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♪ Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin' Clementine.

♪ Thou art lost and gone forever

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

♪ Drove she ducklings to the water

-Come on Blossom. -♪ Every morning just at nine

♪ Struck her foot against a splinter

♪ Fell into the foaming brine.

♪ In a cavern, in a canyon

♪ Excavating for a mine

♪ Lived a miner, forty-niner

♪ And his daughter Clementine.

Don't you know you aren't supposed to stare like that?

I just be on my way to home, is all.

Colored shacks down by the mill, I suspect.

Yes 'um.

How old are you?

I be fourteen and three months last week.

You don't look but 10. That's all you are, isn't that so?

Pretty cow you have.

Blossom.

Yes 'um, she be pretty.

We best be headin' on now...

You keep her healthy, she keep you healthy

that what my pa always says.

Cows are like gold.

Yes 'um.

♪ Oh my darlin', Oh my darlin' Clementine.

♪ Thou art lost and gone forever

♪ Dreadful sorry, Clementine.

♪

You hold that cow right, you hear?

I always be holding it right, Mr. Crooks. You knows that.

I don't want that cow eatin' outta my garden no more.

She got away that time. Besides, Mama pay you back.

- Don't you back-sass! - You be a crazy man, Mr. Crooks.

Go on! Get offa my property!

This road here's free for everyone. You can't just tell me-

Go on! Get out of here!

Else I'll tell the Sheriff you're on my land.

Be your word against mine!

Who's that?

It's just the wind, Sue Ellen.

Oh!

♪

Nooo!

Nooo!!

I won't tell. I promise. Please...

Please, if you just won't hurt me.

God will punish you!!!

♪ Linus Bragg, his name was Linus Bragg

♪ They stole his life. He was so young.

♪ No time to dream or plan.

♪ They stole his life. Took him away.

♪ No chance to be a man.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.

♪ In God's arms, he'll be.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.

♪ In God's arms, he'll be.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.

♪ Now he's free.

Get a load o' this... Green Beret.

Afternoon.

Hey, boy... You a lifer?

So far.

I was in the big war. We won that one.

And when you came back, they gave you a big parade, right?

You got that one right.

All we got now is long hair, free sex and gook-lovers.

Afternoon.

Talk like a white man.

Must be from up north.

Ain't no stranger.

Didn't ask no directions from nobody.

♪ They stole his life. He was a boy.

♪ They know not what they do.

♪ They stole his breath. He closed his eyes

♪ and then his life was through.

♪ Home, home, God called him home.In God's arms, he'll be.

♪ Home, home, God called him home. Now he is free...

♪ Yeah, yeah...

♪ Now he's free...

James...!

Yes, it's me, Mama.

They said you wouldn't never come back

but I know my boy.

Mama

I'm going to call an ambulance--

What for?

I'm gonna get you into the hospital right away.

-It's my time now. -Mama, please...

Don't want any more of this life.

What's this?

What's that?

You goin' off to school

and Linus always takin' pictures...

Who took this picture?

I did. He made me.

I'd almost forgotten.

They killed him.

I know, Mama.

They say he the one... butchered those two little girls

but someone else the one, not Linus.

That's right, Mama.

They stole his life.

Yeah.

♪

Linus is waitin' for me.

I know.

Don't you see him...

standin'...

right over there?

I see him, Mama.

Make things right for Linus.

Okay, Mama. I promise.

And so...

we lay to rest our beloved sister

Mattie Bragg

she was never able to overcome the injustice that took her son away from her

but at last, she'll be reunited with Linus

and live forever in the house of the Lord.

Ashes to ashes... dust to dust.

Thank you, Reverend. God bless you. She was right.

Mr. Bragg, excuse me, sir.

Jus' want to say how sorry I am about what happened.

T.J. Campbell.

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. I appreciate that.

Jimmy.

Junior.

So you got your father's looks after all.

And his badge.

You're mother was sick a long time.

Probably for the best.

Probably.

You know, when I heard there was a Green Beret poking around town...

an officer to boot, I figured it was you.

I mean how many you boys we got anyway?

How many you want?

Don't guess Crawfordville's changed all that much, has it?

I don't know. Seems a whole lot smaller than I remember.

Maybe you just been in the big city too long.

How much sick leave they give you?

Ten days.

Well, maybe you ain't gonna have to spend it all down here then.

♪

You never gave up, did you Mama?

Never gave up on Linus.

My name is Linus Bragg.

I am 14 years and three months old

I - I can read and write.

And I do understand my rights.

"On the afternoon of Friday, March 28th last

I saw two young white girls picking flowers

down by the Campbell sawmill

and made sexual advances toward them--

they resisted me

so I picked up a large stick

and struck them both, Sue Ellen and Cindy Lou Ellerby

with deadly force."--

Now, being in a panic

I threw their bodies into the river

then I continued on my way to my mother's place with the family cow

which is what I was doing prior to this incident.

I swear that I make this statement of my own free will.

Signed: Linus Bragg."

Sheriff Stoker...

are you certain that the defendant wrote this of his own free will?

I am.

Sure, Linus. Of your own free will...

and in your own words, too.

Hey, Junior, open up! We got a problem here.

Junior!

What the hell you think you're doing?

The sign says "colored".

Haven't you ever heard of civil rights?

Everybody can use the main entrance.

Don't that beat all?

Sheriff Stoker here?

Who wants to know?

So?

So who wrote the confession?

Signature says Linus Bragg--

Who wrote the confession?

My Pa more'n likely had to help him

with a little clarification of the facts, but...

my Pa had a certain way of doing things when he was sheriff.

So do I.

Is there a statute of limitations on homicide in this state?

Open homicide.

Your brother's case been closed a long time.

Yeah, I'm reopening it.

That so?

Yeah. This isn't a confession, this is a death warrant.

Well, what do you expect me to do about it?

Help me clear my brother's name, Sheriff.

- Just like that? - Yeah.

Just like that?

Jimmy, let me tell you something.

You come down here after, what is it, thirty years?

And you start talkin' to me about murder? And open homicide?

And you expect to turn back the clock and exonerate poor little Linus?

My brother was murdered.

You been away a long time.

You're outta touch, boy!

Yeah, I'll try my best to keep it that way.

You know all about it, do ya...

how your brother was murdered?

-Prove it! -I will...

with or without you.

♪

Excuse me...

I need to look through the records of a murder trial

that took place here some years ago.

Archives. In the basement.

Thank you.

Do you have an appointment with Cassie?

Yes, ma'am.

Anything in particular?

You just browsing?

Something in particular.

- You must be Cassie. - Hmmm.

This may come as a shock but, uh

I don't have an appointment.

You're a newspaper reporter, aren't you?

My face give me away?

Your accent.

Not the first Negro newspaperman from up north

ever to step foot in Crawfordville, you know.

I don't imagine there's been very many.

Well, you can try and go through the stacks by yourself

but I've been tryin' to reorganize them now for two months

and I still don't know where everything is.

Well, I think I can find what I'm lookin' for.

Well, I doubt it.

The previous recorder was this fine old gentleman

who never put anything in any kind of order.

So how did you luck out?

Death.

Fine old gentleman smoked one cigar too many.

Left me with sixty years of records to figure out.

Well, I won't need all sixty...

just one.

Find what you wanted?

-No. -Close in five minutes

These books, are you certain they cover all of 1934?

I'm positive.

What month was the trial?

October. October 28th.

There wasn't any trial on that date.

Well, the newspaper article says there was.

Transcripts must be missing.

This young boy was the defendant?

Linus Bragg.

What happened to him?

He was electrocuted for murder.

He couldn't have been more than ten or eleven years old!

He was 14.

And I believe he was innocent.

Apparently someone else didn't.

Let's see...

Well here it is. October 28th, 1934, trial by jury of one Linus Bragg...

The Honorable Judge Isador Bolt presiding...

Uh, defense attorney received $10.00

court steno $4.10

and the jurors walked away with 35 cents apiece.

Court steno?

That means there had to be a trial transcript.

Not on record...

which is highly unusual.

- Is Judge Bolt still alive? - Oh no.

They named a street after him.

They don't do that around here unless you're dead.

It's five o'clock!

Is everything all right there, Cassie?

We're on our way up right now...

I'd like to be able to go through some more files in the morning, if I could.

Yes, of course, Mr...

Bragg.

James Bragg.

Linus was my older brother.

Who is it?

Mr. Bragg--

Um, I need to speak to you, sir. Please!

Oh!

Mr. Campbell...

You ever see anyone toss chaw that far?

No, can't say I have.

Well, I can't be...

lettin' anyone catch me talkin'

with you like this.

There's no one out here.

Please, I'm taking a chance just bein' here.

There's somethin' I've got to get off my chest about your brother.

I tried to talk to you at the funeral.

Come in.

How'd you know where to find me?

Ain't nothin' happens in Crawfordville, but...

well everyone knows.

Uh

I helped coordinate a sit-in a while back, uh

for the Freedom Riders.

Over at the cafe.

That must've made you pretty popular around here.

Eh, 'bout as popular as a bad cold. Yeah...

I lived here all my life, don't remember you.

But I sure do remember 'bout your brother.

It's just something that's been inside me all these years.

I believe I can be of some help to you

but if the wrong people find out about it--

Ahh, nobody needs to know anything, Mr. Campbell.

T.J.

Everybody calls me that.

All right.

T.J., I can use all the help I can get.

Sit down.

No thanks.

I was still awful young myself at the time, but...

seemed to me like your brother wasn't any more'n

just a scrawny little kid.

- He seemed a lot bigger than that to me. - Mmm

So what's been on your mind all these years, T.J.?

Well, eh, at the time

and more than just a few of us

figured your brother was never big enough to do

what they said he did.

Mmm-hmm.

And then, uh, we got to wonderin' about Dexter Cody.

Now ol' Dex, he had this thing about... nigras.

you know, 'bout all them young girls...

there in Shantytown.

Ol' Dex used to like to bed down young black girls?

You bet.

Ever single one he could get his hands on. He'd just take 'em.

How young?

Well, not too much older than them two little white girls.

So we began to think maybe he tried somethin' on them.

Well, why didn't you go to the sheriff back then?

- Me? - Mmm-hmm.

Well, no punk 18 year-old's gonna tell Hiram Stoker his

deputy was maybe foolin' around with kids.

You mean to tell me that my brother may have died

because nobody had guts enough to stand up to the sheriff?

Well, I wasn't the only one!

You have to understand them times!

And truth be known, ol' Dex still sends a shiver down my spine.

Dexter Cody is still alive and here in Crawfordville?

Hope you ain't thinkin' a goin' over his place.

Do you know where he lives?

Ol' Dex, talkin' to a black man?

Huh, like you livin' in the Twilight Zone! Mmmm.

♪

Deputy Cody.

I got me a sign out there in the road in case you missed it.

I want to talk to you.

Crack the shotgun and pull the shells out one at a time where I can see them.

You have a hell of a way to start a conversation, mister.

I want to talk to you about a murder.

Sure. I got lots of 'em to talk about.

1934. Two white girls, children.

Nigger boy did it. Beat 'em to death with a club.

How do you know the boy did it?

I'm going to turn around, mister, see who it is I'm talkin' with.

The gun stays broke. Okay?

Turn very slowly.

Army's gone to hell, that's for sure.

How do I know he did it?

Well, see, he signed a confession.

Were there any other suspects other than Linus?

What we need other suspects for? He signed a confession...

there was a witness.

There was a witness that saw Linus kill those two girls?

Crippled up old nigger...Elijah.

Lives by hisself on the river.

Here you are askin' all these questions, I don't know the hell why.

That's my business.

You one of them uppity niggers, believe that Martin Luther fella tells you on T.V.?

That don't hold truck down here, boy.

I'm the one with the gun.

Well, you got that one right.

You're really somethin', comin' in here like this.

You used to like to go to shantytown, Dex, didn't you?

Had me a good time now and again.

Liked those little black girls, didn't you?

Sure as hell did.

How about little white girls?

What about two?

Hmmm?

Dex, who's that you're talkin' with?

My wife stays outta this, hear?

No one!

He's leaving', anyhow.

Nigger...

We're gonna have at it sooner or later.

You can count on it.

♪

Dex, who was that?

Dead man.

I told you the records are off limits to unauthorized personnel.

You might as well just go back where you came from.

-I'm from here. -Not anymore.

Will you please let me see Cassie?

You think you're so superior showin' up here

after all this time, gonna make things right.

All you're gonna do is make trouble for us.

Listen, listen all I want is two minutes with Cassie.

I promise I'll leave the basement after that.

She isn't in the basement.

Well..

Darlene... Here's your two over.

Thanks, I'll be right there.

There you go, hon.

Who the hell is that...

I'm sorry I missed our appointment this morning.

Is the coffee any good?

Coffee, please!

He's got some nerve!

I'd have been on time...

but I had a meeting I simply couldn't break.

I don't think you entirely appreciate the problems you're causing.

Do you know a man by the name of Dexter Cody?

Yes. Everybody knows Dex.

And does everybody know that Dexter Cody is a child molester?

Thank you.

Has it ever occurred to anyone that maybe,

just maybe, my brother Linus was nothing

more than just a cover-up?

You seem to have reached a rather

dramatic conclusion after a few days, Mr. Bragg.

Yeah, yeah.

Maybe I'm the only one that's just...

taken the time or the trouble to dig deeper

than a frightened little black boy.

Well, you're not!

The court stenographer died in 1948.

One or two of the jurors might still be alive

I couldn't find out where.

The defense attorney moved to Charleston soon after the trial,

never came back.

He still lives there.

You must have gone to an awful lot of trouble to dig this up.

Why?

I wanted to find out if it was true.

If they really did execute an innocent 14-year-old boy.

And?

I was born and raised in South Carolina, Mr. Bragg.

I have to believe that the law took its proper course.

And before you start throwing out any more accusations,

you might consider getting a few facts.

You got it, lady.

♪

♪

May I help you?

My name is Mr. Louis. I called about a meeting with Judge Brickstone.

Oh, yes. You're from Historical Register Magazine.

Your Honor, the gentleman who is doing the article on Charleston is here.

- Send him in. - Yes sir

Go right in, Mr. Louis.

Good afternoon, Your Honor.

Well um..., so you're interested in, um,

knowing all about my renovation of this building, Mr... Mr. Louis.

Uh, you can sit down.

I might have a very interesting story for you.

You certainly have a lot of pictures here, Judge Brickstone.

I've know my fair share of politicians over the years.

Not all of them somebody I'd like to meet in a dark alley!

But, eh, you won't, eh, quote me on that, now will you?

Now where would you like to start? The furnishings?

How about Crawfordville?

Crawfordville? What on earth for?

You used to be a lawyer in Crawfordville, didn't you?

Ancient history!

Nasty little backwater town. Nasty people.

Nasty murders, too.

I'm not sure how all of that ties in with my renovation.

It doesn't.

Then what exactly is your business with me, sir.

Linus Bragg. Remember him?

Yeah.

You might be interested in what I have to say.

You are aware that I am a judge?

Uh, Miss Conway, I want you to telephone my--

Much rather talk with you than the newspaper.

Yes, judge?

Telephone my barber tell him I'm running a little later than usual.

You recognize that?

Mmm. That is the uh, confession of that little negro boy.

Yes.

That little negro boy, Linus Bragg.

You were his defense attorney?

I was appointed to be his attorney, yes.

Well, why didn't you file an appeal or something?

On what grounds?

Well, he was facing the electric chair.

Anybody could tell that he couldn't have written that confession.

We were kinda up against it, eh.

That was an election year..

Nobody, from the governor on down, wanted to have anything to do with this case.

My hands were tied.

But did you ever speak with Linus about the murders?

Well, of course I did, on several occasions.

Judge...

What did he tell you? Huh?

That was thirty or more years ago. You expect me to remember his very words?

Yes.

He said...

I think he said, uhh, he didn't mean it.

Didn't mean what?

Didn't mean to look at the two little white girls...

He didn't mean to look at them? Is that all?

You must understand, in those days

a negro getting caught looking at a white woman

was going to get a beating, or worse.

Was there any evidence against Linus other than this confession?

Eyewitness.

He placed Linus near the scene of the crime.

So he didn't actually see Linus and the two girls together?

He saw him near enough to the scene of the crime to convince a jury.

If you'd seen the pictures of those two little girls

you'd have found Linus guilty yourself!

There were photographs?

Horrible things, just horrible.

Eh, ehm, pictures of their broken bodies.

Their heads crushed by blows from a huge piece of wood...

tree branch, most likely.

Big as a tree branch, huh?

You really think that, uh, Linus was strong enough to do that?

You threw him away, didn't you?

His life didn't mean a damn thing to you.

I did the best I could.

Yeah...

It was an election year.

♪

♪

Mr. Crooks?

Who's that?

You probably won't remember me, but you might remember my brother...

Linus Bragg?

I don't see so good no more.

Come on closer, where I can get a look.

You tell Linus to keep hold o' that cow, hear?

Don't want that cow in my garden no more.

Yes sir, I surely will.

Think he smart with all that back-sass.

Tellin' me the road's for everybody. Hhm

Just back-sass all it is!

Yes sir.

You hear about those two white girls who got killed not too far from here?

Them two?

Just down the road there about a mile.

I don't fish that spot no more. Bad luck.

'Course, Linus was down there, the day the girls were killed.

I seen him on my road there. Him and that cow.

Now, the white man, I got no choice. He go where he please.

You remember seeing a white man on the road that day?

He the one.

He's the one what?

He the one.

Mr. Crooks, was there a white man with those two little girls?

Not supposed to say.

Well, you help me. I'll help you.

Well, I ain't goin' get in any more trouble, is I?

No. Times have changed. The law protects us now.

Uh.

Mr. Crooks...

Was there a white man with those two little girls?

He told me not to say nothin' to nobody.

But you've already told me about Linus.

No, no, not Linus. I can talk about Linus.

And the white man? Made you promise?

Can't talk about the white man.

What's going on, Junior?

Shut up and get in the car.

-What? -You heard the Sheriff, move!

Inside. Get on in!

How you be, old man?

Juss fine, suh.

Every day's a new day.

This man here didn't bother you none?

No suh.

Nice talkin' to you again, Elijah.

Have a good day.

Yes, suh.

It was a white man.

A white man. Not your brother, killed them two little girls?

That's right.

I don't suppose you know who it might be?

Well Dexter Cody likes little girls.

Why don't you talk to him?

You're not gonna get away with this.

- What? - -Dexter knew how to use a shotgun.

That is, if you just fall on it by accident.

What're you talking about?

Miss Cody, is this the man you heard threaten your husband?

Yes! That's him!

You get him out of here.

Damn it, Junior, you've got it wrong!

Doin' to me what you did to my brother.

Junior, you're wrong!

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Sheriff Stoker waitin' on you.

What were you doing harassing our illustrious native son Judah Brickstone?

He was Linus' attorney.

I asked him a few questions. He gave me a few simple answers.

Find anything out?

I wouldn't want him to defend me.

Oh Jimmy.

You know it's lucky for you you were in Charleston when ol' Dex fell on that shotgun.

Mark, you can, eh, take them handcuffs off.

-Thank you, Mark. -Yes, sir.

What makes you believe that this was an accident?

Sit down.

You know, Jimmy...

you got me thinking maybe we got us a problem here after all.

Anyway...you're free to leave.

Crawfordville?

That is the general idea.

Yeah, well, I'm not quite ready to leave yet.

Jimmy, you gonna get me all worried again.

There is still some things about this I don't understand.

Well, that's one thing we do have in common.

You want another?

Surprise me.

Elijah Crooks.

The one-armed bastard out by the river?

Claims to have seen a white man on the road the day the girls were killed.

I thought he meant Dexter Cody.

I could be wrong.

How long you been an officer?

Fifteen years.

A little late startin' out, weren't you?

Late bloomer.

Must'a done pretty good, making bird Colonel in the Green Berets?

Piece of cake.

Probably just as well.

Might not have amounted to much if you you'd have hung around here.

I remember you, Jimmy. Before you went north on us.

And I sure remember your father.

He used to scare the hell outta me, man.

Ha. Scared the hell outta me, too.

♪

Tell me about Linus.

Him and me, we were about the same age.

He was a lot smaller'n me, of course.

Before the trouble started, he, eh, used to hang around the downtown

just like the rest of us boys did.

Didn't mix...

but he'd wave.

He'd been white, we'd probably been friends.

Truth be told...

I wish I could wipe Linus outta my mind.

Elijah do anything else besides fish?

Well, he used to work in the mill...

till he lost his arm on one of them band saws.

He lived here in this company shack then.

Folks felt sorry for him, arm and all...

Bait's still on the hook.

Must'a caught a big one.

It's too big.

♪

Mr. Bragg.

You like hangin' out in patrol cars?

You won't tell Sheriff Stoker on me, will you?

There's not much to do around here after the sun goes down, is there?

You have to admit you have brought a kind of excitement to Crawfordville...

not to mention dead bodies.

You been in Crawfordville all your life?

Went to college in Aiken.

Lived there with my husband 'til the divorce and--

Why?

I don't think you should have come back here.

I heard you talked to Dex and Elijah.

More or less.

Two people dead...

Worth it so far?

Well, for the person who murdered them, in all likelihood, yes.

I heard it was an accident.

Well, in Dexter's case, possibly.

But Elijah was strangled from behind with his own fishing line.

He was dead before he went into the river.

You trying to frighten me?

Have you done anything you should be frightened about?

I'm talking to you, aren't I?

Cassie!

What are you doin' here?

You told Mama you'd be home for dinner.

She got worried.

So we drove around until we found your car.

No secrets in Crawfordville.

I somehow missed the connection.

I didn't know how to tell you that the sheriff

in all those old newspaper photographs

was my grandfather.

Then I sorta lost the courage.

Hope you don't feel the same way about Linus.

I think you know how I feel.

We're gonna go home now, Jimmy.

'Night.

Good night.

♪

Not allowed to use terms like that anymore.

Terms?

"Negro." "Colored". We use "Black" now.

Hmm. That's nice.

Yeah, it's like the V.C. over in Vietnam.

Can't say "gooks" in the papers these days.

What the hell else you supposed to call the Viet Cong?

How about "the enemy?"

"Theodore J. Campbell

18, and friend Luke Reddy

also 18

found the club used in the vicious murders of the Ellerby girls.

According to Campbell, whose wealthy family owns and operates the saw mill,

the two youths were walking along the levee

when they spied the bloodied piece of wood hidden in the bushes..."

♪

Who's out there?

James Bragg.

Aren't you going to invite me in?

This place ain't what it was but then,

not a whole lot of folks drop by anymore.

But they used to?

Ha. When the family meant something to Crawfordville.

Hm. The mill...

What happened to all of that?

Our mill supplied hardwood...

to build war ships, startin' with the Confederacy

straight through to uh...

Department of the Navy.

And then come metal hulls.

Thanks.

Now the mill's gone.

And uh, family's all gone. Friend's are gone.

Until the bottom dropped out of the market,

our mill was the next best thing, heh...

to a plantation.

Worked them blacks cradle to grave.

Now, now that's why I did what I did with...

them freedom riders and all...

uh, just...tryin' to apologize.

Sure must have disappointed a lot of people.

Oh, yeah. I disappointed 'em plenty.

I been disappointing 'em all my life.

My daddy worst of all. He damn near cut me out of this will.

Well, lots of folks around here

wish he was still around instead of me.

You drivin' in like this ain't gonna help matters any.

Oh, I wasn't followed.

Yeah? Don't be too sure.

What is it you really after?

Oh, um...

You know that club...

that was used to kill the Ellerby girls?

Yeah...

You never told me you found it.

Week after the murders.

Had their blood dried all over it.

Big as a tree branch, huh?

Uhh, coulda been. I don't remember.

Well, what about you buddy, Luke Reddy? Do you think he might remember?

Luke Reddy's no friend of mine...

No?

Luke's Klan.

Ohh...

Was he Klan back then?

He was the one that wanted to lynch your brother.

You know, huh...

There's somethin' I never did understand about that.

How'd he come across that bloody piece of wood,

when nobody else could find it?

Never did think much about that at the time.

♪

Hi, Daddy.

Ball game pretty good today, is it?

Ya'll been takin' that medicine they're supposed to give you?

Your glass here's empty.

Look what I brought.

This oughta make it taste a little bit better.

Naw, just a minute, now.

Gotta put some medicine in it, Daddy.

There you go, Daddy...

Oh...

that a boy...

Oh that is good, that's good.

I got some bad news, Daddy.

Deputy Cody passed away.

I'm sorry.

I know you two

shared some real good times.

But death comes to all of us who have patience.

Didn't you always laugh when you told me that.

Got me to thinkin' about that time you took me to the execution,

that young negro boy, 'bout my age. Linus Bragg.

I was tryin' to remember whether it was Dex or you that eh,

got that boy to confess...

Did y'all have any other suspects besides him?

You hungry yet, boy?

Boy?...Boy?!

I asked you a question, son.

You hungry yet?

Sure am, suh.

That's better.

But first, I got a little problem,

'bout them two little white girls.

Would you mind helpin' me clear up a few details, Linus?

No, suh.

You go to that colored school, don't you?

Learnin' all about how to read and write?

Little bit.

Learnin' too, about that feelin' all us men gets between our legs, I'll just bet.

Heh heh. You don't have to tell me about it.

Just got to know what happened with them girls.

Mmm-mmm!

That smells good!

Hey I don't believe you had a bite to eat since this morning, have you son?

That's right, sheriff.

Well, the truth'll make you feel better.

Let me talk to you a minute.

Now, son, I don't understand. I know...

that you didn't mean for anything bad to happen to those girls.

You just got a peek at 'em...

ain't that the way it got started? Just a little peek?

Yes, suh.

Well, one thing leads to another and, before you know it,

everything gets outta control.

Shoot, that could happen to any man.

Yes suh, but I--

Now, son, I know what went on.

We got all the evidence we need.

So I just...

sketched things out for you...

best I could.

And I want you to read it over.

Only thing missin' is...

the stick that killed 'em.

You know where it's at?

No suh? Sure enough don't.

Now, Linus, this is the truth, ain't it? I gotta know.

Your mama's tole you I bet a thousand times,

about how you're not supposed to ever tell a lie, ain't that so?

Yes, suh.

Well, you know how to sign your name, don't you?

Yes, suh.

All right.

Here's a pen for ya.

No, wait. Let me help you, son...

You just unscrew it, you see? Like that.

There, that's it.

Then it'll make a nice black mark for you.

Yeah...

there...

There, that's right.

Uh-huh...

Good boy.

I hope you got a good appetite, because we got ribs and fried chicken.

That's what you gonna git. Eat hearty.

That a boy. Feelin' better already.

It just don't seem like that boy could'a done all what they said.

You know, I been searching high and low for that old case file.

Only place I ain't looked is the footlocker.

Daddy, Daddy, please...

askin' your permission, sir.

I got to know what happened.

Daddy, please...

I got to know what really happened.

The way I see it, you got two choices.

You put the bags on the hood of the car

and hope they stay balanced long enough for you to get your car keys out...

Or?

Or you can throw them up in the air

and hope they stay up there long enough for you to get the door open.

- I think I like this way the best. - -Good choice.

Somebody was waiting for me outside the motel last night.

Drove around the parking lot a couple of times,

and then they left.

-Did you see who it was? -No, it was too dark.

But I have got a sneaking suspicion that whoever killed those two little girls

is still hanging around here somewhere.

Cassie, I need a favor.

My leave is almost up, and I'm having a hell of a time

trying to get a look at a will...

You don't need me for that.

Anything that has gone through probate is on file at the clerk's office.

Well, this one isn't.

It's been sealed.

♪

You sure you know where you're goin' there, boy?

This is Luke Reddy's shop, isn't it?

Yep.

I'm sure.

♪

Luke Reddy?

Well, I been hearin' about you all week.

You know, I hate the military.

And I hate officers in the military.

But more that anything, I hate niggers.

Heh, you put all that together in one package, whatta you got?

You got your hands full.

Yeah.

Yeah, I heard. I heard you was a smart boy.

Ol' Dex, oh yeah he's real impressed.

Yeah, you...

You sure got the drop on him, all right.

Ain't gonna happen twice.

Go on...

get over there.

Get over there!

Well, what is this? Now, what is this?

You move your hand again, I'll kill you where you stand.

You may be smart boy, but you's a damn fool comin' here!

Hey hey, Luke. Luke!

If your brother went to the electric chair for a crime

he didn't commit, what would you do?

-I'd get- get even. -Uh huh.

Now, what in the hell you doin' here?

You found that murder weapon, that tree branch?

That ain't no secret.

-How big was it? -It was big and heavy. and was big enough to

bash the brains of them two little white girls!

Was it, uh, too big for my brother Linus to hold?

Well, I never give that a lot of thought.

Well, T.J. seems to think it might have been.

Well, T.J.'s a damn fool and he always has been.

Oh yeah, well, what were you doin' with him?

He bet me a dollar I couldn't find it, since nobody knew where it was supposed to be.

We just went out there, and we just got real lucky.

Ah.

It was damn unlucky for my brother, Linus, wasn't it.?

Hey, Luke...

What I wanna know is, why the hell you talkin' with this nigger?

Didn't you never hear of business before pleasure?

Ooo!

You shouldn't of done Ol' Dex...

If I find out you had something to do with my brother's murder,

I'm coming back.

♪

Look at that.

Here we go. "Ellerby".

I thought I'd look forward to this, but now, I'm not so sure...

Maybe now you can understand

why feelings were runnning high against your brother.

I can understand why feelings were running so high, but there's

no way that Linus could have ever done this!

These two girls were raped.

Their bodies were tossed around like a rag doll.

Sue Ellen's neck was broken by a stranglehold.

Someone held her up in the air with one hand.

And a little boy weighing less than eighty pounds

is supposed to have used a club half his size? Damn it!

What the hell is wrong with you people?

Jimmy!

I'm sorry.

Won't bring Linus back.

My name is Linus Bragg.

I'm fourteen years and three months old.

I can read and write...

♪

"Unto thee, oh Lord, do I lift up my soul.

Oh, my God, do I trust in thee.

Let me not be ashamed.

Let not mine enemies triumph over me...

How you comin' there, Junior?

How long before...?

Soon.

Son...

You gonna be seein' some things that may not set too well...

We get home, I got enough peach brandy for the both of us.

Remember thou me for my goodness sake oh Lord...

This will only last a moment.

Think about it like you're leaping over a wide ditch.

And when you land, you will be in Heaven.

Junior...

I be jumpin' over a big ditch

Heaven's on the other side.

Is there anything you want to say?

Any last words?

Please, can't we go.

What is it, Junior? What's the matter?

What is it, Junior? What's the matter?

Here's a little present for you and your freedom rider friend!

Hey, Bragg! It's your "welcome wagon"!

Come on out. Bring some marshmallows.

Hey, boy!

Come on out here and meet your neighbors!

Come on out boy!

We're sorry we didn't get a chance to hang your damned brother.

Now, I'll tell you what, since this is America, we'll let you take his place!

Linus. Help me.

♪

Mr. Bragg?

I didn't think you were going to come.

This is where it happened, isn't it?

Yep.

You know what I told old man Crooks?

"Times have changed."

Isn't that funny.

"Times have changed."

The Last Will and Testament of Harrison Baines Campbell...

filed into probate May 27, 1947.

See his wife preceded him in death, and so T.J. was the only heir...

He was apparently very disappointed in his son. He only left him the house,

and just enough money to get by.

He also left five thousand dollars to Sheriff Hiram Stoker,

and the same to Dexter Cody,

and one thousand dollars and a lifetime's occupancy of a shack to Elijah Crooks.

What happened to the rest of the money?

You'd never guess.

He left the bulk of his estate, well over one hundred thousand dollars,

to the NAACP.

No wonder he had this will sealed.

Right.

Why did he leave my granddaddy and Dexter Cody five thousand dollars a piece?

Hey, old Sheriff.

You keep watchin' them game shows,

you gonna turn into one.

You know, as long as I can remember, Daddy...

I been troubled by what happened to that young Negro boy.

Now, with all due respect, sir,

I am gonna need your help just one more time.

Now, I know this is yours, Daddy,

because I recognize the handwriting.

It's all about the Ellerby murders.

Now, I followed your investigation to right here.

Then all of a sudden, it stops. Page just got torn out.

But damn if I didn't find an imprint of your handwriting right here.

But you taught me good.

So you know what I did? I took a pencil. I scratched over it just like you said...

and then held it up to a mirror, hah...

And best as I can see, it says "ck camp poss rcrd."

Now, I figure that the "CK" stands for "check",

and the "poss rcrd" possible criminal records

of some of the people in one of the camps.

You want that?

♪

You see these marks here... and there?

Bruises?

Well, that's where she was hit by the tree trunk. But what else?

You see here on the neck and here on the back?

Those aren't bruises, those are bite marks.

And look at that irregularity...

Between the two front teeth?

Right.

T.J.'s father didn't give a damn about Black causes.

He had that will sealed because he felt guilty about something.

Well, where are you going?

T.J.?!

Your father would be very proud of you.

I don't suppose we could work somethin' out?

You mean some sort of financial arrangement

so I don't tell anybody about, uh,

this little slide show?

Something along them lines.

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of the Ellerby murders.

Besides...

your father already gave most to his money to the NAACP.

That doesn't prove anything.

No, it doesn't.

But your irregular front tooth does.

You never did get a look at the autopsy pictures, did you?

See there?

It's right there in black and white.

Look at it!

Where you bit that little girl on the shoulder.

Remember? Hhm?

Yeah...

Mmm-hmm...

Your father had to make several financial arrangements about that one, didn't he?

Never meant for it to happen, that thing with your brother.

Thought he'd get five, ten years hard labor.

Well, he died so you could live.

That's right.

Same with ol' Dex? Elijah?

And now you!

Don't try it.

What I got to lose?

Jimmy, drop it!

Drop the gun.

The other one.

Not yet.

What's the matter with you, Junior?

Can't you see he broke in here and tried to kill me?

I don't want to shoot you, Jimmy.

Then you shoot me, I'll shoot him.

Whose side you on?

He murdered those girls.

I know that.

Do you realize what you're sayin', Junior?

You better talk to your daddy about all this.

Jimmy, put the gun down and let the law take its course.

That's already been tried.

- It was an election year! - Jimmy,

I'm asking you to trust me.

Please.

You really had me goin' there.

I actually thought that you believed him. Ha.

I do, T.J.

It's all over...

Finally.

Well... I guess it is...

So soon?

I can't say I'm sorry to be leaving.

Can't say we're sorry to see you go.

Jimmy...

I'm not asking for anything.

I don't want forgiveness.

I just feel you had a right to know, that, um...

I was the last person your brother ever saw.

I was there when they killed him.

Linus looked at me with those eyes...

just before they put that mask down over his face.

I knew he didn't do it.

But I was 14 years old.

And my father couldn't be wrong.

I wish I could bring him back, Jimmy.

You're not going to end up in those archives for the next 60 years, are you?

No.

But I'm not gonna abandon Crawfordville, either.

Hey...

Thanks for you help.

I hope you'll come back again someday.

Heh, This poor ol' place could use all the help it can get.

Okay.

♪

You think he'll ever come back here?

I don't know if we could take it.

♪

♪

♪