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

[BARKING]

WHAT?

WHAT? WHAT YOU WANT?

[BARKING]

NOT NOW, KNOTHEAD. I'M FISHING.

GO PLAY.

HERE. PLAY WITH YOURSELF TODAY.

KNOTHEAD.

THIS IS WHY I NAMED YOU KNOTHEAD.

ALL RIGHT. ONE TIME. THAT'S IT.

NO MORE ANCIENT BONES.

GO AHEAD. COME ON. LET'S GO.

YOU WEAR ME OUT TO LOOK AT MORE POSSUM RIBS,

I'M GOING TO THROW YOU IN THAT LAKE.

FOUND US A BURIED TREASURE.

LET ME CHECK IT OUT.

YEAH. LET'S SEE.

LORD, HAVE MERCY.

THIS BABY WASN'T MORE THAN A DAY OLD.

HOW LONG DEAD?

MAYBE A WEEK.

MAYBE HE WAS BORN DEAD.

I DON'T THINK SO.

PROBABLY PREMATURE, THOUGH.

COULD BE SOMEBODY JUST LEFT HIM THERE TO DIE.

WITH ADOPTION AGENCIES CRYING OUT FOR WHITE BABIES.

POOR LITTLE FELLA.

HE NEVER EVEN GOT A DECENT BURIAL.

MARSHALSBURG. CAN WE HAVE THESE?

OH, YEAH.

YOU WANT TO GO BACK IN?

OH, NO.

I DON'T NEED TO SEE.

WHAT IS IT?

A BOY, BORN PREMATURELY,

THEN SOMEONE BURIED IT.

SOMEBODY KILLED HIM?

NOT SURE RIGHT NOW.

WHEN CAN YOU TELL US?

NEWBORNS TEND TO DECOMPOSE PRETTY QUICKLY.

THEY--

I KNOW YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME THE DETAILS. PLEASE.

WHEN CAN YOU SAY IF IT'S MURDER?

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, MAYBE.

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE'LL CHECK OUT THE LAKE,

SEE IF ANYBODY SAW ANYTHING.

CHECK WITH THE LOCAL OBSTETRICIANS.

YEAH, AND DON'T FORGET THE FREE CLINIC.

RIGHT. YEAH.

NOTHING GETS ME DOWN LIKE THIS.

NOTHING.

MEET YOU BACK HERE.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD MORNING, MA'AM, SIR.

YOU GOT A MINUTE?

GOT A FEW. WHAT DO YOU WANT?

HAS ANYBODY IN YOUR HOUSE

HAD A BABY LAST WEEK?

LAST WEEK, 43 YEARS AGO.

NEVER MIND. I UNDERSTAND.

WE RECKON IT WAS ABOUT A WEEK AGO.

DID YOU NOTICE ANYTHING GOING ON?

SOME DIGGING?

WITH THESE HERE CATARACTS,

I CAN'T SEE TV TO WATCH THE NEWS.

I CAN BARELY SEE YOU.

WHERE'S YOUR WIFE?

SHE'S DEAD.

WELL, YOU'VE BEEN REAL HELPFUL.

DRUGS IS WHAT'S DOING IT.

PEOPLE ARE OUT OF THEIR MINDS THESE DAYS.

YES, MA'AM. NOW, WHAT PEOPLE?

WHAT?

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?

LIKE WHO?

LIKE ANYBODY YOU SAW AT THE LAKE.

I DON'T SPEND TIME BY THE LAKE,

NOT LIKE I USED TO.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.

ASK THE MASTIN GIRLS.

THEY SWIM AT THE LAKE JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY.

DO THEY LIVE CLOSE BY?

FOUR HOUSES DOWN.

SAD CASE.

SAD CASE.

NOW, WHY IS THAT?

BOYS, STOP THAT RUNNING.

DON'T RUN IN THAT HOUSE.

I'M SORRY, OFFICER, I CAN'T HELP YOU.

WE'RE JUST MOVING IN.

I DON'T KNOW WHO'S WHO AROUND HERE. EXCUSE ME.

BOYS, YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO RUN IN THAT HOUSE.

MAN, DOES SHE GO ON AND ON.

THIS HOUSE HERE IS THE MASTINS'-- TWO DAUGHTERS.

WHAT ABOUT THEM?

THEY SPEND TIME BY THE LAKE.

MAMA RAN OFF WITH A BOYFRIEND. DADDY'S BITTER.

THAT'LL DO IT.

HE AIN'T AROUND MUCH. LEAVES THEM MOSTLY TO THEMSELVES.

NOBODY'S HOME.

YOU LOOKING FOR MASTIN, HE'S AT WORK.

WHO ARE YOU?

TUCKER CARNES.

OH, I DO ODD JOBS.

PATCHING SCREENS TODAY.

WHERE ARE THE TWO GIRLS?

KITTY'S PROBABLY AT SCHOOL,

BUT WILLA DON'T GO TO SCHOOL.

SHE MIGHT BE AROUND SOMEWHERE.

WILLA! WILLA, YOU IN THERE?

NOPE. NOBODY HERE.

I WAS TOLD WILLA WAS OF SCHOOL AGE.

YEAH, BUT SHE'S, UH...

BACKWARD, YOU KNOW?

SHE DON'T GO.

WHEN DOES MASTIN GET HOME?

WHEN THE BARS CLOSE,

IF HE COMES HOME AT ALL.

HE STAYS AWAY FOR DAYS ON END SOMETIMES.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE, TUCKER?

OVER IN COPAY EXTENSION.

YEAH, OK.

THANK YOU.

KITTY, THE POLICE ARE HOPING YOU CAN HELP.

I HOPE SO, TOO.

THEY FOUND THE BODY OF AN INFANT

NEAR WHERE YOU LIVE.

THE POLICE ARE TRYING TO FIND THE MOTHER.

DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING ANYONE

ACTING FUNNY OR STRANGE NEAR THE LAKE,

MAYBE SOMEONE YOU DIDN'T KNOW?

ABOUT A WEEK AGO OR MORE.

I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.

MAYBE YOUR SISTER WILLA NOTICED SOMETHING.

WE'D LIKE TO TALK TO HER.

YOU CAN'T DO THAT, SIR.

WHY IS THAT?

WHAT I MEAN IS,

WILLA'S AWAY VISITING AUNT MARTHA.

WELL, WHERE IS THAT?

OVER IN CANARD.

I FORGET THE ADDRESS.

WILLA'S BEEN THERE A FEW WEEKS.

SHE'LL BE THERE ANOTHER MONTH.

I GUESS WE DON'T NEED TO TALK TO HER, THEN.

NO, SIR.

COME ON, COME ON. PICK UP THE PHONE.

AHH...

THEY'RE NEVER HOME.

I HEAR THE UNMISTAKABLE SOUND

OF BUBBA'S PATIENCE WEARING THIN.

MALCOLM HALE LIVES BY THE LAKE,

TAKES THE MARSHALSBURG PAPER,

BUT I CAN'T TALK TO HIM BECAUSE HE'S NEVER HOME.

I HAD TO GO TO SEVEN SHOE STORES FOR THIS.

HOW MANY DOES THIS TOWN NEED?

THAT'S THE SOUND OF SWEET'S PATIENCE WORN-OUT.

THERE'S NOTHING ON THIS BOX TO IDENTIFY IT.

SHOE STORES DON'T RECOGNIZE IT.

IS IT POSSIBLE THE SHOES DIDN'T COME FROM A SHOE STORE?

YEAH.

YOUR WIFE SURE WAS A PRETTY WOMAN, CHIEF.

SHE WAS MAD AT ME FOR TAKING THAT PICTURE.

SHE SAID SHE LOOKED TOO FAT.

THAT WAS JUST BEFORE SHE HAD THE BABY.

WELL...

DR. ROBB DOESN'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR YOU YET.

HE'S WAITING ON A TISSUE REPORT.

IS THAT HISTOLOGY?

HISTOLOGY-- THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

LIKE I SAID, IT ISN'T IN YET.

THEN WE CAN'T DETERMINE WHETHER THE BABY WAS STILLBORN

OR WHETHER IT DIED AFTER BIRTH.

NO, SIR.

I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING, CHIEF.

DO YOU, PARKER?

WHAT AM I THINKING?

ABOUT HOW YOU AND MISS ANNA

WANTED A BABY IN THE WORST WAY,

AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE IT. YOU LOST IT.

AND HERE WE HAVE SOMEBODY THROWING A BABY AWAY.

AND WE'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT THAT CHILD WOULD HAVE BECOME.

NO.

AND ALL WE CAN DO IS...

CHARGE SOMEBODY WITH HOMICIDE.

PROBABLY THE MAMA.

VIRGIL, WILL YOU PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR AUNT ETTA?

WHAT'S WRONG?

HONEY, WE HAVE A WASHER AND A DRYER.

REMEMBER?

WELL, IF SHE WANTS TO TAKE THE TROUBLE...

TROUBLE IS WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR.

DAMP CLOTHES ATTRACT DUST.

THAT COULD GIVE THE BABIES THE CROUP.

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IF THOSE DISASTERS WILL OCCUR.

WHY CAN'T WE FIND A YOUNG, MODERN PERSON?

BECAUSE VERY FEW YOUNG, MODERN PERSONS

ARE WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF A HOUSE AND TWINS...

FOR LITTLE MORE THAN LOVE.

BUT WE'LL KEEP LOOKING.

WE'LL KEEP LOOKING.

ALL RIGHT. I WON'T SAY ANOTHER WORD.

GOOD.

IS THIS THE FORMULA MRS. HAIN WANTED US TO USE?

IT IS NOT.

THE BABIES HAVE TO EAT MORE.

THEY WILL EAT MORE OF THAT STUFF. IT'S SWEET.

YOU GIVE THEM A SWEET TOOTH,

THEN SPEND YEARS TRYING TO GET A VEGETABLE DOWN THEM.

TRAIN THEM ON THIS OLD-FASHIONED FORMULA FROM THE CAN.

IF THEY EAT THIS, THEY'LL EAT ANYTHING.

[BABY CRYING]

SHE IS DRIVING ME CRAZY.

JUST HANG IN THERE, BABY.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY.

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME.

WELL, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THE TWINS.

IF THAT STUFF WAS BAD, I WOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT PAST AGE 2.

I KNOW, HONEY. I'LL HANG IN THERE.

LET'S DISCUSS SOMETHING ELSE-- QUICK.

THE GIRL.

WHAT GIRL?

THAT BURIED THE BABY.

ANY LOCAL OBSTETRICIAN HAVE ANY IDEA?

NO.

FREE CLINICS DON'T KEEP GOOD RECORDS.

PATIENTS DON'T COME IN REGULARLY.

THEY'RE POOR, IGNORANT, DON'T SEE THE VALUE OF PRENATAL CARE.

THIS GIRL, IN HER THIRD TRIMESTER,

DENIED SHE WAS PREGNANT.

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.

THAT WOMAN CAN HEAR EVERYTHING.

IF THE MOTHER OF THAT BABY WAS A SCHOOLGIRL,

YOU MIGHT CHECK THE ATTENDANCE RECORD.

SEE IF SOME LITTLE WHITE GIRL

WAS LATELY MISSING FOR A STRING OF DAYS.

WELL, ALTHEA HASN'T SEEN ANY PREGNANT GIRLS.

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

I'LL JUST CALL THE OFFICE.

OK.

WELL, I HAVE GOT TO GO.

OK.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER.

VIRGIL.

OH. OH. YES.

ETTA, THAT WAS A VERY GOOD IDEA.

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF IT?

YOU CAN'T THINK OF EVERYTHING, UNLESS YOU'RE PERFECT,

AND LORD KNOWS YOU AIN'T PERFECT.

I FINALLY TALKED TO THE MAN

THAT TAKES THAT MARSHALSBURG PAPER.

WHAT ABOUT HIM?

HE RETIRED FROM THE PHONE COMPANY.

THAT'S WHY HE TAKES THE PAPER.

DOES HE KNOW ANYTHING?

NOTHING, EVEN THOUGH HE LIVES RIGHT NEXT TO MASTIN.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

I CAN'T RACE FOR PHONES ANYMORE.

GET THAT, WILL YOU?

YES, SIR.

[RING]

SPARTA POLICE. SKINNER HERE.

NO, MA'AM, HE'S NOT IN--

WHOOPS-- HOLD ON. HERE HE IS.

HELLO. VIRGIL TIBBS HERE.

YES, MA'AM.

UH-HUH.

I SEE.

THANKS FOR CALLING.

THAT WAS THE ATTENDANCE CLERK AT THEIR HIGH SCHOOL.

KITTY MASTIN MISSED FOUR DAYS

ABOUT THE SAME TIME THE BABY WAS BORN.

IS SHE THE LITTLE ONE?

YES, SIR. I SMELL SOME SMOKE.

WELL, YOU WERE RIGHT.

THIS BOX CAME FROM A STORE THAT REPAIRS SHOES.

THIS NUMBER HERE--

THAT'S THE CLAIM TICKET NUMBER.

YOU GOT A NAME WITH THAT?

GEORGE MASTIN.

NOW I SEE SOME FLAMES.

[RADIO PLAYS COUNTRY MUSIC]

GEORGE MASTIN?

YEAH?

NEED TO TALK WITH YOU A MINUTE.

YEAH?

DID YOU KNOW A DEAD BABY WAS FOUND BURIED

RIGHT ACROSS FROM WHERE YOU LIVE?

YEAH, I HEARD TELL.

THE SHOE BOX WE FOUND THAT BABY IN

WAS TRACED BACK TO YOU.

GUESS SOMEBODY-- SOMEBODY COULD HAVE WENT THROUGH MY TRASH.

SOMEBODY IN YOUR HOUSE MAYBE?

NOW, YOU ALL SAYING

THAT ONE OF MY DAUGHTERS IS ITS MAMA?

NOT SAYING. ASKING.

WELL, THE 14-YEAR-OLD, YOU SEE,

SHE DON'T HARDLY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SEX,

AND THE RETARDED ONE,

SHE GETS SPECIAL SHOTS SO SHE CAN'T GET KNOCKED UP.

I'M GOING TO NEED THE ADDRESS

OF YOUR SISTER MARTHA IN CANARD.

WHY?

HUH?

I NEED TO TALK TO YOUR DAUGHTER THAT'S VISITING THERE.

THERE AIN'T NOBODY

VISITING MY SISTER MARTHA.

SHE DIED A YEAR AGO.

WELL, I AM SAYING THIS--

SOMEBODY IN YOUR HOUSE IS LYING.

NO, I DON'T THINK SO.

NO. TRY SOMEPLACE ELSE.

MR. TIBBS IS COMING.

I WAS EXPECTING HIM. THANKS.

YOU'LL HAVE COPIES IN THE MORNING.

AFTERNOON, MS. TIBBS. BYE-BYE.

HI, MR. TIBBS.

AFTERNOON, JENNA.

READY?

I'M READY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I'M WILLING OR ABLE.

WELL, THANKS FOR HELPING.

THE GIRL'S ONLY 14. SHE'S NEVER BEEN PREGNANT.

CAN WE BE SURE?

HER OWN HOMEROOM TEACHER SAID, "KITTY? NEVER."

SHE'S NEVER EVEN BEEN SEEN TALKING TO ANOTHER BOY,

BUT I GUESS WE'LL GO OVER THERE AND MAKE SURE OURSELVES.

YEAH.

[BELL RINGS]

BOO!

I WANT TO PLAY.

I GOT WORK TO DO.

YOU DON'T LIKE ME.

WILLA,

WHAT DID I MAKE FOR DINNER LAST NIGHT?

MACARONI AND CHEESE.

AND WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MEAL?

MACARONI AND CHEESE.

WHAT STORY DID I READ YOU LAST NIGHT?

UH...

FATHER BEAR COMES HOME.

AND WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE STORY?

FATHER BEAR COMES HOME.

YEP. SURE SHOWS I DON'T LOVE YOU AT ALL.

I LOVE YOU, KITTY.

I LOVE YOU, TOO.

MAYBE WE SHOULD PLAY.

HOW ABOUT HIDE-AND-SEEK?

GO HIDE IN THE HOUSE.

START COUNTING, KITTY.

HI, KITTY.

HI.

MS. TIBBS, MR. TIBBS.

WHAT'S WRONG?

YOU WERE LYING ABOUT YOUR AUNT MARTHA, KITTY.

LET'S GO INSIDE.

I DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY UPSETTING WILLA

WITH TALK ABOUT DEAD BABIES.

THAT'S WHY I LIED.

BUT WILLA KNEW ABOUT THE BABY, DIDN'T SHE?

NO.

SHE WAS WITH YOU WHEN YOU HAD THE BABY?

YOU THINK I HAD THE BABY?

KITTY, YOU WERE ABSENT WHEN THE BABY WAS BORN.

KITTY, HOW LONG DO I GOT TO HIDE?

HI.

YOU MUST BE WILLA.

WE CAN'T PLAY IF WE'RE IN THE SAME ROOM.

KITTY...I WANT WILLA TO STAY.

WILLA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME AND VISIT FOR A WHILE?

COME SIT BY ME.

GOLD?

WELL, IT IS GOLD, BUT NOT ALL GOLD.

WILLA.

TELL US THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BABY.

PLEASE, MR. TIBBS,

COULDN'T WE TALK ABOUT THIS SOME OTHER TIME?

I KNOW A SECRET.

YOU DO?

WHAT KIND OF SECRET?

THE KIND I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO TELL.

WELL, IS IT A HAPPY SECRET?

A SAD SECRET?

IT'S A SECRET ABOUT A BABY.

WILLA, DON'T BE TALKING FOOLISH.

SOMEBODY HAD A BABY, WILLA?

ME. THE BABY CAME OUT OF ME.

SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S SAYING.

YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF YOUR DOLLIES.

WHAT?

WILLA,

WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

WHEN I HAD THE PAIN.

I HAD A PAIN, AND THEN THE BABY CAME OUT.

WHY'D SHE HIDE IT?

FIRST, THE GIRL DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO HER.

WELL, SHE HAD MENTALITY ENOUGH TO BURY IT.

LISTEN, THE RESULT OF THE AUTOPSY IS NOT IN YET.

BUT IF WE FIND THE BABY WAS ALIVE,

NOT STILLBORN, WHAT THEN?

ALL I CAN TELL YOU, DARNELLE,

IS IF YOU BRING AN INDICTMENT FOR ANYTHING

AGAINST THIS UNFORTUNATE GIRL,

PEOPLE WILL CROSS THE STREET

WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING.

WELL, GIVE ME SOMEONE ELSE TO INDICT.

I'LL WAIT, BUT I WON'T WAIT LONG.

I'LL TRY NOT TO KEEP YOU.

DADDY?

WHAT YOU DOING HOME?

Y'ALL LOOK MORE LIKE YOUR MAMA EVERY DAY.

I CAN'T HELP THAT.

SHE COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF WILLA NEITHER, YOU KNOW?

I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN.

YOU QUIT GIVING HER THEM SHOTS...

DIDN'T YOU?

THEY HURT HER.

WILLA CRIED WHEN I GAVE THEM TO HER.

AW...

WELL, EVERYBODY IN THIS LIFE HAS A LITTLE PAIN.

WHAT THE HELL MAKES YOU THINK WILLA'S ANY DIFFERENT?

HUH? WHAT?

SORRY.

OH. SORRY?

LIKE I SAID, JUST LIKE YOUR MAMA.

HER LETTER-- IT WAS FULL OF SORRY.

BUT THEM SORRYS NOW--

THEY DIDN'T CHANGE NOTHING, EITHER.

DID THEY?

I'M NOT MAMA! STOP BLAMING ME FOR WHAT SHE DID!

[DOOR CLOSES]

[CRASH]

NO, SIR. I THINK HE'S AT CITY HALL.

CORRECTION.

CORRECTION. HE JUST WALKED IN.

DR. ROBB.

WHAT IS TAKING SO LONG WITH THAT AUTOPSY?

BACKLOG?

BACKLOG IS JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR SLOW.

UH-HUH.

WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.

TELL THE LAB TO GET ITSELF UNBACKLOGGED,

WILL YOU, PLEASE? THANK YOU.

BACKLOGGED.

OH, GOOD. ANYTHING YET?

THE LUNGS SHOW NO SIGN OF ASPHYXIATION,

WHICH MEANS THE BABY WAS DEAD

BEFORE HE WAS BURIED.

YEAH, BUT WAS IT BORN ALIVE?

THAT THEY CAN'T TELL YET.

MAYBE WILLA HAD HELP HIDING THAT BABY.

SHE HAD HELP GETTING IT.

AND WHOEVER FATHERED IT IS HIDING.

YEAH. I'M GOING, TOO.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

THERE MUST HAVE BEEN MEN HANGING AROUND.

WOMEN LIKE WILLA ARE OFTEN RAPE TARGETS.

WE NEVER IDENTIFY THE RAPISTS.

WELL, SHE WASN'T RAPED.

IF SOMEBODY HAD HURT HER,

SHE'D HAVE TOLD HER SISTER.

MASTIN KNEW WILLA WAS AT RISK.

HE REFUSED TO BRING WILLA HERE,

SO I GAVE HIM THE SHOTS FOR HER.

AND HE GAVE THE JOB TO A 14-YEAR-OLD.

I CAN'T HELP THAT.

CHIEF GILLESPIE,

PRESCRIBING THOSE SHOTS

IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PRACTICE.

YEAH, WELL, UH, THEN...

WHY DON'T MOST WOMEN PREFER THE SHOTS?

ONLY ONCE A MONTH.

BECAUSE ITS EFFECTS AREN'T

AS PREDICTABLE AS THE PILL.

THEN WHY DO YOU PRESCRIBE THE SHOTS?

WILLA HAS TROUBLE SWALLOWING.

HER DADDY DIDN'T WANT A BATTLE EVERY DAY.

SO THEIR DADDY WANTED AN EASY WAY OUT, HUH?

MM-HMM.

A QUICK FIX.

I'LL TELL THE CHIEF YOU'RE HERE.

YOU DON'T NEED ME TO TALK TO WILLA.

TAKE A SEAT, MR. MASTIN.

Y'ALL DIDN'T ASK ME IN HERE BEFORE.

PLEASE SIT DOWN, SIR.

STAND.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT. PARKER WILLIAMS.

WELL, HEY, BIRDIE.

YEAH. HOW YOU DOING, GIRL?

IS THAT RIGHT?

OH, YEAH. SURE. I'LL DO THAT FOR YOU.

MY PLEASURE.

LISTEN, I'LL GET BACK TO YOU.

YES, MA'AM. UH-HUH.

WILLA?

HI.

MY NAME'S PARKER.

WELL, THAT SURE IS A PRETTY BRACELET YOU GOT THERE.

MS. TIBBS GAVE IT TO ME.

SHE DID?

WELL, SHE MUST REALLY LIKE YOU A LOT.

THE CHIEF WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU AND KITTY FIRST.

I'LL STAY HERE WITH YOU.

LET ME SEE THAT.

KITTY, WHY DON'T YOU SIT RIGHT HERE?

THIS IS CHIEF GILLESPIE.

MASTIN, SIT, STAND. I DON'T CARE.

BUBBA, BUBBA...

MR. MASTIN, MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE, WILL YOU?

WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING IN.

I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH CHOICE, NOW, DID I?

WELL...

KITTY, WE NEED TO KNOW

THE MAN WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.

KITTY, THE ONE WHO MAY HAVE BURIED THE BABY.

CAN YOU TELL US WHO HE IS?

SHE DIDN'T KNOW WILLA WAS PREGNANT.

HOW IN HELL'S SHE GOING TO KNOW WHO DID IT?

YOU DIDN'T KNOW...

OR DID YOU KNOW?

YES, I DID.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?

BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT YOU CALLING WILLA A WHORE.

WILLA'S ALWAYS BEEN SO BIG,

I JUST MADE SURE HER BLOUSES WERE EXTRA LOOSE.

HIDING IT FROM HIM WAS NEVER HARD.

HE NEVER LOOKS AT HER ANYWAY.

I KNOW YOU AND YOUR DADDY

HAVE HAD UNCOMFORTABLE TIMES, BUT...

DIDN'T YOU THINK YOU COULD

INFORM HIM ABOUT THIS?

NO.

FOR YEARS, I'VE LISTENED TO HIM CALL MY MAMA A WHORE.

I COULDN'T BEAR TO HEAR HIM SAY THAT ABOUT WILLA.

PARKER, BRING WILLA IN, WILL YOU, PLEASE?

UH, LET WILLA SAY HELLO TO VIRGIL.

HI, WILLA.

OH, MRS. TIBBS SAID TO SAY HELLO.

THAT'S VERY BEAUTIFUL.

FRIENDS LIKE TO GIVE EACH OTHER THINGS, HUH?

I WISH I HAD LOTS OF FRIENDS.

WELL,

DON'T YOU HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND?

KITTY.

SISTERS ARE SPECIAL.

BUT, WILLA, I MEAN LIKE ANOTHER KIND OF FRIEND.

A FRIEND...

WHO IS NOT A GIRL.

TUCKER CARNES.

HE'S THE HANDYMAN.

DO YOU AND TUCKER PLAY TOGETHER?

UH-HUH.

HE LIKES TO CUDDLE WITH ME.

I LIKE IT, TOO.

THAT SLIMY BASTARD.

MASTIN...

TAKE IT EASY.

THANK YOU, WILLA.

TUCKER LIVES BACK THERE.

I RENT THAT WORK SHED AS AN APARTMENT.

IS THAT AGAINST THE LAW?

NO, MA'AM.

TUCKER CARNES, IT'S THE POLICE.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT WILLA MASTIN'S BABY.

IT'LL BE HARD PROVING THAT.

PEOPLE DO GO HUNTING ALONE.

SOMEBODY MUST HAVE SEEN YOU.

MAYBE THE OWNER OF THE GAS STATION.

WHY Y'ALL DOING THIS? I AIN'T DONE NOTHING.

YOU HAD SEX WITH WILLA MASTIN.

SO, WHAT'S WRONG? SHE'S 18.

SHE'S RETARDED.

THAT DON'T MEAN SHE CAN'T HAVE SEX,

DOES IT?

SEX WITH A RETARDED PERSON IS SEXUAL BATTERY.

IT'S A CRIME IN MISSISSIPPI, USELESS.

HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW?

YOU COULD GET 30 YEARS.

EXCUSE ME, CHIEF. PHONE CALL FOR YOU.

WHO WANTS ME?

SOMEBODY FROM THE CEMETERY.

OH, CEMETERY. I'LL TAKE THAT.

TAKE THIS MAN AND PHOTOGRAPH HIM.

YES, SIR.

LET'S GO.

"THEY WERE BRINGING UNTO HIM THE LITTLE CHILDREN

"THAT HE SHOULD TOUCH THEM,

"AND THE DISCIPLES REBUKED THEM.

"BUT WHEN JESUS SAW IT, HE SAID,

"SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME.

FORBID THEM NOT."

"FOR TO SUCH BELONGETH THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

SAY AMEN.

AMEN.

AMEN.

NOW, WHERE'S YOUR BABY?

I'LL SHOW YOU.

THE GAS STATION ATTENDANT DEFINITELY REMEMBERED THIS TUCKER KID HERE.

AND I GOT A GAS RECEIPT WITH HIS SIGNATURE.

SO WE LOSE HIM ON THE ILLEGAL BURIAL, HUH?

WE'VE STILL GOT HIM FOR SEXUAL BATTERY.

WHY WOULD THE D.A. GO AFTER WILLA ANYHOW?

I DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN HIS MIND.

I'LL HAVE TO SEE WHAT VIRGIL TELLS ME.

OH.

FAILURE TO THRIVE?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

THE BABY WASN'T PREMATURE.

HE WAS FULL-TERM, BUT EMACIATED.

HAD A DEFECTIVE HEART, TOO.

HE COULDN'T WITHSTAND THE DELIVERY.

NO CHANCE OF SURVIVAL?

MAYBE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES

HERE IN THE HOSPITAL,

AND WE HAVE A NEW NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT.

THE BABY DIED A NATURAL DEATH.

LEAVE IT ALONE.

IT'S THE WAY SHE DISPOSED OF IT.

YOU'D NAIL HER ON SOME CHICKEN CHARGE

LIKE "FAILURE TO REPORT A DEATH"?

WHY IN HEAVEN'S NAME WOULD YOU DO THAT?

I'M NOT TRYING TO NAIL HER.

I WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR HER.

AND WHAT'S THAT?

THAT SHE GETS PLACED WHERE SHE'LL RECEIVE PROPER SUPERVISION.

AN INSTITUTION?

OPTIMUM CARE FACILITY.

SOMEBODY'S GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

YOU'LL BREAK HER SISTER'S HEART.

THOSE GIRLS NEED EACH OTHER. PLEASE.

GENTLEMEN, PLEASE.

UNTIL YOU SHOW ME WHAT ELSE I CAN DO,

THAT'S HOW IT STANDS.

I TOLD YOU IT WAS A WASTE OF TIME.

I'VE NEVER COME HERE WITH AN APPEAL OF THIS KIND

AND GOTTEN ANY SATISFACTION WHATSOEVER.

YOU KNOW, VIRGIL,

I THINK HE'S BEGINNING TO RECOGNIZE ME.

I THINK SO.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

I'VE GOT IT.

YOU EVER KNOW HOW YOU'D FEEL ABOUT THESE CHILDREN?

YES, BUT I DIDN'T THINK I COULD LOVE THEM SO MUCH.

I DIDN'T THINK MY HEART COULD GET SO BIG.

IT CAN SHRINK IN SOME PEOPLE.

THINKING ABOUT THAT MAN MASTIN.

NOW HE'S THE ONE THE D.A. SHOULD PUT AWAY.

THE KIND OF A PARENT A PERSON'S GOING TO BE

DOESN'T USUALLY INTEREST THE LAW

UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE.

CHIEF,

JAMISON'S ESCORTING MASTIN TO HIS HOUSE NOW.

I WANT US TO GET THERE FIRST.

I'LL TAKE THE BABY.

I'LL PUT HIM IN HIS PEN.

BYE, HONEY.

AH, HERE YOU GO.

DON'T MISS ME TOO MUCH, NOW.

I'LL BE BACK TO SEE YOU SOON.

BYE-BYE.

THERE'S MOMMY. THERE'S YOUR MAMA.

HOW AM I GOING TO KEEP MY JOB

WITH YOU ASKING ME TO TAKE TIME OFF?

WE'LL PUT IN A GOOD WORD WITH YOUR BOSS.

THAT'LL HELP.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MR. MASTIN.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A WORD WITH YOU,

IF YOU DON'T MIND.

NOW, I'VE JUST BEEN

VISITING WITH YOUR DAUGHTERS HERE.

I BROUGHT WILLA A PRESENT--

CRAYONS AND A DRAWING PAD. SHE LIKES TO DRAW.

WHY IS IT YOU PEOPLE

ARE STILL BOTHERING US?

WHY IS THAT?

THE D.A. WANTS WILLA IN A STATE HOME.

WELL, HE CAN'T.

OH, YES, HE CAN.

BUT HE MAY NOT WHEN WE TELL HIM WHO REALLY BURIED THE BABY.

I WANT YOU TO TELL YOUR DADDY...

HOW THAT BABY GOT BURIED.

GO AHEAD.

WILLA WAS IN THE BATHROOM...

ON THE FLOOR.

HER CRIES WOKE ME UP.

THE BABY WAS COMING OUT,

AND HE...

HE DIDN'T CRY OR NOTHING. HE JUST LAID THERE.

AND SHE WAS TOO SCARED TO CALL ANYBODY ELSE FOR HELP.

I KNEW IT WAS TOO LATE.

SO I--

I CLEANED WILLA UP, AND...

PUT HER BACK TO BED.

THEN I TOOK THE BABY TO WILLA'S FAVORITE PLACE.

YOU'RE NOT ONLY GOING TO LOSE WILLA.

YOU'RE LIABLE TO LOSE KITTY AS WELL.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT, MASTIN?

YOU WANT TO LOSE BOTH THESE GIRLS?

I WANT TO KNOW FROM YOU--

WILLA CAN'T LIVE ANYWHERE ELSE.

THIS IS HER HOME.

CAN'T WE ALL STAY TOGETHER?

JUST A MINUTE.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

WELL, LOOK AT THAT.

LOOKS LIKE A FAMILY OF THREE, DOESN'T IT?

I THINK YOU SHOULD SHOW THAT TO YOUR DADDY.

KITTY, TAKE HER OVER THERE.

YOU THINK WE BETTER GO

AND TALK TO THE D.A. AGAIN?