08x01 - A Matter of Justice

[bunniefuu]

♪ 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 ♪

Okay, I'm where

I can hear you now.

Can you hear me?

Wait a minute.

Wait a minute!

Hang in.

We'll connect.

Who was that

On the phone, judge?

Todd.

Where is he?

We got cut off.

Why aren't you

Letting me talk to him?

I said

We got cut off.

Don't raise

Your voice to me.

And don't try

To hide nothin'.

He got thrown

Out of the academy

Four days ago...

For doin' something nasty.

Were you listenin' in

On my telephone?

Yes, I was.

Bring me a drink.

( Car starts )

Answering machine:

This is judge walker.

I can't take the call.

Please leave a message.

I'll call you back.

( Beep )

Grandfather?

It's todd.

It's a little after : .

I'm here in sparta now.

I'll see you soon. Bye.

Good morning,

Judge.

Good morning, sheriff.

Glad to see you.

Save me a trip

To your office.

Well, how can I

Help you, sir?

The police and the sheriffs

Of this county

Are supposed to enforce

The laws against trespassing.

Has become a campground

For vagrants and bums.

You know it,

The police chief knows it,

Yet you allow it

To continue.

Of course

It just gets worse.

Yesterday, I went

Out to earl's creek

Try to shoo off

A couple of them families--

There's about people--

And I got sh*t at!

Did you report that

Yesterday?

I'm reportin' it now.

I would also like to report

And I might of hit somebody.

I hope I did.

Did you, uh, report

All particulars

To chief forbes?

All particulars.

Oh!

I been over in texas

Couple of months.

Yeah.

Heard you got married...

To a woman of, uh,

Different color.

Yes, different

From yours and mine, judge.

How different?

Uh...the difference of...

Between lightly done bacon

And dead-white pork fat.

He demanded I do something

He refuses

To call them that.

He actually ordered me

To call them vagrants.

He said "homeless"

Was too sympathetic.

Were you out there

On a call?

Yes, sir.

Bubba went out there

And advised

Some migratory people

To keep on moving.

We're not gonna

Apply force.

You know, protectin' land

For wild animals

And chasin' human beings

Off of it,

That ain't to my likin'

One bit.

Now, I know

It must be done,

But I don't have

To like it.

( Chuckles )

Oh, boy.

Good morning!

Yeah, I know.

Excuse me,

Chief forbes--

Good morning,

Sheriff.

Good morning, parker.

Parker, come on in.

Yes, sir. Uh...

I just put, ralph hatcher

And his wife amy

In the conference room

For you.

This is probably

Just a routine

Missing persons,

But after that kidnap thing

The other day,

We're just a little nervous.

I know ralph hatcher.

You wanna go

Say hello to them?

Yes. I do.

Morning.

I'm chief forbes.

I expect y'all know

The sheriff?

Amy. Ralph.

Well, I'm sorry

About this.

I was just telling

The sergeant there

That I got a feeling

The same person got peggy

That abducted

The bailey girl.

At least,

I was hoping so,

'Cause the bailey girl's

Alive and home.

And i--i was kinda hopin'

P-peggy could be, too.

That's all we want.

Mr. Hatcher,

Peggy hasn't been missing

For even a day, right?

That's right,

She was supposed to be home

Yesterday at five--

She was on her bike.

She's about ,

Now, ain't she?

Nineteen, bill.

Does she have a boyfriend?

No, sir.

Um--now, that's not

Quite right.

She got rid of him.

It's probably him

That took her!

The boyfriend?

Ralph, that's crazy!

Is it crazy?

How crazy is it, bill?

Amy: lyle harms would

Never do that to peggy.

Force her?

r*pe her? Why?

'Cause he's

A pervert--that's why!

Mr. Hatcher, come on.

Sit down now.

Please.

Yeah.

Let's talk

About him.

Find out

A little more about him.

Bubba.

Yeah, huh?

That kidnap case...

Anything more

On the report you gave me?

Yeah, I got

A full statement

On audio tape

From the bailey girl.

Any further description

Of the guy on it?

Yeah, uh, she said

He was sorta skinny,

Uh, medium to tall,

Dark hair,

Complexion, she thinks.

But a white guy.

Poor mr. Hatcher

Seems to think

( Piano plays )

Expected you yesterday.

Well, you know things

Never go the way you plan.

You have any idea

How embarrassing this is?

Yes, sir.

It's very embarrassing.

You know how many

Academic buffoons I had to buy

To get you

Into that academy?

Yes, sir. Three.

The colonel,

And the alumni president,

Major fromley.

Well, you're gonna enroll

In sparta college.

It's a far cry

From the academy, but--

I'm not goin'

Back to school.

You're not?

I'm not.

Well...would you tell me

What you've got in mind?

Nothin'.

Nothin'?

Nothin'.

( Knocks on door )

Woman: yes?

Afternoon, ma'am.

Please come in.

I'm captain skinner--

And don't I know you?

I'm a friend

Of chief forbes.

You and I met

At the police softball game.

Yeah, we sure did.

Please have a seat.

Well, thank you.

Thank you.

I've never had an office visit

From the police before,

So let me guess

What this could be.

No, I'm not sellin'

Tickets to anything,

Asking for a donation,

Or gonna haul your car.

Well, then maybe

I'd better let you tell me.

Yes, ma'am, I understand

That peggy hatcher

Is a student in your class?

Yes. My class

In american poetry.

I see her twice a week

At : .

I'll see her again

Tomorrow.

Uh, was she

In class yesterday?

No.

She miss many classes?

Yesterday was

The first.

Why are you asking?

Well, uh, nobody's seen her

Since yesterday morning,

And her parents

Are pretty worried about her.

Well, I would be, too.

Yeah.

Uh, miss clarke,

Is there any students

In your class

That peggy is

Particularly friendly with?

Um...i don't know.

I'm sorry, I wish

I could be more helpful.

No, no, no.

That's okay.

Thank you for your time,

And it's nice

Seeing you again.

Nice seeing you, too.

Oh, captain?

Yeah?

Let me know

If you hear anything.

Yes, ma'am.

I sure will.

Lyle, can I talk to you

For a moment?

See you later.

What's up, lonny?

Did you date a girl

Named peggy hatcher?

Yeah, I dated her--

And broke up with her.

I need to know

When you saw peggy last.

Peggy in trouble?

Peggy's missing.

She's got her natural daddy

In baton rouge.

She visits him

Quite a bit.

I don't blame her.

What do you mean

By that?

Her stepdaddy--

Hatcher.

What'd he do,

Run you off?

Runs everybody off.

Okay. Thanks.

( School band plays )

I'll see you.

Bye.

( Doorbell rings )

Hey, hamp.

Come on in.

Chelsea, how you doin'?

I'm fine.

Mama, hamp is here.

Woman: okay.

Question for you...

Who's the cute cop

Whose name is toby?

Covey?

Covey--that's right.

What's his first name?

Ken.

Yeah, ken.

He told me once,

But I forgot.

Hey.

Hi.

Now...how did you

Meet him?

He was on campus

Looking for druggies.

How you know that?

That's the word

That's out.

Cop on campus tryin'

To make a cocaine bust.

So much for

Our undercover work.

This girl's

Been walkin' around

Chelsea:

Mama, he might be

At the dance tonight.

I wanna make sure

I have his name ready.

I want you to call if

You think you gonna be late.

Call who? You gonna be

At a dance, aren't you?

Probably not for long.

I'm goin'

By myself tonight.

You alone?

( Sighs )

I know.

I guess nobody cares.

Oh...

Hand me my purse.

( Laughs )

Have fun.

All right, baby.

Come on. Let's go.

Forbes: see you later.

All right.

Bye! See you later!

Bye.

( Car starts )

Oh, katherine anne porter--

True southern writer.

Texas, I believe.

And I love her.

But you have to admit

Well, he sure

Knew his own.

I've had a couple

Of nightmares about

That snopes family.

I think he wrote snopes

True to type,

But that wasn't

Faulkner's type.

No, no, any more

Than you can say

That I'm, uh,

Judge walker's type.

Who?

Gentleman sitting

Right there in the corner.

Both bill and I have had

An eye on him.

Why?

Well, he's interesting.

As a type once common

In the south,

You could say

He's now a dinosaur.

Yet, someone might see

Him and bill

And say, "same type."

Could.

Well, I don't think

Bill's ever gone out

To dine alone

In his life.

Why, no,

Unless you'd allow

That fat eddy's barbecue

Is dining.

( Laughter )

Espresso?

Cappuccino?

Perhaps

A little dessert?

Ah, espresso doppio.

Anybody else

Want that?

I wanna know

What the hell "doppio" is.

( Laughter )

That means double--

A double one.

He wants a double.

I'll just

Taste his.

( Engine dies )

( Engine hesitates )

Gosh.

Hello.

Hi.

What's wrong?

I don't know.

It just d*ed.

Could you be

Out of gas?

No, I filled

It up today.

Why don't you

Give it a try?

Okay.

( Engine hesitates )

I think

Your battery's dead.

You know, I know somebody

Who lives near here.

Oh. Well, great.

Can i, uh,

Can I give you a ride?

Okay. Thank you.

We don't hear much

About judge walker.

Well, he only uses

The house nowadays.

What?

The judge used

To work that place.

He had farmland,

He had timberland,

He even ran

Animals out there.

Cattle and horses.

I didn't ask you

What he did,

I said we don't hear

Very much

About judge walker

Or any of his family.

Well, he's

In the oil business.

Is that why we don't hear

Very much about him--

'Cause he's

In the oil business?

He just isn't here much.

He--he comes quietly,

And he goes quietly.

Well, where's

The walker family?

I really don't know.

Anyway, he's raising hell

With me and forbes

For allowing transients

To go camping on his land,

So I'm just refreshing

My memory

About the extent

Of his land, and...

It's extensive.

You like felicia?

Who?

Hamp forbes's date tonight.

Felicia clark.

Yeah, she's a lovely woman.

Very nice.

Intelligent woman, too.

Are they in love?

No.

I can't believe

You're going on duty now.

Do you really think

I'd make up

A thing like that?

( Chuckles )

I don't see

Chelsea's car.

( Both laugh )

I took due note of that.

However...

So...

( Clears throat )

If I call the station

In about half an hour,

You will be there,

Right?

I refuse to answer

A silly question like that.

But why don't you

Just call and find out?

Mm, I just might.

Good bye.

( Laughs )

Bye.

( Tires screech )

Forbes: hey, fellas.

Hey, what's goin' on,

Chief?

What's going on here?

The dance ended--what--

Right about midnight?

And I left.

Nothin'.

The students

Know him, chief.

They know me, too.

We're gonna have to recruit

Teenagers for this drug stuff.

I saw three or four guys who

Sure didn't belong in school.

They weren't trying

To make connections...

Just girls.

So covey...

Not to seem

So suspicious,

Got busy

Doing the same thing.

Just danced a couple

Of dances, chief.

( Pager beeps )

Thanks, fellas.

All right.

( Phone rings )

Hamp.

Hi, baby.

Hey. Chelsea's

Not home yet.

It's three

In the morning.

You think she might

Be staying the night

With somebody?

Mm-mm.

She would've called.

She hasn't called.

Would she call you

If she was staying

With a young man?

Oh, I don't know.

Maybe not.

Well, listen,

I'm sorry for bothering you.

She'll probably come

Walking in here any minute,

And I'm gonna k*ll her

When she gets here.

You stay cool

With her now.

When she comes in,

You call me back,

All right?

Okay, hamp.

Thanks.

Yeah. Bye.

Walker: yes, I understand

All your commitments

And duties

And obligations

To the magical city

Of birmingham,

But just set them

Aside for a few days

And come on over here

And see our boy.

Well, he got himself

Kicked out of the

Academy for some...

( Chuckles )

Serious social offense.

Now, I can get him

Into sparta college here,

But I need you

To help me convince him.

No, I believe you oughtta

Drive over here tonight.

( Door opens )

Wait a minute, I gotta go.

I hear him coming.

No, I will not speak

Further on the phone.

I will speak to you

When you get here.

Wait a minute, boy.

( Sighs )

It's late, pappaw.

Taps blows at ten

At the academy.

I need hardly

Remind you--

But the academy shaped

So much of my life,

Which is what you wanted

It to do, didn't you?

Let's go in the study.

I'm tired, pappaw.

Tired.

And what have you been doing

To tire yourself out so?

Good night, sir.

Because tomorrow,

You're gonna have

To have a clear mind.

( Knock on door )

Ms. Clark, chief.

Come on in.

Hamp,

Chelsea never came home.

That's okay.

Sit down.

Lonny, miss clark

Is here now.

Have you tried calling

Any of her girlfriends?

Yes.

I called three of them.

One of them

Was at the dance

And they said

Chelsea never showed up.

You sure chelsea went

To that dance?

Yes, that's where

She was going.

I checked her closet.

She wore a new red dress

And her red pumps.

Lonny, this is

Ms. Felicia clark.

Felicia, this is

Lieutenant lonny jamison.

How do you do?

We'd like to ask

A few questions

About chelsea's friends.

I asked sergeant corbin

To join us.

She's working with me

On this one.

Hi.

Ms. Clark, did chelsea

Date only students?

No. There was one, uh...

Off campus.

I have to try to remember

His name now. I--

That's okay.

Just take your time.

Hey, you jackson?

That's right,

Darlin'.

Rodney jackson?

No, michael jackson.

I just work at this

To stay in touch

With the real world.

I'm rodney jackson, man.

What's up?

Do you know a girl

Named chelsea clark?

Yeah,

I know chelsea.

When'd you see her last?

Last night.

You were with her?

No, I said I seen her.

Where was that,

Rodney?

Right here.

She went by in a car

With a white guy driving it.

They were goin'

Up that way.

You wash cars

At night?

I was just standin' here,

Girl.

You live here?

Sho', I live here.

That's my house.

You think I wash cars

Usin' somebody else's water?

All right,

A white guy driving.

Can you tell

What kind of car?

Um...

A zx.

A new, dark blue one.

Blue nissan.

Thank you, rodney.

Parker here.

Give me chief forbes.

Chief forbes,

We're out on route nine,

And we just found

Chelsea clark's car

Sittin' on the side

Of the road.

Which direction

Was she headed?

Well,

North towards campus.

What's it look like?

Looks like somebody parked it

And just left it.

Have it towed in,

Parker.

Over and out.

Yes, sir.

Will do.

Campus drug case

Can wait a couple days.

Let the pushers relax,

Expose themselves

A little more.

I've taken covey

Off the case.

We need to chase

This missing girl thing.

What happened

To it?

It's gonna be hauled in.

Go take a look

Under that hood, will ya?

Girl: yes, sir.

Gillespie: let her

Look under there.

Check the carburetor

And the distributor,

Cristina.

Yes, sir.

Let me take a look.

Some.

It's fuel injection,

Sheriff.

But the wire has been

Pulled off the alternator.

Now, the battery would have

Enough juice to start,

But the car would die

After a couple miles.

How do you know

It was pulled off?

I don't know,

To tell the truth.

You don't think

It would wear off,

Do you, parker?

No, sir.

I guess not.

Somebody wanted this car

To stop right around here.

( Rustling )

Don't wanna get

Too much sun.

I'm fine, pappaw.

Just fine.

They're fixin'

To put lunch on.

Do you wanna think

About coming in,

Changing

Into your clothes?

Lewis is bringing me

Something.

I think, todd,

We oughtta talk,

You and i, about a...

Strategy in dealing

With your mother.

Is mama the enemy?

Well, we mustn't always

It has

Diplomatic applications, too.

That's what

I'm thinking about.

I couldn't get any answer

Out of his apartment at all.

Got any idea

Where he is?

He went to kuwait.

You know his

Telephone number there?

Yes, I do.

I presume you, uh...

Talked to him

And discussed this...

Mess at the academy?

Yeah. He, uh,

He didn't think much of it.

He just said, "get yourself

In somewhere else."

Did you mention

To your daddy...

The nature

Of your offense?

Todd...

I, uh, wanna know

What you told your daddy

So I can decide whether

That's what you

Oughtta tell your mama.

I-i-i--i told him

I broke the rules.

I went off campus

During restricted hours.

I was trying

To see a girl.

Somehow, the town cops

Got into it...

Some foolish charges

Were made...

And the school

Told me to go home.

But you didn't go home.

Pappaw,

That house in birmingham

Where mama does her thing

And the apartment

In london...

And the motor home

On the oil fields--

My only true home

Is--is here.

You are an unregenerate liar.

( Laughs )

Your daddy and mama

Are morally corrupt,

And you're worse.

I don't know

Where you picked that up.

You didn't spend enough time

Around your parents

To catch it from them.

You don't have

To be with them, pappaw.

It's--it's congenital.

You gonna be blaming me

For it in a minute, huh?

Of course I will.

Lewis: judge walker?

Yes? What is it,

Lewis?

Telephone call

From birmingham.

Want me to switch it

Out there?

No. You take it.

Tell the caller

That I will not speak with her

Until she arrives here--

In this house.

( Sighs )

Awful hard

To love you, son.

But I do.

I love you.

Thank you, pappaw.

( Chuckles )

Hey, tommy! Tommy.

Come here.

( Exhales )

Her body

Was lying right there.

You sure

About that rope?

Yes, sir. Her hands

Were tied with it.

But the last time

You saw the man,

He had that spade

In his hands?

Yes, ma'am.

He sure did.

And then

You just took off?

Yes, sir.

I sure did.

What do you suppose

He's gonna do with that spade?

Bury her.

Yeah. Yeah...

But he changed his mind.

At least

About doing it here.

Is he gonna

Come after me?

No, he sure better not.

I got a feeling we're

Gonna catch him pretty soon.

Yeah.

( Siren wailing )

( Siren stops )

Uh, chief forbes?

This here

Is garvin loomis.

He found

The girl's body.

You touch the body?

Where is she?

She's down

By the river.

It's horrible.

I feel sorry for the parents,

Whoever they are.

I got a daughter, too.

Thank you, garvin.

You just stay right here.

How dare you treat me

The way you did

On that telephone yesterday.

Sit down, mary.

Lewis, maggie, somebody!

Come on out here!

I apologize, child.

You really think

A simple apology

Will make up

For your brutal manners?

I apologize abjectly.

Now, please, sit down.

( Door opens )

( Door closes )

Don't yell at me

Like that!

It gets on my nerves.

What do you want?

A double bourbon over ice,

Maggie, please.

And something

For miss walker.

What can I get for you,

Miss mary?

I'll have

The same, please.

With water in it.

Yes, ma'am.

And welcome back

To sparta.

( Chuckles )

Welcome back

To sparta!

I think you and I

Have to devise a plan

To save your son

From disaster.

I don't know

How to save him from it.

He needs

Professional help.

He is not a mental case.

He needs....

Intelligent supervision.

That's all.

He needs to be given

A purpose in life.

The academy

Failed with him.

You and I must not fail.

I...tried to call

His father.

I never could reach him.

( Sighs )

This is the first headache

I've had in a while.

Aw...

I'm sorry.

You look

Awful pretty, though.

Just goin' crazy,

So i--i...

Here I am.

Doing this.

Whatever this is.

We found her dead,

Honey.

What?

Wh-where--where was she?

By the river.

She was...

Wh-what?

What!

Strangled.

Oh!

Who did...

Did they r*pe her?

Don't know yet.

This is chief forbes.

Send an ambulance.

Uh, sparta college.

Ames building,

East campus.

Now, now.

You all right?

Yeah, mama.

Well, ma'am, mr. Owens.

Hey, there.

Hey.

I'm captain skinner,

Sparta police.

This here

Is sergeant shepard.

Hi.

He's really cute.

Most of the time.

You help the officers?

Bubba: yeah, he did.

Uh, you sure you folks

Wouldn't, uh,

Like to try out

That shelter in town?

No. Uh...

Folks in there

Ain't too kind to kids.

This ain't so bad.

We'll work it out.

Yeah...

Uh, tommy told me

Drives a "z"?

Yeah.

He was driving around

This way, that way.

Scared me.

How's that?

I thought he was

Working for the man

That owns this land.

I bet he buried that woman

Around here.

You gonna tell us

To move on?

No, sir, I'm gonna ask you

To stay right here

So I can get

A hold of you.

Now, do y'all need

Any food or...anything?

We fine.

But thanks.

Yeah, well, thank you

For your help.

Later on, kid.

Later.

Damn.

( Pebbles clatter )

Uh...

( Screams )

( Yells )

Yes, th-this is lucy dobbs.

Mcdowell hall,

Second floor.

Some guy just climbed

Up to my window,

But--but then he fell

And...now he's lying

On the ground.

Now, is that the guy?

Yeah, that's him.

And you're

Absolutely positive?

Yeah,

I'm positive.

( Siren approaches )

( Siren stops )

This is lucy dobbs.

Ma'am.

She made a positive

Identification on the suspect.

He's all yours.

Got any identification

On you?

Yeah.

Mr. Walker,

You're under arrest

For trespassing,

Breaking and entering,

And being

A peeping tom.

Officer, my grandfather

Is judge barton walker.

Stand up, please.

I don't need handcuffs.

Hold your hands out.

I will make you do

What you're told

If I have to.

Can't we go

Without the handcuffs?

I hurt my arm.

Well, give me the arm

That wasn't hurt.

You have the right

To remain silent,

Anything you say can

And will be used against you

In a court of law.

You have the right

To an attorney.

If you can't afford...

( Mumbling )

Thank you.

Her own doctor's

Coming in.

He told me her health

Is generally good.

But she passed out.

Could it have been

A heart att*ck?

No. She just fainted.

It happens.

A sudden shock,

A change in blood supply

To the brain.

She had her eyes open.

But I guess not.

She's under all the sedation

We can give her.

Felicia: harriet?

Harriet?

Yes, dear.

I'm here.

I'm so worried about mama.

Don't worry

About your mama now.

But she's not strong,

You know.

Don't worry

About her now.

I don't see

How I'm gonna tell her.

This is gonna k*ll her.

Her mama's been dead

For years.

Don't worry about her.

She's gonna be all right.

I'll be right outside

If you need me.

Harriet?

Harriet...

Yes, I'm here.

Hey, doc.

How's miss clark doing?

Oh, she'll

Be all right.

Can I talk to you

A minute?

Yeah, sure.

Chelsea clark

Was, I'd say, r*ped.

But her assailant did not

Complete the deed.

So we have

No dna-type evidence.

No.

Doc, do you, by any chance,

Know judge barton walker?

No.

Oh, I met him once,

Long ago.

His grandson, todd,

Has been arrested

For a sexual offense.

You don't think

That walker boy

Had anything to do

With this m*rder/r*pe case,

Do you?

I don't know

What to think, doctor.

I'm looking

For some answers.

Good morning.

The chief?

Oh.

Good morning,

Chief forbes.

Morning, miss hallisey.

You have the bail bond?

I sure do.

Right here.

Has todd walker been

Brought back from court?

Yes, sir.

He sure enough has.

He's waitin'

In the conference room.

Take miss hallisey in,

Please.

Yes, sir.

Will do.

Thank you.

Here you go.

( Door closes )

( Sighs )

Well.

So I'm still

On the hook, huh?

Not a trial.

That's to come.

Where'd they get

Breaking and entering?

I never got in her room.

Might be considered

Getting in.

Stupid.

You mean...

It's not normal?

It's--it's a crime...

To wanna see

A woman nude?

( Scoffs )

That is a simple-minded,

Useless question

That you are asking

To evade the real issue.

I think you

Should answer it for me.

I mean, now...

Here I am sittin' here

Lookin' at you,

Thinking you'd look...

Beautiful with nothin' on,

And that might make you mad

To hear me say that,

But can you say

That that's not normal?

No, I can't.

That's normal.

And legal?

It's legal.

So?

So, it's not...

Legal or normal

To contrive to see me,

Without my consent,

Without anything on.

But suppose you

Didn't know about it.

What would the law care?

And what would you care

If I saw you...

A woman always wants

To know about that.

Therefore,

She has the right.

That's what the law thinks,

And that's what I think.

Fine. Fine.

( Doorbell rings )

Maggie,

Get me a vodka.

Don't be ridiculous.

Just a minute.

Your mother's here.

Say hello for me.

We've been waitin'.

Tell me what to do,

And I'll do it.

Hello, mama.

My god,

Look at you.

Please, mama.

Todd, you loved travel--

I hate travel--

Hush up and listen.

Fine.

Just don't tell me

What I love.

Excuse me, todd.

I need to speak

To all three of you

About this case.

What I wanna do

Well, we avoid this case

By persuading the d.a.

Not to bring it.

We can't rely

On the authorities.

We have to make

Independent moves.

( Todd laughs )

For instance,

I have to jump bail, right?

I did not say that.

I-i-i'm guessin'.

Because mama said travel.

Am I warm?

I am going to go,

Wait a minute.

All right.

I'll wait...

One minute.

Just long enough to say

What should be done.

Todd should be committed

Immediately for treatment

In a place

Outside of pascagoula.

He's on bail.

He can't leave here.

Judge, either I

Handle this case,

Or you handle this case,

Listen to her!

These women'll

Carve you up, pappaw.

Now, I will handle

Getting him in there,

And then I will do my best

To persuade d.a. Darnell

And judge whitley

That he should stay there.

Stay there? What the hell

Does "stay there" mean?

In my experience,

"Stay there"

Means a year.

Why?

( Doorbell rings )

A year is nothing.

Todd: hell, I handled three

At the academy.

I might even meet some girls

At the looney bin down yonder.

Maggie: didn't y'all hear

That front bell ringing?

Do I have to run every time

The doorbell rings?

( Doorbell rings )

There it goes again.

Good afternoon,

Sheriff.

Ms. Delmar.

I see judge walker's

In there.

Yes, he's standing

Right there, sir.

Thank you.

I hope I don't

Disturb you, judge.

Well, it is

A peculiar time.

I mean, without notice...

I find that making

Phone calls to people

Works against me

In this job.

Miss hallisey.

Sheriff.

I'm gonna say "good day."

I must be going.

Welcome back

To sparta, ms. Mary.

Thank you.

Can I fix

You gentlemen anything?

A little bourbon and ice,

Please, maggie.

I'll have the same,

Ms. Delmar.

Uh, those trespassers,

They're a family

Of three.

They're going

Up to the natchez trace

Then going on

Into tupelo.

They tell me

They'll be gone by friday.

There's a problem here.

A deep one.

I'm sorry

About that.

You're aware,

I'm sure,

Of todd's arrest?

Yes.

Damn fool kid.

More ardent than romeo

Ought to be...

And not as good

A climber.

And, uh, not invited up

By juliet, either.

Hm.

( Dog barks )

( Whining )

Uh, you better get the boy

Back there a little way.

I don't mind.

The radio.

Dispatch,

This is the sheriff.

Uh, we want to get the coroner

Out here as fast as you can.

I'm on the walker property

Just over the other side

Of county road.

Ten-four, sheriff.

Ten-four.

Hey, doc.

The girl y'all found

By the lake was also r*ped,

But there was no semen.

Just like chelsea clark.

That's right.

Boy, todd walker's been

A busy boy, hasn't he?

On the nd,

He picks up peggy hatcher.

On the rd,

He kills peggy hatcher

Out there at the barn

That little kid showed us.

That same day, he shows up

At his grandaddy's house.

Then on the night of the th,

He kills chelsea clark.

The very next night,

He gets picked up

For peeping tom stuff.

Chief, you thinking

About arresting him?

( Sighs )

You don't wanna know

What I'm thinking, doc.

Um, doc, what we're trying

To find is some clothes.

You see, both of the

Girls were found

Completely undressed.

We've got us a witness--

We're withholding

His name at the moment--

Who saw todd walker

Getting ready

To bury peggy hatcher.

Thanks, doc.

Uh, chief,

Where you goin'?

Um, I'm goin'

To get him.

Oh...maybe I oughtta

Go do that.

I just wanna get two hands

On him for two minutes.

I know, maybe that's

Why I oughtta go.

Captain,

Get out of my way.

Chief, you ain't goin'

Out that door!

Get out of my way!

Chief forbes!

Let me go!

Now, this woman,

Sarah hallisey,

Is the best.

I don't mean

The best woman lawyer,

I mean

The best lawyer.

Now, she's handled

Some tough cases.

I mean

Civil rights cases,

I mean m*rder cases,

I mean as*ault cases.

And she does a lot of work

For nothing, too,

'Cause she also happens

To be rich.

Does my father-in-law

Know her professionally,

Or...personally?

Both--her people are

In the oil business, too,

Over in east texas.

Boy, it's sarah!

And then you better go

Join the navy for a spell.

Maggie, I wish

You'd let us raise him.

I'm not tryin' to raise him.

I'm tryin' to save him!

Todd walker,

I'm gonna have to ask you

Mary: what, again?

What'd he do this time?

You're under arrest

For the murders

Of peggy hatcher

And chelsea clark.

Wait one minute,

There, officer.

Bubba: nothing you say

Is gonna keep me

From taking you in.

Cuff him, charlie.

Yessir, captain.

Watch my arm.

Anything you say

Will be held against you

And used as evidence

To prove you guilty,

So I caution you

Not to say nothin'

Without advice and consent

Of your attorney. Let's go.

I can walk.

Where's the judge?

The judge went

For a walk somewhere.

Bubba: he'll be

In sparta city jail, ma'am.

He's lost.

We're all lost.

( Knocking on door )

( Doorbell rings )

Yes, sir?

What in hell

Is going on here?

Jamison: it's

An authorized search, sir.

For what?

As stated

In this warrant.

Who issued

This impudent document?

Was it that idiot simms?

If you'd have taken

A moment to look,

You'd know

It was judge whitley.

Ah, the woman.

Of course.

Show a woman

An alleged peeping tom,

And she wants

To hang him.

Show us to todd walker's

Room, please.

But where is todd now?

Walker: show 'em

The door, lewis.

Not a damn thing else.

Okay, let's find it.

You look upstairs,

I'll check down here.

I will not allow

An improper fishing expedition

In my house.

Get off of those stairs!

You wanna go to jail, too?

Now, judge,

We gonna search,

And it's gonna

Take a while.

I wish you'd take a seat

And calm down.

The hell I will.

You didn't listen to me,

Judge. I said homicide.

The peeping tom case is over.

Your grandson is gonna

Answer for m*rder.

My god, you--

You don't mean that.

Maggie: lord,

Make it not true!

Todd never k*lled anyone.

Well, who said...

Well, tell me about it!

What happened?

What--tell me

What happened.

What--what is this

All about?

It's about two young girls.

Students at the college.

Oh, no...

Excuse me, sir.

No, no, no.

Anything, dee?

Now, you're sure

Bustin' in here's okay, right?

We got a warrant,

Don't we?

Well, home sweet home.

Hey, parker.

This was the rope

That was used

On chelsea clark.

Maybe the same kind

Of rope,

But it probably ain't

The same rope.

Yeah,

But I bet it was.

Covey.

Yeah?

Chelsea clark's clothes.

No, there is no statement!

The press can attend

Open court like

Everybody else.

No, sir, I do not believe

You're entitled

To know everything

There is to know.

Or I'd be obliged to tell you

Everything I know,

And I am not so obliged.

Well, I will note

Your comment.

Good day, sir.

Son of a bitch.

Gerard, you'd better

Calm yourself.

You don't wanna reach my age

And look like this, do you?

The arrogance

Of our local press

Is truly amazing.

They're just trying to imitate

The fellas in the big leagues.

Well, the last thing

I wanna do

Is reveal our case before we

Make it to the judge,

Who, I believe,

Can read.

Sometimes I wonder

If he can think, however.

Do you have any, uh...

Concerns about judge simms?

I do.

He's a menace.

But I've got my case.

Clerk: all rise.

The honorable judge simms

Presiding.

Be seated.

Todd walker has been charged

With the r*pe and m*rder

Of peggy hatcher

And, in addition,

He has been charged

With the r*pe and m*rder

Of chelsea clark.

How does he plead?

He pleads not guilty,

Your honor,

To all charges.

I have before me

A motion

To suppress certain evidence.

Yes, sir,

That is my motion.

Has the district attorney

Been provided

With a copy

Of this motion?

I have, your honor.

And I'd say

It's spurious.

The search warrant

They're trying to invalidate

Was legal, binding,

And absolutely enforceable.

Walker: no, your honor.

The search violated

Todd walker's--

My grandson's--

Fourth amendment protection

Against unreasonable

Search and seizure.

Whispers: judge walker,

Please sit down.

Your honor,

The cabin is not specifically

Mentioned in the warrant.

Your honor,

This so-called cabin or shed

Falls within the curtilage

Of the main premises.

That is not so,

Your honor.

Judge walker, please,

Would you tell the court

Where it is?

It's a very small cabin.

It's over yards

From my house.

Additionally, it is separated

By a public access road

And fenced

Within its own enclosure.

Now, I have

A photograph here--

I have no intention of ruling

On this motion right now.

The motion will be entered

Into the record,

And the court

Will take a recess.

We will reconvene

After I have had time

To study the motion.

Your honor, would you care

To set a time now?

No.

My clerk will telephone you

When I'm ready.

Clerk: all rise.

Court is in recess.

You think you're

Gonna get away with

This kind of flimflam?

Well, well.

Do I detect

In our police chief

A touch

Of emotional bias?

Yes, you do.

Chelsea clark

Was very close to me.

So it goes in small towns.

Too bad.

By the way,

If this is a flimflam,

So is much

Of the constitution.

( Piano plays )

You better come with me.

They don't want me there.

I don't care

What they want.

I'm telling you it makes

A poor impression on the judge

When a boy's mother is not

There in the courtroom.

I know that judge.

That's all the more reason--

No!

( Music stops )

( Voice breaking )

There are many things...

You don't know.

( Music resumes )

I know this...

This is a family which

Is wandering in the dark.

( Music stops )

Strangers to the lord.

Yes...

That's true.

The lord has kept me here

Years

In the hopes

That I would bring ya'll back.

But he gonna soon release me

From that task.

Nobody wanted me there,

Maggie.

( Music resumes )

( Music stops )

I don't like this

A damn bit.

Your honor,

I hope you've had time

To glance at those cases.

I glanced, yes.

Well, sir,

They both apply here,

Where the space searched

Clearly falls

Outside the curtilage.

It simply not part

Of my house,

Therefore, it's not

Covered by the warrant.

Darnell...

Why the hell

Didn't you list that space

In the warrant?

The police requested

The warrant--not i.

The warrant...

Was faulty.

No, it's perfect.

It was the police action

That was illegal.

Your honor...

Our case centers

On chelsea clark's clothes.

Now--

Throw the thing out,

Henry.

Precedent demands it.

Sir, in that case of brooks

Versus the united states,

And the united states

Versus dunn--

Miss hallisey...

I know the cases.

Yes, sir.

It was a bad search.

Judge...

The rope and the clothes

In that shed

Tie the two murders together.

I cannot allow

The evidence...

And I fault you.

You, sir.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me.

Forbes: all of which

Means what?

It means, in brief...

Don't count on anything.

Well, this term

They're using in there--

The curtilage--

Didn't that used to mean

The property

Within a courtyard?

It means the house

And the grounds,

Or is that too simple?

Well, yeah,

It means

The immediate grounds--

At least,

According to this judge.

What are we supposed to tell

The parents of these kids?

Todd walker will not

Get off, hampton.

There's nothing wrong

With our evidence

In the hatcher case.

What am I supposed

To tell felicia?

Lord. How is she?

She's not good, bill.

She's up and around...

But she's not good.

( Sighs )

I'm sorry, your honor.

I would've

Let you know sooner,

But I just found out

This moment myself.

Mr. Walker, are you seriously

Dismissing your counsel?

My pappaw can answer

For me, judge.

It isn't a question

Of dismissal, your honor.

Miss hallisey and i--

We're co-counsel.

She is merely stepping away

On other business

For this afternoon.

I will assume conduct

Of the case.

I have no objection,

Your honor.

Is this your request,

Miss hallisey?

Sir, I believe

That this change

Is for the best

For everyone concerned.

Good day.

Walker: now, the matter

I'd like to be heard on

Is the matter of bail.

Naturally, your honor,

I'm asking

That my client

Be released immediately

On reasonable bond.

Your honor, the state

Strongly objects

To any form of bail.

r*pe and homicide are among

The most odious of felonies.

Todd has no prior

Criminal record.

He is innocent until you

Can prove him guilty.

Todd walker poses a danger

To this community.

I will take personal

Responsibility for him.

The boy poses no danger.

Are you willing

To put up title

To the walker estate?

Yes...i'm willing.

Bail is granted

On that condition.

Darnell: judge simms,

I will officially--

( Gavel bangs )

Court is adjourned.

Clerk: all rise.

This ain't right.

It's over for peggy,

It should be over for him!

Gillespie: no, no.

Sit down, sit down.

What?

The judge let todd walker

Out on bail.

Out?

He's gonna be out?

Just till the trial,

Darlin'.

Hamp...

There's no way

He can get off, is there?

No.

He's going to be tried,

Harriet,

For the hatcher case,

At least,

Where we got good evidence,

He is going to be convicted,

And he will get the limit.

Limit? Wha--?

The d.a. Is gonna demand

His life.

No doubt about it.

When will he give

His life?

When is...

When is he gonna pay?

Felicia...

It's not about when.

I don't even think

We should be here.

I'm gonna take you home.

Go ahead, felicia,

Please?

I beg you,

Go home.

Walker: you did not commit

A willful wrong,

And you shouldn't have

To answer to one

Because your will

Was not free to run!

But is held stockaded

By your inferiors

At the academy.

They were superiors

Last time I heard

Them referred to.

Great molders of men.

Discipline for the pure sake

Of discipline

Is the idiot's delight.

The mass of men

Eat it up with gratitude.

But the special man...

Spits it out

With disgust.

Thank god

The jury didn't hear that.

No jury will ever

Hear this case.

Who...who is this person

Approaching up here?

Maggie!

There's a colored woman

Walking up here.

You better come up

And speak to her.

Who is she?

Is she a friend of yours?

What's she doing

Coming up the front way?

I don't know

The woman, judge.

Well, ask maggie.

Something we can do

To help you?

Maggie!

What are you doing

All this yelling for?

Don't you see lewis

Standing right there?

What is it you want?

( Maggie screams )

She sh*t him!

She sh*t him!

( Maggie crying )

Oh, god!

Get the emergency.

Call emergency!

Stop that woman!

( Engine shuts off )

Visitor's parking

Is around back, sir.

I don't want to park.

If you wanna

Just wait, sir,

Waiting's around back,

Too.

Don't wanna wait.

I want the sheriff

To come out here now.

He's in there.

I see his car.

Yes, sir,

He is in there.

Tell him...

Judge walker's here.

Yes, sir.

Take all the time

You need.

Thanks, bill.

We have to talk

About a lawyer.

Does my sister

In houston know?

She'll be here tomorrow.

Now for a lawyer, hm?

I don't want

To talk about it.

All right.

I lost my child.

I--i always would say,

When she was little...

I'd say to god,

"God, let...let her grow up.

"And let me see her...

"Ready for life.

"Show me how to raise her,

"And what to teach her, lord.

"I don't care about me

Or what I have.

"Just so long

As I can protect her.

"It's all I want

For myself.

But let me not lose her."

What is my life

If I lose my child?

You'll forgive us,

Lewis and me,

For...blocking things here.

Oh, don't fret

About it, judge.

How can I help you?

When can I see

The colored woman

Who took

My grandson's life?

Uh...ms. Clark won't be

Allowed any visitors

For nine days.

Routinely?

Yes, sir.

And, uh, even then,

You have to have

The prisoner's consent.

What do we have

To ask her for?

Just let me stand

In front of her

For a minute...

So that I can say to her

Because of her...

I rise up in the morning

Without any reason

In this world to do so.

I ask lewis here,

I say, "lewis,

"Please, tell this old man

What he's doing up and around,

Because he simply

Does not know."

And lewis does not know,

And so he says nothing.

And I would say to her...

"Woman...

"Tell this old white man

What he's doing here...

"Now that you have taken away

The one reason

For his being here."

Let me say that to her,

Gillespie.

Please, would you?

That woman needs

To hear that.

Would tomorrow

Be all right, judge?

Yeah...

Tomorrow's all right.

I'll be back here tomorrow

At this same time.

Thank you.

Good day, sir.

Good day, sir.

( Engine starts )

Think he'll really

Come back tomorrow?

I don't think so.

What will you say

If he does?

Same as I said today.

"Maybe tomorrow, judge."

You think

He'll believe that?

No.

You sorry for him?

No.

♪ In the heat

Of the night ♪