ure other employment
in that town?
They wouldn't listen to me.
- I had to leave.
- What did you do?
Well, I got work in another town
as a nurse girl.
But the same thing again and again,
wherever I went, always the same.
In other words, refused
even the poorest kind of work...
to try and keep body and soul together.
- I object! Irrelevant and immaterial!
- You left out incompetent.
- Sir!
- Gentlemen, gentlemen!
That is all, Your Honor. Your witness.
No questions. Prosecution rests.
- Proceed.
- Thank you, Miss Lee.
Gentlemen of the jury,
you have heard only part of the truth.
My worthy opponent objects.
He is afraid of your knowing
all the pitiful facts of her life.
Gentlemen, an immortal soul
has been tortured on the rack...
and I ask you as men
with blood in your veins...
who have helpless women
in your own homes...
to think of one of your innocent,
dear ones...
wronged and oppressed,
like this poor defenseless woman.
Where could she turn in her cruel anguish?
Why, the very promises of God
are denied her.
Who was it that said:
"Come unto me, all ye that are weary
and heavy laden...
"and I will give you rest"?
She is indeed heavy laden...
with the persecution of her own sex...
why, gentlemen, a thief or murderer
may sin alone and is alone to blame.
But this woman is not alone.
Social order is her accomplice.
If she is guilty,
then all in this room are guilty.
I charge you,
judge not that ye be not judged.
Oh, set her free to go her way.
Let a wisdom higher,
far higher than ours...
pass judgment on her.
Your Honor, I rest my case.
Gentlemen, you have heard the evidence.
You may retire.
Gentlemen of the jury,
have you reached a verdict?
We have, Your Honor.
We find the defendant, Dixie Lee,
not guilty.
Not guilty?
You won by lies, with a trick,
and you know it.
Possibly a trick,
but I wouldn't say lies, sugar.
Don't you think the result
justifies the means?
Justifies?
You stay away five years,
come back and do a thing like this.
They've talked about you,
said everything about you...
and I wouldn't believe them.
But now, what do you expect me
to think of you and that woman?
You humiliated me.
All I've worked for to help things
in the town I've got to live in...
raise my children in, you've torn down.
I've tried to drive that woman
out of Osage.
Honey, if I know anything
about Dixie Lee...
she'll leave town after today...
but driving her out won't help matters.
Dixie Lees have been stoned
in the market place for 2,000 years.
You've got to drive the devil out first.
Can't you see, honey,
your conscience will be clear?
You haven't sent to prison a woman
instead of a real criminal...
social order, which you can't change, yet.
My only interest in Dixie Lee was to see
that she got one less kick.
You mean, what she said
about herself was true?
Every word, sugar.
At times I saw a look in her eyes...
I'll never forget.
It's a wonder to me
that she hasn't killed herself.
Maybe, if things had been different,
she might be like I am...
married, safe.
I'm thankful I've got you,
that we've got each other...
and our home.
Oh, sugar, I love you.
Hell and high water, all the way...
there's never been anybody but you,
and you know it.
Hold me close.
Oh, my boy.
That Bear Creek pool is a whopper.