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that's the story at all.

Well, how would

you put it then?

That The Nashville Times

is the kind of newspaper

Where this sort of journalism

can still happen.

Do you think maybe I could be

the one quoted saying that?

I think you're

just the right person.

What a hypocrite.

Can't believe you let him

get away with that.

Partner, when you're

holding all the cards,

You don't want anyone

to leave the table.

I went in there

thinking somebody's head

Was about to roll.

Instead, we got the publisher

begging to be quoted

In the national media supporting

investigative journalism.

McCallum was smart to transfer

Possum over here tonight.

I'm betting there will be

a whole boatload

Of angry people

at tomorrow's hearing.

Safer not to make old' Possum

run that gauntlet.

Mr. McCallum, we're arriving

At the courthouse

with the package.

Roger that.

They're pulling up

to the courthouse.

Looks like a good night

for Possum-Hunting.

There's somebody else

out there.

They're gonna kill him!

Dang, Matt.

Well, you just made

Richard petty right proud.

Hoo!

All rise.

The court is now in session.

The honorable

R. Horace Williams presiding.

You may be seated.

Now counselors,

this is not a trial.

This is only a hearing

on the defense request

For the release

of the defendant on bond.

As such,

there are only two questions

That concern the court today.

One, is he a flight risk?

And two, does he pose a risk

of harm to the community?

Your honor,

despite judge Buchanan's ties

To the community, we consider

him a high flight risk.

Why is that, counselor?

Because the state will be

seeking the death penalty.

What is

your aggravating circumstance?

Premeditation.

We will offer the testimony

of William A. Baker.

I do.

On the night of the killing

of Wallace Sampson,

Were you with judge Buchanan?

Yes, sir.

Was anyone else with you?

Yes, sir.

Chief Peringer.

Three of us was in town hall,

Standing guard

against the blacks.

Someone had throwed

a firebomb at the store.

The judge was pretty upset

about it.

He said he'd already

been losing money

'Cause the blacks were scaring

away the white fellas,

Who'd come around

for the girls,

And now, they'd caused ol'

Braeford Watson's heart attack.

What else did judge Buchanan

say about the firebomb?

He said a firebomb that, uh...

that don't go off

Must have been made by a black.

Is that exactly what he said?

No, not exactly.

Mr. Baker, tell the court

Exactly what

judge Buchanan said.

He said, "a firebomb

that don't go off"

Must have been made

by a n*gger. "

Please.

Did judge Buchanan

offer an opinion

About what should be done?

He said, uh, "them n*ggers

need to be put in their place. "

Did judge Buchanan say

how that should be done?

He said,

"there needs to be a killing. "

Did judge Buchanan say

who needed to be killed?

He said, "we should kill

the next n*gger"

That walks past the store. "

Please.

And how were you going

to decide who would kill

The next black person

that walked past the store?

We played poker.

That way, we could decide

who would be lookouts

And who would be the shooter.

And the loser

would do the shooting?

No, the winner.

Who won the hand?

Judge Buchanan.

What happened next?

Judge went and got his rifle

from his car.

Chief said he wanted

to go home.

He said he thought

the judge had been bluffing.

The judge said

it was fine by him,

As long as he kept

his mouth shut.

After the chief left, I tried

To talk the judge out of it.

I told him he didn't actually

need to shoot anybody.

He could just scare 'em.

Judge said

it wasn't a bad idea.

I just hid in the bushes.

Then I saw someone walking.

I could tell it was a black.

Then I heard the shot from where

the judge was standing.

The black fell, and I took off.

I didn't even know it was a kid

Until the judge told me

the next day.

What else did

judge Buchanan say?

He said that was

just one more n*gger kid

We didn't have to worry

about growing up.

Your honor,

I have one more witness.

Mary Pell Sampson.

Do you swear and affirm

that the statements

That you make are the truth,

the whole truth,

And nothing but the truth?

Yes, your honor.

Mrs. Sampson, judge Buchanan

Is accused of killing your son.

Would you be fearful

if he were free on bond?

I fear no man.

Only God.

You're a trusting woman.

What would your son's father

say about this question?

I don't know.

Where is he?

I'd rather not say.

Ma'am, you are sworn

to tell the truth here.

So I'll ask you,

who is Wallace's father?

Judge Buchanan!

Go on, please, ma'am.

Judge Buchanan raped me.

Please.

He and Mr. Hall had been...

shooting birds and...

and drinking.

Mr. Hall fell asleep.

The judge...

Came into the kitchen

where I was working

And said...

"Why pay for brown sugar

when I can get it for free?"

I never told anyone,

Not even when I found

I was pregnant.

It made no matter.

I loved Wallace.

He was my only son.

Judge Buchanan raped me,

But God gave me Wallace.

Judge, care to comment?

Yeah, too bad

chief Peringer ain't here

To tell his side of this.

Might be the point.

Perfect match.

The gun that killed

Wallace Sampson

Was the gun that killed

chief Peringer.

Chief Peringer and Possum

were the only other people

Who knew what Buchanan

had done.

So when Trey starts stirring

things up,

Buchanan kills the chief

the same way he shot Wallace.

The chief would still be alive

If I hadn't started

asking questions.

- No, baby.

- Well, hey.

The chief might not have

pulled the trigger,

But he did cover up

Wallace's murder

For almost 20 years.

You did what you believed in,

And I was so wrong

to try to stop you.

Hello?

Daddy?

Buchanan's dead.

Hung himself in jail.

And there's a fire

at the church,

And all hell is breaking loose.

Praise god.

You know, in 19 years,

I've learned a thing or two

about making firebombs.

"Seems so long. "

"You been carrying that cross

all by yourself,"

"And you don't see

how you can take it"

"Truth be told. "

"We each live

in a house of cards. "

"Yeah and it don't take much,"

"To shake it. "

I'm sorry.

It's okay, Emma Jean.

It's not your fault.

"To be redeemed. "

"Oh to be redeemed. "

"To be redeemed. "

"Redeemed. "

"From the grip of the mighty. "

"From the jaws of the lion. "

"To be redeemed. "

"This side of Zion. "

"I heard tell of a city"

"Where no one cries. "

"We've only ever known

the suburb. "

"Built on lies. "

"Where the lowborn suffer,"

"And the wicked win. "

"They get paid to sin. "

"While the weary wait

at heaven's door"

"Hoping someone lets them in. "

"To be redeemed. "

"To find that all we dreamed"

"Is what it seems. "

"From the grip of the mighty. "

"From the jaws of the lion. "

"This side of Zion. "

"Oh oh oh. "

"Oh. "

"100 miles an hour"

"Coming at you fast. "

"Shot like a bullet. "

"That's showing up at last. "

"There's a dead line coming. "

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