All language subtitles for The.Burial.2023.1080p.WEBRip.1400MB.DD5.1.x264-GalaxyRG

("Trust in the Lord" playing)

- (cheering)
- ♪ ♪

Uh-huh. Yes, Lord.

MAN: Yes, sir.

I'm Willie Gary.

All right, now, you know my
brother's Albert, he preaches here,

but he asked me to come down
and-and, uh, share a bit with y'all.

- But I say like this, when God calls...
- (congregation agreeing)

you have to answer.

- That's right. -Mm-hmm.
- And that's what it is.

- God was on my heart and
on my spirit today, -(slaps pulpit)

so that's why I came
here to speak to you.

I say to myself,
what sustains us?

What gives us a feeling
of, of a spirit that, where we,

we feel safe?

(congregation murmurs
encouragement)

I believe it's home.

(congregation exclaiming)

If I could just get home.

(congregation agreeing)

Even saying the word "home"
makes you feel a kind of way.

- Where do I need to get?
- CONGREGATION: Home.

- Where do we want to be?
- Home.

- Home is where the heart is. Amen.
- Amen.

- Hallelujah.
- Hallelujah.

'Cause when you
home, your family's there,

everybody's there, you home.

And where's home for us?

Black church.

- (congregation exclaiming)
- Huh?

CONGREGATION: Black church.

I don't hear you. Where are we?

CONGREGATION: Black church!

- Speak to it.
- (exclaiming)

In Black church, they don't
say that I fit the description.

In Black church, they don't judge
me because of the color of my skin.

(congregation agreeing)

In Black church, they
don't call me out my name.

And if they do call
me out my name,

you know what they call me?

- CONGREGATION: What do they call you?
- I said, do you know what they call me?

- What do they call you?
- They call me a child of God.

- (cheering)
- You are one. Yes, sir!

♪ ♪

- All right.
- Thank you.

All right, now, doc.
Good to see you.

Now, y'all take care, okay?

- All right, now. All right.
- Have a good week.

- All right, doc.
- All right.

All right, you take care.

That was a wonderful
message, you hear me?

Right.

(chatter, laughter)

- (dog barks)
- ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you ♪

♪ Happy birthday, dear Grandpa ♪

♪ Happy birthday to you. ♪

Happy birthday, Grandpa.

I made it just for you.

Well, aren't I lucky?

Let's have a look here.

WOMAN: 13 children,
24 grandchildren.

I'd say you done
good, Mr. O'Keefe.

And you have done well...

Mrs. O'Keefe.

Very well indeed.

(chuckles)

Not one felon in the
whole damn bunch.

(laughing)

Are you... Hey.

- Hmm?
- Hey, are you okay?

- Yeah.
- Uh-huh. Yeah.

I'm just checking in on you.

I'm still allowed to do that.

- Yes, you are. Yes, you are.
- That's good. Good to hear.

I could not be
happier with this day.

♪ ♪

WILLIE: The well-being of
this man's life depends on y'all.

Can I just talk simple to y'all?

Hmm? Plain, ordinary talk?

'Cause I think they trying
to talk over y'all head.

And we not gonna allow that.

Now, I got some
secrets about my client.

And I'm gonna
tell you right now,

- my client ain't no good.
- (murmuring)

He ain't.

My no-good client, Clovis
Tubbs, on the day of the accident,

was drunk.

That's right. Drunk.

Uh... tanked.

Wasted. Toe up from the flo' up.

Matter of fact, you want
to check the numbers?

The numbers say, uh, 0.4
percent blood alcohol level.

It's right here.

Inebriated, if you
want to say a big word.

Not only that,

he was going
through mental things.

He said he was
suffering from depression.

Some would say that he was
suicidal, and we have the proof of that,

because when he was
talking to his therapist,

he'd told his therapist, "I'm feeling
so bad I wish I could get in my car

and ride straight into a tree."

But he couldn't do that.

My no-good client couldn't
do that. You know why?

His license is revoked.

(chuckles)

Ain't even got a license.

So what'd he say? "I'm
gonna get me a bicycle

and I'm gonna do it that way."

And that's exactly what he did.

He got on his bicycle and rode
over there to Alberta and Vine.

Y'all know the liquor
store over there, huh?

And he got him a big old bottle of
Scotch and he downed it, and what'd he do?

Get on that bicycle and he rode straight
towards the highway, towards traffic.

Hmm?

And then, here comes
Mr. Eighteen-Wheeler,

Finch and Company,
not paying no attention.

To nothing. Coming down Elm.

And what did he do? Bam!

He hit Clovis.

He hit him.

He should be dead.

He should be dead.

Y'all know that song, um...

♪ I'm looking for a miracle ♪?

- WOMAN: Mm-hmm.
- Hmm?

That's a miracle, right here.

That's why we asking for you to
look in your hearts and your soul

and award him that
mere $75 million.

You know why? They got it.

They got it.

They got the bank to do it.

But they know they big,
trying to step on the small man.

And then you say, "Well,
why $75 million, Willie Gary?"

I'm-a tell you why.

Because we have the evidence.

The evidence will prove
that there was negligence.

Because no-good Clovis

had one thing
going good for him,

at that time.

Even though he was drunk,

tanked, toe up from the flo' up,

depressed and suicidal,

my no-good client,
Clovis Tubbs...

had him a green light.

(gallery exclaiming)

MAN: Yes, he did.

WILLIE: I rest my
case, Your Honor.

(cheering)

("Whatta Man (feat. En
Vogue)" by Salt-N-Pepa playing)

♪ ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ Ooh, what a man, what a man,
what a man, what a mighty good man ♪

- ♪ Gonna say it again now ♪
- (elevator bell dings)

♪ What a man, what
a man, what a man ♪

♪ What a mighty good man ♪

♪ He's a mighty,
mighty good man ♪

♪ What a man, what
a man, what a man ♪

♪ What a mighty good man... ♪

I'm Willie Gary.
Y'all come on in.

Listen, I apologize for keeping
y'all waiting out there so long.

Pleasure to meet you,
Mr. Gary. I'm Jeremiah O'Keefe.

"Jeremiah." I like that.

That's biblical. Isaiah, Jeremiah,
Lamentations. That's biblical.

- Now, who's this?
- Hey...

JEREMIAH: He's my junior
counsel, Halbert Dockins.

Well, H-Hal's fine.

- Uh, it's an honor, Mr. Gary.
- You're too young

to be a lawyer, Negro.

I thought you was
his foster child.

Really? Come on, no,
I'm just kidding with you.

Come on in here.

This is, this is my, uh,
partner, Reggie Douglas.

He runs my point.

So, what y'all got? What
y'all got for Willie Gary?

Hmm? P.I.?

I beg your pardon?

P.I. Personal injury. Y'all
got some personal injuries?

Didn't y'all see
the sign outside?

That's the only kind of
law we practice round here.

Uh, well, yes and no.

Um, I guess... I guess
we sort of have a...

a P.I. case, but
with a bit of a twist.

Bit of a twist? Okay,
what-what kind of twist?

What kind of case is it?

It's a contract law case.

Contract law? Oh, come on, man.

- We don't do no contract law here.
- REGGIE: Hell, nah.

That sound like a
nap waiting to happen.

- Yeah. Yeah, we don't do no contract law.
- REGGIE: I mean, hell.

R-Right, but look, we understand
it's not necessarily your field,

but perhaps you
could just hear him out.

I think you'll find
the case compelling.

I am a, um, funeral director

from Biloxi, Mississippi.

I have a business there... Well,
actually, I have several businesses there.

I have eight funeral homes and
one burial insurance company.

We are a family business,

and have been for
over a hundred years.

And we are not about to
lose that without a fight.

After I returned from the war,

my father passed
the business to me,

which I considered
a sacred trust.

Annette and I were
blessed with 13 children,

and we intend for them

to carry the business
into the future.

But about a year ago,

I ran into some
financial trouble.

Good afternoon, gentlemen.
How can I help you?

We're here on behalf of the
state insurance commission.

Mr. O'Keefe, as a registered
burial insurance broker

in the state of Mississippi,

I'm sure you're aware
you're required to maintain

a certain minimum funds
in your account at all times.

Well, yes. Of course I'm aware.

Insurance regulators?

You gotta be kidding me.

What'd they say
they want, exactly?

Truth is, I may have gotten
myself into a lot of trouble.

Trouble?

Jerry...

I've been your lawyer,
what, coming up on 30 years?

Was your friend
even before that.

You and I both know

I've been in debt up
to my neck for years,

trying to make this
business strong,

make it last,

so I have something
to leave my children.

(sighs)

Let's not panic just yet.

I get how stressful this is,

but I'm pretty sure we
can find a way out of it.

Hold up a second.

Excuse me, son.

- Do you want another drink?
- No, no.

Whenever you get a chance, could
I get another bourbon over here?

- Yeah.
- Yes, sir.

So, look,

have you considered selling
off part of the business?

No.

Just part of it. Okay?

Well, I'm not saying
I want to, but if I did,

where would I find a buyer?

Canada, actually.

They made an inquiry.

Loewen Group? Oh, yeah.

They've been on a pretty
significant acquisition spree.

Going all across the country,

buying up every independently owned
funeral chain they can get their hands on.

These guys, they're
really big players.

Now, you know how I feel
about these big corporations, now.

Yes, I do. But all I'm
saying is it's an option.

And it's out there.

Might be a way out.

You could think about it.

- (plane flying overhead)
- (car horns honking)

(indistinct
announcement over P.A.)

Jerry.

Perfect timing.

- Hey, you need a hand with that?
- Oh, no, I got it.

Hey, so, listen.

You're sure about this, right?

No, I've given this
a lot of thought,

and I believe this is the
right thing to do for my family.

All righty, then.

Next stop, Vancouver.
You ready to go inside?

No, we got to wait for Hal.

- Who?
- I told you about Hal.

He's a friend of my
son's from college,

very bright young man

just getting started out
as a lawyer and, uh...

Well, hell, here he comes now.

Recently passed the bar exam.

Hungry for experience.

Who, which one?

That tall kid?

Hey, hey, sorry. So
sorry, Mr. O'Keefe. Um...

My taxi just dropped me
off at the wrong terminal, so...

Oh, don't worry about it. Halbert
Dockins, I want you to meet Mike Allred.

Really great to
meet you, Mr. Allred.

I'm very excited to be
a member of the team.

- Hi, there. Nice to meet you, too.
- Yeah.

So you're a lawyer?

(chuckles) Uh, yeah.

Well, that's just great.
Good for you, son.

I'll see you guys inside.

Come on. We're going to Canada.

BOB: I work for Ray Loewen.

He's really looking
forward to meeting you.

As I'm sure you can gather,

Ray's a very
hands-on kind of guy.

One of the only
CEOs in the industry

who likes to meet with
every seller personally.

Hey, Ray!

Allow me to introduce
Mr. Jeremiah O'Keefe

- and his colleagues.
- It is a pleasure to meet you, Jerry.

So, boys, how do you like the way we
do business up here in Canada? (laughing)

Come on on board.
Get you a drink.

(seabirds screeching)

BOB: At present, we
own 1,115 funeral homes,

427 cemeteries,

354 insurance companies.

RAY: My strategy is simple.

Buy as many funeral
homes as I can

and put myself in a position

for what I like to call

the Golden Era of Death.

Sorry?

It's when all the baby
boomers across the U.S.

finally reach their
age of demise.

RAY: Resulting in a
minimum 60% increase

in death rates nationwide.

Do you have any idea how
many people are living in the U.S.,

right now,

over the age of 65?

51 million.

(Bob and Ray laugh)

JEREMIAH: That sounds
kind of cynical to me.

Aren't you worried about
losing sight of your customer?

RAY: My customer?

What customer? My
customers are dead guys.

(laughing)

I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding, Jerry.

Look, the more
funeral homes I own,

the more money I make,

the more I am able to meet
the demands of my customer.

And provide for
his... growing needs.

Maybe it's time that
we drop all this chit-chat

and start talking about a deal.
What do you say, gentlemen?

I'm interested to hear
what you have in mind, Ray.

My understanding

is that you're
having a bit of trouble

with the state
regulators down there.

How'd you come to
that understanding?

RAY: You own... what?

Nine homes across the state?

JEREMIAH: Eight.

I own eight funeral
homes across the state.

And my insurance
business, of course.

So what about this?

You sell me three of your homes,

at a fair market value
to be agreed upon later.

Then, not only
do you get to keep

the bulk of your assets,

but it would also provide you
with more than enough fresh cash

to deal with the regulators.

Now, there's something
else I want out of this deal.

I make most of my profits
from selling burial insurance.

There's no way I can
survive if you have a monopoly

on that, too, so what I propose

is that I sell you three
of my funeral homes,

fair market value...

but you're going to have
to promise, here and now,

to no longer sell burial
insurance in southern Mississippi.

Okay.

So does this mean
we have a deal?

I'll get my lawyers to
draw up the contracts

so we can get it
done immediately.

What the hell is taking so long?

We closed on this deal, um...

Coming up on four months now.

They keep trying
to re-trade the terms.

When we left Vancouver, they
said it would take 30 days max.

- It just doesn't make sense.
- I don't know, makes perfect sense to me.

MIKE: Why?

Have you considered
the possibility

that Loewen has no intention
of closing this deal at all?

Son, with all due respect,
you don't have the faintest idea

what you're talking about.

I think I do.

Think about it.

The longer he stalls,
the worse you're screwed.

First, the insurance
commission takes your license,

effectively destroying
your livelihood,

until, sooner or later, you have
no choice but to file for bankruptcy.

Now not only does
Loewen get the three homes,

he can actually buy your entire
business out from under you

at yard-sale prices.

You really think he's
trying to bankrupt me?

Hell, he can't do that;
I got a signed contract.

It was only signed on our end.

With no closing date attached.

And, by the way, I
heard Mr. Loewen

is actually still selling
insurance in the region.

Oh, come on. Stop with
the conspiracy theories.

Son, I'm sorry, but
you really are paranoid.

Okay.

Um...

would you mind doing me a favor?

Would you mind
stop calling me son?

I am not your son, Mike.

Whoa.

Just take it easy, okay?

You really want to
be taken seriously

- as a lawyer in this town?
- Okay. Who says I'm not?

Enough of that, y'all.

Do you really think Mr. Loewen has the
intention of running me into the ground?

I do.

Why the hell should he
be on our clock anyway?

Well, that's it. I'm
gonna sue him.

You've never sued anybody
before in your whole life.

Well, I'm liable to, just
about any minute now.

Yeah. Well, you think 75 years of
age is a good time to start suing people?

Old men don't file lawsuits.

The way I see it, if somebody
tries to take advantage of you,

and you know it's wrong, it
don't matter how old you are.

This fellow tried to
bully me out of business.

And I don't think I should
be expected to stand for it.

♪ ♪

I'm here to file a lawsuit.

That the complaint right there?

May I see it, please?

"Jeremiah J. O'Keefe Sr.
V. The Loewen Group LLC."

Ooh.

Sounds juicy.

Who do you think's gonna win?

- Excuse me?
- (Doorbell rings)

Well, goodness, Hal,

what are you doing here?

- You know what time it is?
- Look, uh,

I know it's late. I'm
really sorry about that.

I-I found something I think
will be really useful for our case.

ROBIN LEACH (over TV):
The thrills continue with another

opulent episode on Lifestyles
of the Rich and Famous.

You won't believe the
amazing journey of famed

personal injury
lawyer Willie E. Gary,

a man who refused to accept
a life sentence of poverty

because he believed
in the American dream.

Born to a family of
migrant sharecroppers

working the sugarcane
fields of Florida,

life wasn't always a bed
of roses for Willie Gary.

I just always had this burning
desire to be something, you know?

And I-I knew I was going to
make something of myself.

LEACH: And make
something of himself he did,

as now Willie regularly wins
multimillion-dollar cases...

Are you suggesting I hire
this guy as one of my lawyers?

Seems like a crazy idea,

but this guy wins
cases. I mean...

LEACH: He not only owns
his own private 737 jet,

called Wings of Justice,

he also lives the high
life in a 50-room mansion

along the luxurious
Florida coast.

But Willie can't take
credit for the decorating,

as that job belongs to
Willie's childhood sweetheart,

his gorgeous and
alluring wife Gloria.

GLORIA: One thing

that I always try to
remind Willie of is to...

- is to never forget where he came from.
- Mm.

- Stay humble.
- LEACH: Yes,

"humble" is Willie
Gary's middle name.

Don't never let nobody tell you
you can't do something, okay?

Willie Gary told you that.

Give me a pound.

LEACH: Never
forgetting his roots...

(tape stops)

Believe it or not, he's got an
absolutely flawless trial record.

He supposedly hasn't
lost a case in over 12 years.

What does he know
about contract law?

This is a contract law case.

The case was filed
down in Hinds County.

That's a three-to-one
Black/white ratio.

That means there's a 70%
chance we'll get a Black judge,

and if we do go to trial,

likely a Black jury as well.

- So what?
- With all due respect,

you-you can't put a guy like
Mike Allred in front of a Black jury.

Why the hell not?

He has been my
attorney for 30 years.

He knows contract
law better than anybody.

You're really gonna
make me spell this out.

Um...

He literally reeks self-satisfied,
good ol' boy Southern bigotry.

I mean, a Black jury sees
a guy like that coming...

The idea of us pandering to
a jury like that, Hal, it's not...

It... (sighs)

This is not a
discrimination suit.

You and I both know that
race has nothing to do with this.

I happen to know, for a fact,
that Mr. Gary is trying a case

down in Florida this week.

What if... what if...

you and I went down
there, just for the day,

and try to meet him in person?

Essentially, we just want
to hold the Loewen Group

responsible for their actions.

WILLIE: Nah, nah, nah.
That ain't what you want.

What you want to do is
you want to make 'em pay.

- REGGIE: Make 'em hurt, make 'em pay.
- Yeah, yeah.

So, how much money
y'all trying to get, hmm?

- JEREMIAH: Uh, $6 million.
- $6 million.

That's full, fair market
value plus damages,

and I've already filed a civil
claim in Hinds County, Mississippi.

HAL: Well?

What-what do you think,
Mr. Gary? Do you like the case?

I'm gonna give you
my personal opinion.

Honest.

Look, Mr. O'Keefe, I'm sorry for
what this Loewen guy did to you...

he sounds like he's a big
asshole and everything like that...

but, um, this ain't
no Willie Gary case.

It just ain't. It ain't...

It ain't a Willie Gary case.

Uh, wait, what-what do
you mean? Why-why not?

It ain't a Willie Gary case

- 'cause it ain't for Willie Gary.
- No, but...

I'm sorry, what is a
"Willie Gary case," then?

- I don't...
- In other words, what he's saying is

a Willie Gary case is the type of
case where I have the upper hand.

Where I feel that I can take
this case to trial. Understand?

- All the way.
- And-and once I get 'em in that trial,

I mean, y'all seen my tape.

When I get 'em in front of...
especially in front of people

that-that look like me... I'm-a
play 'em like a symphony.

Mm. Mozart.

A Willie Gary case is where
I could take that judgement

and push it all the way up,
to the heavens if I need to,

and get as much money
as I can for my client.

Uh, what he's saying
is, a Willie Gary case

is a case we know we can win.

This case... not so much.

Matter of fact, your
case a little bit iffy.

And, uh...

the other thing is this.

Don't take this the
wrong way, but, uh...

He, uh, he's... you're
white... he's white.

And I don't have white clients.

I've never had any, so...

No offense or anything like
that, but this is just unusual for me.

No offense taken, Mr. Gary.

That guy's too rich and
famous for us, Halbert.

Uh-huh.

Um, you know what,
Mr. O'Keefe? Just, um...

- What?
- You know, just-just give me one second.

- All right?
- Where you going?

I'm-I'm gonna talk
with him one more time.

G-Give me five minutes, okay?

The green light scenario,

when I was talking to
the, the one juror, uh, uh...

What'd she have on?

I'd have maybe looked
at her a little bit longer.

You know, gave her
some eye contact.

- Sometimes you got to romance them.
- Listen, I'm not...

- That's the thing, I don't know that...
- Look, Mr. Gary,

I'm so sorry to come back
in here like this, I really am,

- but I just need a minute of your time.
- WILLIE: What's going on with you, man?

- You lost? Huh?
- Yeah. Lost your mind...

Or did he fire your ass
out there by the elevator?

Okay, yeah, maybe
so, but listen, I... I...

- I just need a minute of your time.
- You need a minute?

- One minute. That's all I ask.
- Well, you know what, that's all you got.

'Cause we busy.
Then, come on, Hal.

I mean, Jerry's
a... a dream client.

He's got a great narrative.

He's a war hero.

A decorated war hero.

He served in World War II.

- He was, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross...
- Yeah.

- For service for his country.
- Hmm.

- Is that all you got?
- Man.

That's it?

- Wasn't World War II about 50 years ago?
- Yeah, man.

- Hal, don't nobody give a shit except them.
- That's old news, nigga.

All right. All right.
How about this?

Okay, um...

In 1976,

Jerry was serving as a two-term
mayor in his hometown of Biloxi.

The KKK tried to
organize a march...

And he stopped 'em
from buying white sheets.

(Willie and Reggie laughing)

- Shit, man.
- I guess, I guess he's supposed to be

- our white savior now. (laughs)
- Yeah, yeah, yeah. KKK, man.

REGGIE: You sound like
you in love with him, man.

(laughing)

No, that's not my point. I'm saying we're
hopefully trying the case in Hinds County.

- There's a three-to-one...
- Hold-hold on. Let me stop you, Hal.

Now, listen, Hal, I like you... I-I
think you come from good stock...

but you got to understand
how we work here.

One, we don't do contract law.

- Two, we don't have no white clients.
- REGGIE: No.

And three, that
ain't enough money.

My, not enough money.

It ain't enough money, Hal.
You know, I-I-I love you, man,

but it ain't enough
money for us.

Brother, look around.
You see where you are?

You don't see this
mahogany wood?

- Gold finish?
- Got to see it.

- Preach. Yeah.
- REGGIE: It's the big time, baby.

We doing cases for
$50 million, $30 million,

- $80 million cases monthly.
- Yeah.

HAL: Okay. Okay.

But how do you know this
case can't be something bigger?

Well...

we don't know.

You know something we don't?

Ray Loewen happens
to sit at the top

of one of the biggest
industries in this country.

Hmm.

I'm talking about the $20
billion a year death care industry.

There are two huge corporations
moving in and taking over everything,

and the Loewen
Group is one of them.

Now, what they did to
Jerry is truly terrible, but...

I have a feeling
it's just... it's-it...

No. I know. It's the
tip of the iceberg.

- Hmm.
- HAL: Can I keep going?

Sure. Shit.

Well, that's where
you should've started.

You guys try all these
$80 million cases, and...

and you have your private jet
and all that, I get it, that's fine, but...

Yeah, I do. Wings of Justice.

HAL: Great. Look,
you know as well as I do

that as far as the more elite legal
community in this country goes,

you're nothing more than a
glorified ambulance chaser.

- No offense.
- Now, Hal, now don't make me whoop your ass now.

- Disrespectful, boy.
- What if...

What if, what-what if...

what if this case is the one
that puts you on the map?

What if this case takes
you to a nationwide level?

I'm talking, um...

William Kuntsler,

Clarence Darrow,

Thurgood Marshall.

Look, I'm talking...

I'm talking Johnnie
motherfucking Cochran.

("Everybody Everybody"
by Black Box playing)

♪ ♪

Well, I've never heard of him.

Was this your idea, by
the way, Mr. Dockins?

- Yes.
- No, it was not his idea,

it was mine, and I realize,
Mike, it might piss you off,

me bringing on additional
counsel like this, but...

MIKE: Piss me off? Not at all.

Doesn't piss me...
Do I seem pissed off?

I'm not pissed off.

Hell, it's your money, you
can do what you want to with it,

I just think you're
making a big mistake.

I am trying to put us in
the best possible position

in the event we
end up going to trial.

Got it.

Except we're not going to trial.

Seriously, what's so special
about this guy, anyway?

Hal and I went over to Florida to
watch him try a case in front of a jury,

and I want to tell you,
this man can absolutely,

(laughing): positively
galvanize a jury.

(laughing)

Yes, sir.

Well...

if you believe in him that much,

then sure, okay,
I'll work with him.

I've partnered up before.

Just as long as it's clear

I'm still lead attorney.

Appreciate you being a
good sport about this, Mike.

No problem.

So what time is he
supposed to get here, anyway?

You know, actually, I
think this is them now.

Now?

("DWYCK" by Gang Starr
(feat. Nice & Smooth) playing)

♪ Greg N-N-N, N-N-N ♪

♪ Has gots to be the sure shot ♪

♪ Gang Starr has gots
to be the sure shot ♪

♪ Nice & Smooth has
gots to be the sure shot ♪

♪ Greg Nice, Greg N-I-C-E ♪

♪ Oka-yay, o-o... ♪

Jeremiah Lamentations.
How you doing, Jerry?

- Good to see you, Willie.
- Good to see you, doc.

Good to see you.
You looking good.

- Thank you.
- Hey, Hal, what you doing over there, huh?

- It's a pleasure.
- You gettin' younger on me, man?

Huh? What, you on
some Dorian Gray shit?

Willie, let me introduce
you to Mike Allred, right here.

Mike.

Now, I understand we
working together, hmm?

So I understand. How
you doing, Mr. Gary?

(chuckles) I look
like a million, huh?

You look like ten million
Yankee dollars, Willie.

(chuckles) Yeah, that's
what I'm talking about.

I feel good.

This your war room here, huh?

- Uh, well, we got the conference room, you know.
- Mm-hmm.

I like these over there. I like
these books. I like all those.

This is nice, though.

(clears throat) Before
we get to work, though...

I hope this doesn't make you
feel uncomfortable, but, uh...

I got some questions
I got to ask you.

Oh, sure. Feel free to ask
me anything. I'm all ears.

Good.

Um, question is, uh...

how do you feel about
working with Black folk?

Man-to-man?

Is there any other way?

No, sir. You want
an honest answer?

- I need that.
- All right.

Well, if you want
an honest answer,

truth be told, I suppose
I am a little prejudiced.

Mm. Okay.

I'm not saying I'm
proud of it or anything.

- I appreciate your honesty.
- In fact, I've been working real hard

on trying to overcome it.

Mm. Well, then you should.

- I'm glad you're working on it.
- But yes.

Did you meet my team?

Hi. I'm Chris.

Hi, Chris.

Yes. Dashaan.

- Dashaan.
- Mm.

Al.

Reggie Douglas.

Gentlemen.

Okay. Uh... now that
that's all cleared up,

why don't we all just head
over to the conference room,

where the rest of the
team is waiting, yeah?

Jerry. We're gonna
work this out, all right?

- Yeah.
- He's gonna be okay.

Okay, that's fine.

WILLIE: Afternoon,
gentlemen. How you feeling?

You good? Huh? Good, good, good.

For all y'all that don't know
who I am, my name is Willie Gary.

Tell 'em who you are.

Now, I done brought a couple of partners
of mine from my firm up here from Florida

to help y'all win this case.

And for all of y'all who are unfamiliar
with the Willie Gary style of litigation,

let me break it down to you.

We 'bout to go to war.

'Cause that's what
I think litigation is.

Litigation is war.

It's a battle, a
battle to the death.

And I'm not talking
about no bullshit, either;

I'm talking about some Jean-Claude
Van Damme ass-kicking shit.

Now I know y'all looking at me
crazy, but that's how I like to get.

And if we don't get crazy
with these motherfuckers,

I'm telling you,
this Loewen Group?

They're powerful.

Got a lot of money,
got a lot of influence.

They have everything
that we don't.

But we not gonna
let them intimidate us.

'Cause I'm not intimidated.

Now, it ain't no secret.

For the past 12 years,
I have not lost a case.

And why is that?

Can you tell me why?

'Cause I hate to lose.

I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!

I'd rather somebody pull a
gun on me and blow my head off

than to lose a case.

Now, that being said...

there's one thing I'm-a tell
you I'm not gonna bend on.

I do not plan on
settling this case.

- We don't do that, no.
- MIKE: Excuse me.

Anyone mind if I
say something here?

- Go ahead, Mike.
- Mr. Gary,

when it comes to the matter of
settling, I'm afraid that's not at all

the strategy we've
developed here.

In fact, I've already drafted
a letter to Mr. Loewen

offering to settle
at $8 million.

Though, just between
us here in this room,

we'd probably be willing
to drop to seven if need be.

WILLIE: Well, Mike,
thank you for the update...

appreciate that... but,
unfortunately, things have changed.

We're not settling.

No matter what you said,

the discussion
is still on the table

and will remain so until I've
decided what the best course is.

Huh.

Till you decided, huh?

What's going on here, Mike?

Hmm? Who's in charge?

No, seriously, who's in charge?

'Cause you done have Willie Gary
come down here to take over the case

and now here you're telling
me what you're gonna do.

I said we're not settling the case
and that comes from the lead attorney.

- Come again?
- Come again what?

What's the matter? You need
your ears checked or something?

Excuse me, sir.

- No, you're not.
- Mike, you raise a finger to me,

- you'll get your ass whupped in here.
- Boss, calm down.

MIKE: Believe me, Mr. Gary,
you are not lead attorney.

AL: Come on, settle down.

- Then what am I, then?
- May I remind you

- you are in my town...
- Your town?

- Sitting at my conference table...
- Every town I go to, Mike, is my town.

- Across the table from my client.
- Evidently it ain't your town,

- or they wouldn't have called me.
- JEREMIAH: Gentlemen. Gentlemen.

Gentlemen, could y'all let the
temperature down a little bit?

WILLIE: I didn't come
here to fight you, Mike.

- MIKE: What?
- I said, I didn't come here to fight you.

I came here to get a job done.

Now, Mr. O'Keefe...

Last I checked, he
wants to win this case.

Not toot his ass up in the
air for a funky little $8 million.

Like a bitch.

MIKE: Jesus Christ,
Jerry. What's going on?

I think we ought to
give him a chance.

Did you hear that
speech he just gave?

He has no idea what he's doing.

He hasn't lost a
case in 12 years.

For personal injury cases.

He clearly has no idea about
real law, about contract law.

What about lead attorney?

You're not considering
giving him lead attorney.

Yeah.

I am.

We good?

(sighs) Yeah.

Mike, you good?

All right, since we're all good,

uh, does anybody here mind,
uh, taking some dictation?

Cynthia, would you mind
taking dictation for Mr. Gary?

WILLIE: All right, Cynthia.
I sure appreciate it.

All right.

Address to Mr. Ray Loewen,

Chairman, Loewen Group.

Dear Mr. Loewen, my
name is Willie E. Gary.

I've just been
appointed lead counsel

in the suit brought against
you by Jeremiah O'Keefe.

In regards to the
prior settlement,

the offer you
received of $8 million,

I hereby rescind that offer.

As of the date of this
new letter we have,

the new offer is in the
amount of $100 million.

- Whoo. That's what I'm talking about.
- (scattered laughter)

Did he just say $100 million?

- As in eight zeros?
- $100 million.

Why don't y'all just relax?
Hear what I'm saying?

It's literally $94 million
more than our original claim.

Sounds to me like your original
claim was about $94 million short.

Uh, yeah, Mr. Gary,
perhaps you could

- help us understand...
- MIKE: $100 million?

It's absurd and you know it.

What you trying to
do, destroy this case?

Mike, anybody ever tell you you
got balls the size of a garden slug?

W-Willie, I'm afraid that I
agree with everybody's concerns.

That's a hell of a lot of money.

We throw out a number like that,
we're gonna humiliate ourselves.

WILLIE: Listen, I understand
how you feel, Jerry.

But you got to trust me, okay?

- Mm-hmm. Trust him.
- Okay?

Everybody's got to trust me.

- All right?
- REGGIE: Amen.

Now, Cynthia, where were we?

MAN: "Starting as of
the date of this letter,

"our new settlement
demand is now

$100 million."

- (men laughing) -(man whistles)
- MAN 2: Oh, what?

MAN 3: Oh, come on.
You got to be kidding me.

- $100 million?
- MAN 4: Who the hell does he think he is?

- MAN 2: Is he crazy?
- MAN: Eight zeros, did you count that?

- Eight zeros.
- There's no way that is not a joke.

- That is a joke.
- It looks like a fucking dozen eggs.

(laughter)

No joke.

Jesus Christ, this O'Keefe
guy, he's a piece of work, no?

Yeah.

Who is this clown
he's hired as a lawyer?

Apparently, some guy by
the name of William Gary.

Thank you, Bob, I
also read the letter.

But my question is,

who is he?

What's his story?

Where did O'Keefe find him?

From what we could dig up,

he's this kind of flashy
personal injury lawyer,

uh, out of Florida.

- Ambulance-chaser type.
- Personal injury?

This is a contract dispute.

Why the hell would he
hire a personal injury lawyer

for a contract dispute?

Maybe they don't have
any regular lawyers

(Southern accent): down
in backwater Mississippi.

You should talk like that more.

Turns out, the case was
filed in some remote county

in the lower region of the
state, called Hinds County.

RAY: Yeah? So?

So, Hinds County
also happens to be

one of the poorest,
and about 70%, uh...

Black.

Oh.

So that's why he was hired.

Because he's Black.

Gary's Black.

He's an African American man.

("Hold On" by En Vogue
playing) ♪ When... ♪

♪ I... ♪

♪ When I ♪

- ♪ Had you ♪
- ♪ Had you ♪

- ♪ I treated you bad ♪
- ♪ Bad ♪

Well, like I said, like
my grandfather said,

- "Who in so ever it is..."
- (knocking at door)

I ain't worried about it.

Reg, you're not
understanding the whole...

MAN: Sorry to interrupt.

We just got the
info you requested

on who Loewen
appointed as lead counsel.

- HAL: May I see that, please? Thank you.
- Well, who is he?

Do we know him?

- She.
- WILLIE: She?

What you talking about, "she"?

Yeah, what does
that mean, "she"?

- "She" as in, like, a... like a...
- A woman?

Her name is Mame Downes.

♪ Ooh... ♪

She graduated with her
BA from Howard University.

Oh. That means she
just ain't a woman,

- she's a Black woman.
- She's a sister.

Well, what do you know?

We done got out-Blacked and
out-womaned, all in one go. (chuckles)

("Hold On" continues)

Graduated top of her class
from Harvard Law School.

Jesus Christ.

Then went on to clerk two years

for Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O'Connor.

Three years associate
at Paul, Weiss

and now currently the
youngest partner ever

at Cranston, Brown and Atwell.

- Mm-hmm.
- Okay, that's impressive.

Friend of mine used to work
with her, over at C, B and A.

And, um...

well...

he told me they had a nickname
for her around the office.

Mm. What was it?

Ain't that right?

"The Python." (chuckles)

On account of her
particular style during cross?

- Yes. Yes.
- You know, how she used to strike

- when you least expect it.
- (murmuring)

Mm-hmm. Okay, Ms. Python.

- But you know what?
- REGGIE: Very descriptive.

You know what?

I'm the boa
constrictor. (grunts)

REGGIE: Let's see what she got.

ANNETTE: I think we may
need to call the cable company.

Every time I try and
turn on Turner Broadcast,

it's just some
weird, empty screen.

Think there's
something wrong with it.

There's nothing wrong with
it. I canceled the subscription.

What do you mean,
you canceled it?

Annie, those insurance regulators
came by again the other day.

They suspended
my license this time.

I'm gonna have to shut the
business down for a while.

What?

What are you talking about?

It's only temporary.

Soon as we get this trial over
with, Loewen makes his restitution,

- we gonna be up and...
- Jerry. Jerry.

You hear yourself?

As soon as Ray Loewen
makes restitution?

Do you really know for sure
that's even gonna happen?

I mean, you still haven't told
me how we're paying for all this.

That fancy new lawyer you
just brought in from Florida.

You don't have
to worry about him.

(soft chuckle)

Well, I just don't understand why you're
continuing with this ridiculous lawsuit.

You can find another buyer

for those three homes.

You know that.

Clearly, this is about
something else for you.

Maybe it is.

Maybe I just don't want
to see him get away with it.

Who? Ray Loewen?

My God, Jerry.

What is your
obsession with this man?

What do you expect
me to do, Annie,

just lay back and let
him walk all over me?

Let him walk all
over our family?

What I expect you to do

is to think of me,

at some point.

Hmm.

You don't think we can win.

If you want to know
how I'm paying for it,

I took out a third
mortgage on this house.

(indistinct chatter)

How you doing?

JEREMIAH: Tell me, Willie,
how'd you wind up being a lawyer?

Mm. (chuckles)

Well, that depends.

You want the, um,
long or the short story?

That's up to you.

- (chuckles)
- Well,

when I was a young husband,

young father,

me and my wife, we had, you
know, we had a little money,

so we had a little
landscaping business.

Real nice, too.

You know, kept-kept
all the yards...

fantastic.

But then my wife was
like, "You know what?

I want to move
into a bigger place."

I said, "Well, all right.
Let's do that, then."

And so... (inhales)

got the paper, saw this ad.

Three-bedroom
apartment, man. Real nice.

Uh, nice new complex.

Over there in a white
neighborhood at, uh, Raintree.

So I said, "Yeah, that's
what, that's what we need."

So I called the owner,
I said, "Hey, man.

"Me and my family are
looking for a new place.

We want to come
to where you are."

I said, "Do you
have any vacancies?"

And he says, "Uh, yeah. Yeah, I
got plenty of vacancies, you know?

"Matter of fact, uh, at the end
of the month, you can move in.

Get your lease."

We all looking forward
to that day, man.

I mean, we just excited.

You know, just brand-new
beginnings, if you would.

So when the day comes,

I pack everybody in the car.

I got the-the-the,
the boys in there,

I got my-my wife, I even
got my dog in there, man.

And we just happy,
man. We happy.

Uh, and we listening
to gospel music.

You know, singing,
rocking and rolling.

(sighs)

But, um...

when we get there,
guy comes out.

I said, "How you
doing?" He barely speaks.

He says, "What do you need?"

I said, "I'm the one that, uh,
called you about the vacancies."

He said, "What vacancies?"

I said, "I'm Willie Gary. I called
you about the... the vacancies."

He says, "Oh.

We don't have no
more vacancies."

What'd you do?

Tell you what I wanted to do.

Wanted to hurt him.

I mean...

disrespecting me like that
in front of my boys, man.

My boys look up to me.

I'm their everything.

What-what do I tell 'em?

That...

they daddy ain't good
enough to be in an apartment?

What I tell my queen?

That we not good enough?

But I didn't act out.

What I did was,

I went back to that hotel,

and I opened up the phone book.

Now, I hadn't even thought about
being a lawyer until this happened.

I opened it up and I...

First law school I saw, I said,
"Mm. I'm going right there."

And I did it.

I enrolled, worked hard,

I graduated, I passed the bar.

And I got my own practice.

And the first thing I did was

went down to Raintree Apartments

and bitch-slapped him with a five-count
discriminatory practices lawsuit.

(chuckles)

Take that for your vacancies.

You a fighter.

Yeah.

Oh, I'm a fighter.

You are, too, Jerry.
You're a fighter, man.

You know why I
say you're a fighter?

Going up against this
big Loewen Group, man...

small business owner,
man, that's something, doc.

That's why we connect.

What made you want to do it?

'Cause he tried to mess with the one
thing that means the most to me in life:

being able to leave something
behind for my children

and my grandchildren when I go.

They have a legacy, Willie.

And I do mean to
pass it on to 'em.

- Let's play some music.
- I like music, Willie.

(laughs) Good.

Steve, look, why don't you go
up there and turn on some music?

Sure thing, boss. Anything
particular you want to hear?

You know what my jam
is, man. Tony! Toni! Toné!

- Wise choice, my brother.
- I like that. Like that.

You know what's crazy
about Tony! Toni! Toné!?

Ain't none of 'em
named Tony. (laughs)

- ("Feels Good" playing)
- WILLIE: Oh, there it is.

- Hey.
- Hey. All right.

- ♪ It feels good ♪
- Hey.

- ♪ Yeah ♪
- WILLIE: Yeah. (laughs)

- Hey.
- ♪ It feels good ♪

I like that.

- You like that, Jerry?
- ♪ Oh, it feels good ♪

- Jerry, you like that?
- Yeah, it's good.

WILLIE: It feels good?

(sings along): ♪ It feels good ♪

(laughs)

- (chuckling)
- ♪ Oh, it feels good ♪

Come on to our side!

Oh, you're-you're
my man now, doc.

- You're my man now, baby.
- ♪ It feels good ♪

- ♪ It sure feels good to me. ♪
- (music ends)

- (bell dings)
- This is nice.

(soft music playing
in background)

- Hey, hey.
- RECEPTIONIST: Hi.

Welcome to Hotel
Intercontinental.

Well, thank you. I have a
reservation for Gary, Willie Gary.

Absolutely.

- And welcome to Jackson, Mr. Gary.
- Mm-hmm. Thank you.

If you have a credit
card you'd like me to run,

I can go ahead and
get you all settled in.

- Mm-hmm.
- Thank you.

Hey, hey, so don't look now, but that's,
over there, that's Loewen's legal team.

Where-where's that? Hmm.

(indistinct conversation)

HAL: Jesus Christ.

It's like a who's who of every
prominent Black lawyer in the country.

You actually
recognize all of them?

HAL: Okay, so, that guy over
there, that's Howard Pfieffer.

- Mm.
- He's a former state representative

- and current president of the DC bar association.
- Mm.

That gentleman there,
that's Richard Mayfield.

He's one of the leading
experts on antitrust

and complex business litigation.

And that gentleman, right over
there, that-that's Walter Bell.

He's a former Supreme
Court Justice of Mississippi.

Fuck.

Man, Loewen must have
spent a fortune on these dudes.

You know what? She don't actually look
as bad as I thought she was gonna look.

What's her name? Uh,
uh, Mammy, May, Mame?

Mammy, Mammy Downes?

- Seriously? Is that all you have to say?
- Yeah.

That's all I got to say 'cause
they all look like chumps to me.

Matter of fact, could
you do me a favor?

Could you send your finest bottle of,
uh, champagne over there to that table?

Certainly. Do you
have a preference?

- What you got?
- We have Dom, Moët,

- Cristal...
- Cristal.

- Cristal.
- That's what we need.

Send some Cristal over there.

Make sure that you say that it's,
uh, compliments of Mr. Willie Gary.

Hey. Seriously, man?

- Please don't do that.
- Oh, seriously, Hal.

- Shut up.
- Uh...

Listen, I always say this:

You see me fighting a
bear? Pour honey on me.

We're just gonna
pour a little honey.

(horn honking in distance)

WENDELL: Well, we
keep the strategy simple.

Firmly cementing the
validity of the document

as a contract in
the jury's mind.

That's definitely gonna be
the defense strategy, too.

Except they'll be focused on
proving how it's not a contract.

Okay, look, we got to
be honest about this.

They're likely gonna be a
lot better at this than we are,

considering this is
their area of expertise.

REGGIE: I-I say we just forget
about all that contract mumbo jumbo.

Bog the jury down with a
whole bunch of information

that we know they
ain't interested in.

CHRIS: Personally,
what I think we gotta do...

what we gotta prove, rather...

is motive.

We center our argument
squarely on the issue

of Loewen Group
stalling on closing.

And show what they
had to gain from it.

- Uh, I'm not so sure.
- What? What, Hal?

- What-what you ain't sure about?
- DASHAAN: What? Hal?

HAL: What I mean is, I'm not
so sure we can actually prove

that the Loewen
Group had motive.

Right? Unless we have some
kind of internal company memo.

Or someone just
openly admits it.

Like, how do you actually prove

that the stalling
was intentional?

Well, we're obviously never
going to be able to prove that.

Truth is, we don't have a snowball's
chance in hell of winning this case.

("Let a Woman Be a Woman -
Let a Man Be a Man" playing)

♪ Some people call me ♪

♪ Broadway Tramp now ♪

- ♪ They even said, yes, they did ♪
- WILLIE: What's happening, doc?

- ♪ I had no place to stay... ♪
- BARTENDER: Yeah, how you doing, boss?

I'm good, Max. Hey, how
'bout you give me your...

your strongest ginger ale?

Sure thing.

Coming right up.

How's your night been?

BARTENDER: Not too bad. Livin'.

Good. Good, good.

- ♪ Gotta let a woman be a woman ♪
- Strongest ginger ale in Mississippi.

- Thank you.
- ♪ And let a man be a man ♪

Yeah, it's not
too bad, so... I...

- ♪ Gotta let a woman be a woman ♪
- Yeah, she's been here for a while.

♪ And let a man be a man ♪

♪ Well, listen... ♪

I believe it's Ms.
Downes, isn't it?

I'm Willie Gary.

(gentle piano music
playing in background)

You look thinner on TV.

Mind if I sit down?

(Mame scoffs)

You know, I've actually
never did this before.

Where it's sitting down with
the opposing counsel, the...

drinks and things
like that, you know.

Music, candles.

It's like we almost, uh,

on a date.

Or maybe not.

- ♪ ♪
- (indistinct chatter)

You say you're from Compton,
but I'm trying to understand

why you taking all
these fancy white cases.

I could ask you
the same question.

- Couldn't I?
- Yeah, well, I actually believe

in my case, Ms. Downes.

Oh, well, I actually believe
in mine, too, Mr. Gary.

Well, that puts us in a very

- precarious situation
then, all right, - Does it?

Because one of us gonna
win and one's gonna lose.

- I think that's how this goes, yes.
- Mm-hmm.

But it's different in
my situation, because

I'm actually Black employed.

See, I don't work for the man.

- Oh.
- See, I-I work for Willie Gary,

which is myself. I'm employed

- to myself...
- Tell me, tell me.

- For myself.
- Where should I be working, huh?

You tell me. Come on. School me.

What-what tiny
little piece of the pie

would you be comfortable
allotting to someone like me?

What, should I be
working pro bono?

Or maybe I should be
in some shitty DA's office,

trying eviction cases.

Would that make you comfortable?

- Would you be more happy with that?
- Hold on a second.

Hold on, hold on. We-we-we
not at trial right now.

You said you were trying to school
me, so come on, now, school me.

I don't know how much you know about
me, but I'm the son of a sharecropper.

I was eight years old

out there in them
sugarcane fields, you know.

Working. Me.

But now, you know, I got...

you know, mansions and...

Rolls-Royce and Bentleys.

- My own private plane.
- I mean,

what it sounds like is

we're both living our own little
version of the American dream.

A little less red,
white and blue

and a little more, uh, um...

caramel and stripes and...

(both laughing)

MAME: Although, I
do believe that the

Black American dream is quite
different than the white American dream.

Case in point.

(speaking indistinctly)

WILLIE: O.J. trial, hmm?

Supposed to be the
"trial of the century."

- (chuckles)
- It's a circus.

You want to go there?

Nah, that's murky territory.

Where you leaning?

Is... is he innocent?
Or is he guilty?

Doesn't matter.

'Cause O.J.'s not the
one that's on trial right now.

White frontier justice,

- that's what's on trial.
- Mm.

I hear that.

Gun to your head, though.

- Gun to my head?
- Gun to your head.

- I don't know now.
- Gun to your head,

- Ms. Downes, gun to your head.
- Come on, trying to put a gun to my head.

- Does anyone hear this?
- Got a gun... gun to your head now.

Oh, hell nah.

Opportunity to be the
lead counsel on the defense

or a opportunity to
be the lead prosecutor,

which one do you choose?

Oh, that's...
that's a tricky one.

- Yeah, I know. It's tough, it's tough.
- Defense.

His ass is guilty.

And I've never defended someone
who I knew was guilty before.

You know what they say:

Lawyer's got to try
that at least once.

Remember these words:

- if it doesn't fit...
- WILLIE: Hmm.

You must acquit.

(Cochran continues indistinctly)

Prosecution.

(laughs) Yeah?

I have this reoccurring dream

that I'm prosecuting a case

against that slick-ass
Johnnie Cochran.

- (chuckles) Mm.
- Him in all them fancy suits and shit...

Okay. Well, how
does this dream end?

I wipe the floor with him.

- (laughs)
- I wipe the floor with his ass.

(both laughing)

Oh.

Let me get that.

Oh, absolutely not.

You were so, uh,

you were so kind and
generous to send me

a bottle of...

- What was that called?
- Cristal.

Allow me to return
the favor, just this once.

(chuckles) Although,
I wouldn't get too used

to me being kind
to you, Mr. Gary.

Once we begin that... trial...

nigga, I will destroy you.

Have a good night.

♪ Hold tight... ♪

WEATHERMAN: Good
morning, Jackson, Mississippi.

73 degrees, going
up to a high of 78.

No rain in the forecast
for the next few days.

(exhales)

(muttering)

Let me start off by
saying that this case

that you're about to hear

is a case...

(muttering)

(babbling)

♪ If you want to make
this feeling stay ♪

♪ Hold tight... ♪

(takes deep breath)

Jurors, this... this trial

deals with the oldest
sin known to man.

You're pointing too much, Gary.

You're pointing...
you're pointing too much.

♪ Stay ♪

♪ Hold tight ♪

This just simply wasn't
personal, it was just business.

And they had...

- ♪ Stay, hold tight ♪
- Fuck.

♪ Hold tight ♪

- ♪ Don't let this moment fade away ♪
- (elevator bell dings)

♪ Hold tight. ♪

♪ ♪

Hey, hey, hey. Wait, wait.

- What's the matter?
- We can't split the pole.

Can't split the
pole. Now come on.

- No, come on, we can't split the pole.
- This new to you?

WILLIE: Huddle up.

Be unlucky. Let's go.

Come on.

(bell tolling in distance)

BAILIFF: All rise, all rise.

The court is now in session,
pursuant to the adjournment.

Hear ye, hear ye.

All persons having business with
this honorable court, draw near.

Give your attention
and you shall be heard.

The Honorable Judge
James E. Graves,

circuit county judge for
the First Judicial District

of Hinds County,
Mississippi, presiding.

Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury...

How y'all doing?

Thank you for being here.

This case here is really about
the oldest sin known to man.

MAME: Contracts.

Plain and simple.

Now, Mr. Gary would
have you believe

that this case is about...

- Greed.
- And while that sounds,

uh, entertaining
and a bit dramatic...

We know for a fact that the
deal had already been approved

by Loewen and his board.

They crafted every
single aspect, outlined it,

and put it down in writing.

That's a contract.

How can it be a binding contract

between two parties

if one of the parties
didn't sign the contract?

Y'all, these people lie.

That's what it boils down to.

So why did Mr. O'Keefe
have such a-a-a panic,

such an urgency,

such a desperation

for this deal to close?

Why?

Well, because
everything in his life

hinged on this deal.

Everything.

For the Loewen
Group, not so much.

They had one goal in mind.

Stall him out.

Stall him out.

It wasn't personal.

He just got impatient.

(whispering)

(bell tolling)

(bell continues tolling)

MAN: In fact,
there is such a thing

uh, as an anticipatory
breach of contract.

And this is when,

though the actual breach
has not yet occurred,

one of the involved parties,

heretofore referred to as the
"soon to be breaching party,"

will not fulfill
their obligations

set forth by the terms
of the agreement.

When a situation
like this arises,

- it is my opinion that...
- (sighs)

it is well within
the means of dispute

for this contract.

- Wake your ass up!
- Whoa!

- Whoa.
- Jesus Christ.

Wake up!

What are we doing?
We sit up in these books,

talking about contracts
every single day.

For what?

We putting 'em to sleep.

We done lost our
connection, lost our edge.

And what do I get
from y'all? Nothing.

I gotta make the decision.

I'm-a put Jerry on.

(overlapping arguing)

- No, no, no.
- You can't do that.

- WILLIE: We put him on next week.
- (overlapping arguing)

WILLIE: You hard of
hearing? I'm putting him on.

We got to shake it up. And
plus, he's a great witness.

You said it yourself. He's a good
witness, he's honest, he's-he's-he's,

he's a family man,

he's-he's a war hero.

To civil-civil rights.

Everything he
did for Black folk?

We put him in front of
that jury, he gonna play 'em.

MIKE: It is much too soon
to put Jerry on the stand.

It's much too early in the trial. We
don't have all the information yet.

It ain't never too
soon with me, Mike.

- It's never too soon with me.
- HAL: Willie.

We know nothing about Mame yet.

We've only seen her interview,
what, technical witnesses?

We know nothing about her
real cross-examination style.

Nor know how actually
dangerous she is.

WILLIE: Y'all don't know y'all
ass from a hole in the ground.

Now I made the decision.

You can either get on board
or you can get the fuck out.

♪ ♪

WILLIE: Let's talk about
some of your values.

Because, if I'm not mistaken, Jerry,
you an eight-time decorated hero.

You got the Air
Medal, the Navy Medal.

You got the, you
got the Flying Cross.

And you did all of that in
the sacrifice for your country.

Well, I don't think war's
anything to be celebrated.

But I did serve my
country and quite proudly.

Hmm. Thank you for your service.

But you didn't stop there.
You came back to your county,

you took over the
family business,

and then, uh,
you did what I call

you jumped out of the frying
pan and into the fire, man.

You wanted to be
in politics, didn't you?

You ran for mayor in
your home town in Biloxi.

I ran twice and served
two terms as mayor,

from 1974 until 1982.

And I understand,
in one of those terms,

that a very friendly group
of people came to visit you.

The Ku Klux Klan.

Objection, Your Honor.

What is the relevance
to this line of questioning?

- Overruled, Ms. Downes.
- MAME: We are in a case about contracts,

Your Honor.

You may answer that question.

I denied them a permit
to demonstrate in Biloxi.

You told the Ku Klux Klan

in Biloxi, Mississippi, "No."

Now, flying
warplanes is one thing,

but to tell the Klan "no" at that
time, that's a different type of bravery.

Jerry, I've gotten an
opportunity to know you.

You and your family.

But these good
folks here have not.

I just want to ask you,
what are your values?

What is important to you?

Mr. O'Keefe.

Good day. How are you?

JEREMIAH: I'm
doing well, thank you.

You are? Good.

(pages rustling)

Uh...

having just listened to
the testimony you gave,

I think it's fair to say that
the real, material substance

centered on character.
Would you agree?

Yes. I-I agree.

I couldn't hear that.
Can you speak up?

I said yes, ma'am, I agree.

MAME: Okay, character.

Let's talk about character.

The overall insinuation
being made is that,

while you are a man of honor,

of strong moral principles,

according to you,
my client is not.

I think Mr. Loewen and I have
very different approaches to...

as to how to deal with
people in business.

Ah. "In business."

Yes. Right, okay.

Something I'm curious about...

How did you end up needing to sell
those funeral homes to Mr. Loewen?

Well, I had run into a
little bit of financial trouble.

What kind of financial trouble?

Huh?

Because I'm, uh, pretty sure

the actual reason you so desperately
needed to sell at the time that you did

is because the Mississippi
state insurance commission

was about to
revoke your license.

Is that correct?

As a matter of
fact, your license

to sell insurance in
the state of Mississippi

is currently under suspension.

Can we agree that
that is a true statement,

- Mr. O'Keefe?
- JEREMIAH: No, we cannot.

Because it's a lot more
complicated than that.

Enlighten me. How is
it more complicated?

Was your license suspended

- or was it not?
- Objection, Your Honor,

- on the simple fact that she's just angry.
- Overruled.

- MAME: It's a yes or no question.
- We already knew

- that he was in financial trouble.
- MAME: He said "overruled."

Overruled.

MAME: Well, the
real truth here is that

you lost your license

because you got involved in some
shady savings and loans business deal

with a man that, if
I'm-I'm not mistaken,

is currently in jail right now.

- WILLIE: Your Honor, objection.
- MAME: Can I ask you something?

WILLIE: This is not
on trial here today.

- GRAVES: Overruled.
- MAME: Was the money that you used

to finance this deal,
was that money yours?

I was responsible
for that money.

You used other people's money.

Actually, you used
your clients' money

to finance your involvement
in said "business deal"

with a now-convicted felon.

- Am I correct?
- WILLIE: Objection, Your Honor.

Am I correct, Mr. O'Keefe?

- WILLIE: This has nothing to do with this case.
- Overruled.

- Am I correct, Mr. O'Keefe?
- That's not how I would characterize

- this at all.
- MAME: I mean, is it possible

that this entire case

stems from jealousy?

WILLIE: Objection, Your Honor.
We're talking about emotions?

- Jealousy?
- MAME: I mean,

- Mr. O'Keefe...
- GRAVES: Overruled.

You said yourself that
you and Mr. Loewen have

very different ways
of doing business,

and that might be the truest
statement you've said all day long,

because, like you,

Mr. Loewen inherited a
business from his father.

However, unlike you,
he was able to build

that business into a
multimillion-dollar empire.

Meanwhile, what has
become of your father's legacy?

(door closes)

♪ ♪

Jerry! Hold up, now!

Jerry! Wait up, will you?

Jerry.

What in the hell was that?

What you talking about?

I-I don't understand.
You angry with me?

Am I angry with you?

You were supposed
to protect me up there.

Supposed to make sure I was safe

under cross-examination
and all that shit.

That ain't my fault. I didn't know
she was gonna ask you all that.

It's your job to know
what she's gonna ask me.

You didn't tell
me all this shit.

You told me about the-the savings
and loan, you told me about the money,

but you didn't tell me
nothing about him going to jail.

When I made the deal with him,

he was not a felon.

I had every reason
to believe that

- that was a good, solid deal.
- I understand.

But I can't read your
mind. That's not my fault.

Of course it is. Since
the first day I hired you,

you have been
trying to turn this case

into your own,
personal one-ring circus.

I've done everything I
can to try to save your ass.

I put every dime I
have into this deal,

- and you're still fucking around.
- I understand. I'm not fucking around.

Listen, that ain't fair.
That's not fair, Jerry.

You don't have anything
on the line here, Willie.

When this case is
over, win, lose or draw,

you're gonna get in your
airplane and fly away.

I'm gonna be here. I
got plenty on the line.

I got my damn life on the line,

and I don't know
how much of that's left.

I know that, Jerry.

I'm making a decision.

A decision for what, Jerry?

I'm gonna replace
you as lead attorney.

For Mike?

That's what you're doing? Huh?

I'm telling you
right now, Jerry,

that's a huge mistake!

(cart wheels rattling)

♪ ♪

Shit.

Hey.

Hey, baby.

What you doing?

GLORIA: Just doing
a little bit of reading.

You-you sound a
little down, baby.

Is everything okay?

No, I'm, uh, I'm, uh,
I'm good. I'm good. Uh...

- Okay.
- No, no.

- Well...
- No, I, uh...

- I got replaced.
- What?

I said, I got replaced.

- They replaced me.
- No.

What?

- Yeah, Jerry...
- Replaced you?

Baby, what does that mean?

It means that, uh, they want...

they want somebody else to
be lead counsel and so, uh...

so they replaced me.

- Uh...
- Honey, really?

But wait. I don't understand.

Why would he do that?

Why?

I, uh...

I screwed up. Screwed up.

I screwed up.

I screwed up by, uh...

I put Jerry on the stand and I-I
didn't have him prepared enough,

and when they, uh, did the
cross-examination, they, uh...

they annihilated him.

They, uh... It was bad.

It's got me upset. I'm upset.

The-the reason that
I'm upset is because I...

Seeing... seeing Jerry so upset,

it-it's got me
upset, so I'm just...

- I see.
- I'm upset about it.

You sound like you
really care about this man.

Jerry?

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Yeah, I care.
Jerry's a cool guy.

(sighs)

(entry bell jingles)

Hi. Pardon me.

Are you, by any chance,
Mrs. Lorraine McGrath?

Well...

well, yes, but I...

I'm sorry, I don't
mean to be rude, I...

It's just I was kind
of expecting a lawyer.

Yeah, I am a lawyer.

I'm the guy you spoke with
on the phone, Hal Dockins?

Oh.

I'm so sorry. Uh...

I hope I didn't offend you.

It just... uh, well, to be
honest, you look very young.

- WAITRESS: Here y'all go.
- LORRAINE: Thank you.

I worked at a Loewen-owned
funeral home for 13 years.

(quietly): Just...
in all that time,

I saw a lot, you know,

about how that company operates.

Before we go any further,

I just have to ask you:

would you be willing to testify?

MIKE: Mrs. McGrath, hi.

How you doing this afternoon?

Um, very well, thank you.

MIKE: That's fine.
That's just fine.

Mrs. McGrath, would
you mind telling us

how long you worked
as an employee

for the Durbin and Sons Funeral
Home in Southaven, Mississippi?

LORRAINE: Um, I
worked at that funeral home

for about 13
years before I quit.

MIKE: Mm-hmm.

And did you witness any transfer
of ownership during this time period?

LORRAINE: Um...

(clears throat)

Uh, uh, Durbin and Sons was
bought by the Loewen Group

sometime around 1990.

And I was there
during that time.

And did you notice any changes

in the way the company was run

after the Loewen
Group took over?

Uh, the most
significant was, uh,

how they implemented this,

this policy of-of raising
prices on certain items

in areas where they, uh,
didn't have any, any competition.

Mostly, this turned
out to be, um,

poor areas, where there
was a lot of-of poverty.

Could you give us an example
of this type of selective pricing?

There was this one, uh,
casket in particular I remember.

The, um, the Wilbert
Copper Trubune.

It, uh, was supposed
to retail for $750.

Uh, which it did
in-in some places,

like, say, Madison.

Uh, but then in other
places, like Corinth,

which, as you know,
is-is very poor...

Yes, of course.

Over there, they hiked the
price up to something crazy.

Like three times what
it was supposed to cost.

Just because they could.

They knew customers didn't
have anywhere else to go.

So, basically,

if I understand you,

the Loewen Group was involved
in a form of selective price gouging.

Of what?

Objection. Your Honor, how
could the witness possibly know

the intentions of people
she's never even met before?

Sustained.

All right, then.

Let me ask you this.

In your time at Durbin and
Sons, were you ever left

with the impression
that the Loewen Group

might have been
specifically targeting

- minority communities...
- MAME: Objection.

- Your Honor.
- Wow! Really?

- My God.
- MAME: Speculation.

Mr. Allred, what is the basis
for this line of questioning?

Mr. Allred?

You know what?

I apologize.

No basis. It was just
speculation, is all.

Please, consider it stricken.

But Your Honor, I do take
exception to Ms. Downes' tone.

- You've got to be kidding.
- My tone?

- GRAVES: Noted.
- Her tone.

- MAME: Oh, yeah.
- MIKE: Thank you, Mrs. McGrath.

No further questions.

MAME: It was noted, all right.

♪ ♪

Morning, Jerry.

Willie, how are you?

(sucks teeth)

I guess you're still
mad at me, huh?

It was a very bad day. Why
don't we just leave it at that?

All right, here we go.

Look, I-I messed up in there.

Okay? I-I did the wrong
thing and I, and I blew it

and, uh, I just want
to say I'm sorry, and I...

I apologize.

Very well.

Apology accepted.

Good. We got that over.

Is this the first time you ever
apologized to somebody like that?

Mm.

Huh. Be honest
with you, my wife, uh,

- she helped me with the phrasing.
- Mm-hmm.

Well, she did a very nice job.
I want you to thank her for me.

All right.

(siren wails in distance)

And you know what I
can't stand about that man?

What?

(overlapping chatter)

- His face.
- (laughter)

(laughter)

I know what you
mean. It's, uh...

You know what I'm talking about.

In the expression.

- Mm-hmm.
- RICHARD: No,

it's generation upon
generation of white entitlement

and privilege all
encapsulated in one, single,

simpering grin.

(laughter)

But him with that
woman on stand today,

posturing and pretending like

he's some sort of savior
for our people... Ooh!

- (laughs)
- RICHARD: Unfortunately,

the jury did seem to eat it up.

(sighs) Yeah. That
is a problem, isn't it?

Didn't I see his name

on the witness
list at some point?

WALTER: Supposedly,
Gary was planning on

calling him a...

Calling him as a material witness to the
agreement between O'Keefe and Loewen.

Which means I will
have him on cross.

Which means you're
gonna have him on cross.

(printer whirring)

PETER: Hey, have any of
you guys read about this deal

that the Loewen Group
made with something called

the "National
Baptist Convention"?

The National Baptist Convention?

What... What is that?

It's like, um, you know, like...

an arm of the Black church.

But a really big one.

Probably the biggest, actually.

Sorry, did you...
did you just say

that the Loewen Group has
a deal with the Black church?

The, uh, National Baptist
Convention. But yeah.

Yeah, how? How does
that make any sense?

I don't know.

But it's all right here.

Apparently, they created
some sort of partnership

about a year ago.

Hard to say why, though.

Okay, can you get me some
more information about this?

PETER: Yes, sir.

GRAVES: Are the plaintiffs
ready to call their next witness?

REGGIE: Yes. Actually,
Your Honor, we'd like to call

Mr. O'Keefe's longtime attorney,
Michael Allred, to the stand.

MAME: Your Honor.

Seriously?

Where are you going
with this, Mr. Douglas?

Your Honor, we-we recognize
how this might seem a little unusual.

However, Mr. Allred
was with Mr. O'Keefe,

as his attorney, the entire time
he was dealing with Loewen.

And, uh, we feel like his-his
testimony will be essential.

REGGIE: Michael Allred.

Oh, hell, we friends.
I'm-a call you Mike.

- You bet, Reggie.
- (chuckles)

So, Mike,

in your 30 years
of practicing law,

specializing in contract law,

did it ever occur to you, when
you were drawing up the contract

between Mr. O'Keefe and
Mr. Loewen, that there could be

any kind of misunderstanding as
to what that document actually was?

MIKE: No, sir.

It was extremely clear to
everyone exactly what it was.

It was a contract.

Contract. It's a contract.

Now, was there anything that
suggested, in the language,

that the, uh, agreed-upon
time for the deal to close

would be... open-ended?

How's it feel to be
sitting in that chair?

- It's a little uncomfortable, yeah.
- MAME: Mm.

Imagine, we haven't
even gotten started yet.

You've been Mr. O'Keefe's
attorney quite some time now, yes?

MIKE: I have.

For 30 years... nearly 30 years.

MAME: Mm.

And would you say you and
Mr. O'Keefe are good friends?

- Sure. He's one of my closest friends.
- Hmm.

Yeah, we share a lot in common.

I admire him.

Mr. Allred, would you say
this is a case about race?

- (quietly): Objection. Objection.
- Objection.

Overruled.

Would I say this is
a case about race?

No, I would not say
this is a case about race.

(exhales)

Really?

Okay, well, the subject of race does
seem to keep coming up, doesn't it?

Almost exclusively
from your side.

Uh, for instance, this
whole heroic narrative

about, uh, Mr. O'Keefe supposedly
having some sort of civil rights record

and denying the KKK a permit...

Uh, explain to me what relevance
that has to a case about contracts.

Uh, about Jerry's character.

It's more about his integrity

- and his decency.
- MAME: 'Cause he does

such great things for
Black people, huh?

- Object-Objection.
- REGGIE: Objection, Your Honor.

- WILLIE: Stand up.
- Objection. I'm not standing up.

- I said "objection."
- GRAVES: I will not allow

this line of questioning,
Ms. Downes.

- Sustained.
- REGGIE: I'm-I'm objecting.

MAME: Another thing that has
been made quite clear in this case is

how important
family, family legacy,

is to Mr. O'Keefe.

Is that something you share?

Family important to you as well?

Well, it's not just important
to me, it's everything to me.

It's everything. Well, that's something
you and Mr. O'Keefe have in common.

- Objection.
- Objection, Your Honor.

- (arguing over each other)
- MAME: Because you're best friends, yeah?

GRAVES: Overruled. The
witness can answer the question,

but let's try and
get to the point.

Absolutely, it's something
that we share in common.

I-Is this really what you want
to be asking me, Ms. Downes?

It is.

Actually.

But thank you.

You love your family.

Yeah?

Your extended family,
your immediate family...

you love all of
your family, yes?

Every member of my family.

MAME: Yeah?

So, there-there's no one that you
secretly wish you could disown?

- MAME: Someone that you're
maybe - Objection, Your Honor.

- A little ashamed...
- It doesn't matter what he feels.

- MIKE: Disown?
- She doesn't know what...

'Cause I know I have some family
members I would love to disown.

- But you don't.
- REGGIE: I'm-a take care of this.

- MIKE: No.
- No? You don't.

No.

Say, for instance,
your grandfather.

- My grandfather.
- MAME: Yes.

Your grandfather.

He was my grandfather. What
does that have to do with this case?

Remind me:

how long was your grandfather
a member of the Ku Klux Klan?

(gallery murmuring)

- Objection. Objection.
- Objection. Objection.

- Objection.
- (gavel pounding)

- We gonna stop this right now.
- WILLIE: Your Honor, I am gonna continue

- to say "objection."
- This is wrong.

- Objection.
- (gavel pounding)

Objection. Objection.

- Did you bond with your
grandfather - (Willie continues)

about the KKK?

- Did you share some bond?
- What is the question?

- What is the question?
- Did you share some love

about the burning cross?

You go to any, uh, KKK
rallies with your grandfather,

- Mr. Allred?
- WILLIE: Now, you know

this is out of line, it has
nothing to do with this case.

Objection.

- Overruled, Mr. Gary.
- How can you overrule that?

Answer the question, Mr. Allred.

With all due respect, Your Honor,
this has nothing to do with the case.

- Answer the question.
- What's the question?

Are you asking me was I aware that my
grandfather was once a member of the KKK?

Mike, you don't have
to answer that question.

Objection.

I heard you the
first time, Mr. Gary.

Yes, I was asking that question.

I am no longer
asking that question.

- No further questions.
- (gavel pounds)

- WILLIE: What his grandfather has done...
- MIKE: You know, lawyer to lawyer,

that was completely
out of line, Ms. Downes.

Oh, the hypocrisy.

The hypocrisy.

- It's quite outrageous, Your Honor.
- (whispering)

REGGIE: Room full
of brothers right now.

- Denounce your granddaddy.
- CHRIS: Yeah.

Say it, Mike. Say it.

Go on. It's easy.

- Come on, Mike. Denounce him.
- Yeah.

You know what?

I'm sorry.

All right?

I'm sorry.

Her behavior was unconscionable.

You cannot hold
someone responsible

for the mistakes
of their ancestors.

Mike, your
granddaddy is a racist,

land-stealing, slave-raping

- piece of shit.
- Oh, come on now, Reggie Douglas, that's not right!

That's not right. He's
still my granddaddy.

- I wouldn't say that about...
- Don't you bring...

- Hey, hey, hey, hey!
- Don't you bring up on me!

- Hey, hey, hey, hey.
- Stop all this.

Stop it right now. Stop it.

Reg, you stop. All of y'all.

Mike, we not fixin'
to crucify you...

about what happened in the past.

He can't fix his
grandfather or anything else.

But you know what we can fix?

This case.

REGGIE: Hold on.

Hold on, man.

So you-you fixin'
to give him a pass?

- That was this is?
- I'm-a give him a pass

because you didn't know
enough about his past

and that's why you
got your ass kicked.

- Fuck this case, man.
- I think we can win.

No, man, I'm going
back to Florida. Nah.

- Doing exactly what we should've did in the beginning.
- Come on, man.

WILLIE: I got a
question for you, Reggie:

What's taking you so
long to get out the door?

REGGIE: Wow.

- Willie...
- You don't have to tell me twice.

Have fun with these white folks.

- Reg.
- Hey, Reggie.

Reg!

You want to go, too?

You know what?

I'm out.

I'm tired of this shit.

AL: I'm out, too.

I miss home, anyway.

Willie, I'm gettin' too
old for this shit, man.

Mike, I'm sorry.

I'm truly, truly sorry.

Me, too.

MIKE: Can't have this.

Have what?

We got a case.

To win.

I should probably...

- I should probably recuse myself.
- Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

- Mike, no, you can't do that.
- Yeah, I probably should.

- No, Mike, you can't do that.
- I should, shouldn't I?

Now, we got a long way to
go, but we can win this case.

MIKE: If I even dare to step
foot in that courtroom again,

the jury's never gonna see me,

they're just gonna see a
guy with a sheet on his head.

Listen, listen. We dug a hole.

We dug a hole, but
we can dig out of it.

I'm sorry, Willie, I can't do it,
'cause we both know if I stay on,

my presence is just
gonna hurt the case more,

and I can't do that to you
and I sure can't do that to Jerry.

Mm-hmm.

MIKE: All right.

We'll have to
win it without you.

You're gonna.

Halbert. Be good.

(siren wails in distance)

♪ ♪

Well, there you are.
I've been looking for you.

(sighs)

This trial's not going
the way I wanted it to.

I feel like I made
a bad mistake.

And I ought to be
cutting my losses.

I thought justice was blind.

That I could hold Ray Loewen
to his word in a court of law.

Make him pay. But hell, I
was the one turned out blind.

I am sorry for putting
you through all this.

You don't need to
say sorry, Jeremiah.

Not to me, anyway.

I know who you are.

- Have you told Willie yet?
- No.

I think he goes home to
Florida on the weekends.

Feel like I ought
to tell him in person.

I think that would be
the right thing to do.

Hey, sorry. Um...

- Wait, what's-what's in this one again?
- Um...

It's that info you requested on Loewen's
deal with the National Baptist Convention.

Actually, would you mind
leaving that one here with me?

PETER: Really
think it's over, boss?

I don't think there's any
way we can win this case,

and my guess is, Jerry's starting
to see it that way as well, so...

(seabirds screeching)

(doorbell rings)

You-you must be Mrs. Gary.

- Yes.
- I hope you'll forgive me

for just showing
up like this, but, uh,

I'm Jeremiah O'Keefe.

Oh!

- You mean Jerry.
- Yes, ma'am.

The Jerry that my husband
keeps going on about!

(chuckles) Uh, is Willie
home, by the way?

Oh, no, I'm afraid he's not.

He's over at his mother's in Indiantown,
where he usually goes on Saturdays.

(quietly): Okay.

Hey, I tell you what.
You give me a minute

to grab my car keys.

- I'll drive you there myself.
- Oh, no, please, no.

I-I don't want to impose.

Jerry, absolutely not.

You family now.

- (laughs)
- Come on, now.

("Just for a Thrill" by
Peggy Lee playing)

Just entering Indiantown now.

This where Willie's from?

Where we're both from.

Willie and I have
had our differences.

I want you to know I think
he's a remarkable man.

(children shouting, laughing)

- upside-down on a ledge.
- Right. Exactly.

(laughter)

- No.
- (laughter)

I'm a mess.

- (laughing) -WILLIE: Know what I'm
saying? Everybody's going to Dallas.

Ah... (laughing)

- Oh, my.
- MAMMA GARY: Oh, my goodness.

Hmm.

Willie ever tell you
he's one of 11 siblings?

- (smacks lips)
- Mm-hmm.

- Surely.
- Number six out of 11.

Well, believe it or not, I
have 13 children of my own.

- GLORIA: Oh, my God.
- Do you now?

I do.

I say.

- Ooh.
- (laughing)

Y'all have 26 kids between you.

Well, then you know,

there's always that one baby

that, no matter what you do,

is always clinging
to you for dear life.

Wrapped around
the bottom of your leg,

and can't let go.

- Oh, man.
- (laughing)

MAMMA GARY: That's my Willie.

And look at where
all that longing

and desperation for love

has gotten him now.

JEREMIAH: My grandfather
was a sharecropper.

WILLIE: Uh-huh.

JEREMIAH: My
paternal grandfather.

- Mm-hmm.
- My namesake.

I was eight years old,

out there in them
sugarcane fields, you know?

Working.

Me.

(train horn blowing)

4:30 in the morning, she'd wake
me up, man, get me out here.

I wasn't no taller
than this grass, man.

That's how it all got started,
out there in the sugarcane.

JEREMIAH: Reason I came all
the way out here, Willie, is 'cause I...

Look, listen,
listen, listen, listen.

'Fore you even
get there. I know.

You want to drop the case.

I know it's got to
be a disappointment.

But if there was any
way that I thought...

Look, look,
listen, listen, Jerry.

You-you... you don't
understand, doc.

Look...

Now, I know you got
to do what you got to do.

But at the same time,

you just got to
know that I know,

down deep in my heart, that me
and you together, we could've did it.

We could've took that
company down, man.

I just hope you know how much
I've enjoyed getting to know you.

This one didn't roll our way.

But getting to know you...

was a... highlight.

(phone ringing)

What-What's that noise?

- Listen...
- (ringing continues)

Man...

Hold on a second.

Hey.

HAL (breaking up): Hello? Hey.

Hal?

- HAL: Hello? Can you hear...
- Hal, I can barely hear you.

Hey, are-are you
with Jerry right now?

WILLIE: Yeah. Yeah.

- Good. Yes. Okay.
- Yes, I am.

Do not let him drop the case.

Hello?

Hal, can you hear me?

- It's a bad connection.
- I said, do not let him drop the case.

Just-just trust me, okay?

I... I may have found something.

WILLIE: Okay.
Good, I'll call you.

(chuckles)

(chuckles)

♪ ♪

HAL: Thank you
all for taking the time

to speak with us, Mr. Soames.

Everyone.

What can you tell
us about the deal

that the Loewen Group made with
the National Baptist Convention?

Well, nothing good
ever come out of it.

At least not for Black
folks. That's the truth.

'Bout a year back,

the Loewen Group connected
with some of the top leadership

of the NBC.

- National Baptist Convention?
- RUBEN: Yes, sir.

One of the largest single
branches of the Black church.

They represent
over 33,000 churches

and more than eight
million members.

Anyway, they made
a proposal to the NBC,

told 'em that if they could
convince the Black church

to endorse the Loewen Group as
their death care provider of choice,

then they'd turn some of
its members into salesmen.

Like, uh, teach 'em
how to sell everything

from graves to
crypts to headstones

and, uh, burial insurance
straight to their own people.

And for every product they sold,

- they could keep the commission.
- WILLIE: Hmm.

Wait a minute now,
so the Loewen Group

was taking poor Black people,
having them sell their funeral products

to other poor Black
people for a commission.

Course, they said
it was all win-win.

Help people out of poverty,

boost economic empowerment.

But it never did
much for anybody.

Except the Loewen
Group, of course.

Yeah.

MATTIE: They was just
trying to find another way

to exploit Black folks

in their most
vulnerable moments.

♪ ♪

You know what
this right here is?

Not sure.

What it is, is a cemetery.

Now, you can't tell
from looking at it

on account of the fact
that there's no headstones.

Why's that?

RUBEN: That's 'cause it's
a different kind of cemetery.

It's an old slave burial ground.

Everybody knows slaves
didn't have no money of their own

to ever bury their loved
ones with a headstone.

Though you can't really
tell by looking at it...

our entire history,

history of Black
people in the South,

history of Black
people in America...

(sighs) ...of our
slave ancestors, it's,

it's all buried
everywhere out here.

Deep underground.

Pretty much everywhere you
look, that's where our history is.

In these vast, empty fields.

In some places, they
put up all these statues.

You know, like all these
Confederate monuments

and statues you see everywhere.

All the lot of 'em is put up right
on top of a slave burial field.

Mm-hmm.

It's like taking one history

and putting it right
on top of another.

It's like taking
one man's legacy,

putting it on top of another.

Till, one day, it gets
pushed down so deep

buried so deep...

can't no one
ever find it no more.

WOMAN: Some of the
members came to me

and told me that

the actual cost of
burying my father

was gonna be much more than what
they said when I bought the policy.

When I told them that I
didn't have the extra money,

and I didn't know how long
it would take me to get it,

they happily said they'd
keep the body on ice.

Rather than give me any comfort,

the deacon assigned
to be counselor

used it as an opportunity to shove
a bunch of brochures in my face

and try and recruit me
as a Loewen sales rep.

Then, suddenly, this man
from the NBC shows up,

asking if I've made
funeral arrangements and...

if I'd be interested in a
Loewen burial package.

He said I'd get a much
better deal if I paid upfront.

Before my son died.

Once my husband finally passed,

that's when they said that
the package that I bought

didn't cover the cost of
embalming or moving the body.

The coffin I bought for my mom

was the least expensive one.

Come to find out

the one they sold me was
three times more than average.

Your own preacher come to you,
telling you you need something,

and you religious,
you believe it.

WILLIE: Now, I
understand that you are

one of the analysts
for the Loewen Group.

You deal with some
of the high-level deals.

Is that correct?

- Yes, that's correct.
- WILLIE: Mm-hmm.

Also that you were, uh,

one of the architects
of this latest deal

that you had between
the Loewen Group

and the National
Baptist Convention.

- Is that right?
- Yes, I was.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You Baptist?

- No, not Baptist.
- No.

- Christian, though, right?
- Yes.

Yeah, yeah. We
all Christian, right?

We all believe in God. Amen?

Amen.

(Willie exhales)

Here's the question, though.

How much money
did the Loewen Group

project to make from this deal

of them and the NBC?

And remember...

you're under oath.

Uh, our original long-term projections
for that deal were somewhere around

1... maybe $1.2 billion.

$1.2 million?

- $1.2 billion.
- $1.2...

$1.2 billion?

$1.2 billion,
that's-that's good money.

That's good money for
the Loewen Group, correct?

- Yes.
- That's good money.

That's good money. $1.2 billion.

I thought you said "million,"
but you said "billion dollars."

Uh...

How much did you pay 'em?

I'm sorry?

I said, how much
did you pay 'em?

How much did the Loewen Group

pay the National
Baptist Convention

as compensation as
a result of the deal?

I believe we made about
a $200,000 donation.

The jury heard it.

We didn't have a defense for it.

Oh, what a fucking mess.

I'm gonna have to call Loewen.

♪ ♪

RAY: Dealing with
people honestly

is something that's always
been important to us.

Do we seek to be
tough competitors

in an increasingly
volatile market?

Yes.

But we don't cheat people.

- That's not how we operate.
- MAME: Mm.

No further questions,
Your Honor.

- Your witness, Mr. Gary.
- WILLIE: All right.

Mr. Loewen, how you doing?

- I'm very well, thank you, Mr. Gary.
- You look good in that suit, doc.

That's that Armani,
I can tell that

- a mile away.
- (chuckles)

Listen, I just want to thank
you for coming down here.

I know you're really busy,

and we appreciate it, but it's
good to have the big man here.

Because, um, you know, we want to shine
some light on some of these dark places.

And, uh, I'll just
start right off with it.

I want to know, from
your perspective...

(clears throat)

what was the deal that you
had between you and Mr. O'Keefe?

I believe it was
roughly a year ago

when we received an enquiry

from a representative
of Mr. O'Keefe's.

In fact,

I'm pretty sure it was his lawyer,
Mr. Allred, who contacted us.

My understanding is

they were very anxious to sell.

So we started
looking into the deal.

Sussing it out.

Trying to determine
if it was something

that would be a good
fit for our business.

Sometime after that, I invited
Mr. O'Keefe and his associates

up to Vancouver.

If I recall, they
came for dinner,

at my boat, and
we discussed things.

After that, uh, hard to say.

Normally, at that stage, I turn
things over to my acquisitions team.

Well, that's pleasant.

I mean, that really is.

And... (clears throat)

lucky for you,

uh, Mr. Loewen, I don't have
a lot of follow-up questions.

I just have, uh, one thing
I want to ask you. Uh...

What kind of boat?

Come again?

Oh, I said: "What kind of boat?"

You-you said earlier that you
guys were all on the boat together,

and y'all was eating
and having a good time,

having the best fish,

and I just wanted to know,
what kind of boat is it?

I don't understand.

Are you asking about
the particular make, or...

Matter of fact, I was asking...

Can I read from this? It
says, "Nine sunning decks."

Mm. "Six elegant staterooms."

- Uh...
- Objection, Your Honor.

- What is the relevance...
- "Five luxury guest cabins."

- of the witnesses' boat?
- Overruled.

Your Honor, can I just
read what the boat is?

- Overruled, Ms. Downes.
- It's a nice boat.

- Overruled.
- I just want to recognize

and let everybody see
that it's a very nice boat.

You got, uh, helicopter,
helicopter pad.

You can land a helicopter

- on that thing, huh?
- Mm-hmm.

That's something
else right there.

That's high grass.

How much did, uh, how much
did this boat of yours cost?

I really don't know.

I think we're...

You're not understanding
the question.

I'm... Let me frame it again
so you can understand it better.

I'm asking you

how much did you pay

for your boat?

I don't know.

- MAME: Objection. -RAY: I don't know.
- Can I ask...

- MAME: Asked and answered.
- You know what? Forget about that.

Let me ask you this:

How much you pay
for your plane? Huh?

Since you can remember some
things and you forget other things,

how much you pay for your plane?

How much did you pay
for your plane, Mr. Gary?

I saw it on the runway.

Oh. You know what?

We could talk about how
much I paid for my plane,

'cause I know exactly
how much it was,

but we not talking
about my plane right now.

We talking about your boat.

So, let me ask one more time,

so everybody can hear and
understand what I'm saying

to Mr. Loewen, the billionaire

who doesn't know the
price of his own boat

that he had dinner
on with his colleagues.

I want to ask you again:
how much did you pay

for your boat?

I don't know.

I think he's not
hearing what I'm saying.

I'm gonna ask you one
more time, Mr. Loewen.

How much did your boat cost?

What is your point?

What's my point?

What is my point?

While you were sitting there
sunning on that $25 million boat,

eating your $30 a head lobster,

did it ever bother you
that it was all being paid for

by all the poor people
and destitute people

that your company was
systematically taking advantage of

and profiting from
every single day?

- MAME: Objection! Counsel is testifying.
- Huh? Not only that,

they were taking advantage
of 'em at their worst time,

when they're downtrodden,
when they lost somebody,

when they're mourning somebody.

And now, who has to pay for it?

The small businessman
like Jeremiah O'Keefe.

The small businessman
in this country,

who worked so hard
to pay for everything

and stay on top and keep afloat

while these greedy corporations

do everything they can and...

Objection, Your Honor!

I think I've had
quite enough of this.

Sit your ass down!

- (gavel pounding)
- You sit your ass down

until I finish what I'm
saying, because I'm not done.

- I'm not done with my question by a long shot.
- Mr. Gary!

Language of that nature will
not be tolerated in my court.

Mr. Loewen, you may
not leave the witness stand

unless you're excused by me.

Do you understand?

You may continue, Mr. Gary,

but I warn you to tread lightly.

I just want to know one thing.

Did it ever bother you at all?

No.

(gallery murmuring quietly)

- (lightly slaps stand)
- That's all I need.

(murmuring increases)

You're dismissed.

RAY: Motherfucker!

Motherfucker!

What was that? What was that?!

I was skewered out there!

Well, Sister Souljah,
what you got for me?

Well, came to let you know
we've come to a decision.

Mm. We have? And
what have we decided?

Well, in light of recent events,

it does feel that it would be
best for all parties involved...

- Oh.
- To reopen a settlement discussion.

In other words, we are...

we are prepared
to make your client

- a very generous offer.
- (chuckling)

I know that's hard for you to, uh, get
out, but how generous are we talking?

I mean, work with me, Willie.
It's not gonna be $100 million.

Work with you? What
are you talking about?

I mean, needless to say,

- it's gonna be in the range in which neither Jerry...
- Uh-huh.

Nor his kids nor his
grandkids would ever

- have to worry about anything again.
- Okay.

- That sound good. That sound good.
- Yes.

I'll tell you what.

Why don't we meet in your
room in a couple hours?

And make sure you get your
best negotiator. You know why?

Your ass gonna need it.

NEGOTIATOR: Generally,
damages in tort are awarded

simply to restore the
plaintiff back to the position

he or she was in
before tort occurred.

However, given how protracted
this whole matter has become,

we believe that it is
in all our best interests

just to resolve this
once and for all.

We'd like to make
you what we consider

a very generous offer.

Obviously, should you
decide not to take it,

we can all go back
into court tomorrow.

You can roll the
dice with the jury.

But, frankly, uh, the
chances that you will win

or come anywhere
close to this number,

is a risk I doubt
you want to take.

Okay.

Here's our offer.

The answer's no.

MAME: Are you serious?

He's serious?

JEREMIAH: I said
the answer's no.

RAY: You mean to tell me you
are really going to turn that down?

You sure you don't maybe want
a little more time to think it over?

- JEREMIAH: I've thought it over enough.
- RAY: Have you?

I think we both know that's more money
than you'll ever see in your lifetime.

We gonna get down to business or
y'all gonna keep wasting our time?

- (Ray sighs)
- The man said no.

Hmm?

(Ray clears throat)

- (whispering)
- Mm. Okay.

- You sure?
- Yes.

(pen scratching)

- MAME: Best and final.
- WILLIE: Mm-hmm.

(soft grunt)

Answer's still no.

(coughs)

Well, this is just
fucking unbelievable.

What the hell's your
problem, O'Keefe?

You can't honestly tell
me that is not enough.

It's more than enough for me.

It's just not enough for you.

For me?

As in enough to put
you out of business.

Ah. (scoffs)

Come on.

Let me tell you something, pal.

The amount of money it would
take to put me out of business...

the real, actual amount...

is a number you
can't even calculate.

Take the money, Jerry.

You're 80 years old.

- Seventy-five.
- Can you please talk to your client?

WILLIE: Talk to him about what?

- About the fact he just turned down...
- Oh, he said no.

Last I checked, "no"
means "no," right?

RAY: What does it feel like

to be some small-time,
nobody funeral director

on the verge of bankruptcy

who just passed on
his one and only chance

at $75 million?

- What's it feel like?
- RAY: Mm.

(rhythmic tapping)

♪ It feels good ♪

- (laughing)
- ♪ Feels good ♪

BOTH: ♪ Feels good ♪

WILLIE: Yeah.
(grunting in rhythm)

♪ Feels good ♪

("Feels Good" playing)
♪ It feels good ♪

- Yeah. That's it.
- ♪ Yeah ♪

He said no. We see
you all in court tomorrow.

Okay, you can leave
now. Thank you.

MAME: I mean,
it's... it's a circus.

- ♪ Oh, it feels good ♪
- JEREMIAH: ♪ Feels good ♪

- (Willie laughing)
- ♪ Feels good, feels good ♪

- ♪ Feels good ♪
- WILLIE: ♪ It feels good, hey ♪

(doorbell rings)

(fading): ♪ It sure
feels good to me. ♪

(laughing)

Surprise.

Guess who it is?

- What you doing?
- I thought you could use some company.

- Oh, baby.
- Missed you so much.

("I Like" by Guy playing) ♪
You do to me, you know I like it ♪

- Go on over there. Now, go on over there.
- ♪ I like ♪

- ♪ Don't stop now ♪
- Yeah, that's right. -That's how we do it.

- That's right.
- ♪ I like ♪

- Ah. Mm.
- ♪ Ooh ♪

I'm gonna come on past you now.

- Come on past you now.
- ♪ Hey ♪

- That's right now.
- Oil the engine up. Oil the engine up.

- Hey.
- ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

- Ah.
- ♪ I like ♪

Ah. Ooh! That's all mine.

WILLIE: Closing
arguments tomorrow.

GLORIA: You think
I don't know that?

Done a lot of big cases, but...

this particular one is...

Lot of people's lives
in my hand. And...

I think I kind of feel
that a little bit, you know.

Especially...

especially when
it comes to Jerry.

(sighs)

So...

I don't want to lose.

I mean, I don't...

I-I think...

what if I don't win

and...

I let all these people down?

Well...

you're not going
to let them down.

So you don't need to worry.

(sighs)

You know that for
a fact, Miss Gloria?

I don't know it for a fact.

- I know you for a fact.
- Mm.

I know the man I married.

Yeah, baby.

(gasps) Oh, but...

One suggestion, though, baby?

Yeah? What's that?

When you're up there
in court tomorrow,

- doing your thing...
- Doing my thing.

Just...

try not to refer to
yourself in the third person.

Okay.

- (laughs)
- What, um... (clears throat)

What you, what you
talking about, Gloria?

(smacks lips) I
don't, I don't do that.

- Yeah, you do.
- Go on.

- Nah, I...
- Just a little.

I don't think I do that.

I don't.

"Girl, get ready. Willie
Gary coming upstairs now!"

- (laughing)
- Trust me.

You do.

I... I guess Willie Gary does
do that every once in a while.

(bell tolling)

(shoes scuff on floor)

(pacing footsteps)

WILLIE: Ladies and
gentlemen of the jury...

I just have one
small question to ask.

Do y'all mind if I keep
things simple? Hmm?

Just plain and ordinary talk.

(clock ticking quietly)

GRAVES: Has the
jury reached a verdict?

After careful consideration,

we the jury in case number 9661,

of the Hinds
County District Court,

Mr. Jeremiah J. O'Keefe
v. the Loewen Group, LLC,

have decided to side in favor of

- the plaintiff, Jeremiah O'Keefe.
- (gallery murmuring)

We have further decided
to award a verdict of

- $100 million in compensatory damages...
- WOMAN: All right! Oh!

To be paid to Mr. O'Keefe by
defendant Loewen Group, LLC.

And...

a verdict of $400
million in punitive damages

to be paid to Mr. O'Keefe
by defendant Loewen Group.

WILLIE: You deserve it.

Come on!

(cheering, excited chattering)

♪ ♪

(excited chatter continues)

♪ ♪

$500 million, Jerry.

(sighs) I know it, Willie.

I know it.

(sighs)

(footsteps passing overhead)

(indistinct chatter)

Hey, Willie.

Hey, Mame.

What you do, you, uh...

come down here
for your last licking?

- Oh, my last licking?
- (chuckles)

(chuckling): No.

I actually just wanted
to congratulate you.

Really?

- Yeah.
- Congratulate me?

Mm-hmm.

Now come on. You mean that?

(scoffs) Listen, I hate losing.

But it was a well-earned
victory. I can be honest about that.

Well, I venture, but
that's $500 million.

Now, somewhere inside, I know
you think that's way too much.

Yeah, maybe there's a part of
me that thinks it's not enough.

- Well, I can take more.
- (chuckles)

Good luck to you, Willie Gary.

Ah. Keep in touch.

Hope to see you on the trail.

Well...

Hey, Mame?

I gotta tell you something.

You one of the toughest lawyers
I've ever had to go against.

You, too.

No doubt Johnnie
would be impressed.

("Better Days" by Le'Andria Johnson
plays) ♪ Sometimes it feels cold ♪

- ♪ And you feel all alone ♪
- Johnnie.

♪ But hold on ♪

♪ Better days are coming ♪

♪ It can be rough ♪

♪ In this world ♪

♪ I know ♪

♪ It ain't easy ♪

♪ But hang on in there ♪

♪ I know better
days are coming ♪

♪ You seen good, you seen bad ♪

♪ You've been hurt beyond sin ♪

♪ But just remember ♪

♪ That better days ♪

- There's always the one.
- ♪ That better days ♪

- There's always one. Just...
- ♪ Are coming ♪

♪ Friends... ♪

♪ Will leave you ♪

♪ All by yourself ♪

♪ But don't cry ♪

♪ 'Cause better days ♪

♪ Are coming ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Better days ♪

♪ Better days ♪

♪ Better days ♪

♪ I'll see, yeah ♪

♪ Better days ♪

♪ Are coming. ♪

(song ends)

(laughter, chatter in song)

("Stand By Me" by Jimmy
Ruffin and David Ruffin playing)

- ♪ When the night ♪
- ♪ When the night ♪

♪ Has come ♪

♪ Mm ♪

♪ And the land is so dark ♪

♪ And the moon ♪

♪ Is the only light
we'll see, my brother ♪

♪ No, I won't ♪

♪ Be afraid ♪

- ♪ No, I won't be afraid ♪
- ♪ Mm ♪

- ♪ Just as long ♪
- ♪ Just as long as you ♪

♪ As you ♪

- ♪ Stand by me ♪
- ♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, stand by me ♪

- ♪ Oh, stand by me ♪
- ♪ Oh, stand by me ♪

♪ Hmm, mm ♪

♪ Ah ♪

♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, if the sky ♪

♪ That we look upon ♪

♪ Should crumble and fall ♪

♪ Or the mountain ♪

♪ Should crumble down
to the sea, oh, yeah ♪

♪ I won't cry ♪

♪ I won't cry, I won't cry, no ♪

- ♪ Oh, no, I won't cry ♪
- ♪ I won't, I won't shed a tear ♪

♪ Just as long ♪

♪ As you ♪

♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Don't you worry ♪

♪ Oh, stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, stand ♪

♪ By me... ♪

- Hey, what's happening there, doc?
- Hey, what's up?

- Willie Gary. I can't believe it.
- Yeah.

- How you doing, man?
- Nice to see you, Dr. G. How you feeling?

I want to be just like
you when I grow up.

You know what? You're
gonna be better than me.

- Get out of here. Take care now.
- All right. Good seeing you now.

♪ Stand by me ♪

- ♪ Ooh ♪
- ♪ Come on and ♪

- ♪ Stand ♪
- ♪ Stand by me ♪

♪ Oh, stand... ♪

(song fades)

("Jesu, Joy of Man's
Desiring" by Bach playing)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(music ends)

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

(music ends)