A Time to Kill

D.A. Rufus Buckley: Mr. Hailey, before you stepped outside of yourself and watched yourself shoot Mr. Willard and Mr. Cobb, were you aware that if convicted, they could be free in ten years? Carl Lee Hailey: Yes sir. I've heard some people say that. Yes sir. D.A. Rufus Buckley: Do you think men who kidnap a child should be free in 10 years? Carl Lee Hailey: No, sir. D.A. Rufus Buckley: Do you think two men who rape a child should be free in 10 years? Carl Lee Hailey: No, sir. D.A. Rufus Buckley: Do you think two men who hang a child should be free in 10 years? Carl Lee Hailey: No. D.A. Rufus Buckley: Well, what do you think should happen? What would be a fair sentence? Jake Tyler Brigance: Objection! D.A. Rufus Buckley: Do you think they deserve to die, Mr. Hailey? Jake Tyler Brigance: Don't answer that, Carl Lee! D.A. Rufus Buckley: Answer the question! Did they deserve to die?! Carl Lee Hailey: YES, THEY DESERVED TO FUCKING DIE AND I HOPE THEY BURN IN HELL!!! [court audience is heavi

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Lucien Wilbanks: You wanted this case, well you've got it. It isn't easy saving the world even one case at a time, but you stick with it. You just might have a knack for it. Don't do what I did. Don't quit. Jake Tyler Brigance: What are you talking about, quit. You're a hero Lucien. Lucien Wilbanks: Hero my ass. Do you think the world needed me beating cops heads on that picket line. I was needed here. In that courtroom. And I let them push me, I gave them an excuse to kick me out and now I can never plead a case in there again. But you can. You're an attorney. Be proud. Your job is to find justice no matter how well she may hide herself from you. So you go on in there and you do your job.

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Jake Tyler Brigance: We're going to lose this case, Carl Lee. There are no more points of law to argue here. I want to cop a plea, maybe Buckley will cop us a second degree murder and we can get you just life in prison. Carl Lee Hailey: Jake, I can't do no life in prison. You got to get me off. Now if it was you on trial... Jake Tyler Brigance: It's not me; we're not the same, Carl Lee. The jury has to identify with the defendant. They see you, they see a yardworker; they see me, they see an attorney. I live in town, you live in the hill. Carl Lee Hailey: Well, you are white and I'm black. See Jake, you think just like them. That's why I picked you; you are one of them , don't you see? Oh, you think you ain't because you eat in Claude's and you are out there trying to get me off on TV talking about black and white, but the fact is you are just like all the rest of them. When you look at me, you don't see a man, you see a black man. Jake Tyler Brigance: Carl Lee, I'm your friend. Carl L

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Ellen Roark: Ever seen a man executed? Jake Tyler Brigance: No. Ellen Roark: What I suggest is you go to an execution, and see a man be killed. You watch him die, and you watch him beg!

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Tim Nunley: Sure am sorry about your brother, Freddie. Ol' Willard too... good boys both. Freddie Lee Cobb: Ten years ago, that nigger'd be hanging by the end of a rope with his balls in his mouth. Now you tell me what's wrong with this country. Winston: Klan would know what to do. Freddie Lee Cobb: My granddaddy, he was Klan. Tim Nunley: Ain't been no Klan around here for years. Winston: Ah they's still some boys around. Tim Nunley: What you mean them skinheads that want to blow up the government? Winston: No sir, good god-fearing Klan... I got a friend, used to be active, could give him a call. Freddie Lee Cobb: You do that Winston. You tell them boys we need some Klan down here in Canton. And I mean right quick.

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0

Carl Lee Hailey: What that Memphis doctor say about her? Gwen Hailey: She's doing good. Her jaw is healing. She can't run and jump yet, but it won't be long. Carl Lee Hailey: How about the other? Gwen Hailey: There was too much damage. She ain't never gonna have kids. Carl Lee Hailey: You know, I think about them too boys. Dead, buried, probably starting to rot. And I remember them walking into court... one proud, the other scared. I remember how they fell. One on top of the other, screaming and squirming and not going nowhere. God help me Gwen, but that's the only thought that give me comfort.

A Time to Kill (film), CC BY-SA 4.0