Original subtitles

I think it's time for a little search and destroy mission.

Uh -huh.

no no

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

You know, I don't think it's good. To me, it's going to be hanging around here

much after night. But drink to it! Yeah!

Mmm!

You!

Get out of here.

This is an American bar.

My son could have been killed tonight.

I don't know what you're talking about, but, uh... One last... Gook around here

would be quite an improvement.

Why, you listen to me, Charlie.

Now, we don't like your people fishing our waters and taking what's ours.

Now, maybe you'll get the message.

This is an American town for American fishermen.

So you just pack up your little brat and the rest of your people and you get the

hell out of here.

Do you hear me?

Throw it away, John.

He started it.

You heard me.

Sure.

I don't want no trouble with the law.

Go home, Mr. Tran.

Why don't you arrest him?

You know he burned my boat tonight.

Knowing it and proving it are two different things.

Does one of my people have to die before you do something?

This man is behind everything they have done to us.

You know he's right, Sheriff. You shut your mouth, old man.

You don't scare me, Samson. Tom, take your friend and get him out of here.

Let's go, Wim.

I'll go.

But I can see now, there is no justice for Vietnamese in Barton's Bay.

But I'll tell you this, my friend.

If the law will not stop him, I will.

When?

When?

I suppose you've been here all night long.

Yeah.

Ask anyone.

That's right.

It's here.

One of these days, I'm going to put you away.

Well, you better hurry, Sheriff.

The election's less than eight weeks away.

You've got to be kidding.

Get off my boat, Rockville, you all.

You want to tell me why you got Wintran in jail?

You heard what happened last night.

Wintran threatened John Sampson.

Is that all you've got?

I've got to hold him for questioning for 48 hours.

Look, I want to show you something.

Well, I figure it.

John was stabbed inside the cabin.

He noticed a trail of blood leading from inside to where the body was discovered

this morning.

Where's the murder weapon?

It's not in the boat.

Sheriff, he's coming up.

Lying on the bottom just as plain as day, Sheriff.

See the initials carved into the handle?

NT.

I'd say this knife belongs to Wintra.

I've done my job, Mr. Prosecutor.

Now you gotta do yours.

Hey, Michelle, I'm going to buy a new car.

Got regular radio dials. It's worth buying just for that.

Mr. Matlock?

Yes, sir? I'm Tom Jake, the harbor master out at Barton's Bay.

Oh. You heard about the trouble there?

A little.

This is Lee Tran.

His father's been charged with the murder.

My father didn't do it.

We came here to hire you to defend him.

Oh, well, sir, I know you're expensive.

But I have some holdings, some stocks, some bonds.

And I could mortgage my boat if need be for the rest.

Mr. Tran must be a very good friend.

I brought him and Lee to this country. I was their sponsor.

Well, my father's a good man.

He wouldn't kill anyone.

Oh, you're Ben Matlock?

Yes, sir. Michael Barton, prosecutor.

Oh, this is my associate, Michelle Thomas.

Hello. Hi.

Barton, I don't think I ever met anybody alive before. We had a town named after

it. No, not me.

Barton's Bay was named after my great -grandfather. Oh.

Well, I guess you're looking for the sheriff's office. It's right in there.

Oh. Great. Well, I'll see you later. Nice to meet you.

I'm glad you could take the case, Mr. Matlock.

Yeah? Tom Jakes is an old friend of the family. After Wen was charged, he asked

me if I could recommend an attorney for him. You recommended me?

Yes, I did.

There's a very strong case against Wen, and I wanted to make sure he could get

as good a representation as possible.

Oh, well.

Thank you. Yeah.

Jail's down there.

Tell me this.

Did you make a threat against John Sampson that night?

Yes.

But when I went home, I knew I couldn't commit violence.

Your knife was found in the water, directly under his boat.

I did not kill this man.

My knife was stolen when they robbed my boat last week.

It wasn't on the theft report.

When you consider everything they stole from me, my radio, my net,

all my fishing equipment, the knife is insignificant.

So you didn't report.

Mr. Matlock, I would do anything to protect my son.

Yes, even kill.

But I did not kill John Samson.

I guess the first thing is see if we can get you a fair trial.

I don't see grounds for a change of venue.

Those people out there are grounds. With all due respect, Your Honor, I don't

think my client can get a fair trial here.

Mr. Matlock, please don't condemn an entire community because of the few

in the street.

Well... Mr. Barton.

This is a decent community.

with scores of hard -working, fair -minded people.

I'm sure that's true. They just don't seem to be very fond of the Vietnamese.

Mr. Matlock, most of our people have great sympathy for the Vietnamese.

Your Honor, you know I served in Vietnam, and I'm aware of the problems

been having here. But I have great respect and admiration for the people of

community. I believe Mr.

Tran can get a fair trial.

I'm afraid I have to agree with Mitch Barton.

The trial will take place here.

Your motion for change of venue, Mr. Matlock, is denied.

You okay, Dad?

I'm fine, son.

Uh, Mr. Matlock, who put up the money for my bail?

Uh, Mr.

Barton. The judge released you on your own recognizance.

Thank you, Mr. Barton.

You have always been kind to us.

How are we done?

Ah.

Oh, excuse me.

Excuse me. That's a new car.

That's a new car.

Sooner or later, it'll get up to you, Scratch.

Now, lift.

Break it up.

Whose side are you on? I said break it up.

You too.

Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy.

Action. Thank you.

Hey, Michelle.

Tran and Lee home safely and meet me back for myself.

Where are you going?

That's the guy that found the knives in the water.

Are you going to be clean?

I'm going to the safest place in town.

I went through John Sampson's house, this boat.

Didn't find a single item belonging to any of those Vietnamese.

Oh, I know. Mr.

Tran claims his knife was stolen.

I guess in his place, that's what I would say.

Of course, if he's telling the truth, then whoever stole it killed John

Maybe. Find anybody who had a motive, and I'll be all ears.

How'd you feel about Mr. Samson?

Motivated.

Well, I'll put it to you this way.

As far as I'm concerned, Tran did this town a favor.

I hear that John Samson was thinking about running against you

for sheriff.

And the way the feelings were going about the Vietnamese, he had a good

of winning.

So you think I killed him?

No. Just telling you something I learned about motives a long time ago. You

never can tell who might have one.

What are you doing here?

Oh.

Mrs. Fenton, the picture in the paper doesn't do you justice.

I asked you a question.

I haven't been that long.

Please get off my boat.

I need to talk to you. You're defending my husband's killer.

I just came by to pick up my husband's possessions, so can you...

Please make it brief. Well, I just have one question, really.

Why is your husband living on his boat? I don't know a lot about fishermen, but

I don't know many that keep their good clothes on their boat.

They've been having a lot of problems.

Marital.

Was he seeing another woman?

No.

Um, you're seeing another man?

No, I was not.

Uh, I, uh... I heard he

has a pretty mean temper.

You're out of line.

Oh, yes, I am. I apologize.

I'm sorry.

I'll be going and maybe talk another time.

Welcome in. Let's get our breath.

How'd you know I was here?

When you didn't show up at the motel, I got a little worried.

A little worried is good for a person. I appreciate it.

How about dropping me by Mr. Trans?

Wait, wait.

Then drive over to this place.

It's in Greenville, about 60 miles, just across the county line.

Starlight Motel.

Yeah. Now, here.

This is a picture of Miss Sam.

Show it around.

Welcome to the home.

Thanks.

Hello, Mr. Madlock. Hello, Lee.

Something smells good.

We're having all specialties in your honor.

First, we'll start with ka chua tau ka, then ka chua tong ti, and then some ka

chien lu ma.

Dry jellyfish with cabbage, sour fish head soup, and fried fish in fish sauce.

I'd like some more of this fried jellyfish.

Oh, please, take as much as you like.

That should be about enough. I'm stuffed.

Come on.

Come on, dear.

Excuse me, Mr. Matlock. I have to watch the dishes. Oh.

That's why I'm afraid.

When Tom Jakes first brought us over here, I had such high hopes.

Now, I fear what would happen to him if I have to go to jail.

Oh, you're a long way from that, Mr. Trent.

Maybe these people are right.

Maybe the Vietnamese have no right to be here.

But my son does.

You see?

He's not your son?

My stepson.

He's what is called Amerasian. His real father was an American soldier who was

killed during the war.

I married his mother before he was born.

She was so beautiful.

She was beautiful.

What happened to her?

Her village was bombed and she was killed.

He was only two then.

But before she died, I promised her I will always take care of Lee.

Is there Miss Thomas?

Oh. Hello, Mr. Tran.

Hi. Hey, Michelle, come here. Come here a minute. Here.

Yeah, try some of this.

Try some of this. This is dry jellyfish and sour fish head soup.

How'd you do?

Um, Mrs. Sampson was a regular customer at the Starlight Motel. Sometimes twice

a week. Who is?

He's right here.

The sheriff?

Deputy Atkins?

Yeah. Mr. Tran!

What do you know about Deputy Atkins?

Well, he was a fisherman until about six months ago.

He lost his boat to the bank.

Deputy Atkins?

Under the circumstances, I see no alternative but to reconsider Mr.

request for a change of venue.

Motion granted.

The trial will be held in Fulton County.

After finding Mr. Sampson's body on the deck, what did you do then?

I secured the crime scene and commenced my investigation.

Did that include looking for a murder weapon?

Yes, sir.

Deputy Adkins is a qualified diver. He began an underwater search of the area

beneath the boat.

He came up with a knife within a few minutes of his dive.

I show you people's exhibit five.

And I ask you, do you recognize it, Sheriff?

Yes, sir, and that's the knife.

Yesterday, the coroner testified that the victim's wound was consistent with

blade on this knife.

Sheriff, can you tell us if there are any identifying marks on this knife?

Yes, sir. Right there on the handle, you can see the initials N .T.

It's a common custom in the Barton's Bay area for the local fishermen to

personalize their fishing knives. Is that so?

Your Honor, I'll object for the record. The question is leading and without

foundation. However, I know what counsel is attempting, so defense will

stipulate that Exhibit 5 is Mr. Tran's knife.

Thank you, Mr. Matlock. Nothing further.

Cross -examine?

No one is disputing that this is Mr.

Tran's knife. But, Sheriff, you didn't see Mr.

Tran stab Mr.

Sampson, did you?

No. And in the course of your investigation, you didn't find one

who had seen Mr. Tran use this or any other knife on Mr. Sampson. Isn't that

right?

Yeah, that's right.

However, in the weeks before the murder, there were a string of robberies on

Vietnamese boats, weren't there?

We had some reports.

And a few days before the murder, Mr. Tran's own boat was robbed, wasn't it?

I had a report, so I have evidence of a break -in. Mr.

Tran didn't specifically list his knife stolen, did he?

He gave me a list of things that wasn't on it.

However,

on the list... was the bridge compass, radio, and all fishing nets. That's all

pretty large, expensive items. It's not unusual for a citizen to overlook

smaller items when the larger, more expensive ones have been stolen, is it?

No. No.

Now, the coroner says the time of Mr. Sampson's death was 1 a .m. It's pretty

quiet out on the harbor then, isn't it? Yes.

I mean, it's real quiet.

My associate, Miss Thomas and I, went out to Mr. Sampson's boat at 1 a .m.,

I went in the cabin where Mr. Sampson was standing when he was stabbed, and my

associate tried to sneak up on me, you know, the way the killer must have done.

And no matter how careful she was, I heard her. She even took off her shoes,

I still heard her.

Objection. Relevancy.

It isn't even a question.

She took off her shoes and I still heard her. How about that?

Objection! Sustained.

I apologize to both of you.

Now, as we all know, Mr. Sampson was stabbed in the back. Doesn't that lead

the obvious conclusion that either whoever did it sneaked up on him or Mr.

Sampson knew his killer well enough to turn his back on him?

I suppose.

Well, let me put it another way.

Given what had transpired between Mr. Tran and Mr. Sampson, you certainly

wouldn't expect Mr. Sampson to turn his back on Mr. Tran.

So that has to mean that Mr.

Sampson knew... Objection!

Objection calls for speculation. No relevancy. No further questions.

Isn't it true that you and the defendant are close friends?

Yes, we are.

Isn't it also true...

that you sponsored Mr. Tran and his stepson when they first came to Barton's

Bay.

Everybody knows that, Mickey.

Please, Mr. Jakes, just answer the question.

Yes, I sponsored them.

And on the night of the murder, weren't you in the Lucky Catch bar when Mr.

Tran threatened Mr.

Sampson?

Well, yeah.

What did he say?

Your Honor, instruct this witness to answer the question. Well, you don't

to say that.

What he said was that if the sheriff didn't stop John Sampson,

that he would.

Thank you. Nothing further.

Sorry about that, Wynn.

You only told the truth, Tom.

Are you doing this to my father? I thought you were our friend.

I am. Mr.

Barton's only doing his job.

You're just like the rest of them. You hate us. Lee?

I'm sorry, Mr. Barton.

He doesn't understand.

I'll talk to him.

It's all so senseless.

When the Vietnamese first came to Barton's Bay three years ago, there were

problems. Everybody got along.

It was about six months ago.

When the fishing got bad, that's when it all started. The local fishermen got

scared, and like scared people, they looked for a convenient scapegoat, the

Vietnamese. It's such a shame when you realize everybody knows what caused the

problem.

What's that?

We had an unseasonably cool winter.

The cold Arctic currents cooled off the local waters. The cool waters caused

abnormal tides and shifting currents that chased away the red snapper and the

mackerel.

You say the fishermen know that?

Of course.

Ask Tom Jakes. He'll tell you.

Well, I'll see you tomorrow.

Okay.

Give me one all the way.

Hi. Hi.

Want one?

No.

I found out a few things.

Yeah.

Deputy Atkins is still having his trips with Mrs. Sampson.

He was an MP in Vietnam.

Rod Atkins and John Sampson were there together.

And they have a history of hatred for the Vietnamese.

They both spent six months in the stockade at Lan Binh for terrorizing

Vietnamese civilians.

No kidding.

And Deputy Atkins was off duty that night, wasn't he?

Yeah.

He's our man.

We have to prove that he stole Mr. Tran's knife.

Find Tyler.

Go to Jackson's Fishing Supply. Get a knife just like Mr. Tran's.

Let's just see about something.

Continuous? On what grounds, Mr. Matlock?

Your Honor, some new information has come to my attention.

I assure the court it's crucial.

The defense has had ample time to prepare its case.

Your Honor, my entire... Defense rests on this information. All I need is 36

hours.

All right. The court will reconvene at 9 a .m. Thursday.

It's time, Mr.

J.

You got a diver?

Yep.

You know where to look?

Yeah. You clear on how to use this thing?

clear, and I'm cold.

Now we know Mr.

Transnice was not the murder weapon.

That's good.

Now we know.

Hey, will you guys let me up on the boat?

I'm freezing.

Tyler, I'm sorry to do this to you.

Maybe your body will adjust.

You've got to try to find the real murder weapon.

This is bonus time again.

They make a good sandwich?

Fair.

You lost your boat to the bank.

I say, I heard you were a fisherman, but you lost your boat to the bank.

That's right.

Why don't you buy John Sampson's boat?

What do you want?

John Sampson was killed. Where were you?

I was home.

I think you know a lot more about what happened to Mr. Sampson

than you're saying.

Maybe even exactly.

Hey, Joe.

We'll see you in court.

Right, Tom. Fine. I'll see you in the morning.

Did you know Tom Jakes lost his son in Vietnam?

No. Did he tell you that?

No, I heard it in town.

It was in 1972.

You suppose that's why he sponsored Mr. Tran and Lee?

When was Tom's son killed?

1972.

That's the same year Lee was born.

Deputy Atkins, this is a navigational chart of Barton's Bay.

And this is where Mr.

Sampson's boat was at the time of the murder.

Now, you say you found Mr.

Tran's knife directly under the boat, is that right?

Yes. Actually, that's where you

planted it, isn't it?

What are you talking about? I think you know.

A few nights ago, there was a little experiment supervised by Mr. Tom Jakes,

harbormaster of Barton's Bay.

We purchased this knife. As you can see, it's an exact replica

of Mr. Tran's knife. We wanted to duplicate what would have happened to

Tran's knife if it had been the murder weapon.

This knife.

was dropped into the water from the stern of Mr. Sampson's boat at exactly 1

.m. the time of the murder.

The next morning, at approximately the same time you dived for Mr. Tran's

Mr. Tyler Hudson dove for this one.

And you know what?

It wasn't there.

You know where he found it?

I don't know.

It was found here.

More than 40 yards south of the boat.

How do you suppose it got there?

I'll tell you.

Tides. In less than nine hours, tides and heavy currents carried it there.

You know what that means?

It means that Sheriff Washburn was right about how Mr. Sampson was killed and

what happened to the murder weapon. The only thing is, he had the wrong knife.

Mr. Hudson continued to dive.

And here, on the harbor bottom, 150

yards to the south, he found this, which I believe is the

real murder weapon.

See these initials?

J .S.

John Sampson.

He was killed with his own knife.

Maybe you knew that.

No, I didn't.

I'll tell you what you did know.

When the sheriff asked you to dive for the murder weapon, you saw an

to frame Mr. Tran.

You and John Sampson had stolen his knife along with several other items

his boat several days before.

With nobody noticing, you went into the water with Mr. Tran's knife, swam around

a few minutes and brought it up, didn't you?

Deputy Atkins, you've been having an affair with John Sampson's wife.

You're a fisherman who lost his boat.

I think Mr. Barton could make a case.

You wanted his wife and his boat and saw a chance to get both of them. So you

killed him. No, I didn't.

Now, you have to believe me.

We robbed Fran and we burned his boat.

But I planted the knife because I thought he killed John.

And because you have a hatred for the Vietnamese.

Yes, I hate them.

But I didn't kill John.

Your Honor, Deputy Atkins has admitted to many things.

robbery, arson, false testimony, certainly bigotry.

He has not admitted to murder, and I'm grateful that I don't bear the

responsibility of that proof.

Your Honor, the prosecution's case against my client hinged on Mr. Tran's

which we know now was planted by Deputy Atkins.

Under the circumstances,

The defense moves for dismissal.

Mr. Barton.

No objection.

This case is dismissed.

Father.

Thank you, Mr. Matlock. Thank you. Thank you.

Good morning.

Morning.

Well, I see they're putting it back together.

It'll be a lot of work.

Yeah, but they'll do it. Mr. Matlock, I didn't get a chance to congratulate you.

I don't think.

You put on a good show.

Well, sometimes I think maybe I could.

But I'll tell you the truth. I never

could have done it without you.

How's that?

Well, you're the one who recommended that Tom Jakes hire me.

Just helping out a friend.

Yeah.

I didn't think that my client could get a fair trial for Barton Bay. You argued

against a changed venue, and then, well, I would have done the same thing.

Then, when somebody burned my new car, the judge reconsidered.

And rightfully.

Yeah. That was a change of venue.

I think you burned my car.

What?

And when it looked like I couldn't possibly win, you came to the rescue. It

very subtle.

But you did.

You told me all about the ties.

What is all this?

It's the most incredible thing I've ever been a part of.

You didn't want, Mr. Tran, to be found guilty of a murder you had committed. So

you protected him the best way you know how, in a court of law

through me. You're accusing me of murder?

Look at this, Tran.

When you had Tom Jakes on the stand,

You asked him.

I'm quoting.

Isn't it also true that you sponsored Mr.

Tran and his stepson when they first came to Barton's place?

You called him stepson.

Maybe you didn't mean to do that.

How did you know Lee is not Mr. Tran's blood son?

I don't know.

Until he told me there were only two other people.

Besides Mr. Tran, we know Tom Jake and Lee's real

father, an American soldier who served in Vietnam in 1972.

That's you, Mr. Farmer.

Mr. Matlock, I loved his mother.

Please believe me.

I believe you did.

I believe...

You're a good and honorable man. That's why I'm here.

In the fall of Saigon in 1975, you made inquiries about

Mr. Tran and his steps.

And just two months before Tom Jakes asked

you for legal help in sponsoring a Vietnamese family, you found Mr. Tran

and Lee in a refugee camp in Thailand.

You select them for Mr. James.

Seven years I looked for Lee.

I was already married with one child when I was in Vietnam and met his

Nothing else I could do. I had to leave. She said that she would say I was dead.

Marry Mr. Tran.

I never forgot my son.

I couldn't.

Why did you kill John Sampson?

I didn't go there to kill him.

I knew that he'd burned the boat.

He could have caused Lee's death.

I went there to tell him to leave the Vietnamese alone.

He laughed at me and ordered me off the boat.

I was very angry. He turned his back on me, and I saw his knife right there, and

I picked it up, and I stabbed him.

He pulled the knife from himself, and he came for me.

He fell by the back of the boat, dropped the knife into the water.

See, when the deputy came up with Mr. Tran's knife, I knew that he was framed.

I helped you with your case, didn't I?

I couldn't have done it without you.

Well...