Original subtitles

My name is Henry Lesser.

When I was 26...

Herbert Hoover was the president.

Al Capone was in his heyday in Chicago.

Henry Ford built his one millionth Model 'A'.

Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig were beltin' 'em with the Yankees...

and I took a new job...

where I met a man...

the likes of which very few of us, thank God, ever get to meet.

Carl Panzram.

[ Man ] Hold it right there! I'm warnin' you!

Okay, you got me.

Fuck you!

- What are you nabbin' me for? - Housebreakin'.

[ Groaning ]

[ Chuckles ]

Housebreaking.

It's a good thing your mother's not alive.

If she could see you now, she'd drop dead.

- [ Woman ] Sam! - What?

Whoever heard of a Jewish prison guard?

This is America, you said, where a Jew can be whatever he wants.

Yes, except a prison guard.

It's an honest job, Papa. It could lead to something.

It could lead to warden.

An honest job, maybe. Your key to fame and fortune?

Richard, your lunch.

I'm nervous.

You will be fine.

Here. This will protect you.

Ahhh.

- You have a locker there. - Yes.

Thank you.

- I'll see you tonight. - Okay.

[ Old Henry Narrating ] My father had a point.

Me, a prison guard?

I was a tailor by trade...

until I got fired for joining the union.

[ Man ] Welcome to Leavenworth, gentlemen.

This is hell...

and I am the devil.

I didn't send for you, I don't like you...

and I have enough of you already.

You're here because you've proven you can't live amongst decent society...

and because you broke the law.

What you are getting now is our rule book.

There are 99 rules contained in it.

You will memorize and then obey each and every one of them.

- Is this clear? - Yes, sir!

If you cannot read, you better find somebody to read it to you...

because 'I didn't know' doesn't cut ice with me.

Take that rule book, boy!

[ Warden ] At this time, I want you all to remove your caps.

With your right hand, put it down on the ground...

in front of you, top down, brim touching your toes.

Good.

You will now place in your cap...

any and all contraband...

including coins, money...

stamps, pictures...

watches, rings, pens...

pencils or paper.

Anybody caught with these items...

will go straight to the hole.

- Is that clear? - Yes, sir!

That's all.

- You the new man, Lesser? - Yes, sir.

All right, then. Move 'em out of here.

Gentlemen...

please face me.

Let's get you started.

- Greiser will show you the ropes. - Yes, sir.

You got your laundry room.

The metal shop and the drill press area.

They got their tools, materials. Guards posted up top.

The infirmary over here, mess hall straight ahead.

Hey. Who the heck is that?

- That's Harry Sinclair, the oilman. - The Teapot Dome scandal.

- I didn't know he was here. - [ Snapping Fingers ]

Thank you, Mr. Sinclair.

Are there any books you might recommend on prison administration or reform?

Ain't no book's gonna help you in here, unless it's got a gun in it.

When I say, 'Fire 'em,' I mean fire 'em!

[ Inmate Retching ]

[ Coughing ]

[ Henry ] Oh, my God.

Hold it.

It's just a dope fiend goin' through withdrawal.

Nothin' we can do.

Warden's policy. Let him sweat it out.

He ought to at least be in the hospital.

- There's no room. - There's plenty of room.

Sinclair's the only one in there.

Listen, friend. This place was designed to hold 1,600 men.

We got more than three times that many here.

Gangsters, killers, hopheads-- The place is a powder keg ready to blow.

So don't go lightin' matches like that. Not when I'm around.

[ Panzram ] Shit!

Keep your feet off the furniture.

You're laundering about 20 of those extra a week.

That's against the rules, and you know it.

I need the money.

For what?

Smokes, better food.

You sayin' there's something wrong with the food we give you?

No, sir.

Then what are you sayin'?

Nothin', sir.

- I may have to put you on a report. - Stop ridin' me.

What'd you say, boy?

I said stop ridin' me, or I'll cut your fuckin' throat.

Step out, mister.

[ Grunting ]

That the best you can do, you cocksucker? Come on.

[ Grunting, Groaning ]

[ Laughing ] My mother's tougher than you, you bitch!

Come on!

I killed 21 men.

Come on. You're nothin'.

And you're next, you flatfoot bastard.

Couldn't be a real cop. You had to be a hack.

You couldn't track an elephant in a snowdrift, you prick.

Who did this to you?

[ Groaning ]

Is there anything I can do for you?

[ Old Henry ] I couldn't get it out of my mind...

what those bastards had done to him.

I wanted to make it right.

- Got somethin' for ya. - What would that be, snitch?

Call me that again, you ain't gonna get it.

You want it or not?

You're givin' me a dollar?

I ain't givin' you shit.

It's from one of the guards.

Get the fuck outta here, whiskers.

That new guy Lesser give it to me on his way home.

He said to give it to you.

I ain't got all day.

Shave that thing off your face, whiskers. It looks like a pussy.

[ 'Whiskers' Giggling ]

[ Man ] How 'bout one of them tailor-mades for me, Panzram?

[ Metal Door Slamming ]

[ Panzram ] Psst! Lesser!

You're Mr. Lesser, right?

You give me that money? Why?

- I thought you could use it. - Why? Hey.

What's your racket, huh?

You're welcome.

Hey, fellas--

- Is it true what he said? - How many did he kill?

- What do you hear about him? - Is he in isolation?

Seems you're a bit of an attraction around here.

How's that?

Reporters wanting in to see you.

Anybody writes my story, it's gonna be me.

Sell like hot cakes.

- [ Henry ] Juicy, eh? - Bloody.

- Your file says you're in for-- - You believe everything you read...

Mr. Lesser?

You like to read, don't you?

I've had a lot of time on my hands.

Tell me something.

- You go to church? - Temple.

- You go to temple? - Nope.

- Don't believe in God? - Nope.

Why not?

What kind of God would allow a place like this?

A smart one. Where else would he keep men like these?

Why would he make men like these?

You ever read The Count of Monte Cristo?

The count said, 'God keeps evil men in His care...

that he may use them as instruments of His vengeance.'

Ah.

God didn't make these men. Our system did.

You're a Red, Mr. Lesser.

Shh.

Two things, Mr. Lesser.

You are never again to give any prisoner in here so much as a penny...

and you will never, ever again try to shake any of their hands.

- You understand me? - Yes, sir.

What the hell is up with you, anyway?

Are you one of these reformers, tending little lost lambs?

- No, sir. - You like this job?

Yes, sir.

Then toe the mark and walk the line.

Sir, I was wondering if I could...

have next Friday and Saturday off.

What for?

It's a holiday.

No, it isn't. What holiday?

Yom Kippur.

No, I can't spare you.

Sorry.

You're Jewish.

Yes, sir.

[ Henry's Wife ] You gave money to one of them?

I gave one dollar to him.

One dollar. People live a week on a dollar.

People live a month on a dollar in prison.

Oh, and I should feel sorry for them?

This man...

his face was beaten to a pulp by guards!

You have to see it. I've never seen anything like it.

He probably deserved it. What's he in there for?

He's a criminal. He's a petty thief or a burglar.

But he-- When they were beating him, he confessed to several murders.

Murderer. [ Chuckles ]

They say he's making it up for attention.

Oy, it worked.

Every reporter in town wants to get in and see him.

The warden won't let them in.

Henry, we hardly have enough for ourselves.

We have each other.

Rudolph Valentino you're not.

Yes, I am. I am Rudolph Valentino.

Are you?

It's a beautiful sunrise, isn't it?

Take a look.

Why would I wanna do that?

[ Chuckles ]

I have to check the bars on the window.

Orders from above.

I thought you were gonna coldcock me with that.

You're a brave man, Mr. Lesser...

but don't do this again.

Don't you ever turn your back on me.

I know you won't try anything.

How?

I trust you.

Let me give you some advice.

Quit this job.

Get out of here.

Why?

Because sooner or later, you're gonna become just like...

the rest of them.

Just as vicious, just as cruel, just as stupid.

Like Greiser. Like all of them.

That's why.

I don't think so.

I started writing my story last night, Mr. Lesser.

With what?

With nothing. That's the problem.

I'll make you a deal, sir.

You give me paper and pencil, and I'll give you the story.

You can sell it. You can do whatever you want with it.

If it makes any money, you can keep it.

I just wanna write my story.

You're not allowed to have paper or pencils. It's against the rules.

Right.

Sorry I mentioned it, sir.

Dinner's ready. You have time to eat?

Sure.

Henry, do you have to work the night shift?

Yes, I do, for now.

- It's just two nights a week. - Two nights a week.

Who'll read to me?

Come wash up.

[ Panzram Narrating ] My name is Carl Panzram...

number 31614, United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.

I was born June 28, 1891, on a small farm in Minnesota.

My parents were German immigrants, hardworking...

ignorant and poor.

I had five brothers and a sister, all decent, all God-fearing...

all except me.

By the age of nine, I was a drunkard.

By ten, I was a thief.

They sent me to the Red Wing, Minnesota State Training School...

where I was taught how to be a clean, upright citizen...

- and a credit to the human race. - [ Whip Cracking ]

When I was let go, they gave me five dollars, a Bible...

and a world of good advice.

Put the five bucks in my pocket and hopped a freight west to be a cowboy.

I never made it.

I learned a lesson that day, a simple lesson that I never forgot...

and have always practiced since.

[ Young Panzram Screaming ]

Might makes right.

I spent my youth...

robbing poor boxes in churches...

doing unto others what was done unto me.

Until I found myself in the army, then in the army stockade...

for disagreeing with my sergeant.

Some older boys finally put me wise on how you got yourself out of there.

You had to tell 'em how you loved Jesus...

and, naturally, now I loved Jesus very much.

I loved him so much, I'd like to crucify him all over again.

I got outta the hoosegow in 1911.

During those years, I met every kind of crook there is...

from the biggest of the big shots...

down to the lowest and greasiest greaseballs.

Wasn't long before I wound up in the Oregon State Penitentiary.

There's coolers and there's coolers.

Some are cold and wet, and some are hot and dry.

In every joint I was in, there was always some kind of torture...

and I've tried 'em all.

One of the boys got hold of a gun and nailed the warden.

My only sorrow: I didn't get to do it first.

A new warden was named. Ex-army captain named Charles Casey.

Big old, thick mick he was, but pretty good scout as it turned out.

No one had ever seen anything like what he was doing.

There was no religion about him, no brutality, no punishment of any kind.

Actually, the worst you could get was peelin' potatoes.

[ Panzram Chuckles ]

And on account of that, we all called him 'Spud.'

At first I thought he was crazy...

and that was wrong.

Then I thought he was a fool, but damned if that wasn't wrong too.

This man doesn't belong here.

Belongs in the asylum.

- [ Knock At Door ] - Come on in.

Take those off.

Take 'em off, I said.

Carl?

Warden Charles Casey.

- [ Popping Caps Off Bottles ] - They tell me you're the worst man in this penitentiary.

A mean and cowardly degenerate...

beyond redemption.

What's that?

What do you think it is?

Good, isn't it?

[ Chuckling ] I don't believe everything people tell me, Carl.

I imagine you don't either.

I don't believe you're the worst man in this prison, nor beyond redemption.

Let's get down to cases, shall we?

Does your word mean anything to you?

My what?

Your word, damn it!

Are you in the habit of keeping your word?

- Depends. - On what?

On who I'm givin' it to...

mister.

I'm gonna hand you the surprise of your life.

I'm gonna let you out for one whole day...

if you'll give me your promise you won't try to escape.

Let me get this straight.

You're gonna let me out of my cell and into the yard?

No.

Out of the penitentiary. Outside the walls.

Out.

Why?

I have my reasons.

Which are when I'm on the other side of the wall...

your sharpshooters gun me down for an escape attempt.

- Fuck you. - Carl.

I give you my word of honor no harm will come to you.

All I want is your promise you'll be back by suppertime.

Oh.

Well, then...

you have my word.

[ Birds Chirping ]

[ Panzram ] I didn't have the least intention of keeping my word of honor...

or ever coming back.

What I intended was to catch the first freight I could...

north to Canada, south to Mexico-- I didn't care.

[ Train Whistle Blowing In The Distance ]

[ Laughing ]

[ Panzram ] Back inside, the other boys told me I was nuts.

Hell, I thought I was nuts.

Spud's big passion was baseball.

Had a prison team. Damnedest thing you ever saw.

Every week the lot of us-- killers, rapists and thieves--

would load into trucks with only one guard to watch us...

and we'd play the little towns all over Oregon.

Since I couldn't hit water if I fell out of a boat...

since I couldn't play any instruments neither...

Spud let me carry the flag, which I must say I did with pleasure.

What are you doin'?

The papers had their eye on Spud, watching his experiments like hawks...

waitin' like vultures for one of us to foul him up.

Spud opened up an old unused building to make more room...

giving each of us his own cell, and I liked that just fine.

Then I upped the ante on him...

just to see what he'd do.

Be right with you, Carl.

We got our crime commission's new report here.

Listen to this.

'We therefore advise castration for the following:

the rapist, the incorrigible burglar or gunman...

the gibbering idiot or imbecilic cretin with inherited tendencies to crime...

and the unstable erotopath.'

What the hell is an 'erotopath'?

What do you think of this?

Well, sir, I think if you followed through like they advise...

we could have us a damn fine choir in here.

What can I do for you?

When I go outside the walls, there's a town not too far away.

- I don't know the name. - A bit east of here.

I'd like permission to go there, sir.

Why?

See if they have a library. I've read all the books we got in here, sir.

An ice-cream parlor-- I don't know.

On these conditions:

Go to the library. Don't talk to anybody except to ask for a book.

No ice-cream parlor, and for Dear Lord's sake, no pool halls...

or saloons.

Agreed?

Agreed.

One more thing.

If I go in a library like this, those old ladies will run.

What do you want, Carl?

The shirt off your back, sir.

We'll find something for you.

Thank you, sir.

[ Chuckling ]

- Enjoy the book, Mrs. Dresser. - Thank you.

[ Screaming ] I'm sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you...

but the library is closing.

Okay. Sorry.

Are you new in town? Would you like a card?

- Card? - A library card...

so you can check those out, take them home.

Does it cost money?

No, you just have to be a county resident.

Are you a resident?

Yeah.

Emerson. I love Emerson. It's all right.

I'll-- I'll fix it.

Sorry.

You sure you don't want your--

[ Bell Tolls The Hour ]

I guess my first love would be Shakespeare.

But he's more of a boy's author, don't you think?

And then there's Emily Dickinson and Chekhov.

All his characters are so rich and lovely, and they move me.

And Uncle Vanya. I just love them.

There are so many plays.

It's so interesting to meet a man who loves books...

and plays and poetry-- and exciting.

[ Panzram ] I'd stay after she closed up, and we'd talk and talk.

She didn't seem to mind I was a lousy con.

She even promised she wouldn't tell anyone.

It's exciting to talk to somebody, and you read Emerson!

Oh, and Thoreau.

It must give you peace when you sit in a jail--

I think what your warden is doing is admirable.

It must have been awful in there for you before.

I've seen worse.

Still, it seems like he's a good man.

- He's trying so hard to change-- - A what?

A good man. He's doing--

[ Sighs ] One who, as Emerson said...

'Exalts by his example...

[ Together ] all mankind.'

Where's your head?

[ Laughing ] What?

Your can. The-- Your facilities.

Oh, uh, in there.

[ Chain Jangles, Toilet Flushes ]

♪♪ [ Humming ]

Oh. [ Nervous Laughing ] I thought you might wanna dance...

if that's not too bold to ask.

I teach dance to young boys and girls on Saturdays.

I don't think so.

That's what all my young men tell me, but I tell them a Chinese proverb.

'The longest journey...

begins with one step.'

Frame.

Hand.

Shall we?

That's good. What?

Is this all right?

- Are you sure? - [ Fabric Tearing ]

[ Screaming, Gasping ]

Carl--

- [ Carl Grunts ] - [ Screaming ]

[ Gasping, Panting ]

- [ Grunting ] - [ Gasping ]

Shut up!

[ Casey ] In case you're interested, you've done more than embarrass me.

You've justified what a lot of people have said about me all along--

that what I was trying to do was a mistake...

it was all gonna blow up in my face!

What did you think I was gonna do, Spud? What did you expect of me?

- [ Carl Gasps ] - Cut him down.

Cut him down, damn it!

[ Panzram ] Spud was fired...

his reforms scrapped and forgotten.

Not long after, I escaped...

ready to rob, rape, burn and kill anywhere and everywhere I could...

as long as I lived.

[ Men Laughing ]

I killed my first man coming out of Kit Burns's rat pit down in the Bowery.

It felt pretty good.

In New Haven, Connecticut...

I robbed the former 26th President of the United States...

Mr. William Howard Taft...

of $40,000 of jewelry and Liberty bonds...

and a .45 automatic with which I killed ten men.

I got caught robbing the express office in Larchmont, New York.

Got me five years in one of the real hellholes, Dannemora Prison.

I fell more than 30 feet trying to escape.

Broke both my ankles, both my legs...

fractured my spine, ruptured my spleen, and I got no medical attention at all...

except for the removal of one of my testicles.

Why, I don't know.

I am 39 years old now.

In my lifetime, I've killed 21 human beings...

some of them no more than boys.

I've broken every law made by God and man.

If they make more, I'll break those too.

I don't know much, but this I do know.

This country's in a war now, which few people realize.

A crime war.

Thousands of lives, billions of dollars of property are lost every year.

And you know the best thing you've been able to do so far?

Build bigger prisons...

and fill them full of men.

You fill one, you build another...

but there are more criminals, and there is no end in sight.

This being the case, you and your system must be wrong.

You take a young tiger cub, you put it in a cage.

You mistreat it until it becomes a savage and bloodthirsty thing...

and then you turn it loose.

What do you think will happen?

You know, but I'll tell you.

It's gonna kill and kill and keep on killing...

until someone finally puts it out of its pain.

Damn it! Please. I've told you to knock.

[ Sighing ]

- So? - Let's walk.

- It's all true? - What don't you believe?

The killings.

- You sorry you gave me the paper? - You led me to believe--

- I led you to nothing. - Is it all true?

Children. How could you--

I'm no lawyer, but just having possession of this...

just knowing what you say that you've done--

Why don't you give it back? Forget you saw it.

Forget? How can I possibly forget?

This is now my responsibility. You are now my responsibility.

We can't have that, can we, Mr. Lesser?

I want your permission to show it to someone.

- To who? The warden? - No, a publisher.

You wanna see me hang, do you, Mr. Lesser?

With the names changed.

Why would anybody wanna publish that?

Because it's the most damning indictment I've ever read.

An indictment against me.

It is an indictment against this whole damn--

When you tell me where you got it, I might let you out.

Fuck you, you dumb Kraut. Take these off. Come on.

[ Grunting ]

[ Panzram Laughing ]

Thank you, Mr. Sinclair.

[ Reporters Shouting Questions ]

- You staying in the oil business? - You going back to California?

You gonna stay in the oil business, Harry?

[ Reporters All Shouting ]

Give us a statement, Harry.

Harry, come on!

[ Guard ] I hope he comes back.

What is that?

It's just work. Reports for the prison and--

You have to do it every night?

It's a lot to do. It's a lot of work.

Amos 'n' Andy is on.

I just wanna-- I just wanna get this in the mail by the morning. Okay?

[ Man ] That's it for now.

- Thanks, pal. - Thank you.

[ News Vendor ] Evening, mister.

Can I get you something?

Mister?

♪♪ [ Big Band Music Playing ]

[ Man, Woman Chattering ]

- [ Woman ] No! - [ Man ] Serious?

♪♪ [ Big Band Music On The Radio ]

[ Man Singing ] ♪ Get my tailor on the phone ♪

- ♪ Tell the maid-- ♪ - [ Henry Clears Throat ]

♪ Just explain when they start to moan ♪

♪ I don't know when I'll be home ♪

Uh, beer, please.

♪ Gonna hire a limousine ♪♪

You new around here?

I-I live close by.

The name's Sally. What's yours?

Henry.

It's nice to meet you, Sally.

[ Sally ] Let me guess.

Italian.

I can always guess what somebody is just by lookin' at 'em.

Mick, Kraut, Guinea.

You're a Guinea, right?

A Russian Jew, actually.

Born in America. Fall River, Massachusetts.

Hmm.

No. I don't think I've ever met a Jew before.

What the hell is a Jew anyway, Henry?

[ Chuckles ] I--

It means we walk upright, feareth God...

and escheweth evil.

You speak English?

It means this is the first time in my life I've ever been in a speakeasy.

Oh, Christ!

What have you been waiting for?

Micky, pour him somethin' hard.

To Henry.

[ Gasps ]

[ Henry ] The belief in human perfectibility...

that there is a place where people, uh--

where criminals will be reformed...

where they'll see the errors of their ways and be reformed...

and then can be returned to society.

And that-- that to lock someone away...

for years and years in a room...

doesn't necessarily-- certainly doesn't lead to...

to reformation or any form of enlightenment or change.

Uh, change, uh--

Micky. Want somethin' else?

- Uh, sure. - Okay. Then you can continue.

[ Yelling ] Let me out!

[ Yelling ]

I'll kill you!

[ Old Henry ] Carl never told them where he got the pencil.

When he was finally let out, he was changed.

There was a look in his eye that frightened me.

[ Steam Whistle Blowing ]

[ Man ] Okay, guys, grab a smoke.

[ Grunting ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Panting ] What are you doin'?

You're crazy.

You broke my fuckin' leg.

What are you doin'? You're gonna pay for this, Panzram!

You're gonna pay for this!

You crazy bastard! What are you doin'?

- [ Club Strikes Table ] - [ Greiser Yells ]

[ Bones Crunching ]

[ Greiser Gasping, Coughing ]

[ Yelling ]

[ Whimpering ]

[ Grunting ]

Mr. Lesser.

How are you?

It's the damnedest thing.

I kill a guard, and they give me a bigger cell...

and all the books and magazines I can handle.

The barber comes to shave me, I get new linen every Friday...

and all the tobacco I can smoke and chew.

[ Chuckles ] I should've killed me one a long time ago.

[ Sighs ] That mutt had it comin'. I told him, 'I'll slit your throat'--

Nobody has coming what you did.

So?

- That man had a wife and children. - What are they gonna give me?

- I think you know. - I'll tell you what.

This might surprise you, but I look forward to hanging...

like you did to your wedding night.

They're not gonna hang you.

Kansas abolished the death penalty 20 years ago.

I looked it up. The last man hanged here was in 1888.

You're gonna spend the rest of your life--

Did you look up the fact that Leavenworth Penitentiary...

is federal land, and killing a hack here is a federal crime--

it's a capital crime-- that I am gonna swing, and the sooner the better?

Did you look that up?

Do you think you were in your right mind when this happened?

[ Telephone Ringing ]

My what?

Warden wants to see you, Henry!

Hey, listen to me. This 'right mind' business.

You nip that in the bud, Mr. Lesser. You hear me?

You nip that in the bud!

Mr. Lesser!

I'm in my right mind. You'll see how right my mind is.

[ Knock At Door ]

Come in.

This is John Turner, the prosecutor handling the Panzram case.

Yes, sir.

You're the only one he talks to?

Yes, sir, just about.

When I tried this morning, he handed me that.

His last will and testament.

Left his body to a dogcatcher in his native Minnesota...

and an eternal curse on mankind.

- [ Warden ] You think that's funny? - No, sir.

Here's the situation.

When he does talk, he says the same thing over and over.

'I'm guilty. Hang me.'

Any halfway skilled attorney and psychiatrist can use that.

They'll say that any man who so devoutly desires his own execution...

must be insane, and if so, cannot be executed.

It's just a con. He's pulling a con on us.

I don't think he is pulling a con, sir.

Oh, you don't.

Pardon me for asking, but what does this have to do with me?

I want your opinion...

and I may need your testimony in court.

Over the past few months, I've gotten to know Panzram fairly well.

I've heard most of his life story.

He's been in and out of reformatories, jails and prisons since he was a boy.

I know cons are full of phony hard-luck stories, but...

from what I've heard...

and from what I've seen happen to him here at Leavenworth...

and from what I know about psychology...

I would say that he is out of his mind.

- Are you defending this animal? - No, sir.

That's your honest, considered opinion? He's insane?

Yes, sir.

He didn't know that killing that man was wrong?

No, sir.

This man is of no use to me whatsoever.

What is going on here? Are you this man's friend?

No, sir.

I'm assigning you to desk duty down there with him.

No one else wants it.

If you hear anything, Mr. Lesser, I'd appreciate you letting me know.

- [ Telephone Rings ] - You want--

I want your assistance in prosecuting this bastard, that's what I want.

Fine.

- Menninger's out there waiting for us. - Karl Menninger?

Another shepherd of little lost sheep.

Get three men and bring him in here...

and I want him double-chained.

Yes, sir.

Hello.

How are you?

Do you know who I am?

I am Dr. Karl Menninger.

Karl, like you.

Cigarette?

I've heard a lot about you...

that you're a very bad man, a vicious killer.

Even so, I've decided that I'm not going to be afraid of you.

I don't think you're going to hurt me because--

Take off these fucking chains, and I'll show you!

I will hurt you! I'll fucking tear your fucking heart out!

Don't ever testify that I'm insane or irresponsible!

I'll kill ya! Okay?

I'm sane, I'm responsible, I'm guilty!

I killed the fucker, and the sooner I hang for it, the better!

Take these chains off! Come on, you quack!

And take your--

Come on. Come over here.

I'll fucking kill you.

You understand me? Do you understand me?

Do you?

Are you all right?

Winter's comin'.

It's gonna be a bad one.

Farmer's Almanac.

- Got my trial date today. - I heard.

Will you be there?

I'm one of the guards.

Probably be 25 more of us, considering who you are.

Better make it 35.

Sun feels good.

Say, whatever happened to that Harry Sinclair?

He was paroled about a month ago.

He gave 'em to all the guards.

Keep it.

You take it, son.

You keep it.

He stands for everything I hate.

Greed, avarice, corruption.

Hell, Mr. Lesser, I'm for all that.

How did you ever end up in a place like this?

There's a depression on out there. I'm lucky to have this job.

You got here before the depression, son.

Never shit a shitter.

I wanted to do some good.

Eugene Debs, socialist...

he said as long as there was a soul in prison...

he wasn't free.

I remembered that. Never forgot it.

Jesus Christ! [ Laughing ]

Eugene Debs.

Oh, boy.

I'll tell you why you're here, Mr. Lesser.

For you, being here is like being in a dark room when you're a kid.

The lights are out, there's a spook show on the radio.

You're close, but not too close to those things inside you you can't let out.

It scares ya...

and you like being scared.

That's why you're here, son.

Not bad, Doctor.

No charge.

I owe you, Mr. Lesser.

I think we're comin' to the end of the line...

and you've never let me pay you back.

There is a way.

You're not gonna like it.

You should talk to Menninger. Let him testify for you.

I told you to nip that in the bud!

They can hang me, shoot me or burn me...

but I will not go to the bughouse!

Forget I mentioned it!

You think I'm nuts, don't you? Goddamn it, you answer me, boy.

- You think I'm nuts, don't you? - Yes, I do.

I think legally--

I would like to go back into the cell now, Mr. Lesser.

I've had enough fresh air for today.

- It's the only way to keep you alive! - I don't want to be alive!

I want out of these clothes! I want out of this body!

I want out of this world! Don't you understand that?

Don't you understand that? I'm warning you.

- What are you gonna do? - Don't interfere with this.

You gonna kill me too?

[ Guard ] Stand back. Stand back.

[ Reporters Shouting Questions ]

[ Carl Sighs ]

[ Man ] All rise. Court is now in session.

The Honorable Judge John W. Kingman presiding.

Be seated.

[ Clears Throat ]

Your Honor, we intend to prove that on the fifth day of October, 1929...

the defendant, one Carl Panzram, did knowingly, willfully...

unlawfully, purposely, feloniously, deliberately...

premeditatedly, with malice aforethought...

and with a malignant and abandoned heart, murder Robert Gregory Greiser...

an officer of the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas.

Mr. Bailey, do you have an opening declaration?

- Yes, I do, Your Honor. - Sit down. Shut up and sit down!

I do not want this shyster representing me.

I do not want any shyster representing me.

I will represent myself.

I do not intend to call any defense witnesses...

because I have no witnesses, nor do I have a defense.

I do not intend to cross-examine Mr. Windbag's witnesses...

all of whom I am certain will tell the truth and nothing but.

I do not intend to plead for pity or sympathy or mercy.

What I demand is justice.

You created me. Now you kill me.

You present the facts...

you blow the hot air, and you...

find me guilty.

- [ Spectators Murmuring ] - [ Man ] He's right. Hang him!

[ Gavel Banging ]

[ Judge Kingman ] This court is now in session.

I have here the commissioner's report.

The commission finds that the defendant, Carl Panzram...

is of unsound mind.

I'll kill you, you son of a bitch! Let go, you cocksucker!

[ Gavel Banging ]

However...

they also find...

that he knew what he was doing when he committed the crime...

he so freely admitted committing--

that he is able to understand the nature of the charges against him...

and is capable of assisting in his own defense...

though he chooses not to do so.

Therefore, I order the prosecution to proceed...

and I order the defendant to remain seated and silent...

or I will remove you from this courtroom.

[ Knocking ]

- Yes? - Is Henry Lesser here?

Yes, he is. May I tell him who's calling?

Yes, Dr. Karl Menninger.

Please have a seat.

I want to apologize for coming at this hour.

No, no. This is such an honor.

- Would you like something to drink? - No, no. Please. I'm fine.

I wanted to talk to you about Carl Panzram.

How well do you know him?

- You've read the manuscript? - Of course.

It's a most remarkable document, sir. Thank you for sending it to me.

Thank you for reading it. He is insane, isn't he?

As the court said, yes and no.

How can one be sane and commit the crimes...

that he's claimed to have committed?

Pardon me for saying this...

but you don't seem the sort who makes a prison guard.

I don't think I make a very good one.

He's so intelligent.

Is it a case of split personality?

Jekyll-and-Hyde syndrome or--

Mr. Lesser...

Carl Panzram is only doing what he was taught to do.

Everything that he has experienced since birth...

has conspired to create...

this thing, this animal...

doing to everyone else...

exactly what was done to him.

He's a child...

practicing his lessons.

He's a man who claims to have killed 21 people.

He's not a child.

We're all children, Mr. Lesser.

♪ There once was two cats from Kilkenny ♪

♪ Each cat thought there was one too many ♪

♪ They quarreled and fit They scratched and they bit ♪

♪ Instead of two cats there weren't any ♪♪

[ Judge Kingman ] Has the jury reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honor.

How say you?

We find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree.

- [ Spectators Murmuring ] - [ Gavel Banging ]

Do you have anything to say before this court passes sentence on you?

I've done my duty.

The jury has done theirs. Now you do yours.

It is the order of this court...

that the defendant, Carl Panzram...

be remanded to the care of the warden...

at the federal penitentiary at Leavenworth...

there to be confined until the fifth day of April...

when between the hours of 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning...

he shall be taken to some suitable place...

within the confines of the penitentiary...

and there hanged by the neck until dead.

[ Spectators Murmuring ]

[ Gavel Banging ]

- You have 90 days to file an appeal. - There will be no appeal.

Take him down.

Your Honor, I must object!

What's happened here today is nothing more than a legally sanctioned suicide!

You can't do this to this man!

[ Reporters Shouting ]

Gonna do a good job there on me, buddy?

Henry, you were a tailor. Think he knows what he's doin'?

He's got a good touch, though, I'll tell you that.

Knew a fella had boots like those. Those are Ropers, aren't they?

Fancy-looking things.

I love them boots, boy.

They're damn ostrich or something, I swear to God.

Maybe snakeskin.

Where did it come from?

Little birdie dropped it from heaven.

Why?

Cheat the hangman. [ Imitates Slicing Noise ]

I'm not gonna cheat the hangman, Mr. Lesser.

Gonna do what's right.

Not gonna get a reprieve.

Not gonna kill myself. I'm gonna die at the end of a rope.

Justice.

[ Door Slamming ]

Justice.

Where did these come from?

Harry Sinclair gave them to me.

Why?

[ Sighs ]

I, um...

I gave my notice today. Quit my job.

Pretty, aren't they?

Time to go.

Ohhh!

- [ Urinating ] - Ahhh!

[ Muttering ]

[ Groaning ]

[ Moaning ]

[ Door Opening ]

[ Groaning ]

Excuse me, sir. Hello.

Are you Mr. Panzram?

Uh--

I'm Mr. Dover. Mr. Benjamin Dover. Who the fuck are you?

[ Clears Throat ] I'm the Reverend Nausbauer.

I'm here from...

the National Society for the Abolition of Capital Punishment.

- Who's the little beaver? - I'm sorry.

This is my assistant, Miss Mabel. Yeah.

- Uh, we're-- - How ya doin', Mabel?

- [ Nausbauer ] Say hello. - You puttin' the wood to old Mabel?

At least gettin' that tip in, are ya?

Sometimes they're under a great deal of anxiety.

Mabel, turn around.

We're here to get your signature on this petition, sir.

Let me take a look at that round eye.

Bet you get a taste of that once in a while.

If you would just sign this petition.

This goes to President Hoover, who, as you know...

is the only man who has the authority to commute your sentence.

You a pratter or a fruiter?

I beg your pardon?

Are you a pratter or a fruiter?

I'm sorry, sir. I don't think I know what that means.

You know, one likes to sit on it. [ Grunting ]

- The other one likes to-- - Please!

- Likes to eat it. - Sir, I've come a long way.

Get the fuck outta here, you holy roller! Goddamn it! Get out!

- Don't hit him. - Go on!

- This man is drunk. - You bet your life I'm drunk.

Tomorrow I'll be sober, and you'll still be a goddamn face artist!

- Get the fuck outta here! - I wish you would understand--

I wish you and your kind had one neck...

so I could just get my hands around it.

Just wring it!

Get out before I baptize you...

in the name of the holy nelson!

Come on, sir.

[ Door Slamming ]

[ Pail Clattering ]

That was beautiful, Carl.

[ Belches ]

[ Sighs ]

How 'bout them biscuits on old Mabel?

How'd you like to lay your Johnson in there?

Proud of yourself?

[ Chuckles ]

Give me the jug, Carl.

Why don't you come get it, son?

Come here.

[ Jug Breaking ]

Give it to me, Carl.

Carl...

give that to me, now.

Carl?

When were you gonna tell me?

You fuck.

Tell you what?

That you quit, Mr. Lesser.

You were just gonna walk away, weren't ya?

Were you gonna cut me with this?

[ Carl Sighs ]

I did it for you.

Did what for me?

Greiser.

He was for you.

He was for you.

[ Old Henry ] Carl wrote to me and asked me to witness his execution.

I was the only one he invited...

but I didn't think I could go.

To see a man murdered in cold blood.

No, I couldn't.

Thought about your meal?

Porterhouse steak, fried chicken...

buttered corn...

fried potatoes, hot biscuits...

pumpkin pie, black coffee, hold the arsenic.

- You invite anyone to witness-- - No.

Will there be anyone to claim your body?

Throw it to the hogs.

Will you talk to the reporters later?

Leave me alone now. I need to pray.

Why is this night different from all other nights?

[ Henry Chuckles ]

In each generation, every man must regard himself...

as if he personally had gone forth from Egypt.

Tonight we celebrate and remember the night thousands of years ago...

when each family was commanded to sacrifice a lamb...

and with its blood mark their door...

so that the angel of death would pass over their home...

sparing their firstborn son.

[ Carl Sighs ]

- You enjoy that? - I hated every bite.

You look like it.

You boys have been damn square with me.

I'm gonna remember both of you in my will.

You hear me, Walter? I'm gonna remember both of you in my will.

- Thanks, Carl. - You know what I forgot?

Damn! Ice cream.

You want me to see if I can get you some?

No, it's too late. Forget about it.

Yes, it is too late, Carl. Yes, it is.

Early, aren't you?

How are you?

I didn't think you were gonna make it.

Good to see you, Mr. Lesser.

Sorry I didn't answer you.

I have a letter here from someone.

'Dear Mr. Lesser:

This is one of the most amazing documents I've ever read.

Obviously, printing it in a general magazine would be impossible.

I doubt, too, that it could be done as a book.

However, I thank you for sending me the manuscript.

I can't recall ever reading anything more shocking.

Sincerely, H.L. Mencken.'

High praise from the master.

What's so shocking about it?

It's just another poor-boy-makes-good story, isn't it?

Not exactly, Carl.

I'm grateful, Mr. Lesser.

You're a good man...

and you deserve a good life.

What about you?

You have a mind, you have an intellect--

You know what I think?

I think we're all just the sum of...

everybody we ever knew or met in our lives...

and everybody I ever knew, outside of you, Mr. Lesser...

and old Spud Casey...

it was all trash.

So that makes me trash...

and it's just about time to take out the trash.

Period. End of sentence.

- What if things had been different? - Different.

How?

Suppose you got a parole.

Suppose you had some money and you could start over and start a business.

Suppose my aunt were my uncle.

She'd have balls, a beard and whistle 'Dixie' when she walked down the street.

- Suppose what? - [ Henry ] All right.

Isn't there anyplace you'd like to go?

There was an island I once knew.

Down by the San Blas, coast of Panama.

This tribe of Indians lived on the island next to it.

They went there once or twice a year to harvest coconuts, gather turtle eggs.

'Savages,' we'd call them...

without the benefit of our civilization.

No moral sense whatsoever.

They considered this island holy ground.

They believed it had these pink dolphins that...

turned into beautiful women at night.

Exotic birds that spoke any language they needed to--

English, Portuguese, Spanish.

Snakes without venom.

Pools of fine red wine.

You drank it, you only wanted to lie down and make love.

That's where I'd go.

Me too.

Spent those double eagles yet?

Still waiting for the stink to wear off.

[ Puffing ]

Adios, Mr. Lesser.

Henry.

Call me Henry.

Henry.

It's my wedding night.

Oh, darling, I'm ready.

- There's Carl! - [ Reporters Shouting ]

- Carl, you got any words? - [ Carl Yells ]

- [ Carl Laughs ] - Carl, give us a story.

- Carl. - Come on, now. Carl.

[ Carl Spits ]

Hey, chicken ass. Good day for a hanging, huh?

[ Carl Sniffles, Sighs ]

Come on. I could hang ten men in the time it's taken you to hang one.

[ Exhales ]

♪ There once was two cats from Kilkenny ♪

♪ Each cat thought there was one too many ♪

♪ They quarreled and fit They scratched and they bit ♪

♪ Instead of two cats there weren't any ♪♪

What do you want?

I haven't got all day. What do you want?

These enough to buy everybody in the place a drink?

Ten times over.

Hey, everybody, free drinks!

[ Patrons Shouting ]

[ Telephone Ringing ]

- Hello. - Is this Warden Casey?

Is this Charles Casey?

Speaking. Who are you?

My name is Henry Lesser.

I was a guard at the Leavenworth Penitentiary...

and--

Do you remember a convict named Carl Panzram?

What about him?

He was hanged yesterday.

I just thought you might want to know.

Do you remember him?

Yes, I do.

I certainly do.

Carl carried the flag in my band.

[ Old Henry ] Carl was buried in an unmarked grave.

I spent the next 40 years of my life...

trying to get his journal published.

In 1970, I finally succeeded.

Not long after the book came out...

the calls began to come for me to lecture...

which I did with pleasure.

The Talmud says...

'All of us, if only once...

must reach out to those in our need.'

'If not you,' I tell them, 'then who?'

'If not now...

when?'

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