04x13 - Blessings

[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 ♪

Thanks, ladies.
Merry christmas.

Merry christmas.

[Phone ringing]

I can't believe
she'd even come
in the station.

Millie turnby's got nerve.
Nothing stops her.

Least of all
a polite little "no."

Which the chief seems
to be giving her.

[Inaudible]

Boys, we got a lot more
canned goods to pack here.

Come on.

She covers
the social scene?

She's the herald's
reporter-at-large.

Come on, guys,
excuse me.

[Parker]
I'll bet she knows as many
people in sparta as I do.

[Bubba]
whatever she does,

Chief don't want
to get involved.

She wants an interview.

She wants to write
an article

On race relations
in the civil service.

Is that right?

Yeah.

How'd you know that?

I was here
when she called.

Chief gillespie
won't have anything to do

With anyone connected
to the sparta herald.

Now, isn't that
just too mean?

Ma'am,
that newspaper editor's
the one that's mean.

Jethro puller's not writing
this article. I am.

And I was hoping
to have a chance

To write something
flattering about the chief.

And now he won't
be giving you
any cooperation?

Well, not exactly.

Your chief
won't talk to me,

But he said you all can.

If you'd like.
[Chuckles]

Public relations
is very important,
you know.

Hmm.

Well, I learned something
a long time ago--

A man is a fool
for trying to pat the dog
that once bit him.

We just
have to make sure

She doesn't write
anything unfavorable.

If she has a mind to write
something unfavorable,

That is what
she's going to do.

And nothing you can say

Will influence her
one way or the other.

We just have to
tell the truth.

Oh, well, now...

There's a big difference
between what you tell her,

And what she's going
to tell the world.

Go ahead and talk to her,
if you wanna.

At least she can't say
you gagged your men.

That's what you think.

Right. Right.

Got a minute?

I'm going
to the courthouse
for a meeting.

I gotta go.

Just one little question.

I'll walk along
with you.

My car's just outside,
but ok.

So, what was it
that brought you
back to sparta?

I came back for
my mother's funeral,

Which is where the chief
first met my wife althea.

Althea?

This is chief gillespie.
I've told you about him.

Mrs. Tibbs.

Oh, yes, chief.

When virgil came back
to philadelphia

After
his last visit here,

He could hardly talk
about anything else.

Well, bad as that,
was it?

Well, I wouldn't say bad.

Colorful.

Virgil made you
sound very colorful.

Well, I guess
I've been called worse.

Ah! So, right away
there was some tension

Between you two
and the chief.

No.

No, not at all.

Parker!

Come here!

Listen, I have to run,

But I'll pick up
with you on this later.

Ok.

Parker, would you talk
to miss turnby, please?

Yes, sir.
Be my pleasure.

Uh, my chariot awaits.

[Car door closes][car engine starts]

All right,
ask me a question.

Ok.

Do virgil
and the chief get along?

Yes, ma'am.

Always?

You know how it is--it takes
time to feel each other out.

Must have been
a few arguments.

I remember a funny one
about the office.

At least,
I thought it was funny.

Oh, I'm sure it was.

The detective, he wanted
to get started right away.

If you'll show me
where my office is,
I can get to work.

We got no spare office
around here.

What's wrong
with this one?

It's mine...

That's what's wrong
with it.

You won't mind sharing
it for a while,

Now, will you?

Oh...

And I'll
need a city car.

A city car.

Yeah.

You want a chauffeur
with that car?

No. A detective
with a chauffeur

Might draw a little
too much attention.

[Indistinct chatter
on police radio]

Look, I just don't remember
any violent arguments

About sharing the office.

Well, I'm merely
quoting parker.

I didn't exactly
say violent.

Well, maybe it was just
a small, little argument.

What do you recall?

Well, there was
a little discussion

About hanging
some pictures,

But it doesn't matter,
they're not there anymore.

I'd love
to hear about it.

One time, we were all
gathered in the office,

Watching virgil hang this
picture of martin luther king,

When the chief came in.

We got a live alligator
loose in here?

[Hammering]

Morning.

Morning.

Putting up a picture?
We don't need one.

We got enough pictures
hanging up around here

For a police station.

I'm puttin' up a picture
of a famous man,

Remind us
of other famous men.

Only famous men we
need to be reminded of

Is the famous men
on the wanted posters.

Let's go for a little
higher inspiration than that.

Talkin' about wanted,
here's one here that--

Oh, uh, virgil...

Virgil, that isn't
going to work.

You got something
against the man?

No, I've got nothing
against the man.

If you wanna have
a picture of him,

Have a little one
for the desk,

Something you could shove
into a drawer quick

If you had to.

Well, this is
a public office,

And this is still
the state of mississippi.

You put up a hero of yours,
now one of mine's up.

Oh, come on, virgil!

There's a world
of difference there!

I mean,
this man here--

You--you're--

You're talking
about a man up here

That, uh...

This man here
come with the office!

So gillespie made tibbs

Remove his picture
of martin luther king.

No, ma'am, it was
sort of a trade-off.

See, both pictures were--

Thank you very much.

Bye for now.

[Tow truck engine starts]

Millie? I meant
to tell you--

The department
has a photographer,

And if it'd
save you time,

I could assign him
so he could take
photos of us...

If you wanted him to.

Oh, thank you.
I'll think about it.

Oh, parker...

Parker,
were the men outspoken

About their distaste
for a black detective?

Uh, no, ma'am.

I take that back.
There was one fella.

One? [Chuckles]

Yes, ma'am,
just one.

You expect me
to believe that?

Yes, ma'am, because
it's the truth.

There was one little
fella on the force then.

He had a bad habit of
calling black men "boy."

And it made
no difference to him

How old or grown up
they were.

Hey, boy.

Can't go back there.

Chief!

Maybe you'd care
to explain that I can

And will be going
into that cellblock...

Or anywhere else
I choose,

Wheni choose.

And we'd better get
another thing straight.

You will not
call me "boy."

I want to
like you people,

And I want you people
to like me,

But there can't be
liking without respect,

And until there
is that respect,

You will call me...

Mr. Tibbs.

And we always did.

I always called him
"detective" out of respect.

There were never any more
problems like that.

Didn't you ever
have any problems
with detective tibbs?

Well...

Honestly, there was
on teeny, little problem.

One teeny problem
about what?

A m*rder*d girl.

Oh, do tell me.

Well, our argument
was about procedure,

It really didn't
mean a thing.

[Chuckles] well, it's
those little things

That our readers
love to know.

I won't print it,

I just need
a little background.

Parker...

Where's the body?

I--i cut her down.

You did what?

I know it was
the wrong procedure, but...

I couldn't stand
to see that little girl

Hanging there like that.

Has jamison
taken any pictures?

No, sir,
he's on his way.

You mean you cut the body
down, and we don't--

I've known her since
she was a little baby.

[Gillespie]
is that you, mr. Tibbs?

Yes.

You better get
on down here.

[People talking indistinctly]

[Bubba]
all right, folks.
This is police business.

Back off.

Virgil.

This is unbelievable.

The girl's heart
has been taken out.

In fact, everything
about this is just like

Betty jo bradley's
m*rder years ago.

I can't believe what
I'm lookin' at.

The body was cut down

Before any pictures
were taken.

Yeah, well...

I've already talked
to parker about that.

Oh, you talked to parker.

That's really good.

That's really gonna
help us establish
a prima faciecase.

I'm getting fed up
with you always saying

How my department
doesn't measure up.

Your department
doesn't measure up.

It may surprise you,

But we managed to solve
quite a few crimes

Before you arrived
on the scene.

We might solve this one
without your help.

What's that mean?
I'm the chief of detectives.

This investigation
is mine.

I'm the chief of police,

And every
investigation is mine.

But you go ahead, virgil,
you do what you want.

I'm not
gonna stop you.

But don't you kid yourself

That we can't
manage without you.

Fine. Do
whatever you like.

I believe
I just said that.

Wasvirgil trying
to take over?

Well, I wouldn't
put it, uh, that way.

Well, it was
more like, uh...

Hey, parker!

Son, you do know

That your shift
at the radio desk
started five minutes ago?

It did?

Oh, yeah.

Excuse me, millie.

Hopefully, we'll get
to talk again sometime.

It's been
a real pleasure.

Thank you, sergeant.

Oh, he ain't
a sergeant, ma'am,

And showing up late
for work

Sure ain't a way
to get there.

You're
lieutenant skinner--

The one they call "bubba."

Yes, ma'am, I am.

Oh!

Oh!

May i?

Oh!

Oh.

So...

What's your
proper christian name?

Oh, anything else
I can help you with?

Ha ha ha!

I've heard all
about the early days,
but tell me, uh...

Did chief gillespie
resent virgil's sense
of superiority?

Well, I'm not so sure

I understand what you
mean by that, ma'am.

Oh. Well, parker said
that there was a time

That virgil went
after the chief's job.

Yeah, parker
said that, huh?

Well, that ain't exactly
the way it happened.

You see, we kinda...
Goaded virgil into it.

This is the most
unprofessional department

In the whole state
of mississippi!

Yeah...

But I expect
you'll be fixing all
that up pretty soon,

Won't you, mr. Tibbs?

Won't you?

When the city council
appoints you chief of police?

You'll clean up
the whole mess.

You'll have us all
automated

And computerized,
and acting like robots.

Don't get me wrong--
I don't blame any man

For being kissed on
the lips by ambition.

I doblame you for
not being man enough

To come forward
and tell me.

There's nothing to tell.

Your name didn't come up
at the city council meeting?

Oh, that only happened--

It happenedbecause
you want my job!

You don't think
old pops gillespie
and his hillbilly boys

Know how to do
anything in sparta.

I'm not judging you
or this department.

I'm sick and tired of being
treated like an outsider!

You are an outsider.

I was born
and raised here,

And I came back here
because I wanted to.

You're from here,

But you talk as if
you don't belong here.

Why don't you just
pack up your bags

And go on back
to philly?

Don't you ever tell me
where I should live,

Or what I should do.

That's an attitude
I won't tolerate!

It's also an attitude
that makes me think

That just maybe you
shouldbe replaced.

But it never happened,

And we're sure glad
it didn't.

Whoa. Hey, I got
to hit the road.

I've got to get back
to your police station.

Be a dear
and drop me off.

Yeah, I'll be a dear.

[Horn honks]

Bye!

Officer sweet.

Yes, ma'am.

Was chief gillespie
as rough with you

As he was
with detective tibbs?

[Chuckles] um, if he was,
I probably deserved it.

Oh. Well, I'd love
to hear all about it.

I've got to
take these cans
to the church.

That's nice.

We can discuss it
on the way.

[Car engine starts]

So...you were, uh,
fixing to tell me

About the chief
being rough with you.

[Laughs] my first day
on the force,

I was fresh out
the academy.

I told the chief
that I was entitled

To a free expression
of my individuality.

Well, let me tell you
something, mr. Sweet.

I'm the only one
around here

With any free expression
of individuality.

Everybody else
does what I say,
you understand that?

Yes, sir.

And as for respect
for authority figures,

Detective tibbs will see

That you come up
to an a-plus on that!

He's gonna be
your training officer.

Uh, who, me?

Yes, any man that can
write a report like that

Has gotta be
an expert on authority.

My duties do not include
training rookies.

Virgil, I want you
to teach this man

To have respect
for his superiors.

Please don't start
by setting him
a bad example yourself.

So virgil tibbs was really
after the chief's job?

Maybe.

I had ambitions
of my own.

Did you?

Well, this thing
about you running
for police chief?

Well, when I told you

I wanted to be the first
black police chief,

You didn't say anything
about you wanting to be.

At the time, I didn't have
any ideas along that line.

Well, mr. Tibbs, can I
make another observation?

I can hardly wait.

Seems to me
the town of sparta

Isn't ready for either
one of us to be chief.

You may be right.

Well, let's face it...

There's a big difference

Between what people say
and what they mean.

You don't back off,
you just might
get yourself lynched.

Lynched?

You thought that was
a definite possibility?

No, that was just joking.

Times have changed, as
I'm sure you've noticed.

Now, riding together
in a pickup truck like this,

That might have
got uslynched...

When youwere young.

Oh!

Oh!

Hi, millie.

I've got another
great story for you.

See, bubba--
lieutenant skinner--

He found this baby
on his doorstep.

Was it black?

No, ma'am.

Well, white's
not too exciting.

Excuse me...

But that's the man
I've got to catch.

Hi!

Hi, miss turnby.

I've spoken
with officer sweet.

Would you say
that chief gillespie

Is particularly hard
on his black officers?

No.

Uh...

Sorry.

In fact,

I can recall an incident

That demonstrates
just the opposite.

Really?

Yes, you see,

I was always
a lot harder on myself

Than the chief
could ever be.

[Siren]

Police!

Freeze!

[Car approaching]

[Tires screech]

You sure
there's just one?

Just one.

Where?

Back there,
I think I got him.

Okay, come on.

Well, you
sure did get him.

I told him to freeze.

He turned and started
bringing up his g*n.

Oh, good lord,
it's a girl, virgil.

She drew on me.

I don't see any g*n.

Lonnie, go get
an ambulance right now.

She had a g*n
in her right hand.

It has to be there.

I saw it before
she turned around.

I'm gonna go
look for the g*n.

[Indistinct talking]

You must have been
beside yourself

When virgil sh*t
that unarmed girl.

No, as it turned out,
she was armed.

I suppose the chief
didn't appreciate

Having an officer
involved in that.

I'll bet he wanted
to fire virgil.

On the contrary--

The chief
was very supportive.

Good afternoon,
mrs. Tibbs.

I was just
thinking about you.

Oh, well,
and here I am.

They call that
"mental telepathy,"

If you believe
in that kind
of thing.

You're here about virgil,
aren't you?

Yeah.

So, how's he doing?

Well, considering
what happened,

I think he's doing
pretty well.

Well, I know
you counsel
children,

And you studied
psychology.

I don't know if you ever
dealt with a killin'.

No, I haven't.

Well,
when you k*ll somebody,

It, uh, stays with you,

I'm here to tell you.

And I'm worried
about virgil.

I just want you to know,

If there's any way
I can help, I will.

I think virgil's
going to be fine.

There's still some pain,
but that's to be expected.

He's a very strong man,
chief gillespie.

Well, anyway, we can
stay in touch, I hope,

And you just call me
any time you want.

You're just
an old softie.

That's what you are.

[Baby cooing]

Uh-huh.
That's interesting.

But now,

Tell me something
about yourself
personally.

Did they really
give a damn

When that white
fella r*ped you?

That's
an odd question.

Were they prejudiced
against you in any way

During
the investigation?

No.

There was
some prejudice, but...

Certainly not from
the police department.

Insurance?

What?

Have you got
insurance?

What the lady needs
right now is a doctor.

Most of these people
have their own doctors.

Ma'am, look here...

Are you gonna
get her a doctor,

Or am I gonna have to
take her back there?

Please stop.

She something
to you?

You get her a doctor
right now.

Oh!

I have just spent
a most valuable few minutes

With mrs. Tibbs.

Yes...

Your wife tells me

That she and
lieutenant skinner here

Have a rather close
relationship.

Well, the husband's
always the last
to know, isn't he?

Yeah, hold on,
now, hold on.

I reckon there's
always a pretty
close relationship

Between you
and your coach.

Thank you.
Merry christmas.

Somebody up there better
mark this down for me.

[Instructor]
stop, take a deep breath
when necessary.

Hey, bubba.charlie.

[Instructor]
very good,
excellent.

Ok, you come on
down here.

Come on.
You get comfortable, too.

Put your hand
on her thigh, coach.

Say what?

Your hand right here.

And on her back.
Ok, very good.

[Breathes rapidly]

Am I hurting you?

No, no, no.
It's just
my breathing.

Good, both--
both your hands.

Moving them,
that's very good.

Mm-hmm.

You're
doing real good.

Yeah.

Yes, ma'am,
yes, ma'am...

On to more important
topics.

Were y'all just testifying
at some m*rder trial?

No, ma'am, just
a plain robbery.

Well, it's m*rder
that interests me.

More particularly,
the death penalty.

What do you think of it?

Does chief gillespie
think something different?

The chief has
strong opinions about it,

But we don't know
which way they run.

So, then,

You think our wise
founding fathers thought

There was a big difference

Between execution
and t*rture?

They must have--
they kept the one,

And threw out
the other.

What do you
think, bubba?

Hmm?

Oh, uh, between
execution and t*rture?

Yeah, yeah...

I think there's
a hell of a difference.

Well, I better
check on dutton there.

Now, it only
came to me, you know,

When I was driving
back from up there.

I just thought
to myself,

About the only way

You can execute a man
without torturing him,

Is to tell him
you forgive him.

That's right.

Tell him
you forgive him...

And you're gonna
turn him loose.

Then as soon as you see
a happy smile

Come over his face...

You sh**t him
in the back of the head.

Well, good night.

Oh, there's
the chief now.

Hi, chief gillespie!

Well, good afternoon.

How's everything going?

Well, the story will be
in tomorrow's herald,

But may I first have
one comment from you

Before I write it?

Well, all right,
miss millie.

What do you want me
to comment on?

I have just heard--

I have just heard
the most interesting
story.

I understand

That you believe
in sh**ting
condemned people

In the back
of the head.

Well...

Uh...

Uh, that's false.

However,

I suppose
it's just as good,

If you must k*ll a man,

As frying him,
or choking him,

Or poisoning him.

Wish I had time
to do some good,

Make up for the bad.

But there ain't no time--

That's the worst of it.

All the years I've
been here in this jail,

There was never no time
to do no good.

And now...

No time at all.

Well, george,

Unless there's
something else

That you want
to tell me about--

The will or anything
like that...

You got to go?

Yeah.
It's a long haul
back to sparta.

Mm-hmm.

Thought maybe
you could stay,

Be with me
when they send me off.

No, george, no,
i--i couldn't.

I've really gotta
be back there
by this evening.

Mm-hmm.

Time runs us all,
don't it?

I'm afraid it does,
george.

Time
ain't got no mercy.

Drives us on,

Whipping us
all the way.

Won't let us wait
to do no good.

Maybe jesus will
give me some time

When I see him--

If I believe in him,
and I believe.

I been studying
for the words he say...

And I can't find them.

Words the preacher say
when he bury my mama...

What he say jesus say.

"I am the resurrection
and the life."

Yeah.

That's what he said.

Chief, you know it.

Th-that's what he said.

Say it again.

Say it again for me.

"I am the resurrection
and the life,

"And whosoever
believeth in me...

Shall never die."

I am...

The resurrection
and the life...

And whosoever...

Whosoever...

Believeth in me...

In me...

Shall never die.
Shall never die.

Die...

Well, I am
really surprised.

A woman reporter,
and she didn't even
wanna hear from the women.

That woman wanted
to talk to men, only men,
and nothin' but men.

She didn't even
wanna know

How y'all got
your first girl officer?

That's exactly the story
I wanted to tell her--

You know, figuring
she wanted something
appealing to women.

But she cut me off--
just like that.

Well...

Was it really
appealing to women?

Well, judge for yourself.

We were staking out
the boatyard...

Hold it, bosworth!

Put the g*n down!

[g*n sh*ts]

Ooph!

Reloading!
Me, too.

[Groans]

[g*n sh*t]

[Tires screeching]

She's gone.

No, no--
sh-she can't be.

Parker...

Her chest
is all tore up.

She's just gone.

Well, I have
to disagree, parker.

That part is not
very uplifting.

No, ma'am, but it's something
I think about every day.

But what happened later
is well worth the telling.

We are here, and we don't
any of us have much time.

Now, let's say what
needs to be said.

Chief, do begin.

Oh, yes, ma'am.

The letter from the council

Was delivered to me
last night, and, uh...

I've read it.
I wanna say
that, uh...

I appreciate
your vote of confidence.

But it concludes this way--

"You are authorized to fill

"The late officer
christine rankin's position

"With another officer
who shall be black,

"In keeping
with the council's policy

"Of making your department
racially proportionate.

The new officer
should be male."

Why?

Well, you know, bill,
in view
of what happened,

We have to think
about community feeling.

He means...

People
don't want to see

Another black girl
sh*t to death--

At least not
right away.

Come on, harriet.

I'm not finished yet,
ted.

There are people
saying that

You wouldn't have risked
the life of a white girl

So quick.

I will not, uh,
reply to that.

But to say
that I can't hire a woman

Is to say that, uh,

I shouldn't have hired
a woman in the first place.

Now, y'all can say that
if you want to, but...

I won't.

I will not dishonor
the memory of chris rankin.

I want another girl.

And I got one.

Virgil tibbs brought her
over from jackson today.

This is luann corbin,
she's ...

Twenty-two.

Twenty-two.

And she's going
to be with us
until she retires.

Thirty years?

With us?

Oh...

Yes, with us, or...

Until I retire--

And that's for sure.

Deal?

[Chuckles]

I do believe

Sergeant jamison has a copy
of the sparta herald

Hot off the press.

Well, I sure do.

Did you read it?

I sure did.

Is it bad?

Oh, it sure is.

Order in.

[Tibbs]
this is terrible.

And I feel terrible...

Bubba, I blame
myself for this.

No, hold on there,
virgil.

I was riding right
along beside you.

Remember, it was me that said,
"let's sh**t them straight.

The press
will respect that."

sh**t, I oughta be whupped.

Look.

How can they say
this? Listen--

"Chief gillespie,
an avowed r*cist,

"Rules by fear
and intimidation,

"Putting
black officers
in harm's way,

"Advocating
summary executions
of suspects,

"And running
sparta p.d.

Without regard to
the changing times"!

Oh, read on,
it gets worse.

It also says

That he's insensitive
and rude to women.

The chief
is going to explode.

And ain't no way
we can keep it
from him.

Right.

Yeah.

Well, I'm out of here.

Oh, lord...

Oh, um, and remember--

Eggnogs and such
at my place around : .

Well, I'm still gonna
be on duty, virgil, and...

But I'll bet I'll find time
to investigate the doin's.

Good--tell the rest
of the guys, too.

Yeah, sure will.all right, bubba.
Later.

[Customer]
that article is just
a disgrace to this town.

I can't believe this.

Yeah...

[Doorbell rings]

[Mrs. Tibbs]
oh, honey,
can you get that?

[Virgil]
yeah.

Oh, come on, guys.
Lighten up.

'Tis the season
to be jolly?

I mean, it is the day
before christmas eve.

No--the day before
the day before
christmas eve.

Thank you. There's gonna be
a gift in your stocking

Just for that.

Luann!

Yeah, here I am.

Honey, can you please
help me here?

Yeah.

Come on, you guys, cheer up.
It's almost christmas.

Oh, boy.

I feel just like
a traitor.

Parker...

Don't worry about it.

You were misquoted,
just like everyone else here.

Well, I know that,
and...

I know
it doesn't matter.

I feel just like I did
back in grade school.

This kid, uh,
billy jackson

Told me his daddy
drank too much...

And I told
somebody else.

Before you know it,

The whole school's
calling billy's
daddy an alcoholic.

Boy,
I felt terrible.

Well, did the kid
come back to you?

Yeah, that made me
feel worse.

What? He told you
to forget it.

No, he punched me
right in the face.

Parker, what dothis
have to do with the chief?

I don't know, it was just
something that came to me.

Here, have some eggnog.

Well, if I ever catch
that millie turnby

Doing even a whisper
over the limit,

She got a ticket
guaranteed.

Lonnie, that's just
the kind of thing
she's accusing us of.

Might as well make her
right about something.

Well, I was invited,
wasn't i?

Yes!

Come in, come in,
come in, come in!

Chief, wow...

[Door closes]

Hey, everybody,
look who's here--
it's the chief!

Easy, virgil...
Virgil, I expect
they all recognize me.

Women: well,
merry christmas, chief...

You're just in time
for putting the angel
on the tree,

Which I know
you won't do.

Well, because when I put
the angel up there last year,

It fell off.

Every time I put stuff
on a tree, it falls off.

Hi, phil,
hello, martha,
how are you?

Merry christmas.

Dee over here,
merry christmas.

Merry christmas, chief.

Hi, chief.

Who's that?

Oh, well,
well, hi.

Don't you look fine
this evening?

I'd like you to meet
my friend, melvin springer.

This is bill gillespie.

Hi, you have a home
generator business
over in kenard.

That's right.

Soon to have
a branch here, too.

Pleased to meet you, chief.

Harriet told me
wonderful things
about you.

Well,
that's very kind.

I believe
you'll do well
here in sparta.

I sure hope to...

In more ways than one.

Well, well. How are we?

Well, we got to
say merry christmas
to the chief.

Oh, look, look,
there's william here,

There's william here
sleeping through it all.

[Laughs]

Uh...chief?

I just
want to say...

I feel real bad
about all this.

Oh, parker, now,
don't fret yourself
over this.

Well, chief,
not just parker,

All of us, I especially.

Now, listen...

I wanna tell you all
a little anecdote,

I was thinking about it
on the way over here.

Many years ago,

Before we had
all this indoor plumbing,

You know, we all had
these little outhouses.

You still see some of them
around, and, uh...

When I was a kid,

We used to call them
the "chick sale."

We took that from the name
of a famous movie comedian,

Chick sale.

And he had one
of these things, see.

And he'd go in it,

And the wind
would blow it over,

Leave poor old chick
in there,

Sittin' exposed to the world.

You mean the privy,
don't you?

Well, that is
genteel terminology,
miss etta, yes.

What we used to do with
the paper in those days

Is, we would, uh...

Take it, and after
glancing through it,

And surveying
all the villainy
in the world, see...

We would just, uh...
Tear it off like that,

And then we would
fold here it like this,

And then we'd, uh,
tear it again.

We'd tear it into sizes
according to preference.

And then what we'd do with
all these strips of paper,

We'd hang them on a hook
inside the chick sale.

Need I say more?
But...[Clears throat]

I don't think

That the sparta herald
would be good for that.

Now that looked perfect
to me, chief.

Well, no, miss etta,

Saving your presence,

The sparta heraldis not
a good quality paper--

It's low grade.

And I think that, uh,
you could hurt yourself

Using the herald.

[Loud laughter]

Hey, look here, y'all...

I'd like
to propose a toast.

To virgil, althea,
the friends here,

And to the rest of us,

The good old
police department,

And the good old state.

Hear, hear.
Hear, hear.

All right,
althea...

Why don't you play
us a little carol?

Oh, no, no, no,

The chief doesn't wanna
hear any carols tonight,

He said
it makes him sad.

Wait a minute, now,
I consider that a slander.

I don't wanna say that
christmas carols make me sad.

I don't like a lot of
these new ones,

But you give me
a good traditional one...

Luann, help me with one.

Here I come.

♪ O come, all ye faithful

♪ Joyful and triumphant

♪ O come ye, o come ye
to bethlehem ♪

♪ Come and behold him

♪ Born the king of angels

♪ O come,
let us adore him ♪

♪ O come,
let us adore him ♪

♪ O come,
let us adore him ♪

♪ Christ, the lord