Without a Trace s03e12 Episode Script
Penitence
Hey, scum suck, you throw that butt at me? No, no.
I've tried everybody.
The Bureau of Prisons, the cops.
All I keep getting is the runaround.
I'm just not clear on how we can help you, Miss MacAvoy.
It's really pretty simple.
You can find my brother.
Ma'am, he's not exactly a missing person.
I'm telling you, he didn't break out of that prison.
The interagency alert says that he did.
So does the warden.
James Connor MacAvoy, serving five to 10 for manslaughter.
Wanted for unlawful flight from Croton Correctional.
Mac was due out on parole in two weeks.
Why throw that away? Stranger things have happened.
Please, just Here.
Just read this letter he wrote.
Please.
He mailed it three days ago, okay? Look what he says there at the end.
Okay.
"My faith is truly being tested.
Come what may, know that you are forever in my heart and that I have tried to walk the path the Lord has laid for me.
Love, Mac.
" He wrote that because he thought he'd never see me again.
Well, look.
Help me understand this.
If he didn't escape, what happened to him? Well, I visit Mac pretty much every week, right? But this last time, he was really edgy, you know? Turns out some guards attacked him.
What guards? What was the reason? I don't know.
But he said they were gonna kill him.
They did something to him.
I know it.
Please.
I'm begging you to help me.
We'll look into it.
See what we can find out.
Thank you.
How many inmates were in the yard at the time, officer? Sixty six before the altercation, MacAvoy and Ferris being the two missing.
Right.
We figure Ferris and MacAvoy split together.
Any leads on this guy Ferris? No leads on either.
The sheriffs and marshals are heading the search.
How do you think they got away? Fight distracted us.
The inmates slipped out a gate and hid behind a food service truck.
By the time we did the head count, truck was gone.
Cops pulled them over about No one was guarding the gate? The guard left the post when the fight broke out.
We're gonna need to talk to this guard.
That's what you're doing.
That guard must feeling some heat.
Tell me about it.
Warden.
Hilary Gutierrez.
Welcome.
Thank you.
I'm Special Agent Johnson this is Special Agent Fitzgerald.
Hi.
I didn't expect the FBI to take such an interest in escaped convicts.
It's your tax dollars hard at work.
Well, the more the merrier.
We'll take all the help we can get.
Have a seat.
Thank you.
Why do you think James MacAvoy would take off with two weeks to his parole? These men have poor judgment.
That's why they're here.
What was his relationship like with the staff? Fine.
He have any problems with the guards? There was an incident was trying to break up a fight and MacAvoy punched him in the mouth.
Anything more recent? What is this? Just a few routine questions.
I know she came to you.
Laura MacAvoy.
She's why you're here.
We're here because a man is missing.
She's nuts, okay? She called me, going on and on about how something happened to her brother.
And now she's saying that my men did something to him? We're just exploring all the options.
What options? This is a prison.
He's not here, that means he escaped.
All right.
Let's talk about Damon Ferris.
What can you tell us about him? He's state raised.
Been in and out of prison since he was 16.
He and MacAvoy tight? I doubt it.
MacAvoy's white, Ferris is black.
Things divide along color lines in here.
Then why'd they take off together? Ferris tagged along, is my guess.
But MacAvoy was the brains.
That yard fight? That was a diversion, and my men fell for it.
Who do you think started the fight? An inmate named Beast.
He and MacAvoy both belong to the Aryan Tribe.
MacAvoy's in a gang? As the enforcer.
Then how'd he get parole? We're overcrowded.
He kept his nose clean for the last six months the chaplain put in a good word.
We're gonna need to talk to Beast and anyone else who was involved in the yard fight.
Well, good luck with that.
They're not gonna give you much.
Well, when exactly was it that your brother said he was attacked? I don't remember when it was, really.
You don't remember.
No.
The truth is that you contacted the sheriffs, the warden, the police trying to convince them that your brother didn't escape and none of them bought it.
Now, your brother never told you that he was gonna be killed by the guards, did he? I didn't know who else to turn to.
So you lied to the FBI to get us involved.
You know, I don't appreciate being made a jackass of.
That's not what I meant to do.
Well, that's what you did.
Now, are you aware that your brother was a member of an Aryan prison gang? Yes, he had to join, in order to survive inside.
He was also a known enforcer inside the prison.
I have a document here from the infirmary of men that your brother brutally beat up.
Broken noses, fractured cheekbones, shattered orbital sockets.
He's not like that now.
People change.
Not people like him.
You're wrong.
I saw it for myself.
This concludes testimony in case number 23556 parole hearing for James Connor MacAvoy.
Before we adjourn, we'd like to ask the prisoner if he has anything to add.
Yes, I do, sir.
Please stand.
Mrs.
D'Angelo, you and I have never spoken and there's something I really need to say.
I'm listening.
I want to apologize for what I did.
I know those are just words and nothing I say can turn back the hands of time return your husband to you bring back your daughter's father.
There's more here about how bad I feel, but it all sounds so phony.
I killed the man you loved.
I didn't mean to, but I did because of a stupid drunken bar fight.
I'm so sorry about that.
If I could I would give my life to make things right.
Well, I'm sure it was a very touching moment.
I'm not the only one who believed him.
Mrs.
D'Angelo dropped her objection to Mac's parole after that.
Yeah, well, now he's on the run.
So if you wanna find him, I am going to need a complete list of known associates and people that he might contact.
Okay.
Okay.
Your brother talk to you about what it's like inside? No.
The only thing he said is that everything that happens in here happens for a reason.
I'm gonna take a guess and say that you are Beast.
Right? What do you want? Just wanted to ask you a few questions about the fight in the yard.
How about I talk to you.
Why did your gang spring MacAvoy out of here two weeks before parole? You got a real bug up your ass for Mac.
Maybe it was the other guy.
Who, Damon Ferris? We heard he tagged along.
Maybe you got it twisted.
Now, why would the Aryans help a black inmate escape? There'd be one less of you around here, then, wouldn't there? Have a nice day.
You too.
He's trying to steer us towards Ferris.
Which is why we're gonna stay focused on MacAvoy.
Okay, thanks for your time.
Yeah, bye.
Done working the names the sister gave us? Not yet.
So far it doesn't look like Mac has contacted anyone on this list.
I hate to load you up, but Viv needs a background check on this guard.
I thought MacAvoy's sister was blowing smoke about the guards.
She is, but Viv's just covering herself.
This Orley guy left his post, which is how they escaped in the first place.
Any news on Ferris? We've got police staking out the parents' house.
These guys gotta come up for air sooner or later.
You shouldn't eat this stuff.
I understand you recommended James MacAvoy for parole.
I steer clear of recommendations.
Too many bets on the wrong horses.
You attended his hearing and wrote a letter.
A brief one, yes.
What did it say? That he attended my Bible study class and that he worked as my assistant and he was diligent in his duties.
So the letter spoke to his deeds.
What about his character? I try to tend souls, but I can't see into them.
These are hard men.
They're usually working an angle.
Is that what he was doing, trying to get religion so he could get parole? That's what I assumed, until a few weeks after the parole hearing.
I talked with Mrs.
D'Angelo yesterday.
She's glad you're getting paroled.
I think what you said at the hearing gave her some comfort.
It didn't bring me any.
It's not supposed to.
My dad was a mean drunk.
As soon as he'd pop open his beer, it was like a countdown to a beating.
Every hit I took made me harder and meaner.
It was like I stored up all that pain, just waiting for the day.
It happened in sixth grade.
He came at me, and I laid him out with a pipe wrench.
That's how I've survived in here.
By staying hard.
By keeping out the feelings that make me weak.
Is that how you felt at the hearing? Weak? I was crying.
I don't cry.
I don't show mercy.
And who is it you showed mercy to? That's none of your damn business.
Might help if you talked about it.
You know that man I killed? I'd forgotten what he even looked like.
And now, all of a sudden, I keep seeing his face.
What's happening to me? Maybe you've opened your heart to God.
Then close it back up.
I can't.
You better close it back up, because this ain't working for me! He truly seemed to be a man in crisis.
Meet Professor, Mac's cellmate.
Thanks.
Will you give us a minute? You should watch your back.
Yeah, well, you should watch your mouth.
Just a little friendly advice.
It's your sweat.
It smells like fear.
Maybe you should get your nose checked out.
That's a little friendly advice.
Yeah.
Why do they call you Professor? Because I write a mean legal brief.
What can you tell me about Mac? That depends.
What do you want? A weekend in a cathouse.
But I'll settle for a job at the library.
Look, I'm hanging it out there just talking to you and there's nobody else giving you the time of day.
I'll see what I can do.
Mac quit the gang.
When? Couple days before he skipped.
How'd you find out? Did he tell you? Oh, he didn't have to tell me.
What are you doing? Stop it, man.
Get back.
Come on.
Are you insane? What the hell did you do, man? I thought you were gonna protect me.
How you gonna do that now? I'll bet taking his tattoo off didn't earn him points with the gang, huh? Probably not.
How about the kid? Oh, his name is Randall Bowen.
He's a fish, fresh off the boat.
Now, were Randall and Mac an item? Seemed to be.
So why didn't Randall go to lunch? Left him in lockdown.
Said he wasn't feeling well.
Bowen! Hey, open A7! Open A7! Code Six, A7! Let's go! We need a medic in here now.
We need a medic.
It's gonna be all right.
We need a medic! Yeah.
All right, I'll check back in with you.
How's Bowen? Alive.
Good.
Why wasn't he put on suicide watch? We didn't think he needed to be.
We may have lost our best chance of finding MacAvoy.
Why would he know anything? He wasn't on the yard at the time.
He was MacAvoy's punk.
I didn't know.
Really? Two men have escaped on my watch, Agent Johnson.
I wanna get to the bottom of this just as much as you do.
Well, we heard that MacAvoy cut off his 666 tattoo.
What do you make of that? Maybe he's got a death wish.
A gang's not like joining a health club.
Quitting's not an option.
Blood in, blood out.
Then that'd be a good reason to try and escape.
If he really did quit.
Anyway, this explains why Randall Bowen tried to commit suicide.
MacAvoy was protecting him.
Now he's got no one.
I'm gonna need to talk to whoever runs the gang.
They call him Kansas.
Have a seat, Mr.
Dowel.
She said sit.
We can take it from here.
You brought a white man with you.
Good thinking.
We're not gonna do the color dance again, are we? What am I doing here? According to the file, you got consecutive life sentences for killing two people during a home invasion robbery.
What am I doing here? Word is, you're in charge.
I'm in charge of minding my own business.
We hear you're the great and powerful Oz, who would know why Beast helped a black man escape, and where Mac went.
And why he carved that 666 off his hand.
You have a lot of unanswered questions.
That must be very frustrating.
You know what must be very frustrating? Is not having your visiting privileges.
Four years is a long, lonely time.
Good thing there's no one I wanna see.
Present company included.
I think we're done here.
Jack, I think we got a lead on Damon Ferris.
According to Highview P.
D.
, a Cordell Ferris just reported his Honda Civic stolen from his driveway.
How? We've got the family under surveillance.
Not the extended family.
Cordell is a cousin and a hunter with a cabinet full of guns.
They cleaned it out.
Looks like they're up to something big.
Let's put an APB out on the car.
I want you to contact Cordell Ferris.
Get a list of the missing weapons.
I need to know what we're up against.
Got it.
Hey, Randall.
I'm Danny Taylor.
I'm with the FBI.
How you feeling? Kind of hazy.
The doctor says you're gonna be okay.
I don't know if that's good news for you or not, but Why'd you decide to string yourself up? I don't know.
Were you afraid of being punked out? I'm nobody's punk.
Listen, I understand.
You needed protection, you made a choice.
I didn't make a choice.
I was a gift.
On the day that Mac found out about his parole they gave me to him as a present.
Congratulations, Mac.
It won't be the same without you here.
Word is you really turned on the waterworks for the hearing.
Nice touch.
I admire your commitment.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Oh, I almost forgot.
I got you a little going away present.
Freshest fish in the pond.
Well, come on, what is it, fish? Don't you get it? This is a good thing.
Because he's gonna take care of you.
Because that's what we do here, right? I take care of you, and you take care of me.
Have fun.
I just got here yesterday.
I don't even know why he brought me here to you.
Shut up.
Shut up.
Shut up! Don't! Please, man! Please, don't, don't! No, no, no! Go.
What? Get out of here.
Next day, he said he's gonna protect me.
He won't touch me, but as long as he's there, I'm safe.
Why did Mac decide to protect you? He said I reminded him of someone.
What do you think Kansas meant when he said that Mac was gonna take care of him? You have to ask Kansas.
You and Mac spent six weeks together.
You're telling me he never mentioned anything to you? I'm feeling kind of tired.
Doctor said I need my rest, so you need to leave.
Okay.
I'm gonna be back.
Did she call in sick or anything? I've already tried that.
Okay, thanks.
I think I know what MacAvoy's up to.
A case from '99.
A Jersey City patrolman was shot and killed.
Kansas was the prime suspect.
I've already seen this.
What's it got to do with MacAvoy? Cop killing is capital murder.
That gets Kansas the death penalty.
Not without a trial.
The DA never had enough to charge him.
But now he does.
An eyewitness came forward.
Dolores Greeley.
She saw Kansas pull the trigger and she's ready to say so in front of a grand jury.
She'll appear Monday.
So, what do you think Kansas sent MacAvoy to take Greeley out? Maybe.
Where's Ms.
Greeley now? That's the thing.
She's not at home and she hasn't shown up for work.
We better find her before MacAvoy does.
Yeah.
Hey, Randall.
I got nothing more to say.
You know a Dolores Greeley? Never heard of her.
She's gonna testify against Kansas.
It could mean death row.
Guard, I'm ready to go.
He gets death row you have nothing to worry about.
You have to help us get to Mac first.
If Kansas can get to her on the outside, he can get to me from death row.
No, no, no, because we're gonna protect you.
No, you're gonna get me killed.
Please, just stay the hell away from me.
He knows something.
Yes, he does.
I am this close to arresting you for obstruction.
I'm telling the truth.
Have you talked to Mac since he disappeared? No.
Have you talked to his prison colleagues? I only know Mac.
He never mentioned Dolores Greeley? He's not a killer.
He wouldn't do it.
Did Mac tell you what he intended to do once he was released from prison? I don't know.
What, the subject never came up? We talked about it.
The last time you saw him? I heard that you two had an argument.
What was that about? It didn't start out as an argument at all.
Do you remember Reverend Staley? You know, from Grace Lutheran? He said they need a new caretaker.
Now, I know it doesn't pay much, but that's a good start, right? Come on, Laura.
I've never even held down a job.
You can do this.
I have faith.
I don't wanna break your heart.
You won't.
Look at my track record.
Name a single good thing I've done.
You took care of me.
You kept Dad away.
That was a long time ago.
Being inside and doing things that have sent me back, that's all I know.
You're not that man anymore.
I think I am.
I just see who he is a little clearer.
I belong in here.
Mac, what's wrong with you? After all these years, you've paid your debt.
There's no place for me out there.
You'll be free soon.
You better make a place.
I'll help.
I gotta go.
Don't do this.
Don't leave Don't worry about me, okay? He was just nervous about getting out, that's all that was.
He was just trying to let you down gently, Laura.
When he got out of prison he was gonna kill that woman.
He had no intention of going straight.
Don't you ever get tired of thinking the worst of people? I just get tired of being right.
Well, do I have any messages? Get him! Inmate! Close the gate! Get the shank! Get it out his hand! Get on the ground! Man down, man down! Oh, did that hurt? I'm sorry.
This better work.
Yo, you just shanked a fed.
Thanks to me, you're big man on campus.
Who else knows this is a setup? Just the people in this room.
What about the guards? They got big mouths.
It's just us, Randall.
Now, tell us what you know.
Mac had been keeping a low profile.
Kansas kind of got in his face about it.
I don't know if I can take it in here, man.
Professor's gonna try to file a request to get you transferred.
You did that for me? Who knows if it'll even pan out? Hey, Mac, how you doing? Fine.
You've been making yourself scarce lately.
Guess I got a lot on my mind.
All that God stuff get to your head? Look, you don't really think you've been saved by the Holy Spirit, do you? I'm way past saving.
Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I mean, what with you leaving soon.
I got big plans for you on the outside, Mac.
I'm gonna take care of you.
But I need you to handle this one thing for me.
I can count on you, right? She's as good as dead.
They never said any more.
Not while I was around.
Mac ever talk to you about it? Like when or where? No, he kept to himself.
I didn't even know he was blowing out till after he left.
Dolores Greeley turned up.
Alive? And extremely relaxed.
She blew off work to go to a day spa to get her head together before the hearing.
She's in protective custody.
Don't expect MacAvoy to give up.
It looks like this plan's been in the works for quite a while.
Dolores Greeley started talking to the DA six months ago.
I think somehow Kansas got wind of it, because right around the same time MacAvoy starts taking Bible study and buffing up his résumé.
So you think he got paroled for the purpose of killing Greeley.
Well, it makes sense.
She was originally supposed to testify next month.
DA moved her up because he thought she was getting cold feet.
Which is why you think he had to escape now.
Right.
Fits, doesn't it? Malone.
Yeah.
Okay, thanks.
They found him.
MacAvoy? Ferris.
Mr.
Ferris.
How you doing? I gotta say, I'm feeling kind of low.
I'll bet.
Where were you headed when the state troopers picked you up? Y'all gonna send me back to prison, huh? Where were you headed? L.
A.
, maybe.
See the Hollywood sign, you know.
Stuff like that.
What's with the hardware in the back of your car? Copped that from my cousin.
Why? Started out, I wanted a piece for protection.
Guess I got a little greedy.
Yes, you did.
Where's MacAvoy? Who? James MacAvoy.
Where is he? What you asking me for? Didn't you two break out together? Hell, no.
What I'm gonna pair up with that white power knucklehead for? Look, it was a yard fight, all right? Screws went in to deal with it, one of them left the gate open.
Saw my chance and I took it.
Plain and simple.
But Mac was there.
You saw him, right? Yeah, he was there.
He was there.
He was sweeping up in the corner when the fight started.
He was minding his own business.
All of a sudden the place went crazy, and everybody started throwing down.
And then the guards rush out and they make a beeline right for Mac.
I don 't know what they wanted with him, but they left the door open so I let myself out.
Wait a second.
Are you sure it was guards who grabbed him, not inmates? It's pretty hard to get them mixed up.
It was Orley and his buddies.
And they went right for Mac.
And he wasn't even fighting nobody.
Orley's worked for me for 4 years.
Why should I take the word of an escaped convict over his? Because he's dirty.
What's this? He just paid cash on a $ 100,000 addition to his house.
On a $45,000 salary? Now, I'm gonna need the records of all the prisoner assignments for that day.
Okay.
Where's Orley now? Finishing up lockdown.
How you doing, Tim? What's up? We found Ferris.
Great.
That'll help my cause a bit.
Oh, not really.
Saw you and another guard grab Mac.
That's bull.
You changed Mac's assignment so he'd be doing yard duty.
You signed the paperwork.
How long have you been in Kansas' pocket? You think I work for Kansas? You're dreaming.
His cousin's your contractor.
Is that a coincidence? I don't have to listen to this.
Actually, you do.
You're under arrest.
Where's Mac? What did you do with him? I'm not saying another word to you people.
Smoke? I'd rather be sleeping.
Keep them.
How do you do it, man? Every day, the outfits are the same, the walls are the same, the faces.
Everything's the same.
You know, time must stop, especially when it's life times two.
I'm freezing my ass off so you can talk philosophy? You're right.
Too rarified.
Let's talk about how much of your daughter's life you've missed since you've been on the inside.
Kindergarten graduation, first boyfriend, ballet recital Go to hell.
I understand you filed seven petitions to get your visitation privileges reinstated.
So I know it matters.
That yard fight you set up.
That was a diversion, but not for an escape.
I think Mac changed his mind about taking out Dolores Greeley.
Think what you want.
I got news from home.
You tell us what happened to Mac and you can spend time with your family.
Talk to Randall.
Randall? Randall.
Get in.
Get in.
Have a seat, Randall.
What is this? It's just a conversation.
Sit down.
I already told you everything I know.
You really liked Mac, huh? Yeah, he protected me.
That's part of the reason why you tried to kill yourself? The guilt? You got all the answers, don't you? You know that Mac has a sister? Do you think she deserves to know the truth about her brother? Kansas gave you up, Randall.
You're lying.
If you go back in that prison, you're a dead man.
Do the right thing.
Do the right thing.
It was like I said before, except Mac took a stand.
But I need you to handle this one thing for me.
I can count on you, right? I can't kill that woman.
This says you don't have a choice.
You and I go way back, so I'm gonna give you time to come to your senses.
I don't need it.
Oh, yeah, you do.
Make him see the light, fish.
What if I can't? Then you got a real problem.
Or maybe it's an opportunity.
You take care of me, and I take care of you.
Kansas set up the yard fight and Orley got Mac.
I didn't have a choice.
You alone? Yeah.
You would have been out, Mac.
Why didn't you just do what Kansas said? I'm trying to listen to someone else now.
So this'll get you in with Kansas? So you'll be safe.
God loves you.
I stayed with him till he stopped breathing, and then I cleaned up.
What did you do with the body? Kansas pulled some strings with the trustee of the incinerator.
It took forever for him to be gone.
Did he suffer? No, he died quickly.
For what it's worth, you were right.
Your brother had changed.
Yeah.
I'll get a car to bring you home.
Thank you.
Dear Laura: It seems like every week, the chaplain preaches on Psalm 23.
Like I have to be reminded that I'm walking through the valley.
It's the other stuff, the goodness and the mercy that I need to hear about that I'm trying to find inside myself.
My faith is truly being tested, but I'm not afraid.
Come what may, know that you will always be in my heart and that I've tried to walk the path the Lord has laid for me.
Love, Mac.
Adapted by:
I've tried everybody.
The Bureau of Prisons, the cops.
All I keep getting is the runaround.
I'm just not clear on how we can help you, Miss MacAvoy.
It's really pretty simple.
You can find my brother.
Ma'am, he's not exactly a missing person.
I'm telling you, he didn't break out of that prison.
The interagency alert says that he did.
So does the warden.
James Connor MacAvoy, serving five to 10 for manslaughter.
Wanted for unlawful flight from Croton Correctional.
Mac was due out on parole in two weeks.
Why throw that away? Stranger things have happened.
Please, just Here.
Just read this letter he wrote.
Please.
He mailed it three days ago, okay? Look what he says there at the end.
Okay.
"My faith is truly being tested.
Come what may, know that you are forever in my heart and that I have tried to walk the path the Lord has laid for me.
Love, Mac.
" He wrote that because he thought he'd never see me again.
Well, look.
Help me understand this.
If he didn't escape, what happened to him? Well, I visit Mac pretty much every week, right? But this last time, he was really edgy, you know? Turns out some guards attacked him.
What guards? What was the reason? I don't know.
But he said they were gonna kill him.
They did something to him.
I know it.
Please.
I'm begging you to help me.
We'll look into it.
See what we can find out.
Thank you.
How many inmates were in the yard at the time, officer? Sixty six before the altercation, MacAvoy and Ferris being the two missing.
Right.
We figure Ferris and MacAvoy split together.
Any leads on this guy Ferris? No leads on either.
The sheriffs and marshals are heading the search.
How do you think they got away? Fight distracted us.
The inmates slipped out a gate and hid behind a food service truck.
By the time we did the head count, truck was gone.
Cops pulled them over about No one was guarding the gate? The guard left the post when the fight broke out.
We're gonna need to talk to this guard.
That's what you're doing.
That guard must feeling some heat.
Tell me about it.
Warden.
Hilary Gutierrez.
Welcome.
Thank you.
I'm Special Agent Johnson this is Special Agent Fitzgerald.
Hi.
I didn't expect the FBI to take such an interest in escaped convicts.
It's your tax dollars hard at work.
Well, the more the merrier.
We'll take all the help we can get.
Have a seat.
Thank you.
Why do you think James MacAvoy would take off with two weeks to his parole? These men have poor judgment.
That's why they're here.
What was his relationship like with the staff? Fine.
He have any problems with the guards? There was an incident was trying to break up a fight and MacAvoy punched him in the mouth.
Anything more recent? What is this? Just a few routine questions.
I know she came to you.
Laura MacAvoy.
She's why you're here.
We're here because a man is missing.
She's nuts, okay? She called me, going on and on about how something happened to her brother.
And now she's saying that my men did something to him? We're just exploring all the options.
What options? This is a prison.
He's not here, that means he escaped.
All right.
Let's talk about Damon Ferris.
What can you tell us about him? He's state raised.
Been in and out of prison since he was 16.
He and MacAvoy tight? I doubt it.
MacAvoy's white, Ferris is black.
Things divide along color lines in here.
Then why'd they take off together? Ferris tagged along, is my guess.
But MacAvoy was the brains.
That yard fight? That was a diversion, and my men fell for it.
Who do you think started the fight? An inmate named Beast.
He and MacAvoy both belong to the Aryan Tribe.
MacAvoy's in a gang? As the enforcer.
Then how'd he get parole? We're overcrowded.
He kept his nose clean for the last six months the chaplain put in a good word.
We're gonna need to talk to Beast and anyone else who was involved in the yard fight.
Well, good luck with that.
They're not gonna give you much.
Well, when exactly was it that your brother said he was attacked? I don't remember when it was, really.
You don't remember.
No.
The truth is that you contacted the sheriffs, the warden, the police trying to convince them that your brother didn't escape and none of them bought it.
Now, your brother never told you that he was gonna be killed by the guards, did he? I didn't know who else to turn to.
So you lied to the FBI to get us involved.
You know, I don't appreciate being made a jackass of.
That's not what I meant to do.
Well, that's what you did.
Now, are you aware that your brother was a member of an Aryan prison gang? Yes, he had to join, in order to survive inside.
He was also a known enforcer inside the prison.
I have a document here from the infirmary of men that your brother brutally beat up.
Broken noses, fractured cheekbones, shattered orbital sockets.
He's not like that now.
People change.
Not people like him.
You're wrong.
I saw it for myself.
This concludes testimony in case number 23556 parole hearing for James Connor MacAvoy.
Before we adjourn, we'd like to ask the prisoner if he has anything to add.
Yes, I do, sir.
Please stand.
Mrs.
D'Angelo, you and I have never spoken and there's something I really need to say.
I'm listening.
I want to apologize for what I did.
I know those are just words and nothing I say can turn back the hands of time return your husband to you bring back your daughter's father.
There's more here about how bad I feel, but it all sounds so phony.
I killed the man you loved.
I didn't mean to, but I did because of a stupid drunken bar fight.
I'm so sorry about that.
If I could I would give my life to make things right.
Well, I'm sure it was a very touching moment.
I'm not the only one who believed him.
Mrs.
D'Angelo dropped her objection to Mac's parole after that.
Yeah, well, now he's on the run.
So if you wanna find him, I am going to need a complete list of known associates and people that he might contact.
Okay.
Okay.
Your brother talk to you about what it's like inside? No.
The only thing he said is that everything that happens in here happens for a reason.
I'm gonna take a guess and say that you are Beast.
Right? What do you want? Just wanted to ask you a few questions about the fight in the yard.
How about I talk to you.
Why did your gang spring MacAvoy out of here two weeks before parole? You got a real bug up your ass for Mac.
Maybe it was the other guy.
Who, Damon Ferris? We heard he tagged along.
Maybe you got it twisted.
Now, why would the Aryans help a black inmate escape? There'd be one less of you around here, then, wouldn't there? Have a nice day.
You too.
He's trying to steer us towards Ferris.
Which is why we're gonna stay focused on MacAvoy.
Okay, thanks for your time.
Yeah, bye.
Done working the names the sister gave us? Not yet.
So far it doesn't look like Mac has contacted anyone on this list.
I hate to load you up, but Viv needs a background check on this guard.
I thought MacAvoy's sister was blowing smoke about the guards.
She is, but Viv's just covering herself.
This Orley guy left his post, which is how they escaped in the first place.
Any news on Ferris? We've got police staking out the parents' house.
These guys gotta come up for air sooner or later.
You shouldn't eat this stuff.
I understand you recommended James MacAvoy for parole.
I steer clear of recommendations.
Too many bets on the wrong horses.
You attended his hearing and wrote a letter.
A brief one, yes.
What did it say? That he attended my Bible study class and that he worked as my assistant and he was diligent in his duties.
So the letter spoke to his deeds.
What about his character? I try to tend souls, but I can't see into them.
These are hard men.
They're usually working an angle.
Is that what he was doing, trying to get religion so he could get parole? That's what I assumed, until a few weeks after the parole hearing.
I talked with Mrs.
D'Angelo yesterday.
She's glad you're getting paroled.
I think what you said at the hearing gave her some comfort.
It didn't bring me any.
It's not supposed to.
My dad was a mean drunk.
As soon as he'd pop open his beer, it was like a countdown to a beating.
Every hit I took made me harder and meaner.
It was like I stored up all that pain, just waiting for the day.
It happened in sixth grade.
He came at me, and I laid him out with a pipe wrench.
That's how I've survived in here.
By staying hard.
By keeping out the feelings that make me weak.
Is that how you felt at the hearing? Weak? I was crying.
I don't cry.
I don't show mercy.
And who is it you showed mercy to? That's none of your damn business.
Might help if you talked about it.
You know that man I killed? I'd forgotten what he even looked like.
And now, all of a sudden, I keep seeing his face.
What's happening to me? Maybe you've opened your heart to God.
Then close it back up.
I can't.
You better close it back up, because this ain't working for me! He truly seemed to be a man in crisis.
Meet Professor, Mac's cellmate.
Thanks.
Will you give us a minute? You should watch your back.
Yeah, well, you should watch your mouth.
Just a little friendly advice.
It's your sweat.
It smells like fear.
Maybe you should get your nose checked out.
That's a little friendly advice.
Yeah.
Why do they call you Professor? Because I write a mean legal brief.
What can you tell me about Mac? That depends.
What do you want? A weekend in a cathouse.
But I'll settle for a job at the library.
Look, I'm hanging it out there just talking to you and there's nobody else giving you the time of day.
I'll see what I can do.
Mac quit the gang.
When? Couple days before he skipped.
How'd you find out? Did he tell you? Oh, he didn't have to tell me.
What are you doing? Stop it, man.
Get back.
Come on.
Are you insane? What the hell did you do, man? I thought you were gonna protect me.
How you gonna do that now? I'll bet taking his tattoo off didn't earn him points with the gang, huh? Probably not.
How about the kid? Oh, his name is Randall Bowen.
He's a fish, fresh off the boat.
Now, were Randall and Mac an item? Seemed to be.
So why didn't Randall go to lunch? Left him in lockdown.
Said he wasn't feeling well.
Bowen! Hey, open A7! Open A7! Code Six, A7! Let's go! We need a medic in here now.
We need a medic.
It's gonna be all right.
We need a medic! Yeah.
All right, I'll check back in with you.
How's Bowen? Alive.
Good.
Why wasn't he put on suicide watch? We didn't think he needed to be.
We may have lost our best chance of finding MacAvoy.
Why would he know anything? He wasn't on the yard at the time.
He was MacAvoy's punk.
I didn't know.
Really? Two men have escaped on my watch, Agent Johnson.
I wanna get to the bottom of this just as much as you do.
Well, we heard that MacAvoy cut off his 666 tattoo.
What do you make of that? Maybe he's got a death wish.
A gang's not like joining a health club.
Quitting's not an option.
Blood in, blood out.
Then that'd be a good reason to try and escape.
If he really did quit.
Anyway, this explains why Randall Bowen tried to commit suicide.
MacAvoy was protecting him.
Now he's got no one.
I'm gonna need to talk to whoever runs the gang.
They call him Kansas.
Have a seat, Mr.
Dowel.
She said sit.
We can take it from here.
You brought a white man with you.
Good thinking.
We're not gonna do the color dance again, are we? What am I doing here? According to the file, you got consecutive life sentences for killing two people during a home invasion robbery.
What am I doing here? Word is, you're in charge.
I'm in charge of minding my own business.
We hear you're the great and powerful Oz, who would know why Beast helped a black man escape, and where Mac went.
And why he carved that 666 off his hand.
You have a lot of unanswered questions.
That must be very frustrating.
You know what must be very frustrating? Is not having your visiting privileges.
Four years is a long, lonely time.
Good thing there's no one I wanna see.
Present company included.
I think we're done here.
Jack, I think we got a lead on Damon Ferris.
According to Highview P.
D.
, a Cordell Ferris just reported his Honda Civic stolen from his driveway.
How? We've got the family under surveillance.
Not the extended family.
Cordell is a cousin and a hunter with a cabinet full of guns.
They cleaned it out.
Looks like they're up to something big.
Let's put an APB out on the car.
I want you to contact Cordell Ferris.
Get a list of the missing weapons.
I need to know what we're up against.
Got it.
Hey, Randall.
I'm Danny Taylor.
I'm with the FBI.
How you feeling? Kind of hazy.
The doctor says you're gonna be okay.
I don't know if that's good news for you or not, but Why'd you decide to string yourself up? I don't know.
Were you afraid of being punked out? I'm nobody's punk.
Listen, I understand.
You needed protection, you made a choice.
I didn't make a choice.
I was a gift.
On the day that Mac found out about his parole they gave me to him as a present.
Congratulations, Mac.
It won't be the same without you here.
Word is you really turned on the waterworks for the hearing.
Nice touch.
I admire your commitment.
Yeah.
Thanks.
Oh, I almost forgot.
I got you a little going away present.
Freshest fish in the pond.
Well, come on, what is it, fish? Don't you get it? This is a good thing.
Because he's gonna take care of you.
Because that's what we do here, right? I take care of you, and you take care of me.
Have fun.
I just got here yesterday.
I don't even know why he brought me here to you.
Shut up.
Shut up.
Shut up! Don't! Please, man! Please, don't, don't! No, no, no! Go.
What? Get out of here.
Next day, he said he's gonna protect me.
He won't touch me, but as long as he's there, I'm safe.
Why did Mac decide to protect you? He said I reminded him of someone.
What do you think Kansas meant when he said that Mac was gonna take care of him? You have to ask Kansas.
You and Mac spent six weeks together.
You're telling me he never mentioned anything to you? I'm feeling kind of tired.
Doctor said I need my rest, so you need to leave.
Okay.
I'm gonna be back.
Did she call in sick or anything? I've already tried that.
Okay, thanks.
I think I know what MacAvoy's up to.
A case from '99.
A Jersey City patrolman was shot and killed.
Kansas was the prime suspect.
I've already seen this.
What's it got to do with MacAvoy? Cop killing is capital murder.
That gets Kansas the death penalty.
Not without a trial.
The DA never had enough to charge him.
But now he does.
An eyewitness came forward.
Dolores Greeley.
She saw Kansas pull the trigger and she's ready to say so in front of a grand jury.
She'll appear Monday.
So, what do you think Kansas sent MacAvoy to take Greeley out? Maybe.
Where's Ms.
Greeley now? That's the thing.
She's not at home and she hasn't shown up for work.
We better find her before MacAvoy does.
Yeah.
Hey, Randall.
I got nothing more to say.
You know a Dolores Greeley? Never heard of her.
She's gonna testify against Kansas.
It could mean death row.
Guard, I'm ready to go.
He gets death row you have nothing to worry about.
You have to help us get to Mac first.
If Kansas can get to her on the outside, he can get to me from death row.
No, no, no, because we're gonna protect you.
No, you're gonna get me killed.
Please, just stay the hell away from me.
He knows something.
Yes, he does.
I am this close to arresting you for obstruction.
I'm telling the truth.
Have you talked to Mac since he disappeared? No.
Have you talked to his prison colleagues? I only know Mac.
He never mentioned Dolores Greeley? He's not a killer.
He wouldn't do it.
Did Mac tell you what he intended to do once he was released from prison? I don't know.
What, the subject never came up? We talked about it.
The last time you saw him? I heard that you two had an argument.
What was that about? It didn't start out as an argument at all.
Do you remember Reverend Staley? You know, from Grace Lutheran? He said they need a new caretaker.
Now, I know it doesn't pay much, but that's a good start, right? Come on, Laura.
I've never even held down a job.
You can do this.
I have faith.
I don't wanna break your heart.
You won't.
Look at my track record.
Name a single good thing I've done.
You took care of me.
You kept Dad away.
That was a long time ago.
Being inside and doing things that have sent me back, that's all I know.
You're not that man anymore.
I think I am.
I just see who he is a little clearer.
I belong in here.
Mac, what's wrong with you? After all these years, you've paid your debt.
There's no place for me out there.
You'll be free soon.
You better make a place.
I'll help.
I gotta go.
Don't do this.
Don't leave Don't worry about me, okay? He was just nervous about getting out, that's all that was.
He was just trying to let you down gently, Laura.
When he got out of prison he was gonna kill that woman.
He had no intention of going straight.
Don't you ever get tired of thinking the worst of people? I just get tired of being right.
Well, do I have any messages? Get him! Inmate! Close the gate! Get the shank! Get it out his hand! Get on the ground! Man down, man down! Oh, did that hurt? I'm sorry.
This better work.
Yo, you just shanked a fed.
Thanks to me, you're big man on campus.
Who else knows this is a setup? Just the people in this room.
What about the guards? They got big mouths.
It's just us, Randall.
Now, tell us what you know.
Mac had been keeping a low profile.
Kansas kind of got in his face about it.
I don't know if I can take it in here, man.
Professor's gonna try to file a request to get you transferred.
You did that for me? Who knows if it'll even pan out? Hey, Mac, how you doing? Fine.
You've been making yourself scarce lately.
Guess I got a lot on my mind.
All that God stuff get to your head? Look, you don't really think you've been saved by the Holy Spirit, do you? I'm way past saving.
Well, I'm glad to hear it.
I mean, what with you leaving soon.
I got big plans for you on the outside, Mac.
I'm gonna take care of you.
But I need you to handle this one thing for me.
I can count on you, right? She's as good as dead.
They never said any more.
Not while I was around.
Mac ever talk to you about it? Like when or where? No, he kept to himself.
I didn't even know he was blowing out till after he left.
Dolores Greeley turned up.
Alive? And extremely relaxed.
She blew off work to go to a day spa to get her head together before the hearing.
She's in protective custody.
Don't expect MacAvoy to give up.
It looks like this plan's been in the works for quite a while.
Dolores Greeley started talking to the DA six months ago.
I think somehow Kansas got wind of it, because right around the same time MacAvoy starts taking Bible study and buffing up his résumé.
So you think he got paroled for the purpose of killing Greeley.
Well, it makes sense.
She was originally supposed to testify next month.
DA moved her up because he thought she was getting cold feet.
Which is why you think he had to escape now.
Right.
Fits, doesn't it? Malone.
Yeah.
Okay, thanks.
They found him.
MacAvoy? Ferris.
Mr.
Ferris.
How you doing? I gotta say, I'm feeling kind of low.
I'll bet.
Where were you headed when the state troopers picked you up? Y'all gonna send me back to prison, huh? Where were you headed? L.
A.
, maybe.
See the Hollywood sign, you know.
Stuff like that.
What's with the hardware in the back of your car? Copped that from my cousin.
Why? Started out, I wanted a piece for protection.
Guess I got a little greedy.
Yes, you did.
Where's MacAvoy? Who? James MacAvoy.
Where is he? What you asking me for? Didn't you two break out together? Hell, no.
What I'm gonna pair up with that white power knucklehead for? Look, it was a yard fight, all right? Screws went in to deal with it, one of them left the gate open.
Saw my chance and I took it.
Plain and simple.
But Mac was there.
You saw him, right? Yeah, he was there.
He was there.
He was sweeping up in the corner when the fight started.
He was minding his own business.
All of a sudden the place went crazy, and everybody started throwing down.
And then the guards rush out and they make a beeline right for Mac.
I don 't know what they wanted with him, but they left the door open so I let myself out.
Wait a second.
Are you sure it was guards who grabbed him, not inmates? It's pretty hard to get them mixed up.
It was Orley and his buddies.
And they went right for Mac.
And he wasn't even fighting nobody.
Orley's worked for me for 4 years.
Why should I take the word of an escaped convict over his? Because he's dirty.
What's this? He just paid cash on a $ 100,000 addition to his house.
On a $45,000 salary? Now, I'm gonna need the records of all the prisoner assignments for that day.
Okay.
Where's Orley now? Finishing up lockdown.
How you doing, Tim? What's up? We found Ferris.
Great.
That'll help my cause a bit.
Oh, not really.
Saw you and another guard grab Mac.
That's bull.
You changed Mac's assignment so he'd be doing yard duty.
You signed the paperwork.
How long have you been in Kansas' pocket? You think I work for Kansas? You're dreaming.
His cousin's your contractor.
Is that a coincidence? I don't have to listen to this.
Actually, you do.
You're under arrest.
Where's Mac? What did you do with him? I'm not saying another word to you people.
Smoke? I'd rather be sleeping.
Keep them.
How do you do it, man? Every day, the outfits are the same, the walls are the same, the faces.
Everything's the same.
You know, time must stop, especially when it's life times two.
I'm freezing my ass off so you can talk philosophy? You're right.
Too rarified.
Let's talk about how much of your daughter's life you've missed since you've been on the inside.
Kindergarten graduation, first boyfriend, ballet recital Go to hell.
I understand you filed seven petitions to get your visitation privileges reinstated.
So I know it matters.
That yard fight you set up.
That was a diversion, but not for an escape.
I think Mac changed his mind about taking out Dolores Greeley.
Think what you want.
I got news from home.
You tell us what happened to Mac and you can spend time with your family.
Talk to Randall.
Randall? Randall.
Get in.
Get in.
Have a seat, Randall.
What is this? It's just a conversation.
Sit down.
I already told you everything I know.
You really liked Mac, huh? Yeah, he protected me.
That's part of the reason why you tried to kill yourself? The guilt? You got all the answers, don't you? You know that Mac has a sister? Do you think she deserves to know the truth about her brother? Kansas gave you up, Randall.
You're lying.
If you go back in that prison, you're a dead man.
Do the right thing.
Do the right thing.
It was like I said before, except Mac took a stand.
But I need you to handle this one thing for me.
I can count on you, right? I can't kill that woman.
This says you don't have a choice.
You and I go way back, so I'm gonna give you time to come to your senses.
I don't need it.
Oh, yeah, you do.
Make him see the light, fish.
What if I can't? Then you got a real problem.
Or maybe it's an opportunity.
You take care of me, and I take care of you.
Kansas set up the yard fight and Orley got Mac.
I didn't have a choice.
You alone? Yeah.
You would have been out, Mac.
Why didn't you just do what Kansas said? I'm trying to listen to someone else now.
So this'll get you in with Kansas? So you'll be safe.
God loves you.
I stayed with him till he stopped breathing, and then I cleaned up.
What did you do with the body? Kansas pulled some strings with the trustee of the incinerator.
It took forever for him to be gone.
Did he suffer? No, he died quickly.
For what it's worth, you were right.
Your brother had changed.
Yeah.
I'll get a car to bring you home.
Thank you.
Dear Laura: It seems like every week, the chaplain preaches on Psalm 23.
Like I have to be reminded that I'm walking through the valley.
It's the other stuff, the goodness and the mercy that I need to hear about that I'm trying to find inside myself.
My faith is truly being tested, but I'm not afraid.
Come what may, know that you will always be in my heart and that I've tried to walk the path the Lord has laid for me.
Love, Mac.
Adapted by: