The Twilight Zone (2002) s01e41 Episode Script
The Executions of Grady Finch
You're looking at the maximum security facility at Megowan where a vigil is taking place tonight to protest the execution of Grady Finch.
Finch is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the murder of convenience store owner Harold Park and though he has maintained his innocence from the start there's at least one person out here who believes Grady Finch is getting exactly what he deserves.
Nathan Park is the eldest son of the victim and one of the witnesses for tonight's execution.
Now, Mr.
Park, I understand you have a request for Mr.
Finch.
That's right.
I'm asking Mr.
Finch to finally admit his guilt admit that he murdered my father so my family can put this nightmare behind us once and for all.
Maybe I should talk to him, you know, face to face convince him that I didn't do this.
He'll never believe you.
He needs someone to blame.
I wasn't even in the store.
They convicted me on the testimony of a junkie lookin' to cut a deal.
Mr.
Finch, hold still, please.
OK.
You have good veins.
Everything should go smoothly.
Can we not talk about it, please? I hate needles.
I understand.
I'm done.
OK.
OK, so We should be hearing from the governor about the stay of execution, right? He's reviewing your clemency petition as we speak.
All right.
And you told him I didn't do it? You talked to him? I mean, I've done some bad things in my life.
I've never killed anybody, I swear to God.
Grady, listen to me.
We have done everything we can.
Right.
Don't give up hope, OK? OK, thank you, Liz.
The governor just called.
How does it go? The truth shall set you free? But try telling that to Grady Finch a man about to pay for a crime he swears he didn't commit.
Now all he can do is put his faith in a higher justice and pray for a miracle.
How are the straps? What? If any of them are too tight, we can loosen 'em for you.
No.
No, they're OK.
Try to relax, Mr.
Finch.
First thing you're gonna feel is a couple of CCs of saline solution just to confirm that the device is working properly.
If you want to make a final statement, now's the time.
I'm innocent.
You're killing an innocent man! Liar! He has to confess his guilt! Why won't he tell the truth? We're now going to administer the anesthetic.
No please don't.
Not yet.
What is it? We have to postpone the execution.
What are you talking about? The injection machine completely froze up.
I've never seen anything like it.
I don't believe this.
You are traveling to another dimension a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are only that of the imagination.
You're entering Grady, I have some news I think you're gonna like.
it was a botched execution same as yours except it was a faulty electric chair.
Jones' lawyer argued that to put him through it again would be cruel and unusual punishment and it bought him a year.
Grady, are you hearing me? This gives us precedent.
The state can execute you, but they can't torture you.
This could give us a whole year to try and push through another appeal.
Maybe that's what she meant.
What who meant? Right after I passed out, I heard this woman's voice whispering "Not yet.
" Grady, you were sedated.
You were under tremendous stress.
I know what I heard.
Well, you wanna believe in guardian angels, fine but as far as the state's concerned it was a faulty air pump on the injection device.
I'm very sorry for all the confusion earlier but I think we've finally got the situation under control.
What does that mean for my client? It means we're ready to try again.
Wait a minute.
What about what's-his-name, Jones vs.
F/or/da? I was just about to file a new motion to stay execution.
I'm sorry, but we've got to get this done by midnight.
Otherwise the governor has to issue a new court order and that could take days.
My client's willing to wait.
Yeah.
Well, the governor isn't.
He wants us to proceed as planned.
Now, we brought in a brand-new device one that's been thoroughly tested.
Mr.
Finch, you have our sincere apologies for what you've gone through.
I give you my word we'll have no more mishaps.
Onto the gurney, please.
Don't let this happen.
Please.
It's time, Grady.
Not yet.
Help him to his feet.
Damn it, now what? Well, where is it? Well, I don't think we have a choice.
All right.
There's an electrical fire somewhere in the building.
We're gonna have to go through with evacuation procedures.
I'm telling you, he's innocent! And I believe God has shown us a sign.
Twice in one day, he has spared Grady Finch from death.
We appeal to the governor to accept God's judgment and allow Grady Finch to live.
Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Hi.
Hey.
Have you seen the headlines? Hope you're not starting to believe your own press.
Have you ever had death stare you right in the face? You mean have I ever thought I was about to die? No.
Well, I have, twice in one day and let me tell you something, it's pretty intense.
I mean, I've been up all night thinking why me? I don't know, maybe because you're innocent? You really think I'm the only innocent guy on death row? Well, whatever answer you're looking for, Grady I don't have it.
There's gotta be a reason this would be happening to me a reason for keeping me alive.
"Not yet," that's what she keeps saying.
Well, I hate to remind you of this but the state has decided that "not yet" means 4 P.
M.
Tomorrow.
Well, I got a weird feeling it's not the state's decision.
Are you comfortable, Mr.
Finch? No complaints.
As you know, you're allowed a final statement.
Let's get on with it.
Not yet.
The entire system's shorting out! How the hell is that possible? The power! Shut it down! Shut it down right now! Anybody ever tell you cigarettes are bad for your health? I survived and a couple thousand volts of electricity.
A little nicotine won't kill me.
I wouldn't press my luck if I were you.
Uh, hold that thought.
Breakfast has arrived.
Great.
Gentlemen, thank you.
Right here.
There ya go.
Oh, and, uh, waiter, these are all-beef, hmm? Oh, I'm sorry.
You want a bite? No, that's OK.
God, look at you.
A week ago you couldn't keep food down.
Well a week ago, I didn't know I had a guardian angel.
I thought you said she was just a voice.
Hmm.
First 2 times, yeah but when I was in that chair, I saw her.
It was just a flash, but can't get her outta my head.
She had wings? Oh, yeah, that's how I knew she was my guardian angel.
Oh.
You don't believe me.
Look, I don't know what I believe.
All I know is that you've got a press conference in 30 minutes.
Mmm.
Are you sure you don't want a bite? Grady, I need you to focus.
Now with all of the press you've been getting the state's star witness is willing to recant his testimony.
We're not just talking about a stay of execution anymore.
We're talking about a retrial.
It's about time that junkie son-of-a-bitch told the truth.
I need you to present yourself as an innocent man who's been brutalized by the state's incompetence that you have already suffered the tortures of the damned that you've become the victim here.
Hey.
Hey.
No worries.
I got it covered.
Good.
Now I don't wanna hear any talk about visions or voices or guardian angels.
No, I don't know her name, but she definitely had wings.
- Mr.
Finch? - Yes? There are hundreds of inmates on death row.
What makes you so special? Well, at first I thought it was just 'cause I'm innocent but now I believe I have been spared because I have a destiny to fulfill.
All right.
No more questions.
Wait.
I wanna hear more about Mr.
Finch's destiny.
Well, it's simple, really.
I am living proof that there is a higher justice and when I win my freedom it will be my duty to spread the word to all of those who have lost hope.
The righteous will be rewarded.
The innocent will be set free.
OK.
That's it for today.
Thank you.
I thought we agreed you weren't gonna say anything about visions.
I'm sorry, Liz.
The people need to know there's a higher justice, right? You want higher justice? Not yet.
Gun! Get down! No! No! How'd he get in here? Come on! Out of the way! Move! Did you see that? Anybody else wanna take a shot? Go ahead.
You can't kill me! No one can! Good morning.
Morning.
Grady, what do you think your chances are today? Think the jury's gonna find you innocent? Is it true that you're not pressing charges against Nathan Park? My heart goes out to Mr.
Park.
I only hope that one day the police find his father's real killer.
Grady! Grady, please.
Can I have your autograph? Catch me on the way out.
Mr.
Finch.
Mr.
Finch, my husband has been on death row for three years.
Can you help him? Was he innocent? I know he is.
Well, tell him not to worry.
Tell him Grady Finch said, "Not yet.
" You realize this is just the beginning.
Of what? Well, I've been thinkin' there's gotta be a book deal in all this maybe even my own talk show.
You get a not-guilty verdict, you can start your own religion.
I've thought of that.
I'm sure you did.
OK, Liz? One second.
I have a message that needs to be heard.
Now I'm asking you, will you help me spread that message? Grady, all this that's been happening to you this is all just luck and coincidence.
Luck and coincidence? How can you say that? You were there.
You witnessed the truth.
There is a reason I cannot be killed.
I am talking about divine intervention here.
Grady let's just win the case.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury have you reached a verdict? Yes, we have, Your Honor.
We find the defendant Grady Steven Finch not guilty.
That's quite a crowd out there.
You sure you're ready for this? There's no turning back now.
Who'd have thought the night I walked into that convenience store it would all turn out like this? You said you were never in that store.
Hmm? Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I didn't wanna kill him.
He wouldn't give me the money.
All this time you've been lying.
You know, you're not seeing the bigger picture here.
What bigger picture? I had no choice.
Mr.
Park had to die.
How else could I realize my destiny? You killed a man! You destroyed his family and his son was begging you to confess begging you to tell the truth.
What's the point? He wants revenge, and I can't be killed.
Not yet.
That's right.
Not yet.
Grady! I got a way with life I got a way with livin' I got a way with gettin' away With anything that I'm given I got a way with women I got a way with words I got a way to get away I got away with murder I'm alive Skin deep, a quantum leap From a death sleep I'm alive Free at last, beyond the past Beyond the past I'm alive I'm alive Not guilty.
I got a way to get away I got away with murder, murder - Murder - I'm alive Now.
Oh, my God.
It's said that truth and justice go hand in hand.
Just ask Grady Finch who thought he could cheat them both.
Consider Grady's fate nothing more than a sentence deferred in the Twilight Zone.
Finch is scheduled to die by lethal injection for the murder of convenience store owner Harold Park and though he has maintained his innocence from the start there's at least one person out here who believes Grady Finch is getting exactly what he deserves.
Nathan Park is the eldest son of the victim and one of the witnesses for tonight's execution.
Now, Mr.
Park, I understand you have a request for Mr.
Finch.
That's right.
I'm asking Mr.
Finch to finally admit his guilt admit that he murdered my father so my family can put this nightmare behind us once and for all.
Maybe I should talk to him, you know, face to face convince him that I didn't do this.
He'll never believe you.
He needs someone to blame.
I wasn't even in the store.
They convicted me on the testimony of a junkie lookin' to cut a deal.
Mr.
Finch, hold still, please.
OK.
You have good veins.
Everything should go smoothly.
Can we not talk about it, please? I hate needles.
I understand.
I'm done.
OK.
OK, so We should be hearing from the governor about the stay of execution, right? He's reviewing your clemency petition as we speak.
All right.
And you told him I didn't do it? You talked to him? I mean, I've done some bad things in my life.
I've never killed anybody, I swear to God.
Grady, listen to me.
We have done everything we can.
Right.
Don't give up hope, OK? OK, thank you, Liz.
The governor just called.
How does it go? The truth shall set you free? But try telling that to Grady Finch a man about to pay for a crime he swears he didn't commit.
Now all he can do is put his faith in a higher justice and pray for a miracle.
How are the straps? What? If any of them are too tight, we can loosen 'em for you.
No.
No, they're OK.
Try to relax, Mr.
Finch.
First thing you're gonna feel is a couple of CCs of saline solution just to confirm that the device is working properly.
If you want to make a final statement, now's the time.
I'm innocent.
You're killing an innocent man! Liar! He has to confess his guilt! Why won't he tell the truth? We're now going to administer the anesthetic.
No please don't.
Not yet.
What is it? We have to postpone the execution.
What are you talking about? The injection machine completely froze up.
I've never seen anything like it.
I don't believe this.
You are traveling to another dimension a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind.
A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are only that of the imagination.
You're entering Grady, I have some news I think you're gonna like.
it was a botched execution same as yours except it was a faulty electric chair.
Jones' lawyer argued that to put him through it again would be cruel and unusual punishment and it bought him a year.
Grady, are you hearing me? This gives us precedent.
The state can execute you, but they can't torture you.
This could give us a whole year to try and push through another appeal.
Maybe that's what she meant.
What who meant? Right after I passed out, I heard this woman's voice whispering "Not yet.
" Grady, you were sedated.
You were under tremendous stress.
I know what I heard.
Well, you wanna believe in guardian angels, fine but as far as the state's concerned it was a faulty air pump on the injection device.
I'm very sorry for all the confusion earlier but I think we've finally got the situation under control.
What does that mean for my client? It means we're ready to try again.
Wait a minute.
What about what's-his-name, Jones vs.
F/or/da? I was just about to file a new motion to stay execution.
I'm sorry, but we've got to get this done by midnight.
Otherwise the governor has to issue a new court order and that could take days.
My client's willing to wait.
Yeah.
Well, the governor isn't.
He wants us to proceed as planned.
Now, we brought in a brand-new device one that's been thoroughly tested.
Mr.
Finch, you have our sincere apologies for what you've gone through.
I give you my word we'll have no more mishaps.
Onto the gurney, please.
Don't let this happen.
Please.
It's time, Grady.
Not yet.
Help him to his feet.
Damn it, now what? Well, where is it? Well, I don't think we have a choice.
All right.
There's an electrical fire somewhere in the building.
We're gonna have to go through with evacuation procedures.
I'm telling you, he's innocent! And I believe God has shown us a sign.
Twice in one day, he has spared Grady Finch from death.
We appeal to the governor to accept God's judgment and allow Grady Finch to live.
Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Save Grady Finch! Hi.
Hey.
Have you seen the headlines? Hope you're not starting to believe your own press.
Have you ever had death stare you right in the face? You mean have I ever thought I was about to die? No.
Well, I have, twice in one day and let me tell you something, it's pretty intense.
I mean, I've been up all night thinking why me? I don't know, maybe because you're innocent? You really think I'm the only innocent guy on death row? Well, whatever answer you're looking for, Grady I don't have it.
There's gotta be a reason this would be happening to me a reason for keeping me alive.
"Not yet," that's what she keeps saying.
Well, I hate to remind you of this but the state has decided that "not yet" means 4 P.
M.
Tomorrow.
Well, I got a weird feeling it's not the state's decision.
Are you comfortable, Mr.
Finch? No complaints.
As you know, you're allowed a final statement.
Let's get on with it.
Not yet.
The entire system's shorting out! How the hell is that possible? The power! Shut it down! Shut it down right now! Anybody ever tell you cigarettes are bad for your health? I survived and a couple thousand volts of electricity.
A little nicotine won't kill me.
I wouldn't press my luck if I were you.
Uh, hold that thought.
Breakfast has arrived.
Great.
Gentlemen, thank you.
Right here.
There ya go.
Oh, and, uh, waiter, these are all-beef, hmm? Oh, I'm sorry.
You want a bite? No, that's OK.
God, look at you.
A week ago you couldn't keep food down.
Well a week ago, I didn't know I had a guardian angel.
I thought you said she was just a voice.
Hmm.
First 2 times, yeah but when I was in that chair, I saw her.
It was just a flash, but can't get her outta my head.
She had wings? Oh, yeah, that's how I knew she was my guardian angel.
Oh.
You don't believe me.
Look, I don't know what I believe.
All I know is that you've got a press conference in 30 minutes.
Mmm.
Are you sure you don't want a bite? Grady, I need you to focus.
Now with all of the press you've been getting the state's star witness is willing to recant his testimony.
We're not just talking about a stay of execution anymore.
We're talking about a retrial.
It's about time that junkie son-of-a-bitch told the truth.
I need you to present yourself as an innocent man who's been brutalized by the state's incompetence that you have already suffered the tortures of the damned that you've become the victim here.
Hey.
Hey.
No worries.
I got it covered.
Good.
Now I don't wanna hear any talk about visions or voices or guardian angels.
No, I don't know her name, but she definitely had wings.
- Mr.
Finch? - Yes? There are hundreds of inmates on death row.
What makes you so special? Well, at first I thought it was just 'cause I'm innocent but now I believe I have been spared because I have a destiny to fulfill.
All right.
No more questions.
Wait.
I wanna hear more about Mr.
Finch's destiny.
Well, it's simple, really.
I am living proof that there is a higher justice and when I win my freedom it will be my duty to spread the word to all of those who have lost hope.
The righteous will be rewarded.
The innocent will be set free.
OK.
That's it for today.
Thank you.
I thought we agreed you weren't gonna say anything about visions.
I'm sorry, Liz.
The people need to know there's a higher justice, right? You want higher justice? Not yet.
Gun! Get down! No! No! How'd he get in here? Come on! Out of the way! Move! Did you see that? Anybody else wanna take a shot? Go ahead.
You can't kill me! No one can! Good morning.
Morning.
Grady, what do you think your chances are today? Think the jury's gonna find you innocent? Is it true that you're not pressing charges against Nathan Park? My heart goes out to Mr.
Park.
I only hope that one day the police find his father's real killer.
Grady! Grady, please.
Can I have your autograph? Catch me on the way out.
Mr.
Finch.
Mr.
Finch, my husband has been on death row for three years.
Can you help him? Was he innocent? I know he is.
Well, tell him not to worry.
Tell him Grady Finch said, "Not yet.
" You realize this is just the beginning.
Of what? Well, I've been thinkin' there's gotta be a book deal in all this maybe even my own talk show.
You get a not-guilty verdict, you can start your own religion.
I've thought of that.
I'm sure you did.
OK, Liz? One second.
I have a message that needs to be heard.
Now I'm asking you, will you help me spread that message? Grady, all this that's been happening to you this is all just luck and coincidence.
Luck and coincidence? How can you say that? You were there.
You witnessed the truth.
There is a reason I cannot be killed.
I am talking about divine intervention here.
Grady let's just win the case.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury have you reached a verdict? Yes, we have, Your Honor.
We find the defendant Grady Steven Finch not guilty.
That's quite a crowd out there.
You sure you're ready for this? There's no turning back now.
Who'd have thought the night I walked into that convenience store it would all turn out like this? You said you were never in that store.
Hmm? Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I didn't wanna kill him.
He wouldn't give me the money.
All this time you've been lying.
You know, you're not seeing the bigger picture here.
What bigger picture? I had no choice.
Mr.
Park had to die.
How else could I realize my destiny? You killed a man! You destroyed his family and his son was begging you to confess begging you to tell the truth.
What's the point? He wants revenge, and I can't be killed.
Not yet.
That's right.
Not yet.
Grady! I got a way with life I got a way with livin' I got a way with gettin' away With anything that I'm given I got a way with women I got a way with words I got a way to get away I got away with murder I'm alive Skin deep, a quantum leap From a death sleep I'm alive Free at last, beyond the past Beyond the past I'm alive I'm alive Not guilty.
I got a way to get away I got away with murder, murder - Murder - I'm alive Now.
Oh, my God.
It's said that truth and justice go hand in hand.
Just ask Grady Finch who thought he could cheat them both.
Consider Grady's fate nothing more than a sentence deferred in the Twilight Zone.