In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995): Season 4, Episode 16 - In the Heat of the Night - full transcript

♪♪

♪ 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-OHH

♪ 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

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

GOOD EVENING,
SPARTA POLICE DEPARTMENT,
PARKER WILLIAMS SPEAKING,

HOW CAN I HELP YOU?

A ROBBERY?

RIGHT NOW?

COME ON!
COME ON!

Yes, right now.

He's got a gun.

WHERE YOU AT?

Drucker's Pharmacy.

ALL RIGHT,
SOMEBODY'S ON THE WAY.

ON OR NEAR WILBUR--
WE GOT US
A ROBBERY GOING ON



AT DRUCKER'S PHARMACY.

HURRY UP!

COME ON,
COME ON!

GET OFF!
AAH!

[POLICE SIREN]

[DOG BARKING]

WELL, WHAT HAPPENED, BOB?

BLACK GUY
WEARING A SKI MASK

BOPPED ME
WITH HIS GUN.

TRIED TO KILL HIM.

PROBABLY NOT.

IT WASN'T ME
HE WAS AFTER.

TAKE A LOOK
FOR YOURSELF.

BOB, HE STEAL ANYTHING
BESIDES DRUGS?

HUNDRED IN CASH
AND SOME NEEDLES.

NEEDLES?

YES, LIEUTENANT.

NOT THE SEWING KIND.

THERE'S THE BOX
RIGHT THERE.

[HORN HONKS]

[HONK HONK HONK HONK]

AH!

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

[LAUGHING]

HEY, WHEN DO I
SEE SOME MONEY, HUH?

SOON AS I SEE SOME.

I GOTTA SELL
THE STUFF.

HEY!

TOMORROW, MAN.

YOU UNDERSTAND?

NO PROBLEM.

HEY, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

YOU MIGHT FOOL MAMA,
BUT NOT ME.

I AIN'T TRYING
TO FOOL NOBODY.

AND I DON'T
BUTT INTO NOBODY'S
BUSINESS, NEITHER.

WELL, I DON'T WANT
THIS FAMILY INVOLVED

IN NONE OF YOUR DRUG MESS.
KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

TERRY!

FRESH SHIRT
IN THE KITCHEN.

BETTER PUT IT ON
AND GET GOING.

DON'T YOU BE LATE!

SURE, MAMA.

WHERE YOU GOING--

PARTY?

HELP MAMA
WITH THE GROCERIES.

HEY, MAMA.

LET ME HELP YOU
WITH THESE GROCERIES, O.K.?

HEY, LITTLE BRO, HAVE
TO WAIT TILL TOMORROW

BEFORE YOU
CAN GET THE GREEN.

TOMORROW'S COOL, MAN.

I GOT PLENTY
OF GOODIES, THOUGH.

BOBBY!

I WANNA TALK
TO YOU, COME HERE.

SEE ME LATER.

ACCORDING TO
YOUR RECORDS, TERRY,

YOUR GRADES DROPPED
DRASTICALLY YOUR SECOND YEAR.

I JUST DIDN'T HAVE
ENOUGH TIME.

TERRY DOESN'T WANT
TO MAKE EXCUSES.

HIS MOTHER
WAS IN THE HOSPITAL,

SO HE TOOK ON TWO JOBS.

THAT'S WHERE
ALL HIS TIME WENT.

I SEE. WELL, THEN I JUST
HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.

WHY DID
YOU CHOOSE MEDICINE?

WELL, THERE AREN'T
ENOUGH DOCTORS--

NOT FOR MY PEOPLE,

NOT WHERE THEY CAN
GET TO THEM EASILY

AND AFFORD TO PAY THEM.

TERRY'S FATHER DIDN'T
GET THE RIGHT CARE

WHEN HE NEEDED IT.

NO ONE SHOULD LIVE
OR DIE LIKE THAT.

THANK YOU, TERRY.

IT WAS A PLEASURE
MEETING YOU.

WE GOT US CODEINE,
PERCODAN, DEMEROL,

MORPHINE, AND
DILAUDID TABLETS.

WORTH WHAT?

FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS,
I'D SAY FOUR.

ONCE IT HITS THE STREET,
YOU CAN TRIPLE THAT.

HE GOES FOR THE DRUGS
WITH THE HIGHEST STREET VALUE.

YOU THINK THIS IS
THE SAME GUY AS BEFORE?

MM-HMM, I DO, YEAH.

HE ALSO TOOK SOME
HYPODERMIC NEEDLES.

WELL, HE'S
PROBABLY AN ADDICT.

AND HE MADE BOB
OPEN THE CABINET,

SO WE GOT NO PRINTS
ON THE GUY.

THE QUESTION ON MY MIND

IS WHY
THIS YOUNG MALEFACTOR

ISN'T DOING BUSINESS
IN THE NORMAL WAY.

WHY DOESN'T HE
BUY WHOLESALE
OUT OF TOWN,

AND RETAIL HERE?

WHY IS HE
ROBBING DRUGSTORES?

HE'S NOT A PRO.

NOT YET.

THAT'S RIGHT.
HE'S A BEGINNER.

HASN'T MADE CONNECTIONS.

WELL, WHO HAVE WE GOT
OUT THERE BIRD-DOGGING
FOR US?

GOT SWEET
AND LUANN,

AND I'M GONNA BE
CHECKING WITH THEM.

OH, LORD.

SOMETIMES
I GET SO TIRED.

THANKS, BABE.

YOU SHOULD HAVE
SEEN HIS FACE.

HE WAS SO NERVOUS.

RIGHT. AND YOU'RE NOT.

TO QUOTE THE CHIEF,

"LIKE A CAT
IN THE DOG POUND."

BUT WHY? HE GOT
THE SCHOLARSHIP.

I CAN'T SEE HOW THEY
COULD TURN HIM DOWN.

HIS GRADES
ARE EXCEPTIONAL,

HIS COMMITMENT
REMARKABLE.

NOT MANY KIDS
FROM THE BOTTOMS
GO THAT FAR.

NOT MANY.

MOST OF THEM GO FROM...
YOUR HANDS TO MY HANDS.

MMM, THANK GOODNESS,
NOT THIS ONE.

I KNOW I'M GETTING
PERSONALLY INVOLVED,

BUT IT'S STUDENTS
LIKE TERRY

THAT JUST BALANCE OUT
ALL THE FRUSTRATION.

[BABY CRYING]

SPEAKING OF WHICH...

I'LL GO.

THANK YOU.

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYS]

WELL?

BLACK MALE IN HIS 20s
PUSHING JUNK?

OFF THE USUAL ROUTES?

THAT'S WHAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

WHAT ABOUT A WHITE MALE?

COME ACROSS
ONE OF THEM?

NO, BUT I HEAR
THERE IS SUCH A PERSON.

I HEARD
THE SAME THING...

FROM SOMEONE WHO HEARD IT
FROM SOMEONE ELSE,

BUT NATURALLY,
NO DESCRIPTION.

SAME AS ME,
NO DESCRIPTION.

YOU WANT ME TO HANG IN?

YEAH, YEAH,
YOU DO THAT.

HANG OUT, TOO.

OPEN IT UP!

HURRY UP!

COME ON!

DR. ROBB.

[RATTLING]

COME ON!

HURRY UP!

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

IT CAN'T BE GOOD NEWS
AT THIS HOUR OF NIGHT.

IT'S NOT, CHIEF.

DRUG ROBBERY
AT THE HOSPITAL.

DR. ROBB'S
BEEN BEAT UP.

OH, LORD.

BAD?

I GUESS HE'S O.K.

THEY PUT HIM IN A BED,
AND THEY'RE WATCHING HIM.

WHO IS HIS DOCTOR?

PARSONS, BUT HE'S NOT
AT THE HOSPITAL.

WELL, CALL HIM UP
AT HOME.

PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK.

PHONE'S OFF THE HOOK
AT DOC PARSONS' HOUSE? WHY?

WELL, WE'RE LOOKING
INTO THAT RIGHT NOW.

ALL RIGHT.

LORD.

I GOTTA GO OUT
AGAIN, SO...

YOU LUCKED OUT.

GO AHEAD.

[LOUD MUSIC PLAYS]

YOU GOT A PROBLEM?

A DOCTOR'S PHONE
OFF THE HOOK,

THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WELL, LOOKS LIKE YOU
TOOK CARE OF THAT ONE.

WHERE'S YOUR DADDY?

HE WENT
TO MEMPHIS.

MAMA'S MAMA DIED.

SHUT YOUR FRONT DOOR
AND CUT OUT THIS NOISE.

BOTH?

BOTH.

HAD A LITTLE
TOO MUCH TO DRINK.

I'M AFRAID
IT'S A LITTLE MORE
SERIOUS THAN THAT.

I WANT YOU...

TO CALL HIS HOME...

AND TELL HIS FOLKS THAT
WE'RE GONNA BE TAKING HIM

OVER TO THE COUNTY
HOSPITAL, O.K.?

O.K.

HEY, LONNIE!

WOULD YOU COME HERE
FOR A MINUTE?

DRUNK?

YEAH. I THINK
HE OD'd, TOO.

HOW'S HIS PULSE?

IT'S PRETTY WEAK.

I'LL CALL THE AMBULANCE.

SWEET!

WHO'S THIS
YOU JUST BROUGHT IN?

IT'S A KID FROM A PARTY
AT DR. PARSONS' HOUSE.

OH. DOES THAT
EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM
WITH THE PHONE?

YES, SIR.

KIDS, DRUGS, BOOZE,
AND THE PARENTS ARE GONE.

AT THE SAME TIME
AS THESE DRUG ROBBERIES.

WHAT IS THAT,
A COINCIDENCE, OR WHAT?

WELL...

CAME TO BURY CAESAR,
DID YOU?

NO, SIR! ONLY
TO PRAISE HIM.

THEY TOLD ME
HE WAS DOWN
AND OUT,

HERE HE IS
ON HIS FEET.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE GUY
WITH THE SKI MASK,

BUT WE GOT SOME PRINTS.

DID YOU MANAGE
TO SEE HIS FACE?

NO, BUT
UNLIKE THE POLICE,

WHO SEEM ONLY ABLE
TO RELATE TO FACES,

I RELATE
TO WHOLE BODIES.

THEY COULD THROW
A SACK OVER YOUR HEAD,

AND I'D STILL KNOW
IT WAS YOU.

I FOUND THESE
IN THE POCKET

OF THE KID
I BROUGHT IN.

THAT'S DILAUDID. WE JUST
LOST A BUNCH OF THAT.

SO DID TWO PHARMACIES.

LOOKS LIKE A COUPLE
OF WORRIED PARENTS.

IF THEY ARE,
HERE'S THE GIRL
THAT CALLED THEM IN.

UH, MISS...
EXCUSE ME.

I'M THE CHIEF
OF POLICE.

I WANNA TALK
TO YOU.

COME OVER HERE
AND SIT DOWN, PLEASE.

DID YOUR BOYFRIEND

BRING DRUGS WITH HIM
TO THAT PARTY,

OR DID HE
BUY THEM THERE?

I'M NOT SURE.

WAS DR. PARSONS' SON
USING DRUGS,

OR WAS HE GIVING DRUGS
OUT TO PEOPLE?

I DON'T KNOW,
I'M NOT SURE.

WHAT'S YOUR
BOYFRIEND'S NAME?

ELLIOT.

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

LORRIE.

WERE YOU USING DRUGS,
LORRIE?

NO!

WAS ELLIOT?

NO...

NOT MUCH...

NOT UNTIL TONIGHT.

WHY TONIGHT?

SOMEONE
TALKED HIM INTO IT.

WHO?

LORRIE, THE BEST WAY
YOU CAN HELP ELLIOT--

THE ONLY WAY
YOU CAN HELP HIM--

IS TO TELL ME

WHO GAVE HIM
THOSE DRUGS.

THAT KID FROM SCHOOL--

NATHAN WOODS.

WHAT'D HE DO
WHEN YOU TOLD HIM?

HE WAS DOING
WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW.

HE'D NEVER LET YOU
SEE HIM CRY.

HE RAN OFF.

RAN OFF?

TO HIS HOMEROOM
TO TELL HIS FRIENDS.

I CAN'T TELL YOU
HOW MUCH
I APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

HE COULDN'T HAVE
DONE IT WITHOUT YOU.

I REALLY
APPRECIATE TERRY.

COME ON.

HOW?

WHEN I WAS A KID,

MY PARENTS TOOK ME
TO SEE THIS PLAY

ABOUT THIS TEACHER
IN WALES

WHO DID WONDERS
WITH ONE STUDENT.

I ADMIRED HER
SO MUCH.

AND I WAS THINKING,

"WELL, I WON'T
BECOME A TEACHER,

"BUT IF I BECAME ONE--

I'D WANNA BE
JUST LIKE HER."

TERRY GAVE ME
THAT CHANCE.

YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK
AT HIS GRADES.

[DOOR OPENS]

WE DID IT, MAMA!

YOUR SON
IS GOING TO COLLEGE.

I KNOW, BABY.
I KNOW.

I JUST GOT SOME
BAD NEWS, TOO.

A KID
FROM MY HOMEROOM,

ELLIOT CHARTER,

DIED LAST NIGHT
AT THE HOSPITAL.

DRUG OVERDOSE.

ELLIOT CHARTER
WAS ON DRUGS?

SOMETHING'S ROTTEN,
MRS. TIBBS.

AND I THINK IT HAS
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THAT.

SON, WE'RE LOOKING
FOR A BLACK GUY,

OLDER THAN YOU,
BIGGER THAN YOU.

I DON'T KNOW
TOO MANY BLACK GUYS.

I DIDN'T ASK IF YOU
KNOWED TOO MANY.

I ASKED ABOUT ONE...
WHO'S DEALING DOPE.

YOU WERE AT THE PARTY
WITH ELLIOT CHARTER.

HE AIN'T BLACK.

NO--WHITE AND DEAD.

WHAT?

DEAD. FIFTEEN,
DIED LAST NIGHT.

YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE.
YOU SOLD HIM DRUGS.

I DIDN'T SELL HIM
NO DRUGS.

SOMEBODY SAW YOU.

SHE'S A LIAR!

WHO?
LORRIE!

YOU JUST NAMED
THE PERSON
WHO SAW YOU.

YOU'RE THE LIAR.

NOT ONLY ELLIOT,

BUT FOUR
OTHER KIDS

BOUGHT PILLS
FROM YOU
AT THAT PARTY.

WE GOT THE NAMES.

NOW, THE BLACK GUY
WE'RE LOOKING FOR

IS PROBABLY
A DRUG ADDICT HIMSELF.

YOU'RE A DUMB BOY, NATHAN,
AND WE'RE GONNA PUT YOU

WITH A WHOLE LOT
OF OTHER DUMB BOYS.

HE MEANS IN PRISON!

'CAUSE I'M GONNA ASK
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

TO CHARGE YOU
WITH NONCAPITAL MURDER--

WILLFULLY ENDANGERING
THE LIFE OF ANOTHER PERSON,

CAUSING
ANOTHER PERSON'S DEATH.

NO, NOT ME.

WHO ELSE WE GONNA
CHARGE WITH THAT DEATH?

WE ONLY
GOT YOU, NATHAN.

WELL, WELL...
SO FAR.

LOOK, I DIDN'T DO IT.

SO FAR?

WHAT ARE YOU SUGGESTING,
LIEUTENANT?

WELL, CHIEF,
I WAS JUST THINKING

IF WE CAUGHT THAT FELLA
ROBBING THE DRUGSTORES,

THEN MAYBE, UH...

WHAT?! YOU SUGGESTING A DEAL
OF SOME KIND, LIEUTENANT?

NO, NO, NO.

I CAN'T MAKE A DEAL
ON A THING LIKE THIS.

THIS IS MURDER!

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
SOME SIMPLE LITTLE MATTER

OF HANDING OUT A FEW PILLS
AT A PARTY.

LIEUTENANT, YOU TELL ME
WHO WE ARE GONNA CHARGE

WITH THE DEATH
OF A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY!

DEREK JOHNSON!

WHO?!

THE GUY I GOT
THE DRUGS FROM!

A BLACK GUY IN THE BOTTOMS--

DEREK JOHNSON!

THANK YOU, SERGEANT.
YEAH, I GOT IT.

APPRECIATE IT MUCH.
BYE, NOW.

THAT WAS SERGEANT LAWSON

FROM THE CRIME LAB
IN JACKSON.

DO I HAVE TO WAIT

TO HEAR ABOUT IT
ON THE EVENING NEWS?

NO, SIR, I CAN
TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.

TELL ME RIGHT NOW.

THE FINGERPRINTS
FROM THE HOSPITAL

ARE DEREK JOHNSON'S.

AND HE'S GOT A RECORD.

FOR?

ILLEGAL POSSESSION
OF NARCOTICS.

WHO'S GOT THE WARRANT?

LIEUTENANT SKINNER.

FINE.

I HATE TO THINK
HOW ALTHEA'S GOING
TO TAKE THIS, CHIEF.

THE NEWS
ON DEREK JOHNSON

IS ALL BAD,
SURE ENOUGH.

BUT IT'S THE OTHER
BROTHER, TERRY,

THAT'S MRS. TIBBS'
PROTEGE, ISN'T IT?

YEAH, AND IT'S TERRY
SHE'S GOING TO START
WORRYING ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, HOW THIS
WHOLE THING

IS GONNA AFFECT HIM.

I HAD A NEPHEW
IN ARKANSAS WHO WAS

ALWAYS GETTING
IN TERRIBLE TROUBLE.

IT SEEMED TO HAVE
A POSITIVE EFFECT
ON HIS BROTHER.

HE WAS
A GOOD STUDENT,

GOOD ATHLETE.
GREW UP TO BE
A FINE MAN.

YEAH, BUT YOUR NEPHEW

DIDN'T LIVE IN ANYTHING
LIKE THE BOTTOMS.

NO, HE LIVED IN A POOR
WHITE PART OF TOWN

CALLED "THE SHIMMIES."

THE WHAT?

WHEN THE FREIGHT TRAINS
WENT THROUGH THERE,

ALL THE LITTLE BUNGALOWS
DID THIS.

THE SHIMMIES?

RUN DOWNTOWN, TELL
MR. SAMPLER RIGHT AWAY.

I SAY RUN!

WHAT'S DEREK DONE?

HE'S BEING CHARGED
WITH THEFT, ASSAULT,

POSSESSION, AND MURDER.

MURDER?

POLICE CHIEF
DONE LOST HIS MIND.

YOU STEP ASIDE, SON.
TAKE HIM ON.

LIEUTENANT?

YEAH?

FOUND THIS.
FEW BOTTLES
OF DRUGS IN IT.

FEW SYRINGES.

MAMA.

COME ON, MAMA.

YEAH, THIS IS PROBABLY
STUFF FROM THAT DRUGSTORE.

YOU DIDN'T FIND
NO GUN IN THERE?

NO GUN.

ALL RIGHT,
TAKE IT ON IN.

YES, SIR.

BUBBA, IS THIS
MURDER CHARGE FOR REAL?

IT'S A TECHNICAL THING,

BUT YES, WE ARE SAYING THE BOY
THAT OD'd WAS MURDERED.

CAN YOU DO THAT?

WE SURE FIXING
TO FIND OUT.

A MURDER CHARGE?

I DON'T BELIEVE WE CAN
DO THAT, GILLESPIE.

WE HAVE TO LET
THESE YOUNG PEOPLE KNOW

THAT WE'RE TIRED
OF FOOLING AROUND.

IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
PUTTIN' ON A SHOW...

IT IS NOT ENOUGH
TO CONVICT JOHNSON AND WOODS

OF SOME LESSER CHARGE.

THEY'D BE BACK OUT ON
THE STREETS IN SIX MONTHS.

THESE BIRDS NEED TO HAVE
THEIR WINGS CLIPPED.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S
A PRECEDENT FOR IT.

WELL, THEN SET ONE.

THE LAW IS ON THE BOOKS.
WHY DON'T YOU USE IT?

LET ME FIND IT FIRST...

MR. SAMPLER'S HERE,
SHOULD HE WAIT?

NO, SEND HIM IN.

YOU KNOW EFREM SAMPLER?

YEAH, I KNOW HIM.

WHO'S HE REPRESENTING?

DEREK JOHNSON.

OH, LORD.

CHIEF.

GERARD.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

CHARGE IS INVALID,
GERARD.

I DON'T ARREST
AND CHARGE, EFREM.

HAS GILLESPIE TOLD YOU
WHAT HE'S NAILING
MY CLIENT FOR?

HE HAS.

HE KILLED
A 15-YEAR-OLD BOY.

DEREK JOHNSON
DIDN'T SHOVE PILLS
DOWN HIS THROAT.

DEREK JOHNSON
DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HIM.

WE MAY HAVE
AN ARGUMENT

FOR NONCAPITAL
MURDER.

EVEN IF MY CLIENT
SOLD THOSE DRUGS--

WHICH IS MERELY
ALLEGED BY THE POLICE--

WHY WOULD HE WANT
HIS CUSTOMER DEAD?
WHERE'S THE INTENT?

THE LAW
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

DOES NOT DEPEND
ON MOTIVE OR INTENTION.

WHO THE HELL
DO YOU THINK
YOU ARE, GILLESPIE,

A JUDGE?

YOU'RE A COP,
THAT'S ALL.

CHIEF'S RIGHT, EFREM.

97-3-19,

SUBSECTION "B"--

"IN THE COMMISSION
OF AN ACT

"IMMINENTLY
DANGEROUS TO OTHERS,

"EVINCING
A DEPRAVED HEART,

"WITHOUT ANY
PREMEDITATED DESIGN

"TO AFFECT THE DEATH

OF ANY
PARTICULAR INDIVIDUAL."

THAT STATUTE WOULD
HAVE BEEN RIDICULOUS

IN THE REIGN
OF CHARLES I.

TELL THAT
TO THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO WASTE
THE TAXPAYERS' MONEY

TESTING THAT ONE?

IT'S IN THE BOOK, EFREM.

WELL, I'M CERTAINLY
LOOKING FORWARD

TO THIS ARRAIGNMENT.

JUDGE IS GONNA
LAUGH YOU
RIGHT OUT OF COURT.

I THINK HE'S RIGHT.

DO YOU REALLY
HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY

WITH THIS
JOHNSON CASE?

WHAT IS IT, SOME KIND
OF DEMONSTRATION,

SOME POWER PLAY?

YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED
TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.

IT'S JUST YOU AND ME.

OKAY, JUST REMEMBER--
IT'S FOR YOUR EARS ALONE.

CAN'T YOU TALK
TO THE CHIEF?

THIS IS UPSETTING
THE WHOLE JOHNSON FAMILY.

FIRST THEY'RE HAPPY,
NOW THEY'RE NOT!

ALL RIGHT, UM...

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE
TO MAKE A SHOW, THEA.

NOW, LISTEN.

WOULD YOU LISTEN TO ME,
PLEASE? LISTEN TO ME.

I MEAN, A REAL SHOW
BACKED BY THE LAW.

WE GOT TO SPEAK
FOR THE COMMUNITY

IN PLAIN ENGLISH,
SHOW THESE FOOLS

JUST WHAT THE COMMUNITY
IS GETTING READY TO DO.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

ARE YOU EXPECTING SOMEONE?

NO.

AND IF IT'S PEOPLE
DOING MISSION WORK,
PLEASE BE NICE.

[LAUGHING]
OKAY, ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TERRY.
IT'S TERRY, ALTHEA.

I'M SORRY TO DISTURB YOU.
IT'LL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.

TERRY, COME ON IN.

CAN I GET
YOU SOME SODA...?

NOTHING,
MRS. TIBBS, THANKS.

I CAN'T STAY
BUT A MINUTE.

WHAT'S WRONG?

I'M TURNING DOWN
THE SCHOLARSHIP.

YOU CAN'T.

I HAVE TO.

I CAN'T GO AWAY.

CAN YOU MAKE THINGS
BETTER BY STAYING AT HOME?

I CAN KEEP THINGS
FROM GETTING WORSE.

WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?

DEREK WILL BE OUT,
JUST LIKE BEFORE.

THAT LAWYER WILL GET
HIM BAIL, LIKE BEFORE.

HE'LL BE PLAYING
THE BIG MAN

IN FRONT
OF MY LITTLE BROTHER.

I HATE TO TELL YOU THIS,

BUT DEREK IS
GOING TO JAIL.

WHEN THE LAWYER
CAN'T THINK OF
ANY MORE TRICKS

TO KEEP HIM OUT.

THAT COULD
BE NEXT YEAR.

MEANWHILE, HE'S HOME,
DOING HIS DRUGS,

GETTING BOBBY ON THEM,

ROBBING STORES,

FLASHING MONEY
IN FRONT OF BOBBY,

LAYING A LITTLE GREEN
ON HIM NOW AND THEN.

TELLING HIM SCHOOL
ISN'T ANYTHING.

IF I'M NOT HERE,
WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?

BOBBY'S THE SMARTEST
ONE OF ALL.

HE WOULDN'T HAVE
TO STUDY HARD LIKE ME,

JUST GO TO SCHOOL
AND BEHAVE.

WHICH HE WON'T DO
IF I LEAVE HIM
HERE WITH DEREK.

YOUR MOTHER'S NOT
GONNA LET DEREK...

MAMA CAN'T DO ANYTHING.

NOT IF SHE'S ALONE.

IF I'M NOT HERE...

I'M SORRY, MRS. TIBBS.

I KNOW HOW YOU HATE
TO HEAR THIS,

BUT I THINK
MR. TIBBS UNDERSTANDS
WHAT I'M SAYING?

YES, I DO.

VIRGIL!

I DO.

I'M SORRY, MA'AM.

I'M SORRY.

EXCUSE ME, BUT AREN'T
YOU DEREK JOHNSON?

YOU TALKING
TO US, SIR?

NO, EFREM SAMPLER,

I WAS SPEAKING
TO THE YOUNG MAN.

WELL, I'M
THIS YOUNG MAN'S ATTORNEY.

SO, WHAT IS IT
YOU WANT, DOCTOR?

I'M ASTONISHED
TO SEE HIM
OUT OF JAIL.

HE TRIED TO KILL
ME LAST WEEK.

I NEVER SAW YOU
IN MY LIFE, OLD MAN.

MAKING A STATEMENT LIKE THAT
IN A PUBLIC PLACE

COULD HAVE
SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

I THOUGHT YOU LIVED
IN JACKSON, EFREM.

I STILL CALL
SPARTA HOME.

COME ON, DEREK.
LET'S GO.

DR. ROBB?

YOU RECOGNIZE HIM?

I CERTAINLY DID,
AND I CAN'T WAIT
TO TELL A JURY.

WELL, HIS LAWYER
TOLD THE JUDGE

WE HAD THE WRONG MAN.

CAUSED SOME DOUBT.

GOOD LAWYER--GOT BAIL.

HOW YOU FEELING?

I CAME HERE TO PICK UP
SOME BIRTH CERTIFICATES,

SO I WAS IN A JOYOUS MOOD.

BUT BEING REMINDED
OF WHAT SOME BABIES
GROW INTO...

LOWERS THE LEVEL OF JOY.

MAN, I CAN'T
HANDLE IT IN THERE.

I DON'T WANNA
GO TO JAIL.

CAN I HELP YOU,
MR. TIBBS?

YEAH.

REMIND YOUR CLIENT

THAT BAIL
CAN BE RESCINDED.

OH, I HOPE THE POLICE
WON'T BE
HARASSING MY CLIENT.

WE'LL RAM HIS BUTT
BACK INTO JAIL

THE MOMENT HE BECOMES
A PUBLIC NUISANCE.

DEREK, CALL ME
TOMORROW.

HEY, TERRY!

WHERE YOU BEEN?

MAMA'S HAD ME OUT
LOOKING FOR YOU.

I HAD SOME
THINKING TO DO.

YOU KNOW I WANT YOU
TO GO TO SPARTA HIGH

AND BE WITH MRS. TIBBS.

I KNOW.

BUT FOR A FEW MONTHS,

I THINK YOU AND ME
AND MAMA OUGHTA GO
SOMEPLACE ELSE...

THEN WE'LL COME BACK HERE...

COME BACK HERE
AFTER DEREK
GOES TO JAIL.

THAT'S WHERE HE'S GOING.

NOTHING WE CAN DO
ABOUT IT,

EXCEPT KEEP
AWAY FROM HIM.

WHY IS EVERYBODY
SO HARD ON DEREK?

BECAUSE OF THIS--

WHICH I FOUND
IN YOUR JACKET.

HE'LL PULL US
ALL DOWN WITH HIM.

NOT ME, MAN.

YEAH, YOU,
YOU'D BE
THE FIRST TO GO.

WE GOTTA GET
AWAY FROM HIM,

AWAY FROM HERE,
I MEAN, NOW.

I CAN GET SOME MONEY
TOMORROW, AND THERE'S...

A MAN THAT'LL GIVE
ME A JOB IN...

I AIN'T GOING
NOWHERE WITH YOU.

YOU ALL MIXED UP.
YOU BETTER GO HOME,
MAMA WANTS YOU.

HE HAD THE BALL, MAN,

HE WENT UP,

BOOM!

HEY, WHAT'S
HAPPENING, HUH, MAN?

HEY!

WHO DO WE HAVE HERE?

LITTLE OLD COP CHICK!

WHERE?
WHAT COP CHICK?

WHAT YOU DOING
DOWN HERE?

LITTLE OLD SPYING
ON US BLACK FOLKS?

YEAH!
YEAH!

YOU THINK
YOU'RE FOOLING PEOPLE

BY THE WAY
YOU'RE DRESSED?

COME HERE,
I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

TALK TO HER, HOMEBOY.

I'M JUST...

COME HERE!

OKAY, WELL, HANG ON.
I'LL PUT YOU THROUGH.

DETECTIVE, IT'S
PEAKE ON LINE THREE.

YEAH, PEAKE,
WHAT'S DOING?

HMM.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS.

ALTHEA'S IN THE BOTTOMS.

PROBABLY VISITING
MRS. JOHNSON.

PEAKE SAYS HE ALSO
SAW DEREK ON THE STREET,

HIGH ENOUGH
FOR A MOON WALK.

THINK YOU OUGHT
TO CRUISE DOWN THERE,
JUST FOR LUCK?

YEAH, I THINK I SHOULD.

MAYBE I BETTER
GO WITH YOU.

NO, I DON'T WANT
TO MAKE MUCH OF LITTLE.

THANKS, JAMISON.

WHO WAS THE MAN
WHAT CALLED YOU?

A MR. PONSONBY--HE'S ON
THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.

WHAT KIND OF JOB
WAS HE TALKIN' 'BOUT?

SOMETHING
IN HATTIESBURG.

HE HAS A RENDERING
PLANT THERE.

HE WONDERED WHY TERRY
WAS THINKING ABOUT WORK

WHEN HE SHOULD BE
THINKING ABOUT COLLEGE.

I DIDN'T TELL HIM
WHAT TERRY TOLD ME.

HE WANTS TO GET
AWAY FROM DEREK.

MAYBE HE'S RIGHT.

BUT WHY DO YOU
HAVE TO LEAVE SPARTA?

I HAVE AN IDEA.

SOMETHING FOR
YOU AND BOBBY

WHEN TERRY
GOES AWAY.

SO YOU CAN GET OUT
OF THE BOTTOMS.

I HAVE THIS PLACE,

I FIXED IT UP.
IT'S GOT GREAT LIGHT,
AND PLUMBING,

AND THE PLUMBING IS
CONNECTED TO REAL SEWERS.

I THINK YOU BETTER
GO NOW, MRS. TIBBS.

[DOOR CREAKS OPEN
AND CLOSED]

WHAT IS
SHE DOING HERE?

YOU BEEN TALKING
TO A COP'S WIFE
ABOUT ME?!

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
TERRY, NOT ABOUT YOU.

TERRY--THAT'S ALL
I HEAR AROUND HERE!!

MY BROTHER THE GENIUS.

HE...

HE'S TOO GOOD FOR US.

HE'S TOO GOOD
FOR THE BOTTOMS.

WHY DON'T
YOU JUST LEAVE, MAN?!

OR MAYBE...

MAYBE HE'S JUST WAITING
FOR HIS BIG BROTHER...

TO BLOW HIM AWAY.

WHAT THE HELL
ARE YOU DOING?

COME ON...
GET IN THE BEDROOM.

HE'S SCARED.

THE GUY IS SCARED.

THE GENIUS IS SCARED!

WHERE'S THE PHONE?

AIN'T GOT NO PHONE.
BOBBY--RUN NEXT DOOR
TO THE NEIGHBORS.

[GUNSHOT]

[BODY FALLS]

BOBBY JOHNSON,
IS THAT YOU?

I BET YOU'RE ON
YOUR WAY TO THE GYM

TO SEE THE GAME.

NO, MA'AM.

YOU DIDN'T COME
TO SEE THE GAME?

NO, MA'AM.
I CAME TO SEE YOU.

THAT'S VERY NICE.

WHY DON'T YOU
WALK ME TO MY CAR?

YES, MA'AM.

HOW'S YOUR
MOM DOING, BOBBY?

SHE'S FINE.

I MEAN, SHE AIN'T FINE.

SHE HARDLY SAID A WORD
SINCE THE FUNERAL,

AND SHE DON'T DO NOTHING
BUT SIT AT HOME AND CRY.

I'M GOING
TO GO VISIT HER.

I'LL GO TOMORROW.

SHE WANTS TO MOVE
TO MARSHALBURG.

SHE GOT A SISTER THERE--

WHAT THEY CALL
A HALF SISTER.

SHE HAS
A LITTLE HOUSE THERE.

DOES SHE HAVE
HER OWN FAMILY?

NUH-UH, IT'S JUST
HER BY HERSELF.

SHE TELLS FORTUNES.

MAKES SOME MONEY
OFF OF THAT.

BUT SEE, I WANNA FIND
A WAY TO STAY IN SPARTA,

BECAUSE NEXT TERM,
I'LL BE IN HIGH SCHOOL.

AND I WANNA BE
IN THIS SCHOOL...

WITH YOU.

OH, BOBBY...

I'LL HAVE
TO DO SOME THINKING.

UNTIL TOMORROW.

WE'LL TALK AGAIN.

TOMORROW.

THANKS, MRS. TIBBS.

O.K., LOOK...

I AM SORRY
FOR COMING OFF ANGRY.

I WAS TRYING
TO BE EMPHATIC.

YOU WERE.

I SHOULDN'T
HAVE BEEN THAT, EITHER.

HEY, LOOK IT--
YOU CAN BE WHAT YOU WANNA BE.

THEA, MY MIND IS NOT
CLOSED TO THE IDEA.

YOUR MIND WAS NEVER
OPEN TO IT!

THEA, WE FEEL DIFFERENTLY
ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS.

LIKE REACHING OUT
TO THE COMMUNITY?

DAMN, THERE IS A
DIFFERENCE, BABY,

BETWEEN WHAT
WE WANT TO DO

AND WHAT WE CAN DO.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO,
BECAUSE WE DON'T DO ANYTHING!

THIS MUST BE
SOME KINDA COP THING,

'CAUSE MY FATHER
ACTED THE SAME WAY.

"DON'T LOOK OUT FOR PEOPLE ON
THE STREET, WATCH OUT FOR 'EM.

DON'T GET TOO CLOSE,
STAY FAR AWAY..."

YOU KNOW...

MY MOTHER WOULD
STAND AT THE WINDOW,

OPEN UP THE BLINDS,
AND SEE NEED.

MY FATHER, STANDING RIGHT NEXT
TO HER, WOULD SEE DANGER.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

OH, CHIEF.
COME IN.

GOOD EVENING, VIRGIL.

HI, CHIEF.

GOOD EVENING, MRS. TIBBS.

UH, HERE'S THE LEDGER

ON THE SEIZED PROPERTY,
88-89.

IT ALL HAS TO BE
REEVALUATED BEFORE
THE AUCTION.

CHIEF,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?

SHOULD WE LET
BOBBY JOHNSON

LIVE IN
THE CARRIAGE HOUSE

WHEN HE STARTS
HIGH SCHOOL?

I BEG
YOUR PARDON?

YOU HEARD
MY QUESTION.

YES, MA'AM, I DID.

I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN
I DON'T WANNA FOOL WITH
THE QUESTION.

LET ME REPHRASE
THE QUESTION.

SHOULD WE LET A KID--

13 YEARS OLD--
LIVE UNDER OUR ROOF?

IS THE BOY BETTER OFF
HERE WITH Y'ALL

THAN MOVING WITH
HIS MAMA TO MARSHALBURG?

I KNOW IT SOUNDS WRONG,
BUT IT'S RIGHT.

SOMETIMES IT'S RIGHT.

IF HE LIVES HERE,
HE'LL STAY IN SCHOOL.

IF HE DOESN'T, HE WON'T!

I TAKE IT

Y'ALL ARE
FIGHTING ABOUT IT.

YES.

YES, SORRY TO SAY.

WELL, I DON'T WANT YOU
TWO TO FIGHT ABOUT IT.

THE IMPORTANT THING BEING

FOR THE BOY TO STAY HERE
AND GO TO SCHOOL, UH...

IF YOU TWO
CAN'T WORK IT OUT,

UH...

WHY DON'T I KEEP HIM?

THERE'S PLENTY OF TIME
BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER.

THINK ABOUT IT.

YOU BETTER
THINK ABOUT IT.

I KNOW IT,
I KNOW IT.

I'M GONNA START
LOSING SLEEP
THINKING ABOUT IT.

DON'T DO THAT.

WELL, I CAN'T HELP IT--
I MEANT WHAT I SAID.

I HAVE
TO STAND BY THAT.

IF NOBODY ELSE
WILL KEEP HIM...

I WILL.

GOOD NIGHT, VIRGIL.

GOOD NIGHT, CHIEF.

AND GOOD NIGHT,
MRS. TIBBS.