In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995): Season 1, Episode 1 - Pilot: Part 1 - full transcript

[train whistle blows
in distance]

[Loud music plays
from car radio]

[man] Uh-oh,
there's the chief.

What'd you stop for, Scotty.
The light's green.

Got any objections
to us having ourselves
a little fun? Huh, Nan?

I got no objections
to anything you
want to do, Scott.

You know that.

Whoo-hoo!

[siren blares]

[indistinct chatter]

[Nan] Oh, look.
Here he comes.



Well, that's
pretty cute, Lapeer.

Pretty cute.

We had a bet on, Chief,
whether you was awake.

I said you wasn't.

I guess I lost.

Get out and go wait
over there by my car.

[cup drops]

The rest of you
pour out those drinks.

Do like I say.
Pour 'em out.

[Scott] Be right back, Nan.

Come on.
Get out of there.

Won't be a minute,
friends.

Chief just wants to see
if old Scotty can walk.

Which one
of y'all is sober?



I'm not drinking.

Then you're driving.
Get up front.

Hey. Hey.

I told you to wait
back by my car.

Go on.

You're getting funnier
by the minute, Scotty.

This time it's
going to cost you.

You're not really going
to write me up,
are you, Chief?

Yeah, I'm really
gonna to write you up.

I was just running
some red lights.

Ain't nobody up
this time, except you.

Now what's the harm in that?

What's the harm in that?
Now let me think.

I got it.

It's against the law.

Not to mention,
driving while
under the influence.

If I could write
you up for showing off,

I'd do that, too.

Uh, Chief,
you are making
a big mistake.

Why? For not knowing
who you are?

Well, I wasn't
going to say it...

Well, then don't, 'cause
I know who you are,

and I know
who your daddy is.
And I know what he is.

Come right down to it,
I don't believe I care.

Maybe you should.

You want to see me,
Mr. Lapeer?

Yes. Yes, I do.

[clears throat]

I don't believe
you ever had children,
did you?

No, sir. I didn't.

Didn't want any?

Well, I lost one
when I lost my wife.

I imagine
you wanted to see me
about your son, didn't ya.

Did you really
find it necessary

to embarrass Scotty
in front of all of
his friends last night?

Well, if you can
show me how
to write a summons

without
embarrassing somebody,

I wish you would.

He tells me
that you spoke to him

in a manner
that was uncalled-for.

Scott ran
every traffic light

on main street,
Mr. Lapeer.

Now, can't you
make allowances
from time to time

for a high-spirited boy?

High-spirited, huh?
He was driving drunk.

Scotty tells me
that he can't afford
to have this citation

on his driving record.

I want you to bury it.

I can't do that.

Gillespie, whether
you know it or not,

your department
is under review

by the mayor
and the city council.

You need friends,
strong friends.

I hope
I have 'em, sir.

Goodbye, Gillespie.

I do appreciate
your coming by.

Oh, Chief...

On your way
down the drive,

you might take a look
at the camellias.

They've never
been more beautiful.

[owl hooting]

Ah! Oh!

Ahhh!

♪ I come happy here

♪ And just hold my
hold my hand ♪

♪ Take, take my hand

♪ Precious lord

♪ And just lead me on

♪ Precious lord

♪ Take my hand

♪ Precious lord

♪ And lead me on

Let us all now gather at
New Jerusalem cemetery

to put our sister Tibbs
to rest.

Mr. Tibbs, my name
is Jim Findlay.

We've never met,
but we have
corresponded.

Yes, of course.
Mayor Findlay.

How do you do?

-My wife.
-Ma'am.

I want to offer
my deepest condolences
on your loss.

That's very kind of you.

Well, it's a loss
that's gonna to be
widely felt, Mr. Tibbs.

I'm sure you know
your mama's company
catered every wedding,

birthday,
and civic event

-in Sparta for
the past 25 years.
-At least.

She was a fine,
generous woman

and a true credit
to her community.

Thank you.

Uh, Mr. Tibbs,

I hope you won't take
it amiss considering
the solemnity of the occasion

if I were
to ask you

if you might
find time to drop by
and see me.

-Regarding
your correspondence.
-Exactly.

Yes, I will.

Ma'am.

Morning, Bill.

Good morning, Mayor.
How are you?

Well, Virgil,
it's been
a long time.

Couple of years.

Good to see you.

Sorry it
has to be under
these circumstances.

Your mama
was a fine woman.

Yes, she was.

Althea...

This is Chief Gillespie.

I've told you
about him.

Mrs. Tibbs.

Oh, yes. Chief.

When Virgil came back
to Philadelphia

after his last visit here,

he could hardly talk
about anything else.

Well... Bad
as that, was it?

Well,
I wouldn't say bad.

Colorful.

Virgil made you
sound very colorful.

Well, I guess I've
been called worse.

Well, I don't think
he meant it
in a bad way exactly.

[siren]

I'm sorry.
Excuse me.

Junior, what kind
of damn fool are you

blowing your siren
as you drive up
to a funeral?

We got a body, Chief.

Where?

Vacant lot over
on Meeker street,
in the Bottoms.

Uh, Virgil,
if you have time,

you come and see me
before you go, hear?

[indistinct chattering]

I want
everybody back.
C'mon!

It's Nan Woodall, Chief.

Yeah,
it's poor little Nan.

Call up Hewitt
at the camera store.
Tell him to get down here.

We're going to need
some homicide pictures.

Did you call
the ambulance?

They should be rollin', Chief.
But you know how they are,
they take their sweet time.

Call up Boatwright.

I want him and Jamison
to go over this whole lot
with a fine-tooth comb.

It's Boatwright's
day off.

It was his day off.

Tell him I want
to see him here
in about five minutes.

I'll tell him.
He sure won't like it.

Think she was
raped, Chief?

I'm not a doctor,
am I?

You didn't see
me look at the girl's
privates, did ya?

No, but she's been
laying here a while now.

Then how am I gonna tell
whether she's been raped?

You want plaster
of Paris here, Chief?

Yeah, I want impressions
of all those tire tracks.

You be sure you take
pictures of them first.

Uh, Junior,
you just stay here.

Keep everybody else
off this lot...

And get one
of your blankets

and cover up
this child.

Let me by.
Let me by, folks.

-Here comes the chief now.
-[man] There he is.

That's Gillespie's car.

Yeah, I want
to know what's going on.
Let's ask him.

Is it true, Chief,
about Nan Woodall?

Yeah.
I just come from telling
her mama and daddy.

We've been talking
about it, Gillespie,

and what none of us
can figure is,
what a girl like Nan Woodall

was doing
in the Bottoms.

Isn't that where
that boy lives, who used
to work for Nan's father?

You mean the one
her daddy fired
for getting uppity?

I remember that.
Name was Willie Smith.

No, it wasn't Smith,
it was Jones.

I don't even know why
we're talking
about Willie Jones?

That boy's a good boy.
Did some work for me
awhile back.

Did some work
on my barn.
A real nice kid.

You want me
to pick him up, Chief?

If I did,
I'd tell you,
wouldn't I?

What are you gonna
do, Chief?

Well, if y'all let me
go into my office,

I'll figure
something out.

Chief...

Wouldn't be nothing
to drive down
to the Bottoms

and tell that boy
to get in the car.

Wouldn't be nothing
for you to change
those white socks

and get into uniform.

You could hardly make
a mistake doing that.

[sighs]

[man] In our police
department, Mayor?

[mayor] That's right, boy.
The time
has come for change.

[man 2] I never thought
you were serious about that.

Serious enough
to be corresponding

with New Orleans
and Atlanta,

as well as Philadelphia.

Now, Tolliver,
65% of our town is black.

Hell, look at Atlanta.
They got a black mayor.

And I bet 70% of their police
department is black.

You still thinking about
running for congress?

-That about it, Findlay?
-That's about it.

Look, a Southern
white man cannot run
for national office

and hope to get elected
without a record
on civil rights.

And I haven't got one.

I will if I integrate
the Sparta police department.

You do and you'll lose
half the white vote
in this county.

So what I'll lose in white
I'll make up for in black.

-Maybe it's time.
-Past time, I'd say.

Like hell it is.

Look, Tibbs was born
and raised right here
in Sparta County,

and every one of you
knew his mama.

Now, he is a top
homicide detective

with the Philadelphia
police department.

Today, we got the body
of one of our
loveliest young ladies

handed to us on a slab.

And as far as I know,
Bill Gillespie hasn't
got a clue.

Now, Tibbs is in town
for his mama's funeral,

I'm going to catch
him before he leaves.

And just what do you think
Gillespie going to say
about all this?

It doesn't matter
what he says.

Now, he is a good man,

but time
is passing him by.

[knocking at door]

Uh, Chief,
Dennis Gilroy's out here
with his son Ben.

Says he wants
to see you.

Wouldn't say why.
Should I send 'em
in or what?

Excuse me, Parker.

Gillespie, think
we might have something

that's going
to interest you.

Tell him.

[Ben] Well, you know I work
three nights a week
for old man...

For Mr. Everett.

It don't pay much--

Never mind that.

Well, I cut through
the Bottoms

on my way to work last night,
and I seen Nan Woodall.

In the Bottoms?

Yes, sir.
She was on the street.

And?

Well... She was talking
to Willie Jones.

All right.

Now, y'all don't say
anything about this

to anybody else,
you hear?

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Ben.

Makes you think,
don't it, Chief?

[indistinct chattering]

Good afternoon,
Mrs. Jones.

Want to see
your son Willie,
if he's here.

Willie works all night.
He's sleeping now.

I'm afraid you're going
to have to wake him up.
This is important.

-Willie, Chief
wants to see you.
-Yeah, Mama.

Willie, I want you
to come down
to the station with me

and answer
some questions.

Did I do
something, Chief?

We just want
to get some answers.

Better get
yourself dressed,

and get ready
to go with me.

[mayor] Have you given
any thought

to what I wrote you
in my letter?

Yes, I have.
I guess a person always
thinks about coming home

if they care about what
they came from,
who they came from.

Well, I'm glad
to hear you say that

because I now want you
to consider my letter
a firm proposal.

I want to be frank

and tell you
that I took the liberty,

possibly
the vulgar liberty,

of calling Philadelphia.

Several calls,
matter of fact.

In fact, I'm told
that you are

one of the finest
homicide detectives
they have.

You wrote in your letter
that you were looking
for a chief of detectives.

The Sparta police department
doesn't have any detectives.

Well, we're going
to change that.

Oh, and one more thing.

I'm prepared
to offer you more money

than you're making
in Philadelphia...

$5,000 more a year,
as a matter of fact.

[whistles and chuckles]

That's very generous.

Tibbs, I want you
to start now.

I mean, right now.

Now? Why?

Well, for one thing,
we got over in our morgue
this very minute,

the body of one of our
finest young ladies.

She's been murdered,

murdered, and,
uh... Maybe raped.

You mentioned
title, money.

The one thing
you haven't mentioned
is security,

job security, I mean.

The first time I step
on a white man's toes,

am I out?

[sighs]

I was hoping
race wouldn't be
an issue in this.

[chuckles] I have a feeling
the whole issue is about race.

I have a feeling I wouldn't
be standing here now
if I weren't black.

No, no.
Let me assure you--

Oh, you can assure me.
You can assure me
by drawing up a contract.

I want
three years... Firm.

Will that make the deal?

[laughs]

It'll certainly make it
worth my consideration.

All right. All right.

We'll give you
a contract.

Now... Do we
have a deal?

I'll let you
know in an hour.

Hey, baby.

[exclaims excitedly]

[laughing]

-Your mama really had
some good neighbors.
-Mmm.

Wait until you
see the kitchen,
wall to wall food.

[chuckles]

And just don't
sit there.

Did the mayor
offer you a job?

Yeah.

-Yeah?
-Yeah.

And what did you say?

-I told him
I need an hour.
-[laughs]

You figure that's all
it would take to
make me say yes?

-[chuckles]
Or say no.
-Oh.

Oh.

No, I don't think
you want to hear a no.

I wanna hear
how you feel.

-This is your
first time south.
-Mmm-hmm.

And you haven't said
a thing. I wanna know
how you feel about it.

Oh, come on, Virgil,
that's not fair.

I haven't been here
long enough
to form an opinion.

Babe, you forget
who you're talking to.

You hold
the land speed record
in opinion forming.

[both laughing]

I say you'll do it in,
what, 10 seconds tops.

Okay.

It's pretty.

"Pretty." that's it?

Well, that's the best
a Philadelphia
black woman can say

about a Mississippi cotton
town.

Virgil, I think
your mind's going.

Baby, how many times
have you said you wanna
live in a nice quiet place

with lots of trees?

Well, I was thinking about
a couple of neighborhoods
around Philadelphia.

Okay, what about
the times you said

that when I walk out
that door to go to work,

you worry all day
until I walk back in
that door at night.

What are you saying?

That I wouldn't have
a worry in the world
down here?

Where all the white folks
would love and cherish
their one black cop?

Think about it, Althea.

Chief of detectives,
Sparta Police Department.

It could be
a big job one day.

Virgil,
you've always told me

that in the north,
the white man doesn't care
how big the black man gets,

just as long
he didn't get too close.

But in the south,
he didn't care
how close he gets

just as long as
he didn't get too big.

Yeah, I know I said that
and it's still true.

[sighs] Chief of detectives
is a big sounding title.

And you're still a black man
in case you forgot, honey.

Now, I don't think
either one of us
truly believes

that this offer came
from the goodness
of the mayor's heart.

So what's he really
thinking about?

Himself.

But I'm thinking about us.

Mr. Tibbs!
Mama asked me to bring
this fried chicken to you.

And to tell you that
she's fixing some
okra and turnip greens.

-[exclaims]
-[laughs]

Thank your mama
for me, baby.

-Okay.
-Bye, now.

Bye.

I keep asking
the same questions,

you keep giving
the same answers,
we aren't gonna get anywhere.

I been telling
the truth.

I swear before God
I have.

He's lying.

I wasn't near
the Bottoms last night.

I was a whole
night out on route 10.

Well, if you can find
anybody to back you up,

we can let you
go home.

Willie, I can't
imagine anybody
working eight hours

without seeing
another soul.

Hello, Chief.

I hope we're not
interrupting
anything important.

Well,
give me a moment,
will you?

All right, Willie, we're
going to have to keep
you here a little while.

Give you a chance
to think about this again.

Put him in a cell.

Come on, Willie.

Come on, boy.
Out of that chair.

[Gillespie] Skinner... Skinner.

Remember I'm conducting
this interrogation, will you?

Oh. Oh, yeah.

Come on, Willie.

[Gillespie] Uh, Virgil, I know
I told you to come by
and have a little visit

before you left town,
but we're pretty busy
right now.

You may have heard
we got a murder here.

Uh, Mr. Tibbs
isn't leaving town, Gillespie.

He's your new
Chief of detectives.

Uh, Virgil, would you mind
if I had a word or two
in private with the mayor here?

Thank you.

He's my new
chief of what?

What are you
talking about?

We haven't
got any detectives.

Well, I see no reason
for any great surprise.

I mean, the council
gave me power to create
this job and I'm done.

Council gave you power

to build
a football stadium too,

but you haven't built one
'cause we haven't got
any need for one.

I'll be the judge
of what we need, Gillespie.

Now, Tibbs will be
working under you,
of course.

I believe you had
some dealings with him
a few years back?

A man
comes into town

and five minutes
later,

he's made
chief of detectives,

of which we haven't
even got any
at the moment.

Now, what's behind
all this?

Who's behind it?

I suggest you ask
the city council.

They are, after all,
the ones who hired him.

Oh, yeah, the city council
brings in a black detective
to force me out here.

But the man behind it all
is Harold Lapeer,
isn't it?

No. Now, Lapeer's got
nothing to do with this.

Look, everybody knows
you're a good old boy,
Gillespie,

and you do a good job,
but times are changing,

and we've got
to change with them.

Sure changing in
a hell of a hurry,
aren't they?

[both chuckling]

Well, let me
tell you something.

It's going
to take more
than Virgil Tibbs

to get me
out of here.

You tell that
to Harold Lapeer

next time
you're talking to him.

And you better keep it
in mind, yourself.

You want to go in there,
Mr. Tibbs?

Now, you got any questions,
you know where to find me.

Oh...

[knock on door]

Come on in.

Well, Virgil Tibbs.

I don't suppose
I have to tell you

this appointment
of yours

came to me
as a big surprise.

It came as something
of a surprise to me too.

Well, I'd say
taking this job means, uh...

Taking a big cut
in salary.

Not exactly.

Well, I mean,
a small town like Sparta

couldn't afford
to pay you

what a big city
like Philadelphia could.

Could it?

The pay is what
my contract calls for.

Your what?

My contract.

Now, if you'll show me
where my office is,

I can get to work.

We got no spare office
around here.

What's wrong
with this one?

It's mine...

That's what's wrong
with it.

Well, you won't mind
sharing it for a while,
now, will you?

Oh, and I'll need
a city car.

A city car?

Yeah.

You want a chauffeur
with that car?

No.

A detective
with a chauffeur

might draw
a little too much
attention.

Now, I've been told
you've had a murder.

You want to tell me
about it?

Yeah. Sure.

Pride of Sparta county
got her head caved in.

What more
you want to know?

Who was the black kid
in here when I came in?

The black kid in here
when you come in here

is the closest thing
we got to a suspect.

And I suppose you
had good reason
to bring him in,

like prior arrest,
motive, murder weapon,

witnesses, prints...

No, we didn't have
any prior arrests,
prints, witnesses,

or any of that.

We do know
there was bad blood

between that boy
and the girl's daddy.

And we know
that him and the girl
were talking together

on the day
of the murder,

right near where
she was found.

Yeah, I'd like
to talk to him.

Well,
you're the detective,

or so I was
recently informed.

Go ahead.

Hey, boy.

You can't go back there.

Chief!

Maybe you'd care
to explain

that I will be going
into that cellblock

or anywhere else
I choose,

when I choose.

We'd better get
another thing
straight.

You will not
call me "boy."

I want to like
you people.

And I want you people
to like me,

but there can't
be liking
without respect,

and until there is
that respect,

you will call me...

Mr. Tibbs.

Willie, why don't you
come clean, son?

Because if you don't...

If you don't...

I'm going to have to--

[Tibbs] You're going
to have to what?

What are you
doing back here?

You got no business
back here.

I'm with
your department now.

I'd like to talk
to the prisoner.

I don't know exactly
what that means?

It means
you can leave now.

I'd like to talk
to him alone.

Fine.
Just fine.

Hello.

I'm Virgil Tibbs.
I'm a cop.

Sit down.

Tell me
about this girl

that was murdered.

I never killed her.

Truth is,
we were friends.

I always liked her.
She liked me.

Did her father
like you?

No.

I used to work
for him,

but then he told me
to get off his property
and never come back.

Said if I do,
he'd kill me.

Why did he fire you?

For talking to Nan.

That was
the girl's name, Nan?

Yeah.

We went to high school
together.

We had classes
together.

I always talked to her
at school.

Did you talk after
her father fired you?

Once.

It was raining.
I gave her a ride.

Her father
would've killed me
if he would have known that.

When did you
give her the ride?

Few weeks ago.
Never seen her since.

That old police chief
in there won't believe
I watched the cats all night.

And I was nowhere near
the Bottoms
when Nan was killed.

You watch what cats?

D9-cats.

Big tractors with blades
for pushing dirt around.

I'm the night watchman

for that highway project
on route 10.

I'm out there
all night.

I don't get home
until it's light out.

And I don't get up
until it's time
to go back to work.

Did you ever
threaten Nan
or her father?

Mr. Tibbs, I never
threatened nobody.

How long I'm gonna
have to stay here?

You're telling
the truth?

I am, Mr. Tibbs.

Truth is all I know.

Law says they can
hold you for 24 hours
without pressing charges.

I can't see reason
for them doing that.

Settle down.

You'll be out
in the morning.

Why are you
holding that kid here?

Because I want
to keep him near me.

Come on. A man
fires a kid,

and that's supposed
to be the kid's motive

for killing
the man's daughter?

You can't hold him
here for that.

Even in Sparta.

Virgil, you and I
better get some
ground rules straight

right from the start.

You're the chief
of detectives,

but I'm the chief
of police here.

And you
will not tell me

what I can or can't do
in my own jail.

Yeah, what?

Well, now we
got ourselves
a black detective,

I imagine he's gonna be
wanting us to let
that black boy go.

That's what he wants,
and that's what we'll do.

Unless you find
some hard evidence
to hold him.

You want to run that
by me again?

[Gillespie] Yeah, sure.

Without evidence,
we can hold him
24 hours,

then we got to
turn him loose.

The suspect's
got his rights.

His rights.
What about
the victim's rights, Chief?

What about Nan
Woodall's rights?

She ain't got none?

You said that good,
Skinner.

Real good.
I like it.

I really like it.

The only thing is,
I just don't know

-where to put it.
-Oh.

[rock music playing
in the background]

We hear
you got the guy, Chief.

Not that it's going
to bring Nan back.

Had.
Had the guy.

You said "had."

Had the guy."

What's that
supposed to mean?

It means we got to
let him go.
That's what it means.

That little bastard
killed Nan,
and you're gonna let him go.

Why don't you keep
barking at me, boy.
It ain't my idea.

Skinner, you can
read him article 1113,

section "D,"
of the penal code,

or you can tell him
mind his own damn business.

Your choice.

Penal code.

Those don't sound
like your words,
Chief.

They sound
like the words
of that nigger

you brought down
from Philadelphia.

Well, Scott Lapeer,
you sound like a fool.

And you, Chief...
You sound like
a nigger-lover.

I am considering
the extreme grief

that you must be feeling,

so I'm not gonna do to you
what someone should have
done to you a long time ago.

But don't say
another word, you hear me?
Not one more word,

or I swear they're gonna
have to get the State Police
for me

and an ambulance
for you.

Now you sit down
and behave yourself.

What's bothering you?
What's going on?

What's bothering me
is that nothing
is going on.

I mean,
if the Jones kid

says he didn't leave
that machinery all night,

we should be looking
for someone who can
say he did.

Why? I thought you
said you believed him.

I do, I think,

and I think the chief
believes him, too...
Halfway.

But we gotta try
and prove he's lying

if we want to show
that he isn't.

I don't know who's
out there doing what.

I don't have a duty sheet.
Haven't seen a duty sheet.

Go.

-What?
-Go down
to the station.

That's what this
is all about,
isn't it?

Thanks. I'll only be
about an hour.

If it's longer,
I'll let you know.

[paramedic] All right.
Wait a second.
All right. Ugh!

[Skinner] I wasn't here
when it happened.

[Gillespie] You wasn't here
when it happened?

You had the desk
duty tonight.

Well, I got a call
and I had to leave.

He's telling us
that he left
this place open

without a single soul here
except Willie Jones.

I tried
to raise Junior.
He wouldn't answer.

And that's your excuse
for leaving a jail open?

Excuse? Excuse?

Man, I don't have
to make you
no excuses.

I locked the door
when I left.

It was unlocked
when I got back
from the call.

Well, I hope that call
was from the Lord
God almighty,

because you shouldn't
have left for anybody else.

-It was from Carl
Henderson again.
-Who?

It was from Carl
Henderson again.

He said there was
a prowler tryin'
to break into his house.

He was scared.
He was whispering.

But when I got out there,
I didn't find no prowler.
I didn't find nothin', really.

Just a window that looked
like somebody tried
to pry open.

Nay, I bet you didn't find
Henderson, neither.

Yeah, that's right.
Well, he must have run off
scared or something.

That he did.
This afternoon.

He told me
when I called him

that he was going to
drive to Tupelo

for a day or so.

What's going on?

Where the hell have
you been?

Why didn't you
answer me when
I called you?

That's because
I wasn't in the car.

There was a wreck
on the Interstate on-ramp.

You don't believe me.

Here's the blood
to prove it.

Will you please
take the desk

for the rest
of the night?

So now what
are you saying?

That this guy
Henderson called you

from out of town?

This man asked you
a question.

-You answer him.
-Oh, come on, Chief.

I said answer him.

All I know is,
I got a call.

I must of thought
it was Henderson

'cause he's
always calling here.

And I have never
lied to you,

and you know that.

You go out there
and you hang around
with Junior

and you stay close,
hear?

Yes, sir.

Now, listen, I know
he did a stupid thing,

but day in and day out,
he's a good police officer.

Good?

He was on duty

with one prisoner
to look after,

and that prisoner
is now dead.

He's been on
this force for 10 years.

He's never given me
any reason to question
his honesty.

Honesty?

Chief, you have
more reason
to lock up Skinner

than you ever had
for Willie Jones.

You know damn well
he's the kind of redneck
that would kill a black man

just to pass the time of day,
and he's talking
to get away with it.

They oughta issue
combat ribbons

-for staying
in this town.
-Hold on.

Hold it, now.
Virgil, if you want
to be preachin',

you got to learn
to pause for the amen.

All right. Amen.
Satisfied?

No. I'll tell you
what would satisfy me.

A list of everybody
in this town

with keys
to this jail.

Fine! I say amen
to that, too.

Amen. Amen.

-[Tibbs] Dr. Bridges.
-Yes.

Virgil Tibbs.

Yes. You're
the new detective
I've heard about.

What can I
do for you?

Well, I'd like
to see the bodies
if I may?

You mean
the boy's body.

No, I mean both bodies.
The girl's first.

What was
the girl wearing
when she was found?

This is it?
No underwear?

No underwear.

I don't know
what that is.

It was in her
fist, her hand.

Looks like videotape.

Thank you.

What was
the time of death?

I can't say exactly
because of the weather.

It was hot.

Well, approximate.

Somewhere
around midnight.

Anywhere between
11:00 and 1:00.

Any vaginal tears
or bruises?

I have not yet
examined her vagina.

So you haven't
checked yet
for the presence of semen.

If she fought
with her assailant,

there could be skin
under her nails

as well as blood,

and I'll want pictures
of her labia and vagina

as well as cuttings
from her pubic hair.

And of course
you'll comb the pubic area
for any hairs that don't match.

Well, I suppose
when I have all this
you could tell me

what to do with it?

Each item will be placed
in plastic and sealed.

And after you and I have
cosigned each of these items,

they'll be sent to
the FBI laboratory
for analysis.

I suppose you intend
to stay here and watch?

How else can I cosign?

However much you may not
like it, Dr. Bridges,

we're both on
the same team.

[tires screeching]

When Findlay
brought you in here,

he didn't say nothin'
'bout you being crazy.

Not one word did he say
about you being
out of your mind.

Would you like
to come in?

Don't answer me back.
Just listen to me.

What I'm telling you is,

that you are not to go
running hog-wild
around town

without you
letting me know
what you are doing.

I'm still the chief of police
here in case
it slipped your mind.

Would you like to come in,
or do you want to have
this out in public?

What difference
does it make?
In... Out!

Here, go on in. In.

You are not
to do a thing
in this department

without you checking
with me first.

Damn, I didn't think
I had to tell you that.

If you'd let me know
you were going over
there to see Bridges,

maybe I could have
gone with you.

Maybe help keep
your lid screwed down.

Virgil,
who's that at the...

Oh, it's you,
Chief Gillespie.

Mrs. Tibbs.

I was just making
some coffee.

Why don't you
have a seat?

Uh, well,
this isn't, uh...

This isn't exactly
a social visit, ma'am.

Please, sit down.

Thank you.

You know, Virgil
was telling me

how gracious
you've been.

Oh, he was, huh?

Yes. Letting him share
your office until
he gets his own.

One of his own?

Oh.

I think I'll get
that coffee.

Bridges told me you come
running in there

and you ripped the sheet
right off that girl!

I very carefully
removed the sheet
covering that girl,

and I very carefully
folded it.

You was
using words like...

You was using words
like vagina,

labia, pubic hairs.

What was going on
in your mind, Virgil?

-Where the hell did you
think you was?
-In a morgue.

I thought I was talking
about a body.

Not a black body,
not a white body,

but the body
of a murdered girl.

If that girl
had been black,

you never
would have heard
from your Doctor Bridges.

-But she's white.
-Oh, come on.

And a black man is not
supposed to look
at a white girl,

dead or alive,
much less talk about her,

isn't that right?

Well, isn't it?

Yeah, that's right,
and you know
why it's right.

Because that's the way
it's always been.

Well, it's not
going to be that way
anymore, Gillespie.

And this town,

this county,

this state...

Well, they're all
going to have to get
accustomed to it.

[Gillespie] Uh, excuse me.

We had some calls
that a black man

was trying to break in
to the Hendersons' house.

When they said
he was wearing a suit,

I knew in my heart
it had to be you.

Skinner told the truth
about the window.

Uh-huh.

Which incidentally,
doesn't let him off the hook.

Because he could've
been working with somebody else
just setting up an alibi,

but he did
tell the truth
about the window.

I know he
told the truth

because I
already been here.

Talked to three
of the neighbors here.

They saw him here.

Now, have you got anything
against working with me?

I really don't know
what you're
talking about?

I'm talking about
me running one way,

and you running the other.

This wasn't my idea,

because you know, you and I,
we're supposed
to be working together.

In other words,
I'm not supposed
to do anything

unless you're in on it
or know about it,

-is that what you're
telling me?
-Uh-huh.

♪ Amazing grace

♪ How sweet the sound

♪ That saved
a wretch like me ♪

♪ I once was lost

♪ But now am found

♪ Was blind
but now I see ♪

[Gillespie] Now, the girl's
mama and daddy are
there in the front row

and then some relatives
from Pascagoula

and of course her
school chums.

She was
very popular girl.

She was president of
her senior class,

she was a cheerleader,
whole bunch of stuff.

Two years ago,
she was Miss Sparta county.

I always figured
she'd wind up on TV

in some glamour job,

like selling
refrigerators
or something.

What's the matter
with that?

Nothing.
That's glamour.
That's glamour.

Why don't you
give me a rundown
on the back row,

left to right?

Oh, well, that's, uh...

Scott Lapeer and his daddy.

They own the cotton mill,

about 14,000 acres
of raw land and cotton land.

The oldest family
in the county,

and they don't
let you forget it.

The boy isn't worth
the powder to blow him up.

That's Anne Strictland.

She's been a tramp
since she was potty-trained.

Barbara Giles there,
she's a nice girl.

I often wondered why
she'd run with that crowd.

I guess she's just got
a good heart.

Then you got Winthrop Mason.

They all call him Winnie.

He doesn't know
it's because they all think
he looks like a horse,

and then there's
Ben Gilroy there.

He likes to run around
with anybody rich.

Makes him forget
about the fact that
he's nothing.

He's the one
who told me that he saw

Willie Jones having
a conversation
with Nan Woodall

the night she was murdered.

That he what?

That's why I brought
Willie Jones in.

Why have you waited
all this time
to tell me that?

Well, Virgil,
I had one or two
other questions

on my mind.

Like what?

Well, like for instance,
uh...

Are you gonna keep on wearing
a suit and tie
to work every day?

What's wrong with it?

Well, it just gives
a man a kind of a start,
you know.

They don't know
whether you're comin'

from the Internal Revenue
Service or the NAACP.

[priest] God, does not...

This Virgil Tibbs comes
highly recommended,
you'll be happy to know.

Yeah, by Yankees.

Highly recommended
by Yankees.

Why, yes.
Those are the people
he works for.

I thought he might

help us solve
the Woodall gal's murder.

I understood
that was solved.

I understood
the first thing that
black detective found

was a black body
hanging in our jail.

It doesn't take
a brilliant mind

to conclude that
that boy killed himself

out of guilt,
remorse, fear.

Happens all the time.

Well, sir, the chief
hasn't yet determined
that was the case.

The chief works
for you and me,
Mr. Mayor.

Tell him not to waste
any more time on it.

Let's get this
miserable tragedy
behind us.

So we can put our minds
to bigger things.

I don't think I have
to show you the way out.

No, sir. No.

You heard.

Yes.

Then get on
with your life.

Nan is gone,

but her death
has been paid for.

Yes, sir.

Virgil, there's
a very fine recipe
in here

for shrimp
and scallop Gumbo.

Now if your dear mama
was alive,
I'd just clip this

and I'd take it
over to her.

Then maybe
young Mrs. Tibbs
might like it, too.

[Gillespie] Wait a minute.
Wait!

You need a little help
with that.

Hey, Sylvio.
Come out here.

Help the man
with this thing.

Never said
he needed help.
Never said a word.

Yeah, well,
put it in here somewhere,

just don't crowd me
with it.

Over there, please,
by the window.

Yeah. All right.

Swing back that way,
so I can get
this leg through.

[Gillespie]
I think the damn thing
is bigger than mine.

-[Tibbs] Thank you.
-[Sylvio] You're welcome.

Chief,
who was that man?

Red Jack?
He's just a jughead

who comes in here
and cleans up around.

He has keys
to everything?

Well, how is he gonna
clean if he doesn't?

He's on that list
I gave you.

Well, so is most
of this town.

According to the list
you gave me.

We got a few keys out.

I don't hand them out
as party favors,
only as needed.

That may not be
the way they do things
in Philadelphia,

but it's the way
I do things here.

And I've never
lost a prisoner.

You lost Willie Jones.

Suicides
don't count.

Willie Jones
didn't commit suicide.

Do you really believe

he'd kill himself
at the prospect

of spending
one night in jail?

Detective,
this just came for you
from the FBI.

Well, what does it say?

Dr. Bridges found sperm,
but no evidence of rape.

Nan Woodall had sex
before she was killed,

and she was willing.

Oh, you're not saying
with Willie Jones.

Hair found
in her pubic area

was Caucasian,
not black.

Somebody slipped
a Joker in your deck,

and that Joker
was Willie Jones.

They want us
to think he did it
and then killed himself.

Who's "they"?

Whoever came in here
and murdered him.

His body shows every
indication of a struggle.

There were bruises
around his mouth,
but no trauma to his head.

He was wide awake
when they lynched him.

But tell me
who is "they."

Well, we both
know one person

couldn't hold
a struggling man

up to those pipes.

The way you're
looking at me,

I'm beginning
to feel I need an alibi.

You got one.

You took that lady from
the diner home at 6:00 p.m.,

and you stayed with her
all that evening.

Did I enjoy myself?

[chuckles]

Hmm.

Shrimp
and scallop Gumbo.
Sounds pretty good.

Hang onto it.
It may come in handy.

Says here Bubba Skinner's
allergic to shellfish.

[chuckles]

I can't believe
these ledgers.

They're not just menus.

Mama has notes
on everybody in this town.

You know it was
kinda sweet,

the chief
sending this over.

But who was
that young fellow
who brought it?

Junior Abernathy.

Doubt if he'll
make it as a cop,

but I could say that
about half the force.

[telephone rings]

Hello.

Yeah, this is Tibbs.

Who is this?

Yeah.
I know where it is,
but who is this?

Who am I talking with?

That was a man,

says he has information
on both murders.

[glass bottle rolls]

[man] Hey, boy,
how you like this?

Kick him! Kick him!

[indistinct yelling]

[man] It's the cops.
Let's go!

It's the cops!
Let's get out of here!

[man laughing]

Chief! Chief!
You better
come out here.

Bubba, bring him in.
Bring him in.
Put him on the couch in there.

Come on, Junior,
you go there,

get some of that
first aid stuff
and bring it in.

Then call Dr. Bridges
on the telephone.

Put him right here.

Oh, yeah. Give me that.

Maybe you ought
to lay down there.

No. No.
I'll be all right.

Officer Skinner...

Thank you.

Mmm-hmm.

All right now.

Turn around this way,
and I'll...

-I heard the keys.
-Huh? What?

I heard the keys.

Same keys I heard here.
Heard 'em
just before I passed out.

Red Jack.

-You sure?
-I swear it.

Just tell me
where he lives.
I'll bring him in.

Oh, no, no.
Wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

You wouldn't
want to tip off

whoever put that
Joker in the deck,
would you?

No.

Now,

let me tell you
an interesting thing
about Red Jack.

See, this job
he does here,

this job... Hold it.

This job's
only part-time.

You see,
his main job...

Is over
at the cotton mill.

He works for Lapeer.

So we visit Lapeer.

All in due time.

We start with Nan
Woodall's friends...

First thing
tomorrow morning.

Good.

I feel real bad
about Skinner.

Got him all wrong.

Oh, well,
that happens.

I met a black guy
a long time ago.

I thought he was
the meanest man
in the world...

Till he
saved my life.

Rash judgments.
I take your point.

Yeah, well,
there's another
point there, too.

See I was trying
to be a war hero.

And my black friend,
he saved me
from being a corpse.

You can
only be a hero

if the almighty
calls you to it.

You try to be one out of pride,

you could
end up gone.

You take that
as if it come
from your daddy.

[chuckles]

That wasn't supposed
to be funny.

No.

No.

I just had a vision
of what I might be like

if I had a daddy like you.
[laughs]

Well, probably
no better, no worse.

Probably.

Maybe a little bit more
Harry Belafonte, though.

[laughs]

[car door closes]

[doorbell]

Good morning, Harry.

Now, this is
Virgil Tibbs--

I heard.
What can I do for you,
Gillespie?

We'd like
to ask your daughter
some questions.

About what
happened to Nan?

Barbara doesn't
know anything
about that, Gillespie.

[sighs] My God,
you don't know
what this has done to her.

-She hasn't been well.
-Harry, Harry...

We just need
about five minutes.

Honey.

Honey, the chief and...

Well, they want to ask you
a few questions about Nan.

It won't be long.

Barbara...

The chief tells me
Nan Woodall was
a friend of yours.

Nan was
my best friend.

She was more than
a sister to me.

I loved her.

When was
the last time
you saw her?

The night she...

The night...

[Tibbs] Uh, where?

At Scott's.

Scott Lapeer's house
on route 16.

We'd all went there
for a party.

Nan really became upset
about something...

And she ran out.

She ran
down the driveway
to the road.

And that was
the last time
you saw her?

Running down
the driveway?

No.

I saw the headlights
of a car.

It stopped for her,
and she got in.

And that's the last time
I saw her.

What was it
that upset her?
What happened?

I don't know.
I really don't know.

Well, all right, Barbara.
Thank you.

You've helped us a lot.

Don't you go
gettin' sick over it,
you hear?

Thank you, Harry.

Thank you.

You call that
helping out?

No. But then I'll bet
you a dollar she could've
told us more than she did

if her daddy hadn't
been standing there.

I get the feeling he's
always standing there.

No, not on Thursdays.

On Thursdays, he drives
to Jackson on business,

and her mama goes
to the beauty parlor.

I guess you know
everything about everybody
here in this town, huh?

Virgil... If I was
to sell all I know

to one of them
little newspapers

at the check-out stand
at the supermarket,

I'd have
my fortune made.

At the same time,

there'd be a whole
lot of murders, mayhems,

massacres, and suicides.

There's Winnie.

[church bells in the distance]

What do you want
to bet he was in there
with little Annie

getting his story
straight with hers?

I guess you've known her
since she was
a baby, too, huh?

Annie was never a baby.

Well, now,
I've been expecting you.

Word I get is you've
been out all around
town asking questions.

We haven't met.

I'm Anne Strictland.

Virgil Tibbs.

-How do you do?
-Fine, thank you.

We just want you
to supply some answers,

like when you was
in school, remember?

Well, now, I was never
all that good in school,
Chief Gillespie.

I've got a notion
you'll be a whole lot
better here

than if we took
you down to the station.

Then why don't
we just give a little try,
shall we?

What do you
want to know?

You first, Virgil.

I've never met
a Virgil before.

What happened to your
friend Miss Woodall

at Scott Lapeer's party,
Miss Strictland?

She got upset and left.
That's all.

She ran
down the driveway,

a car came driving
up the road,
and she got in.

That's the last
I saw of her.

Seems as if I've heard
that song before.

Well, it's all I know.
Scout's honor.

Who'd she get upset with?

Well, it seems it was
something personal
between her and Scott.

I can't say
anymore... Now.

If you boys wanna work
on my poor body
with a rubber hose,

I think you should know
I bruise easy.

Uh, wait a minute.
Wait a minute.

Before we go in there
to see that pampered dumbhead,

-I want you to promise
me something.
-Yes.

-That I'll be on
my best behavior?
-No.

That you
won't take any crap.

-Come on, get out.
Now. Come on.
-[woman] Why?

Get out now.
Come on.

[woman] Why?

Right now.
Come on.

-Hustle, hustle.
-[woman] Go where, Scotty?

[knock on door]

Please... Come on in.

I must say
I was expecting you,

the both of you.

I've been told you've been
asking questions about Nan.

I'm afraid I'm still
in some kind of shock.

At least that's
what the doctor says.

Nan and I, we'd
planned to be married.

This is the last place
Miss Woodall was seen alive.

By anyone you talked to,
that is.

Nan's killer was the last
to see her alive,

and I'm glad he's dead,
because he did it,

and I don't
want to know how,

with what,

why...

Nothing about it.

I understand you had
some strong disagreement...

That night.

Yes, I had...

And I'll never
forgive myself, Chief.

I wouldn't give Nan

a specific date
for marriage.

Then a lot of things
just seemed to come
to a head.

It was the wrong time
and place...

For talk.

But you fought.

Yes...

Though it was hardly
more than a tussle.

Next thing I know,
she's out the house

running down
the driveway.

A car stopped
for her on the road,

she got in,

the car drove away.

And that,
Detective Tibbs...

Is the whole story.

A police officer
seldom gets
the whole story.

I want to thank you.

I won't take up
any more time.

Thanks
for your cooperation,
Mr. Lapeer.

[sighs]

[door closes]

The girls that were
at the river...

Are they town girls?

I've never
seen them before,

but young Scott
seems to be

dealing pretty well
with his grief, doesn't he?

[dog barking]

[car engine starts]

He wouldn't give her
a definite wedding date.

Can you see a girl
running out into the night
hysterical over that?

Well, let me tell you
something about the Lapeers.

They don't
marry beauty queens.

They're only too happy
to make use them,
but that's it.

So she found that out
and ran away.

Okay, he's rid of her.
Why kill her?

Well, Virgil,
that Scott Lapeer boy

is a really bad boy.

Maybe the girl found out
something about him,
I mean,

something real low-down
or maybe even criminal.

Maybe.

Well, it's my experience
that a woman

can go from sad
to mad real quick,

and if she's got something
to threaten a man with,
well...

I just want to find out
what this is all about.

Uh-huh.

All right, watch out.
Coming through.

[man 1] Over here!

Take it
to the left!

I got 15 more bales
on these skids.

[man 2] Hey! Red Jack!

Pick up
the telephone.

Hello?

-[Lapeer] Red Jack,
this is Lapeer.
-Yes, sir.

I want you to get
rid of that guy
once and for all.

I'm afraid I can't
tell you whether
Scott Lapeer

has an account
with us or not.

Why the hell not?

That's privileged
information.

Go on, Hewitt.

All right, so he has
an account with us.

Well, fine.
We'd like to see that account
say from the last two months?

Chief,
this is privileged.

I'd like to, Chief,
but I can't.

You saying you can't
to a man who knows

where you go
every Wednesday night?

I'm glad he decided
to cooperate

because he does crime
photography for us,

unless you'd like to try
your hand at that, too.

-Why you
looking like that?
-Oh, nothing.

It'll just take
a little getting used
to I guess.

The homicide photographer
runs a camera shop,

the funeral director
moonlights as a coroner...

Well, it works out
pretty good.

A small town
like this,

we don't do
the volume business

y'all do
in Philadelphia.

[bell chimes]

[Hewitt] You'll find
everything posted
for the last quarter.

Hand that book to him.

I believe there's
a customer there.

Good morning.

Videotape,
lots of videotape.

Where do you see that?

Oh, yeah...

Well, I suppose
he's taking a lot
of home movies.

Home movies of what?

He lives alone.

No wife, no children,

but he brings
lots of girls up there.

Well, now, Virgil...

You're thinking
about something nasty.

We're both thinking it.
Say it.

Dirty pictures.

[doorbell]

[Gillespie] Hello, Barbara.

My parents aren't home.

Well,
that's all right.

We'd just like
to talk to you.

May we come in?

Now...

How long have you and I
known each other?

Always.

Yeah. In fact,
when you were born,
your daddy was away,

and I was the one who brought
you and your mama
home from the hospital,

so I've always felt you
were kind of half-mine.

Well, you know I've
always felt that way
about all the kids,

still do.

And now one
of them is gone,

and I feel bad.

Now, you're Nan's best friend,

don't you think
you owe it to her

to tell us all you know
about what happened?

Tell us the truth.

The truth's not always
that good to hear.

The truth can be ugly.

Well, if it is,
don't you think
it's the best thing

to get it out,
get rid of it?

What's that you got
in your hand?

Nan gave it to me.

What really happened
to Nan, huh?

[sobs]

Scott was taking...

Pictures...

Secret pictures
of him and Nan together.

And of me and Ben

and of Anne
and other girls.

Winthrop was taking them.
Winthrop Mason.

I mean, they were talking
about getting married!

How did Nan
find out about it?

She caught him looking
at something with Winthrop.

Then she screamed at Scott.

They had a terrible fight.

And then she...

Tore some kind of tape
out of one of his cameras.

Then she started crying.

When she ran
out of the house,

Scott was chasing her.

Then he came back, and...

[continues sobbing]
He said she had
a terrible accident.

He said it would
look bad for him

and that nobody
would believe

that she'd fallen
and hit her head.

Then he made up this story
we should all tell.

And you all told it,
too, didn't you?

He said if we didn't,
he'd let the pictures
get out around town.

He said he'd make sure
our parents saw 'em.

You think Scott
killed her, don't you?

Yes...

'Cause he was so scared
he was shaking...

Like I'm shaking now
'cause I'm scared,
and I'm telling you.

And then Scott
telephoned his daddy,
didn't he?

How did you know?

Oh... Harold Lapeer's

been pulling that boy
out of messes

ever since he took
his first steps.

Now, will you come down
to the station with us and...

And record
all of this for us,

just like
you said it here?

[sobs]

[dogs barking]

[Gillespie]
I'm glad Judge Denver
agreed to a search warrant.

All right, Horace,
you know what to do.

Get those reserves
into the woods.

What are
we looking for, Chief?

Anything that
doesn't grow there.

[Horace] All right, men,
this way!

Okay,
you heard the chief.

Fan out!

Get those dogs going.
Get to work!

-[man 1] Lock and load.
-[dog barking]

[man 2] Safety's on.

[man 1] Come on, girl.
Come in here.

Give it up, Red.

[man 2] Yeah.

[dog barking]

[indistinct chattering]

[tires screeching]

-What's in here?
-A clothes closet.

Start with the closets
in the hall.
Go look in there.

Virgil.

I knew her
when she was a baby.

What happens in between?

[indistinct chattering]

Now,
take Junior's car.

Bring all these films
and the tapes and all this junk
down to the station.

Don't show it to anybody.

Just lock it
in the property room.

How many keys are out
to the property room?

There's only one.
Ask Parker for it,

then keep it
in your pocket.

And by the way,
if ever you decide
not to wear a suit to work,

remember the key
is in that suit.

[tires screeching]

[Gillespie]
Junior, get out
and open that bridge!

Red Jack! Sam!

Hold it. Hold it.
It's all over!

Now don't do
anything silly.

You shoot me,
these guys
going to kill you.

You know that.

Now put those rifles
on the ground.

Go on,
do like I say.

All right, now.

Hold it, Virgil,
let me handle this now.

Virgil! Virgil.

Hold it. Hold it.
I was just
telling Red Jack here

he's a lucky man.

If I had my way we'd
all beat him half to death,
and then read his rights,

but I got a smart
Philadelphia detective here

who tells me I ought
to go right by the book.

He doesn't want any mistakes
before we go into court.

Come on, Bubba.
Put the cuffs on him.

Now,
I'm arresting y'all boys
for the attempted murder

of a police officer,

for the murder
of a prisoner in my jail...

Willie Jones.

And accessory in the murder
of Nan Woodall.

You have the right
to say not one word,

unless you want to.

Take them down
to the station, Bubba,
and put 'em on ice.

All right,
let's go.

Chief,

you have some pretty
slick moves on you.

Come on. I want
to show you something.

It's a shame what happens
to a gentleman's wardrobe

in the line of duty.

You also got
some good timing.

The men found this.

I thought it
might interest you.

[Tibbs] Nan's other shoe.

You think maybe now
we can go see the Lapeers?

I think
maybe we might.

Boys, come in
to the back of the house.

Get a photo
of those tires.

What the hell's
going on here, Gillespie?

Mr. Lapeer,
this is detective Virgil Tibbs,

he's the newest member
of my department.

We know all about that.

Well, if you're going
to talk to me,
you're gonna come inside.

Well, you heard him.

Well?

You are under arrest
for the murder of Nan Woodall.

You have the right silent--

We know our rights, boy,

but you have
made a very bad mistake.

As I understand it,

the girl's body was
found in the Bottoms.

After it
was removed from
your son's property,

either by you

or at your direction.

We know Scott
called you right
after he killed her.

The tire treads
found in the Bottoms

ought to match
Scott's Mustang

or one of your vehicles.

You are also
under arrest

as accessory
after the fact,

and accessory

before the fact
in the murder of Willie Jones'

I had nothing
to do with that.

Maybe you yourself
didn't walk
into that cell

and lynch
Willie Jones--

Or anyone
associated with me.

Who you thinking
about, Lapeer,
Red Jack?

I'll say no more.

Well, it's just as well.

I suppose the truth
will have to wait
for the trial to come out.

But in the meantime,
the state and the
federal authorities

will be very
interested in the
pornography business

young Scott here's
been running.

Pornography?

Yeah, pornography.

Found the cameras, pictures,
tapes, films.

Cut that out!

It's too late
for that!

Do you realize what this
does to our name?

I tried to protect you

when you said
you killed Nan.

-I tried to protect you.
-[Scott] No, not me.

All you ever tried to protect
was the Lapeer name.

And I don't want
you to think
that I let you down.

I did my best to
perpetuate that name.

That name's known
in every sex shop

and pornography outlet
in 20 states.

And if we both
weren't going to jail,

I plan on making it
known world-wide.

For God's sake,
arrest me and get me
the hell out of here.

I can't stand
the sight of him.

Excuse me, Mr. Lapeer.

Sorry about these, but...

They are the rules.

As we walk down
that path of yours,

you might like to have
one more look
at the camellias.

They ain't never
been more beautiful.

After you.

[hammering]

Got a live alligator
loose in here?

Morning.

[Tibbs] Morning!

Putting up
a picture there,

I can tell you
we don't need one.

We got
enough pictures

hangin' up around here
for a police station.

But I'm puttin' up
a picture
of a famous man.

Reminds me
of other famous men.

The famous men we need
to be reminded of

is the famous men
on the wanted posters.

Let's go for a little bit
of a higher inspiration
than that, huh?

Talking about wanted,
here's one here that...

Oh, now, Virgil...

Virgil, that isn't
going to work.

You got something
against the man?

No, no. I've got nothing
against the man.

If you want a picture
of him,

why don't you
have a little one
for the desk.

You know, something you could
shove into a drawer quick,
if you had to.

Well, this is a public office,
and this is still
the state of Mississippi.

Yeah, well,
you put up a hero of yours,
and now I got one of mine up.

Oh, come on, Virgil,

there's a whole world
of difference there.

I mean, this man here...

You're talking
about a man up here...

This man here
come with the office!

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪

♪ I've got troubles
wall to wall ♪

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪

♪ Yeah

♪ Must be an ending

♪ To it all

♪ Oh

♪ But hold on

♪ It won't be long
just you be strong ♪

♪ And it'll be
all right ♪

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪