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

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

YEAH, WHAT?

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MRS. TRUNDEL'S AT HOME.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT HER, DRIVING BY THE HOUSE.

JUST GET BACK IN TOWN?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

WELL, DOES SHE LOOK LIKE SHE'S ARRIVING OR SHE'S LEAVING?

I REALLY CAN'T TELL.

CAN YOU TELL WHAT'S GOING ON?

JUST THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE RICH--

CHAUFFEUR'S ABOUT TO TAKE THE LADY SOMEWHERE.

TAG ALONG A WHILE.

YES, SIR.

EMILY TRUNDEL IS VISITING.

YEAH, YEAH. IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

MAYBE.

SHE COMES ONCE A YEAR--

IN THE SPRING.

BUT THIS IS WINTER.

WHY DOES SHE SEEM TO WORRY YOU?

I CAN'T FIGURE HER OUT.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE TIME YOU AND I FIRST MET HER.

WE HAD THE ONEROUS TASK

OF TELLING HER THAT HER HUSBAND

WAS THE FATHER OF A CHILD BY ANOTHER WOMAN.

[VIRGIL] NOT TO MENTION A MURDERER.

MRS. TRUNDEL?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M CHIEF GILLESPIE.

THIS IS MY CHIEF INVESTIGATOR DETECTIVE VIRGIL TIBBS.

HOW DO YOU DO?

WELL, I DECLARE. WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

HAVE YOU HEARD OF A WOMAN NAMED NATALIE DeLONG?

NO.

SHE USED TO SING

AT A NIGHTCLUB YOUR HUSBAND OWNED.

MR. LUFT AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE OWNED NIGHTCLUBS,

BUT NOT VIDGE.

NEVER VIDGE.

THIS IS NATALIE DeLONG 10 YEARS AGO

IN NEW ORLEANS.

FORGIVE ME, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HEAR THIS.

YOUR HUSBAND AND THAT YOUNG WOMAN TOGETHER PRODUCED A SON.

HE'S NOW 9 YEARS OLD.

AND YOU'VE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT

FROM ONE LITTLE PHOTOGRAPH?

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT OF IT.

A DNA TEST WOULD PROVE IT CONCLUSIVELY,

AND WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO PROCEED IN THAT DIRECTION.

WHY WOULD MY HUSBAND'S RELATIONSHIP

WITH THIS GIRL,

EVEN IF HE HAD A RELATIONSHIP,

EXCITE YOUR ATTENTION THIS WAY?

BECAUSE THE GIRL WAS MURDERED.

AND YOU THINK MY HUSBAND DID IT?

A MAN WHO WORKED FOR YOUR HUSBAND DID IT.

OTHERS IN YOUR HUSBAND'S EMPLOY

MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

SO I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES, SIR.

IT SAYS "VICTOR J." WITH HIS DATES

AND "EMILY A." WITH ROOM FOR THE FINAL DATE TO BE FILLED IN.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY BE IN THAT MAUSOLEUM?

[JAMISON] YOU KNOW IT'S NOT V.J. TRUNDEL.

WE ALL KNOW WHERE HE WENT...

UNLESS THERE WERE SOME REMAINS.

[GILLESPIE] NO. NOTHING THAT COULD BE IDENTIFIED.

[CRASH]

HI, BILL.

HERB.

HERE'S THE REGISTRY.

REGISTRY OF WHAT?

OF ALL THE OWNERS OF ALL THE PLOTS-- AND WHO'S WHERE.

HE'S GOT IT OPEN TO TRUNDEL.

UH-HUH.

TRUNDEL IS WHERE?

OH.

OH, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO SEE THAT TO BELIEVE IT.

OH, THE PROPERTY OF THE TOMB IS PRIVATE.

YOU'D HAVE TO SHOW ME A COURT ORDER TO SEE IN IT.

REALLY, HERB?

NOT REALLY, BILL.

COULD YOU HELP ME SLIDE THIS?

SURE.

WELL...

HERE IT IS, SURE ENOUGH.

"VICTOR AND EMILY-- A MARRIAGE."

AND...

THEIR WEDDING PHOTOS.

PICTURES OF THE WEDDING PARTY,

ET CETERA.

WELL...

I PRESUME IF THIS IS EMILY'S CASKET THAT, UH...

SHE WANTS TO BE BURIED IN IT

WITH THIS ALBUM.

I UNDERSTAND THAT IS HER WISH.

CAN'T I LOOK AT IT?

YES. BUT THEY DON'T ALLOW BALL PLAYING ON THE SQUARE.

THAT'S BASEBALL, AUNT HARRIET.

I'M SURE THEY MEANT SOCCER, TOO.

CAN'T I TAKE IT OUT OF THE BOX?

GO AHEAD.

SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

THANKS, SIR.

WELL...YOU GOT A GOOD LOOK AT HIM THAT TIME.

VERY NICE LOOKING BOY.

YES, HE IS.

CAN YOU SEE VIDGE IN HIM?

NOT SO MUCH IN THE FEATURES.

THE LOOK IN THE EYES-- IT'S HIS FATHER'S.

IT'S VIDGE'S.

NO ONE WOULD SAY HE'S NOT A WHITE BOY.

AND THAT WOMAN...

HER SISTER WAS THE BOY'S MOTHER?

THAT'S RIGHT.

COUNCILWOMAN HARRIET DeLONG.

SHE HAS CUSTODY OF HIM.

WELL...

I WANT HIM.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

MS. DeLONG?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU THIS, MA'AM.

WHAT IS IT?

AN INVITATION, I BELIEVE, MA'AM.

AN INVITATION?

YES, MA'AM.

FROM CARTER, JENKINS, AND TAYLOR.

THEY LAWYERS, MA'AM.

YOU WORK FOR THEM?

NO, MA'AM. I DRIVES FOR MISS EMILY TRUNDEL.

I BEG YOUR PARDON! THANKS.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

HELLO.

THIS IS EMILY TRUNDEL, MS. DeLONG.

HAS MY MESSENGER ARRIVED YET?

YOUR CHAUFFEUR JUST BROUGHT SOMETHING BY FROM YOUR LAWYER.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

IF YOU READ THE LETTER, YOU'LL SEE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BOY YOU'VE BEEN RAISING.

ERIC TRUNDEL.

I'LL HAVE TO RAISE MY SISTER'S BOY.

I'LL HAVE TO RAISE MY SISTER'S BOY.

SHE'S DEAD. NATALIE IS DEAD.

WELL, I WANT TO TAKE CERTAIN THINGS AND DISPOSE OF ALL THE REST.

YEAH, WELL, THE CHIEF AND THE DA MIGHT WANT TO KEEP EVERYTHING AS IS.

UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE THE CASE.

MS. DeLONG?

I'M CALLING BECAUSE IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT

THAT LETTER WAS SO COLD,

A LOT OF LEGALESE INVITING YOU

TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY HUSBAND'S WILL.

ME? WHY? AM I IN IT?

NO, MS. DeLONG...

BUT HIS SON, ERIC, IS MENTIONED VERY PROMINENTLY.

I SEE.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I WAS AFRAID OF HER HUSBAND, AND I'M AFRAID OF HER. WHAT DOES SHE WANT?

WHATEVER IT IS, DO WE HAVE TO ASSUME THAT IT'S SOMETHING EVIL?

WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE? SHE'S THE WIFE OF--

I KNOW THIS STORY.

DO WE HAVE TO GO OVER IT AGAIN?

NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO GO OVER ANYTHING.

HARRIET, DON'T DO THIS.

STAY. PLEASE.

[INTERCOM] CHIEF?

ALWAYS HAVE TO BE HARSH WORDS BETWEEN US?

YES, LUANN?

CHIEF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S ON LINE THREE.

THANK YOU. GIVE ME A MINUTE.

GILLESPIE HERE.

WE, UH, CAUGHT A TRAINED ASSASSIN HERE

HE WAS TRYIN' TO KILL OUR STAR WITNESS--

THAT BLACK MECHANIC THAT SAW EVERYTHING.

SO WE'RE GOING AFTER TRUNDEL'S PEOPLE,

UH, IF NOT THE MAN.

WELL, DON'T GO PATTING YOURSELF ON THE BACK,

'CAUSE YOU WOULDN'T EVEN BE TOUCHING THIS CASE

IF I HADN'T MADE YOU FEEL GUILTY.

THAT'S TRUE, HARRIET.

IT'S TRUE.

BILL...

THAT WAS MEAN.

I JUST FEEL SO ANGRY AND SO FRUSTRATED.

I HAD TO HURT SOMEBODY.

AT LEAST WHEN I WAS MARRIED I HAD SOMEBODY TO TALK TO,

GET MAD AT.

I...

I'M SORRY. I WAS JUST BEING SILLY.

OH, NO. YOU'RE ANYTHING BUT SILLY.

ANYWAY, I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

I'M ALONE MYSELF.

THAT'S RIGHT. I FORGOT.

NOW, YOU AND I, WE, UH...

I MEAN...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I MEAN...

I'M THE ONE THAT'S GETTING SILLY.

THANK YOU.

I AM BEING SILLY.

NO.

WHEN YOU SUPPOSED TO GO OVER THERE?

TOMORROW MORNING.

WELL, IT'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE TIME TO GET A LAWYER.

AND I DO THINK YOU SHOULD BRING A LAWYER WITH YOU.

TO THE HOUSE OF THE MAN WHO MURDERED MY SISTER.

HI, THERE.

GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT.

I HOPE I DIDN'T SPOIL YOUR SUNDAY.

OH, NOT AT ALL.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE THE INSIDE OF THIS PLACE.

THIS MUST BE ERIC?

ERIC, THIS IS SARAH HALLISEY.

HI.HI.

DID YOUR AUNT HARRIET TELL YOU WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?

YEAH. UNCLE VIDGE LEFT ME SOMETHIN'.

MAYBE EVEN MONEY.

COULD BE.

SHALL WE?

WOW.

BEFORE MR. TRUNDEL DIED, HE MADE A SIMPLE WILL.

AUTHENTICATED, I PRESUME.

YES, MS. HALLISEY, I ASSURE YOU.

IS THIS GOING TO TAKE LONG?

NOT AT ALL.

WE JUST WANTED YOU TO LOOK AT IT.

I'M GOING TO ASK MS. HALLISEY TO READ IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

MS. DeLONG...

IT SAYS THAT MY HUSBAND WOULD LIKE HIS SON,

ERIC SAMUEL TRUNDEL,

TO BE HIS PRINCIPAL HEIR.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT...

HE WISHES FOR HIS BELOVED WIFE EMILY

TO BECOME RECONCILED TO THE BOY.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WELL, IT MEANS THAT HE WANTS EMILY

TO RAISE HIS SON.

BUT YOU'RE NOT HIS MOTHER.

WELL, LEGALLY...

I MAY JUST BE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS VERY CAREFULLY.

DO YOU HAVE SOME OTHER QUESTION?

YES. DID YOU LOVE YOUR HUSBAND?

I THINK I DID.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I THINK I COULDN'T HAVE...

AND YET, I THINK I DID.

I WAS STANDING RIGHT HERE TALKING TO HIM

THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM ALIVE,

THE DAY I FOUND OUT ABOUT YOUR SISTER AND THE BOY.

I SAID SOME AWFUL THINGS TO VIDGE.

SPARTA POLICE WERE HERE.

THEY SHOWED ME THIS PHOTO...

THEY FOUND IN A TOILET SOMEWHERE.

THEY TOLD ME THE STORY OF THE PHOTO,

SO I NEED NOT EXPLAIN MY LEAVING.

I KNEW YOU WHEN I MARRIED YOU, VIDGE,

BUT I WAS SO...

SO FOND OF YOU.

MY DADDY WARNED ME.

HE SAID, "V.J.'S MONEY WILL NOT ENHANCE HIS QUALITY

ANY MORE THAN SUNLIGHT WILL SWEETEN TRASH."

HE WAS RIGHT.

TRASH IS WHAT YOU WERE,

AND TRASH IS WHAT YOU ARE.

I TALKED FRANKLY TO THE POLICE,

AND I INTEND TO TALK FRANKLY AGAIN.

AND AGAIN.

WHAT A COWARD YOU ARE

TO KEEP THAT GIRL AND THE CHILD SHE BORE YOU

BURIED HERE ALL THESE YEARS.

WORST THING THAT CAN POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO YOU WILL HAPPEN--

THE WORLD WILL KNOW YOU.

I WILL MAKE SURE OF THAT.

AND YOU, NORMAN,

THE AUTHORITIES WILL KNOW YOU.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT HIS SON?

I GUESS...

BECAUSE I WANT HIM.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

ERIC'S FUTURE WOULD BE ASSURED.

ALL OF THE CORPORATIONS WILL BE HIS,

EVERYTHING.

ERIC, DO YOU WANT TO GROW UP A RICH MAN?

SURE. WOULD YOU BE RICH, TOO, AUNT HARRIET?

I'D BE WHAT I AM.

THANK YOU.

THEY DOWN FOR THEY NAP, THANK THE LORD.

AMEN.

NO, I WAS TALKING TO ETTA.

HARRIET, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.

IT'S JUST SO HARD TO BELIEVE

SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT. MM-HMM.

YEAH, I'LL HAVE VIRGIL CALL YOU WHEN HE GETS IN.

OKAY. BYE-BYE.

WELL, EMILY TRUNDEL WANTS CUSTODY OF ERIC.

WELL, THAT'S BOUND TO HAPPEN.

I THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING WAS SETTLED WHEN TRUNDEL DIED.

NOTHING'S EVER SETTLED IN THESE THINGS.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?

THESE THINGS? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

ERIC IS A LITTLE WHITE BOY.

MAYBE HE BELONGS IN HIS DADDY'S MANSION.

ERIC'S MOTHER WASN'T WHITE.

WELL, MOST OF THE WORLD THOUGHT SHE WAS.

AND SHE LOOKED PRETTY WHITE TO ME.

ALL YOU NEED IS A DROP OF BLACK BLOOD,

AND YOU'RE BLACK.

ISN'T THAT WHAT THE WHITE MAN SAYS?

WHATEVER THE WHITE MAN SAYS

AIN'T NEVER MEANT NOTHIN' TO ME.

I GO BY WHAT I SEE.

HARRIET'S NOT GONNA GIVE THAT BOY UP.

WELL, I KNOW THAT.

BUT HE SURE WOULD BE LIVING AN INTERESTING LIFE.

WOULDN'T HE BE ONE OF THE RICHEST LITTLE BOYS

IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI?

AND ANY OTHER STATE YOU WANNA MENTION.

WELL, ENOUGH SAID.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD WON'T GIVE THAT LITTLE BOY WHAT HE NEEDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HE DOESNEED?

HE NEEDS TO BE LOVED.

YOU CAN'T HAVE MONEY AND LOVE?

ALL THE RICH PEOPLE I KNOW DON'T SEEM TOO HAPPY.

WHICH ONES YOU REFERRING TO?

I GUESS ALL THE ONES I KNOW ARE THE ONES ON TV.

THEY LEAD SAD, SORRY LIVES, AND HATIN' EACH OTHER,

AND JUST NASTY TO THE WORLD.

CAN'T EMILY TRUNDEL LOVE THAT BOY?

DON'T ASK ME, ASK BUBBA. HE WORKED THAT CASE.

WELL, I NEVER SAW HER WITH THE BOY,

BUT I DID SEE THE BOY WITH HIS DADDY ONCE.

YEAH. WASN'T THAT THE DAY WE WERE OUT WATCHING TRUNDEL?

UH-HUH.

LOOKS LIKE HE LOVES HIM.

NEVER SAID A BAD GUY CAN'T LOVE SOMEBODY.

WELL, YES, HARRIET. I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY.

I WANT TO HELP YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN.

RIGHT, HARRIET.

I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

SHE WANTS ME TO HAVE A TALK WITH THE BOY.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL HIM?

I DON'T KNOW.

IF I COULD SAY THAT THE COURTS HAVE CONCLUDED

THAT HIS FATHER MURDERED HIS MOTHER-- BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT.

ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE THINKHE DID.

NOW, HOW CAN I TELL THAT BOY THAT?

I SUPPOSE...

SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT HIS HEARING IT

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A COURT OR FROM STRANGERS.

SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T TELL HIM HERSELF.

SHE WOULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH.

WELL...

EXCUSE ME.

ERIC.

HI.

HI.

SO...WHAT'S GOING ON?

I SAW A SOCCER MATCH ON TV-- GERMANY AGAINST BRAZIL.

YOU LIKE THAT GAME?

I THINK IT'S THE BEST GAME IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHEN I SAID THAT AT SCHOOL,

A GUY WANTED TO FIGHT ME.

THAT'LL TEACH YOU TO HAVE AN OPINION OF YOUR OWN, HUH?

UH, ERIC, I WANT TO...

ASK YOU SOMETHING.

YEAH, ABOUT WHAT?

ABOUT YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH...

AND ABOUT YOUR UNCLE VIDGE.

OH, THAT.

I ALREADY HEARD ABOUT ALL THAT.

YOU MEAN ABOUT MY FATHER KILLING MY MOTHER?

WHO TOLD YOU?

OH, AUNT HARRIET. I HEARD IT AROUND, MORE THAN ONCE--

SCHOOL, A COUPLE OF PLACES.

Y'ALL DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THAT STUFF.

MY HOMEWORK'S DONE. CAN I GO?

YEAH.

CLOSE YOUR BOOK UP.

THERE YOU GO.

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

HARRIET, I DIDN'T FEEL WE SHOULD PRESS THIS THING.

NO, I TRIED TO PRESS IT

WITH THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL

OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT, EITHER.

MY SISTER WAS KILLED IN SPARTA. SHE WAS MURDERED.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH A MARRIED MAN,

A VERY IMPORTANT MAN.

THAT MAN HAD HER KILLED.

HAD HER KILLED?

BY SOMEBODY THAT WORKS FOR HIM.

THE POLICE ARRESTED THE KILLER.

THEN IT'S BEING HANDLED.

NO, IT ISN'T.

YOU SEE, JUDGE COLTER, THAT JUDICIAL TRAVESTY,

RELEASED HIM ON BAIL.

I WANT THE STATE POLICE

TO TAKE OVER THIS INVESTIGATION.

YOU SEE,

THE MAN MY SISTER WAS INVOLVED WITH IS V.J. TRUNDEL.

I CAN'T TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY.

WHO TOLD YOU THIS STORY?

I DON'T NEED ANYBODY TO TELL ME MY SISTER'S LIFE STORY.

V.J. TRUNDEL IS ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN IN AMERICA

AND NO DOUBT THE GREATEST MAN IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

JUST THE WEALTHIEST.

WHY SHOULD HE BE INTERESTED IN YOUR SISTER?

HE WASN'T JUST INTERESTED IN MY SISTER!

HE WAS CRAZY ABOUT MY SISTER

BECAUSE SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL GIRL!

THE CHIEF AND I BELIEVE YOU.

SO WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

THIS IS WRONG.

THE MAN WHO KILLED MY SISTER IS DEAD.

HIS WIFE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT,

BUT THAT MAN'S MONEY, HIS SPIRIT ARE--

ARE IN THAT HOUSE.

MAYBE I'M NOT MAKING ANY SENSE, BUT IT'S WRONG.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT IT, TAKE IT TO COURT?

I HAVE TO.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT IT ANY WAY I CAN.

YEAH.

PLEASE SIT DOWN, MR. JENKINS.

IT SEEMS MR. TRUNDEL MADE TWO PROPOSALS.

THE FIRST IS THAT HIS SON ERIC

SHOULD INHERIT HALF HIS PROPERTY.

THE SECOND IS THAT HIS WIFE EMILY

SHOULD HAVE CUSTODY OF ERIC.

YOUR HONOR, IT'S THE SECOND PROPOSAL

THAT MS. DeLONG REJECTS ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD YOU REJECT A PROPOSAL

FOR SHAREDCUSTODY, MS. DeLONG?

YES, JUDGE, I WOULD.

SO WOULD MY CLIENT, YOUR HONOR.

THE WILL DEMANDS THAT, UH, MRS. TRUNDEL HAVE SOLE CUSTODY.

YOUR HONOR, I TRUST THAT MR. JENKINS UNDERSTANDS

THAT MR. TRUNDEL'S DEMANDS HAVE NO FORCE OF LAW.

I TRUST MR. JENKINS DOES UNDERSTAND THAT.

JUDGE, I'VE RAISED MY NEPHEW ERIC

AS IF HE WAS MY OWN SON

SINCE MY SISTER'S DEATH.

I'M HIS ONLY REAL FAMILY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, MS. DeLONG.

WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT V.J. TRUNDEL...

HAD MY SISTER, THE MOTHER OF HIS SON, MURDERED.

THIS IS UTTER NONSENSE.

PLEASE, MR. JENKINS. SIT DOWN.

NOW, FIRST OF ALL,

THERE IS NO BASIS FOR SUCH AN ACCUSATION,

AND SECONDLY, V.J. TRUNDEL IS HARDLY ON TRIAL HERE.

I AM WELL AWARE, MR. JENKINS,

OF THE FACT THAT NO ONE'S ON TRIAL HERE.

BUT, YOUR HONOR, THIS PETITION FOR CUSTODY

IS BEING BROUGHT BY THE WIDOW OF THE MAN

MY CLIENT HAS JUST DESCRIBED AS THE MURDERER--

I OBJECT TO THE REPETITION

OF THIS COMPLETELY GROUNDLESS CHARGE.

THERE WAS A WITNESS.

YOUR HONOR, THERE WAS NO WITNESS.

THERE WAS NO WITNESS BROUGHT FORTH BECAUSE THERE WAS NO TRIAL.

I DIDN'T SAY THERE WAS A TRIAL.

I SAID THERE WAS A WITNESS.

AND WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT, MS. DeLONG?

MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR.

I'M TALKING ABOUT MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR.

MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR

SAW TWO MEN WHO WORKED FOR V.J. TRUNDEL

ARRIVE AT HER HOUSE LATE ONE NIGHT.

THE POLICE CONFIRMED ALL THE DETAILS--

HOW THEY PARKED THE CAR OUTSIDE MY SISTER'S HOUSE,

HOW ONE OF THEM WAITED

WHILE THE OTHER ONE JUMPED A FENCE

AND WENT TO THE BACK DOOR.

HE LET HIMSELF IN WITH A KEY,

WHICH HE MUST HAVE GOTTEN FROM HIS BOSS V.J. TRUNDEL

WHO HAD KEYS TO THAT HOUSE.

FROM THE MOVEMENT OF THE FLASHLIGHT INSIDE THE HOUSE,

THE NEIGHBOR SAID

IT LOOKED LIKE THE MAN WENT INTO ERIC'S ROOM...

THEN PROCEEDED TO THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE,

TO MY SISTER'S ROOM.

AAH!

AAH!

PLEASE! UH, PLEASE!

UNH!

I THINK YOU REALIZE

THIS STORY WOULD NEVER BE PERMITTED IN COURT.

IT'S BASED ON POLICE CALCULATIONS

AND THE OBSERVATIONS OF SOMEONE

WHO COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN

WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THAT HOUSE.

NOT TO MENTION NO ONE EVER SAW V.J.

ANYWHERE NEAR THAT HOUSE.

THANK YOU, MRS. TRUNDEL.

I WAS ABOUT TO MENTION THAT.

JUDGE, I HAVE JUST ONE SMALL QUESTION.

WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES ALL THIS

HAVE TO DO WITH THE CUSTODY OF THE BOY

AND HIS FUTURE LIFE?

MRS. TRUNDEL, I AM NOT SURE MYSELF.

I'VE ASKED CHIEF BILL GILLESPIE HERE TO JOIN US,

KNOWING THAT THESE MATTERS WOULD COME UP. CHARLES.

YOUR HONOR, I HAVE TO OBJECT.

THIS IS NOT A COURT, MR. JENKINS.

THEN I HAVE TO RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE

WITH HAVING BILL GILLESPIE COME INTO THIS.

WHY?

WELL, YOUR HONOR, I'M SURE YOU KNOW,

AS WE ALL KNOW,

WHY HE WOULD BE PREJUDICED

IN FAVOR OF COUNCILWOMAN DeLONG.

WELL, I THINK YOU BETTER ASK

DETECTIVE TIBBS' WIFE ABOUT THAT.

WHY HER?

SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.

IF ANYBODY CAN GET THEM

TO PUT A SOCCER TEAM IN YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,

IT'S GOING TO BE SHE, MRS. ALTHEA TIBBS.

I'LL ASK HER.

CHIEF GILLESPIE, JUDGE WHITELY WOULD LIKE YOU TO STEP IN.

OH. THANK YOU.

I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER, ERIC.

BYE, CHIEF.

THANK YOU.

CHIEF GILLESPIE,

WERE YOU NOT IN CHARGE

OF THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MURDER OF NATALIE DeLONG?

I WAS, YOUR HONOR. YES.

AND YOU TOLD ME IT WAS AN ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CASE.

THERE WAS A QUESTION, UH,

AT THE TIME, OF REMOVING ME FROM THE CASE.

CERTAIN PEOPLE DIDN'T THINK I WAS FOLLOWING UP

ON SOME STRONG ALLEGATIONS.

WE CAN'T KEEP IT UP, BILL--

MAKING BELIEVE VIDGE TRUNDEL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

WE KNOW OUR MURDERER.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE HIM.

IF TURKIS TRIES TO LEAVE TOWN--

I WANT VIDGE TRUNDEL.

HARRIET,

WE ARE NEVER GOING TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT

V.J. TRUNDEL TO THIS THING.

HE MAY HAVE WANTED HER KILLED,

HE MAY HAVE ORDERED HER KILLED,

BUT WE WILL NEVER FIND ANYBODY WILLING TO SAY,

"I GOT THAT ORDER FROM HIM,"

OR A WITNESS WHO WILL SAY,

"I WAS THERE AND HEARD THAT."

NEVER. YOU KEEP SAYING NEVER.

NEVER, VIRGIL, NEVER.

BECAUSE NOBODY WHO KNOWS TRUNDEL

HAS ANYTHING TO GAIN BY EXPOSING HIM.

EVERYBODY HAS PLENTY TO LOSE,

AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE,

AND THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF LOSSES.

I'M GOING TO ASK THE GOVERNOR TO SEND A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

AND PUT THIS IN THE HANDS OF THE STATE POLICE.

AS I RECALL THE CASE, OTHER PEOPLE WERE CHARGED,

BUT V.J. TRUNDEL WAS NEVER MENTIONED.

WELL, V.J. TRUNDEL WAS DEAD BY THAT TIME.

UH, HE HAD SURROUNDED HIMSELF

WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO WOULD TAKE THE BLAME FOR HIM.

WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO ARREST

HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN.

VIDGE, WE'RE AT THE AIRPORT,

AND I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD WAIT FOR JESSICA.

COME ON, VIDGE. WE GOT TO GET GOING.

YOU'RE UNDER ARREST.

WHAT CHARGE?

MURDER.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT...

V.J.

GET AYKENS.

DON'T LEAVE. STAY HERE. HELP ME HANDLE THIS.

V.J., YOU CAN'T LET THIS HAPPEN.

V.J.!

V.J., DON'T LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!

SETTLE DOWN. HE AIN'T GOING TO HELP YOU.

MR. TRUNDEL. DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT GOING TO ARREST YOU.

WE'VE ALREADY CAUGHT THE MAN WHO'S GOING TO TAKE THE FALL,

IF WE CAN CONVICT HIM.

YOU'RE FREE TO GO.

ONLY THING IS-- YOU'RE GOING TO

HAVE TO TAKE YOURSELF ON THAT PLANE WITH YOU,

AND WHO IS THAT SELF?

IT'S THE MAN THAT KILLED THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD.

THE LITTLE FELLA DOESN'T KNOW THAT YET,

BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY,

THE WORLD'S GOING TO KEEP SAYING IT.

FINALLY, HE'S GOING TO COME TO YOU AND SAY, "UNCLE VIDGE"--

UNLESS BY THAT TIME, HE'S CALLING YOU DADDY.

HE'S GOING TO SAY, "IS IT TRUE?

"DID YOU DO THAT? DID YOU KILL MY MAMA?

IS IT TRUE?"

HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT.

MR. TRUNDEL! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

CHIEF, THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT.

HE RAN THAT NOSE RIGHT INTO THE GROUND.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH.

SO, UH, THOUGH HE NEVER STOOD TRIAL,

IT SEEMS THAT HE, UH,

FOUND HIMSELF GUILTY AND...

PRONOUNCED SENTENCE ON HIMSELF.

I RECOMMEND

THAT ERIC TRUNDEL REMAIN IN THE CUSTODY

OF HIS NATURAL AUNT, HARRIET DeLONG,

UNTIL NOVEMBER 1992.

THE COURT WILL THEN HEAR NEW REPRESENTATIONS

FROM BOTH SIDES.

IN THE INTERIM,

ERIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO VISIT EMILY TRUNDEL

TWO WEEKENDS IN EACH MONTH.

AND I WISH THAT MS. DeLONG AND MRS. TRUNDEL

WOULD WORK TOGETHER

IN A FRIENDLY AND COOPERATIVE MANNER,

AND PERHAPS THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER NEED

FOR WRANGLING IN COURT.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

[GILLESPIE] HARRIET.

YOU WANT MY OPINION?

NO, I DON'T.

WELL, I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU ANYWAY.

I DON'T THINK THIS IS ALL BAD.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

WHAT IS IT YOU DON'T LIKE?

THE JUDGE'S RULING. I'M GOING TO FIGHT IT.

DON'T YOU THINK IT WOULD BE JUST AS WELL

TO LET THINGS RIDE FOR A WHILE?

BILL GILLESPIE, YOU ARE KNOWN FOR LETTING THINGS RIDE.

I'M NOT.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW, AUNT HARRIET?

NOTHING CHANGES.

ONE THING THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE

IS YOU'RE MY SISTER'S CHILD.

THAT MAKES YOU A PART OF ME.

EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.

DIDN'T I SEE YOU LOOKING AT MY SWIMMING POOL

THE OTHER DAY WHEN YOU WERE AT MY HOUSE?

YES, MA'AM.

DO YOU LIKE TO SWIM?

I'M A GOOD SWIMMER.

HE WOULD BE, IF HE PRACTICED.

THAT'S FINE, BECAUSE NO ONE EVER USES THAT POOL,

AND YOU CAN PRACTICE ALL YOU WANT, ANYTIME.

COOL.

CAN I GO NOW, AUNT HARRIET?

I CAN MAKE THE LAST HOUR OF SOCCER PRACTICE.

GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

AS THEY SAY, "TIME WILL TELL."

OH, I'M GOING TO APPEAL THIS RULING.

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER

TO SEE ERIC GETS WHAT HE'S ENTITLED TO--

THE TRUNDEL ASSETS

WITHOUT THE TRUNDEL LIABILITIES.

AND HOW DO YOU RECKON THE TRUNDEL LIABILITIES?

SELFISHNESS,

CRUELTY, AND NO REMORSE.

V.J. TRUNDEL IS DEAD.

BUT YOU'RE ALIVE AND WELL.