Ghosts of Mississippi Page #6

I need to ask you if what

you say in that book happened.

That part about Beckwith's speech

at that Klan rally. Is that a fact?

It's a fact.

I was shocked, and I remember

thinking how stupid he was...

...shooting off his mouth

like that in front of 100 men.

-Did you report that to the FBl?

-Sure, I did.

But Beckwith was a white man

accused of killing a black.

The FBl wasn't gonna blow my cover

on a case they couldn't win.

They were saving me

for Neshoba because--

Two of the victims were white.

Mr. Dennis,

if I can't build the case...

...I give you my word that

we never had this conversation.

But if I can...

...will you testify?

Byron De La Beckwith

is the craziest...

...most dangerous son of a b*tch

I ever come across.

He's so crazy even

the Klan's afraid of him.

He's an old man now.

That old man is probably more dangerous

today than he was 30 years ago.

Mr. Dennis, we need your help.

I can't make no promises.

You know something, Mr. Dennis?

Six months I've worked this case.

A lot of people have told me

to give it up.

" It's 27 years old.

Let sleeping dogs lie."

But I don't see

what difference it makes...

...if a man was

bushwhacked yesterday...

...today or 27 damn years ago.

Murder is murder.

It's still my job to bring

the son of a b*tch to justice.

It's still your job to help me.

No. I did my job.

I testified against the Klan.

They shot out my windows,

blew up my car.

They hunted and harassed me

for 25 years!

Don't that get me even

for the wrong I done?

We never get even

for the wrong we've done.

If I do this thing...

...you gotta promise me protection.

What's going on?

Stop that.

Stop that. IKnock it off.

Enough of that!

-What's going on?

-Eddy called you a n*gger lover.

My dad says you're after a man

for something that isn't even a crime.

That's enough fighting, son.

You get on home. Go on home.

Let me take a look at you.

My God. Get in this house.

What's gotten into you?

All this fighting.

All this name-calling.

Is this what you want?

To drag your children into this?

What would you have me do?

Let a murderer go free?

I'd never tell you your business.

I'm thinking about the children.

I don't understand why every

decent person in this state...

...isn't sickened by what

happened here 27 years ago.

-Oh, Bobby.

-You're not, are you?

-Not in front of the children.

-Why not?

I was just a kid...

...and I still remember you

and your friends discussing it.

And I recollect someone saying,

"That n*gger needed to be shot."

I never said a hateful

thing like that.

-You didn't cry, did you?

-I can't say that I shed any tears--

Had it been our beloved governor,

Ross Barnett, got himself shot...

...you would've been

bawling your eyes out.

Evers left a young widow and three

little kids. Why didn't you cry?

-I don't wanna discuss this now.

-Why?

Because he tried to destroy

our way of life.

And he succeeded all too well.

This state's going to hell

on account of integration.

That's a fact. If you think

they appreciate one thing...

...we gave them, you're crazy.

-Tiger, how do you feel?

-I'm all right.

-Your son has one tough nose.

-So it's not broken?

It'll be tender for a couple days,

then it'll be good as new.

Thank you. I appreciate it.

You're welcome.

Thank you, ma'am.

Are you the one involved

in this Medgar Evers thing?

Yes, I am.

I think what you're trying to do

is very important.

Thank you very much.

I don't want you kids getting

into anymore fights.

-But he called you a--

-I don't care what he called me.

It doesn't bother me. You gotta

learn not to let it bother you.

A lot of people around here

don't like what Daddy's doing now.

What are you doing, Daddy?

I'm trying to put a bad man in jail.

Mama says what you're doing is wrong.

Grandma said Edgar Mevers

is ruining our life.

Medgar Evers was a good guy

who tried to help people.

Did he try to beat the bad guys?

Yes, he did. He fought

so that black people...

...could eat in the same restaurants,

swim in the same pools...

...shop in the same stores and go

to the same schools as white people.

What's wrong with that?

Nothing.

But you'll hear people say

all kinds of bad things...

...about what your daddy's doing.

They're gonna tease you,

try to pick fights.

But no matter what they do...

...I want you to walk away.

What if they say

something really mean?

They're only words. They can't

hurt you unless you let them.

Is this about sticks and stones?

That's exactly what this is about.

Y'all understand what I'm saying?

Yes, sir.

All right.

All y'all get on to bed now.

Good night.

I heard you had a little visit

with my friend Delmar.

Mr. Beckwith?

Next time you see old Delmar,

you tell him for me...

...there are a lot

of dark, winding roads...

... between the backwoods of Louisiana

and a courtroom in Mississippi.

A man could get lost.

Claire, what's the matter?

The ghost's in my room again.

Let's see what we can do.

-Where is he?

-Sitting right there.

Oh, right.

Daddy, sing "Dixie."

Hop into bed, sweetie.

Sing.

You know, sweetie, maybe

" Dixie" is not the right song.

Maybe that's why

this ghost keeps coming back.

-But you said--

-I know, baby.

But I'm not so sure

that all ghosts like "Dixie."

But how do we know

what this ghost likes?

Seeing as this is your special ghost,

maybe he'll like your favorite song.

"Old MacDonald"?

Let's give it a try.

Old MacDonald had a farm

E-I-E-I-O

And on that farm he had a--

What?

A ghost?

And on that farm he had a ghost

E-I-E-I-O

With a boo boo here

And a boo boo there

Here a boo, there a boo

Everywhere a boo boo

You wanted to have lunch

to talk about Burt's nose?

No, actually, l....

I didn't think so.

So then, this is a date?

Apparently.

In the hospital cafeteria?

I took a chance. I thought

it would either be stupid or charming.

What do you think?

Is there a third choice?

Extremely charming?

That's the one.

How'd you get into all this?

You want the standard answer

or the truth?

How about a little of both?

I always liked helping people...

...and I like the hours.

Which answer was that?

A little of both.

But I do like that I work

one week on and one week off.

Can't beat that.

Have to be careful not to shop

too much in that week off.

That can kill you.

What about you?

I wanted to be a lawyer

since I was a little kid.

I watched Perry Mason...

...all the time.

I identified with him.

-But he was a defense attorney.

-I know.

Later, I realized the only way

he ever won a case...

...is if some guy jumped up

and yelled, "I did it!"

That didn't happen often,

so I switched to the other side.

I think it's a good thing you did.

You would be in

the minority these days.

There are a lot more people

on your side than you think.

You're not saying that because

I bought you a lime Jell-O?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes