE SAID IT WAS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL ME.

I SUPPOSE HE'S RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

WELL, WHAT IS IT?

WHEN YOU WENT AWAY TO COLLEGE,

THE FIRST JEWISH SYNAGOGUE IN SPARTA BURNT TO THE GROUND.

IT WASN'T NO ACCIDENT.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE...

YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED IN IT.

I WAS ONE OF THE BAD GUYS.

I WAS A COP ON A RACIST POLICE FORCE.

WE NEVER ARRESTED ANYBODY,

THOUGH EVERYBODY KNEW WHO DID IT.

MY CHIEF BURIED THE EVIDENCE.

HE SANCTIONED, UH, THAT CRIME

BECAUSE RABBI FELDMAN

SUPPORTED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OPENLY

AND, UH, COURAGEOUSLY.

YOU SAY EVERYBODY KNEW ABOUT IT.

DOES THAT INCLUDE YOU?

OH, YES.

AND YOU JUST KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT?

I KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT.

YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING?

I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.

WE'D LIKE TO SEE MORE, MR. ZEIGLER.

WELL, I HAVE A RACK OF NEW ITEMS OVER HERE.

WHY MUST WE SEE MORE? THIS IS A BIG SELECTION?

BUT NOT A GOOD SELECTION.

THAT'S WHY IT'S MARKED DOWN.

I LIKE THESE SLACKS.

THEY'RE TOO OLD-FASHIONED.

I WEAR THIS KIND.

POP, THAT'S THE POINT.

THE MARKET IS KIDS.

THEY DON'T WEAR THIS STUFF.

I WOULD'VE WORN THESE WHEN I WAS A KID.

RABBI, WHEN WERE YOU EVER A KID?

RABBI, MR. ZEIGLER.

CHIEF. WHAT CAN WE DO FOR Y'ALL?

MAYBE SOMEBODY COULD INTRODUCE US.

OF COURSE. MY DAUGHTER RIVKA, CHIEF FORBES,

AND THIS IS LONNIE JAMISON.

HI.

HOW YOU DOING?

MR. ZEIGLER,

RABBI FELDMAN TELLS ME

THAT YOU HANDLED THE PURCHASE OF THE TORAH.

WE DIDN'T REALLY PURCHASE IT. WE ORDERED IT MADE.

WELL, THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAD TO GO TO BALTIMORE TO FIND A SCRIBE.

I FELT SICK WHEN IT WAS STOLEN.

MAYBE IT WAS TOO RICH A THING FOR THIS PLACE.

YOU DIDN'T WANT IT?

I DID. SOME PEOPLE THOUGHT WE DIDN'T NEED IT

OR THE TEMPLE.

PEOPLE HERE WENT TO THE ONE IN JACKSON.

THEY FELT IT WAS CONVENIENT.

IT'S CONVENIENT TO SOME PEOPLE

TO HAVE NO TEMPLE OR JEWS AT ALL.

RIVKA, YOU WEREN'T EVEN BORN

WHEN THE OLD TEMPLE WAS BURNED.

NEITHER WERE THE PEOPLE YOU MENTIONED.

THEY DON'T KNOW THE FEAR

AND THE HEARTACHE IT CAUSED.

THEY DON'T KNOW THE FEELING OF PRIDE

OF HAVING A TEMPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, CHIEF.

JEWS HAVE BEEN IN THIS COMMUNITY

SINCE BEFORE THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES.

HOW MANY PEOPLE KNEW THE TRUE VALUE OF THE TORAH?

THE WHOLE CONGREGATION. WE ALL DONATED THE MONEY FOR IT.

DO YOU HAVE A LIST?

YEAH, IN THE BACK.

WE HAVE 32 ADULT CONGREGANTS.

YOU'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW THEM ALL?

YEAH, AND WE'LL START TODAY.

RABBI FELDMAN...

I KNOW THERE WAS A TIME

THAT YOU STOOD UP FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS WHEN NOBODY ELSE WOULD.

NOW, MAYBE SOME DON'T KNOW 'CAUSE THEY WEREN'T AROUND,

LIKE RIVKA.

I'LL MAKE SURE THEY KNOW.

THOSE WHO WERE AROUND BUT DON'T REMEMBER,

I'LL MAKE SURE THEY DO.

THANKS.

YOU'RE WELCOME, SIR.

EXCUSE ME.

HEY.

HI AGAIN.

YOU DOING ALL RIGHT?

WE'RE FINE.

HE JUST WANTED TO DO SOME CLIPPING ON THOSE PLOTS.

HE SAYS HALF OUR FAMILY'S IN THERE,

INCLUDING HIS GREAT-GRANDFATHER.

I'VE GOT SOME PEOPLE HERE, TOO, OVER YONDER.

OH, IN THE GENTILE PART.

YEAH.

HE WANTS TO BRING MY MOTHER BACK HERE AND REBURY HER.

HE WANTS TO BE BURIED HERE, TOO.

OLDER PEOPLE ARE FUNNY, AREN'T THEY,

THINKING ABOUT STUFF LIKE THAT?

YEAH. I SUPPOSE.

SO YOU PLAN ON STAYING ON HERE WITH YOUR DADDY?

I HAVE TO. I'M ALL HE HAS NOW.

NOT TOO THRILLED ABOUT THAT, HUH?

I'M SCARED HERE.

WELL, I GOT ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU, MR. OSBORNE.

WHERE WERE YOU NIGHT BEFORE LAST?

I WAS WITH MY PARTNER.

CALL HER.

LUKE, CHECK IT OUT.

THIS IS ABOUT THAT TROUBLE THEY HAD

OUT AT THE SYNAGOGUE, ISN'T IT?

OR ROUNDABOUTLY.

I HEARD YOU HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE THERE YOURSELF.

I DON'T RECALL ANY TROUBLE.

WHAT ABOUT THAT ARGUMENT YOU HAD WITH THE RABBI?

JUST BUSINESS.

HIS SYNAGOGUE SITS NEXT TO LAND OF MINE.

I OFFERED TO BUY IT, AND HE REFUSED.

I ADMIT I YELLED AT HIM.

SOMETIMES I YELL AT PEOPLE.

MISS SUSAN AMES SAYS MR. OSBORNE

WAS WITH HER TWO NIGHTS AGO.

SHE WANTS YOU TO CALL HER.

I'M NOT SURPRISED. I'M GOING TO CALL THE RABBI, TOO.

YOU GOING TO YELL AT HIM SOME MORE?

NO. I'M GOING TO MAKE HIM ANOTHER OFFER.

HE MAY SELL NOW.

THERE'S A MAN FROM BIRMINGHAM INTERESTED.

I WANT SOME MONEY.

YOU GOING TO GET SOME MONEY.

I MEAN NOW.

TELL YOU WHAT WE OUGHT TO DO.

COME ON.

THERE'S $2,000. TAKE IT.

BE DONE. THAT'S IT.

THAT AIN'T NEAR ENOUGH.

IT'S THE BEST YOU'LL DO.

FORGET IT.

GIVE ME BACK THE THING.

GIVE IT!

BIX, IF I WAS YOU...

I'D TAKE THE MONEY.

LOT OF MONEY FOR A BOY LIKE YOU.

NOW YOU'RE THINKING.

WE FOUND THIS NEXT TO THE BODY.

HOW YOU DOIN', EVERETT?

FINE, THANK YOU.

HEY, BILL.

HAMP.

THIS STOREKEEPER KNEW WHOEVER IT WAS THAT KILLED HIM.

YOU'RE PROBABLY RIGHT.

NOW, THIS IS MISS SHELBA RUSSELL,

AND SHE WORKS ACROSS THE STREET.

WE'VE KNOWN EACH OTHER A LONG TIME.

THIS IS CHIEF FORBES.

HOW YOU DOING, MISS RUSSELL?

TELL THE CHIEF WHAT YOU TOLD ME.

I WAS AT WORK ALL MORNING.

MM-HMM.

TELL THE REST OF IT.

I SEEN A MAN LEAVE HERE

CARRYING SOMETHING...

LIKE A LITTLE RUG ON PINS.

COULD IT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING HE BOUGHT HERE?

HE WAS RUNNING, SO I DON'T THINK HE BOUGHT IT.

A LITTLE RUG ON PINS.

NOW, WHAT DOES THAT SOUND LIKE?

LIKE SOMETHING WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

EXCUSE ME.

THANK YOU, MISS RUSSELL.

OFFICER CORBIN HERE WILL TAKE YOUR STATEMENT.

OUT THIS WAY, PLEASE, MA'AM.

THANK YOU, MISS SHELBA.

WHOEVER STOLE THAT TORAH

WAS TRYING TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE JUST ANOTHER CASE OF VANDALISM.

YEAH. I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT, BILL.

EVERETT, WHEN YOU FIRST RESPONDED TO THAT CALL

AT THE SYNAGOGUE,

WAS THERE SOMEBODY THERE WITH THE RABBI?

YES, SIR. THE CUSTODIAN.

HMM.

LONNIE!

YES, SIR.

WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THAT GUY

THAT CALLED IN THE SYNAGOGUE BURGLARY?

JACK BIX. HE'S THE CUSTODIAN.

[CARS APPROACH]

HOLD IT, BIX! YOU'RE UNDER ARREST!

YOU GOT NO CHANCE.

DON'T BE STUPID. DON'T HURT HER.

JUST BACK OFF.

YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

JUST GIVE UP, MAN.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A CHOICE.

DROP THE KNIFE NOW,

OR I WILL PUT A SLUG THROUGH YOU.

THE SHERIFF CAME TO SPEAK WITH YOU, DADDY.

OH, NO. SAME AS OUTSIDE. YOU CAN KEEP IT ON.

OH, YES. OF COURSE.

I HOPE THAT'S, UH, STILL IN GOOD CONDITION.

IF IT'S DAMAGED, THEY HAVE TO BURY IT

AND COMMISSION A NEW ONE.

BURY THE WHOLE THING?

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, GILLESPIE.

ALL THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUPY ANY PART OF YOUR THOUGHTS.

WELL, I CAME, RABBI FELDMAN,

TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING I COULD DO

TO--TO, UH...

YES?

PERSUADE YOU THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN YESTERDAY AND TODAY.

THAT IS A FACT.

I NEED NO PERSUASION.

THINGS CHANGE.

[RABBI FELDMAN] DEFINITELY.

PEOPLE CHANGE.

THAT IS NOT A FACT. THAT IS AN OPINION.

IN MY OPINION, THEY SELDOM CHANGE.

WOULD YOU ACCEPT MY APOLOGY?

NO.

DADDY.

WHAT, RIVKA, WHAT?

YOU COULD HAVE A TALK WITH THE SHERIFF.

ABOUT WHAT?

ABOUT HOW AND WHY A KNOWN CRIMINAL

WAS LET GO?

ABOUT HOW THAT DERELICTION OF DUTY ASSURED THE RACISTS

THEY COULD PERSECUTE WITHOUT FEAR OF THE LAW?

HOW I TOOK YOUR MOTHER,

WHO WAS CARRYING YOU AT THE TIME...

AWAY FROM HERE TO PROTECT HER?

I WANTED TO MAKE AMENDS.

YOU AND I ARE NEIGHBORS.

THE MAN WHO BURNED MY SYNAGOGUE

COULD BE A NEIGHBOR.

YOU KNOW HIM?

DO YOU?

HE'S DEAD.

IT'S DEAD. IT'S ALL DEAD.

THANK YOU, CHILD.

WELL, YOU HAD A VERY GOOD IDEA.

IT JUST DIDN'T WORK OUT.

YOU OFFERED AN APOLOGY?

OH, YEAH.

I OFFERED, UH,

WHAT I HOPE WAS A SINCERE APOLOGY,

BUT, UH... HE WOULDN'T ACCEPT IT.

CAN YOU BLAME HIM?

HIS DAUGHTER WAS THERE.

SHE'S KIND OF A SWEET GIRL.

I COULD TELL

THAT SHE WANTED SOMETHING GOOD TO HAPPEN, BUT, UH...

YOU ASKED ME IF I COULD BLAME HIM.

NO.

I CAN'T BLAME THE MAN A BIT.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS CEREMONY.

WHETHER I SHOULD GO OR JUST STAY AWAY.

WELL, NOW, THE MAN IS A GOOD FRIEND OF YOURS, AN OLD FRIEND.

YOU LIKE EACH OTHER.

WHY WOULD YOU STAY AWAY JUST FOR ME?

I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE ALONE,

NOT RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW YOU'VE CHANGED.

I LOVE YOU.

BUT I WOULDN'T LOVE YOU IF IT WASN'T RIGHT.

A PERSON WHO WRITES ONE CHARACTER IN THE TORAH

WAS SYMBOLICALLY PRESENT AT MOUNT SINAI.

IT BINDS US TO GOD'S WISDOM

AND 6,000 YEARS OF HISTORY.

[PRAYING IN HEBREW]

"THIS IS THE TORAH THAT MOSES SENT

"TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

"AT GOD'S COMMAND

THROUGH THE HANDS OF MOSES."

[SINGING KI HEM HAYEINU]

CHIEF FORBES, WE WANT YOU TO LEAD THE PROCESSION

AND HOLD THE TORAH.

THIS IS NEVER DONE.

EXCUSE ME. IT WAS DONE BEFORE

BY ALEXANDER THE GREAT.

SO BY THE PRINCIPLE OF DARKEI SHALOM,

WE DO THIS TO REAFFIRM

THE SOLIDARITY OF OUR PEOPLES.

[CANTOR PRAYING IN HEBREW]

[CONGREGATION PRAYING IN HEBREW]

I'VE HAD A TOUGH TIME

DECIDING THE PUNISHMENT IN THIS CASE.

THE PARENTS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A LARGE RESTITUTION HERE.

I WISH I COULD PUNISH THEM AS WELL.

WHAT DO YOU BOYS HAVE AGAINST RABBI FELDMAN AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY?

THE JEWS THINK THEY CAN BUY EVERYTHING.

THAT USED TO BE A GOOD BAPTIST CHURCH.

WRONG. IT WAS A METHODIST CHURCH,

AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITY DIDN'T BUY IT.

IT WAS A GIFT.

I KNOW. I PROPOSED IT.

SHERIFF GILLESPIE.

YES, YOUR HONOR?

ARE YOU PREPARED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR OFFER?

OH, YES, I AM.

VERY WELL.

PETE RETSON AND KEVIN POWELL

WILL SERVE 200 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE

SUPERVISED BY SHERIFF GILLESPIE.

PETE RETSON, YOU MAY GO.

KEVIN POWELL, YOU STAY.

YOU HAVE FURTHER BUSINESS WITH THIS COURT.

KEVIN POWELL, HAVE YOU UNDERSTOOD...

YOU REALLY THINK THAT SENTENCE IS HEAVY ENOUGH?

OH, I'LL MAKE IT HEAVY ENOUGH.

YOU REALLY THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, HUH?

WELL, SEE, IT'S A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE.

THEIR CONSCIENCES ARE ASLEEP,

SO I'M GOING TO DO MY BEST TO WAKE THEM UP.