Dovey's Promise

We got you now, boy.

You killed a white woman, and now you're gonna fry for it.

You heard from Dovey?

No, but she'll be here any minute.

I'm sure she's fine.

I'm sure you're right.

So, did you have a nice weekend?

It was all right.

I think I like weekdays better.

I like coming to work.

I know you do.

And I know why.

It's Dovey that makes you feel that way.

Once again, I am sure you're right.

Whew! I made it.

Good morning, Luna.

You should have called me.

I would have met you.

You're right, Ryle, I should have.

Have you seen the paper?

Not yet.

They set a trial date in the Pinchot Meyer case.

A xeroxes from the front page.

Are you having a problem with that picture?

It just doesn't seem possible.

She looks so.

Fit and healthy.

- Yeah, and he looks so. - Innocuous.

Exactly. I mean, I just don't see him being capable of it.

So what exactly is the theory of the crime?

The theory is that he attacked

her to rob her and maybe rape her.

She gave him such a hard time, he just killed her instead.

But that theory makes me cringe because I don't see any monster

in him at all.

Well there's that.

And I agree with you.

But even a monster will consider the practicalities of

his crimes.

There was nothing practical about this one.

Roundtree Law Firm.

Would you hold a second, please?

It's Martha Crump, the mother of Raymond Crump.

She says she knows you.

This is Dovey Roundtree.

Miss Roundtree, please forgive me.

I know I said I know you, but really, I know of you.

See, like you, I belong to the Allen Chapel AME church, and

I've seen you there.

I see.

Please continue.

I am the mother of Raymond Crump, who is accused of

killing Miss Maya.

Except he didn't do it.

My son has a heap of problems, and he ain't no saint.

But he ain't no killer either.

I understand, mother. Go on.

The public defender is urging him to accept a plea deal in

which he confesses to murder and does 20 years.

Except he can't do it, Miss

Rountree, because he's innocent.

But I'm afraid he's going to

give in to the pressure and do it.

So I'm asking you.

I'm begging you, please go down to the jail and talk to him.

Try to help him.

I'll do whatever.

I'll sell my house.

I'll sell my cars.

I'll go and live with my sister.

Stop it, Mrs. Crump.

You're not going to sell anything.

I will go to the D.C.

jail and talk to Raymond.

Oh. Oh, you will.

You will.

Thank you, Miss Rountree.

Thank you.

I'm so grateful.

I can't tell you how worried I've been.

I've been worried sick.

And I want you to stop doing that to yourself.

I just want you to calm down because I'm on it.

Will you do that for me?

Yes, ma'am.

Yes, ma'am, I will.

Good.

Well, I'm going to put my secretary back on the line to

get your contact information.

Okay.

Yes, ma'am.

Thank you, Miss Roundtree.

And God bless you.

God bless you, too. Luna.

Okay. Martha crump.

Your address please.

Sit down, boy.

Would you please remove his handcuffs?

Ms. Dovey, we go through this every time.

All prisoners are supposed to stay in their handcuffs unless

they are in the cells.

Especially the darkies.

Well, it's making me very uncomfortable.

So I ask you again.

Please remove his cuffs.

Anything else?

No, that will be all.

Thank you.

Knock on the door when you're done.

My name is Dovey Roundtree,

and I'm an attorney.

I was asked by your mother to come see you.

First. Did you murder Miss Meyer?

Are you having trouble speaking?

No. I can speak.

I'm just scared.

You don't have to be scared of me.

I've been scared for so long.

I can't shake it out of me.

I see.

Well, let's start from the beginning.

What were you doing at the towpath?

Why were you there that day?

Can I tell you a secret?

Okay. Tell me in secret.

I was there cavorting. Cavorting with a woman.

Cavorting? Do you mean having sex with her?

But you told the police you went there to go fishing.

So why did you lie?

Because I'm married, and so is she.

But at the time, did you know

you were being suspected of murder?

No. They didn't tell me that till later.

But when you found out, why didn't you retract your

statement and tell them the truth?

I didn't know what to say or what to do about it.

Who was the woman?

Her name is Vivian Lacroix.

Do you have her address and phone number?

No I don't.

Then how did you arrange the date?

We met at a market and talked for a while.

Then we arranged to meet at the towpath.

Did you know her before that?

Yeah. She was a friend of my wife.

Well, let's start,

from the beginning.

Tell me every detail.

You don't have to tell me about the sex.

But I want to know every other detail.

We met at a playground.

She brought some snacks and drink.

Do you mean alcohol?

Yeah.

Then what?

We found a hidden spot close to the water.

We ate, we drank, we fooled around.

Then I must have fell asleep.

And she must have left.

What happened next?

When I woke up, I was groggy and hungover.

I grabbed my jacket.

I put on my hat.

Then I headed up along the shore.

But then I slipped on a rock and I fell into the water.

It woke me up good, because I can't swim.

But

I was able to climb out and

then cut my hand on that sharp edge.

What happened to your hat and jacket?

They floated away, so I headed back to the towpath, and that's

where a policeman stopped me.

So he asked you what you were doing there.

And that's when you said you were fishing.

That's right.

He also asked where the spot was, so I led him back to where

we was.

Did he mention the crime to you?

He asked me if I heard shots.

I told him I didn't hear anything.

Then he asked me how I got wet.

I told him I fell in the river.

What about the refuse from your picnic?

Was it still there?

No. Vivian must have took it with her.

What did she say about your fishing gear?

I told him it fell in the river too.

Did you hear any shots?

No, I really didn't.

I must have slept right through it.

Did you ever lay eyes on Miss Meyer?

No. I never saw her at all.

The police asked you if you were wearing any other clothes,

but you lied and said you wasn't.

So why did you lie about it?

I don't know.

There was no time to think.

I just thought maybe I shouldn't admit to anything.

Do you own a gun?

- No. - Have you ever owned a gun?