08x02 - Who Was Geli Bendl?

[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, welcome

To mississippi.

Thank you, thank you.

These his bona fides?

That's an elegant title

For an extradition order,

But I like it, anyway.

There's also

An arrest report in there

By sergeant parker williams.

Thank you, sir.

I hope we can find one

To send back to you sometime.

You find one of ours,

You just keep him.

Would it interfere with

Y'all's police business

If I waved that jet in here?

We're all through here.

Bring him on.

Come on right to me.

Right to me. Right to me.

Is that ace priestly's jet

Out of new orleans?

No, sir.

It's a charter jet

Out of westchester county

Airport in new york.

Is that right?

( Speaking italian )

Sheriff lloyd

Is calling for you

From gainsville, florida.

I don't wanna talk to him.

He's waiting on the line.

What should I say?

Just let that line die.

You know who

Any of those people are?

Only the fella

That seems to be

In charge of everything.

Name's george sparkman.

Pilots over there

Might know

Who they all are.

It isn't important.

That woman reminds me

Of an actress.

But when would

A private jet be

Landing an actress here?

Yeah, when?

A couple of these houses

Were here when I was little.

My mother's sister ida

Lived in that one with

The dogwood in front.

Man: the plane'll wait

Till tomorrow morning

Without extra charge,

But after that--

I told you I need

Three days, george.

( Speaking italian )

Make other arrangements.

( Speaking italian )

What are you saying?

Sorry. I just said

It looks like

A place in italy.

We're flying to spain

On the tenth.

Mona, I need to speak

To miss gillespie, please.

Yes, sir, sheriff.

Miss gillespie?

Sheriff wants

To speak to you.

Excuse me.

Hi. My meeting's still on.

Can I call you back?

Just tell me this--

Do you remember

A mrs. Nedda losey?

She was an aunt

To that girl

Who was getting

In trouble

All the time.

Sure. I know her very well.

Did she die

Or something?

No, she didn't die.

While I've got you

On the phone,

Can you go to dinner

On wednesday

With the laniers?

Yes, I can.

Good, then let's

Talk later. Bye.

I know that mrs. Losey.

I see her at the market

A lot.

Uh-huh. Well...

You have a key?

Yes, suite .

Mr. Sparkman,

Let me register you.

Yeah.

Oh, of course.

His name is donald muir.

He's been working here

A month.

You gonna arrest him

For something?

We're watching him,

But if you see him talking

To any of the hotel guests,

Let me know.

It's routine, miss bendel.

It's like locking doors.

( Knock on door )

And I've been told

People do know you here.

Let him do his job, eh?

They know her everywhere.

Mmm, everywhere--

Berlin, rome...

Sparta, mississippi.

Don't worry, darling.

Cable is giving you

A whole new life now.

It's gonna make you

Famous in your

Own country.

Excuse me.

If you need me,

I'm three doors down.

Okay, thanks.

Now, I'm gonna hold

The plane over

Till the day

After tomorrow.

That's enough time

For the kid to say

Yes or no to you,

And then we can

Get out of here

Real fast, right?

It will not be

Real fast.

Besides her sister,

She has the property.

I can handle that.

That's what

A manager does.

Georgie, stay out of this.

You just don't believe

In what I'm doing.

I believe.

I believe in letting

Sleeping dogs lie,

That's what I believe.

I am here

To see people, georgie,

Not dogs.

And they are not sleeping

They are up and around

And getting in trouble,

So just shut up

About it.

We gotta fly to spain

On the tenth, kiddo.

Stop repeating that.

I'm not Ret*rded.

Sorry, darling.

Sorry, sorry.

Okay, remember,

We are the marko

Market chain

For the next

Couple of days.

This hiding

Is so stupid.

Clara: it is necessary.

If people find out

Who we are--

Who I am--who cares?

I don't care anymore.

Clara, can you call

Nedda and tell her

That we are here

And we'll be seeing her

At her place?

After dark, please.

Let's not roam around

By daylight.

And I want to see

Laura, too.

Even after you

Take custody of that kid,

She's grown up.

I don't understand

What you're planning

To do with her.

Thank you.

Good morning, luke.

Morning, sheriff.

You still got mail

Coming here.

And I got a bunch

For you.

Leave it right there,

Will you, please?

Yes, sir.

I got something

For chief forbes.

Chief doesn't wanna inspect

Those buildings, sheriff.

It sounds like

Fire department stuff

To me.

It ought to be.

Could it be a sheriff

Department's job?

That's what

I came to tell you.

It could be.

All you gotta do

Is request it.

Okay. I hereby request it.

Fill out the forms.

Thanks, my friend.

Did sheriff lloyd

Down in florida

Ever catch up with you?

No. He caught up

With christina.

You did know he wanted

That plane of his

To turn right around?

That plane of his

Did turn around

And went right home.

Yeah, but they didn't want

The prisoner in it.

Decided not to

Extradite him

After all.

I didn't wanna hear that.

Hamp, may I have

Your permission to review

One of your files?

Well, sure.

You go right ahead.

Dee, look up the file

On this, will you?

I know that you

Worked that case.

Oh, yeah,

I remember it well.

And you might call up

That miss losey

And ask her if you can

Be of any help to her.

Yes, sir.

It's nice to see you.

You know, parker,

I wouldn't be surprised

If they fly you

Down to florida

To help make this case.

Oh, that'd be just fine

With me, chief forbes.

Well, wouldn't

That be nice?

You could drive

Right through panama city,

And you could

Drop in there and say

Hello to your stepdaddy

And his lovely lady,

Miss rhoda.

Yes, sir.

Yo, man. I know you

From jackson.

Yeah, that's right.

When you were

Over there

Chasing that fool

With that old

Browning machine g*n.

Yeah, that's right.

What's happening?

Well, I was disabled out,

And, uh--

Oh, sorry to hear

About that.

I got a job with this

Security company,

And I'm over here

Taking care of a party

Which name I ain't

Supposed to mention.

That's fine with me.

Nowadays, anything

I don't have to know,

I don't wanna know.

I heard that.

She wants you to rent

A plain, ordinary car

For tonight

To drive her around.

It's okay?

Yes, ma'am. What time

Would she like that?

For just as soon

As it's dark, please.

Yes, ma'am.

Seems like my client

Wants to see sparta

By moonlight.

Yeah, yeah,

She just got here.

You know who I mean.

Who you waiting for?

Yeah, well, she here.

Here in this hotel

I'm working at.

Yeah, I just see her

Come in.

Hey, I don't wanna

Hurt her.

I just wanna get

Some money out of her.

Hurt you? How is it

Gonna hurt you?

Don't thr*aten me.

Look, woman,

Don't thr*aten me.

I'll cut you up.

Laura, he is here.

Ooh, baby.

Hey, baby.

Laura, honey,

It's about time

You start--

Hey...

Now, you see why

I call this woman

"The fly"?

'Cause she so fast.

She zoom out of a room.

Before you can blink an eye,

She zoom right back.

Now, why he have

To be here?

Why do you hate me

So much, mama?

Come on, let's go.

You ain't leaving, I hope.

Your sister's

Gonna be here

Before long.

Why is that woman

Coming here anyhow?

I mean, I wanna know

A few things about

That woman.

You stay away from her.

You don't know her,

You hear me?

I do not hear you, mama.

Why you call her

And tell her to come

Way back from europe?

Shut up, donny.

Come on, let's go.

Wait a minute, baby.

All right?

What, she come to check on

Her property here?

Or she checking

On laura? Or you,

Me, what?

You? She don't even know

You in this world.

She gonna meet me 'fore

She leave this here town.

And she gonna

Be hanging loose

A lot more money, too.

More than she been

Paying over to y'all.

You a dog, you know that?

Let me tell you who you are.

You donald the dog.

So sick of this.

No, see, I know why

You hate me, mama.

Yeah, because

I'm blacker than you

And her, that's all.

The only man

I ever loved

Was blacker than you,

You dog.

Then what is it

You hate, then, mama?

Just you.

I hate the way

You walk in a house.

I hate the way

You sit on a sofa.

I hate the way you dress,

The way you stand.

I hate the way you look.

I hate the way

You touch that girl.

And I hate you

Calling me "mama."

Come on.

That's a long list.

Bye, mama.

Oh, lord.

Ha ha ha ha ha.

You wanted

To see me, louis?

I been asking for you

All day.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I want out.

You're gonna have to

Tell me something new.

I know about

A connection.

Come on, that's old.

You got anything else?

No, no. A connection

Between here and jackson.

Okay, tell me some names.

Donny muir...

All right,

That's a good one.

That's from around here.

What about a name

Or two from jackson?

I want out of here.

You k*lled a fella, louis.

Self-defense.

I'm gonna have to

Persuade the d.a.

Serenity glen...

Trailer park.

Your sincerity

Just might

Help you, louis.

"Donald muir...

One arrest

Here in sparta...

"as*ault...no w*apon found."

No other details.

The reason is,

We didn't do

Anything about it.

Bartender at piedmont

b*at donald up,

Donald got in

A few good licks,

And everybody said,

"Call it even."

It's from jackson.

"In jackson,

Donald muir, as*ault...

Again with his fists."

"And three possessions.

Only one conviction."

He's never done any time.

That's the way

He was in school.

This guy never got

In big trouble,

But he was always

In the principal's office

For this and that.

But he graduated.

Cat's slippery.

Chief, you have a minute?

Is that all you need,

A minute?

Well, let's say or .

Will that do it, louis?

You people lost?

Not lost, but looking.

May I see your

Driver's license, sir?

You know me,

Charlie p.?

Yes, ma'am.

I noticed you

Back there.

Then maybe

You can tell me

Where number is.

Is this pear blossom?

Yes, sir, it is,

But I can't tell you

About numbers

'Cause I've never seen

A number on any house

On this street.

Evening, ma'am.

Good evening.

Maybe if you

Mention the name.

Uh, donald muir?

Isn't that

That busted bike house?

Yeah, donald muir

Moved from this street.

He lives two streets

Over on yerkes.

How will I

Tell the house?

It has a busted motorbike

By the porch.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

I've seen

That white woman

Someplace, I know.

There's nothing in that

That tells you what to do.

So it comes down to

The same old question--

Who pays?

( Telephone rings )

The people in the county

Say it's strictly

A sparta expense,

Forgetting they benefit

From street lights

Every time

They come into town.

And forgetting that sparta

Is still in the county.

What you ought to do

Is make that a ballot

Proposition,

And then you put it

On the county ballot

And get it through,

Sparta's part of the county.

You know, you're

Kind of tricky,

I'm finding out.

That officer

Name of everett

Is on the phone.

You wanna take it?

Yeah, I better.

Excuse me.

Yeah, luke.

How you doing?

I hope I'm not

Disturbing you, sheriff.

No. Go ahead.

Sheriff, I just said "hey"

To a woman in a car

That looked like that

Foreign actress

That's supposed

To be from here.

Different people say

She's one thing

And another.

I could be mistaken, huh?

No, son,

I think you right.

Is she here,

Like, confidential?

Yes, I think so.

Where did you see her?

In the bottoms.

Geli bendel

In the bottoms?

Yes, sir. She had

A driver and another

Woman with her.

They were looking

For the guy we just

Happen to be watching.

Yeah. Yes, sir.

Well, how you spell

That name, sheriff?

Yeah. Sho' enough.

Well, thank you, sir,

And have a good evening.

You'll never guess

Who luke everett

Just saw in the bottoms.

Somebody wanted?

No, but you might say

A fugitive from sparta,

Anyway--geli bendel.

Oh, I know who she is,

But she used to be

Somebody else.

Who was geli bendel?

She was gilda burrows,

And she looked white.

She's got a real

Young sister still here--

Laura burrows.

She's what we call...

Light, bright,

Two drops short

Of white, so not quite.

Mona, they used to

Say that about me.

Oh, I know. Ha ha ha.

I remember mrs. Burrows.

She was nedda losey's sister,

And nedda buried her

A good while back.

And she had

Those two girls

By a white man

Who used to own

Sparta dairies--

A marshall lundeen.

Well, mona said it all.

Say, well, well, well...

Ha ha ha ha.

You know

When she seen me last?

Yeah, I believe

You told me, baby.

When you was ten.

I tell you that?

Laura, honey,

Come on, let's go.

Nedda took me.

We went to chicago.

We had a birthday.

Ice cream and cake

In a hotel room.

I tell you that?

No, baby, I don't think

You told me that.

Then she had to work,

So nedda took us

To a movie.

And then we went to bed,

And we took the bus

Back home.

Whoo, big time.

No issue. We can have

A bigger party than

That right here.

Let me fix y'all

Something to drink.

What y'all want?

Have a seat.

I got plenty of space.

We come

To fetch ya, child,

So we can

Talk about things,

Just family.

What family?

You, nedda?

You the only family

I see here.

Some white woman

And some big,

Black buffalo.

We gotta talk.

Money. That's all

I wanna talk about.

Money.

You wanna talk about money?

Yes.

Well, nedda and me--

We need mo'.

Laura, that ain't so.

I need mo'.

Yeah, and why don't you

Give her an inheritance?

You look cute.

Now, you don't look clean

And you don't look well,

But you look so cute.

Two weeks in spain,

And I'll make you

Look adorable.

We're gonna go to valencia.

That's a city by the sea.

We buy clothes

And shoes,

Pick things out

For each other.

You're gonna be in a movie.

You'll have money.

You'll make it yourself.

The people you'll meet,

The fun you'll have.

The life you see

And touch...

You can't imagine.

I don't believe

All that.

I'll show you.

I don't believe you.

I'll show you.

Okay, cut all the crap.

She ain't going nowhere,

White lady.

Just stay

Where you are, donald.

Don't tell me what to do

In my own house.

Why should I go

Anywhere with you?

To make the most

Out of yourself.

And that's

Only with you?

You ain't seen her

In nine years,

And now you know

All about her?

How can that be so,

White lady?

How can you be a dog

And talk like a human?

I'm gonna k*ll you, mama.

You know

All about me?

You know. That's why

You're gonna come with me.

You don't love her.

You shut your mouth.

Tell her you love her.

You're not gonna

Tell me that, are you?

No.

Mm-hmm. See? See?

You...you shut up.

Stop.

Nedda...stop.

Stop it!

Miss losey, you okay?

Nedda, go.

Get out. Get out.

All of you, just get out.

Get out of here.

Get out.

Leave me alone.

Excuse me, chief.

We gave some people

Directions

In the bottoms

Last evening.

I wrote it up.

Who and why?

Pete knew one of them.

Yeah, one of the women,

Chief. Miss nedda burrows.

The other one was white,

And there was a guy driving.

Let me guess.

Tommy ammons

From jackson.

Yeah, that's right,

And his i.d. Said

He was a private detective.

Since we were watching

A guy by the name

Of donald muir,

This is the guy

Those people

Were looking for.

I told them

The house, chief.

I didn't see

Any reason not to.

We asked the sheriff

About the white woman

Who looked so familiar.

This here's the name

He guessed she was.

I can't say it.

Can this be the same woman

I've seen in a couple of

Foreign movies?

She's an actress,

Sho' enough.

Thanks, fellas.

Yes, sir.

A famous foreign actress

Looking for a dope pusher

Here in sparta.

Can't be.

Pardon me. Pardon me.

Is there a map

That shows us

The numbers

In the streets?

There isn't and there never

Has been a map like that.

But if you give me

The name of the street,

I can find it on

One of the maps

We do have.

Get the picture out.

Is it an old picture?

Very old.

Street names

Are seldom seen

In pictures,

And old names have a way

Of vanishing

I mean to say

Disappearing

From signs

As the years

Have come and gone.

Who can say why?

Nowhere do I see

A street name,

But there's the number,

Number , above the door.

Being that many streets

Would have the number ,

You wouldn't be able

To locate a street

Just by the number.

And nothing about

The looks of the street

Would suggest...

What street it is?

Yeah.

No.

Do the best you can

With this.

I gotta get back

For that phone call.

Thanks, friend.

But they're not

Going to call you now.

It's p.m. In spain.

You're right about that.

They're six hours

Ahead of us.

You from spain?

No. From italy.

And thank you, sir.

Perhaps there is

Someone around here

Who can look at this picture

And identify

This old building.

Oh, I can identify

The building.

It's the lundeen building.

I thought

You wanted to know

What street it was on.

Yes. What street is it?

There I can't help you.

I never could

Remember the name

Of that street myself.

I gotta tell you,

Donald's not her first.

Donald's not

The worst, either.

Here dee comes now.

Hi. I'm dee shepard.

Hi. Thanks for coming.

Anything to help

Miss nedda. We've become

Real good friends.

When did this donald

Come in the picture?

I know she had

Other friends

Before him.

Did you know those boys?

There really haven't

Been any boys.

She been with men.

I knew one other

Black fella and donald,

But any others,

I didn't know.

Me, neither.

Though I saw

A couple of 'em

From a distance.

She was with a white man

At a motel for money,

And he b*at her up.

And that's where

I came in.

That was the time

Miss nedda wrote to you

That laura was

In the hospital

With pneumonia.

Dee wanted me

To tell you the truth,

But I didn't dare.

I was afraid

You'd cut us off.

Why should you

Be supporting this?

You won't give up on her.

I think I lost ground

With her.

She was listening

To what you said.

Can you get 'em

Together again, alone?

I don't know.

So who came in on the jet?

Our guests arrive

In cars, not planes.

But not in limos

With chauffeurs?

I can't comment on that.

The chauffeur did.

Said someone was speaking

Foreign part of the time.

Said they came in on

A chartered jet.

Who are they?

We are not

Permitted to reveal

The name of guests.

Unless, guests

Request we do so.

I chartered that plane,

Young man.

My name is george sparkman.

I represent the marko

Maxi-mart retail chain.

We're gonna be big here.

If you wanna

Give us publicity,

I'll sit down with you.

Was you the one

Speaking foreign?

Yes, I frequently

Speak foreign--

Italian, spanish,

And a kind of a german.

So do the women with me

Who handle marketing

And research for mmm.

Shall we sit down?

Thanks for nothing, guys.

This is an overseas

Call for you.

Oh, thank you.

Sparkman.

We'll be there.

Eternal rest

Grant unto him, o lord,

And may perpetual light

Shine upon him. Amen.

All: amen.

Good morning,

Miss burrows.

Or perhaps

I should call you

By your famous name.

Either's fine.

When I was little,

My mama brought me here,

People called me gilda.

I know. I remember

'Cause my mama

Brought me here, too.

Sometimes I tell people

I knew you back when.

But I assure you,

Only special people,

And I don't dwell

On the subject.

Where'd they put my mama?

Go straight down

The path here

Till you come to

The old oak tree,

Then turn right.

Right away, you'll see

The beautiful stone

You set marking

Her grave.

Thank you.

Clara.

Want a hanky?

It's a clean hanky.

Here comes the boy scout.

Tell him to stay back.

I ain't gonna hurt you,

But I talk to you alone.

I ain't as bad

As you might think.

I just wanna be able

To take laura and me

Out of this town.

That's all

She want, too.

Well, I don't think

He's gonna jump her,

Not with her bodyguard

And her preacher

Looking at him.

Why hurt her?

There's nothing in that.

No, he wants something.

Money?

If I leave here

And leave her behind,

What's gonna happen?

She'll have to get

Her cocaine

From another pusher.

Right. That's where

The big danger is,

Sister.

Some of these guys

Use her up, pitch her

In the dumpster.

I'm the only one

That love her.

I'll take care of her.

Make sure she always

Got food and a bed

And protection.

The way I see it,

The only way you're gonna

Help your little sister

Is to help me.

That's a pure fact.

She gonna be dead

If you don't.

( People chattering )

( Car radio blasting )

( Rap tune plays

On the car radio )

This is a ' cutlass

Convertible we looking at,

Mississippi tags,

The numbers tell me jackson.

Black top, red body.

( Clicking )

Here's that fax

You wanted.

Uh-huh.

( Rings )

Sheriff gillespie's

Office.

Someone I know

You wanna hear from.

Good morning.

Hi. Geli bendel.

Can I have a little bit

Of your time privately?

I hope you're not

Angry with me

For kind of ignoring you

At the airfield

The other day.

You know

When you see someone

And you're so surprised...

I know exactly

What you mean.

Now, are you having lunch

With anybody?

No--oh, you.

And you're very kind.

Where?

What time? Okay.

I'll be there.

Thank you.

( Speaking italian )

( Speaking italian )

( Speaking italian )

, Please.

Tommy, she's on her way

Down to the lobby now.

Well, this is a pleasure.

Welcome back.

Thank you for coming.

Oh, tommy, you don't

Have to wait.

Go and ask george

If he needs you.

Okay. I can be here

In a few minutes when

You wanna be picked up.

Fine.

Well, I take it

You found this place

Easily enough.

I was here several times

Years ago with my mama.

The duvaliers lived here.

And my mama handmade

All the curtains.

I helped her, sort of.

I was nine or ten.

Well, still

A grand old place.

I was explaining

To clara, my assistant,

That these old mansions

Aren't what they were.

She wants to see tara.

I told her that was

Only somebody's dream.

Well, speaking of dreams,

You must've had

A few dreams come true

Over the years, gilda.

Unless you'd rather

Be called by your

Professional name.

I like geli.

Do you remember

When mrs. Armfelt

Took me to chicago?

Oh, I sure do.

There was a german girl

Who took care of me--

Geli bendel.

I like it.

I remember you hated to go.

Your mama said,

"I'm gonna give this child

To miss luther armfelt."

I looked down

And had to find

A hanky for you

'Cause you cried.

I seemed white,

So I was sent away

To be white.

Any regrets?

Many,

But it's too complicated

To talk about, and...

It's not important anymore.

I've come here

To take laura away.

She's in awful trouble.

Yes, well, i, uh...

I brought this for you

To look at.

Oh, I see we're having

White wine here.

You have a mersault,

Five years old.

May we have a bottle

Of that, please?

Yes, sir.

And now she's with

This criminal.

Huh! He wants me

To give him money

So he doesn't

Have to sell dope.

He says.

He wants me

To give him a car.

He wants to take laura away.

He is her salvation, he says.

Laura's not ten,

Like I was.

I can't make her

Leave with me.

I can't even get her alone

To talk about leaving.

I don't know what to do.

I think I can help

In a small way.

Hey, you pushing

A vacuum cleaner?

That's real funny

'Cause I know you pushing

Bigger stuff than that.

What's the real deal?

Look, man,

Don't bother me.

This hotel

One of your

Territories?

Just keep moving

And stay off me.

Hey, you got real

High-class help here.

You got plenty money,

And you don't need

No job like this,

But you like working

Hotel lobbies, huh?

I know,

I got plenty of friends

That can take care of you

Real good.

Watch you don't mess

With me, you hear me?

Don't mess with me.

Just a couple

Of seconds more.

I don't believe

The pusher's gonna go off

And leave the house alone

With his merchandise in it.

That bar tells the story.

He's got his stuff

In here somewhere.

Charlie, come here.

Well, she's breathing.

Go call the paramedic.

I can't find laura.

You wanna go look

At donald's place?

I'll take you.

I been. Nobody's in.

It's all locked up.

Oh, please.

Gilda can't leave

Till she's had a chance

To talk to that child.

And talking don't mean

Just a day or two days.

It could mean a week,

Two weeks.

Nedda, don't be silly.

The truth is,

It could take a year,

And after a year,

You could still be

No place.

Believe me,

I been all through this

With a couple of others.

One of my own...

Lost to me,

Somewhere out there.

But we've all got jobs

And a life

And other people

Depending on us.

And we can't just

Stop all that.

( Siren )

Luann for the lieutenant.

Come on, please.

My brother.

Jamison: go ahead, luann.

Little donny's visiting

With the two wise guys

In the jackson car.

Just talking.

Nothing's going down.

Okay. - .

Excuse me.

Luann just called in.

She says donny muir's

Over at serenity glen

With his connection.

Do you want her

To stay with him?

No, no. We better

Bring her on in.

I'm afraid donny boy'll

Recognize her.

I know

He was in church one sunday

When she was singing there.

Donny muir in church?

I can't quite call up

A mental picture of that.

I once knew a church deacon

Of enormous piety

Who used to love

To chop people up.

Well, I just wish that

We could jump on donny.

That's what the sheriff's

Asking me to do.

You don't mean book him.

Y'all not ready for that, huh?

Well, we been

Leaving him off the leash,

Trying to find out

Where he goes

And who he sees.

Well, we wouldn't

Have to keep him very long.

Just pick him up,

Hold him a couple of hours,

Turn him loose.

I could take care

Of that myself.

How soon?

Well, right away.

Geli bendel's got

To get some time alone

To talk to that

Kid sister of hers.

If you're thinking

About talking

To laura burrows, sheriff,

Don't count on it today.

Oh, harriet,

I'm sorry for crying.

You have a right

To cry all you want.

Let's sit down.

Laura is with this

Terrible young man.

And we cannot allow it.

We gotta stop it.

We gotta keep him

Away from her.

Now, I know the police

Won't do nothing.

They'll just say

She's of age

And she can live

The way she want to.

Well, they are right,

Nedda.

But people say

The sheriff is powerful

And can do just about

Anything he wants.

And now he does

What you tell him.

Really? People

Really think that?

They say you

Stronger than him.

You got him

When nobody else could.

They say you control him

'Cause you smart,

And he's getting on.

Nedda, I'm gonna see

What I can do.

God bless you.

I do wish we could send

Your niece off somewhere.

That donald muir

Won't leave her alone

So gilda can talk to her.

I wish we could make him

Just disappear.

Arresting him's

The only way to do that.

They should send him

To prison.

Everybody but the white cops

Know he bring dr*gs

To the motels.

And he's got laura

On the dr*gs.

And she's like

A sl*ve to him.

Roberta, let's have some tea.

Ain't that miss bendel

And her driver

Pulling away over there?

Well, it's the car,

All right.

It's her.

It might very well be.

Occasionally,

She'll just leave

Without saying she's going.

You're standing here

Promising us we're gonna

Get to talk to her,

She's sneaking out

The back door.

Thanks a lot, mister.

You know what?

You're a phony.

I'm very disappointed

In your tone of voice.

I was told young

Southern fellas

Were especially polite

To older people.

Can I be of some service

To you, ma'am?

No, sir,

I don't think you can.

I noticed you

Taking a measure of

This fine old building.

Struck me you might

Be interested in it.

Well, yes, I am.

Your name?

My name is anson lundeen.

Geli bendel.

I've got the keys

To the place here

If you'd like to

Look around inside.

I'm not actually

The owner.

No. You're the executor

Of a will, isn't that true?

That's exactly right, ma'am.

The will of

The former owner,

My late brother marshall.

However,

If you're interested

In buying the place--

Oh, no,

I don't wanna buy it.

I wanna sell it.

I am the present owner

Of this building.

Well, now, if that

Were true, ma'am,

And since the former owner

Was my brother,

Why, he'd have

To be your daddy.

Well, he didn't have to be,

And I wish he hadn't been,

But he was.

Reporter: is that her car?

That's miss bendel.

( All yell at once )

Well, boys,

We got gumbo, sausage

And cabbage for lunch.

But if I hear one word

Directed at any

Of these visitors

About to come through here,

There ain't

Gonna be no lunch.

My advice is,

Don't even look at 'em.

How's it going?

Like the man says,

"No sweat...not yet."

Stay cool.

I smell cabbage.

Yes, sir. There's

Some sausage under it.

Come on, let's go.

Good afternoon, miss bendel.

Ma'am, I'm chief forbes.

Good afternoon.

This is officer covey.

Pleasure to meet

You, ma'am.

Nic to meet you.

I'll talk to you later, chief.

I understand things

Are not going

The way you want,

And we gonna

Try to help you.

Thank you, chief.

We can make sure

You get a chance

To visit with your sister.

I don't know where

My sister is right now.

We do. She's here.

What happened?

We think she mixed

Some booze and some dr*gs

And passed out.

It's an overdose,

But not in a critical sense.

She's okay. She just...

Sleeping it off.

( Knock on door )

She doesn't look great,

But she's really okay.

No bad heart signs,

Nothing like that.

Don't you think

She should see a doctor?

They took her to emergency.

Doctor said

It wasn't an emergency.

Take her home.

So we thought

She'd get more rest here.

Soon as she wakes up,

We gonna take her home.

Tomorrow you'll be able

To talk to her.

Reporter: here she comes,

Here she comes.

In the red.

( All talk at once )

Geli, I got some questions.

Geli bendel, we'd like

To talk to you.

Go on, sh**t as much

As you want.

Are you and

Franco farnese split?

Well, I'm in america,

And he's in france.

The rome express says

He had a complete breakdown

And went to stay

With his mother

In switzerland.

Sidney shard says he's gone

Completely out of his mind,

And he accuses you

Of having black parents,

And that you wanna

Bring them back here to live

With him and you.

Let me say my husband

Is doing very well.

Shard says he's

One of italy's new fascists.

Is that true what he said

About your parents?

It's half true.

Both my parents are dead.

Buried here?

Both buried here.

Is it true that you've

Got property here?

Yes.

Which one is the black parent,

Geli, mom or pop?

( All yell questions at once )

No, that unpalatable rag'll

Only turn me off

The fine breakfast

You put before me.

Put it right here.

My stomach is tougher

Than his.

And why is your stomach

Tougher than mine?

Because moonshine liquor

Has never passed these lips.

I can't say that for you,

Or come to think of it,

One or two of the ladies

You have known.

Naturally, the herald

Made sure to use

A picture of the woman

With her skirt

Nearly up to her hips.

Skirt's too short, anyhow.

I'm just talking about

The choice of picture.

You go and dress

Like that,

Ain't no way

You gonna move without

Showing your drawers.

Ha ha ha.

Well, the herald's

Certainly learning some

Tricks from the tabloids.

And look at the way

They write this story.

He done said

He don't wanna see it.

Well, I bet I can guess

What it says, anyway.

"Expatriate actress

In guilt trip

Back to sparta."

Your guess is wrong,

But not far wrong.

Let me see it.

"White actress..."

( Continues reading )

Well, I matched

The rotten tone

Pretty well, didn't i?

You sure did. I'm finding

New talents in you every day.

"Finally admits

Her origins."

Well, I reckon we all

Come to it sooner or later.

Let me read it through.

Speaking of late,

That's what I am.

I'm gonna run.

Bye.

I'll call you later.

Hold it, man.

Hold it for what?

Put your hands up.

I said put your hands up

And get up against the car.

What's going on?

All right, get in

The back, come on.

Inside.

Haven't you got anything

Better to do around this town?

It's gonna get into print

Far beyond the confines

Of this burg.

It is already gone,

Obviously, everywhere.

Those animals

Are not all from here.

There was german,

Italian press.

I saw one from new orleans.

I heard one guy

Say he's from memphis.

God, they get here so fast,

Like those flies.

Med flies.

Med flies.

( Speaking italian )

It's time. Start packing.

Tommy...

All set.

Don't look so tragic.

So they've

Found out about me.

Everyone who

Didn't know now knows.

So what? What's so bad?

What can it hurt?

Only my heart,

Not my career.

Not nowadays.

Ha ha ha.

Please be careful,

Darling.

You never know, georgie.

Some creep might come along,

Wanna write my life story.

Then another creep

Might come along

Wanna make a movie.

They're gonna keep you busy.

No. Because they don't

Need me for any of that.

They don't even need you.

( Door closes )

Morning, sheriff.

Morning, chief.

I was just asking

Donald here

If he was any kind

Of a hand with horses

Because his daddy,

Elon muir,

Was one of the best

Ever seen anywhere.

Is that right?

Yeah. Elon muir used to

Break horses for people

From miles around,

Over as far as kennard

And marshalsburg.

He had a trick of

Leading the two-year-olds

Into earl's creek

Whenever he wanted to

Throw a saddle on 'em

For the first time.

And in between

The water pressure

On the legs

And the mud

Holding the feet,

Why, those horses

Couldn't buck.

Cherokees used to do that.

Your daddy teach you

Anything about horses?

Yeah, he taught me

A lot of things

I couldn't use.

You ever try?

Try what?

Anything your daddy

Teach you?

Where we at, hmm?

Back in school,

Counselor's office,

Playing this is your life?

What y'all bring me

Down here for?

What'd I do?

Donald, you've had

A lot of arrests.

In the past, sheriff.

Mmm. Well,

The most recent one

Was for riding a motorbike

Without a driver's license.

Your license was

Suspended at the time

Of your last drug bust.

I ain't been

Driving nothing, lately.

I had you picked up

Because you're on probation,

And you was seen

In the company of

Two known drug merchants.

Seen by who?

By sparta

City police officers.

You know something,

You got too many damn

Different kind of cops

Running around

This little town.

Young man...

There's one

City councilman

And at least

One kind of supervisor

Who agree with you,

But all the rest--

They think

We need more cops.

See, they feel

There's too damn

Many of you guys

Running around

This little town.

For instance, there's

One clifford eubanks

Of the city of jackson,

Well-known bad character,

Driving a brand-new

Cutlass convertible,

Who's with us

At this moment.

And he's got

This big white boy

Riding around with him.

Donald, who is this

White boy?

Now don't do

The dummy act, please.

You used to get

High marks in school.

You are no dummy.

You're a very smart

Young man.

Too smart to talk to y'all

Without a lawyer.

Y'all know how

To line yourselves up

With lawyers, don't ya?

Yeah. My lawyer's

Ken trifolo

From number seven,

Sparta square east,

Suite three.

I've got it all

Written down.

He's told me three times.

Fine.

Thank you, sheriff.

Don't mention it, chief.

( Door opens and closes )

Well, henry, I guess

You can let him

Watch some tv.

( Door opens and closes )

( Someone plucking

Off-key guitar notes )

Have you been talking?

Yeah, only I always

Say what I ain't

Supposed to say,

Which is all I know to say,

So I ain't said much.

I just stop

And watch her,

Like this.

What are you supposed

To say, nedda?

Tell me, please.

Anything at all,

As long as it's

Got nothing to do

With the way she is.

That's what the therapists

Down at the drug center say.

Make believe

That you don't notice

Anything different.

Make believe

You don't see

Anything wrong

With the cocaine

And the alcohol.

Make believe your heart

Ain't breaking

And don't cry or scream

Like you wanna.

Laura...laura, honey...

What you want,

White lady?

Come over here

And sit by me

So we can talk a little.

Why?

Because I'm leaving,

And I don't wanna leave

Without you.

I mean, I want you

To come with me.

I want that more than

Anything in the world.

But if you won't,

Okay, but...

I have some things

That I have to tell you,

Like how you can reach me.

You go on.

You just go on.

Let nedda

Give little laura

Some ice cream.

Ice cream real good...

Like in chicago.

It's real good.

Ain't like you.

You ain't good.

You ain't real.

You ain't real.

Yes, I am, sweetie.

I'm real.

I'm your real,

Real sister.

Same mama and papa.

And I beg you...

To come with me...

Just for a little visit.

We can go first to new york,

And then, if you want,

But only if you want,

We can go to spain.

I don't ever wanna

Be away from you again.

I got--i gotta go now.

I gotta go in my room

And lie down.

I can't take no more

Light today.

I gotta go, white lady.

I can't take no more you.

I gotta go.

( Door opens and closes )

I'm sorry, gilda.

Both: aah!

( Sirens )

He's dead, chief.

Is this

Miss losey's house?

Yes, sir.

Dee, you and johnny go see

If anybody's inside there.

Anybody out here

Call this in?

Ma'am.

Everybody in here

Okay?

Yeah, everything's okay.

My aunt and laura

Are in the bedroom.

I think my sister

Has to go to

The hospital this time.

Just three of you

In here, ma'am?

Yeah.

Did you see

What happened here?

Okay, I'd like you

To stay here.

When our officers

Come back,

You give a statement?

Thank you.

Did you happen

To see this thing,

Miss bendel?

Yes, I did.

I saw the car.

I saw the men in it.

I saw what they did.

Good morning, sir.

You rented a trailer

To a couple of fellas

From jackson.

They were driving

A cutlass convertible.

Which trailer was it?

They ain't here.

I didn't ask you that,

Mr. Gentry.

I just wanna know

Which trailer it was.

It's the little one

Right there by the oak.

Thank you, sir.

They ain't in it.

One of the guys

Was a white man.

You know his name?

No.

Now, who in the hell

Is this coming?

I do believe that's

The county sheriff.

Morning, bill.

Lonnie.

Does this man here

Know the name

Of the good-looking

White fella,

So described, who totes

The -gauge shotgun?

He says no.

I don't know

Why everybody

Is so interested

In shielding this bad boy.

Is he perhaps

The son of one of america's

First families or something?

Well, sir, he's crazy.

He's what?

I talked to this lady

Back there,

And she said everybody's

Scared of that white boy

'Cause he's crazy.

Uh-huh. Where is the woman?

She'll be along directly.

She didn't have

Any clothes on.

I talked to her through this

Teeny-tiny little window,

And she said

She wasn't dressed yet.

She also said he loved

To fire that g*n,

And he sh*t it several times

In the last few days.

sh*t at her trailer

And hit it.

She also said

He's on dope

All the time.

Does she know where he is?

No, sir, but I looked.

I think those two

Aren't done with

This trailer yet.

Is he coming back here?

I got no idea whatsoever.

Let's go in

And have a talk,

Shall we?

Hold it, ma'am.

Well...

I never knew the word

"Dope" to produce such

Instantaneous results.

Woman over p.a.:

Dr. Duke to o.r., Please.

Dr. Duke to o.r., Please.

She's okay, darling.

The doctor told me.

Really very healthy,

In spite of everything.

Come on, georgie.

Let's go.

Physical therapy to admitting.

Physical therapy to admitting.

Can I help you?

Yes. Is this where

They keep the people...

A couple people

Being prepared for

Postmortem examinations.

Would you know if there's

A tommy ammons in there?

Yes, ma'am.

She thinks

She has to look at him,

But you don't need her

To do that, do you?

No, sir.

It isn't necessary.

I need to. May i?

He worked for me.

Woman: here she comes.

Man: miss bendel,

One question, please.

Officer: just stay back

And give them room.

( Speaking italian )

( Speaking italian )

What? What?

Anson lundeen.

He wants...something.

Your father's brother?

That's the guy?

So he says.

But you don't know?

Why would he lie

To me, georgie?

( Speaking italian )

Let me get rid of him.

You've got nothing

To say to him.

He's a ganef.

He's trying to sell you

Your property.

What's on his mind?

I'm gonna talk to him.

Geli, don't.

Ah, what a meshugass.

I knew you'd be back.

Revelation like that,

I couldn't ignore it.

Now, how did you think

You were gonna

Sell my property?

I was gonna do it.

Wasn't anybody around

To step up and tell me

I couldn't.

What if I got

The law after you?

Worry about that

When it happened.

What can I do for you,

Mr. Lundeen?

Step over here,

Give a little nod

To my sister-in-law,

Margaret mary,

My brother's widow.

Not related to you,

And yet...

She had a stroke

First of last month.

But she understands

Everything we say

And knows everything

That's going on.

She wanted to see you.

Just wanted

One look at you.

I know.

I just wanted

One look at y'all.

Luann out here

On old route .

They just went by me,

Coming your way. Over.

Jamison: okay, drive in.

We're in position.

Yes, sir. - .

Hey, gentry.

You in there, gentry?

Anybody been here

Looking for me?

I don't think so.

The guy that came to see me

The other day.

I don't think so.

What you mean,

You don't think so?

I'm talkin' about donald,

You fool.

I ain't seen him.

Well, ask your wife.

You see that fella?

She said no.

You did very well,

Mr. Gentry.

And thank you,

Mrs. Gentry.

Jamison: police.

Gentlemen, hold it there

And put your hands in the air.

I suggest you do

As you're told.

All right,

Up against the car.

Y'all are supposed

To be city police,

Not a couple

Of rent-a-cops

Hired by this hotel

To push people around.

I'm sorry,

But the man just concerned

About too many people

Hanging around in the lobby.

Hanging around?

Son, you're talking

To the press.

It's our job to be

Where things are happening

And to report those things

To the people.

Some of the guests

Complained

About y'all being in the way

And using bad language.

Excuse me,

But y'all gonna have

To stand to the side

So people can get in.

Right this way,

Miss delong.

I know I shouldn't

Leave it there.

Can you help me?

Yes, ma'am.

The keys in it?

Yes.

I'll put it

Right over there

For you.

Well, looky here.

Rent-a-cops doubling

As parking attendants.

Yeah, go on, boy.

( Car door closes )

I'm harriet delong...

Gillespie.

I am so pleased

To meet you, madam.

Please come in.

Thank you.

I'm clara piera.

Hi. I'm gilda burrows.

Hi.

That's who I really am.

The sheriff

Called me gilda.

Please sit down.

I have coffee made.

I'll bring it right here.

I'm only gonna

Stay a minute.

I know y'all getting

Ready to leave.

For new york,

I hear.

No, to jackson first

To see tommy ammons' family

And help them bury him.

It's awful sad.

He was a very nice man.

He got a call,

"Come to sparta,

Protect some woman."

"Sure. Fine."

And then he gets k*lled.

Why?

I want you to know

We're gonna take care

Of your sister laura.

We could've been

Doing a lot more,

Or at least trying

A lot harder for her.

You're very kind.

Too kind to me.

Where was i?

Now listen,

We've all got some past

We'd like to fix.

But we can't

Be worrying about that

Because we need to be

Thinking about now.

I was gonna ask your husband

To do something for me,

But I may not see him, and...

You want me

To give this to him?

I will.

There's information

About a building I own

And two pieces of property

From here to marshalsburg.

My mama left them to me.

And all I want

Is to list them

With a good broker.

I can do that myself.

Life is funny...

So strange.

Your husband was

The last man I saw

When I left sparta

And the first man I saw

When I came back.

I think the two of you

Have a lot of nerve.

Both working for

A little town in the south,

Getting married,

And getting away with it.

The jury's

Still out on that.

I believe I will

Have some coffee.

You warned me

Not to get in

Trouble again,

And here I am,

In trouble.

But not with me.

You're not gonna

Lock me up

In some facility?

Who, me? I didn't

Even arrest you.

The cops sure did.

They didn't take you

Down to the station

And book you, did they?

They put me

In a police car

And held me with handcuffs.

Brought me here.

Well, now, honey child,

Nobody's fixing

To put you anywhere.

Not yet.

But you remember...

My telling you that

The last time we talked,

Don't you? Not yet.

It was that time...

At the motel.

Yes. And you said to me

Very sincerely,

"I'm gonna change my ways."

But I didn't.

No.

I don't think I can.

I don't know

How to live no other way

But what I'm living.

One of these days,

I'm gonna do something...

I don't know what.

But I'm past now,

And they gonna

Have to put me away.

It's gonna happen.

I know it.

It's what I was thinking...

During the night,

Lying awake in that bed.

Well, I sure don't

Want it to happen.

It's blood-pressure time,

Temperature time,

And...medication time.

So...back in bed.

I expect you want me

Out of here, then.

Just for ten minutes.

I'll be right back

Because I wanna

Talk to you

About doing

Something else.

Chief forbes

From the police station.

Hi, chief.

Yeah.

Well, what is his name,

Finally?

You're joking.

Say it again.

Thank you.

They found out the name

Of that white guy.

The one that k*lled

Tommy the security man?

Mmm. His name

Is sonny sunday.

What?

You heard me.

Sonny sunday.

Hold that takeoff,

New york.

The county sheriff's coming.

Vaya con dios.

Ah, si. Without god,

There is nothing.

Or sin dios,

Todo es nada.