Original subtitles

Many the time I've been mistaken, and many

times confused.

Yes, and I've often felt forsaken, and

certainly misused.

Oh, but I'm all right, I'm all right.

I'm just weary to my bones.

Still, you don't expect to be bright and bold if you're so

far away from home.

So far away from home.

And I dreamed I was dying.

I dream that my soul grows unexpectedly.

And looking back down at me, a smile reassuring me.

And I dream that I fly.

About two hours ago, I think.

How was it? It's okay.

Real quiet.

They, uh, let me smoke in here.

They don't in the main prison.

Are you with other inmates?

No, it's nobody but me.

What are the conditions?

I'm definitely getting the star treatment here, Johnny.

I, uh, should have come visit before they transferred you.

That's all right. Nobody gets to see me the last 12 hours anyway.

And you're feeling okay?

I got one of my headaches.

But I don't think it'll kill me, though.

You get to make a call, right? You call me.

Yeah, Johnny, I said I would.

I can't get down there beforehand. Remember I told you that?

Yeah, I know.

There's that thing in town I need to do.

Look for us at exit 56.

We'll caravan the rest of the way.

Yeah.

Mike. Well, my shift's over in half an hour. I thought you might want to grab

some breakfast, but I'll see you otherwise occupied.

Yeah, we're leaving in 45 minutes.

One of those three -day parties you call a retreat?

We're joining the vigil at Rockview, Mike. They're executing Jimmy Scanlon

tonight.

Oh, yeah?

You didn't know that?

Maybe I did.

It was your bust.

You didn't mention you're going up there.

We've beaten this topic into the ground.

No one's switching sides, so why waste a breath?

You know, I look at all the energy, all the time, and the money that you guys

are pumping into this, and I got to wonder, aren't there more deserving

on your desk besides a convicted killer?

I look at all the energy and time and money the state pumps into the years of

court battles it takes to kill someone, and I wonder, couldn't that money be

better spent keeping people from becoming convicted killers? Here we go.

Oh, do you believe that people are born to be killers? Some, yeah, I do. But

that's got nothing to do with this. He killed a cop, a friend of mine, most

decent guy in the world.

The circumstances of that murder remain controversial. Not that I copped. They

weren't.

Okay.

There's no point to this. You do the crime, you do the time.

Doing the time I have no problem with. In cases where the wrong guy gets

convicted, you just open the door.

But if you've executed him, opening the casket doesn't do him any good. No, no,

no. Jimmy Scanlon is not the wrong guy.

Seven years of appeals, proven guilty over and over again.

Now, you show me compelling evidence that an innocent guy is getting

and then you might have a case.

Okay. There's no point to this.

Didn't I just say that?

While not overwhelming in numbers, they are nonetheless vocal in opposition to

what one called a barbaric form of punishment.

Excuse me, sir, could you see what they got on 7?

When did you make the decision not to go to the execution?

Is there a message you'd like to send to him, Mrs. Novak?

Mrs. Novak, what will you be doing tonight at 7?

Just a quick statement, please. Just a word before we go, Mrs. Novak.

The victim's wife, Marsha Novak, has refused without comment repeated

invitations to attend tonight's execution.

Condemned killer James Scanlon is not permitted relatives in the viewing room.

Sorry, I just went off duty.

Make an exception.

I'm not... Start the car.

This is how they do it.

They're real precise.

Look, what the hell are you... Shut up!

You ever read the Manual of Execution Procedure for the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania? Spells the whole thing out.

Minute by minute.

They process you in, check the ID.

It's embarrassing to drag the wrong fish all the way to Rockview.

What do you want?

They move the prisoner to the death house only 24 hours in advance so the

don't have a chance to get sentimental.

They avoid calling him by name or making conversation.

At least the prisoner knows why he's a prisoner.

My brother Jimmy Scanlon is dying tonight at 7. Not a minute before, not a

minute after.

I can't stop it.

But at least he'll know you sweated out the time with him.

Because you're dying tonight too.

We'll do it by the book.

And you'll know just how the countdown feels.

How'd I get so lucky?

My brother is on death row.

Because of you.

Hello? Mrs.

Olshansky, I have your husband. I thought you ought to know.

What do you mean you have my husband?

There are going to be two executions tonight. One at Rockview State Prison,

here.

My brother was married, too. His ex has been crying all night. She won't come

out of her room.

What do you want?

Nothing.

I just wanted your husband to know that you'll be suffering, too.

I'm sorry. The condemned isn't permitted a witness.

You know what? I don't believe you. Who is this?

John Scanlon.

Jimmy Scanlon's brother.

Hello?

Why are you taking him?

Jimmy! Jimmy!

Man.

Dad, I need to get some sleep.

Yeah, me too.

Neither one of us gets any till you say some things that I need to hear.

Yeah, my brother says you guys only put it this hard when you got no hard proof.

I got witnesses in place. You had eight of the crime scenes. Yeah, I don't

believe it. Yeah, believe it.

Yeah, then what the hell do you need me here for, huh?

Clearly, we got off on the wrong foot.

You'd better talk to somebody else.

What?

I don't want to spend a lot of time on this.

Go on, let's go.

They're running!

They're

running!

I went to Mike's place.

Nobody's seen him since last night, but I've got a citywide search out for his

cab. Now, if he calls back, listen for any tip about where he's calling from.

Traffic, birds, trains, construction sounds, anything. Hang on one second.

Run all known addresses for John Scanlon. F -C -A -N -L -O -N.

Places of employment. And see if you can get a line on any friends or relatives

in the area.

Heather?

I'll get an order for Trace on your phone.

Okay.

I'll call you.

Marcellus, you didn't tell me not to worry.

That everything was going to work out.

Don't worry, everything's going to work out.

Look, you got problems with me, let's talk it out.

You can still pull out of this.

Save yourself a lot of trouble.

You're not a killer.

Yet.

You trying to make a point with all of these?

All right, Mom and Dad at the barbecue.

Can't have a barbecue without beer.

Jimmy at Little League. Looks like that's got to be... Well, it's got to be

with him.

Looks like a typical, normal family.

Everybody smiles for the camera.

Hides all kinds of stuff.

Like what?

We'll give him the black eye, Hugh.

No, of course not.

You're too much older. You'll be looking out for him.

Your old man.

Huh? Yeah.

So is your dad.

You know what that was like?

You have no idea what it was like. Oh, he had a nerve?

Okay. What's the story?

Dad was a drunk.

Beat you. Beat your little brother.

You left home as soon as you could.

You left Jimmy alone to take the beatings.

You still feel guilty, so that's why we're here.

Make your guilt go down better.

Smart guy.

It's an old story. I heard it in court my whole career. But you feel that yours

is special, right?

Our mother started drinking when she was pregnant with him.

Doctor said it made Jimmy a little slow.

Dad would rib him for being brain -damaged goods.

He'd slug him in the head so much he got even more damage, and then Dad would

knock him around even more for that. He was never good enough.

Fast enough.

Tough enough.

He was in and out of trouble, knocked up a girl, married her, joined the army,

and he went to the Persian Gulf where he got paid for killing. His whole life

was violence and humiliation.

How did they expect he'd end up? A missionary?

A lot of people have tough lives. Doesn't make them killers.

Yeah.

Because they hadn't met you.

If you hadn't come along, Jimmy wouldn't be where he is right now. No, this has

got nothing to do with me. He chose to kill that clown. He never had a choice

about anything.

You think he chose to be born to a mother who was a drunk? He chose a

beat him senseless his whole life?

Messed up kids turn into messed up people.

You want me to know he's human?

I feel sorry.

I get it.

Still doesn't excuse what he did.

You won't get to do that again.

Here's what I want you to do.

Talk to anyone who worked with John Scanlon at his last job. He's had plenty

time to plan.

Guys who do this kind of thing usually do a little boasting. Any solid leads?

Solid leads on one.

You know I'm not talking to you.

Washington. It's his cab.

IDs are still in the car, so are the keys.

Blood, damage, any signs of violence? Nothing.

It turns over, so they didn't leave it here for mechanical reasons.

Okay, seal it up and have it towed back here. Forensics will go over it. Gotcha.

What's that?

I'm here to get your dinner order.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, that's right. I get whatever I want for my last meal, right?

I mean, if I want prime rib or steak.

They're approved choices.

Chicken pot pie, meatloaf and gravy, and a vegetarian plate.

No, I can... I can still...

Take the fried shrimp I had the night before I landed in jail seven years ago.

I was at Gill Seafood Palace having dinner with my wife, Julie.

She left me after I went to prison.

Our son, Will, was there with us. It was Saturday night.

I had beer, slaw, rice, and the best fried

shrimp.

Spicy, crunchy.

You know, I guess I'll think of that as my real last meal.

I just asked my brother for his menu order. Last meal.

You know, in this state, they won't give you whatever you want for a last meal.

They'll tie you down and kill you, but you can't have lobster.

You do all this to prove to your brother you're not a coward?

You know, abandon him the way you did.

Couldn't stand up to your big, bad daddy.

Left your little brother to fight the battle.

Killing me won't bring back your brother.

Killing my brother won't bring back that cop. Do you even get what an awful

thing he did?

String of armed robberies, then he kills a nice kid. My brother was a nice kid.

And it's just as awful that someone is going to kill him. Well, maybe he should

have thought for a second.

Before he pulled the trigger. You think that would have stopped him? If he knew

tonight was waiting for him, maybe.

Guys like him don't stop and think all he knew was violence.

He wasn't thinking about lethal injection, some abstract execution in

future. Yeah, well, he should have.

He wanted to play the game.

That's a penalty.

Yeah, for some.

Those few poor suckers who don't have the cash to beat it and end up dying.

Like you're going to.

We made the news.

The governor's office has denied a request by the Philadelphia Police

to delay the execution of convicted murderer James Scanlon, set for 7 o

tonight. Doesn't surprise me.

He wouldn't help my brother either. John Scanlon, the brother of the condemned

man who apparently kidnapped former police sergeant Michael Olshansky.

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil has been set at 6 o 'clock tonight.

My dad always said I would end up bad.

I think he was right.

I still don't think that I'm a killer, though. I mean, like they say.

I know, I know I killed someone, but I didn't mean to.

I don't think that makes me a killer.

The cops still did.

You know what happened that night.

No sleep, no food.

I got some cop going upside my head.

I got headaches my whole life, and here this goon goes and makes them worse. I

don't even remember what happened next. Okay, we don't have to go back over it.

In court, nobody stood up and told it that way. Not one of you guys would

up and tell all that stuff that happened.

Jimmy, what happened to you was out of my hands.

Courts and juries decided that seven years' worth is bigger than me and you,

we can't change that. Oh, I know.

But you can change.

How people remember you.

What do you mean?

Someone else may die tonight because of you.

You mean Olshansky?

You know your brother's got him? Yeah, yeah, I saw it on the news. He must have

told you about it himself.

I mean, he's doing it for you.

There'd be no point if he hadn't told you.

Where'd he take Olshansky?

Jimmy Johns has seven years to cook this up. He must have laid it out for you.

I don't know anything.

Think about it a little more.

Michael Shansky is my friend.

You can save his life.

And you can do something right with yours.

I bet you were the bully in the neighborhood. That's why you became a

They say bullies are cowards at heart.

Is that you, Olshansky?

A coward at heart? You found your perfect profession?

This in the manual.

Harassing the prisoner.

You cops are your own breed, aren't you?

Living in your own world, walking around with that whole us versus them

mentality.

Now cops think like that. Some cops.

Like when someone's executed?

That's one less of them.

There's never one less of them.

There's always another to take his place.

Then I guess it's not exactly fixing the problem.

The law says that you do something extreme enough, you die.

It's that basic.

Society that doesn't enforce its laws isn't a society. Good one.

How about this? A society that kills breeds a society of killers.

You ought to know.

You're about to become one.

See a little contradiction there?

Two hours to go.

They're handing my brother a phone. He gets to call a loved one for the last

time.

Here's your cell phone.

I'm not playing.

Your call, bud.

If you knew this would be the last time you could speak to someone you love.

You really want to pass that up?

You're a one -six, son of a bitch. I'm guessing that you've got a lot to say to

your wife, a lot to make up for. You don't know anything about my wife. Bully

like you, you must have hit your wife plenty of times, am I right?

You probably smacked the kid around, too.

Hit a nerve?

You leave my family out of this.

What do you think it feels like?

I just go to sleep. Does it hurt?

I couldn't say for sure.

It's time to place your phone call.

You hear all kinds of stuff.

Someone said that it looks like the person's just sleeping when the poison

but really your muscles are just paralyzed and you still feel everything.

focus on it.

What do you want to call?

I'm going to call my ex -wife.

I got the number.

No, she's staying at a friend.

Hello?

Heather. Oh, thank God. Oh,

thank God. Where are you? Are you all right?

I'm still here.

Well, are you okay? I mean, he hasn't hurt you, has he?

No, I'm all right.

How's Mikey doing?

He's okay.

Of course, he's not okay.

He's scared to death and he's worried like we all are.

Is he going to let you go, Mike?

I don't know.

Listen.

Michael, are you still there?

You, um... You know that I love you, right?

Even though I screwed up.

You know that all the other stuff, all the good times and everything, they were

real.

Why are you telling me this? You're scaring me.

Don't be scared. I didn't mean to scare you.

I know.

It's me, Julie.

It's getting close to the time.

Michael?

You hang in there, man.

You'll be okay.

Guard standing right there?

Yeah, that's right.

Everything here is on schedule, and I just... I wanted to make sure

that your plans for the night are the same.

That you're not alone.

Everything's just like I promised.

Don't you remember what I'm saying, okay?

Empty building.

Old. I hear trains and boats outside.

It's more than my brother got.

Michael!

It's one call and he's stuck with me.

Less than two hours, Olshansky.

Our activity's picking up at Rockview about now.

The other members of the execution team have arrived.

They'll rehearse a couple of times to make sure there's no embarrassing flubs.

Sterile. Sure as hell don't want to give the guy germs.

Surgical, so they feel they're part of a procedure, not a murder.

Now check the phones for the call that will never come.

And delivery of toxic agents would then commence now.

They defend this crazy thing they're about to do as just upholding the law,

they know it's so terrible that they protect everyone who takes part in it

the fallout.

Oh, by the way, we don't have the advanced technology that our tax dollars

bought the prison system, so we're just going to have to rough it.

Two bullets, Olshansky.

One for you.

One for me.

He says it's an old, empty building.

There are train tracks nearby.

Okay, that helps. What else?

The guy was standing right next to him.

Yo, Josh.

Get teams out to older industrial areas.

Warehouse districts, rail yards, and see if any Scanlon friends or relatives own

property in the city.

Hey. How long will the checking take, Marcella?

Heather. Heather, keep it together.

I promise you, we're doing everything we can.

Okay. Thanks.

And why exactly have you broken your silence about not attending the

of your husband's killer?

People didn't seem to understand my decision, including some from my own

so I guess I need to explain.

What about closure? So many grieving family members feel this...

Ultimate punishment will ease their loss.

Maybe for them, but not for me.

If you could promise me that the pain I feel at 645 tonight would be any less

at 701, I might reconsider.

But I know that it won't.

In fact, it's worse, knowing that another family...

It was going to be hurting tonight, too. The family of your husband's killer?

Yes. Does this mean you forgive him, Jimmy Scanlon?

Not wanting him dead doesn't mean that.

I don't forgive him.

He killed a better person than he could ever be.

And that's who I'm respecting here. I love my husband. And one of the things I

loved about him was his appreciation of life.

Don't you know I'm sorry?

Thought he wasn't tough enough to be a cop.

Every day I live, I'm sorry for killing him.

So kind.

But he was tough enough to never want anyone killed in his name.

So... Did you turn that off?

I can't want that either.

I was never good enough or fast enough or tough enough either.

What?

My old man was a strong, quiet type.

Never said a word until he got the booze in him.

And then you couldn't stop him.

Couldn't stop the punches either.

He was a big guy.

Tough cop.

He wanted to be like him.

He was a God in our neighborhood.

But then he would hit the bottle.

Did I hate the punches?

Yeah.

Did I wish to God he'd stop?

You bet.

Did I want him to pat me on the back just once and say I was

okay?

I did.

But what I got instead was all he could give, and I took it because he was my

father.

A day would have come when you wouldn't have, and you know it.

Just before I left home, I sat in my bedroom.

And I think if he comes through that door one more time, all stunk up with

bourbon, and he hits me one more time, I will kill him.

And I wouldn't.

Even knowing you could die for it wouldn't have stopped me.

I understand about your brother.

I know it was tough.

But what he did, he did.

Now, you may not like it, but he had all the system can give.

Appeals, jury, judge, defense.

Best defense no money can buy. Your brother is dying because he was found

of murder. What about your guilt?

You left him alone with that pit bull you sicked on him.

That thug who did your dirty work. You knew it would break him. I didn't make

him kill that cop.

No matter how you twist it, that's the fact.

You want to change the system? Go do it. Who's changing anything?

Not me.

I gave up.

I joined the party.

Everywhere I look, it's one big cycle of killing.

And now we're part of it, you and me.

I made this promise to my brother and to myself.

Now, get those clothes changed and put those on, the same ones that he's going

to be wearing.

Screw you.

Put him on, now.

What are you going to do?

Shoot me?

After all the trouble you've gone through?

Kind of mess up your little scenario.

I said put him on.

Now.

They used to let you say some last words, but a few guys made disturbing

remarks.

Got messy.

So now they let you dictate something and they type it up and give out copies

anyone's interested.

I'm all ears.

Suit yourself.

I want my boy to know I love him.

His name's Mike.

Junior.

And I want you to know that I love you and that

you always made me.

Real proud Even if I wasn't

around And even

if I didn't show it so much I made

some stupid mistake I I

don't want you to make

I want you to listen to your mom.

I mean that.

She knows what she's talking about, and she's a much better

person than me.

That's it?

Yeah.

No.

I need to get a message to the warden.

Heather, I want you to know that everyone down here is working on this

Marcellus, we have known each other a long time.

Just talk to me straight.

This kind of thing takes days, and we've got minutes.

But you are not giving up.

I swear to you.

All right, just call me, even if it's the smallest thing.

They're gonna stay on it.

There's still time.

Yeah.

I wonder if she's watching the phone like this.

Who? Jimmy Scanlon's ex -wife.

She probably hasn't loved him for years, but she must have once.

I suppose she did.

God, I wish this phone would ring.

It has to have occurred to you that as time takes by, I don't have much

incentive to cooperate.

But I think you will.

Just like my brother will.

Because it has to have occurred to you that I might not go through with it.

Like my brother thinks at the last second that phone might ring.

The governor's just been screwing with him and changed his mind.

The manual isn't specific about it, but I'm guessing the words they say go

something like this.

Stand up, please.

It's time.

You know what's weird?

My headache is gone.

Now we wait.

I'll be reading my brother the execution order, making some technical

adjustments, but we'll just wait.

Time has to be per se.

I wasn't just screwing with you, Olshansky.

We are going to do this.

You know, I'm not even the same guy that you're so pissed at.

I don't care.

This goes way beyond me.

Innocent people are getting hurt.

Well, for your little act of revenge, it fixes exactly nothing.

My brother went nuts for half a moment, and tonight he's dying for it, and that

fixes exactly nothing.

He's not that same guy either.

Interesting how the point of view shifts when you're the one in the hot seat.

Now suddenly you're talking to me about ruined lives.

You want to end the cycle of killing?

End it.

Too late for us.

He died.

You die.

I die.

The three of us are at the end of the same lousy road. When we're gone,

will change.

But at least my brother knows you're going with him.

The state will get its revenge.

So will Jimmy.

Drop your weapon!

Put it down!

Now, put it down! Put down the gun!

I said put it down!

Hang on a second.

Your brother has a message for you.

He said the killing stops tonight.

Heather and Mikey doing okay?

We cried.

I don't think we've ever done that all at the same time.

Heather and me, we messed up.

Mostly I messed up.

But I always thought that we could fix this if we want.

There's always time.

But then something happens and you realize there isn't always time.

Jimmy Scanlon's ran out a couple hours ago.

How do you feel about that?

He saved my life.

He said that the killing stops tonight. I wish that was true.

A little of it did.

In my business, you gotta take whatever you can get.

Hope you don't mind.

I said a prayer for him.

So did I.