Ossie Davis credited as playing...
James Lucas
- Vance Lucas: I believe in Law and Order and all of that. My old man's a cop.
- James Lucas: Is that the word you use?
- Vance Lucas: So far, it is.
- James Lucas: It takes more than a gun to make a man. It takes brains and guts. Tomorrow when you get up there on that witness stand, you're gonna find out that a courtroom can be a pretty good place to fight in. Words can be weapons too and sometimes they can hurt a man worse than bullets. We'll find out tomorrow how good you are.
- Kinsella: Let's ask ourselves this question: is the man insane? Don't you think he'd thought of the consequences of his act?
- James Lucas: No. He didn't figure he had to. He'd lie and find other liars. It's as simple as that. It has happened a thousand times. I know this man. I've been up against him all my life. He's not a psychopath. I wish it were that simple. This man is a racist - a quiet *racist*. The worst kind!
- James Lucas: I don't know this Walters man. What he will do, what he will say. So, I'd like you there. I want a witness.
- Harve Gregory: You're a witness, Sheriff.
- James Lucas: Might need two. One white.
- James Lucas: I got to be a lawman because I believed in it. Because I believe that without the law, ain't none of us gonna make it. White or black.
- Cliff Wilder: White or black. All I know is my child's in the hospital.
- James Lucas: With all its shortcomings, I still think that college is a rewarding experience. Don't you?
- Vance Lucas: To a degree. But, what good is a curriculum that's a hundred years old? They've got to make some changes.
- James Lucas: If they don't, you students will. By any means necessary - is that it?
- James Lucas: Let me tell you something, Harve Gregory is white and I'm black. And so is the county: part black and part white. And I think we do a better job than if we were all white - or all black. You understand?
- James Lucas: You're a good cop - and I'm a good cop. And together we are more than just two good cops.
- James Lucas: There was a time when a black girl was fair game to the Walters of the community. I'd like to think that day is over.
- James Lucas: [to Vance] I think it's about time - that we had a talk.
- Sue Ann Lucas: Let's enjoy the day, Jim.
- James Lucas: No, it's right in front of us and it won't go away. Son, I know how you feel.
- Vance Lucas: No, you don't.
- Sue Ann Lucas: Boy.
- James Lucas: Let him speak his peace, Sue Ann.
- Alma Gregory: A person has a duty to perform if they're called upon. But, you don't have to volunteer.
- James Lucas: Could you live with that, Mrs. Gregory?
- Alma Gregory: Now, that I've said it out loud, I - I don't know. I don't know.
- James Lucas: The boy is right.
- Sue Ann Lucas: The boy is wrong.
- James Lucas: Tomorrow morning that man walks out of that court a free man.
- Sue Ann Lucas: You can't change the world over night.
- James Lucas: That's why the young people are the way that they are. They've got nothing to *believe* in.