The Chamber Page #5

You're gonna argue I'm insane

because I held different political beliefs

than you and your father

and his naive, n*gger-loving,

bleeding heart bullshit?

I probably won't use

those exact words in my brief.

I'll wait for the psychiatrist's report.

So I'm gonna see a psychiatrist?

- That's right.

- That's insane.

Killing children whose father was working

for civil rights is insane.

I never meant to kill those kids.

That's fine but you're scheduled

to be executed for it in 14 days.

OK.

Good.

I need to go over more family background.

I got some from Lee

but there's a lot of holes in it.

She's going through a tough time right now.

I tried to call her when I saw this

but she didn't answer.

I think she's drinking again.

Did you know she's an alcoholic?

Have you ever felt feelings of remorse

for any of your crimes?

No.

Have you ever apologised

to your victims' family?

No, what would be the point?

What do you think would be the point?

No point.

Packer.

I want you to know that

when I talk about your people I...

Well...

I hear you, Sam.

In your professional opinion,

does Sam Cayhall have a conscience?

I found no evidence of one.

Dr Biddows,

is Sam Cayhall in touch with reality?

No, he is not.

Thank you, Dr Biddows.

No further questions, Your Honour.

What sayeth the state?

The state calls Sergeant Clyde Packer.

Sergeant, inform us how long you have

held your present position, please.

Been running the row for 15 years, sir.

Sam's been with me the whole time.

During this time have you ever observed

Mr Cayhall demonstrate

he might have a conscience

or care about other people's feelings?

Oh, yes, sir. Everybody knows

Sam has a real bad attitude

toward black folk.

But the other night he told me,

when he says stuff like that...

Let's just say he tried to apologise,

and he didn't even get it all out.

And it sure don't make him no saint

but for Sam that's a big deal.

He most certainly do

has a conscience, yes, sir.

And during all this time that

you've been observing him so closely

would you say he knows

what's going on around him?

Would you say he's out of touch with reality?

Two nights back I was walking past

and he said, "Clyde."

He never called me that before

so I knew it was important.

Could I help? "With what, Sam?"

And he said, "I wanna die alone.

And I wanna die in decent clothes.

And I wanna eat an Eskimo Pie.

And could I see a sunrise?"

I said, "Last one's on me, Sam."

So I snuck him out, gave him an hour alone.

I watched from inside, I thought he might

lose it once the sun came.

See, it's been 15-16 years

since Sam last saw dawn break

but he held together just fine.

In your opinion,

based on your observations,

is Sam Cayhall in touch with reality?

Sam?

- You betcha.

- Thank you, Sergeant Packer.

Thank you.

Tender the witness, Your Honour.

- What's happening in the Fifth Circuit?

- Thumbs down on insanity.

Hi. There you are.

- What's Mr Hall been up to?

- No change.

Try again. What has he been working on?

- He's looking for new information.

- What kind of information?

- Nora?

- Sir?

You're not sleeping with him?

No!

Then what kind of information?

Anything, everything. He's desperate.

Where is he looking?

- I don't know.

- Find out.

Desperate people are dangerous.

Maybe you ought to be sleeping with him.

Hey.

- Can we talk?

- Sure.

Tammy?

The Sovereignty Commission

files the originals under lock and key

in the Hall of Records.

Why can't zoning reports wait for tomorrow?

You ask the governor. I like my job.

Nora...

Nora, Nora. It's you that I'm scared of.

Bing, please -

I've got to get this done tonight.

I'll lock up for you.

Our little secret.

You and me. Have a good evening!

This way.

Sovereignty Commissions.

White Citizens' Council, Indianola.

Go back.

- "MK situation should be followed."

- Marvin Kramer.

Or Martin King.

"Law Office, March 18th." Marvin Kramer.

When was the bombing?

April 28th.

"Action agreed September 2nd."

You said it was in April.

That's not a date, that's nine to two -

they took a vote.

- Oh, my God.

- "The Commission assigned SC."

Sam Cayhall. What's RW?

You mean, who's RW?

Thanks.

Truth time, Sam. Five days.

We're firing everything

up to the Supreme Court but...

I need to know who RW is.

Sam, I saw the Commission's files,

you were with someone named RW.

You were assigned to bomb the office

by people who took no responsibility

for the death of those kids

and are gonna take

no responsibility for yours.

I believe you call these people cowards?

Why you feel compelled to protect them

is beyond me.

First of all...

you snivelling little son of a b*tch,

you speak to me like this again,

I'll rip your heart out

and shove it up your butt.

Second, if you spent half as much time

learning to be a lawyer

instead of playing Dick Tracy...

I might stand a chance

of not being dead in five days.

As it stands right now

everything you've tried has failed.

You've failed.

Now I have to pay the price.

You're a failure,

just like your pathetic father was!

That son of a b*tch

didn't have the balls to live.

He was a loser and a quitter,

and he just gave his life away.

How dare he?

What right did he have to do that?

It wasn't his to give!

I gave it to him! His momma gave it to him!

It was God's! He had no right!

He just gave it away, goddamn it!

He gave it away!

Dammit, he gave it away!

- Why'd he do that?

- Come on.

He gave it away!

- Is she home?

- Miss Lee's resting,

she can't see you now...

Lee?

Where are you, Lee?

Lee?

Lee?

Lee?

Oh, Jesus.

My lucky little nephew.

Did I ever show you...

my favourite old family picture?

Come on. Come in.

I never kept an actual photo album.

Mostly because I never kept

any actual photos.

Here. Come here.

Here. Now, there.

See? He was a cute little thing. Wasn't he?

Problem is...

he was raised to be a monster.

Trained from birth.

We come from a long line of hate, Adam.

That's why I drink.

Make it all go away.

Now you're here

and it won't go away any more.

Go home!

I've got three things to say to you.

One, I'm your lawyer until you fire me.

I'm not quitting.

Two, when you killed Joe Lincoln

your seven-year-old daughter

was in the laurel tree.

She watched her daddy murder a man

in cold blood.

And three, Quince Lincoln

never stole a thing.

My father found that toy soldier

but he was too terrified to tell you.

He had to live with that

for the rest of his sad life.

Maybe you didn't have the balls

to put a stop to this but I do.

It ends with me. We've got four days left,

this is our last appeal

and it's called mitigating circumstances.

Talk to me.

Talk to me, Sam!

I'm tired of talking.

I'm tired of waking up every morning

knowing I'm one day closer to dying.

Tired of living in a cage,

tired of these crappy cigarettes.

I'm just praying I'll die of cancer

before they gas me.

But mostly I'm just tired of waiting.

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