01x04 - Manhunt

[bunniefuu]

[RUBY] Hey, now.

_

It's got to be degrees
in the shade today.

I-I was hoping I could
trouble you for a sip.

You work around here?

[RUBY] Just down the
road at the Shurden place.

I-I cut through here sometimes
on my way to the market.

Saves me a few steps.

[MANDY] You could fry
an egg in this heat today.

Sure could.

Thank you.

Thank you.

♪♪

[WATER RUSHING]

Down at the Shurden place,
all anybody can talk about

these days is that Till
boy turned up dead.

Some folks say he was seen around here

the morning he went missing.

[MANDY GRUNTS]

You hear anything like that?

Folks say a lot of things.

But I ain't got time for gossip.

[PANTING] You take care now.

♪♪

I don't work at the
Shurden place, ma'am.

My name is Ruby Hurley.

I work for the National Association

for the Advancement of Colored People,

and I've been chasing down leads all day

to try to find the folks
that saw Emmett Till

on the morning that he was m*rder*d.

From what I hear, you
might be one of those folks.

I ain't seen nothin', and
I ain't got nothin' to say.

Ma'am, that boy was hunted
down and k*lled in cold blood.

Now, if you know something,
you can expose the truth.

And what good is that gon' do?

- He's dead!
- Look!

I know that you're scared.

I-I know that you'd be risking
y-your job and your livelihood

- to come forward.
- "Livelihood"?

I been picking cotton all my life,

and I'm still waitin' to make a profit.

That is exactly what I am talking about.

Nothing is gonna change for us

unless folks like you come forward.

And if you don't, who's to
say it won't be your child next?

♪♪

All I saw was a truck parked
over at the shed that morning...

and... and four white
men standing around.

Did you recognize any of those men?

I didn't get a good look.

♪♪

But one of them was tall and...

was kind of bald-headed.

I heard Emmett Till was
seen in the back of a truck

with two n*gro men.

Did you see any of them?

No.

But I know someone
over at the Shurden place.

Name's Willie Reed.

He saw that boy.

And those other men, too.

Only he says there was
three of them in the back.

Three men were with Emmett?

♪♪

Where can I find Willie Reed?

I don't know.

He went missing a couple of days ago,

and ain't nobody seen him since.

♪♪

[NEWS ANNOUNCER] Jury
selection began yesterday in the trial

against J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant...

The two men accused of k*lling
-year-old n*gro Emmett Till.

Noticeably missing was Mamie Bradley,

mother of the alleged victim,

but the courtroom was
packed with spectators.

Many Mississippi locals complained about

the level of publicity
this case has drawn

and what some believe has been an
unfair portrayal of their region.

This trial comes at a time

when racial tensions
continue to escalate in the area,

as several n*gro activists
were sh*t dead in recent months

with no arrests made.

The discovery of the
body alleged to be Till

has set off a series of protest rallies

led by the NAACP.

At one event held in Chicago,

Mamie Bradley reportedly
referred to Mississippi

as a "den of snakes."

Yeah, we were out there half the night.

I was just about ready to give up,

but the Chief here managed to track down

Willie Reed's grandfather
and get him to talk.

Turns out he was on the
plantation that morning, too.

Said he heard sounds of b*ating

coming from the shed,

and someone screamin'.

But did he actually lay eyes on Emmett?

No. Apparently, the only
one who did was Willie Reed,

and I got the sense from the grandfather

that Willie's hiding out
'cause he's too scared to talk.

So, Bryant and Milam had at
least two white accomplices,

one who fits the description

- of Milam's brother.
- Mm-hmm.

And I'd wager that two of the n*gro men

who were in the back of the truck

are the same fellas I heard
about at the dance hall...

"Too Tight" and Henry Lee Loggins.

Yeah, one of them
has to be the third man

who went with Bryant and
Milam to Mose Wright's.

So, where are they?

Well, either they're
hiding out like Willie

Reed or someone's keeping them quiet.

We don't have enough
evidence to place Emmett

at that plantation without any of them.

But we do have enough
to take this public,

call for further investigation.

This is our last chance to get this case

moved out of Tallahatchie County

and out of Sheriff
Strider's jurisdiction.

- Then let's run the story.
- [DR. HOWARD] No.

If we go to press now, we put
those witnesses' lives in jeopardy.

No, we have to get them to safety first.

And how can we protect
them if we can't even find them?

If jury selection wraps up
this morning as scheduled,

they'll begin hearing testimony,

and we won't be able to
introduce any new evidence.

Which is why we need the authorities.

They have the resources
to find those witnesses

and finish what we started.

Or make it all disappear.

Exactly.

Sheriff Strider wants this case,

and he won't let it leave
this county without a fight.

He's dirty and connected.

We have to be careful who we involve.

What about Chatham?

By all appearances,
he's putting in the work...

A good-faith effort.

Think we can trust him?

Maybe.

And his associate, Robert Smith...

Uh, he's former FBI.

[RUBY] [CLICKS TONGUE]
It doesn't matter who we go to.

They're not gon' listen to us.

On a good day, they
see us as outside agitators

with no business in local affairs.

On every other day, we're just a bunch

of uppity Negroes causing trouble.

You got a better idea?

What if Chatham learns about
the witnesses from someone else?

Someone who can hold him accountable.

Someone white.

Yeah, and he would have no
choice but to take it seriously.

Question is...

who can we trust with
something this big?

♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[MAN] Hey, there she is.

- Hey!
- Hey!

- Mrs. Bradley?
- Mamie!

- Mrs. Bradley?
- Mamie, over here!

Mamie, what evidence do you
have that's relevant to the case?

Are you here to seek revenge?

- Mrs. Bradley?
- Over here.

What do you intend to do here today?

[REPORTERS SHOUTING]

I am here to answer
any questions that my...

That the a-attorneys may
ask me to answer to the best...

Do you have any evidence
bearing on this case?

I-I do know that this is my son.

How do you respond to local citizens

who say a civilized mother

would never have put a
child's body on public display?

We've looked away for too long.

Opening my son's
casket made it impossible

to ignore what really goes on down here.

What about your son's father, ma'am?

- [MAN] Where is he?
- [CAP g*ns f*ring]

[LAUGHTER]

Just keep moving.

♪♪

[DEPUTY] Whoa, whoa, whoa.

I'm gonna need you boys to stop.

Hold your hands out to the side.

It's okay.

Just wait for us over there.

[DEPUTY] Come on.

[SIGHS] All right.

Come on.

♪♪

I'm fine.

Just wrinkled my good shirt, that's all.

[DEPUTY SIGHS] All right, go ahead.

♪♪

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

[FLASHBULBS SNAPPING]

[SIGHS] Mr. Booker.

What a relief to see a familiar face.

Mm.

My goodness, it's hot in here.

It's supposed to be degrees
today, and that's just outside.

Get your ice-cold sodas.

Don't worry. We got plenty of
water with us at the press table.

Meet Ruby Hurley from the NAACP.

[SIGHS] Mrs. Bradley.

Oh. [LAUGHS]

You made it.

- It is such an honor.
- Thank you.

I-I must admit, you're the first woman

I've met in the NAACP.

We are few, but fierce.

Well, I'd say so.

So, what is it that you do?

Oh, I'm the Southeastern Director,

which basically means I travel around

to the worst sections of the country

raising hell in the name of justice.

- [RUBY CHUCKLES]
- Ruby leads an army of ,

and is probably the only
one to receive death threats

and marriage proposals in equal measure.

It's a hazard of the job.

Sometimes you gotta flip your hips

if you want to get
people to talk to you.

[CHUCKLES] Well, it's good to know

that women are a part of the movement.

Oh, we're not just part of it.

We're essential to it.

And seeing you fighting for your child

is gonna inspire other
women to do the same.

[STRIDER] Mamie Bradley.

Nice of you to join us.

Your subpoena.

♪♪

You are now officially
a witness in this trial.

While you are here, you will come under

all rules of Mississippi.

- [STRIDER] Understood?
- Yes, sir.

♪♪

My God, they allow
children in the courtroom?

All rise.

- [FLASHBULB SNAPS]
- The court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Swango presiding.

Please be seated.

[SWANGO] Thank you.

I would like to remind
the members of the press

that neither photography
nor sketching will be permitted

while this court's in session,

though it may resume during recess.

Counsel, you may
continue jury selection.

Thank you, Your Honor.

- [CHATHAM] Mr. Lay...
- [BABBLING]

[CHATHAM] ... have you
ever contributed to either

Mr. Bryant or Mr. Milam's defense fund?

♪♪

- [VOICES FADE]
- [LAY] Well, I might have...

might not have.

[CHATHAM] Would you please
tell the court how you feel about...

[CAROLYN] All right, you be good now.

- Mind your granny.
- [JOHN] You ready for some lunch?

[MAMIE] I don't know that I have
much of an appetite after all that.

But I would like to
find the ladies' room.

The closest we could use is
over at James Griffin's Place...

The diner across town.

- We'll take you.
- Across town?

Meanwhile, there's a
"whites only" bathroom

on every floor of the courthouse.

Even the defendants get to use the one

in the judge's chambers.

[RUBY] We'll have plenty
of time to grab lunch

then make it back to hear
testimony with time to spare.

I say it's a miracle they found men

who hadn't contributed
to the defense fund...

Or at least admitted to contributing.

They were a motley
looking bunch, weren't they?

- [CHUCKLES]
- Well, let's just hope

Mr. Chatham selected a few
jurors with enough good sense

- to distinguish truth from lies.
- Yeah.

[SIDNEY] Why, it was
just a few years ago,

J.W. Milam saved a little n*gro girl

from drowning in the Tallahatchie River.

He has loaned his own
car to his workers on...

On several occasions,
and once even rushed one

to the hospital when
he'd slashed a vein.

Now, these are not the actions of a man

with racial hatred in his heart.

Mr. Milam is loved by all
the Negroes in his community.

[SIGHS]

♪♪

That sheriff has his deputies

frisk the family of the
victim this morning,

then has the gall to
eat lunch with them?

As if they're just a couple of old pals?

Try not to focus on them.

But how can I ignore it?

There is nothing for me to do
here except sit still and watch

and wait.

Oh, God. Maybe if y'all
could just catch me up

on what you've been working
on, I-I could be of help somehow.

There must be something I can do.

You showed up.

I know that wasn't easy.

And it won't be any easier tomorrow
or the next day, but it matters.

It really does.

So just keep showing up.

♪♪

[PACKTON] Mr. Chatham,
Mr. Smith. Y'all have a moment?

I'm sorry, son, but we won't
be making any statements

- to the press at this time.
- I'm not looking for anything.

I have something for you.

From Dr. Howard.

Well, I can't imagine
what he'd have for me.

Witnesses.

He's found at least
three who saw Emmett Till

on the morning of his death,

can identify the location
where he was taken...

Where his m*rder likely occurred.

And they can even
place the defendants there

and confirm they did not act alone.

Where are these people?

Dr. Howard and his team
will disclose their identities

as soon as they receive
assurances from law enforcement

that they'll be brought
in safely to testify.

But they're gonna need you
to reach out to trusted officials.

No Strider. Understood.

There's more to it than that.

According to these witnesses,

Till was likely k*lled on a
plantation in Sunflower County.

Well, if that's true,
we'll have to forfeit

this case over to
their District Attorney.

Sanders is chomping at the bit.

[CHUCKLES] I thought
you might be relieved

to have it off your plate.

It's a tough case.

The kind that legacies are made from.

Well, it wouldn't be much of
a legacy if you lost, would it?

Without these witnesses,
that's a strong possibility.

♪♪

[BAILIFF] All rise.

♪♪

Court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge Swango presiding.

You may be seated.

[SWANGO] Court will now hear the case

of the State of Mississippi
vs. Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam.

Both sides present, ready for testimony?

Ready for the defense, Your Honor.

Your Honor, I'd like to
request a continuance.

[SPECTATORS MURMURING]

[GAVEL BANGS]

We're about to begin
testimony, Mr. Chatham.

What cause do you have for delay?

Your Honor, moments
ago, our office was informed

of the existence of several witnesses

previously unknown to us...

Witnesses who could provide evidence

that could change the course...

If not the very nature...
Of these proceedings.

- [SPECTATORS GROAN]
- I need order in this court.

[SWANGO] Please remain quiet
while we discuss this matter further.

Uh, t-the defense has
not been made aware

of any new witnesses,

and we move to exclude
any additional testimony

and that we continue
with the proceedings

without undue delay.

Court finds the state's
position reasonable.

Continuance is granted.

Witness testimony will
begin tomorrow morning.

Court is adjourned for
the remainder of the day.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

You knew?

We wanted to tell you, but we
weren't sure how it'd pan out.

We didn't want to get your hopes up

till Medgar here gave us the all-clear.

Well, tell me now.

Well, we found some
local plantation workers

who either saw or heard Emmett

on the morning of his disappearance.

They heard him?

Tell me.

What did they hear?

Your son crying out.

[RUBY] They wanted to help.

They just didn't see how they could.

And it won't be easy to
hear what they have to say,

but if we can get this case
moved to Sunflower County,

we are one step closer
to justice for your son.

I hope you're right.

Now, if you'll excuse me,

I think I've had enough for today.

Um, I'd like to settle
in at Dr. Howard's.

[LAUGHTER]

Okay, okay. All right.

[The Cosmic Rays with Sun Ra
and Arkestra's "Dreaming" plays]

- ♪ Dreaming ♪
- ♪ Dreaming ♪

- ♪ Dreaming ♪
- ♪ Dreaming ♪

♪ Here I am dreaming again ♪

♪ Here I am dreaming again ♪

- ♪ Dreaming ♪
- ♪ Dreaming ♪

- ♪ Dreaming ♪
- ♪ Just dreaming ♪

♪ I'm in a deep dream again ♪

♪ I'm in a deep dream again ♪

- ♪ Sleeping ♪
- ♪ Sleeping ♪

♪ Just a-sleeping ♪

♪ It's time for me to wake up ♪

♪ For no matter how I dream ♪

♪ It always makes me cry ♪

Welcome to Mound Bayou.

[ENGINE TURNS OFF]

Thank you.

[CHUCKLES]

It is a pleasure to finally
meet you, Mrs. Bradley.

Thank you for opening your home to us.

I am very grateful.

Ah, Mr. Mooty.

It's a real honor, sir.

Ah, Mr. Carthan.

[CHUCKLES] Show these
gentlemen to their rooms, will you?

I'm going to give Mrs.
Bradley here the VIP tour.

[LAUGHS]

Wow.

Did I see a pool on my way out here?

Oh, indeed, you did.

Where else are our
children going to swim?

- [LAUGHS]
- Everything in our community

is meant to enrich its people.

Even our hospital
employs an all-n*gro staff,

so when one of us is sick,

we can enter through the front door,

and we can do so knowing

that we'll be heard and
counseled by someone

that can see our pain
and acknowledge it.

And you are the chief of surgery.

- Yes.
- My goodness.

I didn't even think a thing
like that was possible.

It wasn't.

Until it was, huh?

Until you made it so?

[CHUCKLING] Oh, no, no, no.

Oh, I can't take the credit, no.

Mound Bayou was
founded out of necessity

by Isaiah Montgomery
and Benjamin Green.

Now, both men had been enslaved,

and as soon as they
were free and capable,

they recruited the best of their people

and turned this town into
a self-reliant community.

- A safe haven.
- Absolutely.

Well, the settlers had
spent their entire lives

building up this land for white folks.

They decided it was time they
built something for themselves, huh?

[LAUGHS]

years later, I am humbled

to play a small role
in its continued growth.

It's wonderful... All of it.

Since I crossed the state line,

I've been made to feel like a fugitive.

I feel like I've been
holding my breath for days.

I know the feeling well.

Thank you for giving me a
space where I can breathe.

Of course.

And if there's anything else I can do

to make you feel more at home,
you just let me know, huh?

There you are.

I'll have our cook
whip up something fine

and Southern for supper at around : .

[CHUCKLES]

Dr. Howard.

You're the freest
Black man I've ever met.

You could live anywhere.

Why don't you move up North?

That pool...

those children, this community...

These are my people,

and there is far too much work to

do down here. If I leave Mississippi...

... I leave them behind.

♪♪

[SANDERS] Willie Reed?

You're a hard one to find.

My name is Mr. Sanders, and I'm a

District Attorney in Sunflower County.

And I heard you know
something about that Chicago boy.

The boy from the papers?

No, I don... I don't know nothing, sir.

Willie, these men here just spent
half a day trying to track you down.

Now, I know you're not
gonna waste our time.

Well, I-I think I seen him
on the back of some truck.

Whereabouts?

Down by the Sturdivant property. Sir.

That confirms it.

If all goes as it should, we'll be
taking over from Tallahatchie County

and you'll be called in
as a witness for the state.

Now, you understand what that means?

Yes, sir.

Now, normally, we'd be taking
you in to give your official statement,

but we know tensions are a little
hot right now amongst the Negroes.

So we've worked out a
deal with that doctor fella

down in Mound Bayou.

You heard of him?

Dr. Howard. Yes, sir.

Well, he's offered up
his home if you feel

the need for protection
during the trial.

Well, what about after the trial, sir?

What are we supposed to do then?

Leave the questions to me.

Now, we're asking you to
meet out there at his place

at : tonight to give your statement,

and we're asking you to come willingly.

But we're not gonna ask twice.

♪♪

[SANDERS] Mighty fine place
you have here, Dr. Howard.

I admit...

Never seen a n*gro
in such a home before.

Not legally, anyway.

[CHUCKLES]

I think the folks at the tax board
must share your astonishment,

considering how many
times I've been audited.

But rest assured, gentlemen...

It all checks out.

♪♪

It's been nearly an hour.

[SIGHS] I don't think they're coming.

If we had taken them into custody,

this would've been a whole lot simpler.

If you had taken them into custody,

they never would've felt
safe enough to tell the truth

the way they did with us.

Do I need to remind you
folks our boys tracked down

the witnesses y'all failed to locate?

You tracked them down by threatening

and intimidating the community
that was trying to keep them safe,

and the only reason they are not
here now is because you and your posse

scared the living
daylights out of everyone.

All the locals are saying
they thought you were FBI.

She goes on talking this way to
me, we're gonna have a problem.

♪♪

[DR. HOWARD] Enough!

♪♪

We all want the same
thing here, don't we?

♪♪

We want these witnesses to talk.

We want the best possible
chance at a fair trial down here.

And you, Sheriff Smith?

The same thing.

And we want the trial moved
out of Strider's jurisdiction.

Then I'd say the answer to
my question is yes, correct?

If the law says the case is mine,
then I want to win... Simple as that.

Well, in order to win, you need
these witnesses to come forward.

He's right, Stanny.

These witnesses have a story to tell,

and we just need to make
them feel safe enough to tell it.

And I think working together
is the best chance we've got.

Even if it takes all night.

♪♪

[RUBY] Mandy, d...

Please, ma'am.

I was wrong about what
I said before, ma'am.

I got confused.

B-But I didn't see nothing, I swear.

[STAMMERS]

Just give us a minute, please.

♪♪

Look, I said something to you
before that's been nagging me.

I said that if you spoke up,
you'd be risking your livelihood.

Well, that was a-a
stupid thing for me to say,

and I apologize, because
we both know damn well

that you'd be risking a whole
hell of a lot more than that.

You'd be risking your life to testify.

I just want to keep my family safe.

I know, I know.

And I promise you, they will be.

We have all the resources of the NAACP

and Dr. Howard to protect you...

And not just during the
trial, but afterwards, too.

I-I can't just leave my granddaddy.

Well, he could go with you.

A-And Dr. Howard will
provide financial assistance

until you can both get
on your feet up there.

We don't need no handout.

Never have. I work hard.

So does my grandson.

He's just starting to make his own way.

So why would he want
to throw all that away

by talking in court about somethin'

that ain't none of his business anyhow?

Because if he speaks
up about what he saw,

he can help change the way
things go around here for us.

[MEDGAR] And you'll both be
free to start again in Chicago.

Free to make a better life
where you aren't living like slaves.

Ain't nothin' wrong with
the life we got here now.

A life where you can't speak the truth

for fear of what will
happen to you after?

What kind of life is that?

Now, I am telling you,
there is a better way,

but it has to start with all of us.

Come in.

- Oh.
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]

I hear you missed
dinner. Is everything okay?

Oh, I apologize.

Time slipped away, I suppose.

It's my fault.

I-I should've sent
someone to check on you.

It's been hard to get away
with all of the excitement

trying to track down those witnesses.

Any progress?

We shall see in the morning.

I hope I haven't come off as rude.

It's just, every time I try to leave,
the sky keeps pulling me back in.

It's not like this in Chicago.

- [DR. HOWARD] Hmm.
- So many stars.

[DR. HOWARD] Yeah.

It makes me wonder if Emmett
had a chance to see them.

♪♪

I want to believe he did.

Sounds like you're having
a hard time, though...

Believing.

I am.

And I'm ashamed to
say that when I got here,

I was angry at my Uncle Mose.

I-I... I couldn't say it,

but I-I felt it in the
pit of my stomach,

for him promising to give Emmett

the summer camp experience.

And now?

The anger's gone.

I just... I feel so sorry for
him, because he believed.

He really thought he
could give that to my boy.

Do you think it's possible

for a Black boy in
Mississippi to see the stars?

Well, if I didn't, I wouldn't
be fighting like I do.

Fighting so that the next generation

can live without fear and...

be fully human.

♪♪

And see the stars.

But what about now?

Are men like Uncle Mose
supposed to keep living by the code?

Suppressing their emotions to get by?

I mean, that's no kind of life.

Well, that's the life he's always known.

I don't know.

♪♪

Maybe white folks down here...
don't think we have feelings.

If they did, how could
they treat us like they do?

Mamie.

You are showing them that we do feel...

That we hurt like them,
that we love like them.

You opened that casket
so they'd see your pain.

You showed up so
they could see your love.

And what if they're blind to it?

You have more faith than that.

I used to think so.

But the "code" will serve Uncle
Mose on the stand tomorrow.

He will fall in line.

I don't suppose every
Black man down here

could be as brave as
you are, Dr. Howard.

My means have afforded me the privilege

of raising hell.

But I assure you, Mrs. Bradley,

any witness who takes
that stand tomorrow

is doing so knowing
that they are putting

everything on the line.

♪♪

Courage looks different on every man.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

_

Oh, excuse me, young man.

- S-Sorry, ma'am.
- That's quite all right.

♪♪

I didn't see her. I'm sorry.

It's okay, Simmy.

♪♪

It's okay, son.

If they call me, what are they gon' ask?

What you saw that night
they took Bobo... that's all.

After I tell them, can I come home?

When are things gonna go back?

They're not going back, son.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

♪♪

[SIGHS] They've been in there for ages.

Chatham has to clear
each witness with the judge

and the defense before
they can be admitted.

Hopefully, they're just being thorough.

[DOOR OPENS]

♪♪

[DOOR CLOSES]

The court has made a decision.

The state will be permitted
to call on these new witnesses

to present their testimony
to the jury tomorrow.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

But the trial will remain in Sumner.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

I guess we're stuck
with Sheriff Strider.

Why isn't the trial moving?

I can only assume that
the judge didn't believe

there was enough evidence to prove

that the m*rder occurred
on that plantation.

But he's allowing them to testify.

Doesn't that mean
he finds them credible?

He, uh, might find it credible
that Emmett was brought there,

but what actually happened there
might require more convincing.

Either way, the fact
that the jury will get

to hear from them at all
is still a big victory for us.

[GAVEL BANGS]

[SWANGO] This court is now in session.

The state may call its first witness.

Thank you, Your Honor.

The state would like to call
to the stand Mose Wright.

[INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS]

[DOOR OPENS]

♪♪

It was August th...

at about : in the morning.

I woke up and heard someone
at the front door saying,

"Preacher, Preacher."

And when I got there,
I asked who it was.

He said, "This is Mr. Bryant,

and I want to talk to you and that boy."

What did you do?

Well, I got up,

opened the door...

and...

Mr. Milam was standing there

with a p*stol in his right hand

and a flashlight in his left hand.

Now, I want you to stop right
there for a minute, Uncle Mose.

I want you to point out Mr. Milam

if you can see him in here.

There he is.

[spectators murmuring]

And do you see Mr. Bryant in here?

[CHATHAM] Now...

after you opened the door,

what happened next?

[UNCLE MOSE] Well, Mr. Milam said,

"I want that boy that done
all the talkin' down at Money."

[CHATHAM] And what did you do?

We went to a bedroom,

and we found Emmett
and Simeon in there.

And, uh, Mr. Milam told him to get up,

so they got up and
dressed, and they started out.

And what happened after that?

Mr. Milam asked me, "How old are you?"

I said .

He said, "Well... if you know

any of us here tonight,

then you will never
live to get to be ."

[SPECTATORS MURMURING]

And then, did they leave
your house with Emmett Till?

Yes, sir.

[CHATHAM] What, if anything, did you see

when Mr. Milam and Mr. Bryant

took Emmett out in front of your house?

I saw a truck headed off toward Money.

[CHATHAM] Before
Mr. Milam and Mr. Bryant

got to the truck with Emmett Till, did
you hear them make any statement

or ask anyone any question?

[UNCLE MOSE] I sure did.

They asked if this is the boy,

and someone said yes.

[CHATHAM] Hmm.

Was that a man's voice you heard,

or a lady's voice you heard?

[UNCLE MOSE] Well, i-it
seemed lighter than a man's voice.

[CHATHAM] Did you say it
seemed like a louder voice?

Lighter. Lighter voice.

Now, I want you to tell
the court and the jury,

when was the next time...

After Emmett Till was
taken from your house...

That you saw either him or his body?

I saw his body when he
was taken out of the river.

[CHATHAM] I want you
to tell the jury whether

or not you could tell
whose body it was.

[UNCLE MOSE] Yes, sir.

It was Emmett Till.

[SPECTATORS MURMURING]

[CHATHAM] Now, when
you first saw the body,

did you notice whether or not

the undertaker took a
ring off of Emmett's finger?

Yes, sir, he sure did.

[CHATHAM] Is this the ring
that the undertaker took off

of Emmett's finger that morning?

Yes, sir, it is.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Mose, when the two men
came to your house that night,

as you say, was anybody
else with them at that time?

Yes, sir.

There was a man who
stood by the screen door.

[BRELAND] And how was he standing?

[STAMMERS] He was,
uh, standin' kind of with his...

His head down, like
this here... peering.

He was trying to hide, it looked like.

In other words, you think he was trying

to hide to keep you from seeing him?

[UNCLE MOSE] Yes, sir, that's right.

And I believe you said before that
you thought he was a colored man.

- Is that right?
- Yes, sir.

He... He acted like a colored man.

[LAUGHTER]

Now, you say Mr. Milam
had a flashlight in his hand.

Where was that flashlight pointed?

It was out like this at me.

And, uh, did you ever have
any lights turned on

in your house while
those men were in there?

- No, sir.
- [BRELAND] Hmm.

And did Mr. Milam ever
shine the light in his own face?

No, but I could see from the light.

You know how it will shine
out from the side like that?

[BRELAND] Ah.

Mose, uh, y-you talked to
me over at my office last week,

- is that right?
- That's right.

Is it a fact, Mose, that on that day

you told me and my
colleagues that you thought

this was Mr. Milam in
your house that night

because he was a big
man with a bald head?

That's right, sir.

[BRELAND] And the first
time that you ever saw him

was when they came into
this courtroom, isn't that right?

No, I-I-I knew them
from that night, sir.

But the only reason you
say you know him now

because the man at your
house had a bald head,

isn't that right?

No, I-I-I knowed his
face a-and his stature.

I knowed his face just like
I see him sitting there now.

You changed your story, haven't you?

They was at my house.

No, the only thing
you saw at your house,

the only man you saw was
bald-headed, isn't that right?

Well...

no.

I-I mean, yes, that's right.

And isn't it a fact that you told
me and these other gentlemen here

that you saw Mr. Milam in the newspaper

before you saw him in the courtroom?

I don't remember saying that.

Do you deny saying that to me?

- I don't remember.
- [BRELAND CLEARS THROAT]

Mose, did you ever see
the light shining in the face

of the man you say identified himself

as Mr. Bryant that night?

No, sir.

Had you ever seen him before that?

Not to know him.

Have you ever been in his store?

[UNCLE MOSE] I never have.

And the first time you
ever saw Mr. Bryant

was in the courtroom
this week, wasn't it?

The first time I ever
saw his face, that's right.

[BRELAND] Now, Mose, the only reason

you identified that man as Mr. Bryant

is due to the fact that he
said he was Mr. Bryant.

Isn't that right?

That's right.

Now, let's, uh...
Let's go on up there...

... to the morning on the river, Mose.

Isn't it a fact that you
only identified the body

as that of Emmett Till's

because it didn't have any whiskers?

And so you figured it
was the body of a child,

and since Emmett had gone missing,

you just assumed it was him.

I never mentioned no missing.

Mose, do you deny that
you made this statement?

No, I did not say it.

You did not make that statement?

No! I did not make it!

♪♪

I'm so sorry.

They got me so flustered up there.

- Made a fool of me.
- Don't apologize.

- Mamie?
- For anything.

They're not gonna call Simmy to testify.

Did Mr. Chatham say
why he changed his mind?

No, and I-I know I
shouldn't be relieved, but...

if they'd gone at him
the way they went at me,

I'd have full-out lost it.

They tried to tear you
down and keep you small.

That could've broken any man,

but it didn't break you.

Not today.

Not in the -somethin'
years leading up to this day.

[UNCLE MOSE CHUCKLES]

When you stood up to them,
you stood up for Emmett.

What you did in there took courage.

Well, I spent my whole
life with my head down,

only looking up when
I was talking to God.

But I'm starting to think

that the sky is just too beautiful

not to keep my head up.

♪♪

It ain't easy looking up.

I know.

I know that now.

I do.

I'm gonna try.

♪♪

You promise me...

that you do the same when you
up there on that stand tomorrow.

You hear me?

I'll try.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪