The Onion Field Page #6

- Softball. I took second.

You won a blue ribbon.

I took second in that event.

I won the blue ribbon in the relay.

You won a blue ribbon in softball.

In the relay.

Mr. Powell,

how long have you been a schoolteacher?

About 17 years.

Mr. Powell, during the time

that you knew me as a child...

did you spend a lot of time with me?

It was limited, my time.

During the years of my mother's illnesses,

be they real or imagined...

did I not take care

of my two sisters and a brother?

Yes.

And was I not the real head

of the family, even as a child?

- Well...

- Strike that.

When my mother got well, and tried

to take charge after all those years...

is it not true, that I was doing a good job

of raising the children?

And that you did not stand up to her

and tell her that in effect...

I was a better parent to those children?

- It...

- All right, now this has gone far enough.

I object.

Mr. Powell.

- Why do you want me to live?

- I strongly object to this.

Mr. Powell, assuming that

two wrongs don't make a right...

do you think it is right

for the state to kill me?

I want you to live.

You're my son.

Jimmy wasn't my real son...

but he's the only son I'll ever have.

Jimmy's mother took up

with this white boy and had Jimmy.

She was only 13.

She gave me a baby to raise up.

Jimmy was never a mean child.

He never talked back to me.

And I don't believe he'd do it now.

Excuse me, ma'am,

but we've gone far beyond the question.

You mentioned that Jimmy Smith

was never violent, but...

wasn't there an incident

as a teenager...

when Jimmy Smith pulled a knife

on the truant officer?

Mr. Schulman, Jimmy told me

that truant officer kicked him and hit him.

- Jimmy was just scared, that's all...

- Leave her alone!

You leave my nana alone!

This ain't right!

My nana never had nothing!

She never even said a swear word,

or took a drink, or went to a dance!

You leave my nana alone!

It ain't fair!

Sadistically, Gregory Ulas Powell...

led Officer Campbell to believe

that his life would be spared...

up to the moment

he took deliberate aim...

and fired one shot

into the officer's mouth.

Jimmy Lee Smith...

with revolting, inhuman barbarity...

fired four more fatal shots

into the prostrate officer.

Then they mercilessly stalked

the fleeing officer...

who miraculously escaped

the cruel execution.

The evidence in this case...

overwhelmingly justifies

the death verdict by the jury.

It is the order of this court

that you shall suffer the death penalty.

The penalty will be inflicted

within the walls...

of the state penitentiary

at San Quentin, california...

in the manner prescribed by law.

Get back! Back off!

Dead men coming through.

F*** off, you. I'll kill you!

I'll kill you! You motherfuck! You f***!

F***! You motherfucking, lying...

All right, a**holes! Knock it off!

I whooped him!

Did you see it?

He's just a f***ing punk!

Without a gun, he's a p*ssy!

I whooped him.

Shut up, you goddamn n*gger!

I'll tear your f***ing head off!

Damn!

They're trying to shoot me.

It ain't safe nowhere.

First shot is only a blank.

Just like a lion tamer.

They want to kill you with cyanide gas.

They like to see your throat and lungs

and belly on fire.

Jumpin' Jesus.

The sad thing is,

you might not have to die.

What?

There are cases pending

before the Supreme Court...

cases that give us all hope,

especially you.

You've got a gimmick going for you.

What gimmick?

If you get a new trial, you and Powell

split into separate trials.

You can make Powell out

a devil to your jury.

That ain't hard to do.

You can subpoena him to your trial

and have your lawyer...

ask him if he shot the cop,

or is he lying?

He's gonna mess up any chance he has

by saying I didn't shoot the cop.

He won't have to.

He can stand silent

on the Fifth Amendment.

It can't be used against him

at his trial.

And he can scare the living sh*t

out of your jury.

Other partners have done it.

But first, you'll have to stop using Powell

as a punching bag.

He can save your life.

Here, kiss daddy.

- Okay.

- Bye-bye.

Who's tough?

I think she'll nap now.

- So tell me, how's the detective bureau?

- It's fine.

Which means you're not crazy about it.

Maybe I'm still a little young.

Most of the guys there are old-timers.

And they're jealous because

a younger guy gets a chance.

It's like some of them think

I don't deserve to be there.

Maybe they think I could've done more.

You know, the night Ian was killed.

That's ridiculous.

How can anybody say that?

I hate that.

They send everybody...

to the academy for in-service training.

That's where they teach it.

Teach you what

every policeman should do.

They'll teach you...

like I shouldn't have

given my gun up, and...

things you should do,

and things I didn't do.

Go on.

That's it. I don't know.

I think I'm gonna like this job.

My partner, Oscar, is the best.

I think I'm gonna like working with him.

It's finally a matter of knowing them.

These pickpockets are a closed fraternity.

You get so you know them,

or you know the type.

After a while, you get to like the crazy job.

Anything for a change, Oscar?

You ought to see a chiropractor

about that sore neck of yours.

It usually starts there, and then it works

its way into a vicious headache.

- I know a good chiropractor.

- You know a good obstetrician?

My wife, I think she's pregnant again.

I can't remember his name.

He used to work with a guy named Grimes.

Best pair of purse-picks I ever saw.

We stay with him long enough,

he'll go for a purse.

How about you circling over by the counter

in case he hits and runs?

I need a new watchband anyway.

Maybe I'll buy one while I'm there.

Welcome back to The Dating Game,

Connie, you now must make a decision,

The gentlemen over there

have done their best to win your heart,

You said good-bye to the gambling man?

He asked me

if I wanted to play some poker.

Can you believe that?

Yard time, coming in,

Guard said I'm gonna die tomorrow.

I'm gonna die to save you.

I'm gonna die...

like Jesus Christ.

They'll sew him up

and put him in a straightjacket tonight.

Tomorrow morning, he'll be nice

and healthy when they kill him.

Smell the gas in the air

for days and days.

Powell can save your life.

We're all getting new trials.

Believe me.

Lock up!

Final lock up,

Stand in front of your cell door

for the final lock up,

Count time in the east block,

Count time,

Turn on your cell lights,

Stand at the cell bars,

Stand clear!

Greg, please.

I wanna be your...

I'm sorry.

We was friends.

We was brothers.

If I had only did what you told me.

It's all my fault.

Do you finally understand

that you shot that cop when he was down?

No matter what your mind

lets you remember?

I must've did it if you said so.

I want to be your friend.

We was like family.

Just a minute, sir.

You forgot your change.

Thank you for coming in.

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