05x12 - The Landlord

[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.

Come on, boys.
I can'’t be wasting time.

Got lots to do
before I leave.

That stuff you taking
ain'’t yours.

It'’s all
miss joleen johnson'’s.

Well, she can have it...

Soon as she pays me
last four months rent.

You tell her that.

I told you
she left sparta.

Where'’s the boy?
I'’ll find out from him.

We don'’t know.

He'’s living with
that cop virgil tibbs.

Who ask you?

I say what I want
no matter who ask.

Why don'’t you
take that one back
with you to shreveport?

I got some good info
on that landlord,

But it'’s going to
cost y'’all some money.

Y'’all expect me
to do you favors,

Just do me likewise.

You'’re wiping us out,

And we'’re
paying you for it.

What?

Paying you to let us die here,

And for the cr*ck
that'’s going to k*ll us.

Tell him,
brother.

Tell him!

What'’s
going to happen?

Nothing.

Everybody'’s scared
of the two bad asses.

You'’re not making
much sense, herbie marr.

Every man'’s got to pay
for where he lives.

He don'’t like it,
he leaves,

But he pays.

As for what y'’all do
with the rest of your money,

That'’s your choice.

We got another
choice, man.

We could k*ll you
in self-defense.

Something
could sure enough
happen one day.

You on the porch there!

You got a kid named
bobby johnson living here?

Hello!

I say I'’m looking
for a black kid--
bobby johnson.

Can you hear me?

I think you can.

I can.

I can hear you
all the way back
in the kitchen.

Hi.

Keen philbrick.

I think we'’ve
said hello or
waved or something.

Yeah.

Something.

City council meeting
maybe somewhere?

Mm-hmm.

Somewhere.

Reason I'’m looking
for the boy--

Um, his mama
owes me $1,600.

I'’d like to
get that off her.

The boy
doesn'’t live here.

I'’m told he is.

Someone'’s mistaken.

I don'’t think so.

I'’m sure you'll excuse me.

♪ There is a balm
in gilead ♪

♪ To make
the wounded whole ♪

♪ There is a balm
in gilead ♪

♪ To heal the sick,
sick soul... ♪

Bobby, I need
some help here.

Hi, miss tibbs--
later, man.

There are tomatoes,
bananas, and apples
on the seat.

Hello, mrs. Reese.

Miss tibbs.

What you got there?

Ooh.
That looks good.

Bought it
at the roadside stand.

I couldn'’t resist, besides,
I love that old man.

Maybe bobby
will eat some fruit
if you bring it.

Bobby, I have
something for you.

It'’s an english handbook.

Grammar, spelling, so on.

It'’s dry reading,
but I want you to
go through it.

You'’ll be taking
a placement test.

I want you past
remedial classes.

I wish school
would start,

But I hate
leaving my job.

I'’m saving money
for mama.

Maybe mr. Hanson
can use you
after school.

He don'’t need
nobody--

He doesn'’t
need anybody?

He doesn'’t
need anybody
but in the mornings.

Well, school comes first.

This book'’s for math
and computers.

Tell miss tibbs
what that boy told you.

What?

Don'’t make
no difference now.

Landlord went through
his mama'’s house
this morning,

Took away every stick
of furniture.

Nothing I can do.

Can he do that,
miss tibbs,

Without giving a chance
to pay what'’s owed?

It don'’t matter.
We can'’t pay it
anyhow.

I'’ll talk to
my husband about this.

I got coffee made fresh,
miss tibbs.

Sounds good.

It'’s filled with
unsavory characters.

Excuse me.

Go ahead, sweet.

O.k. He'’s got a guy
down there in a suit,

Carries a notebook,
says nothing.

Two uglies
move stuff around.

A woman spies for him,
among other things.

Do we know more
than before?

Can we prove the
drug business?

Sure. I mean, uh...

Dawes says he can
prove it for us.

Yeah.
For his usual fee.

Jimmy'’s got to
go on living, right?

Yeah.

Question is, how long will
philbrick go on living?

I hate v*olence,
especially
down there.

It don'’t matter
who kills who.

We'’ll get blamed
for letting it happen.

Philbrick doesn'’t get
down there very much,
does he?

He just goes down
to handle
special problems.

But we should still
keep an eye on him.

He ought to
hire his own
private security.

White law protecting
the white landlord.

That'’s what we're
going to hear next.

I'’ve heard it
already.

It'’s a no-win game.

Well, now, sweet,
we'’re not supposed
to win it.

Nobody is.

The game is supposed
to come out even.

Our job is
to make sure it does.

Anyhow, the overnight'’s
on your desk.

Thank you.

All right.

Hey, chief.

Philbrick was at my house
looking for bobby--

Well, really looking
for the mother.

Now, why?

He can'’t get any money
out of that woman.

It'’s policy--

Wants to let the
world know rents
will be collected

Regardless
of circumstances.

Aunt etta says
he still maintains
a house here.

Oh, yes.

He'’s the last of
an old, old family,

Widely and warmly
disliked.

[Honking]

You got my money?

Not me.

I want to leave
tomorrow.

Chelly'’s flying in.

With my money?

Chelly want to
discuss things.

I want to see
that money.

We'’re a little worried
about philbrick
pharmacies.

What?

That'’s what the cats
call your two
cr*ck houses

'’Cause all the different
products you handle.

See, you getting
a famous name.

Well, the pharmacies
are closed.

We need different
locations.

I think maybe I need
different partners,

Maybe new orleans people

Who'’ll be glad
to do me that favor.

Still worried about
that dude in the bottoms?

Chelly'’s to k*ll him.

Why don'’t you take care
of that yourself?

'’Cause it's got to come
from the outside.

Everybody'’s got to
understand it comes

From somebody
bigger than me.

That'’s what
we'’ve got to do
to control things.

Well, uh...

Chelly don'’t like
k*lling people,

But, uh...

He'’ll do
what he needs to.

What'’s hanson
pay you?

About $12 a day.

I made about $145
so far.

Well, did he take
any taxes out?

Uh-uh.

Well, then, uh...

I guess you'’re
what they call

An independent
contractor.

Maybe.

What is it?

Well, that'’s where
you pay your own
taxes and benefits.

That'’s me.

Sure. That'’s you.

Hiya, bill.

Interesting feller
bought gas here
from me today.

Twice this month
he'’s been here.

Once last month.

Interesting how?

Expensive car,
virginia plates,

Black guy.

Wouldn'’t be
the governor of
virginia, would he?

That'’s funny,

But if he was
virginia'’s governor,

He'’d stay
at one of our classy
motels, wouldn'’t he?

Probably.

And not miss calkins'’
unwhite rooming house
on crabtree.

I reckon not.

And he wouldn'’t be
coming through sparta
every two weeks either.

Ed...

Next time he comes in
here for gas,

I want you to write down
his license number.

Sure '’nough.

Right.

I wanted to pay today.

Why?

'’Cause you're taking me
to my mama'’s house.

I'’m going
to kenard anyway.

I'’m staying
at your house free.

You'’ll be paying
for that.

When?you'’re going to
drive for me.

You mean now?

No, no. Not till
you'’re old enough
for a license.

By that time
I'’ll be retired.

I'’ll need somebody
to drive me around

So I can
sit and gaze
at all the scenery.

For how long...

Till my debt'’s paid?

20, 27 Years.

Who'’s that?

My aunt barbarella.

Oh.

How you doing,
bobby boy?

I'’m fine.

Is mama inside?

Uh-huh. Yeah.
Lying down.

She'’s not
feeling good
today, though.

Uh...

This is
chief gillespie.

Mm-hmm.

I'’ll see you
later, chief.

Morning, sir.

Good morning.

Um...

Has she seen the doctor?

Uh-huh. Just went.

First since
bobby was born.

She o.k.?

No, sir, chief.

She be dying
pretty soon now.

Day or so, I say.

Doctor say
any minute.

Awful sudden,
isn'’t it?

Yes, sir.

Whole lot of
bad old woman
stuff come up

And just ran '’round
all over everywhere.

No chance.

Oh, lord.

[Honking]

[Honking]

Delong?

Delong.

Harriet delong?

I want a word
with you,

You as chairman of
the police committee.

Chairwoman,
mr. Philbrick.

Call it what you will.

I'’m reporting
the misconduct of
a sparta police officer.

We meet regularly
with the public.

I don'’t live here.

This particular
police officer

Lives right there
where you'’re going.

I want you
to tell him

Next time
he refuses to assist
a sparta businessman,

My attorney'’s
going to sue this city.

Will you excuse me?

I don'’t know
what you'’re
talking about.

Well, virgil tibbs
will explain it to you.

You say
what I said to say.

[Knocks on door]

Your license,
please, sir?

And hurry.
You'’re blocking
the street.

Take it out,
please, sir.

Thank you.

Well?

Where'’s the chief?

Jimmy, the chief
can'’t always be here
to meet you.

The chief always
takes care of me
personally.

Ask him.

Well, he
gave this to me

And said give
some to jimmy.

How much is there?

Some'’s for other people,
other things.

Come on, jimmy.

What do you have
for us?

Philbrick don'’t handle
the dope himself.

Chelly and ernie,
a white and a black,

They bring it in...
Also the money.

Everything from memphis.

Philbrick got two guys.

They deliver
to his two houses--

One on denault,
one on mcgilvey.

We know that.

They'’re not
his houses.

Oh, yes, they is.

They under
somebody else'’s name.

Whose?

Black chick in the bottoms
name of chrissy rice.

Keeps her in money.

Yeah, that
sounds right.

That all?so far.

We will bring you
news updates
as the story unfolds.

Honey, why can'’t you
wipe these places out?

You know
they'’re there.

We bust them once a month.

All we get are users--kids.

We book some,
they get bailed,

Then trial--
cases are disposed of.

Does that
mean jail?

I bet it don'’t.

You can'’t jail all of them.

Fines, probation,

Then the whole process
starts again.

We get new faces,
but old ones, too.

All the victims,

But like dr. Venabell said
preaching on sunday--

The demons--
the predacious demons--

You never see.

Well,
now and then--

Hold it.

We'’re gaining
on them.

Slowly.

Got word on one today--
your friend philbrick.

He could lead to more

If he'’s not k*lled first.

It'’s unbelievable
he'’d get into dr*gs

With everything
his family left him.

Why would he
do that?

I asked the chief
the same thing.

He thought about--

Well,
what did he say?

He said when a man
deliberately does
what doesn'’t make sense,

He'’s crazy.

Chelly here.
Says he'’ll talk to you.

You know,
about k*lling somebody.

Will he do it?

No, not him, but he
talked to your boys.

He going to pay them
some real good money.

Not like you.

They'’ll do any k*lling
needs doing.

Where is he?

Right back there...

With the car.

Don'’t get too generous
with my guys now.

I got to work with them
all the time.

I think a hundred each
is more than enough.

Tell the coroner
we'’ll need two body bags

And that the back seat'’s
covered in blood.

Both stabbed?

Over and over.

Body'’s in there, ma'am.

Do I have to
look at it?

Better here than
at the morgue.

Besides, it saves us time.

But y'’all know
it'’s mr. Philbrick.

We want to know
about the girl.

You mean,
who she is?

We know who she is.
Tell us if youknow.

If she is someone
you'’ve seen mr.
Philbrick bring home

Now and then.

You know her?

You'’ve seen her here
in this house?

Sweet, see her
back inside.

Sir, you have
no idea who turned
that call in?

O.k., Sir,
thank you.

There'’s no reason
to park this car
outside the house

And then get
in the back seat.

Somebody put them
back there.

After he, or they,
k*lled them,

They drove them
right to this spot
and left them.

My guess is that it'’s
been many, many hours.

I bet the same guy
called us when he
wanted them found.

What you got there,
randy?

Is that your car
right there?

It'’s his brother's.

You find this crap
in that old car?

Where'’d you find
this crap?

In that car,
under the seat.

I must be a very
smart criminal

To leave valuable
stuff like that

In that old heap.

That'’s a pretty good
place to hide stuff.

Who'’d ever think
of looking in
that old junker?

The same people
who'’d think about
planting it there...

Y'’all.

Peake, dorothy,

Y'’all take them on in now.

[Bottles crash]

Hey, boy!
Look, don'’t run.

I can catch you,
but don'’t make me.

I ain'’t running.

What you doing here?

I live here.

Nobody lives here.

I mean I used to.

I'’m bobby johnson.

The boy that
lives with the chief.

I came to get something
my mama left here.

What?

It was in a pile
of trash in a corner.

Is it some preacher?

It'’s a black saint.

See? It says here
on the bottom--

Saint martin de porres.

A woman gave it to mama,

Said don'’t never lose it.

So mama told me
to go find it.

O.k., But I don'’t
want you inside
that house again,

Ya hear?

You don'’t need
to go in to that
street, either,

At least for a while.

I guess mama thinks
it'’s going to save her
or something.

Aunt barbarella,

She got some kind
of beads or shells.

She had put them
in mama'’s bed.

And now this.

How come people believe
in these things?

Well, uh...

People believe that
these things are
pleasing to the lord,

And if they show respect
for these things,

Why, the lord will be
pleased with them.

Excuse me, chief.

They'’re waiting
out here.

Thank you, parker.

Uh, yes, sir.

Come on.

Mrs. Reese.

I talked
to your boss.

It'’s all right.
He don'’t
need you today.

My car'’s
not too swift,

But we can get
to kenard and
back in an hour.

Bobby might want
to visit over there
a while.

Sure. She might be
a lot better today.

No, she ain'’t.

She going to die.

There was some very
loud noise on the
council this morning.

Two members own
bottoms property
like philbrick'’s,

And they'’re worried
about a tenants'’ riot.

Why, that'’s just silly.

Call it silly,

But della pendelton
asked ted marcus

If he knew the procedure
for requesting
the governor

To alert
the state guard.

Oh, good lord.

Now, chief, the fella
we arrested, herbie marr,

Is the head of
the tenants'’ association.

Some tenants are upset
that we hauled him in.

Bubba said we'’d get blamed
no matter what happened.

He'’s right.

Look at the headline
in today'’s herald.

Even if they knew the truth,
they wouldn'’t print it right.

What is the truth?

Can you give me
some idea?

Between della
worrying about
another rebellion

And ted marcus making
like nothing happened,

Well, I would like
to provide a voice
of intelligence.

We think it'’s
a drug m*rder, harriet.

Philbrick might have been
k*lled by his connection,

We think.

We going to
let herbie go.

We only grabbed him

Because he publicly
said something about
k*lling philbrick.

But we have no
serious revolutionary
implications here.

Well,
don'’t get me wrong.

I think a revolution
is long overdue.

That is hardly the voice
of reason, harriet.

You cops be the voice
of reason, o.k.?

I'’ll be the voice
of what I feel.

Right here.

Good day.

You shouldn'’t arrest
herbie marr for k*lling
philbrick, chief.

We know that,
jimmy.

One of philbrick'’s men
done it.

He knows the guy.

I know two.
Which one?

I wasn'’t there, man.

But a little guy
planted that stuff
in that junker.

Make herbie
look bad.

You saw that?

I know a guy
who saw it.

Will this guy
sign a statement?

Chief, tell that
young man how we work.

Jimmy, I need
the name
of the man

Who framed
herbie marr.

Lucksville.

Stays in miss calkins'’
boarding house on
crabtree street.

You'’re a stabilizing
force in this community.

I tries to do my bit,
chief.

The houses
jimmy dawes mentioned

Have no numbers
on them.

They once had.
They'’ve been removed.

Look what I found.

We raided them both
twice.

We can get the numbers
from the post office.

We'’ll find
proof of ownership
at the tax registry.

They'’ve got to be
philbrick'’s houses.

What legal action
can we take against a corpse?

I'’ll think of something.

Morning.morning.

People have asked me,

And I'’m sure
they'’ve asked you,

"Why even have the bottoms?

Why don'’t y'all
go in and bulldoze
the bottoms away?"

Well, I'’d have to say

That those folks have
two wrong notions going--

One being that the police
can do such things

And two, more importantly,

That doing such things
is the way to end the problem.

Detective tibbs,
you got anything to add?

Uh, yeah. Sorry
for being late.

I would only add

That the bottoms
is private property,

And we do protect
private property,

No matter what we
might think of it.

The only right way
we the people can
change that place

Is to buy it--
that is,
condemn it--

Then do good things
with it.

Now,

Should we start
a collection to buy
the place now?

I'’m in.

Uh, well...how many
would rather not
contribute right now?

How about

If we took a new tax

Regularly from your paychecks

To buy this place
and do good things?

So much for the question
"why the bottoms?"

Well, now, let'’s go.

Be on the lookout

For two vehicles

A t-bird, late model,
bearing virginia plates,

And a white ford pickup.

Find out who'’s doing what
with these vehicles.

We have three assaults,
one simple, two felonious,

One with a deadly w*apon.

All in district two.

Come on. Chief wants
to talk to you.

Have a seat.

The d.a. Wants me
to hold you
for m*rder

For the time being.

Meaning,
you ain'’t got nobody,
so keep the black guy.

Want me to arrest
a white guy? Who?

How should I know?

What are you
talking about?

Philbrick was a throwback
to simon legree,

But he wasn'’t k*lled
over that.

He was k*lled over money
by a fellow criminal,

Somebody white like him.

Somebody local?

Who knows?

Who knows where all
this dope industry
begins or ends?

You could be in it
yourself.

That'’s what the d.a.
Says about you,

But...

I don'’t believe it.

And I'’m going to
turn you loose.

I'’d like to know,
however,

If you ever
saw philbrick

With an out-of-town
white man.

No. I never saw him
with anybody

But those local guys
who drive around for him.

Did they suddenly
find a reason to k*ll
their employer?

Who knows?

What about the girl?

Somebody didn'’t like
her messing around
with philbrick?

Well, now, herbie,

All I want from you
is to tell me
what you think.

Uh, chief,

If I may interrupt,

Althea just phoned.

Bobby johnson called her
from over in kenard.

She'’s heading over there
to be with the boy.

Oh, o.k.

O.k., Uh,

I want to turn herbie loose

On his own recognizance.

O.k.yeah.

Chief,
philbrick was k*lled
by the dope traders.

No doubt about it.

Maybe his
two bad asses
did it to him.

They probably did
if they'’re still
around town.

Why would they k*ll him?

That'’s anybody's guess.
It happens.

The woman?

She must have been
with philbrick
and got chopped up, too.

You asked what I think.

I think you should
find them two drivers.

Thank you, herbie.

All units, virginia t-bird
at the airport.

Not 15 minutes ago.

Black driver dropped off
white passenger

In time for
the memphis commuter.

Car heading
back to town.

Got a license
on that?

Yeah. Jtm 146.

We getting traders all
the way from virginia now?

Maybe not. You can get
virginia plates by mail.

Tell virgil I'’m outside
the house on mcgilvey.

No customers, but
there'’s somebody in there.

A chevy truck'’s
in the driveway.

Is there anybody
near me?

[Parker]
I'’m on my way.

Just coming
off dexter now.

Jamison, I'’m going to
join you. Leaving now.

10-4.

[Sweet]
we'’re five minutes
from mcgilvey.

You need us there?

No. Stay with
miss calkins'’ house.

O.k. Will do.

How many people
stay there?

She can handle
maybe a dozen.

This is like
memory lane.

Why?

I roomed there
till I got my place.

What?it ain'’t bad. Inside toilets,
two to a floor.

Nice big locks
on the doors.

She makes
a fine breakfast--

Bacon, eggs,
grits, and gravy.

I bet it'’s not
for the t-bird
clientele, is it?

It'’s for anybody got
reason to stay there.

I remember this big
gold-dripping dude
in a massive mercedes

Tried to hit on me,

Saying, "come to new
orleans with me, baby."

What a trip.

sh**t, I nearly went.

Well, well, lookie here.

Talking about t-birds
and one does appear.

Dee?

Yes, sweet.

Send me and luann
some backup
up on crabtree.

It'’s on the way. Thank you.

Jamison? Yeah, virgil.

Parker? Yes, sir.

Get in position. Yes, sir.

Go.

[Siren blast]

[Siren blast]

Good morning, sir.

I'’d like to see
ownership of this
vehicle

And your
driver'’s license--

Police!
You'’re under arrest!

Ah, ah.
Come on now.

All right, hold it.

Up on the car.

You know
what to do.

Up on the car.

Where'’s your mama?

Y'’all decided
what you'’re going to do?

Well...ahem.

We'’ve told bobby
that we could

Have his mother brought
to a place in sparta

Where...
People can go and...

See her
for a day or so.

Mm-hmm.

And I know she'’d
want to lay there

With her husband
and son,

'’Cause she told me so.

But bobby want to
burn her in kenard tomorrow.

The ladies are right.

Anything else
you'’re going to regret.

You just want to
get this thing
over fast.

And that'’s wrong.

It'’s as if you were
ashamed of her life.

Let the ladies
handle this.

That the way you done
with your mama?

Mm-hmm.

Went on for days?

Three, I think.

You felt bad?

Sure did.

O.k.

What'’s virgil doing?

Oh, he'’s wrapping up
the sparta end of this case.

Then he'’s going to be
telephoning to the fbi.

Wrap up the memphis end.

First safe day,
thank god.

Yes, think of him
by day,

And let us also
think of him

In the watches
of the night.