In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995): Season 1, Episode 5 - Blind Spot: Part 1 - full transcript

♪ In the heat of the night

♪ I've got troubles
Wall to wall ♪

♪ In the heat of the night

♪ 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



♪ Oh

-Two.
-Right this way, please.

Hi.

Well, hey,
how are you?

I'd like y'all to meet
Steve Vincent,

Vice President of
Epman Enterprises.

[chuckles]
That's executive assistant,
Barbara,

and I've met the Chief
and Mr. Tibbs

at the mayor's office.

I've met Miss Dee,

but I've yet to meet
Mrs. Tibbs.

Mr. Vincent.

I didn't know you and
the Chief knew each other.

Yeah, we're
practically related.
He's my godfather.



Well, I better be careful
of my intentions.

You said that.
I didn't.

[all laughing]

Well, we're starving.
We'll see y'all.

Good night.

Barbara Giles is keeping

some, uh,
pretty fast company.

Well, he's kind of
a New York type.

Is that supposed
to mean something?

The Chief is saying that
he's a little uptown

for a kid like Barbara.

No. I think he's saying
something else.

-Maybe I am.
-[all chuckling]

Could I see you
outside a minute?

[sighs] No, you cannot.
We're having dinner here.

It's important.

So is dinner.

You keep out of this.

You think you can
come here and buy up
anything you want.

Well, there's some things
in this town
that ain't for sale.

-Let me go.
-Hey!

Why don't we just go outside
and discuss this?

Come on.

Steve.

Virgil, where are you...
This was supposed to be
your night off, Virgil.

Whoever told you a cop
had a night off?

Look, order some dessert.
I'll be right back.

-[Barbara] Don't!
-Hey!

[Barbara] Stop it!

Get off me!

Come on.
You want something?
You want...

[man] You guys knock it off.

-[glass shatters]
-Come on.

-Come on.
-[woman exclaims]

Calvin, put that thing down!

-Put that down.
-[glass shatters]

Get over there.

All right. Now, go on.

Damn nigger!

Shut up, Calvin,
and get back in the truck!

Y'all stay out of that truck.
Keep them out of it, too.
You hear me?

You're walking
home tonight. Go!

You all got the smell
of liquor all over you.

[panting]

-You all right?
-[panting]

It's like I never
left New York.

[Gillespie]
Go on back inside.

Go on.

[crowd murmuring]

How you doing?

-[engine starts]
-[indistinct chatter]

[bodyguard]
What are the locksmiths
still doing here?

Wallace,
what are you doing?

You shouldn't have
slipped that lock.

We got no business here.

Locked doors
make me curious.

If Mr. Epman's
bodyguards catch us,

we're in big trouble,
Wallace.

[Wallace] Man alive!

Wallace, don't do this.

God!

Wallace, close it up.

Man...

This is the real thing,
Eddie Lee.

Must be half a million
dollars here.

God.

Wallace, what are you doing?

What do you think?

Wallace, you're crazy.
You can't do this.

Did you see
how much was there?

They'll never miss it.

This is the real stuff.

More money than
you and me can count.

Now, just be cool.
Just be cool.

Oh, damn.

Hey, what are you doing?

Nobody told you
to change locks up here.

You said locks.
I thought you meant
all the doors.

Aw, come on.

We'd be glad
to give you an estimate.

Just get out of here.

Go on. Get out.

[Wallace] Okay.
We're gone.

Al, stop them.
They got into the stuff.

[tool clatters]

[gun firing]

[Eddie] No! No, Wallace!

Wallace!

Eddie!

He hasn't got it on him.

Here's the keys to the van.
We'll have to lose it.

The boss will lose us
if we don't get that guy.

[panting]

Chief...

Eddie Lee Tayir's sister

says he didn't
come home last night,

but he's working
for Mr. Epman.

See if they know anything.

Epman's people say
they don't know nothing.

Call Wallace Posey.
They work together.

Wallace Posey's
missing, too.

Was yesterday payday?

What?

Those two were
probably out on a toot.

[Virgil] Man.

Chief, I heard
about Buddy Trent

and the detective
last night.

Oh, I expected you would.

Buddy Trent's a troublemaker,

always was, always will be.

Oh, Buddy's got no call

going against anybody
belonging to Mr. Epman.

When you think about
what he's going to do

for this town...
Boy howdy.

[man on radio]
Parker, tell Junior
I got Eddie Lee's van

back in at 9th Street.
I'll wait for him there.

He's on his way.
Junior?

I'll go with him.

The detective
didn't seem to want
to discuss last night.

No. It didn't seem so.

He ain't partial
to Richie Epman.

He's not?

You didn't know that?

My!

Well, it's been here
since last night at least.

How did you know that?

It rained last night.

Ground's wet
except under the van.

Any place around here
he might visit?

Friend? Girlfriend?

Oh, no. Hell, this is
a white neighborhood.

Oh, no offense.
Come on, Virgil.

Have it towed in
to the station.

Why don't we drive it in?

'Cause it's evidence.

Of what?

I don't know yet.

Morning, Brother G.

Hi, Brother J.
How are you?

Did you get this?

Yeah. These old
soldiers' reunions

always leave me
feeling sad.

I don't have to travel
to feel sad.

Now they want us
to go to France.

Yeah. That's where
the action was...

And still is.

Think about it.

I'll go if you go.

I come over to talk to you
about something else.

This nephew of yours,
Wallace.

Somebody wanted
to ask him something,

and we can't find him.

What's the matter?

Funny thing.
Wallace was on my mind.

I wanted to talk to you
about him.

Well, here I am.

He come over to
my sister Rose last night,

and right away I know
something's wrong

He's all shook up, like.

He's dirty.

Clothes all messed up.

Well, maybe he had
a fight with Eddie Lee.

Nah. Never been
anything like that

between him
and Eddie Lee.

They always been
real friends.

I don't know
what was on his mind.

He wouldn't talk
to Rose or me.

Cleans up and out the door.

Rose tries to stop him,
he hits her.

Wallace never laid
a hand to his mama
in his life,

but he did last night,

then took off in his car.

Didn't come back again?

Mm-mmm.

It seems Eddie Lee

didn't come home
last night either.

Nobody knows where he is.

We did find his van
at the end of 9th street.

I don't like
the smell of it, John.

What I want you to do
is find Wallace.

Talk to him.

I mean, find him
before we do.

You hear what I'm saying?

[Chief] I guess your mama
kept you away from this.

She did her best.

She did her best.

I guess nobody's
ever going to change it.

Somebody'd better.

Soon.

[people chattering]

How y'all?

[blues music playing
over speakers]

Wallace.

Hey, Ermis, they told me
they let you out.

Was it last week?

Yeah, Chief.

Good, good.

A whole lot of people
been looking for you

and looking
for Eddie Lee, too.

Eddie Lee?

We can't find him.

We found his van,
he isn't in it.

Chief,
he don't live in it.

He's around someplace.

[mumbles] Where is he?

He don't check in with me
every time he blows his nose.

Come here.

I been talking
to your Uncle John.

He tells me you've been
giving your mama a bad time.

He says things
ain't none of his business.

He never says anything
that's none of his business.

I've known him
a lot longer and
better than you.

You got a job
with Eddie Lee.
Don't mess that up.

Hang around with Ermis,

get a free trip
to Parchman.

You want that?

No.

You see Eddie Lee,
you tell him
to check with me.

In the meantime,

go make it up
to your mama.

Keep yourself straight.

It isn't hard.

Hear me?

[chuckles]

Yeah, okay, Chief.

Good.

Well, we can go.

They've been feeding you
good in the joint.

You look good.

Thank you, Chief.

That's it, huh?

Yeah. I think it is.

That's all it takes?

Yeah. Wallace will tell
Uncle John all about it,

and then we'll hear about it.

Because you
patted his head
like he was a kid?

To me, Wallace
still is a kid.

That's the way
to talk to him.

Don't tell me.
I know kids.

[man]
Huh? You talkin' to me?
What did you say?

[child] Now watch
what you done...

[man] What time the party
gonna start tonight?

[man] Hey, baby, you meet
Sally Mae?

Where do you
think you're going?

I ain't got it.

I didn't want nothing
to do with no cocaine.

It was Eddie Lee.

Your friend didn't
have it on him.
That leaves you.

Okay, okay, but he made me
take it. Honest.

Where is it?

It's hid. [grunts]

It's hid.
I'll get it for you.

I can't take white men
where I'm goin'.

You'll stand out
like a pig in a suit.

We'll take
that chance.

I'll bring it.

I won't run.
I ain't stupid.

I ain't stupid enough
to risk how smart you are.

You take us to that stuff,
or you're dead,

right here
and right now.

Hey! Hey!

What's up, man?

Come on.

Start a war down here,
and it's really blown.

Well?

We found Wallace,
and we lost him.

What?

He's not going
anywhere.

[Steve] He better not be.

That cocaine
was never supposed
to get into Sparta.

If it surfaces,
it could blow
the operation.

He can't unload it.

He'll have
a few toots--

And what?
O.D. On it?

That stuff's not cut.
You know that.

If Mr. Epman finds out--

He's not going
to find out.

Stop screwing around.
I want that stuff back,

and I want that
black guy killed.

-Hey, Mr. Harper.
-Ma'am.

Say "hi" to Rusty.

I got a pile of reports
on Eddie Lee Tayir.

Not one
tells me anything.

Every black
in the county's
been interrogated.

You mean all 30,000
of them?

You know.
Nobody knows anything
about where Eddie Lee is.

Suppose he left town?

No, I don't suppose.

He worked hard
for that van.

He wouldn't leave it
behind.

What do you want
us to do?

Get on the horn.
Call all the patrols.

Tell them to make
more inquiries

and to bring back
something more
than nothing.

Can't anybody
do anything right
around here?

[Parker] Right on it, Chief.

Here! Put off--

Put that fan off!

Buddy, pick up those
papers down there.

Put them down--
Put them down here.

I just come by
to apologize

for the other night.

I really don't know
what got into me.

Stupidity, I'd say.

Barbara won't
even talk to me now.

You're not surprised,
are you?

Oh, Virgil,

Buddy just came
to say he was sorry.

[Virgil] On his knees?

Especially to you,
Mr. Tibbs.

I mean, about what
Calvin said.

Buddy, listen.
Stay away from
Steve Vincent,

you hear?

Yes, sir.

Didn't I give you
an order?

Yes, sir.

-Well, get to it.
-Yes, sir.

You have
such a way with kids.

Incidentally,

I ran into John Reeve.

Wallace didn't
apologize to his mother,

he didn't tell John
what kind of trouble he's in,

and he didn't
go home last night.

Now, Parker,

you put Wallace back
on the missing list.

And please, please,
don't touch that fan.

[Gillespie]
Well, the city council
is pretty happy.

Why shouldn't they be?

Jobs, higher taxes,
a politician's dream.

It's the whole
town's dream.

Yeah?
What's Richie Epman
getting?

Try to be fair
to the man, will you?

Steve gave me
good reports.

[Gillespie] Good morning.
Good morning.

Excuse me.

There's somebody
I got to say hello to.

Hey, Chief!

Chief,
how you doing?

Well, well.
How are you?

Every time
I come to town,
I never see you.

Don't know why.
I'm not hiding.

Virgil, I heard you're
back in Sparta.

We'll have to get
together soon.

I'm having a little
dinner tonight
with Mayor Findlay.

To be honest,
I'm not up for it.

You come and take
the pressure off me.

Well,
that sounds good.

Sounds good,
doesn't it?

My time's tight now
with all the cases
I'm carrying.

Oh, don't worry
about that.

That sounds fine,
Mr. Epman.

We'll come along.

Good. I'll see
you tonight.

Yeah.

I'm not going.

What I do on duty
is your business.

When I'm off,
it's mine.

I wouldn't
suggest it

if you wasn't
on night duty.

I'm not
on night duty.

You are now.

Virgil, honey,
it's just a dinner.

I'd rather eat
with a python.

Then don't go!

I have to.

This all happened
20 years ago.

You're still going on
about something that
happened in high school.

Let it go!

I can't.

You mean you won't.

All right, I won't.

Years ago, I never
thought I'd enter
this front door.

Me neither.

[Epman] I know
this whole place

may seem like
a bit much to you,

but it's kind of
a childhood fantasy
come true for me.

You know what
I mean, Virgil?

Yeah.

I mean, hell, I'm still
that little punk
from Milltown

who used to come
by here on his bike--

-[Gillespie] Oh, no.
-And watch the big cars

come to the big house.
Remember, Virgil?

Yes, I remember.

I have
a good memory.

Now you own
the whole place.

Imagine that, huh?

There are more
expensive houses,

but this one has
always been it for me.

When I seen all the lights
turned on and the...

And the servants wore
all them fancy uniforms...

Know why I decided
to move back here,

bring my operation
with me?

Chief?

Somebody was asking
me that about you

just the other day.

I didn't have an answer.

Guess I'll get one.

Well, see...

I'm just like Virgil here.

See, I done
the big-city life.

And it was great.

But there's always
been something missing.

And that something
was right here.

Gentlemen,
to old times.

[man] I'll drink to that.

[all]
To old times. To old times.
Old times. Old times.

Old times.

[Epman]
All right, gentlemen.

That was
a wonderful dinner.

Thank you.

My compliments
to the chef.

A little brandy,
a little cigar?

Virgil, I could
borrow you
for a second?

John, make these
gentlemen comfortable,
would you?

Thank you very much.

I won't be
but a minute.

Go ahead.

I want to show
Virgil something.

[man] Cigar, Chief?

I wish I could
undo what I did.

I wish I could,
but I can't.

I had to get
that scholarship.

You didn't have
to win it by getting

the exam papers
in advance of the test.

We don't know
who would have won,

another guy
or even you,

with an even chance.

I owe you.
I know that.

You name it,
you got it.

You don't have
anything I want, Richie.

But tell me--
What is it
you want from me?

Your support.

Your respect.

A little forgiveness.

I have to find those
things for myself

before I can
give them away--

To anybody.

I don't believe this.

You're still mad at me.

You've been carrying
this around for 20 years.

No.

You have.

Now you want
me to take it
off your back.

I'm not ready
to do that.

[Telephone rings]

Sorry.

You have
a telephone call,
Mr. Tibbs.

Thank you.

Yes?

Mm-hmm.

No, no.

Okay, I'll take
care of it.

Thanks.

I've got to go.

What?

Wait a minute.

Virgil. Virgil.

Wait a minute!
Where you going?

Parker says Wallace
was spotted down
in the bottoms.

Can't the others
handle that?

You're a guest here.

I'm also on duty--
Night duty, remember?

On night duty here.

Here, there,
wherever there's a need.

No disrespect
intended, Chief.

What the hell
kind of manners is that?

You run out of a home

without saying thanks
to your host here.

And what about
my ride home?

Sorry I'm late.
The dinner party
lasted forever.

That's okay, Steve.

I have to go back
to New York soon.

For how long?

A week or so.

I got a place
just off the park.

Great view,

nice little terrace...

Fireplace
in the bedroom...

What's wrong with
a trip to New York?

We'd have a great time.

I could
show you the city
like nobody can.

-You'd love it.
-I know I would.

It's just that
with my parents away...

I'm looking
after the house.

Get somebody else.

Want to go, don't you?

Of course I do.

I've never been
to New York.

And I love being
with you. It's--

It's just that
it's a big decision.

You understand?

[sighs]

I'll call you tomorrow.

Okay.

Good night.

Night.

Night.

I don't believe it.

I'm sorry, Barbara.

I. I just can't
keep away from you.

It's tearing me up.

You'd better
get used to it,

'cause in two days

I'm flying to New York
with Steve.

No, you can't.

Seems it's the only
place I can go

to get away from you.

[upbeat music playing]

Where did you
get stuff like this?

Never mind.
Got as much
as you can use.

You in trouble.

You in deep trouble.

Look, you want it
or not?

What are you doing?

Right there.
Right there.

Right there.

You getting
whiter and whiter

every time
I see you.

And so are you.

So, how come
you're throwing
all this good stuff

down on the floor?

I don't know
nothing about it.

What's going on?

I was just here
talking to my friend.

You scared him off.

Would that friend
happen to be
Wallace Posey?

Don't know why you can't
be easy on yourself.

Say something,
or you're going nowhere.

My lawyer's
J.L. Montrose.

I'm saying nothing
till he's here.

The Rattler
knows his rights.

Why don't I demonstrate

what he can do
with them?

Touch me,
you'll be floating
in Earl's Creek.

Don't you
threaten me, boy!

Bubba, cut it out.
Cut it out.

There's a time
for that.
This isn't it.

Stand quiet
over there.

Jamison!

Put this human being
in a cage, will you?

Come on.

Get on!

[Virgil] Where would
he get stuff like this?

Rattler's got
all kinds of little games.

Little games?

Chief, this is
the major leagues.

This isn't your
ordinary street dope.

This hasn't been cut.
It's absolutely pure.

There's always been
a drug trade around here.

I know my town.

You mean you knew
your town, Chief.

With stuff like this
around,

things are going to
change pretty fast.

Where you going,
Wallace?

I told you
not to call him.

He's only
trying to help.

Your mama's
worried, boy.

Lot of people
worried about you.

Ain't no cause
to worry.

Ain't no cause
to butt in.

It ain't
your business,
and it ain't hers.

Watch your mouth,
talking to your mama
like that, boy!

Please,
listen to him.

What's happening
with you, Wallace?

What's going on?

Where's Eddie Lee?

If you got trouble, son,

all we have to do
is see the Chief.

He's a friend.
He'll help us.

No! Stay the hell
out of it!

What you got there,
Wallace?

Leave me alone, damn it!

[door opens, closes]

[indistinct chatter]

[Epman] Uh,
ladies and gentlemen,

if I could have your
attention a minute.

Excuse me, sir.
Johnny, give me that.

I just want to show you
something.

One week from today,

we're going to
break ground

for the new
Epman Industries
food processing plant,

and we had this
little item made up

as a kind of a symbol

of what is for me
a golden moment,

and I hope it will be
for Sparta, too.

[applauding]

Isn't that wonderful?

Steve told me they had
that shovel made.

It's real gold
plate from Europe.

He's been there a lot.

He's actually
been everywhere.

He says working
for Mr. Epman's
a real education.

I expect you'd like
to get some of that
education yourself.

Well...

Now, honey, anyone who
serves caviar this good

can't be all bad.

Well, y'all having
a good time?

I am.
Virgil couldn't come.

I see
he isn't with us.

It's great.

Nothing Richie Epman
can do

will get Virgil
to smile.

Maybe I've held on
too long.

Maybe he's changed.
I don't know.

Well. Is this a thaw
in the grudge?

I admire a man
big enough to admit
when he's wrong.

I didn't say I was wrong.
I said I didn't know.

We're back
where we were.

Sounds like a new,
radical position.

Oh, Lord, look
who just came in.

Findlay sees him,
he'll have a fit.

I'll have to
go down there--

No, no, no.
Let me handle it.

Buddy, how did you
get past security?

It wasn't hard.

Is that what they
are over there,
security?

Look like goons
to me.

That fella Vincent,
you trust him?

I have no reason not to,
and neither do you.

You're thinking
it's jealousy,

but something
about him ain't right.

Now, if I could
show Barbara...

I can't
compete with this.

Well,
leaving us so soon?

Thought you dropped a rock
on old Rattler, huh?

Lawyer Montrose
lifted it up.

Mr. Montrose don't like
Rattler wasting his time.

Yeah. Well, we'll
see you soon, huh?

Judge gave him
$500 bail, Chief.

Now, how many times
have I told you
about that?

Uh...

It's long distance,
Chief.

I got to know

whether it's
business or personal,

for the record.

Oh? Which was it?

Sort of both.

He's talking
to his friend

with the
Philadelphia police,

but he asked him
to check on
Mr. Epman's people.

He also called
the FBI in Jackson

and the DEA
in Washington, D.C.

He's running up
quite a bill.

Is he? Is he?

[Virgil] Okay.
Soon as you can. Thanks.

I suppose Parker
filled you in.

Yeah. He says
you still insist

on hound-dogging
Richie Epman.

It's not Richie Epman
I'm after.
It's his security men.

-Why?
-Because they're hoods.

I spotted Steve Vincent
talking to them.

I wish I could
spot crooks like you--
Excuse me.

Well,
don't look surprised.

You know what
I'm going to do.

I sent samples
of Rattler's cocaine

to the FBI lab
in Jackson

since we have
no such facility
in Sparta.

They were impressed
with the quality
of the stuff.

They want to know
all about it.

So does the DEA
in Washington.

The DEA man said
there were no major

drug-smuggling
operations in these parts...

I could've told the man
the same thing.

...that he knew of.

On the other hand,

new routes open up
all the time, Chief.

Smuggling drugs through
a little place like Sparta

doesn't make
any sense at all.

Chief, it seems
to make sense
to somebody.

Wallace, it's me.

It's okay, son.
Open up.

I know you're in there.
I see your car.

Come on, Wallace.

[Gunshots]

It's not that big a town.
You were out there.

Why didn't you
ask some questions?

Why didn't you, Bubba?

-You know what
the problem is.
-Yeah? What?

Those guys are black.

Odds are they're hiding out
in the bottoms somewhere.

What kind of cooperation
can we expect down there?

If Mr. Tibbs
covered that area--

[Gillespie]
Aw, come on.

Chief--

Let me tell
you all something.

You cannot
expect cooperation

handed to you just 'cause
you're police officers.

-Chief!
-What is it?

You got to come
with me now.

Why?

It's John.

John?

John Reeve.

I know her from church.
I drove her here.

[machine beeping rhythmically]

Chief, the doctor
said he was critical,

but he's
hanging in there.

That's a doctor's word,
critical.

I've seen too many guys
laying that way. I know.

But I'll tell you
one thing...

If I find the guy
that did that,

he'd never see
a courtroom.

There were two cars
out by the shack--

His and Wallace Posey's.

Wallace's car?

John must have
driven out there
to meet him.

Why there,
I don't know.

Maybe 'cause it was
John's old fishing shack.

He and I took
Wallace out there
when he was a kid.

Just those two cars?

Yeah, and the shack
was empty.

Parker. Parker.

[Parker] Yes, Chief?

Put out a general call
for Wallace Posey.

Wallace Posey.

Call the State Police
in Jackson.

Have them inform
all counties.

[Parker]
Why do you want him?

I want him in connection
with the shooting
of John Reeve.

And, Parker, do it now.
Don't sit there
woolgathering.

Chief,
why would Wallace
shoot his uncle?

Who knows?
He was acting crazy.

You saw him at that bar.
Give me an answer.

I will, but you
won't like it.

There are
two guys missing--

The two guys who
worked out at the
Chamberlain Estate.

It's related
to the coke.

It's all
tied together.

[telephone Rings]

[Parker] Hello. Sparta
Police Department.
Parker Williams.

No, he's not here now.
Can I help you?

What's that?

Hold on
just a minute.

Detective, somebody
wants the Chief.

It sounds
kind of wild.

Hello, this is
Virgil Tibbs.
Can I help you?

[Wallace] This is Wallace.
They're following me.

Where are you now?

Bayou Road, just along
past the crossroads.

Drive slow,
and I'll see you.

Hurry!
They're going to kill me!

Hello?

Are you still there,
Wallace?

[dial tone]

Parker!

[Parker] Yes, sir?

Anybody here
can go with me?

No, sir.

[machine beeping]

Hey. Hey, John...

You know what they're
telling me out there?

They're telling me
you're not going to make it.

I laughed in their faces,
and I said...

John and I, we're going
to go to a reunion together

of the 227th
military police,

and we're going
to go to Paris

and have
one hell of a time.

Then we'll go
to Reims together.

We'll go east to the Rhine
and walk over that river...

Together...

Like we did.

[voice breaking]
And we're going
to have some fun.

Wallace!

Wallace!

Wallace, it's me...
Virgil!

Virgil Tibbs!

I came alone!

Wallace!

Wallace,
I came alone.

Anybody behind you?

No, but there's
an APB out on you.

Here.

I took it from them...

Me and Eddie Lee.

That's why
they're after me.

They shot Eddie Lee,

and they shot Uncle John.

You got to protect me.

I'll tell you everything.
Don't let them get me.

Wait. Who are you
talking about?
Who's going--

Rattler?

[Wallace] They must have
followed me.

Wallace!

Stay down!

Come on.