Fury (1936) - full transcript

[roaring]

[dramatic music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

What do you say, kid?
Are we moving in?

How many times
do you want me to say yes?

Every time you say it
is like the first time.

My heart starts beating like
I just ran around the block.

You know, those slippery
little rugs are out.

A guy could break
his neck on those.

Mr. Wilson, do you plan
doing a lot of running around?



Yeah, yeah, after you.

- The rugs are out.
- And the twin beds, too.

Out like a light.

Hey, I like peanuts too.

- I thought you hated them.
- I did once.

What changed your mind?

I love you. You love peanuts.
I love peanuts, too.

[chuckles]
Well, I guess that wins.

It's raining.

Gee, it feels swell
against your face.

Tonight of all nights,
it's gotta rain.

Don't talk about it.

What am I gonna do
after you've gone?

Joe...



I'll be walking
like this down a street.

- Where are you?
- I'll be here.

[instrumental music]

[train chugging]

Twenty cents.

- How do you like that?
- Oh, dear.

Here, give me.

Don't.

What are you gonna do?

Oh, here it is.

- Come on, I'll sew it.
- Here? No, no.

- Now you'll let it go. I know.
- No, honest, I won't.

Now come on.
You know you will.

- No, no, I'll sew it myself.
- Sit down...

- Oh, forget it, darling.
- Uh, sit down.

Sit down.

There's a lot of people around.

[giggles] Joe.

I've only got blue thread.

- Blue?
- Yep. Blue.

Man 1: Train number 19
leaving for De Kalb.

There, there. You hear?
That's your train.

No, that's not my train.
Sit down.

- I'm hard to get rid of.
- Like my right arm.

Only I need you more.

Oh, Kat.

I'll come for you down.

And just as soon as I get
that old bank account up

to the third floor,
and a kitchenette.

Oh, this waiting is awful.

After all, we're human.

Why can't you stay
with your job here?

At least we could--

We've been all through that,
darling.

There's a better job there,
and I'll be saving for us too.

I know.

Man 1: Train number 27
leaving for Galesburg

and all points West.

[train chugging]

Give me some of those
peanuts too.

Yes, sir.

- How much for that smellum?
- That one there?

Take it easy on yourself now.

[laughs]
Four dollars.

Not for me, wise guy. It's for
a girl. How much altogether?

Five even.

I got you a little mementum.

"Memento," darling.
"To," not "tum."

How often have I told you?

It's a habit from wearing braces
on my teeth when I was a kid.

You're still a kid.
A lot of you is.

And I love it.
I love you.

I got a memento for you, too.

Look inside.

Joe: "Henry to Katherine."

It's my mother's wedding ring.
I was named after her.

So I...

Turn it around.

Joe: "Katherine to Joe."

Oh, Kat...

I guess I'll have to wear it
on my little finger.

[train whistle blows]

Man 2: All aboard!

I'll come for you soon.

Soon, Joe. Soon.

[rain pattering]

[bell ringing]

[train chugging]

[train whistle blowing]

[dog barking]

Hello, stranger.

Yeah, think you're smart,
don't you?

How do you like this, big shot?

How's that? Hmm?

You look the way I feel.
Lonely and small.

Come on.

Shh. Quiet.

Ah, that Charlie,
always leaving the light on.

Charlie: Come on straight ahead.
You're welcome back.

- No, Charlie, now, I'm alright.
- Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.

Come on, hold it now. Hold it.

Alright, Charlie,
where'd you get the dog?

There's no dog.
You're drunk.

- So you went to a movie, huh?
- Hello, Joe.

- Katherine get away alright?
- Yeah.

Ah, that's fine. I'm fine too.

[laughs]

I feel awful.

Joe: Now, listen, Charlie--

We just had a couple of drinks
after the show.

The kid's gotta have some fun.

He just can't take it.
That's all.

Who said I can't take it?
I'm alright.

Alright, Tommy. Sure, you are.
Alright, kid.

Even Mr. Donelli said
I was alright.

Oh, Donelli, huh?

Alright.
I've been waiting for it.

You are waiting for the
undertaker or the cops,

with kind of the life
you're leading.

Running errands
for that racketeer.

Now let me tell you
something, Charlie.

You're gonna leave Tom
out of it.

Joe, I know, I know.

We met Donelli,
and he invited us up

for a couple of drinks.

Ain't it better that
Tom meets someone that

can do him some good?

Do him some good?

I'm only glad mom and dad
aren't here to see kind of good

you're doing yourself.

Oh. Can that Sunday-school talk.

You think I'm gonna ride
to heaven on $30 a week

from some sweatshop?

Be a working stiff all my life,
like you?

- Ah, times have changed.
- You bet times have changed.

The people are against
you monkeys now.

[scoffs]

The people ain't doing
so good either.

I don't know
what's so hot about you.

Crazy in love with a swell gal

and can't make enough
to get married.

Leave Katherine out of it!

Oh, you leave me out of it.
Stop living my life for me.

I wouldn't live your life
for all the money in the world.

Charlie: Okay, Reverend. Okay.

[instrumental music]

[switch clicks]

♪ To the buryin' groun' ♪

♪ Massa don't you cry ♪

♪ Oh carry me 'long ♪

♪ There's no more trouble
for me ♪

♪ I'm gonna roam
to a happy home ♪

♪ Where all the doggies
am free ♪

♪ I've worked long
in the fields ♪

♪ I've handled many a hoe ♪

♪ I'll turn my eye
before I die ♪

♪ And see the sugarcane grow ♪

[instrumental music]

Katherine: "Memento," darling.
"Memento."

[music continues]

[puppies whimpering]

Soon.

[knocking on door]

Come in.

It's a special delivery
this time, Miss Grant.

- I hope nothing's happened.
- Oh, no.

They come faster
than when I was a girl,

but I guess
the insides don't change.

- He's coming, Mrs. Whipple!
- No.

Wedding, marriage license.

He's bought a car. Look.

Be sure and kiss Katherine
for me.

Happy landings, fella.

Don't let the Indians
get you out there.

[ululating]

You keep your chin clean.
Look after the kid.

You can trust me.
Rainbow, take care of Joe.

[engine revving]

- Goodbye, boys.
- So long, Joe.

- Is there gas in it? Alright.
- Yes.

- So long.
- Bye-bye.

[clattering]

[insects chirping]

War and crime.

Strikes, taxes.

And some weenies for his dog,
and an avocado for him.

They call them alligator pears
back East, and cost a fortune.

You think he'll like them?

He won't know what he's eating
for being with you again.

What time will I make lunch for?

I'm leaving for Sycamore Corners
by bus on the main road.

I wrote him to meet me there
at 11 o'clock

at that hot dog stand.

We'll be back by noon, sure.

Golly, Mrs. Whipple,
I can hardly stand it.

Over a year now.

Stop your motor, buddy.

Get both hands up
on that wheel there.

What is this, a holdup?

You wasn't letting
any grass growing

under them tires, was ya?

I wasn't speeding.

And Illinois
license plates, huh?

Yeah, sure. Chicago.

Get that fist up there.

Hey, I haven't got any gun,
if that's what you mean.

Peanuts won't kill you,
will they?

- Salted peanuts?
- Yeah, why?

I ain't answering
the questions, buddy.

You are.
Come on, get out.

Where were you last night,
Mr. Wilson?

If you don't mind.

- I drove all night last night.
- On that old road?

Well, I got lost trying to find
a shortcut to Capital City.

- And the night before last?
- Camping out.

Sorry to take up so much of your
time, but excuse me a second.

- Smoke?
Joe: No, thanks.

Some peanuts?

Well, now you're talking
my language, sheriff.

I've had that habit
ever since I was a kid.

My old man used
to bring them home to me.

I got kinda used to
having them around.

Yes, sir.

Always find peanuts
in my pocket.

Wilson... where did you say
you spent the night before last?

- Camping out.
- Why?

Why? For the...

Hey, is it a crime to get
some fresh air for yourself

when you've been stuck
in a ci...

Hey, look. What am I
suspected of anyway?

- I-- I got a right to know.
- Sure.

Joe: Me? Why, that's the
craziest thing I ever heard.

That'd fit a million men.

Read that.

Hey, am I the only guy
in the world that eats peanuts?

Why, you just...

I never ate peanuts in my life.

Oh.

I get it.

Well, why don't you
check up on me then?

Get my brothers on the phone
in Chicago. They'll tell you.

We'll check, alright.
That's what I'm here for.

Mind showing me what you got
in your pockets, sir?

I should say not. I don't mind,
I mean. He knows what I got.

Keys, handkerchiefs...

my license, money,
what there is of it.

Pipe, tobacco, matches.

- And peanuts.
- Bugs.

[dog barking]

Joe: Quiet, Rainbow.

Check those bills
against the numbers

of these ransom banknotes.

You've come to the right man,
chief.

Sure, he's only gonna
check those, sir?

You're probably right as rain,
Wilson.

[whistling]

Here. Take a look this,
under the five-dollar series.

Q-49677308-Z.

And on his bill the same thing.
Q-49677308-Z.

But that can't be, sir.
That's impossible.

Rip up that car of his. Might be
more of them hidden there.

Man, is this gonna
be a sensation.

Keep it to yourself.

[dog barking]

And keep that dog quiet.

- Good morning.
- Hello.

Anybody here?

Huh? Oh.

Any good-looking young man
from Illinois

looking for a
good-looking girl here, yet?

- Where's the good-looking girl?
- She'll be along in a minute.

Well, the good-looking young
fella ain't here yet either.

He will be.

Well, will you let me
phone Chicago then?

Or better than that,
I can phone my...

Hummel: Phone your what?
- Phone my brothers.

If you're aren't mixed up
with this gang,

it wouldn't be very smart of me
to let you phone 'em.

Oh, look, sheriff. I--
I tell you, I got the bill

some place in change.

I don't know where I got it.

Maybe I got it at a store

or a gas station or some place.

Why don't you take me back
over the road? I can prove...

Not a thing in the car.
Not a thing.

Take care of this stranger,
Frank.

Go through his clothes.

Sure you haven't
forgot anything, Wilson?

Yeah. There's my watch.

The ring. It's too tight.
I can't get it off.

Maybe I could cut it off.
Why not?

I've gotta hold you, Wilson,
for the district attorney.

But you'll get a square deal.

Frank: Come on.

Hummel: You can type
that now, Myrtle.

[dog barking]

Quiet, Rainbow.

- She'll be alright, sheriff.
- Okay.

Looks like we got
a hold of something, sheriff.

Yeah.

I'll be down in the street at
the barbershop if you want me.

Okay.

Jorgenson: Let me tell you,
professor, if you young geniuses

down at the high school
keep tryin' to fill our

children's heads
with radical ideas,

we parents will have
to get a law.

It's not possible to get a law
that denies the right

to say what one believes,
in peace times anyway.

Who says so?

The Constitution
of the United States.

I don't believe it.

You should read it some time.
You would be surprised.

Well, that's enough
of that now, Sven.

I had to read it
to become an American.

You never had to
because you was born here.

Hello, Meyers? Anything new
on this awful Peabody case?

Oh. I don't know.

You public servants
quit playing cards all day,

and maybe you'd bring somebody
to justice once in a while.

What'd you say if I told you
I raked in a guy this morning

that might know something
about them kidnappers? Yeah.

What do you suppose
it is makes people do things

like snatching that kid?

Nutty, I guess. Huh?

Now, I'll tell you.

People get funny impulses.

If you resist them,
you're sane.

If you don't,

you're on your way
to the nuthouse or the pen.

At the taxpayers' expense.

Now, Mr. Jorgenson, you've got
one of the levelest heads

in the county.

Would you believe that
in the 20 years

that I've been stroking this
razor across throats here

that many a time
I've had an impulse

to cut their
Adam's apples wide open?

Just like that.

Yes, sir.

[laughing]

How about it, Hec? Do you
feel an impulse coming on?

An impulse is an impulse.

It's like an itch.
You gotta scratch it.

[telephone ringing]

Hello?

What's that, Hector?

My oldest customer.

And all on account of that
Bugs Meyers from the

sheriff's office telling a
cock-and-bull story

about his capturing one of that
Peabody kidnapping gang.

I got something
on the stove, precious.

Call you back. Bye-bye.

[dramatic music]

Mrs. Tuttle! Mrs. Tuttle!

- Of all things.
- For mercy's sake, what is it?

Just wait till I tell you.
My husband just phoned.

Said they've arrested a man.

And they think he's
one of the kidnappers.

Oh!

[indistinct chatter]

[music continues]

Fanny!

That barber's wife says
this morning they caught

a man on the old road
who... they suspect knows

something about
this kidnapping.

I got it on the highest
authority that they arrested

one of that kidnapping gang.

- You don't say.
- Oh, God.

He tried to escape,
but they captured him alright.

- I'll have three of those.
- Oh, come on.

- And a pound of prunes.
- What's his name?

- Who was he?
- What else?

Well, I can't tell you any more.

It was told me in the
strictest confidence.

Well, now, Fanny, that
isn't fair. Please. Come on.

But, darling, you know
I'm as silent as a tomb.

[instrumental music]

But are you sure
he's not innocent?

My dear young woman,
in this country

people don't land in jail
unless they're guilty.

[whip cracks]

My wife's sister called up
and told her that

a friend of hers told her
that this guy acted

as cocky as a bronco about it.

All he'd answer was,
"Let me phone my lawyer."

[laughs] Sure. That's the racket
of those bigtime attorneys.

Helping these skunks
beat the law.

Well, they won't beat it
with any jury I'm ever on, sir.

And if all us people just had
the courage of our convictions,

these vermin would vanish like,
like spit on a hot stove.

[intense music]

[indistinct chatter]

Set them up for the boys, Oscar.
Four beers.

Last time after you played
that slot machine,

it was full of telephone slugs.

Now, ain't that a shame.

[laughs]

Say, Dawson,

I hear they gave that guy your
favorite cell down at the jail.

Yeah, well, next time I'm in,
it'll be for beating you up.

Alright, big shot.

[laughs]

You know, while I didn't vote
for Hummel for sheriff,

his promptness in catching this
kidnapper is most commendable.

They can't bring him to trial
any too quickly to suit me.

- If you don't mind.
- Well, excuse me for living.

- Ah, Mr. Pippen.
- Oh, hello, George.

By the way, I have some fine,
new English flannel.

- Later, Durkin, later.
- Yes, as you wish.

My usual, Oscar.

We were discussing down at the
Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

We were discussing
at the luncheon about

what a great publicity break--

[knocking on table]

What a great publicity break
our capturing this

Chicago fellow is gonna give our
little city,

assuming, of course, the
citizens, the leading citizens,

see that...

See that he's brought
to justice.

Well, we'll take care of that,
alright, alright.

We'll go to the sheriff,
and we'll get it from him.

Boys, that's a great idea.
I'll go with you.

Hey! Hey, jailer. Jail...

Has the sheriff
phoned my brothers yet?

I don't know,
but you'll hear something

one way or the other
in due time.

I'm trying to locate the
district attorney.

We'll get the truth
as soon as possible.

But till we do,
one way or other,

I've no right
to make a statement.

Ordinarily, sheriff, yes.

But there's a pretty nervous
feeling about town.

Yes, sheriff.

And the community feels, uh,
they think that they--

We've got a right to know
about this kidnapper.

I don't know yet that he is
a kidnapper, so neither do you.

What are you trying to do,
Hummel? Protect this weasel?

That's pretty comical,
you cockroach.

You teaching me law and order.

You've been stirrings up
only trouble

for law and order hereabouts

ever since you put on
long pants.

Anything more I can do
for you, gentlemen?

- Well, here, let me talk--
- No offense meant.

I'm sure, sheriff,
we can count on you

keeping everything shipshape,
I'm sure.

Good afternoon.

But I would like to...

Good day, sheriff.

- Bye, sheriff.
- Well, good day.

It's an outrage that a man can't
stand up for law and order--

Men do stand up for it.

I'll tell you one thing, Hummel.

My friends won't be satisfied
with what those pillars

of society have to tell them.

An attack on a girl hits us
ordinary people where we live.

And we're gonna see that
politics don't cut any ice.

I'm gonna see that a lot of
half-baked rumors don't either.

Now hightail out of here
and behave yourself

or I'll have the county take you

and all your relatives
off the dole.

[scoffs]

[intense music]

[glass shatters]

Hummel: Myrtle, get the governor
on the phone.

I'll have the
National Guard ready

for any merited emergency.

Oh, I'm sure you will.

Now then keep me informed.

I hope nothing's happened.

It's the first time he's ever
come West, so maybe--

Well, I ain't heard of anyone
being tomahawked or scalped

in the neighborhood
for sometime now.

The sheriff's wrong
not to give us the facts.

What'd they rip his car up
behind the jail for

unless it was to
find some of that ransom dough?

I've heard there was $5,000
in tens, twenties, fifties--

- Ten thousand, they told me.
- That was a lot of money.

I heard the first thing
he did was

phone Chicago for his lawyer.

That's always the first thing

a guy like that will do.

Maybe he gave the money to the
sheriff to go free on bail.

Oh, shut up, Goofy.

There's Bugs Myers outside now.
He ought to know.

- Let's ask him.
- That's an idea.

Bring him in
and give him a drink.

Come on, gang.
Let's go and get him.

[clamoring]

Remember, just one.

Hooray for Bugsy!

All: Hurray!

[all cheering]

- Give us the dope, Bugsy.
- Come on, Bugs.

- He knows all about it.
- Say, what's biting you fellas?

What do you wanna know?

There's a little argument about

the-- the amount
the sheriff found

in that kidnapper's car.

- Yeah.
- Oh.

[laughs] Well, I hate to
disappoint you guys--

Man 3: Come on, Bugsy.

We didn't find
nothing in the car.

We ripped it up,
but there was--

Go on, go on, we know you found
that ransom money in that car.

Yeah, ten grand
hid under the seat.

Ten grand, me eye.

Why, all this fella Wilson had
on him of the ransom money

was one five-dollar bill.

There on, who does that make
a liar out of?

Wait till I shove this down
the sheriff's throat.

Come on, boys. Let's give
him a little serenade.

- Yeah, Dawson's right.
- Attaboy!

[all clamoring]

Quiet. Quiet, I say! Quiet!

Everybody's getting too excited.

The sheriff's okay.

- This is none of our business.
- No?

Well, I'll tell you,
if I lived in this town,

I'd make it my business.

What are you eggs?

Soft-boiled, that you don't
stick up for a kidnapped girl?

- Who are you?
- Just passing through.

I've been up to Capital City,

strike-breaking
for the streetcar company.

Maybe you need
some help here, too.

- Not from a mug like you.
- Now lay off, Garrett.

The sheriff made a monkey
out of you, too, didn't he?

This guy is right.

We ought to be
ashamed of ourselves

letting a stranger
show us the ropes.

[all clamoring]

Come on, fellas,
let's go get him. Come on!

[clamoring continues]

Hey. Come on,
let's have some fun!

[all cheering]

[all clamoring]

[dramatic music]

Where's that special deputy list
I made out?

Did I tell you to call up the
gov... Wait a minute.

Here, Myrtle, first, call up the
men I've checked on that list.

Get out the tear gas bombs.

- Two apiece.
- Right.

[dramatic music]

Sheriff, we wanna talk
to this Wilson guy.

Crowd: Yeah!

Boys, keep out of this.

There's no positive proof
that the man you want to...

talk to is guilty.

[crowd laughing]

Or innocent either.

The district attorney
is checking on him now.

But whichever he is, he's under
the protection of the law.

[man whistles]

[crowd booing]

As long as I stand here,
you can yell yourselves hoarse.

But you won't see this man.

Man 4: Then you won't
stand there long.

Man 5: We'll move you.
Man 6: Yeah!

Well, then, I ought
to tell you men

the National Guard
is on its way.

Orders to stop, sir, telephoned
from the governor's office.

- Stop? But...
- Why, Will?

Because people always resent
troops moving in on them.

Hurts their pride.

When the papers phoned me about
this little ruckus in Strand,

I was able to
calm them down, alright.

But knowing how
conscientious you are, Bert,

I came right over.

It's a mighty good thing
I was in time to stop you too.

You know, you could cut our
political throats

with this tin soldier stuff
in an election year.

You, Freddy Garrett,
Durkin, Lopez, Walker,

Johnson,
all of you, go home.

You're gonna wind up
being sorry for this.

Think of your families.

You stick in with this
kidnapper, Milt Grimes,

and you'd better
not come home tonight.

[crowd laughing]

You elected me to do my duty,
and I'm going to do it.

♪ There's Popeye
the sheriff man toot-toot ♪

[laughs]

You're diving in over your
heads, men. Listen to reason.

Stop acting like a
lot of hysterical...

[crowd jeering]

I'm warning you!
Don't make me use force.

You're not up
against just us here.

More deputies,
with tear gas and rifles--

[all clamoring]

Hey! Hey, jailer! Jailer!
Come here, will you?

Hey, jailer!

Jailer! Jailer!

Have the sheriff inform my girl,
will you?

She's the one
I wanted to call up.

I-- I just didn't wanna get her
mixed up in this thing.

That's all.
She can tell you who I am.

Ten cents.

Man 7: Hey, buddy! Hey!

Hey, is this the way to Strand?

- Straight ahead.
- Okay, thanks. Keep going.

Boy, them newsreel guys
are sure on their toes.

They must have found out
about this before it happened.

I phoned where I live.
There's no word of him.

Oh, he had a puncture,
I suppose.

Everything will be alright.

The things that happen,
the bus driver just told me

they got somebody they suspect
of that kidnapping at Strand.

A fella named Joe Wilson.

And the mob there is trying
to make him confess.

Joe Wilson? But...

Joe...
That's impossible.

He never hurt a hair on
anyone's head in his life.

Where's the car?
I've got to go there.

Lend me your car, please?
I've got to go to him.

- Oh, miss, the boys got my car.
- When's the next bus?

They ain't no more.

What'll, what'll I do?
I've-- I've got to go.

Don't you understand?
I've got to go to him.

Won't you help me?

[all clamoring]

[laughs]

Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy,
what a shot this is.

We'll sweep the country
with this stuff.

Oh, the film's gone. Reload.

And be sure and use
that hypersensitive film.

Holy smoke!

Come on, Bill, make it snappy.
And get me that two-inch lens.

[crowd clamoring]

Hummel: Lock the door.

Man 8: Open the door!

Man 9: I can get them
through the window.

We'll bust 'em in.

- More bombs!
- We're almost out of bombs.

- Where's them National Guards?
- Where's Ralph?

- Here.
- Where's Milt?

- His wife took him home.
- Why, the yellow...

Wait a minute.

What does that silence mean?
Quiet.

All: Heave ho!
Heave ho! Heave...

Get filing cabinets, desks,
line them up against that door.

Stop! Please, stop!

[engine revving]

[all grunting]

Jailer! Jailer! Can't anybody
hear me? Let me out!

I'll talk to them!

Let me out! Give me a chance!

Let me talk to them!
Give me a chance, will you?

Can't anybody hear me?

[door thudding]

[grunting]

[crowd cheering]

[indistinct yelling]

[indistinct yelling]

- Up to the cells, men.
- Come on!

- Keys, Lem.
- I ain't got them.

Nothing's gonna
happen to you, Lem.

We want those key.
All we want is this guy, Wilson.

Man 10: We know you got
them keys on him.

Lem: I ain't got them,
I tell ya!

- We want those keys.
- Where are they?

[indistinct yelling]

Get a post.
We'll break it down!

Yeah, that's it!

We haven't got time. The
National Guard will be here.

- Let's smoke him out.
- Yeah, he's right.

Let's go, men.
Come on, let us get some wood.

[clattering]

Man 11: Hope you like
baked potatoes, Wilson.

[laughter]

- Hey!
- There goes his dog!

Give me some of them books, sir.

Hey, come back here! Come here.

- Oh, let the dog go!
Man 12: Get it down!

Man 13: Hey, Wilson, they can't
parole you out of this.

[crowd laughing]

Hello, Rainbow.

Let him have it.
Stay away, girl.

Man 14: Stay away.
Man 15: Stay away.

[fire crackling]

Looks bad, Rainbow.

Looks bad.

Man 16: There he is!

[crowd gasping]

I am the resurrection
and the life, saith the Lord.

I am a stranger with thee

and a sojourner,
as all my fathers were.

Oh, God, forgive him
and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them
who trespass against us.

Man 17: Run in back, Wilson.
Get back there!

What are you looking for,
the Peabody girl?

Get back!

[indistinct yelling]

No.

Jiggers!
The soldiers are coming!

- Soldiers are coming!
- Soldiers!

[all clamoring]

- Let's beat it.
- Wait! I've got an idea.

- They'll never get him out.
- That's the stuff.

After this dynamite, they
won't be able to find the jail.

- Wait! Here's somebody!
- Help her up!

[explosion]

Why, the very spirit of
government has been violated.

The state disgraced
in the eyes of the world

by this brutal outburst
of lust for vengeance.

And I blame myself.

I let you talk me down.

Why, that mob
could have been stopped

if assistance had been
sent to local officers in time.

Oh, forget it.

The reformers will cuss around
for a while and then

they'll start cussing
something else.

These letters and telegram
is backing up

the statement I gave out.

Congratulations,
90 percent of them.

"Finest thing
we've heard of in years."

"Congratulations."

I wonder what sort of telegrams
we'll get

when it's known that Wilson
was an innocent man.

Well, when I gave out the
statement, I didn't know that.

This story is on every wire
in the world right now.

Yeah, yeah.
Now he's innocent. Yeah.

I can't get it out of my head.
I can't get any sleep.

When I close my eyes, I...

I can't understand
why we haven't

heard anything from Katherine.

Ah, she's like all the rest.

He gets in trouble,
and she takes a run-out powder.

When I think how-- how happy he
was when he left here.

Oh, stop it!

[puppies whimpering]

Hey, what are you doing here?

You better go back.

- Any of that milk left, Tom?
Tom: What?

Oh, yes.

There. Come back over here.

Here.

If I could only
get at them rats...

If I could only
get my hands on them...

We're going out there, Tom.
We're gonna get them skunks.

We're gonna kill them the way
they killed Joe.

Whatever you say, Charlie,
And whenever.

Joe: That's five-and-ten-cent
store talk.

Joe!

Joe.

Pull down that shade.

Pull down the shade!

Turn out that light!

Do you know where
I've been all day?

In a movie.

Watching a newsreel

of myself
getting burned alive.

I watched it ten times,
or twenty, maybe.

Over and over again.
I don't know how much.

The place was packed.
They like it.

They get a big kick out of
seeing a man burned to death.

A big kick! [scoffs]

What an explosion.

It blew the cell door off,

and it killed... Rainbow.

I got out down a rain-pipe.

I almost burned my side off.

I could smell myself burn.

Oh, it's awful. I feel like
thanking God or something.

Did you get,
did you get burned bad?

Yeah, but that don't hurt me
because you can't hurt

a dead man and I'm dead.

Everybody knows that.
The whole country knows it.

Yeah, I'm dead, see?

You remember me
preaching to you

to be decent and to live right?

Live right. [scoffs]
I tried it.

I tried to like it.

And people.
But they won't let you!

Charlie, you were right.
Donelli was right.

Everybody was right but me.
I was wrong.

But I know now,
and I'll get them.

Sure, we'll get a lawyer
and have 'em--

What? Arrested,
for disturbing the peace?

Or for setting fire
to a jail, maybe?

Oh, no,
that's not enough for me.

I'm burned to death
by a mob of animals.

I'm legally dead.
And they're legally murderers.

That I'm alive
is not their fault.

But I know them.
I know a lot of them.

And they'll hang for it.

According to the law, which says
if you kill somebody,

you gotta be killed yourself.

But I'll give them the chance
they didn't give me.

They'll get a legal trial
in a legal courtroom.

They'll have a legal judge
and a legal defense.

They'll get a legal sentence
and a legal death!

But I can't do it myself.

You'll have to do it for me.

You see that?

I tore it out of a law book

in the public library.

My husband says

it would be a blessing

if the community would forget

what happened.

It just leaves a bad taste,

and it reminds everyone of what,

as the minister said Sunday,

would be better forgiven

and forgotten.

[doorbell ringing]

The mailman was just here.

[doorbell ringing]

Shall I go?

Yes, yes, I'm coming.

Oh, it's you, Mrs. Garrett.
Come in.

Have you heard anything
from the hotel?

Fred's been down at that
investigation for so long.

I wondered if your husband
had phoned,

or, or anything. [sobbing]

Oh, there, there, there.

Don't worry,
Mrs. Garrett, don't worry.

Nobody's going
to cut off their nose

to spite their face,

naming names in this...

I know, but if somebody does
talk, then what'll happen?

Nobody's going to talk.

The responsible businessmen
have decided

it's a community
and not an individual thing.

So everybody's got
to stick together

against this district attorney.

The whole town's tongue-tied.

Under wraps.

Protecting its own, naturally.

But ask anybody,
they'll tell you that

Joe was there all that time.

Before I can charge anybody
with murder,

I have to prove that a murder
was committed.

And I can't even find
anyone who will swear

that at the time
the jail burned,

your brother was in it at all.

Sorry, boys,
but I've got to go back tonight.

Come on, I don't believe
she ran out on him.

We got an hour till train time,
so we might as well try.

We can ask, anyway.

I'll do the talking.

Miss Grant live here?

She's very sick.
She can't talk to anyone.

- Our name's Wilson. We're--
- Oh, his brothers.

Come in, come in.

Hello, Katherine.

Katherine!

- It's Charlie.
- And Tom.

This is the way she's been
ever since she came home.

Katherine,
don't you remember us?

We came from Joe...

We're Joe's brothers.

- Joe, Katherine.
- You see?

It's the same as ev...

Land sakes!
Excuse me a second.

I've got broth on the stove.

Charlie, look. She is sick.

Maybe if we tell her
Joe's alright--

- Shut up!
- She can't hear.

But it's not fair to her not
to know. It might help.

No, no. Let me think.

No. No! No!

Joe! Joe!

No, it's Charlie.

Charlie, Katherine, and Tom.

- What is?
- Shh.

Joe's brothers.

Try and remember, Katherine.
Joe's brothers.

Charlie?

Tom?

Oh, Charlie.

I saw him.

I saw him.

Behind those flames...

in that burning jail.

His face...

There, dear heart,
it's all over now.

The witness.

I'll make them suffer.

I'll get them now, alright.

Joe, why'd you have to come
here to Capital City?

Why didn't you stay in Chicago?

Your pictures will be
in all the papers

once the trial starts,
somebody will see you.

Yeah, nobody will see me
because I'll be hiding.

I had to be here on the scene.

Did you think I was going to
wait for letters from you?

- No.
- Charlie, I think Joe's right.

It's natural
to him wanting to hear

everything as soon as possible.

And maybe someday
he'll wanna see Katherine.

Get this and get it straight.

Katherine's not
to know that I'm alive.

She'd crack.
She'd never go through with it.

She wouldn't see things
the way I see 'em.

I wanna hear
everything they say.

I wanna see them squirm,
the way they made me.

I wanna see them
at the end of a rope.

Adams, I've got to hold this
party together in this state.

These-- these star-spangled
heroics of yours

will blow it a mile high.

I've got to proceed
with this case

as my oath of office requires.

You and your wife
and that boy of yours...

Adams, you like to eat,
don't you?

Sure, Will.

But some of the things
people have had

to eat in this country lately

haven't agreed with their
stomachs.

But, well, who are you
going to name?

You can't bring a town
full of John Does to trial

just to pull yourself
to heaven on a publicity stunt.

John Doe is not

going to trial, Will...

but 22 citizens of Strand

who I can prove are guilty

of murder
in the first degree.

Because the law declares
that in a lynching

all who consent to the design

are responsible
for what took place.

All who participate
are responsible for the act.

This may seem harsh,

but when a mob
takes it upon itself

to identify, try,

condemn and punish...

it is a destroyer
of a government

that patriots have died
to establish and defend.

Every decent person
in this country

feels the importance
of this case.

The nation is hanging
on the outcome of this trial.

No lynching can be justified,

though, sometimes
attempts are made

to whitewash them

by citing the confessions of

or proofs of guilt against,

the by now silent corpse.

But no one can dare defend

the lynching of an innocent man.

American democracy

and its system of fair play

for the rights of individuals

under the law is on trial here,

ladies and gentlemen
of the jury.

To this end, you must be guided

not only by your common sense

but by your patriotism.

[indistinct chatter]

As counsel for
these defendants, Your Honor...

ladies and gentlemen
of the jury...

I must point out that my clients

are not on trial for treason

against any philosophy
of government

as our esteemed district
attorney seems to think.

They're on trial for murder.

A charge you will see vanish
into thin air here

as the state, to cover up its
own criminal negligence,

and not protecting
this innocent man he speaks of,

proceeds in this savage attempt

to kill as scapegoats

these 22 bewildered souls.

[applause]

These defendants have pleaded

not guilty
to the charge of murder.

We're ready, Your Honor.

Are you ready, Mr. Adams?

With the permission of the court

and of my friends
for the defense

and their experienced associate

brought from
the City of New York,

I'll reverse the usual
order of procedure

and instead of establishing
the crime itself,

first establish the whereabouts

of the accused
during the commission thereof.

As its first witness,
the state calls Edna Hooper.

Raise your right hand and place
your left on the Bible.

Do you solemnly swear that
you'll tell the truth

the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, so help you God?

- I do.
- Be seated, please.

- Your name?
- Miss Edna Hooper.

Your residence, Miss Hooper?

23, Catalpa Avenue, Strand.

Strand is the town, is it not

in which this lynching
took place?

Objection! Object as
to his incompetence.

Question assumes
a fact not in evidence.

Sustained. Strike it out.

I will reframe the question.

Strand is where
the jail burned down

on the night of October 26th,
is it not?

Yes, but I certainly
had nothing to do with the...

You're not on trial,
Miss Hooper.

Your occupation in Strand,
please?

I am a couturier
and a modiste.

By couturier and modiste,
you mean

you're a dressmaker, do you not?

It's just the difference
between a dress shop

and a gown shoppe.

[laughing]

On the afternoon and evening
of the day in question,

Miss Hooper, you were employed

in your capacity
as a couturier

in the home of Frederick Garrett

in Strand, were you not?

Hooper: I was.

Adams: Who was in the house
beside yourself?

The baby
and Mr. And Mrs. Garrett.

And this Mr. Garrett

is the same Frederick Garrett

who is one
of these defendants here?

Yes.

Will Frederick Garrett
stand, please?

This man, charged with murder,

is the Frederick Garrett who...

by the testimony of your
eyesight, Miss Hooper,

was at home that Saturday
afternoon and evening, then?

Yes.

I will remind the witness

that she is under oath...

and ask her again.

Edna Hooper,
will you swear

that during
the hours when this indictment

charges that this defendant,
Frederick Garrett,

among others,
murdered Joseph Wilson,

will you swear
that during those hours

Garrett was peaceably
in his own house?

- Yes.
- Oh, dear.

That's all. Thank you.

You can go.

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, Miss Hooper, isn't it true
that for years

you've been
a close friend of,

and, before she married,
roomed with

Mrs. Garrett?

Don't answer that!

But this is a witness
for the state, sir,

not for the defense.

I'm sorry,
I simply meant to object.

I withdraw the question.

[indistinct chatter]

Miss Franchette,

you are then the proprietor,

as well as the hostess

of the Green Light Inn?

Well, it's my place,
if that's what you mean.

That's just what I mean.

The list, please.

Will the defendants
whose names I read stand?

Dawson, Piper,

Lopez,

and Durkin.

Miss Franchette,
do you recognize these men?

I most certainly do.

Did you see them at any time

between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.

on October 26th in Strand?

And, if so, where?

Well, they were all at my place.

In the cafe.

From 6:00 till,

oh, 10:00, 11:00, anyhow.

And what makes
the presence of these particular

men stick in your mind?

Because, for once,

Mr. Dawson paid the bill.

[crowd laughing]

You mean, by Mr. Dawson,

the defendant Kirby Dawson?

Oh, yes.

Two years in jail,

not identified
with any church.

Man 18: Objection!
- Oh, sorry.

I was just thinking out loud.

Yeah.

This defendant, Kirby Dawson,

according to these notes,

also known as Bubbles,

for once, paid the bill.

But he or somebody else
didn't pay you

to concoct this alibi
for him and his friends

by any chance, did they?

- Objection!
- Sustained.

Strike it out.

I wonder if I haven't been
calling

the defense witnesses
by mistake.

His last remark proves

the district attorney
hasn't lost his sense of humor,

in spite of the fact
that during the past five hours

his attempt to establish
the presence of the defendants

at the scene of the lynching
has either failed

or been ridiculed
by the defense.

Wait. Just wait.

Man on radio: Thaddus Hummel,
Sheriff of Strand County,

is now on the stand.

Can you identify any or all
of these defendants

as having been in the mob

that stormed your jail
and burned it,

thereby burning your prisoner
Joseph Wilson to death?

Objection!

To the latter part
of the question as

assuming a fact
not yet proved.

I will change the question to

"Who stormed your jail
and burned it," then?

No, sir.

I can't identify them.

Can you, then,
tell me the names of anyone,

other then these defendants

among those rioters?

No, sir.

They must have been men
from out of town.

Oh, I see. Foreigners.

I will remind
the jury of the easy habit

of putting on foreigners

events that disturb
our conscience.

Or perhaps it was
a roving band of Redskins.

Indians, I mean.

The only red-skinned thing
I saw was that tomato

that plopped me in the face
and made a fool of me.

[crowd laughing]

[gavel banging]

I must remind the spectators

of the dignity of this court.

An injury you suffered
put you to bed

for a week, sheriff.

How did that happen?

The deputies
that stuck with me...

most of them disappeared,

and I were holding off the mob
as best we could

with tear gas
and rifle butts

when somebody slugged me on the
skull from behind, and I--

You said, "slugged," "tear gas,"

"rifle butts," "mob."

After all, this was
an attempted lynching then!

Man 18: Objection!
- Question was entirely proper!

I disagree!

Your constant use
of the word "lynching--"

If counsel's ears were
as quick as his objections,

he'd know I said
"attempted lynching."

And if the state's evidence

was as breathtaking
as its sarcasm,

which I suggest
is being employed

to hide from the jury

the failure of its own witnesses

to back up its hollow case,
then you...

[clapping] Hooray!

Hollow as a busted jug,
is what it is!

Quiet, will you?

Remove that man.

- Judge, I was just--
- Come here. You're going out.

They hadn't ought
to treat Uncle Billy that way!

Uncle Billy's right!

This is a shame against
the good name of our town.

[gavel bangs]

Bring that man
before the court.

Order in the court.
Quiet.

He won't do nothing to me.
I ain't afraid.

Sit down, you. Sit down!

I will order you held
in contempt

for the fine of $100

or ten days in the county jail,
render the order.

I protest against this
injustice!

The fine will be $200
or 30 days.

But he can't put me in...

Why, all I said was...

A trial for murder

is the most solemn occasion

upon which men can be called

to perform a public duty.

Any further demonstration,

and I shall order
the courtroom cleared.

- Proceed.
- May it please the court.

The state's own witnesses

have not been able to identify

these defendants
as having even been

at the scene of the crime
alleged in the indictment.

We must insist that
the state give us facts

instead of...

tittle-tattle here.

Your Honor,

in the last 49 years

mobs have lynched

6,010 human beings

by hanging, burning, cutting,

in this proud land of ours.

A lynching about

every three days.

And of the many thousands
that comprise these mobs,

only 765 were ever

even brought to trial

because their supposedly
civilized communities

have refused to identify them
for trial.

Thus becoming as responsible,

before God at any rate

as the lynchers themselves.

I did not put these
representative

citizens of Strand on the stand

to prove anything, Your Honor,

and ladies
and gentlemen of the jury,

except that on their oaths

to tell the truth and nothing

but the truth,
so help them God...

they are liars!

[gavel bangs]

And that their contempt of truth

shall not go unpunished,

I shall ask
their indictment for perjury

on the same evidence that
in one minute

will prove the identity
of these defendants

with that of 22 active
members of the mob

that stormed and burned the jail

and lynched Joseph Wilson!

I shall introduce
that evidence now.

Will counsel for the defense
please approach the bench?

[indistinct chatter]

While the judge is hearing
attorney's arguments

over the admission of some
mysterious evidence, folks,

I'll take this opportunity
to remind you

that this broadcast
is brought to you

by the courtesy of
No Make-A Me Fat,

that magic dessert...

Flash! Against the objection
of the defense,

the judge has just admitted
this evidence, whatever it is!

[indistinct chatter]

Stand back, everybody.
Clear the door.

[clamoring]

[gavel bangs]

Hopkins: I warn the spectators

against any demonstrations.

At the slightest
sign of disorder,

I will unhesitatingly
clear this court.

- We are ready, Your Honor.
- Proceed.

By stipulation
with defense attorneys

that this is a true film record

taken at Strand
by Ted Fitzgerald,

in course of employment
as a newsreel cameraman,

I hereby present this film

as state's Exhibit A.

Close the shutters.

- Ready?
- Ready.

- Ready?
- Let it run.

[machine whirring]

Defendant number one,

Kirby Dawson,

who, according to the testimony,

was in the Green Light Inn

during the hours of the
commission of this crime.

A stop action of the scene.

Defendant number two,

Mrs. Sally Humphries,

who, according to testimony,

during the hours of the
commission of this crime

was on the farm of her fiance.

We identify her by stop action
of the same shot.

The first brand that transformed

that jail into a blazing stake

for Joseph Wilson.

The fire department
courageously tried

to extinguish those flames,

but overwhelming numbers
fought them back.

While in the meantime,

the defendant Frederick Garrett

peaceably armed with an ax,

destroyed the efforts
of the officials

to save the life
of an innocent man.

The enlarged stop action--

[screaming]
No, no!

It's not true.

He... He...

- Oh.
- Oh, Mary.

Hopkins: Order in the court!
Order!

Order in the court!

[clamoring]

[clamoring]

[clamoring]

- Come on. We're gonna be late.
- Couldn't get a street car.

There's an awful crowd.

That's all. That's all.

- Do you feel better today?
- Don't worry.

- Second floor. Traffic Court.
- Pardon me.

Excuse me.

[machine whirring]

Man 19: Got a cigarette, Tom?
Tom: Sure.

Peanuts.

Man 20: Judge Hopkins' Court.

Come on.
We're getting out too.

The last, the sheriff,
the jailer, or anyone

else saw of him was
before the fire.

I must insist on my question.

Who proved that Joseph Wilson

was in that jail
at the time it burned?

The jailer threw
the keys down and...

Are you ready
to take the stand?

Man 18: Isn't there the
possibility that the prisoner

angled for those keys
and escaped the back way?

Are you ready
to take the stand?

Man 18: We say that
possibility exists.

It's up to the state
to prove it false.

Is the state prepared
to proceed?

Adams: We call Katherine Grant

to the stand.

Man on radio: Do you solemnly
swear that you'll tell

the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth

so help you God?

Katherine: I do.
Man 21: Be seated, please.

Adams: State your name,
residence

and occupation, please.

Katherine Grant.

I'm a teacher in the
Washington Public School here.

I live at 96, Oak Street.

With your parents, Miss Grant?

My father and mother are dead.

Your relationship
to Joseph Wilson was?

We were going to be married.

Will you tell the jury,
in your own way

what happened on October 26th?

I fixed a little
lunch of things

I thought he'd like.

With flowers on the table...

and some salted...

peanuts.

He always liked peanuts.

Adams: Are you able to go on,
Miss Grant?

Certainly I can go on.

I went to meet him
at Sycamore Corners.

On the way, I bought him
some neckties for a present.

He liked blue.

He never thought of buying

things like that for himself.

And then, I stopped at
the minister's to remind him

that Joe and I would be there

at 4 o'clock,
and not to forget.

We'd been away from
each other so long.

More than a year.

And I... I loved him so...

[radio turns off]

[dramatic music]

Adams on radio: I turn the
witness over to the defense.

Man on radio: Miss Grant,
according to the fact

of psychology

that under great
emotional stress

the mind sees
what it has expected to

whether the thing
is actually there or not.

Is it not possible that you
did not see Joseph Wilson

but only the image of him

your imagination had created
in your head?

No, I saw him. I saw him
burning to death there!

You can see that picture now,
too, can't you?

I'll always see it.

So, perhaps after all,

it was an hallucination
of your tortured mind

that you saw there,

just as you see it here.

What do you want me to say,
yes or no?

I tell you I saw him.

Can you, from your
own personal knowledge,

swear that Joseph Wilson
is dead?

Why, no. That is, yes.

I mean, one can assume--

Excuse me,
but that is exactly what

must not be assumed,
but proved.

The state is asking the lives

of 22 people for one.

I don't care
about the lives of 22 people!

They can't bring back
the one life I cared about.

I only wish I hadn't fainted.

I wish I could have gone in
there to him. With him.

That's all, Miss Grant.

I will remind the jury

that under the law

lives must not be taken
on assumptions

but on facts!

Where is the corpse
of Joseph Wilson?

The law is that the corpus
delicti must be established

at least by fragments
of the human body

or of articles known and proved

to have been worn
by the deceased.

And in the absence
of convincing proof

of the corpus delicti,
Your Honor,

I move that this indictment
be wiped off the records

and the charges against
these defendants be dismissed.

I shall take the motion
for dismissal

under advisement until tomorrow

and hear the state's
arguments then.

[thudding]

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

I have received an object

which, if authentic,

must be considered
as evidence in this case.

As to its authenticity,

I am not permitted
to have an opinion.

However, in order
to present it to you,

I must take the witness stand.

Mr. Clerk,

please swear me.

Do you solemnly swear that
you'll tell the truth

the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth

so help you God?

- I do.
- Please be seated.

This is a special delivery
letter postmarked

in this city at
11:00 p.m. last night

and addressed,
"Judge Daniel Hopkins,

Hall of Justice,
Courtroom 10."

Is this the letter
you received, Your Honor?

It is.

The communication
is not handwritten.

It is formed by letters cut
from a newspaper

and pasted together
to spell words.

It is, ladies and gentlemen,

the confession of a tortured
conscience.

Listen.

"I can't hide
the truth any longer.

I am a citizen of Strand

who helped clean up
the jail mess.

In the ashes,
I found this enclosed ring.

Nobody knew it, so I was

keeping it for a mement...

Memento.

But it is upsetting
my conscience.

I don't dare sign this,

or I would
probably get lynched myself.

A citizen of Strand. "

[indistinct chatter]

I now draw your attention
to this ring.

It's gold, melted and misshapen,

as if by fire.

Inside the ring is an engraved

inscription reading

I can decipher only the words

"Henry to K."

The rest is melted out.

But after that word,
I can plainly read

in a different style
of engraving

"To Joe," obviously meaning--

- Objection!
Hopkins: Sustained.

Since when have anonymous
letters become gospel in law?

Who can say that
ring was actually

the property of Joseph Wilson?

What proof is there
that it was really found

as that concocted letter
would have us believe?

Who sent that letter?

A man afraid to sign his name.

I believe that this fraud

is the fabrication of some soul

poisoned with hostility
toward these defendants!

Adams: The state recalls
Katherine Grant to the stand.

I will remind you, Miss Grant,

you've already sworn
to tell the truth.

Have you ever seen
this ring before?

- Yes.
- Where and when?

In the railroad
station in Chicago.

When I was leaving
to come here.

I gave it to Joe.

What did Joseph Wilson
do with it

when you gave it to him?

He put it on his little finger.

It was too small
for any other finger.

How can you be sure this ring

is the one you gave
Joseph Wilson

and saw him put
on his little finger there?

Because it was my mother's.

It had engraved "Henry,"

my father's name,

"to Katherine," which was
my mother's name too.

After the "Katherine"

I had it engraved...

"To Joe."

And...

[screaming]
I want to confess!

Let me go!

I threw stones at him!

I helped kill him!

I'm guilty!
We're all guilty!

Let me ask her to forgive me!

Please, please, forgive me!

Forgive me! Please.

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury...

Woman 1: Forgive me!

There is your answer
to this case!

That letter cinched it
for us, didn't it?

Yeah, why?

It was certainly lucky for us

that it showed up,
wasn't it?

Stop talking about it.

I mean...

Where does it get you?

Why didn't you tell me
Joe was alive?

What are you talking about?
Are you crazy?

I know he's alive, Charlie.
I know he's alive.

Will you shut your mouth?

You can't keep me quiet.
What's happened to him?

Does he realize what he's done?

Does he realize
what we've all done?

- Where is he?
- You saw him.

You saw him in that fire.
Why ask me?

You testified, not me.
I wasn't there.

Ah, you're losing
your mind again.

Of course.

Of course, you're right.

I don't know what's
the matter with me.

Of course you're right.

He's dead.

But I haven't slept for so long.

I, I want to go.

I can't listen to any more.
I want to go home.

Yeah, yeah, come on.

I tell you it was
that letter you wrote

that made her jump,
I don't know what--

Ah, you're just trying to make
yourself important.

Katherine suspicious?
You're daffy!

I'm daffy?
Take a look at your radio.

I tell you, that letter--

That letter
was the best idea I ever had.

Yeah.

Almost cost me my finger
getting that ring off.

But it was worth it. It would
have been worth the whole hand.

Two hands.

Tom, why don't you stick
with me? You know as well...

Yeah, you're right. What's the
use of fighting with him?

Anyway, she's home now.

We got the landlady
to put her to bed.

That must have been some
sensation

when that woman collapsed, huh?

They could stand seeing
me burned to death, alright.

But they can't stand
a good honest trial.

Cut it out, will you?
I can't stand it!

I can't hear
any more about it.

You should have been there
watching those people.

You didn't see that woman.
You didn't look in their eyes.

Yellow-livered welsher, feeling
sorry for those lynchers, huh?

You're as bad as them.
You're lynching me!

It's getting me too, Joe.

I wish I hadn't started
the whole thing.

I was with you then,

but I got a rotten feeling that
you talked me into something.

And if I could think
of a way out of this mess,

I don't know what I'd do.

Alright, why don't you
snitch on me, both of you?

- Nobody's talking about that!
- I am!

I can't stand it any longer!

Be human, Joe.

We can get out of the country,
we can start over again.

But let's tell them the truth.

Let's tell them you're alive!

I'll kill you first.

Katherine: You might as well
kill me too.

[thunder crashing]

So you told her, you brought her
here, you lying little--

No, Joe. I followed them!

I knew you were alive
when I saw your letter.

Why not kill me, too?
Do a good job of it.

What difference does it make?

Twenty-two, twenty-three,
twenty-five!!

- Listen to me, Joe.
- No!

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean
to talk that way.

Joe, I understand how you feel

and I understand
why you feel that way.

When I thought you were dead...

When I thought of what killed
you, I wanted revenge too.

But now I don't.

Now I want to be happy again.

I want what we've always
promised each other.

You ought to have
a couple of violins

playing when you talk like that.

Well, I know what I want,
and I'm getting it!

But you're hanging 22 people
for something they didn't do.

Oh, no, I'm not,
I'm hanging 22 rats

for something they did do.

- These are 22 human beings.
- Yeah.

- They live and breathe.
- Yeah.

Like me, in the jail,
for instance.

They're not murderers.
They were part of a mob.

A mob doesn't think.
It hasn't time to think.

What about the guy in jail?
He can think, can he?

Alright, now it's his turn.

Now let them know
what it means to be lynched.

Don't you think
they know by now?

Nah!

Don't you realize that what
you've felt for a few hours,

they've had to face
for days and night and weeks?

Wishing, with all their souls,
that they could

have that one day
to live over again.

Joe?

Don't you see?

We can be together and be happy.

Let me go with you
to the judge.

And then we can start
all over again.

Stop thinking
about them, will you?

Why don't you think about me?

I am thinking about you.

About what a swell guy
you were,

when you were alive.

When I was alive?

If those people die,
Joe Wilson dies.

You know that, don't you?

Wherever you go.
Whatever you do.

I couldn't marry you now, Joe.

I couldn't marry a dead man.

Alright, then, alright!

I don't need anybody!

Nobody!

Maybe this is crazy.

But I can't help thinking
we'd all be better off

if you hadn't escaped
from that jail.

So that's what
you can't help thinking, huh?

Well, who cares?

This is a big night for me.

I ought to be out celebrating.

Yeah, and that's
what I'm gonna do too!

Celebrate. Alone!

From now on, I'm gonna do
everything alone.

I don't need any of you!

[thunder rumbling]

[instrumental music]

Hey.

- Yes, sir?
- This stuff's too weak for me.

Will you get me some bourbon,
will you?

Oh, sorry, sir,
but with the kind of license

we have here,
it's against the law.

Alright. Give me the check.

- I'm sorry, sir, if you feel--
- No, no, no, no, it's alright.

It's just, it's too noisy.

I don't like crowded places.

Katherine: Are you planning
to do a lot of running

around in this room?

[instrumental music]

Uh, have a good time.

Oh, and bye-bye.

[music continues]

Come in, mister.

- What's your pleasure be, sir?
- Double bourbon.

Yes, sir.

[clock bell chiming]

Midnight, and another day.

Two pages must've
got hanged together.

[dramatic music]

Katherine: Do a good job of it!
What does it matter?

Twenty-two, twenty-three,
twenty-five!

[music continues]

[footsteps approaching]

[intense music]

Katherine! Katherine!

Katherine, don't leave me alone.

[thuds]

Ladies and gentlemen
of the jury,

have you agreed upon a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

You will hand the verdict
to the bailiff.

We, the jury,
find in the case of the people

of the state versus
the following defendants

charged with the murder
of one Joseph Wilson

as set forth
in the indictment.

Jasper Anderson, not guilty.

Gilbert Clark, not guilty.

Richard Durkin...

guilty.

Walter Dubbs, guilty.

Kirby Dawson, guilty.

Frederick Garrett, guilty.

- Walter Gordon, guilty.
- No, no! I'm not. Not me!

Go ahead, go ahead,
get it over with!

Get it over with!
Get it over with!

[all clamoring]

- Get out of here!
- Get it over with!

[gavel bangs]

Order in the court!

Your Honor, I am Joseph Wilson.

Keep your seats!

Go on.

I know that by coming here

I saved the lives
of these 22 people.

But that isn't why I'm here.

I don't care anything
about saving them.

They're murderers.

I know the law says that they're
not, because I'm still alive.

But that's not their fault.

And the law doesn't know
that a lot of things

that were very important to me,

silly things, maybe,
like a belief in justice

and an idea that
men were civilized...

and a feeling of pride
that this country

of mine was different
from all others.

The law doesn't know
those things were

burned to death
within me that night.

I came here today
for my own sake.

I couldn't stand it anymore.

I couldn't stop
thinking about them,

with every step
and every breath I took.

And I didn't believe Katherine
when she said...

Katherine is the young lady

who was going to marry me.

Maybe someday after
I've paid for what I did,

there'll be a chance
to begin again.

And then maybe...

Katherine and I--

Joe.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]