Carolina Skeletons (1991) - full transcript

♪ Multicom Entertainment Group

Present ♪

♪ Oh my darlin', Oh my

darlin' Clementine.

♪ Thou art lost and

gone forever

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

-♪ Drove she ducklings

to the water

-[cow moos]

-Come on Blossom.

-♪ Every morning just at nine

♪ Struck her foot

against a splinter

♪ Fell into the foaming brine.

♪ In a cavern, in a canyon

♪ Excavating for a mine

♪ Lived a miner, forty-niner

♪ And his daughter Clementine.

Don't you know you aren't

supposed to stare like that?

I just be on my way

to home, is all.

[Cindy Lou] Colored shacks

down by the mill, I suspect.

Yes 'um.

How old are you?

I be fourteen and three

months last week.

You don't look but 10. That's

all you are, isn't that so?

Pretty cow you have.

Blossom.

Yes 'um, she be pretty.

We best be headin' on now...

You keep her healthy,

she keep you healthy

that what my pa always says.

Cows are like gold.

[Linus] Yes 'um.

♪ Oh my darlin', Oh my

darlin' Clementine.

♪ Thou art lost

and gone forever

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

♪ [girls continue singing]

[cow moos]

You hold that cow

right, you hear?

I always be holding it right,

Mr. Crooks. You knows that.

I don't want that cow eatin'

outta my garden no more.

She got away that time. Besides,

Mama pay you back.

-Don't you back-sass!

-[Linus] You be a

crazy man, Mr. Crooks.

[Mr. Crooks] Go on!

Get offa my property!

This road here's free for

everyone. You can't just

tell me-

Go on! Get out of here!

Else I'll tell the Sheriff

you're on my land.

Be your word against mine!

Who's that?

It's just the wind, Sue Ellen.

Oh!

[scream]

♪ [creepy instrumental of

"Clementine" plays]

Nooo!

[scream]

Nooo!!

I won't tell. I

promise. Please...

Please, if you just

won't hurt me.

[crying]

God will punish you!!!

♪ Linus Bragg, his name

was Linus Bragg

♪ They stole his life.

He was so young.

♪ No time to dream or plan.

♪ They stole his life.

Took him away.

♪ No chance to be a man.

♪ Home, home, God

called him home.

♪ In God's arms, he'll be.

♪ Home, home, God

called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

♪ Home, home, God

called him home.

♪ In God's arms, he'll be.

♪ Home, home, God

called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

♪ Home, home, God

called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

[Man] Get a load o'

this... Green Beret.

[Bragg] Afternoon.

Hey, boy... You a lifer?

[Bragg] So far.

I was in the big war.

We won that one.

[Bragg] And when you came

back, they gave you a big

parade, right?

You got that one right.

All we got now is long hair,

free sex and gook-lovers.

[Bragg] Afternoon.

[Old Man] Talk like a white man.

Must be from up north.

Ain't no stranger.

Didn't ask no directions

from nobody.

♪ They stole his life.

He was a boy.

♪ They know not

what they do.

♪ They stole his breath.

He closed his eyes

♪ and then his

life was through.

♪ Home, home, God called him

home. Now he is free...

♪ Yeah, yeah...

♪ Now he's free...

-[door closing]

-[children yelling]

[whisper] James...!

Yes, it's me, Mama.

[whispers] They said you

wouldn't never come back

but I know my boy. [coughs]

Mama

I'm going to call an ambulance--

What for?

I'm gonna get you into

the hospital right away.

-It's my time now.

-Mama, please...

Don't want any

more of this life.

What's this?

What's that?

You goin' off to school

and Linus always

takin' pictures...

Who took this picture?

I did. He made me.

[laughs softly]

I'd almost forgotten.

They killed him.

I know, Mama.

They say he the one...

butchered those two

little girls

but someone else

the one, not Linus.

That's right, Mama.

They stole his life.

Yeah.

♪ [music]

Linus is waitin' for me.

I know.

[Mama] Don't you see him...

standin'...

right over there?

I see him, Mama.

Make things right for Linus.

[cries]

[Bragg] Okay, Mama. I promise.

[Preacher] And so...

we lay to rest our

beloved sister

Mattie Bragg

she was never able to overcome

the injustice that took her

son away from her

but at last, she'll be

reunited with Linus

and live forever in

the house of the Lord.

Ashes to ashes... dust to dust.

[soft crying]

Thank you, Reverend. God

bless you. She was right.

Mr. Bragg, excuse me, sir.

Jus' want to say how sorry I

am about what happened.

T.J. Campbell.

Thank you, Mr. Campbell.

I appreciate that.

Jimmy.

Junior.

So you got your father's

looks after all.

And his badge.

[Jimmy] You're mother

was sick a long time.

Probably for the best.

[Bragg] Probably.

You know, when I heard

there was a Green Beret

poking around town...

an officer to boot, I

figured it was you.

I mean how many you

boys we got anyway?

How many you want?

Don't guess Crawfordville's

changed all that much, has it?

I don't know. Seems a whole lot

smaller than I remember.

Maybe you just been in

the big city too long.

How much sick leave

they give you?

Ten days.

Well, maybe you ain't gonna have

to spend it all down here then.

[dog barks]

[children talking]

[car horn honks]

♪ [music]

[Bragg] You never gave

up, did you Mama?

Never gave up on Linus.

[Linus] My name is Linus Bragg.

I am 14 years and

three months old

I - I can read and write.

And I do understand my rights.

[loud chatter]

[Prosecutor and Linus both read]

"On the afternoon of

Friday, March 28th last

I saw two young white

girls picking flowers

down by the Campbell sawmill

[Prosecutor] and made sexual

advances toward them--

[yelling, judge bangs gavel]

[Prosecutor] they resisted me

so I picked up a large stick

and struck them both, Sue Ellen

and Cindy Lou Ellerby

with deadly force."--

-[yelling]

-[hitting gavel]

[Prosecutor] Now,

being in a panic

I threw their bodies into the

river

then I continued on my way

to my mother's place with

the family cow

which is what I was doing

prior to this incident.

I swear that I make this

statement of my own free will.

Signed: Linus Bragg."

[yelling]

[Prosecutor] Sheriff Stoker...

are you certain that the

defendant wrote this of his own

free will?

I am.

[crowd yelling]

[Bragg] Sure, Linus. Of your own

free will...

and in your own words, too.

[train whistle]

[dog barking]

Hey, Junior, open up! We got a

problem here.

[Bragg] Junior!

What the hell you

think you're doing?

The sign says "colored".

[Deputy Bryant] Haven't you

ever heard of civil rights?

Everybody can use

the main entrance.

[Bragg] Don't that beat all?

Sheriff Stoker here?

Who wants to know?

[Junior] So?

So who wrote the confession?

Signature says Linus Bragg--

Who wrote the confession?

My Pa more'n likely

had to help him

with a little clarification

of the facts, but...

my Pa had a certain way of doing

things when he was sheriff.

[Junior] So do I.

Is there a statute of

limitations on homicide

in this state?

Open homicide.

Your brother's case been closed

a long time.

Yeah, I'm reopening it.

That so?

[Bragg] Yeah. This isn't

a confession, this is a

death warrant.

Well, what do you expect me to

do about it?

Help me clear my

brother's name, Sheriff.

-[Junior] Just like that?

-Yeah.

Just like that?

[Junior] Jimmy, let me

tell you something.

You come down here after, what

is it, thirty years?

And you start talkin' to me

about murder? And open

homicide?

[Junior] And you expect to turn

back the clock and exonerate

poor little Linus?

My brother was murdered.

You been away a long time.

You're outta touch, boy!

Yeah, I'll try my best to keep

it that way.

You know all about it, do ya...

how your brother was murdered?

-Prove it!

-I will...

with or without you.

♪ [music]

[typing]

[Bragg] Excuse me...

I need to look through the

records of a murder trial

that took place here

some years ago.

Archives. In the basement.

[typing]

[Bragg] Thank you.

Do you have an

appointment with Cassie?

Yes, ma'am.

[Cassie] Anything in particular?

You just browsing?

Something in particular.

-[Bragg] You must be Cassie.

-Hmmm.

This may come as a shock but, uh

I don't have an appointment.

You're a newspaper

reporter, aren't you?

[Bragg] My face give me away?

Your accent.

Not the first Negro

newspaperman from up north

ever to step foot in

Crawfordville, you know.

I don't imagine there's

been very many.

Well, you can try and go through

the stacks by yourself

but I've been tryin' to

reorganize them now for

two months

and I still don't know

where everything is.

Well, I think I can find

what I'm lookin' for.

Well, I doubt it.

The previous recorder was

this fine old gentleman

who never put anything

in any kind of order.

So how did you luck out?

Death.

Fine old gentleman smoked

one cigar too many.

[Cassie] Left me with sixty

years of records to figure out.

Well, I won't need all sixty...

just one.

Find what you wanted?

-No.

-Close in five minutes

These books, are you certain

they cover all of 1934?

I'm positive.

What month was the trial?

October. October 28th.

There wasn't any trial

on that date.

Well, the newspaper

article says there was.

Transcripts must be missing.

[Cassie] This young boy

was the defendant?

[Bragg] Linus Bragg.

[Cassie] What happened to him?

He was electrocuted for murder.

He couldn't have been more

than ten or eleven years old!

He was 14.

And I believe he was innocent.

Apparently someone else didn't.

Let's see...

Well here it is. October 28th,

1934, trial by jury of one

Linus Bragg...

The Honorable Judge

Isador Bolt presiding...

Uh, defense attorney

received $10.00

court steno $4.10

and the jurors walked away with

35 cents apiece.

Court steno?

That means there had to be a

trial transcript.

Not on record...

[church bell ringing]

[Cassie] which is

highly unusual.

-[Bragg] Is Judge

Bolt still alive?

-Oh no.

They named a street after him.

They don't do that around here

unless you're dead.

[City Clerk] It's five o'clock!

Is everything all right there,

Cassie?

We're on our way up right now...

I'd like to be able to go

through some more files in the

morning, if I could.

[Cassie] Yes, of course, Mr...

[Bragg] Bragg.

[clears throat]

James Bragg.

Linus was my older brother.

[sighs]

[radio news]

♪ [suspenseful music]

[footsteps]

[light tapping on door]

Who is it?

[T.J. Campbell] Mr. Bragg--

Um, I need to speak

to you, sir. Please!

Oh!

Mr. Campbell...[T.J.

spits tobacco]

You ever see anyone

toss chaw that far?

No, can't say I have.

Well, I can't be...

lettin' anyone catch me talkin'

with you like this.

There's no one out here.

-[car horn honking]

-Please, I'm taking a

chance just bein' here.

There's somethin' I've

got to get off my chest

about your brother.

I tried to talk to

you at the funeral.

Come in.

How'd you know where to find me?

[laughs] Ain't nothin' happens

in Crawfordville, but...

well everyone knows.

Uh [clears throat]

I helped coordinate a

sit-in a while back, uh

for the Freedom Riders.

Over at the cafe.

That must've made you pretty

popular around here.

Eh, 'bout as popular as a bad

cold. [laughs] Yeah...

I lived here all my life,

don't remember you.

But I sure do remember

'bout your brother.

It's just something that's been

inside me all these years.

I believe I can be of

some help to you

but if the wrong people

find out about it--

Ahh, nobody needs to know

anything, Mr. Campbell.

[T.J. Campbell] T.J.

Everybody calls me that.

[Bragg] All right.

T.J., I can use all

the help I can get.

Sit down.

No thanks.

I was still awful young

myself at the time, but...

seemed to me like your

brother wasn't any more'n

just a scrawny little kid.

[laughs] He seemed a lot bigger

than that to me.

-Mmm

So what's been on your mind all

these years, T.J.?

Well, eh, at the time

and more than just a few of us

figured your brother was never

big enough to do

what they said he did.

Mmm-hmm.

[T.J. Campbell] And then,

uh, we got to wonderin'

about Dexter Cody.

Now ol' Dex, he had this

thing about... nigras.

you know, 'bout all

them young girls...

there in Shantytown.

Ol' Dex used to like to bed down

young black girls?

[T.J. Campbell] You bet.

Ever single one he could get his

hands on. He'd just take 'em.

[Bragg] How young?

Well, not too much older than

them two little white girls.

So we began to think maybe he

tried somethin' on them.

Well, why didn't you go to the

sheriff back then?

-Me?

-[Bragg] Mmm-hmm.

Well, no punk 18 year-old's

gonna tell Hiram Stoker his

deputy was maybe foolin'

around with kids.

You mean to tell me that my

brother may have died

because nobody had guts enough

to stand up to the sheriff?

[T.J. Campbell] Well, I

wasn't the only one!

You have to understand

them times!

And truth be known, ol'

Dex still sends a shiver

down my spine.

Dexter Cody is still alive

and here in Crawfordville?

Hope you ain't thinkin'

a goin' over his place.

Do you know where he lives?

Ol' Dex, talkin' to a black man?

Huh, like you livin' in the

Twilight Zone! Mmmm.

♪ [music]

[gunfire, metal clanking]

Deputy Cody.

-[gunfire]

-I got me a sign out there in

the road in case you missed it.

I want to talk to you.

Crack the shotgun and pull the

shells out one at a time where

I can see them.

You have a hell of a way to

start a conversation, mister.

[dog barking]

I want to talk to

you about a murder.

Sure. I got lots of

'em to talk about.

1934. Two white girls, children.

Nigger boy did it. Beat

'em to death with a club.

How do you know the boy did it?

I'm going to turn

around, mister, see who

it is I'm talkin' with.

The gun stays broke. Okay?

Turn very slowly.

[laughs]

Army's gone to hell,

that's for sure. [laughs]

[Deputy Cody] How do

I know he did it?

Well, see, he signed

a confession.

Were there any other

suspects other than Linus?

What we need other suspects

for? He signed a confession...

there was a witness.

There was a witness that saw

Linus kill those two girls?

Crippled up old nigger...Elijah.

Lives by hisself on the river.

[Deputy Cody] Here you are

askin' all these questions, I

don't know the hell why.

That's my business.

You one of them uppity niggers,

believe that Martin Luther fella

tells you on T.V.?

That don't hold truck

down here, boy.

I'm the one with the gun.

[Deputy Cody] Well, you

got that one right.

You're really somethin',

comin' in here like this.

You used to like to go to

shantytown, Dex, didn't you?

Had me a good time

now and again.

Liked those little black

girls, didn't you?

[Deputy Cody]

[laughs] Sure as hell did.

How about little white girls?

[Bragg] What about two?

Hmmm?

Dex, who's that

you're talkin' with?

My wife stays outta this, hear?

No one!

He's leaving', anyhow.

Nigger...

We're gonna have at

it sooner or later.

You can count on it.

♪ [music]

Dex, who was that?

Dead man. [crack of gun]

[City Clerk] I told you the

records are off limits to

unauthorized personnel.

You might as well just go back

where you came from.

-I'm from here.

-Not anymore.

Will you please let

me see Cassie?

You think you're so

superior showin' up here

after all this time, gonna

make things right.

All you're gonna do is

make trouble for us.

Listen, listen all I want is two

minutes with Cassie.

I promise I'll leave the

basement after that.

She isn't in the basement.

Well..

[sighs]

[Cook] Darlene...

Here's your two over.

[Waitress]

Thanks, I'll be right there.

There you go, hon.

[door slams]

[customer]

Who the hell is that...

[customer chatter]

I'm sorry I missed our

appointment this morning.

Is the coffee any good?

Coffee, please!

[customer]

He's got some nerve!

[Bragg]

I'd have been on time...

but I had a meeting I

simply couldn't break.

I don't think you

entirely appreciate the

problems you're causing.

Do you know a man by the

name of Dexter Cody?

Yes. Everybody knows Dex.

And does everybody know that

Dexter Cody is a child molester?

Thank you.

Has it ever occurred to

anyone that maybe,

just maybe, my brother

Linus was nothing

more than just a cover-up?

You seem to have

reached a rather

dramatic conclusion after

a few days, Mr. Bragg.

-[Bragg] Yeah, yeah.

-[drops spoon]

Maybe I'm the only

one that's just...

taken the time or the

trouble to dig deeper

than a frightened

little black boy.

Well, you're not!

[Cassie] The court

stenographer died in 1948.

One or two of the jurors

might still be alive

I couldn't find out where.

The defense attorney moved

to Charleston soon after

the trial,

never came back.

He still lives there.

You must have gone to an awful

lot of trouble to dig this up.

Why?

I wanted to find

out if it was true.

If they really did execute an

innocent 14-year-old boy.

And?

[Cassie]

I was born and raised in South

Carolina, Mr. Bragg.

I have to believe that the law

took its proper course.

And before you start throwing

out any more accusations,

you might consider

getting a few facts.

You got it, lady.

♪ [dramatic music]

♪ [dramatic music]

[Secretary] May I help you?

My name is Mr. Louis.

I called about a meeting

with Judge Brickstone.

Oh, yes. You're from Historical

Register Magazine.

Your Honor, the gentleman

who is doing the article

on Charleston is here.

-[Intercom] Send him in.

-Yes sir

[Secretary] Go right

in, Mr. Louis.

-Good afternoon, Your Honor.

-[Slurps soup]

Well um..., so you're

interested in, um,

knowing all about my renovation

of this building, Mr... Mr.

Louis.

Uh, you can sit down.

I might have a very

interesting story for you.

You certainly have a lot of

pictures here, Judge Brickstone.

I've know my fair share of

politicians over the years.

Not all of them somebody

I'd like to meet in a

dark alley! [laughs]

But, eh, you won't, eh,

quote me on that, now

will you? [laughs]

[Judge Brickstone] Now

where would you like to

start? The furnishings?

How about Crawfordville?

Crawfordville? What

on earth for?

[Bragg] You used to be a lawyer

in Crawfordville, didn't you?

[Judge Brickstone]

Ancient history!

Nasty little backwater

town. Nasty people.

Nasty murders, too.

I'm not sure how all of that

ties in with my renovation.

[Bragg] It doesn't.

Then what exactly is your

business with me, sir.

Linus Bragg. Remember him?

Yeah.

[Bragg] You might be interested

in what I have to say.

You are aware that I am a judge?

Uh, Miss Conway, I want

you to telephone my--

Much rather talk with you than

the newspaper.

[Secretary] Yes, judge?

Telephone my barber tell

him I'm running a little

later than usual.

You recognize that?

Mmm. That is the uh, confession

of that little negro boy.

[Bragg] Yes.

That little negro boy,

Linus Bragg.

You were his defense attorney?

I was appointed to be

his attorney, yes.

Well, why didn't you file an

appeal or something?

On what grounds?

Well, he was facing

the electric chair.

Anybody could tell that

he couldn't have written

that confession.

We were kinda up against it, eh.

That was an election year..

Nobody, from the governor on

down, wanted to have anything

to do with this case.

My hands were tied.

But did you ever speak with

Linus about the murders?

Well, of course I did,

on several occasions.

[Bragg] Judge...

What did he tell you? Huh?

That was thirty or more years

ago. You expect me to remember

his very words?

Yes.

[Judge Brickstone] He said...

I think he said, uhh,

he didn't mean it.

Didn't mean what?

[Judge Brickstone] Didn't mean

to look at the two little

white girls...

He didn't mean to look

at them? Is that all?

You must understand,

in those days

a negro getting caught

looking at a white woman

was going to get a

beating, or worse.

Was there any evidence

against Linus other

than this confession?

Eyewitness.

[Judge Brickstone] He

placed Linus near the

scene of the crime.

So he didn't actually see Linus

and the two girls together?

He saw him near enough to

the scene of the crime to

convince a jury.

If you'd seen the pictures

of those two little girls

you'd have found Linus

guilty yourself!

There were photographs?

Horrible things, just horrible.

-Eh, ehm, pictures of their

broken bodies.

-♪ [somber music]

Their heads crushed by blows

from a huge piece of wood...

[Judge Brickstone]

tree branch, most likely.

Big as a tree branch, huh?

[Bragg] You really think

that, uh, Linus was strong

enough to do that?

You threw him away, didn't you?

His life didn't mean a damn

thing to you.

I did the best I could.

Yeah...

It was an election year.

♪ [music]

♪ [dark music]

[coughing]

[Bragg] Mr. Crooks?

Who's that?

You probably won't remember

me, but you might remember

my brother...

[Bragg] Linus Bragg?

I don't see so good

no more. [coughing]

[Elijah Crooks] Come on closer,

where I can get a look.

You tell Linus to keep

hold o' that cow, hear?

[Elijah Crooks] Don't want that

cow in my garden no more.

Yes sir, I surely will.

Think he smart with

all that back-sass.

Tellin' me the road's for

everybody. Hhm

[Elijah Crooks] Just

back-sass all it is!

Yes sir.

[Bragg] You hear about those

two white girls who got killed

not too far from here?

Them two?

Just down the road

there about a mile.

I don't fish that spot

no more. Bad luck.

'Course, Linus was down there,

the day the girls were killed.

I seen him on my road there.

Him and that cow.

Now, the white man, I got no

choice. He go where he please.

[Bragg] You remember seeing a

white man on the road that day?

He the one.

He's the one what?

He the one.

Mr. Crooks, was there a white

man with those two little girls?

Not supposed to say.

Well, you help me.

I'll help you.

[sighs] Well, I ain't goin' get

in any more trouble, is I?

No. Times have changed.

The law protects us now.

Uh.

Mr. Crooks...

Was there a white man with

those two little girls?

He told me not to say

nothin' to nobody.

But you've already told

me about Linus.

No, no, not Linus. I

can talk about Linus.

And the white man?

Made you promise?

[Elijah Crooks] Can't talk

about the white man.

[screeching of tires]

What's going on, Junior?

Shut up and get in the car.

-What?

-You heard the Sheriff, move!

Inside. Get on in!

How you be, old man?

Juss fine, suh.

Every day's a new day.

[Junior] This man here

didn't bother you none?

No suh.

Nice talkin' to

you again, Elijah.

Have a good day.

Yes, suh.

[engine starts up]

It was a white man.

A white man. Not your

brother, killed them

two little girls?

That's right.

I don't suppose you

know who it might be?

Well Dexter Cody

likes little girls.

Why don't you talk to him?

[flies buzzing]

You're not gonna get

away with this.

-What?

-[Junior] Dexter knew

how to use a shotgun.

That is, if you just fall

on it by accident.

What're you talking about?

Miss Cody, is this the man you

heard threaten your husband?

Yes! That's him!

[Junior] You get

him out of here.

-Damn it, Junior,

you've got it wrong!

-♪ [dramatic music]

Doin' to me what you did to my

brother.

Junior, you're wrong!

I'm sorry, ma'am.

[sobbing]

[cell door clanks open]

[Officer] Sheriff Stoker

waitin' on you.

[Junior] What were you doing

harassing our illustrious

native son Judah Brickstone?

He was Linus' attorney.

I asked him a few

questions. He gave me

a few simple answers.

[Junior] Find anything out?

I wouldn't want him

to defend me.

[laughs] Oh Jimmy.

You know it's lucky for you

you were in Charleston when ol'

Dex fell on that shotgun.

Mark, you can, eh, take

them handcuffs off.

-Thank you, Mark.

-Yes, sir.

What makes you believe that

this was an accident?

[sighs] Sit down.

[Junior] You know, Jimmy...

you got me thinking maybe we got

us a problem here after all.

Anyway...you're free to leave.

Crawfordville?

[laughs] That is

the general idea.

Yeah, well, I'm not quite

ready to leave yet.

Jimmy, you gonna get

me all worried again.

[Bragg] There is still some

things about this I don't

understand.

Well, that's one thing

we do have in common.

You want another?

[Junior] Surprise me.

Elijah Crooks.

The one-armed bastard

out by the river?

Claims to have seen a white

man on the road the day the

girls were killed.

I thought he meant Dexter Cody.

I could be wrong.

How long you been an officer?

Fifteen years.

[laughs] A little late startin'

out, weren't you?

Late bloomer.

Must'a done pretty good,

making bird Colonel in

the Green Berets?

Piece of cake.

Probably just as well.

Might not have amounted to

much if you you'd have

hung around here.

[Junior] I remember you, Jimmy.

Before you went north on us.

And I sure remember your father.

He used to scare the

hell outta me, man.

Ha. Scared the hell

outta me, too.

♪ [mellow music]

Tell me about Linus.

Him and me, we were

about the same age.

He was a lot smaller'n

me, of course.

Before the trouble

started, he, eh, used to

hang around the downtown

just like the rest

of us boys did.

Didn't mix...

[laughs]

but he'd wave.

He'd been white, we'd

probably been friends.

[Junior] Truth be told...

I wish I could wipe

Linus outta my mind.

[Bragg] Elijah do anything

else besides fish?

Well, he used to

work in the mill...

till he lost his arm on

one of them band saws.

He lived here in this

company shack then.

Folks felt sorry for

him, arm and all...

Bait's still on the hook.

Must'a caught a big one.

-It's too big.

-[dark music]

[crows caw]

[projector clicking]

♪ [dark version of 'Oh

My Darlin' plays]

[crickets]

Mr. Bragg.

You like hangin' out

in patrol cars?

You won't tell Sheriff

Stoker on me, will you?

There's not much to do

around here after the

sun goes down, is there?

You have to admit you have

brought a kind of excitement

to Crawfordville...

not to mention dead bodies.

You been in Crawfordville

all your life?

[Cassie] Went to

college in Aiken.

Lived there with my husband

'til the divorce and--

Why?

I don't think you should

have come back here.

I heard you talked to

Dex and Elijah.

More or less.

Two people dead...

Worth it so far?

Well, for the person who

murdered them, in all

likelihood, yes.

I heard it was an accident.

Well, in Dexter's

case, possibly.

But Elijah was strangled

from behind with his own

fishing line.

He was dead before he

went into the river.

You trying to frighten me?

Have you done anything you

should be frightened about?

[door slams] I'm talking

to you, aren't I?

[laughs]

Cassie!

What are you doin' here?

You told Mama you'd

be home for dinner.

She got worried.

[Cassie] So we drove around

until we found your car.

No secrets in Crawfordville.

[Cassie laughs]

I somehow missed the connection.

[Cassie] I didn't know how to

tell you that the sheriff

in all those old

newspaper photographs

was my grandfather.

Then I sorta lost the courage.

Hope you don't feel the

same way about Linus.

I think you know how I feel.

We're gonna go home now, Jimmy.

[Cassie] 'Night.

[Bragg] Good night.

[train horn]

[engine revs]

[screeching tires]

♪ [dramatic music]

[car door opens and closes]

[car door opens and closes]

[Sighs, mumbles to himself]

Not allowed to use terms

like that anymore.

Terms?

"Negro." "Colored". We

use "Black" now.

Hmm. That's nice.

Yeah, it's like the V.C.

over in Vietnam.

Can't say "gooks" in the

papers these days.

What the hell else you

supposed to call the

Viet Cong?

How about "the enemy?"

[Bragg] "Theodore J. Campbell

18, and friend Luke Reddy

also 18

found the club used in

the vicious murders of

the Ellerby girls.

According to Campbell,

whose wealthy family owns

and operates the saw mill,

the two youths were walking

along the levee

when they spied the

bloodied piece of wood

hidden in the bushes..."

♪ [somber music]

[dog howls]

[rain]

[knock on door]

Who's out there?

James Bragg.

Aren't you going

to invite me in?

This place ain't what

it was but then,

not a whole lot of

folks drop by anymore.

But they used to?

Ha. When the family meant

something to Crawfordville.

[T.J. Campbell] Hm. The mill...

[Bragg] What happened

to all of that?

-[running water]

-Our mill supplied hardwood...

to build war ships, startin'

with the Confederacy

straight through to uh...

Department of the Navy.

And then come metal hulls.

Thanks.

Now the mill's gone.

And uh, family's all gone.

Friend's are gone.

Until the bottom dropped

out of the market,

our mill was the next

best thing, heh...

to a plantation.

Worked them blacks

cradle to grave.

Now, now that's why I

did what I did with...

them freedom riders and all...

uh, just...tryin' to apologize.

[sighs in his glass]

Sure must have disappointed

a lot of people.

[T.J. Campbell] Oh, yeah.

I disappointed 'em plenty.

I been disappointing

'em all my life.

My daddy worst of all. He damn

near cut me out of this will.

[T.J. Campbell] Well, lots of

folks around here

wish he was still

around instead of me.

You drivin' in like this ain't

gonna help matters any.

Oh, I wasn't followed.

Yeah? Don't be too sure.

[chuckles]

What is it you really after?

Oh, um...

You know that club...

that was used to kill

the Ellerby girls?

Yeah...

You never told me you found it.

Week after the murders.

Had their blood

dried all over it.

Big as a tree branch, huh?

Uhh, coulda been.

I don't remember.

Well, what about you buddy,

Luke Reddy? Do you think he

might remember?

Luke Reddy's no

friend of mine...

No?

[T.J. Campbell] Luke's Klan.

Ohh...

Was he Klan back then?

He was the one that wanted

to lynch your brother.

You know, huh...

There's somethin' I never did

understand about that.

How'd he come across that

bloody piece of wood,

when nobody else could find it?

Never did think much about that

at the time.

♪ [music]

[indistinct chatter]

[sports announcer]

[Junior] Hi, Daddy.

Ball game pretty

good today, is it?

Ya'll been takin'

that medicine they're

supposed to give you?

Your glass here's empty.

Look what I brought. [laughs]

This oughta make it taste

a little bit better.

[Junior] Naw, just

a minute, now.

Gotta put some

medicine in it, Daddy.

There you go, Daddy...

Oh...

that a boy...

Oh that is good, that's good.

I got some bad news, Daddy.

Deputy Cody passed away.

[Junior] I'm sorry.

I know you two

shared some real good times.

But death comes to all of us

who have patience. [laughs]

Didn't you always laugh when

you told me that. [sighs]

Got me to thinkin' about

that time you took me to

the execution,

that young negro boy, 'bout

my age. Linus Bragg.

I was tryin' to remember whether

it was Dex or you that eh,

got that boy to confess...

Did y'all have any other

suspects besides him?

[Hiram Stoker] You

hungry yet, boy?

Boy?...Boy?!

-I asked you a question, son.

-[Linus Bragg whispering

prayers]

You hungry yet?

Sure am, suh.

[Hiram Stoker] That's better.

But first, I got a

little problem,

'bout them two

little white girls.

Would you mind helpin' me

clear up a few details, Linus?

No, suh.

You go to that colored

school, don't you?

Learnin' all about how

to read and write?

Little bit.

Learnin' too, about that feelin'

all us men gets between our

legs, I'll just bet.

Heh heh. You don't have

to tell me about it.

Just got to know what

happened with them girls.

Mmm-mmm!

That smells good!

Hey I don't believe you had

a bite to eat since this

morning, have you son?

That's right, sheriff.

Well, the truth'll make

you feel better.

Let me talk to you a minute.

Now, son, I don't

understand. I know...

that you didn't mean for

anything bad to happen

to those girls.

You just got a peek at 'em...

ain't that the way it

got started? Just a

little peek?

Yes, suh.

Well, one thing leads to another

and, before you know it,

everything gets outta control.

Shoot, that could

happen to any man.

Yes suh, but I--

[Hiram Stoker] Now, son,

I know what went on.

We got all the evidence we need.

So I just...

sketched things out for you...

best I could.

And I want you to read it over.

[Hiram Stoker] Only

thing missin' is...

the stick that killed 'em.

You know where it's at?

No suh? Sure enough don't.

Now, Linus, this is the truth,

ain't it? I gotta know.

Your mama's tole you I

bet a thousand times,

about how you're not supposed to

ever tell a lie, ain't that so?

Yes, suh.

Well, you know how to sign

your name, don't you?

Yes, suh.

All right.

Here's a pen for ya.

No, wait. Let me

help you, son...

You just unscrew it,

you see? Like that.

There, that's it.

Then it'll make a nice

black mark for you.

-Yeah...

-♪ [somber harmonica song]

there...

There, that's right.

Uh-huh...

Good boy.

I hope you got a good

appetite, because we got

ribs and fried chicken.

That's what you gonna

git. Eat hearty.

That a boy. Feelin'

better already.

[Junior] It just don't seem

like that boy could'a done

all what they said.

You know, I been searching high

and low for that old case file.

Only place I ain't looked

is the footlocker.

[indistinct screaming]

Daddy, Daddy, please...

askin' your permission, sir.

I got to know what happened.

-[indistinct screaming]

-[Junior] Daddy, please...

I got to know what

really happened.

The way I see it,

you got two choices.

You put the bags on

the hood of the car

and hope they stay balanced long

enough for you to get your car

keys out...

Or?

Or you can throw

them up in the air

and hope they stay up there

long enough for you to get

the door open.

-I think I like

this way the best.

-[Bragg] Good choice.

Somebody was waiting for me

outside the motel last night.

Drove around the parking

lot a couple of times,

and then they left.

-Did you see who it was?

-No, it was too dark.

But I have got a sneaking

suspicion that whoever killed

those two little girls

is still hanging around

here somewhere.

[Bragg] Cassie, I need a favor.

My leave is almost up, and

I'm having a hell of a time

trying to get a

look at a will...

You don't need me for that.

Anything that has gone

through probate is on file

at the clerk's office.

Well, this one isn't.

It's been sealed.

[car door slam]

♪ [somber music]

[car engine]

You sure you know where

you're goin' there, boy?

This is Luke Reddy's

shop, isn't it?

Yep.

I'm sure.

♪ [radio music]

[Bragg] Luke Reddy?

Well, I been hearin'

about you all week.

You know, I hate the military.

And I hate officers

in the military.

But more that anything,

I hate niggers.

Heh, you put all that

together in one package,

whatta you got?

You got your hands full.

[Luke] Yeah.

[Luke] Yeah, I heard.

I heard you was a smart boy.

Ol' Dex, oh yeah he's

real impressed.

Yeah, you...

[Luke] You sure got the

drop on him, all right.

Ain't gonna happen twice.

Go on...

get over there.

Get over there!

Well, what is this?

Now, what is this?

You move your hand again, I'll

kill you where you stand.

You may be smart boy, but you's

a damn fool comin' here!

Hey hey, Luke. Luke!

If your brother went to the

electric chair for a crime

he didn't commit,

what would you do?

-I'd get- get even.

-Uh huh.

Now, what in the hell

you doin' here?

You found that murder weapon,

that tree branch?

That ain't no secret.

-How big was it?

-It was big and heavy.

and was big enough to

bash the brains of them

two little white girls!

Was it, uh, too big for my

brother Linus to hold?

Well, I never give that

a lot of thought.

Well, T.J. seems to think

it might have been.

Well, T.J.'s a damn fool and

he always has been.

Oh yeah, well, what were you

doin' with him?

He bet me a dollar I couldn't

find it, since nobody knew where

it was supposed to be.

We just went out there, and

we just got real lucky.

Ah.

It was damn unlucky for my

brother, Linus, wasn't it.?

[Mechanic] Hey, Luke...

What I wanna know is, why

the hell you talkin' with

this nigger?

Didn't you never hear of

business before pleasure?

[laughs]

Ooo!

You shouldn't of done Ol' Dex...

[moans]

If I find out you had something

to do with my brother's murder,

[Bragg] I'm coming back.

[moans]

[typing]

♪ [slow piano music]

Look at that.

[Junior] Here we go. "Ellerby".

I thought I'd look forward

to this, but now, I'm not

so sure...

[Junior] Maybe now

you can understand

why feelings were runnning

high against your brother.

I can understand why

feelings were running

so high, but there's

no way that Linus could have

ever done this!

These two girls were raped.

Their bodies were tossed

around like a rag doll.

Sue Ellen's neck was

broken by a stranglehold.

Someone held her up in

the air with one hand.

And a little boy weighing

less than eighty pounds

is supposed to have used a

club half his size? Damn it!

What the hell is wrong

with you people?

Jimmy!

I'm sorry.

Won't bring Linus back.

[Linus] My name is Linus Bragg.

I'm fourteen years

and three months old.

I can read and write...

-[breathing heavily]

-[audible heartbeat]

♪ [somber piano music]

[Chaplain] "Unto thee, oh

Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Oh, my God, do I trust in thee.

Let me not be ashamed.

Let not mine enemies

triumph over me...

[indistinct talk from Chaplain]-

[Hiram Stoker] How you

comin' there, Junior?

How long before...?

[Hiram Stoker] Soon.

Son...

You gonna be seein' some things

that may not set too well...

We get home, I got enough peach

brandy for the both of us.

[indistinct prayer]

[Chaplain] Remember thou me for

my goodness sake oh Lord...

[heavy breathing]

[shackles tightening]

[Linus continuously sobbing]

[audible heartbeat gets louder]

This will only last a moment.

[Chaplain] Think about it

like you're leaping over a

wide ditch.

And when you land, you

will be in Heaven.

Junior...

I be jumpin' over a big ditch

Heaven's on the other side.

[heartbeat gets louder]

[Warden] Is there

anything you want to say?

Any last words?

[crying]

[muffled crying]

[electricity flowing]

Please, can't we go.

[electricity flowing]

[screams]

What is it, Junior?

What's the matter?

What is it, Junior?

What's the matter?

[crying]

[yelling]

[horn blows]

[Redy] Here's a little

present for you and your

freedom rider friend!

[gunfire]

[indistinct talking]

[glass explodes]

[yelling]

Hey, Bragg! It's your

"welcome wagon"!

Come on out. Bring

some marshmallows.

Hey, boy!

Come on out here and

meet your neighbors!

[klan member] Come on out boy!

We're sorry we didn't get

a chance to hang your

damned brother.

Now, I'll tell you what, since

this is America, we'll let you

take his place!

[yelling]

-[car doors closing]

-[engines revving]

Linus. Help me.

♪ [dark music]

[projector clicking]

-[dramatic music]

-[frogs, crickets]

Mr. Bragg?

I didn't think you

were going to come.

This is where it

happened, isn't it?

Yep.

You know what I told

old man Crooks?

"Times have changed."

Isn't that funny.

"Times have changed." [laughs]

The Last Will and Testament of

Harrison Baines Campbell...

filed into probate May 27, 1947.

See his wife preceded him

in death, and so T.J. was

the only heir...

He was apparently

very disappointed in his son.

He only left him the house,

and just enough money to get by.

He also left five thousand

dollars to Sheriff Hiram Stoker,

and the same to Dexter Cody,

and one thousand dollars and a

lifetime's occupancy of a

shack to Elijah Crooks.

What happened to the

rest of the money?

You'd never guess.

He left the bulk of his

estate, well over one

hundred thousand dollars,

[Cassie] to the NAACP.

[whistles]

No wonder he had

this will sealed.

Right.

Why did he leave my granddaddy

and Dexter Cody five thousand

dollars a piece?

[game show host and sound

effects from T.V.]

Hey, old Sheriff.

You keep watchin'

them game shows,

you gonna turn into one.

You know, as long as I can

remember, Daddy...

I been troubled by what

happened to that young

Negro boy.

Now, with all due respect, sir,

I am gonna need your help just

one more time.

[Junior] Now, I know

this is yours, Daddy,

because I recognize

the handwriting.

It's all about the

Ellerby murders.

Now, I followed your

investigation to right here.

Then all of a sudden, it

stops. Page just got torn out.

But damn if I didn't find an

imprint of your handwriting

right here.

But you taught me good.

So you know what I did?

I took a pencil. I scratched

over it just like you said...

and then held it up

to a mirror, hah...

And best as I can see, it says

"ck camp poss rcrd."

Now, I figure that the "CK"

stands for "check",

and the "poss rcrd"

possible criminal records

of some of the people

in one of the camps.

You want that?

♪ [dramatic music]

[coughing]

[Bragg] You see these marks

here... and there?

[Cassie] Bruises?

Well, that's where she was

hit by the tree trunk. But

what else?

You see here on the neck

and here on the back?

Those aren't bruises,

those are bite marks.

And look at that irregularity...

[Cassie] Between the two front

teeth?

Right.

[Braggs] T.J.'s father didn't

give a damn about Black causes.

He had that will sealed because

he felt guilty about something.

Well, where are you going?

T.J.?!

[projector clicking]

Your father would be

very proud of you.

I don't suppose we could

work somethin' out?

You mean some sort of

financial arrangement

so I don't tell

anybody about, uh,

this little slide show?

Something along them lines.

Well, I was thinking more

along the lines of the

Ellerby murders.

Besides...

your father already gave most

to his money to the NAACP.

That doesn't prove anything.

[Bragg] No, it doesn't.

But your irregular

front tooth does.

[Braggs] You never did get

a look at the autopsy

pictures, did you?

See there?

It's right there in

black and white.

Look at it!

Where you bit that little

girl on the shoulder.

Remember? Hhm?

[Bragg] Yeah...

Mmm-hmm...

Your father had to make several

financial arrangements about

that one, didn't he?

Never meant for it to happen,

that thing with your brother.

Thought he'd get five, ten years

hard labor.

Well, he died so you could live.

That's right.

Same with ol' Dex? Elijah?

-[T.J.] And now you!

-[shotgun blast]

[shotgun blast]

[shotgun blast]

[shotgun blast]

Don't try it.

What I got to lose?

[gunfire]

Jimmy, drop it!

[Junior] Drop the gun.

The other one.

Not yet.

What's the matter

with you, Junior?

Can't you see he broke in

here and tried to kill me?

I don't want to

shoot you, Jimmy.

Then you shoot me,

I'll shoot him.

Whose side you on?

[Bragg] He murdered those girls.

I know that.

[T.J. Campbell] Do you realize

what you're sayin', Junior?

You better talk to your

daddy about all this.

Jimmy, put the gun down and

let the law take its course.

That's already been tried.

-It was an election year!

-[Junior] Jimmy,

I'm asking you to trust me.

Please.

You really had me goin' there.

I actually thought that

you believed him. Ha.

I do, T.J.

It's all over...

Finally.

Well... I guess it is...

[Shotgun blast]

[church bells ringing]

[dog barking]

[Cassie] So soon?

I can't say I'm

sorry to be leaving.

Can't say we're

sorry to see you go.

Jimmy...

I'm not asking for anything.

I don't want forgiveness.

I just feel you had a right

to know, that, um...

I was the last person your

brother ever saw.

I was there when

they killed him.

Linus looked at me

with those eyes...

just before they put that mask

down over his face.

[Junior] I knew he didn't do it.

But I was 14 years old.

And my father couldn't be wrong.

I wish I could bring

him back, Jimmy.

You're not going to end up in

those archives for the next

60 years, are you?

[laughs] No.

But I'm not gonna abandon

Crawfordville, either.

Hey...

Thanks for you help.

I hope you'll come

back again someday.

Heh, This poor ol' place could

use all the help it can get.

Okay.

♪ [soothing music]

[car engine]

You think he'll ever

come back here?

I don't know if

we could take it.

♪ [soothing music]

♪ [jazz music]

♪ [Multicom Entertainment

Group jingle]