1
00:00:02,857 --> 00:00:07,624
Leaping about in time,
I've found that there are some things
in life that I can't change,
2
00:00:07,696 --> 00:00:10,597
and there are some things
that I can.
3
00:00:10,665 --> 00:00:13,964
To save a life,
to change a heart,
4
00:00:14,035 --> 00:00:15,969
to make the right choice.
5
00:00:16,037 --> 00:00:18,870
I guess that's what life's about...
6
00:00:18,940 --> 00:00:21,932
making the right choice
at the right time.
7
00:00:37,291 --> 00:00:38,989
Leonard?
8
00:00:39,060 --> 00:00:42,029
We appreciate
the dramatic pause, Leonard,
9
00:00:42,097 --> 00:00:44,258
but we're waitin'
for your answer.
10
00:00:50,705 --> 00:00:54,163
- Would you mind
repeating the question?
11
00:00:54,242 --> 00:00:56,904
Oh, for heaven's sakes, Leonard.
12
00:00:58,513 --> 00:01:02,449
Everybody in Twelve Oaks Parish
knows the answer.
13
00:01:02,517 --> 00:01:04,985
All right, all right.
14
00:01:06,121 --> 00:01:09,022
Delilah Berry,
you're accused of murdering...
15
00:01:09,090 --> 00:01:14,084
Houston Palmer Cotter
on the 15th ofJune, 1957.
16
00:01:14,162 --> 00:01:18,861
- Murder?
- How do you plead,
guilty or not guilty?
17
00:01:23,305 --> 00:01:27,207
Leonard.
Not guilty.
18
00:01:27,275 --> 00:01:30,369
What did that boy say?
19
00:01:30,445 --> 00:01:32,811
Leonard, we had a deal!
20
00:01:32,881 --> 00:01:35,543
Bo! Bo!
Twenty years
for second-degree murder.
21
00:01:35,617 --> 00:01:37,812
Order. Order in this court.
22
00:01:37,886 --> 00:01:41,287
Now I'm going after
first-degree murder...
23
00:01:41,356 --> 00:01:43,347
and the electric chair.
24
00:03:05,706 --> 00:03:08,834
We had a deal, Judge. A deal!
25
00:03:10,378 --> 00:03:14,940
And Leonard just ups
and throws it out the window.
26
00:03:15,016 --> 00:03:18,247
I'm certain Leonard
has his reasons, Bo,
27
00:03:18,319 --> 00:03:22,119
and if you'll just hold your water,
we'll find out what they are.
28
00:03:22,189 --> 00:03:24,180
Leonard?
29
00:03:29,397 --> 00:03:32,366
She's innocent.
She signed a confession.
30
00:03:32,433 --> 00:03:34,924
Bo has a point there,
Leonard.
31
00:03:36,404 --> 00:03:39,237
Please, God,
let me say something legal.
32
00:03:40,574 --> 00:03:43,065
Miranda.
Miranda?
33
00:03:43,144 --> 00:03:46,272
Yeah, uh, she wasn't read
her Miranda rights
at the time of her arrest.
34
00:03:46,347 --> 00:03:49,339
What the hell are Miranda rights?
35
00:03:49,417 --> 00:03:53,080
Oh, you know, the right to remain silent,
the right to have your attorney present.
36
00:03:55,356 --> 00:03:57,290
But not until the '60s.
37
00:03:57,358 --> 00:04:00,293
Leonard Dancey,
somebody's finally pulled
the plug on you.
38
00:04:00,361 --> 00:04:02,329
Lookee here, Leonard.
39
00:04:02,396 --> 00:04:06,332
Lila has confessed
to killing Houston.
40
00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,496
So unless you got evidence
to the contrary,
41
00:04:10,571 --> 00:04:15,031
I suggest you take Bo's generous offer
and plead that gal guilty.
42
00:04:15,109 --> 00:04:19,409
Twenty years in prison
is a far sight better
than the electric chair.
43
00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,345
- She's not guilty.
- Damn!
44
00:04:21,415 --> 00:04:24,384
Calm down, Bo.
Calm down.
45
00:04:24,452 --> 00:04:27,615
Leonard, did the captain know
you intended...
46
00:04:27,688 --> 00:04:30,680
to plead Lila not guilty?
47
00:04:32,727 --> 00:04:36,527
- I don't think so.
- Then why did you do it, son?
48
00:04:38,966 --> 00:04:44,063
Because... I don't believe
she's guilty.
49
00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,538
Leonard,
50
00:04:48,609 --> 00:04:52,375
Lila's a mighty attractive
and warm-blooded woman.
51
00:04:55,850 --> 00:04:59,115
And I can see why any man
would be tempted...
52
00:04:59,186 --> 00:05:03,782
to, uh, defend her
in spite of the facts.
53
00:05:03,858 --> 00:05:05,792
But believe me, son,
54
00:05:05,860 --> 00:05:08,852
no matter how good it is,
55
00:05:08,929 --> 00:05:11,557
it ain't worth
the mess you're making.
56
00:05:11,632 --> 00:05:13,623
Damn it, Leonard.
She's guilty.
57
00:05:15,069 --> 00:05:18,129
You're gonna have to prove it.
58
00:05:23,377 --> 00:05:27,211
Since the defendant
has pleaded not guilty,
59
00:05:27,281 --> 00:05:30,546
this court has no recourse
but to try Delilah Berry...
60
00:05:30,618 --> 00:05:33,280
for the murder
of Houston Cotter.
61
00:05:34,855 --> 00:05:37,847
This court is adjourned
until 10:00 a.m. Monday.
62
00:05:40,861 --> 00:05:43,421
Why'd you do it?
63
00:05:43,497 --> 00:05:46,660
Because you're not guilty.
I never said that.
64
00:05:46,734 --> 00:05:48,793
Your eyes did.
65
00:05:48,869 --> 00:05:51,429
Is that necessary?
66
00:05:51,505 --> 00:05:54,497
Ow.
Just a minute, please.
67
00:05:54,575 --> 00:05:57,066
Excuse me.
I'm not done talking
with my client.
68
00:05:57,144 --> 00:06:01,080
You are, until visiting hours
tomorrow morning.
69
00:06:01,148 --> 00:06:03,639
Captain.
Captain.
70
00:06:07,688 --> 00:06:09,849
Leonard.
71
00:06:09,924 --> 00:06:13,724
Why don't I just give you
a lift home, son?
72
00:06:13,794 --> 00:06:15,728
All right.
73
00:06:15,796 --> 00:06:20,460
Despite the warm voice
and friendly smile, I didn't like him.
74
00:06:20,534 --> 00:06:23,025
I didn't like the way people
parted before him...
75
00:06:23,104 --> 00:06:25,937
or the way they touched their hats
and said "Captain" as he passed.
76
00:06:26,006 --> 00:06:29,601
But since he was obviously
the man who ran this town,
I had to learn all I could about him.
77
00:06:29,677 --> 00:06:32,669
Besides, I had no idea
where I lived.
78
00:06:32,746 --> 00:06:36,409
You know, Leonard,
your daddy and I were partners
for a long time.
79
00:06:36,484 --> 00:06:38,714
A long time.
80
00:06:38,786 --> 00:06:41,983
That's why I feel I can
speak frankly to you.
81
00:06:42,056 --> 00:06:45,548
I know that, uh, Houston's trial
is your big opportunity, son.
82
00:06:45,626 --> 00:06:49,722
- You mean Lila's trial, don't you?
- Lila's trial.
83
00:06:50,731 --> 00:06:54,633
Just shows you how pain and grief
can addle a man's mind.
84
00:06:54,702 --> 00:06:56,636
Yeah.
85
00:06:56,704 --> 00:06:59,730
But I figure that's sort oflike
what happened to you in court.
86
00:06:59,807 --> 00:07:03,208
All that excitement.
The whole town watching you.
87
00:07:03,277 --> 00:07:06,713
I reckon you just
got carried away, huh?
88
00:07:06,780 --> 00:07:09,340
Like a pup on his first hunt.
I'm not a pup.
89
00:07:09,416 --> 00:07:12,317
She murdered my boy, Leonard.
90
00:07:13,721 --> 00:07:16,212
But...
91
00:07:16,290 --> 00:07:18,690
I gotta think about
Houston's mama.
92
00:07:19,793 --> 00:07:21,727
She blames herself.
93
00:07:21,795 --> 00:07:26,630
She felt sorry for Lila
from the minute
she set eyes on her.
94
00:07:26,700 --> 00:07:28,691
Took her in, kept her on,
95
00:07:28,769 --> 00:07:31,829
when I could see it was leadin'
to nothin' but trouble.
96
00:07:31,906 --> 00:07:36,036
Now, that's why I agreed
to lower the charge
to second-degree murder...
97
00:07:36,110 --> 00:07:39,739
to get this over with
as soon as possible,
for Sadie's sake.
98
00:07:39,813 --> 00:07:42,646
You agreed?
So did you.
99
00:07:42,716 --> 00:07:45,184
Yeah, well,
I-I changed my mind.
Why?
100
00:07:45,252 --> 00:07:47,812
Because she's not guilty.
101
00:07:47,888 --> 00:07:50,379
Leonard, that nigger
murdered my only son.
102
00:07:50,457 --> 00:07:54,257
First of all...
we don't know it was murder.
103
00:07:54,328 --> 00:07:57,161
And second of all,
you can call her black,
colored or Negro,
104
00:07:57,231 --> 00:07:59,392
but don't you ever ca...
105
00:07:59,466 --> 00:08:03,402
Don't you ever use that word
in front of me again.
106
00:08:07,474 --> 00:08:11,467
Well, you never were
much of a lady's man, Leonard.
107
00:08:11,545 --> 00:08:13,536
She rubbin' up
against you, son?
108
00:08:13,614 --> 00:08:17,607
Bendin'over so you can see
down her dress, huh?
109
00:08:18,686 --> 00:08:22,918
I used to watch her
scrubbin' the floors
on her knees,
110
00:08:22,990 --> 00:08:25,015
barefoot,
111
00:08:25,092 --> 00:08:27,458
her skirt hitched up in her belt.
112
00:08:29,597 --> 00:08:31,622
I understand, Leonard.
113
00:08:31,699 --> 00:08:34,065
I truly do.
114
00:08:34,134 --> 00:08:36,125
No, you don't.
115
00:08:43,143 --> 00:08:45,475
What?
You're home.
116
00:08:47,381 --> 00:08:50,077
Oh.
Leonard?
117
00:08:51,385 --> 00:08:55,719
I want you to spend tonight
thinking about what's best
for everybody.
118
00:08:55,789 --> 00:08:58,815
For Sadie,
for your, uh, client...
119
00:08:58,892 --> 00:09:00,792
and for you.
120
00:09:04,865 --> 00:09:07,299
Especially for you, Leonard.
121
00:09:11,572 --> 00:09:14,507
Thanks for the ride,
122
00:09:14,575 --> 00:09:16,566
Captain.
123
00:09:20,214 --> 00:09:23,308
Was that Captain Cotter
I saw dropping you off?
124
00:09:23,384 --> 00:09:26,217
Yeah, I-I guess so.
Oh!
125
00:09:26,287 --> 00:09:28,221
Oh!
126
00:09:28,289 --> 00:09:32,919
The whole town is talkin' about
what you did in court.
127
00:09:32,993 --> 00:09:36,394
Now, I must admit,
when you agreed to defendin'
that colored whore,
128
00:09:36,463 --> 00:09:40,456
which everybody knows
Houston took to his bed
when she was just 14,
129
00:09:40,534 --> 00:09:42,468
I was appalled.
130
00:09:42,536 --> 00:09:47,030
I thought, "Lord help me,
we will never get into
the Twelve Oaks Country Club."
131
00:09:48,609 --> 00:09:50,941
But when I came out
just now...
132
00:09:51,011 --> 00:09:55,243
and saw Captain Cotter
in his new Cadillac,
133
00:09:55,316 --> 00:09:58,285
driving you right up
to our house...
134
00:09:58,352 --> 00:10:00,616
our house...
135
00:10:00,688 --> 00:10:03,486
I said to myself, "Sugee,
136
00:10:03,557 --> 00:10:06,219
we are gonna be famous."
137
00:10:08,896 --> 00:10:11,558
Honey?
Hmm?
138
00:10:11,632 --> 00:10:15,033
I am gonna bake you...
139
00:10:15,102 --> 00:10:17,832
a pecan pie.
140
00:10:17,905 --> 00:10:19,896
Hmm.
141
00:10:23,744 --> 00:10:26,736
And let you play
Rhett Butler tonight.
142
00:10:35,656 --> 00:10:38,386
Fiddle dee dee.
Hmm!
143
00:10:50,537 --> 00:10:53,870
It was 3:¡00 in the morning when I finished
reading Leonard's briefs on the trial.
144
00:10:53,941 --> 00:10:55,875
Even then, I couldn't sleep,
145
00:10:55,943 --> 00:10:58,104
partly to avoid Scarlett O'Hara,
146
00:10:58,178 --> 00:11:01,807
but mostly because
I was frightened for anyone
who had me as their lawyer.
147
00:11:01,882 --> 00:11:05,374
All I knew about the law
I got from watching a TVshow...
148
00:11:05,452 --> 00:11:07,943
whose name
I couldn't even remember.
149
00:11:08,021 --> 00:11:10,182
Well, if it isn't Perry Mason!
That's it!
150
00:11:10,257 --> 00:11:13,158
What's it?
Never mind, never mind.
Where have you been?
151
00:11:13,227 --> 00:11:16,390
I've been sitting up
all night with you.
No, I mean with Leonard.
152
00:11:16,463 --> 00:11:18,397
What a wimp.
153
00:11:18,465 --> 00:11:22,128
He spends half the morning
in the fetal position, and it took
another six hours to get him to talk.
154
00:11:22,202 --> 00:11:26,104
What'd he say?
He says, "I'm a lawyer.
Take me to your leader."
155
00:11:26,173 --> 00:11:28,107
That's a terrifying prospect.
156
00:11:28,175 --> 00:11:31,542
The first alien contact on Earth,
and it's a lawyer.
157
00:11:31,612 --> 00:11:33,603
What does Ziggy say?
158
00:11:33,680 --> 00:11:38,242
Uh, well, considering
that Leonard won't talk,
you probably know more than we do.
159
00:11:38,318 --> 00:11:42,220
But best Ziggy could come up with
is you're here to play.
160
00:11:42,289 --> 00:11:44,985
Oh, play Rhett Butler.
No. No way.
161
00:11:45,058 --> 00:11:49,722
Tell Ziggy to shove that.
Listen, I'm here to save Delilah Berry
from the electric chair.
162
00:11:49,797 --> 00:11:52,459
We already ran that scenario.
There's no problem.
163
00:11:52,533 --> 00:11:55,229
No?
No, she pleads guilty
to a lesser charge,
164
00:11:55,302 --> 00:11:58,465
then she gets 20 years
instead of the chair.
165
00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:04,134
Uh... that's probably
before I...
166
00:12:04,211 --> 00:12:07,044
pleaded her not guilty.
167
00:12:07,114 --> 00:12:10,675
What'd you do that for?
'Cause she's not guilty!
168
00:12:10,751 --> 00:12:13,447
Did Lila tell you that?
169
00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:16,819
Well, not in so many words,
but her eyes did.
170
00:12:16,890 --> 00:12:21,054
Al, you wouldn't have believed
the hatred and bigotry
in that courtroom yesterday.
171
00:12:21,128 --> 00:12:23,460
I-I wanted to throw up.
172
00:12:23,530 --> 00:12:26,465
Women politely referred to her
as a colored whore.
Men just called her a...
173
00:12:26,533 --> 00:12:28,467
All right.
I get the picture.
174
00:12:28,535 --> 00:12:32,096
Look, the point is,
if she really murdered the son
of the most powerful man in this town,
175
00:12:32,172 --> 00:12:34,663
a town where prejudice
is as rampant as it is,
176
00:12:34,741 --> 00:12:37,232
do you really think they'd let her
plea-bargain for her life?
177
00:12:37,311 --> 00:12:41,372
They're hiding something, Al,
and when I find out what it is,
I'm gonna prove Lila's innocent.
178
00:12:49,822 --> 00:12:52,814
I was just getting used to the idea
of spending the rest of my life...
179
00:12:52,892 --> 00:12:55,087
in a prison cell.
180
00:12:56,162 --> 00:12:58,153
Suppose
I'll get used to dying.
181
00:13:00,500 --> 00:13:03,992
I'm here to see that
that doesn't happen.
182
00:13:04,070 --> 00:13:06,265
Chivalry is not dead.
183
00:13:06,339 --> 00:13:08,273
Just waning in the wings.
184
00:13:11,077 --> 00:13:15,104
You know, you...
you shouldn't do that.
185
00:13:15,181 --> 00:13:18,344
What they gonna do?
Shorten my life?
186
00:13:23,623 --> 00:13:26,990
Why did you sign the confession?
What difference does it make?
187
00:13:27,059 --> 00:13:29,687
Innocent people
don't sign confessions.
188
00:13:29,762 --> 00:13:33,596
I ain't been innocent
since the day I moved
into the captain's house.
189
00:13:34,901 --> 00:13:36,926
I'm Delilah,
190
00:13:37,003 --> 00:13:39,369
the harlot temptress
of the Philistines,
191
00:13:39,439 --> 00:13:42,567
who bewitched the golden boy
of Twelve Oaks...
192
00:13:42,642 --> 00:13:45,304
and murdered him
when he scorned her love.
193
00:13:45,378 --> 00:13:48,643
I'm lucky they're not
burning me at the stake.
194
00:13:50,383 --> 00:13:53,511
I suppose the electric chair's...
195
00:13:54,887 --> 00:13:57,515
kind of a modern-day stake...
196
00:13:57,590 --> 00:13:59,524
for a modern-day witch.
197
00:13:59,592 --> 00:14:03,392
Lila, you're not a witch
or a murderer.
198
00:14:03,463 --> 00:14:06,057
But I am.
199
00:14:06,132 --> 00:14:09,397
I killed Houston.
200
00:14:12,805 --> 00:14:14,739
I killed him.
201
00:14:14,807 --> 00:14:16,798
Lila,
202
00:14:16,876 --> 00:14:21,813
if it was an act of passion
o-or self-defense, I can help you,
203
00:14:21,881 --> 00:14:23,815
but you gotta tell me
what happened.
204
00:14:23,883 --> 00:14:26,647
- I want to go back to my cell now.
- Lila, please.
205
00:14:26,719 --> 00:14:28,949
I killed him, all right?
206
00:14:29,021 --> 00:14:33,014
How many times
you gonna make me say it?
I killed him!
207
00:14:33,092 --> 00:14:35,583
Chigger!
I want out of here.
208
00:14:37,196 --> 00:14:40,632
I was right here, Lila.
No reason to yell.
209
00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:43,191
I know right where you are.
210
00:14:43,269 --> 00:14:45,760
I know right
where everybody is.
211
00:14:51,577 --> 00:14:54,603
What do you want to see
her confession for?
212
00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:57,308
Because I'm
her defense attorney.
213
00:14:57,383 --> 00:15:00,113
I want to see everything
pertaining to this case.
214
00:15:00,186 --> 00:15:03,087
I want to see her confession,
215
00:15:03,155 --> 00:15:05,646
the coroner's report,
your investigation...
216
00:15:05,725 --> 00:15:09,456
Oh, Leonard,
we're all really impressed
you wanna do a good job,
217
00:15:09,529 --> 00:15:11,463
but enough's enough.
218
00:15:11,531 --> 00:15:15,524
Not if Lila goes
to the electric chair.
Now, whose fault is that?
219
00:15:20,506 --> 00:15:22,838
I want to see that confession,
220
00:15:22,909 --> 00:15:26,072
the police report,
the coroner's report,
221
00:15:26,145 --> 00:15:28,204
everything on this case.
222
00:15:28,281 --> 00:15:30,875
Now, I don't know
if you have the right
to do that.
223
00:15:30,950 --> 00:15:33,942
I'm her defense counsel!
Of course I have the right.
224
00:15:34,020 --> 00:15:36,011
I have to ask Bo.
225
00:15:37,423 --> 00:15:39,414
I'll wait.
226
00:15:51,904 --> 00:15:54,805
Never figured you had
this kind of gumption, Leonard.
227
00:15:54,874 --> 00:15:57,365
Neither did I.
228
00:16:00,646 --> 00:16:03,114
Course, defending a woman
like Lila...
229
00:16:03,182 --> 00:16:05,548
probably gets a man
all "het" up.
230
00:16:05,618 --> 00:16:09,452
Bo! Dix.
Wouldn't miss it for the world.
231
00:16:09,522 --> 00:16:13,151
Yeah, Mabel's fixin' a honey ham.
Her mama's gonna bake
a key lime pie.
232
00:16:13,225 --> 00:16:15,159
Yeah.
233
00:16:15,227 --> 00:16:17,889
Oh, yeah, sure.
Uh, you gonna drive?
234
00:16:17,964 --> 00:16:20,592
I could pick you up
after church.
235
00:16:20,666 --> 00:16:23,658
- Uh-huh.
- She said that?
236
00:16:23,736 --> 00:16:26,534
Sheriff.
Uh...
Bo.
237
00:16:26,606 --> 00:16:31,600
Reason I called is
Leonard is down here.
238
00:16:31,677 --> 00:16:34,339
Yeah.
239
00:16:34,413 --> 00:16:36,677
Yeah, ain't that the truth?
240
00:16:36,749 --> 00:16:40,480
Uh, he wants to see
Lila's confession.
241
00:16:40,553 --> 00:16:44,182
That's what I told him.
Look, you take care.
I'll see you Sunday.
242
00:16:44,256 --> 00:16:46,747
Bo, I'm defending a woman
accused of murder.
243
00:16:46,826 --> 00:16:49,488
Now, if you and Sheriff Lobo
don't start cooperating with me,
244
00:16:49,562 --> 00:16:54,431
I'm gonna get a U.S. district judge
to subpoena your files and charge you both
with obstructing justice!
245
00:17:02,875 --> 00:17:04,866
You're the boss.
246
00:17:12,418 --> 00:17:15,410
Thank you, Perry Mason.
247
00:17:16,555 --> 00:17:20,355
Lila's confession read like
something out of a soap opera.
248
00:17:20,426 --> 00:17:24,089
If it were true,
she had thrown herself
at Houston for years,
249
00:17:24,163 --> 00:17:28,759
and when he could no longer
tolerate her wild sexual advances,
he dismissed her.
250
00:17:28,834 --> 00:17:32,770
Enraged by the rejection,
she waited for him
to come home that night...
251
00:17:32,838 --> 00:17:35,170
and blew his head off
with a shotgun.
252
00:17:35,241 --> 00:17:39,234
Leonard Dancey! Is that you?
253
00:17:39,311 --> 00:17:42,678
My, but you have grown.
254
00:17:42,748 --> 00:17:46,149
Well, I haven't seen you since...
255
00:17:46,218 --> 00:17:49,619
you and Houston had that fight
in high school.
256
00:17:49,689 --> 00:17:51,589
Well, it's been a while.
257
00:17:51,657 --> 00:17:55,616
I never thought he was right
with that, Leonard.
I told him so.
258
00:17:55,695 --> 00:17:59,597
Thank you.
I suppose you're here
to see the captain.
259
00:17:59,665 --> 00:18:03,032
Well, no, not exactly.
I'd like to speak with Myrtle.
260
00:18:03,102 --> 00:18:06,094
Myrtle?
Well, why would you want...
261
00:18:06,172 --> 00:18:08,663
Never mind.
That's none of my business.
262
00:18:08,741 --> 00:18:12,575
She's probably sittin' out back
on the summer porch.
Usually does after supper.
263
00:18:12,645 --> 00:18:14,442
Thank you, ma'am.
You take care, now.
264
00:18:14,513 --> 00:18:17,209
Don't you step on my calla lilies
like you used to.
265
00:18:17,283 --> 00:18:20,741
No, ma'am.
They're dyin', Leonard.
266
00:18:20,820 --> 00:18:24,813
This heat...
just killin' every one of'em.
267
00:18:24,890 --> 00:18:27,552
I'm sure they'll come back
just soon as the weather changes.
268
00:18:29,195 --> 00:18:32,392
Sometimes I get a feeling
they're never comin' back.
269
00:18:49,215 --> 00:18:52,309
We all appreciate
what you're doin'for Lila.
270
00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,616
I'm not so sure
most people feel that way.
271
00:18:57,690 --> 00:19:00,181
I said we all do.
272
00:19:09,235 --> 00:19:11,294
Myrtle, uh,
273
00:19:11,370 --> 00:19:16,205
according to the police report,
you're the closest thing we got
to an eyewitness.
274
00:19:16,275 --> 00:19:18,971
- I don't know nothin'.
- But you were here when it happened.
275
00:19:19,044 --> 00:19:22,309
- I was in the kitchen.
- And?
276
00:19:24,016 --> 00:19:29,010
And... Houston came back
from huntin',
277
00:19:29,088 --> 00:19:32,387
and they started fightin' again.
278
00:19:32,458 --> 00:19:35,723
It seems to me
they had been fightin'
most of the day.
279
00:19:35,795 --> 00:19:38,923
- They fought a lot?
- Like possums in heat.
280
00:19:38,998 --> 00:19:41,660
'Bout what?
281
00:19:41,734 --> 00:19:45,693
Well, as usual, she was leavin',
and he didn't want her to go.
282
00:19:45,771 --> 00:19:47,295
She was leaving?
283
00:19:47,373 --> 00:19:50,672
I suppose love
no longer could soften...
284
00:19:50,743 --> 00:19:52,802
the back of his hand.
285
00:19:54,780 --> 00:19:58,910
- She loved him?
- Not at first.
286
00:19:58,984 --> 00:20:01,646
But he took her
when she was 14.
287
00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,746
It's funny how the mind...
288
00:20:04,824 --> 00:20:08,225
can turn things around
and make it seem right.
289
00:20:08,294 --> 00:20:10,228
Wait a minute.
290
00:20:10,296 --> 00:20:13,663
He beat and raped her,
and she thought it was love?
291
00:20:13,732 --> 00:20:15,723
It was love.
292
00:20:17,469 --> 00:20:21,371
Least ways, the only kind Lila
ever knew from a man.
293
00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:26,173
Myrtle, this is important.
Did Houston beat Lila
the night that she shot him?
294
00:20:26,245 --> 00:20:30,011
- Now, I don't know. I wasn't in the room.
- Did you hear him beat her?
295
00:20:30,082 --> 00:20:34,678
All I heard was a lot of yelling
a-and things breaking,
296
00:20:34,753 --> 00:20:39,452
and all of a sudden
that gunshot went off,
and Lila screamed.
297
00:20:39,525 --> 00:20:42,926
And then Lila opened the door,
298
00:20:42,995 --> 00:20:46,021
and there was Houston.
299
00:20:46,098 --> 00:20:49,033
He was laying on Miss Sadie's...
300
00:20:49,101 --> 00:20:52,229
imported rug...
301
00:20:53,239 --> 00:20:55,230
with no face.
302
00:20:55,307 --> 00:20:57,298
Oh, my God.
303
00:20:59,245 --> 00:21:01,736
He had no face!
304
00:21:17,997 --> 00:21:19,988
Your telling me this...
305
00:21:20,065 --> 00:21:24,126
it means that Lila shot Houston
in self-defense or by accident,
306
00:21:24,203 --> 00:21:26,137
but without premeditation.
307
00:21:26,205 --> 00:21:30,574
When a jury hears that,
there's no way they can send her
to the electric chair.
308
00:21:30,643 --> 00:21:34,135
I can't be no witness.
309
00:21:34,213 --> 00:21:36,204
What?
310
00:21:37,349 --> 00:21:39,681
I can't swear on no Bible!
311
00:21:39,752 --> 00:21:42,346
Who are you afraid of,
the captain?
312
00:21:42,421 --> 00:21:44,981
I'm not afraid of any man,
313
00:21:45,057 --> 00:21:47,753
white nor colored.
314
00:21:47,826 --> 00:21:50,488
Then why won't you testify?
Lila's life depends on it.
315
00:21:50,562 --> 00:21:53,554
I can't be no witness.
316
00:21:55,935 --> 00:21:57,926
Myrtle.
317
00:22:00,339 --> 00:22:03,035
All rise.
318
00:22:03,108 --> 00:22:05,338
Twelve Oaks Parish Court
is now in session.
319
00:22:05,411 --> 00:22:08,073
I know what happened
between you and Houston.
320
00:22:08,147 --> 00:22:10,308
Be seated.
321
00:22:14,954 --> 00:22:18,515
Myrtle told me.
He was beating you that night,
wasn't he?
322
00:22:20,192 --> 00:22:23,218
Lila, I can't help you
if you don't help yourself.
323
00:22:23,295 --> 00:22:27,231
- Is the prosecution ready?
- We are, Your Honor.
324
00:22:27,299 --> 00:22:29,597
Leonard?
325
00:22:39,111 --> 00:22:41,602
Oh, God. Help me.
326
00:22:49,889 --> 00:22:53,620
Leonard,
is the defense ready?
327
00:22:53,693 --> 00:22:56,491
No.
328
00:22:58,998 --> 00:23:02,729
- No?
- I can't go on.
329
00:23:03,803 --> 00:23:06,772
- Yes, you can, Sam.
- Al!
330
00:23:06,839 --> 00:23:11,799
- Al?
- Ask if you can approach the bench.
331
00:23:11,878 --> 00:23:14,176
I'd like to approach the bench.
Your Honor.
332
00:23:15,581 --> 00:23:17,913
Both counsels
may approach the bench.
333
00:23:24,924 --> 00:23:27,859
Now, ask Your, uh,
Your Worship here...
334
00:23:27,927 --> 00:23:30,555
if you can have a few minutes
alone in his chambers.
335
00:23:30,630 --> 00:23:33,121
Your Worship...
Uh, Your Honor,
336
00:23:33,199 --> 00:23:35,793
I'd like to use your chambers
for a few minutes.
337
00:23:35,868 --> 00:23:39,634
We can talk here, Leonard.
Oh, no. I mean alone.
338
00:23:39,705 --> 00:23:42,105
Alone?
Well...
339
00:23:42,175 --> 00:23:45,167
Tell him your fly's open.
My fly's open?
My fly's open.
340
00:23:45,244 --> 00:23:49,237
Your zipper's stuck.
My zipper's stuck, and I need
a few minutes in private to fix it.
341
00:23:49,315 --> 00:23:52,216
I object!
342
00:23:52,285 --> 00:23:56,346
You can't expect
a man to plead a case
with his fly open, Bo.
343
00:23:58,157 --> 00:24:00,648
You have three minutes,
Leonard.
344
00:24:00,726 --> 00:24:03,024
I trust it'll be enough.
345
00:24:03,095 --> 00:24:05,928
Oh, yes.
Thank you, Your Honor.
346
00:24:05,998 --> 00:24:07,989
Your Honor.
347
00:24:26,686 --> 00:24:29,621
Boy, am I glad to see you.
348
00:24:29,689 --> 00:24:31,680
Thought you might be.
349
00:24:31,757 --> 00:24:33,748
Al.
350
00:24:35,328 --> 00:24:37,592
Am I a lawyer?
Was I a lawyer?
351
00:24:37,663 --> 00:24:41,394
No. Not one of your six degrees
was in the law.
352
00:24:41,467 --> 00:24:43,526
But don't worry, Sam.
353
00:24:43,603 --> 00:24:47,835
Ziggy and I have got
the entire history of law
right here under my fingertips.
354
00:24:47,907 --> 00:24:52,742
This is not a computer game!
Lila's life is on the line,
and... it's my fault.
355
00:24:55,047 --> 00:24:59,541
Oh. I thought so too,
but then I remembered
what you said about her eyes.
356
00:25:01,153 --> 00:25:03,212
'Bout losing myself in them?
357
00:25:03,289 --> 00:25:05,985
Well, no.
Me, maybe. You, never.
358
00:25:06,058 --> 00:25:08,049
But you saw the truth there.
359
00:25:08,127 --> 00:25:12,029
That's probably why
you got this job.
360
00:25:12,098 --> 00:25:15,761
Uh, yeah.
Uh, I'll be right out.
361
00:25:17,069 --> 00:25:19,697
So... you really think
we can save her?
362
00:25:19,772 --> 00:25:21,797
Of course we can save her.
363
00:25:21,874 --> 00:25:25,037
Ziggy and I have researched
a dozen similar cases to this,
364
00:25:25,111 --> 00:25:28,137
and we're gonna mount
a hell of a defense,
starting with the jury.
365
00:25:28,214 --> 00:25:30,148
Okay.
366
00:25:31,217 --> 00:25:33,151
The jury?
367
00:25:33,219 --> 00:25:36,188
What is wrong with the jury?
368
00:25:36,255 --> 00:25:39,383
None of them are black.
You mean Negro?
369
00:25:39,458 --> 00:25:41,585
Uh, yes, sir.
370
00:25:41,661 --> 00:25:43,720
And since my client...
371
00:25:43,796 --> 00:25:47,562
is... a Negro,
372
00:25:47,633 --> 00:25:51,262
it only seems fair
that there be Negroes
on the jury.
373
00:25:51,337 --> 00:25:53,271
I object.
374
00:25:53,339 --> 00:25:58,106
There's never been a Negro
impaneled on a jury in Louisiana.
375
00:25:58,177 --> 00:25:59,906
Overruled.
376
00:25:59,979 --> 00:26:02,243
I told you so, Sam.
377
00:26:02,315 --> 00:26:06,684
- Leonard, there's only one problem.
- Uh-oh.
378
00:26:06,752 --> 00:26:11,451
In order to serve on a jury,
you have to be a registered voter.
379
00:26:11,524 --> 00:26:15,119
And since there aren't
any Negroes...
380
00:26:15,194 --> 00:26:18,322
registered in this parish,
381
00:26:18,397 --> 00:26:21,764
I just don't see how you're
gonna put one on thatjury.
382
00:26:24,604 --> 00:26:27,664
Well,
383
00:26:27,740 --> 00:26:30,231
that being the case,
Your Honor,
384
00:26:32,745 --> 00:26:37,239
since the law requires
a trial by jury of one's peers,
385
00:26:37,316 --> 00:26:39,944
we have no choice but to...
386
00:26:40,019 --> 00:26:43,045
reluctantly accept
these white jurors...
387
00:26:43,122 --> 00:26:45,113
as Lila's equals.
388
00:26:45,191 --> 00:26:47,318
What? Equals?
389
00:26:54,300 --> 00:26:57,463
Sam, that was beautiful!
390
00:26:57,536 --> 00:27:01,870
The pellets entered the back
of Houston's head about, uh, here.
391
00:27:01,941 --> 00:27:06,002
The entry wound was approximately
three inches in diameter.
392
00:27:06,078 --> 00:27:08,410
And the exit wound?
Blew his face off.
393
00:27:10,783 --> 00:27:14,378
Bo's case was coming together
like a carefully orchestrated play.
394
00:27:14,453 --> 00:27:18,116
Everyone was telling the same story,
using the same words.
395
00:27:18,190 --> 00:27:21,159
Trouble is, not much of the story
resembled Myrtle's.
396
00:27:21,227 --> 00:27:24,060
It was as if they had seen
the same play...
397
00:27:24,130 --> 00:27:26,223
put on by a different director.
398
00:27:26,298 --> 00:27:28,789
After a while, when I touched
his shoulder...
399
00:27:28,868 --> 00:27:30,859
Is that the confession?
400
00:27:30,936 --> 00:27:34,099
Mmm, yes, sir.
I recognize that signature.
401
00:27:34,173 --> 00:27:37,540
And, uh, if you'll notice,
the letter "R" is crooked.
402
00:27:37,610 --> 00:27:41,011
I can't get the town council
to authorize fixin' that typewriter.
403
00:27:41,080 --> 00:27:43,878
That's tellin' 'em, Sheriff.
404
00:27:43,949 --> 00:27:47,749
Your Honor, I'd like to have this
entered into the record...
405
00:27:47,820 --> 00:27:51,449
as Exhibit "B"
for the prosecution...
406
00:27:51,524 --> 00:27:53,754
and read into the record.
407
00:27:53,826 --> 00:27:56,761
Object. Object! Object!
Uh, I object.
408
00:27:56,829 --> 00:28:00,356
On what grounds?
It was obtained under duress.
409
00:28:00,433 --> 00:28:03,231
Miss Berry
signed that confession
under duress.
410
00:28:03,302 --> 00:28:07,398
- Is that true, Lila?
- He can't ask her anything
until she's placed...
411
00:28:07,473 --> 00:28:09,464
- Under oath.
- What?
412
00:28:09,542 --> 00:28:13,444
Uh, Your Honor,
my client can't be questioned
unless she's under oath.
413
00:28:13,512 --> 00:28:15,639
Well, then swear her in.
414
00:28:15,715 --> 00:28:18,548
I ain't swearin' on no Bible.
415
00:28:18,617 --> 00:28:20,551
Lila, you have to.
416
00:28:20,619 --> 00:28:23,952
I ain't takin' no oath,
and I ain't gettin' on
no witness stand.
417
00:28:27,727 --> 00:28:31,720
Sam, at least have her read it
and make sure that it's her words
and her signature.
418
00:28:31,797 --> 00:28:35,631
Your Honor, I think we
can settle this without having
Miss Berry take the stand,
419
00:28:35,701 --> 00:28:37,692
uh, if we could see the confession.
420
00:28:37,770 --> 00:28:40,000
Alleged!
Alleged confession.
421
00:28:40,072 --> 00:28:43,166
Give it to him, Bo.
422
00:28:43,242 --> 00:28:45,710
Yes, sir, Your Honor.
423
00:28:50,015 --> 00:28:52,506
Is this your confession?
424
00:28:52,585 --> 00:28:55,213
Looks like it.
425
00:28:55,287 --> 00:28:58,279
Well... just read it to be sure.
426
00:29:00,993 --> 00:29:02,927
I can't.
427
00:29:02,995 --> 00:29:06,158
What do you mean,
you can't?
428
00:29:06,232 --> 00:29:08,223
I can't read.
429
00:29:13,806 --> 00:29:16,570
We were great, Sam!
We knocked their socks off.
430
00:29:16,642 --> 00:29:19,440
We did nothing.
Nothing?
What do you mean, nothing?
431
00:29:19,512 --> 00:29:22,675
We got the judge to delay
his ruling on the confession...
432
00:29:22,748 --> 00:29:24,739
until after lunch.
433
00:29:24,817 --> 00:29:28,548
If Lila doesn't get on the stand
and deny it, Bo's gonna read it
into the record.
434
00:29:28,621 --> 00:29:31,988
Leonard!
I have honey-coated chicken...
435
00:29:32,057 --> 00:29:36,050
and your favorite
potato salad!
436
00:29:36,128 --> 00:29:40,155
I have never been so mortified
in my entire life!
437
00:29:40,232 --> 00:29:42,462
If Papa were alive, he'd die.
438
00:29:42,535 --> 00:29:46,130
How could you say
that colored whore
was equal to a white person?
439
00:29:46,205 --> 00:29:49,197
Her name is Lila
or Miss Berry,
440
00:29:49,275 --> 00:29:52,438
and you will refer to her as that
in my presence,
441
00:29:52,511 --> 00:29:55,139
and even if you're not
in my presence.
442
00:29:55,214 --> 00:29:58,672
Leonard Dancey,
have you taken leave
of your senses?
443
00:29:58,751 --> 00:30:01,379
Why, I'm not saying anything
that you haven't said.
444
00:30:03,823 --> 00:30:06,656
Well, I was wrong.
445
00:30:09,361 --> 00:30:12,228
What are you doing?
Taking Lila some lunch.
446
00:30:12,298 --> 00:30:14,562
You are going to give
that colored...
447
00:30:16,135 --> 00:30:18,695
colored girl my chicken?
448
00:30:18,771 --> 00:30:22,764
- If she'll have it.
- Well, well, well, Miss Sugee.
449
00:30:22,842 --> 00:30:25,402
Oh!
Look at you.
450
00:30:25,477 --> 00:30:28,640
I swear, Leonard,
your little lady is like
the fruit in the tree.
451
00:30:28,714 --> 00:30:33,708
She just gets sweeter with time.
Oh, Captain Cotter,
you are such a flirt!
452
00:30:33,786 --> 00:30:37,779
That was quite a show
you put on there, Leonard.
453
00:30:37,857 --> 00:30:39,791
Mmm!
Mmm.
454
00:30:39,859 --> 00:30:41,793
I was very impressed.
455
00:30:41,861 --> 00:30:44,523
Shame to see talent like that
leave Twelve Oaks.
456
00:30:44,597 --> 00:30:47,430
Oh, well, we aren't
goin' anywhere, Captain.
457
00:30:47,499 --> 00:30:51,435
Oh! Why, I didn't realize
you all had enough money to retire.
458
00:30:51,503 --> 00:30:54,438
Why don't you
get to the point, Captain?
Leonard.
459
00:30:54,506 --> 00:30:56,701
All right, Leonard, I will.
460
00:30:56,775 --> 00:31:01,007
Now, most of the legal work
done in this parish is done
for me or for my associates.
461
00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:05,016
Now, if you persist
in pursuing this course of action,
462
00:31:05,084 --> 00:31:09,453
the only legal work
you gonna do, son,
is gonna be pro bono.
463
00:31:12,758 --> 00:31:15,955
That means for free, Sugee.
Mmm, my, my.
464
00:31:22,034 --> 00:31:25,265
He threatened you.
Leonard,
what are you going to do?
465
00:31:27,039 --> 00:31:29,030
Take Lila her lunch.
466
00:31:37,082 --> 00:31:40,279
Now I know
how the Christians felt.
467
00:31:41,287 --> 00:31:44,779
No one's gonna throw you
to the lions.
468
00:31:50,596 --> 00:31:52,587
Myrtle tells me that, uh...
469
00:31:54,733 --> 00:31:58,032
Houston raped you
when you were 14.
470
00:31:58,103 --> 00:32:00,037
Myrtle talks too much.
471
00:32:00,105 --> 00:32:02,096
Did he rape you?
472
00:32:04,043 --> 00:32:07,342
Some would say so.
Some not.
473
00:32:07,413 --> 00:32:09,711
What would you say?
474
00:32:11,083 --> 00:32:13,017
Me and my mama...
475
00:32:13,085 --> 00:32:15,679
buried seven brothers and sisters
in that bayou...
476
00:32:15,754 --> 00:32:18,655
that Miss Sadie took me out of.
477
00:32:18,724 --> 00:32:22,251
I wasn't givin'no one
no reason to send me back.
478
00:32:23,495 --> 00:32:25,429
So I let him.
479
00:32:25,497 --> 00:32:27,488
Is that rape?
480
00:32:27,566 --> 00:32:29,500
Yes.
481
00:32:29,568 --> 00:32:33,004
Well, if it was,
it was only that first time.
482
00:32:33,072 --> 00:32:35,199
After that,
483
00:32:35,274 --> 00:32:37,674
Houston was in love with me.
484
00:32:37,743 --> 00:32:40,541
That doesn't make
what he did to you right.
485
00:32:40,612 --> 00:32:44,241
There ain't a whole lot in this world
that is right, Leonard.
486
00:32:48,854 --> 00:32:51,186
Looks like the picnic's over.
487
00:32:53,158 --> 00:32:55,149
Lila,
488
00:32:56,895 --> 00:32:58,829
you have got to deny
this confession.
489
00:32:58,897 --> 00:33:02,128
I ain't gettin' on no witness stand.
It's gonna send you
to the electric chair!
490
00:33:02,201 --> 00:33:04,260
Do you understand what it says?
491
00:33:04,336 --> 00:33:08,033
That Houston put up
with your sexual advances
until they became intolerable to him,
492
00:33:08,107 --> 00:33:11,338
that he fired you, and because of that
you waited for him that night
in the parlor with a shotgun,
493
00:33:11,410 --> 00:33:14,345
and although he begged you
in the name ofJesus not to shoot him...
494
00:33:14,413 --> 00:33:17,871
In the name ofJesus?
How can they say he did that?
495
00:33:17,950 --> 00:33:20,783
They can say it
because you won't defend yourself.
496
00:33:21,820 --> 00:33:23,811
But it's a lie.
497
00:33:26,425 --> 00:33:28,359
It's a lie.
498
00:33:28,427 --> 00:33:30,361
It's all a lie, isn't it?
499
00:33:30,429 --> 00:33:33,364
Isn't it?
This whole damn confession
is a lie, isn't it?
500
00:33:33,432 --> 00:33:35,832
Isn't it?
501
00:33:35,901 --> 00:33:38,369
Yes.
502
00:33:38,437 --> 00:33:40,371
Yes.
503
00:33:41,607 --> 00:33:43,598
Yes!
504
00:33:47,513 --> 00:33:50,038
Oh, God!
505
00:33:51,850 --> 00:33:54,375
Oh, Leonard!
506
00:34:03,695 --> 00:34:05,629
Leonard,
507
00:34:05,697 --> 00:34:07,631
does your client
have anything to say...
508
00:34:07,699 --> 00:34:11,135
before I rule
on the admissibility
of her confession?
509
00:34:11,203 --> 00:34:13,501
Yes, uh, Your Honor,
she does.
510
00:34:14,706 --> 00:34:16,640
Lila, let's take the stand.
511
00:34:16,708 --> 00:34:18,699
No.
512
00:34:20,312 --> 00:34:23,247
You told me that confession's a lie.
You have to tell them.
513
00:34:23,315 --> 00:34:25,977
I ain't testifyin'.
Lila, we...
514
00:34:26,051 --> 00:34:27,985
I ain't testifyin', Your Honor.
515
00:34:28,053 --> 00:34:29,987
Very well.
516
00:34:30,055 --> 00:34:31,852
I rule...
517
00:34:31,924 --> 00:34:35,917
that the confession of Delilah Berry
be accepted as admissible.
518
00:34:35,994 --> 00:34:38,189
You may read it to the jury, Bo.
519
00:34:38,263 --> 00:34:40,197
Thank you, Your Honor.
520
00:34:48,774 --> 00:34:51,299
"I, Delilah Berry, swear...
521
00:34:51,376 --> 00:34:56,040
"that the following
is a true and valid confession.
522
00:34:56,115 --> 00:35:00,814
"On the night
of the 15th ofJune, 1957,
523
00:35:00,886 --> 00:35:03,218
"I did willfully...
524
00:35:03,288 --> 00:35:05,449
"and with premeditation...
525
00:35:05,524 --> 00:35:07,458
"murder...
526
00:35:07,526 --> 00:35:10,518
Houston Palmer Cotter. "
527
00:35:35,420 --> 00:35:37,411
Looking for inspiration?
528
00:35:40,792 --> 00:35:44,284
Why do you have to
take an oath on a Bible
before testifying?
529
00:35:45,564 --> 00:35:47,498
So you tell the truth.
Uh-huh.
530
00:35:47,566 --> 00:35:50,000
Lot of good it does
with some people today.
531
00:35:50,068 --> 00:35:53,435
Unless you're
a God-fearing person like Lila.
532
00:35:53,505 --> 00:35:59,102
If she swore to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth,
so help me God, she would.
533
00:35:59,178 --> 00:36:02,113
Yes, she would,
even if it incriminated her.
534
00:36:02,181 --> 00:36:06,379
No, no. See, not her, Al.
Someone else.
535
00:36:06,451 --> 00:36:09,716
Someone more important to her
than her own life.
536
00:36:09,788 --> 00:36:11,779
Mr. Dancey?
537
00:36:12,858 --> 00:36:15,349
I'm sorry to disturb your prayin'.
538
00:36:18,964 --> 00:36:21,899
I was praying
for some way to help Lila.
539
00:36:21,967 --> 00:36:23,901
Oh, you can save her?
540
00:36:23,969 --> 00:36:25,903
I need your help,
Myrtle.
541
00:36:25,971 --> 00:36:28,405
I told you.
I can't be no witness!
542
00:36:28,473 --> 00:36:31,408
You told me you were afraid
of no man, colored or white.
543
00:36:31,476 --> 00:36:34,411
He made me swear...
swear on the Bible...
544
00:36:34,479 --> 00:36:37,414
that if I told a soul
what happened,
545
00:36:37,482 --> 00:36:39,473
I would go to hell.
546
00:36:40,686 --> 00:36:43,154
The captain?
547
00:36:43,222 --> 00:36:45,156
Sam. Galatians.
548
00:36:45,224 --> 00:36:48,057
Galatians?
Yeah.
It's at the back.
549
00:36:48,126 --> 00:36:50,720
Chapter five,
550
00:36:50,796 --> 00:36:53,492
verses... seven through ten.
551
00:36:53,565 --> 00:36:55,556
Read it to her.
552
00:36:56,635 --> 00:36:59,570
"Who hindered you
from following the truth,
553
00:36:59,638 --> 00:37:01,572
"whatever persuasion he used,
554
00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:03,608
it did not come from God."
555
00:37:03,675 --> 00:37:06,007
Read the next part.
556
00:37:07,446 --> 00:37:10,381
"I am confident you will not
take the wrong view,
557
00:37:10,449 --> 00:37:14,249
"but the man
who is unsettling your mind,
whoever he may be,
558
00:37:14,319 --> 00:37:16,310
must bear God's judgment."
559
00:37:29,701 --> 00:37:31,669
Lila, where's Leonard?
560
00:37:31,737 --> 00:37:34,069
I don't know, Judge.
561
00:37:35,073 --> 00:37:37,940
Your Honor,
562
00:37:39,144 --> 00:37:43,808
this is obviously an attempt
on the part of the defense
to delay the inevitable.
563
00:37:43,882 --> 00:37:46,316
Oh, I don't know about that, Bo.
564
00:37:46,385 --> 00:37:50,651
But whatever it is,
this court has no intention
of postponing this trial.
565
00:37:52,324 --> 00:37:54,622
Lila, since your counsel...
566
00:37:54,693 --> 00:37:57,890
seems unwilling
to appear on your behalf...
567
00:37:57,963 --> 00:38:00,864
I'm here, Your Honor.
568
00:38:02,367 --> 00:38:05,097
My apologies to the court
for being late.
569
00:38:05,170 --> 00:38:07,104
I don't abide tardiness.
570
00:38:07,172 --> 00:38:09,697
No, sir... Uh, no, Your Honor.
It won't happen again.
571
00:38:09,775 --> 00:38:11,709
I was afraid
you weren't comin'.
572
00:38:11,777 --> 00:38:13,711
Thought I gave up on you,
did ya?
573
00:38:13,779 --> 00:38:16,839
This court
is now in session.
574
00:38:16,915 --> 00:38:21,113
Now that you've graciously
decided to join us, Leonard,
575
00:38:21,186 --> 00:38:23,677
would you please call
your first witness.
576
00:38:26,558 --> 00:38:28,492
Yes, Your Honor.
577
00:38:28,560 --> 00:38:31,495
The defense would like to call
to the stand Mrs. Sadie Cotter.
578
00:38:31,563 --> 00:38:33,895
No!
579
00:38:33,965 --> 00:38:36,229
Leonard, you have
gone too damn far!
580
00:38:36,301 --> 00:38:38,326
Order. Order in the court.
581
00:38:38,403 --> 00:38:43,204
Leonard, I have no intention
of allowing you to call
a grieving mother to the stand.
582
00:38:43,275 --> 00:38:46,711
I had a feeling you might say
something like that, Your Honor.
583
00:38:46,778 --> 00:38:50,805
So I went to Baton Rouge
to obtain a subpoena
and a federal marshal.
584
00:38:50,882 --> 00:38:54,716
Eugene, now you
put a stop to this! Now!
585
00:38:56,521 --> 00:38:59,581
Well, this is
a federal subpoena, Captain.
586
00:38:59,658 --> 00:39:01,592
I don't care if it came from God.
587
00:39:01,660 --> 00:39:04,595
I will not have Sadie
subjected to any more pain!
588
00:39:04,663 --> 00:39:07,962
For heaven's sake, Colbert!
What are you shoutin'about?
589
00:39:08,033 --> 00:39:10,297
Sadie.
590
00:39:12,070 --> 00:39:14,163
You shouldn't be here.
591
00:39:14,239 --> 00:39:16,867
Oh, but Lila needs my help.
592
00:39:16,942 --> 00:39:19,376
But you're not well, honey.
593
00:39:19,444 --> 00:39:22,777
I'm as fit as any woman
has a right to be.
594
00:39:25,951 --> 00:39:27,942
Thank you, Leonard.
595
00:39:41,199 --> 00:39:45,158
You sure
you wanna do this, Sadie?
I want to help Lila.
596
00:39:45,237 --> 00:39:48,297
Don't do this to her.
She's not well.
597
00:39:48,373 --> 00:39:50,671
You shot him in self-defense,
didn't you?
598
00:39:50,742 --> 00:39:53,233
It was an accident.
599
00:39:53,311 --> 00:39:55,245
The gun went off by accident.
600
00:39:55,313 --> 00:39:59,181
But Mrs. Cotter was there, wasn't she?
She saw Houston beating you.
601
00:39:59,251 --> 00:40:01,583
She saw it happen.
Yes.
602
00:40:01,653 --> 00:40:04,417
Now will you take her
off the stand?
603
00:40:04,489 --> 00:40:06,423
Please raise your right hand.
604
00:40:06,491 --> 00:40:08,425
I can't, Lila.
605
00:40:08,493 --> 00:40:11,621
After the jury heard your confession,
there's no way they're gonna believe you.
606
00:40:11,696 --> 00:40:13,755
Sadie Cotter.
607
00:40:14,866 --> 00:40:16,959
But they'll believe her.
608
00:40:20,939 --> 00:40:23,635
Leonard?
Your witness.
609
00:40:29,381 --> 00:40:31,315
Mrs. Cotter.
610
00:40:31,383 --> 00:40:34,784
Leonard.
You look a mite haggard.
611
00:40:34,853 --> 00:40:37,253
Yes, ma'am.
612
00:40:38,457 --> 00:40:41,824
I know this isn't easy for you.
613
00:40:41,893 --> 00:40:46,455
No one wants to air
their family laundry in public, but...
614
00:40:46,531 --> 00:40:48,863
if it will help Lila...
615
00:40:48,934 --> 00:40:50,959
You, um...
You care about Lila?
616
00:40:51,036 --> 00:40:53,971
Oh, my, yes.
She's a sweet child.
617
00:40:54,039 --> 00:40:56,872
I know what they say about her,
618
00:40:56,942 --> 00:40:59,740
but those that don't know the truth
shouldn't talk.
619
00:40:59,811 --> 00:41:02,803
That's why I subpoenaed you, Mrs. Cotter...
to hear the truth.
620
00:41:02,881 --> 00:41:04,849
I don't know how to speak
any other way.
621
00:41:04,916 --> 00:41:06,816
Mrs. Cotter,
622
00:41:07,819 --> 00:41:10,413
did your son, Houston,
beat Lila?
623
00:41:10,489 --> 00:41:13,856
I object! Houston's not
on trial here, Your Honor. Lila is.
624
00:41:13,925 --> 00:41:17,884
Now, hush up, Bo.
The milk is spilt.
Let's just get it over with.
625
00:41:18,964 --> 00:41:20,659
Overruled.
626
00:41:22,501 --> 00:41:24,867
Sometimes,
if you love someone...
627
00:41:24,936 --> 00:41:26,870
and you don't wanna love 'em,
628
00:41:26,938 --> 00:41:28,997
you get to hatin' 'em.
629
00:41:29,074 --> 00:41:31,008
Well, Houston loved Lila so much...
630
00:41:31,076 --> 00:41:33,340
he wanted to marry her.
631
00:41:33,411 --> 00:41:36,039
But her bein'colored,
of course, he couldn't.
632
00:41:39,951 --> 00:41:42,010
Did Houston beat Lila?
633
00:41:43,121 --> 00:41:45,112
Yes.
634
00:41:46,458 --> 00:41:49,393
Although he never dared
strike her in front of me...
635
00:41:49,461 --> 00:41:51,759
until that night.
636
00:41:58,603 --> 00:42:01,595
Tell us about that night,
Mrs. Cotter.
637
00:42:05,410 --> 00:42:07,970
It was my fault.
638
00:42:08,046 --> 00:42:13,279
I gave Lila the money
so she could get away, start a new life.
639
00:42:14,386 --> 00:42:17,321
She and I were dawdlin'
over our good-byes...
640
00:42:17,389 --> 00:42:19,584
when Houston came home
from huntin'.
641
00:42:21,459 --> 00:42:23,654
He saw that valise in her hand,
642
00:42:23,728 --> 00:42:26,219
and he threw it
clean across the room.
643
00:42:27,232 --> 00:42:30,497
Broke that big Chinese vase
the captain brought back from England.
644
00:42:32,704 --> 00:42:35,696
That's when Lila slapped him.
645
00:42:36,908 --> 00:42:39,672
Oh, Houston went wild.
646
00:42:39,744 --> 00:42:43,111
He hit her so hard,
she fell into the chifforobe.
647
00:42:44,115 --> 00:42:47,482
I tried to stop him,
but he pushed me away.
648
00:42:48,553 --> 00:42:50,748
Just kept hittin'her
over and over.
649
00:42:50,822 --> 00:42:54,815
I begged for him to stop
before he killed her,
650
00:42:56,227 --> 00:42:58,218
but he wouldn't.
651
00:43:00,999 --> 00:43:03,934
That's when I picked up
the shotgun.
652
00:43:04,002 --> 00:43:07,165
It was an accident!
653
00:43:07,238 --> 00:43:09,172
Order! Order!
654
00:43:09,240 --> 00:43:12,676
It was so loud, made my ears ring.
655
00:43:12,744 --> 00:43:15,941
And then Lila started screamin'.
656
00:43:16,014 --> 00:43:18,778
Lord, child, can you scream.
657
00:43:18,850 --> 00:43:21,216
It was an accident.
658
00:43:21,286 --> 00:43:23,777
She was tryin'
to save my life.
659
00:43:23,855 --> 00:43:27,951
All she was tryin' to do
was save my life.
660
00:43:28,026 --> 00:43:30,153
So you see, Eugene,
661
00:43:30,228 --> 00:43:33,823
Lila didn't steal the money...
I gave it to her.
662
00:43:33,898 --> 00:43:37,834
And I'll see that Houston
tells you the truth of that,
663
00:43:37,902 --> 00:43:40,837
soon as he comes home
from huntin'.
664
00:44:16,941 --> 00:44:19,205
Hello.
Mr. Dancey.
665
00:44:19,277 --> 00:44:22,576
What you doin' out here?
I came by to see you off.
666
00:44:22,647 --> 00:44:25,548
You don't have to worry about me.
Not anymore.
667
00:44:26,918 --> 00:44:28,886
Well, I've kinda gotten used to it.
668
00:44:28,953 --> 00:44:30,887
Where you goin'?
669
00:44:30,955 --> 00:44:33,719
Wherever a hundred dollars
will take me.
670
00:44:33,792 --> 00:44:37,694
I heard you got a story and your picture
in the Baton Rouge paper.
671
00:44:37,762 --> 00:44:40,856
Yeah, and an offer
from a very big law firm there.
672
00:44:40,932 --> 00:44:43,332
Well, what does Miss Sugee
think of that?
673
00:44:43,401 --> 00:44:46,837
Well, a country club membership
comes along with the job.
674
00:44:46,905 --> 00:44:49,305
She would take to that.
675
00:44:50,542 --> 00:44:52,476
Lila...
676
00:44:52,544 --> 00:44:54,478
what are you going to do?
677
00:44:54,546 --> 00:44:57,310
It doesn't matter.
678
00:44:57,882 --> 00:44:59,773
I'm free.
679
00:45:00,585 --> 00:45:02,644
Miss Sadie saved my life.
680
00:45:02,920 --> 00:45:04,911
Twice.
681
00:45:05,957 --> 00:45:08,152
I hope she never remembers
what happened.
682
00:45:09,794 --> 00:45:11,785
So do I.
683
00:45:13,164 --> 00:45:15,098
Well...
684
00:45:15,166 --> 00:45:18,101
Oh, I intend to send you some money
as soon as I get a job.
685
00:45:18,169 --> 00:45:21,605
Now, it may not be much,
but I'll keep sendin' it
until you tell me it's enough.
686
00:45:21,673 --> 00:45:24,608
Although,
Lord knows, whatever it is
it'll never be enough.
687
00:45:24,676 --> 00:45:27,611
I don't want you
to send me anything.
But I gotta pay you.
688
00:45:27,679 --> 00:45:29,670
Just make me a promise.
689
00:45:29,748 --> 00:45:32,308
What is it?
It's a reader.
690
00:45:34,619 --> 00:45:37,679
If you want to pay me back,
learn how to read.
691
00:45:37,756 --> 00:45:41,954
Lila, if you can read,
you can do anything you want.
692
00:45:59,344 --> 00:46:01,335
Good-bye.
693
00:46:08,386 --> 00:46:10,547
Oh. Uh...
694
00:46:13,691 --> 00:46:16,182
- Promise?
- Promise.
695
00:46:16,261 --> 00:46:18,422
So help me God.
696
00:46:33,945 --> 00:46:35,845
One minute! Places!
697
00:46:35,914 --> 00:46:38,644
Stop screaming!
I am not screaming!
698
00:46:38,716 --> 00:46:41,412
He is on in 50 seconds!
699
00:46:41,486 --> 00:46:43,784
O-On? What...
700
00:46:43,855 --> 00:46:45,789
Forty-seven!
701
00:46:45,857 --> 00:46:49,293
Don't do this, Charlie!
We're not launching any rockets!
It's just a musical!
702
00:46:49,360 --> 00:46:51,294
Forty-eight!
703
00:46:51,362 --> 00:46:53,557
Break a leg, Ray!
704
00:46:54,632 --> 00:46:57,897
Four, three, two, one.
705
00:47:07,278 --> 00:47:09,610
Oh, boy.