Behind the High Wall (1956) Movie Script

1
Warden in there?
Yes, sir, he's with Morgan.
It's tough on those guys
when the time gets short.
That committee came through this morning.
Say why don't they get
off the warden's back?
They're waiting to see him now.
Look, your wife's been
sick, but she's better now.
She'll be in to see you any day.
Did she say that?
I'm telling you she did.
She's just run herself down,
working on your appeal.
Frank, the committee's
finished that tour.
I'll be with you in a minute.
Well, Morgan, I've told you about her.
What do you want me to tell her about you?
You tell her I'm all right now.
Okay.
Thanks.
Think it's a good idea
to build him up like that?
I don't know, Tom.
You want me to tell him his wife's a tramp
who doesn't care what happens to him?
What if he wins his appeal?
Then he'll have something
to balance the bad news.
Give me a buzz after
the committee leaves.
I may be the one who leave.
Ah, go on warden.
This time they're gonna
make your job official.
Thanks, ward healers.
Pretty optimistic, isn't he?
The guards bought that when
I made him acting warden.
Oh, one of the boys, eh?
- Mrs. Carmichael?
- Hmm-mm.
Oh, Jim.
Hello, Frank.
Mr. Manheim.
Gentlemen, sorry I held you up.
Would you be seated, please?
Understand you've had
a good look at things.
Yes.
You've made some interesting changes here
since Warden Donovan's death.
Probably, I've been running this place
for over six months now.
No changes you would call radical.
Frank's been around long
enough to know that.
Yes, of course, Superintendent,
but we can't base our
decision on mere seniority.
Mrs. Maynard, if seniority
were my only qualification,
I wouldn't want this job.
Listen, this is small talk.
Maybe you are doing a good job here,
but are you doing it at a price?
The budget people shudder
every time your requisitions come in.
Good, Mr. Corby.
That's how I feel when they turn me down.
Your head cook tells me
you once almost fired him
for trying to save you money.
You don't save money
on food, not in a prison.
Good food, interesting
work, decent recreations.
They're a lot cheaper than
malingering and riots.
Is that a statistic, or an opinion?
Call it what you like.
I've seen the conditions both ways.
We all like to think of
ourselves as humanitarians, but.
It's not humanitarianism.
It's trial and error result.
Frank, the committee
knows what we're up against.
They're only trying to help.
- I don't think Mr.
- Carmichael believes that.
What I don't believe
is that I should have to be questioned
like a green rookie applying for a job.
Not after spending half
my life doing that job.
- Frank.
- No, no.
Jim, let me finish.
You've kept me hanging for six months.
How do you expect me to build a program
or maintain discipline
when even the inmates know
that I might be replaced overnight?
I see no reason to disturb
Mr. Carmichael any longer.
Look, I, I blew up.
I'm sorry.
Committees, speeches.
That's, that's out of my line.
I want the job, sure.
But the important thing
is I can do that job
if you give me the
authority to do it right.
You'll have our decision
by the end of the week.
Coming, Harding?
I'll be with you in a minute.
Why didn't you just ask them to can you?
I tried to play patty
cake with them, but.
I did my best, Frank.
Yeah, I know.
I appreciate it too.
You going home for lunch?
Hilda's waiting to hear the good news.
Yeah.
Well, give her my regards, will you?
And what about the new car?
Ready and paid for.
I'm picking it up as soon as I leave here.
Lucky boy.
I'd invite you to stay for lunch except.
I got a feeling the food's
gonna be lousy today.
Well, thanks for dropping in again, Roy.
What do you mean thanks?
How many brothers you got?
Frank?
Yeah, dear.
Don't look, I've
got a surprise for you.
All right.
Come on, Rainbow.
Come on, Butch.
Oh, careful.
One false move and you'll launch me.
Well, the boys warned me
not to marry a party girl.
What's to eat?
They didn't say no?
Just about.
They'll make it official in a few days.
Well look, Hildy, it's
not the end of the world.
I'm not sorry, I'm mad.
You deserve that job.
Well, Jim gave them both barrels.
It just didn't work out.
Look, if we can't drink to
celebrate, let's drink to forget.
Oh, stop it, Frank.
I don't have to be babied
every time there's bad news.
Isn't there anything we can do?
Sure, we can have a few signs painted
and get the inmates to picket.
I wish I could afford to
tell 'em to take their job
and their committees, and.
Why don't you?
We have a little saved up and, well,
if these are the rainy days.
Well, I don't want you to worry about me.
If you decide to tell them off.
Look, we're talking like
I've already been fired.
The only thing is that I have
to take out the old uniform
and go back to being a yard captain.
That's not so bad.
Why should I suddenly
care about being a warden?
Because it's your job
and it's coming to you.
Maybe, maybe not.
You know, this may sounds
strange, sweetheart,
but I've never gotten over the feeling
that my prison work is temporary.
Not since I took my first job as a guard.
You had to settle for less then.
You shouldn't have to do it now.
Well, the bridges were built anyway.
Not by you.
If only I hadn't stepped
in front of that car.
Hildy, you promised me you wouldn't.
Not blaming myself really.
I, I stopped doing that a long time ago.
It's just that I,
I know what I wanna say, but
I don't know how to say it.
Wanna say what?
Say that I, I love you, and I,
I love you for being disappointed
and not pretending that you aren't.
Hildy, how did I ever get so lucky?
Oh Frank!
Oh no.
Civilization has saved
me from the caveman.
Unfortunately.
Yes?
Yeah.
Okay, I'll be right over.
What is it, Frank?
Some trouble in the mess hall.
Serious?
No, no.
You keep that champagne cold
so we can pick up where we left off, huh?
You be careful.
No noise, no tricks, Warden.
Start driving.
- Where?
- The main gate.
Well, what do you?
I said start driving.
Kiley.
Here comes the warden, open the gate.
We've got a runner.
Up by the west cell block.
Close those gates.
Richard!
What about Kiley?
Forget him, get us out of here.
Come on boys.
Hold your fire.
Hold your fire.
They've got the warden.
Stop! Stop!
This is Lieutenant Reynolds.
Put me through to all police units.
The escaped prisoners.
Repeat, Warden Carmichael
is being held hostage.
All units are ordered
to proceed with caution
in pursuing or intercepting
the escaped prisoners.
The warden's car is a
black four-door sedan.
Step on it, Roy, we gotta dump this car.
Are you sure that kid's gonna be there?
He'll be there.
Will you please?
Let me know just as soon as
you know anything at all.
There's the kid all right.
Get him.
Hi dad. Where's Johnny?
That's what I'd like to know.
I thought maybe he was with you.
I've been calling the house since lunch.
Oh, well, stop growling.
You want clean shirts and
something for dinner, don't you?
Oughta marry you off, that's what.
Johnny on a service call?
No, who knows where
he is disappeared to.
He took the truck out before lunch
and he's been gone over two hours now.
Ah, it's just MacGregor's
thorough service.
Very funny.
Except for two of my best
customers are boiling mad.
Oh, what's the use of talking about it?
He's been like this all week.
Coming and going, never asks me a thing.
You think I was working for him.
Now that's not fair.
He's the best man you've
ever had, and you know it.
I know that's what you think.
That I know.
But maybe I don't think that's enough.
Johnny's enough for me, Dad.
He also is a vet.
He also has a good job
and I've got a pretty good business here.
Oh Dad, you're a hopeless gossip.
Well, I'm still your father.
And I still have a right
to say what I think.
The lad drifts into town
without a penny in his pocket.
I give him a break and suddenly,
you want to make him part of the family.
Do you want me to like it.
Like it or not, you
better get used to it.
Oh, look at us.
We used to be able to talk things out.
You know, I've only got you to care for.
Scent of the Night
to bring you a special
bulletin on the prison break.
Police have just reported finding the car
in which the convicts escaped.
The fleeing men have apparently switched
to another unidentified vehicle.
Roadblocks have been
established at key junctions
and police are checking all
reports of missing vehicles.
Did you hear that?
- You think they?
- What?
Police believe
that the escaped convicts
may have stolen or commandeered a vehicle.
You can cooperate with the police.
Maybe we'd better call the police.
About what?
Dad, you don't think Johnny?
Annie, he's been out with
the truck for a long time.
Maybe the lad's in trouble.
A one and a half ton truck
belonging to MacGregor's service station.
It was last in the
possession of John Hutchins.
The station mechanic, age
24, six feet, black hair,
brown eyes, dressed in blue coveralls.
All units are, again, warned
these men are dangerous and may be armed.
Come on, guys, step on it.
Burkhardt.
Burkhardt.
You're a 60 buck a week grease monkey.
What about those five new
$100 bills you were carrying?
It's an advance from
this guy Roy Burkhardt.
That I can believe.
Look, how much were you supposed to get
when you took 'em across the border?
I told you they made me drive.
One of 'em had a gun on me all the time.
Let's try and making
some sense, Hutchins.
First you say you never saw
Roy Burkhardt before last week.
You go out to fix this flat,
a routine service call.
The first time Burkhardt lays eyes on you,
he gives you 500 bucks in advance
because he likes some business
proposition you made him.
Now who you kidding?
He made me the proposition.
He asked me about the old Thompson garage.
The place
where they switched cars?
Yeah.
He said when the new highway was built,
it'd be a gold mine location.
What new highway?
He said the state
legislature was kind of vague.
He said, he said, I know, I know.
Look, there's no highway
coming in there, never was.
Now a cop's dead, mister.
And whether you're lying
or just playing dumb,
he's still dead.
All right, Hutchins.
Let's read it your way.
Suppose Burkhardt was really interested
in remodeling an old gas station.
Why did he pick you? Why you?
'Cause he liked my ideas for it.
Your ideas?
What did you tell him?
I didn't tell him, I showed him.
I've been looking around
for a place of my own
for the last couple of months.
I even drew up a rough sketch
of the kind of layout I'd like.
Where have you got
this sketch tucked away?
I had it in the truck with me.
When Burkhardt called me, I took it along
figuring he'd want to talk business.
Put a search crew on the wreck
first thing in the morning.
Yeah.
All right, Hutchins.
How come when you're already
working in a gas station,
working for a man who figures
to become your father-in-law,
how come you didn't take
your so-called ideas to him?
Working for MacGregor's one thing,
taking out his daughter's another.
Maybe I just wanted to prove something.
What?
That you're not a punk kid
from the Chicago streets.
Lay off me, cop.
That's better.
Now I know you.
Hello, Warden.
How do you feel?
Oh fine.
You know, this can wait till
morning if you're too beat.
Oh no, I'm all right.
Recognize him?
Yes, he was, he was driving the truck.
You're the man they
slugged coming outta the car.
Did you see the guns they held on me?
Did you hear them threaten me?
No, I'm afraid I didn't son.
But like he says, I only
saw him for a second
before someone hit me.
And the next thing I
remember, I was in the truck.
Burkhardt and Miller were shooting at.
You were driving.
This guy, Burkhardt's
brother was sitting next to me.
You must have heard him.
He knows what he heard.
You're listening to testimony, mister.
Thanks, Warden.
We know you're very tired.
There isn't anything else?
Nothing to keep you, Warden.
Thanks again.
Sure.
Frank.
Well, I just sprained my wrist a little,
scratched myself up.
I'm okay.
Sorry, darling.
I guess I'm not much of a hero's wife.
When the hero isn't around.
You shouldn't be here to begin with you.
Just wait till I get you home, young lady.
All right, Johnny.
It's up to you.
Do you want us to start
all over again, Johnny?
Is Johnny Hutchins in there?
Sorry, miss, no visitors allowed.
But I must see him.
- You can't go in there.
- You have no right to.
- Johnny.
- Miss MacGregor?
Yes.
Oh, why can't I see him?
He hasn't any other friends or family?
He's lucky.
The cop he killed had a big family,
two boys and three girls.
Let her stay a few minutes.
But don't leave them alone officer.
All right, lieutenant.
I didn't think they'd
let you talk to me.
You know what they're saying?
Yes, Johnny.
I know.
How is he?
Oh, I don't know.
They're blaming him for
that policeman's death.
Will it do any good if you get involved?
Do you think Johnny wants that?
It's what I want.
Can't you understand?
If he's in trouble, I'm in trouble.
What are you afraid of?
This might ruin your business?
I didn't mean that.
I'm sorry.
I know what this is doing to you.
I shouldn't have said what I did.
We're both sorry, but
that isn't helping Johnny.
I have to see Charlie Rains.
At this time of night?
Johnny needs a lawyer right away.
But Annie.
When police
arrived at the scene,
Warden Carmichael, despite his injuries,
risked his life once again
to halt a last desperate attempt at escape
by Carl Burkhardt.
Wait'll the committee
reads that in the paper.
- In an eerie, moonlight.
- I bet you tomorrow
they'll come crawling to you.
Such modesty.
Sure one night's
publicity's worth half a life
of hard work.
I know, darling.
I wouldn't go through
another night like this
for all the jobs in the world.
What's done is done.
If some good comes of it.
What good?
A job?
Something to keep us
going from day-to-day?
Hildy, do you know what
Burkhardt and Miller were in for?
A convicts.
A dozen payroll stick ups,
but the money never turned up.
What's that got to do with it?
They had it put away, hidden.
They were gonna skip the country,
but they weren't gonna
leave that money behind,
not those babies.
Frank, what are you trying to tell me?
Burkhardt's brother
brought that money along.
It was in the truck with us.
A suitcase full of it.
In the truck.
What is it, Frank?
I didn't know myself
until Burkhardt was dead
and there it was.
The suitcase busted open,
maybe 100,000 in cash.
$100,000 Hildy.
You took it?
No, but I got it buried near the truck.
I tell you, I took a good
look at that cash and bingo.
They were all our troubles up in smoke.
But why Frank? What for?
I just told you what for,
so I don't have to beg anyone
for a job that's coming to me.
Any job.
Is that so hard to understand?
Frank, I can't believe I'm
sitting here listening to this.
It doesn't make any sense.
$100,000 makes plenty of sense.
You, you could take it back.
Now, right away.
You could tell them that you're wrong.
I tell 'em nothing.
Nobody knows about that money.
Nobody even cares.
The insurance company's
chalked it off years ago.
Don't you see honey?
It's our break.
The one in a million everybody waits for.
Not if we have to steal.
Darling, I didn't mean it that way.
Just I don't know which hurts most.
You're taking the money
or that you feel we need it so badly?
Hildy, don't you know what this'll mean?
The house you've always wanted,
the trips you've dreamed about.
Maybe that's what hurts the most.
The feeling that you did this for my sake.
What if I did?
What's so terrible about a man
doing something for his wife?
Because you, you wouldn't have done it
if I were more than half a wife.
Frank, Frank, if you love me.
I do love you, Hildy.
You're all that counts for me.
Nobody, nothing else.
It's gonna be all right, sweetheart.
I promise you.
After he called,
I took the truck and went out to meet him
at the old Thompson garage.
In the middle of a busy morning?
How did you explain such
a, an unusual absence
to your employer?
I, I told him it was a service call.
Now if this appointment
with Roy Burkhardt
was part of a deal that
you'd have us believed
was totally legitimate.
Why did you find it necessary
to lie to your boss?
Objection, your honor.
Wasn't exactly a lie.
Objection, your honor.
Wasn't it, Mr. Hutchins?
Then how shall we know
when you are telling us
exactly the truth?
Your honor, I object.
Objection sustained.
The district attorney's questions
and the witness's answers
shall be stricken from the record.
Now let's see, Johnny,
you spoke of a drawing that
you'd shown Roy Burkhardt.
This drawing was supposedly the basis
of your business relationship with him.
You said too, that it was in the truck.
That's right.
Do you
realize if we have no proof
of the existence of that drawing
other than your own statement.
I had it on the seat right beside me.
I know I did.
Now then besides
yourself, Warden Carmichael
was the only survivor of that wild ride
and subsequent wreck.
And yet he's testified that
he saw or heard nothing
to confirm your story
that you were an unwilling
member of that group.
Now can you think of any reason
why Warden Carmichael should lie?
No, sir.
No further questions, your honor.
Does the defense have anything further?
No, your honor.
The defense rests.
The witness may stand down.
Your honor, the state
requests a brief recess
before introducing rebuttal testimony.
Very well.
How about it Warden?
Expect to be called again?
Me?
I've told all that I know.
How bad is it, Charlie?
Not as bad as it sounds.
Think they believe him?
Mostly no, but well that
shouldn't matter legally.
The state hasn't proven any
contradiction to Johnny's story.
I wish that drawing of his had shown up.
We'd all be on our way home.
Thanks Charlie.
Never doubted him.
Even in the beginning
when you hardly knew him.
I know you.
How she kisses me when she's
in love with someone else?
Should've taken me
out on Saturday nights,
instead of just Tuesdays and Thursdays.
I didn't know what you
looked like without dirty knees
and pig tails.
I wasn't gonna waste my blue suit on that.
A girl never really falls in
love with a guy next door.
There's no mystery left.
Court's in session.
You may proceed. Mr. Lake.
State calls William Kiley to the stand.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
I do.
State your full name.
William Kiley.
Take the stand.
Mr. Kiley, will you
please tell the court
your present address and situation?
I'm an inmate at the state penitentiary.
30 years to life.
The court's already familiar
with the details of the escape attempt
in which you participated.
We'd like you to tell us now
if your plans included the assistance
of any confederates
outside the prison walls.
Burkhardt's brother Roy.
We had a time for him to get
us the warden for a shield.
The warden's car too.
Were there any other persons
involved in your planned escape?
Well, we had to figure the warden's car
would be too hot to keep very long.
So the day of the break,
Roy told us he'd hired a
kid named Johnny Hutchins
- to have another car.
- Judge, he's lying.
I never.
Among those who were present
in superior court this afternoon
when Judge Robert Pryor
sentenced John Hutchins to death.
As in all convictions that
carry the death penalty,
appeal is automatic.
The weather must be
changing or something.
There's a letter for
you from the prison board.
Decision of this board is
that your status be changed
from acting warden to
that of permanent warden
of the state institution with.
Mighty nice of 'em.
You gonna turn it down?
Turn it? How can I do that?
Turn it down.
Start a lot of questions.
It can only lead to trouble.
No, I'll be their warden for a year or so.
Why not?
Year or so, then what?
Then anything we want in the world.
Who's that?
Are you expecting someone?
Mr. Carmichael?
I'm Anne MacGregor.
Yes, I know.
Could I talk to you
for just a few minutes?
Oh, I'm sorry.
Come in please.
It's my wife, Hilda, Miss MacGregor.
I hope you don't mind, Mrs. Carmichael.
No, not at all.
Won't you sit down?
Thank you.
Would you, would you like some coffee?
No, thanks.
You probably know that Johnny
Hutchins and I were going to,
we were going together.
We're terribly sorry
about what's happened.
We're appealing, of course,
but that will only delay.
I mean, it won't change anything
unless we have sufficient
grounds, some new evidence.
I wanted to ask you, Mr. Carmichael,
if there was anything you
left out of your testimony.
I don't think I know what you mean.
Something the convicts
might have said about Johnny
or the way they treated him.
Well, there must have been something
to show you he wasn't one of them.
Well, I wish there was Miss
MacGregor, but I can't say
that I know that Johnny was innocent
without deliberately lying.
It's not a lie, he is innocent.
It's going to be all right, dear.
I know it will.
I'm sorry.
Just that I've tried everything else.
I, I thought about the
sketch Johnny spoke of.
I've been searching that wreck for days.
I don't know what else to do.
Except I know I mustn't stop looking.
I'd better go.
Frank.
Frank, you take her home.
Oh yeah, yeah, all right.
No, I'm fine.
My car's right outside.
Thank you,
both of you, for your patience.
It's a shame about that young man.
Shame about that
policeman they killed too,
everything's a shame.
But he, he was just driving.
I don't know, maybe he is guilty.
But to execute a young boy, just because.
Jury found him guilty.
What do you want me to do about it?
I didn't.
Never mind about him.
Do you hear what she said?
She's been poking around that wreck.
What if she finds that money, huh?
Fine mess.
Where are you going?
Out to get it, what do you think?
Frank, isn't there any way we.
Don't start that again, Hildy.
I tell you I know what I'm doing.
I'll be right back.
Frank?
Yeah.
That's okay, I'll be there in a minute.
Thought you were in bed.
Couldn't sleep.
Is that so, maybe you
ought to take something.
What's the matter, Frank?
Matter? Nothing's the matter.
Everything's fine.
Did anything go wrong?
Wrong? No, I just told you.
Everything's fine, I'm just tired.
Dead tired.
I'm going to bed.
I see, it's definite.
Much obliged.
Morgan's appeal has been turned down.
I guess it figured.
He's been asking about his wife again.
Do you hear anything?
He's got a week to
sweat out the governor.
Yeah.
The Hutchins kid was
committed this morning.
He's outside.
Okay.
Let him in.
I guess we know each other, Johnny.
How do you feel?
One way or another, you're
gonna be here for a while,
so best thing you can do is
make it easy on yourself.
All right, all right, skip the pep talk.
You're a young fellow, Johnny,
with no criminal record behind you.
I know about these things
and I tell you that sentence won't stick.
You mean maybe they'll
let me off with life, huh?
Well, that would mean parole some day.
Yeah, someday 20 years from now.
If there's anything you
want, anything you need,
just tell the guard, he'll let me know.
Tom?
Keep him out of the condemned row.
Put him in one of the regular blocks, huh?
Are you kidding?
He's not a troublemaker.
So why make him sit and stew?
Let's try it for a couple of days, huh?
If you say so.
Anything else?
Nope.
Yes?
There's a Miss
MacGregor at the visitor's gate
wants to see John Hutchins.
Didn't you tell her that visitors
are not permitted the first day?
Yes, sir.
She says if she can't see
him, she wants to see you.
No, no, no, I, I'm,
I'm too busy for that.
Check her through and
let her see Hutchins.
Yes, sir.
Johnny.
How are you?
They haven't tortured me yet.
Charlie would be here except
he's so busy with the appeal.
He's trying to get a big
criminal lawyer from upstate.
That'll cost, won't it?
Oh, you don't have to worry about that.
Not as long as I have
my little cheerleader.
Oh, Johnny.
Look at me feeling sorry for myself.
Annie, I don't want you
getting wrought up over this.
You understand?
I mean it.
I love you, John.
Don't honey, please.
I just wanna get you out of here.
I want you.
Annie, listen to me.
Take it easy.
Get off me.
Johnny don't, I'm all right.
You have to expect a girl
to carry on once in a while.
I'll be back to tomorrow,
tomorrow morning.
But you say you would be interested?
Fine, first thing in the morning.
Yes, sir and thank you.
Good night.
Will he come?
- His fee is $5,000.
- Five?
And he'd be doing us a favor.
Believe me.
All right.
You say we need him, we'll get him.
I've already told Johnny.
Annie I'm talking
dollars and cents cash.
You listening Mac?
It's gonna take money
to save that boy's life.
Nevermind, Charlie.
- Dad, if you don't.
- Do you wanna help Johnny
or win an argument?
You want me to give you $5,000
to make that boy innocent?
Even if he isn't?
Then give me the money,
give it to me, your daughter.
Or am I guilty of something too?
I'm not the jury that convicted him.
I'm the man he worked for,
And I'm also your father.
Why didn't he come to me
with his ideas and ambitions
before all this started?
Because he wanted to show you
he could do something on his own.
Or because he didn't believe in us
half as much as you want
me to believe in him.
Good evening.
Warden Carmichael, I'm Todd MacGregor.
How do you do?
- Won't you come in?
- Thank you.
I hope I'm not disturbing anyone.
Is it something about Johnny?
Is something wrong?
No, no, I, I don't
wanna worry you folks.
It's just that, well, being a witness,
I feel more involved with Johnny
than I do with most of
the men who come up there.
And I was wondering how
his appeal is coming along.
Too early to tell.
If we had any new kind of
evidence to show the court.
Anything.
Mr. Rains feels that it might help
to bring in a more experienced lawyer.
Well, that's a good idea.
Well, I can't see how that would
alter the facts in the case.
Facts is a loose word, Mac.
Anything a jury believes is a fact.
Warden?
No, Jameson, he's the guy.
He could help us all
right if anyone can.
Thank you.
Well, the boy should have
every possible chance.
I'm a little surprised
that your attitude Warden.
Those convicts tried to kill you
and you yourself testified
that Johnny drove for them.
But I didn't say he was one of them.
I mean, I didn't know
one way or the other.
Since then, I've had a
chance to know Johnny
and just talk with him.
I know every alibi in the book.
I can spot a phony alibi a mile off.
I can't give you any legal
reason for believing that boy.
But I do.
Charlie.
We still need that legal reason.
That's why I wanna call in Jameson.
What are you waiting for?
Men like
that come pretty high.
I see.
Well, I'm not a rich man,
but if it's money you need.
No offense, sir.
And we do appreciate it, but
I'm talking about $5,000.
Well, oh yeah.
Yes, I, I might have known
that's way outta my bracket.
I, I'm sorry.
I guess the only thing
I can do is promise you
that Johnny will be treated well.
And if you ever wanna see him or me.
It's getting late.
Thank you very much, Mr. Carmichael.
What for?
You've nothing to thank me for?
- Charlie, get Mr.
- Jameson back on the phone
and tell him to get the
next plane out here.
Mac, you mean it?
Dad?
My feelings haven't changed,
but I'm not gonna let a
few dollars prove me right.
Okay then.
I wanna make a person-to-person
call to LC Jameson, Chicago.
I don't like it, lieutenant.
Warden's orders.
If he's gonna turn
condemned men loose down here.
I want a gun or a transfer.
All the lights.
Better not, kid.
No one wins fights around
here except the screws.
Why'd you do it?
What'd you think?
I was gonna sit here
and let you take off with all that dough?
What?
Come on, kid.
We've got no time for games.
Where'd you stash it?
What dough? What are you talking about?
The 100,000 Burkhardt's
brother had in that suitcase.
You think I helped him break
out for a pat on the back?
You're nuts.
You got me sent here for that?
There wasn't any money.
Hey Kiley, you wanna have a catch?
Later.
They'll give the stuff to someone else
if I don't use it.
I said later, beat it.
Listen, kid, Burkhardt, Miller and me,
we had to set to skip the country
and we didn't figure to do it broke.
That money was there and
it didn't just disappear.
If there was any money,
the police would've found it.
Sure.
Except that you found it first.
You're the only one in a
bunch who came out alive.
You and the warden.
Listen, I know every door,
wall, every inch of this place.
You'll gimme half that
dough, I'll get us both out
where we can spend it.
Just like that, huh?
That size bottle makes it worth a try.
Getting out is tough enough.
The real trick is to stay out.
You don't get far without traveling money.
What do you say?
You boys having fun?
Yeah, we were just
discussing the rising costs
of files and hacksaws.
Well, walk a little.
It's good for you.
You hear what I said?
I've gotta have time to think about it.
Think about what?
Think about them strapping
you into that chair.
Turning on the gas.
And that's why Kiley lied about me.
He thinks I know what
happened to that money.
If there was any money to begin with.
Money or no money, he lied about me.
You think he'd
admit that in court?
That's your job? Not mine.
All right, don't.
Maybe there was money involved.
Kiley's no dummy.
Hundreds of guys in here
would promise the moon to break out.
But why did Kiley believe
Burkhardt and Miller?
Well, the police
searched every foot of it.
They didn't find any money.
They didn't find my drawing either.
What about before the police got there,
before you and Burkhardt came to.
Somebody could have walked in there
and picked up that money.
Somebody like who?
I don't know who.
Somebody, anybody, maybe
whoever took that money,
- took my drawing.
- Take it easy.
It's got to be it.
You and I were the only ones left alive.
And I don't remember anything
until I woke up in the hospital.
But you were.
Let's say, let's say
Kiley's telling the truth,
that there was money in that suitcase.
I tell you, there wasn't any money.
When I shot Burkhardt,
he dropped the suitcase.
It broke open right in front of me.
Nothing but clothes.
He dropped it?
What was he carrying it for?
What?
Why was he carrying it?
If he was just trying to get away
what did he want with a suitcase?
How should I know.
Burkhardt was running for his life.
He wouldn't have stopped for that suitcase
unless there was something in it.
Something awfully important.
Something that was gone by
the time the police got there.
Look Johnny, calm down.
Sit down over there.
You.
Sitting in that courtroom,
here behind your fat desk,
letting me die for something you've done.
I'll kill you.
Johnny get away.
Stop Johnny, stop.
Johnny.
He's the one.
He did it. Make him tell you truth.
He's the murderer, not me.
Get him outta here, solitary.
Till you hear different.
- You all right?
- Yeah.
How did it happen?
I don't know, he just
went sort of crazy.
Blamed me for his being here.
That's the thanks you get
for trying to give him a break.
And I was just okaying a
visit with his girlfriend.
He gets no visitors.
You bet he doesn't.
From now on, he gets no nothing.
Might be a good idea If you
let the doc check you over.
No, I'm okay.
Better if the personnel and the inmates
don't know what happened,
know what I mean?
Okay.
I'll see you later.
You said she was sick.
Yeah, yeah Morgan, I.
You said she was working on my appeal,
that she'd be coming to see me.
Well, there's some things
that you're better off
if you don't know.
You lied Warden, you've
been lying from the beginning.
No, no, I was just
trying to make it easier.
Easier?
Sure, easier on yourself.
That's all you care about yourself.
Stop it, stop it!
Frank!
You didn't have to lie.
I fixed you some sandwiches.
Thanks, I'm not hungry.
I, I thought we could talk a little.
Not tonight, honey, if you don't mind.
I really put in a day today.
The MacGregor girl was here tonight.
Here, what for? What'd she say?
She wanted to see you.
What right's she got coming here.
I don't want her
bothering you, understand?
She wanted to know
why you wouldn't let
her see Johnny Hutchins.
Why you wouldn't see her yourself?
He's in solitary.
Oh no.
Oh yes.
He tried to kill me in my own office.
You want me to give him a medal?
But why Frank?
Why should, it doesn't make sense?
Well, let me worry about that, okay.
But, but I don't understand why.
He found out about the money.
He knows I've got it.
Satisfied?
Frank.
Makes sense now, huh?
What do you want me to do?
Let him tell that girl about it.
Let her tell the police, the papers.
You want me in that cell
instead of him, is that it?
Instead of him, why instead?
Oh, Hildy for heaven's sake,
stop jumping on every word.
Do I have to come home to
a third degree every night?
You're saying that boy is innocent.
In some way that I can't understand,
you know he's innocent.
Don't tell me what I know.
But you just said.
I don't want to hear any more about it.
I'm sorry.
Execution.
Everything's got me on edge.
What is it, Frank?
What haven't you told me?
Nothing, there's nothing
to tell, nothing, believe me.
What'll they do to you?
Oh, come on now.
Stop imagining all this.
I'm afraid, Frank.
I've never been so afraid in my life.
You're just worn out from all that.
Hilda, you're shaking.
What are we going to do?
Can't we give back the
money or put it somewhere
where they'll find it?
Don't you worry about that anymore.
We may have to leave a
little sooner than I want to,
but it'll be all right, sweetheart.
You'll see.
Frank.
Frank.
What?
You, you won't do anything
without telling me first?
No, of course not.
Promise me, you won't.
All right, I promise.
I think we could both use some sleep.
No, you go ahead.
I, I want another cigarette.
Hey Kiley, why don't
you get in the game?
Touchdown!
Charlie, you did it.
Signed, sealed and
delivered a new trial.
Dad.
Good work, very good.
Now don't praise me, feed me.
I've been going since breakfast.
Okay, soup's on.
Told you Jameson was worth the money.
You should have heard him.
I wish there was some way we
could get the news to Johnny.
The lad's in some kind of trouble.
They won't let anyone see him.
They won't even tell
us what it's all about.
That sounds like a
little lawyer business,
which I'll take care of
first thing in the morning.
You get double portions of everything.
Hey, hey, what are you doing?
Hey.
What's going on?
It's a fight, a fight.
Hey, hey.
Wilkins.
Yes, sir, everything's okay.
Right, check with you in an hour.
,
You really gotta move.
I think I have some kind
of antihistamine stuff
in here some place.
What?
The door.
Get out of those clothes.
I get home one night in two weeks.
My wife gives me liver.
I hate liver.
Here's your matches.
Let's go.
I'll call the shots.
Where's the dough?
What do you think I do,
carry it in my pocket?
I know where we can pick
up a car and some clothes.
Oh, I may never move again.
Jameson assures you that the new trial
will get Johnny off?
Oh Annie, enough.
What do you say we give Charlie
the rest of the night off?
Instead of more questions,
how about a cigar?
Well, if they don't
have guns like he says
in those clothes without a car
or money, they won't get far.
Are you sure they're unarmed?
Well, no, sir, not positive.
Tom, you know Kiley, he's a lifer.
There's nothing more dangerous
than a man who has nothing to lose.
Yeah, you're right.
We'll shoot on sight.
Hildy.
Do they know?
Did you tell 'em?
Tell 'em what?
Frank, we've gotta
get away, now, tonight
while there's still time.
We don't have to go anywhere.
Now you go on home.
Frank, they're hunting for that boy.
When they find him, he'll
talk and they'll believe him.
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Even if they don't,
you wouldn't let him die
for something you did.
I know you that well, darling.
Sooner or later you'd give yourself up.
You wouldn't let anything happen to him.
Look, Hildy, you've got to understand.
I don't want to understand.
You should do it alone.
Hildy, please.
Frank.
I know about the drawing.
I took it out tonight and I burnt it.
It's gone, Frank, it's gone.
Not you.
It can't hurt us anymore.
- We're safe now.
- Safe?
Frank.
Dear God, what have I done to you?
You were wrong about me, Hildy.
I wasn't gonna save that boy.
I was gonna let them shoot
him down in the street.
Let it happen near the docks.
Somewhere where I couldn't see it or hear
and no one would know.
But we'd know, Hildy.
We'd see it in each other's
eyes the rest of our lives.
I want the rest of our lives.
Look at me, Hildy, do
you see anything you love?
I love you, Frank.
Yes, I know.
And I love you, sweetheart.
Will you wait for me here?
Where are you going?
Help that boy.
Help me, Frank.
Help us.
This is the only way I can, Hildy.
We interrupt this program
for a special news bulletin.
The two convicts have not been seen
since the daring escape from the state.
What'd you expect? Love and kisses.
You go in the back.
The stairs down the hall,
first bedroom to the left.
The old man keeps the gun
in the bottom drawer of his bureau.
How about you?
I'll keep 'em busy in the front.
Go ahead.
The
description of the two men.
Johnny.
Just everybody stay right where you are.
Take it easy.
For the love of Mike, what
did you wanna do this for?
Yes, my buddy and I need
a car and some clothes.
Your bud?
- You'd better not, Mr.
- MacGregor, he's pretty jumpy.
Johnny, this is stupid.
It's insane.
Yes, so's dying.
The appeal worked.
Charlie won a new trial.
Now don't try to talk
me outta this, Annie.
I'm sorry the way things worked out.
I'm sorry every which way,
but I'm not going back there.
But what Annie says is true, Johnny.
So what if it is?
A new trial,
but the same lies and the same finish.
No thanks.
I'm gonna start taking care of myself.
Got us a wardrobe.
How about the car?
The keys.
We can't leave them standing around.
Johnny.
Get in the closet in there.
Nevermind, Annie, I haven't got the time.
- Rip it out.
- No, the company would check.
Come on, let's go out the back.
During
the early evening hours.
- No answer.
- The guards
rarely experienced trouble.
The first facts indicated
that William Kiley,
- the older of the two.
- Maybe they're out somewhere
and don't know what happened.
That's funny.
Their lights are on.
Police
believe that the convicts
without money, transportation or weapons
will probably resort to violence
to get any one or all of these things.
The local townspeople have
been warned to lock their cars
and stay off the streets.
If you see or hear anything suspicious
or have reason to suspect
you know the whereabouts of these men,
you are asked to call
the police immediately.
The prisoners are disguised as guards,
but are expected to seek
out some change of clothes.
Give me the police chief.
Okay, where to?
There's a cutoff south of town.
Is the dough out there some place?
The dough can wait.
Let's get out of this box.
We can't get anywhere
without that money.
Now where you got it hidden?
I don't.
Come on kid.
Don't fool with me now.
I don't have it.
I'm warning you once and for all.
The Warden's got it.
He's had it all the time.
The warden? What are you giving me?
Come on, Kiley.
We've gotta get outta here.
In the garage.
The cons have a loaded .38, captain,
and no extra ammunition.
Okay, keep everybody back.
Yes sir.
May I come?
Kiley, Hutchins?
This is Lieutenant Reynolds.
You're completely surrounded.
The police have orders to
shoot if you're trying to run.
Throw your weapon out first
and then come out one at a time
with your hands above your head.
If you played straight with
me, we wouldn't be in this.
You wanna talk about now?
Start moving in.
Here they come.
They've got us, they've got us good.
Give me that gun if
you're not gonna use it.
What are you gonna do now?
We don't wanna risk anymore
men if we don't have to.
Couple of flare pistols
will fire the garage
and get 'em out there.
Dad don't let them.
Frank.
They're in the garage.
Captain Polley, Warden Carmichael.
Ask your men to stop firing, captain.
But Frank, you said that.
I know Tom,
but I think I can talk them
into giving themselves up.
We've already asked them to surrender.
And one of my men has been wounded.
There will be more if
you try to storm them.
My way is worth five minutes.
Hold your fire.
This is Warden Carmichael, Johnny.
I'm asking you and
Kiley not to do anything
until you've heard me out.
There are newspapermen out
here listening, Johnny.
And I'm telling them now
that you are innocent.
Johnny Hutchins was never part
of Burkhardt and Miller's plan to escape.
It happened just the way he said it did.
He was forced to drive their getaway car.
Burkhardt and Miller had
money with them, stolen money,
$100,000.
But Johnny Hutchins never
knew about that money.
I took it.
I took it and I buried
it before the police came
and with it, I wrapped up
and buried the only proof
of Hutchins' innocence, his drawing.
I couldn't tell anyone about the drawing
without giving myself away.
So I, I destroyed.
I'm admitting it now, Johnny, all of it.
If you come out, we'll
wipe out what's happened.
What do you say?
You're not going anywhere without me.
Kiley, if you are keeping him in there,
you'll just get both of you killed.
You better give yourself up too.
At least you'll walk out of there alive.
I'm going out.
Okay, kid.
Give them this.
Tell 'em I'll come out with no trouble.
Tom.
Let me through, please.
Please, let me through.
Let me get through.
Frank.
Hildy, I tried.
It's all right, darling, I'm here.
I know I didn't wait for
you like you wanted me to,
but you mustn't scold me darling.
And soon as you.