A Calamity of Souls

Jack goes to meet with Justin Reed, the prosecutor in Jerome’s case. Jack raises his issues with Connelly’s handling of the case in court but is met only with annoyance from Reed. Reed questions why Jack would take the case and seems disinterested in discussing bail or the proceedings.

Reed hints that this could be Jack’s last case. He mentions the entire South’s annoyance at integration and the new laws being put in place to protect the rights of Black people, implying that there will be a lot of backlash toward Jack.

At the Randolph house, Jack is surprised to learn that—just since meeting with Reed—the case has been turned over to the Attorney General of Virginia, Edmund Battle.

Jack looks around the crime scene as Battle talks to him. Battle attempts to get him to drop the case, dismissing Jack’s request for a preliminary trial and a conversation about bail. Battle insists that Jerome will be safer in jail than he would be exposed to the public.

Jack takes photos of the Randolph home, noting footprints in the dried blood on the floor and the carpet below where Anne’s body was found. Battle again warns Jack about taking the case, telling him that he stands to lose his “whole damn race” (74).

As Jack leaves the Randolph home, he notices a man pull up in an expensive car swarmed by reporters. The man is Howard Pickett, a wealthy coal miner owner who is helping George Wallace in his presidential campaign. Pickett and Wallace argue for the “working class” and fight against the changes that the federal government has been making regarding civil rights.

Wallace steps in front of Jack’s car as he attempts to pull away, then goes up to Jack’s window. The two have a heated exchange, wherein Pickett asks him “what the hell” he is doing representing “a Negro” and tells him to be “loyal to [his] race” (78). Jack holds his own, insinuating that Pickett controls Wallace with his money and insisting that Jerome deserves a fair trial.

When Jack returns to his office, Miss Jessup and Jerome’s wife, Pearl, are there waiting for him. Jack asks them a few questions about Jerome and learns that he had worked for the Randolphs for about a year—a job that his uncle had done before that. Pearl insists that Jerome loved working for them and wouldn’t do anything to harm him.

Pearl asks him how much money they owe him, and Jack is hesitant to give an amount. He tells her that he knows Jerome didn’t get paid last week, and that she now has three children to care for her on her own. Pearl insists that with her two jobs and help from her family, they are fine to pay.

That evening, Raymond Taliaferro and Gene LeRoy—who arrested Jerome—come to Jack’s office at Jack’s request to talk about the case. The two immediately make racist comments, using the n-word to describe Jerome and calling him an “animal” for how he acted during the arrest.

Jack does his best to ignore their comments and asks them about the arrest. They say that they had Jerome cuffed with their guns drawn, and that he got angry for no reason. They do admit that they did not search the house or look for anyone else at the scene, insisting that there was no need.

Jack goes to his parents’ house for dinner, where he is confronted by his mother for taking the case. Hilly is distraught at the idea of him being the lawyer for a Black man, insisting that Black and white people are not meant to socialize together. He brings up how she used to help Black people at his father’s work. She tells him that that was only goodwill for those in need, and not the same situation. When Jack refuses to back down, she angrily leaves the table.

After she is gone, Frank defends Hilly, telling Jack that she was proud when she saw him on TV arguing with Pickett. He says that Hilly just wants to keep it “the way things have always been,” as Jack insists that it is time for them to change (93).

Jack goes back to the jail to meet with Jerome. The guard insists that the doctor has already seen Jerome, and Jack notes how bad the bandaging on his head looks. He demands that the doctor return.

When the doctor comes in, Jack points out that Jerome likely has a fever and concussion, and that Battle will be upset if Jerome can’t make it to trial. The doctor performs an X-ray, changes Jerome’s bandages, and gives him penicillin.

Jack asks Jerome questions about the Randolph house. Jack discovers that Cora Robinson comes each day to clean the house, and Tyler Dobbs is there every other day to do yard work. On the day the Randolphs died, he saw them both, as well as a blue convertible out front.

Jerome asks Jack why he needs all this information, insistent that it won’t matter since he will be convicted anyway. After Jack tells him that Pearl gave him $200, Jerome is more attentive and compliant.

Frank goes to Miss Jessup to learn more about Jerome for Jack. He is stopped on the porch by the same man as before, Daniel, who tells Frank that he needs to leave. Frank remembered seeing one of them wearing an Army jacket the last time he was there, and brings up how he was in World War II. Daniel says that everyone around there was in Vietnam—but whereas Frank came home to parades after World War II, they came home to the same injustice from when they left.

Frank talks with Pearl about Jerome. She shares that he suffers nightmares from Vietnam, but never has any problems when he’s awake. She also tells him that, a few months back, a man in an “expensive car” had been at the Randolphs. Jerome didn’t know what he wanted and after he left, Mr. Randolph yelled at the car that they weren’t taking his home away.

When Frank gets to his car, Daniel slams him against it. Daniel holds him there and shows him a bayonet scar, pointing out that he got it defending his country and now it’s back to all the “same shit.” Frank responds that “it ain’t fair” (106). For the first time in his life, he feels “visceral shame” that he doesn’t truly believe that the treatment of Black people is really “unfair.”

Frank realizes that Daniel is likely going to kill him. Desperate, Frank brings up Jerome and tells Daniel that Jack is trying to help him. Daniel hesitates, then tells Frank to leave and never come back.

Back at home, Hilly asks Frank if he is okay with their son representing Jerome. Frank tells her that it doesn’t bother him and that he does not care what the neighbors think, despite Hilly’s insistence that Jack is damaging their reputation. He tells Hilly that Jack could make a name for himself, even if he needs to leave Freeman County after the trial and practice law somewhere else.

Frank tells Hilly that it is not Jack’s responsibility to care for Lucy when they are gone, that it would be too much of a burden on Jack and unfair to him. After they talk about how difficult it would be for Jack to find a wife if he is caring for his sister, Hilly finally relents and admits that it’s not fair.

Frank pulls out a letter from his toolbox from his younger son, Jefferson. Jeff joined the Army at 18, then was one of the first soldiers sent to Vietnam. When he came home from leave, he deserted the Army, fleeing to Canada. In his letter to his father, Jeff explains why he did what he did.

In the past, Frank read the letter multiple times but did not care about Jefferson’s reasoning. Instead, he thought only of the shame he felt raising a “coward.” Now, he reads the letter, and for the first time “glimpse[s] reason behind the words” (113).

Inside, Hilly thinks about her own past and rubs at the tooth that caused her pain, and thereby harmed Lucy. She thinks of what Jack meant to her the last few years. With Jeff fleeing for Canada and Lucy staying with them, she hoped Jack would do something with his life in the world. Now that he is trying to do something, she reflects that she “turned [her] back on him” and sided with everyone else (115).

At the courthouse, Sally tells Jack that the prosecution has filed a motion to have Jack removed from the trial for not being “adequate” for Jerome. Jack starts to argue, but Sally insists that he consider whether he wants to take the case. She tells Jack that she believes Black people should make their “own” country and that they do not belong here. As Jack argues that they helped build the country, she insists that Jack “pick a side” (117).

That night, three men come to Jack’s home, one carrying a police baton. They come into Jack’s home and beat him, insisting that he drop the case. Jack pulls his gun from his desk and shoots one in the ear, causing them to flee.

Jack calls the police, and an officer comes to see him. He takes some notes but insists that they won’t be able to find the guys, even as Jack points out that one will be at the hospital for his ear.

Later, Jack hears another knock at the door. He opens it and Desiree DuBose comes in, introducing herself and commenting on the fact that, based on his bruises, he needs her help.

DuBose introduces herself to Jack. She is an attorney that has worked cases throughout the country to finally put an end to Jim Crow. Recently, she argued before the Supreme Court against Battle and won.

She gives Jack an opportunity to leave the case, promising to take over for him so that he can protect himself. Jack declines, insistent that he wants to see the case through. She invites him out for a drink so they can discuss it further.

Jack and DuBose go to a local bar. The waitress is nice to Jack until she notices DuBose. She gets their drinks, and DuBose’s wine noticeably has spit in it. Instead of getting angry, DuBose thanks the waitress.

DuBose and Jack talk about the case. Jack insists that they would be co-counsel, equal in their role instead of one taking the lead. DuBose agrees, but only after being assured that Jack is willing to take the risk.

At the end of their conversation, Jack mentions his mother’s distress at King’s death and how it confuses him given how she supports segregation. DuBose points out that his mother fails to understand one important fact: She has more in common with other working-class people—especially Black people—than she does with wealthy white people.

Jack confesses that reading has helped him have a better understanding of Black people and their history than most other white people, but he also feels guilt over doing nothing until now. In return, DuBose confesses that she has always seen white people as the “enemy.” Despite their confessions, the two agree that they need to do everything they can to work together.

DuBose and Jack go to speak with Pearl and Miss Jessup about the case. They ask about the Randolph children. Pearl says that she has only met Christine, who showed up when Pearl and her children came to the Randolph house for lunch and to swim. Despite Jack’s surprise that they would be invited for lunch, Pearl insists that the Randolphs were always good to them.

At Jack’s parents’ house, Hilly is terse with DuBose, but impressed by the fact that she took her education so seriously. She tries to convince DuBose to take the whole case and dismiss Jack. Jack says it’s his choice to stay on.

In the garage, Frank tells Jack and DuBose about Jerome’s nightmares and his confrontation with Daniel. He tells Jack that he won’t do anything else for the case that involves going over there and reveals that, after the confrontation, he decided that he is no longer sure about Jack taking the case.

In her hotel room, DuBose thinks about the case. She sees it as an opportunity to further the causes of the NAACP but is annoyed that she will be “saddled” with Jack. However, she reasons that he seems brave and committed to the case.