"ray charles:" "?" "in the heat ?" "?" "of the night ?" "?" "seems like a cold sweat creepin' cross my brow ?" "?" "yeah ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "i'm feeling motherless ?" "?" "somehow ?" "?" "stars with evil eyes ?" "?" "stare from the skies ?" "?" "all mean and bright ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "ain't a woman yet before ?" "?" "knows how to make the mornin' come ?" "?" "it's so hard to keep control ?" "?" "when i had to sell my soul ?" "?" "for just a little light ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "i've got trouble wall-to-wall ?" "?" "whoa, yes, i have ?" "?" "i repeat ?" "?" "i repeat--in the night ?" "?" "must be an ending' ?" "?" "to it all ?" "?" "but hold on ?" "?" "it won't be long ?" "?" "just you be strong ?" "?" "and it'll be all right ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "[snap] [slurping]" "where you keeping the pie tonight?" "[fly buzzing] i ate the last piece just before you come in." "then what's that little old orphan sitting right up there?" "marble cake." "[slurping] tell you what, sam." "being she's in there by her little old lonesome, i'll let you have her for free." "i told you about that "sam" business, didn't i?" "i'm sorry, mr. wood." "i mean, uh, officer wood." "[door closes] [car starts]" "[country music playing]" "?" "?" "well, a bowlegged polly ?" "?" "and a knock-kneed paul ?" "?" "a bowlegged polly and a knock-kneed paul ?" "?" "a bowlegged polly and a knock-kneed paul ?" "?" "you can't get together at all ?" "?" "just like the worm in the cornfield ?" "?" "said to his brother ?" "?" "yeah, go in one ear and out the other ?" "?" "ba ba ba ba ba ba bow bow bow ?" "?" "bow ba bow ba bow ba bow ?" "?" "ba ba ba ba ba bow bow bow ?" "?" "bow ba bow ba bow ba bow ba bow ?" "?" "ba ba ba ba ba ba ba bow bow ?" "?" "well, a bucktoothed claire and a cross-eyed clyde ?" "?" "a bucktoothed claire ?" "?" "and a cross-eyed clyde ?" "?" "like old bowlegged polly and a knock-kneed paul ?" "[turns radio off] [crickets chirping]" "[dog barks]" "ohh." "?" "every time i see your face ?" "?" "it's got a way of turning me around ?" "?" "and what you do ?" "?" "you tune me in, pretty baby ?" "?" "wild things begin ?" "?" "baby, that ain't love ?" "?" "but it sure is groovy ?" "?" "yes, it sure is groovy ?" "?" "talkin' about groovy ?" "?" "you're out of sight, pretty baby ?" "?" "feels so right ?" "?" "baby, that ain't love ?" "?" "it sure is groovy ?" "?" "yes, it sure is groovy ?" "?" "and what you do ?" "?" "has got me, pretty baby ?" "?" "still, i'm afraid, baby, that ain't love ?" "?" "it sure is groovy ?" "man: it's colbert, all right." "skull is caved in here." "you ever take a homicide picture before, son?" "well, at least he won't be moving on us." "that's for sure." "i want you to cover every angle." "you hear me?" "every angle. get going." "you boys move on back now." "came all this way to build us a factory, make something out of this town." "look what it got him." "yeah." "sam." "yeah." "do you have a wallet, identification, anything like that?" "that's the first thing i looked for, chief, but whoever fixed him must have took it." "nothing, huh?" "any witnesses?" "i mean not even a cat." "how long has he been dead?" "less than an hour." "maybe half that." "maybe half." "could have been a hitchhiker." "you check both ends of town." "you check the depot, you check the pool hall." "pool hall closed at 1:00, chief." "i said check it, sam." "yes, sir." "[car door closes] [engine starts]" "on your feet, boy." "i mean now!" "up against that wall." "get them hands high!" "spread them fingers." "i want to count all 10." "now, you move before i tell you to, boy, by god, i'm gonna clean the plow." "that pretty fat there, ain't it, boy?" "huh?" "outside, there's a police car." "you're gonna pick up that bag, you're gonna walk out, you're gonna plant yourself in the back, and you're gonna be a real nice, quiet boy all the way in." "you hear?" "come on, boy." "move it!" "chief here?" "hey, what's up, sam?" "sam: chief." "what's going on?" "sam?" "[squeaking]" "[clunking and squeaking] [loud clunk] [noises stop]" "chief: ward." "yes, sir." "when's the last time i asked courtney to get oil for this damn thing?" "uh... last wednesday." "would you be kind enough to go outside and remind him what day it is today?" "well, how about the prisoner here?" "don't you worry about him." "got a name, boy?" "virgil tibbs." "virgil." "well, i don't think we're gonna have any trouble, are we, virgil?" "no trouble at all." "chief:" "oh, you can go now, sam." "yes, sir." "what did you hit him with?" "hit whom?" ""whom"?" ""whom"?" "are you a northern boy?" "what's a northern boy like you doing all the way down here?" "i was waiting for the train." "well, now, there ain't no trains this time of morning." "tuesdays only." "4:05 to memphis." "you say." "[train whistle blows] well, all right, you say right." "all right... virgil." "ohh." "now look." "i try to run a nice, clean, safe town here." "a town where a man can sneeze and not get his brains beat out." "you follow me?" "yes." "why don't you tell me how you killed mr. colbert, and i promise you you're gonna feel a whole lot better." "[knock on door] not now!" "i was visiting my mother." "i came in on the 12:35 from brownsville." "i was waiting to go out on the 4:05." "mm-hmm." "yeah." "and meanwhile, you just killed yourself a white man." "just about the most important white man we got around here and picked yourself up a couple hundred dollars." "i earn that money 10 hours a day, 7 days a week." "colored can't earn that kind of money, boy." "hell, that's more than i make in a month." "now where did you earn it?" "philadelphia." "mississippi?" "pennsylvania." "just what do you do up there in little old pennsylvania to earn that kind of money?" "i'm a police officer." "[sighs]" "oh, yeah?" "wood!" "wood: yes, sir!" "[door opens] did you question this man before you brought him in?" "no, sir." "would you mind taking a look at that?" "yeah!" "oh, yeah!" "all right." "i'll check on this wily city boy from philadelphia." "you take him outside and hold him." "yes, sir." "may i suggest that you call my chief rather than send a wire or anything." "i mean it would be quicker, and i'll pay for the call." "you hear him?" "you hear him say he'd pay for the call?" "how much do they pay you to do their police work?" "$162.39 per week." "[whistles]" "$162.39 a week?" "well, boy!" "you take him outside, wood, but treat him easy, because a man that makes $162.39 a week-- man, we do not want to ruffle him." "no, sir." "courtney." "would you try and get me long distance?" "courtney:" "police business, honey." "chief's on the line." "no, sirree, boy." "he catch you listening in, and he'll run your butt around the block." "he don't panic me none." "yeah?" "where's the chief?" "ah, charlie, you got the pictures of the dead man there?" "sure do." "i got him top, bottom, sideways. you name it." "good." "i'll take them, son." "well, i want to give them to the chief." "i said i'd take 'em, charlie." "do like he tells you, charlie." "charlie: well, somebody owes me some money for those." "i had to buy paper and film and developing." "well, that's all right, charlie." "just bill the department." "everything will be taken care of." "my, my." "sure looks bad." "may i see the man i'm supposed to have killed?" "sure. i don't know why not." "[whispering] hey, sam." "he's finished talking." "here's the photos of the dead man, chief." "ok." "got your chief on the phone." "he wants to talk to you." "hello." "yes, sir." "i'm sorry to have gotten you involved in this." "i really had no choice." "mmm, yes." "well, you can't be serious, sir." "i mean, even if i could be of some help, they wouldn't want it." "no, sir, i'm not prejudiced." "yes, sir, i'm a police officer, and they are police officers, but" "hello." "this is gillespie." "yes, sir." "yes, well-- you don't say." "he's your number one homicide expert." "well, my, my, my." "i don't think we need any help, though." "i think we can wrap this thing up ourselves." "yes, sir, but i do want to thank you for offering me such a powerful piece of manpower as virgil tibbs." "yes, sir. thank you." "yeah. good-bye now." "oh, it's all there." "we paid for the phone call ourselves." "well, now, you are their number one homicide expert?" "that's right." "boy, i bet you get to look at a lot of dead bodies, don't you?" "lots." "well?" "well, what?" "well, no, i just thought maybe, uh... maybe you wouldn't mind taking a look at this one." "no, thanks." "well, why not, expert?" "because i've got a train to catch." "wait a minute." "that train don't leave till 12:00 noon." "look, they pay you $162.39 a week to look at bodies!" "why can't you look at this one?" "why can't you look at it for yourself?" "because i'm not an expert... officer." "10 cents, $10 million." "just doesn't matter when a man's time comes." "mm-hmm." "you know, i could give him a nicer service right here in sparta than he could ever get out there in chicago, and at half the price, too." "i got a rosewood casket out there." "[door opens] ted ulam, chief." "we haven't had the pleasure." "that's for sure." "he's with me." "hello, doc." "yup." "well... uh... you want to look at it?" "new manicure." "that's good." "that's very good." "i'll need a few things." "such as?" "ammonium hydrosulfite, benzidine, some peroxide of hydrogen... copper powder, distilled water... a 6-inch celluloid scale... thermometer, some tweezers... calipers, and some toothpicks." "toothpicks?" "what's going on here, chief?" "who is this boy anyway?" "i asked him to look at the body." "that's who he is." "it's 4:45. what time was this man killed?" "sam wood found him on the street about 3:00 a.m. the doctor here says it's possible he was killed an hour earlier." "at 2:00?" "maybe a little later." "2:15." "2:30?" "would you feel the face and jaw, please?" "am i mistaken, or has rigor begun?" "yes." "tibbs: you'll notice, too, that postmortem lividity is present here in the lower portions, so the time of death really has to be earlier, wouldn't you say?" "oh." "well, we'll be able to pinpoint that as soon as i get a thermometer." "as you know, the loss of heat from the brain is the most reliable way of determining time of death." "right, chief?" "oh, yeah." "well... which one of you gentlemen will assist me?" "[telephone rings] ulam: ulam's fu-- it's for you, chief." "yeah, talk to me." "when?" "oh, good." "yeah, yeah, right away." "i've got a runaway suspect." "boy, i gotta go." "now listen, you." "anything he wants, man, you better see that he gets it." "where can i wash my hands?" "[breathing heavily]" "[dogs barking]" "get down." "[barking]" "come on, boys!" "go!" "go!" "hyah!" "hyah!" "hyah!" "go!" "this here is shagbag." "you hear?" "he's headed for the river." "the river, you hear?" "he's gonna be in arkansas." "shoot." "[train whistle blows]" "ok. i got him." "mrs. colbert." "how is she taking it?" "chief had to leave before she got here." "she don't even know it yet." "hey, you can't go in there, boy." "mrs. colbert... where's my husband?" "what's happened to him?" "why won't anybody here tell me what's happened to him?" "why won't anybody here tell me what's happened to him?" "i have a right to know if he's hurt, if he's been in an accident!" "i want to know if my husband is all right!" "your husband is dead, mrs. colbert." "uh... somebody killed him." "we don't know who yet." "it's, uh... it's very hot in here." "it's very hot in this room." "sit down." "no." "[sobs]" "would you... would you... leave me alone for a few minutes... please?" "[crying]" "[car door shuts]" "virgil, we don't need you and your microscopes anymore." "you can tell that to your chief." "we don't need him or you." "mrs. colbert's in there." "i've already told her." "i see." "here is the examination results from ulam's." "do you want to know what i found?" "no. i don't need to look at them now." "may i examine this person?" "yeah, you can look at him." "come on." "let him look. go on." "all right, now!" "steady!" "you finished?" "thank you." "all right, fryer, bring him with me." "now we grinding' corn!" "doggone, you should have been there." "if i hadn't took them ol' radios, we'd have sure lost him going over that bridge." "when that old boy highballed, that freight train like to cut us off." "yeah!" "yeah!" "and old charlie's hound dog got loose about right that time-- did he confess?" "huh?" "the man you arrested, did he confess?" "well, i believe he will." "yes, sirree, i believe he will." "i believe he will." "he's left-handed, isn't he?" "how do i know?" "well, he seemed left-handed to me." "uh-huh." "i believe harvey is a southpaw, now, ain't he, shagbag?" "what if he is?" "what's that make him?" "innocent." "mrs. colbert... there's just one more thing." "[sniffles]" "yeah." "i picked it up, i tell ya." "he was already lying' there." "it was lyin' there next to him." "i just picked it up, ma'am." "that's all i did." "shut up." "now get him out of here." "ok, come on, harvey." "let's go." "ms. colbert, i, uh... i wonder if you'd mind if i had somebody drive you over so you could, uh... complete the identification." "martin... i want you to take mrs. colbert over to the funeral parlor, and, wood, you run virgil down to depot." "uh...virge here, chief, he thinks that harvey's innocent." "ha. well, i'll be damned." "could i talk to you about it in private?" "no, you can't talk to me about it in private, see?" "because i got colbert's wallet right here in my hand." "we took it from harvey oberst." "you don't think he gave it to him, do ya?" "i don't know, but oberst could have come along after the crime and found it, picked it up, i don't know." "that's what the boy said he did." "well, i'm sorry, ma'am, but i say different." "when i examined the deceased, it was obvious that the fatal blow was struck from an angle of 17 degrees from the right, which makes it almost certain the person who did it is right-handed." "so what?" "ol' harv's left-handed, chief." "everybody in town knows that." "yeah, that's what we figured out, chief." "uh, harvey's a lefty, uh-huh." "well, you're pretty sure of yourself, ain't you, virgil?" "virgil, that's a funny name for a nigger boy that comes from philadelphia." "what do they call you up there?" "they call me mr. tibbs." "mr. tibbs?" "!" "well, mr. wood, take mr. tibbs, take him down to the depot!" "and i mean, boy, like, now!" "i'll have the fbi lab send you the report on this." "not that it'll make any difference." "i'll take that." "no, you won't." "i'm sending it in... personally." "mrs. colbert: my god." "what kind of people are you?" "what kind of a place is this?" "my husband is dead." "somebody in this town killed him!" "i want you to find out who!" "you giving me that?" "no, i'm not." "wood, you take him... and you lock him up for withholding evidence." "go on!" "move!" "put him with his friend harvey oberst!" "well, virgil... nobody threw your brains to the hogs, that's for damn sure." "hold on there, arnold." "open her up again." "we got another customer." "harvey: hey, man, not here." "put him somewheres else." "button your lip." "hey, man!" "you hear me?" "don't put him here!" "i thought that he was supposed to be a policeman." "hey!" "hey!" "[door slams]" "what you doing wearing white man's clothes?" "where you come from?" "you deaf or somethin'?" "listen, i'm get-- keep cool, harvey." "i'm on your side." "well, i don't need you!" "i'm all you've got." "police." "you're a cop?" "you're a cop." "mm-hmm." "yeah?" "so, how come they locked you up?" "how come they go lock up a cop?" "who said they locked me up?" "how come with all these empty cells back here, they throw me in with you?" "you dig?" "look... i already told 'em." "i see this fellow lyin' on the street there... and there's this wallet lying' beside him." "boy, i mean, i come into this world out of luck." "here's the first good thing to come my way, and i pick it up." "but when i see whose wallet it is... i mean, i started to sweat, but i heard about this new chief, this gillespie... got no more smell than a turnip, so i cut across the fields heading' for the line." "i got myself as far as the bridge before gillespie grabbed me." "what time did you find the wallet?" "well, i ain't got no watch, but... must have been after 2:00 by the courthouse clock." "i'm interested in 11:00 to 2:00." "where were you?" "shooting' pool at larry's lounge." "i got there about 10:00." "what time did you leave?" "not till closing." "must have been 1:00." "anybody can swear for you?" "peggy, burt, les." "ever been in trouble with the police before?" "come on." "i could ask at the desk, you know." "well... they brought me in one time, on account of delores purdy." "on what charge?" "well, uh, this delores... well, she's real proud of what nature done for her, you know?" "and, uh--ha-- well, we was on a date up to clark's point, and, uh... she says, uh... anyway, she asks me, she says, uh..." ""don't you think i got a classy build?"" "and i say, "sure."" "and so she starts to show me." "but, now, i didn't do nothing wrong." "i just didn't stop her from trying to prove her point." "then this cop... sam wood comes charging out of the bush and hauls me in." "he let you go, didn't he?" "told me not to mess with her no more." "she lives over on third, about a block from me, traipsing around the house in the altogether and after dark with the lights on." "now, somebody sure oughta make her stop doing that." "come here." "let me see your right hand." "what you doing?" "hold still." "[cell door opens]" "all right, now, give him the waiver for false arrest." "forget it." "i'm asking you to sign it... please." "give him a pen." "give him a pen." "all right, let him out." "you'll be able to... catch the 12:10 train." "i don't think it would be a bad idea to change the charge against harvey oberst." "he was nowhere near the scene of the crime, and i think he can prove it." "bet you could tell me the exact time colbert was killed, too, can't you?" "about 12:30, while harvey was still shooting pool." "now wait a minute." "i'll get it!" "there's cue chalk under his nails, not dried blood." "i thank the lord i don't live in philadelphia." "one more thing-- colbert wasn't killed where the body was found." "what do you mean?" "he was killed somewhere else, then moved to main street." "courtney... yes, sir?" "change the charge to theft." "you mean harv?" "who the hell else do we have back there?" "yes, sir." "hey." "didn't i ask you to fix that gate?" "well, no." "not me, sir. um... must have been my brother harold." "he's on days." "harold?" "[slams door]" "[telephone rings] police department." "yes, he's here." "hold on, sir." "mayor's on the line, chief." "[hammering and drilling]" "now, chief, what's all this miss colbert's been telling me about a cover-up arrest?" "no, ma'am." "we ain't had no cover-up." "in fact, we've just dropped the charges for insufficient evidence." "miss colbert, i told you he wasn't nobody's man." "i came by to make it as clear as i possibly can that i do not want that negro officer taken off this case." "negro officer?" "yeah, well, he, uh... he comes from up north, you see, and he was, uh, kind of... passing through." "i don't care what he is." "if it wasn't for him, your impartial chief of police would still have the wrong man behind bars." "i want that officer given a free hand." "otherwise, i will pack up my husband's engineers... and leave you... to yourselves." "now, mrs. colbert, now, don't you worry about a thing." "believe me, we're gonna take care of everything." "bill... i want to see you come through this, now." "you hear?" "even if we have to step on endicott's toes?" "even that." "but do it fast." "all right." "now, bill, how about this here negro officer?" "miss colbert seems to have a lot of confidence in him." "oh, he ain't nothing." "some kind of a... some kind of a homicide expert, but i don't need him." "you mean you don't want him, but you do need him." "now, look, bill, suppose he turns up the killer." "he has no police power here." "he's gonna have to hand him over on a platter, right?" "that's right." "and if he fails, you're off the hook, 'cause it was miss colbert's idea in the first place." "see what i mean?" "oh, yeah." "works out all the way around, bill, for all of us." "excuse me." "any reason why you have to leave today?" "there's lots of reasons." "well, what would you say if i, uh... i asked you to stay for a while?" "no." "this town needs a factory, virgil." "colbert come down from chicago to build it." "i hear they're gonna hire 1,000 men." "half of them will be colored." "know what that means?" "probably got him killed." "that's what mrs. colbert thinks." "she wants us to catch her a killer." "no killer, no factory." "well, that's a lot of jobs for a lot of colored people." "you follow me?" "i'm going home, man." "they're your people." "not mine. yours." "you made this scene." "what do you want me to do?" "you want me to beg you?" "look, i've had your town up to here!" "boy, it would give me a world of satisfaction to horsewhip you, virgil." "well... my father used to say that." "even did once or twice." "yeah, well, not enough to suit me." "now, you listen to me." "just once in my life, i'm gonna hold my temper." "i'm telling you that you're gonna stay here." "you're gonna stay here if i have to go inside and call your chief of police and have him remind you of what he told you to do, but i don't think i have to do that, you see?" "no, because you're so damn smart, you're smarter than any white man, you're just gonna stay here and show us all." "you got such a big head that you could never live with yourself unless you could put us all to shame." "you want to know something, virgil?" "i don't think that you could let an opportunity like that pass by." "[train whistle blows]" "jess." "jess, this is, uh-- this is virgil." "he's working for me." "give him something that runs." "you fix him up, you hear?" "what i fix runs." "who pays?" "police." "well... you know where to find me." "what you doin' here, man?" "policeman." "you're a policeman here in sparta?" "they've got a murder they don't know what to do with." "they need a whipping boy." "you got a roof?" "no." "i'll find a motel." "viola." "[laughs] we got company." "you know what's gonna happen?" "he gonna get hisself killed." "you watch and see he don't." "i'm aware of the risk, tom, but like it or not, we're stuck with him." "not if the chief here is right on the ball." "what do you say, chief?" "you got that old kid all lined up in your front sights, huh?" "i'm working on it." "tom, climb off of gillespie's back now." "you know damn well we didn't hire him off a homicide squad." "yeah, well, it's gonna be his week, 'cause colbert's only the start." "i say this nigger won't live past saturday." "mrs. colbert, can you tell me about your husband's enemies?" "it's endicott." "he's been fighting us all the way." "he sits up on his hill and runs this county." "or did until we moved in." "did your husband tell you where he was going last night?" "he said he wasn't sleepy." "i went to bed." "what time was that?" "a little after 11:00, i think." "did he call you or anybody on your staff after 11:00?" "no." "maybe the elevator boy can tell us what time he went out." "they put it on self-service after 10:00." "did your husband use a car here?" "find anything?" "whoever killed colbert drove this car last night." "how do you know?" "where you goin'?" "i'd drive up there in that car you gave me, but i'm sure you don't want me running up there by myself causing more trouble." "up where?" "eric endicott's." "endicott's?" "oh, come on now." "none of that for you, huh, virgil?" "?" "in the heat ?" "?" "of the night ?" "?" "mm-hmm ?" "?" "ain't a woman ?" "?" "yet before ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "yeah ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "knows how to make ?" "?" "the mornin' come ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "it's so hard ?" "?" "to keep control ?" "?" "yes, it is ?" "?" "when i ?" "?" "had to sell my soul ?" "?" "?" "for just a little light ?" "?" "in the heat ?" "?" "of the night ?" "listen, you know something i don't know?" "i found a piece of osmunda in colbert's car." "a piece of what?" "on the brake pedal." "osmunda. fern root." "fern root?" "hello there." "is mr. endicott here?" "yes, sir. he's out in the greenhouse." "would you follow me, please?" "gillespie." "mr. endicott." "this here is virgil." "mr. tibbs." "how do you do, sir?" "oh, uh, may i have henry fetch you something?" "uh, some light refreshment?" "no, thank you." "we're all right the way we are." "oh, i'll have something cold." "something soft." "anything." "henry, bring in a pitcher of lemonade." "i'll have one, too." "yes, sir." "oh, i didn't know it was possible to grow this species locally." "oh, you like flowers?" "i do." "mr. tibbs, uh, do you know anything about orchids?" "not very much, but i do like them." "well, let me show you." "[laughs] endicott's closet." "what do you think?" "it's beautiful." "it's breathtaking." "have you a favorite, mr. tibbs?" "well, i'm partial to any of the epiphytics." "why, isn't that remarkable-- that, of all the orchids in this place, you should prefer the epiphytics?" "i wonder if you know why." "maybe it would be helpful if you'd tell me." "because, like the negro, they need care and feedin' and cultivating'." "and that takes time." "that's something you can't make some people understand." "that's something mr. colbert didn't realize." "is this what the epiphytics root in?" "my point." "they thrive on it." "take it away from them, they do poorly." "what do you call this material?" "that's osmunda." "fern root." "well..." "we don't want to take any more of your time, mr. endicott." "why'd you two come here?" "to ask you about mr. colbert." "let me understand this." "you two came here to question me?" "[cock crows] well, your... your attitudes, mr. endicott, your points of view are a matter of record." "some people-- well, let us say the people who work for mr. colbert-- might reasonably regard you as the person least likely to mourn his passing." "we were just trying to clarify some of the evidence." "was mr. colbert ever in this greenhouse, say, last night about midnight?" "gillespie." "gillespie: yeah?" "you saw it." "i saw it." "what are you gonna do about it?" "i don't know." "i'll remember that." "there was a time... when i could have had you shot." "you better damn well clear out, and i mean fast!" "what about that big speech you gave me this morning?" "i didn't know you were gonna slap any white man, least of all endicott!" "all right, give me another day." "2 days. i'm close." "i can pull that fat cat down." "i can bring him right off this hill." "oh, boy." "man, you're just like the rest of us." "ain't ya?" "it's all my fault." "but there's no point in ducking it, bill." "it's gonna be tough to keep you in your job now." "now, looky here, bill, i don't have to tell you how urgent it is to get tibbs out of town." "i already told him to go." "all right." "now, mrs. colbert is not gonna be back till thursday." "you catch the guilty party by then, she's not gonna hold it against us we had to send tibbs home for his own good." "but you got to do it, you hear?" "i hear." "bill." "what's made you change your mind about tibbs?" "who says i have?" "the last chief we had, he'd have shot tibbs one second after he slapped endicott, claim self-defense." "[starts engine] gillespie here." "radio:" "courtney here, sir." "now, look, did you take virgil down to depot?" "no, sir. he just plain wouldn't go." "shagbag just saw him heading' up toward river road." "check." "[horn honks]" "[horn honks]" "[horn honks]" "get in there!" "come on!" "come on!" "get him!" "come on, nigger!" "[horn honks]" "[horn honks]" "get in there!" "come on!" "come on!" "[horn honks]" "[horn honks]" "ok, black boy, we come here to teach you some manners." "now, we told you about them bad manners, boy." "you better put that down." "[laughs] why don't you come and get it?" "come on, man, you ain't nothin'." "come on." "let's get him." "put that around your neck." "get him!" "get him!" "get him!" "hit him, man!" "come on!" "give me a hand!" "get him!" "get him back!" "all right, hold it!" "all right, boys." "you had your fun." "now go on and just... run along home." "nigger lover." "i didn't catch what you said." "get rid of the nigger." "you don't... we will." "now, is that a suggestion, or is that an order?" "that's a warnin'!" "i see." "i see." "big shot!" "come on, move him and go!" "[coughing]" "well, you kind of get the message, virgil?" "may i get in?" "thought you left town." "not yet." "could you follow the same route you followed tuesday night?" "same speed?" "why?" "why not?" "maybe i better check with the chief." "maybe you'd better." "i wouldn't want him to... slap you down for stepping out of line." "making decisions on your own and all that." "he don't knock me out of my socks." "let's get rolling, virgil." "?" "hoot ?" "?" "all you little birds better lock up tight ?" "?" "'cause there's a foul owl on the prowl tonight ?" "?" "hey, little lark, get out of the dark ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "cute little jay, stay out of his way ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "you just might be the quail he'll tail ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "you just might be the swallow he'll follow ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "if you hear him hoot ?" "?" "scoot ?" "?" "if you pass his tree ?" "?" "flee ?" "?" "if you catch his eye ?" "?" "fly ?" "?" "don't wait to say good-bye ?" "take 10 minutes to get myself a king-sized coke with a wedge of pie." "that is if that peckerwood ain't sold out again." "can i bring you anything?" "no. i'm coming in." "i thought i told you to get the hell out of here." "i'm not ready to leave." "i was gonna tell you all about that in the morning." "you forget about those 4 maniacs?" "i need more time." "do i have to put you on the train myself?" "!" "i guess so!" "ohh." "all right, virgil." "just what the hell do you want?" "i want to know exactly where sam wood was at all times on the night of the murder." "?" "if you pass his tree ?" "?" "flee ?" "?" "if you catch his eye ?" "?" "fly ?" "virgil, if you get killed, we're gonna have one hell of a mess in this town." "do you know that?" "i know." "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "he's huntin' for chicks, so get home quick ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "hoot ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "hoot ?" "?" "foul owl on the prowl ?" "?" "hoot ?" "got some real luscious cream pie for you tonight, sam." "i mean officer wood." "just like you always order." "now, you know i don't eat that stuff." "chief here likes his boys streamlined." "ain't that right, chief?" "ha ha." "why don't you shut up, sam?" "all right, what'll you have, virgil?" "i ain't serving' him." "tuesday night, you walked out of here at 2:40, right?" "right on the button." "2 minutes from now." "that's for him." "now, what'd you do when you came out that night?" "[clears throat] well, i picked up the radio and called in." "do it, please." "go ahead, go ahead." "uh... wood, uh, radio-- i'm, uh... leaving compton's now." "courtney: hey, sam, you better look sharp." "gillespie's sniffing around." "gillespie:" "give me that thing." "courtney, i checked with your brother." "he told me i didn't tell him to fix that hinge." "that means i told you." "do you read me, courtney?" "oh, i'll get right on it, chief." "oh, i'd do that if i were you." "yes, sir. 10-4." "[engine starts]" "all right, you can move us, officer wood." "[dog barking]" "why'd you do that, sam?" "do what?" "change your route back there at the corner?" "who says i changed?" "look, i ought to know what i did!" "chief, do i have to put up with this?" "do i work for you, or do i work for him?" "[baby crying] good night, gentlemen." "[dog barking]" "i don't know." "i don't know." "well, i appreciate anything you can do." "well, this is highly irregular... yeah, i know that." "showing a depositor's account." "i don't know." "you sure this is official?" "yes, it's official, yes." "you willing to put that in writing?" "yeah, yeah, i'll put it in writing." "anyplace you'd like it." "on a police department letterhead?" "i will write it on the head of a pin if you want it there." "i got to have something for the file, you know." "i realize that, but i'm in a hurry, mr. henderson." "well... we'll see." "he's had an account with us for... several years now." "is that so?" "not a large account." "not more than--well... mmm... $208." "that was back in, uh, '62." "september." "i am not interested in '62, september." "i am interested in yesterday." "yesterday?" "oh." "well... according to this, he made a deposit of... $632." "yesterday?" "yeah." "yeah, thank you." "that must have been when i was out to lunch." "deposit that size, i'd remember." "you'll send me that letter for the file, you hear?" "i'll tell you something, baby brother." "the chief didn't like him." "not even from the first." "mmm." "[door opens] good morning." "hey, where do you think you're going?" "it's all right." "let him go." "i've just gotten off the phone with the fbi lab." "we can prove that colbert was there in that greenhouse." "endicott's covering up." "you're a little late. we already got the guilty man." "who?" "sam." "sam?" "that's right." "our man is endicott." "you just think a minute." "didn't you catch sam in a lie last night?" "yesterday, he makes a big cash deposit at the bank." "if i told you once, i told you a hundred times-- i won that money matching quarters and halves." "it took me 3 years to do it!" "why was it in big bills?" "i checked at the bank." "whenever i got change, i traded for $20 bills!" "when i got $600, i put it in the bank!" "the day colbert was killed he cashed a check for $900," "$600 of which is missing," "$300 i believe you left in the wallet as sucker-bait for some poor git like harvey oberst!" "what kind of man do you think i am?" "don't you push me, boy!" "now, listen... if you weren't suspicious of sam here, why did you question him last night when he changed his route?" "i already knew why he changed his route." "knew what?" "he was afraid i'd see some naked white girl down the block." "what are you talking about?" "some girl named delores purdy." "she parades around in the nude to get her kicks." "that's... how do you know?" "i know." "well,i know, you understand?" "i know colbert cashed a check for $900." "i know sam made a big cash deposit." "i know that you caught him in a lie, and i know that's enough for me." "come on, sam." "martin, lock him up." "well?" "well...you're making a mistake." "don't you bet against it." "you can catch your train now, virgil." "tibbs?" "do you think sam did it?" "where do i find the chief?" "what's this all about?" "my business." "hey, look, purdy, you got a complaint, right here's where you file it." "what i got to say, i say to the chief." "it's about sam wood." "all right." "[knock on door] chief: yeah?" "purdy's out here, sir." "it's about sam." "chief: all right." "send him in." "she's gonna have a baby." "sam wood's baby." "ask her yourself, you don't believe me." "what are you doing here?" "it's important that i hear this." "i ain't talking about this with him in the room." "you don't want a slew of trouble, you get." "be sensible." "i'm a police officer." "you gonna get him outta here, or do i gotta do it?" "you ain't gonna do nothin'." "you just stand there and shut up." "[giggles]" "chief: sit down, little girl." "all right now... you tell me all about it." "you just tell me how it happened." "come on, girl, speak." "well, you know how hot it's been." "yeah." "the nights aren't any better." "my brother works nights." "he leaves me all alone." "this particular night, i go out on the porch... thinkin' how nice it'd be if i had a fountain drink." "sam comes down our road, just like he comes every night." "passing like a lord in that fine, big, shiny car." "only this time, he stops." "he's got a nice face, don't you think, chief?" "so he stopped." "yeah, and he says-- what?" "i didn't hear what you said." "he says..." ""hey, little girl." "you know what the coolest spot in town is?"" "and i said..." ""no, sam, i guess i don't."" "and he said, "a cemetery, that's where." ""know why?" ""'cause they got all them big, cool tombstones." ""ever stretch out on a tombstone, delores?" "feel all that nice, cool marble along your body?"" "he said that?" "you hear, chief?" "you hear?" "yeah, i hear, i hear." "all right, sam comes along, stops at your house, talks to you. what else?" "come on, girl." "what else?" "what else?" "then i went for a ride with him." "where'd you go?" "the cemetery." "wood took you to the cemetery in the patrol car?" "and then things went a little too far, is that what you're saying?" "did he get a little bit outta line?" "come on now." "is that what you're trying to say?" "come on!" "is it or ain't it?" "yeah, they went too far!" "well, fine!" "i got one more question." "very important." "did he force you, or did you let him?" "don't mean a damn whether she let him or not!" "she is still 16!" "in this state, that's rape!" "i checked on that!" "i know the plain law!" "i know the laws in the state of mississippi, thank you!" "are you sure you're pregnant?" "yes, i am pregnant!" "courtney!" "courtney: yes, sir?" "better get in here with a pad and a pencil." "come on in. i want you to take this all down." "you got no right to keep a nigger in the room." "shamed my little sister." "you had no right." "sam: virge, what's happening?" "hiya, harv." "how are you, virgil?" "fine." "well, uh, uh... you sure saved my hide." "listen, harvey, man... if a guy knocks up a girl in this town, where can he go for help?" "the barbershop." "the barbershop?" "borrow mr. vanning's razor." "you can cut your throat." "well... but suppose mr. vanning's razor is too dull?" "suppose he's got some real money to spread around?" "uh... well, uh... there used to be a colored gal, but she kept bumping her price, and i don't know if she's still in business." "what's her name?" "i ain't never had to look her up, but, uh, packy might know." "where do i find packy?" "down at the pool hall." "man, he wouldn't tell you, not unless i say so, and, well, how am i gonna say so locked up in here?" "suppose i get word to packy that you want to see him, have him come here?" "let him bring me a cheeseburger?" "onions?" "now you're talking." "sam: uh--uh, virge?" "[twig snaps] gettin' a little careless, ain't you, virgil?" "your car parked in the road like that." "get yourself killed." "anybody would know where you are." "you know what this land is?" "i know what it is. the site for the new factory." "i found a piece of wood in colbert's scalp." "the lab identified it as pine." "3 people saw colbert drive by their houses alone on the way back from endicott's." "colbert must have picked up somebody in town and then come out here." "you got it all figured out, ain't you?" "i'm telling you he didn't pick up nobody." "sam followed him in the patrol car, come up behind him just like i come up behind you." "i heard you coming." "colbert would have heard." "he turned and got smashed." "he was hit from behind." "if delores purdy hadn't come into your office, i never would have seen the truth." "i was hung up trying to get endicott for personal reasons." "do you know what i'm gonna do, virgil?" "i'm gonna take you over to brownsville and put you on the bus myself." "you aren't taking me anywhere, you dig?" "you're holding the wrong man!" "what do you mean, the wrong man?" "i got the motive, which is money, and the body, which is dead!" "what makes you so sure?" "why do you doubt it?" "because colbert was killed here then driven back in his own car and dumped on the streets!" "sam couldn't have driven 2 cars!" "what do you want?" "give me till morning." "[chuckles]" "you know... you know, virgil, you are among the chosen few." "how's that?" "well, i think you're the first human being that's ever been in here." "oh, yeah. you can't be too careful, man." "[chuckles] you know a lot of things, don't you?" "well, just what do you know about insomnia?" "bourbon can't cure it." "[chuckles] well...that's for sure." "now, look... i got no wife, i got no kids." "boy, i got a town that don't want me." "i got an air conditioner i have to oil myself and a desk with a busted leg, and on top of that, i got... this... place." "don't you think that'd drive a man to take a few drinks?" "i'll tell you a secret." "nobody comes here." "never." "you married?" "no." "ever been?" "no." "you ever been close to it?" "close to it." "don't you get just... a little lonely?" "no lonelier than you, man." "whoa, now, don't get smart, black boy." "i don't need it." "no pity, thank you." "no, thank you." "[knock on door]" "yeah?" "chief?" "yeah?" "you know where i can find virgil?" "who are you?" "packy, chief." "packy harrison." "i'm a friend of harv's." "you got something for me?" "yeah." "where you going?" "where whitey ain't allowed." "what the hell does that mean?" "you gave me till morning, remember?" "[truck engine starts]" "is he gone?" "hell, he could have changed cars by now." "let's dog him." "you stick here." "we'll keep cruising." "you find him, come back for me, you hear?" "that's her place here." "you want me to wait?" "no, thank you, packy." "you go on home." "[dog barking]" "[bell jangles]" "mrs. bellamy?" "people around here call me mama caleba." "mama, i'm not from around here, but you can put me on my train." "you talk crazy." "you gin drunk?" "just homesick." "lord, lord." "whisper 2 little words, mama, and i'm on my way." "maybe i don't want to sever a beautiful child like you right out." "a man's name." "first name, last name." "the man who's paying you for delores purdy's abortion." "you're the boy who works for mr. charlie." "i thought that's who you was." "why you want to do that?" "why you want to help the police like that?" "they stealing' your soul." "they chew you up and spit you out." "i'm not here to lay a finger on you, mama." "it's the white boy i want." "what you got against him?" "he's paying for his fun." "how much?" "i bet he's not paying you more than 100." "you know how much he's got in his pocket right now?" "more than $600." "[laughs] that cracker?" "where did he come off getting 600?" "he killed mr. colbert." "oh!" "[jars rattle] you gone crazy out of your mind." "listen. hear me good, mama, please." "don't make me have to send you to jail." "lot you care." "there's white time in jail and colored time in jail." "the worst kind you can do is colored time." "child, you promise." "give me understanding." "i got used to better." "you won't take it away." "i won't take it away." "well... i don't know his name... but she's coming here tonight." "get herself straight." "[bell jangles] oh!" "get away from me!" "leave me alone!" "let go!" "man:" "let go of her!" "let go of me!" "let go of her!" "let go of me!" "gonna teach you, boy." "no club this time, man?" "a gun's not smart." "the way you killed colbert was much smarter." "you killed colbert." "he's crazy." "crazy." "[tires squealing] [honks]" "[drunk laughter] look at that nigger!" "look at him!" "ha ha ha!" "[shouting and laughing]" "ok, nigger." "it's your time, nigger." "look in her purse." "what's that mean?" "she's got $100 to pay for an abortion." "man:" "listen to that." "that crazy-- money she got from ralph." "you gonna listen to him?" "he got her to tell you that sam wood did it." "he made a fool out of you, purdy." "delores-- liar!" "you stinkin' liar!" "let go of her!" "turn my little sister... into a field slut?" "lloyd!" "lloyd!" "hey, man, step back, he's got a gun!" "he's dead." "[sobbing] [tires squealing] oh, lloyd." "oh, lloyd." "i'm sorry." "that night when i left her house, i was going to the diner, and mr. colbert drove by, so i hitched a ride with him, that's all." "i said i sure would like a job in that new factory once you get started." "and he said sure." "and i said i wondered where it was going to be." "he said that field we were coming to ahead was it and was gonna stop and show me." "i said to myself, man, he's asking for it." "i said, ralph, all you gotta do when we get out is just sneak up behind him and just...tap him." "and then just claim somebody jumped us from the bushes." "that's all." "i didn't mean to kill him." "yep." "all right, courtney, that's enough." "all right, come on." "[tape rewinding] ralph on tape: that's all." "i didn't mean to kill him." "[click]" "[horn blows]" "well..." "got your ticket?" "here you are." "thank you." "bye-bye." "bye." "virgil?" "you take care, you hear?" "yeah." "conductor: all aboard!" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "i've got trouble wall-to-wall ?" "?" "whoa, yes, i have ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "i repeat ?" "?" "i repeat--in the night ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "must be an ending' to it all ?" "?" "ooh ?" "?" "hold on, it won't be long ?" "?" "yeah, you be strong ?" "?" "and it'll be all right ?" "?" "in the heat of the night ?" "?" "in the heat ?" "?" "of the night ?"