The Chamber Page #2

to ask me a question like that?

The jury said I did it.

The appeals court said the jury was right.

That's all that matters.

How old are you there, Mr Hall?

26. I'd like to go over

your legal position...

- Born in '69?

- That's correct.

- Your legal position...

- Where?

- In Memphis. I'd prefer to stick to...

- Grew up there, did you?

I grew up in a lot of places,

mainly southern California.

Your family still there?

Mom's remarried, she lives in Portland.

And your sister?

I believe her name would be Carmen.

College. Berkeley.

How did you know?

The voice.

You sound just like your daddy.

Why did you come here?

He sent me.

I don't have a choice.

But I am going to save you.

- Save me?

- Yeah.

This from the son of a man

that blew his own brains out?

Go to hell, you little piece of sh*t.

You know who you're talking to?

Save me?

You don't look like you could save

a turkey from Thanksgiving.

Go on, get the hell out of here.

Try to save your own sorry ass.

I am the only person on earth

who cares if you live or die.

You will sign this and agree to be

my client or you will be dead in 28 days.

We're all a bit taken aback at how huge

this case has suddenly become.

What's so huge about it?

I know the Clarion-Ledger

is not the Chicago Tribune,

but in our small pond, it's everything.

I'm lost.

Certainly you've seen today's paper?

Thanks very much,

this will be just fine.

Let us know if we can do

anything more for you.

Why do you want the right to end

my representation without a fight?

It took me a long time to fire

those Jew bastards last time.

I don't want to go through that again.

- That's reasonable.

- I don't care if you think so or not.

It's in the agreement

and it's non-negotiable.

Moving right along.

"No clemency" is ridiculous.

If the appeal fails, we'll have to go to

Governor McAllister as a last resort.

To preclude clemency would be suicidal.

If I could take David McAllister

into the chamber with me,

I'd die with a smile.

I was tried, I was retried,

I got a hung jury both times.

I was a free man for 12 years.

And then that sleazy

son of a b*tch McAllister

used me to get hisself elected.

No deals with the governor.

Fine.

All right.

Why did you become a Klansman?

- Because my daddy was in the Klan.

- Why did he become a Klansman?

- His daddy was in the Klan.

- Great. Three generations?

No, four. Colonel Jacob Cayhall fought

with Nathan Bedford Forrest in the war.

And family legend has it that he was

one of the first members of the Klan.

So, let me see. I guess that makes him

your great-great-great-granddaddy.

- Do you expect me to feel proud about it?

- I don't give a damn.

I'm just telling you who you are.

Isn't that why you're here?

The Kramer twins was the fifth bombing.

What about the Jackson real estate office?

I lost my virginity on that one.

It was crude - just some sticks and a fuse.

- The newspaper office?

- Real fireball.

- The Hirsch Temple?

- Best one yet.

The Kramer office?

It was a good bomb.

- But I never meant to kill anybody.

- Really?

You bombed the Pinder house at 4 a.m.,

with six people there.

But nobody got hurt

because I put the bomb in the garage.

I don't make fancy bombs.

They're simple little things.

But I know where to put them.

I never meant to kill anybody.

And the twins?

- Casualties of war.

- The father losing his legs?

- Killing himself?

- I don't want to talk about this.

Are you hiding something from me?

- I wouldn't advise it.

- I got nothing to hide.

I did what I had to do.

The Klan was at war.

We would've won,

but we started bombing the Jews

and with all their money

they got the FBI and they beat us.

We should've just stayed

whipping up on the n*ggers.

World would've been a different place.

You can pretend

you're all offended by this.

But, deep down inside, we both know

there's a part of you that agrees with me.

That's bullshit.

Why are you getting so touchy?

- What are you hiding?

- I'm not hiding a thing.

Like hell you're not.

You're driving your car

and some drunk jungle bunny cuts you off,

his ghetto music blastin',

what do you think?

"Well, you darned African-American!"

No. You think, "N*gger."

If you had any guts, you'd say so.

I'm gonna come back tomorrow.

I hurt your little feelings, have I?

What did you expect to find here?

Old Grandpa Do-Good?

Expect me to go all blubbery,

kiss your behind

and sing psalms of forgiveness?

I don't know what I expected.

Sure you did... grandson.

Hi. I'm Nora Stark, Attorney Hall.

I kind of clean up

after Governor McAllister.

- Adam, please.

- Adam it shall be.

I'm very curious.

You know the same points raised in

the pending ineffective counsel petition

were turned down by Texas just last month?

Actually, I do know. But it's my opinion

that Texas is miles ahead of Mississippi

in many things, including stupidity.

I'm optimistic.

- Morning, Counsel.

- Morning, Your Honour.

This is a serious business.

Ultimate, irreversible punishment

of a fellow human.

Time is the purest gold.

When do you plan to file an appeal?

Oddly, I had planned on waiting

for the court to issue a ruling

before appealing it,

Your Honour.

However, if, as expected... Thursday?

- And the State's response?

- We agree.

Assuming you'll not be introducing

additional issues on this appeal...

Obviously not.

...Friday morning.

You'll have my decision Friday.

Can the court expect additional filings?

Are you asking me

my legal strategy, Your Honour?

Not at all, sir.

But I'm thrilled to know you have one.

Y'all are dismissed. Now.

Carl, Irene, how are you?

Adam!

Clemency?

Contractually bound not to ask.

You haven't, but you will.

You see, the governor's

a very open-minded man.

He's not precluding anything.

You becoming a lawyer

must have made Sam proud.

You should be familiar

with his view of the profession.

I'd just as soon keep this discussion

on the issue and off the record.

I believe you're reconsidering

the state-sanctioned murder of my client.

- Adam, would you mind?

- No, sir.

I am obviously extremely proud

to have won a conviction

where two previous prosecutors have failed.

While I have no doubt

Sam Cayhall is guilty as charged,

I've always doubted he acted alone

and as you know, he's never been inclined

to help himself in that regard.

What exactly are you saying?

- Is there something specific you know?

- No, certainly not.

I just wanna make sure justice is served.

I see.

So, if I should somehow learn...

Adam, I take my power to decide

whether a fellow human

should live or die very seriously.

If I could somehow be convinced

your client felt the same way...

I'm sorry to rush. Nora,

help out Mr Hall in every way we can.

- It was lovely to meet you.

- Nice to meet you.

Let me guess.

You're not convinced he's sincere.

- Allow me a touch of healthy scepticism.

- Of course.

However, off the record and on the issue,

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