Original subtitles

[man] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ Seems like a cold sweat ♪

♪ Creepin' 'cross my brow ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ I'm feelin' motherless ♪

♪ Somehow ♪

♪ Stars with evil eyes ♪

♪ Stare from the skies ♪

♪ All mean and bright ♪

[female backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ Ain't a woman yet been born ♪

[backup singers vocalizing]

♪ Knows how to make the mornin' come ♪

♪ It's so hard to keep control ♪

♪ When I have to sell my soul ♪

♪ For just a little light ♪

[backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ I've got trouble wall-to-wall ♪

♪ Oh, yes, I have ♪

♪ I repeat ♪

♪ I repeat, in the night ♪

♪ Must be an ending to it all ♪

♪ But hold on ♪

♪ It won't be long ♪

♪ Just you be strong ♪

♪ And it'll be all right ♪

[backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

[slurping]

- Where you keepin' the pie tonight? - [fly buzzing]

Man ate the last piece just before you come in.

[chuckles]

Well, what's that little ol' orphan sittin' right up there?

- Marble cake. - [fly buzzing]

[slurping]

Tell you what, Sam.

Bein' she's in there by her little ol' lonesome, I'll let ya have her for free.

I told you 'bout that "Sam" business, didn't I? Huh?

I'm sorry, Mr. Wood.

I mean, uh, Officer Wood.

[coin lands on counter]

[register rings]

[car door closes]

[car engine starts]

[radio: guitar playing]

[man] ♪ Well, a bowlegged Polly And a knock-kneed Paul ♪

♪ A bowlegged Polly And a knock-kneed Paul ♪

♪ A bowlegged Polly and a knock-kneed Paul ♪

♪ They can't get together at all ♪

♪ Just like the worm in the cornfield Said to his brother ♪

♪ Yeah, go in one ear and out the other ♪

[singer vocalizing]

♪ Well, a bucktoothed Clara And a cross-eyed Clyde ♪

♪ A bucktoothed Clara And a cross-eyed Clyde ♪

♪ Like ol' bowlegged Polly And a knock-kneed Paul ♪

[radio off]

[dog barking in distance]

[sighs]

[radio: man] ♪ Every time I see your face ♪

♪ It's got a way of turning me around ♪

♪ I forget the time and place ♪

♪ Has nothing else but you ♪

♪ And what you do ♪

♪ You tune me in, pretty baby ♪

♪ Wild things begin ♪

♪ Baby, that ain't love ♪

♪ But it sure is groovy ♪

♪ Yes, it sure is groovy ♪

♪ Talk about groovy ♪

♪ You're outta sight, pretty baby ♪

♪ It feels so right ♪

♪ Baby, that ain't love ♪

♪ But it sure is groovy ♪

♪ Yes, it sure is groovy ♪

[song continues playing]

♪ And what you do ♪

♪ You got it made, pretty baby ♪

♪ Still, I'm afraid, baby ♪

♪ That ain't love ♪

♪ But it sure is groovy ♪

It's Colbert, all right.

Skull's caved in.

Ever take a homicide picture before, son?

- Well, at least he won't be movin' on us. - That's for sure.

I want you to cover every angle. Do you hear me? Every angle.

- Get goin'. - Yes, sir.

Uh, you boys move on back now. Okay?

Came all this way to build us a factory,

make somethin' out of this town.

Look what it got him.

Yeah.

Sam.

Did he have a wallet? Identification? Anything like that?

That's the first thing I looked for, Chief, but whoever fixed him must've took it.

Nothin'.

- Any witnesses? - I mean, not even a cat.

How long has he been dead?

Oh, less than an hour.

- Less than an hour. - Maybe half that.

Maybe half.

Could've been a hitchhiker.

You check both ends of town. You check the depot, you check the pool hall. Okay?

Uh, pool hall closes at one o'clock, Chief.

- I said check it, Sam. - Yes, sir.

[car door opens, closes]

[car engine starts]

On your feet, boy.

I mean now!

Against that wall. Get them hands high!

You spread them fingers. I wanna count all ten.

Yeah, you move 'fore I tell you to, boy...

by God, I'm gonna clean your plow.

That's pretty fat there, ain't it, boy?

Huh?

Now, outside there's a police car.

You gonna pick up that bag,

you're gonna walk out, you gon' plant yourself in the back,

and you're gonna be a real nice, quiet boy all the way in.

You hear?

Come on, boy.

Move it!

Chief here?

- Hey, what's up, Sam? - [Sam] Chief?

What's goin' on?

Sam?

- [squeaking] - [fan blowing]

[squeaking continues]

[squeaking at higher pitch, clanging]

- [loud slam] - [clanging stops]

- Wood. - Yes, sir?

When's the last time I asked Courtney to get oil for this damn thing?

Uh, last Wednesday.

Would you be kind enough to go outside and remind him what day it is today?

Well, uh, how about the prisoner here?

Don't you worry 'bout him.

Got a name, boy?

Virgil Tibbs.

Virgil.

[laughing]

Well...

I don't think we're gonna have any trouble, are we, Virgil?

No trouble at all.

Oh, you can go now, Sam.

Yes, sir.

What'd you hit him with?

Hit whom?

"Whom"?

"Whom." What are you? Are you a Northern boy?

What's a Northern boy like you doin' all the way down here?

I was waiting for the train.

Well, now, there ain't no trains this time of mornin'.

Tuesdays only. 4:05 to Memphis.

You say.

[train whistle blowing in distance]

Well ‒ [laughs] All right. You say right.

[chuckles]

All right ‒ [chuckles] Virgil.

Oh!

Now, look. [exhales]

I try to run a nice, clean, safe town here.

A town where a man can sneeze and not get his brains beat out.

- You follow me? - Yes.

Why don't you tell me how you killed Mr. Colbert,

and I promise you you're gonna feel a whole lot better.

[knocking]

Not now!

I was visiting my mother.

I came in on the 12:35 from Brownsville.

I was waiting to go out...

on the 4:05.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Meanwhile, you just killed yourself a white man,

just about the most important white man we got around here,

and picked yourself up a couple hundred dollars.

I earned that money, ten hours a day, seven days a week.

Colored can't earn that kinda money, boy. Hell, that's more than I make in a month.

Now, where did you earn it?

- Philadelphia. - Mississippi?

Pennsylvania.

Now, just what do you do up there in little ol' Pennsylvania, earn that kinda money?

I'm a police officer.

[exhales]

[chuckles]

Oh, yeah.

[exhales]

- Wood! - Yes, sir!

Did you question this man before you brought him in?

No, sir.

Would you mind takin' a look at that?

Yeah! Oh, yeah!

All right. I'll check on this wise city boy from Philadelphia.

- You'll take him outside and hold him. - Yes, sir.

May I suggest that you call my chief rather than send a wire or anything.

I mean, it would be quicker.

And I'll pay for the call.

Did you hear him? Did you hear him say he'd pay for the call?

How much do they pay you to do their police work?

$162.39 per week.

[chief whistles]

$162.39 a week.

Well, boy!

You take him outside, Wood, but treat him easy.

Because a man that makes $162.39 a week,

man, we do not want to ruffle him!

No, sir. [chuckles]

Courtney.

Would you try and get me long distance?

[Courtney] Police business, honey. Chief's on the line.

Oh, no, sirree, boy. He catch you listenin' in, he'll run your butt around the block.

- He don't panic me none. - Well...

- Where's the chief? - Ah, Charlie.

- You got the pictures of the dead man there, huh? - Sure do.

I got him top, bottom, sideways, you name it.

- Good. I'll take 'em, son. - Well, I wanna give 'em to the chief.

- I said I'd take 'em, Charlie. - Do like he tells ya, Charlie.

Well, somebody owes me some money for those.

I had to buy paper and film and developin'.

Yeah, well, that's all right, Charlie.

You just bill the department. Everything will be taken care of.

God Almighty.

Sure looks bad.

May I see the man I'm supposed to have killed?

Sure. I don't know why not.

[whispering] Hey, Sam, he's finished talkin'.

Here's the photos of the dead man, Chief.

Okay.

I got your chief on the phone. He wants to talk to you.

Hello. Yes, sir.

I'm sorry to have gotten you involved in this. I really had no choice.

Mm-hmm. Yes, sir.

Oh, you can't be serious, sir.

I mean, even if I could be of some help, they wouldn't want it.

No, sir, I-I'm not prejudiced.

Yes, sir, I-I'm a police officer and they're police officers, but ‒

Hello, this is Gillespie.

Yes, sir, yes. Well, I ‒

You don't say.

He's your number one homicide expert.

Well, my, my, my.

Well, I don't think we need any help though. I think we can wrap this thing up ourselves.

Yes, sir, but I do wanna thank you

for offerin' me such a powerful piece of manpower as Virgil Tibbs.

Yes, sir. Thank you.

Yeah. Good-bye now.

Oh, it's all there. We paid for the phone call ourselves.

Well, now, you are the ‒ you are the number one homicide expert.

That's right.

Boy, I bet you get to look at a lot of dead bodies, don't you?

Lots.

Well...

"Well" what?

Well, I ‒ No, I just thought maybe, uh ‒

maybe you wouldn't mind takin' a look at this one.

No, thanks.

- Well, why not, expert? - Because I've got a train to catch.

Now, wait a minute. That train don't leave till 12 o'clock noon!

Look, they pay you $162.39 a week just to look at bodies.

- Why can't you look at this one? - Why can't you look at it for yourself?

Because I'm not an expert...

Officer.

Ten cents, ten million dollars.

Just doesn't matter when a man's time comes.

Mm-hmm.

You know, I could give him a nicer service right here in Sparta

than he could ever get up there in Chicago.

- [car door closes] - And at half the price too.

- I got a rosewood casket out there ‒ - [door opens]

Ted Ulam, Chief. We haven't had the pleasure.

That's for sure.

He's with me.

Hello, Doc.

Yep.

Well... [sighs]

Uh...

you wanna look at it?

New manicure. That's good.

That's very good.

- I'll need a few things. - Such as?

Ammonium hydrosulfide,

benzedine, superoxide of hydrogen...

copper powder, distilled water...

a six-inch celluloid scale...

a thermometer...

some tweezers...

calipers...

and some toothpicks.

Toothpicks? Copper? What's goin' on here, Chief?

Who is this boy anyway?

I asked him to look at the body. That's who he is.

It's 4:45. What time was this man killed?

Well, Sam Wood found him on the street about 3:00 a.m.

The doctor here says it's possible he was killed an hour earlier.

At 2:00?

Maybe a little later ‒

2:15, 2:30.

Would you feel the face and jaw, please?

Am I mistaken, or has rigor begun?

It has.

You'll notice, too, that postmortem lividity is present here in the lower portions.

So the time of death really has to be earlier, wouldn't you say?

[grunts]

Well, we'll be able to pinpoint that as soon as I get a thermometer.

As you know, the loss of heat from the brain

is the most reliable way of determining time of death.

Right, Chief?

Oh, yeah.

Well...

which one of you gentlemen will assist me?

[phone rings]

Ulam s ‒

It's for you, Chief.

Yeah, talk to me.

When?

Oh, good. Yeah, yeah, right away.

I've got a runaway suspect. Boy, I gotta go.

Now, listen, you. Anything he wants, man, you better see that he gets it.

Where can I wash my hands?

[tires squealing, car pulling away]

[panting]

[dogs barking in distance]

[dogs continue barking, closer]

[man groans]

[dogs continue barking]

Come on! Come on, get up here!

He can't run! There you go!

[dogs continue barking]

Come on now, dogs! Go!

- Hyah! Hyah! - Hyah!

- [men shouting] - [dogs continue barking]

This here is Shagbag, you hear?

He's headed for the river.

The river, you hear? He's gonna be in Arkansas.

Oh, shoot.

[train whistle blowing]

- [dogs continue barking] - Go! Go!

[men chattering]

[barking continues]

Okay. I got him.

Mrs. Colbert.

How is she taking it?

Chief had to leave 'fore she got here. She don't even know it yet.

Hey, you can't go in there, boy!

Mrs. Colbert?

Where's my husband?

What's happened to him?

Why won't anybody here tell me what's happened to him?

Why won't anybody here tell me what's happened to him?

I have a right to know if he's hurt, if he's been in an accident.

I want to know if my husband is all right.

Your husband is dead, Mrs. Colbert.

[gasps quietly]

Somebody killed him.

We don't know who yet.

No.

It's ‒

It's very hot in here.

It's very hot in this room.

[exhales sharply]

Sit down.

No.

[stifled sob]

Would you ‒

Would you...

leave me alone for a few minutes, please?

[stifled sobs]

[gasps, sobbing]

[sobbing continues]

[doorknob clicks]

[sobbing continues]

- [men chattering, laughing] - [car door closes]

Well, Virgil, we don't need you or your microscopes anymore.

You can tell that to your chief. We don't need him or you.

- For the last time ‒ - Mrs. Colbert's in there.

- I've already told her. - I see.

Here's the examination results from Ulam's.

- Do you wanna know what I found? - No. I don't need to look at 'em now.

May I examine this prisoner?

Yeah, you can look at him. Come on, let him look. Go on.

All right now, steady!

You finished?

Thank you.

[car door opens, closes]

All right, Fryer, bring him with me.

Come on, Harvey.

- Now we grindin' corn! - Hey, Court, you shoulda been there!

If it hadn't been for them ol' radios, we sure would've lost him goin' over that bridge.

- Yeah! - [all laughing]

That ol' boy highballin' that freight train like to cut us off.

Yeah, and ol' Charlie's hound dog got loose about right that time ‒

- Did he confess? - Huh?

The man you arrested. Did he confess?

Well, I believe he will.

[chuckles] Yes, sirree, I believe he will.

- [all laughing] - I believe he will.

- He's left-handed, isn't he? - How would I know?

Well, he seemed left-handed to me.

- Uh-huh. - I believe Harvey is a southpaw.

Now, ain't he, Shagbag?

What if he is? What's that make him?

Innocent.

Mrs. Colbert.

There's just one more thing.

[stifled gasp]

Yeah.

I picked it up, I tell ya. He was already lyin' there.

It was lyin' there next to him.

I just picked it up, ma'am.

- That's all I did. - Shut up.

- Get him outta here. - Okay, come on, Harvey. Let's go.

Mrs. Colbert, I, uh ‒

I wonder if you'd mind if I'd have somebody drive you over so you could, uh...

complete the identification.

[door opens]

Martin.

I want you to take Mrs. Colbert over to the funeral parlor.

And, Wood, you run Virgil down the depot.

[Sam] Uh...

Uh, Virg here, Chief, he thinks that Harvey's innocent.

Well, I'll be damned.

Could I talk to you about it in private?

No, you can't talk to me about it in private.

I got Colbert's wallet right here in my hand and we took it from Harvey Oberst.

- You don't think he gave it to him, do ya? - I don't know.

But Oberst could've come along after the crime, found it, picked it up.

I don't know.

That's what the boy said he did.

Well, I'm sorry, ma'am, but I say different.

Well, when I examined the deceased, it was obvious that the fatal blow

was struck from an angle of 17 degrees from the right,

which makes it almost certain the person who did it is right-handed.

So what?

Ol' Harv's left-handed, Chief. Everybody in town knows that.

Yeah, th-that's what we figured out, Chief. Harvey's a lefty. Uh-huh.

Well, you're pretty sure of yourself, ain't ya, Virgil?

Virgil, that's a funny name for a nigger boy that comes from Philadelphia.

What do they call you up there?

They call me Mr. Tibbs.

Mr. Tibbs!

Well, Mr. Wood, take Mr. Tibbs,

take him down to the depot, and I mean, boy, like now!

I'll have the FBI lab send you the reports on this.

Not that it'll make any difference.

- I'll take that! - No.

No, you won't.

I'm sending it in personally.

[Mrs. Colbert] My God.

What kind of people are you?

What kind of a place is this?

My husband is dead.

Somebody in this town killed him!

I want you to find out who!

[door opens, closes]

[car door opens]

- [car doors close] - [engine starts]

You gonna give me that?

No, I'm not.

Wood, you take him...

and you lock him up for withholding evidence.

Go on! Move! Put him with his friend, Harvey Oberst.

Well, Virgil, nobody threw your brains to the hogs, that's for damn sure.

[cell door closes]

Hold on there, Arnold. Open 'er up again.

We got another customer.

- [Harvey] Hey, man, not in here. - [Sam] That's all right.

- Put him somewheres else! - [Sam] Don't push the panic button, Harvey.

- You hear me? How come in here? - Play it cool, boy.

I thought that guy's supposed to be a policeman.

[Harvey] Hey!

- Hey! - [door slams]

What you doin' wearin' white man's clothes?

Where you come from?

You deaf or somethin'?

Listen, I'm gettin' ‒

Keep cool, Harvey.

I'm on your side.

Well, I don't need you!

I'm all you've got.

Police?

[chuckles] You a cop?

- You're a cop. - Mm-hmm.

Yeah?

So how come they locked you up? How come they'd go lock up a cop?

Who said they locked me up?

How come with all these empty cells back here, they'd throw me in with you? You dig?

Look.

I already told 'em.

I see this fella lyin' on the street there...

and there's this wallet lyin' beside him.

Boy, I mean, I come into this world out of luck.

Here's the first good thing to come my way, and I pick it up.

But when I see whose wallet it is...

I mean, I start to sweat.

But I heard about this new chief, this "Gillepsbie,"

got no more smile than a turnip.

So I cut across the fields, headin' for the line,

and I got myself as far as the bridge before "Gillepsbie" grabbed me.

What time did you find the wallet?

Well, I ain't got no watch, but...

must've been after 2:00 by the courthouse clock.

I'm interested in 11:00 to 2:00. Where were you?

Shootin' pool at Larry's Lounge.

I got there about 10:00.

- What time'd you leave? - Not till closin'. Must've been 1:00.

Anybody can swear for ya?

Packy. Bert. Les.

You ever been in trouble with the police before?

Come on.

I can ask at the desk, you know.

Well, they brought me in one time...

on account of this Delores Purdy.

On what charge?

[chuckles]

Well, uh, this Delores, see, uh...

now, she's real proud of what nature done for her, you know.

And, uh ‒ [chuckles]

Well, we was on a date up to Clarke's Point,

and, uh...

she says, uh...

[laughs]

Anyway, she asks me, she says, uh,

"Don't you think I got a classy build?"

And I say, "Sure." And so she starts to show me.

[chuckles]

But now, I didn't do nothin' wrong.

I-I just didn't stop her from tryin' to prove her point.

Then this cop, Sam Wood,

comes chargin' out of the bush and hauls me in.

He let you go, didn't he?

He told me not to mess with her no more.

She lives over on Third, about a block from me.

Traipsin' around the house in the altogether. And after dark, with the lights on.

Now, somebody sure oughta make her stop doin' that.

Come here.

[knife blade clicks]

Let me see your right hand.

- What you doin'? - Hold still.

[loud banging]

All right now, give him the waiver for false arrest.

[Tibbs] Forget it.

I'm askin' you to sign it... please.

Give him a pen. Give him a pen.

All right, let him out.

You'll be able to catch the 12:10 train.

I don't think it would be a bad idea to change the charge against Harvey Oberst.

He was nowhere near the scene of the crime, and I think he can prove it.

Bet you could tell me the exact time Colbert was killed too, can't ya?

About 12:30, while Harvey was still shooting pool.

Now, wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'll get it.

There's cue chalk under his nails, not dried blood.

- Thank the Lord I don't live in Philadelphia. - One more thing.

Colbert wasn't killed where the body was found.

What do you mean?

He was killed somewhere else, then moved to Main Street.

[sighs]

- Courtney. - Yes, sir?

Change the charge to theft.

Do you mean Harv?

Well, who the hell else do we have back there?

Yes, sir.

Hey.

Didn't I ask you to fix that gate?

No, not me, sir.

Must've been my brother, Harold. He's on days.

Harold.

[door slams]

[phone rings]

Police Department.

Yes, he's here. Hold on, sir.

Mayor's on the line, Chief.

[car horn honks]

[tools grinding, clanging, banging]

[no audible dialogue]

Now, Chief, what's all this Miss Colbert's been tellin' me

about a-a cover-up arrest?

No, ma'am, we ain't had no cover-up.

In fact, we just dropped the charges for insufficient evidence.

Miss Colbert, I told you he was nobody's man.

I came by to make it as clear as I possibly can

that I do not want that Negro officer taken off this case.

Negro officer?

Yeah, well, he, uh ‒

he comes from up North, you see, and he was, uh, kinda...

passin' through.

I don't care what he is.

If it wasn't for him, your impartial chief of police

would still have the wrong man behind bars.

I want that officer given a free hand.

Otherwise...

I will pack up my husband's engineers...

and leave you...

to yourselves.

Now, Mrs. Colbert, now, don't you worry about a thing.

Believe me, we're gonna take care of everything.

Bill.

I wanna see you come through this now. You hear?

Even if we have to step on Endicott's toes?

Even that.

But do it fast.

All right.

Now, Bill, uh, how 'bout this here Negro officer?

Miss Colbert seems to have a lot of confidence in him.

Oh, he ain't nothin'. He's some kind of a ‒

some kind of a homicide expert.

But I don't need him.

You mean you don't want him.

But you do need him.

Now look, Bill.

Suppose he turns up the killer.

He has no police powers here.

He's gonna have to hand him over on a platter, right?

That's right.

And if he fails, you're off the hook,

'cause it was Miss Colbert's idea in the first place.

See what I mean?

Oh, yeah.

Works out all the way around, Bill, for all of us.

Excuse me.

Any reason why you have to leave today?

There's lots of reasons.

Uh, what would you say if I, uh ‒ I asked you to stay for a while?

No.

This town needs a factory, Virgil.

Colbert come down from Chicago to build it.

I hear they're gonna hire a thousand men.

Half of 'em would be colored.

You know what that means?

- Probably got him killed. - That's what Mrs. Colbert thinks.

She wants us to catch her a killer.

No killer, no factory.

Well, that's a lot of jobs for a lot of colored people.

You follow me?

I'm going home, man.

- They're your people. - Not mine! Yours!

You made this scene.

What do you want me to do? Beg you? Is that what you're after?

Look, I've had your town up to here!

Boy, it would give me a world of satisfaction to horsewhip you, Virgil!

[chuckles]

Yeah, well ‒ [laughs]

my father used to say that.

[chuckles]

- Even did it once or twice. - Yeah, well, not enough to suit me.

Now, you listen to me.

Just once in my life I'm gonna hold my temper.

I'm tellin' you that you're gonna stay here.

You're gonna stay here if I have to go inside and call your chief of police

and have him remind you of what he told you to do.

But I don't think I have to do that, you see.

No, because you're so damned smart ‒ you're smarter than any white man ‒

you're just gonna stay here and show us all.

You've got such a big head that you could never live with yourself

unless you could put us all to shame.

You wanna know something, Virgil?

I don't think that you could let an opportunity like that pass by.

[train whistle blowing]

[bell clanging]

[Gillespie] Jess.

Jess, this is, uh ‒

This is Virgil. He's workin' for me.

Give him somethin' that runs. You fix him up, you hear?

What I fix, runs.

Who pays?

Police.

Well, you know where to find me.

[engine starts]

What you doin' here, man?

Policeman.

You're a policeman here in Sparta?

They've got a murder they don't know what to do with.

They need a whipping boy.

You got a roof?

No.

I'll find a motel.

[laughing]

Viola. [chuckles]

We got company.

[laughs]

You know what's gonna happen?

He gonna get hisself killed.

You watch and see he don't.

I'm aware of the risk, Tom, but like it or not, we're stuck with him.

Not if the chief here's right on the ball.

What do you say, Chief?

You got that ol' killer all lined up in your front sights, huh?

I'm workin' on it.

[mayor] Tom, climb off of Gillespie's back now.

You know damn well we didn't hire him off a homicide squad.

[scoffs]

Yeah, well, it's gonna be his week,

'cause Colbert's only the start.

I say this nigger won't live past Saturday.

Mrs. Colbert, can you tell me about your husband's enemies?

That's Endicott.

He's been fighting us all the way.

He sits up on his hill and runs this county.

Or did, until we moved in.

Did your husband tell you where he was going last night?

He said he wasn't sleepy.

I went to bed.

What time was that?

A little after 11:00, I think.

Did he call you, or anybody on your staff, after 11:00?

No.

Maybe the elevator boy can tell us what time he went out.

They put it on self-service after 10:00.

Did your husband use a car here?

[whirring]

[whirring continues]

[tires squeal]

[car door closes]

Find anything?

Whoever killed Colbert drove his car last night.

Well, how do you know?

Well, where are you goin'?

I'd drive up there in the car you gave me,

but I'm sure you don't want me running up there by myself, causing more trouble.

- Up where? - Eric Endicott's.

Endicott's? Oh, come on now!

None of that for you, huh, Virgil?

[backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

[man] ♪ Mm-hmm, ain't a woman yet been born ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Knows how to make the morning come ♪

♪ It's so hard to keep control Yes, it is ♪

♪ When I could sell my soul ♪

♪ For just a little light ♪

[backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

Listen, you know somethin' I don't know?

I found a piece of osmunda in Colbert's car.

- A piece of what? - On the brake pedal.

Osmunda. Fern root.

Fern root?

Oh, is Mr. Endicott here?

Yes, sir. He's out in the greenhouse. Would you follow me, please?

- Gillespie. - Mr. Endicott.

This here's Virgil.

- Mr. Tibbs. - How do you do, sir?

Oh, uh ‒ May I have Henry fetch you somethin'? Uh, some light refreshment?

No, thank you. We're all right the way we are.

Oh, I'll have something cold. Something soft. Anything.

Henry, bring in a pitcher of lemonade. I'll have one too.

Yes, sir.

Oh, I didn't know it was possible to grow this species locally.

- Oh, you like flowers? - I do.

Well, Mr. Tibbs, do you know anything about orchids?

Well, not very much, but I do like them.

Well, let me show you.

[chuckling]

Endicott's folly.

- What do you think? - It's beautiful.

It's breathtaking.

Have you a favorite, Mr. Tibbs?

Well, I'm partial to any of the epiphytics.

Why, isn't that remarkable

that of all the orchids in this place, you should prefer the epiphytics.

I wonder if you know why.

Maybe it would be helpful if you'd tell me.

Because, like the Negro,

they need care and feedin' and cultivatin'...

and that takes time.

That's something you can't make some people understand.

That's somethin' Mr. Colbert didn't realize.

Is this what the epiphytics root in?

My point! They thrive on it.

Take it away from them, they do poorly.

What do you call this material?

That's osmunda. Fern root.

Well, we don't wanna take any more of your time, Mr. Endicott.

Why'd you two come here?

To ask you about Mr. Colbert.

Let me understand this.

You two came here to question me?

[rooster crowing]

Well, your ‒ your attitudes, Mr. Endicott,

your points of view

are a matter of record.

Some people ‒

Well, let us say the people who work for Mr. Colbert

might reasonably regard you as the person least likely to mourn his passing.

We were just trying to clarify some of the evidence.

Was Mr. Colbert ever in this greenhouse,

say, last night about midnight?

Gillespie.

Yeah?

You saw it?

Oh, I saw it.

Well, what are you gonna do about it?

I don't know.

I'll remember that.

There was a time when I could have had you shot!

[Gillespie] You better damn well clear out, and I mean fast!

What about that big speech you gave me this morning?

I didn't know you were gonna slap any white man, least of all Endicott!

All right. Give me another day. Two days. I'm close.

I can pull that fat cat down.

I can bring him right off this hill.

Oh, boy.

Man, you're just like the rest of us, ain't ya?

It's all my fault.

Well, there's no point in duckin' it, Bill.

It's gonna be tough to keep you in your job now.

Now lookee here, Bill.

I don't have to tell you how urgent it is to get Tibbs outta town.

- I already told him to go. - All right.

Now, Mrs. Colbert is not gonna be back till Thursday.

You catch your guilty party by then, she's not gonna hold it against us

we had to send Tibbs home for his own good.

But you gotta do it, you hear?

I hear.

Bill?

What's made you change your mind about Tibbs?

Who says I have?

The last chief we had, he'd have shot Tibbs one second after he slapped Endicott.

Claimed self-defense.

[engine starts]

- Gillespie here. - Courtney here, sir.

All right, look, did you take Virgil down the depot?

No, sir. He just plain wouldn't go.

Shagbag just saw him heading up toward River Road.

Check.

[horn honking]

[horn continues honking]

[horn continues honking]

- Nail him! Come on. Come on. - One more time.

[shouts] Come on!

[laughing]

[horn honking]

[horn continues honking]

Stay with him. Come on. Come on. Stay with him.

[horn honks]

[tires screeching]

[chains rattling]

Okay, black boy. We come here to teach you some manners.

Now, we told you 'bout them bad manners, boy.

You better put that down.

[chuckles]

[man warbling]

[Tibbs] Why don't you come and get it, baby?

Come on, man. You ain't nothin'. Come on.

Let's get him.

Put that round your neck.

Get him there! Get him!

Get him! [shouts]

Hit him, baby. Go on. The other side.

[men shouting]

Look out, man. Get back. Watch out.

All right, hold it!

All right, boys.

You've had your fun. Now, go on. You just run along home.

Nigger lover.

[sighs] I didn't catch what you said.

Get rid of the nigger.

If you don't... we will.

Now, is that a suggestion or is that an order?

That's a warning!

I see.

I see.

Get your trash and get outta here!

Come on, move it and go!

[man groaning]

Well, you finally get the message, Virgil?

May I get in?

- Thought you left town. - Not yet.

Could you follow the same route you followed Tuesday night?

Same speed.

- Why? - Why not?

- Maybe I'd better check with the chief. - Maybe you'd better.

I wouldn't want him to slap you down for steppin' out of line,

makin' decisions on your own and all that.

He don't knock me outta my socks.

Let's get rollin', Virgil.

[man trilling]

[male vocalist] All you little birds better lock up tight

'cause there's a foul owl on the prowl tonight.

♪ Hey, little lark, get outta the dark ♪

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

♪ Cute little jay, stay outta his way ♪

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

- ♪ You just might be the quail he'll tail ♪ - [car tires screeching]

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

♪ You just might be the swallow he'll follow ♪

♪ A foul owl on the prowl ♪

♪ If you hear him hoot, scoot ♪

♪ If you pass his tree, flee ♪

♪ If you catch his eye, fly ♪

- ♪ Don't wait to say good-bye ♪ - [tapping spoon]

Take ten minutes to get myself a king-sized Coke and a wedge of pie.

[laughing]

That is if that peckerwood ain't sold out again.

Can I bring you anything?

No, I'm coming in.

[vocalist howling]

I thought I told you to get the hell outta here.

I'm not ready to leave.

I was gonna tell you all about that in the mornin', Chief.

Later! You forget about those four maniacs this afternoon?

- I need more time! - Time!

- Do I have to put you on the train myself? - I guess so!

Oh.

All right, Virgil. Just what the hell do you want?

I want to know exactly where Sam Wood was at all times on the night of the murder.

- ♪ If you pass his tree, flee ♪ - [conversation, faint]

♪ If you catch his eye, fly ♪

Virgil, if you get killed, we're gonna have one hell of a mess in this town, do you know that?

♪ He's got a yen for a pretty little hen ♪

I know.

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

♪ He's hungry for a chick So get home quick ♪

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

[hoots]

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

[hoots]

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

[sinister laughing]

♪ Foul owl on the prowl ♪

Got some real luscious cream pie for you tonight, Sam.

I mean, Officer Wood. Just like you always order.

Now, you know I don't eat that stuff.

The chief here likes his boys streamlined. Ain't that right, Chief?

Why don't you shut up, Sam.

- All right, what'll you have, Virgil? - I ain't servin' him!

Tuesday night you walked out of here at 2:40, right?

Right on the button.

Two minutes from now.

That's for him.

Now, what'd you do when you came out that night?

[clears throat] Well, I, uh ‒ I picked up the radio and called in.

Do it, please.

Go ahead, go ahead.

Uh, Wood to radio. I'm leavin' Compton's now.

[Courtney] Hey, Sam, you better look sharp. Gillespie's sniffin' around.

Give me that thing!

Courtney, I checked with your brother. He told me I didn't tell him to fix that hinge.

That means I told you. Do you read me, Courtney?

- Oh, I'll get right on it, Chief. - Oh, I'd do that if I were you.

Yes, sir. Ten-four.

[engine starts]

All right, you can move us, Officer Wood.

[dog barks in distance]

- Why'd you do that, Sam? - Do what?

Change your route back there at the corner.

Who says I changed?

Look, I oughta know what I did!

Chief, do I have to put up with this? Do I work for you, or do I work for him?

[baby crying in distance]

Good night, gentlemen.

[dog barking in distance]

I don't know. I don't know.

Well, I appreciate anything you can do.

- You know, this is highly irregular. - Yeah, I know that.

Showing our depositors' accounts.

Mm-mm. I don't know.

You sure this is an official request?

Yes, it's official. Yes.

You willing to put that in writing?

Yeah, yeah, I'll put it in writing, anyplace you'd like it.

On a police department letterhead?

I will write it on the head of a pin, if you want it there.

I gotta have somethin' for the file, you know.

I realize that, but I'm in a hurry, Mr. Henderson.

Well, we'll see.

Well, he's had an account with us for several years now.

Is that so?

Mmm.

Not a large account.

Never more than, well, um...

$208.

That was back in '62.

September.

I am not interested in '62, September. I am interested in yesterday.

Yesterday?

Well ‒

Well, according to this,

he made a deposit of... $632.

- Yesterday? - Yeah.

Well, thank you.

That must've been when I was out to lunch.

A deposit that size I'd remember.

Oh, you'll send me that letter for the file, you hear?

I'll tell you something, baby brother. The chief didn't like him, not even from the first.

- Mmm. - [door slams]

- [Tibbs] Morning. - Hey. Where do you think you're going?

[George] It's all right. Let him go.

I've just gotten off the phone with the FBI lab.

We can prove that Colbert was there in that greenhouse. Endicott's covering up.

[chuckles] I'm afraid you're a little late, Virgil.

- We already got the guilty man. - Who?

Sam.

- [laughing] Sam? - That's right.

Our man is Endicott.

You just think a minute. Didn't you catch Sam in a lie last night?

And yesterday he goes ahead and makes a big cash deposit at the bank.

If I told you once, I told you a hundred times

that I won that money matchin' quarters and halves, and it took me three years to do it!

Then why was it in big bills? 'Cause I checked at the bank.

Because whenever I got enough change, I'd trade it in on $20 bills.

And when I got up to $600, I took it down and put it in the bank.

It's simple as that.

Well, all I know is that the day Colbert was killed, he cashed a check for $900,

$600 of which is missing,

$300 which I believe you left in the wallet as sucker bait for some poor kid,

like that Harvey Oberst.

What kind of man do you think I am?

Now, don't you push me, boy!

Now listen,

if you weren't suspicious of Sam here,

why did you question him last night when he changed his route?

- I already knew why he changed his route. - Knew what?

He was afraid I'd see some naked white girl down the block.

- What you talkin' about, naked white girls? - Some girl named Delores Purdy.

She parades around in the nude at night to get her kicks.

That's ‒

- And how do you know? - I know, I know.

Well, I know, you understand?

I know that Colbert cashed a check for $900.

I know that Sam made a big cash deposit.

I know that you caught him in a lie.

And I know that's enough for me.

Come on, Sam.

Martin, lock him up.

Well?

Well... you're making a mistake. [laughing]

Don't you bet against it.

You can catch your train now, Virgil.

Tibbs?

Do you think Sam did it?

Where do I find the chief?

- What's this all about? - My business.

Hey ‒

Hey, look, Purdy.

Now, you got a complaint? Well, right here's where you file it.

What I got to say I say to the chief.

It's about Sam Wood.

All right.

- [knocking] - [Gillespie] Yeah?

Purdy's out here, sir. It's about Sam.

[Gillespie] All right. Send him in.

She is gonna have a baby. Sam Wood's baby.

Well, ask her yourself if you don't believe me.

What are you doin' here?

It's important that I hear this.

Well, I ain't talkin' 'bout this with him in the room.

Boy, you don't want a slough of trouble, you get.

You be sensible. I'm a police officer.

You gonna get him outta here, or do I gotta do it?

[chuckles] You ain't gonna do nothin'.

You just stand there and shut up.

[giggles]

Sit down, little girl.

All right now.

You tell me all about it. You just tell me how it happened.

Oh, come on, come on, girl, speak!

Well, you know how hot it's been.

Yeah.

Nights, they aren't any better.

My brother works nights.

He leaves me all alone.

This particular night, I go out on the porch.

I'm thinkin' how nice it'd be if I had a fountain drink.

Sam comes down our road,

just like he comes every night.

Passin' like a lord in that fine, big, shiny car.

Only this time he stops.

He's got a nice face, don't you think, Chief?

So he stopped.

- [mumbles] And he says ‒ - What? I didn't hear what you said.

[loudly] He says,

"Hey, little girl.

You know what the coolest spot in town is?"

And I said, "No, Sam, I guess I don't."

And he said, "A cemetery, that's where.

Know why?

'Cause they got all them big, cool tombstones.

Ever stretch out on a tombstone, Delores?

Feel all that nice, cool marble along your body?"

He said that?

You hear, Chief? You hear?

Yeah, I hear, I hear.

All right now, Sam comes along and stops in front of your house.

He starts to talk to you. What else?

Well, come on now, girl. What else, what else, what else?

Then I went for a ride with him.

- Where'd you go? - To the cemetery.

So Wood took you to the cemetery in the patrol car, right?

And then things went a little bit too far. Is that what you're saying?

Did they get a little bit outta line?

Well, come on now. Is that what you're tryin' to say?

Come on, girl! Is it or ain't it? Come on!

- Yeah, they went too far! - Well, fine!

Now, I got one more question ‒ very important.

Did he force you, or did you let him?

Don't mean a damn whether she let him or not!

She is still 16! In this state, that's rape.

I checked on that. I know the plain law on that!

I know the laws in the state of Mississippi, thank you!

- Are you sure you're pregnant? - Yes, I am pregnant!

- Courtney. - Yes, sir?

Better get in here with a pad and a pencil.

Come on in. I want you to take this all down.

You had no right to keep a nigger in the room.

Shame my little sister.

You had no right.

[door closes]

Uh, Virge, what's happenin'?

- Hi, Harv. - How are you, Virgil?

All right.

Man, uh, uh ‒

You sure saved my hide.

Listen, Harvey.

Man, uh...

if a guy knocks up a girl in this town, where can he go for help?

Uh, barbershop.

Barbershop?

[chuckles] Borrow Mr. Fanning's razor and cut your throat.

[laughing]

Well ‒ [laughs]

But suppose Mr. Fanning's razor is too dull.

Suppose he's got some real money to spread around.

Uh ‒

Well, uh...

there used to be a colored gal...

but, uh, she kept bumping her price,

and I don't know if she's still in business.

What's her name?

Well, I ain't never had to look her up,

but, uh, Packy might know.

Where do I find Packy?

Down at the pool hall.

But, man, he wouldn't tell you,

not unless I say so.

And, uh, how am I gonna say so locked up in here?

Suppose I get word to Packy that you wanna see him,

have him come here?

You'd let him bring me a cheeseburger?

Onions?

Now you're talkin'.

[Sam] Uh, uh, Virge?

[wood crunches]

Gettin' a little careless, ain't ya, Virgil?

Leaving your car parked in the road like that. Gonna get yourself killed.

Anybody'd know where you are.

- You know what this land is? - Yeah, I know what it is.

It's the site for the new factory.

I found a piece of wood in Colbert's scalp.

The lab identified it as pine.

Three people saw Colbert drive by their houses, alone,

on the way back from Endicott's.

Colbert must have picked up somebody in town and then... come out here.

Boy, you got it all figured out, ain't you, Virgil? I tell you, he didn't pick up nobody.

I tell you that Sam followed him out here in the patrol car.

Sam come up behind him, just like I come up behind you.

I heard you coming. Colbert would have heard too.

Yeah, he heard! He turned and he got smashed!

He was hit from behind.

If Delores Purdy hadn't come into your office, I never would have seen the truth.

I was hung up trying to get Endicott for personal reasons.

Do you know what I'm gonna do, Virgil?

I'm gonna take you over to Brownsville and put you on the bus myself!

You aren't taking me anywhere, you dig?

You're holding the wrong man!

What do you mean I'm holding the wrong man?

I got the motive, which is money, and the body, which is dead!

- What makes you so sure? - Why do you doubt it?

Because Colbert was killed here,

then driven back to town in his own car and dumped on the streets.

Sam couldn't have driven two cars.

What do you want?

Give me till morning.

[chuckling]

You know ‒

You know, Virgil, you are among the chosen few.

How's that?

Well, I think that you're the first human being that's ever been in here.

[chuckling] Well, you can't be too careful, man.

[chuckles]

You know a lot of things, don't ya?

Well, just what do you know about insomnia?

Bourbon can't cure it.

[chuckling]

Well, that's for sure.

Now, look.

I got no wife, I got no kids.

Boy, I got a town that don't want me.

[train horn blowing in distance]

Oh, and I got an air-conditioner that I have to oil myself

and a desk with a busted leg.

And on top of that, I got ‒ [sighs]

this, uh... place.

Now, don't you think that'd drive a man to take a few drinks?

I'll tell you a secret.

Nobody comes here.

Never.

You married?

No.

Ever been?

No.

[sighs]

Ever been close to it?

Close to it.

Don't you get just... a little lonely?

No lonelier than you, man.

Oh, now, don't get smart, black boy.

I don't need it.

No pity, thank you.

No, thank you.

[knocking]

- Yeah? - Chief?

- Yeah? - You know where I can find Virgil?

Who are you?

Packy, Chief. Packy Harrison.

I'm a friend of Harv's.

You got something for me?

Yeah.

Where you goin'?

Where whitey ain't allowed.

What the hell does that mean?

You gave me till morning, remember?

- [car door closes] - [engine starts]

[engine revving]

[car pulls away]

- He's gone. - Hell, he could have exchanged cars by now.

- Let's dog him. - Now you stick here. We'll keep cruisin'.

You find him, you come back for me, you hear?

[Packy] That's her place here.

You want me to wait?

No, thank you, Packy.

You go on home.

[dog barking in distance]

[bell jingles]

Mrs. Bellamy?

People around here call me Mama Caleba.

Mama, I'm not from around here.

But you can put me on my train.

You talk crazy.

You gin drunk?

Just homesick.

Lord, Lord!

Whisper two little words, Mama, and I'm on my way.

Maybe... I don't want to sever a beautiful chile like you right out.

A man's name.

First name, last name.

The man who's payin' you for Delores Purdy's abortion.

You're the boy who works for Mr. Charlie.

I thought that's who you was.

Why you wanna do that?

Why you wanna help the police like that?

They stealin' your soul.

They chew you up and spit you out.

I'm not here to lay a finger on you, Mama.

It's the white boy I want.

What you got against him? He's paying for his fun.

How much?

I'll bet you he's not paying you more than a hundred.

You know how much he's got in his pocket right now?

More than $600.

[laughing]

That cracker? [laughing continues]

Where'd he come off getting 600?

He killed Mr. Colbert.

- Oh ‒ - [objects clattering]

You gone crazy out of your mind.

Now, listen and hear me good, Mama, please.

Don't make me have to send you to jail.

Lot you care.

There's white time in jail and there's colored time in jail.

The worst kind of time you can do is colored time.

Chile,

you promise ‒

Give me understandin'.

I got used to better.

You won't take it away?

I won't take it away.

Well, I don't know his name,

but she's comin' here tonight,

get herself straight.

[footsteps approaching]

[bell jingles]

[gasps]

Let go! Let me go!

- Let go of her! - Let go of me! Let go of me!

- Let go of her! - Let go! Let go of me!

I'm gonna teach you, boy.

No club this time, man?

Gun's not smart.

The way you killed Colbert was much smarter.

You killed Colbert.

He's crazy.

Crazy.

[tires screeching]

[horn honks]

- [chattering, laughing] - Look at him!

You had me clear.

- [laughing] - Come on! Get him!

Come on. Come on.

- Kill him! - Get him up there.

- You got it. - Okay, nigger.

Your time, nigger.

Look in her purse.

- What's that mean? - She's got $100 to pay for an abortion.

Listen to that ‒ that fancy ‒

Money she got from Ralph.

You gonna listen to him?

He got her to tell you that Sam Wood did it.

He made a fool outta you, Purdy.

- Delores. - Liar!

You stinkin' liar!

- My purse! - [Ralph] Let go of her!

You turned my little sister... into a field slut.

- [gunshot] - [Delores] Lloyd!

- Lloyd! - Hey, man. Step back. He's got a gun.

He's dead.

- [cries] - [car peeling out]

Oh, Lloyd. Oh, Lloyd.

[whimpering]

I'm sorry.

That night when I left her house, I was going to the diner,

and Mr. Colbert drove by, so I hitched a ride with him, that's all.

I said, "I sure would like a job in that new factory once you get started."

And he said, "Sure."

And I said, well, I wondered where it was gonna be.

He said, well, that field we were coming to right up ahead was it.

He was gonna stop and show me.

I said to myself, man, he's askin' for it.

I said, now, Ralph, all you gotta do when we get out

is just sneak up behind him

and just tap him.

And then just claim that somebody jumped us from the bushes.

That's all.

I didn't mean to kill him.

Yeah.

All right, Courtney, that's enough.

[Courtney] All right, come on now.

[voice rewinding]

[Ralph's voice] That's all.

I didn't mean to kill him.

[horn blowing]

[crossing bell dinging]

[train brakes squealing]

Well, got your ticket?

Here you are.

Thank you.

- Bye-bye. - Bye.

Virgil.

You take care, you hear?

Yeah.

[man] Board!

[man] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

♪ I've got trouble wall-to-wall ♪

♪ Whoa, yes, I have ♪

♪ I repeat ♪

♪ I repeat, in the night ♪

♪ Must be an ending to it all ♪

[female backup singers] ♪ Ooh ♪

[man] ♪ Oh, Lord, it won't be long ♪

♪ Yeah, you be strong ♪

♪ And it'll be all right ♪

[backup singers] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪

[man] ♪ In the heat of the night ♪