SUPER: "Be strong and courageous; do not fear nor be afraid;
for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you
nor forsake you."
THE SECOND LAW, DEUTERONOMY 31:6
FADE IN.
EXT. A PARTIALLY PLOWED FIELD - GREENSBOROUGH - ALABAMA - DAY
AFRICAN AMERICAN, SILAS FREEMAN (35), a stocky and muscular
man, struggles to hold the beat-up wooden plow in a straight
line through the rough, overgrown terrain.
SOUND-CUE: "HORSES HOOVES, GALLOPING"
Silas shields his eyes from the rays of the setting sun as it
casts shadows over the freshly plowed furrows, conjuring up
illusions of distant breaking waves.
EXT. ALABAMA GRASSLANDS - DAY
The forelocks and legs of many horses are visible as they
gallop, creating a fierce dust storm.
SUPER: "GREENSBOROUGH, THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1936"
SILAS
Bring forth this harvest dear Lord, and
allow me the strength to continue my
toil.
EXT. THE PARTIALLY PLOWED FIELD - DUSK
Silas wipes the perspiration from his brow and looks up.
SILAS (V.O.)
And God replied, I am the light, the
instrument of life; in my hands is man’s
destiny...
He reaches down to remove a large rock from the furrow, lowers
the reins, and kneels, the burning rays of the sun emphasizing
his tiredness from this never-ending work.
SILAS (V.O.)
Where there is light, there is hope, and
with hope... Redemption.
He gazes eastward and observes a remote dust storm. It appears
to be nearing. He shuts his eyes.
FLASH TO:
“Silas, his clothes shredded, his skin torn and covered in
blood, is being dragged through the rough terrain behind two
horses. The rocks and dirt are ripping every fiber of his
body. The hooded riders eventually cut loose, leaving Silas
for dead.”
END FLASH:
He scoops up some dirt, stands, and holds his arms aloft. The
dust trickles through his fingers back into the farrow.
SILAS
I commit my labor and my family to you,
Lord, and may the sun's rays and winter
rains produce a fruitful crop.
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Playful Antics on the Plantation
EXT. TOBACCO PLANTATION - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas‘s daughter, BRINY FREEMAN, and close friend, DESTINY
COLEMAN, two cute and fun-loving, eight-year-old girls,
playfully chase each other through a field of tall tobacco
plants.
Briny's younger brother, JEREMIAH, pinches Briny; the girls
immediately jump him and start to tickle him.
JEREMIAH FREEMAN
(laughing)
Momma, momma!.. Ahh, stop! Momma, tell
them to stop.
DESTINY
Tickle, tickle, Mr. Fickle, tickle till
you widdle... Briny, grab his legs...
A woman’s voice is heard.
HELAINA (O.S.)
Briny... Jeremiah... Your daddy will be
home soon; come on, get yourselves back,
and wash up.
Jeremiah gets up, playfully punches his sister, and runs home.
DESTINY
You’d better go too.
BRINY
Oh, I nearly forgot, the blue dress --
the one I got for Moses’s birthday.
DESTINY
The one with daisies?
BRINY
Ah-ha, well, it’s too small for me, so I
got Pa to drop it over to your Pa.
DESTINY
Wow, thanks.
Briny runs off.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
A Night of Light-Hearted Banter
EXT. SILAS’S HOME - GREENSBOROUGH - ALABAMA - NIGHT
The small wooden shack has an outhouse, barn, and chicken pen
and is tucked away in a clearing encircled by thick woodland.
Silas, his wife HELAINA (35), and three children, fifteen-year-
old MOSES, Briny, and Jeremiah, live the simple lives of
impoverished sharecroppers.
EXT. SILAS’S HOME/YARD - GREENSBOROUGH - NIGHT
Silas crosses the yard leading Old Beth towards the barn.
Helaina, stands at the shack’s doorway holding a twig broom,
which she playfully shakes at Silas.
HELAINA
(shouts)
Where you been, husband? Them kids in
there, they is dyin’ of the hunger.
SILAS
Sometimes, woman, I wished I’d married
spinster Dorothea; at least she had a
sweet mouth on her.
HELAINA
And one mother of a fat ass.
Silas laughs.
SILAS
Yeah, you’re right... She sure did have
one hell of a fat ass.
HELAINA
Come on, get that old horse fed, and
tethered; suppers ready.
INT. FREEMAN’S BARN - DUSK
He settles Old Beth in a stall and gives her feed and water,
pats her down, and beds her. A full moon emits light through
the open hay hoist doors on the upper floor.
SILAS
Lord, I see your moonlight, and I pray
tomorrow will bring us nothing but joy
and laughter.
He exits and then closes the barn door.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
A Night of Tension
INT. THE FREEMAN HOME - EVENING
The shack is simple, with a large wooden bed next to the
window, an old wood table with benches on either side, and a
chair at the head. An antique sepia image of Silas' parents
hangs over the stone fireplace, along with two rifles strung
from wooden pegs.
A pot of stew simmers over an open fire, while three
flickering oil lights highlight the home's simplicity. The
family's ongoing struggle against the afflictions of poverty
is noticeable by the absence of any personal items.
Silas removes his sweat-soaked shirt to wash-up. His back,
neck, and limbs are severely scarred. He turns to face Moses.
SILAS
How was your day, son?
MOSES
Filled with book readin’ and learnin’,
Pa.
SILAS
I swear to God you’re gonna end up as a
bookworm wriggling around for supper
vitals.
Briny and Jeremiah giggle.
MOSES
Readin’ and writin’ is pleasurable to me,
Pa, and it’s right important if I’m gonna
get to go to college.
SILAS
(to Helaina)
The boys a dreamer, and that’s a fact.
The family sits and links hands, their heads bowed. Silas,
seated at the head of the table, commences the prayer of
grace.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Lord, bless this food you have bestowed
upon us and allow us to continue to live
in harmonious peace under your guidance
and to afford us the protection of
your...
The distant rumble of horses' hooves is now audible. Helaina
and the children, distracted from Grace, look up.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Children...
They bow their heads again.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Keep us safe from all trials and
tribulations. Amen.
ALL
Amen.
MOSES
Trials and tribulations, Pa?
SILAS
Hardships of the day, boy.
The sound of hooves abates, Silas rises and crosses to the
door. BUTCH, Silas's mixed-breed mongrel, starts barking.
HELAINA
Silas?
A flaming torch smashes' through the window and lands at the
base of the bed. Helaina huddles the younger children
together.
SILAS
(to Moses)
Fetch me my gun, boy!
MAN’S VOICE (O.S.)
(screams)
Freeman!.. Get yer black ass out here
where we can see ya!
MOSES
Pa?..
Genres:
["Drama","Historical"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
The Warden's Judgment
INT. CORRECTIONAL FACILITY/WARDEN’S OFFICE - ALABAMA - DAY
The HILLSBRO BROTHERS, CLYDE and FLOYD, both in their late
twenties and wearing all-white baggy prison clothing, stand
between two PRISON GUARDS.
SUPER: "ONE YEAR EARLIER"
The WARDEN studies a ledger containing the men’s wrap sheets.
WARDEN
Hmm... You boys have been busy; it
appears you’ve been a scourge on society.
FLOYD
We changed, sir.
WARDEN
Drug dependency, arson, two foster homes,
(looks up)
- absconded.
Continues to look at the rap sheet.
WARDEN (CONT’D)
Arrested multiple times for fighting and
shoplifting and spent six months at the
"Home for Wayward Boys," again,
absconded... Unbelievable... You then
decided to ride the rail for two years
before being arrested for robbing a
liquor store at gunpoint...
He looks up.
WARDEN (CONT’D)
Any comments?
FLOYD
We was hungry, sir.
WARDEN
Hmm... So it would seem, but hungry for
what?
The warden goes back to reading the rap sheets.
CLYDE
Sir.
The warden looks up.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
We was kids, then, sir. Reformed now, and
much wiser.
WARDEN
You do realize that all parolees are
required to attend probation offices at
pre-determined time’s each week?
CLYDE
Sir.
WARDEN
One violation, and you’ll be back here so
fast, it’ll make your hair curl.
FLOYD
Do that mean you’re gonna recommend
parole, sir?
WARDEN
(beat)
No, prisoner 21342, it means that you
will only be listed for a parole hearing
along with other inmates. That will be
all... Take them out.
The brothers flanked by the prison officers turn and exit.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
Freedom and Frustration
EXT. ALABAMA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY - DAY
Clyde and Floyd step through the prison gates carrying only a
bed roll apiece. Clyde looks at Floyd.
CLYDE
We is gonna have ourselves one hell of a
time, boy!
FLOYD
Ain’t that the way of it.
They whoop and holler and start to walk down the dusty track
toward a distant gas station where the Greyhound bus stops.
INT. THE HUNTSVILLE BAR AND GRILL - HUNTSVILLE - DAY
Attached to the gas station is a BAR/DINER. The brothers are
sitting at the bar drinking and discussing possible
retributions.
CLYDE
- firstly we need to get the body shop
back up and running, let Bugs and Ritchie
know we're back in business, and then
figure out what mother sold us down the
Suwannee.
FLOYD
You reckon, it were, Hobbs?
CLYDE
Him or his holier-than-thou, associates.
FLOYD
Let it slide for now, and let’s get laid.
A couple of young women, Mille and April (20’s), sit at a
booth talking. Floyd looks over and lifts his bottle in a
gesture of acknowledgment.
FLOYD (CONT’D)
(shouts)
Hey missy!..
MILLE
What’s happenin’, cowboy?
Clyde protruding his crotch.
CLYDE
Any chance you could buck this stallion
and put us up for the night?
MILLE
You boy’s just out from the fuck farm?
CLYDE
Easy, baby.
APRIL
(to Mille)
Same old retard’s lookin’ for an easy
over-nighter.
FLOYD
(to Mille)
I could show you a good time, lady.
MILLE
And what kind of, re-mun-er-ation might
you boys be holdin’?
FLOYD
Fuck -
(chuckles)
- how’s our luck?
CLYDE
You ladies workin’ then?
APRIL
Hey, bozo, we work when and if we have a
notion, and tonight we ain’t got no
notion. So, go find some other fillies to
infect.
CLYDE
Well, excuse us!
MILLE
You’re excused.
Clyde pays the tab, gives Mille the finger, and they exit.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
From Cheerful to Chilling
INT. GENERAL STORE - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Destiny Coleman proudly wearing her newly acquired, blue
dress, collects a brown Kraft paper bag full of groceries and
pays the middle-aged storekeeper, TRUDY.
TRUDY
You run on home now, child, and be
careful with them eggs.
DESTINY
Yessum, ma’am.
Destiny runs to the door and skips along the street. Trudy
watches from the store’s doorway.
TRUDY
(shouts)
Destiny... Be careful you don’t break
them eggs! Ya hear me?
Destiny looks back, pretends to trip, and smiles.
The Hillsbro brother’s beat-up, open-bed flatbed truck pulls
up outside the store and the brothers climb out and enter.
Clyde shouts to the browsing Floyd.
CLYDE
Bro, pick up two packs, and some of them
cheese-flavored things...
Turns to the storekeeper.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
I’ll take a bottle of cheap bourbon,
what’s the strength?
Trudy, totaling up the purchase.
TRUDY
Twelve beers, snacks, and a bottle of
Devil’s Hooch, that’ll be a dollar,
eighty-five.
Clyde throws two dollar bills on the counter, collects the
goods and change, and the brothers exit.
EXT. DIRT TRACK - GREENSBOROUGH - LATER
The Hillsbro brother’s truck pulls up beside Destiny.
CLYDE
Hey, girlie, you know the way to
Fellingood farm?
DESTINY
(points)
You take the left fork down away’s, you
can’t miss it.
CLYDE
I hear they got some good fishing there.
Destiny shrugs her shoulders.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
Get in and show us the way, yeah?
DESTINY
Mommy told me never to talk to strangers.
CLYDE
Screw momma! Get into the truck!
Destiny, on being grabbed, drops the bag of provisions, and is
pulled into the truck. The truck pulls away.
Close-up: “A shattered carton of milk, cans, and tins, and a
dozen broken eggs oozing into the milk from the fractured
shells.”
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Celebration Amidst Chaos
EXT. BUCKLEY TRAIL - GREENSBOROUGH - ALABAMA - LATER THAT DAY
The Hillsbro brother’s beat-up truck weaves erratically along
the dusty track. The brothers can be partially seen through
the open side window as COUNTRY MUSIC blares out from the
truck's radio.
EXT. TRUCK/CAB/RADIO SPEAKER - CONTINUOUS
A special news broadcast interrupts the transmission.
WAPI NEWS REPORTER
(from radio speaker)
- WAPI, Birmingham's premier talk show,
206 1070 kHz on your speed dial...
Breaking news just in.
Note: The WAPI news report continues over the following scene.
EXT. BIRMINGHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE - ALABAMA - SAME TIME
Outside the courthouse, African American PROTESTERS combine
with white ABOLITIONISTS, several of whom brandish banners and
clash with white SEGREGATIONISTS.
WAPI NEWS REPORTER (O.S.)
(from radio speaker)
The Birmingham County Court upheld the
controversial segregation laws while
dismissing the Northwest's Racial
Equality partition... Judge William Banes
instructed that the trial records be
sealed indefinitely...
Scuffles break out as POLICE OFFICERS attempt to defuse the
situation.
INT. TRUCK/CAB - BUCKLEY TRAIL - GREENSBOROUGH - SAME TIME
Floyd kicks the dashboard.
FLOYD
Yahoo...
The action causing the radio to disconnect
FLOYD (CONT'D)
Ya hear that, bro? Righteous
resolution!..
CLYDE
(yells out)
Alabama justice, boy!
FLOYD
Amen to that!
The brothers laugh and continue to whoop and holler.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Labor and Shadows
EXT. TOBACCO BARN - GREENSBOROUGH ALABAMA - DAY
Silas is supervising two black laborers, MESSIAH and VIRGIL.
They empty a horse-drawn cart loaded high with bundles of
tightly packed tobacco leaves.
Silas hooks a large bundle and carries it into the barn.
Messiah looks at Silas.
MESSIAH
(to Virgil)
Dat man, Virg... He spent most of his
life beatin' out tornadoes and
pestilence, and for what?..
VIRGIL
He do it for his family, Virg.
MESSIAH
To bring in dis meager crop?.. All them
years, man, and the nigga still as poor
as a church mouse.
VIRGIL
He put his trust in the Good Lord.
MESSIAH
The Good Lord?.. I tell ya, man. There
ain't no Lord, good nor bad, in
sharecroppin'.
(sniggers)
The man ain't got no notion; slavery's
been abolished.
VIRGIL
Ain’t that the truth.
They both laugh as Silas shouts.
SILAS (O.S.)
Move it along, boys; the light's a
fadin'.
INT. TOBACCO BARN - CONTINUOUS
The laborers carry the bundles into the barn and stack them
high.
SILAS
Stow the wagon and bed the horse; we'll
finish up in the morning.
MESSIAH
Yessum, boss.
EXT. TOBACCO BARN - CONTINUOUS
Silas collects an old sweatcloth and shouts to Butch.
SILAS
Home, boy!
Silas and Butch start their journey home.
EXT. BUCKLEY TRAIL - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
The truck pulls up in a clearing, and the brothers emerge,
clearly intoxicated. They fire their rifles into the air as
they drag Destiny from the truck. Destiny struggles but Clyde
slaps her to the ground.
CLYDE
You tryin’ to curtail the good old boys
pleasures, girlie?
Genres:
["Drama","Historical","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
A Silent Witness
EXT. BUCKLEY TRAIL/WOODLAND - GREENSBOROUGH - LATER
Silas continually throws a stick for Butch, who retrieves it.
The pair amble along a heavily wooded section of the overgrown
and little-used BUCKLEY TRAIL. They approach a bend when
Butch's ears prick up. There is a muffled scream of a girl.
Butch starts to bark but is stopped by Silas as he quickly
gathers Butch and kneels. The muffled screams continue. Silas,
clutching Butch's collar, tentatively moves through the trees
toward the sound of the girl's whimpering.
An old Ford truck with an open bed sits in a clearing near
Silas's house. From beneath the truck's chassis Silas sees two
pairs of men's legs, one with his britches down about his
ankles, and on the ground, a couple of beer cans and a half-
empty bottle of Bourbon.
Butch starts to GROWL. Silas quickly puts his hands over the
dog's jaw. The man, on hearing the growl, pulls up his pants
and snatches his rifle from next to the truck wheels.
The men emerge, their faces obscured by the greenery on an
overhanging tree branch. Floyd screams out.
FLOYD
Where you at, boy!.. Step up and state
your business.
Floyd looks around wildly, but Silas remains hidden and
continues to subdue Butch.
CLYDE
(to Floyd)
Ain't no one there, bro. Come on, we're
done here?
The girl's moaning continues. Floyd takes the butt end of the
rifle and appears to smash the butt into the girl's body.
Silas, still viewing the scene from the gap under the truck,
sees blood speckles hit the dirt.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
Shit, man!.. She ain't in no state to be
tellin' no one nothin'.
FLOYD (O.S.)
And nothin's just what she's gonna be
tellin'... Get the bottle and cans, we're
outta here.
Butch whimpers as Silas, trying to get a better view, trips on
a small branch. Floyd, on hearing a noise, looks around.
FLOYD (CONT’D)
You hear that?.. I swear to God, I got me
the stench of human sweat...
(shouts)
Hey, nigga, boy! You out there, boy?
(to Clyde)
That nigga sharecropper, don't he live
round these parts?
CLYDE
Freeman?
FLOYD
That's him...
(shouts)
Freeman!.. You out there, boy?!..
Silas and Butch keep silent.
CLYDE
Ain't no one there, bro; come on, let's
get outta here.
Floyd suspiciously looks around again. They both get into the
truck and drive off.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
The Vanishing Innocence
EXT. CLEARING - CONTINUOUS
Stepping cautiously, Silas approaches the comatose body of
eight-year-old, Destiny Coleman, her face is barely
recognizable, her body twisted, bruised, and battered, her
bloodstained dress ripped and torn. Soiled, lying in the dirt,
her discarded panties.
SILAS
What they do to you, child.
Destiny unable to speak mumbles incoherently.
SILAS (CONT’D)
(screams)
Jeremiah!.. Where you at, boy? Your
child!.. She be defamed, man!..
(softly)
She be...
There is an eerie silence. He picks up the young child and
covers her with his sweat cloth.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Sweet Jesus, who would do this to a small
child?
He then heads into the woods toward the town of Greensborough.
INT. TRUCK - (TRAVELING) A LITTLE LATER
The redneck brothers stare out of the truck windows.
FLOYD
Turn it!
CLYDE
Huh?
FLOYD
Something ain't right.
Clyde turns the truck, and they drive back to the clearing to
find the Destiny missing.
FLOYD (CONT’D)
Fuck!..
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Confrontation in the Clearing
EXT. BUCKLEY TRAIL - WOODLAND - A SHORT TIME LATER
Floyd and Clyde, both carrying rifles, search around the
woods. They come to a clearing where Silas’s shack stands.
EXT. SILAS FREEMAN'S HOME/YARD - CONTINUOUS
Helaina is hanging washing. Clyde and Floyd walk into the
clearing. Floyd shouts.
FLOYD
Hey, woman!
Helaina turns.
MIND-FLASH: “The Hillsbro brothers slam the young Helaina
against the rear wall of the general store in an attempt to
molest her, she screams, beats on them, and runs off. The
brothers fall about laughing”
END MIND-FLASH:
CLYDE
Well. Lookee here, bro.
Helaina’s unmistakable contempt drives her.
HELAINA
Well, ain’t you a sight... They finally
let you out, yeah?..
FLOYD
Out, and ready to rock and roll.
HELAINA
Prison life don’t seem to have curbed
that macho posturin’.
CLYDE
Posturing?
(to Floyd)
The washerwoman’s still got some balls,
bro...
(to Helaina)
You wanna re-play, lady?
HELAINA
Gutter trash.
CLYDE
I’ll show you trash!
Clyde moves to strike Helaina. Floyd pulls him back.
FLOYD
Hold, bro... Lady, you seen a little
nigga girl wearin’ a blue dress?
Helaina panics. She screams!
HELAINA
Briny!.. Briny! Where are you child?
Briny!
Briny exits the shack, runs and clutches at Helaina’s dress.
HELAINA (CONT’D)
Oh, thank God.
Helaina then looks disparagingly at the brothers.
HELAINA (CONT’D)
Why you lookin’ for some child?
FLOYD
Ain’t none of your business, woman.
HELAINA
You boys better not be doin’ no
interferin’ with our young'uns.
CLYDE
You forgetting your manners, woman?..
Clyde, again, moves aggressively towards Helaina. Floyd
restrains him.
FLOYD
(to Helaina)
Don’t be fuckin’ with us! You got
knowledge, or ain’t ya?
HELAINA
Blue dress, with daisies on?
CLYDE
That’s it. You seen her?
HELAINA
No, I ain’t seen no one like that, but if
I had, I wouldn’t be sharin’ no knowledge
with you.
Helaina walks Briny towards the house, then turns.
HELAINA (CONT’D)
(to Floyd)
And you, boy. You need to go wash that
mouth of yourn.
Helaina and Briny hurry themselves into the house.
FLOYD
Fuck!
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
13 -
A Bloodied Arrival
EXT. WOODLAND/EDGE OF TOWN - GREENSBOROUGH - LATER
Silas emerges from the woods carrying Destiny’s body, his
washed-out dungarees, and unlaced boots covered in her blood.
Tears wash the dirt from his cheeks as he shuffles down the
center of Main Street towards the doctor’s office.
SUPER: “THE TOWN OF GREENSBOROUGH, ALABAMA”
a handful of traders and townsfolk emerge from various stores
as they witness the traumatized Silas.
TOWNSFOLK
(ad-libs)
Someone get the sheriff!.. String the
fucker up!.. What ya done to that little
girl, you black heathen!.. Etc.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - DUSK
The office is small and much of the available wall space is
covered with pictures of WYATT HIVES, the fifty-two-year-old
SHERIFF of Greensborough.
SCANNED CLOSE-UP OF PICTURES: “One as a kid in scouts uniform,
some in army uniform, some in army fatigues, a picture of him
at the police academy, at a medal presentation, family
portraits, and grandkids.”
The now rotund, and don’t take-no-shit sheriff, Wyatt, is with
his muscular, bespectacled, and fresh out of the police
academy, deputy BRAD HENRICK, (late 20s), and a middle-aged
spinster, JENNY, who sits at a desk checking paperwork.
A woman’s voice is heard.
WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)
Sheriff, Hives!.. Come quickly, there’s
some Negro out here, and I think he’s
killed a little girl!
Jenny looks out and sees Silas carrying a bloodied bundle
toward the doctor’s office.
JENNY
Wyatt, I think you should check this out.
Wyatt walks over to the window and looks out.
WYATT
Freeman?
JENNY
What the hell’s he carrying?.. It looks
like a small child.
WYATT
Jesus.
JENNY
I think it’s a girl; she’s covered in
blood.
WYATT
Brad, grab the hardware.
Brad goes to the wall, picks out two rifles from the gun rack,
and follows Wyatt out of the office.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
A Dark Revelation
EXT. GREENSBOROUGH TOWN/MAIN STREET - DUSK
Wyatt and Brad run up to the slow-walking and traumatized
Silas.
WYATT
Hold up there, Freeman, what ya toting?
Silas continues to walk silently. Wyatt attempts to remove the
sweatcloth.
SILAS
(angrily)
Don’t you dare think of touchin’ her!
She...
WYATT
(interrupting)
Take it easy, Freeman... Easy.
Wyatt removes the cloth to reveal the bloodied body of Destiny
with Silas his hands, clothing, and arms, all stained with her
blood.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Jesus!..
Brad reaches out.
BRAD
Here, Silas, let me take her.
Silas looks at Brad and appears to recognize him. He slowly
hands Destiny over. Brad takes the child and hurries towards
the doctor’s office.
WYATT
You got something you wanna tell me,
boy?..
Silas stands silently.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Boy!
SILAS
She be the sweetest little thing you ever
did see...
WYATT
Who the hell is she?
SILAS
She be defiled.
WYATT
Talk, boy, or you’re gonna be in some
deep shit.
Wyatt handcuffs Silas and leads him towards the jail.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Innocence in Question
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE/INTERVIEW ROOM - GREENSBOROUGH - LATER
Silas, still in a daze, sits as Wyatt attempts to interrogate
him. Jenny sits with a notepad.
SILAS
- struck her hard with the butt end...
What kind of animal does that to a little
girl?
WYATT
Think, man, what else did you see?
SILAS
Them boys sure was busy doin’ the devil’s
work.
WYATT
You don’t know who these boys were?
SILAS
Just heard voices, home-boy voices...
WYATT
Home-boy?.. Explain?
SILAS
Hillbilly, white man voices.
WYATT
You ain’t helpin’ yourself here,
Freeman...
Wyatt rises and turns to Jenny.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Jenny, run over to the doc’s and ask him
to come over here, will you?
JENNY
For?
WYATT
I want this man checked out --
fingernails, semen, saliva samples,
anything that can help exonerate him.
Jenny gets up; she smiles at Silas.
JENNY
It’s gonna be all right, you’ll see.
WYATT
Oh, and Jenny, see what we have on this,
Jeremiah Coleman.
Jenny exits. Wyatt stands looking at Silas.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Sorry, buddy, but I’ve gotta read you
your rights...
SILAS
I ain’t done nothin’, sheriff!
WYATT
No matter... Silas Freeman, I’m arresting
you on suspicion of abduction, assault,
and possible rape of Destiny Coleman;
anything you say may be...
SILAS
Sheriff, I ain’t done nothin’!
EXT. DOCTOR’S OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Brad and Jenny exit the office. Brad stops and scans the
Mandatory Report of Injuries. He turns to Jenny.
BRAD
Raped, defiled, and what looks like
double penetration.
JENNY
Dear God.
BRAD
She has substantial internal bleeding and
severe body injuries.
JENNY
Who could do this to a small child? They
should be castrated.
BRAD
Castrated?.. Castration’s too good for
these bastards.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Unraveling the Truth
INT. POLICE STATION/CELL - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas is escorted into the cell. He sits on the bunk as Brad
locks the cell door.
SILAS
I ain’t done nothing wrong, deputy.
BRAD
Silas, my old man was a cop, and his
father before him, and me... I come up
through the academy, and I’ve dealt with
thieves, murderers, and low-life wife
beaters my whole adult life. I get a
notion when someone is guilty, and it
ain’t you... Just hang while we check out
some leads.
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Wyatt sits on the edge of a desk. Brad enters.
BRAD
So, what do you think?.. You reckon
Freeman’s got something to hide?
Wyatt starts to scan the doctor’s report.
WYATT
The man’s a good man, no history, and
besides, him and the kid’s old man are
tight... Anything from the lab boys?
BRAD
Casts on boots, sizes 14, and 12.5. The
guys from the lab reckon they both wore
cowboy boots.
WYATT
That rules out Freeman.
BRAD
Plus, the truck’s axle spread appears to
be from an open-bed pickup with a 16"
tire pattern.
WYATT
And?
BRAD
The Hillsbro's have a Ford open-bed.
Wyatt picks up his hat and sunglasses.
WYATT
Then it’s time we had a chat with them,
boys.
BRAD
Amen to that.
INT. POLICE STATION/CELL - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas watches from the cell window as Wyatt and Brad cross
Main Street towards Smokin’ Joe’s Bar.
EXT. SMOKIN' JOE'S BAR - DAY
Parked out front, close to the bar’s entrance, is the
Hillsbro's truck. Brad checks out the flatbed and finds,
trapped between the hinge and the flatbed’s flap, a tiny piece
of blue dress. He shows it to Wyatt.
BRAD
What do you reckon?
Wyatt and Brad conduct a further inspection of the truck.
Wyatt kneels and extracts some mud from the tire tread.
WYATT
You reckon this is from the Berkley
Trail?
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Crude Encounters at Smokin' Joe's
INT. SMOKIN’ JOE’S SALOON - GREENSBOROUGH - NIGHT
The bar is busy with the usual locals. Most are intoxicated
and shout suggestive taunts at the two well-endowed servers,
Mandy and Ellen. Both wear skimpy cut-off denim shorts and
crop tops; they deliver beers while dealing with taunts from
various REDNECKS.
REDNECK #1
(offering up a beer jug)
Reckon you can fill ’er up from them,
crack-munchin’ shorts, Mand?..
MANDY
Fuck you, Bob!
Another redneck stands, protrudes his crotch, and shouts.
REDNECK #2
You got the lungs to blow a tune on this
hard-on, baby?..
ELLEN
Ain’t no one got a tune out of that old
thing since you rode out the clap, Henry.
Everyone laughs.
CUSTOMER #1
Two more beers, Mand!
MANDY
Comin’ up!
The girls wait by the bar servery as Floyd and Clyde enter the
bar from the men’s room. They move to the bar’s revolving bar
stools. Floyd shouts to TOBY, the bartender.
FLOYD
Hey, Tob, set up some cold ones and a
couple of shots.
TOBY
Comin’ up.
Toby pulls the beers and fills two shot glasses with Wild
Turkey. The brothers hit the shots and start to chug on the
beers.
CLYDE
(to Toby)
And again, bro.
Toby pours shots from a bottle. The brothers hit the shots.
TOBY
(to Clyde)
You hear about the kid the sharecropper
brought in?
CLYDE
Sharecropper?
TOBY
Silas Freeman.
Clyde looks at Floyd and smirks.
FLOYD
What about it?
TOBY
Little girl, reckon she’d been raped,
beaten, and left for dead, there holding
Freeman on suspicion.
The brothers hit the shots.
FLOYD
Ain’t none so good as justice, ay, bro.
Clyde looks over to the end of the bar.
CLYDE
Could do some real damage to that blond
bitch.
(shouts)
Hey Mandy...
MANDY
Clyde.
CLYDE
(shouts)
Got me the time and inclination, honey?
MANDY
(shouts back)
In ya dreams, dreamer! I need a real man,
not a boy.
FLOYD
Forget it, bro, she’d eat you alive.
CLYDE
That’s kinda what I had in mind.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Confrontation at Smokin' Joe's
INT. SMOKIN’ JOE’S - CONTINUOUS
Wyatt and Brad enter and move over to Floyd and Clyde. Floyd,
just about to hit a shot, has the glass knocked out of his
hand by Wyatt.
FLOYD
What the?..
(sees it’s the sheriff)
What’s your fuckin’ problem, filth?
(to, Toby)
Toby set up another, would ya, seems like
the sheriff here got some kind of flea up
his ass.
WYATT
You know anything about a little girl
that’s been messed with?
Clyde spins around on his stool.
CLYDE
Well, now sheriff, me and my good lookin’
brother, here, have messed with a whole
bunch of pretty little girlies. You got
anyone in mind?
WYATT
I’m gonna need you boys to come to the
office; we got some parleying to do.
FLOYD
Ain’t up for no hoedown today, Wyatt.
Guess you’re gonna have to dance alone...
The brothers, both laughing, spin back on their stools to face
the bar. Brad spins Clyde back around.
BRAD
You find this funny, you fuckin’ lowlife!
CLYDE/FLOYD
Wooo...
CLYDE
Billy-Law, lookin’ to start a war with us
law-abiding citizens, deputy?
Clyde starts to stare out Brad.
BRAD
Fucking gutter trash!
CLYDE
Partner, you gotta big mouth.
Brad grabs Clyde by his hair and smashes his face into the
bar, breaking his nose.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
What the fuck!
FLOYD
(to Wyatt)
Call off your bloodhound, sheriff.
CLYDE
My fuckin’ nose, man.
Floyd shouts to the bartender.
FLOYD
Toby, two more shots.
BRAD
What size boots do you wear, shithead?
FLOYD
Big enough to kick your skinny butt, boy!
Brad drags Floyd off the stool and cuffs him.
WYATT
Okay, move it.
CLYDE
Fuck you!
Wyatt cuffs Clyde. Floyd, covered in blood, capitulates.
FLOYD
Whoa, fuckin’ whoa up there, boy!.. Baby
steps, we is comin’ peaceful.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Tensions at the Dinner Table
EXT. FREEMAN’S HOME - ALABAMA - NIGHT
Brad, driving a police car, pulls up to the shack, and Silas
gets out. He stands and watches as the police car backs out,
shakes his head, turns, and enters the shack.
EXT. FREEMAN’S HOME - ALABAMA - NIGHT
The family, over supper, discuss Destiny’s abduction.
HELAINA
- did the sheriff say anything else?
SILAS
Just not to leave town.
HELAINA
It’s a cryin’ shame. Who could do
something like that to a poor child?
SILAS
Any word from Jeremiah?
HELAINA
Jeremiah says she still driftin’ in and
out. He says, the Doc say, she’s lucky to
be alive... You think I should go talk to
the sheriff?
SILAS
I don’t want you involved, woman.
HELAINA
But I seen them boys comin’ out of the
woods, I knew them boys from way back,
baby, they was always riling me and my
friends tryin’ to touch us and tryin’ to
look up our skirts.
Moses interjects.
MOSES
Pa... I want to become a trial lawyer.
Silas, looks up, confused.
SILAS
HUH?.. You lost your mind, boy?
MOSES
Never been clearer, Pa.
SILAS
Court lawyerin’?
MOSES
Yes, Pa.
SILAS
(bewildered)
Get your head straight, boy. How you
gonna become a lawyer?.. You got any idea
the learnin’ that’s involved? Years of
long-hard study, hardships, and toil.
MOSES
I got a powerful will, Pa.
SILAS
Willin’ and wantin’ ain’t enough, boy.
Were you think we get the money for this
lawyerin’?
Silas looks at Helaina who holds up her hands.
HELAINA
Nothin’ to do with me.
SILAS
Who put this notion in your head?
MOSES
(excitedly)
I watched Lawyer Hobart in court.
SILAS
Lawyer Hobart?.. What court?
MOSES
District Court, Pa, he was lawyerin’, and
I just sat there hangin’ on every word as
he argued this woman’s case... Pa, I
gotta tell you, the whole thing was
something powerful. Court lawyerin’s what
I gotta do.
SILAS
Did lawyer Hobart put you up to this?
MOSES
Pa!..
Helaina interjects.
HELAINA
(to Silas)
Baby, Jeremiah came by earlier; he was
askin’ if you’d thought any more about
Destiny’s attackers.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Defiance in the Interrogation Room
INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Clyde sits, his chair leaning against the wall and his feet on
the table. He defiantly hums "The Battle Hymn of the
Republic."
Wyatt enters and paces. He kicks Clyde's chair legs, causing
the chair to collapse. Wyatt pulls him up aggressively, and
slaps him three times around the head, before shoving him back
into the chair.
CLYDE
What the fuck!.. Whoa!..
(taking another slap)
Fuckin’ whoa up there, sheriff, you’ll
fire up that hernia of yourn.
WYATT
You got a smart mouth, boy. And it’s
gonna get you in a whole heap of trouble.
CLYDE
Just concernin’ bout your health,
sheriff.
WYATT
You wanna talk about mutilation and
desecration of a child’s body?
Clyde rubs his reddened face.
CLYDE
Like I said, this shit ain’t got nothin’
to do with me.
WYATT
Boy... If she chokes, you’re looking at
the chair.
CLYDE
Sheriff, ain’t no way you walk me to Old
Sparky?
Wyatt slaps him again.
WYATT
You still Klan, boy?
CLYDE
(beat)
Klan?.. You look like you’re speakin’,
sheriff, but I ain’t hearin’ you.
WYATT
The Ku Klux, shithead.
CLYDE
Can’t afford the sheets... Sheriff, you
got nothin’, so unless you wanna sit here
jawin’ all day. Pull the plug or charge
me.
Clyde attempts to get up, but Wyatt pushes him down again.
WYATT
Your brother already confirmed that you
were out there.
Clyde laughs and leans into Wyatt.
CLYDE
You’ve been reading too many of them,
“Who Done It” comics, Sheriff. Floyd
ain’t said diddly. We ain’t never been
to, or seen, no Buckley Trail.
Wyatt shouts.
WYATT
Brad!
Clyde gets up to leave, but Wyatt again stops him.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Stay within the town’s boundaries, you
hear me, boy?
CLYDE
Loud and clear sheriff. You stay safe
now, you hear?
Clyde nudges past Brad and exits.
BRAD
Asshole...
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
A Grief Unbound
EXT. JEREMIAH COLEMAN’S HOME - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas rides old Beth bareback into Jeremiah’s yard, dismounts,
and climbs up the three steps of the front entry porch and
joins Jeremiah on a swing seat.
JEREMIAH
Silas.
SILAS
How you hangin’, boy?
Jeremiah appearing in suspended animation, is rambling
incoherently.
JEREMIAH
Can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t function,
Silas. I mean, where’s Mary, she was
here, but now I can’t find her.
(his voice quibbles)
Where is Mary...
(angrily)
Where the fuck is my Mary? I told that
woman, DO NOT DIE ON ME, Do not...
SILAS
Buddy, she’s gone.
JEREMIAH
This would never have happened if she had
JUST listened to me!
SILAS
Jeremiah, don’t do this to yourself.
JEREMIAH
You know we lost four babies, all boys,
all stillborn. Destiny was our fifth and
only by the grace of God did she survived
-- a gift from God, Mary said, that’s why
we called her Destiny... Destiny, was our
destiny.
SILAS
Come on, I’ll help you get through this.
Jeremiah, still in a daze.
JEREMIAH
Silas... Where are his angels? Angels who
should have protected my little baby from
bein’ mutalated; what happened to the
Lord’s love and protection?
He stands and looks to the heavens.
JEREMIAH (CONT’D)
God!.. Empathy!.. You take the only good
thing I have?
(screams)
Silas, do he really exist?!
He breaks down and sobs.
JEREMIAH (CONT’D)
Come on, man. Come on. Ain’t no life for
that little girl, Silas... Them
nightmares, they ain’t never gonna
stop... Ain’t no chance of her producin’
no young’uns. Who’s gonna want her now?
SILAS
Any more from the sheriff?
JEREMIAH
Nah, nowhere.
SILAS
You planning personal retribution?
JEREMIAH
Don’t see me, no other way.
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
Tension at the Station
INT. POLICE STATION - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas enters and walks up to the front desk. Deputy Brad is
checking through some paperwork. He looks up.
BRAD
Silas.
SILAS
Deputy.
BRAD
What can I do for you?
SILAS
What’s happenin’ with the Destiny Coleman
case.
BRAD
Look, Silas, a whole bunch of people
feels Coleman’s pain, but we can’t talk
about an ongoing investigation.
SILAS
But you have information?
BRAD
Some, but it’s mostly circumstantial.
SILAS
And them brothers?
BRAD
Water-tight alibis.
Silas stands silent before addressing Brad again.
SILAS
Trouble’s comin’, deputy... Lotta hurt in
the community; ain’t no one gonna let
this violation slide.
BRAD
Are you threatening the law, Freeman?
SILAS
Deputy, me and mine, we law-abidin’, God-
fearin’ folk, we just want justice...
Silas makes to exit, his voice menacing.
SILAS (CONT’D)
You take care now.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Frustration and Determination
EXT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - LATER THAT DAY
Wyatt and Brad exit the office and sit looking out over the
town.
BRAD
So?
WYATT
Fuckin’ losers... Anything?
BRAD
No, no one’s saying nothin’, seems like
the whole town’s clammed up... Any joy on
the kid’s testimony?
WYATT
She has no recollection of events.
BRAD
Freeman?
WYATT
You think his testimony’s gonna stand up
against the brothers in an Alabama court?
BRAD
So, that’s it? The bastards get away with
it?
WYATT
No fuckin’ way, we go to trial.
Brad spots Silas and Moses as they walk toward Hobart’s
office.
BRAD
Why’s he lawyering up?
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
A Private Consultation
INT. JAKE HOBART/ATTORNEY AT LAW/OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Silas, accompanied by Moses, enters the office. He takes off
his hat and addresses the receptionist, MARY.
SILAS
Excuse me, Miss, I’d like to see Lawyer
Hobart.
MARY
Your name?
SILAS
Silas Freeman, and this here, boy, is my
son, Moses.
MARY
May I ask what it’s concerning?
SILAS
It’s a private matter.
MARY
Hold on.
Mary gets up and crosses to a door. The lettering on the glass
panel reads. “JAKE HOBART, CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER AND
ATTORNEY AT LAW”. She enters and closes the door. A few
seconds later, she reemerges.
MARY (CONT’D)
This way.
SILAS
Moses, wait here.
MOSES
Yes, Pa.
Mary opens the door, and Silas enters.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
A Father's Hope
INT. HOBART’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Hobart is sifting through some paperwork. The office is piled
high with ledgers and files.
HOBART
Mr. Freeman, please.
(gestures to the chair)
How may I help you? Sit, sit.
Silas sits.
HOBART (CONT’D)
Silas Freeman... You don’t happen to be
the Silas Freeman at the center of the
Hillsbro case, do you?
SILAS
I do, sir.
HOBART
How interesting! I have been following
the proceedings with great interest...
I’m sorry, I digress. How can I help you?
SILAS
I come about my son, sir; he wants to be
a lawyer.
HOBART
Very commendable. Does he have a name?
SILAS
Moses, sir.
HOBART
A fine name, but Mr. Freeman, with
respect -- what has this got to do with
me?
SILAS
Well, seeing as how he take his cue from
you, and you is the only lawyer around
these parts. I was wondering if you
couldn’t take the boy and show him how to
become a lawyer.
Hobart sits back in his chair and chuckles.
HOBART
Who’s put you up to this?
SILAS
Sir?
HOBART
Tom Thrower? He sent you here with this
ridiculous request, didn’t he?
SILAS
I don’t know no Tom Thrower, sir, and
this ain’t no joke. My boy wants to
become a lawyer, so who better to teach
him but a lawyer?
HOBART
Mr. Freeman, this is...
Silas reaches into his jacket and pulls out a wad of crumpled-
up notes.
SILAS
I got me money, sir, look...
Silas offers the money to Hobart.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Sir, there’s fifty dollars here. My good
lady wife and me, we scrimped and saved
for more than three years to accumulated
fifty dollars. We went without and
sacrificed for this money, sir, vowing to
do something nice for our children. We
both agreed that this was it.
Hobart starts to organize the money.
HOBART
And this is the sum total of three years
of hard savings?
SILAS
Yes, sir; we had hard times, sometimes
went without food, but save we did... So,
can you teach the boy?
Hobart sits back again, pondering.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Sir?
HOBART
How old is your son?
SILAS
Just turned fifteen, sir.
HOBART
Is he bright?
SILAS
Bright as a shiny button.
HOBART
Where is the boy?
SILAS
He’s outside.
Hobart shouts to Mary.
HOBART
Mary!.. Bring in the boy, will you?
Mary comes in with Moses.
HOBART (CONT’D)
(to Moses)
Sit down, boy.
Moses sits.
HOBART (CONT’D)
Your father advises me that you wish to
be a lawyer.
MOSES
Yes, sir.
HOBART
And when did this idea pop into your
head?
MOSES
When I saw you defending Hilary Rufus on
that attempted murder charge, sir.
HOBART
And how would you know of this case?
MOSES
I snuck into the back of the court every
day for the five days of the trial.
Hobart sits back in his chair.
HOBART
You astound me, boy, pray tell?
MOSES
I was delivering a parcel to the
courthouse and overheard you addressing
the jury...
GREENSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT - ALABAMA - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Hobart is completing his opening to the jury. Moses occupies a
seat at the rear of the public gallery; his focus and
attentiveness appear steadfast as Hobart proceeds with his
discourse.
HOBART
- and I ask you, jury members, is it, or
is it not beyond your comprehension that
the district attorney's office would
bring this poorly crafted miscarriage of
justice? A blatantly abuse of the
judicial system, and I...
Hobart discourse fades.
CLOSE-UP: “MOSES’S FACE”
MOSES (O.S.)
When I saw the way you held them jurors
with the story of her battered life and
the way she had been abused, I cried,
sir. You had them in the palm of your
hand. It was then that I decided I wanted
to be like you.
END FLASHBACK:
BACK TO SCENE.
Genres:
["Drama","Legal"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
A Chance for Change
INT. HOBART’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Hobart is impressed with Moses’s enthusiasm.
HOBART
Very commendable.
SILAS
So, when can he start?
HOBART
(chuckles)
Oh, if it were only that simple... Mr.
Freeman... There is a considerable cost
attributed to a student becoming a
lawyer. Many years of study, plus the
purchase and reading of books,
university, the bar exams -- the cost in
time and finance is immeasurable.
SILAS
Well, you have our fifty dollars.
HOBART
My friend, it would take many thousands
of dollars to...
SILAS
Whoa, sir!! We ain’t got no thousands of
dollars, sir, we...
HOBART
I’m sorry... I’m afraid this is an
impossible dream.
SILAS
What if I give you every cent we can save
for the next twenty years?
Hobart sits silent for a few seconds.
HOBART
The Saints preserve us... Mr. Freeman,
against my better judgement.
(shouts)
Mary!
Mary enters.
HOBART (CONT’D)
Take this young man to Claude’s and get
him some decent clothing. Tell Claude to
put the costs on my account.
MARY
Yes, sir.
HOBART
Oh, and Mary...
MARY
Yes, sir?
HOBART
Starting Monday of next week, the boy
will work in here with me. He can start
by going through all of these files. Oh,
I presume you can read, boy?
MOSES
That I can, sir.
HOBART
Are you ready to work long and hard?
MOSES
Oh, yes, sir! Thank you, sir!
Silas gets up and goes to shake Hobart’s hand. Hobart picks up
the fifty dollars and places it in Silas’s hand.
HOBART
Use this money wisely for your family.
This boy will be my protégé. I have no
children; maybe one day he’ll be able to
start his own practice.
SILAS
God will be looking over you, sir. Thank
you!
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Courtroom Tensions
INT. GREENSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT - ALABAMA - DAY
Floyd and Clyde Hillsbro have been indicted for the kidnap,
rape, and aggravated assault of Destiny Coleman. They are sat
at the prosecution desk as a very young, PUBLIC DEFENDER
completes his opening statement.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
(to Judge)
-- and that, sir, is a very important
part of our...
JUDGE
Councilor, you must address your opening
to the jury, not the judge.
Clyde whispers to Floyd.
CLYDE
Fuckin’ loser.
PUBLIC DEFENDER
Apologies, Your Honor...
(to jurors)
Members of the jury, the defendants,
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro, are innocent,
and the circumstantial evidence the DA
will soon be presenting is fanciful and
far from convincing. His star witness, a
man of diminishing dementia appears to be
on the missing list and the independent
motorcar engineer now disputes his own
evidence... It is beyond my comprehension
why this case has even been brought... We
ask that you bring in a verdict of "Not
Guilty" on all charges.
MOVING FORWARD TO:
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Verdict of Freedom
INT. GREENSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT - ALABAMA - DAY
The case, now in its third day, and closing statements
concluded, the JURY returns.
CLERK
All rise.
The JUDGE enters and takes his seat.
JUDGE
Members of the jury, have you reached a
verdict, and if so, is it one you are all
agreed on?
FOREMAN
It is, Your Honor.
The foreman hands the CLERK the judgment, the clerk hands the
folded paper to the judge. The judge unfolds the judgment.
CLERK
Will the defendants rise?
The defence team and the Hillsbro's start to rise.
Wyatt rushes in from the courts rear doors, and moves to the
DA’s desk. He whispers to the DA.
DA
One moment, Your Honor.
(to Wyatt)
I’m not convinced, sheriff.
WYATT
Just do it.
DA
Very well.
The DA rises and addresses the judge.
DA (CONT’D)
If I may, Your Honor...
JUDGE
Councilor... This better be good.
DA
It’s unconventional.
JUDGE
I suggest you get on with it then.
DA
Your Honor, based on the redacted
statement from the automobile expert, and
the disappearance of our star witness,
the people wish to withdraw the
indictment.
The brothers smile as the defense lawyer looks on confused.
JUDGE
Is the prosecution attempting to try my
patience?
DA
No, Your Honor.
JUDGE
You wish to explain yourselves?
WYATT
Sir, we have decided, after additional
analysis, that the majority of the
evidence offered appears to be
inconclusive, circumstantial, and lacking
in substance. As a result, the
prosecution desires to reserve its rights
while sincerely apologizing for wasting
the court's time.
JUDGE
This is unprecedented, counselor. Very
well.
(to the Hillsbro's)
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro, against my
better judgment, you are now free to go.
The case being dismissed without
prejudice.
The brothers hug the defense lawyer.
FLOYD
(shouts)
I told ya, ain’t no white man goin’ to
jail for no nigga bullshit today!
CLYDE
(screams)
Yes!
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
A Verdict of Despair
INT. GREENSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT/PUBLIC GALLERY - CONTINUOUS
Silas and Jeremiah are sat at the rear of the courtroom. They
watch as Floyd and Clyde walk past to exit the court. The
brothers smile as they look at Jeremiah.
FLOYD
Justice is served, ay, friend.
JEREMIAH
(screams)
Justice!
Jeremiah tries to jump over Silas to get to the brothers but
is prevented by Silas.
CLYDE
You need to put that fireball on a leash;
he could get hurt.
Silas and Jeremiah are left alone in the courtroom. Jeremiah
sits with his face cupped in his hands and weeps. Silas tries
to console him. Jeremiah turns to Silas.
JEREMIAH
So, that’s it?
SILAS
Looks that way.
The sheriff reenters and walks over to Jeremiah.
WYATT
Hey, I’m sorry, Coleman.
JEREMIAH
You done a bad thing here today, sheriff.
WYATT
What was done here was to ensure that we
can return to trial if we can acquire
additional evidence.
JEREMIAH
We could have got the verdict.
WYATT
No, the judge was going to declare, "Not
Guilty," and if that had been the court's
decision, there would have been no legal
means to bring these two bastards to
justice. You must grasp this. I
apologize.
Wyatt exits the court.
JEREMIAH
So, this is whitey’s justice? They got
away with defiling my little girl?
SILAS
Give it time.
JEREMIAH
Ain’t got me no time.
Silas and Jeremiah exit.
INT. GREENSBOROUGH COUNTY COURT/JUDGES STAND - LATER
Hobart walks into the courtroom to retrieve certain documents.
As he approaches the judges' stand to gather some exhibits, he
notices the folded verdict paper. He picks it up and reads.
CLOSE-UP ON WRITTEN VERDICT: “GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS.”
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Retribution at Hillsbro's Garage
INT. HILLSBRO'S GARAGE/UNDER TRUCK - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Unaware of any imminent danger, Floyd shouts.
FLOYD
Be right with you, boys.
After a few seconds Floyd slides out from under the truck.
Floyd, on seeing Jeremiah brandishing the shotgun immediately
slides back under the truck. Jeremiah kicks away one of the
trucks jack’s. The truck falls, leaving Floyd close to being
pinned under the truck’s chassis. He shouts.
FLOYD (O.S.)
Clyde!..
(to Jeremiah)
What is it that you boys want?
Jeremiah raises the shotgun.
JEREMIAH (O.S.)
Retribution!
FLOYD
Retribution!.. What the fuck are you
talkin’ about?
Jeremiah raises the shotgun, Floyd slides out from the side of
the truck and dives behind. Jeremiah fires both barrels.
Clyde enters from the office armed with a rifle and shouts.
CLYDE
What’s yer problem? Drop it, or I’ll take
your friggin’ head off.
INT. HILLSBRO'S GARAGE - CONTINUOUS
Jeremiah looks up to Clyde.
JEREMIAH
My problem, man? My Destiny is the
problem!
CLYDE
Destiny, fuckin’ what?
FLOYD
The black kid.
CLYDE
What?.. You got yourselves a beef, boy,
go see the sheriff?.. Anyway, the case
was thrown out.
(shouts)
I said, drop it!
Jeremiah lays down the weapon, then moves forward, his arms
stretched. He looks to the heavens.
JEREMIAH
Vengeance will be mine, and I will exact
severe revenge on those who commit
atrocities against my house... The
transgressors will...”
CLYDE
(interrupting)
Ain’t no God gonna be helping you here
today, boy.
FLOYD
Yeah, you threatenin’ on us, nigga?
JEREMIAH
The Good Lord will bring me justice and
closure.
Silas and Jeremiah make to exit.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Frustration and Freedom
INT. POLICE STATION/HOLDING CELL - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Clyde paces the eight by eight cell. Floyd lies on a bunk.
Clyde shouts.
CLYDE
What the fuck! Holdin’ us for drunk and
disorderly? Shit, man, we was just
joshin’ with them spooks.
Clyde bangs on the bars.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
Come on Hives, let us out!..
(to Floyd)
You reckon the nigga tried to finger us?
FLOYD
Sure looks that way.
CLYDE
We need to hush that boy’s mouth.
Brad comes and unlocks the cell door.
BRAD
Okay, out; you’re free to go.
FLOYD
Huh?
BRAD
Your bail’s been paid.
CLYDE
By who?
BRAD
Some hotshot lawyer from Montgomery.
Clyde turns to Floyd.
CLYDE
Ya see bro. There truly is a God.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Confrontation in the Mayor's Office
INT. CITY HALL HUNTSVILLE/MAYORS OFFICE - DAY
Seen from the MAYOR’S POV as he sits at his desk. Clyde and
Floyd sit facing the Mayor.
MAYOR
- your vile perversions and abominations
could have destroyed the organization?
FLOYD
Ain’t no way that was gonna happen, sir.
We had it covered.
The Mayor, threateningly.
MAYOR
Covered!.. You imbecilic hick! You defile
a child then bring disgrace on our
organization and...
CLYDE
(arrogantly)
Hey, you threatenin’ me? HUH?.. Shit
happens, okay.
The Mayor sits forward in his chair.
MAYOR
Shit happens!.. This was an orgy of
depravity! Unnecessary and unprovoked?
FLOYD
Look, sir, we had ourselves a party, got
drunk, and had some fun with some black
kid. What the hell... She ain’t dead.
MAYOR
And you guarantee they have no tangible
proof connecting the attack to the
organization?
CLYDE
Nah, the sheriff’s fumbling around in the
dark.
The mayor sits back in his chair.
MAYOR
All right, I’m going to sanction your
request, but make sure there are no
witnesses. And gentlemen... Make waves at
your peril.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
Night of Terror
INT. SILAS FREEMAN’S HOME - GREENSBOROUGH - NIGHT
The Freeman family sit eating. The sound of horses' hooves and
horses whinnying can be heard.
SILAS
Sounds like a stamped.
HELAINA
Ain’t no herds around these parts?
Silas rises and crosses to the door as Butch starts barking. A
flaming torch smashes' through the window and lands at the
base of the bed. Helaina, huddles the younger children
together.
SILAS
(to Moses)
Fetch my gun, boy!
The sound of horses whinnying and men shouting terrifies
Helaina and the children.
MAN’S VOICE (O.S.)
(screams)
Freeman!.. Get yer black ass out here
where we can see ya!
Moses runs to the chimney stack and takes down both rifles,
then runs and hands one to Silas. He stands defiantly next to
his father.
SILAS
What’s your plan, boy?
MOSES
Gonna stand with you, Pa.
SILAS
Not today, boy, you go look after your
brother and sister.
Silas shouts to Helaina.
SILAS (CONT’D)
Helaina, get the kids into the storm
shelter.
Helaina pulls back a rug revealing a trap door that leads down
some rickety steps to a deep shelter. She hurries the children
down, closes the hatch and covers the flap with a rug.
Silas fully opens the door just as a flaming projectile flies
through the open door and lands on the floor by the table. The
flames soon spread to the rest of the dwelling.
Silas moves to the porch. He sees a bunch of hooded men, all
on horseback wearing white robes, all carrying rifles. Some
carry lit torches.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
Night of Terror
EXT. SILAS FREEMAN’S HOME/YARD - CONTINUOUS
Silas is lassoed and dragged through the dirt to the front of
the shack, where a large oak tree stands. Two men get off
their horses and hog-tie him, put a noose around his neck, and
throws the end of the rope over a tree branch.
They haul him two feet off the ground, tie off the rope, and
stand back laughing. Butch is barking, a Klansman shoots him.
The rest of the horsemen continue to throw torches into the
shack, resulting in an inferno.
INT. FREEMAN’S HOME/STORM SHELTER - CONTINUOUS
The Freeman children sit huddled together in the darkness, the
only light, a small candle. Black smoke seeps through the gaps
around the trap door.
MOSES
I gotta see what’s goin’ down. You two
stay here...
JEREMIAH
No, I wanna come!
MOSES
No, Jeremiah, stay.
BRINY
Moses, don’t leave, I’m frightened.
MOSES
Stay strong, and remember what Pa always
told us. “We have strength in numbers, so
God, in his wisdom, will guard our
lives”, yes?
Moses starts to crawl through the escape tunnel.
BRINY
(shouts)
Moses!.. Be careful!
Helaina, carrying a kitchen knife, runs across the yard and
tries to cut the hanging rope. A dismounted rider grabs her,
rips off the top of her dress, and starts to grab at her
breasts. He then puts his hand into her undergarments, before
the second man throws her to the dirt, and starts to urinate
on her.
EXT. FREEMAN'S HOME/TREES - CONTINUOUS
Moses, who is hiding in a clump of trees, views the ongoing
carnage. Tears run down his cheeks as he hears his mother
scream.
INT. SILAS FREEMAN’S HOME/YARD - CONTINUOUS
Another man on horseback rides up and shoots Helaina in the
side of the head. The dismounted rider removes his hood. The
rider, Clyde Hillsbro.
CLYDE
(shouts)
Brother!?..
Floyd removes his hood.
FLOYD
We’re done here! On to the Coleman place.
Both men mount, and all the riders ride off.
INT. FREEMAN’S HOME/STORM SHELTER - LATER
The shelter is filled with thick black smoke. Jeremiah and
Briny sit in the fetal position; both are dead.
EXT. JEREMIAH COLEMAN'S YARD - NIGHT
In the distance, silhouetted in the light of a full moon,
Jeremiah Coleman’s body can just be seen as it hangs from a
branch of a tree. The house is ablaze. At his feet, sobbing
uncontrollably is his daughter, Destiny.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Defiance in the Face of Hatred
INT. SHERIFF'S OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - ALABAMA - DAY
Wyatt, Jenny, and Brad discuss the Freeman and Coleman
atrocities and the possibility of motive.
WYATT
- if it don’t make sense -
Wyatt is agitated as he attempts to swat a fly.
WYATT (CONT’D)
- then it’s Klan. God help me, it’s Klan.
JENNY
But motive?.. Revenge, sport?
BRAD
More like protection some kind of
hierarchy?
WYATT
(shouts)
Protection! Bigoted motherfuckers... They
think they can take my town! I’m the
frigging law!
(to Brad)
Go fetch the Freeman kid, let’s walk him
round town, see if he can identify any of
the riders.
BRAD
It could put the kid in danger.
WYATT
Cuff him; it’ll appear like we’re pulling
him in.
INT. MAIN STREET - GREENSBOROUGH ALABAMA - DAY
Wyatt and Brad escort Moses through the town his hands are
handcuffed behind his back.
WYATT
(to Brad)
Let’s get him into Smokin Joe’s.
Just as the are about to cross to the bar, Clyde exits the
general store holding a bag of groceries. He looks at the
sheriff walking Moses, then puts the bags into the truck,
looks again at Moses.
CLYDE
Got yourself a culprit, Wyatt?
WYATT
What’s it to ya, boy!
Clyde laughs, then gets into the truck, and drives off.
WYATT (CONT’D)
Moses?
MOSES
I ain’t sure, sheriff; maybe he’s one; it
was dark.
They continue walking through town, receiving inflammatory
comments from various storekeepers and passersby.
A gunshot is heard. Wyatt, Brad and Moses dive behind a truck
that is parked outside Smokin’ Joe’s.
Floyd, carrying a rifle, exits the bar and stands on the
boardwalk with some, GOOD OLD BOYS.
WYATT
You want I should string up the nigga-
boy, sheriff or, maybe, plug him where he
stands?
The good old boys shout comments.
GOB’s
(ad-libs)
Wyatt?.. Be happy to lynch the bastard...
Lock him up, sheriff... Yeah, and throw
away the key!.. Wyatt, ya think he was
the one that done ‘em?..
Wyatt threateningly.
WYATT
You bunch of bleedin’ hearts! Ya drink
all day, get drunk, and got nothin’ in
your hearts but hate and bigotry. This
kids family just got slaughtered and all
you can do is stand there shouting for a
lynchin’?..
FLOYD
Shit happens, Wyatt.
WYATT
Is that right? Well, I will personally
drill anyone who comes close to this
prisoner and the Devil take the
consequences!
Floyd and the good old boys, mumbling, return to Smokin’
Joe’s.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
36 -
Vows of Vengeance
EXT. FREEMAN’S HOME - GREENSBOROUGH - ALABAMA - DAY
Moses stands by the tree where his father was hanged. He falls
to his knees and looks up. Tears fill his eyes as he speaks.
MOSES
Papa, I will extract vengeance on those
who committed this reprehensible act,
even if it costs me my life. This is my
promise: whoever committed this atrocity
will meet the most tyrannical
retribution.
He continues weeping. The Sheriff parked up. Crosses to Moses
and assists him up.
WYATT
Son, all you got in your heart is hate,
vengeance, and a sackful of grief... Come
on. I’ll take you to Agatha’s, she’ll
give you room and board for a spell.
Moses, gathering his composure, crosses and climbs into the
car.
INT. ATTORNEY AT LAW/JAKE HOBART’S OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Sheriff and Hobart sit discussing Moses.
WYATT
- so, that’s about it, Jake. The kid’s
got no one, and boarding at Agatha’s is
destroying his will.
Hobart crosses to the window and looks out.
HOBART
How the hell did I get myself involved in
this?..
WYATT
You got the option to say no.
HOBART
(turns)
No good deed, ay, Wyatt?
WYATT
Socrates?..
HOBART
(chuckles)
Oscar Wild although it might as well have
been Socrates.
WYATT
Sounds to me like you’re planning a good
Samaritan deed?
HOBART
You know, apart from the color of his
skin, the lad could easily have been my
son. A good temperament, unbelievably
bright and ambitious. I care a great deal
for him and wish to see him succeed.
WYATT
So?
There is a silence.
HOBART
Against my better judgment... Go and get
the boy.
Genres:
["Drama","Crime","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
A Mentor's Pride
INT. HOBART'S OFFICE - DAY
Hobart sits at his desk as Moses inserts folders into a filing
cabinet.
SUPER: “THREE INFORMATIVE YEARS HAVE PASSED”
HOBART
Moses, come over and sit.
Hobart examines a collage report.
HOBART (CONT’D)
Son, if the last three years have taught
me anything, it's that I have no idea
what I was doing before you joined the
practice.
MOSES
(chuckles)
It’s been a joy, sir.
HOBART
This has been a very interesting period,
my boy. Moses, I hold a college report
that implies you have tremendous
promise... My boy, I am very proud of
you.
MOSES
Thank you, sir, I’ve enjoyed the work.
HOBART
Moses, I’ve spoken to the Dean at
Fordham...
MOSES
Fordham, sir?
HOBART
The university, it’s my old alma mater.
You’ve been booked in on a five-year law
course, once you graduated we’ll look at
you taking the Alabama Bar Exam.
MOSES
Whoa! Thank you, sir.
HOBART
And Moses -
(exasperated)
- if it’s your intention to become a
trial lawyer, you’ll have to address your
speech.
MOSES
I’ve been working on that, sir..
Moses takes on the stance of an English barrister, struts the
room, and speaks in an English court.
MOSES (CONT’D)
Behold.
Speaks with an educated British voice.
MOSES (CONT’D)
Undoubtedly, you will find my work
satisfactory, sir. You shall receive
notice of my firms services by the
morrows post...
Back to normal.
MOSES (CONT’D)
How do you think this might transcribe,
sir?
HOBART
Immeasurable.
Moses hugs Hobart.
HOBART (CONT’D)
I’m proud of you, my boy.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Under the Oak: A Conversation on Identity
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/CAMPUS LAWNS - ALABAMA - DAY
Moses sits on a blanket under a large oak tree on the campus
grounds. He wears a new pin-striped suit, shirt and tie, and
looks up occasionally from his book to confirm that he has
actually made it.
A group of very diverse students walk over and crouch beside
him.
The leader of the group, HENRY JAMES SMOTHERS, a well-
presented Englishman wearing a tweed jacket and red bow tie,
offers his hand.
HENRY
Henry Smothers, old-man... You appear to
be a Freshman.
MOSES
That I am, sir.
HENRY
No need for the sir vernacular, old-chum;
Your Honor will do nicely.
Everyone laughs. Moses looks at all the faces and also starts
to laugh impishly, but is unsure why.
MAY-LEE LING, an intelligent, petite, and well-spoken oriental
girl, stands alongside Henry, smiling.
MAY-LEE
First day?
MOSES
Yes, does it show?
JAMES POTTERTON-SMYTHE, commonly known to his friends as Jimmy
pipes up.
JIMMY
Just a tad, chum; give it a week and
you’ll be in a polo neck and slacks.
MOSES
I nearly wore that today.
JIMMY
Spooky.
All laugh again.
MOSES
Sorry?
Henry looks at the cover of a book that Moses is holding.
HENRY
Interesting, one of A. B. Rushkovenofs?
MOSES
Yes, a dissertation analysis of precedent
and Supreme Court rulings.
Jimmy, his attire that of a sports jock, snatches the book.
JIMMY
(sniggers)
Dissertation on court rulings?.. Dream
on, homeboy?.. You’ll be an old man
before they’ll allow your sorry ass to
practice in a Confederate courtroom.
MAY-LEE
Accipiat ventus iudicium.
MOSES
Literally translated? “Let the wind take
the justice decision.”
JIMMY
And he understands Latin.
MOSES
Might you be dismissive purely because of
the color of my skin?
JIMMY
That, and your flat nose and frizzy hair,
Bud.
Again laughter.
MAY-LEE
I’ve heard that they’re looking for a
busboy at the café.
JIMMY
For mopping and emptying trash.
HENRY
A perfect environment, wouldn’t you
agree?
Again, all the students laugh. Moses now realizing that this
is a setup.
MOSES
An honorable profession, I’m sure, but
not one I wish to pursue... Now, if
you’ll excuse me, I wish to study.
Moses takes the book back from Jimmy.
JIMMY
Come on, man, we’re just joshing. I mean,
do you even know how to bus tables?
MOSES
Only if there’s blood on them.
ALL
Woooo...
MOSES
(shakes his head)
You’re combined ignorance astounds me.
JIMMY
Ignorance?..
(in Patois accent)
Hey, man, you referring to us white folk?
Maybe we should kiss your big black,
hairy ass?
Everyone laughs again. Moses closes the book.
MOSES
You poor unfortunates... Your mouths
move, and you speak, yet the babble you
emit is excessively racist and
insignificant. Do you believe you can
damage me with your racial slurs?
HENRY
Just a minute, we...
MOSES
My whole life, I’ve had to deal with
people like you. I had to watch my mother
being defiled by bigoted men just like
you, her clothes being torn from her
body, being urinated on, and then being
shot in the head while pleading for her
life. I had to watch my father being
dragged from his home, hogtied and
hanged, kicking and screaming from an oak
tree as he watched his wife, my mother,
being raped and murdered. You know, they
cut off his testicles... He bled like a
stuffed pig...
Everyone is silent.
MOSES (CONT'D)
I had to witness this spectacle since I
was too terrified to move. And all of
these crimes were committed by people,
just like yourselves.
JIMMY
Hey, man, we didn’t mean...
MOSES
Do you have any idea what it’s like to go
and find a younger brother and sister who
died of asphyxiation, and all because of
people like yourselves setting fire to
our home?
May-Lee starts to cry. Moses, very tearful, continues.
MOSES (CONT’D)
My whole family dead because people like
you could see no further than the color
of a man’s skin.
MAY-LEE
Please, I...
MOSES
When will you ever realize that if you
could strip away the outer layer of my
torso, you would find a man? Not a black
man, not a white man. Just an honest,
wanting-to-be loved man... So, you see,
my friends, you can’t hurt me with your
taunts or dismiss me with your inane
slurs.
JIMMY
Hey, man, we’re sorry.
The students rise and slowly walk away, leaving only May-Lee.
MAY-LEE
We didn’t mean any harm; it was just a
sort of initiation ritual. We’re not like
the terrible people you described...
MOSES
I wasn't looking for sympathy; I only
wished to impart how hate and ignorance
can drive normally sane people to
violence and murder, and why. Because
ignorant bullies implant bad thoughts
into their minds. In short, nine hundred
and ninety-nine percent of humanity are
like sheep; they all need something to
believe in, and a cause to follow. The
small point, zero, zero, zero percentage,
has the power to lead. I pray that one
day I will lead others to live better
lives.
MAY-LEE
That’s such a powerful statement...
You’re a wise and interesting man; what
should I call you?
MOSES
Socrates.
MAY-LEE
(chuckles)
No, seriously.
MOSES
Moses, Moses Freeman.
MAY-LEE
Moses? Really? And do you intend to lead
your people out of bondage and into the
land of milk and honey?
MOSES
Milk and honey?..
(consumed in thought)
Before me, May-Lee, a man will emerge
from the multitude, and he will be a man
of peace, and his teachings will change
the way mankind sees the black man.
MAY-LEE
The rebirth of Christ?
MOSES
No, just a truthful and just man who will
preach peace, love, and the joys of
Christianity. A peace that will bring
forth change.
MARY-LEE
A prophet?
MOSES
I don’t know, but I believe, just like
Jesus, the Pharisees will need to destroy
him before he manages to preach his
gospel and bring equality to all.
MAY-LEE
Wow!.. A reincarnation.
Moses, now back to normal.
MOSES
And what, pretty lady, do they call you?
MAY-LEE
May-Lee Ling.
Moses takes May-Lee’s hand and gets her to sit on the rug.
MOSES
And, who may I ask, is May-Lee Ling?
MAY-LEE
A relatively shy girl really, a resident
of Lincoln Square -- oh, that’s in
Baltimore. First generation, naturalized
Chinese American, I have two brothers,
both lawyers; my father is an ambassador;
my mother, well, she just organizes
charities... I’m free, single, and still
a proud virgin. And have a thirst for
knowledge and intend to pass all my exams
with honors.
MOSES
Ahh, but can you ride a bike with a
sports saddle?
MAY-LEE
Huh?
MOSES
And if so... Might you think you are
still a virgin?
MAY-LE
Well that I never thought of.
MOSES
I’m sorry, a misguided, misogynistic
quip.
They both laugh.
MOSES (CONT’D)
What about this Jimmy character?
MAY-LEE
James Potterton-Smythe...
(chuckles)
Better known as our Jimmy. Jimmy, most of
the time, is the archetypal circus clown;
he takes few things seriously, yet he has
an astonishing ability to absorb vast
amounts of information and repeat it back
exactly as it was originally spoken. He’s
genuinely a genius but hates the fact
that he grew up with a silver spoon in
his mouth and has spent much of his life
trying to dispel the past and is only
here to achieve his father's objectives.
MOSES
And the other guy?
MAY-LEE
Henry?.. It would take too long to go
into Henry’s former life prior to
Fordham. Enough to say, Henry is a man of
substance, reliable, and insufferably
honest... I’ll tell you more about Henry
some other time, and I promise you,
you’ll find it hard to believe.
MOSES
I’m intrigued.
MAY-LEE
Moses... Would you mind if I studied with
you? I have a fascinating book on “Habeas
Corpus.”
MAY-LEE
I’m sorry, I’m just starting to
comprehend Latin. That phrase eludes me.
MOSES
"Ignorance of the law excuses no one.
Ignorance of the psyche will destroy the
soul."
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Social Issues"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Dorm Room Dynamics
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY HALLS/NOTICE BOARD - DAY
Moses is scanning the board for accommodation. Henry walks up
and stands next to him, looking at the board.
HENRY
Have you seen anything interesting?
Moses turns.
MOSES
Oh, it’s you. Come to mock again?
HENRY
Oh, that was just an initiation. Come on,
man up. Are you looking for
accommodation?
MOSES
No -- extraneous hog-tailed hibernation
pot-holes.
HENRY
Really? I’ve heard hog-tailed bacon’s a
little rancid after a winter hibernation.
There is a pause. Henry starts to laugh and Moses joins in.
HENRY (CONT’D)
Come on, we need a third in our dorm.
MOSES
Really?
HENRY
Unless that is, you’d be uneasy shacking
up with a couple of white chaps.
MOSES
(laughs)
We all have to make sacrifices.
HENRY
In all that’s holy... Ain’t that the
truth.
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/HALLS OF RESIDENCE - LATER
Henry and Moses are about to enter the room. Henry stops.
HENRY
Now, try and be cool, as Jimmy is going
to be mildly shocked.
MOSES
Jimmy’s the other bigot, yes?
HENRY
Well, not really; he’s just a kidder.
They enter.
Genres:
["Drama","Coming-of-age"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Roommate Revelations
INT. UNIVERSITY HALLS/DORM - CONTINUOUS
Jimmy lies on the bed, reading a book. Henry and Moses enter.
HENRY
Jimmy, rise up, buddy, and meet our new
roommate.
Jimmy looks up and falls off the bed.
JIMMY
Jesus! It’s the Spook!
MOSES
I told you.
JIMMY
Henry, we agreed. No bores, bookworms, or
bespectacled goofballs, So what do you
bring me, a friggin’ black bookworm?
MOSES
(to Henry)
Hey... Thank you for trying.
Moses goes to leave.
JIMMY
(to Moses)
And where the hell do you think you’re
going?
MOSES
Back to the notice board.
JIMMY
What for?
MOSES
Well, you said I was...
JIMMY
Ah, give me a break. Welcome to hell.
Now, what are we going to call you?
MOSES
Emm -- Moses?
JIMMY
Nah, to religious... I know -- Spooky!
HENRY
Hmm... Spooky has possibilities. What
about our new, undiscriminating roommate,
what does he think?
Moses, again taking a British Court barristers pose.
MOSES
A tad detrimental, my Lord? But for the
sake of acquiescence, I shall endeavor to
live with it.
HENRY
Splendid!
JIMMY
And just for the record, the other day --
apologies, it had me up all night
thinking, you know -- what you’ve been
through, I’d like, if it’s okay with you,
to start again.
MOSES
What!.. Without the reading of the racial
equality proclamation?
(chuckles)
I’ve got a pretty thick skin.
Jimmy offers his hand, and they shake. Jimmy grabs Moses’s
case and throws it onto one of the beds.
JIMMY
Okay, the names James Potterton-Smythe,
but you can call me, Jimmy, your resident
pain-in-the-ass roommate transferred in
from the depths of hell... Consider
yourself shackled for the next five
years.
HENRY
Five years, Jesus, we’ll all be
subscribing to the funny farm by then.
JIMMY
Henry, a drink is in order. The sauce, if
you please?
Henry salutes, goes to Jimmy’s locker, and produces a clear
bottle with a brown liquid that has bits of whatever floating
around in it.
JIMMY (CONT’D)
A receptacle, my man!
HENRY
Right away, my Liege.
Henry reaches for a glass.
JIMMY
Spooky you are required to drink of the
fruits of life. Are thee of sound mind
and willing to be defamed at the altar of
the dammed?
MOSES
(chuckles)
Who the hell knows?
JIMMY
Good answer.
He pours a glass of the liquid and hands it to Moses.
JIMMY (CONT’D)
Agimus tibi gratias, omnipotens Deus, pro
universis beneficiis tuis, qui vivis et
regnas in saecula saeculorum. Amen.
HENRY
Loosely translated, it means. “We give
Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O
Almighty God, Who livest and reignest
forever. Amen.”
Moses tentatively takes a large gulp of the elixir and nearly
chokes.
MOSES
(in a squeaky voice)
What the hell is that?
HENRY
It’s a British tipple, we call it
“Scrumpy”, apparently fermented from
rotten apples. Good, yes?
MOSES
Jesus, my throat’s on fire.
HENRY
Wait till you’ve finished the bottle.
JIMMY
(to Moses)
So... What’s new?
Genres:
["Drama","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
A Late Night Meal
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/LIBRARY - NIGHT
Moses is studying; he has a large pile of books on the table
beside him. May’s head pops up behind the books.
MAY-LEE
When do you eat?
MOSES
I’m sorry.
MAY-LEE
When do you eat?
MOSES
I have limited funds, so I tend to have a
small lunch that sees me through until
the next day.
MAY-LEE
Are you on a scholarship?
MOSES
No, I have a benefactor.
MAY-LEE
Really... Who?
MOSES
My town’s lawyer, Jake Hobart, a kind and
thoughtful man who took me in when I was
orphaned. He’s paying for my tuition.
MAY-LEE
How noble... Okay, put the books away.
I’m taking you to the café, where you
were nearly a busboy. Are you ready for a
slap-up meal?
MOSES
Really, it’s not necessary, I...
MAY-LEE
Moses! I’m not taking no for an answer...
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
A Case of Love and Laughter
INT. UNIVERSITY CAFE - DAY
The large cafe is busy. May-Lee and Moses sit eating.
MARY-LEE
- and they were never brought to justice?
MOSES
There was a trial -- well, what turned
out to be a bit of a mock trial -- but
the...
MARY-LEE
Whoa! Back up. A mock trial?
MOSES
The case was dismissed due to a lack of
tangible evidence.
MARY-LEE
And they’re walking around free?
MOSES
Free as a bird.
MARY-LEE
Might there be a way of revisiting the
case?
MOSES
Not unless a reputable witness came
forward with concrete evidence or they
confessed.
EXT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/GROUNDS - DAY
Moses and May-Lee sit on the lawn, studying.
MAY-LEE
Moses, again. In a less confused world,
how do you view, mixed relationships?
MOSES
Cat’s, dog’s, iguanas? What might you be
referring to?
MAY-LEE
People.
MOSES
I told you previously, I have no view.
MAY-LEE
Really, so it doesn’t bother you?
MOSES
It depends what you mean by, “bother me?”
As long as two people love one another, I
don’t see why anyone would have a problem
with that.
MAY-LEE
Mmm... So if I suggested that we fuse
together in copulation, you wouldn’t
dismiss it?
Moses laughs
MOSES
If you and I fused in copulation, I think
the world would cease to spin.
MAY-LEE
Hmm... We’ll discuss that again at a
later date...
May-Lee laughs, gets up.
MAY-LEE (CONT'D)
See ya.
May-Lee runs towards the university halls. Moses smiles.
MOSES
Crazy... Cute, but unbelievably crazy.
Moses continues to study.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
Descent into Chaos
INT. RAYBURN’S HOTEL/EXECUTIVE SUITE - LOUISIANA - NIGHT
Clyde and Floyd have managed to hook up with bad-girl, EILEEN
JANE RUSH, and she has invited the brothers to her hotel
suite.
On the local music channel a news bulletin cuts into the
music. A broadcaster reports.
RADIO REPORTER
(over room speaker)
Still missing after five days, is Eileen
Rush, the wild-child daughter of State
Senator, Benjamin John Rush. She was last
seen in the Blue Trattoria night club
with her recently recruited bodyguards.
WCGR will keep you posted on any further
developments. Now back to the Tommy
Dorsey Orchestra.
Eileen from the bedroom shouts.
EILEEN (O.S.)
Floyd, baby, turn that fuckin thing off,
will you, I can’t be doing with that
Dorsey right now!
Floyd turns off the radio. In the center of the hotel
sumptuous suites’ lounge stands a glass coffee table covered
in an array of drug paraphernalia, syringes and parcels of
heroin and whatever. Eileen staggers in from the bedroom, her
naked body just visible under a silk bathrobe.
EILEEN (CONT’D)
How’s it hanging, big boy... Momma needs
a little refill... You think we might
indulge and satisfy this babe?
Clyde stands at the entrance of the bedroom; he wears only his
underwear. He leans with his hands resting on the door frame
and smiles. Eileen moves sexually towards Clyde and puts her
hands into his shorts whilst Floyd fills up another syringe
with a mix of heroin and opium.
FLOYD
(to Eileen)
Come here, baby.
Eileen crosses and sits on the floor. Floyd injects her
between her toes. After a few seconds, she is totally comatose
and starts to foam at the mouth with what appears to be an
overdose.
FLOYD (CONT’D)
Whoa... Would you look at that, bro?
CLYDE
What the fuck did you feed her?
FLOYD
The stuff from the brown wrap on the
table.
CLYDE
Jesus, that shit ain’t been cut; it’ll
kill her.
FLOYD
Fuck!..
CLYDE
We need to get her to a hospital. Check
out the safe, will ya?
FLOYD
Already cleared...
CLYDE
Clean down, I’ll check out the service
elevator.
EXT. RAYBURN’S HOTEL - LOUISIANA - NIGHT
Police cars abound, their lights flashing, blocking the road
outside the Flophouse hotel. Floyd and Clyde are being
escorted out by FOUR POLICE OFFICERS to separate police cars,
both are handcuffed.
Genres:
["Crime","Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Justice Delivered: The Hillsbro Verdict
INT. MARIETTA COUNTY COURT - ALABAMA - DAY
The courtroom is packed, and JUDGE WILLIAM BRUCOSKI, ponders
over various files. At the rear of the public gallery, a WPSAT
radio announcer whispers into a microphone.
WPSAT ANNOUNCER
(into microphone)
His Honor Judge William Brucoski
continues to read the case file along
with juror recommendations. The accused,
brothers Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro
impatiently await the court's judgment...
(MORE)
WPSAT ANNOUNCER (CONT'D)
Montgomery State Senator, Benjamin John
Rush, the father of the deceased is
positioned adjacent to the prosecution
table and is now speaking to the state’s
attorney, Robert J. Fines... One second,
please...
Fines stand.
FINES
Sir, if I may...
JUDGE BRUCOSKI
Yes, what is it, councilor?
FINES
Before you make your final ruling, sir,
we would just like to point out that the
defendants have rap sheets that go back
to adolescence. These are bad misfits and
we respectfully ask this be taken into
consideration before pronouncing your
discission.
JUDGE
(to clerk)
Your observations are noted, Mr. Fines...
I am now ready to rule.
CLERK
(addresses the court)
Will the defendants rise?
The brothers and the court-appointed defense lawyers stand.
JUDGE
Do you have anything you wish to say
before I pass judgment?
CLYDE
Yeah, sir, I do... The alcohol and drugs,
sir, they made us do stuff we wouldn’t
have normally done. But the woman...
Whoa, she was wild, especially after
drinking and taking loads of cocaine and
H. It was her that kept asking for more
and more, we never knew she was doin’, so
much. You see, it was what she wanted,
and...
FLOYD
Yeah, and the police, Your Honor. They
distorted...
JUDGE
Enough!.. All of this testimony and
evidence has been visited during the
course of the trial, it is only left for
me to pass judgment.
CLYDE
But, sir?
JUDGE
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro. You have been
found guilty of the felony charges of
kidnapping, robbery, and murder in the
first degree... It is the verdict of this
court that you are taken to a place of
detention, there, at a predetermined
time, you will be executed by way of
electrocution. That is all.
FLOYD
This ain’t right, she was responsible,
we...
The court office, puts his hand on Floyd's shoulder. Floyd
relents.
CLYDE
Fuckin’ justice!.. You wouldn’t know
justice if it came and bit you on the
fuckin’ ass... Fuck ya!
Genres:
["Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Seeking Justice: A Dorm Room Strategy
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/DORM - DAY
Jimmy lies on the bed, reading the local newspaper. Moses and
Henry sit at the desk, studying, May-Lee is brewing coffee.
JIMMY
Hey, Spooky, did you ever come across a
couple of dudes named the Hillsbro's?
Apparently, they’re from out your way.
Moses moves over to Jimmy’s bed and grabs the newspaper.
JIMMY (CONT’D)
Hey!
Moses scans the article.
HENRY
Do you know these people?
JIMMY
Spooky?
MOSES
They’re the ones responsible for my
family’s deaths.
HENRY
WHAT!
JIMMY
Jesus!
HENRY
What does the article say?
MOSES
(reads)
“Brothers Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro will
be tried for the rape and murder of
Eileen Jane Rush, the youngest daughter
of Montgomery State Senator, Benjamin
John Rush. Miss Rush's body was
discovered after an off-duty police
officer, Mary Berrisford, obtained
information after the Hillsbro brothers
boasted about how they...”
Moses discards the newspaper and stands, deep in thought.
HENRY
Moses?
JIMMY
Are you okay?
MOSES
Those bastards... They need to account.
JIMMY
Mickey Finn, ‘em?
HENRY
Shut up, Jimmy!..
MAY-LEE
Can nothing be done?
HENRY
Moses... What if we were able to get
these people back into a courtroom and
get them to admit that they were the
perpetrators of the Freeman and Coleman
massacres?
MOSES
How could that even be possible?
MAY-LEE
Someone would need to talk to the current
District Attorney to see if he’s amenable
to the suggestion.
MOSES
And say, what?
JIMMY
Hang on, pep’s.
Jimmy goes to the phone and dials a number.
JIMMY (CONT’D)
(into phone)
Yo, Paul... Yeah, hold it. Any chance you
were in the Marietta Court for the
Hillsbro trial?..
MOSES
(to Jimmy)
Why would this Paul be there?
JIMMY
(to Moses)
Murder charge, research paper.
(into phone)
Yeah Paul, sorry. Anything out of the
ordinary?.. Really... How pissed off...
Really!.. Thanks, Bud.
MAY-LEE
What was that all about?
JIMMY
My buddy thinks they’d get, Old Smokey.
MAY-LEE
Again?
JIMMY
The chair, dum-dum.
HENRY
Hmm... It’s just possible.
MAY-LEE
Henry?
HENRY
There may be a method to manipulate the
appellant court if we can pass off as the
Hillsbro defense attorneys.
JIMMY
Huh?
HENRY
If that were to be possible, we could
then maneuver the prosecution in a
subsequent trial, i.e. Moses’s family
trial, thus bringing the Hillsbro
brothers to justice.
JIMMY
How the hell are we going to get the
brothers to agree to us representing
them, even if we managed to get them an
appeal?
MAY-LEE
(to Henry)
Henry, you know your father could help.
HENRY
How so?
MAY-LEE
If he stated that he’d been looking into
the Freeman and Coleman case and insisted
the DA reopen inquiries.
HENRY
Too weak.
JIMMY
What about...
MAY-LEE
Jimmy!
JIMMY
Now hang, and hear me out...
(thinks out loud)
What about... If Rustin and Houser...
MAY-LEE
Who are they?
JIMMY
The lead civil rights activists.
HENRY
Go on.
JIMMY
Well, what if they had contacted your
father, and together with the NAACP,
insisted on the De jure segregation being
investigated.
HENRY
They’d need to reopen unsolved cases in
the South and in particular, Alabama.
MOSES
Jimmy, you’re a star.
MAY-LEE
Jimmy, that’s brilliant!
JIMMY
It’s only a gift...
MOSES
I’m confused. Why would Henry’s father
have any influence on the American
judiciary?
JIMMY
‘Cause he’s the current Lord Chief
Justice of England.
MOSES
WHAT!
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
Uncovering Shadows
EXT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/GROUNDS - DAY
Henry and Moses walk the grounds as they formulate strategy.
MOSES
- it’s imperative we speak to Sheriff
Hives as he know the background of the
case and the in’s and out’s of the
Hillsbro’s.
HENRY
Okay, if you and May-Lee go to
Greensborough, I’ll see if I can get some
satisfaction with DA Johns.
EXT. THE HIVES HOME - GREENSBOROUGH - DAY
Moses and May-Lee knock on the door. An endearing elderly
woman, MRS. HIVES, answers.
MRS. HIVES
Yes?
MAY-LEE
We’re sorry to trouble you, ma’am, but
we’re looking for Sheriff Wyatt Hives; we
believe he resides here.
MRS. HIVES
He used to, my dear, but unfortunately,
my husband, the sheriff, had a
debilitating stroke some three years ago
and now resides in the Weymouth nursing
home.
MAY-LEE
Oh, I am most terribly sorry. Thank you.
MOSES
Mrs. Hives, forgive me... Your husband
was a friend of mine. He looked out for
me after my parents were killed.
MRS. HIVES
Are you the Freeman Boy?
MOSES
Yes, ma’am.
MRS. HIVES
Oh, he used to talk about you all the
time, very proud of what you‘d achieved.
MAY-LEE
Mrs. Hives, is Mr. Hives capable of
conversing and possibly giving evidence?
MRS. HIVES
Evidence, my dear? For what?
MAY-LEE
It’s a NAACP segregation issue.
MRS. HIVES
The National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People... The
American civil rights organization?.. Oh
yes, my husband always believed in racial
equality. Do you know, he broke up a Klan
march once and got himself shot in the
cranium, not fatally, thank God, but
enough for him to give up his position.
MOSES
Mrs. Hives, did Wyatt have any knowledge
of the hierarchy of the Ku Klux Klan?
MRS. HIVES
You mean, the hierarchy of Alabama’s
ruling class?
Moses and May-Lee look at each other in surprise.
MAY-LEE
Sorry, could you repeat that.
MRS. HIVES
The ruling class, current mayor, dear.
The Governor and Senator have long since
passed.
MOSES
Again, ma’am... The current Mayor?
MRS. HIVES
Yes, James T. Hobbs. He was the Grand
Wizard leading the parade when Wyatt was
shot.
MAY-LEE
Mrs. Hives, you’ve been a great help,
again, thank you.
MRS. HIVES
Bye-bye.
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery","Legal"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
Noble Access
EXT. WEYMOUTH NURSING HOME/DRIVE - ALABAMA - DAY
Moses and May-Lee are seen exiting through the large iron
gates with an overhanging sign the reads, “WEYMOUTH NURSING
HOME”.
INT. GREENSBOROUGH CITY HALL/MAIN RECEPTION - DAY
Henry, in his tweeds and looking distinguished, walks up to
the receptionist. Moses, in the guise of an assistant, tags
along.
HENRY
(to receptionist)
Good morning, Miss. I would like to see
Mayor Hobbs.
RECEPTIONIST
Do you have an appointment, sir?
HENRY
No. Do I need one?
RECEPTIONIST
I’m afraid the mayor doesn’t see anyone
without an appointment; it’s City Hall
policy.
HENRY
Could you please inform the mayor that
Lord Henry Smothers, son of the Earl of
Bosworth, wishes an audience?
RECEPTIONIST
The Earl of... Oh, yes, my Lord, please.
The receptionist dials a number on her phone, and is seen to
be speaking to someone.
RECEPTIONIST (CONT’D)
My Lord, the Mayor will see you, now.
Albert, here, will show you the way.
An old man, ALBERT, gestures to Henry and Moses as the walk
the corridors of power.
MOSES
Lord Henry James Smothers? Son of the
Earl of Bosworth? Jesus, Henry, where the
hell did that come from?
HENRY
That’s my official title, my father
happens to be, the Earl of Bosworth.
MOSES
(shocked)
REALLY?
Genres:
["Drama","Mystery"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
Confronting the Past
INT. CITY HALL/MAYORS OFFICE/RECEPTION - CONTINUOUS
FIONA, the mayor’s secretary, leaves her desk and moves over
to greet Henry.
FIONA
Your Lordship, would you like your driver
to wait here?
HENRY
Mr. Freeman is my colleague and
confidant, miss. Not, I might emphasize,
my driver.
FIONA
Oh, forgive me, I just thought that...
Henry moves to the mayor’s office door.
INT. JAMES T. HOBBS OFFICE - GREENSBOROUGH - CONTINUOUS
Henry and Moses enter. JAMES T. HOBBS, (60) immediately rises
and enthusiastically crosses to welcome Henry.
HOBBS
Your Lordship, I’d just like to say what
an honor it is to have you visit...
(gesturing to the chairs)
Please, please, take a seat.
Henry and Moses sit.
HOBBS (CONT’D)
Is there anything my secretary can get
you -- tea, coffee, water?
HENRY
Nothing, thank you... Mr. Hobbs, I’ll
come straight to the point. We’ve come
here today with a request. It’s slightly
delicate, but needs to be addressed.
HOBBS
Please.
HENRY
I have it on good authority that you were
the Imperial Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux
Klan from 1922 to the fall of 1952.
Hobbs, totally taken off guard.
HOBBS
(beat)
Sir, I, er...
HENRY
Were you or were you not the Imperial
Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan from
1922 to the fall of 1952.
HOBBS
Sir, I find your assertion not only
inflammatory but also seditious and
unfounded...
HENRY
Nevertheless, a fact. Am I correct?
Hobbs gets up.
HOBBS
I think our time is done, sir.
HENRY
Hobbs, sit down. We are both businessmen,
and I’m here to discuss a deal.
Hobbs sits, visually perplexed and steaming.
HENRY (CONT’D)
Now... I ask again... Were you, or were
you not, the Imperial grand Wizard of the
Ku Klux Klan from 1922 to 1952?
HOBBS
Might you be holding, umm, any
documentation confirming my involvement
with the organization you refer to?
HENRY
We are not here to play games, Hobbs;
would you rather I discuss this with the
Governor of Alabama, or the Chief of the
Alabama constabulary?..
Hobbs sits back in his seat and stares at Henry.
HOBBS
Has my office authenticated your
credentials?
HENRY
(gestures to the phone)
Moses, if you please.
Moses goes to use the telephone.
MOSES
(to Hobbs)
May I?..
HOBBS
Ah-ha.
MOSES
(into phone)
Yes, can you connect me with the White
House, please?
Hobbs is taken off guard.
HOBBS
The Presidential White House?
Moses smiles. Hobbs, not believing a word of it.
MOSES
(into phone)
Yes, the President, please... Yes, can
you say it’s Lord Henry James Smothers...
Moses passes the phone to Henry.
HENRY
(into phone)
Dwight?.. Yes, how are you, sir?.. Yes,
Father sends his regards and wishes to
congratulate you on the recent
stabilization program... Yes, most
interesting... My father?.. Oh, you know
him; he’s busy writing up new amendments
to old laws. Usual old stuff, you know
what he’s like...
(chuckles)
Dwight, old chap, would you do me a great
favor and speak to the Mayor of
Greensborough... Yes, a Mr. James Hobbs,
he’s stood beside me...
(chuckles)
Yes, I will... One moment...
Henry hands the phone to Hobbs. Hobbs, very tentatively.
HOBBS
(into phone)
Mr. President... Yes, sir... I, ah, I
just wanted to confirm that His Lordship
was who he said he was... Of course,
sir... Yes... Thank you, sir.
He hands the phone back to Henry.
HENRY
(into phone)
I know, same old, same old. What’s an
Earl’s son doing in America...
(chuckles)
Yes, final exams in two weeks... No,
piece of cake... Yes... Okay, yes, love
to Mamie; speak soon; bye.
Henry hands the phone to Moses, who replaces the handset.
HOBBS
My sincere apologies, Your Lordship...
With regard to my position within the
Klan, yes, I held the position of Grand
Wizard.
HENRY
Mr. Hobbs, I am not here to judge but I
wish to discuss a Klan raiding party that
took the lives of a black family in
Greensborough and the life of Jeremiah
Coleman back in the summer of 1936.
HOBBS
So, what would you like to know?
HENRY
We need to establish that you, as
Imperial Grand Wizard, had no knowledge
of the atrocities or, indeed, sanctioned
the raid.
HOBBS
Your Lordship, the raid was not
authorized by my office, or the
organization. Two local individuals, the
Hillsbro brothers, without my knowledge,
went rogue.
HENRY
Hmm...
HOBBS
There was a trial but it was quashed
because of insufficient evidence. Might I
ask why you would bring up an incident
that happened so many years ago?
HENRY
My father had an inquiry from NAACP to
look into major unresolved incidents and
sir, what we are about to outline is not
optional...
MOSES
Should you decide to decline our request,
your campaign would be subjected to
deformation and default.
HOBBS
Do I detect blackmail?
MOSES
Nothing as vulgar. We merely wish you to
testify during the Hillsbro brothers'
trial, explaining exactly what we've
talked about here and that they were
removed from the organization because of
the Freeman and Coleman murders.
HOBBS
Gentlemen, this I cannot do.
MOSES
Mr. Hobbs, the Greensborough Echo, will
denounce the atrocities and implement
you, as you were the high ranking officer
in the movement.
HENRY
We’d also make sure that the story went
national.
MOSES
And if a subpoena were to be issued,
well... Your career would cease to exist.
Henry and Moses get up and are about to leave.
HOBBS
There will be no fuss or adverse
reporting if I give evidence at the
trial?
MOSES
Total anonymity.
HOBBS
And, that’s it?
HENRY
That’s it.
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
A Case for Justice
INT. CITY HALL/DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE - ALABAMA - DAY
Henry and are in discussions with, JOHN MILES JOHNS, the
acting District Attorney for the Montgomery district of
Alabama.
HENRY
- it would be a feather in your cap, Mr.
Johns. A long unsolved Alabama murder
case.
JOHNS
I seem to recall that the case was
adjudicated back in thirty-seven, where,
to my best knowledge, the defendants were
found not guilty?
JIMMY
Incorrect, the case was dismissed due to
lack of evidence.
HENRY
Mr. Johns, we have assurances that the
defendants in that case, Clyde and Floyd
Hillsbro, are now willing to testify and
concede that they were part of the raids
of the Freeman and Coleman dwellings,
therefore, their testimony would connect
the two crimes and bring the desired
verdict and closure.
JOHNS
But why would they commit themselves?
HENRY
Because we have assured them that we are
prepared to undertake the appeals process
and ask that the sentence be adjusted to
one of kidnapping and diminished
responsibility.
JOHNS
I must confess I’d like to see justice
served... And you can confirm that the
mayor will testify?
HENRY
Unequivocally.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
Legal Shenanigans at Fordham
INT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/HENRY’S DORM - ALABAMA - DAY
Moses, Henry, Jimmy, and May-Lee sit cross-legged in deep
discussion.
MOSES
- it’s registered, we are now, “Fordham
Associates Inc. Specialists in Criminal
Law.”
JIMMY
Fuck me, he’s got us incorporated.
HENRY
Moses is this three ring circus, even
approximately close to the realm of
legality?
MOSES
Henry, I’ve researched it. Two years of
minimum study are all that’s required for
a law student to defend a client in a
criminal case.
JIMMY
You know we’re all going to end up in the
pokey tangoing with a bunch of tattooed
fags, don’t you?
MOSES
Jimmy, if you can fool Mayor Hobbs by
impersonating President Lyndon Johnson,
then everything is possible.
JIMMY
Hmm, you’re not wrong, I should put that
swerve on my resume.
All laugh.
HENRY
In order for us, as the defence council,
to lose this case, we need to get Hobbs
to admit, under oath, that he authorized
the raid.
MARY-LEE
When you say, lose this case, you do
mean, lose this case, yes?
HENRY
Correct, if we lose, we win, and the
Hillsbro killers will go to the chair.
But, and this is huge, we have to
convince the hillsbro’s to appoint
Fordham Associates as the defence
attorneys.
JIMMY
Do you honestly believe that the
presumptive, Senator of the Great State
of Montgomery, is going to dump his
family, friends, and a successful career,
to help us in sending the Hillsbro
brothers to the chair...
HENRY
I think his ego will bring him down.
JIMMY
What about his right iffy mistress?
MAY-LEE
He’s got a mistress?
JIMMY
They all have a bloody mistress; it’s
part of the job remit.
HENRY
How novel.
MOSES
Try this... What if -- during cross-
examination of the state witness, i.e.
Hobbs, we, as the Fordham defence
council, encourage him to tell the court
that, as far as he knew, the raid had
taken place without his knowledge, and
that the Hillsbro’s were responsible for
plotting the raid and the subsequent
killings. That way, he’d be only guilty
of being the head honcho of the Klan.
MAY-LEE
Yes!
HENRY
It’s inspired.
JIMMY
It’s bloody impossible!
MOSES
Why?
JIMMY
‘Cause he won’t incriminate himself, even
if he’s guaranteed anonymity.
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
A Desperate Appeal
INT. MARIETTA CORRECTION FACILITY/INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
The brothers are cuffed to an iron interview table, while five
guards stand in prominent positions around the room.
The door opens, and Moses enters. He walks over to the table,
lays down his briefcase, and sits. No words are spoken. The
men just observe each other...
Eventually, Clyde opens up.
CLYDE
So, you’re the dude that wanted the
meet... Fordham Law, ain’t it?.. You
ain’t exactly what I expected.
(to Floyd)
What we got ourselves here, Bro, is some
black dude pretending to be white... Two
things: He either robbed a tailor’s dummy
or wants to be our lawyer.
(both snigger)
What d’ya reckon we send him back to
Spookland or find out what he’s got to
say?
FLOYD
Me, I ain’t fussed.
CLYDE
(to Moses)
You wanna tell us -- why the Hillsbro
brothers, Alabama’s most terrifying
internees, are of interest to you?
Moses sits for a while, analyzing both men.
CLYDE (CONT’D)
Cat got yer tongue?
MOSES
Let’s just say I can make a difference,
and as you are going to be visiting an
infamous chair in two to three months?
FLOYD
Ain’t doin’ it for me, lawyer boy. Try
again.
MOSES
Okay, there is secondry reason.
FLOYD
I knew it.
MOSES
My associates are fundamentally opposed
to the act of corporal punishment, and
believe, rather foolishly in my opinion,
that you have a possible case for appeal?
FLOYD
And?
MOSES
You’re on death row for murdering an
innocent women, and I despise you as you
have no remorse, repentance, or regrets.
Consequently, I’d be happy to see you
fry.
FLOYD
Don’t sugarcoat it.
MOSES
Maybe I can lessen the load, but there
again, maybe I’m just wasting my time...
Moses gets up to leave.
MOSES (CONT’D)
Good day, gentlemen.
CLYDE
Hey! Lawyer man, hang in there, come on,
what’s the deal?
Moses returns to the table.
MOSES
I’m the criminal defense lawyer at
Fordham Associates, we specialize in
criminal law and murder cases.
FLOYD
You’re puttin’ us on, right? They allow
black lawyers into court?
MOSES
Your tone, my friend, has room for
improvement.
CLYDE
(to Floyd)
Bro, can it! We got nothin’, we need to
listen to this dude.
FLOYD
Okay, Fordham, tell us what’s possible.
CHARLIE, the guard, shouts.
CHARLIE
(shouts to Moses)
Sir, it’s time.
Moses gets up.
MOSES
Gentlemen, I’ll be in touch.
Charlie opens the interview door, and Moses exits.
FLOYD
(shouts)
Hey!
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Legal Tensions on Campus
EXT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/GROUNDS - DAY
Henry, May-Lee, and Moses walk around the grounds. Jimmy runs
up and shows Moses a letter. Henry reads it.
HENRY
Hmm, a letter from Hobbs’s lawyer
insisting on all kinds of stipulations
before he’ll commit to testifying.
JIMMY
Really?.. Get back to him and politely
tell him that he’s either in or he’s out,
and if he’s out, we’ll subpoena his white
Klan ass, and alert the press.
MOSES
White Klan ass?..
JIMMY
Thought I’d use a bit of the old
vernacular.
(chuckles)
Seems to raise the shackles.
HENRY
So, do you think this letter is a test?
MOSES
Henry, the man has his whole life is on
the line, he’s going to marginalize all
he can.
HENRY
I do hope you’re right, otherwise we
could be black-balled, no disrespect,
meant.
MOSES
(smiles)
None taken -- you pompous English Twat!
Genres:
["Drama","Legal","Comedy"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
A Plea for Hope
INT. MARIETTA CORRECTION FACILITY/INTERVIEW ROOM - DAY
Moses, and the brothers sit at the iron interview table, The
guards are positioned as before.
MOSES
- so here’s the proposition, and please,
try to restrain all emotions until I’ve
finished.
FLOYD
This I gotta hear.
MOSES
I’d like you both to plead in the case of
the Freeman murders, and...
FLOYD
What the fuck are you talkin’ about?..
Who the fuck are the Freeman’s?
CLYDE
(to Floyd)
It’s that sharecropper dude.
FLOYD
Huh?
MOSES
Precisely, and the proposed indictment
would also cover the sharecropper,
Jeremiah Coleman.
Floyd stands.
FLOYD
You crazy motherfuckin’, nigga, get the
fuck outta here.
(shouts)
Guard!
Moses ignores Floyd’s rant.
MOSES
Mr. Hillsbro...
(forcefully)
Sit down...
Floyd stands for a moment, then sits.
MOSES (CONT’D)
The sharecropper murders we will contend,
under oath, were accidental, and
unpremeditated, and just a Klan raiding
party gone rogue.
CLYDE
Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?
MOSES
I asked you to be patient and to listen.
Floyd turns away from Moses.
MOSES (CONT’D)
Now, and let this sink in... By agreeing
to this request, you will be arraigned
for trial. I, along with a talented team
at Fordham Associates, will ask for bail,
but that will be denied. Then, and only
then, will we set up a plea of “unwilling
accessory to a murder.”
CLYDE
Meaning what?
MOSES
As an unwilling accessory to murder,
which I believe can be proven, the
sentence would probably be five to ten
years. We then take that verdict to the
appeals court, quoting that the Eileen
Jane Rush, life sentence, was a setup and
too harsh, and in actuality, it was a
accidental misadventure death.
Floyd turns back to face Moses.
FLOYD
Go on?
MOSES
Then hopefully, we will get you a “time
served”, agreement. You could be out in
two years.
FLOYD
Two years, and it’s all legal and above
board?
CLYDE
There’s a catch... What’s in it for you,
lawyer?
MOSES
Prestige and a highly publicized trial
resulted in a successful conclusion. If
you nominate Fordham Associates as your
defense team, you will earn reduced
sentences, and Fordham Associates will be
widely recognized.
CLYDE
And that’s it?
MOSES
We are four exceptionally talented final-
year law students and will...
CLYDE
Law students?
FLOYD
Awe, for fucks sake!
MOSES
Listen!.. Our finals are imminent, and
when we demonstrate we can pull this off,
we will obviously graduate with
distinction.
CLYDE
But you’re bleedin’, law students!
MOSES
Don’t dismiss our knowledge or talent,
Mr. Hillsbro, I’m talking, about a major
legal team here.
CLYDE
Two years, yeah?
MOSES
Maybe less.
CLYDE
Floyd?
FLOYD
Obviously, yeah.
MOSES
I’ll set the wheels in motion...
Moses rises.
MOSES (CONT’D)
Gentlemen, I’ll be in touch as soon as I
get things organized.
FLOYD
When do we get to meet the other lawyers?
MOSES
In court.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
The Appeal: Uncovering the Truth
INT. SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS - MARIETTA - ALABAMA - DAY
The court is virtually empty with the exception of district
and prosecution attorney, ROBERT ARTIST, who sits at the
prosecution desk. Moses and the Hillsbro brothers sit opposite
at the defence desk.
Judges, MARY FOSTER, JOHN GOLDSMITH and TIMOTHY BENCH, enters
the courtroom.
CLERK
All rise.
Everyone stands.
CLERK (CONT’D)
At the bench, their Honors, Judges, Mary
Foster, John Goldsmith, and Timothy
Bench.
FOSTER
Good morning everyone, please, take your
seats...
All sit.
FOSTER (CONT’D)
Councilors, if you could identify
yourselves and your clients at the
beginning of your arguments, each side
will have thirty minutes to deliver their
such arguments, and gentlemen, be
assured, we have read your briefs, and we
have conferenced this case. Therefore we
are aware of the facts, also the evidence
presented at trial, so please take this
into account when formulating your
presentation... Gentlemen, are you ready
to proceed.
ARTIST
We are, Your Honors.
MOSES
Yes, Your Honors.
FOSTER
Very well. Mr. Freeman, I believe you
will start the proceedings.
Moses moves to the witness stand.
FOSTER (CONT’D)
And Councilor, I am compelled to remind
you, the appellate court is granted the
power to incorporate the findings of fact
and conclusions of law from the decisions
being appealed.
MOSES
I understand, Your Honor.
GOLDSMITH
It is important to approach all matters
with caution and wisdom, as there is a
natural inclination to just accept the
lower court's findings and conclusions
without thoroughly examining the
challenged case.
MOSES
Your Honors, we are here today to appeal
against the sentence handed down by the
Marietta County Court. Your Honors, what
you will not be aware of is, that the
testimonies and evidence of the hearing
was a distortion of the truth and
criminally misrepresented.
FOSTER
How so, councilor?
MOSES
The accused underwent multiple beatings
at the hands of the investigators and
were made to confess and sign blank
statements. The statements submitted in
the original hearing were manufactured by
the detectives as the defendants, even
after firearms were shoved into the
mouths and threatened they would die
while attempting to flee.
Foster looks to the prosecution desk.
FOSTER
Is there any truth in this assertion,
councilor?
ARTIST
Not that I’m aware of, Your Honor.
FOSTER
Councilor, this is a very serious
accusation. Do you have any proof that
this situation actually occurred?
Moses is handed an envelope, which he hands to the clerk.
MOSES
(to clerk)
If you could present the envelope to the
judges.
The clerk hands the envelope to Foster; she opens the envelope
and takes out some eight by ten-inch photographs.
MOSES (CONT’D)
We would like to introduce into evidence,
these photographs taken directly after
one of the aforesaid beatings.
FOSTER
Might we inquire, who took these
pictures, and where?
MOSES
As you can see from the date signature
and backgrounds, they were taken at the
prison after one of the police
interrogations.
GOLDSMITH
How so?
MOSES
Your Honor, one of the inmates had a
camera and took the pictures.
BENCH
But why were these photographs not
presented at trial?
MOSES
Because the DA’s office quashed them as
he had ties to State Senator, Benjamin
John Rush, the deceased’s father.
Therefore the evidence was suppressed.
FOSTER
Mm...
MOSES
The prosecution’s assertions that my
clients visited the club and then
virtually carried Miss Rush to the hotel
were all staged or doctored, allowing the
photos to be used in the original trial.
Most of the mock setups were shot after
the defendant’s arrest.
BENCH
But the defendants and Miss Rush are in
the photos?
MOSES
Actors, Your Honor, no faces were ever
shown, only backs and darkened faces. The
trial jury just assumed it was my clients
and the deceased, as the prosecution told
them so.
FOSTER
(to the prosecution table)
This is a very serious charge... Mr.
Artist. Has your office looked into this
accusation.
ARTIST
With respect, no, we are hearing this
argument for the first time.
MOSES
The defendants are guilty as charged,
Your Honors, but the way the charges were
submitted, and the appalling way the
District Attorney presented the evidence,
is the reason we are here today.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
Judgment and Reflection
INT. SUPREME COURT OF APPEALS - MARIETTA - ALABAMA - DAY
Moses together with, Floyd, and Clyde Hillsbro sit at the
defense table while District Attorney, Robert Artist, sits at
the prosecution desk.
SUPER: “FOUR MONTHS LATER”
The judges, Mary Foster, John Goldsmith and Timothy Bench,
enters the courtroom.
CLERK
Be upstanding, their Honors, Mary Foster,
John goldsmith, and Timothy Bench,
presiding.
FOSTER
Sit, please.
Everyone sits.
FOSTER (CONT’D)
Mr. Artist.
ARTIST
Yes, Your Honor.
FOSTER
After reviewing the case, and
authenticating the newly obtained
evidence, we have decided to reduce the
original sentence to ten years, with the
possibility of parole after a period of
five years, parole, based on good
behavior.
Clyde stands. Shouts to judges.
CLYDE
And that’s it? A stinking ten years for a
fit-up? What took you so long, you could
have handed that shit down in thirty
seconds.
CLERK
All rise.
The judges leave the courtroom. Floyd turns on Moses.
FLOYD
I thought you said we’d end up doing two
years. What the fuck happened to two
years!
MOSES
I told you, this is a game of wills and
intrigue. This is only the first part of
the plan, the finale comes when we move
forward with the sharecropper’s cases.
CLYDE
I hope the fuck you know what you’re
doing.
EXT. FORDHAM UNIVERSITY/CAMPUS LAWNS - DAY
The Fordham four sit by the old oak.
HENRY
Well, we’ve done all we can, we’ll just
have to wait and hope.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
The Courtroom Clash
INT. ALABAMA COUNTY COURTHOUSE/COURT ONE - MARIETTA - DAY
Henry, Jimmy, and the Hillsbro brothers are seated at the
defense table. Directly behind the defense table are Moses and
May-Lee.
The judge, THOMAS HAMMERSHAM, (78), a man fighting mild
dementia, enters. The clerk, GEORGE, addresses the court.
CLERK
All rise, His Honor, Judge Thomas
Hammersham, presiding.
HAMMERSHAM
Yes, yes... Good morning. Good morning.
(to court)
Please be seated.
(smiles to jurors)
Members of the jury. Good morning. With
any luck, we’ll be done by suppertime,
ay, what?
The jurors all nod and smile.
JUDGE
Good. Now, George... What do we have?
The clerk hands the judge the files.
CLERK
(to judge)
Case numbers, 328 U.S. 463, and 328 U.S.
464. The State of Alabama versus Clyde
and Floyd Hillsbro, sir.
(turns to defendants)
Will the defendants please rise?
Henry and the brothers stand.
CLERK (CONT’D)
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro, you are charged
with the first-degree murders of Silas
and Helaina Freeman and the indirect
homicide of their children, Briny and
Jeremiah Freeman.
(MORE)
CLERK (CONT’D)
Secondly, the first-degree murder of
Jeremiah Coleman. All offenses being
perpetrated in or around the district of
Greensborough, Alabama, on the 24th of
July 1936... How do you plead?
MOSES
(stands)
I will speak for my clients, Your Honor.
Not guilty.
HAMMERSHAM
(to Henry)
The defendants would appear to have been
busy boys, counselor...
HENRY
If one believes the prosecution’s case,
Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
Yes, well said... First class.
(to clerk)
Thirty-six, you say? That was over a
decade ago.
(chuckles)
I was a young man then, and so it would
seem -
Looking at the young defense team.
HAMMERSHAM (CONT’D)
- was the defense team ay, George?
CLERK
Abnormally young, sir.
HAMMERSHAM
(to Henry)
So, counselor, how do the defendants
plead?
CLERK
(to judge)
Sir, the defense has already pleaded and
the response recorded.
HAMMERSHAM
It has? Oh, of course, yes... The defense
counselor plead for the defendants...
Thank you, George...
(to counselors)
(MORE)
HAMMERSHAM (CONT'D)
Counselors, if you could identify
yourselves and your associates for the
record.
The District Attorney, John Miles Johns, stands.
JOHNS
Your Honor, John Miles Johns for the
prosecution...
HAMMERSHAM
(interrupting)
Your parents liked first names, it would
seem, counselor.
JOHNS
(unamused)
It appears that way, Your Honor... To my
immediate right is Assistant District
Attorney Terrance Blunt, and to his right
are researchers Judy Whitlebait and
Philip Fibrin.
Johns sits.
HAMMERSHAM
And for the defense?
HENRY
(stands)
Your Honor, to my left, the defendants,
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro; to their left,
Mr. James Potterton-Smithe and May-Lee
Ling, both criminal trial lawyers. And
then there is myself, Your Honor. Lord
Henry James Smothers.
HAMMERSHAM
Henry James Smothers?.. Might you be
related to the Earl of Bosworth, by any
chance?
HENRY
Affirmative, Your Honor, I’m his son.
HAMMERSHAM
I knew your father, a fine lawyer; we
were at Harvard together.
HENRY
So I am informed.
HAMMERSHAM
(chuckles)
He was a bit of a scoundrel, loved to
play practical jokes... I remember once,
we were at a picture house of Forth
Street, and your father...
CLERK
(interrupting)
Your Honor. The case.
HAMMERSHAM
Oh, yes. Quite so, yes. Give your father
my regards.
HENRY
I will, Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
Mr. John...
JOHNS
That’s Johns, Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
I beg your pardon?
JOHNS
You called me by my first name, John.
HAMMERSHAM
(confused)
Did I?.. Oh, I do apologize... Mr. Johns -
- do you realize that your antithesis is
part of the British aristocracy?
HENRY
Second generation, sir. I only use the
colloquialism in escalated company.
HAMMERSHAM
Quite so... And who is the fellow
whispering to your fellow counselor?
HENRY
That is one of our researchers, Your
Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
I see.
(to the clerk) )
Has the jury been sworn in?
CLERK
They have, sir.
HAMMERSHAM
Good, then, let us proceed...
(to Henry)
Lord Bosworth, I believe you will be
kicking off procedures. Your opening, if
you please
HENRY
The title, Your Lordship, will suffice,
Your Honor...
HAMMERSHAM
Quite so. Prorsus bene, sir?
HENRY
Honora me domine.
HAMMERSHAM
Ah, the verb, cogitated...
CLERK
(to Hammersham)
Sir?
HAMMERSHAM
Yes?.. Oh, yes. Of course, Your Lordship,
please continue.
Henry moves to the witness stand.
HENRY
Members of the jury, in reference to the
aforementioned allegations, my clients,
Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro, are being
identified as members of a Ku Klux Klan-
led mob that attacked the black
sharecropper's home, murdering his entire
family, and then murdering another black
sharecropper, Jeremiah Coleman... The
lawsuit, which was thought to have been
dismissed, has suddenly been resurrected
as a result of the Civil Rights Movement,
which urged that the District Attorney
reconsider the case.
Henry moves to the jury benches and addresses them
individually.
HENRY (CONT’D)
The facts of the case before you are as
follows: The sharecropper, an African-
American named Silas Freeman, was dragged
from his home, hog-tied, castrated, and
hung from an oak tree until he was dead.
His wife was then sexually assaulted,
defiled, and murdered by way of a bullet
to her temple. The raiders then rode off
to repeat a further atrocity at another
African American sharecropper, Jeremiah
Coleman, (States Case: 328 U.S. 464).
These are the facts, and the defendants
do not dispute them.
The jury appears to be disturbed as Henry looks into their
eyes.
HENRY (CONT’D)
What we dispute is the assertion that
brothers Clyde and Floyd Hillsbro were
individually responsible for the
fatalities. I want to emphasize that they
were “not personally involved,” and this
is where the confusion lies. We argue
that the brothers, as insignificant
members of a raiding party and extremely
intoxicated, were merely trying to
intimidate the sharecropper and were
unwilling accessories to murder. I must
stress this once again: the defendants
were "unwilling accessories to murder."
Unfortunately, things escalated,
resulting in the tragic deaths of the
sharecropper's family. I cannot state the
defense's position more firmly: Clyde and
Floyd Hillsbro were NOT, I repeat, NOT
individually responsible for the murders.
They were merely part of a larger group
that committed these atrocities.
He returns to the defense table and picks up a file.
HENRY (CONT’D)
(waving the file)
The prosecution will purport that the
raid was sanctioned as Silas Freeman was
the lone witness to the rape and
subsequent beating of an eight-year-old
colored girl and that the fatal Freeman
raid was meant to eliminate Freeman as a
witness. This could not be substantiated,
and the case was dismissed due to a lack
of evidence.
Henry returns to the stand.
HENRY (CONT’D)
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury. My
clients strenuously dispute the
prosecution’s allegations of murder in
the first degree and, therefore, we ask
for a dismissal.
Henry moves back and sits at the defense table. Clyde leans
into him.
CLYDE
Nice work, Your Lordship; piece of cake,
yeah?
HENRY
We shall see.
Henry looks around to Moses. Moses nods.
HAMMERSHAM
Mr. Johns? Your opening.
JOHNS
(stands)
Thank you, Your Honor.
(sarcastically)
Firstly, I would like to congratulate the
Hillsbro brothers for managing to engage
such affluent council. It will be
interesting to see how newly surfaced
evidence will change the overall vista of
the proceedings
CLYDE
(whispers to Henry)
What the fuck’s he talking about?
HAMMERSHAM
Vista?
JOHNS
The outlook, Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
Mr. Johns, we’re here to try a murder
case. Try to keep your pronouns
applicable to the case.
JOHNS
Ugh... As Your Honor wishes.
HAMMERSHAM
(to himself)
Vista... Preposterous...
(to clerk)
The terminology of these youngsters.
CLERK
Quiet so, Your Honor.
JOHNS
Members of the jury. I propose to produce
testimony showing that Clyde and Floyd
Hillsbro, as rogue members of the Ku Klux
Klan, purposefully planned the raid on
the sharecropper’s homes. Here I shall
take a page out of his Lordship’s
playbook. I repeat, “PURPOSEFULLY
PLANNED,” meaning Floyd and Clyde
Hillsbro committed the aforementioned
atrocities as a premeditated act to
obfuscate a previous crime. Members of
the jury, It is imperative that you bring
in a verdict of guilty in the first
degree, and we ask for the death penalty.
HAMMERSHAM
All done?.. Very well... Thank you,
Councilors. The openings concluded, the
defense may call its first witness.
HENRY
I call to the stand the sheriff of
Greensborough, Sheriff Wyatt Hives.
CLERK
Call, Mr. Wyatt Hives to attend.
Clyde whispers to Henry.
CLYDE
I thought you said he was in a home.
HENRY
I was recently informed that he had made
a remarkable recovery.
CLYDE
You better know what you’re doing, buddy.
HENRY
Faith, my friend, faith.
Wyatt takes the witness stand.
HAMMERSHAM
(to Clerk)
Swear in the witness.
CLERK
Please read from the card.
WYATT
I do solemnly swear, that the evidence I
shall give shall be the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth.
HENRY
Good morning, sheriff.
WYATT
Good morning.
HENRY
I’m glad to see that you’ve made a full
recovery.
WYATT
Thank you.
HENRY
Now, sir, I’d like to take you back to
1936, when you received confirmation that
there were fatalities at the Freeman and
Coleman homes. Do you recall your first
reaction to the atrocities?
WYATT
Yes, I believed it was the work of the Ku
Klux Klan.
Johns stands.
JOHNS
Objection, Your Honor!
HAMMERSHAM
Objection?.. What is your objection,
counselor?
JOHNS
The inference that the raid was part of
an organized Ku Klux Klan objective.
HAMMERSHAM
Counselor, the witness was asked what he
thought, and he replied, “I believed it
was the work of the Ku Klux Klan.” Do you
honestly wish to dismiss the thoughts of
a witness?
JOHNS
No, Your Honor, but..
HAMMERSHAM
Overruled!.. Continue, Your Lordship.
JOHNS
Objection!
HAMMERSHAM
Oh, for God’s sake, what now?
JOHNS
I object to Your Honor, addressing the
defense council as Your Lordship. It
evokes favoritism, Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
And what would you suggest, I call a Pier
of the Realm?
JOHNS
Counselor?
HAMMERSHAM
(to Henry)
Your Lordship?
HENRY
I have no objection, Your Honor...
JOHNS
May I continue?
HAMMERSHAM
Proceed... Counselor.
HENRY
Now sheriff...
DISSOLVE TO:
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Courtroom Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
The Reckoning of Mayor Hobbs
INT. ALABAMA COUNTY COURTHOUSE - MARIETTA - DAY
The mayor, James T. Hobbs, is about to be recalled to the
witness stand.
CLERK
Recalling James T. Hobbs to the stand.
Hobbs enters the courtroom and walks to the witness stand, he
is visually frustrated; and answers the questions in a very
matter-of-fact way.
SUPER: “DAY THREE OF THE HILLSBRO TRIAL”
HAMMERSHAM
You understand you are still under oath,
sir?
HOBBS
I do -- but, it is unclear why I’m being
recalled.
HAMMERSHAM
Just answer the questions, sir.
(to Johns)
Proceed.
Johns rises and addresses Hobbs.
JOHNS
In your initial testimony, you told the
court that you had no prior knowledge of
the Freeman and Coleman raids.
HOBBS
That is correct.
JOHNS
You also stated that no member of your
organization, high or low, would take any
action without your prior knowledge and
specific agreement.
HOBBS
Correct.
JOHNS
If that be the case, why would the
Hillsbro brothers go on a raid if it was
unauthorized?
HOBBS
I have no idea, you’ll need to ask them.
The judge interjects.
HAMMERSHAM
Do I detect a smidgin of animosity, Mr.
Hobbs?
HOBBS
I’m a busy man, Your Honor, and I have
been summoned again to give testimony to
events that happened ten, fifteen years
ago...
HAMMERSHAM
(interrupting)
And that is the reason we are here, sir,
to explore every avenue.
HOBBS
Very well... Firstly, I don’t recall any
specifics of the raid, as I was not privy
to a raid ever being authorized. And
secondly, if I did have knowledge of the
aforesaid raid, that would make my
testimony perjurious, thus forfeiting my
career and future aspirations...
JUDGE
Aspirations to be the Senator of the
Great State of Alabama?..
HOBBS
(to Judge)
If I should be called to serve, yes, and
that, sir, is a bridge I am NOT prepared
to cross. Now, if I may suggest that we
move along at a sharper pace, as I have
an important meeting to attend.
HAMMERSHAM
Mr. Hobbs... In my court, importance, as
in rushed testimony, will always be ill-
advised.
Hobbs’s nails start to tap feverishly against the witness
stand.
JOHNS
So, once again, you have categorically
affirmed that you had no knowledge of the
aforesaid raid?
HOBBS
How many times?
(exasperated)
I had no knowledge of the raid.
JOHNS
And just to clarify, you understand that
you are still under oath.
HOBBS
Young man. I do not need to be reminded
of my oath. As I’m sure you and this
court are aware, I will soon be a member
of the Washington State Senate;
therefore, my word is my bond.
JOHNS
And this court acknowledges that
affirmation, sir... I apologize if I have
offended you in any way.
HOBBS
(to Hammersham)
Your Honor, the Freeman deaths, heinous
as they were, were reported to me,
probably two days after the tragic event,
and I immediately summoned the Hillsbro
brothers and questioned them about the
raid. After consideration, they were
banished from the group.
HAMMERSHAM
Anything further, Mr. Johns?
JOHNS
No, Your Honor. Thank you, Mr. Hobbs.
That will be all.
Hobbs gets up to leave the witness stand.
HAMMERSHAM
One moment, Mayor...
(to Henry)
Counselor, do you wish to cross-examine?
HENRY
I do, Your Honor.
Hobbs retakes his seat.
HENRY (CONT'D)
Mr. Hobbs, good afternoon, sir.
HOBBS
Counselor.
HENRY
Mr. Hobbs, I’d just like to confirm some
of your original testimony.
(MORE)
HENRY (CONT'D)
You were the Imperial Grand Wizard of the
Ku Klux Klan from 1922 to the fall of
1952..
HOBBS
That is correct.
HENRY
And, being the Imperial Grand Wizard, you
were in full command of all your members
and associates over the period, 1922 to
1952, yes?
HOBBS
Also correct.
HENRY
And these associates, they were all loyal
to the cause?
HOBBS
We insisted on total loyalty and
commitment.
HENRY
Loyalty, meaning a comprehensive
commitment?
HOBBS
Correct, counselor.
HENRY
Might a comprehensive commitment cover
all aspects of the organization’s
structure?
HOBBS
I don’t understand the question.
HENRY
Your associates... They would never
disobey an order or instruction given by
the Imperial Grand Wizard, a role that,
as you’ve already stated, demanded
comprehensive loyal commitment.
HOBBS
On bane of their lives.
HENRY
Really -- how interesting?.. Mr. Hobbs,
can you explain why you called the
Hillsbro brothers to order?
HOBBS
I’m sorry?
HENRY
Why were the Hillsbro brothers brought
in, severely reprimanded, and expelled
from the organization?
HOBBS
Because of the Freeman raid.
HENRY
But you just declared, under oath, that
no one within your organization, carried
out any form of mission, maneuver, or
judgment, without your knowledge or clear
orders.
HOBBS
Correct.
HENRY
So how would you even know about the
Freeman and Coleman raid?
Hobbs appears flustered.
HOBBS
Counselor, we enforced discipline, and
all violations were harshly dealt with.
Our associates comply, fearing severe
consequences.
HENRY
I understand that sir, but if you weren’t
informed of the Freeman and Coleman raid,
why would you have had to deal with the
consequences?..
HOBBS
I’m not with you?
HENRY
The consequences of what?
HOBBS
I, er, umm...
HENRY
No matter, we’ll come back to that. Just
for the record, could you give the court
an example of severe consequences?
HOBBS
Consequences would be dispensed based on
the severity of the infringement.
HENRY
So, an example?
HOBBS
(smiles)
Is this some kind of trial lawyers
juvenile trick question?
HENRY
Far from the truth, sir. And -- please
allow me some leeway here... Your
associates, they would never cross the
line, as they were in fear of their
lives?
HOBBS
A little dramatic, but yes, that was
clearly defined.
HENRY
By fair means or foul.
HOBBS
Correct.
HENRY
Mr. Hobbs... When the council for the
prosecution asked about the Hillsbro
expulsions, what repercussions were
dispensed?
HOBBS
Expulsion from the cause?
HENRY
Administered because they had fallen foul
of the organization’s rulings and the
Klan’s demand of total loyalty?
HOBBS
A pledge they made when they were
inducted into the organization, yes. But,
as I already indicated, it was a long
time ago, and I don't recall the actual
circumstances of the case!
(to Hammersham) )
Your Honor, I am no longer associated
with the organization, so why am I being
asked these inane questions?
HAMMERSHAM
Because you are here as a witness, Mr.
Hobbs.
HOBBS
(to Hammersham)
I am not here to be disrespected, sir! My
time is of the utmost, I regretfully must
leave.
Hobbs rises to leave the witness stand.
HAMMERSHAM
I strongly advise that you retake your
seat, Mr. Hobbs, and continue answering
His Lordship’s questions, or I shall be
forced to hold you in contempt.
JOHNS
Lordship, Your Honor!
HAMMERSHAM
Oh, do sit down, Johns, we have more
important things that are being dealt
with!..
(to Hobbs)
Mr. Hobbs. SIT!
Hobbs, appearing extremely angry, takes his seat.
HOBBS
(to Henry)
Okay, you jumped up excuse for some kind
of British aristocrat, give it your best
shot!
HENRY
Jumped up excuse, Mayor?.. I represent
the highest court in the land, and you
will answer all questions regardless of
your important meeting. Do I make myself
clear, Hobbs?
HOBBS
Mister Hobbs to you, Sonny!
HAMMERSHAM
Gentlemen, a little decorum, please.
HENRY
My apologies, Your Honor.
(back to Hobbs)
(MORE)
HENRY (CONT'D)
When the Hillsbro's were brought before
you and disrobed, what were the
unthinkable repercussions you
implemented?
HOBBS
I don’t recollect.
HENRY
You don’t recollect?.. Even with their
total disregard for the Klan’s, loyalty
oath.
HOBBS
Are you attempting to goad me, you
disrespectful, jumped-up excuse for a
lawyer? Do you have any idea what this
nation faces with ethnic riots and
equality marches everywhere? The
organization I proudly served was...
HENRY
Mr. Hobbs, you use the phrase
"organization" time and time again. Is it
so difficult for you to use the
organization's recognizable title? The Ku
Klux Klan. A terrorist organization that
encourages violence against blacks, Jews,
and Christians, and be damned with the
consequences.
HOBBS
That is beyond contempt.
HENRY
Contempt!.. A gang of thugs hellbent on
destroying the status quo, a plague on
this country and decent humanity?
Hobbs is now totally infuriated.
HOBBS
You want to know who authorized the
Freeman raid, you pumped-up piece of dog
shit? It was the Hillsbro brothers, and
they received a dressing down and were
punished for it!
HENRY
But no horrendous recriminations?
HOBBS
(angrily)
Fuck you, and this hearing, counselor.
(MORE)
HOBBS (CONT'D)
Yes, I was previously informed about the
raid, but I specifically instructed that
there should NOT be any violence, only to
scare the sharecropper out of any
testimony.
HENRY
I beg your pardon.
HOBBS
The blacks are taking over this country,
and...
Hobbs looks around, there is total silence, he is unaware that
he has just incriminated himself.
HOBBS (CONT’D)
What?.. What?..
He rises and attempts to leave the witness stand, but two
court officials stop him.
HOBBS (CONT’D)
Unhand me, you imbeciles!
HAMMERSHAM
Court officers, if you could please take
the witness into custody.
HOBBS
Custody? For what? I’ve done nothing
wrong!
He looks across to Henry.
HOBBS (CONT’D)
Counselor, you promised me anonymity.
What is going on, here?
HAMMERSHAM
Mr. Hobbs, you will be charged as an
accessory to murder.
HOBBS
What?.. I have served this district and
am about to serve the jurisdiction of the
great state of Alabama. Do you,
councilor, or you, Your Honor, understand
the seriousness of your actions here
today.
HAMMERSHAM
Take the witness away and read him his
rights.
Two court officers take Hobbs towards the court’s rear door.
HOBBS
(shouts)
What is this? I’m about to become state
senator, this is...
Hobbs is ejected from the court.
HAMMERSHAM
(to clerk)
Clear the court.
CLERK
Officers, will you clear the courtroom.
The officers escort the witness and general public from the
court.
HAMMERSHAM
(to jurors)
The jury must retire to the jury room at
this juncture, and I would advise that
you do not discuss any testimonies of
witnesses. Is that clear?
The witnesses file out.
HENRY
(stands)
Your Honor. I ask that you allow the
prosecution and defence teams to adjust
to the testimony just heard.
HAMMERSHAM
(to Johns)
Councilor?
JONS
We concur, Your Honor.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Crime","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
Judgment Day in Marietta
INT. ALABAMA COUNTY COURTHOUSE - MARIETTA - DAY
Judge Hammersham enters the packed courtroom.
CLERK
All rise.
SUPER: “DAY FOUR OF THE HILLSBRO TRIAL”
HAMMERSHAM
(looks to the jurors)
Esteemed members of the jury, following
the reprehensible conduct exhibited by
Mayor Hobbs yesterday, and in light of
the incriminating testimony presented by
the prosecution's witness. I recommend
that you withdraw and contemplate the
testimony previously presented.
Specifically that of the prosecution's
witness, Mr. Hobbs. Mr. Hobbs has
voluntarily asserted that the assault on
the Freeman and Coleman residences,
resulting in fatalities, was premeditated
and orchestrated. A raid executed under
the supervision of Mr. Hobbs... I
instruct you to render a first-degree
guilty verdict against the defendants,
Clyde and Floyd Hillsboro, with an
unequivocal mandate for the death
penalty. That will be all. George, clear
the court.
The jury file in and take their seats. The foreman of the jury
stands to announce the jury’s verdict.
SUPER: “DAY FIVE OF THE HILLSBRO TRIAL”
HAMMERSHAM
Has the jury reached a verdict?
JURY FOREMAN
WE have Your Honor.
HAMMERSHAM
And how do you find?
JURY FOREMAN
We find the Hillsbro brother’s Clyde and
Floyd Hillsbro, guilty on all charges.
CLERK
And that is the unanimous decision of you
all?
JURY FOREMAN
It is.
The clerk hands the judgment to Hammersham, who is about to
deliver his ruling.
CLERK
Will the defendants rise?
The brothers and Henry stand.
JUDGE
Floyd and Clyde Hillsbro. The jury
through a unanimous decision, has found
you guilty in the first-degree of the
multiple murders of the Freeman Family
and of Jeremiah Coleman... This court
orders you to be taken from here to the
place from which you came and be
maintained in close custody until a day
to be verified; then, upon that day, you
will be transported to the place of
execution where your sentence of “Death
by Execution” will be discharged, and may
God have mercy upon your souls.
CLYDE
(crazed, to Henry)
WHAT!.. Fuckin’ what!.. Justice? You
wouldn’t know justice if it came and bit
you on the ass.
(to judge)
And fuck you too, judge...
Clyde moves to attack Henry but is stopped by the court
officers.
Genres:
["Legal Drama","Courtroom Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
60 -
A New Beginning
EXT. ELLICOT CITY CENTER - BALTIMORE - DAY
A car pulls up outside of the office building. Henry leads May-
Lee, Jimmy, and Moses, all blindfolded, from the car and into
the building.
INT. ELLICOT CITY CENTER - BALTIMORE - DAY
Henry then leads the blindfolded trio to a pair of glass
doors. On the doors is written as follows:
“The Fordham Associates, Specialists in Criminal Law”.
HENRY
My friends, welcome to our new
enterprise.
They remove their blindfolds.
JIMMY
Jesus.
MAY-LEE
Oh, my God!..
HENRY
All amenities are paid for the next two
years, the furnishings will arrive
tomorrow. From now on, it’s just about
hard work. All for one, and one for all.
JIMMY
“The Fordham Four”
MAY-LEE
Is this really our corporation?
JIMMY (SPEECHLESS)
Who the hell’s paying for all this?
HENRY
My father, a gift for bringing justice to
the needy, and graduating with
distinction...
Moses stands, looking at the sign written doors.
MOSES
I just wish my family could have been
here to see this... They would have been
so proud.