07x17 - Conspiracy of One

[bunniefuu]

♪ In the heat of the night

♪ I've got troubles
wall to wall ♪

♪ In the heat of the night

♪ Yeah

♪ Must be an ending
to it all ♪

♪ Oh

♪ But hold on

♪ It won't be long

♪ Just you be strong

♪ And it'll be all right

♪ In the heat of the night

♪ In the heat
of the night ♪

Well, here we go,
miss bridges.

Mary,
we found mr. Nathan

Taking his constitutional
out along route this time.

Constitutional?
I was running
for my life,

Trying to get away
from that woman.

Daddy, please.
Don't fight with mom.

You just wait
till I get you home.

Sergeant,
I'm here for chief forbes,
if you please.

Just a minute,
mr. Colmer.

Mary, can you take
your folks outside
and settle this?

Bye-bye.

I've been waiting
long enough.

Oh, yes, sir.

Why don't we see
if chief forbes

Is ready
to see you now?

Come on, billy.
I tell you what.

I'll give you
your regular cell.

Chief will be
just a moment.

[Telephone rings]

Sparta police
department.
May we help you?

[Laughter]

And now I have to
listen to this?

I'll see you then.

I'm looking forward
to it, cory.

Bye.bye.

I only need a minute
of your time, chief.

Come on in,
mr. Colmer.
Come on in.

What can I do for you?

Virgil tibbs hasn't
worked here for months,

But he's still
on the books.

Well, he's officially
absent-without-pay.

That's the way
chief gillespie left it.

Exactly.

Well...

It's fouling up
the city computer,

So I'd be obliged
if you'd get his signature
on a separation notice.

I will certainly
look into the matter.

I hope you can do
more than that.

In fact,
I'm depending on it,

And I insist on it.

Good day, chief.

And what the hell
do you think
you're doing, parker?

Is this your car,
mr. Colmer?

You know it is.

Well, sir,
you see that sign
right there?

I'm here on official
police business.

Well, sir,
"police parking only" means

Police parking only.

I'll remember this,
parker.

Believe me,
I'll remember it.

Have a nice day.

O.k...

Now, how do I look?

For an ex-policeman,
you look fine.

For a lawyer,
let me see now.

Mm-mm.

You'll have to buy
some new shoes.

Lawyers are known
for fine shoes.

Maybe if I keep these
under the table,

No one would
notice them.

Virgil,
there's something

I've been meaning
to ask you about.

Sure, etta. Anything.

Remember I told you
I got a ticket?

Another ticket?

Remember I told you
the deputy was ridiculous,

Saying I was driving
too slow on the highway?

Mm-hmm. Were you?

I slowed down because
he was following me

And making me nervous.

That's a novel defense.
You try it.

You try it!
You're the lawyer!

Please?

Etta, why don't you
just pay the ticket?

Because it was just
plain harassment,

And it'll
send my insurance

Somewhere over the moon.

Virgil,
I'm asking for help.

O.k.,
When is the hearing?

Tomorrow.

A.m.

Well...

O.k., Look,
I better get going

Before all
those little weenies
in jackets are gone.

Love you. Love you.

Now you drive carefully.

And have some fun
for a change.

All right,
I'll try! Bye!

Pleasure.

Nice to meet you.

Are you
having fun yet?

No, I'm not too hot
on these affairs.

Hello, cory.

Want me to find you
a pretty lady?

No, I can find one,
but I just don't know
what to say to one.

She'll know
what to say.

Let it happen.

Shall we?

Yeah. We're going to
sneak on out of here.

Lucky you.

See you later, virgil.

O.k.

Come on, virgil.
Mingle.

These folks are clients.

Evening, pat,
virgil.

Jake, patty.

Hi, ben.

Now, ben,

Fundamentally,
he's a prosecutor.

Well...
Yeah, maybe so.

We put a few away,
didn't we, gerard?

Well,
forget about that.

Think about putting away
a better income.

Oh, abby, that's enough.

I'll have
another damn drink

If I want one.

Oh, dear.

Y'all excuse me.

Abby, please, now,

Not another blowout,
come on.

Not tonight.

Chuckie, please.

You are truly
a pathetic excuse
for a man.

Well, hey, abby.

Is your husband giving you
a hard time, darling?

He can't...

And I wouldn't let him
if he could.

Now, abby,

You're just
a little bit mad
with old chuck.

I'm afraid
she's a lot mad
at me, ben,

And some of it
is my fault.

I may take
your legal advice, ben,

But let's
leave it at that.

I wanna go.

Suits me fine.

Had a fabulous time.

She's just a little bit
temperamental tonight.

If she wasn't
your client,

You might call her
something else.

She's our client?

Oh, big time, virgil.

Abby booker.

Her daddy was
jack maysell,

Big banker.

And...what's he?

Chuck?

He's a tall dog
on a short leash.

[Abby]
excuse me!

Would the person
who parked their blue thing
in front of my car

Kindly move it?

Thank you.

Excuse me.

I think I'm the one
with the little blue thing.

Be back in a minute.

Oh, man.

How does chuck booker
put up with that?

He ain't no saint.

Believe me.

Well...

No sermon?

What's the point?

Ben taylor is a jerk.

I wanna dump him.

O.k., We'll dump him.

What's the matter
with you?

And what are you
sweating about?

I don't know.

I feel fine.

Well, you look
just terrible.

Put that out.

I will not.

Aah!

[Honking]

What's the matter
with you, moron?

You got sudden delusions

Of being a man?

You know, abby,

I really tried
to work with you.

I really did,

But you are
a mean person...

And a low person...

And a person

I've truly come
to despise.

Oh, please.

Remember to take
your medication

When we get home.

We ain't going home,
abby.

At least you're not.

What the hell
are you doing?

Stop the car!

Oh, lord, have mercy!

Are you o.k., Fella?

My wife.

Turn the ignition off.

And don't you move.

I'll call .

[Telephone rings]

Sparta police emergency.

Yes, ma'am.
Listen, there's been
a bad accident

About a mile out elm,
just past wilson.

The woman's dead.
I don't know
about the guy.

Wilson road,
a fatality.

Can you describe
the vehicle?

No, ma'am.
I gotta go.

Sir, can I have
your name?

Uh, no'm.
Y'all just hurry, hear?

Fatal t.a.,
Elm past wilson.

Unknown casualties.

Report by passerby.

Hey, parker...

That isn't
chuck booker's car,
is it?

Uh, yes, sir.

Sure is.

Uh, real bad,
I'm afraid.

Where can I park?

Just pull off
over there

And turn on
your flashers.

O.k., I got it.

Lonnie, what happened?

Mr. Booker says
he was trying
to miss a deer.

Damn deer
came out of nowhere.

Put your head down,
sir.

I went off the road.

Mrs. Booker is dead.

Go on ahead, brian.

Man, this is
just terrible.

I wonder...

Why she hit
the windshield so hard.

Well, she wasn't
wearing a seat belt.

No, she took it off...

'Cause I saw her
put it on.

Do you think
this is something?

I don't know
what I think.

I know what I saw.

Hi. You going
to court today?

No, I came here
actually to see you.

Oh.

Is it business
or personal?

Well, kind of
a mixture of both.

Oh, that sounds
intriguing.

The business part
is depressing.

Oh. Oh, well,
I can handle that.

Come on.

Now, could you bring
virgil tibbs' service record
up on that computer?

Sure.

What are you
looking for?

I want to see
what he's entitled to

Under the city
pension plan.

Chief forbes had a visit
from holly colmer

Who's pushing
to have virgil

Sign his separation papers.

I never did that
when I was chief

'Cause I figured virgil
might change his mind.

Well, no chance of that
now that he's lawyering
with ben taylor.

I thought these things
were supposed to be fast.

[Beep]

I got it.

Well,
what does it say?

Well, let's see.

" Years, months
of service."

Qualifying period
is seven.

If virgil
signs off now,

He's going to lose
his pension by two months.

Well, I'm glad I didn't
get him to sign.

He's still going to
have to sign off.

If he doesn't,
the county clerk
will sign for him

And note his refusal.

Why didn't colmer
get the clerk to do that?

Well, maybe he did,

But you know david bard
is the acting clerk,

And he's a good friend
of virgil's.

Uh-huh.

I really hate
this kind of thing.

While some may view
this kind of behavior

As harmless,
even ridiculous,

I do not.

The fact is
we cannot tolerate

Repeated violations
of the law.

Mr. Patrick,

This is not
the first time

You've appeared
before this court,

And I fear
it will not be your last.

My patience with you...

You're late.

Have they
called you yet?

No.

Well,
then I'm not late.

So I have
no compunction

In sentencing you
to days

In sheriff gillespie's home

For men who can't
keep their pants on

In public places.

[Bangs gavel]

Next!

She's a tough baby.

Shh!

Ms. Etta kibby.

Uh, your honor,

May I approach the bench?

You may.

Uh, virgil tibbs,
your honor,

Attorney
for ms. Kibby.

Charged under title ,

Section --

"Driving at less than
miles an hour

On a
designated highway."

And how does
your client plead,
mr. Tibbs?

Not guilty,
your honor.

I see.

Well, now,

I'm going to
continue this case

Until tomorrow
at : .

Excuse me,
your honor,

But why are you
continuing this case?

Because the deputy
who cited ms. Kibby
is not present.

Then surely the charges
should be dismissed.

I mean,
if the deputy
is such a flake

That he can't even
appear in court,

How can his evidence
be considered reliable?

Deputy walker
is not a flake.

Well, where is he?

He's on a personal
matter for me.

He is my son.

Oh.

Well...

: Sounds just fine,
your honor.

[Bang]

Next!

I guess I'm just
goin' to hang.

I'm real sorry to have
to put you through this,
mr. Booker.

Poor abby.

If only she'd just
put on the damn belt

Like I asked her.

Terribly...
Terribly sorry,
chuck.

You mind
if I leave now?

It's just too much.

'Course.

Please.

That poor man.

Hmm...

Any findings, doc?

Well, her blood alcohol
was high.

Yeah,
but she wasn't driving,

So that means nothing.

Husband came through it
just fine.

Combination of
airbag and seat belt
did the job.

Too bad she didn't have
the same protection.

Death certificate

And my full report.

Thanks a lot, doc.

Dr. Anderson,
extension .

Deer?

There's a few of them
around here, I guess.

Not too many
out there.

One could cause
an accident.

Some people
put deer whistles
on their pickups

To scare them
out of the road.

Lonnie,
I can't tell you why,

But there's something
about chuck booker

That just starts
an alarm bell ringing.

It's the funniest thing.
I hear it, too.

Virgil...

Yeah?

Can you handle
abby booker's probate?

I'm up to my neck
in depositions.

Sure,
but I should warn you,

This will be my first.

Well, it's all there
in the will.

Anything mysterious,
just give me a holler.

Uh, yeah.

[Buzz]

Uh, yeah?

Oh, sure.

Put him on.

Lonnie!

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

Uh...

Give me minutes, huh?

O.k.

How are you doing,
virgil?

Not bad, lonnie.

Good to see you. Yeah, same here.

So, you're doing
my old job, huh?

Yeah, at the moment.

No skid marks.

Yeah, I know.

That's what's
bothering you, right?

Well, I just
can't understand

Why the guy
didn't hit his brakes.

Well, sometimes
people panic.

Freeze up.

Yeah, it can happen.

You got an estimate
of the impact speed?

Yeah, it was about
miles per hour.

Let's say
there was no deer.

Yeah.

Chuck plans this wreck.

He drives
into a tree,

And he releases
abby's seat belt

Just before impact.

Yeah,
but how do you prove
something like that?

Oh, I can't touch it.

He's a client.

Well, then what are you
doing here, virgil?

Holly colmer, can I
ask you a question?

Do I have a choice?

Why are you
cheating virgil tibbs
out of his pension?

Excuse me?

That's a wild,
unfounded accusation.

Why else would you
personally be dealing

With a clerical matter?

Well, I'd call it
cleaning up
after gillespie.

Virgil tibbs
still has a wife
and kids to support.

Doesn't that mean
anything to you?

Harriet,
you favor tibbs,

So you want
to bend the rules.

I mean, we're talking
a lot of money here,

And you--you're
always lecturing us
about ethics.

You know, if I wasn't
a gentleman,

I'd call you a bad name,
like hypocrite.

No.
You're kidding me.

All right. Thanks.

Uh, lonnie.

Yeah.

Found out
what happened
to the bookers' car.

They towed it out
to rupert's garage,

And the adjuster
came out
and wrote it off.

Fine, but I still
want to see it.

Then they sent it
to the wreckers
for salvage.

Did that car
go to the crusher?

I'm afraid so.

That's a real
foul-up.

That car was supposed
to be held.

Hey, sheriff.

Chief's waiting
for you.

Hey, bill.

Good morning.

The man who made
this call about
the booker wreck,

He didn't
leave his name,

But he did leave
his voice

On this emergency
line tape.

There's been
a bad accident

About a mile out
just past wilson.

The woman's dead.
I don't know
about the guy.

Did you get that?

You got any idea
who that is?

Sure, I do.

It's a fella
named goody tate.

I know him well.

Why wouldn't he
identify himself?

'Cause he's
a moonshiner.

He avoids all contact
with the police.

He's probably
got a still

Right up there
near that crash site.

Could you talk to him?

Sure I can. Yes.

Oh.

Uh, you hear anymore

About virgil tibbs's
papers?

No.
You got any ideas

What we should do
about it?

Not yet.

Hey, bill. Lonnie.

Lieutenant, booker's car
got crushed.

Great.

I still want to
see that buckle.

Me, too.

Here's the equipment
requisition.

We'll have
to cut it out.

Can we get right on it?

That's the plan.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

That's him.

Ms. Etta kibby.

Mr. Tibbs, you wish
to enter a plea
for your client?

Yes, your honor.

Ms. Kibby pleads
not guilty.

Why? Does she deny
traveling too slowly?

Uh, your honor,

If I may cite
some recent cases
from other jurisdictions,

In particular,

The state of new hampshire
vs. Amburger,

No, counselor, please.
No citations.

Can I say something?

Please go ahead.

I know that's your boy,

And virgil here is mine,
or close to it.

Probably I was
going too slow,

But the deputy scared me
following too close behind,

And all the time
big semi-trucks
going at .

Now, I'm sure the deputy
is a fine officer

And a fine son,

But this ticket was
just plain wrong,

And that's what
I have to say about it.

I agree.

You'd give me a ticket
to meet your quota,
wouldn't you?

No, mom.

Case dismissed.

Next!

Thank you.

I'm sorry
for jumping in
like that, virgil,

But I just had
to speak my mind.

Sure you did.
You spoke well.

Well, it runs
in the family.

You got something else
on your mind?

I think booker
caused that crash
deliberately

To k*ll abby.

Well, maybe he did.

The problem is...

He's ben's client,

So that makes him
my client, too.

Then you better
decide

If you're going
to be a lawyer

Or a detective...

'Cause
being them both

Going to put you
in a whole lot
of trouble.

Thank you.

[Rock music plays]

[Buzzer]

Hey there!

Uh, sorry to disturb you,
mr. Booker,

In your moment of, uh...

Grief.

Yeah. It's a celebration
of abby's life, officer.

It's a wake.

It's a tradition
in our family,

An irish tradition.

It is?

Mm-hmm.

I'm sorry.

Well, sir, whatever.

Um, well,
the truth is,

We got
a little problem.

Your vehicle
was taken
to the wreckers

Before it was
properly inspected.

Inspected?

Inspected
for what?

Uh, I don't know.

Do you know, corbin?

Just to complete
the report, I guess.

So if you'd, uh,
sign this, uh, release,

We can properly
inspect it.

If that's all,

I'm inviting you
to leave.

We accept.

Thank you, sir.

Hey, virgil.

I thought you'd
be interested
in this.

Yeah. Thanks
for the call.

Just like opening
a can of sardines.

There's no defect here.

This belt.

Well, anything there,
parker?

No, sir. It's clean.

Kind of looks
like it's been
wiped clean.

Well, chuck is dirty.

What a surprise.

It's just outrageous.

Bad enough
to lose abby,

But to have
one of your own people

Casting aspersions
on me--

Look, chuck, I said
I'd get into it.

Get into it?
I want you to
get me out of it.

I'll take care of it.
Don't worry.

Ain't that
the same guy

Handling my probate,
tibbs the cop?

No, not anymore.

I'm going to handle that
personally.

You know,
I got to wonder
if abby wasn't right.

She wanted
to dump you, ben.

I was saying
how great you are.

Chuck, please.

Now, are we going to
get back on track?

I'll find
my own way out,
thank you.

Virgil, you in there?

Sure. What's up?

Excuse me, virgil.

Mm-hmm.

I just had
a disturbing
conversation

With chuck booker.

He said you encouraged
the sparta police

To go over that wreck
with a fine-tooth comb.

That's not true.

They had
their own suspicions
about that wreck

From the beginning.

Are you helping them
with their investigation?

I guess you could
say so, yeah.

I guess you could
say so?

Do you have any idea

What a bad position
you've put
this firm in?

I'm sorry, ben,
I really am.

Well, so am i,

And I've got
some thinking to do

About some
important things.

Ben...

You can have
my resignation
right now.

I didn't become
a lawyer

To defend someone
I know personally

Who's a m*rder*r,

And abby was
your client, too.

Well,
she was a pain,

But she didn't
deserve to die,

And I'm sorry,
but I guess
I just wasn't made

To look
the other way at...

Ohh.

All your evidence
will be knocked
to pieces in court.

It's very simple.
There is no case.

Gerard, we just
laid it out for you.

How about the fact
he never hit his brakes?

He panicked.

Pushed
the gas instead.
It happens.

What about the buckle
being wiped clean?

Ahh, intriguing,
but not compelling.

And folks will buy
this deer story.

Most everybody's
seen them running
in the road,

Probably swerved
themselves.

What if someone said
there were no deer at all?

Like a witness?

Then you'd have a case.

Do you have a witness?

We don't know yet.

Hiya, goody.
How you doing?

Well, if it ain't
the high sheriff.

I ain't sure if this
is an honor or not.

Well, it's always a pleasure
to see you.

This your mexican
deputy I heard about?

American.

You?

Sure enough.

From puerto rico.

Oh, I keep forgetting
about puerto rico.

Uh, goody, about
that phone call you made

To the sparta police.

I didn't make
no phone call.

Reporting
that accident.

I never reported
no accident, sheriff.

Goody, your voice
was recorded,

And I identified it.

Now, uh, I
came out here

Looking
for information.

Uh, I wouldn't want to start
looking for a still.

Well, I ain't said
I got no still.

Well, neither
have i, yet.

Uh-huh.

Well, it was me
that turned
that call in.

I couldn't believe it.

Now what do you suppose
caused that wreck?

I have no idea.

None at all.

Did you see any deer
run in the road?

Not a one.

There weren't nothing
on that road.

All of a sudden,
the driver
just swerved off

For no good reason
at all.

Well, thank you,
goody. Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Uh, i--i think
I'm going to have
to, uh, ask you

To tell
that story again,
if you don't mind.

No, bill,
I'll tell it again.

You know I'd do
anything for you.

Fine, goody. Fine.

"Ashes to ashes,
dust to dust,

"Earth to earth.

"The peace of god,

"Which passeth
all understanding

"Shall guard your hearts
and your thoughts

"In christ jesus.

"Now unto our god
and father,

"Be the glory
forever and ever.

Amen."

So sorry.

So very sorry.

Thank you.

Thank you, robert.

Mr. Booker,
can we talk to you?

Leave me alone.

Got no respect
for a bereaved person?

Not when they cause
the bereaving.

What the hell
you saying?

Chief, is this
really necessary?

I'm charging you
with the m*rder
of your wife.

Ben, this is what
I was talking about.

This is tibbs's fault.

Now I want you
to handle it.

Turn around.

Are you seriously
going to cuff me?

Seriously.
Both hands.

That's what we do
with m*rder
suspects.

Hold on, lonnie.

Chief, I got
to protest.

My client's
a highly respected man
in this community.

I know you got
a protest, ben.

Duly noted,

But booker's
going to jail.

Ben.

Ben!

Be sure to read him
his rights.

Ben, you take care
of this.

And you get me
out of this!

And in conclusion,
your honor,

Due the the heinous
nature of this crime,

And our concern
about the accused
taking flight,

We are requesting
that bail be denied.

Thank you.

All right, mr. Darnell.

Your objections
are clear enough.

Counselor, you have
anything to say to that?

Uh, I do, judge.

Firstly, my client
absolutely denies

The prosecution's
allegations,

And secondly,

Since he is
a substantial person

With significant assets
in this county,

If he's not
to be released
on his own recognizance,

Then we are requesting
that bail be set

At no more
than $ , .

Chief forbes, you have
anything to say?

Yes, your honor.

Mr. Booker here
may have assets
in the county

And elsewhere.

I would like
to oppose bail

On the grounds
that he is a flight risk.

Thank you, chief.

This court views the charges
against mr. Booker

As very serious.

Bail will be set
at $ , .

My client
will make that bail.

Fine.

Next!

[Gavel pounds]

Excuse me, judge,
but, uh, there's
something else.

Go ahead,
counselor.

For various reasons,

I will not be able
to represent mr. Booker

In this case.

I will remain
as attorney of record

Only until mr. Booker
can find
satisfactory counsel.

So if it please
the court, uh,

May I be excused?

You are excused,
mr. Taylor.

The defendant
will be held

Until bail
is arranged.

[Gavel pounds]

Bailiff.

Hey, virgil.

Hello, ben.

I thought about
what you said
about abby.

She was a terrible
person at times,

But I was
quite fond of her.

And chuck,
what about him?

Do you think
he did it?

Oh, yeah.

Abby'd really
cracked down
on his spending,

And, it
just wouldn't be
quite decent of me

To defend a man
I knew was guilty
of m*rder.

Glad to see
you feel that way.

Decency's a fine thing
if you can afford it,

And right now,
I can afford it.

Buy you lunch,
counselor?

Accepted.

Now i--you think
I don't know
what you're doing?

Oh, I'm just looking,
ms. Etta,

But the fragrance alone
tells me

This is going
to be really good.

Bill, you'll pardon me
for asking so,

But why you still
live alone?

Seem like
you don't have to.

I'm waiting for word
from the second party.

You better say the word
for yourself.

I have.

But your voice was weak
when you said it, I hear.

Your voice got to be
strong and true.

[Door opens]

Who's that?

That's virgil.
Now, where's harriet?

Here.

Sorry I'm late, bill.

I had stuff
to go over with ben.

I hear he gave up booker
as a client.

He's o.k.

I like working
with him.

[Doorbell rings]

[Etta]
that's harriet.

I'll get it.

Can I get you
a drink?

No, thanks.
That store-bought liquor

Gets me up at night.

I--i think forbes
very much appreciates
your help on this.

I know, but I kind of
felt funny giving it.

Well, there she is.hi.

Welcome. Welcome.

What is this?

Open it and see.

"Mr. Tibbs, this is
to inform you

"That by order
of the city council,

"We are extending you
a waiver

"This waiver confirms

"That your city pension
is fully vested

And will begin payment
at age ."

Oh, harriet! Thank you!

Sure. You're welcome.

But I didn't put in
enough time.

How'd you do it?

Pure intimidation.

Oh, thank you.

I really am blessed.

Well, now that you
feel blessed,

Maybe you can
bless the stew.