Vengeance: The Story of Tony Cimo (1986) - full transcript
A story of the lives of a family from South Carolina torn apart after the murder of Bill and Myrtle Moon. Although the killer is caught the judicial system takes too long for the Moons ...
[groovy theme music]
[ominous chord]
NARRATOR: The following
is based on a true story.
[bird sounds]
[ominous chord]
[SEEDY SAXOPHONE SOLO OVER
OMINOUS CHORD]
[70s ELECTRIC GUITAR
SOLO OVER OMINOUS CHORD]
[piped in country music]
Where'd your mom and daddy
go this afternoon, anyway?
Myrtle Beach, I think.
Maybe over to Conway.
Daddy's looking for a new
pair of pants, size 34
to fit a 40 inch waist.
You know how he is.
He swears he hadn't
gained an inch
since he was in the Air Force.
Well, if he's got
a 40 inch waist,
why can't he just admit it?
Especially if the
whole world can see it.
I asked him one
time, why did he
keep trying to shove 40 pounds
of meat into a 20 pound sack?
What did he say?
He told me to hush my mouth.
That it was his
meat and his sack.
[car horn]
Rene.
Oh, I reckon it's my turn.
Hey, Mr. Skelton.
Howdie.
You want your
usual five gallons?
Yeah.
Five gallons is right.
You minding the store
for the folks today?
I sure am.
Go to the bathroom,
Jan, he's back again.
[radio music]
Oh, shoot.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
That boy from down the road.
He shows up here four
or five times a day.
Jan don't like to be in
the store when he's around.
So she goes to the
bathroom til he leaves.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
That boy hadn't been
bothering you, has he?
Well, he acts like
he's better than we
are because he's from New York.
Thinks folks down here
is just country hicks.
But mostly, he's just
down right unpleasant.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
You be careful with that boy.
He goes by the name of Tyner.
Rudolph Tyner.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
Something I can do for you?
- You got white ice scream?
- You mean, vanilla?
Yeah.
white.
Ice cream's in the
freezer there, behind you.
Well, ain't you
going to get it for me?
And a loaf of white bread.
And some white sugar.
Will that be all?
Yeah.
After you put it
in a sack for me.
$4.39.
What about charging?
I can't do that.
What's wrong with
you people down here?
You behind the times.
Well, I reckon we'll just
have to accept that opinion
while we're accepting the cash.
Well, what if I told
you I don't have the cash.
Then I just have
to tell you that you
don't have the groceries.
[car horn]
But you can take
that up with my daddy.
He's back now.
And this is his store.
I was just
fooling around lady.
We're glad you're back.
Look, girls, a gloxenia.
Oh, isn't that nice.
Rene, you know that wonderful
nursery over to Conway?
Yeah.
Hey, What did I tell
you the other day?
I told you I didn't want to see
you in here no more, didn't I?
Cause I'm black and
from up north, right?
Half our customers are black.
And we're proud to have them.
But you.
You're a thief.
Get out.
I caught him shop
lifting the other day.
JAN CIMO: Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Mom.
Sheryl, you're
worse than a fly.
Now you go on over there and
play with the other kids.
- Hi, daddy.
- Oh, hi, honey.
How you doing?
Oh, it's hot.
Goes with the
territory, don't it?
Jan, can I help?
Oh, sure, Brigette.
Uh, you can go get
the lima beans.
There on top of the
stove, next to the pan.
OK.
Where's the napkins?
Oh, lord, I forgot.
I'll get 'em.
If mom remembered to
bring them from the store.
Hey, brother of mine.
Miss Terry.
Aren't you getting excited?
You leave tomorrow.
It's going to be neat.
Hey, daddy, how you gonna
get along at the store
without Terry, here?
You going
someplace, new darlin?
Girl Scout camp.
Well, I don't see how we can
get along without you, honey.
If you give me notice, I
could've sold the store.
I'm going to get you.
I'm going to get you.
- Watch the fire, kids.
Watch the fire.
I'll get you Sheryl.
I'll get you.
Smells good.
This meats about done, Jan.
Kim.
Kim.
Go over there to
green house, and tell,
mama we're just about ready.
All right.
All right.
Well, you youngins stop
playing now, and wash up.
It's time
- Yay!
Yeah!
Mama?
We're going to eat now, mama.
Kim, I know why
they call places
that grow flowers, nurseries.
Flowers need as much attention
and tender loving as babies.
And you know, every time a
customer buys one of them
from me, I get a pang
right here, like I'm
selling one of my own children.
Well, you raised them
from nothing, mama.
You fed 'em, and you
watered 'em, you watched
'em grow up to be beautiful.
They are beautiful,
aren't they.
Mama, I'm going to
make announcement today.
I hoped it would
happen, honey.
Because I want you and Marshall
to be as happy as Tony and Jan,
and Dean and Rene.
But are you sure now?
Are you a hundred percent sure?
A hundred percent, mama.
[laughter]
Dean, you know something,
you are the absolute biggest
chow hound I ever saw.
All right.
All right.
I admit it.
I only married your daughter
because of your barbecue sauce.
Well, thanks a lot.
Just joking, Rene.
Just joking.
Sit down.
Tony, when did you say you're
going to have some time off?
About the middle of next week.
You interested?
Never was a time I wasn't
interested in fishing.
I heard about a spot
over near Georgetown.
Bill, I think Kim
has something to say.
Oh?
Daddy, me and Marshall
want to get married.
Oh, I knew it.
I see.
Now, I was going to come
tell you in private, Mr. Moon.
Ask your permission, I mean.
But, well, I guess she
just did it this way.
Just like a Moon.
I want a wedding right
here in the yard, daddy.
Right under our big
old tree over there.
And I want you to give me away.
And I want to wear
mama's pearls.
Well, well.
Looks like you
thought of everything.
All taken care of.
Decided, I mean.
Except for one thing.
You want to stand up, Marshall,
I got something to say to you.
You couldn't have picked
a better girl, son.
We welcome you to our family.
Woohoo!
Yay!
[whistling]
Why don't we close
up and go home.
What did you have
mind, Mr. Moon?
[clank]
[ominous music]
I want the money.
No.
You get out of here.
Yo, man, you better
give me the money.
No!
You can't have it.
Bill!
My god, what have you do--
Bill!
No.
Please don't do it.
Don't do it.
I beg you, please, don't do it!
[ominous music]
[dog barking]
Jan, would you mind
making us some popcorn,
while I go see what's
got her all riled up?
JAN CIMO: OK.
[dog barking]
Hey, old girl.
What's got you going out here?
Something out here
you don't like?
[ominous music]
It's OK.
It's OK.
JAN CIMO: What was it?
Nothing.
Just somebody walking
down the road.
Come here!
[tire screech]
Yeah?
Is Tony Cimo, home?
My brother lives in that
house, over there next door.
Why?
What's wrong?
Something bad happened
up at your folks' store.
My daughter went in
and she found 'em.
Found 'em?
Tony!
Tony!
Tony, get to the store!
Tony!
Something happened!
Something happened bad!
Tony!
Tony, get to the store, now!
Tony!
Hurry!
Go!
No!
Wait!
Wait!
Wait!
Wait for me, please, Mr. Murphy!
[tire screech]
Before you go in
there, Tony, there's
something you better know.
Your folks, both of
them, they're dead.
[ominous chords]
[ominous saxophone solo]
[sirens]
They're behind the counter.
Tony's in the there.
Mama!
Daddy!
Oh, god.
Brigette, don't look!
Honey, don't!
Ah!
No!
[crying]
[sirens]
And you know, my daughter,
she was the one that found 'em.
Tony.
You all right?
Can you talk?
Yeah, I can talk.
You get any ideas?
You know of anybody
around here could've
done something like this?
Everybody liked my folks.
I can't think of anybody.
But--
But what?
Well, just before my
sister came and got me,
my dog was barking.
I walked outside.
I saw a man walking
down the road.
A black man.
I know someone who lives
here who might have done this.
Where?
He lives about a
mile down that way.
Apparently named Finch.
He's a real troublemaker.
You talking about
a kid named, Tyner?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think that's his name.
SLOCOM: I arrested him two
weeks ago for grand theft auto.
Come down here, from New
York in a stolen car.
Waste of time.
New York refused
to extradite him.
POLICE CAPTAIN: Slocom.
- Yes, sir?
How we doing here?
Captain, I think we
have a suspect that lives
right down the road there.
What are you
standing here for?
- Yes, sir.
- Let's go!
Mitchim, go with him.
Sergeant, come on.
Come on!
Let's move it!
Let's go!
[groovy music]
[sirens]
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Captain says, go
back to the store.
Turn the gun and
shells over to him.
We're going to take them on in.
Now, Benjamin, you be
sure to do what you're told.
Where are you taking him?
County jail.
Wasn't for you,
wouldn't be no law here!
Wouldn't be no trouble!
You understand you are
under arrest for murder?
Yeah.
Only.
I didn't do nothing.
- Don't want to hear you did.
Don't want to hear you didn't.
Just answer my question.
Do you understand, you are
under arrest for murder?
Yeah.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Do you understand that?
Yeah.
But that I ain't my gun.
Anything you say
can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
Do you understand that?
Yeah.
You have the right
to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one, one
will be appointed for you.
[crickets]
[phone ringing]
All right start taking it off.
Strip.
You want my clothes?
What the hell else
would I be talking about?
Take that thing off first.
Come on.
We ain't got all night.
Come on.
Come on.
the shoes.
Would you look at this.
You collect souvenirs,
do you, Mr. Tyner?
He's all yours, Bud.
Thanks.
Close the door, will you?
Sit down.
I don't know much
about this, since I've
just been called in from home.
All I've been told is, two
people, a man and a woman,
were shot gunned to death,
out near Morals Inlet.
And I've been called to come
in and take your confession.
I've got a son almost
your age, and well, I
sure would hate to see him in
the kind of trouble you're in.
You thinking I'm in trouble?
You've been
arrested, ain't you?
And you've been
read your rights,
and I'm fixin' to read
them to you again,
here, before you
start talking to me.
Now, two people are dead, son.
And you're the suspect.
Yeah.
I'm thinking you're in trouble.
Bad trouble.
Trouble I wouldn't
want to see my boy in.
Are you ready to confess?
Now, they say confessing
is good for the soul.
And I can see from here,
your soul needs some help.
And that's how come,
I think, maybe you're
going to tell me all about it.
Yeah, man.
I killed 'em.
[bird sounds]
[phone ringing]
Yeah.
Mr. Dunn.
This is Tony Cimo.
I got your number
from your office.
Bill and Myrtle Moon
were my parents.
I believe you knew them?
Well, yeah.
I knew Bill and Myrtle.
And I'm very sorry, Tony.
I'm much more than sorry.
I really am.
They were good people.
Thank you.
Mr. Dunn, I realize you're
the public defender,
but there are a couple of
questions I need to ask you.
Well, I'm not the public
defender any longer.
I resigned.
- You did?
Then, could I talk to you?
Well, I'm flying
back for the funeral.
TONY CIMO: That's good.
Because I really
need to talk to you.
Would it be all right if I
picked you up at the airport?
Hey, Mr. Dunn?
Oh.
Hi.
Tony?
Yes sir.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Thanks.
Let me take this for you.
- Thank you.
This is my truck over here.
What's on your mind, Tony?
Well, I've got
a lot on my mind.
That's what I wanted
to talk to you about.
But tell me, why did you resign?
I had no alternative.
Everyone has the right
to a defense counsel,
but I couldn't defend him.
I wouldn't defend him.
Mr. Dunn, I love
my parents very much.
We were close.
My whole family's close.
I don't know if you
know this, but Bill, he
wasn't my real daddy.
He married mama when I
was only two years old.
So he's the only
father I've ever known.
And I'll tell you
something, no man on earth
ever loved his son more
than that man loved me.
I'm going to him.
I'm going to miss 'em both.
I'm sure you will.
Well, I got to look
after my sisters now.
That's why I wanted to
see if you could help us.
I'm sure I can, Tony.
But let's talk it
after the funeral.
What do you say?
Thanks.
OK.
My name's Franklin, Tony.
Matthew Franklin.
We all knew your
daddy and your mama.
We're here to pay our respects
because they were fine folks.
Well, thank you.
I appreciate that.
And I know mama and daddy
would appreciate it too.
If there's anything
we can do for you, Tony,
or for the family,
we'd be most pleased.
Thank you.
There's nothing.
But I thank you for the thought.
And I know my sisters
thank you for that thought.
Would you please come in
and say hello to them?
[clanking sound keeping time]
[solemn chords]
REVEREND WEBB: Man
is like a breath.
His days are as a fleeting
shadow that passes away.
In the morning, he
flourishes and sprouts up.
In the evening, he is
cut down and withers.
Oh, Lord, you are gracious
and compassionate.
You are near to your
children when they
call upon Thee in their grief.
You bend down close
to hear their cry
and to steal anguish
of their soul.
In Your abundant
goodness, You did
give us these loved ones, in
whose lives we have rejoiced.
Your richest blessing
we shared with them,
in overflowing measure.
Their sweet
companionship with us.
Their tenderness,
responding to ours,
filled all our days with
beauty and with gladness.
And we praise Thee for
Thy goodness unto us.
We do thank Thee, from
the depths of our hearts
for the years You
have granted them,
in which they brought joy and
comfort into many a heart.
Now their earthly end has come.
We give them back unto Thee
in faith and in submission.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside
the still waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for His Namesake.
Yay, tho I walk through the
valley, of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.
Don't worry
about it, Margaret,
everything's going
to be just fine.
You understand?
OK.
Bye bye.
So long, Joe.
Mr. Dunn.
Hey, Tony.
How you doing?
Good.
Thanks.
Come on.
Let's walk over here and then
we can finish our conversation.
Well, what's foremost
in your mind?
Well, the thing
that worries me,
is all this stuff I see on
TV, and read in the papers,
about how sometimes
these guys get off,
you know, on technicalities
that nobody ever heard of.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
I just want to make sure
that this case doesn't
get thrown out of court.
Ah, Tony, you're projecting.
The trial hadn't begun yet, and
you already seeing him go free.
I just want to make sure
he gets what's coming to him.
You mean the death penalty.
You're damn right.
He murdered my mother and
father for no reason at all.
I've got a wife and kids.
I got sisters.
And two of them got kids.
You mean, you're
afraid of revenge.
Is what you're saying?
Wouldn't you be?
Even before he killed
mama and daddy,
he was harassing my wife
and sister at the store.
Come on, let's sit down here.
Listen, Mr. Dunn,
I'm not against anybody
getting a fair trial because
that's the way it ought to be.
What scares the
hell out of me is,
I guess I'm afraid
the monkeys are
going to be running the zoo.
Well, Tony, the death penalty
is for the jury to decide.
But my faith in our
system, it shows me
that there will be a solution.
Now the state's gonna
prosecutor Tyner,
and I won't be permitted
to have any direct function
in the trial.
But I can explain
everything to you.
I can guide you.
Would you do that?
Would you sit through
the trial with us
and make sure it's as fair
to the people he murdered,
as it is to him?
You got it.
Now, how much do you charge?
Oh, the standard fee
for a monkey in the zoo.
Peanuts.
You got it.
TINY THOMAS: Hey, Cimo.
Yeah.
Come here a minute.
Come here.
I want to talk to
you about something.
You don't know me, but I've
seen you down around Murrells
Inlet at Pawleys Island.
I read all about what
happened to your folks.
And I'm sorry.
I truly am.
Well, thank you.
I appreciate that Mr--
Ah.
My name's not important.
What's important is
what I can do for you.
Well, what's that?
That jail, across the
street from the courthouse--
police, they're gonna
be walking that boy
back and forth between the
two, every day of that trial.
Yeah?
TINY THOMAS: There don't
have to be no trial,
if you don't want one.
I guess I just don't know
what you're talking about.
TINY THOMAS: I'm talking
about an eye for an eye, son.
I'm talking about a high
powered rifle with a silencer,
telescopic sight.
I'm talking about that boy
over lying dead over there
in the street.
And the police never
knowing where it come from.
Stay away from me.
An eye for an eye, Cimo.
The Holy Book itself,
recommends it.
You stay away from me.
[sigh]
[bird sounds]
You are going to
be a gorgeous bride.
Thanks, Rene.
I'm just not sure we
should be doing this yet.
Yes, you should.
It's been over a month.
And now that Tony and
Jan are living here,
it means each of us
can have our own home.
You and Marshall
ought to be together.
[knock on door]
Come on in.
Kimmie, you look beautiful.
Thank you.
They're all waiting.
OK.
Now, you wanted to
wear mama's pearls.
And I know she'd want you to.
Maybe you'll feel her standing
next to you while you wear 'em.
Mama's In my heart, Tony.
Daddy's in my heart too.
They can't get any
closer than they are.
[organ wedding march]
Almighty, and ever
present God, who's presence
is the happiness
of every condition,
and who's favor
hollows every relation.
We beseech Thee to be present
and favorable unto these Thy
servants, that they
may be truly joined
in the honorable
state of marriage
in the covenant of their God.
Courtroom's right up there.
I'll see you in a few
minutes, all right?
You all right, honey?
Mr. Tyner, will you
please approach the bench?
Mr. Tyner, do you
know of anything
this court can do to
assist you in any way
in the defense of your case?
No.
I don't know nothin.
Have you told your
counsel everything
about the case you know?
Yes sir.
Well, the law provides that
not only does your counsel have
the right to make a closing
argument to the jury,
it also provides that you have
a right to make an argument
to the jury within the rules.
I don't understand.
You don't know what
an argument means?
No sir.
How far did you go in school?
11.
11th grade.
And you don't know what
the word argument means?
No sir.
You can talk can't you?
Well, yeah.
I mean, yes sir.
If you disagreed with your
attorney there, on any matter,
you could tell him that
you disagreed couldn't you?
I don't understand.
All right be seated.
I went outside
with my flashlight
because my dog was barking.
And I saw a man walking
down the other side
of the road toward Conway.
I didn't think anything of it.
You know, a man walking
down the road there.
I had no way of
knowing that my mom
and daddy had just been killed.
Tony, thereafter,
did one of your sisters
happen to come to your place?
Yes sir.
My sister, Bridgette.
She-- she lives next door to us.
She was screaming,
Tony, go to the store.
Something bad's happened.
When I got to the store, Bob
Perkins was standing there.
And he said, Tony,
they're both dead.
What did you do then?
TONY CIMO: Well,
I went in a store.
When I went in, first thing I
saw was their blood all over.
When I got behind
the counter, I saw
mama and daddy laying there.
Daddy was thrown back
against these feed sacks,
and mama was laying on her side.
She was still holding
one of her plants.
And there was blood
all over the leaves.
He said, yeah man,
I killed those people.
So I turned the
tape recorder on.
Read him his rights.
I said, tell me about it.
RUDOLPH TYNER (ON
RECORDING): He needed money.
So me and Ben, we slipped
his brother's shot gun
out one of the windows
so his daddy wouldn't
see us leaving with it.
And we went off down the road.
And not many cars on
the road at night,
you know, but every time
one would come along,
I laid the shot gun
down in the weeds.
Well, we got there,
and Ben standed--
I mean, he standed
outside of the door.
So when I got inside,
I went in there
and I told the man
I needed some money.
And he said, no.
I had the shot gun down now.
But when he said I
couldn't get it now,
I was trying to scare him.
So I point it at him.
So when he say no, I
wasn't gonna get no money,
I figure if I shot
him in the arm,
maybe I would get the money.
The lady, she started
hollering and screaming
and I called nervous.
Then, I was thinking
to myself, well,
she might tell the police.
And I get all worried.
And maybe if I shot her too,
maybe I'll be all right.
And then, when I shot her,
she fell to the ground.
And I turned around
and I pick up the $25.
Rudolph, you recall being
read anything about the Miranda
warnings, or your rights?
As far as I
remember now, I don't.
Now, you've already
testified as to the officers
taking you in the room, and they
made you take your clothes off
and searched you.
Right?
Yes sir.
Now, did they
mistreat you anyway?
Well, I thought
to myself I was.
Now, you're speaking of them
taking the clothes off of you.
Right?
RUDOLPH TYNER: Yes sir.
Wait just a minute.
Did they take them
off, or did they
just tell you to take them off?
Well, they told
me to take them off.
And you took them off?
Yes sir.
Go ahead from there.
But Rudolph, other than
that, did they mistreat you?
Well, when the policeman, he
slammed the money on the table,
when he did that, I thought he
was getting violent with me.
He just confessed to
the murder of two people.
And he calls that violent?
His attorney is
concerned that maybe
his civil rights were violated.
Doctor, do you have
an opinion as to Mr.
Tyner's mental
ability, to conform
his behavior to the law?
Yes, I do.
What is that opinion?
Mr. Tyner has no
desire, and no ability,
to conform to the
law, or obey the law.
He does exactly what he wants
to do, when he wants to do it.
PROSECUTOR
LITTLEJOHN: If he does
something that is in
violation of the law,
does he understand that?
PSYCHIATRIST CAMP:
Oh, he understands
that it's in
violation of the law,
but it is of no concern to him.
[crickets]
What are you thinking about?
He just sits there
in court and grins.
I mean, they've
already established
he's not too bright.
I mean, his IQ is
way down there.
Somewhere around 79,
I think they said.
What's how bright he is
got to do with anything,
when they've already
said he knows
the difference between right
and wrong and don't care?
Well, that's what
the courts are for,
Tony, to talk it all out.
Yeah, well, he you can't talk.
All he can do is show
teeth like a rabid dog.
And they kill rabid dogs because
there ain't no help for them.
If I'd had my gun that night.
I could've shot him.
And that man came up to me,
and offered to kill him.
I could've said, yeah, go ahead.
Go ahead and do it.
Then, we wouldn't have
to go through all this.
Are you sorry you did?
I don't know.
It's where it's supposed
to be, in court.
But I'll tell you
something, if he goes free
on some technicality, or
even gets a life sentence,
I'll never rest easy.
Not with him walking
around and my mama
and daddy dead in their graves.
Well, he's already confessed.
I mean, how could they give him
anything but the death penalty?
Darlin, what world
are you living in?
They do it everyday.
JUDGE KINON: Madam Forelady,
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury, if you've
all reached a verdict,
would you please
pass it to the clerk?
Case 78-gs26-59, the
state versus Rudolph Tyner.
Indictment for armed robbery,
criminal conspiracy, murder,
and murder.
Verdict?
Guilty as charged.
As you know, this
is a bifurcated trial.
And the first phase
is now concluded.
Court is now in recess until
9 o'clock Monday morning.
Mr. Littlejohn, thank you.
Tony, what's Monday morning?
I thought this would be the end.
No, Kimmie, this is just
the first part of a trial.
Well, you knew that.
But they covered everything.
And that jury found him guilty.
What more can there be?
It's a bifurcated
trial, honey.
I don't remember
what that word means.
It means, in two parts.
You mean he still
gets another trial?
Well, it's automatic.
You see, the first trial,
was to determine whether he
was guilty or innocent.
Now, in the second
trial, they'll
take additional
testimony in regard
to aggravation and mitigation.
So the jury can
determine the sentence.
But they just
found him guilty.
Why can't they determine
the sentence based on that?
What are they going to do now?
Find him guiltier?
JIM DUNN: Yeah.
So to speak.
But in the second
part, the jury will
decide if there are reasons that
he should be sentenced to die,
or reasons that he should
be allowed to live.
I just felt that they went
over and through everything.
I can't believe there's
anything more to say.
My sister may seem
more emotional than us,
but we all feel the
same way, Mr. Dunn.
Hey, wait!
Wait, wait, a minute, huh!
I didn't invent
all this you know?
I didn't make the law.
Jim, what I think we're,
we're all having a hard time
understanding, is why a
man who is found guilty
of criminal conspiracy,
armed robbery,
and two counts of murder,
gets so much consideration.
Because we have a system.
Because we have rules,
and procedures, and checks
and balances, designed
to protect the innocent.
Now, in spite of
that, there have
been innocent men on death
row in this country, Tony,
and you well know it.
Now, we know who
killed your folks.
That doesn't change the law.
The law is stubbornly
consistent.
Sometimes it's stretches.
Maybe you feel it's
stretching too far
toward Tyner's way right now.
But it's the only
chance we ever get
to hear two sides of a story.
You've gotta hang in
there, be patient.
This system protects everyone.
Yeah, Especially the guilty.
Tony, on the night
your parents were killed,
you were deeply
offended, weren't you?
Huh?
Yeah.
JIM DUNN: Righteously
indignant you were, too.
You were hurt.
You were heartbroken.
You were devastated.
Why didn't you kill him!
What?
JIM DUNN: Yeah.
You had a gun.
Why didn't you kill him
right there on the spot.
Cause I wasn't
sure he was the one.
Just because they arrested
him, didn't mean he was guilty.
Oh.
Well, there you have it.
The verdict of the jury is
that the defendant Rudolph
Tyner be sentenced
to the death penalty.
Anything further gentlemen,
before I pass sentence?
Nothing from the
state, Your Honor.
Nothing from the defense.
JUDGE KINON: Please bring
the defendant forward.
Anything you wish
to say, Mr. Tyner?
I'll be glad to
listen to anything
you wish to say to this court.
It is the judgment of the law,
and the sentence of the court,
that you, Rudolph Tyner,
the prisoner at the bar,
are hereby sentenced
to Count 1, five years.
Count 2, 25 years.
Count 3, death by electrocution.
Count 4, death by electrocution.
All of these sentences
are to run concurrently.
[brick scraping noise]
Nice seeing you back
on the job, again.
Thanks.
Must have been rough
on you and your family
having to sit through all that.
Rough don't tell it.
Rough don't come close.
I've seen in the newspaper
where he got a life sentence.
I hope you see these bricks
better than you saw that print.
He got the death penalty.
The electric chair.
Well, that's what I mean.
He got a life sentence.
Something the matter
with your ears, too.
It said he get the chair.
And what'd you
think the chair is,
if it ain't a life sentence?
You know how many men sitting
on death row up in the prison?
Plenty.
This state ain't executed
nobody in over 20 years.
20 years?
Yeah.
20, count 'em.
How do you know that?
Well, I wasn't
never on no death row.
But I spent two years
up there in that prison.
Well, that was back before
I came to work for you.
Don't you think it's about
time for lunch, boss?
OK, fellas, lunch.
[tires screeching]
Jim, how you doing?
Been a long time.
Hi, Tony.
What's going on?
Well, Tony, I don't quite
know how to tell you this.
What's wrong?
What is it?
Is it one of the kids?
We have to go
through it all again.
We heard on the radio.
Go through what?
The trial.
Everything.
What she talking about?
The law entitled Tyner
to an automatic appeal
to the State Supreme Court.
And the court ordered that the
sentencing phase of the trial
be re-held.
If this is a joke?
Why has everybody been crying?
JIM DUNN: They found an
error in the sentencing
phase of the trial.
Error?
What error?
The court decided
that the prosecutor
told the jury too much about
the possibility of appeals.
In the court's judgment, that
diminished the jury's sense
of responsibility.
They didn't have to feel
that they were the last word.
RENE BENTON: They're
sending him back, Tony.
They're taken him out
of prison, and sending
him back here for a retrial.
JAN CIMO: Another jury.
All of it.
It's like it never happened
in the first place.
This is not right.
You hear me, Jim,
it's not right.
Tony, the court--
I don't--
I want to hear about the court.
He's coming back.
And we've got to go through
the whole thing all over again?
Hearing how our mama
begged for her life,
only to have that
scum blow her apart!
And he sits in court and grins!
And the court talks about error!
It's not right!
[glass breaking]
Tony.
Dean, what the
hell is going on?
I want you to calm down,
Tony, we got to talk.
I can't calm down.
I guess we just don't
understand the legal system.
I'm not talking legal.
I'm talking about my
mother and my father.
That killer is going to get a
Thanksgiving dinner this year.
My mama and daddy won't.
Now that is wrong!
- Sit down.
No.
That is so--
Sit down!
Look, right or wrong, it's got
to be faced and dealt with.
And you and me, we've got
to talk about the family.
You know you've taken your
father's place, don't you?
I can't take his place.
I tried.
Daddy was a better
man than I'll ever be.
I guess that's what's
so hard to accept.
That a man like daddy
was killed by a--
a nothing.
Tony, all I really
wanted to say,
is that you got to
be the strongest one.
And you've got to start now.
I think you better see Brigette.
She's in her trailer.
Is she--
[sigh]
Where's Becky?
Asleep.
She's asleep.
Brigette, you know
this don't solve nothin.
Honey, I didn't come
over here to fuss at you.
I know how you're feeling.
Cause I feel exactly
the same way.
Nobody else saw we saw.
They don't have
that to remember.
We do.
But this ain't gonna
make it go away.
would you try and get
a grip on yourself?
Would you do that?
Would you try?
[glass sitting on table]
When is it going
to be over, Tony?
Is there never going
to be an end to this?
[ominous string chords]
Brigette, I promise
you one way or the other,
there's going to
be an end to it.
You hear me?
There is going to
be an end to it.
Would you-- could you hold me?
Just for a minute?
[ominous saxophone solo]
You know this trial just
goes on and on and on.
Sure looks like it.
Hey, and now it's
the fourth day of this.
Not even close to finding an
unbiased jury for a retrial.
Hey, Jim.
Good morning.
Jim, what happens if they
can't pick another jury?
How much longer do we
have to go through this?
Oh, I expect a change
of venue to be asked for.
And I expect the
judge to grant it.
I think he realizes that
because of all the publicity
surrounding the first trial, and
the general tone of the feeling
right now, it's going
to be impossible to draw
a jury in this county.
Change of venue.
What does that mean, exactly?
I mean, what happens then?
Well, it will go to
another county for trial.
Probably Marion County.
Excuse me, will you please?
Hello, Jim.
I've been looking for you.
Listen, I want to
ask you a question.
Mm-hmm.
Marion County.
Why don't they just make it
the moon, after all this.
Did you see that?
Gentlemen, would you
approach the bench?
I think we have a problem here.
Well, Jim called it right.
Marion.
It's a hundred miles a
day, we'll be traveling.
And for what?
Tell me, Dean, for what?
I don't know.
I already can't explain
any of this to my kids.
I try.
And they just stare at me.
[phone ringing]
[grunts]
You bastard.
[fight background noise]
Stop it.
You leave her alone!
Ah!
DEAN BENTON: Kim!
You a doctor?
Brigette, go
call an ambulance.
BRIGETTE: Where's the phone?
God, where is the phone!
[ominous music]
Kim, lost her baby.
She's going to be all right.
That's three of our family
dead now, because of him.
It could have been four.
Terri was always with mama
and daddy at the store.
If she hadn't been away
at Girl Scout Camp,
she'd be dead now too.
Rene, I keep asking myself,
what's going to happen next?
Who's going to get hurt
next, because of him,
and why am I just standing
around letting it happen.
You aren't.
Well, I feel like I am.
Tony, we have to accept it.
Because we can't do anything.
I know it.
And I admit it.
And you know it.
And you're going to have
to admit it to accept it.
I always thought the law was
supposed to provide justice.
That's the hardest
hill to climb.
Well, the State Supreme
Court has declared
he's right to a retrial.
And then, his lawyer
sends another appeal
to the Supreme Court.
And another, and another, and
he goes on living in for years.
Just like all those
killers on death row.
That's the way things are.
Let him appeal.
He doesn't have a
leg to stand on.
So what if nobody's
been executed
in this state for 20 years.
Maybe there's enough appeals to
keep a million killers alive.
If you put every one of
them in the electric chair,
it'll never bring mama
and daddy back anyhow.
But we're alive.
So, just let him rot.
Let him rot on death row.
But don't you rot.
Don't let his disease
make you sick, Tony.
You can't change it.
I have to.
We're little people, Tony.
We live by the rules.
What, what else can we do?
Well, the whole story
ain't been told yet.
What?
What does that mean?
It means, the whole
story ain't been told yet.
Come on.
[ominous string music]
[OMINOUS ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH
STRINGS]
[ominous saxophone with strings]
[glass breaking]
[birds chirping]
Tony, if you want to talk--
I don't want to talk.
Sometimes it helps.
Leave me alone, Jan.
Will, would you do that?
Would you just leave me alone?
Now you just simmer down, Mr.
And don't you dare talk to me
like I was made out of
one of your puny ribs.
We are married Mr. Cimo.
We're what they call,
cloved together.
We've been through two
youngins, and a world
of bouncing in bed that
wouldn't do to talk
about at a prayer meeting.
So.
So?
Why am i getting the
feeling I don't know you?
Why do I look at you
and see a stranger?
You haven't said a dozen
words to me in the past week.
All last night, you
just sat in the dark,
staring out the window.
Hold out your hand.
Why?
Just hold out your hand, Tony.
Don't act like I was
asking for the moon.
Now, you see, in all the
time I have known you,
I have never seen your
hand shake like that.
You're keeping
everything inside.
You don't talk.
You don't eat.
You don't sleep.
You don't smile.
You know what
I've been through.
Yes.
Because I have been
through every minute of it
with you, from start to finish.
And that's why I
hope you won't do it.
Do what?
Do what, Jan?
Something you'll be sorry for.
Something I can't
go through with you.
I really don't know
what you have in mind.
Well, I don't know what
you have in mind either.
That's what scares me.
[orchestra music]
[OMINOUS SAXOPHONE WITH
SYNTHESIZER]
Skelton, come here.
I want to talk to you.
Hey, what's up?
Well, you were in prison
for a couple of years,
CCI up in Columbia, right?
Yeah.
Almost two years.
Why?
You must have met a lot of
guys that are still there.
Well, I suppose so.
Let me ask you something.
Supposing somebody
on the outside,
wanted a man in
there to do a job,
how would he know
which man to go to,
and how would he get
in touch with him?
You startin' about doing
business with the devil now,
Tony?
I asked you a
question, Skelton.
That's all.
Just a simple question.
Yeah.
A simple question.
Huh?
Well, let me give
you a simple answer.
What goes around, comes around.
And that's the truth,
I'm telling you.
You don't want to
talk to me, fine.
Hey, Tony.
If you want to
talk to the devil,
you've got to go through
the man who knows him.
But you be careful.
Because it rubs off on you.
And it burns.
So what are you saying?
You won't help me?
Look, I'm clean, man.
I'm clean.
That's what I'm saying.
And I'm staying clean.
I ain't getting myself caught
up in no courtroom, no lawyer,
asking me what you said to
me, and what I said you.
You know, I like you, Tony.
Maybe, that's why I
feel sorry for you.
You feel sorry for my parents.
Your folks are at peace, man.
But I feel sorry for
you because you--
you heading into the
fire to learn the truth.
Truth is, somebody
has to take the bit.
Sometime, somebody
has to take the bit.
Well, then you take it, man.
You take it and
just right it out.
Just ride it out.
They'll be a whole bunch of
stupid people cheering you on.
But when the cheering
stops, the growling begins.
And like I told you before,
what goes around, comes around.
[rain]
[saxophone with synthesizer]
[saxophone with keyboard]
[crowd noise]
[pool table game sounds]
Hi, Tiny.
Remember me?
Tony Cimo.
Yeah.
Sure, I remember you.
What you say, Cimo?
I heard you might
know of somebody
up at CCI who could do a job.
What kind of job?
Let's sit down.
What kind of
job you want done?
Well, is it important
what kind of job?
Well, yeah, it's important.
It's mighty important.
You see the men in that
prison are specialist.
One's a piano tuner.
Specializes in molesting
small boys, you know.
And another one specializes
in cutting up women,
just to hear them scream.
And there's one,
I'm thinking about,
is pulling 10 life
sentences for nine murders.
That's cause nine, is all
the bodies they ever found.
So that's why I ask
you, what kind of job.
Well, let's just say, I'm not
looking to get a piano tuned,
or a woman cut up.
You ever hear of a
man named, Lamar Sands?
No.
Well, Lamar's the old
boy pulling ten for nine.
He should've got the chair.
Plea bargaining and
technicalities saved his ass.
I reckon, that's why, for
people who live by it,
the law is such a hard
thing to understand.
How can I get in
touch with this, Sands?
If you're serious, just sit
by your telephone on Sunday.
Wait for it to ring.
You mean, he can call
from inside the prison?
On Sundays.
Hell, he practically runs
the inside of that prison.
Especially cell block 2.
He's a maintenance man.
Fixes whatever goes wrong.
You to talk to him?
Yes, or no.
I want to talk to him.
Yes.
[background music]
JUDGE KINON: The
defendant, Rudolph Tyner,
has been found by the jury to be
guilty of the offensive murder.
The jury has recommended
that the defendant
should be sentenced to death.
It is therefore, the judgment
of the law, and the sentence
of the court, that
Rudolph Tyner be taken
to the county jail
of Marion County,
and then to the
state penitentiary.
Henceforth, to be kept and
close in safe confinement
until the 15th day of December.
Upon which day, between the
hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM,
the defendant,
Rudolph Tyner, shall
suffer death by electrocution,
in the manner provided by law.
[ominous synthesizer chords]
[background noise]
Hey, Jasper, that coffee ain't
government cheese, you know.
Last time you's in here, you
never put nothin' in the kitty.
For you, Lamar.
What the hell's this?
Remember Tiny Thomas?
Got out last year.
- Yeah.
So.
He wants you to call that guy.
Says he's got a job for you.
Who is this, Tony Cymo, Cimo?
You know that
kid on death row?
The one by the name of Tyner?
LAMAR SANDS: Yeah.
He wasted Cimo's mama and
daddy with 12 gauge pump.
[whistles]
I reckon Cimo thinks it's
time some chickens come home
to roost.
Honey, I'm taking
the girls to the beach.
You want to come?
- No.
Y'all go on.
Oh, come with us, dad.
Yeah, dad.
Come on.
No.
I gotta wait for man
to call me about a job.
Aw.
Terry, you and Sheryl,
go out to the car.
I'll be out there in a second.
You're going to have
to snap out of it, Mr.
Snap out of what?
Behaving like this.
It's over, honey.
It's all over.
He was sentenced to die
in the electric chair,
and he'll be in that
prison until he does.
Yeah, but how long
is that going to be?
Three years?
Five years?
20?
The judge set the time,
and the place, and the date,
of execution.
You heard him.
I heard him.
I also heard another judge
set the time, and the date,
and the place of execution.
What happened to that?
You gotta let go.
I need you to come back to me.
[ominous synthesizer music]
[phone ringing]
Hello.
This is Lamar Sands,
what I do for you?
Do you know a guy
up there named, Tyner?
Rudolph Tyner.
I know every man
on cell block 2,
and practically every
con in this joint.
What about him?
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
TONY CIMO:
[on the phone] The phone
your using, it's
not bugged is it?
You think I'd talk
on a bugged telephone?
What about this Tyner?
I want him dead.
[whistle]
Boy, you don't
fool around, do you?
Why, as it happens, you're
talking to the right man.
What'll it cost?
LAMAR SANDS:
[on tape recording] All it will
cost you is a little grass.
A little money.
Maybe some pills.
How much money?
Will get to that later.
How you want it done?
You're the expert.
I've never done anything
like this before.
Welcome to the club, Cimo.
Why don't we try something
nice, and quiet, like poison.
You just send me some poison.
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
Yeah.
I'm here.
Now, what you
do is, you go out
and buy me a pair of new shoes.
Don't matter what size.
You take 'em home.
And you hollow at the heels.
You put the poison
in them heels.
And then, you wrap them shoes
up real good with a love note
from some woman who thinks
that men like me are romantic.
And then, you mail
them shoes to me.
Address it to Lamar the Sandman,
Central Correctional, Columbia.
[ominous synthesizer chords]
[dial tone]
[background noise]
Did Tiny tell you anything
about this Tony Cimo?
Does he have a record?
CONNERS: Straight arrow, man.
Never even got a traffic ticket.
Well, I got him, Conners.
Coming and going,
going and coming.
Taped him on the telephone.
Gonna be paying me from now on
to keep a lid on that cassette.
And if I do get caught
killing this boy,
then Cimo goes down
for conspiracy.
How are you going to get
that stuff in Tyner's belly?
Been feeding him righteous
sandwiches and coffee
for a week.
Got him to where he's
eating out of my hand.
[phone ringing]
SHERYL: There's
nothing wrong with it.
I just--
Hello.
Wait a minute.
OK.
What?
LAMAR SANDS: [on the phone]
This here's Lamar.
JAN CIMO: All right,
that's enough.
What kind of stuff is
that you sent up here?
TONY CIMO:
[on the phone] Oleander.
You know, from the bushes.
I rendered it down myself.
They say it kills horses.
Well, they must have
been awful puny bushes.
I fed it to him three
times, and all he got out
of it was a little gut ache.
Blame that on the prison chow.
Let's get this over with, Cimo.
Can you get me a
stick of dynamite?
Dynamite?
That's right.
Dynamite.
A stick of it.
Or as much of a
stick as you come by.
You just get me something
that goes, bang,
and I'll have him dripping
from the ceiling for a month.
I'll see what I can do.
[background music]
Give me a beer.
Hey, Cimo, what's
happening, man?
Thanks.
Did you get that call?
Yeah.
I need a stick of dynamite.
Oh.
TONY CIMO: Well?
What do you think about a C-4?
What's that?
Plastic explosives.
Military stuff.
You know, blowing up
bridges and things.
Well, is it a safe?
I don't want any postal
workers getting hurt.
It's safer than
dynamite, Cimo.
Easier to hide, too.
Can you get me some?
Well, I don't know.
Maybe I can.
Maybe I can't.
[background music]
[inaudible]
I've been thinking
about your case, Rudolph,
and I feel plum sorry for you.
What are you talking about?
I got to figuring, when
you walk in that store,
and blew them two
people away for $25,
you've got to be
the most desperately
poor man I ever known.
So what I'm going
to do is, give you
a chance to make some money.
Yeah?
You and me is going to
experiment, and if it works,
we're partners.
You know what this here is?
It's a radio.
But anybody can tell that.
It was a radio.
Now, it's an intercom.
And if It works for you and
me, then every man in this cell
block's gonna want one.
And we're gonna
make 'em pay plenty.
Yeah.
What I'm going
to do is, I'm going
to run this wire
through this duct,
and connect it to a
speaker that's in my cell,
just like the one
I'm giving to you.
Then we can talk to one another.
Now, what you do is--
come on over here.
Put this to your ear.
Now, count to a hundred,
so that I have enough time
to get back to my cell.
And then plug this in,
and you will hear me talk.
OK.
Wait til you
count to a hundred
so that I have enough time
to get back to my cell.
A hundred.
You really think this
is going to work?
Oh, it's going to work, boy.
You got the Sandman's
word for it.
You just keep holding
it to your ear,
like you're doing right now.
I will.
Walking out of here.
(WHISPERING) Psst.
Start counting.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5--
Man coming through.
[ominous chords]
57, 58, 59, 60--
97, 98, 99.
[explosion]
Woo!
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) This is Lamar Sands.
What can I do for you?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
The phone you're using,
it's not bugged is it?
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) You think
I'd talk on a bugged telephone?
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) Do you know
a guy up there named, Tyner.
Rudolph Tyner.
LAMAR SANDS: (ON
TAPE RECORDING) I
know every man on cell
block 2 and practically
every con in this joint.
What about him?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) I want him dead.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Yeah.
This is Tony Cimo.
[ominous strings]
[background noise]
Who was it?
Well, I don't know.
It was just a voice.
Tyner's dead.
He died?
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH SAXOPHONE
SOLO]
TONY CIMO: Somebody
blew him up in his cell.
He must've cross the wrong man.
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH SAXOPHONE
SOLO]
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH ELECTRIC
GUITAR]
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
Let's get this over with, Cimo.
Can you get me a
stick of dynamite?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) Dynamite?
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) That's right.
You just get me something
that goes, bang,
and I'll have him dripping
from the ceiling for a month.
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
I'll see what I can do.
It's incredible.
More than that,
it's unbelievable.
This is the United States.
We're a nation of laws.
Did he really think he
could get away with this?
Go get him.
Arrest him.
Read him his rights
in the Constitution.
And tell him, tell him,
nobody gets away with this.
[country music]
Stop it.
Dad.
Pretty bad, huh?
Sure is.
Well, at least I'll be
working steady from now on.
You total up everything we owe.
I'm afraid to.
I'm just going to put all
these bills in this basket,
and take them out one by
one, when we can pay 'em.
Looks like it's going to be
a skimpy Christmas this year.
I guess we'll just have to
get by on a hug and a kiss.
Now, what's wrong with that?
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Just a minute, please.
Daddy, it's for you.
Oh, thanks, honey.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Tony Cimo.
Well, sure I'm interested.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I know where it is.
OK.
I'll meet you there
in a half hour.
OK.
A man wants to give me the
plans for some brickwork
he wants done.
Great.
I gotta go to Surfside.
Mr. Cimo?
Tony Cimo?
Yes sir.
You're under arrest.
Bat on eye and I'll
blow your head off.
SLED, State Law
Enforcement Division.
Get out of your vehicle slowly.
[SAXOPHONE AND SYNTHESIZER
MUSIC]
[hand cuffs locking]
NARRATOR: Tony Cimo
was given three
concurrent sentences
for his role
in the death of Rudolph Tyner.
Five years for
conspiracy to murder.
Eight years each for threatening
to kill by means of explosives.
And failure to report his
knowledge of a felony bombing.
He was paroled after
serving three years,
and returned to his family.
Before his release, the
state of South Carolina
reinstated the death penalty.
And has since executed two
of the men on death row.
[SAXOPHONE AND SYNTHESIZER
MUSIC]
[ominous chord]
NARRATOR: The following
is based on a true story.
[bird sounds]
[ominous chord]
[SEEDY SAXOPHONE SOLO OVER
OMINOUS CHORD]
[70s ELECTRIC GUITAR
SOLO OVER OMINOUS CHORD]
[piped in country music]
Where'd your mom and daddy
go this afternoon, anyway?
Myrtle Beach, I think.
Maybe over to Conway.
Daddy's looking for a new
pair of pants, size 34
to fit a 40 inch waist.
You know how he is.
He swears he hadn't
gained an inch
since he was in the Air Force.
Well, if he's got
a 40 inch waist,
why can't he just admit it?
Especially if the
whole world can see it.
I asked him one
time, why did he
keep trying to shove 40 pounds
of meat into a 20 pound sack?
What did he say?
He told me to hush my mouth.
That it was his
meat and his sack.
[car horn]
Rene.
Oh, I reckon it's my turn.
Hey, Mr. Skelton.
Howdie.
You want your
usual five gallons?
Yeah.
Five gallons is right.
You minding the store
for the folks today?
I sure am.
Go to the bathroom,
Jan, he's back again.
[radio music]
Oh, shoot.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
That boy from down the road.
He shows up here four
or five times a day.
Jan don't like to be in
the store when he's around.
So she goes to the
bathroom til he leaves.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
That boy hadn't been
bothering you, has he?
Well, he acts like
he's better than we
are because he's from New York.
Thinks folks down here
is just country hicks.
But mostly, he's just
down right unpleasant.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
You be careful with that boy.
He goes by the name of Tyner.
Rudolph Tyner.
[OMINOUS 70s GROOVY MUSIC WITH
CLANKING METAL KEEPING TIME ]
Something I can do for you?
- You got white ice scream?
- You mean, vanilla?
Yeah.
white.
Ice cream's in the
freezer there, behind you.
Well, ain't you
going to get it for me?
And a loaf of white bread.
And some white sugar.
Will that be all?
Yeah.
After you put it
in a sack for me.
$4.39.
What about charging?
I can't do that.
What's wrong with
you people down here?
You behind the times.
Well, I reckon we'll just
have to accept that opinion
while we're accepting the cash.
Well, what if I told
you I don't have the cash.
Then I just have
to tell you that you
don't have the groceries.
[car horn]
But you can take
that up with my daddy.
He's back now.
And this is his store.
I was just
fooling around lady.
We're glad you're back.
Look, girls, a gloxenia.
Oh, isn't that nice.
Rene, you know that wonderful
nursery over to Conway?
Yeah.
Hey, What did I tell
you the other day?
I told you I didn't want to see
you in here no more, didn't I?
Cause I'm black and
from up north, right?
Half our customers are black.
And we're proud to have them.
But you.
You're a thief.
Get out.
I caught him shop
lifting the other day.
JAN CIMO: Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Mom.
Sheryl, you're
worse than a fly.
Now you go on over there and
play with the other kids.
- Hi, daddy.
- Oh, hi, honey.
How you doing?
Oh, it's hot.
Goes with the
territory, don't it?
Jan, can I help?
Oh, sure, Brigette.
Uh, you can go get
the lima beans.
There on top of the
stove, next to the pan.
OK.
Where's the napkins?
Oh, lord, I forgot.
I'll get 'em.
If mom remembered to
bring them from the store.
Hey, brother of mine.
Miss Terry.
Aren't you getting excited?
You leave tomorrow.
It's going to be neat.
Hey, daddy, how you gonna
get along at the store
without Terry, here?
You going
someplace, new darlin?
Girl Scout camp.
Well, I don't see how we can
get along without you, honey.
If you give me notice, I
could've sold the store.
I'm going to get you.
I'm going to get you.
- Watch the fire, kids.
Watch the fire.
I'll get you Sheryl.
I'll get you.
Smells good.
This meats about done, Jan.
Kim.
Kim.
Go over there to
green house, and tell,
mama we're just about ready.
All right.
All right.
Well, you youngins stop
playing now, and wash up.
It's time
- Yay!
Yeah!
Mama?
We're going to eat now, mama.
Kim, I know why
they call places
that grow flowers, nurseries.
Flowers need as much attention
and tender loving as babies.
And you know, every time a
customer buys one of them
from me, I get a pang
right here, like I'm
selling one of my own children.
Well, you raised them
from nothing, mama.
You fed 'em, and you
watered 'em, you watched
'em grow up to be beautiful.
They are beautiful,
aren't they.
Mama, I'm going to
make announcement today.
I hoped it would
happen, honey.
Because I want you and Marshall
to be as happy as Tony and Jan,
and Dean and Rene.
But are you sure now?
Are you a hundred percent sure?
A hundred percent, mama.
[laughter]
Dean, you know something,
you are the absolute biggest
chow hound I ever saw.
All right.
All right.
I admit it.
I only married your daughter
because of your barbecue sauce.
Well, thanks a lot.
Just joking, Rene.
Just joking.
Sit down.
Tony, when did you say you're
going to have some time off?
About the middle of next week.
You interested?
Never was a time I wasn't
interested in fishing.
I heard about a spot
over near Georgetown.
Bill, I think Kim
has something to say.
Oh?
Daddy, me and Marshall
want to get married.
Oh, I knew it.
I see.
Now, I was going to come
tell you in private, Mr. Moon.
Ask your permission, I mean.
But, well, I guess she
just did it this way.
Just like a Moon.
I want a wedding right
here in the yard, daddy.
Right under our big
old tree over there.
And I want you to give me away.
And I want to wear
mama's pearls.
Well, well.
Looks like you
thought of everything.
All taken care of.
Decided, I mean.
Except for one thing.
You want to stand up, Marshall,
I got something to say to you.
You couldn't have picked
a better girl, son.
We welcome you to our family.
Woohoo!
Yay!
[whistling]
Why don't we close
up and go home.
What did you have
mind, Mr. Moon?
[clank]
[ominous music]
I want the money.
No.
You get out of here.
Yo, man, you better
give me the money.
No!
You can't have it.
Bill!
My god, what have you do--
Bill!
No.
Please don't do it.
Don't do it.
I beg you, please, don't do it!
[ominous music]
[dog barking]
Jan, would you mind
making us some popcorn,
while I go see what's
got her all riled up?
JAN CIMO: OK.
[dog barking]
Hey, old girl.
What's got you going out here?
Something out here
you don't like?
[ominous music]
It's OK.
It's OK.
JAN CIMO: What was it?
Nothing.
Just somebody walking
down the road.
Come here!
[tire screech]
Yeah?
Is Tony Cimo, home?
My brother lives in that
house, over there next door.
Why?
What's wrong?
Something bad happened
up at your folks' store.
My daughter went in
and she found 'em.
Found 'em?
Tony!
Tony!
Tony, get to the store!
Tony!
Something happened!
Something happened bad!
Tony!
Tony, get to the store, now!
Tony!
Hurry!
Go!
No!
Wait!
Wait!
Wait!
Wait for me, please, Mr. Murphy!
[tire screech]
Before you go in
there, Tony, there's
something you better know.
Your folks, both of
them, they're dead.
[ominous chords]
[ominous saxophone solo]
[sirens]
They're behind the counter.
Tony's in the there.
Mama!
Daddy!
Oh, god.
Brigette, don't look!
Honey, don't!
Ah!
No!
[crying]
[sirens]
And you know, my daughter,
she was the one that found 'em.
Tony.
You all right?
Can you talk?
Yeah, I can talk.
You get any ideas?
You know of anybody
around here could've
done something like this?
Everybody liked my folks.
I can't think of anybody.
But--
But what?
Well, just before my
sister came and got me,
my dog was barking.
I walked outside.
I saw a man walking
down the road.
A black man.
I know someone who lives
here who might have done this.
Where?
He lives about a
mile down that way.
Apparently named Finch.
He's a real troublemaker.
You talking about
a kid named, Tyner?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think that's his name.
SLOCOM: I arrested him two
weeks ago for grand theft auto.
Come down here, from New
York in a stolen car.
Waste of time.
New York refused
to extradite him.
POLICE CAPTAIN: Slocom.
- Yes, sir?
How we doing here?
Captain, I think we
have a suspect that lives
right down the road there.
What are you
standing here for?
- Yes, sir.
- Let's go!
Mitchim, go with him.
Sergeant, come on.
Come on!
Let's move it!
Let's go!
[groovy music]
[sirens]
Yes sir.
Yes sir.
Captain says, go
back to the store.
Turn the gun and
shells over to him.
We're going to take them on in.
Now, Benjamin, you be
sure to do what you're told.
Where are you taking him?
County jail.
Wasn't for you,
wouldn't be no law here!
Wouldn't be no trouble!
You understand you are
under arrest for murder?
Yeah.
Only.
I didn't do nothing.
- Don't want to hear you did.
Don't want to hear you didn't.
Just answer my question.
Do you understand, you are
under arrest for murder?
Yeah.
You have the right
to remain silent.
Do you understand that?
Yeah.
But that I ain't my gun.
Anything you say
can and will be used
against you in a court of law.
Do you understand that?
Yeah.
You have the right
to an attorney.
If you cannot afford one, one
will be appointed for you.
[crickets]
[phone ringing]
All right start taking it off.
Strip.
You want my clothes?
What the hell else
would I be talking about?
Take that thing off first.
Come on.
We ain't got all night.
Come on.
Come on.
the shoes.
Would you look at this.
You collect souvenirs,
do you, Mr. Tyner?
He's all yours, Bud.
Thanks.
Close the door, will you?
Sit down.
I don't know much
about this, since I've
just been called in from home.
All I've been told is, two
people, a man and a woman,
were shot gunned to death,
out near Morals Inlet.
And I've been called to come
in and take your confession.
I've got a son almost
your age, and well, I
sure would hate to see him in
the kind of trouble you're in.
You thinking I'm in trouble?
You've been
arrested, ain't you?
And you've been
read your rights,
and I'm fixin' to read
them to you again,
here, before you
start talking to me.
Now, two people are dead, son.
And you're the suspect.
Yeah.
I'm thinking you're in trouble.
Bad trouble.
Trouble I wouldn't
want to see my boy in.
Are you ready to confess?
Now, they say confessing
is good for the soul.
And I can see from here,
your soul needs some help.
And that's how come,
I think, maybe you're
going to tell me all about it.
Yeah, man.
I killed 'em.
[bird sounds]
[phone ringing]
Yeah.
Mr. Dunn.
This is Tony Cimo.
I got your number
from your office.
Bill and Myrtle Moon
were my parents.
I believe you knew them?
Well, yeah.
I knew Bill and Myrtle.
And I'm very sorry, Tony.
I'm much more than sorry.
I really am.
They were good people.
Thank you.
Mr. Dunn, I realize you're
the public defender,
but there are a couple of
questions I need to ask you.
Well, I'm not the public
defender any longer.
I resigned.
- You did?
Then, could I talk to you?
Well, I'm flying
back for the funeral.
TONY CIMO: That's good.
Because I really
need to talk to you.
Would it be all right if I
picked you up at the airport?
Hey, Mr. Dunn?
Oh.
Hi.
Tony?
Yes sir.
- Pleased to meet you.
- Thanks.
Let me take this for you.
- Thank you.
This is my truck over here.
What's on your mind, Tony?
Well, I've got
a lot on my mind.
That's what I wanted
to talk to you about.
But tell me, why did you resign?
I had no alternative.
Everyone has the right
to a defense counsel,
but I couldn't defend him.
I wouldn't defend him.
Mr. Dunn, I love
my parents very much.
We were close.
My whole family's close.
I don't know if you
know this, but Bill, he
wasn't my real daddy.
He married mama when I
was only two years old.
So he's the only
father I've ever known.
And I'll tell you
something, no man on earth
ever loved his son more
than that man loved me.
I'm going to him.
I'm going to miss 'em both.
I'm sure you will.
Well, I got to look
after my sisters now.
That's why I wanted to
see if you could help us.
I'm sure I can, Tony.
But let's talk it
after the funeral.
What do you say?
Thanks.
OK.
My name's Franklin, Tony.
Matthew Franklin.
We all knew your
daddy and your mama.
We're here to pay our respects
because they were fine folks.
Well, thank you.
I appreciate that.
And I know mama and daddy
would appreciate it too.
If there's anything
we can do for you, Tony,
or for the family,
we'd be most pleased.
Thank you.
There's nothing.
But I thank you for the thought.
And I know my sisters
thank you for that thought.
Would you please come in
and say hello to them?
[clanking sound keeping time]
[solemn chords]
REVEREND WEBB: Man
is like a breath.
His days are as a fleeting
shadow that passes away.
In the morning, he
flourishes and sprouts up.
In the evening, he is
cut down and withers.
Oh, Lord, you are gracious
and compassionate.
You are near to your
children when they
call upon Thee in their grief.
You bend down close
to hear their cry
and to steal anguish
of their soul.
In Your abundant
goodness, You did
give us these loved ones, in
whose lives we have rejoiced.
Your richest blessing
we shared with them,
in overflowing measure.
Their sweet
companionship with us.
Their tenderness,
responding to ours,
filled all our days with
beauty and with gladness.
And we praise Thee for
Thy goodness unto us.
We do thank Thee, from
the depths of our hearts
for the years You
have granted them,
in which they brought joy and
comfort into many a heart.
Now their earthly end has come.
We give them back unto Thee
in faith and in submission.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.
He leadeth me beside
the still waters.
He restoreth my soul.
He leadeth me in the path of
righteousness for His Namesake.
Yay, tho I walk through the
valley, of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil.
Don't worry
about it, Margaret,
everything's going
to be just fine.
You understand?
OK.
Bye bye.
So long, Joe.
Mr. Dunn.
Hey, Tony.
How you doing?
Good.
Thanks.
Come on.
Let's walk over here and then
we can finish our conversation.
Well, what's foremost
in your mind?
Well, the thing
that worries me,
is all this stuff I see on
TV, and read in the papers,
about how sometimes
these guys get off,
you know, on technicalities
that nobody ever heard of.
Yeah.
Uh-huh.
I just want to make sure
that this case doesn't
get thrown out of court.
Ah, Tony, you're projecting.
The trial hadn't begun yet, and
you already seeing him go free.
I just want to make sure
he gets what's coming to him.
You mean the death penalty.
You're damn right.
He murdered my mother and
father for no reason at all.
I've got a wife and kids.
I got sisters.
And two of them got kids.
You mean, you're
afraid of revenge.
Is what you're saying?
Wouldn't you be?
Even before he killed
mama and daddy,
he was harassing my wife
and sister at the store.
Come on, let's sit down here.
Listen, Mr. Dunn,
I'm not against anybody
getting a fair trial because
that's the way it ought to be.
What scares the
hell out of me is,
I guess I'm afraid
the monkeys are
going to be running the zoo.
Well, Tony, the death penalty
is for the jury to decide.
But my faith in our
system, it shows me
that there will be a solution.
Now the state's gonna
prosecutor Tyner,
and I won't be permitted
to have any direct function
in the trial.
But I can explain
everything to you.
I can guide you.
Would you do that?
Would you sit through
the trial with us
and make sure it's as fair
to the people he murdered,
as it is to him?
You got it.
Now, how much do you charge?
Oh, the standard fee
for a monkey in the zoo.
Peanuts.
You got it.
TINY THOMAS: Hey, Cimo.
Yeah.
Come here a minute.
Come here.
I want to talk to
you about something.
You don't know me, but I've
seen you down around Murrells
Inlet at Pawleys Island.
I read all about what
happened to your folks.
And I'm sorry.
I truly am.
Well, thank you.
I appreciate that Mr--
Ah.
My name's not important.
What's important is
what I can do for you.
Well, what's that?
That jail, across the
street from the courthouse--
police, they're gonna
be walking that boy
back and forth between the
two, every day of that trial.
Yeah?
TINY THOMAS: There don't
have to be no trial,
if you don't want one.
I guess I just don't know
what you're talking about.
TINY THOMAS: I'm talking
about an eye for an eye, son.
I'm talking about a high
powered rifle with a silencer,
telescopic sight.
I'm talking about that boy
over lying dead over there
in the street.
And the police never
knowing where it come from.
Stay away from me.
An eye for an eye, Cimo.
The Holy Book itself,
recommends it.
You stay away from me.
[sigh]
[bird sounds]
You are going to
be a gorgeous bride.
Thanks, Rene.
I'm just not sure we
should be doing this yet.
Yes, you should.
It's been over a month.
And now that Tony and
Jan are living here,
it means each of us
can have our own home.
You and Marshall
ought to be together.
[knock on door]
Come on in.
Kimmie, you look beautiful.
Thank you.
They're all waiting.
OK.
Now, you wanted to
wear mama's pearls.
And I know she'd want you to.
Maybe you'll feel her standing
next to you while you wear 'em.
Mama's In my heart, Tony.
Daddy's in my heart too.
They can't get any
closer than they are.
[organ wedding march]
Almighty, and ever
present God, who's presence
is the happiness
of every condition,
and who's favor
hollows every relation.
We beseech Thee to be present
and favorable unto these Thy
servants, that they
may be truly joined
in the honorable
state of marriage
in the covenant of their God.
Courtroom's right up there.
I'll see you in a few
minutes, all right?
You all right, honey?
Mr. Tyner, will you
please approach the bench?
Mr. Tyner, do you
know of anything
this court can do to
assist you in any way
in the defense of your case?
No.
I don't know nothin.
Have you told your
counsel everything
about the case you know?
Yes sir.
Well, the law provides that
not only does your counsel have
the right to make a closing
argument to the jury,
it also provides that you have
a right to make an argument
to the jury within the rules.
I don't understand.
You don't know what
an argument means?
No sir.
How far did you go in school?
11.
11th grade.
And you don't know what
the word argument means?
No sir.
You can talk can't you?
Well, yeah.
I mean, yes sir.
If you disagreed with your
attorney there, on any matter,
you could tell him that
you disagreed couldn't you?
I don't understand.
All right be seated.
I went outside
with my flashlight
because my dog was barking.
And I saw a man walking
down the other side
of the road toward Conway.
I didn't think anything of it.
You know, a man walking
down the road there.
I had no way of
knowing that my mom
and daddy had just been killed.
Tony, thereafter,
did one of your sisters
happen to come to your place?
Yes sir.
My sister, Bridgette.
She-- she lives next door to us.
She was screaming,
Tony, go to the store.
Something bad's happened.
When I got to the store, Bob
Perkins was standing there.
And he said, Tony,
they're both dead.
What did you do then?
TONY CIMO: Well,
I went in a store.
When I went in, first thing I
saw was their blood all over.
When I got behind
the counter, I saw
mama and daddy laying there.
Daddy was thrown back
against these feed sacks,
and mama was laying on her side.
She was still holding
one of her plants.
And there was blood
all over the leaves.
He said, yeah man,
I killed those people.
So I turned the
tape recorder on.
Read him his rights.
I said, tell me about it.
RUDOLPH TYNER (ON
RECORDING): He needed money.
So me and Ben, we slipped
his brother's shot gun
out one of the windows
so his daddy wouldn't
see us leaving with it.
And we went off down the road.
And not many cars on
the road at night,
you know, but every time
one would come along,
I laid the shot gun
down in the weeds.
Well, we got there,
and Ben standed--
I mean, he standed
outside of the door.
So when I got inside,
I went in there
and I told the man
I needed some money.
And he said, no.
I had the shot gun down now.
But when he said I
couldn't get it now,
I was trying to scare him.
So I point it at him.
So when he say no, I
wasn't gonna get no money,
I figure if I shot
him in the arm,
maybe I would get the money.
The lady, she started
hollering and screaming
and I called nervous.
Then, I was thinking
to myself, well,
she might tell the police.
And I get all worried.
And maybe if I shot her too,
maybe I'll be all right.
And then, when I shot her,
she fell to the ground.
And I turned around
and I pick up the $25.
Rudolph, you recall being
read anything about the Miranda
warnings, or your rights?
As far as I
remember now, I don't.
Now, you've already
testified as to the officers
taking you in the room, and they
made you take your clothes off
and searched you.
Right?
Yes sir.
Now, did they
mistreat you anyway?
Well, I thought
to myself I was.
Now, you're speaking of them
taking the clothes off of you.
Right?
RUDOLPH TYNER: Yes sir.
Wait just a minute.
Did they take them
off, or did they
just tell you to take them off?
Well, they told
me to take them off.
And you took them off?
Yes sir.
Go ahead from there.
But Rudolph, other than
that, did they mistreat you?
Well, when the policeman, he
slammed the money on the table,
when he did that, I thought he
was getting violent with me.
He just confessed to
the murder of two people.
And he calls that violent?
His attorney is
concerned that maybe
his civil rights were violated.
Doctor, do you have
an opinion as to Mr.
Tyner's mental
ability, to conform
his behavior to the law?
Yes, I do.
What is that opinion?
Mr. Tyner has no
desire, and no ability,
to conform to the
law, or obey the law.
He does exactly what he wants
to do, when he wants to do it.
PROSECUTOR
LITTLEJOHN: If he does
something that is in
violation of the law,
does he understand that?
PSYCHIATRIST CAMP:
Oh, he understands
that it's in
violation of the law,
but it is of no concern to him.
[crickets]
What are you thinking about?
He just sits there
in court and grins.
I mean, they've
already established
he's not too bright.
I mean, his IQ is
way down there.
Somewhere around 79,
I think they said.
What's how bright he is
got to do with anything,
when they've already
said he knows
the difference between right
and wrong and don't care?
Well, that's what
the courts are for,
Tony, to talk it all out.
Yeah, well, he you can't talk.
All he can do is show
teeth like a rabid dog.
And they kill rabid dogs because
there ain't no help for them.
If I'd had my gun that night.
I could've shot him.
And that man came up to me,
and offered to kill him.
I could've said, yeah, go ahead.
Go ahead and do it.
Then, we wouldn't have
to go through all this.
Are you sorry you did?
I don't know.
It's where it's supposed
to be, in court.
But I'll tell you
something, if he goes free
on some technicality, or
even gets a life sentence,
I'll never rest easy.
Not with him walking
around and my mama
and daddy dead in their graves.
Well, he's already confessed.
I mean, how could they give him
anything but the death penalty?
Darlin, what world
are you living in?
They do it everyday.
JUDGE KINON: Madam Forelady,
ladies and gentlemen
of the jury, if you've
all reached a verdict,
would you please
pass it to the clerk?
Case 78-gs26-59, the
state versus Rudolph Tyner.
Indictment for armed robbery,
criminal conspiracy, murder,
and murder.
Verdict?
Guilty as charged.
As you know, this
is a bifurcated trial.
And the first phase
is now concluded.
Court is now in recess until
9 o'clock Monday morning.
Mr. Littlejohn, thank you.
Tony, what's Monday morning?
I thought this would be the end.
No, Kimmie, this is just
the first part of a trial.
Well, you knew that.
But they covered everything.
And that jury found him guilty.
What more can there be?
It's a bifurcated
trial, honey.
I don't remember
what that word means.
It means, in two parts.
You mean he still
gets another trial?
Well, it's automatic.
You see, the first trial,
was to determine whether he
was guilty or innocent.
Now, in the second
trial, they'll
take additional
testimony in regard
to aggravation and mitigation.
So the jury can
determine the sentence.
But they just
found him guilty.
Why can't they determine
the sentence based on that?
What are they going to do now?
Find him guiltier?
JIM DUNN: Yeah.
So to speak.
But in the second
part, the jury will
decide if there are reasons that
he should be sentenced to die,
or reasons that he should
be allowed to live.
I just felt that they went
over and through everything.
I can't believe there's
anything more to say.
My sister may seem
more emotional than us,
but we all feel the
same way, Mr. Dunn.
Hey, wait!
Wait, wait, a minute, huh!
I didn't invent
all this you know?
I didn't make the law.
Jim, what I think we're,
we're all having a hard time
understanding, is why a
man who is found guilty
of criminal conspiracy,
armed robbery,
and two counts of murder,
gets so much consideration.
Because we have a system.
Because we have rules,
and procedures, and checks
and balances, designed
to protect the innocent.
Now, in spite of
that, there have
been innocent men on death
row in this country, Tony,
and you well know it.
Now, we know who
killed your folks.
That doesn't change the law.
The law is stubbornly
consistent.
Sometimes it's stretches.
Maybe you feel it's
stretching too far
toward Tyner's way right now.
But it's the only
chance we ever get
to hear two sides of a story.
You've gotta hang in
there, be patient.
This system protects everyone.
Yeah, Especially the guilty.
Tony, on the night
your parents were killed,
you were deeply
offended, weren't you?
Huh?
Yeah.
JIM DUNN: Righteously
indignant you were, too.
You were hurt.
You were heartbroken.
You were devastated.
Why didn't you kill him!
What?
JIM DUNN: Yeah.
You had a gun.
Why didn't you kill him
right there on the spot.
Cause I wasn't
sure he was the one.
Just because they arrested
him, didn't mean he was guilty.
Oh.
Well, there you have it.
The verdict of the jury is
that the defendant Rudolph
Tyner be sentenced
to the death penalty.
Anything further gentlemen,
before I pass sentence?
Nothing from the
state, Your Honor.
Nothing from the defense.
JUDGE KINON: Please bring
the defendant forward.
Anything you wish
to say, Mr. Tyner?
I'll be glad to
listen to anything
you wish to say to this court.
It is the judgment of the law,
and the sentence of the court,
that you, Rudolph Tyner,
the prisoner at the bar,
are hereby sentenced
to Count 1, five years.
Count 2, 25 years.
Count 3, death by electrocution.
Count 4, death by electrocution.
All of these sentences
are to run concurrently.
[brick scraping noise]
Nice seeing you back
on the job, again.
Thanks.
Must have been rough
on you and your family
having to sit through all that.
Rough don't tell it.
Rough don't come close.
I've seen in the newspaper
where he got a life sentence.
I hope you see these bricks
better than you saw that print.
He got the death penalty.
The electric chair.
Well, that's what I mean.
He got a life sentence.
Something the matter
with your ears, too.
It said he get the chair.
And what'd you
think the chair is,
if it ain't a life sentence?
You know how many men sitting
on death row up in the prison?
Plenty.
This state ain't executed
nobody in over 20 years.
20 years?
Yeah.
20, count 'em.
How do you know that?
Well, I wasn't
never on no death row.
But I spent two years
up there in that prison.
Well, that was back before
I came to work for you.
Don't you think it's about
time for lunch, boss?
OK, fellas, lunch.
[tires screeching]
Jim, how you doing?
Been a long time.
Hi, Tony.
What's going on?
Well, Tony, I don't quite
know how to tell you this.
What's wrong?
What is it?
Is it one of the kids?
We have to go
through it all again.
We heard on the radio.
Go through what?
The trial.
Everything.
What she talking about?
The law entitled Tyner
to an automatic appeal
to the State Supreme Court.
And the court ordered that the
sentencing phase of the trial
be re-held.
If this is a joke?
Why has everybody been crying?
JIM DUNN: They found an
error in the sentencing
phase of the trial.
Error?
What error?
The court decided
that the prosecutor
told the jury too much about
the possibility of appeals.
In the court's judgment, that
diminished the jury's sense
of responsibility.
They didn't have to feel
that they were the last word.
RENE BENTON: They're
sending him back, Tony.
They're taken him out
of prison, and sending
him back here for a retrial.
JAN CIMO: Another jury.
All of it.
It's like it never happened
in the first place.
This is not right.
You hear me, Jim,
it's not right.
Tony, the court--
I don't--
I want to hear about the court.
He's coming back.
And we've got to go through
the whole thing all over again?
Hearing how our mama
begged for her life,
only to have that
scum blow her apart!
And he sits in court and grins!
And the court talks about error!
It's not right!
[glass breaking]
Tony.
Dean, what the
hell is going on?
I want you to calm down,
Tony, we got to talk.
I can't calm down.
I guess we just don't
understand the legal system.
I'm not talking legal.
I'm talking about my
mother and my father.
That killer is going to get a
Thanksgiving dinner this year.
My mama and daddy won't.
Now that is wrong!
- Sit down.
No.
That is so--
Sit down!
Look, right or wrong, it's got
to be faced and dealt with.
And you and me, we've got
to talk about the family.
You know you've taken your
father's place, don't you?
I can't take his place.
I tried.
Daddy was a better
man than I'll ever be.
I guess that's what's
so hard to accept.
That a man like daddy
was killed by a--
a nothing.
Tony, all I really
wanted to say,
is that you got to
be the strongest one.
And you've got to start now.
I think you better see Brigette.
She's in her trailer.
Is she--
[sigh]
Where's Becky?
Asleep.
She's asleep.
Brigette, you know
this don't solve nothin.
Honey, I didn't come
over here to fuss at you.
I know how you're feeling.
Cause I feel exactly
the same way.
Nobody else saw we saw.
They don't have
that to remember.
We do.
But this ain't gonna
make it go away.
would you try and get
a grip on yourself?
Would you do that?
Would you try?
[glass sitting on table]
When is it going
to be over, Tony?
Is there never going
to be an end to this?
[ominous string chords]
Brigette, I promise
you one way or the other,
there's going to
be an end to it.
You hear me?
There is going to
be an end to it.
Would you-- could you hold me?
Just for a minute?
[ominous saxophone solo]
You know this trial just
goes on and on and on.
Sure looks like it.
Hey, and now it's
the fourth day of this.
Not even close to finding an
unbiased jury for a retrial.
Hey, Jim.
Good morning.
Jim, what happens if they
can't pick another jury?
How much longer do we
have to go through this?
Oh, I expect a change
of venue to be asked for.
And I expect the
judge to grant it.
I think he realizes that
because of all the publicity
surrounding the first trial, and
the general tone of the feeling
right now, it's going
to be impossible to draw
a jury in this county.
Change of venue.
What does that mean, exactly?
I mean, what happens then?
Well, it will go to
another county for trial.
Probably Marion County.
Excuse me, will you please?
Hello, Jim.
I've been looking for you.
Listen, I want to
ask you a question.
Mm-hmm.
Marion County.
Why don't they just make it
the moon, after all this.
Did you see that?
Gentlemen, would you
approach the bench?
I think we have a problem here.
Well, Jim called it right.
Marion.
It's a hundred miles a
day, we'll be traveling.
And for what?
Tell me, Dean, for what?
I don't know.
I already can't explain
any of this to my kids.
I try.
And they just stare at me.
[phone ringing]
[grunts]
You bastard.
[fight background noise]
Stop it.
You leave her alone!
Ah!
DEAN BENTON: Kim!
You a doctor?
Brigette, go
call an ambulance.
BRIGETTE: Where's the phone?
God, where is the phone!
[ominous music]
Kim, lost her baby.
She's going to be all right.
That's three of our family
dead now, because of him.
It could have been four.
Terri was always with mama
and daddy at the store.
If she hadn't been away
at Girl Scout Camp,
she'd be dead now too.
Rene, I keep asking myself,
what's going to happen next?
Who's going to get hurt
next, because of him,
and why am I just standing
around letting it happen.
You aren't.
Well, I feel like I am.
Tony, we have to accept it.
Because we can't do anything.
I know it.
And I admit it.
And you know it.
And you're going to have
to admit it to accept it.
I always thought the law was
supposed to provide justice.
That's the hardest
hill to climb.
Well, the State Supreme
Court has declared
he's right to a retrial.
And then, his lawyer
sends another appeal
to the Supreme Court.
And another, and another, and
he goes on living in for years.
Just like all those
killers on death row.
That's the way things are.
Let him appeal.
He doesn't have a
leg to stand on.
So what if nobody's
been executed
in this state for 20 years.
Maybe there's enough appeals to
keep a million killers alive.
If you put every one of
them in the electric chair,
it'll never bring mama
and daddy back anyhow.
But we're alive.
So, just let him rot.
Let him rot on death row.
But don't you rot.
Don't let his disease
make you sick, Tony.
You can't change it.
I have to.
We're little people, Tony.
We live by the rules.
What, what else can we do?
Well, the whole story
ain't been told yet.
What?
What does that mean?
It means, the whole
story ain't been told yet.
Come on.
[ominous string music]
[OMINOUS ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH
STRINGS]
[ominous saxophone with strings]
[glass breaking]
[birds chirping]
Tony, if you want to talk--
I don't want to talk.
Sometimes it helps.
Leave me alone, Jan.
Will, would you do that?
Would you just leave me alone?
Now you just simmer down, Mr.
And don't you dare talk to me
like I was made out of
one of your puny ribs.
We are married Mr. Cimo.
We're what they call,
cloved together.
We've been through two
youngins, and a world
of bouncing in bed that
wouldn't do to talk
about at a prayer meeting.
So.
So?
Why am i getting the
feeling I don't know you?
Why do I look at you
and see a stranger?
You haven't said a dozen
words to me in the past week.
All last night, you
just sat in the dark,
staring out the window.
Hold out your hand.
Why?
Just hold out your hand, Tony.
Don't act like I was
asking for the moon.
Now, you see, in all the
time I have known you,
I have never seen your
hand shake like that.
You're keeping
everything inside.
You don't talk.
You don't eat.
You don't sleep.
You don't smile.
You know what
I've been through.
Yes.
Because I have been
through every minute of it
with you, from start to finish.
And that's why I
hope you won't do it.
Do what?
Do what, Jan?
Something you'll be sorry for.
Something I can't
go through with you.
I really don't know
what you have in mind.
Well, I don't know what
you have in mind either.
That's what scares me.
[orchestra music]
[OMINOUS SAXOPHONE WITH
SYNTHESIZER]
Skelton, come here.
I want to talk to you.
Hey, what's up?
Well, you were in prison
for a couple of years,
CCI up in Columbia, right?
Yeah.
Almost two years.
Why?
You must have met a lot of
guys that are still there.
Well, I suppose so.
Let me ask you something.
Supposing somebody
on the outside,
wanted a man in
there to do a job,
how would he know
which man to go to,
and how would he get
in touch with him?
You startin' about doing
business with the devil now,
Tony?
I asked you a
question, Skelton.
That's all.
Just a simple question.
Yeah.
A simple question.
Huh?
Well, let me give
you a simple answer.
What goes around, comes around.
And that's the truth,
I'm telling you.
You don't want to
talk to me, fine.
Hey, Tony.
If you want to
talk to the devil,
you've got to go through
the man who knows him.
But you be careful.
Because it rubs off on you.
And it burns.
So what are you saying?
You won't help me?
Look, I'm clean, man.
I'm clean.
That's what I'm saying.
And I'm staying clean.
I ain't getting myself caught
up in no courtroom, no lawyer,
asking me what you said to
me, and what I said you.
You know, I like you, Tony.
Maybe, that's why I
feel sorry for you.
You feel sorry for my parents.
Your folks are at peace, man.
But I feel sorry for
you because you--
you heading into the
fire to learn the truth.
Truth is, somebody
has to take the bit.
Sometime, somebody
has to take the bit.
Well, then you take it, man.
You take it and
just right it out.
Just ride it out.
They'll be a whole bunch of
stupid people cheering you on.
But when the cheering
stops, the growling begins.
And like I told you before,
what goes around, comes around.
[rain]
[saxophone with synthesizer]
[saxophone with keyboard]
[crowd noise]
[pool table game sounds]
Hi, Tiny.
Remember me?
Tony Cimo.
Yeah.
Sure, I remember you.
What you say, Cimo?
I heard you might
know of somebody
up at CCI who could do a job.
What kind of job?
Let's sit down.
What kind of
job you want done?
Well, is it important
what kind of job?
Well, yeah, it's important.
It's mighty important.
You see the men in that
prison are specialist.
One's a piano tuner.
Specializes in molesting
small boys, you know.
And another one specializes
in cutting up women,
just to hear them scream.
And there's one,
I'm thinking about,
is pulling 10 life
sentences for nine murders.
That's cause nine, is all
the bodies they ever found.
So that's why I ask
you, what kind of job.
Well, let's just say, I'm not
looking to get a piano tuned,
or a woman cut up.
You ever hear of a
man named, Lamar Sands?
No.
Well, Lamar's the old
boy pulling ten for nine.
He should've got the chair.
Plea bargaining and
technicalities saved his ass.
I reckon, that's why, for
people who live by it,
the law is such a hard
thing to understand.
How can I get in
touch with this, Sands?
If you're serious, just sit
by your telephone on Sunday.
Wait for it to ring.
You mean, he can call
from inside the prison?
On Sundays.
Hell, he practically runs
the inside of that prison.
Especially cell block 2.
He's a maintenance man.
Fixes whatever goes wrong.
You to talk to him?
Yes, or no.
I want to talk to him.
Yes.
[background music]
JUDGE KINON: The
defendant, Rudolph Tyner,
has been found by the jury to be
guilty of the offensive murder.
The jury has recommended
that the defendant
should be sentenced to death.
It is therefore, the judgment
of the law, and the sentence
of the court, that
Rudolph Tyner be taken
to the county jail
of Marion County,
and then to the
state penitentiary.
Henceforth, to be kept and
close in safe confinement
until the 15th day of December.
Upon which day, between the
hours of 6:00 AM and 6:00 PM,
the defendant,
Rudolph Tyner, shall
suffer death by electrocution,
in the manner provided by law.
[ominous synthesizer chords]
[background noise]
Hey, Jasper, that coffee ain't
government cheese, you know.
Last time you's in here, you
never put nothin' in the kitty.
For you, Lamar.
What the hell's this?
Remember Tiny Thomas?
Got out last year.
- Yeah.
So.
He wants you to call that guy.
Says he's got a job for you.
Who is this, Tony Cymo, Cimo?
You know that
kid on death row?
The one by the name of Tyner?
LAMAR SANDS: Yeah.
He wasted Cimo's mama and
daddy with 12 gauge pump.
[whistles]
I reckon Cimo thinks it's
time some chickens come home
to roost.
Honey, I'm taking
the girls to the beach.
You want to come?
- No.
Y'all go on.
Oh, come with us, dad.
Yeah, dad.
Come on.
No.
I gotta wait for man
to call me about a job.
Aw.
Terry, you and Sheryl,
go out to the car.
I'll be out there in a second.
You're going to have
to snap out of it, Mr.
Snap out of what?
Behaving like this.
It's over, honey.
It's all over.
He was sentenced to die
in the electric chair,
and he'll be in that
prison until he does.
Yeah, but how long
is that going to be?
Three years?
Five years?
20?
The judge set the time,
and the place, and the date,
of execution.
You heard him.
I heard him.
I also heard another judge
set the time, and the date,
and the place of execution.
What happened to that?
You gotta let go.
I need you to come back to me.
[ominous synthesizer music]
[phone ringing]
Hello.
This is Lamar Sands,
what I do for you?
Do you know a guy
up there named, Tyner?
Rudolph Tyner.
I know every man
on cell block 2,
and practically every
con in this joint.
What about him?
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
TONY CIMO:
[on the phone] The phone
your using, it's
not bugged is it?
You think I'd talk
on a bugged telephone?
What about this Tyner?
I want him dead.
[whistle]
Boy, you don't
fool around, do you?
Why, as it happens, you're
talking to the right man.
What'll it cost?
LAMAR SANDS:
[on tape recording] All it will
cost you is a little grass.
A little money.
Maybe some pills.
How much money?
Will get to that later.
How you want it done?
You're the expert.
I've never done anything
like this before.
Welcome to the club, Cimo.
Why don't we try something
nice, and quiet, like poison.
You just send me some poison.
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
Yeah.
I'm here.
Now, what you
do is, you go out
and buy me a pair of new shoes.
Don't matter what size.
You take 'em home.
And you hollow at the heels.
You put the poison
in them heels.
And then, you wrap them shoes
up real good with a love note
from some woman who thinks
that men like me are romantic.
And then, you mail
them shoes to me.
Address it to Lamar the Sandman,
Central Correctional, Columbia.
[ominous synthesizer chords]
[dial tone]
[background noise]
Did Tiny tell you anything
about this Tony Cimo?
Does he have a record?
CONNERS: Straight arrow, man.
Never even got a traffic ticket.
Well, I got him, Conners.
Coming and going,
going and coming.
Taped him on the telephone.
Gonna be paying me from now on
to keep a lid on that cassette.
And if I do get caught
killing this boy,
then Cimo goes down
for conspiracy.
How are you going to get
that stuff in Tyner's belly?
Been feeding him righteous
sandwiches and coffee
for a week.
Got him to where he's
eating out of my hand.
[phone ringing]
SHERYL: There's
nothing wrong with it.
I just--
Hello.
Wait a minute.
OK.
What?
LAMAR SANDS: [on the phone]
This here's Lamar.
JAN CIMO: All right,
that's enough.
What kind of stuff is
that you sent up here?
TONY CIMO:
[on the phone] Oleander.
You know, from the bushes.
I rendered it down myself.
They say it kills horses.
Well, they must have
been awful puny bushes.
I fed it to him three
times, and all he got out
of it was a little gut ache.
Blame that on the prison chow.
Let's get this over with, Cimo.
Can you get me a
stick of dynamite?
Dynamite?
That's right.
Dynamite.
A stick of it.
Or as much of a
stick as you come by.
You just get me something
that goes, bang,
and I'll have him dripping
from the ceiling for a month.
I'll see what I can do.
[background music]
Give me a beer.
Hey, Cimo, what's
happening, man?
Thanks.
Did you get that call?
Yeah.
I need a stick of dynamite.
Oh.
TONY CIMO: Well?
What do you think about a C-4?
What's that?
Plastic explosives.
Military stuff.
You know, blowing up
bridges and things.
Well, is it a safe?
I don't want any postal
workers getting hurt.
It's safer than
dynamite, Cimo.
Easier to hide, too.
Can you get me some?
Well, I don't know.
Maybe I can.
Maybe I can't.
[background music]
[inaudible]
I've been thinking
about your case, Rudolph,
and I feel plum sorry for you.
What are you talking about?
I got to figuring, when
you walk in that store,
and blew them two
people away for $25,
you've got to be
the most desperately
poor man I ever known.
So what I'm going
to do is, give you
a chance to make some money.
Yeah?
You and me is going to
experiment, and if it works,
we're partners.
You know what this here is?
It's a radio.
But anybody can tell that.
It was a radio.
Now, it's an intercom.
And if It works for you and
me, then every man in this cell
block's gonna want one.
And we're gonna
make 'em pay plenty.
Yeah.
What I'm going
to do is, I'm going
to run this wire
through this duct,
and connect it to a
speaker that's in my cell,
just like the one
I'm giving to you.
Then we can talk to one another.
Now, what you do is--
come on over here.
Put this to your ear.
Now, count to a hundred,
so that I have enough time
to get back to my cell.
And then plug this in,
and you will hear me talk.
OK.
Wait til you
count to a hundred
so that I have enough time
to get back to my cell.
A hundred.
You really think this
is going to work?
Oh, it's going to work, boy.
You got the Sandman's
word for it.
You just keep holding
it to your ear,
like you're doing right now.
I will.
Walking out of here.
(WHISPERING) Psst.
Start counting.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5--
Man coming through.
[ominous chords]
57, 58, 59, 60--
97, 98, 99.
[explosion]
Woo!
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) This is Lamar Sands.
What can I do for you?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
The phone you're using,
it's not bugged is it?
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) You think
I'd talk on a bugged telephone?
Are you still on the line, Cimo?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) Do you know
a guy up there named, Tyner.
Rudolph Tyner.
LAMAR SANDS: (ON
TAPE RECORDING) I
know every man on cell
block 2 and practically
every con in this joint.
What about him?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) I want him dead.
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Yeah.
This is Tony Cimo.
[ominous strings]
[background noise]
Who was it?
Well, I don't know.
It was just a voice.
Tyner's dead.
He died?
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH SAXOPHONE
SOLO]
TONY CIMO: Somebody
blew him up in his cell.
He must've cross the wrong man.
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH SAXOPHONE
SOLO]
[OMINOUS STRINGS WITH ELECTRIC
GUITAR]
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
Let's get this over with, Cimo.
Can you get me a
stick of dynamite?
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) Dynamite?
LAMAR SANDS: (ON TAPE
RECORDING) That's right.
You just get me something
that goes, bang,
and I'll have him dripping
from the ceiling for a month.
TONY CIMO: (ON TAPE RECORDING)
I'll see what I can do.
It's incredible.
More than that,
it's unbelievable.
This is the United States.
We're a nation of laws.
Did he really think he
could get away with this?
Go get him.
Arrest him.
Read him his rights
in the Constitution.
And tell him, tell him,
nobody gets away with this.
[country music]
Stop it.
Dad.
Pretty bad, huh?
Sure is.
Well, at least I'll be
working steady from now on.
You total up everything we owe.
I'm afraid to.
I'm just going to put all
these bills in this basket,
and take them out one by
one, when we can pay 'em.
Looks like it's going to be
a skimpy Christmas this year.
I guess we'll just have to
get by on a hug and a kiss.
Now, what's wrong with that?
[phone ringing]
Hello?
Just a minute, please.
Daddy, it's for you.
Oh, thanks, honey.
Hello.
Yeah, this is Tony Cimo.
Well, sure I'm interested.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I know where it is.
OK.
I'll meet you there
in a half hour.
OK.
A man wants to give me the
plans for some brickwork
he wants done.
Great.
I gotta go to Surfside.
Mr. Cimo?
Tony Cimo?
Yes sir.
You're under arrest.
Bat on eye and I'll
blow your head off.
SLED, State Law
Enforcement Division.
Get out of your vehicle slowly.
[SAXOPHONE AND SYNTHESIZER
MUSIC]
[hand cuffs locking]
NARRATOR: Tony Cimo
was given three
concurrent sentences
for his role
in the death of Rudolph Tyner.
Five years for
conspiracy to murder.
Eight years each for threatening
to kill by means of explosives.
And failure to report his
knowledge of a felony bombing.
He was paroled after
serving three years,
and returned to his family.
Before his release, the
state of South Carolina
reinstated the death penalty.
And has since executed two
of the men on death row.
[SAXOPHONE AND SYNTHESIZER
MUSIC]