The Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) - Lewis Colick, Rob Reiner, & Andrew Scheinman

January 25, 1996

THE GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI

(Formerly FREE AT LAST)

Screenplay by Lewis Colick, Rob Reiner, & Andrew Scheinman

Synopsis by Brian Aldrich

In Jackson, Mississippi, 1963, civil rights activist and leader MEDGAR EVERS, 37, is shot down and assassinated by racist white supremacist BYRON DE LA “DELAY” BECKWITH in front of his house, in front of his wife MYRLIE and their children. The jury is stacked and after two mistrials, Beckwith walks the earth as a free man.

In 1989, when reporter JERRY MITCHELL reveals the jury tampering, Myrlie Evers calls for a re-prosecution of Beckwith. District Attorney ED PETERS puts his young and ambitious assistant BOBBY DeLAUGHTER on the investigation. Bobby’s stuffy and bigoted society in-laws and his wife DIXIE are not sympathetic to his possible re-prosecution of Beckwith. They not only think it will hurt his future career in Mississippi, but they are ashamed he might have to prosecute a white man for killing a black man and furthermore, Bobby’s dead father-in-law, JUDGE MOORE, presided at the original trial. Ed and Bobby meet with Myrlie and her lawyer MORRIS DEES. Unfortunately, most of the police file is missing along with the physical evidence and the original trial transcripts. Furthermore, some of the witnesses have passed away. Bobby isn’t hopeful, but after being touched by Myrlie’s long devotion and purpose as well as being shown the crime scene by SANDERS, the original detective on the case, Bobby pledges to do his best and keep in regular touch with Myrlie during his investigation. Disgraced, Dixie moves out from him, leaving their three kids behind with Bobby.

Bobby’s investigation is assisted by CHARLIE CRISCO, a private eye, and BENNY BENNETT, a motorcycle cop whose father worked on the original investigation. They interview surviving defense witnesses JAMES HOLLEY and HOLLIS CRESSWELL, but these two racists stick to their story supporting Beckwith’s alibi. Bobby’s recovers the murder weapon, an old rifle, from Judge Moore’s study. He had kept it as a memento. Bobby talks with DELMAR DENNIS, a former FBI informant who heard Beckwith gloatingly confess to the murder. He’s afraid, but agrees to testify. Bobby meets Nurse PEGGY LLOYD and starts to date her. Bobby starts getting hate mail and bomb threats. Myrlie so believes in Bobby that she turns over her precious original trial transcripts to him.

Over the months, Bobby finally gathers enough evidence to indict Beckwith, extradite him from Tennessee, and go to trial in 1994. Along the way, he and Peggy marry. During the trial, Bobby presents the autopsy, fingerprints, and ballistic reports as well as eyewitness testimony. Beckwith is an arrogant, blabbering ass and a racist pig who is certain he will never be found guilty. His lawyers MERRIDA COXWELL and JIM KITCHENS try to discredit the prosecution witnesses, but it is Bobby who is able to break down Holly and Cresswell’s testimony. Finally, the jury finds Beckwith guilty and he is sentenced to life. Myrlie is happy to have found justice for Medgar. Bobby’s political future is dubious.

Summary Criticism: This compelling, professional screenplay is timely as it questions and illuminates today’s rising tide of fascism and bigotry. The characters are sympathetic; the dialogue dense with meaning.

The Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) - imdb

The Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) - wiki