All language subtitles for Picket.Fences.S03E04.WebRip

[narrator] Previously
on Picket Fences...

We received
a federal court order
this morning.

Starting on Monday,
400 Black students

‐are being bussed here
from Green Bay.
‐What!

I certainly don't want to see
congested classrooms.

I'm ordering that
400 Rome students

be bussed out
to Green Bay.

Jimmy, assemble your men.
Go down to the school.

Keep those students
from getting off the buses.

I'm not your wife talking,
I'm the Mayor.

Do it.

You want
a confrontation, Colonel?

You, Sheriff?

Now, these kids
are going to
get into the school.

Okay, let's not be late.

We will select 133 names
from each of the three baskets,

the elementary, the junior high
and the high school.

And the first 400 names picked

will be those students
bussed to Green Bay.

Now, since my own children
are involved,

as well as the children
of some of the other
City Council members,

we decided also
to pick a disinterested
third party

to select the students' names.

Just get on with it
for God's sakes, yeah.

‐[indistinct chatter]
‐Mr. Lawson,

I will have you thrown out

if you don't
keep your mouth shut.

Yeah, well, I think my mouth
speaks for a lot of the people
in this town.

Well, I don't doubt that,
but since I am the mayor,
I'm the one who speaks.

‐Have you got that?
‐Oh, yeah. I got it.

I got it. And next month
when I'm running for mayor,

‐we'll see who‐‐
‐Don't campaign for it now.

Sit down!

All right, I will now select
the name of the person
who will pick the students.

If the person whose name
I've picked is not present,

I'll just keep on plucking
until we find somebody who is.

So, please, if your name
is called, be a citizen

and come forward.

Douglas Wambaugh.

[crowd exclaims]

[laughing] Well.

This is the first raffle
I ever won.

Before I begin, let me say...

Vince Lombardi
was from Green Bay.
And he put it best.

"Busing should only be used
for away games."

‐[laughs]
‐[Jill] Come on, Doug.

Oh... we'll pick a name.

Yes, we're gonna start
with the elementary, please.

All right.

Uh‐oh. Richie Levin.

[crowd exclaiming]

[Douglas] Libby...

Don't send him
with a yarmulke.

‐They'll beat him to a pulp.
‐[crowd murmuring]

Just pick.

[Douglas] I like to be
a part of things.

Who?

Zachary Brock.

[crowd exclaiming]

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]

‐I wanna go. I like Green Bay.
‐[Jill] Yes. Uh...

‐You're not going. Come on.
‐How are you gonna
get around it?

When's the bus
supposed to come down?

It's coming,
just not coming for you.

Would you take him to school?
I'm gonna gonna be late.

‐Just teach him at home.
‐Come on.

‐You don't need to guy it up.
‐[Zach] I'm not.

[Jill] Thanks. Bye.

Okay, I worked it out
with Henry Novotny.

They can start it
as early as next Monday.

Hmm... you feel right
about this?

Of course, I don't feel right
about it.

The whole thing
makes me sick, but...

do you really want
Zack bussed out?

‐No.
‐No.

Well, this is
the best alternative.

So, instead of
going to Green Bay,
they're going to Church?

Oh, it's not Church,
Mrs. Levin, no,
it's a private school.

We're calling it
Belmont, Noble and Granaugh,

after the three families
who are funding it.

And the Plymouth Church
is just temporarily facilities.

And all the kids
who got picked in the lottery
get to go to this, right?

That's right,
for a nominal fee of $50.

What about the education?

Well, the school board
has agreed to loan out
teachers, books, supplies,

and Michael Oslo
has agreed to donate his time

as acting pro‐bono principal.

In fact,
since the classes are smaller,
the education might be better.

‐And what about the rest of us
whose kids are...
‐[man] Yeah, what about it?

...still in the regular schools?

‐[indistinct chattering]
‐Well, so far,

I hear that
everything's going just fine.

[teacher] Now, let's turn
our attention forward
to the Quaternary period.

This period was broken
into two epochs.

The early of the two
was an ice‐age
in the Northern hemisphere.

Can anyone tell me
the name of that epoch?

Wait. How about
one of our new people?

Aiesha Campbell?
Can you tell us, please?

Miss Campbell?

‐Can you tell me
the name of the epoch?
‐No.

Have you... have you
read the assignment, Aiesha?

Miss Campbell, I'm the teacher,
and I asked you a question.

Have you read the assignment?

Mm‐hmm.

Good.

Now, in addition to
doing the reading,

another requirement here
is class participation.

So...

can you answer
my question, please?

Mr. Steinberg, maybe she doesn't
want to participate.

Maybe, Kimberly, you should
let me finish my discussion
with Miss Campbell.

I just thought that since,
you know, everybody's so new...

New or old,
we have rules here.

And sometimes,
the rules need to change.

One that won't is who is
in‐charge of this classroom.

[Steinberg] All right?

Let's open our books, please.

Chapter two, page 68.

‐[door opens]
‐[woman] Excuse me, sir...

I'm very upset.
When I give an order,

I expect it be carried out.

I don't expect mayors
to be trying to stop me
using their police department.

I do not expect mayors
to be jury‐rigging
private schools

in order to circumvent
the spirit of my orders.

I think you should be
just a little more cognizant

of my expectations, Mrs. Brock.

If a town wishes to setup
private schools,
it has the right.

Is that so?

Yes, this is Wisconsin.

Parents can teach their kids
at home, if they want.

They don't have to
send them to any school.

So, none of our children
will be going to Green Bay.

But I'll be sure to tell
everybody just how upset
you are.

You're right.

I have no recourse
against those parents.

But a mayor,
who orchestrates an end around

to circumvent desegregation?

She's all mine.

You're under arrest

for contempt to Federal Court.
Take her!

What, you can't do that.

Oh, watch me.

Oh, hey,
I'm only the co‐mayor.

And your are the one I want.

And be sure to put her in a cell
without windows.

My husband in the Sheriff.
You're not gonna
get away with this.

Where are you taking me?

[Jill] What the hell is this?

The beginning.

That's what this is.

Just the beginning.

Damn it, he arrested her.

Now, how the hell
could he do that?

They took her away
in handcuffs.

He's trying to get her to squash
her little private school plan.

And that's legal?
He can just lock her up?

Yes. Federal Court judges
have broad contempt power.

This guy likes to use his.

He can just lock up a mayor?

Look, you're wife
picked the wrong judge.

Now, this man
has been acting very erratic
for the past few months.

Nobody knows why.

Maybe he's a nut.

Maybe he just has
a political death wish.

How do I get my wife
out of jail?

Hire a lawyer.

Take it to appeals.
There's nothing I can do.

[door closes]

‐Thank you.
‐Uh, Deputy?

Um... I've been
meaning to ask you, uh...

Do you wanna
have dinner sometime?

What?

Dinner sometime, you and me.

Uh...

Sure.

Get me out of here.

We're off to see Judge Nance
in Chambers,

but first I need to know
exactly what went down.

What went down is
I let you talk me
into being the Mayor.

Get me out.

‐Now!
‐We'll get you out.

Nance is
an honorary son of a bitch,

and I don't want to
antagonize him.

Oh, the man lives
for antagonism.

I have three children

and a medical practice,
at least I did.

My patients have probably
gone on to find another doctor
by now.

If I sit in this jail cell
one more hour,

that judge will enjoy
a very special relationship
with antagonism.

Get me out!

Now!

‐[guard] Open gate three.
‐[buzzes]

[indistinct chatter]

I'm not talking to her.

[laughing] What would I say?

We could start with hello.

[girl] She doesn't look like
she wants to talk.

Come on.

Hi.

I'm Kimberly Brock.

This is Roseann, Suzanne...

and Hayden.

Uh... where's Alicia?

Bolted.

Oh, anyway...

well, we just wanted to
introduce ourselves.

[scoffs]

I've brought with me
Sheriff James Brock,

who happens to be
the husband of the woman
you have so capriciously jailed.

I'm all aflutter.

‐Listen to me, Judge.
‐Sheriff!

Your Honor...

Mayor Jill Brock's actions

are supported entirely
by the law.

I will tell you,
as her attorney,

that she has gone
to great pains

to ensure that
each decision she's made

be grounded in legal basis.

How nice!

Now, while she has been careful
to stay within the law,

I would submit that
you have not.

This is an extraordinary
abuse of judicial power.

And I would
respectfully request‐‐

Well, power tends to be
most abused

by the ones that go it,

don't you agree, Sheriff?

‐My wife has done nothing wrong.
‐Your wife

used technical maneuvers
to get around the law.

I don't give a damn
if she had an attorney
to help her do it.

I find that contemptible.

So, I'm holding her
in contempt.

It's a perk I get.

Comes with my big black robe.

I'm not intimidated by you

or your big black robe.

No, I can see.
You're a tough guy.

When those students
got off that bus,

you were the big boy

standing there with your gun
and all your deputies

making those kids feel
so very welcome.

If you had stood up
against the National Guard,

I would've thought
you at least had some guts.

A judge shouldn't behave
like this.

Get our of here, tough guy.

I'll let your wife go...
when I'm ready.

[indistinct chatter]

[cop] Max, I'll put these
in lock up for you.

Okay.

‐Oh.
‐I'm sorry.

‐No, that's my fault.
‐No, it's my fault.

No, okay, it's your fault.
No problem.

Hey, Max, um,
Thursday and Friday
are good for me.

You wanna try
and have dinner then?

Uh... well, actually,
this week is so lousy for me.

How about next week?

Oh, no!
The week after is even better

because I go off grave yard.

Oh , well, let me see.
How about never?

How does that work out for you?
Is never good?

Oh... no.
No, I really wanna go out.

I do.

Okay, well, let me know.

Okay.

Yeah, you better buy
your own book

'cause you ain't gonna be
marking it in mine.

Wait, I ain't even staying here.

And if I was,
I won't be buying
no history books.

My mother told me
it ain't nothin' but lies,
anyway.

Oh, look, these things
have faucets.

And they got mirrors to see
what you look like.

I look fine and you know that.

Oh, I noticed you scanning
white boys.

[laughing]

What you looking at?

‐Nothing.
‐Well, it look like
you lookin' at something.

‐Don't she look like that?
‐Mmm‐hm.

She's okay.

We just make her nervous.

[chuckles] You don't
make me nervous.

Let's go.

[door closes]

[guard] Open number five.

Clear.

Am I supposed to quake?

There's nothing else
you can do to me.

You've taken the only shot
available to you.

And now I suppose
you'll be taking yours, mm?

You are the walking‐talking
personification of
Federal Government arrogance.

And what are you
the personification of?

Using troops
to stop those buses.

Have you got children,
Your Honor?

Two, but one's dead,
but tell me about yours.

Alive and safe.
I wanna keep it that way.

I'm not gonna apologize
for that.
And if you're acting out

your personal hardships
on the bench,
then I suggest‐‐

All I'm trying to do
is give some kids a chance.

‐Same as me.
‐But different kids.

Okay, fine, consider me slapped.

Can I go now?

[chuckling] I don't think
you understand.

You're not going anywhere.

Well, you can't just lock me up
here indefinitely.

You know, there seems to be
a big misperception
about that.

You see, I can

Contempt is one of those
broad powers
belonging to me.

And I'm exercising it
for all of its elasticity.

[exhales]

I don't get it. There...

there are a lot of real bigots
out there,

people much more dangerous
than me.

Why are you coming after me?

Because I've been trying
to catch the Mayor
of a small town

for a long, long time.

And now, I've got one.

So, I'm not letting you go
until I get exactly
what I want.

Now, do you get it,
Mrs. Brock?

Yes, I get it.

And here's something
for you to get, Judge.

If you are keeping me here
until I say,

"Okay, you can take our kids
to Green Bay,"

I will rot in this cell.

My Zachary is nine years old,

and you will never,
never take him away!

That is from a mother.

And as a Mayor,
I won't let you do it
to the others, either.

Maybe I better lock
all you mothers up.

Well, maybe you better.

It's against the law.

What he's doing
is against the law.

[Franklin] Just calm down.

I will not calm down.

He's got my wife in jail!

All I had to do
is send in my own troops.

Look, he can't keep her
in there forever. If we can
go into appellate court

and demonstrate that
the jailing will have
no effect on her,

we should be able to get
an order for her release.

When will that happen?

I'm on my way
to court right now.

The question they'll be asking,
and the one I have to answer is,

will he be able to
change her mind?

Not a chance!

And I will not be
bullied by you‐‐

No, you just dig your heels in

'cause that's
the traditional thing to do.

What, Black students
coming into your town?

Well, you better dig those
white heels in deep, Mrs. Brock.

You better get in that dirt
up to your knee.

Oh, top of
the ridiculous hyperbole.

At least Jesse Jackson throws in
some interesting rhymes
to make it fun.

Now, it's Jesse Jackson, I bet
Martin Luther King
really pissed you off.

No, what really pissed me off

is you categorizing me
as a bigot,

so that you can preach
your rhetoric.

And that's what
desegregation is, rhetoric?

I have nothing
against desegregation.

I've said that to you
from the beginning!

I just don't think
you can thrust it on the town

‐and expect us to‐‐
‐Thrust it?
It's been 40 years

since Brown
vs. Board of Education,

and I'm thrusting it?

It's still radical.
You have to give us time to‐‐

You've had enough time!

This is 1994,
time has run out.

Do you hear me?
Time has run out!

‐He won't let her out?
‐Mmm‐mm.

How can he do this?
She's not a criminal.

He's in some
Black‐powered ego trip,
that's all.

I didn't mean it like that.

Is she okay?

Yeah, she's okay.

She's fine.

The CBS News poll, however,
shows 53% in favor
of the President's plan.

The bill is expected to
go to the House on Thursday.

In other news,
US district court judge
Harold Nance, yesterday,

jailed the Mayor
of Rome, Wisconsin, after...

This is the same town
where the Mayor
shooed people, right?

This is not a good place to be
the Mayor.

Why can't she make bail?

Because the Judge
won't give her bail.

So, how long
will she be locked up?

Just as long as I see fit.

Shouldn't you be in court,
there are lot of other lives
you could be ruining.

[chuckles] No, this is
more cathartic for me...

being in a steel cage
with a bigot.

Oh, gee, my pride is so wounded.

Let me get down on my knees
and beg for forgiveness.

You don't seem to be
making much progress here.

What do you want from me?

I was the one
who stood in for the town hall.

I recognized the bigotry.

I stared those people down,

and I said that
Rome was a prejudiced community.

After which you sent out
the troops.

I was scared.

What, that's an excuse?

"I was scared'?

Oh, it's okay to be prejudiced

just as long as you can
back it up with fear.

Oh, hear comes the speech.

Hey! Lady, don't you ever
get smug with me.

The fact that you recognized
the bigotry makes you worse.

Your discrimination was knowing,

and that to me makes you
a thousand times
more malignant.

Hey, I'm supposed to protect
the welfare of a town!

And that welfare's promoted
by excluding Blacks?

It's promoted
by guarding against violence.

And you guard
against the violence
by excluding Blacks!

By avoiding the tension
and the confrontation.

By excluding Blacks!

Keeping the Blacks
away from the whites!
Both sides are involved.

"By keeping the Blacks
away from the whites."

I didn't mean it like that.

[Judge Nance] Right.

But sometimes,
it comes out like that
just the same.

[indistinct chatter]

[laughing] I guess
Aiesha's right.

You're scared of us.

Look, why don't you
mind your own business,
all right?

I'm not doing
anything to you.

Well, what's going on?

‐She your friend?
‐Yeah, she is.

Black people make her nervous
which is making us nervous.

Just tell her
we don't need her help,
all right?

[bell ringing]

‐Hello?
‐Oh, hi.

[sighs]

Look...

I don't want to go out with you.

I dated a midget...

I slept with my shrink,
who I then arrested.

Then I posed for those pictures.

I don't need to be
dating the DA,

for my sake,
for your sake.

‐It's a bad idea.
‐Okay.

What's the real reason?

I just told you.

All right.

Max, if there's anything
we both know,

it's that
you're fundamentally lonely.

Now, if the right man
came along,

you wouldn't think twice
about jeopardizing
your career.

So, let's just admit

I'm not the right man, okay?

Okay, let's admit it.

Okay.

Now my question is,
how can you be sure?

I mean, there's something
going on between us.

There has been
for a long time.

We both antagonize each other
without even knowing why.

Are you really sure
that we are not
right for each other?

Yes.

What's going on, Max?

What if you did
turn out to be the one?

I mean, from what I've seen
in this town,
the last few weeks...

that would be
the biggest disaster of all.

I mean, I'm not gonna
fall in love with a man
I know I wouldn't marry.

I'm sorry?

You're Black. I'm white.

Not that that makes
any difference to me,

but it sure does to society.

Then therefore,
it does to you.

Well, no.

Look, if we go out,

one of two things
could happen.

I mean, it could end up
being a short‐term thing,

in which case, why bother?

I mean, you're the DA,
I'm a deputy,

and there's too much at stake,
so, why bother?

Or it could turn out
to be a long‐term thing,

maybe even a forever thing,

in which case,
what if we had kids?

Half‐Black, half‐white.
They'd get the worst of it.

I mean, is it fair for us
to do that to them?

So, in fairness to our children,
we shouldn't have them?

Don't make it sound like
I'm being stupid,
I'm just...

being stupid.

You're right.

[laughs] I'm just buying in
to all this insanity.

Well, I won't.
I'm not gonna let this town
get to me.

I wanna go out with you.

How about next Thursday?

[scoffs]

Well, I'll check my book.
I'll get back to you.

‐Good.
‐Good.

She's got a visitor.

I said no visitors.

I'm her only company.

Her son.

Oh, well... five minutes.

It's your kid.

‐Oh, Zach! Hi!
‐Hi, Mom.

How did you get here?

‐Kenny drove me.
‐He did?

Is this your cell mate?

[laughing] No.
Honey, this is Judge Nance.

Hello, son.

Can you say hello
to Judge Nance?

Hi.

When you coming home?

Oh, I'm gonna be home soon.

Everything's gonna be
just fine.

Matthew says
I need new clothes
for Green Bay.

I need baggy clothes.

[Jill] Oh... [chuckles]

I wouldn't be taking
fashion tips from Matthew.

‐Does daddy know you're here?
‐[laughs]

[Zach] Couldn't find him.
He wasn't at the office.

But Kenny's taking me
right back.

[Jill] I'm so glad you came.
I missed you.

‐[Zach] I missed you, too.
‐Thanks.

You don't make me nervous.

What

You don't make me nervous.

I just tried to be
a little nice.

If there's a problem with that,
it's yours, not mine.

Then I got a problem.
Can I get back?

Bitch.

What did you say?

Nothing.

What, you decided to make me
a little friendship project,

and I'm supposed to be
all grateful?

I haven't decided anything.

I just saw you were
a little uncomfortable in class,

so, I asked the teacher
to lighten up.

The only thing I've decided
is that you're not worth it,

and I shouldn't waste my time.

‐Don't push me.
‐Get off of me.

Let me tell you something.

Don't you ever
put your hands on me again.

Do you understand me?
Else, I will take you

by your pretty blond hair
and pluck you bald.

I'm not afraid of you.

[both grunting]

[boy] Fight, fight.

My own daughter?

‐She started it.
‐I didn't start it.

[indistinct shouting]

Stop it!

Now, let me
tell you both something,
all right?

This isn't
just a school‐yard fight.

I could bring assault charges.

And add on hate crime
'cause from what I see here,
it applies.

She's the one that hates.

‐Kimberly?
‐Who's calling who a bitch?

Wait. Wait a minute.

What was this fight about?

You wanted to be nice, right?

You wanted to be left alone.

You were offended by that,

so, you end up
pulling each other's hair out.

What is that about?

What is wrong with you,
Kimberly?

Can I leave, please?

No, you cannot leave.

And you're too big
to accept a little kindness,
is that it?

No, not from her.

‐Bitch.
‐See?

‐Kimberly!
‐Kimberly, watch it!

Aiesha, you're gonna get
a lot of crap
thrown at you.

There's a lot of attitude
over you even being here.

And you're gonna have to
have the common sense
to pick your battles.

Now, she may not be
acting like it right now,

but she's one of the good ones.

If you wanna fight everybody
who says something funny to you,

that doesn't make you strong,
Aiesha.

I just want her
to stay away from me, okay?

And I just want her
to stay away from me.

You can't legislate
cultural attitudes.

I agree.

But the only way
for the two sides to
get over their ignorance

is to put them together.

Let them know each other.

But you can't force it.

But unless you do
a little forcing,
it's never gonna happen.

And if you don't give us
the time‐‐

It's the time that's run out!

Why can't you get that?

Why do I have to get that?

Who set the deadline?

Why do you keep shouting
we're out of time?

Maybe you're out of time.

What, you're about to
get disbarred, Judge?

Are you out of time?

As a matter of fact, I am.

I've got cancer of the liver.

What?

I've got about six months.

So, that makes me desperate,
I...

Maybe that's what your
little Rome, Wisconsin, needs...

desperation.

[indistinct conversation]

What's the deal here, Joe?

You see the deal.

They're just standing out there,
and my business if off.

Oh... don't say
I didn't warn you.

Hey, kids. Hey!

Shouldn't you kids
be in school?

Recess.

Yeah, I see.

Well...

My name's Ed Lawson,
I'm running for Mayor
next month.

My candidacy
is official today.

See, the problem with
spending your whole life
in the same town

is you get blind spots.

I could really use
some feedback from
a fresh pair of eyes.

So, you guys have
anything to say to me,
anything at all...

I'd love to hear it, okay?

Okay, man.

Okay.

See you around.

I really don't know
what else to say
except that I'm sorry.

Well, let's not have
a hallmark moment here.

So, that's what's going on.

You're trying to put the world
on your timetable.

You're gonna fix race relations
in six months

because that's your deadline.

You have to know
how unfair that is.

You wanna know
what's really unfair,
Mrs. Brock?

Those children
that went to school
back in 1954...

they were called niggers...

they were taunted, beaten...

some of them even killed.

I made a vow to myself

that one day
I'd make a difference.

So, I went to law school,
became a lawyer,

superior court judge.

And now,
I'm on the federal bench.

And look at all the difference
I've made.

My own son...

What about your son?

He was killed
in a peace march.

He was stepping along
for racial equality
in Washington D. C.,

our nation's capital, and...

violence broke out...

somebody stabbed him.

Well, two weeks later...

I had a white supremacy case.

Council asked
whether I should recuse myself.

I said, "No!
I can be objective."

And you know what, Mrs. Brock,
I was.

My evidentiary rulings
were right on.

I was the perfect
impartial jurist,

a prototype judge.

I rose above
my personal situation

and played my proper role
in this wonderful system.

Then, I went home...

and I came this close
to putting a gun in my mouth.

How dare I be
so damned objective!

What gave me the right?

My own son was killed.

So many others were killed.

And here I am preserving
my judicial integrity.

Well, I am sick to death
of being a role model judge!

I'm sick of it!

I'm sick of it all!

[sniffling]

I know
I can't change the world.

I know this.

But maybe I can affect
one small town.

Before I go,
just one small, little town...

Rome, Wisconsin.

That's not right.

You're dying
and you have no choice,

and you're trying to
take the choice away
from the rest of us.

You had choice.

And you abused the privilege.

I had choice,
24 years on the bench

and I abused the privilege.

Well, my last six months
are gonna count.

I've gotta make 'em count.

How can they take it
under advice?
What the hell's going on?

They'll probably rule
by end of the day.

And if not,
she just sits there?

Jimmy, Zach's in your office.
He's upset.

Excuse me.

Hi, Zach.

What's wrong?

Saw mom in jail.

What if she doesn't get out?

Oh, she'll get out.

Don't you worry about that.

And I heard
Kim was in a fight.

‐Some black girl
tried to kill her.
‐Oh, no, no, no.

She's just fine.
It was just a little
pushing and shoving.

Are you okay?

I don't want to
go to Green Bay.

I know.

I don't wanna go there.
[crying]

Oh.

It's okay.

We're not gonna let you go.
Don't you worry about that.

We're not gonna let you go.

You can't withdraw now.

This case
goes to the Supreme Court
in less than a month.

Well, I'm thinking
of resigning my position
as District Attorney,

so the case
needs to be reassigned.

What the hell is going on?

I don't wanna live
in Rome, Wisconsin, anymore.

I've become
a little disillusioned here.

So what?

You're gonna pack your bags

every time a town
disappoints you?

I hope you got
a good set of luggage.

Look, I was prepared to face
a lot of things
when I came here.

And now that I faced it all,
I guess I can move on.

Grow up, Counsel.

Whether you want to
admit it or not,

you represent
the Black leadership
in this town.

What the hell are those
Green Bay kids gonna think
if you throw it in?

Think about the plank
they're walking.

Think about
how scared they are.

You are their hope, I'm not.

Look, for all we know,
I could represent
their futility.

I'm the man
that supposed made it.

Law school, DA.

I'm off to the Supreme Court.

But at the end of the day,

what do I add up to
in Rome, Wisconsin?

Nothing.

Is that what you think?

Here's a hard flash for you,
Mr. Littleton.

You, more than anybody else,

represent the center
of Rome, Wisconsin.

‐Ah...
‐Don't look so shocked.

It used to be Jimmy Brock.

Today, it's you.

Oh, he's still admired
and loved, no question.

But, on pure integrity,
you're a bigger influence.

I sit up on that bench
and I see it.

And here's what else I see.

The Black man
has made strides in government,

in law, in medicine,

in almost every arena,

except the heartlands.

In small town USA,

the African‐American
still need pioneers.

And like it or not,

the badge is pinned to your ass
in Rome, Wisconsin.

It's also pinned

to those kids from Green Bay.

I will not let you
let them down!

I will not let you
out of this case.

I will not let you
leave this town.

You can't force me to stay here.

You think a Federal Court Judge

is the only one
with contempt powers?

Just try me.

Um... could y'all wait outside
for a second?

Could you guard the door?

‐I'm stayin' in.
‐No. Go outside.

[door closes]

What?

I've been thinking about things.

And...

I'm sorry.

God, I thought
you were gonna stab me.

What?

I didn't mean that.

Look... I'm sorry, too.

Maybe you did make me
a little nervous.

But I really was trying
to be nice.

Till you thought I was a bitch.

Till then, yeah.

So, I was thinkin' that...

I don't know, maybe we could
try and do something together.

You know,
see if we like each other.

We probably won't...

but we could see.

That'd be good.

Okay, hostage time is over.

The appellate court
has overruled your little
one‐man crusade.

The contempt order's officiated.

The prisoner's free to go.

Do you always talk like that?

Or has your underwear
ridden up?

I'd fire right back at you,
Judge,

but you'd probably
whack me with contempt.

[chuckles] Go ahead.
I give howdy doodies
a free shot.

Come on, Jill.

[Judge Nance] You can go.

Rock beats scissors.

Um, I'll be just a minute.
I, I just want a word
in private. Okay?

Okay.

[sighs]

I would like to be able to
send our kids
to a regular school,

not just
the makeshift Church thing.

But if you don't
lift the order‐‐

Order's lifted.
Your kids can stay.

But the ones coming in
still come.

Thank you.

You know...

You said that
you wanted to make a difference.

You have.

Once my temporary term is up,

I've decided to run for Mayor
full‐time, and I promise...

to be a little desperate.

You're a fine person,
Mrs. Brock.

But unfortunately,
that gives me little hope.

Why?

Now you've made me realize.

The people out there
resisting desegregation

are ones trying to
protect their children
and their towns...

are probably also
fine, caring people.

Respectable, scared.

And the reason it'll be
a long, long time

before Black children
can run happily

in the streets
of Rome, Wisconsin.

I wish I had an answer.

Me too.

[exhales] If you'll pardon me,
I'd like to just...

sit here for a minute.

Do me a favor.

Go be a good mayor.

[theme music playing]

[theme music ends]