Original subtitles

Hey,

I know. We could go to Les Kimpins and see his new dog.

Well, what happened to his last one?

It died.

But I figure somebody poisoned it.

Probably. That dog was me.

And he throws them out of the home plate.

I'd say we go mess around at my Uncle Bernie's store.

Nah, he likes to put us to work.

Well, it's a bad time somebody in your family had a job.

Hey! You want...

I was kidding, you idiot.

No, you're the idiot, Carrie.

Somebody shot him.

I wonder who he is. Look at his arm.

We better go get the sheriff.

He was right here.

On my eye, there never was a body here.

Now, you kids listen to me.

I'm tired of you playing these pranks. The next time this happens, I'm going to

arrest you all.

You hear me?

This time, I'm just going to tell your parents.

I hope they blister your hind ends.

Sheriff, wait.

Right here.

Mr. Matlock? Your Honor?

Before we begin, I'd like to say what an honor it is to have an attorney of your

reputation and skill here in Small Claims Court.

Well, thank you, Your Honor.

You remember Billy Joe Pollard?

Well, yes.

He was accused of killing his business partner, and he didn't do it. And you

proved it.

He's my cousin.

Okay, that's it.

I want to change the venue.

Pardon?

Well, you and him, you're practically related. I can't get a fair trial in

court. This isn't a trial. It's a small claims hearing.

I'll hear both sides of the story and make an impartial, objective decision.

Is that clear, Mrs. Maloney?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Matlock, you may proceed.

Yes, Your Honor. I needed a refrigerator to put in my garage for soda and stuff

like that, see? And I bought Mrs.

Maloney's. Well, the second day I had it, I heard this terrible noise.

And I ran out to the garage and the smoke was just pouring out of the back

this refrigerator.

The second day.

And I want my money back.

Okay, Mrs. Maloney, your turn.

Okay.

This bozo here shows up with the ad that I pinned on the bulletin board at the

supermarket.

He looked at my refrigerator, said he wanted it, and he bought it.

That's it.

The refrigerator was running when you bought it? Oh, like a clock.

The cord was a little frayed. I told him to get a new one.

You get a new cord?

No, I taped it up.

You can't tape a cord that's frayed from end to... Your Honor, if I'd known he

was going to be such a jerk, I wouldn't have loaded that refrigerator onto his

rented truck.

You let Mrs. Maloney load the truck?

I have a bad back.

Anything else, Mrs. Maloney? Yes, sir. That refrigerator was built in 1962.

A collector's item. Even broke it's worth something.

1962?

Mr. Matlock, how much did you pay for the refrigerator?

$67 .48.

67?

You came to court for $67 .48?

Well, certainly.

You charged my cousin Billy Joe Pollard $100 ,000.

That's my fee.

He borrowed most of it from me. Well, I... Mr. Matlock, anybody who buys a

refrigerator... With a frayed cord.

What she doesn't replace deserves what he gets. But, Your Honor. I find for the

defendant, Mrs. Maloney. Next case. But, Your Honor.

Dismissed.

Nice try.

Ready to be taken to dinner? Yeah, I am.

Oh, is that you?

Eighth birthday.

First bike.

Is that your family? Yeah.

Cousin Bink, Cousin Jane, Uncle Roy, Uncle Joe, Great Aunt Kate, my mom,

grandma, grandpa, and Aunt Elsie.

She called me today.

From Mount Harlan?

Yeah.

Everybody in this picture who's still alive lives in Mount Harlan.

But me.

Did Aunt Elsie call you with bad news?

Oh, no, no. She invited me to a family reunion, part of Mount Harlan's

bicentennial celebration.

How fun.

Yeah.

I'm not going.

You're not?

No.

They don't like me. Why?

Well...

After I graduated from law school, everybody just figured that I was going

come back to Mount Harlan and be the town lawyer.

They even got me up a shingle to town lawyer.

When I went to Atlanta, they all thought I'd let them down, and last time I was

there, they still felt the same way.

How long ago was that?

20 years. Oh, Ben, that's ancient history.

Who'd carry a grudge for over 20 years?

Well, I bet everybody.

Who's old enough to remember still does.

Oh, but Aunt Elsa.

I know one that still does.

Billy Lewis.

I dated his sister and he got mad and he's been mad ever since.

He didn't want you dating his sister.

No, that was all right. That was all right. But she started looking for

rings. Oh, so you dropped her.

I got another girl.

And then I went off to college and went with another girl. And another girl and

Billy got mad.

A real darn woman.

So whatever happened to Billy?

Lucy.

She's mad, too.

Last time I heard, she's still single and lives with Billy.

That's why he's mad.

Elsie wants me to bring you... Me?

Well, I write to her all the time, and I guess I write to her a lot about you,

and she wants to meet you.

Well, I'm flattered.

And I do have some time coming.

Of course, I wouldn't know anybody there except you.

And Elsie.

Oh, and Lucy, if you'll introduce me.

You want to go?

Yes.

It's a long, high fly into left field.

Come on, Gary. Let's go. Let's get something to eat.

It's a line drive right before it stops.

No.

Max. No.

Ferguson. Get out of here.

Hey.

Is this what city slickers are wearing these days? This is what writers are

wearing. I liked your book. Who wrote it for you? I'm glad you did.

Who read it to you?

It takes me back.

So, what are you doing here?

Another book.

The first one was Boy's Memory of Home, and this one is about a man who goes

home again, or, well, tries to.

No secret, man's me.

So here I am, just, you know, chasing my book, asking questions.

People are talking to you? Well, some.

People in this town like better than holding their grudges, gossiping about

other.

You guys remember that time when we were about 12 and we saw that guy get

killed? Hi, guys.

Hey.

Look hot in the car. Wow.

So, what we heard is true?

You and Noel are... Living together.

So, have you seen Russ Gifford yet?

I stopped being his girl three years ago, Gary.

It was just a question.

Come on, let's go get something to eat.

Max is starving, and I haven't had cornmeal fried catfish since I left this

town. So, are you really going to write about that time when we were kids?

Well, Gary, we saw somebody get killed, and then it was covered up like it never

happened. I mean, it sounds like a story to me. Well, I'm just trying to write a

book. It's not what the town's going to think.

No, your car.

See what I mean?

Oh, excuse me, Julie. This is my Aunt Elsie, everybody.

This is my friend, Julie Maude. Hi. Hi, Harley.

Cousin Harley. Ben, seems like there's something about you in the paper every

week. Don't believe everything you read.

You're not the spitting image of my nephew, Pat.

I'm his son, Max. Max Carter. Oh, Max.

On Earth, we're all standing around out here far.

You all help him with the bags, and the rest of you all go on back inside.

You must be tired. Oh, not at all. This is for you.

Oh, thank you.

You're just as sweet as Ben said you were.

But he didn't tell me you were so pretty. Oh.

I can get Marley.

Well, as I live and breathe, Billy Lewis.

Welcome back to Mount Harlan, Ben.

What's it been, 40 years?

Since I've been back, oh, more like 20.

Come on, everybody.

Come on, there's pie and lemonade inside.

Lucy says hello.

Hello to Lucy.

You're looking good, Billy.

Yeah? Yeah, you haven't aged a minute.

Buddy, come on. There's nothing worse than cold pie and warm lemonade.

Yes.

The time sure changed, don't they, Lucas?

Fifteen years ago, you were a short -order cook over in Lumpkin, and now

you. And suddenly you got this place?

I heard you paid $35 ,000 for it, another $8 ,000 to fix it up.

About that.

That's a lot of money, Lucas.

You've been gone too long, Noel.

Forget that people around here don't ask personal questions.

Don't answer them either.

Well, what's personal about it?

It's an American success story, you know. Local boy makes good.

I keep my personal business and finances to myself.

Hey, Lucas.

Give me a beer.

No business coming back here.

Still a free country, Russ.

Just wanted to show everyone you stole my girl.

I don't steal.

And if I did, I'd steal things and not people.

Let's step outside.

What's the matter? Slashing my tires wasn't enough for you?

I'm just a hick.

You should be able to handle me easy.

Outside.

Take a hike, Chris Paul.

You take it outside, you understand?

Not in my bar!

You two, out of here. Oh, come on, Lucas. You see, he started it. I don't

What the hell are you looking at?

Listen. Out of here.

Take it easy. It won't hurt. You've already laid it.

Ow!

How would you like to be sued?

Oh,

hello, Billy.

Elsie wants eggs.

I hate dealing with chickens, and I hate chicken coops. They stink.

Chicken's the same as always, and it's the same coop.

Ah, give me the bucket.

Billy, we've got to talk.

We've got to settle things between us.

Glad you feel that way, Ben.

I need some money.

Tires on my pickup are bald, payments due on my tractor, and my gallbladder's

got to come out.

So how about it?

Well, Billy, I just can't. Why not?

I hear you're doing real good in Atlanta, so I guess you can spare it.

not that rich, Billy.

I'm not asking for much.

Set of tires for my truck, couple payments on my tractor, and take out my

gallbladder.

Maybe a couple dresses for Lucy.

Dropping her the way you did might make her feel better, poor thing.

Could we go outside in the air and talk about this?

Yes or no, right now.

You drive a hard bargain, Billy.

So, when are you and Benjamin getting married?

Well, I don't know. Oh, but you are getting married, aren't you?

I don't know that either.

Well, you two are sharing a bed up there in Atlanta, aren't you?

Oh, honey.

Asking for separate rooms was real thoughtful, but it didn't fool me for a

minute. I don't believe... Did you know that most geniuses are bothered by men

over 50?

Uh, no. And I was reading in People magazine that women a lot older than you

are having babies every day.

Uh... So, how many do you figure you and Ben are going to have?

Well, we... Anybody home?

No. Oh, hi, man. Max told me you were in town.

Oh, well, it's real important that I talk to him. Is he home from work yet?

No, he's up in Valdosta. He won't be back till day after tomorrow.

Oh, perfect timing.

Julie March, Ben Matlock. This is Noel Ferguson.

He's one of Max's oldest and dearest friends.

Ben is the famous lawyer, as I'm sure you know. And Julie is his bride -to

What? Oh, and of course you already know Billy Lewis.

You used to date Billy's sister, didn't you?

Yes. Well, what happened?

Copped her like a hot potato.

I went to law school.

But not before you'd had a good fling with old man Rollins' daughter, Flossie.

Remember when old man Rollins caught you and Flossie in a hayloft in the barn?

We were playing hide -and -seek. At 17?

We weren't doing anything.

Yeah. Was there a time he caught you behind the church during Sunday school?

We were talking about the Bible.

Revelations.

Flossie was revealing.

Behind the church?

Your sister never did marry, did she, Billy? No.

Nope. Never married.

She lives with me.

Must have been a real good life living with Lucy.

See you all later.

Ben.

It was very nice to meet the both of you.

And I will see you at the Bicentennial.

Why don't you two lovebirds take a little walk or something, huh? What a

idea.

Come on, lovebird.

What the hell's been going on in here?

There you go, my friend. Okay.

Four and five.

All right. Thank you, Bernie. You bet.

How you doing, Bernie?

No. Hey, good to see you. Yeah, you too.

Look, is Gary around?

Making deliveries.

We'll be back till maybe, oh, six.

Damn.

Listen, can I borrow a piece of that paper and your pen for a minute?

Sure. So? Thank you.

Heard about what happened at the tavern. A fight.

Russ started it.

You're asking for trouble.

I'm just writing a book.

Listen, uh, make sure Gary gets this as soon as he comes back in.

Sure. Thank you.

Noel.

Yeah? Hanging people's dirty laundry out is a pitiful way to make a dollar.

That's Henry still mad at me.

He's the one that paid for the shingle the town gave me when I graduated law

school. Did you and Lucy go to Vincent?

Sometimes. We didn't do anything.

Nothing? Well, we kissed.

Oh, behind the church.

I was 17, nearly grown.

Come on, let's go then. Where?

Behind the church. No, let's go to Vincent.

Then behind the church? You'll see.

Hello, Mr. Sylvester. Is your husband in?

No, he's not.

No. Any real reason to panic? We'll find out exactly what's going... Hello, Mr.

Sylvester. If you've got a few minutes, I'd like to talk to you about something.

You too, Doc. We're not going to answer your questions, Noel.

The only reason you're here is to hurt this town and everybody in it.

I'm not here to hurt anybody. I'm just doing my work, just gathering

Gather it in some other town, Noel.

No, I don't think so.

When I start something, I like to finish it.

It's a bad habit I picked up from my father.

Pam?

Honey, is that you?

Hey, Buck.

Hey,

Sheriff, what can I do for you?

You're under arrest for the murder of Noel Ferguson.

Oh, wait a minute. I didn't kill Noel Ferguson.

I don't know what you're talking about. This ain't me. I didn't have anything to

do with Noel Ferguson.

Get in the car, son.

Sheriff. Get in the car, son.

Ben Matlock?

Yes, sir?

Somebody will see you down at the jailhouse.

Oh, hello, Mr. Matlock.

I, uh, heard you were in town.

I gotta have somebody defend me.

For what? I didn't kill Noel Ferguson.

Noel? Yeah, somebody stabbed him with my knife.

Noel's dead?

When I left for work this morning, that knife was on my back porch where it

always is. And I don't know how it got into that motel room.

Someone must have stolen it. And I was at work all day.

Well, almost all day.

At 4 .15, I got a call from someone saying he was a friend of Noel's, said

Noel wanted me to meet him at 5 o 'clock in the orchard off County Line Road so

that we could settle our differences in private.

So I took off work at 4 .30 and then I drove out there. Only he never showed.

I waited to 5 .30 and then I drove back.

Well, did anybody see you?

No.

Do you have any idea who it was that called?

I just figured it was one of the guys that Noel we hung out with.

Your father used to do that.

What? He'd run his fingers through his hair when he was agitated.

Are you going to defend me, Mr. Matlock?

Oh, son, I'm just going to be in town a short while just for the bicentennial.

There are a lot of lawyers in Mount Harlan.

It just wouldn't...

Well, I'll tell you what, I don't know how to take me a

walk and think about this.

See,

the thing is, I'm just here on vacation. I mean, for the bicentennial.

And if I defend Russ Gifford, well, I'll be here for the duration of the trial.

And then, too, I'm not the most popular person in town.

I mean, the Mount Harlan jury could take their dislike of me out on Russ. I

mean, not meaning to or not even knowing it.

And then, too, he can't afford me.

Those are all reasons why you shouldn't take the case.

Any reasons why you should?

Well, I think the boy's innocent.

The other two lawyers in town, Ed and Charles Reese, Ed's recovering from a

stroke, and Charles took him nine times to pass the bar.

Sounds like he doesn't have much of a chance without you. Oh, I don't know.

want to know what I think?

First, this isn't the big city with a loaded court calendar.

Russ Gifford's going to come to trial quickly.

Second, tell the jury that you're afraid you'll bias them against your client.

Mount Harlan may not like you, but the people are decent and honest.

And they're going to bend over backwards to be fair.

Third, the fee.

Can Russ afford a local lawyer?

I guess.

Then just charge him what you would have charged him if you'd never left Mount

Harlan. You can afford it, and he can afford it.

And maybe you'll stop feeling guilty about abandoning the town.

I don't feel guilty.

I'll stay here with you till the trial is over. You will.

I've never seen a bluer sky.

Or lovelier roses.

And the company's not too bad.

We could go behind the church again.

Or find that man's barn.

Or...

And Elsie said we could use just one. Julie. Room.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know anybody else was in here.

Who are you?

I'm Ben Matlock.

And you're, uh... Pam Arnold.

Ben Matlock?

Yes. I'm handling Russ Gifford's case. His father was an old friend of mine.

How did you get in here?

Oh, I talked to the manager and had him let me in so I could get my things.

Oh, you're, uh... You were Noel's girlfriend.

Yeah. And before that, I was Russ's girlfriend.

That's what started this god awful mess.

Mm -hmm.

Uh...

What was this, uh, Knowles?

The laptop?

Yeah.

Yeah, he kept all his notes for his book in there.

Did it always have all these cracks in it?

No. What happened?

Looks like somebody went at it with a hammer.

Does it work?

No!

No.

Did he ever talk to you about his book?

All the time.

He said he was doing background on it.

Did he say that he had found anything?

He might have.

Well, if Russ didn't kill him, then somebody who was afraid Noel was about

blow the whistle on him did.

You don't think Russ killed him?

No. I don't think he did.

Good.

Because I've known Russ my whole life, I know he couldn't do something like

this.

Gary, I told you to take the day off.

I had just to soon work, Uncle Bernie.

It'll help me keep my mind off Noel.

Well, then, you can round up old Ned here. Four bags of sweet feed.

All right.

Drive you to pick up the round bag. Gary will get you a load. All right.

Gary.

Noel stopped by and left you this note.

Where'd you say this pain is?

It's right back in here. It comes and goes.

Ooh, ooh.

Well, I hope my insurance covers this.

You know, I've heard of doctors billing insurance companies for examinations

never done and for procedures never performed.

How do you suppose they get away with that?

Wouldn't know.

I don't either.

You know, Doc...

You've done pretty well for yourself in this little town.

Condo in Florida, yacht off Hilton Head.

Who told you that?

Noel told Pam Arnold before he died.

I wanted to come and see you earlier about this campaign, but your office was

closed yesterday after four o 'clock, you know, the day that Noel was killed.

I was catching up with correspondence.

I don't like this kind of talk.

And these accusations.

I've known Russell Gifford since he was seven. When I heard you were defending

him, I for one was glad.

But if this is the way you operate, by bullying innocent people with slanderous

accusations, shame on you, Ben Matlock. Shame on you.

What can I get you?

Ah, give me a cool one.

I didn't know you had a tattoo on your left arm, Lucas.

Yeah, got a knob.

Can I see it?

Yeah.

You know, I saw a tattoo just like that 15 years ago on a dead man.

Huh. And what's J -A -S stand for?

My nickname in the Army was Jasper.

Yeah, I gotta go.

Thanks. You bet. See you later. Mm -hmm.

It's me, and we got a problem.

Cousin Benjamin!

Oh, Cousin Bink. How's it going?

Oh, very well.

Doing a little banking, huh?

Just hoping to have a few words with Jack Sylvester.

Just last week he turned me down for a loan.

Huh. All I need is a couple of hundred.

Well, Bink, you know what Shakespeare said, said neither a borrower nor a

be... Yeah, well, I doubt that Shakespeare ever had to dig a new septic

Billy told me about that money you loaned him.

Now he's not even keen.

200.

Come on in.

Mr. Matlock. Yes, sir. Jack Sylvester. It's a pleasure to meet you. Yes, sir.

You too.

Can I get you anything?

Oh, no, thank you.

Thank you, Karen.

Please have a seat. Hey,

so your wife worked for you. You don't see very much of that.

Well, maybe not in Atlanta, but here it happens all the time.

Oh, yeah, like the minister and his wife.

Excuse me?

Well, doesn't Mary Lou Summons work for Reverend Summons?

I suppose.

I heard that you and Mary Lou have been...

close friends for almost a year now.

Who told you that?

From Noah Ferguson.

Indirectly. Through his girlfriend, Pam.

Apparently, he uncovered your friendship while he was researching for a book.

I am not having an affair with Mary Lou Summons.

Okay, okay.

But if you were, and everybody found out about it, that big political future,

you wouldn't be out the window, wouldn't it?

I don't have time to answer your hypothetical questions. Well, here's a

one. Where were you between 5 and 5 .30 yesterday? You remember? Mr. Matlock, I

find your questions offensive.

Well, you're not the first. Needless to say, if you repeat these lies about me,

I will sue you for everything you've got.

Well, sometimes I tell what I know and sometimes I don't. It just all depends.

How are you doing? Uncle Roy.

Listen, I just run into Bink, and he told me how you floated him that loan.

The fact is, I'm a little short of funds myself right now.

What is it?

Trouble with your septic tank or your gallbladder?

No, I got to get a bow for Suey May.

Rent, not buy.

See, Suey May's never calved, and I thought... You got a pen?

Not a word about this to anyone.

Now I can tell you exactly where I got the money.

I inherited it.

Oh, hey.

And so you decided to invest in this place?

I always wanted to own my own bar.

You got one.

I have to ask. Fishing.

Fishing? That's where I was at the time of the murder. Rainbow Creek.

Alone or with somebody?

Alone. Did you get anything?

Skeeter bites in the cold.

Yes, I know the feeling.

Well, thanks for your time.

Don't mention it.

Why are you asking me all these questions?

Because you've been the doctor here for almost 20 years. You know everything

about everybody.

I wouldn't go that far.

And so what if Lucas has a tattoo on his arm? Lots of men do. I need to know

where he got it. Why don't you ask him?

I did. He said he got it when he served in Vietnam.

Well, maybe that's where he got it.

Thanks, Doc.

Have you got a minute? Oh, hey, Harley.

Ken, I'm not comfortable with you defending Russ.

Why is that?

Well, Ken, Ben, it doesn't look good for me to have my own cousin defending

somebody I arrested.

Oh, well, I can understand that.

Plus, I got to be honest with you.

People around here think you look at us and see a bunch of dumb hicks.

You take this case and they're going to think you're meddling in our affairs

just to show us up. No, Harley.

I think the boy's innocent and somebody needs to help him.

You get the cold shoulder from the town people you talk to.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Ain't nothing easy, Cousin Harley.

Even in the big city, ain't nothing easy.

Billy?

Lucy's gonna be at the Bicentennial tomorrow.

Is she?

Can't wait to see you.

Can't wait to see her.

Ben? I'm not loaning you any more money. Who said anything about money?

Well, I just figured. Hell no, I didn't say anything about money.

I'll just live with the pain.

As long as I can stand it.

The back molar abscess has got to be pulled.

Just $600?

$600? You think I'm going to pay you back?

You dump my poor sister, love you more than life, and now you think I'm some

hick who ain't going to pay you back.

Billy, $600 is a lot of money.

Dentist told me there's poison in that abscess.

Could spread through my whole body.

Billy, then I'm a goner.

And who'd take care of Lucy?

Billy?

Of course, she could probably go somewhere, live in one of those homes.

I'm going to give you the money. No, it's for the best. Lucy wouldn't want me

take it. No, here, I'm writing it out.

Never mind.

Now, here we go.

There. There.

There.

There.

Now, Billy.

Okay, I don't want to. It's against my better judgment because you insulted me.

But I'll take it.

Thank you.

Don't tell Lucy.

I won't.

She'll see you at the party.

I'm looking forward to it.

I just hate this.

I had you hardly ate any dinner. I'm still not hungry.

Why don't I warm you up with a nice piece of pecan pie?

Coming back was a mistake, Julie.

I stayed at home.

Oh, this is where you were born.

It'll always be part of you, and you'll always be part of this.

All I do around here is make people mad. Maybe I ought to go on back home and

let somebody else take Russell's case.

You do, and I'll never forgive you.

Oh, you see how everybody treats me.

They treat you that way because of who you are and what you do.

They're so jealous of you, they can't be great. Don't you know that?

Oh, Julie.

Well, it's true.

And I won't hear of you going back to Atlanta before you finish what you

started, so stop wallowing in self -pity.

And eat your pie.

Folks were betting you wouldn't show up.

Buying your way through?

You do seem to be attracting quite a bit of attention.

I'm trying to figure out whether to tar and feather me now or after dessert.

Ben? Ben Matlock?

It's me, Lucy.

Oh, oh, Lucy.

Why, you look just like yourself.

Who's the skinny redhead with all the teeth?

Oh, I'm sorry.

Lucy Lewis, this is a friend of mine.

Oh, Julie Marsh.

Nice to meet you.

I'll bet.

Figured you'd get yourself a big city woman.

Oh, Julie doesn't belong to me.

I'm a district attorney from Atlanta and a colleague of Ben's.

Sure. Leland just got here.

Got out of bed, huh?

Keep your dance card open, Ben. You owe me one.

Come on, Billy.

You'll be nice to her. She's sensitive.

That was your hometown sweetheart?

Judy, you have to understand. It was a long time ago.

She was a lot younger. She was prettier and thinner and nicer, I think.

You could have told her I was a district attorney.

Judy didn't belong to me.

I think I'll go see what they're doing with the car. That hurts.

I just got back.

Aunt Elsie gave me the news about Noel over the phone.

I still can't believe it.

I'm sorry. He was a good friend.

Are you going to defend Russ?

Yeah. Maxwell.

Maxwell. Welcome back, huh?

Have you seen Gary?

No. Well, he told me to tell you to call him the second you got in. He said it

was urgent.

Maybe I'll just go over to his place. Well, how about if I go with you?

Sure. But you're going to miss the party. Oh, no, I won't. And they won't

me either.

Looks like a car went through the railing.

Oh, my God.

What?

That's Gary's truck.

Yeah, okay, hold on. I got it.

How you doing, son?

First I lose Noel, now Gary. How do you think I'm doing?

Any idea how it happened?

About missing the cab.

My guess is he got feeling bad about Noel. Had a couple too many.

Went through the rail.

You gonna check his blood alcohol level?

Of course I'm gonna check his blood alcohol level.

Was this the question?

You don't think I know what I'm doing?

I'm sick and tired of everybody in this town taking everything I say wrong. And

we're sick and tired of you butting your nose in where it doesn't belong.

You go back to town before I give you a ticket.

All right, Harley.

We're gonna settle this between us. I got paperwork to do. It can wait.

You think just because we're not in Atlanta, nobody knows what they're

Bull, Harley, bull.

We survived all these years without you in this town, Ben Matlock. Now I've got

you telling me how to check Gary's alcohol level. All I want is for an

man, Russ, not to have to go to prison. What makes you think I want to convict

an innocent man? Harley! Because they don't have some big damn Harvard law

degree? You know what it is? You know what it is? Your nose is out of joint

because you're jealous.

Jealous? Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah! Yeah!

You've got to hear this. Gary called while we were at the park. Listen to the

message he left.

Max, Gary, it's 410. I'm on my way to the park for the party. But look, if I

don't see you there, you've got to call me.

Remember that tattoo we saw on that dead guy 15 years ago?

Well, Noel left me a note on the day he was killed saying he'd seen a tattoo

just like it on Lucas Anderson's left arm.

And he was right.

I saw it too.

When I ask Lucas about it, he'll just call me. Something weird's going on.

410. That's just a half hour before his truck was spotted off the road.

It doesn't sound drunk.

What's all this about a tattoo?

About 15 years ago when we were kids, me, Noel, and Gary were walking through

the woods when all of a sudden we heard a shot.

Then this man we'd never seen before came running out of the woods bleeding

a hole in his back.

He fell down and died right in front of us. We ran off to get the sheriff. By

the time we got back, the body was gone.

That never was a body. Those three used to pull pranks on me all the time. It

wasn't a prank. It happened, and this proves it.

The man had a tattoo on the upper part of his left arm. And I guess Lucas

Anderson at Anderson Tavern has one, too.

Lots of guys have tattoos.

Look at what's happened.

Noel leaves Gary a message about the tattoo, and he gets killed. Now Gary

me a message about it, and he gets killed. Oh, come on. Noel got killed

of a girl, and Gary got killed because he was drinking and driving.

Millions of guys have tattoos, Max.

Guys have mom tattooed on their arms. Girls have butterflies tattooed on their

you -know -whats. Neither case has anything to do with an alleged tattoo

three kids allegedly saw on an alleged dead man 15 damn years ago. You could at

least ask Lucas about the tattoo. That wouldn't hurt anything.

Lucas Anderson is a perfectly respectable, tax -paying, law -abiding

the community, and having a tattoo is not a crime.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an accident to write up.

Do you think you could draw me a picture of that tattoo from memory?

Sure.

I'll send it to Atlanta to see what we can come up with.

There is a fax machine somewhere in Montmoren, isn't there?

We're not that far behind the times, Uncle Benjamin.

You got one in your office?

I got one in my car.

Hey.

I'd better get back to the party. I'll see you there.

Damn it, Billy. You put that whiskey in your pocket and you leave it there.

Will you just wait till I get you home?

I'll see you later.

You want some lemonade?

I'd love some.

You probably ought to buy it. It'd be cheap.

Go.

Run over there tomorrow, all right? Okay, bye -bye.

Hi. Hi. I'm Julie March, Ben Matlock's friend.

Ah, Karen Sylvester.

Oh, you're the banker's wife.

Yes. Don't you work for your husband, too? Yes, I do.

It's kind of like working for him at home. Takes what I do for granted, and I

never get a raise.

I saw you walking the other morning with a group of women.

I'd love to join you sometime if you don't mind.

Uh, fine.

We meet over by the church.

6 .30 a .m. start.

Okay, 6 .30.

Well, maybe we'll see you tomorrow?

Oh, I'll be there.

Thank you. Bye -bye. Bye.

Ben, what's wrong?

I'm sorry about the lemonade.

Max just gave me this.

What's that?

Tattoo. What does J .S. stand for?

I don't know.

They're all over Doc's picnic table.

Oh, yeah.

Oh,

guys.

Doc, Mr. Sylvester, Lucas, Bailey.

I guess you heard about the boy that was killed on his way over. here this

afternoon. Gary Andler? Yeah.

Terrible thing. Just terrible.

So you all knew it?

Well, of course we did.

You ever seen anything like this before?

It's a tattoo.

You got a tattoo like this on your arm, don't you, Lucas?

Yeah. What about it? I was just wondering if you two gentlemen have a

like this on your arm.

Oh, I certainly don't.

Me neither.

Would you mind rolling up your sleeve just a little bit so we can take a

look? I beg your pardon? Just take a second. Forget it.

Hey, come on. He's just asking you to roll up your sleeve. What's the big

I resent being treated like a liar. Come on, Doc. We don't have to take this.

Two of my friends are dead, and I want to know why.

Now roll up your damn sleeves!

That didn't hurt.

Yeah. Here. Oh.

Oh.

Why would a man your age go and get into a fight?

I was trying to stop her, Elsie.

I guess I didn't do it right.

Martin Jensen?

Yeah, what do you need?

I understand this is your work.

You understand wrong.

Two different tattoo artists mentioned your name when I showed this to them.

What can I tell you? They were mistaken.

Well, you would have done it at least 15 years ago. Take another look. Maybe

it'll come back to you.

Nope.

Oh, thanks anyway.

Yeah, sorry I couldn't help. No problem.

What are you working on, the rose?

No, the dragon.

Dragon?

Wonderful dragon.

Sheriff Wilkes. On August 17th, the day before his murder, did you receive a

telephone call from Noel Ferguson?

Objection. Calls for hearsay. It's not hearsay. He was just asking if he had a

call. Yeah, but... You can answer. Yep, he called me.

Sheriff, what'd he say? I knew it. Hearsay.

Objection. Hearsay.

He sounded excited, Harley.

He did?

Excited utterance.

Objection overruled.

What'd he say? He said his tires had been slashed.

And he thought Russ Gifford done it. Your Honor.

Overruled. Continue.

I'm showing you people's exhibit number five and ask for you to identify it.

That's the knife I discovered in the decedent's chest when I went to the

scene. And whose knife is it? Do you know?

Yes, sir. The defendant, Russ Gifford's.

Well, how do you know that?

Three reasons. First, Bernie Adler remembers selling it to him three years

Objection. No foundation.

How do you know Bernie Adler remembers selling it to him, Harley? He told me.

That's good enough for me.

Second, everybody in town has seen that knife in Russ's possession.

Objection! Improper! Have you ever seen that knife in Russ's possession, Harley?

Lots of times.

Overruled. Go ahead.

Give me a second, Your Honor. Just because you know everybody in town

make this evidence not hearsay.

Sit down.

But, Your Honor! I said sit down!

Mr. Richardson?

Yes, sir.

So, you've seen Russ Gifford with this knife.

What makes you think he had to be the one to kill Noel Ferguson with it? We

the knife to the lab in Atlanta for analysis.

The only fingerprints on it were Russ's.

Even Hick could figure that out.

Sheriff Wilk.

Cousin Hart.

Do you know anybody who actually saw my client stab Noel Ferguson?

No.

Do you know anybody who saw him at or near the motor court that afternoon?

Not that I could find.

Did you dust the room where the body was found for fingerprints? I did.

personally and thoroughly.

I know it was thorough, cousin.

Did you find my client's fingerprints anywhere in that room?

No. Not even on the door or the doorknob?

No.

Don't you find it a little odd that my client would leave his fingerprints all

over the murder weapon and yet not leave them anywhere else in the room?

He just didn't touch anything else, that's all.

How about fibers?

Did you find any fibers from the rug at my client's house at St. Croix?

No.

He has a big dog. Did you find any dog hairs at St. Croix?

No. No one saw my client anywhere near that motor court that afternoon.

The only thing you have tying my client to the murder, is the knife, which

anyone could have stolen from his house and wearing a pair of gloves used it to

commit the murder.

Right, Sheriff?

Come on, Ben. Russ just got done picking a fight with him. No hairs, no fibers,

no witnesses.

The only thing you have tying my client to the scene of the crime is the knife.

Isn't that right, Sheriff?

That's right, Mr. Matlock.

Thank you.

Guess you forgot.

Then again, it was 15 years ago.

How'd you get in here?

Door was open. No, it wasn't. It is now.

After I found this, I made a couple of calls. Can you imagine my surprise when

found out that you were in prison 15 years ago?

I just want to know about the people you did the tattoo on, Marty.

That's all.

Yeah, I got an emergency here. Somebody just broke into my store.

Hang on, I'll ask.

They want to know if you're armed.

Hey, look, sorry, guys. It was just my friend Ralph playing a little trick on

me. Thanks anyway, though, okay?

Hamilton. This is Marty Jenner.

I told you not to call me here.

Listen, somebody was just here. They had a picture of the tattoo I did on you

guys. Who was it?

He didn't introduce himself, but he asked questions like a cop.

What kind of questions?

He wanted to know who you guys were.

Did you tell him?

You think I'm nuts?

Look, the bad news is I think he'll be back.

When was the last time you had a vacation, Marty?

Vacations cost money, pal.

Meet me at 7 at the old warehouse on Ashford.

I'll have your traveling money.

Okay. I'll be there.

Gary was your nephew, Bernie.

I'm just trying to find out if his death was really accidental.

Of course it was an accident. How do you know?

Because the sheriff said it was. How do you know the sheriff's right?

Let me tell you something, Mr.

Matlock. The sheriff happens to be a damn good friend of mine. In fact, he's

damn good friend to everybody in this town.

And if you think we like the way you got after him up there today, you can guess

again.

I didn't go after him. I was going after the truth.

Well, you tried to make him look like a fool.

Your own kid.

If you thought you had any friends left in this town, you can take my word for

it, you just lost them.

You tried to kill me.

You rat.

You tried to kill me. Could I just interrupt just for one second? Just for

second.

You feel like talking now?

You're going to sit me on a permanent vacation, all right? A permanent

Do I feel like talking?

Yeah, I feel like talking. Get your head off.

It was more like a stroll, a nice long stroll.

How are you enjoying my vacation?

With the exception of a couple of killings, I'm enjoying it fine.

Well, I'm glad one of us is.

Oh, come on. I'll buy you a cup of coffee and a donut.

That was Karen Sylvester. She's

real nice.

They all are.

Well, there again, at least one of us has friends in this town.

People are jealous, that's all. They don't hate you.

Come on.

I'm going to stick with the brownie. The great big brownie.

Fudge icing, that's thick. And then a jelly donut, okay? A big jelly donut

powdered sugar.

Let's just go have toast and coffee at Aunt Elsie's.

If the world ever runs out of grease, it's because it's all in your donut.

If I lose, I lose, and if I win, I lose.

Ben, you're doing your best here under difficult circumstances. You should be

proud of yourself.

Oh, they hate me. They don't. They hate me, and I don't give a damn.

Conrad, what are you doing here?

About a half hour ago. I decided to drive up this afternoon. If I had known

aunt was this great of a cook, I'd have come last night.

Thank you.

Have you got something?

Not something, Ben. Everything.

So, Mr. Anderson, it's good to have you here today.

Let me ask you this.

Does the name Martin Jensen mean anything to you?

That tattoo you have on your arm, He was the tattoo artist who put it there,

wasn't he? Remember?

Maybe you don't want to remember because you were in prison at the time, weren't

you?

Yes, I was.

What'd you do?

Robbed a bank.

A long time ago, I got in over my head with some pretty bad dudes. I made a

stupid mistake.

I wound up paying for it with four years of my life.

Is Lucas Anderson your real name?

No, I changed it when I got out of prison.

My name used to be Guy Spellman.

Uh -huh.

These other two bad dudes, what were their names?

David Josephs and Bobby Atwater.

Would you mind taking off your coat and rolling up your sleeve so the court can

see your tattoo?

There you go.

J -A -S.

That stands for Josephs, Atwater, and Spellman, doesn't it?

Yeah.

What happened to the other two, the bad dudes?

I don't know.

Well, the money that you took from the bank, what happened to it?

I don't know that either.

Well, how about this?

The three of you hit it.

And then you had the misfortune of being arrested, convicted, and sent to

prison. And so you had to just wait patiently until you were released and

recovered. No, the other two might have done that, but when I got out of prison,

I went straight.

Oh, come on, that's where you got the cash to buy the tavern. I told you, I

inherited that money. That was your cut of the take.

You used it to start over here, just like David Josephs, who changed his name

James Hamilton, used his cut to go into real estate in Atlanta.

No. But Bobby Atwater was a different story, wasn't he?

He squandered his.

Fifteen years ago, he showed up here and threatened to expose your past and ruin

your new life here in Mount Harbor unless you paid him off. So you lured

in the woods and you shot him to death, didn't you? Come on, Jesse.

The next part of Noel Ferguson's Gary Anderson in the woods that day was Bobby

Atwater's. You knew, you knew Noel had seen your tattoo.

And there was a good chance if he continued with his research.

He didn't cover your involvement in the bank robbery and Bobby Atwater's death,

and so you killed him, too, didn't you? Oh, come on.

Objection. Mr. Matlock, everyone calm down or I'll have this courtroom

From here on out, you will ask questions, relevant questions about this

you hear me, Mr. Matlock?

No more speculation, no more suppositions, questions.

And if you don't understand the difference, you'll have plenty of time

When I jail you for contempt.

Understood? Yes, sir.

I'll get on with it.

Where were you about 5 o 'clock the day Noel Ferguson was murdered?

Fishing.

Rainbow Creek? That's a question.

Yeah.

According to Eunice, the waitress over there at your tavern, you were gone from

about 3 .45 to around 6. That sound about right?

Yeah. Yeah.

Did you go by way of Old Wedgwood Road?

Of course.

Only way you can get to Rainbow Creek is Old Wedgwood Road?

Well, there's a back way, but... Go on.

Well, it's kind of roundabout. It takes a couple extra hours to get there. The

thing is, they were asphalting Wedgwood Road that day.

Blocked off a whole half mile from 6 a .m. to 6 p .m. Wouldn't let anybody

through. So where'd you really go that day?

I forgot. I did go the other way.

You couldn't have. You wouldn't have had time.

You went over to Russ Gifford's house, didn't you?

No. And you stole his knife and went over to Mount Harlan Motel, didn't you?

And there you stabbed Noel Ferguson to death to keep your past hidden.

No, I didn't. You lied about the creek, the road, fishing, because you're the

real killer, aren't you? No, I lied.

I lied because I was at Jack Sylvester's house.

I was with his wife, Karen.

Did she say anything?

I couldn't catch her.

Talk about something coming out of left field.

Van?

Want me to help you wipe that off? You know, that egg on your face?

Doesn't feel good, does it?

I thought you might want to talk.

Well, to tell you the truth, I'd really rather not.

How did, um... We're going to work it out.

I'm glad to hear that.

Here,

let me help you.

Oh, a bad back?

Yes.

Do you wear a brace?

Yes, I've had to wear the damn thing for two months.

I have a protruding disc.

I can stand up or lie flat or walk, but I can't bend over or sit for longer than

two minutes.

My back went out once. Oh, I thought I'd die. The pain was always there, like a

toothache. Yes, yes.

Well, I, oh, here.

Thank you. I just wanted to drop by to see how you were.

I'm really, I'm really sorry.

Call me if you want to talk.

Thank you. I will.

Yesterday, Lucas Anderson told the court that he was with you at the time Noel

Ferguson was murdered. Is that so?

Yes, it is.

And while he was with you, the two of you were physically intimate?

Yes. How long has this been going on?

For about two months.

Huh. I hear you have a back problem.

Yes, I do.

Are you getting treatment?

I drive up to Macon for physical therapy.

Do you ever talk with your physical therapist during these sessions?

Yes. It's a lady, isn't it? Yes.

Did you tell her just last week that the most annoying aspect of your

back problem is that you have been unable to engage in any sexual activity

almost three months?

Careful how you answer, Ms. Sylvester, because Ann Wesley, your physical

therapist, is right there on the back row, and she's all prepared to take the

stand. So I'll ask you again.

Was Lucas Anderson with you at the time of the murder?

No. Do you know where he was?

No.

Why'd you lie?

Because I know Lucas.

And he's no murderer.

I just wanted to help.

Nothing further.

Mr. Richardson, do you wish to cross?

No questions, Your Honor.

Sylvester, you may step down.

Okay, good, good dog sit. Come on, good dog. That a boy, that a boy.

You all right?

Well, considering how close I came to being dog food on soil.

Sorry, I was in the bathroom. I just heard you a minute ago.

Is he always like that?

Oh, he's, uh, he's very territorial.

You mean... You mean he acts like that when anybody comes around the house and

you're not here?

Oh, yeah, he won't let anybody near the house.

You know, we've heard some pretty confusing testimony around here lately.

Lucas perjures himself, and then your wife perjures herself. What's going on?

How should I know?

It's because you told her to corroborate Lucas's story, didn't you? You told her

to admit to an affair that never happened so that Lucas would have an

the time of the murder.

That's ridiculous.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. How long have you known Lucas Anderson?

15 years, ever since he moved to Mount Harlem.

You sure you didn't know him 20 years ago when he and two others robbed that

bank over in Athens, George? Well, of course not.

You were an officer of that bank, weren't you? Yes.

But you didn't know him. It was just a coincidence.

Yes. Well, what about the, uh, uh, the, yeah, Orwell Corporation?

I'm sorry, I don't understand. The Orwell?

Yeah, the holding company that Bobby Atwater, Jim Hamilton, Lucas Anderson

their money out of when they got out of prison to start over. You don't remember

that? That beats me.

You were its general partner.

You helped those three men rob that bank, didn't you? No. And then when they

arrested, you begged them not to blow the whistle on you. You promised that

you'd invest that money and be waiting for them when they got out of prison.

so you formed the Orwell Corporation as a front for that stolen money. I did no

such thing. And everything would have been fine. No one would have been the

wiser if Noel hadn't showed up.

And he got poking around in Lucas Anderson's affairs.

And then not only Lucas...

was afraid he'd be found out, but you were afraid you'd be found out. So the

of you got your heads together, and when the occasion arose, you both killed

him, didn't you? I did no such thing. That is a lie, Mr. Matlock. How dare

Objection, Your Honor. Where is the proof?

Right here. Right here. The proof's right here, Your Honor. Then let's have

This is the knife that killed Noel Ferguson.

You recognize it?

No. Now, Russ told the police that he keeps his knife on his back porch. Were

you ever on Russ's back porch?

No, I never had the pleasure.

Russ has a dog.

A Doberman. Did you know that?

No. Oh, it's a good guard dog. Good guard dog.

Won't let anybody near that back porch.

I nearly got bit there myself yesterday.

Have you ever been bitten by that dog?

I told you I didn't even know he had a dog.

Well, you know, that's real odd.

That's interesting.

According to the emergency room records at Mercy Hospital over in Albany,

you were treated for a dog bite on your upper left thigh at 7 .30

p .m. on August 18th, the day Noel Ferguson was killed. That does not

mean... The doctor filled out this form.

He had to. It's the law.

And this is a copy.

that I received from the health department.

And down here, you say that you were bitten by a large Doberman.

That was kind of dumb.

I'd have lied about that.

Mr. Matlock.

Well, Your Honor, surely he had to know somebody would come after him on that

one. Mr. Matlock. Yes, sir.

I think that both you and Lucas Anderson knew that Noel was somebody you could

not ignore.

Lucas, knowing Russ was a real patsy, lured him away from his job so he

have an alibi for the time of the murder.

While you went over to Russ's house, stole his knife, got bit in the process,

then one or both of you went over to Noel's motel and stabbed him to death

and left the knife to incriminate Russ.

Then you went over to Albany.

To get your dog bite taken care of.

Because you couldn't do it here because everybody knows now anyway.

The bank robbery 20 years ago.

The Orwell Corporation.

The lie your wife told on the stand.

The dog bite.

All coincidences?

I don't think so.

And I seriously doubt.

But they do either.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

We find the defendant, Russell Gifford, not guilty.

Thank you, one and all.

Court is adjourned.

You're welcome back anytime.

Both of you.

Next time you're here, you can do it in the gazebo.

Do what?

Get married.

We'll keep that in mind.

Thank you for everything, Ben.

You don't know how much I appreciate it. Pleasure.

Well, we had a good time.

Bye. Thank you.

Hey, Harley.

Neighbor of Gary Handler said he saw...

Lucas talking to Gary out back by his truck about 20 minutes before we found

in the ditch.

And the lab found traces of blood on a wrench we took out of Lucas' van.

You gonna press charge?

Yeah.

Thought you ought to know.

Tell you what, Art.

Next time I come back to you, let's just go fishing.

Let's do that.

I'll see you.

You surprised me, Ben.

I expected you to make a fool of yourself in court, but you got away with

Oh, thank you, Lucy.

You're rich, you're famous.

Well, that's what they say.

You still play the ukulele?

Every chance I get.

I figured.

Still like hot dogs?

Sure do.

I hate hot dogs.

I know you do, Lucy.

I'm glad I never married you, Ben.

I'm glad you're glad, Lucy.

Come on, Billy.

What's that?

Five spot.

Look at it this way, Ben. You got a successful law practice in Atlanta.

You got a brand new five spot in your hand. You're a free man.

And I got Lucy.

To count your blessings.

what are you doing?

counting my blessings