In the Heat of the Night (1988–1995): Season 5, Episode 18 - Trundel's Will Be Done - 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

♪ 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]

YEAH, WHAT?

JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW,
MRS. TRUNDEL'S AT HOME.

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I'M LOOKING RIGHT AT HER,
DRIVING BY THE HOUSE.

JUST GET BACK IN TOWN?

I DON'T KNOW, SIR.

WELL, DOES SHE LOOK
LIKE SHE'S ARRIVING
OR SHE'S LEAVING?

I REALLY CAN'T TELL.

CAN YOU TELL
WHAT'S GOING ON?

JUST THE EVERYDAY LIFE
OF THE RICH--

CHAUFFEUR'S ABOUT TO TAKE
THE LADY SOMEWHERE.

TAG ALONG A WHILE.



YES, SIR.

EMILY TRUNDEL
IS VISITING.

YEAH, YEAH.
IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

MAYBE.

SHE COMES ONCE A YEAR--

IN THE SPRING.

BUT THIS IS WINTER.

WHY DOES SHE SEEM
TO WORRY YOU?

I CAN'T FIGURE HER OUT.

I'M THINKING ABOUT THE TIME
YOU AND I FIRST MET HER.

WE HAD THE ONEROUS TASK

OF TELLING HER
THAT HER HUSBAND

WAS THE FATHER OF A CHILD
BY ANOTHER WOMAN.

[VIRGIL]
NOT TO MENTION
A MURDERER.

MRS. TRUNDEL?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M CHIEF GILLESPIE.

THIS IS MY
CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
DETECTIVE VIRGIL TIBBS.

HOW DO YOU DO?

WELL, I DECLARE.
WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

HAVE YOU HEARD OF A WOMAN
NAMED NATALIE DeLONG?

NO.

SHE USED TO SING

AT A NIGHTCLUB
YOUR HUSBAND OWNED.

MR. LUFT
AND SOME OTHER PEOPLE
OWNED NIGHTCLUBS,

BUT NOT VIDGE.

NEVER VIDGE.

THIS IS NATALIE DeLONG
10 YEARS AGO

IN NEW ORLEANS.

FORGIVE ME,
BUT YOU'RE GOING
TO HAVE TO HEAR THIS.

YOUR HUSBAND AND THAT
YOUNG WOMAN TOGETHER
PRODUCED A SON.

HE'S NOW 9 YEARS OLD.

AND YOU'VE
BEEN ABLE TO
DETERMINE THAT

FROM ONE LITTLE
PHOTOGRAPH?

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY
NO DOUBT OF IT.

A DNA TEST
WOULD PROVE IT
CONCLUSIVELY,

AND WE'LL PROBABLY
HAVE TO PROCEED
IN THAT DIRECTION.

WHY WOULD MY HUSBAND'S
RELATIONSHIP

WITH THIS GIRL,

EVEN IF HE HAD
A RELATIONSHIP,

EXCITE YOUR ATTENTION
THIS WAY?

BECAUSE THE GIRL
WAS MURDERED.

AND YOU THINK
MY HUSBAND DID IT?

A MAN WHO WORKED FOR
YOUR HUSBAND DID IT.

OTHERS IN
YOUR HUSBAND'S EMPLOY

MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

SO I WANT TO TALK TO YOU
ABOUT THOSE OTHER PEOPLE.

ARE YOU SURE?

YES, SIR.

IT SAYS "VICTOR J."
WITH HIS DATES

AND "EMILY A." WITH ROOM
FOR THE FINAL DATE
TO BE FILLED IN.

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY
BE IN THAT MAUSOLEUM?

[JAMISON]
YOU KNOW IT'S NOT
V.J. TRUNDEL.

WE ALL KNOW
WHERE HE WENT...

UNLESS THERE WERE
SOME REMAINS.

[GILLESPIE]
NO. NOTHING THAT COULD
BE IDENTIFIED.

[CRASH]

HI, BILL.

HERB.

HERE'S THE REGISTRY.

REGISTRY OF WHAT?

OF ALL THE OWNERS
OF ALL THE PLOTS--
AND WHO'S WHERE.

HE'S GOT IT OPEN
TO TRUNDEL.

UH-HUH.

TRUNDEL IS WHERE?

OH.

OH, I'M GOING
TO HAVE TO SEE THAT
TO BELIEVE IT.

OH, THE PROPERTY
OF THE TOMB IS PRIVATE.

YOU'D HAVE TO SHOW ME
A COURT ORDER TO SEE IN IT.

REALLY, HERB?

NOT REALLY, BILL.

COULD YOU HELP ME
SLIDE THIS?

SURE.

WELL...

HERE IT IS,
SURE ENOUGH.

"VICTOR AND EMILY--
A MARRIAGE."

AND...

THEIR WEDDING PHOTOS.

PICTURES
OF THE WEDDING PARTY,

ET CETERA.

WELL...

I PRESUME IF THIS IS
EMILY'S CASKET THAT, UH...

SHE WANTS
TO BE BURIED IN IT

WITH THIS ALBUM.

I UNDERSTAND
THAT IS HER WISH.

CAN'T I LOOK AT IT?

YES. BUT THEY DON'T ALLOW
BALL PLAYING ON THE SQUARE.

THAT'S BASEBALL,
AUNT HARRIET.

I'M SURE THEY MEANT
SOCCER, TOO.

CAN'T I TAKE IT
OUT OF THE BOX?

GO AHEAD.

SEE WHAT YOU HAVE
TO LOOK FORWARD TO?

THANKS, SIR.

WELL...YOU GOT A GOOD LOOK
AT HIM THAT TIME.

VERY NICE LOOKING BOY.

YES, HE IS.

CAN YOU SEE VIDGE
IN HIM?

NOT SO MUCH
IN THE FEATURES.

THE LOOK IN THE EYES--
IT'S HIS FATHER'S.

IT'S VIDGE'S.

NO ONE WOULD SAY
HE'S NOT A WHITE BOY.

AND THAT WOMAN...

HER SISTER
WAS THE BOY'S MOTHER?

THAT'S RIGHT.

COUNCILWOMAN
HARRIET DeLONG.

SHE HAS CUSTODY OF HIM.

WELL...

I WANT HIM.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

MS. DeLONG?

THAT'S RIGHT.

I'M SUPPOSED
TO GIVE YOU THIS, MA'AM.

WHAT IS IT?

AN INVITATION,
I BELIEVE, MA'AM.

AN INVITATION?

YES, MA'AM.

FROM CARTER,
JENKINS, AND TAYLOR.

THEY LAWYERS, MA'AM.

YOU WORK FOR THEM?

NO, MA'AM. I DRIVES
FOR MISS EMILY TRUNDEL.

I BEG YOUR PARDON!
THANKS.

[TELEPHONE RINGS]

[RING]

HELLO.

THIS IS EMILY TRUNDEL,
MS. DeLONG.

HAS MY MESSENGER
ARRIVED YET?

YOUR CHAUFFEUR JUST
BROUGHT SOMETHING BY
FROM YOUR LAWYER.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

IF YOU READ THE LETTER,
YOU'LL SEE IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
BOY YOU'VE BEEN RAISING.

ERIC TRUNDEL.

I'LL HAVE TO RAISE MY
SISTER'S BOY.

I'LL HAVE TO RAISE MY
SISTER'S BOY.

SHE'S DEAD. NATALIE IS DEAD.

WELL, I WANT TO TAKE
CERTAIN THINGS AND DISPOSE
OF ALL THE REST.

YEAH, WELL, THE CHIEF AND
THE DA MIGHT WANT TO KEEP
EVERYTHING AS IS.

UNTIL WE'RE ABLE TO MAKE
THE CASE.

MS. DeLONG?

I'M CALLING BECAUSE IT
OCCURRED TO ME THAT

THAT LETTER
WAS SO COLD,

A LOT OF LEGALESE
INVITING YOU

TO TAKE A LOOK
AT MY HUSBAND'S WILL.

ME? WHY? AM I IN IT?

NO, MS. DeLONG...

BUT HIS SON, ERIC,
IS MENTIONED
VERY PROMINENTLY.

I SEE.

[DOOR CLOSES]

I WAS AFRAID OF HER HUSBAND,
AND I'M AFRAID OF HER.
WHAT DOES SHE WANT?

WHATEVER IT IS,
DO WE HAVE TO ASSUME
THAT IT'S SOMETHING EVIL?

WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
SHE'S THE WIFE OF--

I KNOW THIS STORY.

DO WE HAVE
TO GO OVER IT AGAIN?

NO, WE DON'T HAVE
TO GO OVER ANYTHING.

HARRIET, DON'T DO THIS.

STAY. PLEASE.

[INTERCOM]
CHIEF?

ALWAYS HAVE TO BE
HARSH WORDS BETWEEN US?

YES, LUANN?

CHIEF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
ON LINE THREE.

THANK YOU.
GIVE ME A MINUTE.

GILLESPIE HERE.

WE, UH, CAUGHT
A TRAINED ASSASSIN HERE

HE WAS TRYIN' TO KILL
OUR STAR WITNESS--

THAT BLACK MECHANIC
THAT SAW EVERYTHING.

SO WE'RE GOING AFTER
TRUNDEL'S PEOPLE,

UH, IF NOT THE MAN.

WELL, DON'T GO
PATTING YOURSELF
ON THE BACK,

'CAUSE YOU WOULDN'T EVEN
BE TOUCHING THIS CASE

IF I HADN'T
MADE YOU FEEL GUILTY.

THAT'S TRUE, HARRIET.

IT'S TRUE.

BILL...

THAT WAS MEAN.

I JUST FEEL SO ANGRY
AND SO FRUSTRATED.

I HAD TO HURT SOMEBODY.

AT LEAST WHEN I WAS MARRIED
I HAD SOMEBODY TO TALK TO,

GET MAD AT.

I...

I'M SORRY.
I WAS JUST BEING SILLY.

OH, NO.
YOU'RE ANYTHING
BUT SILLY.

ANYWAY,
I UNDERSTAND ALL THAT.

I'M ALONE MYSELF.

THAT'S RIGHT.
I FORGOT.

NOW, YOU AND I,
WE, UH...

I MEAN...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

I MEAN...

I'M THE ONE
THAT'S GETTING SILLY.

THANK YOU.

I AM BEING SILLY.

NO.

WHEN YOU SUPPOSED
TO GO OVER THERE?

TOMORROW MORNING.

WELL, IT'LL GIVE YOU
A LITTLE TIME TO GET A LAWYER.

AND I DO THINK
YOU SHOULD BRING
A LAWYER WITH YOU.

TO THE HOUSE OF THE MAN
WHO MURDERED MY SISTER.

HI, THERE.

GLAD YOU COULD MAKE IT.

I HOPE I DIDN'T SPOIL
YOUR SUNDAY.

OH, NOT AT ALL.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE
THE INSIDE OF THIS PLACE.

THIS MUST BE ERIC?

ERIC, THIS IS
SARAH HALLISEY.

HI.HI.

DID YOUR AUNT HARRIET TELL YOU
WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?

YEAH. UNCLE VIDGE
LEFT ME SOMETHIN'.

MAYBE EVEN MONEY.

COULD BE.

SHALL WE?

WOW.

BEFORE MR. TRUNDEL DIED,
HE MADE A SIMPLE WILL.

AUTHENTICATED,
I PRESUME.

YES, MS. HALLISEY,
I ASSURE YOU.

IS THIS GOING
TO TAKE LONG?

NOT AT ALL.

WE JUST WANTED YOU
TO LOOK AT IT.

I'M GOING TO ASK
MS. HALLISEY
TO READ IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

MS. DeLONG...

IT SAYS THAT MY HUSBAND
WOULD LIKE HIS SON,

ERIC SAMUEL TRUNDEL,

TO BE
HIS PRINCIPAL HEIR.

IT ALSO SAYS THAT...

HE WISHES FOR HIS
BELOVED WIFE EMILY

TO BECOME RECONCILED
TO THE BOY.

AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

WELL, IT MEANS
THAT HE WANTS EMILY

TO RAISE HIS SON.

BUT YOU'RE NOT
HIS MOTHER.

WELL, LEGALLY...

I MAY JUST BE.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK
AT THIS VERY CAREFULLY.

DO YOU HAVE
SOME OTHER QUESTION?

YES. DID YOU LOVE
YOUR HUSBAND?

I THINK I DID.

THERE ARE TIMES
WHEN I THINK
I COULDN'T HAVE...

AND YET, I THINK I DID.

I WAS STANDING
RIGHT HERE
TALKING TO HIM

THE LAST TIME
I SAW HIM ALIVE,

THE DAY I FOUND OUT
ABOUT YOUR SISTER
AND THE BOY.

I SAID SOME AWFUL THINGS
TO VIDGE.

SPARTA POLICE WERE HERE.

THEY SHOWED ME
THIS PHOTO...

THEY FOUND IN A TOILET
SOMEWHERE.

THEY TOLD ME THE STORY
OF THE PHOTO,

SO I NEED NOT EXPLAIN
MY LEAVING.

I KNEW YOU
WHEN I MARRIED YOU,
VIDGE,

BUT I WAS SO...

SO FOND OF YOU.

MY DADDY WARNED ME.

HE SAID, "V.J.'S MONEY
WILL NOT ENHANCE
HIS QUALITY

ANY MORE THAN SUNLIGHT
WILL SWEETEN TRASH."

HE WAS RIGHT.

TRASH IS WHAT YOU WERE,

AND TRASH IS
WHAT YOU ARE.

I TALKED FRANKLY
TO THE POLICE,

AND I INTEND
TO TALK FRANKLY AGAIN.

AND AGAIN.

WHAT A COWARD YOU ARE

TO KEEP THAT GIRL
AND THE CHILD
SHE BORE YOU

BURIED HERE
ALL THESE YEARS.

WORST THING THAT CAN
POSSIBLY HAPPEN TO YOU
WILL HAPPEN--

THE WORLD
WILL KNOW YOU.

I WILL MAKE SURE
OF THAT.

AND YOU, NORMAN,

THE AUTHORITIES
WILL KNOW YOU.

WHY WOULD YOU
WANT HIS SON?

I GUESS...

BECAUSE I WANT HIM.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION.

ERIC'S FUTURE
WOULD BE ASSURED.

ALL OF THE CORPORATIONS
WILL BE HIS,

EVERYTHING.

ERIC, DO YOU WANT
TO GROW UP A RICH MAN?

SURE. WOULD YOU BE RICH,
TOO, AUNT HARRIET?

I'D BE WHAT I AM.

THANK YOU.

THEY DOWN FOR THEY NAP,
THANK THE LORD.

AMEN.

NO, I WAS
TALKING TO ETTA.

HARRIET, I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO SAY.

IT'S JUST SO HARD
TO BELIEVE

SOMETHING LIKE THIS
COULD HAPPEN.

ALL RIGHT.
MM-HMM.

YEAH, I'LL HAVE
VIRGIL CALL YOU
WHEN HE GETS IN.

OKAY.
BYE-BYE.

WELL, EMILY TRUNDEL
WANTS CUSTODY OF ERIC.

WELL, THAT'S
BOUND TO HAPPEN.

I THOUGHT THE WHOLE THING
WAS SETTLED WHEN TRUNDEL DIED.

NOTHING'S EVER SETTLED
IN THESE THINGS.

DON'T YOU KNOW THAT?

THESE THINGS?
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

ERIC IS A LITTLE
WHITE BOY.

MAYBE HE BELONGS
IN HIS DADDY'S MANSION.

ERIC'S MOTHER
WASN'T WHITE.

WELL, MOST OF THE WORLD
THOUGHT SHE WAS.

AND SHE LOOKED
PRETTY WHITE TO ME.

ALL YOU NEED IS A DROP
OF BLACK BLOOD,

AND YOU'RE BLACK.

ISN'T THAT
WHAT THE WHITE MAN SAYS?

WHATEVER
THE WHITE MAN SAYS

AIN'T NEVER
MEANT NOTHIN' TO ME.

I GO BY WHAT I SEE.

HARRIET'S NOT GONNA
GIVE THAT BOY UP.

WELL, I KNOW THAT.

BUT HE SURE WOULD BE LIVING
AN INTERESTING LIFE.

WOULDN'T HE BE ONE
OF THE RICHEST LITTLE BOYS

IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI?

AND ANY OTHER STATE
YOU WANNA MENTION.

WELL, ENOUGH SAID.

ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
WON'T GIVE THAT LITTLE BOY
WHAT HE NEEDS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK
HE DOESNEED?

HE NEEDS TO BE LOVED.

YOU CAN'T HAVE
MONEY AND LOVE?

ALL THE RICH PEOPLE
I KNOW DON'T SEEM TOO HAPPY.

WHICH ONES
YOU REFERRING TO?

I GUESS ALL THE ONES I KNOW
ARE THE ONES ON TV.

THEY LEAD SAD, SORRY LIVES,
AND HATIN' EACH OTHER,

AND JUST NASTY
TO THE WORLD.

CAN'T EMILY TRUNDEL
LOVE THAT BOY?

DON'T ASK ME, ASK BUBBA.
HE WORKED THAT CASE.

WELL, I NEVER SAW HER
WITH THE BOY,

BUT I DID SEE THE BOY
WITH HIS DADDY ONCE.

YEAH. WASN'T THAT
THE DAY WE WERE OUT
WATCHING TRUNDEL?

UH-HUH.

LOOKS LIKE HE LOVES HIM.

NEVER SAID A BAD GUY
CAN'T LOVE SOMEBODY.

WELL, YES, HARRIET.
I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY.

I WANT TO HELP YOU
IN ANY WAY I CAN.

RIGHT, HARRIET.

I'LL SEE YOU THEN.

SHE WANTS ME TO HAVE
A TALK WITH THE BOY.

WHAT ARE YOU
GONNA TELL HIM?

I DON'T KNOW.

IF I COULD SAY THAT
THE COURTS HAVE CONCLUDED

THAT HIS FATHER
MURDERED HIS MOTHER--
BUT I CAN'T SAY THAT.

ALL I CAN SAY IS
THAT CERTAIN PEOPLE
THINKHE DID.

NOW, HOW CAN I TELL
THAT BOY THAT?

I SUPPOSE...

SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT
HIS HEARING IT

FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN A COURT OR
FROM STRANGERS.

SHE SAYS SHE CAN'T
TELL HIM HERSELF.

SHE WOULDN'T
MAKE IT THROUGH.

WELL...

EXCUSE ME.

ERIC.

HI.

HI.

SO...WHAT'S GOING ON?

I SAW
A SOCCER MATCH ON TV--
GERMANY AGAINST BRAZIL.

YOU LIKE THAT GAME?

I THINK IT'S THE BEST GAME
IN THE WORLD.

BUT WHEN I SAID
THAT AT SCHOOL,

A GUY WANTED
TO FIGHT ME.

THAT'LL TEACH YOU
TO HAVE AN OPINION
OF YOUR OWN, HUH?

UH, ERIC, I WANT TO...

ASK YOU SOMETHING.

YEAH, ABOUT WHAT?

ABOUT YOUR MOTHER'S DEATH...

AND ABOUT YOUR UNCLE VIDGE.

OH, THAT.

I ALREADY
HEARD ABOUT ALL THAT.

YOU MEAN ABOUT MY FATHER
KILLING MY MOTHER?

WHO TOLD YOU?

OH, AUNT HARRIET.
I HEARD IT AROUND,
MORE THAN ONCE--

SCHOOL,
A COUPLE OF PLACES.

Y'ALL DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY.

I DON'T BELIEVE
IN THAT STUFF.

MY HOMEWORK'S DONE.
CAN I GO?

YEAH.

CLOSE YOUR BOOK UP.

THERE YOU GO.

HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IT

BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
WANT TO BELIEVE IT.

HARRIET, I DIDN'T FEEL
WE SHOULD PRESS THIS THING.

NO, I TRIED TO PRESS IT

WITH THE ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY GENERAL

OF THE STATE
OF MISSISSIPPI.

HE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT,
EITHER.

MY SISTER
WAS KILLED IN SPARTA.
SHE WAS MURDERED.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT.

SHE WAS INVOLVED
WITH A MARRIED MAN,

A VERY IMPORTANT MAN.

THAT MAN
HAD HER KILLED.

HAD HER KILLED?

BY SOMEBODY
THAT WORKS FOR HIM.

THE POLICE ARRESTED
THE KILLER.

THEN IT'S BEING HANDLED.

NO, IT ISN'T.

YOU SEE, JUDGE COLTER,
THAT JUDICIAL TRAVESTY,

RELEASED HIM ON BAIL.

I WANT THE STATE POLICE

TO TAKE OVER
THIS INVESTIGATION.

YOU SEE,

THE MAN MY SISTER
WAS INVOLVED WITH
IS V.J. TRUNDEL.

I CAN'T TAKE
THIS SERIOUSLY.

WHO TOLD YOU THIS STORY?

I DON'T NEED
ANYBODY TO TELL ME
MY SISTER'S LIFE STORY.

V.J. TRUNDEL IS ONE OF
THE GREATEST MEN IN AMERICA

AND NO DOUBT THE GREATEST MAN
IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

JUST THE WEALTHIEST.

WHY SHOULD HE BE
INTERESTED IN YOUR SISTER?

HE WASN'T JUST INTERESTED
IN MY SISTER!

HE WAS CRAZY ABOUT
MY SISTER

BECAUSE SHE WAS
A BEAUTIFUL GIRL!

THE CHIEF
AND I BELIEVE YOU.

SO WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?

THIS IS WRONG.

THE MAN WHO KILLED
MY SISTER IS DEAD.

HIS WIFE HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT,

BUT THAT MAN'S MONEY,
HIS SPIRIT ARE--

ARE IN THAT HOUSE.

MAYBE I'M NOT
MAKING ANY SENSE,
BUT IT'S WRONG.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT IT,
TAKE IT TO COURT?

I HAVE TO.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT IT
ANY WAY I CAN.

YEAH.

PLEASE SIT DOWN,
MR. JENKINS.

IT SEEMS MR. TRUNDEL
MADE TWO PROPOSALS.

THE FIRST
IS THAT HIS SON ERIC

SHOULD INHERIT
HALF HIS PROPERTY.

THE SECOND IS
THAT HIS WIFE EMILY

SHOULD HAVE
CUSTODY OF ERIC.

YOUR HONOR, IT'S
THE SECOND PROPOSAL

THAT MS. DeLONG
REJECTS ABSOLUTELY.

WOULD YOU
REJECT A PROPOSAL

FOR SHAREDCUSTODY,
MS. DeLONG?

YES, JUDGE, I WOULD.

SO WOULD MY CLIENT,
YOUR HONOR.

THE WILL DEMANDS
THAT, UH, MRS. TRUNDEL
HAVE SOLE CUSTODY.

YOUR HONOR, I TRUST THAT
MR. JENKINS UNDERSTANDS

THAT MR. TRUNDEL'S
DEMANDS HAVE
NO FORCE OF LAW.

I TRUST MR. JENKINS
DOES UNDERSTAND THAT.

JUDGE, I'VE RAISED
MY NEPHEW ERIC

AS IF HE WAS
MY OWN SON

SINCE MY SISTER'S DEATH.

I'M HIS
ONLY REAL FAMILY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT,
MS. DeLONG.

WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND
IS THAT V.J. TRUNDEL...

HAD MY SISTER, THE MOTHER
OF HIS SON, MURDERED.

THIS IS UTTER NONSENSE.

PLEASE, MR. JENKINS.
SIT DOWN.

NOW, FIRST OF ALL,

THERE IS NO BASIS
FOR SUCH AN ACCUSATION,

AND SECONDLY, V.J. TRUNDEL
IS HARDLY ON TRIAL HERE.

I AM WELL AWARE,
MR. JENKINS,

OF THE FACT THAT NO ONE'S
ON TRIAL HERE.

BUT, YOUR HONOR,
THIS PETITION FOR CUSTODY

IS BEING BROUGHT
BY THE WIDOW
OF THE MAN

MY CLIENT HAS
JUST DESCRIBED
AS THE MURDERER--

I OBJECT
TO THE REPETITION

OF THIS COMPLETELY
GROUNDLESS CHARGE.

THERE WAS A WITNESS.

YOUR HONOR,
THERE WAS NO WITNESS.

THERE WAS NO WITNESS
BROUGHT FORTH BECAUSE
THERE WAS NO TRIAL.

I DIDN'T SAY
THERE WAS A TRIAL.

I SAID THERE WAS
A WITNESS.

AND WHAT DID YOU MEAN
BY THAT, MS. DeLONG?

MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR.

I'M TALKING ABOUT
MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR.

MY SISTER'S NEIGHBOR

SAW TWO MEN WHO WORKED
FOR V.J. TRUNDEL

ARRIVE AT HER HOUSE
LATE ONE NIGHT.

THE POLICE CONFIRMED
ALL THE DETAILS--

HOW THEY PARKED THE CAR
OUTSIDE MY SISTER'S HOUSE,

HOW ONE OF THEM WAITED

WHILE THE OTHER ONE
JUMPED A FENCE

AND WENT
TO THE BACK DOOR.

HE LET HIMSELF IN
WITH A KEY,

WHICH HE MUST HAVE GOTTEN
FROM HIS BOSS V.J. TRUNDEL

WHO HAD KEYS
TO THAT HOUSE.

FROM THE MOVEMENT
OF THE FLASHLIGHT
INSIDE THE HOUSE,

THE NEIGHBOR SAID

IT LOOKED LIKE THE MAN
WENT INTO ERIC'S ROOM...

THEN PROCEEDED TO
THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE,

TO MY SISTER'S ROOM.

AAH!

AAH!

PLEASE! UH, PLEASE!

UNH!

I THINK YOU REALIZE

THIS STORY WOULD NEVER
BE PERMITTED IN COURT.

IT'S BASED ON
POLICE CALCULATIONS

AND THE OBSERVATIONS
OF SOMEONE

WHO COULDN'T HAVE KNOWN

WHAT WAS GOING ON
INSIDE THAT HOUSE.

NOT TO MENTION
NO ONE EVER SAW V.J.

ANYWHERE
NEAR THAT HOUSE.

THANK YOU, MRS. TRUNDEL.

I WAS ABOUT
TO MENTION THAT.

JUDGE, I HAVE JUST
ONE SMALL QUESTION.

WHAT IN THE WORLD
DOES ALL THIS

HAVE TO DO WITH
THE CUSTODY OF THE BOY

AND HIS FUTURE LIFE?

MRS. TRUNDEL,
I AM NOT SURE MYSELF.

I'VE ASKED
CHIEF BILL GILLESPIE
HERE TO JOIN US,

KNOWING THAT
THESE MATTERS WOULD
COME UP. CHARLES.

YOUR HONOR,
I HAVE TO OBJECT.

THIS IS NOT A COURT,
MR. JENKINS.

THEN I HAVE
TO RESPECTFULLY
DISAGREE

WITH HAVING
BILL GILLESPIE
COME INTO THIS.

WHY?

WELL, YOUR HONOR,
I'M SURE YOU KNOW,

AS WE ALL KNOW,

WHY HE WOULD
BE PREJUDICED

IN FAVOR
OF COUNCILWOMAN DeLONG.

WELL, I THINK
YOU BETTER ASK

DETECTIVE TIBBS'
WIFE ABOUT THAT.

WHY HER?

SHE KNOWS EVERYBODY
IN ALL THE SCHOOLS.

IF ANYBODY CAN GET THEM

TO PUT A SOCCER TEAM IN
YOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,

IT'S GOING TO BE SHE,
MRS. ALTHEA TIBBS.

I'LL ASK HER.

CHIEF GILLESPIE,
JUDGE WHITELY WOULD
LIKE YOU TO STEP IN.

OH. THANK YOU.

I'LL TALK
TO YOU LATER, ERIC.

BYE, CHIEF.

THANK YOU.

CHIEF GILLESPIE,

WERE YOU NOT IN CHARGE

OF THE INVESTIGATION
INTO THE MURDER
OF NATALIE DeLONG?

I WAS, YOUR HONOR. YES.

AND YOU TOLD ME
IT WAS AN ESPECIALLY
DIFFICULT CASE.

THERE WAS
A QUESTION, UH,

AT THE TIME,
OF REMOVING ME
FROM THE CASE.

CERTAIN PEOPLE
DIDN'T THINK
I WAS FOLLOWING UP

ON SOME
STRONG ALLEGATIONS.

WE CAN'T
KEEP IT UP, BILL--

MAKING BELIEVE
VIDGE TRUNDEL HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.

WE KNOW OUR MURDERER.

BUT YOU DON'T HAVE HIM.

IF TURKIS TRIES
TO LEAVE TOWN--

I WANT VIDGE TRUNDEL.

HARRIET,

WE ARE NEVER GOING
TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT

V.J. TRUNDEL
TO THIS THING.

HE MAY HAVE WANTED
HER KILLED,

HE MAY HAVE ORDERED
HER KILLED,

BUT WE WILL NEVER FIND
ANYBODY WILLING TO SAY,

"I GOT THAT ORDER
FROM HIM,"

OR A WITNESS
WHO WILL SAY,

"I WAS THERE
AND HEARD THAT."

NEVER. YOU KEEP SAYING NEVER.

NEVER, VIRGIL, NEVER.

BECAUSE NOBODY
WHO KNOWS TRUNDEL

HAS ANYTHING TO GAIN
BY EXPOSING HIM.

EVERYBODY
HAS PLENTY TO LOSE,

AND THERE ARE
ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE,

AND THERE ARE
ALL KINDS OF LOSSES.

I'M GOING TO ASK
THE GOVERNOR TO SEND
A SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR

AND PUT THIS IN THE HANDS
OF THE STATE POLICE.

AS I RECALL THE CASE,
OTHER PEOPLE WERE CHARGED,

BUT V.J. TRUNDEL
WAS NEVER MENTIONED.

WELL, V.J. TRUNDEL
WAS DEAD BY THAT TIME.

UH, HE HAD
SURROUNDED HIMSELF

WITH SOME PEOPLE
WHO WOULD TAKE
THE BLAME FOR HIM.

WE WERE ONLY
ABLE TO ARREST

HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN.

VIDGE, WE'RE
AT THE AIRPORT,

AND I DON'T THINK
WE SHOULD WAIT
FOR JESSICA.

COME ON, VIDGE.
WE GOT TO GET GOING.

YOU'RE UNDER
ARREST.

WHAT CHARGE?

MURDER.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT...

V.J.

GET AYKENS.

DON'T LEAVE. STAY HERE.
HELP ME HANDLE THIS.

V.J., YOU CAN'T
LET THIS HAPPEN.

V.J.!

V.J., DON'T
LEAVE ME LIKE THIS!

SETTLE DOWN. HE AIN'T
GOING TO HELP YOU.

MR. TRUNDEL.
DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT
GOING TO ARREST YOU.

WE'VE ALREADY CAUGHT
THE MAN WHO'S GOING
TO TAKE THE FALL,

IF WE CAN CONVICT HIM.

YOU'RE FREE TO GO.

ONLY THING IS--
YOU'RE GOING TO

HAVE TO TAKE YOURSELF
ON THAT PLANE WITH YOU,

AND WHO IS THAT SELF?

IT'S THE MAN
THAT KILLED THE MOTHER
OF HIS CHILD.

THE LITTLE FELLA
DOESN'T KNOW THAT YET,

BUT AS THE YEARS GO BY,

THE WORLD'S GOING
TO KEEP SAYING IT.

FINALLY, HE'S GOING
TO COME TO YOU AND SAY,
"UNCLE VIDGE"--

UNLESS BY THAT TIME,
HE'S CALLING YOU DADDY.

HE'S GOING TO SAY,
"IS IT TRUE?

"DID YOU DO THAT?
DID YOU KILL MY MAMA?

IS IT TRUE?"

HAVE A GOOD FLIGHT.

MR. TRUNDEL!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

CHIEF,
THAT WAS NO ACCIDENT.

HE RAN THAT NOSE
RIGHT INTO THE GROUND.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH.

SO, UH, THOUGH
HE NEVER STOOD TRIAL,

IT SEEMS THAT HE, UH,

FOUND HIMSELF
GUILTY AND...

PRONOUNCED SENTENCE
ON HIMSELF.

I RECOMMEND

THAT ERIC TRUNDEL
REMAIN IN THE CUSTODY

OF HIS NATURAL AUNT,
HARRIET DeLONG,

UNTIL NOVEMBER 1992.

THE COURT WILL THEN
HEAR NEW REPRESENTATIONS

FROM BOTH SIDES.

IN THE INTERIM,

ERIC WILL BE ALLOWED
TO VISIT EMILY TRUNDEL

TWO WEEKENDS
IN EACH MONTH.

AND I WISH THAT MS. DeLONG
AND MRS. TRUNDEL

WOULD WORK TOGETHER

IN A FRIENDLY
AND COOPERATIVE MANNER,

AND PERHAPS THERE
WILL BE NO FURTHER NEED

FOR WRANGLING IN COURT.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

[GILLESPIE]
HARRIET.

YOU WANT MY OPINION?

NO, I DON'T.

WELL, I'M GOING
TO GIVE IT TO YOU ANYWAY.

I DON'T THINK
THIS IS ALL BAD.

I DON'T LIKE IT.

WHAT IS IT
YOU DON'T LIKE?

THE JUDGE'S RULING.
I'M GOING TO FIGHT IT.

DON'T YOU THINK
IT WOULD BE JUST AS WELL

TO LET THINGS RIDE
FOR A WHILE?

BILL GILLESPIE,
YOU ARE KNOWN FOR
LETTING THINGS RIDE.

I'M NOT.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW,
AUNT HARRIET?

NOTHING CHANGES.

ONE THING THAT
WILL NEVER CHANGE

IS YOU'RE
MY SISTER'S CHILD.

THAT MAKES YOU
A PART OF ME.

EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING.

DIDN'T I SEE YOU
LOOKING AT MY SWIMMING POOL

THE OTHER DAY
WHEN YOU WERE AT MY HOUSE?

YES, MA'AM.

DO YOU LIKE TO SWIM?

I'M A GOOD SWIMMER.

HE WOULD BE,
IF HE PRACTICED.

THAT'S FINE,
BECAUSE NO ONE
EVER USES THAT POOL,

AND YOU CAN PRACTICE
ALL YOU WANT, ANYTIME.

COOL.

CAN I GO NOW,
AUNT HARRIET?

I CAN MAKE THE LAST HOUR
OF SOCCER PRACTICE.

GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD.

AS THEY SAY,
"TIME WILL TELL."

OH, I'M GOING
TO APPEAL THIS RULING.

I'M GOING
TO DO EVERYTHING
WITHIN MY POWER

TO SEE ERIC GETS
WHAT HE'S ENTITLED TO--

THE TRUNDEL ASSETS

WITHOUT
THE TRUNDEL LIABILITIES.

AND HOW DO YOU RECKON
THE TRUNDEL LIABILITIES?

SELFISHNESS,

CRUELTY, AND NO REMORSE.

V.J. TRUNDEL IS DEAD.

BUT YOU'RE
ALIVE AND WELL.