Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001): Season 2, Episode 9 - An Innocent Man - full transcript

This is a zoo.

Stand over there.

Alrighty.

Well, we're hot
in four, three, two.

This is Tracy Ralston
reporting to you live

outside the Texas state prison

where convicted
killer Woodrow Wilton

is scheduled to be
executed in three days

for the bizarre electrocution
slayings five years ago,

dubbed the "night
shift murders,"

in which women were
abducted late at night

as they left their
jobs as waitresses

at 24-hour fast-food
restaurants.

Man, this guy's a sicko, huh?

Fifteen women fell victim
to the night shift murderer...

That's what they say.

Against Wilton's wishes,

his lawyers have attempted
a last-ditch stay of execution.

That stay has been denied.

In three days, Woodrow
Wilton will be executed.

We're going to try
and get a comment

from the woman who
prosecuted Wilton:

Assistant District
Attorney Alex Cahill.

Turn it off, Trivette.

She's expected to arrive
here at Texas state prison

within the hour. All right.

What are you so uptight about?

Nothing.

Stakeout doesn't make
any sense, anyway.

I mean, Critter jumped bail.

He's not gonna come waltzing
out here in broad daylight.

His uncle owns this nursery,

and it closes in a few minutes.

Critter has no money, and
he has no place else to go.

He'll be here.

No, he won't.

Yes, he will.

No, he won't.

Well, speak of the devil.

I hate it when you gloat.

Critter.

Texas Rangers.

Whoa, whoa. Slow down, Trivette.

You wanna read him his rights?

Do I look like I want
to read him his rights?

I just ran my legs off,
so you could catch him...

Ah, Critter.

Attempted murder of a Ranger.

That will put you away
for a long time, pal.

Wait, wait. Let's negotiate.

You got nothing to negotiate.

I got something.

Woodrow Wilton
ain't Night Shift.

Killer's still out there.

You're fixin' to kill
an innocent man.

Can I have a smoke?

No.

Now, I'm trying to be friendly.

Y'all could... meet me halfway.

You lyin', thievin',
drug-dealing piece of trash.

You're already halfway to
the deepest, darkest hole

in the state of Texas.

For life.

Trivette!

He's getting to
be as bad as you.

Hell, this is a waste of time.

Woodrow Wilton's
the night shift killer,

how come you never
found all the stuff?

Fifteen murders, only
one bag of clothes.

He admitted he did it.

Why not tell you
where the stuff is?

Why would he
wanna do that, Critter?

He knows he's getting
the death penalty anyway.

It's a form of
psychological retribution.

Now, there's a mouthful.

Almost wrap your arms
around words like that.

Make you sleep better at night.

You want a matching
pair of eyes? Ugh.

Walker.

I take it back.

Nobody's as bad as you.

No deal.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

There's a dried-up creek
bed in Hamilton's gulch.

You go look there.

Just to the right of
Simmons Bridge.

Buried by the creek.

The closing arguments will
begin with the prosecution.

Your Honor.

For the past four months,

you've heard things
that no human being

should have ever
been forced to hear.

You have listened to evidence

of the most grizzly nature

and seen pictures more horrible

than any of us could
have ever imagined.

Ladies and gentlemen,

the evidence has shown

that Woodrow Jonathan Wilton

stalked our neighborhoods.

Fifteen women were tortured
and brutally electrocuted,

and any one of
them could've been...

your sister...

or your daughter.

Or yours.

And then he'd leave them

brazenly out in the
open for us to find,

daring us to stop him.

After every killing,

he sent letters to
the newspapers

mocking us, daring
us to stop him.

You have heard how
we found the clothing

of one of the victims
buried in Wilton's backyard.

You have heard

how we matched the
typewriter found in his home

to the letters that were
sent to the newspaper.

And you have heard

the defendant's own confession.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Woodrow Wilton is still
daring us to stop him.

You can stop him

with a guilty verdict
of capital murder.

And then you know
what I'm gonna do?

I'm gonna take the
shovel back to the jail.

I'm gonna beat Critter
over the head with it.

Of course, this
is good exercise.

Maybe I ought to work
this into my cross-training.

Maybe you should
work some silence

into your cross-training.

It's good to talk, Walker.

Especially when you're
doing something like this.

Helps relieve the tension.

That way the stress
won't build up inside of you.

You feel good, if
you learn to open up

and express your feelings, huh?

Hey, I got something here.

It's a damn beer can.

See? People don't
know what they do.

They're ruining the outdoors.

We got nice, clean country.

Fresh air.

Walker, Critter's
yanking our chain.

There's nothing here, all right?

Keep digging.

There's nothing here.

Dig another one.

Right. A job worth starting
is a job worth finishing.

That's what I always say.

That's why, when
I played football,

I ran out every play.

'Cause you never
know when a little hustle

could make a difference.

Like a downfield
block on a broken play

springs the back...

What do you got?

"Loretta Coleman."

It's one of the victims?

Yeah.

Let's keep digging.

Looks like we got 'em all now.

All 14 of 'em.

I guess Critter wasn't
yanking our chain after all, huh?

Why didn't Wilton tell us
about this after he confessed?

I got to admit, it's
getting awful crazy.

Let's go.

Where to?

State prison.

Hey, there's Cordell Walker,

one of the Rangers
who arrested Wilton.

Testified against him in court.

Hey, hey!

These people are nuts.

Like you said, Trivette,
makes 'em feel good.

They're just opening up
and expressing themselves.

Anybody ever tell you you
got a mean sense of humor?

Mm-hm.

You got visitors.

Why are you here?

Come to see me sweat, Ranger?

Oh, where's the other guy?

Oh, that's right. He
had some bad luck.

He got shot, and
he had to retire.

Why are you so
eager to die, Woodrow?

Because I did it.

I got caught, I die. That's it.

No use stretching
it out with appeals.

Let's get it over with.

But I would think you at least
would want to brag about it.

Tell your whole story.

I mean, there's people
pay big bucks for that.

Couldn't your family
use the money?

You leave my family out of this.

Got nothing to do with them.

I done what I done.

And you can just quit
with all your questions,

'cause I'm taking my
answers to the grave.

Well, give me one answer.

What did you do with
those women's clothes?

I don't have to
answer that, now do I?

No, you don't. Because
we already know.

We found them
out at Cedar Creek.

Oh.

Good for you.

Now you know.

Guard.

He didn't know about
the clothes, Walker.

I know.

It doesn't make sense

for Woodrow to
want to be executed

for something that
he didn't do, Walker.

Maybe not, Alex.

But he didn't know

where those women's
clothes were buried.

His bust never did set
right with you, did it?

No.

I remember when he
was arrested, Washoe.

You couldn't sleep for a month,

and the spirits cried out
your window every night.

Spirits?

Well, there's a storm
out at the ranch,

and the wind was
howling all night.

The wind carries the
voice of the spirits.

Your head might
tell you otherwise,

but if your heart is
Cherokee, it knows.

Good night. I'll
be at the ranch.

Good night, Uncle Ray.

Night, Ray.

Woodrow has to be
protecting someone.

He got awful protective
when I mentioned his family.

He has a wife and
9-year-old daughter.

Alex, contact the judge

and see if you can
get a stay of execution.

I'll speak to him,

but I'm sure that we don't have

enough new evidence
to convince him.

Cordell,

we didn't make a
mistake here, did we?

I mean, we had the evidence.

I don't know, C.D.

Let's go.

Yeah, good night.

Walker. Walker, come back.

This is C.D.

What's up, C.D.?

Yeah, I just got a hot tip
on this night shift thing.

I think it's worth looking into.

Well, don't get too excited.
Could be another crank.

You're just jealous 'cause
you never get any tips.

You know why?

Why?

'Cause you been
knocking people out

and expecting them
to talk in their sleep.

That's why.

What's the address?

355 Wilmont.

Yeah, meet you there.

Ten-four.

What you got, Jim? Hey, C.D.

This guy's not
here. We're out back.

All right.

How's the family doing, Jim?

Doing fine, C.D.
How 'bout yourself?

Good. No complaints.

Robert, let me have that shovel.

You city boys couldn't
even dig worms.

Hey, C.D., I got
something here. Yeah?

You sure as hell do.

Now, C.D., hold on a minute.

Nah. We got probable cause.

"Dallas Evening
Chronicle, I've done it again.

"She's not the
first one I've fried,

and it will definitely not..."

It's him. He just drove up.

Texas Ranger. Freeze, boy.

Get your butt up on that hood.

What's this about?

Put your butt up
on that hood, I said.

It's about murder.
That's what it's about.

You can remain silent.

If you give up your
right to remain silent,

anything you say can be used
against you in a court of law.

I didn't do anything.

If you can't afford an
attorney, we'll provide...

C.D., ease up. Ease up, C.D.

No. No!

Please, help me.

I'm innocent.

I-I'm innocent.

Come on.

I'm innocent!

I'm innocent!

Read him his rights.

You have the right
to remain silent.

I'm innocent!

So I guess, uh...
Well, you don't think

this is a waste
of time after all.

Ten to 15.

What? Uh, no way.

This is too good. One to five.

You're looking at life.

So are you.

Woodrow Wilton's.

And it's all your fault.

You know, Critter,

I wouldn't be surprised
if you weren't mixed up

in these murders.

What do you think, Trivette?

He knew about the clothes.

Works for me.

That's right.

You can't do this. You
can't use that against me.

You were read your
rights. You waived them.

Okay, ten to 15.

Now that we're all friends,

how 'bout a smoke?

Who did it?

Okay, I used to
live in this little town

near Hamilton's gulch
about five years ago.

Part of a club.

Well, some of my associates
used to be pretty severe.

But there was this one guy.

He'd scare the devil.

Spooky. He had
these eyes like...

Like, I don't know.

Manson or something.

Anyway, one day I was
out partying by the creek,

and I saw him burying the stuff

day after one of them
women disappeared.

What stuff?

Clothes.

I hightailed it out of there,
so he couldn't see me.

Give me a name.

Leon.

Leon who?

That's all I know.

That's all you know.

Guard, get him out of here!

Forget it. You get life.

Ah, well, um...

He had a tattoo on his forearm.

A scorpion? That's right.

A scorpion.

Uh, he used to hang out
at Mac's Pool Hall on Main.

Ugh! You broke my damn wrist.

You know what they say.

Them's the breaks.

My money.

Your name Leon?

That's what my mama said.

Texas Rangers, Leon.

We want a word
with ya. Come here.

Do you know a guy by the
name of Woodrow Wilton?

I reckon anybody with
a TV knows who he is.

He's the night shift killer.

That's it? You've just
seen him on television?

Matter of fact, that damn wacko

used to be my electric man.

Sick puppy.

Good riddance.

Is that it?

Yeah.

Say, have you been to
Hamilton's gulch lately?

Mister, I don't know
what you're talking about.

I never heard of
no Hamilton's gulch.

That's funny, 'cause
a friend of yours

said he rode with
you down there.

Well, I didn't.

You sure?

He described you pretty well.

Even your tattoo.

Fella goes by the
name of Critter.

Critter?

I rode with him in Fort Worth.

Ah, he's totally gone.

You know, drugs and such.

Lights are on. Nobody's home.

That's funny.

He said the same
thing about you.

Mister, look. I'm a
law-abiding citizen.

Ain't done nothing
to be ashamed of.

So you leave me be.

We will... for now.

- You ain't goin'?
- No way, man, I'm in.

I'm here to play.

Oh, that's good. MAN
2: Here comes five in a...

And Critter was
right on the money

about Muncie's eyes.
That is one bad hombre.

I guarantee you
guys he's bent the law

more than a couple of times.

You told me it was too neat.

Good Lord, what have I done?

Come on, C.D.

Aren't you the one that said

never to worry about
what's been done?

But to concentrate on
what needs to be done.

Yeah, you saved my
life with that advice.

Maybe it's time for you
to take some of it, huh?

Yeah.

Thanks.

Hey, wait a minute.

There was always something
that we left out of the papers

to keep the kooks away.

On all the bodies,

we found melted
wax on the right foot.

That's right. I remember that.

Sort of a signature.

Hell, I don't have any
idea what it meant.

Washoe, you gotta take time

to listen to the spirits.

If you listen to the
wind, it will tell ya

if there's danger near.

It could save you.

I will, Uncle Ray.

The judge denied the stay.

The execution will
proceed as scheduled.

Lockdown.

Mrs. Wilton?

Yes.

I'm Ranger Walker.

Hi. I remember you
from Woodrow's trial.

Yes, ma'am.

Could I talk to you
for a few minutes?

Why? What's there to talk about?

I mean, it'll all be
over soon anyway.

I'm trying to reopen
your husband's case.

I have reason to
believe he's innocent.

I never thought he was guilty,

even when he confessed.

Can you remember anything that
your husband may have told you

that would help
me with his case?

I mean, when they arrested him,

he swore he was innocent.

Held him in my arms. He cried.

I couldn't understand
how anyone could believe

he would do something like that.

He hated being
away from Chrissie.

Wanted to make
sure that I told her

how much he loved
her every night.

Then, a week
later, he confessed.

Told me to stay away,
that he never wanted

to see either one of us again.

He never answered
any of my letters.

So finally I... I gave up.

But I still love him.

'Cause I know he could
never do anything like that.

I just know it.

Okay, something must have
happened after he was arrested

for him to change his plea.

He was in jail.

Let's find out who his
visitors were that week.

Here it comes.

Let me guess.

His wife.

His lawyer.

And Leon Muncie.

I'll be damned.

See if he has a record.

One conviction for assault.

Six other arrests.
No convictions.

Burglary.

He was in the Navy.

As what?

An electrician.

You got visitors again.

Hello, Woodrow.

Ranger.

Woodrow, why'd you
burn their hands with wax

before you fried them?

That's my business, isn't it?

I did what I did.

Now I'm paying the price.

Ain't that enough for you?

Might be, except it
wasn't their hands

that were burned with wax,

it was their feet.

Well.

Who's Leon Muncie?

Why don't you two leave me be.

Let me die in peace.

Guard!

Guard, get these
guys out of here!

What's the problem, Woodrow?

You are!

I have to die.

But I don't have to
talk to you anymore.

You're dying for something
you didn't do, Woodrow.

And we don't know why.

How they treating you, Woodrow?

Stay away from me.

You ain't got many friends

right about now, sport.

You ought to be nice to me.

You'll never get away with this.

Of course, I will.

Or it's ♪ Bye-bye, wife ♪

♪ Bye-bye, Chrissie girl ♪

Where did you get this?

Your house.

You're lying.

I would never lie to you.

They'll arrest you.

You'll never get near my family.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

You gonna bet your family's life

on the cops?

Come on, Woodrow.

You already called
them once anonymously,

didn't you?

Sure, you did.

I told you I would know.

You called and you said

you found the power box

diverting extra
electricity into a house,

and there was a
woman frying inside.

I tapped your phone, sport.

And they didn't
find any power box

diverting electricity, did they?

All they found were her clothes

in your backyard.

Hey, I'll tell you what.

The name is Leon.

Leon Muncie.

Tell the cops, okay?

I bet I get your family,

and I fry them up real good.

You bet on the cops.

It's like Russian roulette.

And I like Russian roulette.

You're crazy.

You're out of your mind.

You say that like
that's a bad thing.

Now... Who's the
night shift killer?

I am.

Good.

Now... have a nice life.

What you got left of it, anyway.

Guard!

Where's Leon Muncie?

Watch out there, fellas!

Old Betsy here is hungry.

So am I.

Uh, you want some buffalo wings?

I got some right here.

They're hot off the roach coach.

You lied to us, Leon.

You told us Woodrow Wilton
was just your electrician,

but we found out you
went to visit him in jail.

Ah, he's a nice guy.

Look, I know how the law can be.

I did a little time
myself for a fistfight.

Yeah, a year in county jail.

That's right. A
whole year in stir

just for defending
myself in a bar fight.

It's interesting, in
defending yourself,

you broke a man's jaw,

tore his arm clear
out of the socket,

and then you
caved in his rib cage.

You're right.

That's mighty
interesting, Ranger.

Anyhow, I know how it is

to get railroaded by the law,

so I figure I'll give old
Woodrow a little moral support.

Woo-hoo.

That fella's a couple
of bricks short of a load.

After I talked to
him once alone,

I never went back again.

You're not as smart
as you think are, Leon.

No?

No, you're not, Leon.

You tell a good story.

Let's see how much
truth there is to it.

I got a line on
where he's living.

Rents a place over in Lochinvar.

Let's get a warrant.

Ugh.

Look here, sport.

The only reason you're
not dead right now

is cause I know
you had to log on

with the power
company where you are.

Now... you didn't see nothing.

You didn't hear nothing.

You don't know
nothing, understand?

'Cause if you say
anything, I'll know.

And you'll be sorry.

Real sorry.

I won't say nothing.

You can go.

That's to remember me by.

Oh, yeah. Almost forgot.

Are you sure I can't get
you something to eat?

No.

Let's say Woodrow
Wilton comes out here

to check the meter.

And he follows the power
cable around the house.

He sees something
that doesn't look right.

What in the world?

What's he need all this for?

There's a lot of power
going to this house.

He checks the junction box.

Looks all right to me.

Well, something happened here.

Hey.

Skylight.

Let's take a look.

Here. Use this.

Do you see what I see, Trivette?

Oh, my God.

What is that?

Ah!

Texas Rangers.

We have a warrant, open up.

Got the key?

Yeah.

What the hell is all this, man?

Symbols of death.

This is what he
did to those girls?

Yeah.

That son of a... Trivette.

Call Alex, tell her
we have the evidence

and get out here right now.

District Attorney Cahill.

This is Ranger Trivette.

Well, where is she?

Wax.

Look, just tell her to
get to Leon Muncie's.

Walker has the evidence.

Tell her the address
is on the subpoena.

I gotta get some air, man.

Makes two of us.

Trivette, get down!

I'm gonna flank him.

Trivette! Get away
from that tank!

Take it easy, Ranger.

It's all right.

Feels like everything's
where it should be,

but we better not
take any chances.

I'm okay. It's all right.

Now, you may have
a concussion, okay?

Take it slow.

Trivette! It's all right.

Don't worry, your friend's
going to be just fine.

Hey. Hold up, you guys.

You okay?

Yeah, I'm...

What was that
that you said to me?

Run like hell.

Don't make me laugh.

You all right? Yeah, I'm fine.

How come you're always
the one that never gets hurt?

Just lucky, I guess.

Yeah.

Just take it easy, okay?

I'll see you later.

All right.

Walker, are you in here?

Back here.

Are you all right?

Yeah, I'm okay.

Trivette's on the
way to the hospital,

but they said
he'll... He'll be fine.

Oh, thank God. Alex,

I don't care what
you have to do,

but you've got to
stop the execution.

With what, Walker?
Where's the evidence?

It was here, Alex.
Trivette and I both saw it.

You know as well as I do,

as good as your word is,
that's not gonna be enough.

He must've taken it.

Disposed of it somewhere.

He could've buried it
anywhere in the county by now.

You're never gonna
figure it out in time.

Buried.

Yeah, buried.

God rest your soul, my son.

Thank you, Father.

Freeze, Muncie!

Raise your hands!

Come down slowly.

Okey-dokey.

You got me, Ranger.

"The Lord is my shepherd,

"I shall not want.

"He maketh me to lie
down in green pastures.

"He leadeth me
beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul."

How's the bottom of
the pile there, Ranger?

Don't worry.

It'll all be over soon, hoss.

Where you at?

Don't you just love this
fine justice system of ours?

Wilton's gonna burn today,

and then I can do my thing

and find some other
sucker for you guys to fry.

"He leadeth me in the
paths of righteousness

"for his name's sake.

"Yea, though I walk

"through the valley of
the shadow of death,

"I will fear no evil.

"For thou art with me.

Thy rod and thy staff..."

Where you at, Ranger?
You dead already?

Come out, come
out wherever you are.

Ask and you shall receive, Leon.

You're under arrest.

No way. You ain't
taking me back alive.

Killing's too good
for you, Leon.

"Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me

"all the days of my life.

And I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever."

Hold it! Hold everything.

I've got an order from
the governor that states,

"Due to new evidence uncovered

"by Cordell Walker
of the Texas Rangers,

I hereby order a stay of
execution of Woodrow Wilton."

But... But I... We
arrested Leon Muncie,

and we'll make it stick.

Your family's safe.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Isn't that just about
the prettiest little girl

you ever seen in your life?

To think she almost
lost her father forever

because of something I did.

I'll tell you one thing, Alex.

I'm not gonna be near
so quick to judge anymore.

Uh-uh.

I'm gonna make
sure I always look

for the signs of innocence
as well as the guilt.

Come here, Cordell.

We done a real
good thing here today.

Yeah, we sure did.

I'll tell you one thing, C.D.,

I'm gonna listen to my
instincts from now on.

Well, we all learned
a good lesson.

Yeah, like not to hide
behind a propane tank

in the middle of
a dang gunfight.

Or run like hell. Ow!

Oh, I'm sorry.